Modular Multispur Fieldbus Barrier with Flameproof Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multispur fieldbus barrier arrangements are costly, complex, and difficult to maintain, requiring extensive wiring and power-downs for changes or repairs, with increased labor costs and risks of adjacent-channel shorts, especially when located in hazardous environments.
Innovation Solution
A modular multispur fieldbus barrier arrangement using removably mounted modular units with flameproof connections for trunk and spur connections, allowing for 'plug and play' installation and redundancy, reducing wiring and enclosure size, and enabling live maintenance and replacements without power disconnection or gas clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If extensive wiring connections are used in known multispur fieldbus barrier arrangements, then barrier protection can be provided for multiple spur outlets, but the system size and complexity increase and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier device is divided into modular components: a trunk connection module and multiple removable spur modules. Each spur module can be independently connected or disconnected from the trunk, allowing the system to provide barrier protection for multiple spurs while maintaining compact size by only activating the number of spurs actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spur modules are designed to nest within or connect to the trunk module in a space-efficient manner. When not in use, spur modules can be stored compactly or disconnected, reducing the overall system footprint while maintaining the capability to support multiple spurs when required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive wiring connections are used in known multispur fieldbus barrier arrangements, then barrier protection can be provided for multiple spur outlets, but labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The modular architecture allows spur modules to be pre-assembled and tested separately, then quickly connected to the trunk module. This segmentation reduces on-site installation time and labor costs while maintaining the ability to provide barrier protection for multiple spurs.
Solution Approach 2:
Spur modules can be pre-configured and tested before final installation. The standardized connection interfaces allow for rapid deployment without extensive on-site wiring work, reducing labor costs while maintaining full barrier protection capability across multiple spurs.
3Ease of repair
If changes or repairs are required in known multispur fieldbus barrier arrangements, then system functionality can be maintained, but power-down of the fieldbus trunk is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design allows individual spur modules to be removed or replaced without affecting the trunk module or other spur modules. This enables hot-swapping capability where maintenance can be performed on individual spurs while the rest of the system remains powered and operational.
Solution Approach 2:
The trunk module acts as an intermediary that maintains system operation while individual spur modules are being serviced. The standardized interface allows for quick disconnection and reconnection of spur modules without requiring power-down of the main trunk, enabling seamless maintenance.
4Reliability
If surge limiter replacement is performed in known multispur fieldbus barrier arrangements, then system protection can be restored, but adjacent-channel shorts risk and gas clearance are required
Solution Approach 1:
The modular spur design isolates the surge limiter within each individual spur module. When a surge limiter needs replacement, only that specific module is removed and replaced, not the entire system. This segmentation eliminates the risk of adjacent-channel shorts during replacement and removes the need for gas clearance procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized connector interface acts as an intermediary that provides electrical isolation during module replacement. This interface design ensures that replacing a surge limiter in one spur module cannot cause shorts in adjacent channels, and the modular design allows replacement without requiring system power-down or gas clearance.
5Device complexity
If removable modular units with flameproof connections are used, then wiring and overall system size are reduced, but connection reliability must be maintained in hazardous environments
Solution Approach 1:
Flameproof connectors serve as certified intermediary components that provide intrinsically safe connections. These connectors are specifically designed and certified for hazardous environments, maintaining connection reliability while enabling the modular, removable architecture that reduces overall system complexity and wiring requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides for a multispur fieldbus barrier arrangement having a trunk connection (23) and in which each of a plurality of spurs (210) is connected to the trunk (23) by barrier devices (24), where each barrier device (24) comprises a removably mounted modular unit arranged for plug-in connection to the trunk (13) by means of a flameproof connection (29) and further wherein a redundant barrier device can likewise be included for activation responsive to failure of a barrier device.