HK1234383B - Method for using an elevator system and elevator system - Google Patents

Description

Method of using an elevator system and elevator system

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method of using an elevator system, in which the elevator system is used for evacuation in a building, and to an elevator system having one or more elevator cars and implementing the method.

Background Art

An elevator system typically includes one or more elevator cars installed in a building to travel vertically in a hoistway. Larger buildings often have multiple elevator cars servicing the building's floors. There are many different configurations in which the elevator cars can be arranged relative to each other. Typically, multiple elevator cars travel in parallel hoistways, but configurations in which the cars travel in a shared hoistway are also known. The taller the building, the longer the distance a person must travel to exit the building. Tower buildings, in particular, often require a long route for people exiting from the upper floors.

In the event of a fire on one or more floors of a building, people need to evacuate from that floor and, often, from floors adjacent to it. In some cases, a large portion of a building, or even the entire building, needs to be evacuated. In the prior art, elevator cars have been used to transport people directly from evacuation floors to emergency exit floors. A drawback of known solutions is that if the floor to be evacuated is far from a safe floor, such as a building's exit floor (usually the ground floor), the round-trip time for the elevator to travel from the evacuation floor to the safe floor and back may be too long to evacuate everyone safely and in a timely manner. The taller the building, the longer the round-trip time typically is. Long round-trip times can easily lead to limited capacity. Furthermore, the last people (also known as passengers) on the most at-risk floors may have to wait a relatively long time for the elevator to pick them up and transport them away.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention aims, in particular, to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of known solutions and the problems discussed later in the description of the invention. The present invention aims to introduce a method and an elevator system implementing the method, which can make the evacuation of one or more floors of a building more efficient. One aim is, in particular, to enable the most risky/dangerous areas of a building (such as the most risky/dangerous floor or floors) to be evacuated very quickly. In particular, embodiments are proposed that allow for very rapid evacuation of the most risky/dangerous floors, particularly in the event of a localized fire or some other threat (e.g., only one or a few floors).

A novel method for using an elevator system is proposed, wherein the elevator system is used for evacuating a building having a plurality of vertically spaced floors, the floors being served or arranged to be served by the elevator system, particularly by one or more vertically traveling elevator cars of the elevator system. The floors include at least a first floor, a second floor, and a plurality of intermediate floors vertically located between the first and second floors. The elevator system is configured to have multiple modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an evacuation operating mode. In the normal operating mode, the elevator system's cars are used to serve a first group of floors, and in the evacuation operating mode, the elevator cars are used to serve a second group of floors different from the first group of floors. The method includes evacuating passengers from a first floor to a second floor, the evacuation comprising changing the mode of the elevator system from a normal operating mode to an evacuation operating mode; determining a second set of floors to include the first floor and intermediate landing floors from a plurality of intermediate floors or a subset thereof; transporting a load of passengers from the first floor to the intermediate landing floors using the elevator car without intermediate stops; repeating the transporting of the load of passengers from the first floor one or more times; and after the one or more transports, transporting the passengers from the intermediate landing floors to the second floor using the elevator car. One or more objects are achieved using this method. In this method, intermediate landing floors between an evacuation floor (the first floor) from which a person is to evacuate and a safety floor (the second floor) to which the person is to evacuate can be determined during the method. Floors in the second set of floors can be selected to be most appropriate for each individual emergency situation, taking into account the prevailing situation. Thus, the method is adaptable to provide optimal results for different evacuation scenarios. The safety floor can be an exit floor of the building, but alternatively can be some other floor from which a person can be further evacuated, such as a sky lobby level of the building. Each passenger can be evacuated using this method by providing them with a trip from the first floor to the second floor, consisting of two trip segments, with the passenger visiting a landing at an intermediate landing between the two trip segments. The trip from the first floor to the intermediate landing thus forms the first trip segment, and the trip from the intermediate landing to the second floor forms the second of the two trip segments. By first transporting passengers to the intermediate landing rather than directly to the second floor, a large number of the first trip segments can be provided in a short period of time, thereby providing a very efficient evacuation of passengers away from the first floor (i.e., the most risky/dangerous area). The intermediate landing is preferably close to the floor to be evacuated (the first floor) so that evacuation takes as little time as possible, but far enough away to ensure sufficient time to transport everyone from the intermediate landing to the exit floor (the second floor) before, for example, a fire spreads from the floor to be evacuated to the intermediate landing.

In other refinements, the evacuation is initiated in response to a signal such as an alarm signal. The signal may be in the form of an alarm signal giving an alert of an emergency (such as a fire, for example) or a specific evacuation command signal received from an operator.

In other refined embodiments, the determining includes selecting an intermediate landing floor from the plurality of intermediate floors or a subset thereof.

In other refined embodiments, none of the floors vertically located between the first floor and the intermediate landing floor are in the second group of floors.

In other refined embodiments, one or more floors vertically located between the first floor and the intermediate landing floor are in a first group of floors, i.e., the group of floors served by the elevator car in normal operating mode, and are not in a second group of floors, i.e., the group of floors served by the elevator car in evacuation operating mode.

In other refined embodiments, the first floor and the intermediate landing floor are both in the second group of floors, and one or both of the intermediate landing floor and the first floor are not in the first group of floors.

In other refined embodiments, the intermediate floor is a floor that is substantially closer to the first floor than to the second floor.

