EP2441722A1

EP2441722A1 - Elevator apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2441722A1
Application number: EP09845807A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Akiyuki Toritani; Rikio Kondo
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2009-06-10
Filing date: 2009-06-10
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-10
Also published as: CN102438929B; EP2441722A4; CN102438929A; EP2441722B1; JPWO2010143282A1; JP5349590B2; KR20120024579A; KR101260173B1; WO2010143282A1

Abstract

In an elevator apparatus, a door-open running preventing protection section is capable of generating a switching drive command for controlling a switching operation of power-feed switching means. When operating in a diagnosis mode in which a car is stopped, an operation control section determines the switching operation of the power-feed switching means in response to the switching drive command from the door-open running preventing protection section and generates a switching drive signal corresponding to the determination.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus having a function of suppressing door-open running of a car.

Background Art

As used herein, the term "door-open running" includes a state in which a car in a stopped state with a door(s) open starts running without closing the door(s) and a state in which at least any one of a car door and a landing door is opened while the car is running.
In recent years, a door-open running preventing protection device (door-open running preventing protection section) is used for a general elevator apparatus so as to more reliably suppress the door-open running of the car. The door-open running preventing protection device as described above has a protection function for quickly stopping running of the car when it is detected that the car in the stopped state with the door(s) open has started running without closing the door(s) or when it is detected that at least any one of the car door and the landing door is opened while the car is running.
More specifically, in order to realize the protection function of the door-open running preventing protection device as described above, it is necessary to provide, for example, a first interruption configuration or a second interruption configuration to a power-feed system for the elevator apparatus. In the first interruption configuration, an electromagnetic contactor (power-feed switching means, a contactor) is provided to a power-supply line of at least any one of a main circuit and a brake coil. Opening/closing of the electromagnetic contactor is directly controlled by the door-open running preventing protection device. Then, by performing switching to open/close the electromagnetic contactor, switching between power feeding and interruption of the power feeding to a driving machine or the brake coil is performed.
In the second interruption configuration, the electromagnetic contactor is provided to the power-supply line of at least any one of the main circuit and the brake coil. The opening/closing of the electromagnetic contactor is directly controlled by an elevator operation controller. In the second interruption configuration, a semiconductor element or the like is provided to a control line which connects the elevator operation controller and the electromagnetic contactor to each other. A door-open running preventing protection signal from the door-open running preventing protection device is fed to the semiconductor element to place the electromagnetic contactor in a closed state.
As the known art described in the literatures relating to the elevator apparatus of the present invention, there is, for example, a device for preventing an elevator car from starting with a door open as described in Patent Literature 1. In the device for preventing the elevator car from starting with the door open, when fall prevention means detects the start of the car with the door open, a rope gripper is actuated to quickly stop the running of the car.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[PTL 1] JP 2007-55691 A

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

Even in a state in which the elevator apparatus normally operates, it is necessary for the door-open running preventing protection device to periodically diagnose a normal operation of its own protection function. Moreover, in view of functional safety, it is desired that the door-open running preventing protection device be independent of the elevator operation controller.
Further, when the first interruption configuration is used to add the door-open running preventing protection device to an existing elevator apparatus, it is necessary to interpose the electromagnetic contactor to each of the main circuit and the brake circuit and further to add a drive signal line to each of the electromagnetic contactors. Therefore, in view of the reduction in number of components, the reduction in number of wirings, and space saving, it is more advantageous to use the second interruption configuration.
In the case where the second interruption configuration is used, however, the opening/closing of the existing electromagnetic contactor is controlled by the elevator operation controller. In addition, the elevator operation controller and the door-open running preventing protection device are independent of each other. Therefore, depending on a controlled state of the elevator operation controller, the electromagnetic contactor cannot be brought into an open state only by a door-open running preventing protection signal of the door-open running preventing protection device in some cases. Therefore, it is difficult for the door-open running preventing protection device to execute self-diagnosis processing for its own protection function.
The present invention has been made to solve the problem described above, and has an object to provide an elevator apparatus capable of controlling a switching operation of power-feed switching means by an operation control section and a door-open running preventing protection section which cooperate with each other.

