EP3292064A1

EP3292064A1 - Lift monitoring unit having a galvanically decoupled signal transmission

Info

Publication number: EP3292064A1
Application number: EP16720111.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Carriero
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2015-05-05
Filing date: 2016-05-03
Publication date: 2018-03-14
Also published as: CN107567424B; US20180134516A1; CN107567424A; AU2016257307B2; WO2016177683A1; AU2016257307A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lift monitoring unit (1) which has a safety chain (3), a I/O device (5), and an interface unit (7). It should be possible for safety signals from the safety chain (3) to be relayed to the I/O unit (5) and to be passed on from the latter for example to an external control unit (9). In order to prevent transmission for example of dangerously high electrical voltages coming from the safety chain (3), the interface unit (7) is connected between the safety chain (3) and the I/O unit (5). The interface unit (7) contains a signal transmission device (35) which is designed to relay galvanically decoupled signals from inputs (17) to outputs (19). As a result safety signals can be read out from the safety chain (3) with the highest possible degree of safety while avoiding electrical overvoltages, and the signals can be provided to the control device (9).

Description

Elevator monitoring device with galvanic decoupled

signal transmission

The present invention relates to a monitoring device by means of which functions and / or safety features of a lift can be monitored,

Elevators serve, among other things, to carry persons or objects in a predominantly vertical direction. In order to be able to ensure sufficient safety in such a transport, in particular safety-relevant functions and features of an elevator system are permanently monitored. For this purpose, the elevator system generally has a plurality of safety devices, which safety-related functions of the

Control and / or monitor elevator system.

The safety devices can have, for example, suitable sensors and / or actuators for this purpose. For example, you can

Safety devices on brakes, doors, floors and / or one

Control panel of the elevator system be provided and with these

interact. The safety devices may directly or indirectly generate an electrical safety signal indicating information about a current status of a monitored safety function. For example, the safety signal may indicate whether a brake is functioning properly or an elevator door is properly closed.

Typically, several such are in an elevator system

Each safety device monitors an associated component of the elevator system. Due to the series connection of

Safety equipment can use the safety chain to detect whether all of its safety devices use the appropriate safety signals to signal the proper functioning of all safety functions of the lift system. For example, the safety chain may indicate that all brakes of the elevator system are operational, all doors are properly closed, an elevator car is at an allowable position within the floors of a building, and a control panel is functioning properly. The Safety chain can then send a corresponding signal, for example to a

Guide the control unit of the elevator system and this signal that all safety-related components of the elevator system work correctly, so that the controller then allows operation of the elevator system and can control this.

In modern elevator systems, it may often be desirable to be able to monitor functions of the safety devices also by means of an external control device. For this purpose it may be desirable to receive signals from the

Forward safety chain to the external control device.

However, it must be ensured that no danger sources are created by an enabled signal transmission from the safety chain to the external control device.

Among other things, there may be a need for an elevator monitoring device by means of which the safety functions of an elevator system can be safely monitored via an external control device. In particular, a possibility should be provided to forward safety signals from a safety chain of an elevator system in a secure manner to an external control device.

Such a need can be met by an elevator monitoring device according to the independent claim. advantageous

Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a

Elevator monitoring device proposed, which has a safety chain, an I / O device (input-output) and an interface device. The safety chain in this case has a plurality of safety devices, which are each designed to monitor a safety function of an elevator system and then output an electrical safety signal. The I / O device is designed to read in input signals which each correlate with safety signals of the safety chain and to output corresponding output signals to a preferably external control device. The

Interface device has inputs for receiving Safety chain safety signals and outputs for outputting signals as input signals to the I / O device. The interface device is designed to galvanically decouple signals received via the inputs via a signal transmission device as signals at the outputs.

Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered, inter alia, as being based on ideas and findings described below.

Based on the need to be able to provide safety signals from a safety chain of an elevator system to an external control device in order to be able to externally monitor, in particular, safety functions of the elevator system, a search was made for a possibility

Signal transmission safe, that is safe for both the elevator system and any cooperating with this building components as well as for

Users of the control device to design. In particular, it was recognized that within the safety chain of an elevator system signals are often transmitted with high electrical voltages of, for example, up to 250 V and it should be avoided that such high electrical voltages reach external devices such as the control device.

It is therefore proposed to signal transmission between the safety chain and the control device between the safety chain and the

Control device to provide a special interface device that can reliably prevent a passing high electrical voltages from the safety chain to the control device. For this purpose, the interface device uses a signal transmission device which can galvanically decouple received safety signals via inputs as signals at outputs.