In other refined embodiments, the intermediate landing floor is a floor that is no more than X floors away from the first floor, where X is in the range of five to ten.

In other detailed embodiments, the intermediate landing floor is a floor at least one floor away from the first floor F1, but preferably two or more floors away. Preferably, the intermediate landing floor is a floor 5 to 10 floors away from the first floor.

In other refined embodiments, the intermediate stopping floor is a floor between the lowest and the highest of the floors in the first group of floors (ie, the floors served by the elevator car during normal mode).

In other refined embodiments, the first floor is a floor between a lowest and a highest floor in a first group of floors (ie, of the floors served by the elevator car during normal mode).

In other refined embodiments, transporting the passenger from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor using the elevator car includes moving the elevator car from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor without an intermediate stop, even if (multiple) elevator calls are or have been received from one or more floors between the first floor and the intermediate landing floor.

In other refined embodiments, transporting the passenger from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor using the elevator car includes moving the elevator car from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor without intermediate stops, even if elevator call(s) are or have been received from the car.

In other refined embodiments, the evacuation includes obtaining a passenger value representing the number of passengers to be evacuated from the first floor; and determining a time limit representing the maximum time allowed to evacuate all passengers from the first floor; and determining the second set of floors includes selecting an intermediate stop floor from the plurality of intermediate floors or a subset thereof based on the time limit and the passenger value. The selection may include calculating expected times for different intermediate floors using the number of passengers/passenger value. In the selection, the intermediate stop floor Fi is selected to be close to the first floor F1 so that the expected time does not exceed the time limit.

In other refined embodiments, the following are performed consecutively using the same elevator car: transporting the passenger from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor using the elevator car; and transporting the passenger from the intermediate landing floor to the second floor using the elevator car.

In other refinements, the transport of passengers from a first floor to an intermediate landing floor is performed using a first elevator car, and the transport of passengers from the intermediate landing floor to a second floor is performed using a second elevator car. Preferably, the first and second cars are arranged to travel vertically in the same hoistway on top of each other, both being arranged to serve the intermediate landing floor. The hoistway should then extend from the height of the first floor to the height of the second floor.

In other refined embodiments, transporting passengers from a first floor to an intermediate landing floor using a first elevator car and transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor to a second floor using a second elevator car are performed simultaneously.

In other refinements, the evacuation includes guiding the passengers, preferably by presenting information on display(s) and/or sending announcement(s) by speaker(s). Thus, the passengers can remain aware of what is happening and what to do.

In other refined embodiments, the guiding includes guiding passengers to move from at least floors immediately above and/or below the first floor to the first floor for evacuation.

In other refined embodiments, the guidance includes presenting information near the elevator doors of at least the floor(s) immediately above and/or below the first floor, preferably by presenting information on display(s) and/or sending announcement(s) by speaker(s), the display/speaker being mounted near the elevator doors of the floors leading to the hoistway from the floor in question.

In other refined embodiments, the directing includes directing the passenger to move from the car to an intermediate landing.

In other refined embodiments, the guiding comprises presenting information in the elevator car, preferably by sending announcements from a loudspeaker installed in the car and/or presenting information on a display installed in the car.

In other refined embodiments, the guiding includes guiding passengers on the first floor, preferably by presenting information on display(s) and/or sending announcement(s) by speaker(s), preferably by presenting information near the elevator doors at least on the first floor, the display/speaker being mounted near the elevator doors of the floors leading from the first floor to the hoistway.

In other refined embodiments, transporting the passenger load from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor using the elevator car without intermediate stops includes moving the elevator car to the first floor; and thereafter receiving the passenger load from the first floor into the elevator car; and thereafter moving the elevator car to the intermediate landing floor without intermediate stops; and thereafter unloading the passenger load received from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor.

In other refined embodiments, transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor to the second floor using an elevator car includes moving an elevator car to the intermediate landing floor, the car being the aforementioned elevator car or a second elevator car; and thereafter receiving a passenger load from the intermediate landing floor into the elevator car; and thereafter moving the car to the second floor; and thereafter unloading the passenger load received from the intermediate landing floor to the second floor.

In other refinements, the evacuation includes repeating the transporting of passengers from the intermediate landing to a second floor using an elevator car.

In other refined embodiments, the second floor is an exit floor of a building, or at least a floor that is at most 2 floors away from the ground surrounding the building, or a sky lobby of a building.

In other refined embodiments, the intermediate landing floor is below the first floor, and the second floor is below the intermediate landing floor.

In other refined embodiments, the building is a tower building.

A novel elevator system is also proposed, comprising one or more vertically traveling elevator cars installed in a building having a plurality of vertically spaced floors, the floors including at least a first floor, a second floor, and a plurality of intermediate floors vertically located between the first and second floors; and having a plurality of modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an evacuation operating mode; and comprising an elevator controller configured to change the mode of the elevator system from the normal operating mode to the evacuation operating mode, the elevator system being configured to use the cars to serve a first group of floors in the normal operating mode and to use the cars to serve a second group of floors different from the first group of floors in the evacuation operating mode; and changing the mode of the elevator system from the normal operating mode to the evacuation operating mode; and determining the second group of floors to include the first floor and an intermediate landing floor from a plurality of intermediate floors; and transporting a passenger load from the first floor to the intermediate landing floor using the elevator car without intermediate stops; and repeating one or more of said transporting of the passenger load from the first floor; and transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor to the second floor using the elevator car; and thereby evacuating passengers from the first floor to the second floor. The elevator system is also preferably configured to perform any one or group of steps described above or elsewhere in this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by means of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an elevator system according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from the side, in which the method according to the invention is implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG1 illustrates an elevator system according to a preferred embodiment. The elevator system 10 is installed in a building having a plurality of vertically spaced floors _F1 , _F2 , Fi, and Fii. The elevator system includes one or more elevator cars C1, C2 that travel vertically in a hoistway H. Each of the one or more elevator cars C1, C2 has an interior space suitable for receiving a passenger or passengers, and the cars are preferably provided with doors that form a closable interior space.

