HK1150589A - Device for controlling movement of a plurality of elevator cars in a single hoistway - Google Patents

Description

Device for controlling the movement of a plurality of elevator cars in a single hoistway

Background

Elevator systems most commonly include a single elevator car located within a hoistway. It has been proposed to include two elevator cars in a single hoistway. Although this solution has been found in the patent literature many years ago, it is not uncommon to implement such systems. Various problems are encountered when attempting to include a dual lift vehicle within a single lift aisle.

For example, it is necessary to consider the case where the hoistway door is opened. Generally, a single elevator car system has a safety chain installed along a hoistway. The door lock at each hoistway door is associated with a relay switch along the safety chain. When all the doors are closed, all the relay switches are also closed. The elevator car is allowed to run as long as all relay switches are closed, indicating that all doors are closed. Each time one of the doors is opened, the corresponding relay switch contact opens, interrupting the safety chain circuit. In this case, the elevator is not allowed to move.

When dual elevator cars are introduced into a single hoistway, it is undesirable to stop both elevator cars with the hoistway doors open to service passengers within one elevator car. If the traditional single elevator car solution is employed, both cars must stop as long as the safety chain circuit is interrupted. A better scheme is as follows: while one car stops at the position where the door is open, the other car continues to move.

One arrangement that addresses this problem is set forth in U.S. patent application publication No. US 2005/0082121. This document discloses an arrangement in which a safety controller determines elevator car position data and door lock data and then establishes, based on this data, a shaft area in which each elevator car is safely movable. Another solution is given in U.S. patent application publication No. US 2006/0175135. This document includes the use of two independent safety circuits, one for each elevator car. While these proposals theoretically allow one elevator car to continue moving within the same hoistway while another elevator car is stopped, those skilled in the art are always striving to make improvements. It would be advantageous to provide a less complex and less expensive solution that allows control of dual elevator cars within a single hoistway with hoistway doors open.

Disclosure of Invention

An exemplary apparatus for controlling two elevator cars within an elevator hoistway includes a door monitor module that facilitates controlling movement of the elevator cars. The door monitor module is configured to determine when at least one door along the hoistway is open. The door monitor module places the first relay in a selected operating state if the first elevator car stops at the landing corresponding to the opened door. The door monitor module places the second relay in a selected operating state if the second elevator car stops at the landing corresponding to the at least one opened door. The door monitor module is further configured to place both relays in the selected operating state if neither of the elevator cars is stopped at a landing corresponding to an open door along a hoistway.

The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system that includes an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system 20. The first elevator car 22 and the second elevator car 24 are each in position for movement within the single hoistway 26. In this example, the first elevator car 22 may be considered an upper car because it is vertically above the second elevator car 24, while the second elevator car 24 may be referred to as a lower car.

The hoistway 26 includes a plurality of hoistway doors that operate in a known manner to provide access to the hoistway 26. In the illustrated example, the lower car 24 stops at a landing (landing) corresponding to one of the doors 30 to serve passengers at that floor. The upper car 22 is moving and is now between the doors 32 and 34 as schematically shown. Even if the door 30 is open to provide access to the lower car 24, it is still possible for the upper car 22 to continue moving within the hoistway 26. The illustrated example includes means for controlling movement of the elevator cars 22 and 24 and allowing such operation.

Each door includes a door lock switch 40, which door lock switch 40 operates in a known manner to provide an indication when the door lock of the associated door is open. In some examples, an open door lock is used as an indication to open the door. Whenever one of the doors providing access to the hoistway 26 is unlocked, it is considered an open door, and this indicates that elevator car movement may be an undesirable situation.

In the example shown, each door lock switch 40 is associated with a communication module 42, the communication module 42 providing an indication of the status of the associated door lock. Each communication module 42 communicates with a Door Monitor Module (DMM)46 over a communication link 44. In one example, the communication link 44 comprises a serial data bus. The exemplary communication link 44 utilizes Remote Serial Link (RSL) or Controller Area Network (CAN) technology to facilitate communication. Each communication module 42 provides information to the DMM46 regarding the status of the associated lock 40. The communications module 42 also provides information about its location so that the DMM46 can determine which hoistway door is open if at least one hoistway door is open.

