WO2000044662A1

WO2000044662A1 - Elevator system with operating mode display

Info

Publication number: WO2000044662A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/001587
Authority: WO
Inventors: Helmut L. Schroder-Brumloop
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Company
Priority date: 1999-02-01
Filing date: 2000-01-21
Publication date: 2000-08-03

Abstract

An elevator system includes a car position indicator panel for displaying data and information during a variety of modes of operation of the elevator system. The panel includes a keyed switch to activate a specific operation mode. The panel displays a plurality of operating parameters, such as specific elevator car location and travel direction, during various modes of operation. Each special mode of operation has its own display screen dedicated to monitor specific parameters used for that mode. The panel is programmable, allowing each operating mode to be customized by including or removing specific operating parameters from the display. The elevator system also includes a back-up power supply to allow use of the panels during power failures.

Description

ELEVATOR SYSTEM WITH OPERATING MODE DISPLAY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to elevator systems and, more particularly, to landing fixtures which provide enhanced feedback of elevator operation parameters and functions during maintenance, installation, and rescue operations.

2. Background Art

Conventional elevator systems typically include an elevator car traveling in a hoistway, as well as machinery and components operating and controlling the system. The elevator car has a car doorway opening that cooperates with doorways located on each floor of the building. The elevator car is suspended in the hoistway from one end of a rope with a counterweight secured to the opposite end thereof. A motor drives the elevator car within the hoistway. The elevator system is controlled by a controller, with a feedback system that provides the user with information regarding the floor location and directional destination of the elevator car. Output from the feedback system is typically in the form of numeric and directional readouts. Additionally, some existing elevator systems provide additional operating features for use by maintenance or emergency personnel, such as a mechanical indicator for determining elevator car location. The featured outputs vary depending on the type of elevator system, but the elevator systems generally have one common drawback: the feedback systems do not provide users with convenient, easily accessible feedback of elevator operating parameters to assist during special operations. For instance, one elevator design requires a maintenance operator to connect a handheld control module to the elevator system to enable remote control of the elevator during special uses. This procedure presents potential problems in an emergency situation when people are trapped in the elevator car and emergency personnel do not have easy access to the handheld control module. Valuable time may be wasted selecting an alternate rescue plan.

Another elevator design requires maintenance personnel to maintain visual contact with the elevator machinery during calibration, installation, or maintenance operations. In this type of system, the elevator rope which supports the elevator car may have painted markings to indicate the car location in the hoistway, thereby assisting maintenance workers in positioning the elevator car at a specific floor landing. One problem with this procedure is that as the elevator system ages, the paint markings may fade or become covered in grease from the elevator system, making the procedure difficult. This procedure is also complex and may require several trained people to perform it.

Other elevator systems have electronic indicators to inform maintenance or emergency personnel of elevator operating parameters such as travel direction and location. These indicators are typically placed in a machineroom where the controller and machinery is located, and workers are required to physically observe elevator machinery in order to monitor certain operating parameters. Problems with the use of machinerooms is that building space is very costly, and the machinery generates dirt and grease, which can accumulate in hallways and stairwells as workers navigate the building.

Alternatively, as seen in U.S. Patent No. 5,679,934 to Juntunen entitled "Programmable Operating Panel for an Elevator Car," the elevator car operating panel provides enhanced forms of feedback for elevator system maintenance purposes. However, this apparatus is not helpful in emergencies where rescue personnel do not have access to the elevator car.

Emergency operations present additional problems. In a situation such as a power outage, elevator cars can usually be moved by gravity to raise or lower stranded passengers to safety using a hand brake located in the machineroom. If the combined weight of the passengers and elevator car is heavier than the weight of the elevator counterweight, gravity will move the car downward to the nearest floor landing. Likewise, if the combined weight of the passengers and car is less than that of the counterweight, gravity will force the car upward to the nearest floor landing when the emergency brake is released. Requiring a person to observe the machinery presents common problems: these are potentially dangerous environments and the rescue procedures can be cumbersome and complicated. There is a need for a designated location in the building to easily obtain accurate diagnostic and control feedback during elevator car installation, maintenance, calibration and/ or rescue operations.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an enhanced control system to simplify elevator use during installation, maintenance, calibration, and rescue operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elevator operator with enhanced electronic feedback of elevator car operating parameters such as its speed, direction of travel, and location in the hoistway.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an elevator control system that is easier to manufacture and assemble, with improved economical, functional, and aesthetic qualities. According to the present invention, an elevator system includes a car position indicator panel with enhanced capabilities for displaying a plurality of elevator operating parameters during the various modes of operation of the elevator system. The enhanced car position indicator panel is located on at least one floor landing of the building. The panel includes a switching means for activating a desired operating mode and a display for displaying the operating parameters for the chosen operating mode. The elevator system also includes electronic sensors, located in the hoistway and on the elevator car, to register data such as the car location, and direction and rate of travel. The data is then used by a controller to calculate useful operating parameters such as speed curves and precise location of the elevator car within the hoistway. These operating parameters can then be monitored on the enhanced panel without the need of a machine room or a special handheld control module.