As a galvanic decoupling, sometimes called galvanic isolation, is generally a lack of electrically conductive connections between conductive

Understood objects or circuits. As a result, electrical potentials of the objects or circuits are separated from each other, that is the

Objects or circuits are potential-free with each other. Here are the via the galvanic separation interconnected objects or

Circuits, despite the lack of electrically conductive connection in a position to exchange electrical power or electrical signals. For this purpose, an electrical conductor replacing coupling elements are required. Without such

Coupling members would come between the objects or circuits in the absence of an electrically conductive connection to an electrical insulation, that is, there could be no electrical signals are exchanged.

A galvanically decoupling signal transmission device or the coupling elements to be provided therein can be technically realized in different ways. For example, can be used as coupling members electrical components such as transformers, capacitors, optocouplers, optical fibers or relays. Signal transmission in these cases can then be effected by means of a magnetic field, displacement of electrical charges,

electromagnetic radiation or a potential-free contact.

For the application described here of a galvanic decoupling within an interface device in an elevator monitoring device, the specific nature of the technical configuration of the galvanic decoupling is generally not relevant. The desired galvanic decoupling can be done by means of an inductive separation, a capacitive separation or other types of separation. The galvanic decoupling effected by the signal transmission device should be realized in such a way that it can reliably be avoided that signals of high electrical voltage can be transmitted from the safety chain to the I / O device and ultimately to the control device.

On a signal path between the safety chain and ultimately the

Kontroileinrichtung is below the galvanically decoupling

Cutting part device provided the I / O device. While the

Safety chain with its safety devices can be regarded as a separate technical unit, the I / O device is usually provided as a separate device. In other words, within the safety chain, the

Safety devices generally directly electrically connected to each other to exchange safety signals or pass on. The I / O device is provided input signals that correlate with these provided by the security chain security signals to read in a suitable manner and forward in the form of appropriate output signals, for example, to the control device,

As a preferably separate device, the I / O device according to a

Embodiment Direct electrical connections between I ports (input ports) and O ports (output ports) to pass the input signals from the I ports to the O ports and output as corresponding output signals. In other words, within the I / O device, there are typically direct electrical connections, that is, non-galvanic decoupled connections, between the I-ports and the O-ports. An example of an I / O device is an I / O box, as sold, for example, by WAGO Kontakttechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Germany.

While the I / O device both in itself and towards the

Control device may have direct electrical connections, it is important according to an embodiment of the invention, between the safety chain and the I / O device no direct, that is not galvanically decoupled electrical connection provided. Due to the lack of such a direct electrical connection, the safety chain is thus disconnected from the I / O device in terms of their electrical potentials and it can no unwanted high electrical voltages are transmitted directly from the safety chain to the I / O device.

According to one embodiment, both the safety chain and the interface device each have an electrical ground and the grounding of the safety chain is separated from the ground of the interface device. In other words, the interface device with their inputs while

Can receive safety signals from the safety chain and this

preferably via a direct electrical connection with at least one

Safety device of the safety chain are in electrical contact. However, it should be ensured that the interface device can not be able to bridge or short one or more safety devices of the safety chain due to a parallel connection. For this reason, it is proposed to provide a necessary grounding of On the other hand safety chain on the one hand and the interface device on the other hand to perform electrically separated from each other.

According to one embodiment, the interface device and, if appropriate, also its electrical connection to the safety chain on the one hand and the I / O device on the other hand satisfy the requirements of elevator systems DIN EN 81-1 and, where applicable, also DIN EN81-2. Due to such a DIN conformity of the interface device and, where appropriate, their electrical connections sufficient security can be ensured in the signal transmission between the safety chain on the one hand and the I / O device on the other. The DIN (German Industrial Standard) EN 81-1 and 81-2 regulate safety requirements for the construction and installation of elevators, in particular electrically operated passenger and goods lifts. Here are among other things to be observed

Safety measures regarding electrical potential separation in

Controlled elevator systems and in this case allowed or predefined permissible technical measures.

