EP3595997A1

EP3595997A1 - Method and device for monitoring operating parameters in a passenger transport installation

Info

Publication number: EP3595997A1
Application number: EP18710470.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin KUSSEROW; Reto Tschuppert
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2017-03-15
Filing date: 2018-03-13
Publication date: 2020-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-13
Also published as: US20200002127A1; BR112019015935A2; CN110418760A; AU2018233072A1; US11884513B2; CN110418760B; WO2018166994A1; EP3595997B1; AU2018233072B2; CA3051111A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device (3) for monitoring operating parameters in a passenger transport installation (1) such as, for example, an elevator or an escalator. The passenger transport installation (1) has a plurality of sensors (37, 39, 41) detecting different operating parameters as well as a signal processing device (35). The method comprises the following steps: (i) repeatedly detecting a first operating parameter by means of a first (37) of the sensors;(ii) triggering a second (39) of the sensors as soon as the first operating parameter detected by the first sensor (37) assumes a predetermined trigger characteristic;(iii) detecting a second operating parameter by means of the second sensor (39) and transmitting a signal reproducing the detected second operating parameter to the signal processing device (35) in response to the triggering;and (iv) processing the signal, for example, in the signal processing device (35) or an external monitoring device (36) for monitoring the second operating parameter. Due to the intended remote triggering of individual sensors (39, 41) by other sensors (37, 39), a data processing amount and/or a data transmission amount can be reduced, a need for wiring can be reduced and complex sensor functions can be achieved with the aid of simple sensors (37, 39, 41) which cooperate with one another. This may in particular advantageous during the retrofitting of existing passenger transport installations.

Description

Method and device for monitoring operating parameters in one

Passenger transport system

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring operating parameters in a passenger transportation system. The invention further relates to a suitably equipped passenger transport system and a method for retrofitting a passenger transport system. The invention particularly relates

Possibilities for efficiently monitoring operating parameters in a passenger transport system remotely.

Passenger transport facilities such as elevators, escalators or moving walks serve to transport people and / or goods in a building or structure from one place to another. The passenger transport system as a whole is permanently installed in the building, but has components such as a shiftable between floors elevator car or a circumferentially displaceable conveyor stairs or conveyor platform, by means of which, for example, passengers can be transported.

To operating states of the passenger transport system and in particular any

To be able to recognize abnormalities in such operating states, it may be provided to monitor operating parameters of the passenger transport system continuously or at certain intervals repeatedly. For example, it may be necessary to know a current operating state in order to be able to control or regulate it appropriately. It may also be advantageous or necessary to detect anomalies in the operating conditions early on, in order to take measures to remedy them if necessary.

For example, in an elevator, it may be advantageous to monitor whether

Elevator car doors open and close correctly, as abnormalities in such door closing may affect both elevator safety and passenger comfort. For example, incorrectly closing elevator car doors can cause a risk for passengers to be injured by the door or by a lift starting despite an incorrectly closed door. Alternatively, an incorrectly moving elevator car door

Inconvenience such as disturbing noises. Similarly, in an escalator or moving walk, incorrect shifting of treads or pallets may present hazards or at least inconveniences, such as noise, to passengers.

For detecting operating conditions, a multitude of different operating parameters can be monitored in a passenger transport system. An operating parameter may be a physical quantity which during operation of the

Passenger transport system is present and which may change during the operation of the passenger transport system. In conventional passenger transport systems, the operating parameters are usually using manufacturer already in the

Passenger transport integrated components monitored. For example, the operating parameters can be monitored by controlling the control variables of a control system controlling the passenger transport system, in particular with regard to possible anomalies. Alternatively or additionally, in the

Personnel transport system sensors are provided, by means of which monitoring operating parameters can be measured.

Operating parameters may be, for example, currently flowing or averaged electrical currents to building components such as electric motors or actuators in the passenger transport system, noise in or adjacent to the passenger transport system, current accelerations within components of the passenger transport system, temperatures in or adjacent to components of the passenger transport system, etc.

Especially with older passenger transport systems, it may be necessary or desirable to modernize these in terms of their safety, their reliability and / or their comfort. Among other things, it may be desirable to subsequently create technical prerequisites in order to be able to monitor certain operating parameters. For example, a device can be retrofitted into an existing passenger transportation system which has, for example, a multiplicity of sensors and a signal processing device for processing signals from the sensors, so that operating parameters can be monitored with the aid of this device and, for example, possible anomalies can be detected early. Regardless of whether operating parameters are to be monitored using components already provided by the manufacturer in a passenger transport system or with the aid of retrofitted components, it has hitherto been customary to measure the operating parameters with sensors or other components which have been operated and / or evaluated centrally. A central monitoring unit was able to receive and process signals from each of the plurality of sensors. It was generally intended that the sensors either signals continuously or in short

Time intervals repeatedly transmitted to the monitoring unit or the

For example, a monitoring unit selectively triggers one of the sensors, i. instructed to measure the current size to be monitored by him and to transmit a corresponding measurement signal to the monitoring unit.

