Motor control center network connectivity method and system
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKeith Brian Blodorn, David Lee Jensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor control center comprises a plurality of bays in which switchgear components, circuit protective components, automation components and power electronic components are disposed for driving motors and other loads. Network optical conductors are routed through one or more wireways adjacent to the bays. Distribution nodes are coupled to the conductors and are interconnected with respective network terminals within the bays. Components within individual bays for which EtherNet and/or Internet connectivity is desired are coupled to the network terminals. The conductors may comprise plastic optical fibers and may be designed to operate in the relatively high voltage environment of the motor control center bays.
Claims20
A motor control center comprising:
- a cabinet subdivided into a plurality of bays and wireways, the bays being configured to house power electronic components that receive power from a source and control application of power to one or more loads, the wireways being configured to channel data and power conductors to the bays;
- wireway optical network conductors disposed in a wireway for conducting data during operation;
- at least one distribution node coupled to the wireway optical network conductors;
- distribution optical network conductors coupled to the distribution node for conducting data between the distribution node and a bay during operation;
- and
- a data terminal disposed in one of the bays and coupled to the distribution optical network conductors, the data terminal being configured to be coupled to a component in the respective bay to transmit data between the coupled component and an external network during operation.
A motor control center comprising:
- a cabinet subdivided into a plurality of bays and wireways, the bays being configured to house power electronic components that receive power from a source and control application of power to one or more loads, the wireways being configured to channel data and power conductors to the bays;
- wireway optical network conductors disposed in a wireway for conducting data during operation;
- a plurality of distribution nodes coupled to the wireway optical network conductors;
- distribution optical network conductors coupled to the distribution nodes for conducting data between the respective distribution node and a bay during operation;
- and
- a plurality of data terminals disposed in the bays, each data terminal being coupled a respective distribution node via distribution optical network conductors, each data terminal being configured to be coupled to a component in the respective bay to transmit data between the coupled component and an external network during operation.
A method for making a motor control center, comprising:
- in a cabinet subdivided into a plurality of bays and wireways, the bays being configured to house power electronic components that receive power from a source and control application of power to one or more loads, disposing wireway optical network conductors in a wireway for conducting data during operation;
- coupling a plurality of distribution nodes to the wireway optical network conductors;
- coupling distribution optical network conductors to the distribution nodes for conducting data between the respective distribution node and a bay during operation;
- and
- disposing a plurality of data terminals in the bays, each data terminal being coupled a respective distribution node via distribution optical network conductors, each data terminal being configured to be coupled to a component in the respective bay to transmit data between the coupled component and an external network during operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.