The elevator system 10 includes an elevator controller 100 for controlling the movement of one or more cars of the elevator system. The elevator controller 100 is preferably in the form of a control unit comprising a computer that executes a program according to certain logic (such as one or more algorithms stored on the computer). The elevator system 10 is configured to have multiple different operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an evacuation operating mode. The elevator controller 100 is configured to control the elevator cars differently in these different modes (e.g., based on different algorithms). The elevator controller 100 is configured to switch the mode of the elevator system from the normal operating mode to the evacuation operating mode under predetermined circumstances, such as in response to a signal such as a specific evacuation command signal received from an operator or an alarm signal indicating an emergency situation (such as a fire, for example). To control the movement of the elevator car(s) C1, C2, the elevator controller 100 is connected to a power source (not shown) for each of the one or more cars, such as a motor for moving the car in question. Many different elevator controllers for controlling the movement of elevator car(s) in multiple modes are also well known, and thus the structure of the elevator controller 100 will not be further described herein.

The elevator system shown in FIG. 1 implements a method for using the elevator system 10 according to the following. In this method, the elevator system 10 is used for evacuating a building having a plurality of vertically spaced floors, which are served or can be arranged to be served by the elevator system, particularly by one or more vertically traveling elevator cars C1, C2. The floors include at least a floor _F1 to be evacuated and a floor _F2 to which passengers are to be evacuated, as well as a plurality of intermediate floors Fi, F1 located vertically between these floors _F1 , _F2 . As described earlier, the elevator system is configured to have at least a normal operating mode and an evacuation operating mode. In this method, in the normal operating mode, the elevator system's car C1 is used to serve a first group of floors, i.e., the car C1 is restricted to serving only certain floors forming the first group of floors. In the evacuation operating mode, the elevator car C1 is used to serve a second group of floors that is different from the first group of floors, i.e., the car C1 is restricted to serving only certain floors that form a second group of floors that is different from the first group. Thus, the movements of the car C1 can be optimized to have different objectives in the normal operating mode than in the evacuation operating mode, in particular prioritizing the rapid transportation of passengers away from the most dangerous floor(s). In particular, certain actions are performed in the method to achieve this rapid transportation of passengers away from the most dangerous floor(s). In the embodiment described here, the floor to be evacuated is the first floor F1.

In this method, an evacuation is initiated in response to a need to evacuate at least one floor _F1 . The method includes evacuating passengers from the floor _F1 to be evacuated (hereinafter referred to as the first floor) to another floor _F2 (hereinafter referred to as the second floor _F2 ) that is considered safe and/or is an exit floor of the building. Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment in which there are multiple intermediate floors Fi, F1 located between the first floor _F1 and the second floor _F2 , whereby the first and second floors are remote from each other, and an efficient method for evacuation is useful for ensuring safety. The evacuation is preferably initiated in response to a signal, such as an alarm signal. The signal can be in the form of an alarm signal that warns of an emergency (such as a fire, for example) or a specific evacuation command signal received from an operator. The signal preferably includes identification information indicating the specific floor to be evacuated (in this case, the first floor F1).

The evacuation includes changing the mode of the elevator system from a normal operating mode to an evacuation operating mode.

The evacuation comprises determining a second set of floors to include the first floor F1 and an intermediate landing floor Fi from a plurality of intermediate floors Fi, Fii or from a subset of said plurality of intermediate floors Fi, Fii. Thus, the floors of the second set of floors can be selected as being most suitable for each individual emergency situation taking into account the prevailing situation. Thus, the method can be adapted to provide optimal results for different evacuation situations. The intermediate floors Fi are preferably floors that are substantially closer to the first floor _F1 than to the second floor _F2 . Following said determination, the method comprises transporting the passenger load from the first floor F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi using the elevator car C1 without intermediate stops, and repeating said transport (i.e., said transporting the passenger load from the first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi using the elevator car C1 without intermediate stops) one or more times.

After performing at least one, but possibly multiple, transports, the method includes transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor _F2 using elevator cars C1, C2. Using the method according to the described embodiment, each passenger is evacuated by providing them with a trip from the first floor _F1 to the second floor _F2 , which includes two trip segments, with the passenger visiting a landing at the intermediate landing floor Fi between the trip segments. The trip from the first floor F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi thus forms the first trip segment, and the trip from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor _F2 forms the second of the two trip segments. By first transporting passengers to the intermediate landing floor Fi rather than directly to the second floor _F2 , a large number of the first trip segments can be provided in a short period of time, thereby providing a very efficient evacuation of passengers from the first floor _F1 . Consequently, passengers are not transported directly to their final destination (the second floor _F2 ), although this may be possible, which may increase the overall travel time for some individual passengers. However, the average travel time for all passengers from the first floor _F1 to the second floor _F2 can still remain at least reasonable. Most importantly, the first floor _F1 can be evacuated very efficiently, thereby quickly eliminating the greatest threat. One advantage of this method is that it provides relatively equal treatment for all passengers evacuated from floor _F1 , especially when compared to a direct evacuation from the first floor to the second floor (which has only one trip segment). Arrow _a1 shows the passage of elevator car C1 between the first floor _F1 and the intermediate landing floor Fi, while arrow _a2 shows the passage of an elevator car (C1 or C2) between the intermediate landing floor Fi and the second floor _F2 .