For example, according to one embodiment, the interface device may be designed to receive safety signals at its inputs which have electrical voltages of more than 100 V, preferably more than 200 V, and output signals at their outputs which provide a maximum of 50 V, preferably a maximum of 24 V, electrical voltages , exhibit. If the safety chain functions correctly, the input signals can have currents of only a few mA, for example less than 5 mA. The signals to be output at the outputs of the interface device should preferably have currents below a maximum of a few hundred mA, for example a maximum of 100 mA. By a

appropriate interpretation of the interface device, the electrical conditions within the safety chain on the one hand and the electrical requirements within the I / O device or the control device on the other hand, be taken into account and safe operation of all

Components of the elevator monitoring device can be ensured.

According to one embodiment, the interface device and the I / O device are provided in separate devices. In other words, the Interface device preferably separately, that is not integrated into the I / O device provided. A separation between the

Interface device and the I / O device can be both structural and electrical type. That is, the interface device and the I / O device may be structurally provided in separate units and, for example, housed in separate housings. In electrical terms, the interface device and the I / O device may be separate

Have circuits or circuits that are supplied for example separately with electrical energy and / or grounded. In practical use, for example, the I / O device may be provided by a manufacturer other than the interface device.

The provision of a preferably separate interface device for galvanically decoupled signal transmission can thus in one

Aufzugüberwachungseinrichtiing allow security signals from a conventionally configured security chain of the elevator system in electrically safer, as can be forwarded via the interface device galvanically decoupled manner to an optionally also conventionally configured I / O device. The interface device can thus enable secure and, for example, manufacturer-independent signal communication between the security chain and the I / O device.

According to one embodiment, the interface device has a plurality of lighting devices for displaying status information. The

Lighting devices are each with one of the inputs of

Interface device coupled. The lighting devices can

be designed for example as LEDs. Due to the lighting devices, for example, a user can receive information directly on the interface device about the current status of the elevator monitoring device or specifically the interface device. In particular, the status information can correlate with security signals received at the respective input of the interface device. Due to the activity of individual lighting devices of the interface device, a user can thus switch back to currently prevailing safety functions of the elevator system. It should be understood that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be suitably combined, adapted or replaced in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which neither the drawings nor the description are to be construed as limiting the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an elevator monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a part of a circuit for an elevator monitoring device according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a part of a circuit according to an alternative example.

4 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a circuit for an elevator monitoring device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The figures are only schematic and not to scale. The same reference numerals designate the same or different in the various figures.

equivalent features.

Fig. 1 shows an elevator monitoring device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The elevator monitoring device 1 has a safety chain 3, an I / O device 5 and an interface device 7.

The safety chain 3, which can also be referred to as a safety circuit, is as a whole of series-connected electrical

Safety devices 12 are formed. The safety devices 12 can For example, have a door contact, a bolt contact and / or a contact of a catching or braking device. Each safety device 12 may include, for example, an actuator or sensor 13 and an associated switch 11. The actuator or sensor 13 can monitor a safety function of an elevator system and then output an electrical safety signal, which causes the switch 1 1 to close or

open if necessary.

In the example shown, several switches 1 1 are connected in series, so that the safety chain 3 can only be considered as closed when all switches 1 1 are closed. Only in this case, the safety chain 3 can generate a safety signal which measurably indicates to the outside that all

Safety devices 12 of the safety chain 3 function correctly and the safety functions monitored by them are within a normal range. If one of the switches 1 1 interrupted, the entire safety chain 3 is considered interrupted and the elevator system may generally not continue to operate. One generated by the safety device 12

Safety signal is provided at electrical outputs 15 of the safety chain 3.

Safety signals generated by the safety chain 3 are to be forwarded via the 1/0 device 5 to an external control device 9. The control device 9 can be, for example, a computer 23 equipped with a screen 25, by means of which, for example, operating personnel can monitor and in particular visualize current status information of an elevator system and in particular its safety chain.

In principle, it would be conceivable that at the electrical outputs 15 of

Security chain 3 provided safety signals directly to inputs 21 of the I / O device 5 forward. However, this could lead to potentially dangerous electrical voltages being transmitted from the safety chain 3 to the I / O device 5 and, if necessary, to the control device 9. This could lead to damage to a building housing the elevator system and / or to a danger to operating personnel using the control device 9. To avoid this, in a signal path between the safety chain 3 and the I / O device 5 is a supplementary device in the form of

Interface device 7 is provided.

The interface device 7 is configured to accept at inputs 17 the safety signals of the safety chain 3 from their outputs 15 and thus to pass on correlating signals at outputs 19 to the I / O device 5. However, the safety signals are not transmitted via a direct electrical connection, for example in the form of a fixed wiring, from the inputs 17 to the outputs 19. Instead, the security signals are routed to a signal transmission device 35, where they are passed galvanically decoupled to the outputs 19.

