# US 2014/0191089 A1 · Device for operating decentralized functional units arranged in an industrial installation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191089 A1 - Document ID: US20140191089A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/234,307 - Filed: 2012-06-21 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-22 - Assignees: Siemens Schweiz AG - Inventors: Anton Reichlin; Daniel Helfer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191089A1 ## CPC - B61L 27/04: Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control - H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means - B61L 19/06: Interlocking devices having electrical operation - B61L 27/70: Details of trackside communication - H02J 13/1311: {using the power network as support for the transmission} - Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00) - Y04S 20/12: Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages - Y04S 40/121: using the power network as support for the transmission - B61L: GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A device and a method operate decentralized functional units arranged in an industrial installation. The device contains a superordinate control system which interchanges information with the decentralized functional units using data messages, and a data transport network having a number of network access points. The superordinate control system is coupled to the data transport network via at least one network access point. The device further has communication units which are connected to a network access point and provide the decentralized functional units with access to the data transport network, and an energy transport network to which the decentralized functional units are connected and which supplies the decentralized functional units with electrical energy. A number of intelligent energy stores are connected to the energy transport network and consume energy and/or output energy in accordance with the super ordinate control system and/or at least one of the other energy stores. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-13. (canceled) ### Claim 14 A device for operating decentralized functional units disposed in an industrial installation, the device comprising: a super ordinate control system for interchanging information with the decentralized functional units by means of data telegrams; a data transport network with a number of network access points, said super ordinate control system coupled via at least one of said network access points to said data transport network; communication units connected in each case to one of said network access points and providing the decentralized functional units with access to said data transport network; an energy transport network to which the decentralized functional units are connected and supplying the decentralized functional units with electrical energy; and a number of intelligent energy stores connected to said energy transport network, said intelligent energy stores receiving energy and/or output the energy in coordination with said super ordinate control system and/or with at least one of the other said intelligent energy stores. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the industrial installation is a railroad network for railroad traffic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, further comprising units for monitoring and controlling traffic, and selected from the group consisting of signaling devices, switches, axle counters, track circuits, point and line type train-influencing elements, said units coupled to said data transport network by means of the decentralized functional units. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein said intelligent energy stores include control and communication means which allow said intelligent energy stores to coordinate charging and/or discharging processes with one another by means of appropriate data communication. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17, wherein the data communication is carried out via said energy transport network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17, wherein said intelligent energy stores being coupled to said data transport network like a decentralized functional unit each by means of one of said communication units and data communication of said intelligent energy stores takes place via said data transport network. ### Claim 20 A method for operating decentralized functional units disposed in an industrial installation, which further comprises: interchanging information between a super ordinate control system and the decentralized functional units by means of data telegrams; coupling the super ordinate control system to a data transport network via at least one network access point of the data transport network having a plurality of network access points; providing communication units, being connected in each case to one of the network access points, and provide the decentralized functional units with access to the data transport network; providing an energy transport network to which the decentralized functional units are connected and supplying the decentralized functional units with electrical energy; and providing a number of intelligent energy stores connected to the energy transport network, the intelligent energy stores receive energy and/or output the energy in coordination with the super ordinate control system and/or with at least one of the other intelligent energy stores. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the industrial installation is embodied as a rail network for railroad traffic. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, which further comprises monitoring and controlling traffic via units selected from the group consisting of signaling devices, switches, axle counters, track circuits, point and line-type train influencing elements, the units being coupled to the data transport network by means of the decentralized functional units. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the intelligent energy stores include control and communication means which allow the intelligent energy stores to coordinate charging and/or discharging processes with one another by means of appropriate data communication. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, which further comprises carrying out the data communication via the energy transport network. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, which further comprises coupling the intelligent energy stores to the data transport network like a decentralized functional unit by means of the communication units available in each case and data communication of the intelligent energy stores takes place via the data transport network. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, which further comprises controlling power consumption by an energy store so that the power consumption is only carried out if no power consumption by a decentralized functional unit exceeding a basic load in the energy transport network is occurring.