DE20014112U1 - Device for constructing a machine - Google Patents

Description

Patent Attorneys Wenzel & Kalkoff

PO Box 2448 * 58414 Witten * 02302/914550

Registration documents:

Procedure for constructing a machine

Klaus Pickert

At the shift manager

58453 Rage

Attorney file:

06523.6

(06523.6)

Description

The invention relates to a device for constructing a machine.

When designing machines, care must be taken to exclude potential sources of danger for people operating the machine. Traditionally, machines are designed using multi-stage procedures, starting with the planning, development and procurement phases.

After carrying out a concept phase in which general aspects of the machine to be designed are determined, a definition phase follows to characterize the machine to be developed in more detail. The subsequent development phase, which is related to the present invention, is followed by the production phase, after which the machine can be put into operation.

According to the so-called "Machinery Directive" of the European Community, every machine manufacturer is now obliged to carry out a hazard analysis and risk assessment for each machine it produces, already in the design or development phase, with the aim of eliminating any potential sources of danger as early as possible.

To date, there is a lack of devices that would enable manufacturers and designers of machinery to comply with their obligations under the Machinery Directive in a simple and cost-effective manner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which allows machines in the design phase to be examined for sources of danger and to enable the construction of safe machines.
5

This object is achieved by a device for constructing a machine, with a network that has a plurality of terminal devices and a central computer, wherein the central computer has a memory in which graphic representations of sources of danger in machines are stored in digitalized form and the terminal devices are designed to execute a machine construction program and are linked to a memory in which a plurality of graphic representations of structurally different, functionally essentially identical machine parts are stored in digitalized form, and means are provided for comparing the graphic representation of a machine construction in the draft with the graphic representations of possible sources of danger.

The basic idea of the invention is to provide graphic representations of sources of danger at a central location so that the centrally available data material on 5 sources of danger can be accessed from outside using the terminal devices.

The design of a machine is carried out on the end devices, which can be commercially available computers equipped with a machine design program. Such machine design programs are designed in such a way that the designer is supported in building a machine on the computer by providing him with possible components that can be adapted to the existing structure of a machine.

By linking the central computer, on which graphic representations of sources of danger are available, with the terminal devices, which together form a network, it is possible to make comparisons between sections of a current machine design on the terminal device with graphic representations of possible sources of danger. In particular, it is not necessary for the graphic representations of sources of danger to be available on each individual terminal device.

The hazard source memory of the central computer may preferably comprise graphical representations of machine parts that constitute hazard sources, such as intermeshing gears and machine parts that periodically close and open a gap between themselves.

The machine design on the end device, which can also be in digital form, can thus be examined for possible sources of danger using a computer. If the digital data of a source of danger matches a section of the machine design, the designer can be informed that a change to the design may be necessary.

For example, graphic representations of functionally alternative components can be stored on a diskette or CD-ROM and made available to the end devices. In this way, if it is determined that a section of a machine design corresponds to a possible source of danger, it is permitted to replace the machine part causing the source of danger with another machine part that has the same functional effect.

For example, it is possible that two parts moving towards each other that could cause accidents are

·

· ■

·

• ·* ·* #♦♦ · ♦ ·
• · &bgr; 9 4 · · V 9 · · i

By maintaining defined safety distances they lose their dangerous effect.

As a further example, in the case where two intermeshing gears arranged side by side are identified as a source of danger, an internal gear design is alternatively chosen to avoid the source of danger.

It is also possible that, due to a lack of alternatives for possible sources of danger, the machine parts causing the source of danger are not replaced, but other components, such as protective plates, are provided. The latter design changes are preferably made when no suitable alternatives can be found for machine parts causing the source of danger.

In one embodiment of the invention, means for displaying a draft for a machine design present on one of the terminals on the central computer and a communication link between an operator of the central computer and an operator of the terminal can be provided. In this way, the designer on the terminal can be supported by an operator on the central computer with regard to a possible selection of alternatives for a machine part that represents a source of danger. The operator on the central computer, which contains the digitized representations of sources of danger, can be specially trained with regard to respective alternatives in the event of necessary redesigns. By providing the communication link, the designer can be effectively advised on the terminal.

ALLO1189

*# *:# fts *■*

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below using an example:

A device for constructing a machine comprises a network formed by a plurality of terminal devices and a central computer. The communication between the terminal devices and the central computer can take place, for example, via the Internet.

The central computer has a memory in which graphic representations of sources of danger in machines are stored in digital form. The sources of danger can be of any kind. Of particular importance are machine parts that can cause injury to a person operating the machine due to their relative movement. The graphic representations include a large number of machine parts that constitute sources of danger, regardless of the type of machine being constructed.

The terminals are designed to run a machine design program. The terminals are standard computers with a machine design program stored on their hard disks. The terminals have a memory, which can also be the hard disk mentioned above, in which a number of graphic representations of structurally different but functionally essentially equivalent machine parts are stored in digital form. The latter memory is certainly often formed by a CD-ROM or, if necessary, a larger read-only memory.

A voice communication link is also available so that an operator at a terminal who is currently carrying out a machine construction can communicate with an operator at the central computer.

which in particular enables an exchange of information to take place.

Software is available either on the central computer or on the terminals to compare the graphical representation of a machine design under design with the graphical representations of possible sources of danger. For example, a digitized image of intermeshing gears is loaded from the memory of the central computer into the memory of a terminal, after which a data comparison with a section or the entire design of a machine is carried out using the processor of the terminal. Both representations are available in digitized form.

After the comparison has been carried out, if a possible source of danger is found, a written, optical or acoustic signal can be issued to the operator of the terminal, so that he or she is informed that measures must be taken to avoid a source of danger. The signal can be used directly by the processor of the terminal to search the memory for alternative machine parts accessible to it for a machine part that can replace the machine part causing the source of danger. It is also possible for the operator to initiate the search for an alternative machine part and, if necessary, make a pre-selection by, for example, specifying boundary conditions that the alternative machine part must satisfy.

After finding an alternative machine part, a further comparison of the current machine design with sources of danger, which are available as graphical representations on the central computer, can be made, since it cannot be ruled out that the alternative machine design

- 7 structure a new source of danger has arisen.

The process described above continues until the construction of a machine is completed. 5

Claims (4)

1. Device for constructing a machine with - a network comprising a number of terminal devices and a central computer, - the central computer has a memory in which graphic representations of sources of danger in machines are stored in digital form and - the terminals are designed to execute a machine design program and are linked to a memory in which a plurality of graphic representations of structurally different but functionally essentially identical machine parts are stored in digital form, and - means are provided for comparing the graphic representation of a machine design under design with the graphic representations of possible sources of danger. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hazard source memory of the central computer comprises graphic representations of machine parts constituting hazard sources, such as meshing gears and machine parts which periodically close and open a gap between themselves. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the memory of a terminal is in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which means for displaying a draft for a machine design present on one of the terminals are provided on the central computer and a communication connection is provided between an operator of the central computer and an operator of the terminal.