WO2017072042A1

WO2017072042A1 - Monitoring unit and field device arrangement comprising a monitoring unit

Info

Publication number: WO2017072042A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/075384
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guido König; Peter Arzbach; Melanie Dürr; Harald Kah
Original assignee: Samson Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2015-10-26
Filing date: 2016-10-21
Publication date: 2017-05-04
Also published as: DE202016008525U1; DE102015118198A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a signal-generating, device-specific monitoring unit (1) for a control device (55), controlled in particular from a control room, having a control fitting, such as a control valve, a control drive, in particular a pneumatic control drive, actuating the control fitting, and a control electronics system, such as a position controller, controlling the control drive, comprising: a signal receiver for receiving at least one item of control room-specific and/or control device-specific, in particular control electronics system-specific operating information, in particular an error condition, an emergency shutdown condition, a maintenance condition, an actual operating condition, such as a path measurement value, a pressure measurement value, a target operating condition; a display, such as a light for outputting a predetermined signalling code; and a processing electronics system separate from the control electronics system, which evaluates the at least one received item of operating information in such a way that the predetermined signalling code is assigned to the at least one item of operating information according to a predetermined monitoring key, and which initiates the output of the predetermined signalling code.

Description

Monitoring unit and field device arrangement with a monitoring unit

The invention relates to a signaling, device-specific monitoring unit for a particular controlled by a control room control device. The invention also relates to a field device arrangement of a process plant, such as a food processing plant, such as a brewery, a power plant, a petrochemical plant, or the like, which includes a control device and a signaling, device-specific monitoring unit. The monitoring electronics comprises a display for outputting a predetermined signaling code, which can indicate, for example visually or acoustically, whether the actuating device is working faultlessly or incorrectly or whether the actuating device has possibly even been switched off.

From US 8,708,746 B2 a positioner is known, which is integrated in a connector. The positioner can be connected to a control valve so as to realize a control device that can be controlled from a control room. In the plug-like housing of the positioner displays are provided to indicate the status of the positioner. To indicate safety-critical errors, the plug-in positioner has proved to be poorly suited, since positioner errors can go undetected if, for example, as a result of an error, no correct activation of the control unit's own display takes place.

WO 99/21066 A1 discloses a method and a device for verifying the operating state of a safety-related actuating device which has a monitoring unit with indicator lights which signal the state of the actuating device. The actuator - -

holds a positioner with a microprocessor to perform actuator diagnostics. The microprocessor of the positioner may send messages to the monitoring unit to control them such that the display indicates, for example, the execution of a diagnostic or a fault alarm. In the process engineering system, a communication link in the form of a paired cable is provided for all communication between a control room and the control device located in the field. The control message from the positioner to the monitoring unit is sent by the microprocessor of the positioner by changing a signal in the communication link from the microprocessor.

In the known field device arrangement has proved to be disadvantageous that the positioner may, if errors occur that affect the diagnostic and / or communication function of the positioner, may no longer send messages to the monitoring unit to control their display. The display of the monitoring unit then indicates that the actuator is operating correctly, although in reality there may be serious errors. Furthermore, it has been found that by changing the signals on the communication line for transferring the messages from the positioner to the monitoring unit, the signals which are changed for transporting the message can be falsified in such a way that subsequent errors occur when the control valve is actuated. In addition, the known field device arrangement requires a control device specially configured to control a monitoring unit with a correspondingly adapted positioner. In order to nachzurösten existing field devices with a monitoring unit, so must be replaced or reconfigured according to the known field device arrangement, the control electronics of the existing actuator at high cost and time.

It is the object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular to provide a signaling, device-specific monitoring unit for a particular controlled by a control room control device and a field device arrangement with a signaling monitoring unit, with the low Nachröstaufwand a safe and error-resistant monitoring of Actuator can be enabled. This object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims.

Accordingly, a signaling, device-specific monitoring unit for a particular controlled by a control room control device is provided with a control armature. The signaling monitoring unit can in particular be such Stellstellindividuell that, for example, one, several or all actuators of a process plant, such as a food processing plant, a power plant, a petrochemical plant or the like, each assigned its own monitoring unit. A control device usually has an actuating armature, such as a control valve, a control armature confirming, in particular pneumatic actuator and an actuator driving the control electronics, such as a positioner, on.

The signaling, device-specific monitoring unit comprises a signal receiver for receiving at least one control-system-specific and / or setting device-specific, in particular setting-electronics-specific, operating information. In particular, operating information may be an error state, an emergency shutdown state, or a maintenance state. An operating information may also be an actual operating state, such as a distance measured value, which may relate, for example, to a travel of an actuator or control valve, a pressure reading, for example regarding a pressure in a process fluid of the process plant or in a pneumatic fluid for actuating a pneumatic actuator, or a temperature reading that may relate, for example, to the temperature of the process fluid or the temperature of a component of the actuator. Also, a desired operating state can realize operating information. Furthermore, the signaling device-specific monitoring unit comprises, for example, an acoustic or visual display for outputting a predetermined signaling code, for example a signal color or a signal tone. In addition, the signaling, device-specific monitoring unit comprises non-electronic processing electronics, which is adapted to evaluate the at least one received operating information such that according to a predetermined monitoring key, the predetermined signaling code of the at least one operating information is assigned, and causes the output of the predetermined signaling code. It is clear that with control electronics the complete electronics of the - -

