Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for increasing the availability of displacement/position measuring systems on the basis of potentiometers with a slider tap in a closed control loop, the controller of which is formed by a microcontroller which is supplied with the position of the slider via an analog/digital converter. At least part of the sensor range of the potentiometer is scanned on request by presetting a sequence of manipulated variables and an available control loop variable which represents the position value at a high sampling rate outside process tasks is recorded, to determine the exact position of a defective slider position of the potentiometer by evaluating the variable. The reference variable of the control loop is overloaded in a defined manner within the process task such that the defective slider position is passed over during the displacement/position measurement and an intact slider position is reached.

Abstract: An exemplary position regulator is disclosed which includes a regulation unit and a travel measurement system for activating an actuating drive for adjusting a control fitting to a predetermined position. A signal shaper is provided for outputting a travel signal to a superordinate device. To provide an undisturbed output of the travel signal, the signal shaper is connected in series in a transmission path between the travel measurement system and the regulation unit, and is connected in parallel with the regulation unit so as to transmit signals. The signal shaper can have a switch which is controlled by an alarm signal of the regulation unit, by which, in a first (e.g., inoperative) position, the travel measurement system is fed from the regulation unit, and, in a second (e.g., operative) position, the travel measurement system is fed from the signal shaper.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a digital position transmitter for control of an actuating element having a positioner in a process installation, with the position transmitter having a regulator with a dead band in order to suppress disturbance signals. It is proposed that the dead band in each case lags the set-value change asymmetrically with respect to the set value.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operation of a position regulator for control of a pneumatic drive for an actuating member in a process installation. The position regulator has a pneumatic system with at least one nozzle/bounce-plate system, in which the bounce plates are in the form of piezo bending bars. For damped ventilation and venting of the pneumatic drive in the event of failure of the electrical power, it is proposed that the level of the electrical power supply be monitored and that, if a predeterminable limit value is undershot, the piezo bending bars of the pneumatics are adjusted via the input signals of the pneumatics such that the pneumatically controlled valves, which are subject to a characteristic, of the amplifier are open precisely just so far that a damped movement of the pneumatic actuating drive takes place to a predeterminable limit position at the desired movement speed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the drive type of an actuator, e.g., a pneumatic actuator, having a positioner for operating a final control element in a process engineering plant. The actuator is connected to the positioner by a mounting set, the positioner comprising an electronic control unit, which uses a microcontroller to receive one or more input signals, and to output actuating signals to control the flow of gas to or from the chambers of a single-acting or double-acting pneumatic drive. The position feedback sensors are equipped with a rotational measuring system. During commissioning of the actuator, the relationship between the drive volumes and the position signal is found and compared with transfer characteristics of known drive types. Where there is a match between the transfer characteristic defined by the value pairs of the given actuator and one of the transfer characteristics of the known drive types, the identified drive type is assigned to the given actuator.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an actuating drive having a position transmitter for control of an actuating element with a position in a process installation. The position transmitter is equipped with a rotary measurement system whose pivoting range is mechanically limited, with the rotary measurement system having a shaft which is connected to a pick-up lever in an interlocking and unconfusable manner, which pick-up lever is articulated by means of the actuating drive or the actuating element. The shaft and the rotary measurement system are connected to one another via a slipping clutch. Markings are arranged isoazimuthally with respect to the rotation axis of the shaft, on the shaft circumference, and include angle information about the angle of the marking position with respect to the pick-up lever. The digital position transmitter has a sensor system for identification and evaluation of the markings. The slipping clutch has hysteresis.

Abstract: A shut-off fitting is disclosed for use, for example, in a pipeline of a technical installation with a servo drive. The servo drive can be connected to a control device having a position controller and a signal conditioner device. The position controller can have an analog control input for connecting a process control signal and a binary control input for actuating the servo drive in accordance with a predeterminable speed characteristic. The signal conditioner device can have a feed voltage input, an analog control output, a binary control output, and an energy store.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for determining the current rotation angle position of a shaft with respect to a stationary reference point. In order to determine the rotation angle position without wear and tear and with little outlay on materials and little energy requirement during ongoing operation, the coil is arranged between the shaft and a stationary reference point in such a manner that at least one geometrical property of the coil can be changed over the range of rotation angle positions of the shaft. The changed geometrical property of the coil is used to determine the rotation angle position of the shaft.

Abstract: A field device includes a real time clock, and at least one communication interface for at least unidirectionally, receiving and transmitting data. The real time clock is detachably connected to the at least one receiving communication interface of the field device, and includes a power supply.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for testing the functionality of armatures, e.g., of safety armatures, in process control systems which are assigned a test device for implementing partial stroke testing and which are connected to a control device, which brings about actuation, in accordance with regulations, of the safety armature in an emergency. Prior to the start of the implementation of the partial stroke testing, a request signal is transmitted from the test device to the control device which is answered by the control device with an enable signal, the enable signal being issued as a function of the current process sequence at the armature.