For example, EP 1353868 B1 describes a method for monitoring the condition of the door mechanism of an elevator and determining a need for maintenance.

However, it has been recognized that conventional approaches to monitoring

Operating parameters of a passenger transport system often high demands on the monitoring unit and / or data communication between the

Monitoring unit and e.g. put the sensors.

Among other things, there may be a need for a method and apparatus for monitoring operating parameters of a passenger transportation system that reduces such requirements. In particular, there may be a need in such a method or in such a device simple and / or inexpensive components such as sensors and / or

To be able to use data transmission technology, preferably without a quality of monitoring the operating parameters to reduce. Furthermore, there may be a need for a suitably equipped passenger transport system and a method for retrofitting a passenger transport system.

Such a need may be met by the subject matter of any one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the following description. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring of

Operating parameters proposed in a passenger transport system. The

Passenger transport system here has a plurality of different

Operating parameters detecting sensors and a signal processing device. The method comprises the following steps, preferably as indicated

Sequence: a first operating parameter is repeatedly detected by means of a first of the sensors; a second one of the sensors is triggered as soon as the first operating parameter detected by the first sensor assumes a predetermined triggering property; in response to the triggering, a second operating parameter is detected by means of the second sensor and a signal reproducing the detected second operating parameter is transmitted to the signal processing device; Finally, the signal is processed, for example, in the signal processing device for monitoring the second operating parameter.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus for monitoring operating parameters in a passenger transport system is proposed. In this case, the device is designed to be installed in the passenger transportation system, and has a plurality of sensors detecting different operating parameters and a signal processing device. The device is designed to carry out a method according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a passenger transport system is proposed, which has a device according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method for retrofitting a passenger transport system is proposed, in which the passenger transport system is equipped with a device according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered, inter alia, and without limiting the invention, as being based on the ideas and findings described below. As noted in the introduction, technical approaches have been developed to:

Monitor operating conditions of a passenger transport system. For example, different operating parameters were repeatedly recorded on or in the passenger transport system using various sensors, and from this information was derived about their current operating status. This information could, for example, be used to remotely monitor the passenger transport system (so-called "remote controlling") and / or to be able to initiate suitable measures if abnormalities occur, as the case may be.

In the previous approaches, the sensors either transmitted their sensor data continuously or at short intervals to a signal processing device, so that this signal processing device had to process large amounts of transmitted sensor data centrally. Or the signal processing device could centrally drive each of the sensors individually to cause it (i.e., trigger),

Generate sensor data relating to the operating parameter to be detected by him and forward it to the signal processing device.

In such a central data processing and / or central control (i.e., central triggering) of various sensors distributed over the passenger transport system, on the one hand a high data processing effort or a high outlay for controlling the various sensors can arise. This may require that the signal processing device be equipped with a comparatively powerful processor unit, since otherwise it would be too

Data processing bottlenecks can come. On the other hand, there may be a high data transfer volume between the signal processing device and the sensors. In particular, if the sensors communicate with the signal processing device via a common bus system, this may require that the bus system be designed for a high data transmission rate, since otherwise data transmission bottlenecks can occur.

In particular, in order to overcome this problem, it is proposed that these sensors do not permanently measure their operating parameters to be monitored in a passenger transport system equipped with a large number of different sensors or at least that signals are not permanently transmitted to the signal processing system. Forward facility and process there. Instead, it is proposed that such measurement of operating parameters or transmission of signals be carried out only if this was specifically caused by means of triggering. In this way, requirements for data processing and / or data transmission can be massively reduced.

In this case, it is proposed, in particular, not necessarily to perform the triggering centrally from the signal processing device. Instead, the triggering of a sensor should be triggered directly or indirectly by another sensor. The other sensor may be configured to monitor another operating parameter and to trigger the sensor to be trigged only when that other operating parameter assumes a predetermined triggering property.

In other words, sensors should no longer necessarily be instructed centrally by the signal processing device to receive them

To detect monitoring operating parameters and / or to the signal processing device or the signal processing device no longer needs to decide centrally whether or when transmitted monitored operating parameters should be analyzed. Instead, a triggering of the detection of the operating parameters and / or a corresponding signal transmission or an analysis of transmitted data is to be triggered decentrally with the aid of further sensors.

