GB2389974A

GB2389974A - Switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device

Info

Publication number: GB2389974A
Application number: GB0303962A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Markus Hain; Heinrich Strackbein
Original assignee: Rittal GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Rittal GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2002-02-22
Filing date: 2003-02-21
Publication date: 2003-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-21
Also published as: FR2836565A1; GB2389974B; DE20221939U1; DE10207513A1; DE10207513B4; FR2836565B1; GB0303962D0

Abstract

A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device for functions which are relevant per se to the switchgear cabinet, having a central control unit (13) and functional units (40), which are connected thereto via a data transmission device (30, 31, 32), a plurality of sensors (42, 44, 46) and/or actuators (42) respectively being connected or connectable to said functional units. In a simple configuration, various embodiment possibilities are offered in that the central control unit (13) is integrated into a server (10) in the housing of said switchgear cabinet, which server is present in the switchgear cabinet and serves for functions which are independent per se of the switchgear cabinet, and is connected on the one hand by means of a network connection unit (11) of the server (10) to a data network (20) and on the other hand by means of a separate bus adaptor (12) to a switchgear cabinet-internal fieldbus (30) and in that the functional units (40) likewise have bus adaptors (12), by means of which they are connected to the fieldbus (30).

Description

23a9914 SWITCHGEAR CABINET MONITORING AND CONTROL DEVICE

This invention relates to a switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device for functions which are relevant per se to the switchgear cabinet, having a central control unit and functional units connected thereto via a data transmission device, a plurality of sensors and/or actuators respectively being connected or connectable to said functional units.

A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device of this type is indicated in DE 196 09 689 A1. In the case of this known device, a central control device is provided to which various functional units in the form of corresponding interfaces with sensors and/or actuators connected thereto are connected, with which sensors and/or actuators measurement values relating to the switchgear cabinet itself, such as temperature, humidity, smoke, cabinet door open and the like are detectable and on the other hand actuators, such as air-conditioning components, relays and the like are actuatable in order to react to the sensor signals. The switchgear cabinet air-conditioning for example can thereby be undertaken by corresponding control or regulation so that the switchpear cabinet can be adapted to various usage conditions without complex modification measures, such as for example use in a humid atmosphere or at different temperatures. A network connection unit is required for a network connection. A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device of this type is accommodated in a housing which for its part is built into the switchgear cabinet, for example as a module at the height of an elevated unit, and has multiple connector plugs.

In the case of a switchpear cabinet monitoring unit shown in DE 197 10 016 C1, at least one control device situated in a switchgear cabinet is connected to a master computer via a superordinate network, to which servers also situated in the switchgear cabinet are connected. In addition, a bus

connection leads from the control device to the master computer, so that a connection is present between the master computer and the control device even upon failure of the network and a suitable signal can be output by means of the master computer to the control device, in order for example to reset the server by means of the control device or in order to switch off and on again. In addition to the monitoring and control tasks for the actual functions which relate to the switchgear cabinet itself, the control device thereby also takes over a monitoring and control function for the separate servers, both the control device and the servers being connected to the network.

A further switchgear cabinet monitoring unit is shown in DE 199 11 824 A1, in which a base monitoring device is connected on the one hand via an interface associated therewith to a data network and on the other hand via a fieldbus to further monitoring devices which for their part have no

network interface. Both the base monitoring device and the further monitoring devices have respectively a plurality of sensor connections and at least one actuating connection for responding to actuators. The base monitoring device and the further monitoring devices are associated with respective switchgear cabinets in order to monitor, to control and/or to regulate switchgear cabinet functions. In order to connect the sensors and/or actuators to the respective monitoring devices, the individual monitoring devices must also be equipped hereby with a corresponding multiplicity of connections and display elements which are normally provided on a housing of the monitoring device.

The object underlying the invention is to make available a switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device of the initially mentioned type which produces a simplified construction in the case of many connection possibilities.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. It is provided accordingly that the central control unit is integrated into a server in the housing of said switchgear cabinet, which server is present in the switchgear cabinet and serves for functions which are independent per se of the switchgear cabinet, and is connected on the one hand by means of a network connection unit of the server to a data network and on the other hand by means of a separate bus adaptor to a switchgear cabinet-internal fieldbus and in that the functional units

likewise have bus adaptors, by means of which they are connected to the fieldbus.

With these measures, both a separate housing for the central control unit and a relatively complex interface for access to the data network can be dispensed with, in addition further mechanical and electrical subassemblies of the server being able to be used advantageously, such as for example receiving means for the printed circuit board of the central control unit, direct voltage supply or also cooling elements. In addition, via the local arrangement of the functional units via the bus and the group-wise connection of the sensors and/or actuators to the functional units, the wiring complexity is low and the assembly is simplified. Maintaining the monitoring and control functions is assisted in that the functional units are configured differently for different functions and are equipped respectively with processing units which are coordinated to the different functions and are configured for maintaining the same upon failure of the server. The functional units can thereby maintain a type of emergency function autonomously. An advantageous embodiment for ensuring a reliable function and for a simple construction resides thereby in the fact that the processing units are

configured for the respective detection of the sensors and/or actuators connected thereto and for the integration of an identification signal of the same in data fed therefrom to the fieldbus and for detecting data obtained therefrom.

The measures are advantageous furthermore for reliable operation and simple construction in that the functional units are connected to a common direct voltage supply, whilst the central control unit is connected to the direct voltage supply of the server.