Preferably, the determination comprises selecting an intermediate landing floor Fi. Said selection is preferably performed from said plurality of intermediate floors Fi, Fii or a subset thereof. The selection then follows a predetermined logic, preferably in the form of an algorithm programmed on the elevator controller 100.

In a first alternative, the determination includes selecting an intermediate landing floor Fi from a subset of intermediate floors Fi, F1. In this case, the elevator system 10, and in particular the elevator controller 100 following the predetermined logic, is configured to select the intermediate landing floor Fi as a floor that is no more than X floors away from the first floor _F1 , with X preferably being no more than ten, and more preferably within a range of five to ten. The elevator system 10, and in particular the elevator controller 100 following the predetermined logic, is preferably further configured to define the intermediate landing floor Fi _as a floor that is at least Y floors away from the first floor _F1 , preferably at least one, but preferably two or more floors away from the first floor F1. In any case, the intermediate floor Fi is preferably a floor that is substantially closer to the first floor _F1 than to the second floor _F2 . In this case, all floors included in the subset will be substantially closer to the first floor _F1 than to the second floor _F2 .

In a second alternative, the elevator system 10, and in particular the elevator controller 100 that follows the predetermined logic, is configured to dynamically select an intermediate landing floor Fi from the plurality of intermediate floors Fi, Fii, or a subset thereof. In this case, the determination preferably includes selecting the intermediate landing floor Fi from the plurality of intermediate floors Fi, Fii, or a subset thereof based on a time limit and a passenger value, the time limit representing the maximum allowable time for evacuating all passengers from the first floor, and the passenger value representing the number of passengers to be evacuated from the first floor F1. To this end, evacuation includes the steps of obtaining a passenger value representing the number of passengers to be evacuated from the first floor _F1 and obtaining a time limit representing the maximum allowable time for evacuating all passengers from the first floor. The passenger value preferably includes the number of such passengers who arrived at the first floor _F1 from other floors for evacuation. The selection may include the step of calculating expected arrival times for different intermediate floors using the passenger number/passenger value. In the selection, the intermediate landing floor Fi is selected to be close to the first floor F1 so that the expected arrival time does not exceed the time limit. This alternative can be used simultaneously with the aforementioned first alternative, in which case a selection based on time constraints and passenger values is made from a subset of the plurality of intermediate floors Fi, Fii that falls within a preferred range, such as one defined above (e.g. not more than X, at least Y, Y to X, where X is 5 to 10 and Y is at least 1, preferably 2 or more).

In the method, in the step of determining the second group of floors, the second group of floors is preferably determined such that none of the floors _F1 located vertically between the first floor F1 and the intermediate landing floors Fi are in the second group of floors. Therefore, the elevator car does not serve these floors. The elevator system is then configured to reject elevator calls received from floors between the first floor _F1 and the intermediate landing floors Fi. However, preferably, one or more of the floors (i.e., the floors F1 located vertically between the first floor F1 and the intermediate landing floors Fi) are in the first group of floors, i.e., the group of floors served by the elevator car in normal operating mode, but not in the second group of floors, i.e., the group of floors served by the elevator car in evacuation operating mode. In this case, the difference between normal and evacuation operating modes is significant. It is also possible that both the first floor _F1 and the intermediate landing floors Fi are in the second group of floors, and one or both of the intermediate landing floors Fi and the first floor are not in the first group of floors.

It is possible that the intermediate landing floor is a floor between the lowest and highest of the floors in the first group of floors (i.e., the floors served by the elevator car C1 during normal mode). Therefore, it is not a limit floor for the elevator car C1. It is also possible that the first floor _F1 is a floor between the lowest and highest floors served by the elevator car C1 during normal mode. In these cases, the difference between normal and evacuation operating modes is significant.

Figure 1 illustrates two alternative configurations for evacuating passengers from a first floor _F1 to a second floor _F2 . The method can be performed with one car C1 or with two cars C1 , C2 as marked in Figure 1 .

In one car option, the following is performed continuously with the same elevator car C1: transporting a passenger load from a first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi with the elevator car C1 without intermediate stops, followed by one or more repetitions of transporting a passenger load from the first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor _Fi1 with the elevator car C1 without intermediate stops, and transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor _Fi1 to a second floor _F2 with the elevator car C1.

More specifically, transporting passengers from a first floor _F1 to an intermediate landing floor using an elevator car C1 comprises moving the elevator car C1 to the first floor _F1 ; thereafter receiving a passenger load from the first floor _F1 into the elevator car C1; thereafter moving the elevator car C1 to the intermediate landing floor without an intermediate stop; and thereafter unloading the passenger load received from the first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor. Thereafter, the step of transporting the passenger load from the first floor _F1 is repeated one or more times. Each of the one or more repetitions of transporting the passenger load from the first floor _F1 comprises repeating the movement, receiving, moving, and unloading steps so as to transport a further passenger load from the first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor. Each repetition comprises receiving a further (new) passenger load from the first floor _F1 into the first elevator car, and in each repeated unloading, the further load received is unloaded to the intermediate landing floor. The unloading step at least comprises opening a doorway from the car to the floor in question. In each repeated movement of the elevator car to the first landing, the elevator car is empty when it moves to the first landing.