Solution to Problem

An elevator apparatus according to the present invention includes: a car provided in a hoistway; an elevator door for opening and closing an elevator doorway; a driving device for applying a driving force to the car; a brake device for braking raising and lowering of the car; door opening/closing detection means for generating a signal corresponding to an open/closed state of the elevator door; car-position detection means for generating a signal corresponding to a position of the car; power-feed switching means for performing switching between power-feeding and interruption of the power-feeding to a target of interruption of power feeding, which is at least any one of the driving device and the brake device; an operation control section for controlling an operation of the car and generating a switching drive signal to transmit the switching drive signal to the power-feed switching means to control a switching operation of the power-feed switching means; and a door-open running preventing protection section for monitoring the position of the car and the open/closed state of the elevator door via the door opening/closing detection means and the car-position detection means so as to be capable of detecting door-open running of the car, and for generating a door-open running preventing protection signal to transmit the door-open running preventing protection signal to the power-feed switching means so as to interrupt the power feeding to the target of interruption of power feeding when the door-open running of the car is detected, in which: the door-open running preventing protection section is capable of generating a switching drive command for controlling the switching operation of the power-feed switching means; and the operation control section determines the switching operation of the power-feed switching means based on a determination made by itself and generates the switching drive signal corresponding to the determination when the car operates in a normal operation mode, and determines the switching operation of the power-feed switching means in response to the switching drive command from the door-open running preventing protection section and generates the switching drive signal corresponding to the determination when the operation control section operates in a diagnosis mode in which the car is stopped.

