EP3613691B1 - Maintenance patch panel and lift control for controlled braking movements of a lift cabin - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a maintenance switchboard and an elevator control for controlling displacement movements of an elevator car, in particular during elevator maintenance, as well as a correspondingly equipped elevator and a method for moving an elevator car.

In the context of elevator maintenance, for example, it may be necessary for a technician to be able to move an elevator car inside an elevator shaft while he is outside the elevator car, i.e. for example on a roof of the elevator car or in an elevator shaft pit. For this purpose, a maintenance control panel can be provided outside the elevator car, with the aid of which the technician can directly instruct a control unit of the elevator to control a drive of the elevator in such a way that the elevator car is moved in a desired direction.

In order to be able to meet high safety requirements, three buttons in the form of a release button and two direction buttons, i.e. a downward direction button and an upward direction button, are typically provided on the maintenance switchboard. In addition, further switching elements such as an emergency stop switch, an activation switch, etc. can be provided on the maintenance control panel. The technician can use the downward direction button or the upward direction button to specify the direction in which the elevator car is to be moved. In order for the control unit to actually move the elevator car, the technician must additionally press the release button at the same time as one of the direction buttons for safety reasons.

The three buttons are conventionally designed as simple single-stage switching elements which can only be switched back and forth between an unactuated and an actuated actuation state. The buttons can also be referred to as push buttons. A speed at which the elevator car is moved when one of the direction buttons and the release button are pressed, the setting is generally fixed. If necessary, the preset speed can be changed, but only as long as the elevator car is not moved.

It has now been recognized that in the course of maintenance work, considerable loads are often caused on components of the elevator, which, for example, can lead to increased wear and tear on these components. It was also recognized that while the elevator car is being moved during maintenance work, inconvenience or even danger can arise for a technician performing the maintenance. Both effects seem to result from a way in which the elevator car is relocated during the maintenance work and, in particular, is braked after the relocation.

Such buttons are already off WO 2017/174692 A1 known.

Among other things, there may be a need for an maintenance panel, an elevator controller equipped with such an elevator controller and an elevator equipped with such an elevator controller, as well as a method to be carried out with a correspondingly equipped elevator controller for relocating an elevator car, in which relocating the elevator car is simple, intuitive and easy / or can be carried out safely.

Such a need can be met by the subject matter according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and explained in the following description.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a maintenance switchboard for controlling displacement movements of an elevator car is proposed. The maintenance control panel has at least three buttons including a release button and two direction buttons. The two direction buttons include a down direction button and an up direction button. Each of the buttons each has a safety chain input and a safety chain output as well as an actuating element which can be displaced from a non-actuated position in an actuating direction, and when the actuating element is displaced in the actuating direction beyond a respective first actuating position unactuated passes into a first actuated actuation state in which an electrical connection between the safety chain input and the safety chain output is closed. The downward direction button and the upward direction button each have a first control output and are each configured to output a first actuation signal correlating to the first actuation state at the first control output. At least one of the buttons on the maintenance switchboard is designed as a two-stage button and has a second control output in addition to the first control output. The two-stage button is configured so that, in the first actuation state, a first actuation signal correlating with the first actuation state is output at the first control output and no actuation signal is output at the second control output. Furthermore, the two-stage button is configured so that the actuating element can be displaced in the actuating direction beyond the first actuating position into a second actuating position and that the button changes to a second actuated state when the actuating element is displaced in the actuating direction beyond the second actuating position, in which the electrical connection between the safety chain input and the safety chain output is closed, the first actuation signal correlating with the first actuation state is output at the first control output and a second actuation signal correlating with the second actuation state is output at the second control output.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an elevator control for controlling displacement movements of an elevator car of an elevator installation is proposed. The elevator control has a control unit for controlling a power supply to a drive motor (13) driving the elevator car and a maintenance switchboard according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, an elevator installation with an elevator control according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention is proposed.