Such a decentrally triggered triggering can, for example, prevent a bus system used for data transmission from being permanently loaded with a data flow and / or the signal processing device having to analyze permanently transmitted data, although, for example, no relevant event has occurred at present, which includes the acquisition of operating parameters and whose transmission appears necessary Hesse. Decentralized triggers using additional sensors can therefore help avoid data processing bottlenecks and / or data transmission bottlenecks.

The operating parameters to be monitored can be various operating parameters which permit conclusions about their current operating state in a passenger transport system. For example, such operating parameters can act locally Accelerations to components of the passenger transport system such as an entire cabin of an elevator, a door of a cabin of an elevator or the

Be conveyor unit of an escalator. Temporarily acting and measured in the context of the method described herein accelerations allow, for example, conclusions about recent movements of said components. A

Monitoring other operating parameters may include, for example, measuring locally prevailing temperatures, locally occurring noises, locally occurring electrical, magnetic or other fields, etc.

In particular, by measuring electric or magnetic fields, information about electrical currents may be obtained, for example, to drive components in a passenger transportation system.

The first operating parameter to be detected by the first sensor can preferably be selected such that it can be detected by the sensor with a technically simply designed sensor system. Alternatively or additionally, the first

Operating parameters are selected so that it reproducing sensor data a small volume of data per measurement process (for example, less than 10 bytes or less than 2 bytes) need, so that both a corresponding data analysis and a

Data transmission can be simplified.

For example, the first operating parameter may be an easily measured volume of a local noise prevailing in the passenger transport system. Alternatively, the first operating parameter may be a current to a drive component in the passenger transport system or an electric or magnetic field caused thereby.

The trigger property, which is to be detected upon detection of the first operating parameter, so that the second sensor is triggered, can generally be any characteristic of the detected first operating parameter that is to be unambiguously identified. For example, the trigger property may be a threshold at which

Exceeding or falling short of the triggering of the second sensor to be initiated. Alternatively or additionally, for example, an edge, along which the first operating parameter develops over time, or a slope of such an edge serve as a trigger property. In the example given above, the trigger property can be, for example, a volume threshold to be exceeded or undershot or a volume development increasing or decreasing with a steep edge. The presence of such a trigger property can be relatively easily detected by means of a simple sensor, for example in the form of a simple microphone.

Alternatively, even more complex properties of a monitored first

Operating parameters are monitored for the presence of a trigger property. In the example mentioned, for example, the spectrum of a detected sound could be examined for the presence of a specific spectral component, whereby the spectral component could be typical for certain sounds, such as squeaking, for example.

The second operating parameter to be detected may be any operating parameter that differs from the first operating parameter. It may be advantageous to select the first and second operating parameters such that the second

Operating parameters is technically more complex and / or expensive to measure than the first operating parameter. On the other hand, it may also be advantageous that the second

Operating parameters a more meaningful inference to the current

Operating state of the passenger transport system can give as the first operating parameter.

The second operating parameter can in principle be transmitted to the signal processing device in any desired manner. For example, a signal or

Data transmission via a hardwired network or over a wireless network. In particular, a transmission can take place via a bus system, via which in general a substantially arbitrarily large number of sensors

with each other as well as with the signal processing device with each other

can communicate. Also, the first operating parameter detected by the first sensor can be transmitted to the signal processing device in the same or a similar manner.

With the described monitoring method or a correspondingly configured monitoring device, various advantages can be achieved. In particular, a function of sensors within a passenger transport system, at least partly decentralized. This can significantly reduce a lot of data to be transmitted or data to be processed. Here, for example, technically simple first sensors can be used to trigger possibly more complex second sensors or to trigger the signal processing device to process their sensor data. In other words, transmission of sensor data of the second operating parameter to the signal processing device and processing of this sensor data can be reduced by generating, transmitting and / or processing such sensor data only when this is done by the first sensor upon detection of the trigger property was triggered at the first operating parameter. Although each of the first and second sensors taken by itself can be relatively simple, this can be reproduced in total, for example, a more complex sensor, are monitored in the various operating parameters and when reaching predefined trigger properties, for example, the monitoring of other operating parameters is triggered. The signal processing device can process the signal representing the second operating parameter in a wide variety of ways. For example, filtering or statistical characteristics such as

Averaging and / or a determination of minimum values, maximum values and / or the standard deviation. The processing can only be to forward the signal to another device.