Brief Description of Drawings

[FIG. 1] A configuration diagram illustrating an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 2] A block diagram illustrating a door-open running preventing protection device illustrated in FIG. 1.
[FIG. 3] A flowchart illustrating self-diagnosis processing of a self-diagnosis control section illustrated in FIG. 2.
[FIG. 4] Another flowchart illustrating the self-diagnosis processing of the self-diagnosis control section illustrated in FIG. 2.
[FIG. 5] A further flowchart illustrating the self-diagnosis processing of the self-diagnosis control section illustrated in FIG. 2.
[FIG. 6] A further flowchart illustrating the self-diagnosis processing of the self-diagnosis control section illustrated in FIG. 2.
[FIG. 7] A configuration diagram illustrating an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described referring to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a door-open running preventing protection device 50 illustrated in FIG. 1.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the elevator apparatus includes a driving device 10, a brake device 20, in-hoistway equipment 30, landing equipment 40, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 corresponding to a door-open running preventing protection section, an elevator operation controller 60 corresponding to an operation control section, and a logic circuit 70 for interruption control.
The driving device 10 includes a main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker (power-feed switching means) 11 connected to a commercial power supply 1, a power converter 12 connected to the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11, a motor 13 which receives electric power from the power converter 12, and a sheave 14 which is rotated by driving of the motor 13. The driving of the motor 13 is controlled by the elevator operation controller 60.
The main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 is provided to a power-supply line of the motor 13, that is, a main circuit. The main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 includes a #MC main contact 11a, a #MC auxiliary contact 11b, and a #MC coil 11c. When the #MC coil 11c is placed in an energized state (excited state), the #MC main contact 11a is in a closed state, whereas the #MC auxiliary contact 11B is in an open state.
On the other hand, when the #MC coil 11c is placed in a de-energized state (de-excited state), the #MC main contact 11a is in an open state, whereas the #MC auxiliary contact 11b is in a closed state. In other words, by closing/opening the #MC main contact 11a of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11, switching between power feeding and interruption of the power feeding to the motor 13 is performed. The #MC auxiliary contact 11b is electrically connected to the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60.
The motor 13 and the sheave 14 are provided in an upper part of the hoistway. The brake device 20 includes a brake wheel (not shown) which rotates with the sheave 14 by the driving of the motor 13, a first brake lining 21, a second brake lining 22, a first brake coil 23, a second brake coil 24, a first spring (not shown), a second spring (not shown), a first brake chopper 25, a second brake chopper 26, and a brake electromagnetic circuit breaker (power-feed switching means) 27.
Each of the first brake lining 21 and the second brake lining 22 is displaceable between a braking position and a release position. The braking position is a position at which the first brake lining 21 and the second brake lining 22 come into contact with a braking surface (for example, an outer circumferential surface) of the brake wheel. The release position is a position at which the first brake lining 21 and the second brake lining 22 are separated away from the braking surface of the brake wheel. Specifically, the release position is a position at which the first brake lining 21 and the second brake lining 22 are brought into a non-contact state with the braking surface of the brake wheel.
The first brake lining 21 and the second braking lining 22 are biased toward the braking surface of the brake wheel respectively by the first spring and the second spring. Therefore, the first brake lining 21 and the second brake lining 22 are pressed against the braking surface of the rotating brake wheel by the first spring and the second spring. As a result, a frictional force is generated between each of the first brake lining 21 and the second brake lining 22, and the braking surface of the brake wheel. By the frictional force, the rotation of the brake wheel, that is, the rotation of the motor 13 is braked.
Moreover, the first brake lining 21 and the second brake lining 22 are displaced to the release position against biasing forces of the first spring and the second spring by electromagnetic forces of the first brake coil 23 and the second brake coil 24, respectively. Excitation/de-excitation of the first brake coil 23 is controlled by the elevator operation controller 60 via the first brake chopper 25, whereas excitation/de-excitation of the second brake coil 24 is controlled by the elevator operation controller 60 via the second brake chopper 26.
The brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 is interposed between the first brake coil 23 and the first brake shopper 25 and between the second brake coil 24 and the second brake chopper 26. The brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 includes a #BK main contact 27a, a #BK auxiliary contact 27b, and a #BK coil 27c.
When the #BK coil 27c is placed in an energized state (excited state), the #BK main contact 27a is in a closed state, whereas the #BK auxiliary contact 27b is in an open state. On the other hand, when the #BK coil 27c is placed in a de-energized state (de-excited state), the #BK main contact 27a is in an open state, whereas the #BK auxiliary contact 27b is in a closed state. In other words, by opening/closing the #BK main contact 27a of the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27, switching between power feeding and interruption of the power feeding to the first brake coil 23 and the second brake coil 24 is performed.
The #BK auxiliary contact 27b is electrically connected to the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60. A signal 27bA indicating an open/closed state of the #BK auxiliary contact 27b is transmitted to the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60.
The in-hoistway equipment 30 includes a car 31, a counterweight 32, a main rope 33, a deflector sheave 34, car doors 35 corresponding to elevator doors, a car-door opening detector 36 corresponding to door opening/closing detection means, a door-zone detector 37 corresponding to car-position detection means, and a door-zone plate 38. The deflector sheave 34 is provided in the vicinity of the sheave 14. The main rope 33 is looped around outer circumferences of the sheave 14 and the deflector sheave 34.
The car 31 and the counterweight 32 are suspended by the main rope 33 so as to be raised and lowered in the hoistway. The raising/lowering of the car 31 is performed by driving of the motor 13 and is braked by the brake device 20. An operation of the car 31 is controlled by the elevator operation controller 60. The car doors 35 are provided to the car 31. The car doors 35 open and close a doorway of the car 31, which corresponds to an elevator doorway. The car-door opening detector 36 and the door-zone detector 37 are provided to the car 31.
The car-door opening detector 36 generates a signal 36A corresponding to an open/closed state of the car doors 35. The door-zone plate 38 is provided on an inner wall of the hoistway at a position corresponding to a floor of a landing along a vertical direction. The door-zone detector 37 generates a signal 37A indicating that running in an upward or downward direction has been performed for a predetermined distance or longer from a floor surface of the landing, based on a contact/non-contact state with (or a state of movement toward/away from) the door-zone plate 38.
