New ac speed controller is fully EN ISO 13849 compliant
25 October 2012
Curtis Instruments has made a significant upgrade to its ac motor speed controller family, in terms of safety standards compliance.
The new E Series controllers utilise powerful dual-microprocessor logic cores that meet all relevant requirements of the EN ISO 13849-1:2009 functional safety standard, and the updated EN 1175-1:1998+A1:2010 industrial truck safety standard, in place since January 1st 2012.
Full compliance with the new directive is now required before any industrial truck or similar vehicle can be CE marked and legally marketed within the European Economic Area (EEA).
The previous regulation, EN 954, has been fully withdrawn and no longer applies.
The first in the Curtis E Series range is the model 1232E which delivers best-in-class control of ac induction motors and offers the highest levels of functional safety. It is designed for use as the traction controller on class 3 materials handling ‘walkie’ vehicles and other small battery-powered industrial trucks.
It is equally suitable as the pump controller for auxiliary hydraulic functions on larger industrial vehicles. Improvements over the original Model 1232 include:
- Powerful dual-micro logic core ensures full compliance with EN ISO 13849-1, eliminating the need for any additional safety/supervisory control modules.
- Faster 64MHz micro improves motor control, and more than doubles the VCL code execution speed for further enhanced safety.
- Additional FLASH memory gives twice the available VCL code space.
- Increased CAN Master capabilities with 6 additional VCL CAN ‘mailboxes’.
As with all Curtis feature rich AC controllers, this model includes the Curtis VCL easy-to-use programming language that allows vehicle developers to write powerful bespoke logic functions; indirect Field Orientation (IFO) vector control algorithm that generates the maximum possible torque and efficiency across the entire speed range for superb drive ‘feel’, improved speed regulation and superior gradient climbing capability; auto-Tune function enabling quick and easy characterisation of the motor without having to remove it from the vehicle; dual-Drive functionality as standard; configurable CANbus connection allowing communication with other 11-bit and 29-bit CANbus enabled devices.
And it’s always worth remembering that with all Curtis ac + VCL controllers you have an ageless system because as your vehicle requirements change, then so can your VCL. Never again do you have to throw out the entire control system just to add a new feature.
On the motor side, the ac solution can provide sealed motors with no brushes to maintain. AC also provides closed loop control which means no over-speeding and burst armatures. Adding to this fewer contactors means that both reliability and performance is increased for your product.
The new Model 1232 E is available in 24V 180A, 24V 250A, 36-48V 200A, and 48-80V 175A versions.
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