CHICAGO, MARCH 16, 1998

Sentrol* Introduces New Safety Interlock Switches

Company Now Offers the Industry’s Most Complete Line of
Contact and Non-Contact Products

At the National Manufacturing Week conference this week, Sentrol Industrial* is exhibiting its new line of mechanical safety interlock switches including its latest key-operated solenoid safety switch, the FS 694/FS 994. The introduction gives Sentrol Industrial the industry's most extensive line of contact and non-contact products, including the smallest non-contact safety switch on the market.

Sentrol Industrial safety interlock switches are used to detect the opening of guards - including doors, gates and/or removable covers - that prevent access to dangerous parts of a machine, and to help deter tampering with the guards or the internal machine controls. All Sentrol Industrial safety switches are equipped with positive opening contacts. Whenever an unsafe condition is detected, these contacts open, causing the machine to automatically shut down.

As with all Sentrol Industrial products, the new line of safety interlock switches is in full compliance with the most current and required standards. These include IMQ, CE, VDE, UL, CSA, IEC and EN approvals. Class of protection is IP65 to IP67 (Type 12 to Type 4).

The high level of approval and certification owes in large part to the line's rugged design. Sentrol offers the industry's only rugged metal-encased switches, and its thermal plastic-housed models are among the most shock proof and heat, fire and water resistant. In addition, they exhibit very high mechanical endurance, with life cycles ranging from 800,000 to 1,000,000 operations.

The new FS 694/FS 994 key operated solenoid safety switch was developed for use on a wide variety of machines. It is smaller than competitive solenoid switches, making it one of the most versatile models of its type on the market. Specifically designed for use on machines that cannot be shut down in mid-cycle, have high mechanical inertia or operate at high temperature, the switch will automatically turn a machine off and only allow access when operation is completely stopped.

The FS 694/FS 994 uses a removable stainless steel key in conjunction with a solenoid. Removing the key mechanically forces the closed contacts open which turns power off and disables the machine. Two versions of the switch are available. The Series D version allows the key to be removed and the switch to be unlocked when the solenoid is energized. With the Series E version, de-energizing the solenoid allows the key to be removed and the switch to be unlocked.

In addition to the FS 694/FS 994, Sentrol offers three other key operated safety switches, including a heavy duty model for use on machine tools or presses. Two versions of a key operated model with time delay are also available; they are specifically designed to protect an area where a hazard remains for a period of time after the machine control has been turned off.

For other applications involving access panels, and protecting doors, guards or gates, Sentrol's hinge operated and slotted lever safety switches are well suited. In both cases, the opening of the door or gate rotates the switch's operating shaft which opens the normally closed contacts and turns off the machine.

Two rope pull safety switches (right angle and top entrance) are available to maintain protection around a machine. Both open the safety circuit that turns off machine power when the pre-tensioned rope is cut or is pulled past the normal operating point. The machine cannot be restarted until the guard is closed and the proper rope tension is re-established.

Sentrol Industrial is a market leader in the development and manufacture of safety interlock switches and position sensors for industrial applications. Specified on thousands of product lines in various industries, Sentrol Industrial switches are designed to resist defeat attempts thereby helping prevent injuries and reduce liability exposure.

*Sentrol and Sentrol Industrial are now GE Security Industrial

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