Actuator can be designated and inasmuch as the processing electronics can also be referred to as terte de change device. On the basis of the evaluation in accordance with the predetermined monitoring key, the processing electronics can determine which predetermined signaling code the display issues as a result of the at least one received operating information. The fact that the operating information evaluation is not done by the control electronics in the positioner, the monitoring unit is capable of independent of any malfunction of the actuator independently on the basis of the received operating information to recognize what type of signaling code to be issued has to be. There is also no need to configure the control electronics or their positioner specifically for the monitoring unit or to change signals in order to notify the monitoring unit of a control message. If every control unit of a process plant is equipped with a monitoring / control unit-specific monitoring unit, operating personnel outside of a control room can easily find out whether the plant has incorrectly operating control gear and quickly recognize where a fault occurs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing electronics is designed to evaluate at least two, preferably four or six, received operating information such that according to the predetermined monitoring key the predetermined signaling code is assigned to the at least two evaluated operating information. By way of example, the processing electronics can be designed to evaluate a plurality of pressure measurement values recorded in chronological succession according to predetermined pressure values which form a key and, in the case of a deviation from the predetermined pressure value key, to associate the pressure measurement values with, for example, a leakage error code.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with the previous, the processing electronics comprises a microprocessor, in particular a microcontroller, and / or an analog logic circuit for assigning the received device-specific operating information to the predetermined signaling code and / or for initiating the output of the predetermined signaling code by the display. For example, as described above, a microcontroller may be configured to evaluate a pressure reading against a pressure setpoint key to detect if it is detected - -

a leakage error to cause the display to issue the leakage error code, for example, by pressing a blue LED. An analog logic circuit can, for example, assign a predetermined signaling code to a received controller-specific operating information as a function of a current or voltage threshold. For example, when the threshold is undershot or exceeded by the received actuator-specific operational information, the logic circuitry may associate a predetermined signaling code representing an error condition or a properly-functioning condition.

An analog logic circuit may in particular be designed to assign a predetermined error signaling code to a received actuator-specific operating information in the form of an either active or inactive analog signal. In particular, an analog output active on an output pin during normal operation can become inactive in a faulty error, which assigns the analog logic circuit to a predetermined error signaling code.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing electronics comprise the signal receiver. Signal receiver and processing electronics can be realized in particular in functional union, for example by a microcontroller.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the signal receiver actively extracts the setting device-specific operating information from the actuating device, in particular the adjusting electronics. In particular, the signal receiver is designed to subtract the operating information by the signal receiver sends a request for a particular specific actuator-specific operating information to the control device, in particular the control electronics to cause the actuator, in particular the control electronics to tell the signal receiver the actuator-specific operating information ,

A monitoring unit which is designed to actively extract the operating information from the actuating device can realize a type of master-slave connection, in which the monitoring - -

monitoring unit as a master unit to the actuator, which acts as a slave unit is hierarchically superior, the control unit, in particular the control electronics, commands the monitoring unit for delivering a specific actuator-specific information sequence follows.

In another embodiment of the invention, the signal receiver is adapted to receive the actuator-specific operating information by the actuator-specific operating information derives from an operating signal that is addressed to the control electronics, or derives from an operating signal, which comes from the control electronics and the control electronics is addressed to a non-monitoring addressee, such as a control room. In particular, the adjusting electronics are designed to receive and / or to output formatted operating signals in accordance with a HART protocol or according to a fieldbus protocol. In this embodiment, the signal receiver of the monitoring unit listens for communication between the adjusting electronics and an addressee, such as a control room, which differs from the monitoring unit and the adjusting electronics. For example, the signal receiver can subtract an electrical operating signal from a cable connection between the control electronics and control room inductively or by parallel connection, without disturbing the operating signal. The signal receiver can also be designed to listen to a wireless, for example by wireless, in particular WLAN or Bluetooth, or infrared transmitted operating signal between a control room and a monitoring unit foreign communication unit, such as a control room, and to receive the setting device-specific operating information. In particular, the signal receiver can receive operating signals that are formatted according to a HART protocol or according to a fieldbus protocol, which originate from the electronic control unit or addressed to the control electronics, recognize as operating device-specific operating information and pass it on to the processing electronics external to the control electronics for evaluation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the monitoring unit has a housing which accommodates the processing electronics and comprises at least one housing wall, which is arranged between the processing electronics and the adjusting electronics and separates the processing electronics from the adjusting electronics. Preferably, the housing for the - -

Monitoring electronics separately formed by a housing of the control electronics. In particular, the housing comprises a connection which corresponds to a connector strip.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a connector for connection to the actuator. For example, the connector may be designed as a two-wire connector, RS-232 connector, USB connector, M8 connector, M12 connector, device socket, or the like. The connector of the housing is preferably male. In particular, the housing has another connector, such as a two-wire connector, an RS-232 connector, USB connector; M8 connector, M12 connector, device connector or the like, for connecting to a computer, a control room or the like. Another connector may preferably be female. Such a housing may be adapted to be connected to a housing of a control electronics by an existing output slot of the control electronics, in which a cable connection is connected to a control room or a computer, for connection of the monitoring unit for use. If the housing of the monitoring unit is equipped with a further connector, it can be positioned as an additional module between the control electronics housing and a normally directly connected signal transmission cable or the like.

In a further development of the invention, which can be combined with the previous one, the housing of the monitoring electronics picks up the display or a separate display housing is provided which receives the display which is separate or separate from the housing for the monitoring electronics. In the latter case, the monitoring electronics can be connected to the display by cable or wirelessly by means of wireless signals. A housing can be arranged with the monitoring electronics directly to the actuator to receive the at least one Leitwartenspezifische and / or stellgerätespezifi- cal operating information, while the display with the display housing freely selectable, for example on the actuator or spaced from the actuator to a good visible location can be arranged. - -

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the monitoring unit has an energy supply for the processing electronics which is independent in particular of the power supply of the control electronics. For example, the monitoring unit may comprise an accumulator, such as a battery, or a generator, which converts the auxiliary pneumatic power of the actuator into electrical supply energy.

