Abstract: A steam outlet system may include, but is not limited to, a steam bar with at least one aperture for passing steam from a rear side to a front side of the steam bar. A front plate may be mounted to, and at a distance from, the front side of the steam bar. A steam diverting portion may extend the distance between the front side of the steam bar and the front plate over top edges of the at least one aperture.

Abstract: An unenclosed fabric warming rack includes at least one rod extending along a horizontal plane, a first light source positioned on a first end of the at least one rod, and a second light source positioned on a second end of the at least one rod.

Abstract: A modular partition track system includes a modular base portion configured to be positioned on a ground surface. A first track subsystem is positioned on at least a portion of a first surface of the modular base portion. The first track subsystem includes one or more slidable partition coupling assemblies configured to slide along the first track subsystem.

Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: Methods and systems for synchronizing controllers in an automation control system, can involve arranging redundancy elements in an automation control system comprising a group of nodes, wherein the redundancy elements can include one or more primary controllers and a group of concurrent secondary controllers, and wherein a back-up to the primary controller can exist on any node. Such methods and systems can further involve backing-up of the primary controller by the one or more secondary controllers to allow the primary controller to maintain the one or more secondary controllers as a new, alternate secondary controller for a load balancing or an equipment update.

Abstract: A method for use by a primary device associated with a secondary device of a redundant pair, the primary device issuing a synchronization request to its control database causing the primary device to send a tracked memory file storage of the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database and to periodically send on request of the primary device the cached changes made in the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database. The secondary device using the updated control database to identify communications connections and paths to I/O modules and peer devices assigned to the secondary device and to perform diagnostic testing of the communications connections and paths identified by the interrogation and send diagnostic messages upon detection of faults in the communication connections and paths identified.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using an alternate communication path to send and receive data between a first network node and a second network node. The method includes establishing a first communication path between the first network node and the second network node that sends and receives data between the first network node and second network node and a second communication path between the first network node and the second network node that sends and receives data between the first network node and second network node. A diagnostic program tests the first and second communication paths for network failures causing the alternate network path to send and receive data between the first network node and second network node when a network failure in the first and second communication paths is detected and alerting a technician of the failure and that the first and second communication paths need repair. The first and second communication paths returning to normal operation upon the repair of the failure.

Abstract: A method for use by a primary device associated with a secondary device of a redundant pair, the primary device issuing a synchronization request to its control database causing the primary device to send a tracked memory file storage of the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database and to periodically send on request of the primary device the cached changes made in the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database. The secondary device using the updated control database to identify communications connections and paths to I/O modules and peer devices assigned to the secondary device and to perform diagnostic testing of the communications connections and paths identified by the interrogation and send diagnostic messages upon detection of faults in the communication connections and paths identified.

Abstract: A safety instrumented system (SIS) includes safety controllers, and safety input/output (I/O) modules coupled to safety field devices that are coupled in parallel with a process control system's field devices to processing equipment which is configured and controlled to run a process. An I/O mesh network between the safety controllers and the safety I/O modules is configured for selecting any safety controller to become coupled to any safety I/O module to function as a pool of safety I/O modules so that any safety controller is configurable to receive sensor signals from and transmit control signals to any safety field device. The safety field devices are for monitoring process variable(s) for the process so that when one of the safety controllers recognizes a hazardous condition regarding the processing equipment, the SIS independently takes action to keep the processing equipment under control or bring it to a safe state.

Abstract: A safety instrumented system (SIS) includes safety controllers, and safety input/output (I/O) modules coupled to safety field devices that are coupled in parallel with a process control system's field devices to processing equipment which is configured and controlled to run a process. An I/O mesh network between the safety controllers and the safety I/O modules is configured for selecting any safety controller to become coupled to any safety I/O module to function as a pool of safety I/O modules so that any safety controller is configurable to receive sensor signals from and transmit control signals to any safety field device. The safety field devices are for monitoring process variable(s) for the process so that when one of the safety controllers recognizes a hazardous condition regarding the processing equipment, the SIS independently takes action to keep the processing equipment under control or bring it to a safe state.

Abstract: Methods and systems for synchronizing controllers in an automation control system, can involve arranging redundancy elements in an automation control system comprising a group of nodes, wherein the redundancy elements can include one or more primary controllers and a group of concurrent secondary controllers, and wherein a back-up to the primary controller can exist on any node.

Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: A security appliance to perform a method that includes receiving a first set of data from a first device using a first secure protocol of a first network, the first secure protocol comprises a first level of security, and determining, by the security appliance, that the received first set of data is intended for a second device on a second network using a second secure protocol, the second secure protocol comprises a second level of security different from the first. The method includes authenticating, by the security appliance, the received first set of data from the first network using the first secure protocol for transmission through the second network using the second secure protocol while collecting and concentrating additional data from the first network and transmitting, by the security appliance, the received first set of data to the second device via the second network comprising the second secure protocol.

Abstract: A swing door actuation system for moving a door about a pivot axis between open closed positions relative to a vehicle body. The system includes a power swing door actuator having a housing connectable to one of the swing door and the vehicle body, an extensible member that moves relative to the housing, and connects to the other of the swing door and the vehicle body, a motor connected to a gear train, and a normally engaged clutch. The motor is operatively connected to a clutch input end through the gear train. The output end is operatively connected to the extensible member. The clutch is disengageable to disconnect the motor from the extensible member. The clutch has a slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door when the door is exposed to less than a selected external torque and the motor is stopped.

Abstract: A gateway is configured to perform a method that includes receiving data from a first device using a first protocol. The first protocol is a cloud based protocol. The method also includes determining that the received data is intended for a second device that uses a second protocol. The method further includes converting the received data from the first protocol to the second protocol. In addition, the method includes transmitting the received data to the second device via the second protocol.

Abstract: A multi-protocol wireless sensor network is provided. The multi-protocol wireless sensor network includes a first field device, a second field device, an access point, and a programmable logic controller (PLC). The first field device is configured to operate using a first protocol. The second field device is configured to operate using a second protocol. The access point is configured to communicate with the first field device using the first protocol and the second field device using the second protocol. The PLC is configured to control the first field device and the second field device through the access point.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first controller having at least one interface and at least one processing device. The at least one interface is configured to communicate with a second controller and with a controlled network having multiple EtherNet/IP-compatible input/output (I/O) modules and multiple EtherNet/IP-compatible controlled devices. The at least one processing device is configured to detect a fault associated with the second controller while the second controller is in communication with at least one of the I/O modules and at least one of the controlled devices. The at least one processing device is also configured, upon detection of the fault associated with the second controller, to resume the communication with the at least one I/O module and the at least one controlled device without the at least one I/O module updating the at least one controlled device to a failsafe condition.

Abstract: A security appliance to perform a method that includes receiving a first set of data from a first device using a first secure protocol of a first network, the first secure protocol comprises a first level of security, and determining, by the security appliance, that the received first set of data is intended for a second device on a second network using a second secure protocol, the second secure protocol comprises a second level of security different from the first. The method includes authenticating, by the security appliance, the received first set of data from the first network using the first secure protocol for transmission through the second network using the second secure protocol while collecting and concentrating additional data from the first network and transmitting, by the security appliance, the received first set of data to the second device via the second network comprising the second secure protocol.