WO2000034836A1

WO2000034836A1 - An operating center for industrial equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2000034836A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/028183
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stanley E. Norton; Bradley A. Weyeneth
Original assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
Priority date: 1998-12-11
Filing date: 1999-11-29
Publication date: 2000-06-15
Also published as: AU3105500A

Abstract

An operating center for industrial equipment (10) is disclosed. There is an equipment module (16) attached to at least one support module (26) by means of at least one interconnection (24) between each support module (26) and the equipment module (16). A module is defined as a detachable enclosure and an interconnection is defined as any means of providing enclosed access between modules. This can range from an enclosed structure such as a walkway to merely a conduit connection.

Description

AN OPERATING CENTER FOR INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to an operating center for industrial equipment and, more particularly, to an operating center for data processing equipment .

Background Art

This invention relates to an operating center for industrial equipment. Although not limited thereto, the present invention is particularly useful in connection with data processing equipment and the support thereof.

Traditional operating centers for industrial equipment are typically a portion of an existing building or facility. Therefore, it has been very difficult to modify the type and nature of the industrial equipment in order to adopt a change . Very often, industrial equipment is placed at risk due to its interaction with other activities within the infrastructure . In addition, support systems for the industrial equipment are designed such that disasters can result in a failure that can promulgate and affect multiple systems. Some of the problems with current operating centers for industrial equipment include the fact that they are not scalability, lack security, are inflexible, cannot be upgraded, difficult to maintain and are exposed to human interaction. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems sec forth above .

Disclosure of the Invention

In one aspect of the invention, an operating center for industrial equipment is disclosed. There is an equipment module attached to at least one support module by means of at least one interconnection between each support module and the equipment module. A module is defined as a detachable enclosure and an interconnection is defined as any means of providing enclosed access between modules. This can range from an enclosed structure such as a walkway to merely a conduit connection.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings m which:

FIG. 1 is a top diagrammatic view of an operating center for industrial equipment m accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top diagrammatic view of an equipment module in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top diagrammatic view of dual support modules of the present invention operatively attached to the equipment module as shown m FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating dual utility lines and the connection of these dual utility lines to the equipment modules and the support modules shown m FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating dual communication lines and the connection of these communication lines to the equipment modules and the support modules shown in FIG. 1.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, an operating center for industrial equipment is generally indicated by numeral 10. The first component is optional and is that of a receiving facility 12. Receiving facility 12 provides overall security at a main entrance for the operating center for industrial equipment 10. This receiving facility 12 also can provide flexible office space for staff personnel and potentially supplier personnel as well . This area can also include restrooms, a vending area that can double as a conference room, and a storage area for ground and maintenance equipment, an emergency generator, portable lighting, cooling equipment and access vehicles. The receiving facility 12 is a portion of the operating center that executes the noncritical functions of the operating center for industrial equipment 10 and if damaged or destroyed due to unnatural and natural disaster, would not compromise the operating center for industrial equipment 10. There is a series of interconnections 24 that provide a continuous connection and access to all other portions of the operating center for industrial equipment 10. A module is defined as a detachable enclosure and an interconnection is defined as any means of providing enclosed access between modules. This can range from an enclosed structure such as a walkway to merely a conduit connection. A walkway for service personnel access is preferred.

