EP2370333B1 - Lift assembly with a safety device - Google Patents

Description

From the publication EP 1 618 059 B1 An elevator installation is already known with a shaft in which two elevator cars arranged one above the other can be moved upwards and downwards, wherein the shaft has several shaft doors and the elevator cars each comprise at least one elevator cage door.

To avoid potentially dangerous operating situations, the elevator installation has a so-called safety circuit comprehensive safety device by means of the safety-related components, such as shaft doors, elevator car doors, shaft limit switches, buffers and speed rope, are monitored by sensors, which are each coupled to a switch. The arranged in a safety circuit switches are arranged in series, with a closed switch indicates a safe state of the component of the elevator system. The opening of a single switch is sufficient to interrupt the safety circuit, whereupon at least the elevator drive is interrupted.

Each of the elevator cars of the elevator shaft has its own safety circuit, which monitors the respective driving range of the elevator car, so that opening the one safety circuit in defined cases has no direct effect on the operation of the other elevator car, whereby a part of the conveying capacity of the elevator system is maintained.

From the publication US 2005/008 21 21 A1 is an elevator system with two in the same shaft moving cabins known, and to avoid potentially dangerous operating situations, a movement of the cabs is prevented by an open shaft door to prevent collision between a moving and a stationary cabin.

The invention is in particular the object of providing an elevator system, by means of which a low installation cost and a flexible adjustment can be achieved while ensuring the same conveyor capacity of the elevator system.

It is proposed an elevator system with at least two elevator cars, each having at least one elevator car door and are intended to be moved independently in a common shaft, and with a plurality of shaft doors and with a safety device, the at least one door opening sensor, at least one evaluation and at least a data line between the door opening sensor and the evaluation unit, wherein the Evaluation unit is provided to evaluate a signal of the door opening sensor in at least one evaluation process.

In this context, a "door opening sensor" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a measuring transducer which is intended to detect an open and / or closed state of a door. In an advantageous embodiment, the door opening sensor may be formed by an electrical switch.

In this context, an "evaluation unit" should be understood as meaning, in particular, a unit which has an arithmetic unit, a memory unit and, in particular, an operating program stored in the memory unit and in particular is equipped to record and in particular digitally convert electrical characteristics from external sensors and external actuators for Control and / or control to operate.

By means of such an elevator system, a circuit-like interconnection of elements of a safety device can be at least partially replaced by a computer-aided, logical combination of the elements, whereby considerable savings can be achieved in an installation while ensuring the delivery capacity of the elevator system. A computer-aided, logical linking of the elements is flexibly and quickly adaptable to different application conditions and to new and / or changed safety conditions, in particular to inspection and repair situations. Furthermore, bridging door sensors can be advantageously avoided.

It is proposed that the door opening sensor is formed by a shaft door opening sensor. The circuit-wise interconnection of the shaft door opening sensors has a considerable share of the installation effort of a safety device, which can be considerably reduced by the proposal.

It is also proposed that the door opening sensor is formed by an elevator car door opening sensor. The inclusion of the elevator car door opening sensors can be used in a very flexible manner to provide computer-aided, build up logical connections of the security elements and have them adapted to a security concept.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the data line is formed by a bus to which the door opening sensor is connected via at least one bus node. A bus is to be understood in this context in particular a special line, which is specifically intended to allow an exchange of information between more than two devices that are connected in parallel to this line, and in particular represents a part of a system bus.

In this context, a "system bus" is to be understood as meaning in particular a data line and preferably a set of data lines which are or are intended to address, transmit and transmit data between the evaluation unit and the other elements of the security device. In particular, the system bus includes a data bus, an address bus, and a signal bus. Furthermore, a "bus node" in this context is to be understood as meaning in particular an interface which is provided to provide the bus with at least one electrical parameter of the door opening sensor in a form compatible with the bus, the bus node being formed by a unit separate from the door opening sensor at least partially integrated into the door opening sensor. By an appropriate design of installation costs can be further reduced and it can be easily achieved a flexible exchange of information. Particularly advantageously, the evaluation unit is provided to periodically collect the data of all door opening sensors of the safety device by means of the system bus.

