CN112777439B

CN112777439B - Elevator device

Info

Publication number: CN112777439B
Application number: CN201911150018.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 何文杰; 陈明慧; 钟正伟; 林志明; 陈明棕; 柯李建; 陈冠荣; 邱天成; 吴孟娟
Original assignee: Hitachi Yongda Elevator Co ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Yongda Elevator Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-07
Filing date: 2019-11-21
Publication date: 2023-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-21
Also published as: TW202118719A; CN112777439A

Abstract

The application provides an elevator device, which comprises an elevator cage and a control module, and is used for controlling the operation of the elevator cage. The control module may be configured to initiate a security mode in which the control module controls movement of the cage to a non-level zone and maintains the cage in the non-level zone until a release command is received.

Description

Elevator device

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to elevator devices. In particular, it relates to an elevator device with security mode.

Background

It is natural that the use of elevators should be avoided to avoid danger when an unexpected disaster such as an earthquake or a fire occurs. But in general the elevator is fairly safe. Especially, the design and operation of elevator products are restricted and supervised by regulations to ensure the safety of elevator structure and operation.

For example, when an elevator cage travels to a level zone (i.e., a position where the floor of the elevator cage and the floor of a floor are maintained at the same level), doors may be opened from inside or outside the elevator cage to facilitate the entrance and exit of passengers. However, when the cage is traveling in a non-leveling zone (i.e., a zone other than the leveling zone), a simple safety measure is to lock the doors of the cage in order to prevent passengers from falling into the hoistway. For this, reference may be made to the elevator standard specifications of various countries, such as GB 7588-2003 No. 1 revision order in china or EN 81-20 in the european union.

In order to lock the car door in a non-flat zone, it is known to add a door lock to the car, in particular to use a door knife with a lock, for example CN205772705U, CN105438941, CN105035921, etc.

Disclosure of Invention

As described above, except when an unexpected disaster occurs, generally, the safety of the elevator is high. Especially in order to avoid injuries caused by improper use of passengers, the structure of the elevator is also rather strong and difficult to break.

< Elevator cage as Security space >: in view of this, the present application recognizes, first of all, that it is not simple to exit from the interior of the elevator or it is difficult to enter from the outside as long as the elevator doors remain closed. Therefore, the elevator car can be used as a security space in the case of emergency evacuation (or emergency danger avoidance), i.e., passengers can be temporarily isolated from external threat hazards (such as criminals) by the elevator car (so that the criminals cannot enter the elevator car) or the threat can be limited in the elevator car (so that the criminals cannot leave the elevator car) in order to protect their lives, bodies, freedom and properties.

The present application further recognizes that it is not particularly difficult to manually open the doors from the inside or outside when the elevator car travels to a flat zone according to general elevator standard specifications, and thus the purpose of isolating from threat hazards (e.g., criminals) cannot be sufficiently achieved. Taking EN 81-20 of the european union as an example, it is required that the doors (inner doors) and landing doors (outer doors) of an elevator cage can be manually opened with a force of not more than 300N when the elevator cage runs to a flat floor.

In contrast, when the elevator car travels to a non-flat zone, the door of the elevator car is only allowed to open by about 50mm if a force of 1000N is applied, which is almost impossible for an average adult. Therefore, one of the characteristics of the elevator proposed in this application is a safety mode. In this security mode, the elevator car remains in a non-level zone making it difficult for the doors of the elevator car to be opened or for the elevator car to enter or exit, thereby preventing a threat hazard (e.g., criminals) from entering the elevator car or temporarily leaving the elevator car until the security mode is released.

In particular, the present invention in one embodiment provides an elevator apparatus comprising:

an elevator car (car);

the control module is used for controlling the operation of the elevator cage;

wherein the control module can be set to activate a security mode in which the control module controls the elevator car to move to a non-level zone and maintains the elevator car in the non-level zone until a release command is received.

In other embodiments, the elevator device may have various detection or identification modules that may assist in determining whether to initiate the security mode by various means such as image recognition or voice recognition.