The landing equipment 40 is provided to the landing of each floor of a building. The landing equipment 40 includes landing doors 41 corresponding to elevator doors and a landing-door opening detector 42 corresponding to door opening/closing detection means. The landing-door opening detector 42 generates a signal 42A corresponding to an open/closed state of the landing doors 41.
The door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60 transmit and receive a signal to/from each other through any of a parallel signal line, a serial signal line, and a storage device (not shown) writable and readable by both the devices 50 and 60. The door-open running preventing protection device 50 includes a control section 51 for protection for preventing door-open running, a self-diagnosis control section 52, a self-diagnosis timer 53, and an output circuit 54 for a door-open running preventing protection signal.
The control section 51 for protection for preventing the door-open running receives the signals 36A, 42A, and 37A respectively from the car-door opening detector 36, the landing-door opening detector 42, and the door-zone detector 37. The control section 51 for protection for preventing the door-open running uses the signals 36A and 42A to monitor an open/closed state of each of the car doors 35 and the landing doors 41.
Further, the control section 51 for protection for preventing the door-open running uses the signal 37A to monitor whether or not the position of the car 31 is within a door-opening allowable range. Therefore, by using the signals 36A, 42A, and 37A, the control section 51 for protection for preventing the door-open running can detect the movement of the car 31 with the doors open out of the door-opening allowable range and the placement of at least any one of the car doors 35 and the landing doors 41 into the open state while the car 31 is running. Specifically, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 can detect the door-open running of the car 31. When detecting the door-open running of the car 31, the control section 51 for protection for preventing the door-open running transmits a door-open running preventing protection signal 51A for control (ON signal) to the output circuit 54 for the door-open running preventing protection signal.
The self-diagnosis control section 52 uses a signal 11bA from the #MC auxiliary contact 11b and the signal 27bA from the #BK auxiliary contact 27b to monitor the open/closed state of each of the #MC main contact 11a and the #BK main contact 27a. The self-diagnosis control section 52 can execute self-diagnosis processing. The self-diagnosis processing is processing for determining whether or not the power feeding to the main circuit and the brake device 20 is normally interrupted by the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A generated by the door-open running preventing protection device 50 (output circuit 54 for the door-open running preventing protection signal).
Further, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes the self-diagnosis processing when a self-diagnosis execution allowance signal 60C received from the elevator operation controller 60 is ON and the self-diagnosis timer 53 indicates, for example, twenty-four hours or longer time. The self-diagnosis timer 53 measures time elapsed from the completion of the previous self-diagnosis processing and notifies the self-diagnosis control section 52 of the start of the self-diagnosis processing so that the elapsed time does not become, for example, equal to or longer than twenty-four hours.
When executing the self-diagnosis processing, the self-diagnosis control section 52 transmits a #MC drive command 52A and a #BK drive command 52B to the elevator operation controller 60. Moreover, when executing the self-diagnosis processing, the self-diagnosis control section 52 transmits a door-open running preventing protection signal 52C for diagnosis to the output circuit 54 for the door-open running preventing protection signal. When the self-diagnosis processing is completed, the self-diagnosis control section 52 transmits information 52D on the results of the self-diagnosis to the control section 51 for protection for preventing the door-open running.
When the information 52D on the results of the self-diagnosis indicates an operation abnormality of a door-open running preventing protection function, the control section 51 for protection for preventing the door-open running transmits the door-open running preventing protection signal 51A for control (ON signal) to the output circuit 54 for the door-open running preventing protection signal. When at least any one of the door-open running preventing protection signal 51A for control and the door-open running preventing protection signal 52C for diagnosis is ON, the output circuit 54 for the door-open running preventing protection signal transmits the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A to the logic circuit 70 for interruption control.
Similarly to the door-open running preventing protection device 50, the elevator operation controller 60 receives the signals 36A, 42A, 37A, 11bA, and 27bA to monitor the open/closed state of each of the car doors 35 and the landing doors 41, whether or not the position of the car 31 is within the door-open allowable range, and the open/closed state of each of the #MC main contact 11a and the #BK main contact 27a.
When the car 31 operates in a normal operation mode, the elevator operation controller 60 determines a switching operation of each of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 and the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 based on the determination made by itself. Then, the elevator operation controller 60 generates a #MC drive signal 60A and a #BK drive signal 60B corresponding to the determination and transmits the #MC drive signal 60A and the #BK drive signal 60B to the logic circuit 70 for interruption control.
For example, when operating in a diagnosis mode in which the car 31 waits with the doors closed, the elevator operation controller 60 turns ON the self-diagnosis execution allowance signal 60C. The diagnosis mode is a control mode of the elevator operation controller 60 when the execution of the self-diagnosis processing by the door-open running preventing protection device 50 is allowed.
When operating in the diagnosis mode, the elevator operation controller 60 determines to perform the switching operation of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 in response to the #MC drive command 52A from the door-open running preventing protection device 50. Then, the elevator operation controller 60 generates the MC drive signal 60A corresponding to the determination and transmits the #MC drive signal 60A to the logic circuit 70 for interruption control.
Similarly to the above, when operating in the diagnosis mode, the elevator operation controller 60 determines to perform the switching operation of the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 in response to the #BK drive command 52B from the door-open running preventing protection device 50. Then, the elevator operation controller 60 generates the BK drive signal 60B corresponding to the determination and transmits the #BK drive signal 60B to the logic circuit 70 for interruption control.
The logic circuit 70 for interruption control includes a #MC drive-voltage output circuit 71 and a #BK drive-voltage output circuit 72. The #MC drive-voltage output circuit 71 receives the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A from the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the #MC drive signal 60A from the elevator operation controller 60. The #MC drive-voltage output circuit 71 applies a #MC drive voltage 71A to a transistor element 81 for feeding power to the #MC coil 11c only when the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A is OFF and the #MC drive signal 60A is ON.