In order to monitor a car door of an elevator car of an elevator system, a current sensor, for example, in a car door sensor arrangement

Accelerometer and a microphone installed. The current sensor is connected to the main power supply to the car door. The current sensor acting as the first sensor in this case can detect whether the car door is currently starting to be opened or closed due to current current signal patterns, which in this case were predetermined as a trigger characteristic. If such a trigger property is detected, a first trigger signal is output and sent to the

Acceleration sensor and / or the microphone transmitted, which act in this case as second sensors. These then begin to monitor whether the car door is accelerated in a typical for the opening or closing or if typical noises are generated. Corresponding signals are from the

Acceleration sensor and / or the microphone to the signal processing device 35th transmitted. The triggering can either activate the subsequent second sensors to take measurements of the operating parameters to be detected by them, or activate processing or analysis of continuously recorded operating parameters, for example until the triggering is deactivated again or a deactivating second trigger signal is transmitted. From a signal processing device from the signals, possibly after a previous processing, to an external

Monitoring device to be transmitted. If atypical operating parameters are detected in the signals, for example, too slow

Accelerate the cabin door or indicate unusual noise, this can be detected as a malfunction of the cabin door.

The example of a passenger transport system in the form of an escalator, a first sensor in the form of a current sensor, for example, recognize when a

Main power supply to a drive unit increases significantly, for example, to go from a crawl to a fast drive. The first sensor may then trigger an acceleration sensor and / or a microphone as second sensors to measure, for example, accelerations or noises that can be used to track whether the transition to the faster ride is done properly or, for example, to delays or unusual noises due to malfunctioning comes.

According to one embodiment, the proposed method further has

Transmitting the processed signal to a remote to the passenger transport system monitoring device. For the proposed device, this means that the signal processing device can be configured to transmit signals to a remote monitoring device arranged to the passenger transport system.

In other words, the signals transmitted to the signal processing device with respect to the second operating parameters in the signal processing device can be at least partially processed and then forwarded to an external monitoring device. The monitoring device can be located outside the passenger transport system, in particular outside of the passenger transport system receiving building. For example, the Monitoring device to be part of a set up at a manufacturer of the passenger transport installation monitoring center. In this way, on the basis of the transmitted operating parameters in the monitoring device from a distance

Operating conditions of the passenger transport system monitored and, where appropriate, appropriate measures are taken in the event of anomalies. One too

transmitting data volume or a data amount to be processed can be kept low due to the locally triggered triggering of the second sensors.

According to one embodiment of the proposed method, the first sensor for triggering the second sensor can transmit a trigger signal directly to the second sensor. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the proposed device, a plurality or all of the plurality of sensors may be configured to transmit to other ones of the plurality of sensors signals, in particular trigger signals.

In other words, a triggering of a second sensor and thus a detection of the second operating parameter can be triggered by a first sensor recognizing the presence of the predetermined trigger characteristic in the first operating parameter detected by it and then transmitting a signal directly to the second sensor to triggers this. In such a constellation, triggering of the second sensor does not necessarily require data transmission from the first sensor to the signal processing device. Instead, it may be sufficient for the first sensor to communicate directly with the second sensor to trigger it. As a result, data transmission quantities, data processing quantities and / or reaction times, ie times until the second sensor is actually triggered after the detection of a trigger property, can be reduced. The first and the second sensor can advantageously communicate via a network or a data bus, with which they are both connected. Alternatively, according to one embodiment of the proposed method, the first sensor can transmit a signal representing the detected first operating parameter to the second sensor. In this case, not the first, but the second sensor detects the presence of the predetermined trigger characteristic and generates a trigger signal in response thereto. The trigger signal is an internal signal within the second sensor.

In this constellation, likewise no data transmission from the first sensor to the signal processing device is necessary for a triggering of the second sensor.

Alternatively, according to one embodiment of the proposed method, the first sensor for triggering the second sensor is a trigger signal to the

Transmit signal processing system and then transmit the signal processing system a trigger signal to the second sensor. For one embodiment of the proposed device, this means that several or all of the plurality of sensors may be configured to transmit signals to the signal processing device.

In other words, instead of direct triggering of the second sensor by the first sensor without the interposition of other components, it may be provided that the first sensor does not transmit its trigger signal directly to the second sensor but to the signal processing device. The signal processing device can then forward this trigger signal to the second sensor. In such a

Constellation has the signal processing device, for example, the ability to take even influence on the triggering of the second sensor, for example, after the signal transmitted from the first sensor trigger signal has been analyzed and / or processed. While the sensors themselves are usually designed to be technically simple and in particular have no or at most a low own signal processing capability, but for example always emit the trigger signal upon reaching the trigger property, an intermediate circuit of the signal processing device can thus enable the emitted trigger signal either unfiltered to the second Forward sensor or process this in advance in the signal processing device. In this way, the signal processing device has, for example, the Possibility to compare the trigger signal with signals from other sensors and to be able to decide, for example, whether the second sensor should actually be triggered, depending on the situation.