The signal transmission device 35 is shown in simplified form in the example shown as a kind of transformer, in which coils the electrical signals inductively, that is, by generation and transmission of magnetic fields, from the

Pass inputs 17 to the outputs 19.

The interface device 7 can also be referred to as SCSC (Safety Circuit Signal Conditioner) and be regarded as a universal interface in order to read out a status of an elevator safety chain 3. Because of the galvanically decoupled signal transmission within the interface device 7, a transmission of safety signals from the safety chain 3 to the I / O device 5 can take place while fulfilling the requirements of DIN EN 81-1 or EN81-2. For example, this should include both a

Circuit design and insulation comply with the requirements of DIN EN 81-1 or 81 -2.

At the interface device 7 serving as light means 35 LEDs are provided, which status information of the

Interface device 7 and its associated components of

Security chain 3 can show.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram in which it is roughly schematically illustrated how the interface device 7 is mounted relative to components 11, 13 of a safety chain 3 a configured according to the invention elevator monitoring device can be connected.

The safety chain 3 is in this case fed by a voltage source 27. The voltage source 27 is generally designed as Gleichspannungsquelie. Two switches 1 1 1 1 "and a sensor 13 or actuator of a safety device 12 are connected in series behind an electrical resistor 37. The safety chain 3 is connected via a common circuit 3 1, which is also known as a

Busbar can be designated connected to a ground 29.

The interface device 7 is electrically connected to the series circuit of the safety chain 3 at a position 10 between the switches 1 1 ', 1 1 ", so that a safety signal from the safety chain 3 can be transmitted to one of the inputs 15 of the interface device 7 Inputs 15 of the interface device 5 is connected via the collecting circuit 31 to the ground 29.

Here it can be regarded as important that the connection of the

Safety chain 3 with grounding 29 independent of the connection of the

Interface device 7 with the ground 29, since the interface device 5 should be under any conditions in a position to short-circuit safety sensors 13 or actuators of the safety chain 3.

A shading, as shown alternatively in Fig. 3, in which the

Interface device 7 is connected in parallel to the switch 1 1 "and thus connected together with this via the sensor / actuator 13 to the ground 29, should therefore be avoided.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative interconnection for an inventive

Elevator monitoring device. In this embodiment, several

For a group of channels all connected to the same safety chain 3, each interface device 7 ', 7 "needs its own independent connection 33', 33" to ground 29. Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising,""comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a variety. It should also be appreciated that features described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features of other embodiments described above.

Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

Claims

claims

Elevator monitoring device (1), comprising:

a safety chain (3) having one or more safety devices (12) each adapted to monitor a safety function of an elevator system and output an electrical safety signal;

an I / O device (5) for reading input signals, each with

Safety signals of the safety chain (3) correlate, and for outputting corresponding output signals to a control device (9);

an interface device (7) with inputs (17) for receiving

Security signals of the security chain (3) and with outputs (19) for issuing

Signals as input signals to the I / O device;

the interface device (7) being designed to provide galvanically decoupled safety signals received via the inputs (17) via a signal transmission device (35) as signals at the outputs (19),

2. Elevator monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein between the safety chain (3) and the I / O device (5) no direct, not galvanically decoupled electrical connection exists.

3. Elevator monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the

Safety chain (3) and the interface device (7) each have an electrical ground (29) and the grounding of the safety chain (3) from the ground of the

Interface device (7) is separated.

4. Elevator monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interface device (7) meets the requirements of DIN EN 81-1.

5. Elevator monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the interface device (7) is adapted to at their inputs (17).

Receive safety signals, which have electrical voltages of more than 1 Q0V, preferably more than 200V, and output at their outputs (19) signals having electrical voltages of a maximum of 50V, preferably a maximum of 24V.

The elevator monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the I / O device (5) has direct electrical connections between I ports and O ports for forwarding the input signals from the I ports to the O ports for output as corresponding output signals.

The elevator monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the interface device (7) and the I / O device (5) are provided in separate devices,

8. Elevator monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the interface device comprises a plurality of lighting devices (37) which are respectively coupled to one of the inputs (17) of the interface device (7), to

View status information.

9. Elevator monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein the

Status information correlate to received at the respective input (17) safety signals