The invention also relates to a field device arrangement of a process plant, such as a food processing plant, such as a brewery, a power plant, a chemical plant, such as a petrochemical plant, or the like. The field device arrangement comprises an actuating device with a control electronics, which has a positioner for controlling a particular pneumatic actuator and a signaling, device-specific monitoring unit. The monitoring unit can in particular be designed as described above. The signaling, device-specific monitoring unit of the field device arrangement comprises a signal receiver for receiving at least one actuating device-specific, in particular setting electronics-specific, operating data, such as operating information, in particular an error state or a maintenance state. The actuator-specific operating date may also be an actual operating state, such as a distance measured value, a pressure measured value or a temperature measured value, or a desired operating state. Actuator-specific operating data may in particular be a leakage value or a leakage state when a predetermined leakage limit value is exceeded. Furthermore, the signaling, device-specific monitoring unit comprises a display for outputting a predetermined signaling code. The control electronics has at least one control signal input via which the positioner receives the at least one operating data, for example, from the control room and / or has at least one power supply input via which the positioner is supplied with electrical energy.

According to the invention the control electronics comprises an additional communication interface which is coupled directly to the monitoring unit to output via the display actuator-specific operating data associated signaling codes. Since the adjusting electronics has an additional communication interface in addition to or alongside the at least one control signal input and / or the power supply input, it is possible to ensure be made that the information transmitted via the control signal input information is not corrupted by the transmission of operating data to the monitoring unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the field device arrangement according to the invention, the additional communication interface has at least one, preferably exactly one, exactly two or exactly three pins. In particular, an RS-232 connector, a USB connector, an M8 connector, an M12 connector or a device connector has the at least one pin. For many actuators, a control electronics has an output with three pins. Of these three pins is often exactly one pin unused. The device-specific monitoring electronics, for example, be placed as an intermediate connector for such a standard three-pin output of the actuator such that the two standard pins used are connected by the intermediate connector with a line that is usually sitting directly on the three-pin connector, to transmit signals to a control room. The third, usually unused pin can then be used exclusively to provide field device specific operating data of the monitoring unit.

In a preferred embodiment of a field device according to the invention, the adjusting electronics are arranged in a housing having an opening, in particular with a screw thread, which can be assigned to a signal conductor, such as a cable connection, for communication of the control electronics with the control room, a computer or the like , The screw thread may preferably be a so-called PG thread.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention of a field device according to the invention the adjusting electronics is arranged in a housing having an opening, wherein the adjusting electronics has a particular arranged in the opening connector, in particular a device connector for a cable connection for communication with the control room, a computer or the like , - -

In an embodiment of a field device arrangement according to the invention, the additional communication interface is designed to transmit the setting device-specific operating data as at least one, preferably exactly one or two, continuous or modulated, binary signal. For example, an error operating date can be transmitted via a pin of a device plug connector, which is provided for error signal transmission.

In a preferred embodiment of a field device according to the invention, the additional communication interface is adapted to transmit the at least one setting device-specific operating date to the monitoring unit as an addressed operating signal, for example as a HART signal, or as a desired signaling code for the display. In such an embodiment, it is possible to speak of a master-slave communication between the actuating device and the device-specific monitoring unit, with the monitoring unit operating as a hierarchically subordinate slave in accordance with the commands of the actuating device acting as the master. For example, the monitoring unit may be designed to control the display in accordance with the desired signaling code. The additional communication interface can, for example, communicate an operating date as an operating signal addressed to the monitoring unit, for example if the actuating device has detected an error on the basis of an internal error detection routine, or if a diagnostic routine of the actuating device has detected an impaired operation of the actuating device, the error detection or the diagnosis result ,

In a preferred embodiment of a field device according to the invention, the field device has a control electronics housing in which the control electronics is housed, and the field device further comprises an additional housing in which the processing electronics is housed. The control electronics and the processing electronics are separated from each other by at least one housing wall of the housing and / or a housing wall of the positioner housing. In other words, the control electronics housing and the additional housing create two separate spaces for on the one hand the control electronics and, on the other hand, the processing electronics. - -

In a preferred embodiment of a field device arrangement according to the invention, the processing electronics comprises a microprocessor, in particular a microcontroller, and / or an analog logic circuit for assigning the at least one actuator specific operating date to the predetermined signaling code and / or for causing the output of the predetermined signaling code by the display. For example, a microcontroller, in particular a microprocessor, may be equipped with a HART communicator to receive and interpret a HART signal coded operating date from the control electronics to cause the display of the predetermined signaling code by the display.

In a further, with the previous combinable preferred embodiment of the field device arrangement according to the invention, the monitoring unit has a particular independent of the power supply of the control electronics power supply for the processing electronics. An independent energy supply, as described above, for example, as an accumulator, in particular as a battery or as a generator, be realized.

Further preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims. Further characteristics, advantages and features of the invention can be seen in the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a field device arrangement with a control device and a monitoring unit, which are connected via a common two-wire connection with a control room;

FIG. 2 shows a field device with a positioning device whose positioning electronics are connected to a control room and a monitoring unit connected to the adjusting electronics; - -

FIG. 3 shows a field device arrangement with a control device connected to a control room and with a monitoring unit whose processing electronics accesses the connection between the actuating device and the control room for supplying energy;

FIG. 4 shows a field device arrangement with a positioning device and a monitoring unit with a common power supply;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a monitoring unit whose housing can be inserted between a conventional actuator-side plug and a standard control-room-side cable socket;

FIG. 5 a shows the monitoring unit according to FIG. 5 in the mounted state;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a monitoring unit with a housing with a threaded connection for screwing into the usual positioner housing;

FIG. 6a shows the monitoring unit according to FIG. 6 in the assembled state; and

Figure 7 shows a field device with a control valve, which is actuated by an actuator and connected thereto control electronics with a monitoring unit.

In FIGS. 1 to 7, identical or similar components are generally provided with the same or similar reference numbers increased by 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 or 600.