In addition, in other embodiments, the elevator apparatus can also be provided with a communication module, whereby when the security mode is activated, a pre-specified object, such as a management room or a service center, can be notified immediately according to a pre-set setting.

Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

Drawings

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a system architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating a security mode according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

< System architecture >

Fig. 1 is a system architecture diagram showing an elevator apparatus 100 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention to explain basic operations and components of the elevator apparatus 100, but the following description is given for exemplary purposes and has been simplified to omit unnecessary details.

As shown in fig. 1, a cage 1 and a counterweight 3 of an elevator apparatus 100 are suspended from an elevator shaft 2 by a wire rope 4. The wire rope 4 is wound around a traction sheave 6 of a traction machine 5. When the traction sheave 6 rotates, the cage 1 is raised or lowered by the frictional force between the traction sheave 6 and the wire rope 4. The hoisting machine 5 includes a motor 8 and a brake device 9 in addition to the traction sheave 6. The motor 8 rotates and stops the traction sheave 6. The braking device 9 keeps the traction sheave 6 in a stationary state without rotating the traction sheave 6, and the cage 1 is also stationary.

In addition, a control module 10 and a communication module 11 are provided in the machine room 7.

The control module 10 controls the operation of the elevator arrangement 100, in particular the raising, lowering or stopping of the elevator car 1, whereby passengers are transported to the destination floor. The control module 10 is connected to the elevator car 1 by means of a control cable 13. The transmission and reception of information between the elevator car 1 and the control module 10 is performed by the control cable 13. In other embodiments, however, the elevator car 1 and the control module 10 can also communicate information by means of wireless communication.

In this embodiment, the elevator car 1 is provided with, for example, a display 14, an interphone 15, a camera 16, and a scale device 17. For example, the control module 10 receives information from the interphone 15, the camera 16 and the scale device 17 through the control cable 13.

The display 14 is an example of a device that presents information to the passenger. The intercom 15 includes a microphone and a speaker. The information of the sound acquired by the microphone is output to the control module 10. The camera 16 photographs, for example, the inside of the elevator cage 1. Information of the image captured by the camera 16 is output to the control module 10.

The weighing device 17 detects the load weight of the elevator car 1. It is also possible to arrange the scale device 17 at the end of the wire rope 4. Information on the load weight detected by the scale device 17 is output to the control module 10.

The control module 10 includes circuits such as input/output interfaces, processors, and memories as hardware resources. The control module 10 executes a program stored in the memory by the processor to realize a function of controlling the operation of the elevator apparatus 100. The control module 10 may also be provided with a plurality of processors. The control module 10 may also have multiple memories. That is, the functions of the control module 10 can be implemented by cooperating multiple processors and multiple memories, and a part or all of the functions can also be implemented by hardware.

The communication module 11 is a device for allowing the control module 10 to communicate with the outside. The communication module 11 is capable of communicating with the outside through a communication line 21 (which may be a wired or wireless line), thereby transmitting information from the elevator apparatus to the outside and receiving information from the outside. Generally, the communication module 11 is a communication object that is specified in advance, and may be, for example, a service center of the elevator apparatus 100 or a management room of a building.

< Security mode >

In particular, the control module 10 is set to have a safe mode. Further description will be provided below with reference to fig. 2A and 2B.

In a normal situation, the control module 10 will first control the elevator car 1 to move to a flat zone for passengers to enter and exit the elevator car 1, as shown in fig. 2A. The elevator car 1 has a car door lock 30, and the car door lock 30 also has a door vane 32. When the cage 1 is located in the landing zone, the car door lock 30 is unlocked and the door knife 32 is extended to be inserted into the door ball 34 to open the landing door (outer door). For reference, the conventional door vane with a lock is not described herein.

In addition, the weighing device 17 (shown in fig. 1) can detect whether a passenger is present in the elevator car 1 on the basis of the load weight of the elevator car 1, and the result of this detection can be supplied to the control module 10 as one of the judgment parameters for whether or not the security mode is to be activated. In addition to the weighing device 17, the elevator car 1 may be photographed by a camera 16 (shown in fig. 1) to detect whether there is a passenger in the elevator car 1 based on the result of image analysis, or if a highly sensitive microphone is provided in the interphone 15 (shown in fig. 1), whether there is a passenger in the elevator car 1 may be detected by detecting speech or breathing.