It is also proposed that the elevator installation comprises a brake unit and a control line between the brake unit and the evaluation unit. In particular, the evaluation unit can perform an activation and / or deactivation of the brake unit by means of the control line and on the basis of collected data and the algorithms stored in the operating program.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the control line between the brake unit and the evaluation unit of a signal bus, as part of System bus, is formed. In particular, this can reduce the installation costs for the signal line between the brake unit and the evaluation unit, because the connection of the brake unit only has to be carried out to the closest system bus connection.

It is further proposed that the elevator installation has an elevator car position unit which is provided to detect an absolute position of at least one elevator car within the shaft. In particular, by providing the absolute elevator car positions to the evaluation unit, new options for safety monitoring can be opened up.

In an advantageous embodiment, the elevator installation has an evaluation unit with at least one memory unit with a learning program stored therein for recording a data record. Advantageously, the data record at least partially comprises an absolute position of at least one shaft door within the shaft. Particularly advantageous absolute positions of existing shaft doors can be stored by means of the tutorial when performing a learning trip an elevator car in the data set of the evaluation. Alternatively, it would be conceivable for data to be input manually by an operator and / or to be transferred from a third unit to the evaluation unit.

It is also proposed that the evaluation unit is provided to monitor at least one elevator car speed and / or to monitor at least one relative distance between two elevator cars, whereby further boundary conditions can advantageously be integrated into a monitoring. Advantageously, the evaluation unit can be equipped and programmed to monitor with real-time functions and with reference to the absolute positions of the elevator car at different times their current speed and / or the relative distance between two elevator cars and exceeding fixed limits predetermined measures, such as graded braking, to activate. When carrying out an evaluation process, the evaluation unit, advantageously after each periodic data collection and typically several times in one second, depending on positions, speeds and directions of elevator cars for shaft doors grant opening permissions. Furthermore, it is proposed that the evaluation unit is provided for granting an opening authorization for the isolated monitoring of at least one of the elevator cars of a shaft door when the elevator car is in the vicinity of the shaft door and a limit value for a maximum speed of the elevator car is reached, thus advantageously safe opening of the elevator car door and landing door is ensured when reaching a destination floor.

An "opening authorization" for a landing door should in this context be understood in particular to mean that the shaft door can be opened without violating a monitoring rule. In this context, a "monitoring rule" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a logical association of at least signals from door opening sensors and opening authorizations for shaft doors, which can advantageously be stored in the programming of the evaluation unit. In particular, a monitoring rule may also include signals from other safety-relevant components, such as lift cage door opening sensors. A "monitoring" is to be understood in this context in particular an evaluation of monitoring rules. Depending on the result of the evaluation process, the evaluation unit can execute executable program parts which are advantageously stored in the programming of the evaluation unit. In particular, these program parts may relate to the activation and / or deactivation of the brake unit. In this context, "isolated monitoring" of an elevator car should be understood to mean, in particular, monitoring by the evaluation unit, which only concerns this elevator car, wherein information about further elevator cars can also be entered in monitoring rules for monitoring the elevator car.

In this context, a "proximity region" of the shaft door is to be understood as meaning, in particular, an area smaller than 0.7 m and advantageously smaller than 0.5 m below and above the shaft door.

In an advantageous embodiment, the evaluation unit is provided, in at least one evaluation process in the case of an occurring violation of a monitoring rule by executing at least one executable program part, which is deposited advantageously in the programming of the evaluation unit to interrupt the ride at least one elevator car and in particular to shut down the drive at least one elevator car, for which the monitoring rule applies.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the evaluation unit is provided for granting an opening authorization for the isolated monitoring of at least one of the elevator cars then at least one shaft door, if there is another elevator car between this shaft door and the elevator car.

In particular, this can advantageously be achieved in that the travel of the elevator car further away from the shaft door can be continued if this shaft door has been incorrectly unauthorizedly opened, as a result of which the availability of the elevator installation can be increased.

