FR2729799A1 - Installation to control multiple items of electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The monitoring and control installation has multiple data capture devices (A1,... An and B1, ... Bn) connected to each of the items of electrical equipment (X1, ... Xn and Y1, ... Yn). The data collected from each site is concentrated (A and B). The concentrators can query in turn each of the data capture devices in their zone, and transmit the data read from the data capture device to a central computer (O). Each of the data capture devices has an electronic circuit that enters identification data into the data stream from the capture device, and also a local clock to enter timing data into the data stream. The data gathered can be displayed on the screen of the computer, which can also process the data an control operation of the plant item.

Description

MANAGEMENT AND / OR CONTROL INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT PARK
The present invention relates in particular to the field of industry and relates more particularly to a process for controlling and transferring data relating to the operation of electrical devices, usable in industrial management.

 Faced with qualitative and quantitative competition, industrialists today, more particularly those who associate the running of their business with an optimal use of a large fleet of electrical devices, must better determine their cost prices and therefore perfectly master the maintenance and upkeep operations in order to minimize the risk of breakdown or malfunction of their devices.

 Indeed, it is easy to imagine that a company is all the more flourishing, as its turnover is important. But this is not enough, if the production costs are not minimized by an appropriate and modern management system for each of the electrical appliances. It is therefore obvious that the automatic control of each device must be done, and this in a meticulous manner, thus ensuring the company a maximum profit margin, guaranteeing its sustainability.

 Guaranteeing perfect control of the proper functioning of a large fleet of electrical devices is not an easy thing, because it is necessary both to count those and to try to periodically impose control and maintenance operations on these devices, operations which are often difficult to assume by the personnel using the internal service of the company. Also, in a curious way, it is often only when their specifications are well furnished, that business leaders are faced with problems of failure of their electrical devices. This observation is explained simply by the additional solicitation of said electrical devices and by the heaviness and the lack of organization in the monitoring of the control and maintenance of the devices.

 Aware of this problem, because he himself is sensitive to the improvements to be made to the control and maintenance operations of electrical measuring devices and to that of the forecast of availability of devices usable at such and such a site, the applicant proposes a original creation allowing better control of the operating characteristics of each device using an automatic and continuous recording of these characteristics, usable in real time by a centralized system.

 With this in mind, the applicant imagined a daring installation for controlling the progress of control and maintenance operations for a company's fleet of electrical devices, based on two principles: its simplicity of implementation and the adaptability of said installation at all companies, favoring the connection mode of the electronic processing part.

For this, such an installation for managing and / or controlling a fleet of electrical devices, comprises, in combination and in accordance with the main provisions of the invention:
- functional information capture devices, assigned to each of the electrical devices,
- at least one functional device for concentrating information, assigned to each work site, and around which the various functional input devices are connected,
- And at least one functional information management device around which the functional concentration device (s) are connected.

The functional gripping devices called "cookies" in the context of the present invention are intended to be placed, as a buffer, between electrical devices and their supply of electrical energy, and more particularly between the power cord and the power outlet secured to the These devices are equipped with an electronic processing unit to give the possibility of entering so-called traceability data, programmable before any commissioning of the device, and necessary for the identification of intrinsic caxXistics of the latter such as:
- its brand, number and name,
- the different options with which it is equipped,
- the date of its first entry into service,
- the date of its last maintenance,
- the date of its next maintenance,
- his place of employment,
- its various failures already detected,
- its parts already replaced,
- etc ...

The electronic processing unit for these cookies also integrates a clock which, associated with the start and end times of the use of the equipped devices, makes it possible to enter:
- the cumulative usage times since the first start-up and / or since the last maintenance intervention,
- the current state - powered on or - powered off - of the device,
- instant energy consumption.

 The purpose of the clock integrated in the electronic processing unit is therefore to evaluate the time units elapsed between the two start and stop time marks for use of the equipped device. These two time marks are advantageously detected respectively by powering up and by powering down the latter. In this way, after converting the information on operation and reliability on the identification of the device and the information on the elapsed time units, into interpretable data, the electronic processing unit will then transfer them to the functional management device. , via the functional concentration device (s), to be used by a conventional computer system.

 According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the cookies are fitted with an external switch accessible by the user of the device, and intended to act on the electronic processing unit in order to establish a signal making it possible to notify the functional management device, via the functional centralization device (s), of a request for early intervention of maintenance of the device from the site where it is installed. In fact, this request can come from the user following the finding of a failure in the functioning of the device, apart from the control and maintenance operations managed, for their part, by the functional management device.