According to one embodiment of the method proposed herein, the second sensor is triggered for the first time as soon as the first detected by the first sensor

Operating parameter assumes a predetermined first trigger property. The second sensor repeatedly detects the second operating parameter and the signal representing the detected second operating parameter is transmitted to the signal processing device in response to the first triggering until the first operating parameter detected by the first sensor assumes a predetermined second triggering property and then a second triggering signal is transmitted to the second sensor.

In other words, not only can the first sensor generate a first trigger signal to cause the second sensor to measure the second operating parameter, but the second sensor can be provided

Repeatedly measures operating parameters until it receives a second one from the first sensor

Trigger signal, which causes him to stop the repeated measurement process.

The first and the second trigger signal can be emitted in response to the detection of a first or a second trigger property. In principle, the two trigger properties can be identical, that is to say, the first trigger signal is triggered the first time the trigger characteristic is detected, and the second trigger signal is then triggered on the subsequent detection of the same trigger property.

Preferably, however, the two triggering properties are different from each other. For example, the first and second trigger characteristics may be two different thresholds with respect to the observed first operating parameter. For example, referring to the above example, the first trigger signal may be generated when a detected volume exceeds a first threshold. Subsequently, the second trigger signal can be generated when the detected volume falls below the first or a second threshold again. In this case, the first sensor can be used to decentrally control or trigger a function of the second sensor. In particular, a start and an end of a measuring operation of the second sensor can be triggered.

According to one embodiment of the method proposed herein, a sensor repeatedly records the operating parameter to be detected by it over a period of time and then determines the trigger characteristic for subsequent detection operations. With reference to the device proposed herein, this means that a sensor can be designed to repeatedly detect the operating parameter to be detected by it over a certain period of time and then to predetermine the trigger characteristic for subsequent detection processes.

In other words, a certain learning function can be implemented in one of the sensors of the passenger transportation system. The learning function can be used to trigger the property monitored by the sensor

Operating parameter is monitored and when it reaches the trigger signal is triggered, not necessarily fixed preset needs. Instead, the sensor can set or set this trigger property as part of its learning function. For this purpose, the sensor can first observe the operating parameter to be detected by it over a certain period of time, i. capture the operating parameter repeatedly, and then set the trigger property based on this observation. Due to this learning function, the sensor can at least partially adapt its properties to actually prevailing conditions.

For example, a microphone used as the first sensor can first observe ambient noise over a certain period of time. If during this period of time it can be assumed that the passenger transportation system is in the normal state, one or more threshold values can then be defined based on the observed maximum volume noise, which can be defined as a trigger property. Occurs during later operation of the first sensor the case that clearly noisy noises are detected, this can then lead to the triggering of a second sensor. In this case, it can be assumed, for example, that the particularly loud noises were generated due to a disturbance such as, for example, a squeaking of components of the passenger transport system rubbing against one another. This can be interpreted as an occasion to measure second operating parameters which, for example, can allow a closer inference to the disturbance.

According to one embodiment, several or even all of the sensors may be configured to detect only one type of operating parameter.

In other words, the sensors included in the device for the passenger transportation system may be relatively simple sensors that merely need to be configured to measure a single type of operating parameter. As a result of the resulting low complexity of the respective sensors, their costs can be reduced and / or their reliability can be improved. Due to the fact that different sensors can communicate with each other and in particular can trigger each other, nevertheless complex-acting sensor arrangements can be created by means of which various operating parameters can be detected and monitored in accordance with the situation.

It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments, in particular with reference to a method according to the invention or with reference to an inventive device for monitoring operating parameters in a passenger transport system. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be suitably combined, transmitted, adapted or replaced in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the

Description are to be construed as limiting the invention. Fig. 1 shows a passenger transport system in the form of an elevator with a

inventive device for monitoring operating parameters.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a device according to the invention for monitoring operating parameters.

The figures are only schematic and not true to scale. Same

Reference numerals in the various figures designate the same or equivalent features

1 shows a passenger transport installation 1 in the form of an elevator installation 2. The elevator installation 2 comprises an elevator car 5 and a counterweight 7, which can be displaced in an elevator shaft by means of cables or belts 9 which are driven by a drive machine 11 in a machine room 12 , The elevator car 5 has a car door 13. Furthermore, a plurality of shaft doors 15 are provided on the elevator shaft. An operation of the elevator installation 2 and in particular the drive machine 11 and the car door 13 and the shaft doors 15 is controlled by means of an elevator control 17.