Each time at least one hoistway door is opened, it is necessary to determine whether movement of one or both elevator cars needs to be prevented. In this example, DMM46 controls relay switch arrangement 50. The example includes a first relay switch 52 associated with a first elevator car controller 54, which in this example is an Upper Car Controller (UCC) 54. The second relay switch 56 is associated with a second elevator car controller 58, in this example, the second elevator car controller 58 is a Lower Car Controller (LCC). The DMM46 independently controls the relay switches 52 and 56 to control movement of the corresponding elevator car 22 or 24 based on the status of the doors along the hoistway 26 and the position of the cars 22, 24.

The DMM46 is configured to determine when an open door is present based on an indication from one of the communication modules 42. The DMM46 also determines whether one of the elevator cars 22 or 24 is located at a bench opening corresponding to an open door. In that case, that car should be prevented from moving, the corresponding switch within the relay arrangement 50 is moved to the appropriate operating state (e.g., opening the relay contacts) to provide an indication to the corresponding controller 54 or 58 to prevent movement of that elevator car. In the example shown, the doors 30 are open because the lower elevator car 24 is located at the landing to service passengers. The DMM46 determines that the door 30 is open and that the elevator car 24 is located at that landing. The DMM46 then controls the operation of the relay switch 56 such that the LCC58 receives an indication to prevent movement of the elevator car 24.

One feature of the illustrated example is that it allows the use of an elevator car controller designed to detect an open relay along a safety chain without changing the controller configuration. For example, LCC58 is designed to detect when an open relay switch corresponding to an open door is present along hoistway 26. In the example shown, the LCC58 receives such an indication when the relay switch 56 is opened by the DMM 46. This allows a dual car system to be implemented without the need for a different or redesigned car controller.

Similarly, the UCC54 detects when the relay switch 52 is in an operational state corresponding to an open door (e.g., the contacts of the relay switch 52 are opened by the DMM 46). In the example of fig. 1, the elevator car 22 moves between the landing doors and does not dock near any open doors. In such a situation, it is desirable to allow the upper car 22 to continue moving to provide the desired passenger service, which requires movement of the elevator car 22. In the example shown, the DMM46 holds the relay switch 52 closed, so that even if one of the hoistway doors 30 is open, the UCC54 still controls the movement of the elevator car 22 to allow it to continue moving.

As can be seen from the illustrated example, the DMM46 allows for independent control of the movement of the elevator cars 22 and 24 even with the hoistway doors open. There are situations where both elevator cars 22 and 24 should be prevented from moving. For example, if one of the door lock switches 40 indicates that the corresponding door is open and the DMM46 determines that neither elevator car 22 or 24 is at the landing associated with that door, then both elevator cars 22 and 24 are prevented from movement. In this case, the DMM46 places both relay switches 52 and 56 into an operating state that indicates to the UCC54 and LCC58 that their respective cars should be prevented from moving. This may occur during maintenance operations, for example, authorized personnel opening the hoistway doors and requesting access to the hoistway. It is desirable in such situations to prevent any movement of the elevator car without the express intent of known maintenance personnel.

In the example of fig. 1, the DMM46 obtains information regarding the position of each elevator car to determine whether one of the cars is located at a position corresponding to an open door. This example includes an elevator car position indicator 60 fixed along the hoistway. In one example, the position indicator includes a steel band positioned along or near one of the guide rails that facilitates movement of the elevator car. In this example, the elevator car 22 includes a plurality of detectors 62 and 64, the plurality of detectors 62 and 64 being supported for movement with the car. The lower elevator car 24 includes a plurality of detectors 66 and 68, the plurality of detectors 66 and 68 being supported for movement with the car. The detectors 66-68 detect indications from the elevator car position indicator 60 based on non-repeating indications along the position indicator 60 that provide information about the elevator car position. The detectors 62-68 provide corresponding signals to the DMM46 related to the current position of the corresponding elevator car.

In this example, each elevator car includes a plurality of detectors so that the position detected by each detector can be cross-checked to confirm an accurate position indication. In the event that the information gathered by the multiple detectors on a particular elevator car does not match in the desired manner, the DMM46 controls the relay arrangement 50 to prevent movement of that elevator car. In some cases, the DMM46 will control the relay arrangement 50 to prevent movement of the two elevator cars until the difference can be eliminated. Maintaining accurate elevator car position information facilitates smooth operation and the ability to allow one elevator car to continue movement even when the other elevator car is parked where the doors are open.

In one example, the position indicator 60 comprises a steel strip including a plurality of through holes 70, the plurality of through holes 70 establishing non-repeating gray codes (gray) of position data along the indicator 60. In one example, the detectors 62-68 include optical readers that communicate serially over a travel cable (not shown) to provide appropriate information to the DMM 46. In one example, the detectors 62-68 also determine speed information useful for elevator control.