Abstract: A method for increasing the availability of displacement/position measuring systems using a potentiometer with a slider tap in a closed control loop. The controller of the potentiometer is formed by a microcontroller which is supplied with the position of the slider via an analog/digital converter. The operating range is shifted within the sensor range in a direction of one of two limits of the operating range at least by a distance between the other of two limits of the operating range and a defective slider position by temporarily interrupting an operative connection between the displacement pick-off on the actuator and the potentiometer shaft.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control device for a pneumatically operated actuator in the field of process automation, in particular for continuous control of material flows in the industrial environment. The control device has a communications interface for receiving an electrical setpoint value, and an output for the output of a pneumatic fluid, whose pressure is varied as a function of a control deviation. The received electrical setpoint value is suitable as a process parameter. The control device is connected via a communications channel to an actual-value encoder, which is designed to output an electrical signal corresponding to the actual value of the same process parameter.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for displaying changes in parameter values on a display surface. Two successive sampled values (P11, P12 and P21, P22) of, in each case, two parameter values (P1, P2) are represented as oppositely directed vectors with a common origin orthogonally with respect to a dividing line which divides the display surface and that area which is enclosed by the dividing line and the connecting lines between the respectively older sampled value (P11 and P21) of a parameter value (P1, P2) and the respectively more recent sampled value (P12 and P22) of the other parameter value (P2, P1) is highlighted.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for increasing the availability of displacement/position measuring systems on the basis of potentiometers with a slider tap in a closed control loop, the controller of which is formed by a microcontroller which is supplied with the position of the slider via an analog/digital converter. At least part of the sensor range of the potentiometer is scanned on request by presetting a sequence of manipulated variables and an available control loop variable which represents the position value at a high sampling rate outside process tasks is recorded, to determine the exact position of a defective slider position of the potentiometer by evaluating the variable. The reference variable of the control loop is overloaded in a defined manner within the process task such that the defective slider position is passed over during the displacement/position measurement and an intact slider position is reached.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for increasing the availability of displacement/position measuring systems on the basis of potentiometers with a slider tap in a closed control loop, the controller of which is formed by a microcontroller which is supplied with the position of the slider via an analog/digital converter. The position of a defective slider position of the potentiometer is determined within the active process task by evaluating an available control loop variable, and the reference variable of the control loop is overloaded in a defined manner such that the defective slider position is passed over during the displacement/position measurement and an intact slider position is reached.

Abstract: An exemplary position regulator is disclosed which includes a regulation unit and a travel measurement system for activating an actuating drive for adjusting a control fitting to a predetermined position. A signal shaper is provided for outputting a travel signal to a superordinate device. To provide an undisturbed output of the travel signal, the signal shaper is connected in series in a transmission path between the travel measurement system and the regulation unit, and is connected in parallel with the regulation unit so as to transmit signals. The signal shaper can have a switch which is controlled by an alarm signal of the regulation unit, by which, in a first (e.g., inoperative) position, the travel measurement system is fed from the regulation unit, and, in a second (e.g., operative) position, the travel measurement system is fed from the signal shaper.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for diagnosis of actuators which are operated with the aid of a positioning device as a function of a nominal value preset, which is emitted from a superordinate regulation device and is received via a communication interface. Diagnosis information can be determined from a time profile of the nominal value preset by investigating the profile of the nominal value for one or more known characteristics.

Abstract: A valve device and method for the activation of an actuating drive, which can be acted upon with a pressure medium by a position controller. The position controller can be acted upon by a working connection of the actuating drive with a pressure medium which can be delivered to the position controller via a feed pressure connection. The valve device includes means for blocking the actuating drive in the event of a failure of the feed pressure. The blocking means includes a pilot-controlled shut-off valve which is arranged in the region of the working connection of the position controller, and a pilot control valve arrangement connected to the feed pressure connection of the position controller to control pressure of the feed pressure connection and cause the pilot-controlled shut-off valve to assume a shut-off position when the feed pressure falls below a defined first limit value.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a digital position transmitter for control of an actuating element having a positioner in a process installation, with the position transmitter having a regulator with a dead band in order to suppress disturbance signals. It is proposed that the dead band in each case lags the set-value change asymmetrically with respect to the set value.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the drive type of an actuator, e.g., a pneumatic actuator, having a positioner for operating a final control element in a process engineering plant. The actuator is connected to the positioner by a mounting set, the positioner comprising an electronic control unit, which uses a microcontroller to receive one or more input signals, and to output actuating signals to control the flow of gas to or from the chambers of a single-acting or double-acting pneumatic drive. The position feedback sensors are equipped with a rotational measuring system. During commissioning of the actuator, the relationship between the drive volumes and the position signal is found and compared with transfer characteristics of known drive types. Where there is a match between the transfer characteristic defined by the value pairs of the given actuator and one of the transfer characteristics of the known drive types, the identified drive type is assigned to the given actuator.