Novel safety feature for drives
A
Rockwell Automation product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 22, 2004
DriveGuard is a "safe off" safety solution for variable speed drives.
DriveGuard is a "safe off" safety solution for variable speed drives.
Meeting EN954-1 Category 3 standards, disables the motor and hence the driven machine's ability to move, until it is deemed safe to do so.
It replaces the traditional two contactor safety system and all the associated wiring, cost and complexity that this entails.
DriveGuard is currently available as an option on the Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 70, a general-purpose AC drive that is available up to 22kW at 400/480V, 18.5kW at 600V and 7.5kW at 200/240V.
PowerFlex 70 is also available with IP66 protection and with flange mounting.
In order to comply with safety standards and remain productive, machine builders have begun building functional safety features into machines using what has been termed the "zone concept".
This creates a safe area and allows a portion of the production line to slow or stop while the rest of the line remains active.
The safety hazard, whether a minor malfunction of line equipment or an obstruction, can be removed or corrected without taking the entire line down.
This eliminates lengthy production shut downs and worker downtime.
When the hazard is cleared, the line can quickly return to normal operation again.
As machine builders, OEMs, system integrators and end users embrace functional safety, they can take advantage of integrated safety features in AC drives.
Drives with built-in safety features are part of an ongoing effort at Rockwell Automation to harmonize standards so its products, and its customers' products, can be sold throughout the world.
The benefits of having the safety features built into the drive are substantial.
More drive products, such as the PowerFlex 700S and PowerFlex 40 will incorporate DriveGuard in 2004.
In the past, safety standards and worker productivity were often at odds with each other but Rockwell Automation's advanced products with features such as DriveGuard are changing that, resulting in safer, more efficient and more productive working environments.
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