The illustrated example includes redundancy that has been schematically illustrated. For example, this example includes dual DMMs 46 and 46 ', DMMs 46 and 46' communicating with each other as a cross-check device. To have suitable redundancy, the illustrated example includes redundant door lock switches 40 and 40 ', redundant communication modules 42 and 42 ', redundant communication links 44 and 44 ', redundant first relay switches 52 and 52 ', and redundant second relay switches 56 and 56 ' at each door.

The dual-redundancy of the illustrated example provides the same functionality twice. That is, the illustrated components (e.g., door lock switches 40 and 40 ', communication modules 42 and 42', relay arrangements 50 and 50 ', and DMMs 46 and 46') perform the same functions in parallel. In addition, dual redundancy allows cross checking between DMMs 46 and 46'.

In this example, DMM46 and DMM46 'are each configured to perform the same determining work as to how to control relay arrangements 50 and 50', respectively, in order to control movement of the elevator car. The exemplary gate monitor modules communicate with each other to cross-check the results of the determinations made by each gate monitor module. When a determination made by one DMM does not correspond to a corresponding determination made by another DMM, an error is indicated and service of the elevator system is temporarily stopped until service can be performed to the DMM46 or other portion of the control arrangement. Providing more than one DMM allows satisfying the type of elevator code that requires redundancy of the elevator control. In addition, more than one DMM allows for cross checking of the results of determinations made by each DMM to facilitate more reliable control of elevator motion.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims (16)

1. An apparatus for controlling movement of a plurality of elevator cars within a single hoistway, comprising:

a door monitor module configured to:

determining a position of each of the plurality of elevator cars;

determining a condition of each of a plurality of doors along a hoistway;

determining when at least one of the doors along the hoistway is open; and is

If the first elevator car stops at the landing corresponding to the at least one opened door, the first relay is placed in a selected operating state,

placing the second relay in a selected operating state if the second elevator car stops at the landing corresponding to the at least one opened door, or

Placing the first and second relays in the selected operating state if neither the first or second elevator car is stopped at a landing corresponding to at least one open door.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a first controller configured to prevent movement of the first elevator car in response to an operational state of the first relay; and

a second controller configured to prevent movement of the second elevator car in response to an operational state of the second relay.

3. The apparatus of claim 2,

the first relay comprises a single relay associated with the door monitor module; and is

The second relay comprises a single relay associated with the door monitor module.

4. The apparatus of claim 2,

the first relay comprises a plurality of relays, each of the plurality of relays associated with a corresponding door along the hoistway; and is

The second relay includes a plurality of relays, each of the plurality of relays associated with a corresponding door along the hoistway.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the door monitor module places a corresponding one of a plurality of relays associated with an open door in an operational state.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising

A door lock switch associated with each door along the hoistway, wherein the door monitor module determines when at least one of the doors is open in response to an indication from a corresponding one of the door lock switches.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, comprising

A communication module associated with each door lock switch and in communication with the door monitor module such that each communication module receives an indication from the associated door lock switch and provides an indication of the associated door lock switch status and an indication of the associated door lock switch position to the door monitor module.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected operational state of the relay comprises a contact of a relay switch being open.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising

A second monitor module identically configured to the door monitor module, wherein the door monitor module and the second monitor module communicate with each other such that at least one of the door monitor module and the second monitor module places the first relay and the second relay in the selected operating state if a determination made by one of the door monitor module and the second monitor module does not match a corresponding determination made by the other of the door monitor module and the second monitor module.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

an elevator car position indicator fixed along the hoistway providing a non-repeating indication distinct from each position along the hoistway;

at least one detector associated with each elevator car within the hoistway that detects the indication from the position indicator and provides a corresponding signal to the door monitor module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the elevator car position indicator comprises an elongated member comprising consecutive and non-repeating gray codes along a length of the member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongated member comprises a steel band.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the gray code comprises a through hole within the elongated member and providing an indication of position information.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each detector is programmed to read a code to determine a corresponding position of the associated elevator car and provide a signal including an indication of the determined position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each detector comprises an optical reader.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising

A plurality of said detectors respectively associated with each of said elevator cars, wherein one of said elevator cars is prevented from moving if a position determination made by the associated detector does not have a desired relationship.