After performing the transport multiple times (at least twice, but preferably even more times) (the transport being repeated one or more times), evacuation involves further transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor Fi to a second floor _F2 using the same elevator car C1, which includes moving the elevator car C1 to the intermediate landing floor; and thereafter receiving a passenger load from the intermediate landing floor into the elevator car C1; and thereafter moving the car C1 to the second floor _F2 ; and thereafter unloading the passenger load received from the intermediate landing floor to the second floor ( _F2 ). After this, the transport step involves repeating one or more transports of passengers from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor F2 using the elevator car C1. However, this repetition may not be necessary, for example, if the second car is much larger than the first car and all evacuated passengers can fit into the second car. Some passengers may also have taken the stairs to the second floor _F2 , which may also make a repetition unnecessary. Each repetition includes the receiving and unloading steps to transport a larger passenger load from the intermediate landing floor to the second floor _F2 . In each repeated reception, more (new) passenger load from the intermediate floor Fi is received into said elevator car C1, and in each repeated unloading, more of the received load is unloaded to the second floor _F2 . In each of said repeated movements (returns) of the elevator car C1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi, the elevator car C1 is empty when it moves (returns) to the intermediate landing floor Fi. The hoistway in which the car C1 travels extends from the level of the first floor to the level of the second floor.

In the two car option, there is a first car and a second car C2, which are arranged to travel vertically in the same hoistway H on top of each other, both of which are arranged to serve the intermediate landing floors. The hoistway H in which the cars travel extends from the height of the first floor _F1 to the height of the second floor _F2 .

In this option, said transporting of the passenger load by means of said elevator car C1 from the first floor F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi without intermediate stops is carried out by means of the first elevator car C1, and each repetition of said transporting of the passenger load by means of said elevator car C1 from the first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi1 without intermediate stops is subsequently repeated, and (preferably simultaneously) said transporting of passengers by means of said elevator car C1 from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor F2 is carried out by means of the second elevator car _C2 .

More specifically, transporting passengers from a first floor _F1 to an intermediate landing floor using an elevator car C1 comprises moving the elevator car C1 to the first floor F1; thereafter receiving a passenger load from the first floor _F1 into the elevator car C1; thereafter moving the elevator car C1 to the intermediate landing floor without an intermediate stop; and thereafter unloading the passenger load received from the first floor F1 to the intermediate landing floor. Thereafter, the step of transporting the passenger load from the first floor _F1 is repeated one or more times. Each of the one or more repetitions of transporting the passenger load from the first floor _F1 comprises repeating the movement, receiving, moving, and unloading steps so as to transport a further passenger load from the first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor. Each of the repetitions comprises receiving a further (new) passenger load from the first floor _F1 into the first elevator car, and in each repeated unloading, unloading the further passenger load received to the intermediate landing floor. The unloading step at least comprises opening a doorway from the car to the floor in question. In each repeated movement of the elevator car to the first landing, the elevator car C1 is empty when it moves to the first landing.

After one or more of the above-mentioned transports of a passenger load from the first floor _F1 to an intermediate landing floor by means of the elevator car C1, the evacuation comprises transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor F1 by means of the second elevator car C2. The second elevator car C2 can transport a passenger load from the intermediate landing floor as early as after the first car C1 has unloaded its first passenger load at this floor and leave to return to transport more loads from the first floor.

Transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor F2 using the second elevator car C2 includes moving the elevator car C2 to the intermediate landing floor, and thereafter receiving a passenger load from the intermediate landing floor into the second elevator car C2; and thereafter moving the car C2 to the second floor _F2 , and thereafter unloading the passenger load received from the intermediate landing floor to the second floor ( _F2 ). The steps of transporting passengers from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor _F2 using the elevator car C2 are then repeated one or more times. However, this repetition may not be necessary, for example, if the second car is much larger than the first car and all evacuated passengers can fit into the second car. Some passengers may also have taken the stairs to the second floor _F2 , which may also make this repetition unnecessary. Each repetition includes the receiving and unloading steps to transport a larger passenger load from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor _F2 . In each repeated reception, more (new) passenger load from the intermediate floor Fi is received into the second elevator car, and in each repeated unloading, more of the received load is unloaded to the second floor. In each of the repeated movements (returns) of the elevator car to the intermediate landing floor, the elevator car is empty when it moves to the intermediate landing floor. When the first floor _F1 is empty, both cars C1, C2 can be used to transport passengers from the intermediate floor Fi to the second floor _F2 .

The evacuation preferably also includes guiding the passengers. Guidance preferably includes presenting information on display(s) and/or sending(s) announcement(s) via speaker(s). Displays/speakers are shown in FIG1 by reference numerals _g1 , _g2 , _g3 , _g4 , and _g5 . Guidance is advantageous because the evacuation process involves actions from passengers that may be unfamiliar to some passengers and/or violate some passengers' instincts.