• Starten einer Verlagerungsbewegung der Aufzugkabine durch gleichzeitiges Betätigen des Freigabetasters und eines der Richtungstaster bis zu deren jeweiliger erster Betätigungsposition;
• Aufrechterhalten der Verlagerungsbewegung der Aufzugkabine durch gleichzeitiges Halten des Freigabetasters und des einen der Richtungstaster in deren jeweiliger Betätigungsposition, bis die Aufzugkabine bis kurz vor eine Zielposition verfahren ist; Einleiten eines kontrollierten Abbremsvorgangs der Aufzugkabine durch Betätigen des zweistufigen Tasters bis zu dessen zweiter Betätigungsposition;
• Lösen der Betätigung des Freigabetasters und des einen der Richtungstaster sobald die Aufzugkabine zum Stillstand gekommen ist.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method for relocating an elevator car of an elevator installation by means of an elevator control according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention is proposed. The method comprises at least the following method steps, preferably in the order given:

• Starting a displacement movement of the elevator car by simultaneously actuating the release button and one of the direction buttons up to their respective first actuation position;
• Maintaining the displacement movement of the elevator car by simultaneously holding the release button and the one of the direction buttons in their respective actuating position until the elevator car has moved just before a target position; Initiation of a controlled braking process of the elevator car by actuating the two-stage button up to its second actuation position;
• Release the actuation of the release button and one of the direction buttons as soon as the elevator car has come to a standstill.

Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention can be viewed, inter alia and without restricting the invention, as being based on the ideas and findings described below.

As already briefly stated in the introduction, it has been observed that measures that are carried out as part of maintenance work on an elevator system sometimes exert considerable mechanical and / or electrical loads on components of the elevator system. These loads can be caused by the fact that a displacement of the elevator car can usually only be controlled with the aid of conventional maintenance switchboards in such a way that the elevator car is accelerated very abruptly, in particular is braked very abruptly due to a suddenly activated emergency brake. Such abrupt movements and the associated high accelerations can contribute to increased wear or even damage to components of the elevator system.

Conventional maintenance switchboards are usually relatively simple in design, but must be able to be operated safely and intuitively. Conventional maintenance switchboards usually have a single-stage release button and two likewise single-stage ones Directional buttons, which can be actuated from an unactuated to an actuated actuation state and vice versa, for example, by depressing an actuating element. The technician can specify the direction in which the elevator car is to be shifted by pressing the downward direction button or the upward direction button. In order to actually effect the relocation, the technician must also press the release button at the same time.

In order to be able to guarantee safe operation of the elevator system even during maintenance, the maintenance switchboard and in particular its buttons are integrated into a safety chain, with the aid of which the elevator system's control unit can assess whether all safety-critical components are in a state that, for example, allows safe relocation the elevator car allows. As soon as the safety chain is interrupted at any point, a main power supply to the drive motor driving the elevator car is usually interrupted and a safety brake is generally activated on the elevator car in order to stop the elevator car quickly and reliably.

In order to meet safety requirements, the three mentioned buttons on the maintenance control panel should be integrated into the safety chain in such a way that the safety chain remains interrupted as long as the release button and one of the direction buttons are not actuated at the same time.

However, the described structure of conventional maintenance switchboards can mean that the technician can only move the elevator car with the maintenance switchboard during maintenance of the elevator system in such a way that, as soon as a destination has been reached with the elevator car, the release button and / or one of the direction buttons is operated by the technician is released. However, the safety chain is then automatically interrupted and the elevator car is braked abruptly, in particular due to the fact that its safety brake is activated.

The mechanical stress caused in particular by the abrupt braking and / or the associated electrical stress, for example through briefly occurring electrical voltage or current peaks within a power supply of the elevator system, should be achieved by using a maintenance switchboard according to a Embodiment of the invention described herein can be avoided or at least reduced.

For this purpose, at least one of the three buttons on the maintenance control panel is designed in a special way as a two-stage button. Each of the two direction buttons is preferably designed as a two-stage button. However, instead or in addition, the release button can also be designed as a two-stage button.

Each of the three buttons can initially be designed to provide a functionality similar to that of the buttons on conventional maintenance switchboards. For this purpose, the button can have an actuation element which, starting from a non-actuation position in which it is not depressed by a technician, for example, can be displaced in an actuation direction until an actuation position is reached. This actuation position is referred to below as the first actuation position. When this first actuation position is reached and beyond that, the button and its actuation element changes from an unactuated to a first actuated actuation state. While an electrical connection between a safety chain input and a safety chain output of the respective button was interrupted in the unactuated actuation state, this electrical connection should be closed in the first actuation state. In other words, as soon as a technician depresses the actuation element of the respective button sufficiently to get into the first actuation position, the safety chain is closed in the area between the safety chain input and the safety chain output of the button.

In addition, the downward direction button and the upward direction button each have at least one first control output and are each configured to output a first actuation signal at this first control output when the respective button is in the first actuation state. This first actuation signal is intended to correlate with the first actuation state, so that the first actuation signal changes when the actuation element of the pushbutton is pressed from the non-actuation position into the first actuation position. The first actuation signal can be transmitted to the control unit of the elevator installation. Depending on which of the Direction button the control unit receives the first actuation signal, the control unit controls the power supply to the drive motor in such a way that the elevator car is shifted upwards or downwards.