To be able to recognize currently prevailing operating conditions in the elevator installation 2 and, in particular, to be able to detect anomalies in the latter, are known from US Pat

Elevator installation 2 distributes several sensor arrangements 19 arranged. The

Sensor arrangements 19 are designed to detect certain operating parameters in the elevator installation 2.

For example, a drive machine sensor arrangement 23 can be arranged on the drive machine 11. This may for example contain sensors, by means of which supplied to the engine 11 electric current flows, acting on the engine 11 accelerations, for example in the form of

Vibrations, prevailing at the engine 11 temperatures in the

Drive machine 11 occurring noise and / or near the engine 11 prevailing electrical and / or magnetic fields, etc. can be measured. Furthermore, an elevator car sensor arrangement 27 can be arranged on the elevator car 5. This can, for example, detect accelerations acting on the elevator car 5, noises occurring there, prevailing temperatures or fields, etc. The elevator car sensor arrangement 27 can furthermore comprise a camera arrangement 31 by means of which, for example, an interior space can be observed in the elevator car 5.

Furthermore, a car door sensor arrangement 29 can be arranged on the car door 13. This can measure, for example, accelerations acting on the car door 13, noises occurring there, etc.

At each of the shaft doors 15 may each be a shaft door sensor assembly 25 may be arranged. This can e.g. on the shaft door 15 acting accelerations, occurring there noises, etc. capture.

At an access to the engine room 12, a machine room door sensor assembly 21 may be provided, by means of which a closing state of a

Engine room door, occurring noises, etc. can be measured.

The various sensor arrangements 19 can transmit signals, which contain information about the operating parameters they have acquired, to a signal processing device 35. There, the signals can be processed and / or evaluated. The sensors contained in the various sensor arrangements 19 form, together with the signal processing device 35, a device 3 for monitoring operating parameters in the elevator installation 2.

Optionally, the signals obtained before or after their processing or evaluation via a data communication device 33 to a remote monitoring device 36 are sent. The monitoring device 36 may, for example, be set up in a monitoring center in which, for example, the manufacturer of the passenger transport system can monitor its function remotely. A data or signal transmission between the sensors and the

Signal processing device 35 and the signal processing device 35 via the data communication device 33 to the monitoring device 36 can be wired or wireless.

In conventional passenger transport systems 1, the many sensor arrangements 19 contained therein generally supply signals or sensor data to the sensors permanently

Signal processing device 35 and must be centrally controlled by this. On the one hand, this requires a high data processing effort in the signal processing device 35 and, on the other hand, a high data transmission quantity between the sensor arrangements 19 and the signal processing device 35.

It is therefore proposed that the individual sensor arrangements 19 should, in principle, be able to transmit their signals and sensor data to the signal processing device 35, but that this is not permanent, but at least for one or some of the sensors only for a specific triggering happens. In this case, the sensor arrangements 19 should be designed such that the sensors contained therein can at least partially trigger each other, i. triggering of individual sensors can be done decentrally and without necessary control or intervention by, for example, the signal processing device 35.

FIG. 2 illustrates a device 3 by means of which operating parameters can be monitored in a passenger transport installation 1 with the aid of one or more sensor arrangements 19.

In the illustrated example, the device 3 comprises three different sensors 37, 39, 41. Each of the sensors 37, 39, 41 is designed to detect at least one operating parameter of the passenger transport system 1. The various sensors 37, 39, 41 are designed differently and can thus measure different operating parameters. A certain simple signal processing may possibly already take place in the sensors 37, 39, 41, for example in the form of segmentation, limit value monitoring, etc. The sensors 37, 39, 41 may be those of them

signals to be provided either continuously, repetitively, or in response to external triggering. It is now proposed in a first sensor 37 repeatedly a first

Detect operating parameters and check whether this first operating parameter assumes a predetermined first trigger property, i. for example one

exceeds or falls below the predetermined limit or threshold. If this is the case, the first sensor 37 should generate a first trigger signal Ti _a .

This first trigger signal Ti _a can be transmitted by the first sensor 37 either directly to a second sensor 39, as indicated in Fig. 2 by a dashed arrow. Alternatively, the first trigger signal Ti _a can be transmitted to the signal processing device 35 and transmitted from the latter directly or optionally after a certain processing to the second sensor 39.

Only in response to such a first trigger signal Ti _a does the second sensor 39, in turn, detect the second operating parameter to be monitored by it and transmit corresponding signals to the signal processing device 35.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the second sensor 39 detects the operating parameter to be monitored even without such a first trigger signal Ti _a , but does not permanently transmit associated signals to the signal processing device 35, for example, or the signal processing device ignores a corresponding signal transmission until the first trigger signal Ti _{a was} generated by the first sensor 37.