The #BK drive-voltage output circuit 72 receives the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A from the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the #BK drive signal 60B from the elevator operation controller 60. The #BK drive-voltage output circuit 72 applies a #BK drive voltage 72A to a transistor element 82 for feeding power to the #BK coil 27c only when the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A is OFF and the #BK drive signal 60B is ON.
Therefore, the switching operation of each of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 and the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 is controlled by the elevator operation controller 60 during the normal operation of the car 31. On the other hand, during the self-diagnosis processing of the door-open running preventing protection device 50 (self-diagnosis control section 52), the switching operation of each of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 and the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 is controlled by the door-open running preventing protection device 50. Specifically, a subject which controls the switching operation of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 and the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 is switched from one of the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60 to the other.
The door-open running preventing protection device 50 is configured by hardware (not shown) including an arithmetic processing section (CPU), a storage section (such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk), and a signal input/output section. The storage section of the hardware of the door-open running preventing protection device 50 stores a program for realizing the functions of each of the control section 51 for protection for preventing door-open running, the self-diagnosis control section 52, and the self-diagnosis timer 53.
The elevator operation controller 60 is also configured by hardware (not shown) similar to that of the door-open running preventing protection device 50. In the storage section of the hardware of the elevator operation controller 60, a program for realizing the functions of the elevator operation controller 60 is stored. Specifically, in Embodiment 1, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60 are configured by the pieces of hardware different from each other.
Next, the self-diagnosis processing of the self-diagnosis control section 52 is described. FIGS. 3 to 6 are flowcharts illustrating the self-diagnosis processing of the self-diagnosis control section 52 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates #MC interruption-function diagnosis processing illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 illustrates #BK interruption-function diagnosis processing illustrated in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 illustrates diagnosis processing for the door-open running preventing protection function. The self-diagnosis control section 52 repeatedly executes the processing illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6.
In FIG. 3, the self-diagnosis control section 52 confirms whether or not a value of the self-diagnosis timer 53 is twenty-four hours or longer time and whether or not the self-diagnosis execution allowance signal 60C from the elevator operation controller 60 is ON (Step S100). In this step, when confirming at least any one of the value of the self-diagnosis timer 53 being smaller than twenty-four hours and the self-diagnosis execution allowable signal 60C being OFF (NO direction of Step S100), the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing in Step S101.
Then, in Step S101, the self-diagnosis control section 52 turns OFF all the #MC drive command 52A, the #BK drive command 52B, and the door-open running preventing protection signal 52C for diagnosis. After that, the self-diagnosis control section 52 initializes a value of each self-diagnosis state (Step S102) and executes the processing in Step S100 again.
On the other hand, when confirming that the value of the self-diagnosis timer 53 is twenty-four hours or longer time and the self-diagnosis execution allowance signal from the elevator operation controller 60 is ON (YES direction of Step S100), the self-diagnosis control section 52 starts the self-diagnosis processing and executes processing in Step S103. In Step S103, the self-diagnosis control section 52 confirms a value of a self-diagnosis state (st_diag).
When confirming that the value of the self-diagnosis state is a value other than 0 to 2, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing in Step S110. In Step S110, the self-diagnosis control section 52 initializes the value of the self-diagnosis state (st_diag=0). Then, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes the processing in Step S100 again.
In Step S103, when confirming that the value of the self-diagnosis state is 0 (st_diag=0), the self-diagnosis control section 52 proceeds to processing in the #MC interruption-function diagnosis mode. In the #MC interruption-function diagnosis mode, the self-diagnosis control section 52 confirms whether or not the #MC interruption-function diagnosis has been completed (Step S104).
When confirming that the #MC interruption-function diagnosis mode has not been completed in this step, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing in Step S200, that is, the #MC interruption-function diagnosis processing and then executes the processing in Step S100 again.
The self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing illustrated in FIG. 4 as the #MC interruption-function diagnosis processing in Step S200. In Step S201 illustrated in FIR. 4, the self-diagnosis control section 52 confirms a value of a #MC interruption-function diagnosis state. When confirming that the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state is a value other than 0 to 5, the self-diagnosis control section 52 updates the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state (st_mc=0; Step S220) in this step and executes the processing in Step S201 again.
When confirming that the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state is 0 in Step S201, the self-diagnosis control section 52 proceeds to processing for the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 0. With the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 0, the self-diagnosis control section 52 initializes the timer (Step S202), updates the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state to 1, and proceeds to processing for the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 1 (st_mc=1) (Step S203).
With the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 1, the self-diagnosis control section 52 turns ON the #MC drive command 52A (Step S204) and waits until the signal 11bA input by the #MC auxiliary contact becomes OFF (Step S205). Specifically, the self-diagnosis control section 52 waits until a state of the #MC main contact 27a is actually switched. Then, when confirming that the signal 11bA input by the #MC auxiliary contact has become OFF, the self-diagnosis control section 52 updates the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state to 2 and proceeds to processing for the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 2 (st_mc=2) (Step S206).
With the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 2, the self-diagnosis control section 52 turns ON the door-open running preventing protection signal 52C for diagnosis (Step S207), updates the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state to 3, and proceeds to processing for the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 3 (st_mc=3) (Step S208).
