Control system

A control system for controlling the operation of a plurality of modular lifting units, the control system comprising:

• a plurality of modular lifting units;
• a power source for providing power to each of the modular lifting units;
• a main control box connected between the power source and the modular lifting units, the main control box comprising:
• a mode switch for switching the system between two control modes:
• a group mode, in which the plurality of modular lifting units is controlled synchronously as a group;
• and, an individual mode, in which any one of the modular lifting units is controlled independently of the other units;
• and,
• a main controller operatively coupled to the mode switch for transmitting control signals to each of the modular lifting units, the main controller also receiving feedback signals from each of the modular lifting units wherein, in group mode, synchronous movement of the modular lifting units is achieved by the main controller using the feedback signals received from each of the modular lifting units to supply power to, monitor and control the speed of the modular lifting units.

A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of modular lifting units via a main control box and a plurality of power extension control boxes (PECBs), each PECB being connected to the main control box and between an additional power source and a plurality of additional modular lifting units (MLUs) respectively, the method comprising:

• providing power to each of the MLUs either directly from the main control box or indirectly from a PECB;
• detecting the number of PECBs;
• and
• providing feedback signals from each of the PECBs to the main control box.

A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of modular lifting units via a main control box connected between a power source and the modular lifting units, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting the number of modular lifting units connected to a control network;
• providing power to each of the modular lifting units in accordance with the method;
• selecting one of two control modes:
• a group mode, in which the plurality of modular lifting units is controlled synchronously as a group;
• and, an individual mode, in which any one of the modular lifting units is controlled independently of the other units;
• and,
• transmitting control signals from the main controller to the modular lifting units wherein, in group mode, synchronous movement of the modular lifting units is achieved by using feedback signals received from each of the modular lifting units to supply power to, monitor and control the speed of the modular lifting units.