SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFE RETENTION OF LOADS WITH STORED POTENTIAL ENERGY

• Main Authors: Riederer, Kevin J, Ortell, Mark T, Desotelle, Sawyer J, Yegorov, Aleksey
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 17.08.2022
• Subjects: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORSOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERATION; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REGULATING

An improved system and method for providing safety-rated operation of a motor and motor drive controlling operation of a load with stored potential energy includes a two-channel method of monitoring and retaining control of the load. A first safety channel is configured to control operation of a holding brake, which provides sufficient holding force to retain the stored potential energy in the load. A second safety channel is configured to independently enable and disable torque production from the motor drive controlling operation of the motor. When torque production from the motor drive is enabled, the motor drive and motor are able to provide sufficient torque to retain the stored potential energy in the load. Monitoring and subsequent control of each safety channel is provided to ensure that a single failure in either channel will not cause the unexpected release of the stored potential energy from the load.