With the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 3, the self-diagnosis control section 52 increments the value of the timer (timer=timer+1) and continues incrementing the value of the timer until the value of the timer exceeds a predetermined system response time T_res (Steps S209 and S210). When confirming that the value of the timer has exceeded the predetermined system response time T_res, the self-diagnosis control section 52 updates the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state to 4 and proceeds to processing for the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 4 (st_mc=4) (Step S211).
The system response time T_res is a response time from the turn-ON of the door-open running preventing protection signal 52C for diagnosis to the interruption of the power feeding to the motor 13 and the power feeding to the first brake coil 23 and the second brake coil 24 in the case where the door-open running preventing protection device 50 is normal. The system response time T_res is pre-registered in the self-diagnosis control section 52.
With the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 4, the self-diagnosis control section 52 confirms whether or not the signal 11bA input by the #MC auxiliary contact is ON (Step S212). When confirming that the signal 11bA input by the #MC auxiliary contact is ON, the self-diagnosis control section 52 makes a diagnosis of a normal operation of the #MC interruption function (Step S213), updates the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state to 5, and proceeds to processing for the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 5 (st_znc=5) (Step S215).
On the other hand, when confirming that the signal 11bA input by the #MC auxiliary contact is OFF, the self-diagnosis control section 52 makes a diagnosis of an abnormal operation of the #MC interruption function (Step S214), updates the value of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state to 5, and proceeds to processing for the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 5 (st_IDc=5) (Step S215).
With the #MC interruption-function diagnosis state of 5, the self-diagnosis control section 52 turns OFF the #MC drive command 52A, turns OFF the door-open running preventing protection signal 52C for diagnosis (Step S206), and stores the completion of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis (Step S217). Then, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes the processing in Steps S100 and S104 illustrated in FIG. 3 again. After that, the self-diagnosis control section 52 updates the value of the self-diagnosis state to 1 (st_diag=1; Step S105) and proceeds to the #BK interruption-function diagnosis mode (st_diag=1).
In the #BK interruption-function diagnosis mode, the self-diagnosis control section 52 confirms whether or not the #BK interruption-function diagnosis has been completed (Step S106). When confirming that the #MC interruption-function diagnosis has not been completed in this step, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing in Step S300, that is, #BK interruption-function diagnosis processing, and then executes the processing in Step S100 again.
As the #BK interruption-function diagnosis processing in Step S300, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing illustrated in FIG. 5. A procedure of the #BK interruption-function diagnosis processing illustrated in FIG. 5 is the same as that of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis processing illustrated in FIG. 4. When confirming that the #BK interruption-function diagnosis has been completed, the self-diagnosis control section 52 updates the value of the self-diagnosis state to 2 (st_diag=2; Step S107) and proceeds to a door-open running preventing protection function diagnosis mode (st_diag=2).
In the door-open running preventing protection function diagnosis mode, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes door-open running preventing protection function diagnosis processing in Step S400. As the door-open running preventing protection function diagnosis processing in Step S400, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing illustrated in FIG. 6.
In Step S401 illustrated in FIG. 6, the self-diagnosis control section 52 confirms whether or not the operations of both the #MC interruption function and the #BK interruption function are normal. When confirming that at least any one of the operations of the #MC interruption function and the #BK interruption function is abnormal, the self-diagnosis control section 52 determines that the operation of the door-open running preventing protection function is abnormal (Step S402).
Then, the self-diagnosis control section 52 waits until a predetermined reset operation is performed by an operator (Step S403). Specifically, the self-diagnosis control section 52 waits until the operation abnormality of the door-open running preventing protection function is repaired so as to stop the elevator apparatus. After that, in response to the reset operation, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing in Step S405.
On the other hand, when confirming that the operations of both the #MC interruption function and the #BK interruption function are normal (NO direction of Step S401), the self-diagnosis control section 52 determines that the operation of the door-open running preventing protection function is normal (Step S404). After that, the self-diagnosis control section 52 executes processing in Step S405.
In Step S405, the self-diagnosis control section 52 stores the incompletion of the #MC interruption-function diagnosis and the #BK interruption-function diagnosis (Step S405), and clears the value of the self-diagnosis timer 53 to zero (Step S406). By the processing described above, the self-diagnosis by the self-diagnosis control section 52 is completed.
According to the elevator apparatus of Embodiment 1 as described above, when operating in the diagnosis mode, the elevator operation controller 60 determines the switching operation of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 in response to the #MC drive command 52A from the door-open running preventing protection device 50. When operating in the diagnosis mode, the elevator operation controller 60 determines the switching operation of the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 in response to the #BK drive command 52B from the door-open running preventing protection device 50. With the configuration described above, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60 cooperate with each other to enable the control on the switching operations of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit contactor 11 and the brake electromagnetic circuit contactor 27.
The door-open running preventing protection device 50 transmits the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A to the logic circuit 70 for interruption control in a state in which the power is fed to the main circuit or the brake device 20 by the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit contactor 11 or the brake electromagnetic circuit contactor 27. When confirming the interruption operation by each of the electromagnetic circuit contactors 11 and 27 based on the states of the respective auxiliary contacts 11b and 27b of the electromagnetic circuit contactors 11 and 27, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 can determine that the operation of its own function of interrupting the power feeding to the main circuit or the brake device 20 is normal. When confirming that the interruption operation by each of the electromagnetic circuit contactors 11 and 27 has not been performed, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 can determine that the operation is abnormal.
Further, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 periodically executes the self-diagnosis processing. Therefore, the abnormality of the #MC interruption function and the #BK interruption function can be detected in a relatively early stage.