In a further refinement, for an isolated monitoring of one of the elevator cars, a bay door can then be granted an opening authorization if this shaft door lies outside a travel area released for the elevator car. Here, too, can be advantageously achieved that this elevator car can continue their journey when the shaft door, which is outside their driving range, was opened without authorization, whereby the availability of the elevator cars can be increased in the elevator system.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the evaluation unit is provided to grant opening authorization to at least one of the elevator cars then at least one shaft door when the elevator car moves in a direction leading away from this shaft door. Due to the fact that overriding the shaft door is excluded in the event of unauthorized opening, can be dispensed with an interruption of the ride, which can improve the availability of the elevator cars in the elevator system.

It is proposed that the evaluation unit is provided for granting an opening authorization to at least one of the elevator cars at least one of the elevator cars when the shaft door lies outside a planned current travel path of the elevator car to a destination floor. Under a "planned current" travel path of an elevator car is to be understood in this context, the route from a current position to the next requested, lying in the current direction destination floor. Due to the fact that a crossing of the shaft door is excluded in a corresponding case, can be dispensed with an interruption of the ride, which can improve the availability of the elevator cars in the elevator system.

In principle, further cases can be defined in a very flexible manner, in which the evaluation unit of a shaft door issues an opening authorization, so that when the shaft door is opened during an evaluation, the driving operation can still be continued. For example, the evaluation unit can be programmed to prevent entry into its proximity area or passing by in case of unauthorized opening of a shaft door.

In the manner described, other safety-related elements, such as shaft limit switches and buffer switches, can be incorporated into the proposed safety device and used in logical links for monitoring. This is done particularly advantageously via a connection by means of bus nodes to the system bus. In principle, however, it would also be possible to set up redundant monitoring by additional lines disconnected from the system bus.

In an advantageous embodiment, the safety device is also provided for monitoring a conventionally wired safety circuit. In this context, a "conventionally wired safety circuit" is intended in particular to mean an electrical circuit according to the document EP 1 618 059 B1 can be understood in which safety-related components, such as elevator car doors, shaft limit switches, buffers or a speed cable, are monitored by sensors which are each coupled to an electrical switch, and that these switches are connected in series in an electrical circuit. In particular, the safety device can advantageously be integrated into existing elevator systems in this way and a complete reinstallation of all safety-relevant components can be avoided without having to forego the flexibility of a computer-aided, logical combination of safety-relevant components.

Fig. 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer Aufzugsanlage in einer schematischen Darstellung und

Fig. 2

einen sicherheitstechnischen Status der Aufzugsanlage in einer typischen Betriebssituation.

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown. The description and claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations. Show it:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of an elevator system in a schematic representation and

Fig. 2

a safety-related status of the elevator installation in a typical operating situation.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of an elevator installation 10 with driven traction sheaves 42 and two elevator cars 12 and 14, each having an elevator car door 16 and 18 and the one above the other, with a plurality of support cables connected to a counterweight, arranged in a common shaft 20 and are independently movable. The suspension ropes and counterweights are not shown for reasons of clarity. A buffer 52 is shown as representative of other safety-related elements that could potentially be integrated into the safety device. The elevator installation 10 comprises a plurality of shaft doors 22 and a safety device 24 which has a plurality of door opening sensors 25, 26, door opening sensors 25 formed by shaft door opening sensors and door opening sensors 26 formed by elevator car door opening sensors, an evaluation unit 28 and a data line 30 in the form of a data bus within a system bus 32, wherein the system bus 32 connects the door opening sensors 25, 26 and the evaluation unit 28. The evaluation unit 28 comprises a computing unit 48 and a memory unit 50 and is intended to carry out periodic evaluation processes and in particular to evaluate the signals of the door opening sensors 25, 26. The door opening sensors 25, 26 are coupled by means of bus node 34 to the system bus 32.

Along the entire length of the well 20, a bar with a code mark pattern is attached as a fixed part of an elevator car positioning unit 40 for determining the absolute position of the elevator cars 12 and 14. Installed on the elevator cars 12 and 14 and coupled to the system bus 32 mobile parts the elevator car positioning unit 40 read out the code mark pattern while the elevator cars 12 and 14 travel. A position measuring system of the type described is in the document WO 2003/011733 A1 disclosed.

