Back to results
US 8,824,342 B2Granted
Field communication apparatus and process control system
AssigneeYokogawa Electric Corporation
InventorShuji Kase
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A field communication apparatus may include a first communication unit and a second communication unit each of which performs communication between a plurality of field devices and a host device, the first communication unit and the second communication unit constituting a duplex unit, a first explosion-proof housing that accommodates the first communication unit, and a second explosion-proof housing that accommodates the second communication unit. The first communication unit may be capable of being removed from the field communication apparatus while being accommodated in the first housing, and the second communication unit may be capable of being removed from the field communication apparatus while being accommodated in the second housing.
Claims14
A field communication apparatus comprising:
- a duplex unit including a first communication unit and a second communication unit, a first one of the first and second communication units is active while a second one of the first and second communication units is on standby, the first one performing an operation of communicating between a plurality of field devices and a host device, the second one becoming active and taking over the operation by the first one when the first one is unable to perform the operation;
- a first explosion-proof housing that accommodates the first communication unit;
- and
- a second explosion-proof housing that accommodates the second communication unit;
- wherein the first communication unit comprises:
- a first explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the first communication unit and configured to connect the first communication unit with a first cable that is connected to the plurality of field devices;
- a second explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the first communication unit and configured to connect the first communication unit with a network that is connected to the host device;
- and
- a third explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the first communication unit and configured to connect the first communication unit with a second cable that connects between the first communication unit and the second communication unit,
- the second communication unit comprises:
- a fourth explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the second communication unit and configured to connect the second communication unit with the first cable;
- a fifth explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the second communication unit and configured to connect the second communication unit with the network;
- and
- a sixth explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the second communication unit and configured to connect the second communication unit with the second cable,
- the first communication unit is capable of being removed from the field communication apparatus while being accommodated in the first housing by releasing a connection between the first communication unit and the first cable by manipulating the first explosion-proof connector, by releasing a connection between the first communication unit and the network by manipulating the second explosion-proof connector, and by releasing a connection between the first communication unit and the second cable by manipulating the third explosion-proof connector, and
- the second communication unit is capable of being removed from the field communication apparatus while being accommodated in the second housing by releasing a connection between the second communication unit and the first cable by manipulating the fourth explosion-proof connector, by releasing a connection between the second communication unit and the network by manipulating the fifth explosion-proof connector, and by releasing a connection between the second communication unit and the second cable by manipulating the sixth explosion-proof connector.
13 more elements
A process control system comprising:
- a plurality of field devices;
- a host device that manipulates the plurality of field devices by communicating with the plurality of field devices;
- a duplex unit including a first communication unit and a second communication unit, a first one of the first and second communication units is active while a second one of the first and second communication units is on standby, the first one performing an operation of communicating between the plurality of field devices and the host device, the second one becoming active and taking over the operation by the first one when the first one is unable to perform the operation;
- a first explosion-proof housing that accommodates the first communication unit;
- a second explosion-proof housing that accommodates the second communication unit;
- a first cable that connects the first communication unit and the second communication unit with the plurality of field devices;
- a second cable that connects between the first communication unit and the second communication unit;
- and
- a network that connects the first communication unit and the second communication unit with the host device;
- wherein the first communication unit comprises:
- a first explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the first communication unit and configured to connect the first communication unit with the first cable;
- a second explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the first communication unit and configured to connect the first communication unit with the network;
- and
- a third explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the first communication unit and configured to connect the first communication unit with the second cable,
- the second communication unit comprises:
- a fourth explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the second communication unit and configured to connect the second communication unit with the first cable;
- a fifth explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the second communication unit and configured to connect the second communication unit with the network;
- and
- a sixth explosion-proof connector that is removably attached to the second communication unit and configured to connect the second communication unit with the second cable,
- the first communication unit is capable of being removed from the process control system while being accommodated in the first housing by releasing a connection between the first communication unit and the first cable by manipulating the first explosion-proof connector, by releasing a connection between the first communication unit and the network by manipulating the second explosion-proof connector, and by releasing a connection between the first communication unit and the second cable by manipulating the third explosion-proof connector, and
- the second communication unit is capable of being removed from the process control system while being accommodated in the second housing by releasing a connection between the second communication unit and the first cable by manipulating the fourth explosion-proof connector, by releasing a connection between the second communication unit and the network by manipulating the fifth explosion-proof connector, and by releasing a connection between the second communication unit and the second cable by manipulating the sixth explosion-proof connector.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.