DYNA JOURNAL ENGINEERING

Key words:

dispositivo de parada de emergencia, seguridad activa, sistema supervisor, emergency stop device, active safety

Article type:

ARTICULO DE INVESTIGACION / RESEARCH ARTICLE

Section:

RESEARCH ARTICLES

During the construction of any machine, it is required by law to ensure its safety, and this is accomplished by investing a great deal of material and economic efforts. However, these efforts are not always sufficient, thus forcing to use alternative security devices in the management of these machines. The primary function of these devices is to reduce and/or eliminate the inherent risks associated to the machine, i.e. to prevent and/or reduce the damage occurred in an occupational accident.

Currently, there are many safety devices available on the market. Their complexity and price usually vary depending on the implemented security feature. These devices can be classified as active, if they are able to prevent the accident from happening, or at least mitigate its consequences, and passive, if they are designed only to mitigate the damage.

However, despite the wide range of currently available protection devices, the most widely used are still of the passive type. Between them, emergency stop switches, also known as electromechanical 'mushrooms', are typically chosen, mainly because of their low cost. In addition, these devices are required for every machine.

Recently, an electronic device, that is capable to automatically take emergency stop actions, has been developed. It may be commanded by an external supervisory system connected to it. In addition, the device may also be incorporated into any traditional emergency stop circuit. This device is the subject of this paper.