Patriot Sensors & Controls, Inc.

Other

Magnetek Controls

Leonard W Elias

An apparatus for testing an industrial machine safety system that allows the machine to begin operation only when a plurality of safety push buttons have all been depressed, and that stops the machine's operation when any safety push button is released. The apparatus includes an artificial hand that can depress and, upon command, release one of the safety push buttons, and has a release detector for detecting the release of the artificial hand. The release detector operates optically. A lamp directs a light beam along a path that is blocked by a plunger when releasing the safety push button and not blocked when depressing the safety push button. A photodetector detects interruption of this light beam. Thus release of the safety push button is detected upon detection of interruption of the light beam. The machine begins to stop upon release of the safety push button. A motion detector detects the stoppage of the machine. A timer produces either an indication of the time between release of the artificial hand and the stoppage of the machine or a minimum safe distance between the machine and each safety push button as determined by a predetermined maximum hand velocity constant and the time between release of the artificial hand and the stoppage of the machine.

Method for automatically testing machine safety system

Apparatus for automatically testing machine safety system

An apparatus and method for automatically testing a safety light curtain used to protect to an unsafe moving part of an industrial machine. A combined beam splitter and photodetector is temporarily attached to the receiver of the light curtain with beam splitter in the path of one of the light beams. A portion of the light beam continues to a receiver of the light curtain and a diverted portion of the light beam illuminates a photodetector. Interruption of this particular light beam simultaneously triggers a safety system to initiate the stopping of the machine and triggers the photodetector. A motion detector temporarily coupled to a rotating part of the machine determines when the machine has stopped. This motion detector may include a d.c. tachometer coupled via a resilient friction wheel. A timer connected to the photodetector and the motion detector determines the duration of the interval between interruption of the one light beam and the stopping of the machine. Either this time or a computed safety distance based upon a predetermined hand speed is displayed. This measured time or the computed distance can be used to determine if the light curtain is positioned far enough from any dangerous moving parts of the machine so that an emergency stoppage of the machine protects the operator from harm.

Apparatus for automatically testing safety light curtain and measuring

An automatic battery watering device includes a housing mounted in the battery cell opening. The housing has a chamber for receiving pressurized water, an internal valve opening for passing the water into the cell, a valve pin mounted in the valve opening, a float that is mounted in the battery electrolyte and connected to the lower end of the pin so as to rise and fall in response to a change in the liquid level in the cell, and a pair of internally mounted diaphragms which center and support the pin and float. The pin has a valve member for blocking the internal valve opening when the float is at an appropriate level. When the float is lowered after a drop in the level of the electrolyte, the internal valve member opens so water can flow into the battery to replenish the liquid level. The housing passes gas from the battery to the atmosphere along a path independent of the water passage.

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Highland, MI, United States of America

Leonard W Elias