Long drawn-out cables often are considered as a metaphor for being slow. If a load with a long supply cable is protected with a normal automatic circuit breaker, then, if there is an error, the reaction is not only slow, but something even more severe. Nothing happens at all!

For this reason, Kasto Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG has long used the intelligent LOCC-Box current monitoring system from LÜTZE.

Sawing. Storage. More.
Kasto is one of the oldest family-run companies in Europe and can look back - and benefit from - 165 years of experience. As such, Kasto developed into one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-quality saw machines and storage systems. 

Where other manufacturers separate areas and set tight restrictions on their responsibilities, Kasto knowingly accepts responsibility for the perfect inclusion and connection of the individual system components. This works only when projects are viewed as a whole and one can offer the customer complete, interdisciplinary project handling. At Kasto, this is an exclusive mix of all kinds from a single source: mechanical engineering, control technology, mechanics and software. The result is a turn-key system. 

The problem

Based on the Kasto philosophy "Complex technical systems only function through the interplay of the individual components", a solution was sought to protect the sensors and actuators used on the 24 VDC side. Looking at Figure 1, we quickly discover that, in storage systems of this size, cable lengths of more than 100 metres can frequently be found. This applies not only to power circuits, but also to the sensors/actuators in particular. An additional difficulty is posed by the increased cable resistance caused by the smaller cross-sections. If there was an error, no circuit breaker would trip. Not if there was a short-circuit and especially not if there was an overload. In summary: There would be an increased number of failures.

LOCC-Box solves the problem safely and with high functionality

"Our aim was," explains Mr Eigbrecht, Head of the Electrical Construction department, "to find a fuse system, which, on the one hand, permitted work irrespective of the cable length and, on the other, offered a single-channel solution." Eigbrecht: "After a few test runs with cables of longer than 100 m, in which electronic systems of various manufacturers were tested, the LOCC-Box from LÜTZE was the only device which tripped safely. In LOCC-Box and the thoroughly-executed voltage and current measurement, we have found a system, which was not only able to solve exactly this problem, but also came at a sensible price and had a wealth of other benefits."

Eigbrecht: Cable connections using spring terminals is essential for Kasto, as storage system are subjected to continuous vibrations and wiring is appropriately simplified. The LOCC-Box not only contains spring connection technology for cable connections, but also the power is supplied using spring connection technology, allowing simple connection using a separating tool during the commissioning phase.

Additional benefits: the very narrow constructive width (8.1 mm) means that there is much less space required in the system. In addition, the possible settings of the current range and characteristics also reduce the storage costs.
Matthias Eigbrecht "The devices work without any problems, and were praised by the installation engineers on account of their installation quality. Therefore, the LOCC-Box will now be used to 

protect all the sensors and actuators and other field devices." "We can also imagine using LOCC-Box under Profinet in the future, meaning improved diagnostics for our systems."

In summary: Changed requirements require new system components, and some are no longer needed. The versatile LOCC-Box system grows as required. This means that continuous process optimisation becomes simple.

www.luetze-transportation.com

18 - 24 September 2012
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SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2012