Guidance preferably includes guiding passengers to move from at least the floors immediately above and/or below the first floor _F1 to the first floor _F1 for evacuation. To this end, the guidance includes presenting information at least near the elevator doors of the floor(s) _F immediately above and/or below the first floor F1 in question, which doors lead from the floor in question to the elevator shaft. Guidance preferably includes presenting information on (multiple) displays g ₂ , g ₃ and/or sending (multiple) announcements by (multiple) speakers g _{2 ,} g ₃ , which are installed near the elevator doors of the floor in question, which lead from the floor in question to the shaft H. Arrows a ₃ and a ₄ illustrate the _passage of passengers to the intermediate landing floor Fi for evacuation, for example, by taking the stairs.

Guidance preferably includes guiding passengers to move from at least the floors immediately above and/or below the intermediate landing floor Fi to the intermediate landing floor Fi for evacuation. To this end, the guidance includes presenting information at least near the elevator doors of the floors immediately above and/or below the intermediate landing floor Fi, which lead from the floor in question to the elevator shaft H. Guidance preferably includes presenting information on display(s) g ₄ and/or sending announcement(s) via speaker(s) g _{4 ,} which are mounted on the floor in question near the elevator doors leading from the floor in question to the elevator shaft H. Arrow a ₅ shows the passage of passengers, for example, by taking the stairs to the intermediate landing floor Fi for evacuation. Arrow a ₆ shows the passage of passengers by taking the stairs from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor F ₂ , thereby providing an alternative and parallel route for transportation by car from the intermediate landing floor Fi to the second floor F ₂ .

Guidance preferably includes guiding passengers on the first floor, preferably by presenting information on (multiple) displays g ₁ and/or sending (multiple) announcements by (multiple) speakers g ₁ , preferably by presenting information at least near the elevator door of the first floor F ₁ , and the display/speaker g ₁ is installed near the elevator door of the first floor F ₁ leading from the first floor F ₁ to the shaft H.

As described above, evacuation involves receiving a passenger load from the first floor F1 into the elevator car C1. To ensure proper subsequent behavior, guidance preferably includes guiding the passengers received from the first floor F1 to move out of the car C1 to an intermediate landing floor Fi. Guiding the passengers is advantageous because the evacuation process involves exiting the car C1 at a floor Fi that is not an exit floor. To ensure the safety of these passengers and conserve capacity, it should be ensured that the passengers do not travel back to the first floor F1. This guidance preferably includes presenting information in the elevator car C1. Presenting information in the elevator car C1 includes sending announcements from a speaker _g5 installed in the car C1 and/or presenting information on a display _g5 installed in the car C1.

In both of said options, said transporting of passengers from a first floor _F1 to an intermediate landing floor by means of the elevator car C1 comprises moving the elevator car C1 from the first floor _F1 (the car C1 containing the passenger load received from the first floor) to the intermediate landing floor without intermediate stops. The elevator system is configured to reject elevator calls received from floors between the first floor _F1 and the intermediate landing floor Fi at least to such an amount that, in said moving car C1, the car C1 moves from the first floor (containing the passenger load received from the first floor) to the intermediate landing floor without intermediate stops even if (a plurality of) elevator calls are or have been received from one or more floors between the first floor _F1 and the intermediate landing floor Fi, i.e., no intermediate stops are made during said movement despite (a plurality of) elevator calls from one or more floors between the first floor _F1 and the intermediate landing floor Fi. Accordingly, the elevator system is configured to reject elevator calls (e.g. so-called destination calls) received from the car C1 at least to such an amount that, in said moving car C1, the car C1 moves from the first floor (including the passenger load received from the first floor) to said intermediate landing floor without intermediate stops, even if (multiple) elevator calls (such as (multiple) specific elevator calls in the form of (multiple) destination calls identifying floors between said first floor F1 and the intermediate landing floor Fi) are or have been received from the elevator car C1.

The elevator system according to the present invention is configured to implement the described method. In particular, the elevator system includes one or more (e.g., one or two of the above-described one-car option and two-car option) vertically traveling elevator cars C1, C2 installed in a building having a plurality of vertically spaced floors, the floors including at least a first floor _F1 , a second floor F2, and a plurality of intermediate floors Fi, _Fii vertically located between the first and second floors _F1 , _F2 ; and having a plurality of modes, including at least a normal operation mode and an evacuation operation mode; and including an elevator controller 100, the elevator controller 100 being configured to change the mode of the elevator system from the normal operation mode to the evacuation operation mode, the elevator system being configured to use the car C1 to serve a first group of floors in the normal operation mode and to use the car C1 to serve a second group of floors different from the first group of floors in the evacuation operation mode, and changing the mode of the elevator system from the normal operation mode to the evacuation operation mode; and determining that the second group of floors includes the first floor F1 and the second floor F2. ₁ and an intermediate landing floor Fi from a plurality of intermediate floors Fi, Fii, or a subset thereof; and transporting the passenger load from the first floor _F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi using the elevator car _C1 without intermediate stops; and repeating the transporting of the passenger load from the first floor F1 one or more times; and transporting the passengers from the intermediate landing floor Fi to a second floor _F2 using the elevator cars C1, C2, which are the elevator car _C1 used to transport the passenger load from the first floor F1 to the intermediate landing floor Fi, or another car C2. By performing these steps, the elevator system is configured to evacuate passengers from the first floor _F1 to the second floor _F2 .

The elevator system is preferably also configured to perform any single step or group of steps described elsewhere in this application.

