Automated process equipment testing and protection options

Abstract

The paper considers the problem of ensuring trouble-free operation of technological equipment operating in automatic mode, using the example of a pneumatic cylinder assembly line. It is shown that with the increasing complexity of automated systems, increasing speed and increasing the number of operations performed without the participation of the operator, the requirements for equipment reliability, accuracy of mutual positioning of elements and timely detection of emergency and pre-emergency states are significantly increasing. Particular attention is paid to operations of precision connection of critical structural elements, which are characterized by errors in the form of misalignment, skew of axes and inconsistency of spatial orientation of parts, which can lead to a decrease in the resource of mechanisms or equipment failure. An approach to organizing test and step-by-step modes of operation of an automatic control system is proposed, which allows for phased control of the execution of technological operations, identification of positioning errors and failures of actuators without the system going into emergency mode. The principles of constructing an asynchronous control machine using typical pneumatic cylinder control modules, as well as mechanisms for time synchronization of control and feedback signals, are considered. The structure of a typical control module is presented, which ensures coordination of external asynchronous signals with internal clock synchronization and implements control of the permissible time for performing technological operations. The proposed technical and algorithmic solutions increase the reliability of automatic assembly lines, ensure timely detection of failures, reduce the likelihood of emergency situations and create the prerequisites for the implementation of intelligent diagnostic and protection systems for modern technological equipment.