In FIG. 1, a monitoring unit according to the invention of the illustrated field device arrangement 100 is provided with the reference numeral 101. The monitoring unit 101 is individually associated with a control device 151 which is controlled by a control room 191 in order to control a process fluid flow of a process fluid of a process plant (not closer - -

shown). The control room 191 can control numerous (not shown) actuators a process engineering system, each actuator can optionally have a Stellgeräteindividuelle monitoring unit.

The actuator 151 is connected to the control room 191 by a two-wire connection 181 to energize the actuator and to communicate data or signals between the control room and the actuator. For example, a 24 volt DC supply can be provided for the power supply and for communication with the actuator, an analog or digital 4-20 mA control signal can be transmitted, for example via the two-wire connection 181, preferably using a HART protocol.

The actuator 151 includes a control valve 153, with which the actuator 151 can act on a process fluid to adjust a process fluid flow, for example, in terms of volume flow, a differential pressure or the like. For actuation of the control valve 153, the actuator 151 further includes a pneumatic actuator 155, which may be connected for actuating the control valve 153, for example by means of a valve rod for power transmission. The pneumatic pressure which is converted into the actuating force for the control valve 153 in the pneumatic drive 155 is provided by a pneumatic source 193, which need not be part of the actuator 151.

For controlling the pneumatic drive 155 with a drive or actuating pressure, the electronic control unit 157 of the actuating device 151 comprises at least one IP converter 161. For example, the electronic control unit 157 can be realized as a positioner with an I / P converter 161. If the electronic control unit 157, as shown in Figure 1, gets specified by the control room 191 as Steuerleitwert a position control value for the control valve 153, the control electronics can learn the actual position of the control valve 153 from a position or displacement sensor 163 and the I / P converter 161 according to known control algorithms generate a control pressure for the pneumatic actuator 155 so that the control valve 153 assumes a desired position according to the Steuerleitwert. - -

The adjusting electronics 157 can, for example, transmit an actual position from the displacement sensor 163 to the control room 191 via the two-wire connection 181, for example for diagnostic purposes. For this purpose, the control electronics 157 may include a communication electronics 167. The communication electronics 167 may be configured to receive and optionally issue a coded HART protocol signal or signals generated according to another protocol, such as the Fieldbus Foundation protocol or the original interface protocol (SSP) of the assignee. The communication electronics 167 can be realized for example as a so-called HART coupler or HART interpreter. Additionally or alternatively, the communication electronics 167 of the control electronics 157 may be configured to receive and / or output analog continuous or modulated binary signals. In particular, pulse-width modulated (PWM) signals are considered as modulated binary signals, but also frequency-modulated (FM) or amplitude modulated (AM) binary signals.

The monitoring unit 101 comprises a signal receiver 111, a processing electronics 121 and an optical signal code display, such as a traffic light 131. The traffic light 131 has three LED lights 133, which are red, yellow and green, for example. It should be understood that other bulbs may be used instead of LED lights 133 or optical displays that are non-self-luminous, such as e-ink displays. The traffic light 131 may be arranged in the housing 103 of the monitoring unit 101. However, the monitor unit 101 may instead have a display housed in a different housing than the housing 103 containing the processing electronics 121 (not shown).

For receiving operating information from the control electronics, the processing electronics 121 comprises a signal receiver 111. The signal receiver 111 may be realized, for example, as a HARL interpreter separated from a microcontroller-based processing electronics 121. But it is also conceivable that the processing electronics 121 is realized in functional union with the signal receiver 111, for example as analog signal processing electronics or logic circuit. - -

The signal receiver 111 can physically access the connection between the electronic control unit 157 and the control room 191, for example according to FIG. 1, in that the signal receiver 111 is connected to the two-wire connection 181. It is clear that a connection between a control room 191 and a control device 151 can also be wireless, for example by radio. In such a case, the monitoring unit 101 includes as a signal receiver 111 a radio transponder or the like.

The signal receiver 111 can receive operating information from the control electronics 157 by listening to or listening to the communication between the control electronics 157 and the control room 191 and the signals derives from abgehörter communication. That is, the operation information generated by the adjusting electronics 157 to be transmitted to the control room 191 is detected by the signal receiver 111 to be evaluated by the processing electronics 121. On the basis of the evaluation of the operating information (s) received by the signal receiver 111, the processing electronics 121 decides which signal code is output by the display or if, for example, the red LED, the yellow LED or the green LED 133 of the traffic light 131 is illuminated. The operating signal transmitted between the control room 191 and the electronic control unit 157 is not falsified.

In an alternative embodiment, the signal receiver 111 may deduct operating information from the actuator 151. For example, the signal receiver 111 may request or request an actual position value which is determined by the position sensor 163. If the signal receiver 111 requests an actuator-specific operating information such as an actual operating value or actual operating state from the actuator 151, this can be done, for example, by the signal receiver 111 sending a corresponding command to the electronic control unit 151 for answering with the desired actual operating value. In response to such a command, the electronic control unit 157 informs the signal receiver 111 of the actual operating value requested. For this purpose, electronic control unit 157 can generate and deliver an operating signal addressed to the signal receiver 111 by means of the communication electronics 167. - -

For subtracting operating information of the actuating device 151, the signal receiver 111 may also be connected to other electronic components of the actuating device 151 as its adjusting electronics 157, for example a sensor, such as a position sensor 163. To subtract operating information of the actuator 151, the signal receiver 111 then does not need to communicate with the control electronics 157, but can pass over them and communicate directly with individual electronic components, such as the position sensor 163, the actuator 151. Such a structure may be particularly useful if the actuator 151 is not equipped with a control electronics 157, such as a typical positioner or the like, which has a certain intelligence.

The field device arrangement 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 differs from the field device arrangement 100 described above essentially by the type of connection of the monitoring unit 101 or 201 to the respective actuating device 151 or 251.

