SIEMENS has written about the safety functions which its motion control and drive families help integrate into cranes.
Control systems of industrial cranes must meet reliable operator and machine protection requirements.
Siemens says traditionally, safety circuits were hard-wired. Today, safety functions are software-based, and are integrated into the standard automation system of cranes in a holistic approach.
Siemens claims the software-based safety functions result in considerable hardware cost savings.
According to Siemens, its Simotion D motion control system and Sinamics drive family feature integrated safety functionalities which fulfil the requirements of Performance Levels d of EN ISO 13849-1 or category 3 according to EN 954-1 as well as Safety Integrity Level 2 according to EN 61508/IEC62061.
For operating crane systems, Siemens recommends its fail-safe Simatic S7-319F controller, which is superordinate to the motion control system.
The Simatic S7-319F has integrated safety functions, and all information from sensors such as area scanners is bundled at a central location outside of the safety zone and can be visualised.
The Sinamics S120 is a drive system for motion control applications and features a comprehensive safety package which Siemens claims will allow cranes to be operated safely and practicably even under all required operating conditions.