In contrast to conventionally used single-stage buttons, the two-stage button used in the proposed maintenance panel should also have a second control output. As with conventional single-stage buttons, when the button has been actuated in its first actuation state, the first actuation signal is to be output at the first control output. However, no actuation signal should be output at the second control output during the first actuation state.

In addition, the two-stage button should now be configured so that the actuation element can be displaced in the actuation direction beyond the first actuation position to a second actuation position. If the actuating element is displaced beyond this second actuating position, the two-stage button with its actuating element is intended to transition into a second actuated actuating state. In this second actuated actuation state, the electrical connection between the safety chain input and the safety chain output should in turn be closed, so that the safety chain is closed in the area of the two-stage button. In addition, the first actuation signal should be output at the first control output. Furthermore, a second actuation signal correlating with the second actuation state should be output at the second control output. In other words, in the event that the two-stage button is depressed beyond its first actuation position towards the second actuation position, in addition to outputting the first actuation signal at the first control output, the second actuation signal should also be output at the second control output.

If the actuating element of the two-stage pushbutton is then moved, starting from the second actuation position, against the actuation direction, i.e. the actuation element is no longer depressed deeply by the technician, but instead moves back to the first actuation position, driven for example by a return spring, the second actuation position is output Actuation signal on the the second control output is ended and only the first actuation signal is output at the first control output. If the actuation element is then further relaxed to the non-actuation position, this first actuation signal is no longer output at the first control output and at the same time the electrical connection between the safety chain input and the safety chain output of the two-stage button is interrupted.

The described functionality of the maintenance switchboard proposed herein can be used in an elevator control to use the control unit provided therein to convert or interpret the first and second actuation signals output by the maintenance switchboard in a manner that ultimately results in a power supply to a drive motor driving the elevator car a journey of the elevator car is no longer abruptly interrupted during a maintenance process and, in particular, a safety brake is no longer abruptly activated. Of course, it must be ensured that the elevator is operated safely and, in particular, that the elevator car is only moved when safe conditions prevail in the elevator.

For this purpose, the elevator control according to one embodiment can be designed in such a way that the control unit is electrically connected to the safety chain inputs and safety chain outputs provided on the maintenance switchboard in order to monitor a current switching state of the maintenance switchboard and to automatically interrupt the power supply to the drive motor when the release button is inactive State and / or the upward direction button and the downward movement button are both in the non-actuated state.

In other words, the buttons on the maintenance switchboard can be connected to the control unit in a similar manner as is the case with conventional maintenance switchboards with single-stage buttons. The switching state of the maintenance control panel should be able to be monitored, in particular, in that an electrical connection between the safety chain input and the safety chain output of a button is monitored as part of an overall safety chain. The buttons on the maintenance switchboard can be connected to one another in series and / or in parallel in such a way that, in the event that the release button and one of the direction buttons are not operated at the same time, there is always an interruption of the entire safety chain and thereupon the power supply to the drive motor is interrupted and, if necessary, a safety brake is also activated on the elevator car. For this purpose, for example, the two direction buttons can be connected to one another in parallel and connected together in series with the release button.

In addition, the maintenance switchboard can communicate with the control unit via the respective first control outputs of the downward direction button and the upward direction button. Thus, the control unit can receive the outputted first operation signals from the maintenance panel. The power supply to the drive motor should only be set up by the control unit when both the release button and one of the direction buttons are in their first actuated state and thus the entire safety chain is closed and corresponding first actuation signals are output by the buttons.

Up to this point, the functionality of the elevator control proposed here is still similar to that of conventional elevator controls. In addition, however, the elevator control proposed here should also be able to appropriately interpret the second actuation signal that can be output by the maintenance control panel described above. In particular, by appropriately interpreting this second actuation signal, the elevator control should make it possible to avoid abrupt braking of the elevator car.

For this purpose, according to one embodiment, the control unit can be electrically connected to the maintenance switchboard via the second control output of the two-stage button and configured to monitor the second actuation signals output by the two-stage button. In this case, the control unit can be set up to shut down the power supply to the drive motor in a controlled manner upon receipt of a second actuation signal.