The connection between the control room 291 and the control unit 251 or its control electronics 257 is similar to the previously described embodiment by means of a two-wire connection 281. About the two-wire connection 281 is to control the actuator 251 a Steuerleitwert example, as a 4 ... 20 mA signal from the Control room 291 transmitted to the control electronics 257. The control signal or the entire communication between the control device 251 and the control room 291 can essentially be carried out as described above with regard to the previous embodiments. It should be understood that the control valve 253, the pneumatic actuator 255 for actuating the control valve 153 and the pneumatic source 293 from which the supply pressure for the pneumatic actuator 255 originates, may also function as described above and also in the other embodiments described below in the same way as described above.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the power supply of the monitoring unit is effected by a power transmission line 283 from the control electronics 257 to the monitoring unit 201 or its processing electronics 221. The power transmission line 283 is separated from the connection 281 between the control room 291 and the control electronics. - -

ronik 251. The energy which is transmitted between adjusting electronics 251 and the processing electronics 221 via the energy transmission line 283 may originate from the connection 281 between the setting electronics 251 and the control room 291. The energy to be transmitted may alternatively originate from an energy store, such as a rechargeable battery or a pneumatically operated generator, of the electronic control unit 257 (not shown). The monitoring unit 201 may also have its own power supply unit, such as an accumulator or a pneumatically operated generator (not shown), in which case a power transmission line 283 is not necessary.

For communication between the control electronics 257 and the processing electronics 221, an operating signal line 285 is provided in the field device arrangement 200, which is arranged between the processing electronics 221 and the control electronics 257 to signal processing electronics 221 and 257 signal transmission connected to each other. The operating signal line 285 may be routed between the signal receiver 211 of the processing electronics 221 and the communication electronics 267 of the adjusting electronics 257. An operating signal line 285 may, for example, be realized by a socket, such as a USB socket or an RS232 socket of the electronic control unit 257, in which a corresponding connection, for example a USB plug or an RS232 plug of the monitoring unit 201, is inserted. Such a slot may be provided in conventional control electronics 257, for example, for connecting the computer of a maintenance technician, so that the monitoring unit 201 can be connected by utilizing existing slots of a control electronics 257 with this.

The monitoring unit 201 itself can likewise be equipped with corresponding slots, for example USB sockets or RS232 sockets, so that in particular maintenance technicians have direct access to the electronic control unit 257.

The signal receiver 211 of the processing electronics 221 of the monitoring unit 201 can subtract operating information of the actuating device 251 from the field device arrangement 200 by requesting the desired operating information via the operating information line 285 - -

becomes. The requesting of operating information can, as described above, be done directly, for example, as a command to the adjusting electronics 257 or by subtracting measured data, for example from the position sensor 263. Via an operating information line 285, a signal receiver 211 can also be connected, for example, to a control signal input of the electronic control unit 257 and in particular to an I / P converter 261, in order to be able to deduct operating information relating to the control. In the field device arrangement 200, the operation information line 285 is implemented separately from the control line 281 so as to be able to preclude unwanted interference between the monitoring unit 201 and the control communication of the actuator 251. The signal code output can essentially, as described above, by a traffic light 231 with several differently colored lights 233 done.

For evaluating the operating information of the operating data of the actuator 251, the processing electronics 221 may execute software such as the applicant's original TROVIS software or the like, which is capable of using a series of operating data or operating information, such as a particular time-related control signal or Control signal and a particular time-related control position based on known diagnostic algorithms execute a related to the actuator 251 diagnosis. It is clear that the processing electronics 221 can in principle perform numerous known diagnostic functions with respect to the control unit 201 associated with the control unit 251.

Further, it is clear that instead of the exemplified pneumatic drive 255 with an actuating rod for actuating a control valve 257, for example, a hydraulic or electric drive (not shown), and a swivel valve (not shown) or a pump (not shown) as a control valve can be provided. In other words, a monitoring unit 201 may be suitable for a wide variety of actuators 251, without necessarily retrofitting an existing actuator 251 for retrofitting with the monitoring unit 201 on the hardware or software side. At the same time, the monitoring unit allows an independent of the control electronics 257 of the actuator 251 diagnosis, which is not disturbed in particular by such errors of the control electronics 257, which also affect their diagnostic or communication capability. The monitoring unit - -

201 can thus serve as an additional safety instrument of a process engineering system and is particularly suitable for field devices or actuators that fulfill safety-critical functions.

In comparison to the field device arrangements 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the field device arrangement 300 according to FIG. 3 differs above all through the in turn different connection of the actuating device 251 or its electronic control unit 357 on the one hand the monitoring unit 301 and on the other hand the control room 391 the general function of the actuator 351 may be substantially the same as in the embodiments described above.

The control room 391 can tell the control unit 351 or its electronic control unit 357, similar to the field device arrangement 100 according to FIG. 1, of a control signal by means of a two-wire connection 381. It should be understood that in all of the described embodiments, the connection between the control room and the actuator need not be limited to a two-wire connection, as shown, but also a four-wire connection or another type of connection can be used. From the two-wire connection 381 between the control room 391 and the adjusting electronics 357, the monitoring unit 301 feeds energy via the energy discharge lines 384, as shown in FIG.

The processing electronics 321 receive from the control electronics 357, which is preferably implemented here as a positioner, operating data over the operating data line 387. The positioner 357 is designed in the field device assembly 300, at regular intervals or when certain operating conditions or operating state changes operating data to the processing electronics 321 on to send the service data line 387. As operating data are further processed operating information of the actuator 351 to understand, in contrast to raw operating information, such as actual measurements or the like. For example, a leakage value determined on the basis of pressure measurement values can be detected as the operating data. The positioner 357 can transmit operating data 321 via the data transmission line 387 to the processing electronics 321, which causes the processing - -

321 causes the traffic light 331 to illuminate with one of the LEDs 333 of the traffic light 331 and thus result in the issuing of an operating code.