One feature of the present invention is a back-up power supply. During power failure, the back-up power supply is automatically activated to provide continuous power to the control and feedback systems.

Another feature of the present invention is the programmable capability of the panel. This feature allows the display to be customized to fit the needs of each building, including adding or subtracting specific operation parameters from its display, or allowing the elevator system to monitor multiple elevator cars.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the elevator system also includes an enhanced indicator panel disposed inside the elevator car to provide additional data and information to the car occupants.

One advantage of the present invention is that installation, calibration, and maintenance of the elevator system, as well as rescue operations, can be performed more safely, quickly and easily with the enhanced panel. Elevator operating parameters are easily viewed on the display screen whereas, in the past, workers had to physically observe the elevator machinery. The back-up power supply provides another advantage in that the elevator car location and movement can be monitored during power outages. This enables quicker and safer rescue operations.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the light of the following detailed description of best mode embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of an elevator system, with an elevator car traveling in a hoistway toward a floor landing;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the elevator system of Fig. 1 with a car position indicator panel and other components of the elevator system which communicate with an electronic controller; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partially broken away, front view of the car position indicator panel of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the car position indicator panel of Fig. 3, showing features displayed during normal mode of operation; Fig. 5 is a front view of the car position indicator panel of Fig. 3, showing features displayed during emergency mode of operation;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the car position indicator panel of Fig. 3, showing features displayed during maintenance mode of operation;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the car position indicator panel of Fig. 3, showing features displayed during installation and calibration modes of operation; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the elevator system of Fig. 2 including an enhanced indicator panel disposed inside the elevator car, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Fig. 1, an elevator system 10 includes an elevator car 12 supported in a hoistway 14. The elevator car 12 is suspended from one end of a rope 16 with a counterweight 18 attached to the opposite end of the rope 16. A motor 20 drives the rope 16 to propel the elevator car 12 between floor landings 22 in the hoistway 14. Each floor landing 22 has a doorway opening 24 for the ingress and egress of passengers. The elevator car 12 has a car doorway 25 that cooperates with the doorway opening 24. Referring to Fig. 2, a car position indicator panel 26 is attached to a wall 28 at the floor landing 22. A plurality of electronic sensors 30 is fixed to the elevator car 12 and the hoistway 14 to communicate elevator operating parameters to a controller 32. The elevator system has a back-up power supply 34 to assist elevator operations during power failures.

Referring to Fig. 3, the car position indicator panel 26, located on the wall 28 of a floor landing 22, includes a display 36 and direction selector buttons 38 for choice of travel direction.

Each panel 26 includes a smoked glass or other semi-opaque material 39 to conceal additional capabilities of the panel used for special operation modes, as seen in Figs. 5-7. A keyed switch 40 is turned to activate one of the plurality of operation modes of the elevator system. The modes include a normal mode 42 indicated by the letter "N", an emergency mode 44, indicated by the letter "E", a maintenance mode 46 indicated by the letter "M", and an installation and calibration mode 48, indicated by the letter "I". The panel 26 also includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), or Electro-luminescence displays (ELDs) 50 for displaying data and information.

Referring to Fig. 4, when the switch 40 on the car position indicator panel 26 is in the normal mode 42, the display 36 displays the current floor location 52 and direction of travel 54 of the elevator car 12. The direction selector buttons 38 are used to select a desired direction of travel, and may contain an illuminated portion to indicate which direction has been selected. Referring to Fig. 5, when the switch 40 on the car position indicator panel is in the emergency mode 44, an emergency indicator 56 on the display 26 is illuminated. A graphical display 58 indicating precise elevator car location is also illuminated. If the elevator car 12 is located between floors, the display 36 indicates the floors immediately above and below the elevator car, shown, respectively, by numerals 60 and 62, and the distance to each of the floors. The display 36 also has a status indicator 64 of the back-up power supply 34. A directional indicator 66 uses the speed graphics 68 to indicate speed and direction, with higher speeds illuminating more increments of the graphic between directional arrows 70.

Referring to Fig. 6, when the switch 40 on the car position indicator panel 26 is in the maintenance mode 46, a maintenance mode indicator 72 on the display 36 and a plurality of maintenance features are illuminated. The features include a speed map 74, indicators 76 to warn of failed components, and the status indicator 64 for the back-up power supply 34.

Referring to Fig. 7, when the switch 40 on the car position indicator panel 26 is in the installation and calibration mode 48, an "install/ cal" indicator 78 on the display 36 is illuminated, and the panel 26 provides information needed during elevator calibration or initial set-up of the elevator system. Features of this mode include the speed map 74, the graphical display 58 indicating precise elevator car location, and individual lights 80 to inform the operator of the functional status of various components.

