Soft starter, operating method, and switching system
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsKyoung-Jin Lee-Hoff, Johann Seitz, Klaus Aufschneider, Dirk Hertz, Markus Meier, Stefan Zitzler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a soft starter (10) for connecting at least one main circuit (12, 14, 16), each of which includes a bypass circuit (20) having a semiconductor switch (22). Said soft starter (10) comprises a control unit (40) for actuating the bypass circuit (20), and the control unit (40) is equipped with a control signal input (44). According to the invention, the control unit (40) has a separate safety signal input (42).
Claims14
A soft starter for connecting at least one main circuit, each main circuit of the at least one main circuit including a bypass circuit having a semiconductor switch, the soft starter comprising:
- a controller configured to actuate the respective bypass circuit, the controller comprising:
- a control signal input configured to receive operation control signals;
- and
- a separate safety-signal input configured to receive safety signals,
- wherein the controller is configured to check a safety signal from the separate safety-signal input and an operation control signal from the control signal input.
An operating method for an electric motor by a soft starter, the soft starter comprising controller and being connected to at least one circuit comprising a bypass circuit having a semiconductor switch, the method comprising:
- continuously operating the electric motor;
- receiving an operation control signal via a control signal input of the controller;
- receiving a safety signal via a separate safety input of the controller;
- checking the operation control signal and the separate safety signal;
- and
- issuing a deactivation command to the respective bypass circuit when it is detected in the checking that the separate safety signal, the operation control signal, or the separate safety signal and the operation control signal command an operation stop.
A switching system for connecting at least one main circuit that is connected to an electric motor, the switching system comprising:
- a safety switching device;
- an electromechanical switching device;
- and
- a soft starter for connecting the at least one main circuit, each main circuit of the at least one main circuit including a bypass circuit having a semiconductor switch, the soft starter comprising:
- a controller configured to actuate the respective bypass circuit, the controller comprising:
- a control signal input configured to receive operation control signals;
- and
- a separate safety-signal input configured to receive safety signals.
In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions executable by a controller of a soft starter to operate an electric motor by the soft starter, the soft starter comprising a controller and being connected to at least one circuit comprising a bypass circuit having a semiconductor switch, the instructions comprising:
- continuously operating the electric motor;
- receiving an operation control signal via a control signal input of the controller;
- receiving a safety signal via a separate safety input of the controller;
- checking the operation control signal and the separate safety signal;
- and
- issuing a deactivation command to the respective bypass circuit when it is detected in the checking that the separate safety signal, the operation control signal, or the separate safety signal and the operation control signal command an operation stop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.