The evaluation unit 28 is provided to evaluate the data of the elevator car positioning unit 40 and to monitor the relative distance of the two elevator cars 12 and 14. In addition, the evaluation unit 28, which is equipped with real-time functions, determines from the data of the elevator car positioning unit 40 the absolute speed of the elevator cars 12 and 14 during operation and monitors compliance with a predefined speed limitation in the periodic evaluation processes.

The evaluation unit 28 is connected via control lines 38, which are configured in the form of a control bus within the system bus 32, with a brake unit 36 which engages the traction sheaves 42 of the elevator installation 10.

The Fig. 1 shows the elevator system after replacing a previously installed, conventionally wired safety circuit, which included shaft door switch, car door switch and brake control switch, against the described, connected to a system bus 32 components. The evaluation unit 28 is also connected to other, still existing components of the elevator installation, namely a buffer switch 54 of the buffer 52 for the elevator cars 12, 14 and a speed limiter cable switch 58 of a speed limiter cable 56, for monitoring thereof in a conventionally wired safety circuit 60.

Fig. 2 describes for a typical operating situation of the elevator installation 10 with shown floors of F0 to F12 the safety status of the shaft doors 22 at the end of an evaluation process by the evaluation unit 28. An illustrated driving area 44 for the first elevator car 12 and a driving area 46 for the second elevator car 14 were through set a system control not described in detail. The first elevator car 12 is in the current situation between the floor F2 and the floor F3, with the floor F4 as planned current destination. The second elevator car 14 is located on the floor F7 and has the floor F10 as the currently planned destination.

The opening permissions granted by the evaluation unit 28 in this situation for the shaft doors 22 are in the Fig. 2 represented by corresponding symbols. In this case, an open circuit in a floor F0-F12 means that the evaluation unit 28 of the shaft door 22 of this floor F0-F12 has issued an opening authorization at the conclusion of the last carried out evaluation process for the isolated monitoring of the first elevator car 12. For the second elevator car 14 this is symbolized by an open triangle in the respective floor F0-F12.

For isolated monitoring of the first elevator car 12, the evaluation unit 28 has granted the shaft doors 22 of the floors F9 to F12 each an opening authorization, since the floors F9 to F12 are outside the travel area 44 released for the first elevator car 12.

The evaluation unit 28 has for the isolated monitoring of the second elevator car 14 the shaft doors 22 of the floors F0 to F6 each granted an opening authorization, since the floors F0 to F6 are outside of the released for the second elevator car 14 driving area 46.

For isolated monitoring of the first elevator car 12, the evaluation unit 28 has the shaft doors 22 of the floors F2 and F3 granted no opening permissions, because the elevator car 12 is currently currently in the vicinity of the shaft doors 22 of the floors F2 and F3, but is in motion and a limit is exceeded for a maximum speed of the elevator car 12.

For isolated monitoring of the second elevator car 14, the evaluation unit 28 of the shaft door 22 of the floor F7 granted an opening authorization, because the second elevator car 14 is in the vicinity of the shaft door 22 of the floor F7 and the limit for a maximum speed of the elevator car 12 is exceeded.

The evaluation unit 28 has granted an opening authorization for the isolated monitoring of the first elevator car 12 of the shaft door 22 of the floor F8, since the second elevator car 14 is located between the shaft door 22 of the floor F8 and the first elevator car 12.

The evaluation unit 28 has for the isolated monitoring of the first elevator car 12 the shaft doors 22 of the floors F0 and F1 respectively granted an opening authorization, since the elevator car 12 moves in a direction that leads away from the shaft doors 22 of the floors F0 and F1.

For isolated monitoring of the first elevator car 12, the evaluation unit 28 has given the shaft doors 22 of the floors F5 to F8 each an opening authorization, since the shaft doors 22 of the floors F5 to F8 outside the planned current travel of the first elevator car 12 to their destination, the floor F4, lies.

For isolated monitoring of the second elevator car 14, the evaluation unit 28 has granted the shaft doors 22 of the floors F11 and F12 each an opening authorization, since the shaft doors 22 of the floors F11 and F12 outside the planned current travel of the second elevator car 14 to their destination, the floor F10, lie.