The signal processing device 35 can process the signals received from the second sensor 39 and optionally subsequently or as raw signals via the data communication device 33 to the external monitoring device 36, so that these can draw conclusions about the current operating state of the passenger transport system 1 based on these signals.

The second sensor 39 can detect the second operating parameter once in response to the first trigger signal Ti _a and transmit it to the signal processing device. Alternatively, in response to the first trigger signal Ti _a , the second sensor 39 may begin to repeatedly or continuously detect the second operating parameter and / or to transmit it to the signal processing device. A capture of the The second operating parameter may possibly be stopped again in response to a second trigger signal Ti _e to be output by the first sensor 37. For example, the first sensor 37 can detect when the operating parameter monitored by it assumes a second trigger characteristic, ie, for example, exceeds or falls below a further threshold value, and then transmits the second trigger signal Ti _e to the second sensor 39. Alternatively, the detection of the second operating parameter may be terminated automatically after a predetermined time. It can also be provided that the second sensor detects the second operation parameter detected 39 as long as the first trigger signal Ti _A is from the first sensor 37 transmits and detecting the second operating parameter is terminated as soon will no longer be transmitted to the first trigger signal Ti _a ,

The second sensor 39 may in turn also possibly generate trigger signals and transmit them to further sensors 41. By way of example, the second sensor 39 can detect when the second operating parameter monitored by it assumes a trigger characteristic or one of a multiplicity of possible trigger properties. The second sensor 39 can then output corresponding trigger signals T2 _n , T2 _W , T2f. These trigger signals can be transmitted to one or more further sensors 41, in turn causing them to become active and to detect and transmit operating parameters to the signal processing device.

For example, depending on the detected trigger characteristic, the second sensor can receive a trigger signal T2 _n , a trigger signal T2 _W or a trigger signal T2f. output. The trigger signal T2 _n may indicate that a normal state in the second

Operating parameter was detected. The trigger signal T _2W may indicate in the form of a kind of warning that an anomaly has been detected in the second operating parameter. The trigger signal T _2f may indicate that an error has been detected in the detection of the second operating parameter. Depending on the received trigger signal T2 _n , T2 _W , T2f, the addressed further sensor 41 can respond appropriately.

In this way, a kind of sensor chain or sensor network can be formed in which one or more individual sensors 37, 39 trigger other sensors 39, 41 and thereby activate. Instead of the trigger signals Ti _a and Ti _e , the first sensor 37 can also continuously transmit a signal representing the detected first operating parameter to the second sensor 39. The second sensor 39 then checks for itself whether the first operating parameter assumes a predetermined first or second trigger property. If so, the second sensor 39 generates the first sensor 37 internal as described above

Trigger signals which, as described above, a detection of the second

Operating parameters starts or ends.

Similarly, the second sensor instead of trigger signals T2 _n , T2 _W and T2f. also continuously transmit a signal reproducing the detected second operating parameter to further sensors 41, which then evaluate it as described.

On the basis of a concrete example, this is intended for an application in a

Elevator installation 2 will be explained. In order to monitor a car door 13, a current sensor, an acceleration sensor and a microphone are installed in the car door sensor assembly 29. The current sensor is connected to the main power supply to the

Cabin door 13 connected. The current sensor acting as the first sensor 37 in this case can detect whether the car door 13 is currently starting to be opened or closed due to current current signal patterns, which in this case were predetermined as a trigger characteristic. If such a trigger characteristic is detected, a first trigger signal is output and transmitted to the acceleration sensor and / or the microphone, which act as second sensors 39 in this case. These then begin to monitor whether the car door 13 is accelerated in a typical for the opening or closing or whether typical noises are generated. Corresponding signals are transmitted from the acceleration sensor and / or the microphone to the signal processing device 35. The triggering may either activate the subsequent second sensors 39 to take measurements of the operating parameters to be detected by them or activate processing or analysis of continuously received operating parameters, for example until the triggering is deactivated again or a deactivating second trigger signal is transmitted. From the signal processing device 35 from the signals, possibly after a previous processing, to the external

Monitoring device 36 transmitted. Should be atypical in the signals

Operating parameters are detected, for example, too slow Accelerating the car door or indicate unusual noise, this can be detected as a malfunction of the car door 13.

The example of a passenger transport system 1 in the form of an escalator, a first sensor 37 in the form of a current sensor, for example, recognize if a

Main power supply to a drive unit increases significantly, for example, to go from a crawl to a fast drive. The first sensor 37 may then trigger one or more second sensors 39 to measure, for example, accelerations or noises that can be used to track whether the transition to faster travel is regular or, for example, delays or unusual noises due to malfunction comes.

