Methods and apparatuses for monitoring the functionality of redundantly interconnected contacts

US10886086B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pepperl+Fuchs SE · DE

Inventors

• Daniel Saulheimer · Kusel, DE
• Friedrich Fuess · Schifferstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 2015
• Grant date: Jan 5, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01H50/54
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

For providing a very simple and reliable monitoring of the functionality of contacts together with a high flexibility of selection of the contacts a method for monitoring the functionality of redundantly interconnected contacts is provided, preferably within a load current circuit, wherein said n contacts, n=2, provide an electrical connection between a power supply and a load, wherein said n contacts are switchable by a controller and wherein each of said n contacts is designed for providing the electrical connection between the power supply and the load all alone. The method is characterized in that the controller switches on said n contacts during n subsequent activations according to a defined schedule according to which at the first of said n subsequent activations one of said n contacts is switched on first and the remaining n−1 contacts are switched on afterwards, so that a verification regarding the functionality of said one of said n contacts is possible, and according to which at each of the n−1 remaining subsequent activations a further one of said n contacts is switched on first with switching on of the remaining n−1 contacts afterwards, so that after said n subsequent …