For example, the control electronics 357 in the simplest case via the operating data line 387 transmit a binary I or O signal and the traffic light 331 have only two different LEDs 333, such as a red and a green LED, and the processing electronics 321 the operating date, of the Actuator 357 is transmitted via the operating data line 387, evaluate such that at a binary 1, the green LED 333 is activated to output a signal code indicating that the actuator is working properly, or activate the red LED 333 at a binary 0, which a Error or an emergency signaled.

If the processing electronics 321 is connected via only a single operating data line 387 for transmitting only one binary signal to the control electronics 357, more complex signals from the control electronics 357 can still be sent to the processing electronics 321, for example, by Pulsweiterrmodulation of the binary signal. The processing electronics 321 can then receive and process the pulse-width-modulated binary signal received by the signal receiver 311 from a pulse width modulator 367, ie communication electronics of the positioner 357, to map more than two states and correspondingly more than two different signal codes by means of the traffic light 331 submit.

Many commercially available actuators are equipped with a standard connection, which is provided with a two-wire connection, in particular for connection to a control room and also an additional binary connection. In order to save costs for additional cables, their installation and maintenance, this third connection is usually unused. The monitoring unit 301 according to the invention may be suitable in particular for such a connection. Thus, a monitoring unit 301 with a connection plug, for example a device plug, for both a two-wire connection 381 and for an operating data connection 387 can be made using existing functionalities. - -

ten standard control devices provide additional monitoring functions. The energy supply can also take place in other ways than via an energy discharge line 384, for example from a separate energy source of the monitoring unit 301.

The field device arrangement 400 according to FIG. 4 differs from the embodiments of preferred field device arrangements 100, 200 and 300 described above again in particular by the connection of the positioning device 451 to the monitoring unit 401 and the control room 491.

In the field device arrangement 400, a separate power supply line 482 is provided in addition to the connection 481 for transmitting a 4-20 mA Steuerleitsignals from the control room 491 to the control electronics 457, from which feed both the monitoring unit 401 and the control electronics 457. It is to be understood that the power supply can also take place in the field device arrangement 400, as in one of the field device arrangements 100, 200 or 300 described above.

For transmitting operating data from the control electronics 457 to the processing electronics 421, the field device arrangement 400 has two operating data lines 487, 488. Like the operating data line 387 described above with regard to the field device arrangement 300 shown in FIG. 3, in particular continuous binary signals can be transmitted via the operating data lines 487 and 488. It is clear that further (not shown) binary lines or operating data lines from the control electronics 457 may be provided to the processing electronics 421.

If only one binary 0 or binary 1 signal is transmitted on each of the operating data lines 487, 488 in the simplest form, this is sufficient for the transmission of 2-bit information, which is completely technically complete for driving a traffic light 431 with three different color lamps 433 is sufficient. The processing electronics 421 is then designed to evaluate the operating data communicated via the operating data lines 487, 488 to the signal receiver 411 and to assign to them a corresponding color, which is given by - -

the traffic light 431 is to be displayed. Incidentally, the operating data lines 487 transmitted therewith can also be pulse-width, frequency or amplitude modulation as described above.

It is also conceivable that the processing electronics 421 has a binary command output (not shown) for requesting the output of one or more operating data from the actuator 451, for example by means of the operating data lines 487 and 488. By notifying a command or trigger signal, the monitoring unit 401 may also cause the control electronics 457 of the actuator 451 to perform a Stellgerätediagnose and communicate the diagnostic result of the monitoring unit 401, for example, as described above as a binary 1 or binary 0. If the monitoring unit deducts operating information from the actuating device in that the monitoring unit causes the actuating device to output desired operating information, the monitoring unit can be regarded as a so-called master unit and the actuating device or the adjusting electronics can be regarded as a so-called slave unit.

Figures 5, 5a, 6 and 6a show special versions of monitoring units 501, 601 and their mechanical and electronic connection to a positioner 552, 652. The representation of a control room and a complete actuator is omitted in favor of readability in Figures 5 and 6. When connecting a monitoring unit 501, 601, the connection of the monitoring unit to the actuating device for signal transmission and / or power supply can be realized according to one of the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The monitoring unit 501 shown in FIG. 5 is designed to be arranged between a device plug 594 of the positioner 552 and a device socket 592, from which a communication connection 581 extends in the direction of a control room (not shown). The device plug 594 and the device socket 592 may be formed in particular according to the standard DIN EN 175301-803. The device plug 594 may be referred to, for example, as a valve connector or angle plug. The appliance box 592 - -

or device socket can also be referred to as a cable socket or cable socket. Such a device plug has at the three o'clock position and the nine o'clock position a cross-sectionally U-shaped pin and possibly another U-shaped pin in the six o'clock position and a bar-shaped pin in the twelve o'clock position. Position.

For receiving the pins of the appliance plug 594, the appliance box 592 comprises correspondingly shaped and positioned receptacles. In order to ensure a positionally accurate and secure hold of the device socket 592 relative to the device plug 594, a plug screw is provided which extends through the device box 592 and for securing the device box 592 on the appliance plug 594 is screwed with this. When using a monitoring unit 501 between the appliance plug 594 and appliance socket 592 a correspondingly longer locking screw is required. The contact surfaces between the opposing surfaces from which the pins protrude or in which the pin receptacles are embedded, can be provided with one or two seals to prevent, for example, condensation water from reaching the current-carrying pins. For this purpose, depending on a sealing washer between the plug and socket can be provided.

For signal transmission according to the insertion of the monitoring unit 501 between the positioner 552 and the (not shown) control room, the monitoring unit 501 according to the figure 5 is the device side with device dose-like receptacles 592a for the pins of the device plug 594 of the positioner 552 equipped and the wait-side with device plug-like pins 594a, the one Appliance socket 592 can be placed. The receptacles 592a and / or pins 594a of the monitoring unit 501 can also be compliant with DIN EN 175301-803.