In other words, with the maintenance panel proposed herein, due to the two-stage button provided therein, a configuration is possible in which the entire The part of the safety chain running through the maintenance switchboard is closed because the release button and one of the direction buttons are actuated and the second actuation signal can be generated by actuating the two-stage button up to the second actuation state. This second actuation signal can then be transmitted to the control unit and interpreted by it to the effect that the power supply to the drive motor of the elevator should be terminated and thus the displacement of the elevator car should be stopped. However, the power supply should not be interrupted abruptly, as would be the case if the safety chain were opened. Instead, the power supply should be regulated in a controlled manner so that the elevator car does not stop abruptly, but is stopped within a reasonable period of time and preferably without excessive accelerations.

In other words: while receiving only the first actuation signal causes the control unit to establish a power supply to the drive motor of the elevator system and thus to move the elevator car, the additional reception of the second actuation signal causes the control unit to shut down the power supply to the drive motor in a controlled manner .

In particular, according to one embodiment, the control unit can be configured to continuously reduce the power supply to the drive motor when a second actuation signal is received. In other words, as soon as it receives the second actuation signal from the maintenance control panel, the control unit should continuously reduce the power supply to the drive motor starting, for example, from a maximum power supply in which the elevator car is displaced at a maximum speed. The power supply should be reduced gradually, that is to say without abrupt jumps. Accordingly, the elevator car can be braked relatively gently through the controlled reduction of the power supply. In this way, in particular, mechanical and / or electrical loads on components of the elevator, which can occur when the elevator car is braked abruptly, can be avoided.

According to one embodiment, the control unit can also be set up to activate a brake, in particular the safety brake, on the elevator car after the power supply to the drive motor has been reduced. By activating the brake, the elevator car can be securely fixed in its position. Because the brake is only activated after the power supply to the drive motor has been regulated in a controlled manner, it can be ensured that the brake does not already engage while the elevator car is still moving, but only when it has come to a complete stop. In this way, an abrupt braking of the elevator car and associated mechanical and / or electrical loads within the elevator can be avoided.

The described functionality of the elevator control proposed herein can be used, for example, by a technician as part of a maintenance process in order to be able to move the elevator car of the elevator system in a controlled manner with the aid of the maintenance switchboard according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the invention. Here, the technician can start the displacement movement of the elevator car by simultaneously pressing the release button and one of the direction buttons up to their respective first actuation position. As a result, the part of the safety chain running through the maintenance switchboard is closed and the first actuation signal is also generated, on the basis of which the elevator control sets up the power supply to the drive motor of the elevator system. The displacement movement of the elevator car can then be maintained by holding the release button and the direction button in their first actuation positions until the elevator car has been moved to shortly before a target position. When the technician recognizes that the elevator car has almost reached its destination, he can initiate a controlled braking process of the elevator car by pressing the two-stage button on the maintenance control panel up to its second actuation position. This generates the second actuation signal and this second actuation signal causes the elevator control to shut down the power supply to the drive motor in a controlled manner and thus to brake the elevator car in a controlled manner. Preferably only when the elevator car has come to a complete standstill does the technician release the actuation of the release button and / or the direction button. This interrupts the part of the safety chain that runs through the maintenance control panel and thus interrupts the entire safety chain. so that the control unit forcibly interrupts the power supply to the drive motor and, if necessary, activates the safety brake on the elevator car, if this has not already been done after the controlled reduction of the power supply upon receipt of the second actuation signal.

Overall, the technician is thus given the opportunity to move the elevator car in an intuitive manner, similar to conventional maintenance switchboards. The operation of the buttons on the maintenance control panel is initially similar or identical to that of conventional maintenance control panels. In addition, at the end of a relocation process of the elevator car, the technician is given the opportunity to brake the elevator car in a controlled manner and thus to stop the elevator car before it would be forcibly stopped abruptly if the safety chain was interrupted.

In order to be able to implement the functions mentioned in the elevator control, the two-stage button can be designed in a special way.

For example, according to one embodiment of the maintenance switchboard, the two-stage button can furthermore have a first control input and a second control input. The two-stage button can be configured to close a first electrical connection between the first control input and the first control output in the first actuation state and to keep a second electrical connection between the second control input and the second control output open. Furthermore, the two-stage button can be configured to close both the first electrical connection between the first control input and the first control output and the second electrical connection between the second control input and the second control output in the second actuation state.