In operation, the elevator system 10 is typically operated in normal mode 42, as shown in Fig. 4. During normal operation mode, human input to the control system is usually limited to direction selections 38. Based on human and system sensor inputs, the controller 32 calculates operating functions such as car speed and location, and provides the motor 20 with appropriate torque and directional commands. During normal operation mode 42, the car position indicator panel 26 displays the current floor location 52 and direction of travel 54 of the elevator car 12.

The elevator system 10 can also be operated in a special operation mode for tasks such as initial elevator installation, routine elevator maintenance, elevator calibration, or rescue operations. To activate a special mode, the operator turns a keyed switch 40 located on the car position indicator panel 26 to the desired operation mode as shown in Figs. 5 - 7. When a specific mode is activated, the panel 26 communicates to the operator certain feedback parameters associated with that mode. In an alternate embodiment, instead of using the keyed switch 40 for activating the different operation modes, a switching mechanism may be located behind a locked door found on the car position indicator.

Additionally, during power failures, the back-up power supply 34 is automatically activated to energize the display system and to enable use of a special operation mode to easily locate a stranded elevator car and transport any passengers to safety.

The panel 26 is programmable to allow the displays 36 for each operation mode to be customized to fit the needs of each building. For instance, elevator systems 10 with multiple elevator cars 12 can be equipped with the capability to monitor the location of all cars from one display. In addition, each operation mode can be customized by adding or subtracting specific operation parameters from its display. Typically, only one display is designated to be equipped for special operations. The remaining floors are equipped with conventional displays or just direction selector buttons 38. However, building designs may require the use of more than one specially equipped display.

Referring to Fig. 8, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the elevator system 10 also includes an enhanced indicator panel 84 inside the elevator car 12. The enhanced indicator panel 84 operates analogously to panel 26.

One advantage of the present invention is that maintenance and emergency workers are no longer forced to locate and control the elevator car using cumbersome and complex techniques such as physically observing the elevator machinery. The specially equipped floor panel 36 provides all the information needed to easily locate and operate the elevator car.

Another advantage of the present invention is that in the event of a power failure, the back-up power supply 34 ensures the feedback system will remain operable to locate and control stranded elevator cars.

While preferred embodiments have been shown and described above, various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, other operating parameters not discussed herein may be added to the elevator system display panel as needed. Additionally, other operation modes can be included or deleted. Furthermore, use of other graphical displays is well contemplated within the scope of the present invention, and certain displays may incorporate a non- translucent screen, precluding the need for an additional covering made of a semi-opaque material 46. Also, the car position indicator panel need not be located at a floor landing, but can be secured at any accessible location within the building. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example and not by way of limitation.

Claims

I Claim:

1. An elevator system having an elevator car driven in a hoistway by a motor, said motor being controlled by a controller, said elevator car being driven between floor landings, said elevator system comprising: an indicator panel having a display to display a plurality of operating parameters during a plurality of operation modes of said elevator system, said indicator panel being fixably attached to a wall of a building housing said elevator system.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein said indicator panel further comprises a switching means for selecting one of said plurality of operation modes of said elevator system.

3. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of operation modes includes a normal operation mode and a special operation mode, and wherein a first plurality of operating parameters is displayed by said display with said elevator system in said normal operation mode and a second plurality of operating parameters is displayed by said display with said elevator system in said special operation mode.

4. The elevator system of claim 3 wherein said special operation mode includes a maintenance mode, an emergency mode, and an installation mode.

5. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein said display comprises a covering to conceal unused portions of said display.

6. The elevator system of claim 5 wherein said covering comprises a semi-opaque material to permit viewing of displayed portions of said display.

7. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein said display further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein said display further comprises a plurality of liquid crystal displays.

9. The elevator system of claim 1 further comprising: a back-up power supply for energizing said controller and said display during use of said plurality of operation modes of said elevator system.

10. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of operation modes includes a plurality of operation parameters of said elevator system.

11. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein said display has a programmable format.

12. The elevator system of claim 1 further comprising: a second indicator panel having a second display to display a plurality of operating parameters during a plurality of operation modes of said elevator system, said second indicator panel being fixably attached to an inside of said elevator car.

13. A panel for an elevator system disposed at least at one floor landing thereof, said panel comprising: a display for displaying data feedback from a controller of said elevator system; and a switching means for selectively activating one of a plurality of operation modes of said elevator system for displaying a plurality of operating parameters pertaining to said one of said plurality of operation modes on said display.

14. The panel of claim 13 wherein said panel is secured to a wall of a building housing said elevator system.

15. A method for viewing special operation modes in an elevator system, said method comprising the steps of: accessing a keyed switch on an indicator panel; selecting a special operation mode from a plurality of operating modes of said elevator system by adjusting said switch; and viewing a plurality of operating parameters of said elevator system pertaining to said special operation mode on a display of said panel.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of: using said plurality of operating parameters of said elevator system to determine location and travel direction of an elevator car of said elevator system; and using said plurality of operating parameters of said elevator system to determine operational status of components of said elevator system.