The two car options are described with the cars C1 and C2 traveling in the same hoistway. However, this is not essential, as at least some of the advantages of the method can also be achieved if the cars travel in parallel hoistways. In this case, however, the elevator cars should be able to stop at (at least) one common floor (Fi), which means that their hoistways are at least partially side by side.

The building is preferably a tower building, preferably a high-rise tower building.The elevator system is preferably such that the intermediate landing floor is below the first floor _F1 and the second floor _F2 is below the intermediate landing floor.

In the determination, the intermediate landing floor may be selected based on one or more factors. In addition to the factors set forth elsewhere in this application, these factors may include the following:

- the number of passengers to be evacuated from the first floor,

- movement time of the elevator (from floor to floor),

- the transport capacity of the elevator car(s),

- the maximum capacity of people in each hall,

-The capacity of the stairs.

In this application, when it is mentioned that a car is used to serve one floor or multiple floors, it is meant that the car is used to pick up passengers from said floor or multiple floors and/or unload passengers to said floor or multiple floors.

It should be understood that the above description and the accompanying drawings are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented in various ways. The present invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above, but can be varied within the scope of the claims.

The second floor _F2 is preferably an exit floor of the building or at least a floor at most 2 floors away from the ground surrounding the building. Alternatively, the second floor _F2 is a sky lobby of the building.

Claims (24)