According to signal transmission and / or energy transmission, a connection of the monitoring unit 501 to the positioner 552 according to one of the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 may be provided (not shown in detail in FIG. 5). The connection of the monitoring unit 501 generally takes place depending on which signal transmission via the connection 581 between the control room and the - -

(Not fully shown) actuator is provided, that is, whether, for example, via the existing before using the monitoring unit 501 both power and control signal to the positioner 552 are provided, or if, for example via the existing line 581 no actuation energy but only control signals are transmitted.

As explained above with regard to the embodiment described in FIG. 3, it is possible that not all the pins present on a device plug 594 are actually used for communication with a control room. In such an embodiment, already existing, for communication with the control room itself unused pins of a device plug 594 may be provided specifically for the transmission of operating information or operating data to the monitoring unit 501.

According to FIG. 5 and FIG. 5 a, the appliance plug 594 is provided with an external thread 508 for screwing into an internal thread 558 of a housing opening 556 of the positioner housing 554. Such an internal thread 558 of a positioner housing 554 can be realized for example by a so-called PG thread or steel armored pipe thread. Alternatively, a metric thread, for example M12xl, 5, M16xl, 5, M20xl, 5 or M36x2,0 can be used. Alternatively, the device connector can be realized as part of the positioner housing 554 without threaded adapter (not shown), so that can be dispensed with an opening 556 in the positioner housing 554. The housing 554 of the positioner 552 may be provided with a display indicator 559 of the positioner operating status in a conventional manner, as shown schematically.

The communication electronics 567 of the positioner 552 comprises a connector strip which can be connected to the pins of the device plug 594 by cable connection signal transmission.

In one embodiment (not shown), the remote unit output of the monitoring unit may be provided with a connection line to the control room instead of pins 594a - -

be. In other words, the monitoring unit at the same time realize the function of the device socket 592, so that on the device plug 594 of a control device 554 not two components, monitoring unit and additional power socket, need to be infected, but only a single component. Such a monitoring unit may be referred to as device-dose-integrated.

Instead of a connection of a transmission unit according to a so-called DIN cube plug according to DIN EN 175301-803, for example, a so-called M12 sensor connector, preferably according to DIN standard IEC 61076-2-101 be used (not shown), for the connection of actuator and monitoring unit.

The monitoring unit 601 according to FIG. 6 differs from the monitoring unit according to FIG. 5 primarily by the shape of the actuator housing 654 (which has no display) and the terminals 608, 609 of the monitoring unit housing 603. In the monitoring unit illustrated in FIG 601, an external thread 608 is provided on the housing 603 of the monitoring unit 601, which can be screwed into a corresponding internal thread 658 of a housing opening 656 of the positioner housing 654. The thread pairing can be realized in particular by means of a PG screw connection or a steel armored pipe thread screw connection, or with a standard metric thread, as described above. Such a cushioned monitoring unit 601 is particularly well suited for positioner 652, whose housing 654 has a corresponding threaded opening. For signal connection according to the connection between the positioner 652 and the monitoring unit 601 in the housing 603 of the positioner 652, a connector strip 667 and a further connector strip 611 are provided in the housing 603 of the monitoring unit 601, between which a cable connection can be realized.

For connecting the monitoring unit housing 603 to a connection 681 to the control room, a further inner (not shown) or external thread 609 may be provided. If communication from the monitoring unit 601 is to take place only with the actuating device, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the additional thread 609 can be distorted. - -

be. Apart from the particularities of the connection, the monitoring unit 601 essentially corresponds to the monitoring unit 501, as described above with regard to FIG. The electrical and / or signal transmission according to communication of the monitoring unit 601 can be carried out according to one of the above with reference to Figures 1 to 4 embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a field device 51 which comprises a double-acting pneumatic drive 55 which has been actuated via an actuator of a control valve 53. At the yoke between pneumatic actuator 55 and control valve 53, a positioner 52 is disposed in a positioner housing 54. The positioner 52 is equipped with a monitoring unit 1. The positioner 52 and / or the monitoring unit 1 can in particular be designed as described above with regard to FIG.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the figures and claims may be of importance both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in the various embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100, 200, 300, 400 field device arrangement

1, 101, 201, 301, 01, 501, 601 monitoring unit

103,503,603 housing

111,211,311,411 signal receiver

121,221,321,421 processing electronics

131,231,331,431 traffic light

133,233,333,433 LED lights

51, 151,251,351,451 actuator

53, 153,253 control valve

55, 155,255 pneumatic drive

157, 257, 357, 457 electronic control

161.261 I / P converter

163,263 displacement sensor

167, 267, 567 communication electronics

181,281,381,481,581,681 two-conductor compound

191,291,391,491 control room

193,293 pneumatic source

281 control line

283 power transmission line

285 operating signal line

367 pulse width modulator

384 energy exhaust pipes

387,487,488 operating data line

482 power supply line

508, 608, 609 external thread

52, 552, 652 positioner

54, 554, 654 positioner housing

556, 656 housing opening

558, 658 female thread

559 Display

592 appliance socket

592a pins

594a shots

594 appliance plug

611,667 power strip

Claims

Claims:

1. Signal-giving, device-specific monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) for a particular of a control room (191, 291, 391, 491) controlled actuator (151, 251, 351, 451) with a control armature, such as a control valve ( 153, 253, 353, 453), an actuating armature actuating, in particular pneumatic actuator (155, 255, 355, 455) and an actuating electronics driving the actuator (157, 257, 357, 457) as a positioner, comprising:

a signal receiver (111, 211, 311, 411) for receiving at least one control-system-specific and / or setting device-specific, in particular setting electronics-specific, operating information, in particular an error state, an emergency shutdown state, a maintenance state, an actual operating state, such as a distance measurement value, a pressure measurement value Desired operating condition; a display such as a traffic light (131, 231, 331, 431) for outputting a predetermined signaling code; and processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421) external to the electronic processing unit that evaluates the at least one received operating information such that the predetermined signaling code is assigned to the at least one operating information in accordance with a predetermined monitoring key and causes the output of the predetermined signaling code.