In the applications of the method described herein or herein

Device-generated trigger signals can be made available to all sensors in a network. Further, multiple triggers and / or sensor signals may be combined to fuse, for example, the functions of multiple sensors.

By means of embodiments of the present invention, various advantages can be achieved compared to conventional solutions. For example, signals already measured by sensors can be reused within a decentralized sensor network. This can improve performance, reliability and / or efficiency within the sensor network. Furthermore, simple sensors can be combined with one another in order to be able to provide more complex information in the manner of a sensor fusion. In addition, a signal segmentation can be effected by sensor signals, preferably without connection to, for example, a control of the passenger transport system. Overall, operating parameters can be recorded exclusively or, above all, during relevant times or relevant events.

The solution proposed herein may make it possible to roast existing passenger transport systems with sensors that can detect specific operating conditions, without a connection needs to be established, for example, to control the passenger transport system. Furthermore, a number of Wiring be reduced by the reuse of signals and trigger signals within the sensor network, in particular due to the unnecessary connection to the control of the passenger transport system. Ultimately, in particular, a cost reduction can be achieved, for example by the sensor fusion using multiple simple sensors instead of a complex sensor.

In summary, the provision of decentralized triggering of individual sensors 39, 41 by other sensors 37, 39 reduces a data processing quantity and / or a data transmission quantity, reduces a need for wiring, and achieves complex sensor functions with the aid of simple sensors 37, 39, 41 cooperating with each other, which is especially true when retrofitting existing passenger transport systems 1 may be advantageous.

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 multitude. It should also be appreciated that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

Claims

claims

1. A method for monitoring operating parameters in a

Passenger transport system (1),

wherein the passenger transport system (1) a plurality of different ones

Operating parameters detecting sensors (37, 39, 41) and a

Signal processing device (35),

the method comprising:

repeatedly detecting a first operating parameter by means of a first one (37) of the sensors;

Triggering a second (39) of the sensors as soon as the first operating parameter detected by the first sensor (37) assumes a predetermined triggering property;

Detecting a second operating parameter by means of the second sensor (39) and transmitting a signal representing the detected second operating parameter to the signal processing device (35) in response to the triggering;

Processing the signal to monitor the second operating parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Transmission of the processed signal to a remote monitoring device (36) to the passenger transport system (1).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sensor (37) for triggering the second sensor (39) transmits a trigger signal directly to the second sensor (39).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor transmits a signal representing the detected first operating parameter to the second sensor, and the second sensor generates the trigger signal.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first sensor (37) for triggering the second sensor (39) transmits a trigger signal to the signal processing system (35) and then the signal processing system (35) transmits a trigger signal to the second sensor (39) ,

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is triggered for the first time as soon as the first operating parameter detected by the first sensor assumes a predetermined first triggering property, and the second sensor assumes the second operating parameter repeatedly detects and transmits the second operating parameter reproduced signal to the signal processing means (35) in response to the first triggering until the first sensor (37) detected first operating parameter assumes a predetermined second trigger property and then a second trigger signal to the second sensor (39) is transmitted.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the sensors (37, 39, 41) repeatedly detects the operating parameter to be detected by it over a period of time and then the triggering property for subsequent

Entry processes are predetermined.

8. Device (3) for monitoring operating parameters in one

Passenger transport system (1),

the device (3) being designed to be installed in the passenger transport installation (1) and having a plurality of sensors (37, 39, 41) detecting different operating parameters and a signal processing device (35),

wherein the device (3) is adapted to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a plurality of the plurality of sensors (37, 39, 41) are adapted to transmit to other of the plurality of sensors (37, 39, 41) signals.

10. Device according to one of claims 8 to 9, wherein a plurality of the plurality of sensors (37, 39, 41) are adapted to transmit to the signal processing means (35) signals.

11. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the

Signal processing device (35) is adapted to transmit signals to a remote to the passenger transport system (1) monitoring device (36).

12. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein a plurality of the sensors (37, 39, 41) are adapted to detect only one type of operating parameters.

13. Device according to one of claims 8 to 12, wherein one of the sensors (37, 39, 41) is adapted to repeatedly detect the operating parameter to be detected by it over a period of time and then predetermine the trigger property for subsequent detection operations.

14. Passenger transport system (1), comprising a device (3) according to one of claims 8 to 13.

15. A method for retrofitting a passenger transport system (1), comprising equipping the passenger transport system (1) with a device (3) according to one of claims 8 to 13.