There is a series of core modules 15, preferably four, that can potentially provide a central command center, central security control, central maintenance monitoring, secure storage for critical parts, secure- location for critical equipment and a central communications hub that is preferably for fiber optic communications. Each of the core modules 15 provide air, electrical or communications communication with either a support module 26 or an equipment module 16 through an interconnection 24, which, as previously defined, can include a series of interconnections . The equipment module 16 is preferably for housing data processing or computer-type equipment. However, any of a wide variety of equipment will suffice such as telecommunications equipment, life support equipment and various other types of electrical and/or mechanical equipment. As shown in FIG. 2, equipment module 16 preferably, but not necessarily, can be constructed to have a raised floor 17 with the preferred distance of the raised floor being thirty-six (36) inches (91.44 centimeters). There is an access opening 18 provided on the top of the equipment module 16, as shown in FIG. 2. In addition, near the access opening 18 is a first communication patch panel 20 and a second communication patch panel 22. This first and second communication patch panels 20 and 22, respectively, are preferably, but not necessarily, for providing fiber optic communication with the equipment within the equipment module 16. Preferably, there is a fire suppression gas system both above and below the raised floor 17 with a dry-type sprinkler system (not shown) . As shown m FIG. 1, the equipment module 16 is attached to at least one support module 26 by means of an interconnection 24. Preferably, m most systems, a plurality of equipment modules 16 are utilized. Six equipment modules 16 are depicted in FIG. 1 with a pair of support modules 26 attached by means of an interconnection to each equipment module 16 with one support module 26 located on each side of the equipment module 16. Although only one support module 26 may suffice, at least two support modules 26 are preferred. This will provide a redundant system m the event of a failure. Support module 26 provides separation of the infrastructure from the industrial equipment located within the equipment module 16. The support module 26 also provides redundancy since each and every support module 26 is disconnectlvely attached to an interconnection 24. The use of multiple support modules 26 maximizes reliability, allows for the isolation of the individual components for maintenance, testing and replacement and allows for a power feed to each and every equipment module 16. A support module 26 preferably can enclose a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) , a fire suppression gas piping from a centralized system and a dry pipe sprinkler system with preactivation delay valvmg.

As shown in FIG. 2, the top of the support module 26 preferably has a first access opening 28. The first access opening 28 is located on top of an upper rectangular passageway 30. Located within the rectangular passageway 30 is switchgear 32 for converting between utility and battery electrical power. Located below the support module 26 is a lower rectangular passageway 34 and within this lower rectangular passageway 34 is an air duct 36. At the bottom of the lower rectangular passageway 34 is a second access opening 38 and located near the second access opening 38 within the lower rectangular passageway 34 is an emergency generator and load bank plugs 40.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the support module 26 also includes a battery room 42 that preferably contains safety equipment such as an emergency eye wash and shower station. Adjacent to the battery room 42 is an uninterruptable power supply 44. The other side of the support module 26 includes a series of partitioned storage rooms 46.

Preferably, each support module 26 encloses a mechanical heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. This mechanical heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system can vary tremendously depending on the type and nature of the industrial equipment utilized in the equipment module 16. There is a wide variety of existing heating and air conditioning systems (HVAC) that can be utilized in this application by someone with ordinary skill in this art. The air then preferably passes through an interconnection 24 and into an equipment module 16. The air enters underneath the raised floor 17 through a series of air inlets and a series of air returns (not shown) .

Preferably, the support module 16 can house any of a wide variety of electrical systems for the distribution of electrical power from either a utility source, batteries or generators. As with the heating and air conditioning system, this electrical system can vary tremendously depending on the type and nature of the industrial equipment utilized in the equipment module 16. There is a wide variety of existing electrical systems that can be utilized in this application by someone with ordinary skill in this art. Typically, there are a series of circuit breakers, transformers, and uninterruptible power supplies, so that power is provided to the equipment module 16 through an interconnection 24.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a first power line 48 is electrically connected to a first utility substation module 52 which connects to a first power module 56. The first power module 56 provides a third power line 60 and a fourth power line 62, which are connected to each and every support module 26. In addition, there is the second power line 50, which feeds into a second utility substation module 54, which connects to a second power module 58. This second power module 58 provides a fifth power line 64 and a sixth power line 66 that are connected to each and every support module 26. As shown in FIG. 1, adjacent to the first power module 56 is a first fuel center 68 for storing fuel for the generators and adjacent to the second power module 58 is a second fuel center 70 that is also for storing fuel for the generators.