 According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned cookies are each equipped with a battery which, activated in the event of disconnection of the cookie from the mains supply network, continues to ensure autonomous operation of the electronic processing unit and to maintain dialogue with the functional concentration device to which it is connected.

 The functional device (s) for concentrating information, called "concentrators" in the context of the invention, are designed to interrogate the different cookies and to send the flow of information received to the above management device.

 The concentrator can be fixed. In this case, it is installed in the work unit where the device (s) fitted with a cookie are installed.

 The concentrator can be mobile. In this case, it can be used by a natural person to ensure semi-automatic interrogation of all or part of a fleet of devices equipped with cookies. This interrogation can be triggered either manually by the user from a switch accessible from the outside, or automatically by simple proximity. The transmission of the information received by the cookies will then be passed on later to the functional management system.

 In the hypothesis of the use of mobile concentrators, the cookies are preferably connected to the said concentrator by a teletransmission of the type of that using a radio link, an infrared link, or even by any type of cable link.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the concentrator is fitted with a display screen making it possible to view on site all the characteristics of the electrical appliance questioned. The concentrator then becomes a portable device making it possible to view in real time, at the option of the user or the controller, the characteristics of a device on site.

Finally, the purpose of the functional management device called "central" in the context of the invention is to centralize all of the information passed on by the concentrator or concentrators in order to establish a list of characteristics on the state in real time. electrical equipment from a company's fleet. This central, capable of identifying each device assigned to a concentrator and each concentrator assigned to a site, records the various traceability and functional information that it organizes according to a pre-established program to automatically trigger control and maintenance operations. , on said devices. This central is capable of transmitting information to the cookies, via the concentrators, in order to warn the user of a device by an audible and / or visual signal, the initiation of an intervention of maintenance or control on said device
Such an installation fits perfectly within the framework of sub-contracted maintenance because the snitch can follow all its life the device which it equips.

 Although the main aspects of the invention considered to be new have been expressed above, further details concerning a preferred embodiment of an overall structure of a management and control installation respecting the fundamental concepts of invention will be better understood by referring to the description below and the accompanying drawing illustrating this embodiment.

 The figure carried by this drawing is a schematic block diagram illustrating the operation of such an installation.

This installation, referenced I as a whole, consists of a set of cookies Al, A2, ... An and B1, B2, ... Bn assigned to measuring devices X1, X2, ... Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn distributed in two work sites X and Y. These cookies are, in accordance with the provisions of the invention, functional devices for entering all the traceability and functional information on the measuring devices which they equip . For this, they are placed, in buffer, between the electrical apparatuses Xl, X2, ... Xn and Yl, Y2, ... Yn and their supply of electrical energy, and more particularly between the power cord and the integral power outlet of the device to be equipped. Thus, apart from the pre-recorded traceability information before their commissioning which can be programmed from a conventional computer, the cookie is able to read, thanks to an integrated clock and the different settings on and off of the equipped device, the operating times of said device The cookie can be connected by a serial link or equivalent, to the device it equips, so as to automatically update a certain number of information each time the device is switched on
These cookies Al, A2, ... An and Bi, B2, ... Bn are connected first to a fixed concentrator A and the second to another fixed concentrator B, via a teletransmission
Cl of the hertzian type. These concentrators A and B assigned the first to the devices of the work site X and the second to the devices of the work site Y, have for object to periodically interrogate the cookies to which they are connected in order to collect the entered information by these.

 Finally, the concentrators A and B are, for their part, via a transmission by a telephone network C2, to a central management unit O called central and intended to collect and analyze all the information received by the concentrators A and B , in order to automatically determine and trigger the control and maintenance operations of the devices.

It is useful to specify that the installation I can use any type of bidirectional link between the cookies Al, A2, ... An B1, B2, ... Bn and the concentrators A and
B on the one hand, and between the concentrators A and B and the central O on the other hand, other than those
Cl and C2 illustrated in the drawing. In fact, the cookies can be connected, bidirectionally, to the concentrators and the latter to the central:
- either using a direct cable transmission,
- either using a transmission by a private telephone network,
- either using a transmission by a public telephone network,
- either using a teletransmission.

 Such an installation is advantageous because it does not in any way modify the computer or telephone equipment already installed in a business, being content to judiciously exploit an adaptation mode. Therefore, depending on the equipment in place of the company, the installation of the invention can be adapted to the private telephone network, to the public telephone network, to the internal cable network, or even according to the activity of since the company does not create interference, the installation of the invention can implement a remote transmission between the various cookies, concentrators and the central The advantage of using a bidirectional link between the cookies, the concentrators and the central is to establish a dialogue of cookies towards the central and from the central towards the cookies.