1. A method of using an elevator system in a building having multiple vertically spaced floors ( _F1 , _F2 , Fi, Fii), the elevator system comprising one or two vertically traveling elevator cars (C1, C2) serving one or more of said floors ( _F1 , _F2 , Fi, Fii), said floors comprising at least - First floor ( _F1 ), - Second floor ( _F2 ), and - A plurality of intermediate floors (Fi, Fii) located vertically between the first and second floors ( _F1 , _F2 ), wherein each of the plurality of intermediate floors (Fi, Fii) is a floor that is closer to the first floor (F1) than to the second floor (F2). The elevator system is configured to have multiple modes, including at least a normal operation mode and an evacuation operation mode. In the case of a single vertically traveling elevator car, the first elevator car (C1) or in the case of two vertically traveling elevator cars, the first elevator car and the second elevator car (C1, C2) are used to serve a first group of floors in the normal operation mode and to serve a second group of floors different from the first group of floors in the evacuation operation mode. The method includes evacuating passengers from the first floor ( _F1 ) to the second floor ( _F2 ), the evacuation including Change the elevator system's mode from normal operation mode to evacuation operation mode; and The intermediate stopping floor (Fi) is dynamically determined from multiple intermediate floors (Fi, Fii) or a subset thereof in the following manner: Obtain a passenger value representing the number of passengers to be evacuated from the first floor (F1); and Determine the time limit for the maximum permissible time to evacuate all passengers from the first floor (F1); Use the passenger values to calculate the expected time to evacuate all passengers from the first floor (F1) to each intermediate floor; and An intermediate floor (Fi) is selected as an intermediate stop floor from the plurality of intermediate floors (Fi, Fii) or a subset thereof, wherein the intermediate floor (Fi) has an expected time for evacuating all passengers from the first floor to the intermediate floor not exceeding the time limit; and In the case of a single vertically traveling elevator car or two vertically traveling elevator cars, the passenger load is transported from the first floor ( _F1 ) to the intermediate floor (Fi) without intermediate stops using the first elevator car (C1); and Repeat the transport of passenger loads from the first floor ( _F1 ) once or more; and After one or more of the aforementioned transports, in the case of a vertically traveling elevator car, the first elevator car (C1) is used, or in the case of two vertically traveling elevator cars, the second elevator car (C2) is used, or the first elevator car and the second elevator car (C1, C2) are used to transport passengers from the intermediate stopping floor (Fi) to the second floor ( _F2 ). 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein none of the floors (Fii) located vertically between the first floor (F1) and the intermediate stopping floor (Fi) are in the second group of floors. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more floors (Fii) located vertically between the first floor (F1) and the intermediate stopping floor (Fi) are in the first group of floors. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first floor (F1) and the intermediate stop floor (Fi) are both in the second group of floors, and one or both of the intermediate stop floor (Fi) and the first floor are not in the first group of floors. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate stopping floor is a floor no more than X floors away from the first floor ( _F1 ), where X is in the range of five to ten. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate stopping floor is the floor between the lowest and highest floors in the first group of floors. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first floor ( _F1 ) is the floor between the lowest and highest floors in the first group of floors. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting a passenger from a first floor ( _F1 ) to an intermediate stop (Fi) floor using the first elevator car (C1) comprises moving the first elevator car (C1) from the first floor to the intermediate stop (Fi) floor without intermediate stops, even if one or more elevator calls are received or have been received from one or more floors between the first floor (F1) and the intermediate stop (Fi). 9. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting a passenger from a first floor (F1) to an intermediate stop (Fi) floor using the first elevator car (C1) comprises moving the first elevator car (C1) from the first floor ( _F1 ) to the intermediate stop (Fi) floor without intermediate stops, even if one or more elevator calls are received or have been received from the first elevator car (C1). 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the case of a vertically traveling elevator car, the first elevator car (C1) continuously performs the following: transporting passengers from a first floor ( _F1 ) to an intermediate stopping floor (Fi); and transporting passengers from the intermediate stopping floor (Fi) to a second floor ( _F2 ). 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the case of two vertically traveling elevator cars, the first elevator car is used to transport passengers from the first floor ( _F1 ) to the intermediate stopping floor (Fi), and the second elevator car (C2) is used to transport passengers from the intermediate stopping floor (Fi) to the second floor ( _F2 ). 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second elevator cars (C1, C2) are arranged to travel vertically in the same shaft (H) above each other, and both are arranged to serve the intermediate stop floor (Fi). 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the simultaneous use of a first elevator car (C1) to transport passengers from a first floor ( _F1 ) to an intermediate stop floor (Fi) and the use of a second elevator car (C2) to transport passengers from the intermediate stop floor (Fi) to a second floor ( _F2 ) are performed. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the evacuation includes guiding passengers by presenting information on one or more displays ( _g1 , _g2 , _g3 , _g4 , _g5 ) and/or by sending one or more notifications by one or more speakers ( _g1 , _g2 , _g3 , _g4 , _g5 ). 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the guidance includes guiding passengers to move from at least floors above and/or below the first floor ( _F1 ) to the first floor ( _F1 ) for evacuation. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the guidance comprises presenting information near the elevator doors of at least one or more floors immediately above and _/ or below the first floor ( _F1 ) by presenting information on one or more displays ( _g1 , _g2 , _g3 , _g4 , _g5 ) and/or by sending one or more notifications by one or more speakers ( _g1 , _g2 , _g3 , g4, _g5 ), the displays and/or speakers ( _g1 , _g2 , _g3 , _g4 , _g5 ) being mounted near the elevator doors of floors leading from the considered floor to the shaft. 17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the guidance includes guiding passengers from the first elevator car (C1) to an intermediate stop floor (Fi). 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the guidance comprises presenting information within the first elevator car (C1) by sending notifications from speakers mounted in the first elevator car (C1) and/or presenting information on displays mounted in the first elevator car (C1). 19. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting a passenger load from a first floor (F1) to an intermediate stop floor using the first elevator car (C1) without intermediate stops comprises moving the first elevator car (C1) to the first floor ( _F1 ); and thereafter Receive passenger loads from the first floor (F1) into the first elevator car (C1); and thereafter Move the first elevator car (C1) to the intermediate floor (Fi) without intermediate stops; and thereafter Passenger loads received from the first floor ( _F1 ) will be unloaded to the intermediate docking floor (Fi). 20. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting passengers from the intermediate floor to the second floor ( _F2 ) using the second elevator car (C2) or using the first elevator car and the second elevator car (C1, C2) includes... Move the second elevator car (C2) or the first elevator car and the second elevator car (C1, C2) to the intermediate stop floor (Fi); and thereafter Passenger loads are received from the intermediate stop floor (Fi) into the second elevator car (C2) or into both the first and second elevator cars (C1, C2); and thereafter Move the second elevator car (C2) or the first elevator car and the second elevator car (C1, C2) to the second floor ( _F2 ); and thereafter Passenger loads received from the intermediate stop floor (Fi) will be unloaded to the second floor ( _F2 ). 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the second floor ( _F2 ) is an exit floor of the building or at least a floor located at most two floors away from the ground surrounding the building, or a sky lobby of the building. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate stop floor (Fi) is below the first floor ( _F1 ) and the second floor ( _F2 ) is below the intermediate stop floor (Fi). 23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the building is a tower building. 24. An elevator system (10) comprising one or two vertically traveling elevator cars (C1, C2) installed in a building with a plurality of vertically spaced floors, the floors including at least a first floor ( _F1 ), a second floor ( _F2 ), and a plurality of intermediate floors (Fi, Fii) vertically located between the first and second floors ( _F1 , _F2 ) and each being closer to the first floor (F1) than to the second floor (F2); and having a plurality of modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an evacuation operating mode; and including an elevator controller (100) configured to change the mode of the elevator system (10) from the normal operating mode to the evacuation operating mode, the elevator system (10) being configured to In the case of a single vertically traveling elevator car, the first elevator car (C1) is used; or in the case of two vertically traveling elevator cars, the first elevator car and the second elevator car (C1, C2) are used to serve a first group of floors in normal operation mode, and a second group of floors different from the first group of floors in evacuation operation mode; and Change the mode of the elevator system (10) from normal operation mode to evacuation operation mode; and The intermediate stopping floor (Fi) is dynamically determined from multiple intermediate floors (Fi, Fii) in the following manner: Obtain a passenger value representing the number of passengers to be evacuated from the first floor (F1); and Determine the time limit for the maximum permissible time to evacuate all passengers from the first floor (F1); Use the passenger values to calculate the expected time to evacuate all passengers from the first floor (F1) to each intermediate floor; and An intermediate floor (Fi) is selected as an intermediate stop floor from the plurality of intermediate floors (Fi, Fii) or a subset thereof, wherein the intermediate floor (Fi) has an expected time for evacuating all passengers from the first floor to the intermediate floor not exceeding the time limit; and The first elevator car (C1) is used to transport passenger loads from the first floor ( _F1 ) to the intermediate floor (Fi) without intermediate stops; and Repeat the transport of passenger loads from the first floor ( _F1 ) once or more; and In the case of a vertically traveling elevator car, the first elevator car (C1) is used, or in the case of two vertically traveling elevator cars, the second elevator car (C2) is used, or the first elevator car and the second elevator car are used, to transport passengers from the intermediate stopping floor (Fi) to the second floor ( _F2 ). And thus evacuate passengers from the first floor ( _F1 ) to the second floor ( _F2 ).