FIG. 5 illustrates a primary and a secondary communication line 72 and 74 respectively, that provides a communication link to each and every equipment module 16. These communication lines 72 and 74, respectively, are preferably in the form of optical fiber cables. An illustrative but nonlimiting example of a type of fiber optic cable is a twenty-two (22) pair. Optimally, the operating center for industrial equipment 10 is buried underneath the earth to minimize interference from tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms involving high winds . The preferred burial distance is two (2) feet (60.96 centimeters) below the earth. The preferred material for the operating center for industrial equipment 10 is painted concrete; however, any of a wide variety of materials will suffice. The interconnections 24 are preferably elastic enough so that power, communications, heating and air conditioning connections will not be severed during an earthquake .

Industrial Applicability

This operating center for industrial equipment 10 provides an ultra reliable system for providing power, heating, and air conditioning to the equipment modules 16 by housing this equipment in at least one support module 26. Therefore, when these systems fail, they have minimal interaction with the equipment in the equipment module. Preferably, redundant power systems from different utility grids are utilized to minimize the chance that both would fail in conjunction with backup generators. Dual communication lines 72 and 74 from different sources also significantly reduce the possibility of a communications loss.

Some of the advantages of this operating center for industrial equipment 10 include remote operation, scalability, infrastructure redundancy, high security, flexibility, upgradability, maintainability, modularity, compartmentalization and reduced human interaction. In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the subject operating center for industrial equipment 10 provides considerable improvements over current traditional designs.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, disclosure and the appended claims.

Claims

1. An operating center for industrial equipment (10) comprising: an equipment module (16) ; at least one support module (26) ; and at least one interconnection (24) between each said support module (26) and said equipment module (16) .

2. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said equipment module (16) encloses computer equipment.

3. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said equipment module (16) encloses telecommunications equipment.

4. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said equipment module (16) encloses life support equipment.

5. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said equipment module (16) includes a raised floor (17) .

6. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said support module (26) encloses electrical power equipment for providing electrical power to said equipment module (16) .

7. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 6, wherein said electrical power equipment includes uninterruptable power supplies (44) .

8. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 6, wherein said electrical power equipment includes electrical generators.

9. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 6, wherein said electrical power equipment includes batteries.

10. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said support module (26) includes equipment to provide heating to said equipment module (16) .

11. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said support module (26) includes equipment to provide cooling to said equipment module (16) .

12. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said interconnection (24) includes an enclosed structure.

13. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, further comprising at least one core module (15) attached to said at least one support module (26) by an interconnection (24) .

14. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, further comprising a receiving center (12) attached to said at least one support module (26) by an interconnection (24) .

15. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said equipment module (16) and said at least one support module (26) are submerged underground.

16. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, wherein said equipment module (16) and said at least one support module (26) are partially submerged underground.

17. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, further comprising an electrical power module (56,58) for supplying electrical power to said at least one support module (26) .

18. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 17, further comprising a utility substation (52,54) connected to said electrical power module (56,58) .

19. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 14, wherein said receiving center (12) is detachable from said interconnection (24) .

20. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 1, further comprising at least one communication line (72,74) connected to said at least one equipment module (16) .

21. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 20, wherein said at least one communication line (72,74) is a fiber optic cable.

22. An operating center for industrial equipment (10) comprising: a plurality of equipment modules (16) ; at least one support module (26) attached to each of said plurality of equipment modules (16) with at least one interconnection between each said support module (26) and said equipment module (16) .

23. The operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 22, further comprising a receiving center (12) .

24. A process for building an operating center for industrial equipment (12) including the steps of : constructing an equipment module (16) ; constructing at least one support module (26) ; and constructing an interconnection (24) between each said support module (26) and each said equipment module (16) .

25. A process for building an operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 24, further comprising a step of providing electrical power to said at least one support module (26) .

26. A process for building an operating center for industrial equipment (10) of claim 24, further comprising a step of providing at least one communication line (72, 74) to said equipment module (16) .

27. A process for building an operating center for industrial equipment (10) including the steps of : constructing a plurality of equipment modules (16) ; constructing a plurality of support modules (26) ; and constructing an interconnection (24) between each said support module (26) and each said equipment module (16) .