 It is understood that the installation which has just been described and represented above has been for the purpose of disclosure rather than limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements may be made to the above example, without departing from the scope of the invention taken in its broadest aspects and spirit. Thus, for example, it is possible to design a device for detecting exits and inputs of apparatuses to limit the risks of theft, by having a concentrator with permanent interrogation, at the entry and exit door of the company. .

In the same vein, uncoupling the cookie from the device it equips can generate a personalized signal at the concentrator and / or the central office. It is also possible to process and return information other than that initially provided for in the installation of the invention.

 It goes without saying also that the connections between the cookies, the concentrators and the central can be made as well by a hertzian link, as by cable bus or by carrier current.

 In order to allow a better understanding of the drawings, a list of references with their legends is listed below.

I. Installation
A1, A2, ... An, B1, B2, ... Bn ...... Cookies
X1, X2, ... Xn, Y1, Y2, ... Yn ..... Measuring devices
A, B Concentrators o .... Central
C1 ..... Connection by remote transmission
C2 Telephone link

Claims (10)

 1. Installation for managing and / or controlling a fleet of electrical devices (Xl, X2, ... Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn), CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it includes, in combination:  - functional information capture devices (Al, A2, ... An and B1, B2, ... Bn), assigned to each of the devices (Xl, X2, .. Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn),  - at least one functional device for concentrating information (A and B), assigned to each work site (X and Y), and around which are connected the various functional input devices (Al, A2, ... An and B1 , B2, ... Bn),  - And at least one functional device for managing (O) information around which the functional concentration device (s) (A and B) are connected.  2. Installation according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the functional input devices (Al, A2, ... An and Bl, B2, ... Bn) are interposed between the electrical devices (Xl, X2, .. .Xn and Yl, Y2, ... Yn) and their supply of electrical energy.  3. Installation according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforementioned functional information concentration device (s) (A and B) are designed to interrogate the various information entry devices (Al, A2, ... An and B1, B2, ... Bn) and to send them to the aforementioned management device (O).  4. Installation according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforementioned functional input devices (Al, A2, ... An and Bl, B2, ... Bn) are provided with an electronic processing unit for entering so-called traceability data, programmable before any commissioning of the device (Xl, X2, ... Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn), and necessary for the identification of the intrinsic characteristics of the device (Xl , X2, ... Xn and Yl, Y2, ... Yn) equipped with the above functional input device (Al, A2, .. An and B1, B2, ... Bn).  5. Installation according to claims 1, 2 and 4, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the electronic processing unit of the above functional input devices (Al, A2, ... An and Bl, B2, ... Bn) has a built-in clock, for entering so-called operating data which, associated with the built-in clock and with start and end time marks for the equipped devices (Xl, X2, ... Xn and Yl, Y2, ... Yn), allow to know,  - the cumulative usage times since the first start-up and / or since the last maintenance intervention,  - the current state - on - or - off - of the device (xl, X2, .. Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn),  - instant energy consumption.  6. Installation according to claims 1,2,4 and 5 taken together, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above functional input devices (Al, A2, ... An and B1, B2, ... Bn) are fitted with an external switch accessible by the user of the device (Xl, X2, ... Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn), and intended to act on the electronic processing unit with a view to establishing a signal to notify the functional management device (O), via the functional centralization device (s) (A and B), of a request for early intervention for maintenance of the device (X1, X2, ... Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn) from the site (Xou Y) where it is installed.  7. Installation according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above functional input devices (Al, A2, ... An and B1, B2, ... Bn) are each equipped with a battery which, activated in the event of disconnection of the functional input device (Al, A2, ... An and B1, B2 ,. ..Bn) of the mains supply network, continues to ensure autonomous operation of the electronic processing unit and dialogue with the functional concentration device (A or B) to which it is connected.  8. Installation according to claims 1 and 3, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above-mentioned functional concentration devices (A and B) are fixed.  9. Installation according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforementioned functional concentration devices (A and B) are fitted with a display screen making it possible to display on site the characteristics of the electrical appliance questioned (X1, X2 , ... Xn and Y1, Y2, ... Yn).  10. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above functional input devices (Al, A2, ... An and B1, B2, ... Bn) are bidirectionally connected to their aforementioned functional concentration device (A or B), and the functional concentration devices (A and B) are bidirectionally connected to their aforementioned functional management device (O ).