If a passenger is detected in the elevator cage 1 in the manner described above, the passenger can be further identified and compared with a pre-recorded white list or black list. The result of the identification can also be provided to the control module 10 as one of the determination parameters for whether to activate the security mode. The identification method may be performed by photographing the face of the passenger in the elevator car 1 with the camera 16 and providing the image to the control module 10 for image recognition, or by acquiring the voice of the passenger in the elevator car 1 with the microphone provided in the interphone 15 and providing the voice to the control module 10 for voice print recognition. In an embodiment not shown, the elevator car 1 may also be provided with a fingerprint acquisition module, which can acquire the fingerprint of the passenger and provide it to the control module 10 for identification.

It should be noted that, in the present application, it is preferable that the control module 10 determines whether to start the security mode, and the determination parameter for determining whether to start the security mode may be set in the control module 10 according to actual requirements on site, and a plurality of determination parameters may be used in combination.

In addition to the above-described decision parameters, which can be based on whether there are passengers in the elevator car 1 and the identity of the passengers, it is also possible, for example, to depend on the time of day (e.g. late night hours) or on the floor at which the elevator car 1 was last parked, etc. In yet another embodiment, in addition to providing the voice to the control module 10 for voice print recognition to identify the identity of the passenger, the microphone provided in the intercom 15 further detects whether the passenger's voice contains a specific word (e.g., "lifesaving") as a determination parameter for whether to activate the security mode.

However, in another embodiment, the elevator car 1 may be provided with a refuge handle (not shown) linked to the control module 10, and when the refuge handle is pulled down, the control module 10 immediately starts the security mode without any judgment.

Once the security mode is activated, the control module 10 controls the elevator car 1 to move (which may be ascending or descending) from the level zone to the non-level zone and keeps the elevator car 1 staying in the non-level zone, i.e. not moving any more, as shown in fig. 2B. At this time, the control module 10 ignores the call command issued from the boarding floor or from the inside of the cage 1 through a general elevator interface (e.g., buttons) and continues to maintain the cage 1 in a non-flat zone.

Meanwhile, when the cage 1 moves from the flat floor to the non-flat floor, the door lock 30 automatically locks the door of the cage 1, i.e., allows only the door of the cage 1 to be opened by about 50mm even if a force of 1000N is applied. At the same time, the vane 32 is also retracted from the gate ball 34 to bring the landing door (outer door) closed. It should be noted that the present application is not limited to any particular car door lock, and any car door lock that can lock the car door of the elevator car 1 is contemplated and does not necessarily need to be associated with a door vane device.

On the other hand, after the security mode is activated, the control module 10 controls the communication module 11 to notify a predetermined object, such as a service center of the elevator apparatus 100 or a management room of a building, of the activation of the security mode. After the service center or the management room is informed of the security mode being activated, it can be connected to the control module 10 through the communication module 11, and can know the situation in the elevator car 1 through the picture taken by the camera 16, for example, or can communicate with the passengers in the elevator car 1 through the interphone 15 to provide appropriate measures. It should be noted that in order to let the service center or management room know the status in the elevator car 1 and communicate with the inside of the elevator car 1, the interphone 15 and the camera 16 can be directly connected to the communication module 11 respectively, and do not need to go through the control module 10 additionally.

If the service center or the management room judges that the emergency situation is relieved, a relieving command can be sent out in a remote control mode, the relieving command can be transmitted to the control module 10 through the communication module 11, and the control module 10 can relieve the security mode after receiving the relieving command so as to recover the normal operation of the elevator device 100. In another embodiment, the control module 10 also allows the passenger to input a password through a keypad (not shown) in the elevator car 1 or speak a password or secret into the interphone 15 to issue a release command to the control module 10 to release the security mode.

