Rope-operated emergency stop ideal for conveyors

A Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley Guardmaster ) product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 29, 2001

Guardmaster's new Lifeline 3 rope-operated emergency stop system provides OEMs and end users with an effective method of setting-up and maintaining operator protection along exposed conveyors

Guardmaster's new Lifeline 3 rope-operated emergency stop system provides OEMs and end users with an effective, competitive and time saving method of setting-up and maintaining operator protection along exposed conveyors, around awkward machinery, and indeed anywhere where a constant access emergency stop facility must be close at hand over distances up to 30m.

The new Lifeline 3 switches are designed to meet the stringent requirements of EN418 "Safety of Machinery - Emergency Stop Equipment.

They also conform to, EN292, ISO13850, EN60947-5-1 and BS5304, and meet the fixing-hole criteria laid down in DIN 50041 to facilitate ease of installation.

Sealed against water and dust ingress to IP67, the Lifeline 3 switches offer the user the flexibility of 3 or 4 sets of contacts, for higher levels of safety, and the security of a metal housing which is rugged enough to withstand operation in harsh conditions.

Employing the Lifeline 3 with Guardmaster's new and unique LRTS tensioning system both simplifies and significantly speeds up the installation of rope operated emergency stop systems.

No special skills or tools are required, yet installations can be set-up and operational in as little as 3 minutes.

The effectiveness of these systems can then be maintained - even at maximum span - thanks to a rope status indicator, which is integrated into the body of the Lifeline 3 emergency stop switch.

When correctly installed, a pair of Lifeline 3 switches will serve a safety grab wire of up to 30m in length.

This large span helps to reduce the number of emergency stops required on extensive plant layouts.

It also provides a tripping facility for effecting machine shutdowns and lockouts if an operator should fall or is pushed against the wire rope.

In both cases switching is positive and immediate in response to a definite deflection, and is also largely free of "nuisance tripping", following an extensive testing programme of the Lifeline 3 and the LRTS against the effects of vibration.