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Highest User Safety for Mobile Control Station Applications: New emergency-stop signalling the active resp. inactive condition by illuminated mushroom head

Highest User Safety for Mobile Control Station Applications: New emergency-stop signalling the active resp. inactive condition by illuminated mushroom head

Georg Schlegel GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its portfolio by an illuminated emergency-stop. The actuator improves the safety in connection with mobile control stations like pluggable programming devices or wireless handhelds as well as modular plant parts. The functional principle: If control stations or plant parts are connected to the overall system the active condition of the emergency-stop is signalled by the red illuminated mushroom head. In case there is no connection available the mushroom head is not illuminated and thus has a grey transparent colour which indicates that the emergency-stop is inactive. The aim is to avoid confusion upon shutdown of the control station or the plant part and to ensure that no inactive emergency-stop is being operated and thus to provide safety at work. Schlegel's new emergency-stop is in accordance with ISO 13850:2015(E) and will be certified acc. to the coming EN ISO 13850:2015(D).

In dangerous situations emergency-stops can protect against serious injuries or even safe life. Schlegel products are globally known for its mechanical robustness, excellent functionality, safety as well as attractive design. Thus they are particularly suitable for the equipment of modern handhelds which are being used in many different industry sectors. According to the valid Standards mobile control stations or plant parts had to be always equipped with an emergency-stop with permanent red mushroom head. In inactive condition the emergency-stop had to be covered or the complete unit had to be locked away if it was not connected to the overall system in order to avoid confusion and thus danger for the workers. This way a wrong operation (in terms of an inadvertent operation) of the inactive emergency-stop function should be excluded. „This procedure however did not ensure a 100% safety as there was a decisive human impact. In the worst case the neglect of the cover could have fatal impact on the health or life of the workers as in case of emergency the operator was led to believe that the emergency-stop is active“, explains Kurt Blank, head of the R&D at Schlegel. This risk is reduced to a minimum by the new active illuminated emergency-stop: If the handheld or modular plant part is not connected to the overall system – that means the emergency-stop has no function – this is clearly indicated by the non-illuminated grey mushroom head. It is no longer necessary to cover the emergency-stop or lock away the overall system. In contrary the red illuminated mushroom head indicates that the unit is correctly connected to the overall system and the "active" emergency-stop properly functions in case it is needed (in emergency). „The changing of colour by illumination of the active emergency-stop is one of the measures being required by the coming Standard. We see this as a very useful as well as necessary variant and thus have expanded our product portfolio accordingly“, says Thomas Gairing, head of the electrical engineering. In order to fulfill the requirements of the Standard in connection with the pluggable and wireless operating stations it is necessary to have in addition at least one conventional active emergency-stop directly wired to the machine. For high level safety the emergency-stop may only be used in light conditions ensuring a clear and definite perceptibility of the red illuminated mushroom head. Before using the emergency-stop Schlegel recommends a safety review of the overall system. Depending on the risk analysis the illumination of the emergency-stop has to be monitored by a diagnostic unit in order to take action according to the risk assessment in case of failure. The diagnostic unit is not included in the scope of delivery.

At present Schlegel is offering the emergency-stop for mounting diameter 22.3 mm and degree of protection IP65. It is available with Faston connection 2.8x0.8 mm or with PCB- mount terminals. Upon request Schlegel is developing individual solutions, also complete systems with control units and emergency-stops. The new emergency-stop will be certified acc. to the coming Standard EN ISO 13850:2016 and already complies to the Standard ISO 13850:2015(E).

Details

  • 88525 Dürmentingen, Germany
  • Georg Schlegel GmbH & Co. KG

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