A specific non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in a block diagram the essential components of a switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device 1 with connection lines and a server 10 used for integration.

Referring to Figure 1, the server 10, as a rule a personal computer (PC)7 is accommodated in a built-in housing 10.1 in a switchgear cabinet and is connected by means of a network connection unit 11 to a superordinate network, for example Ethernet or another local network (LAN) 20 by means of a connection line 21. The server has, as is normal per se, a central computer unit (CPU) and a system console associated therewith in the switchgear cabinet or outwith the same via the local network 20, via which system console said server can be configured and data can be output and input.

The switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device 1 serves for detecting states in the switchgear cabinet, such as temperature, humidity, smoke, door open or access entitlement of a user and for actuation of actuators, such as fans, locks or alarms, and also for evaluation and processing of the

corresponding monitoring data and control data in order to issue alarm reports and to implement control and/or regulation tasks for maintaining the desired states in the switchgear cabinet. In order to be able to adapt the switchgear cabinet flexibly to respective usage conditions, the prescriptions for the monitoring tasks and control or respectively regulation tasks are configurable in a central control unit 13 of the switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device 1 and are programmable by means of software.

The central control unit 13 is integrated into the server 10 and accommodated in the housing 10.1. The central control unit 13 of the switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device 1 is connected to the network 20 using the network connection unit 11 of the server 10 and has on the other hand a separate bus adaptor 12 with which it is connected to a fieldbus 30 (system bus,

for example Ethernet, 12C, CAN) configured in the switchgear cabinet. The connection to the fieldbus 30 is effected via a PC card received in the server

housing 10.1 and via a bus connection 31. In order to evaluate and process the monitoring and control data, a processing unit of the control unit 13 is configured preferably on the central computer unit of the server 10, as a result of which the conversion of the data can be implemented for output and for receiving via the network connection unit 11 by means of relatively simple measures. The configuration of the switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device 1 can consequently be effected also in a simple manner via the system console of the server 10.

In order to connect the sensors and actuators, functional units 40 as extension units of the control unit 13 are connected locally, with respect to the control unit, to the fieldbus 30 via respective bus connections 32, 33, 34 and

respective bus adaptors 41.2, 43.2 or 47.2. The functional units 40 have respectively plug-in connections for various sensors 42, 44, 46 and actuators

42.1, 45 which are combined in suitable groups by means of the functional units 40. In this way, the functional units 40 with the sensors 42, 44, 46 and actuators 42.1, 45 which are associated therewith can be disposed advantageously at suitable places in the switchgear cabinet, as a result of which very diverse connection possibilities can be achieved with low wiring complexity and also additions or changes can be undertaken by the user via the fieldbus 30 according

to the application case without difficulties. The central control unit 13 has thereby an exceptionally simple configuration and for its part offers various possibilities for use.

The functional units 40 are configured for example as temperature monitoring and control unit 41, as inpuVoutput control 43 and/or card reader 47 and have temperature sensors 42 as sensors and actuators 42.1, which are combined with the temperature regulation or control, at least one door sensor 44 and at least one door lock 45 and also a smoke alarm 46 or respectively a card reading unit 47.1. In the individual functional units 40, respective processing units 41.1, 43.1 or 47.1 are provided in particular with microcontrollers, by means of which a pre-processing of the data and conversion for transmitting via the respective bus adaptors, 41.2, 43.2, 47.2, on the one hand, and actuation of the actuators 42.1, 45 is already effected and in addition an autonomous monitoring or respectively control or regulation in conjunction with the sensors or respectively actuators associated respectively therewith is made possible if the central control unit 13 or respectively the server 10 fails.

The functional units 40 are connected to a direct voltage supply 50 associated commonly therewith, whilst the central control unit 13 is supplied with power via the direct voltage supply of the server.

Various alterations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device for functions which are relevant per se to the switchgear cabinet, comprising a central control unit (13) and functional units (40) connected thereto via a data transmission device (30, 31, 32), a plurality of sensors (42, 44, 46) and/or actuators (42) respectively being connected or connectable to said functional units; characterized in that: the central control unit (13) is integrated into a server (10) in the housing of said switchgear cabinet, which server is present in the switchgear cabinet and serves for functions which are independent per se of the switchgear cabinet, and is connected on the one hand by means of a network connection unit (11) of the server (10) to a data network (20) and on the other hand by means of a separate bus adaptor (12) to a switchgear cabinet-internal fieldbus (30) ; and

the functional units (40) likewise have bus adaptors (12), by means of which they are connected to the fieldbus (30).

2. A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional units (40) are configured differently for different functions and are equipped respectively with processing units (41.1, 43.1) which are coordinated to the different functions and are configured for maintaining the same upon failure of the server (10).

3. A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the processing units (41.1, 43.1) are configured for the respective detection of the sensors and/or actuators connected thereto and for integration of an identification signal of the same in data fed therefrom to the fieldbus (30) and for detecting data obtained therefrom.

4. A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional units (40) are connected to a common direct voltage supply (50), whilst the central control unit (13) is connected to the direct voltage supply of the server (10).

5. A switchgear cabinet monitoring and control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central control unit (13) for evaluation and processing of monitoring and control data uses a central computer unit of the server (10) and in that the central control unit (13) is configurable via a system console of the server (10).

6. A switchpear cabinet monitoring and control device substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.