On the basis of the symbols for the currently issued opening authorizations of the shaft doors 22 of this elevator installation 10, the advantage with regard to their conveying capacity in the event of an unauthorized opening of a landing door 22 is clearly visible.

Claims (14)

1. Lift installation (10) with at least two lift cages (12, 14), which each have at least one lift cage door (16, 18) and which are provided for the purpose of being moved independently of one another in a common shaft (20), and with a plurality of shaft doors (22) and with a safety device (24), which comprises at least one door opening sensor (25, 26), at least one evaluating unit (28) and at least one data line (30) between the door opening sensor (25, 26) and the evaluating unit (28), wherein the evaluating unit (28) is provided for the purpose of evaluating a signal of the door opening sensor (25) in at least one evaluating process, and the evaluating unit (28) is designed for the purpose of granting an opening authorisation to a shaft door (22) as a result of the evaluating process in dependence on positions, speeds and/or travel directions of lift cages (12, 14), characterised in that the evaluating unit (28) is provided for the purpose, in the case of at least one monitoring of at least one of the lift cages (12,14), of granting an opening authorisation to a shaft door (22) when the shaft door (22) lies outside a planned current movement path of the lift cage (12, 14) to a destination storey (F0 - F12).
2. Lift installation according to claim 1, in which the evaluating unit (28) is designed for the purpose of preventing, in the case of unauthorised opening of a shaft door (22), travel of a lift cage (12, 14) into the approach region of this shaft door (22) or travel past this shaft door (22).
3. Lift installation according to one of the preceding claims, in which the door opening sensor (25) is formed by a shaft door opening sensor.
4. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the data line (30) is formed by a bus, with which the door opening sensor (25, 26) is connected by way of at least one bus junction (34).
5. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a braking unit (36) and a control line (38) between the braking unit (36) and the evaluating unit (28) are present, the control line being formed by a system bus (32).
6. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a lift cage position unit (40) is present, which is provided for the purpose of sensing an absolute position of at least one lift cage (12, 14) within the shaft (20).
7. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the evaluating unit (28) is provided for the purpose of monitoring at least one relative spacing 5 of two lift cages (12, 14).
8. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the evaluating unit (28) is provided for the purpose, for monitoring at least one of the lift cages (12, 14), of granting an opening authorisation to a shaft door (22) when the lift cage (12, 14) is disposed in the approach region of the shaft door (22) and a limit value for a maximum speed of the lift cage (12, 14) is fallen below.
9. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the evaluating (28) is provided for the purpose, for monitoring at least one of the lift cages (12, 14), of granting a opening authorisation to at least one shaft door (22) when at least one further lift cage (14, 12) is disposed between this shaft door (22) and the lift cage (12, 14).
10. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the evaluating unit is provided for the purpose, in at least a case of monitoring at least one of the lift cages (12), of granting an opening authorisation to at least one shaft door (22) when the lift cage (12) travels in a direction away from this shaft door (22).
11. Lift installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the safety device (24) is provided for monitoring a conventionally wired safety circuit (60).
12. Method of monitoring a lift installation (10), particularly according to any one of the preceding claims, with at least two lift cages (12, 14), which each have at least one lift cage door (16, 18) and which are provided for the purpose of being moved independently of one another in a common shaft (20), and with a plurality of shaft doors (22), wherein at least one signal, which is communicated by a data line (30), of a door opening sensor (25, 26) is evaluated in an evaluating process by an evaluating unit (28) of a safety device (24), and an opening authorisation is granted to a shaft door (22) by the evaluating unit (28) as a result of an evaluating process in dependence on positions, speeds and/or travel directions of lift cages, characterised in that an opening authorisation is granted to a shaft door (22) by the evaluating unit (28), in the case of at least one monitoring of at least one of the lift cages (12,14), when the shaft door (22) lies outside a planned current movement path of the lift cage (12, 14) to a destination storey (F0 - F12).
13. Method according to claim 12, in which, in the case of unauthorised opening of a shaft door (22), travel of a lift cage (12, 14) into the approach region of this shaft door (22) or travel past this shaft door (22) is prevented by the evaluating unit (28).
14. Safety device (24) of a lift installation (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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