In other words, due to its structural design, the two-stage button can be designed so that, if it is only pressed down slightly into its first actuation state, only the first electrical connection between the first control input and the first control output is closed, and if it continues is depressed until its second actuation state, in addition to this first electrical connection, a second electrical connection is also closed between the second control input and the second control output. The closing of the first electrical connection can be associated with the generation of the first actuation signal and the closure of the second electrical connection can be associated with the generation of the second actuation signal.

According to a specific embodiment, the two-stage button can have the actuating element and a contact closure element. The actuating element can be configured to keep the second electrical connection open in the non-actuated state and in the first actuated state and to close the second electrical connection in the second actuated state. The contact closure element can be configured to keep the first electrical connection open in the non-actuated state and to close the first electrical connection in the first actuated state and in the second actuated state.

In other words, the two-stage button can be equipped with two movable elements, namely the actuating element and the contact closure element. The actuating element can be actuated directly by a user, for example by being depressed. The actuation element can be configured in the two-stage button in such a way that it closes the second electrical connection and the second actuation signal is thus generated exclusively in the event that the actuation element is actuated up to the second actuation state. As long as the actuation element is not actuated up to the second actuation state, the second electrical connection remains open. The contact closure element can preferably only be actuated indirectly by the user, for example by the user actuating the actuation element and this in turn interacts with the contact closure element. The contact closure element in the two-stage button should be configured in such a way that as long as the actuation element is not actuated, the first electrical connection remains open, but that as soon as the actuation element is actuated at least into the first actuation state or beyond that into the second Operating state is operated, the contact closure element closes the first electrical connection.

Accordingly, the two-stage button with its actuation element and its contact closure element can implement the desired functionality described above, i.e. generate no actuation signal in the non-actuation state, generate the first actuation signal in the first actuation state and additionally generate the second actuation signal in the second actuation state.

According to a further specific embodiment, the two-stage button can also have a housing. The actuating element and the contact closure element can in this case be displaceable relative to one another and relative to the housing in the actuating direction. The contact closure element can then be held on the housing via a first spring element which is elastically deformable in the actuation direction and the actuation element can be held on the contact closure element via a second spring element which is elastically deformable in the actuation direction.

In other words, the two movable elements of the two-stage pushbutton can be accommodated together in a housing and can be moved relative to the housing, whereby they can also be displaced relative to one another. The two movable elements can be supported in relation to the housing by a first and a second elastically deformable spring element, so that the actuating element is pressed towards the non-actuated position, for example in the unloaded state.

The contact closure element can be supported directly on the housing. For this purpose, a first spring element can be arranged between the contact closure element and the housing that is elastically deformable, in particular compressible, in the actuating direction. By overcoming a spring force of the first spring element, the contact closure element can be displaced in the actuation direction and, when the first actuation position is reached, close the first electrical connection and thus generate the first actuation signal.

The actuating element can only be supported indirectly on the housing in the actuating direction, that is to say via the contact closure element. For this purpose, a second spring element can be arranged between the contact closure element and the actuation element, which is also elastic in the actuation direction is deformable, in particular compressible. By overcoming a spring force of the second spring element, the actuation element can be displaced further in the actuation direction and, when the second actuation position is reached, close the second electrical connection and thus generate the second actuation signal. The spring elements can be designed as springs, for example as spiral springs or helical springs, and for example consist of an elastically deformable material such as metal. Alternatively, the spring elements can consist of an elastically compressible material such as an elastomer, for example, and in this case can have different geometries.

According to a further specific embodiment, the first spring element can have a softer spring constant than the second spring element. In this way it can be achieved that when the actuating element is actuated, the first spring element is first deformed and the contact closing element is displaced relative to the housing before it closes the first electrical connection when the actuating element reaches the first actuating position. The contact closure element and / or the first spring element can then be held against a stop, so that the second spring element is then deformed when the actuating element is actuated again. When the actuating element reaches the second actuating position, it closes the second electrical connection.

As a result, the button achieves the desired two-stage functionality, in which, for example, only the first actuation signal is generated when the button is pressed down slightly and the first and the second actuation signal are generated when the button is pressed down more.

It is pointed out that one, some or preferably each of the buttons in the maintenance control panel can be designed as positively driven buttons or switches or that safety regulations can even compulsorily prescribe this.

It is pointed out that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments of the maintenance control panel, the elevator control equipped therewith and / or the method for moving an elevator car with the aid of this elevator control. A person skilled in the art recognizes that the features are combined in a suitable manner, adapted or can be exchanged in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine Aufzuganlage mit einer Wartungsschalttafel gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt einen zweistufigen Taster für eine Wartungsschalttafel gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Fig. 3 veranschaulicht eine zeitliche Sequenz einer Nutzung einer erfindungsgemäßen Schalttafel zum Steuern eines Verlagerns einer Aufzugkabine.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as restricting the invention.