Second monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421) at least two, preferably four or six, received operating information evaluated such that according to the predetermined monitoring key of predetermined signaling code is assigned to the at least two evaluated operating information.

3. monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421) a microprocessor, in particular a microcontroller, and / or an analog logic circuit for allocating the received actuator-specific operating information to the predetermined signaling code and / or for causing the output of the predetermined signaling code by the display.

4. monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421) comprises the signal receiver (111, 211, 311, 411).

5. monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal receiver (111, 211, 311, 411), the setting device-specific operating information from the actuator (151, 251, 351, 451), in particular the control electronics (157, 257, 357, 457), actively withdrawing, wherein in particular the signal receiver (111, 211, 311, 411) is adapted to deduct the operating information by the signal receiver a request for a particular specific actuator specific operating information to the actuator (151, 251, 351, 451), in particular the adjusting electronics (157, 257, 357, 457), sends, in order to cause the adjusting device, in particular the adjusting electronics (157, 257, 357, 457), the signal receiver (111, 211, 311, 411) to communicate the setting device-specific operating information.

6. Monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the signal receiver (111, 211, 311.411) is adapted to receive the actuator-specific operating information by the actuator-specific operating information from a Outputs operating signal, which is addressed to the control electronics, or derives from an operating signal, which comes from the control electronics and is addressed by the control electronics to a monitoring unit foreign addressees, such as a control room, in particular the control electronics is designed to HART or Fieldbus protocol formatted operating signals to receive and / or deliver.

7. monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) has a housing which receives the processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421) and at least one housing wall, which is arranged between the processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421) and the adjusting electronics and the processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421) separated from the adjusting electronics, wherein preferably the housing for the monitoring electronics of a Housing of the control electronics is formed separately, in particular, the housing comprises a corresponding to a connector terminal.

8. Monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 8, characterized in that the housing has a connector, such as a 2-conductor connector, RS-232 connector, USB connector, M8 connector, M12 connector. Connector, a device socket or the like, for connection to the actuator (151, 251, 351, 451), in particular, the housing another connector, such as a 2-wire connector, RS-232 connector, USB connector, M8 Connector, M12 connector, device connector or the like, for connection to a computer, a control room or the like.

9. monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized iCHnet characterized in that the housing (103, 203, 303, 403) of the monitoring electronics (101, 201, 301, 401), the display or that the monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) has a display housing (103, 203, 303, 403) for the monitoring electronics separate display housing that receives the display, the monitoring electronics connected to the display by cable or wireless signal transmission is.

10. Monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) independent in particular of a power supply to the control electronics (157, 257, 357, 457) independent Power supply for the processing electronics (121, 221, 321, 421).

11. field device arrangement (100, 200, 300, 400) of a process plant, such as a food processing plant, such as a brewery, a power plant, a chemical plant, such as a petrochemical plant, or the like, comprising: a control device (151, 251, 351 , 451) with a control electronics, which has a positioner for controlling a particular pneumatic actuator; and a signal-generating, device-specific monitoring unit (101, 201, 301, 401) designed in particular according to one of the preceding claims, which has a signal receiver (11, 21, 311, 411) for receiving at least one actuator-specific, in particular stellelektronikspezifischen, operating date, such as Operating information, in particular an error state, an emergency shutdown state, a maintenance state, an actual operating state, such as a distance measurement, a pressure measurement, a target operating state, and a display, such as a traffic light (131, 231, 331, 431), for outputting a predetermined signaling code; wherein the control electronics at least one control signal input via which the positioner receives the at least one operating date, for example from the control room (191, 291, 391, 491), and / or at least one power supply input, via which the positioner is supplied with electrical energy, characterized in that the adjusting electronics comprise an additional communication interface, in particular in addition to the at least one control signal input and / or the power supply input, which is coupled directly to the monitoring unit in order to output signaling codes assigned via the display of the operating device-specific operating data.

12. Field device arrangement (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 11, characterized Porsche Style nz eichnet that the additional communication interface at least one pin, preferably exactly one pin, exactly two pins or exactly three pins, in particular an RS-232 Connector, USB connector, M8 connector, M12 connector or a device connector that includes at least one pin.

13. Field device (100, 200, 300, 400) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized gek e nn zei chn et, that the control electronics is arranged in a housing having an opening, in particular with a screw thread having with a signal conductor, such as a cable connection, for the communication of the control electronics with the control room, a computer or the like assignable, and / or that the control electronics arranged in particular in the opening connector, in particular a device connector for a cable connection for communication with the control room, a Computer or the like.

14. Field device arrangement (100, 200, 300, 400) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the additional communication interface is adapted to the setting device-specific operating data as at least one, preferably exactly one or exactly two, continuous or modulated, binary signal to convey.

15. Field device arrangement (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 11, characterized in that the additional communication interface is designed to display the at least one operating device-specific operating data as an operating signal addressed to the monitoring unit, for example as a HART signal, or as the target signaling code for the display.

16. A field device arrangement (100, 200, 300, 400) according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the field device comprises a control electronics housing, in which the control electronics is housed, and an additional housing, in which the processing electronics is housed, so that the adjusting electronics and the processing electronics are separated from each other by at least one housing wall of the housing and / or the positioner housing.

17. Field device arrangement (100, 200, 300, 400) according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the processing electronics a micro- Processor, in particular a microcontroller, and / or an analog logic circuit for assigning the at least one received actuator-specific operating date to the predetermined signaling code and / or for causing the output of the predetermined signaling code by the display.

18. Field device arrangement (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 11, wherein the monitoring unit has an energy supply for the processing electronics which is independent, in particular, of the power supply to the control electronics.