Apparatus and method for restricting power delivery

An apparatus for restricting operation of a power delivery system, the apparatus comprising:

• a first input terminal configured to receive a first command signal from an external control device;
• a second input terminal configured to receive an additional signal from an additional control system;
• a third input terminal configured to receive a second command signal;
• an output terminal configured to provide a control signal to be provided to the power delivery system;
• and
• a circuit that is configured to generate the control signal based at least indirectly upon the first command, second command, and additional signals,
• wherein the apparatus is substantially distinct from the additional control system and substantially distinct from the power delivery system,
• wherein the control signal is configured to cause the power delivery system to not deliver at least one type of power when the first command signal indicates a command to do so, if the additional signal indicates an acceptability status, and
• wherein the circuit includes a first circuit portion having the first and third input terminals which respectively are configured to receive the first and second command signals, the first circuit portion being further configured to perform an OR-type function upon the first and second command signals so as to generate an output signal, and
• wherein the circuit further includes a second circuit portion that is configured to receive both the output signal from the first circuit portion and the additional signal, the second circuit portion being further configured to perform an AND-type function upon the output signal and the additional signal so as to output the control signal at the output terminal.

A system for controlling a delivery of first power from a first power source to a first load and second power from a second power source to a second load, the system comprising:

• a first power delivery system configured to receive the first power at a first input port and determine whether the first power is delivered to a first output port;
• a second power delivery system configured to receive the second power at a second input port and determine whether the second power is delivered to a second output port;
• a multiplexer module that is coupled to each of the first and second power delivery systems and that is configured to provide first and second control signals to the first and second power delivery systems, respectively;
• and
• a first intermediate module connected with the multiplexer module, the first intermediate module being configured to receive first and second signals from an external control device and an additional control system, respectively, the first signal representing an external command relating to power delivery and the second signal indicating whether a cessation of power delivery is acceptable to the additional control system,
• wherein the intermediate module is configured to provide an additional control signal to the multiplexer module, the multiplexer module being configured to provide the first and second control signals in response to the additional control signal, and
• wherein the additional control signal is representative of both the external command relating to power delivery and the cessation of power delivery being acceptable to the additional control system.

A system for controlling a delivery of a first power from a power source to a load, the system comprising:

• a safety isolation system configured to receive the first power at a first input port and determine whether the first power is delivered to a first output port;
• an external control device;
• an additional control system;
• and
• a first intermediate module connected with the safety isolation system, the first intermediate module being configured to receive first and second signals from the external control device and the additional control system, respectively, the first signal representing a command relating to the delivery of the first power and the second signal indicating whether a cessation of the delivery is acceptable to the additional control system;
• wherein the first intermediate module is substantially distinct from the safety isolation system and substantially distinct from the additional control system,
• wherein the intermediate module is configured to provide a first control signal and a second control signal to the safety isolation system that are redundant with respect to one another and are configured to cause the cessation of the delivery of the first power to the first output port when the first signal from the external control device is commanding the cessation, if the second signal indicates that the cessation is acceptable to the additional control system,
• wherein the intermediate module is further configured to receive a third signal from the external control device that is redundant with respect to the first signal,
• wherein the intermediate module includes safety switching componentry that is configured to operate in a redundant manner, and
• wherein the additional control system that is configured to provide the second signal is at least one of a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a safety PLC, and wherein the additional control system is configured to at least one of monitor and control the load.

A system for controlling a delivery of a first power from a power source to a load, the system comprising:

• a safety isolation system configured to receive the first power at a first input port and determine whether the first power is delivered to a first output port;
• and
• a first intermediate module connected with the safety isolation system, the first intermediate module being configured to receive first and second signals from an external control device and an additional control system, respectively, the first signal representing a command relating to the delivery of the first power and the second signal indicating whether a cessation of the delivery is acceptable to the additional control system;
• wherein the intermediate module is configured to provide a first control signal and a second control signal to the safety isolation system that are redundant with respect to one another and are configured to cause the cessation of the delivery of the first power to the first output port when the first signal from the external control device is commanding the cessation, if the second signal indicates that the cessation is acceptable to the additional control system,
• wherein the first intermediate module is substantially distinct from the safety isolation system and substantially distinct from the additional control system,
• wherein the intermediate module is further configured to receive a third signal from the external control device that is redundant with respect to the first signal, and to receive a fourth signal from the additional control system that is redundant with respect to the second signal, and
• wherein the intermediate module includes safety switching componentry that is configured to operate in a redundant manner, the safety switching componentry including safety relay monitoring circuitry.

A system for influencing a delivery of a first power from a power source to a load by way of a safety isolation system, the safety isolation system being configured to receive the first power at a first input port and determine whether the first power is delivered to a first output port, the system comprising:

• a first intermediate module configured to be connected with the safety isolation system, the first intermediate module being further configured to receive first and second signals from an external control device and an additional control system, respectively, the first signal representing a command relating to the delivery of the first power and the second signal indicating whether a cessation of the delivery is acceptable to the additional control system;
• wherein the first intermediate module is substantially distinct from the safety isolation system and substantially distinct from the additional control system,
• wherein the intermediate module is configured to provide a first control signal and a second control signal to the safety isolation system that arc configured to cause the cessation of the delivery of the first power to the first output port when the first signal from the external control device is commanding the cessation, if the second signal indicates that the cessation is acceptable to the additional control system,
• wherein the first and second control signals are redundant with respect to one another,
• wherein the intermediate module is further configured to receive a third signal from the external control device, the third signal being redundant with respect to the first signal, and
• wherein the intermediate module includes safety switching componentry that includes at least some redundant internal componentry so as to operate in a redundant manner.