Two scenarios are provided below, and reference is made to fig. 2A and 2B to more specifically illustrate the present invention.

< usage scenario 1>

The elevator apparatus 100 is installed in a villa where a homeowner goes out on vacation so that no one is present at home for many days. The starting condition of the security mode can be set before the house owner leaves the door, namely that the security mode is started when a stranger uses the elevator in the holiday period. Therefore, if a thief intrudes while the homeowner is out on vacation, and if the thief uses the elevator apparatus 100 once, the control apparatus 10 can determine that someone is using the elevator by the information of the load weight detected by the scale apparatus 17 (shown in fig. 1). At the same time, the camera 16 (shown in fig. 1) can immediately take an image of the face of the thief and transmit the image to the control device 10 for identification.

In this case, the result of the identification indicates that the burglar does not belong to a member at home, and therefore the control device 10 can immediately start the security mode (or wait for about 5 seconds after the burglar enters the elevator car 1 or wait for the burglar to press a floor button or a door closing button and then start it in order to avoid arousing the alertness of the burglar) to move the elevator car 1 from the flat zone to the non-flat zone. Since the door of the cage 1 is locked by the door lock 30 when the cage is not in the flat zone, a thief can stay in the cage 1 and cannot leave the cage temporarily, and the cage is immediately notified to a homeowner or a manager for treatment.

< usage scenario 2>

The elevator apparatus 100 is also installed in a house in a remote area, and only one person is at home. The starting condition for the house owner to set the security mode is that the security mode is started when the house owner uses the elevator and shouts the life. Therefore, if a thief intrudes into the house, the owner can escape from the elevator apparatus 100 to take refuge and shout for "life saving".

In this example, the control device 10 can obtain a voice signal through a microphone of the intercom 15 (shown in fig. 1) to perform voiceprint recognition, determine that the passenger is the owner, and further determine that the voice signal contains a "life saving" word, so that the control device 10 activates the security mode to move the cage 1 from the flat zone to the non-flat zone. Since the car 1 is locked by the door lock 30 when the car is not in the flat zone, the owner of the elevator can stay in the car 1 and the thief can not get close to the car, and the security unit or the manager can be informed immediately to come with help.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described specific embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

[ notation ] to show

Elevator cage 1

Lifting road 2

Balance weight 3

Wire rope 4

Traction machine 5

Traction sheave 6

Machine room 7

Motor 8

Brake device 9

Control module 10

Control cable 13

Display 14

Interphone 15

Camera 16

Weighing device 17

Communication line 21

Car door lock 30

Door knife 32

Gate ball 34

An elevator apparatus 100.

Claims

1. An elevator apparatus, comprising:

an elevator cage;

the control module is used for controlling the operation of the elevator cage;

2. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the elevator car further comprises:

a door lock for locking the doors of the elevator car as the elevator car moves to a non-level zone.

3. The elevator arrangement of claim 2, wherein the door lock further comprises a vane.

4. The elevator arrangement according to claim 2, further comprising a passenger detection module linked to the control module, the control module detecting whether there is at least one passenger in the elevator car via the passenger detection module;

wherein the control module initiates the security mode at least as a result of detecting at least one passenger in the elevator car.

5. The elevator installation of claim 1 further comprising a passenger identification module linked to the control module, the control module identifying a passenger in the elevator car via the passenger identification module;

wherein the control module initiates the security mode at least as a result of the identification of the passenger.

6. The elevator installation of claim 5, wherein the passenger identification module captures an image of the passenger and the control module identifies the passenger by image recognition.

7. The elevator installation of claim 5 wherein the passenger identification module obtains the voice of the passenger and the control module identifies the passenger by voice recognition.

8. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a communication module linked to the control module;

wherein in the security mode, the control module controls the communication module to notify a pre-designated object.

9. The elevator installation of claim 8, wherein the communication module is further configured to receive and transmit the release command from the pre-designated object to the control module.

10. The elevator arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an input device for a user to issue the release command to the control module by entering a password.

11. The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein in the security mode the control module ignores commands that call operation of the elevator car.