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 1, the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60 are configured by the pieces of hardware different from each other. On the other hand, in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the functions of the door-open running preventing protection device 50 and the elevator operation controller 60 are configured by program modules different from each other.
In FIG. 7, an elevator controller 100 is hardware including an arithmetic processing section (CPU), a storage section (such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk), and a signal input/output section. In the storage section of the elevator controller 100, a door-open running preventing protection program 101 having functions equivalent to those of the door-open running preventing protection device 50 of Embodiment 1 and an elevator operation control program 102 having functions equivalent to those of the elevator operation controller 60 of Embodiment 1 are prestored.
The door-open running preventing protection program 101 and the elevator operation control program 102 are executed independently of each other by the arithmetic processing section of the elevator controller 100. In other words, the door-open running preventing protection program 101 and the elevator operation control program 102 are modules independent of each other.
The storage section of the elevator controller 100 includes a common memory 103. The results of computation for the door-open running preventing protection program 101 and the results of computation for the elevator operation control program 102 are stored in the common memory 103. Computation processing of the door-open running preventing protection program 101 and computation processing of the elevator operation control program 102 share information stored in the common memory 103. Specifically, each of the modules of the door-open running preventing protection program 101 and the elevator operation control program 102 can perform communications to each other via the common memory 13.
The elevator controller 100 transmits a signal 101A corresponding to the door-open running preventing protection signal 50A of Embodiment 1, a signal 102A corresponding to the #MC drive signal 60A of Embodiment 1, and a signal 102B corresponding to the #BK drive signal 60B of Embodiment 1 to the logic circuit 70 for interruption control. The remaining configuration and operation are the same as those of Embodiment 1.
According to the elevator apparatus of Embodiment 2 as described above, even when the door-open running preventing protection program 101 and the elevator operation control program 102 are used, the same effects as those obtained in Embodiment 1 can be obtained.
In Embodiments 1 and 2, the targets of interruption of power feeding are both the motor 13 and the brake device 20. However, the target of interruption of power feeding may also be only any one of the motor 13 and the brake device 20. With the reduction in number of targets of interruption of power feeding, any one of the main-circuit electromagnetic circuit breaker 11 and the brake electromagnetic circuit breaker 27 may be omitted.

Claims

An elevator apparatus, comprising:
a car provided in a hoistway;

an elevator door for opening and closing an elevator doorway;

a driving device for applying a driving force to the car;

a brake device for braking raising and lowering of the car;

door opening/closing detection means for generating a signal corresponding to an open/closed state of the elevator door;

car-position detection means for generating a signal corresponding to a position of the car;

power-feed switching means for performing switching between power-feeding and interruption of the power-feeding to a target of interruption of power feeding, which is at least any one of the driving device and the brake device;

an operation control section for controlling an operation of the car and generating a switching drive signal to transmit the switching drive signal to the power-feed switching means to control a switching operation of the power-feed switching means; and

a door-open running preventing protection section for monitoring the position of the car and the open/closed state of the elevator door via the door opening/closing detection means and the car-position detection means so as to be capable of detecting door-open running of the car, and for generating a door-open running preventing protection signal to transmit the door-open running preventing protection signal to the power-feed switching means so as to interrupt the power feeding to the target of interruption of power feeding when the door-open running of the car is detected, wherein:
the door-open running preventing protection section is capable of generating a switching drive command for controlling the switching operation of the power-feed switching means; and

the operation control section determines the switching operation of the power-feed switching means based on a determination made by itself and generates the switching drive signal corresponding to the determination when the car operates in a normal operation mode, and determines the switching operation of the power-feed switching means in response to the switching drive command from the door-open running preventing protection section and generates the switching drive signal corresponding to the determination when the operation control section operates in a diagnosis mode in which the car is stopped.
An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the door-open running preventing protection section is capable of executing self-diagnosis processing for diagnosing its own functions, and is configured to:
monitor an operating state of the power-feed switching means;

place the target of interruption of power feeding in a power-fed state via the operation control section when the self-diagnosis is executed, and then transmit the door-open running preventing protection signal to the power-feed switching means;

determine that the power feeding to the target of interruption of power feeding is normally interrupted by the door-open running preventing protection signal when confirming that the power feeding to the target of interruption of power feeding is interrupted by the power-feed switching means; and

determine that its own operation relating to the door-open running preventing protection signal is abnormal when confirming that the power feeding to the target of interruption of power feeding is not interrupted by the power-feed switching means.
An elevator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the door-open running preventing protection section periodically executes the self-diagnosis processing.