• Fig. 1 shows an elevator installation with a maintenance switchboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a two-stage button for a maintenance panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 3 illustrates a time sequence of a use of a control panel according to the invention for controlling a displacement of an elevator car.

The figures are only schematic and not true to scale. In the various figures, the same reference symbols denote the same or equivalent features

Fig. 1 shows an elevator installation 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the elevator installation 1, an elevator car 9 and a counterweight 11, which are connected to one another via common support means 17, for example in the form of several belts, can be displaced with the aid of a drive pulley 15 driven by a drive motor 13. A power supply to the drive motor 13 is controlled by a control unit 5.

The control unit 5 establishes a power supply to the drive motor 13, inter alia, only when a safety chain monitored by the control unit 5 is closed by the elevator installation 1. The safety chain is formed from a series connection of several safety components such as several door switches for monitoring a door closing state on different elevator doors, an overspeed switch for monitoring an overspeed that occurs when the elevator car 9 is moved, etc. By Monitoring the safety chain, the control unit 5 can ensure that the elevator car 9 is only relocated when all the safety components in the elevator installation 1 signal an operationally safe state.

If the elevator installation 1 is to be serviced and for this purpose is put into a maintenance mode, the elevator car 9 should be able to be relocated by a technician who is located outside the elevator car 9 and stands on a roof of the elevator car 9, for example. For this purpose, a maintenance control panel 3 is provided at the appropriate point. The maintenance switchboard 3 can communicate with the control unit 5 and together with it form an elevator control 7, which can be used, in particular, during the maintenance mode to control displacement movements of the elevator installation 1. The maintenance switchboard 3 is integrated into the safety chain of the elevator installation 1 for safety reasons.

On the maintenance control panel 3, three buttons 18 in the form of a release button 19 and two direction buttons 22, i.e. a downward direction button 21 and an upward direction button 23, are provided. Each of the buttons 18 can be temporarily actuated by depressing an actuating element 27 and thereby brought from an unactuated to an actuated state. If the button 18 is then released, it can automatically spring back into the non-actuated state.

The three buttons 18 are designed to be at least one stage, i.e. they have at least two switching states and can be actuated from the non-actuated state to the actuated state. Each of the buttons 18 is integrated into the safety chain of the elevator system 1. In the non-actuated state, a part of the safety chain of the elevator installation guided via the respective button 18 is locally interrupted. The part of the safety chain running through the respective button 18 is closed in the button 18 only when the button 18 is actuated.

At least one of the three buttons 18 in the maintenance switchboard 3 according to the invention is not designed as a single stage, but rather as a two stage. With this two-stage pushbutton 18, the actuating element 27 can proceed from the non-actuated position not only to a first actuated position, but further be moved up to a second actuation position, a first actuation signal being output when the first actuation position is reached or exceeded and a second actuation signal is additionally output when the second actuation position is reached or exceeded.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of an embodiment of a button 18, which is designed as a two-stage button 25, for a maintenance switchboard 3 according to the invention.

The two-stage button 25 comprises a housing 29 in which the actuating element 27 and a contact closure element 33 are accommodated. By exerting a force F in an actuation direction 31, the actuation element 27 can be displaced relative to the housing 29. The contact closure element 33 can also be displaced relative to the housing 29 and also relative to the actuating element 27 in the actuating direction 31.

Between the contact closure element 33 and the housing 29 or a stop piece 39 fixedly provided on the housing 29, a first spring element 35 is provided which can be compressed in the actuation direction F when the force F is exerted. A second spring element 37 is provided between the actuating element 27 and the contact closing element 33. The second spring element 37 is harder, i.e. has a harder spring constant, than the first spring element 35.

The two-stage button 25 has a safety chain input 41 and a safety chain output 43. The safety chain input 41 and the safety chain output 43 are each electrically connected to one of two contact surfaces 45. Opposite to the contact surfaces 45, a bridging surface 47 is provided on the contact closure element 33, which can be brought into contact with the two contact surfaces 45 in order to then close an electrical connection between the two contact surfaces 45 and thus between the safety chain input 41 and the safety chain output 43.

The two-stage button 25 also has a first control input 51 and a first control output 53, which in turn are each electrically connected to one of two contact surfaces 55. Opposite to these contact surfaces 55 is on the Contact closure element 33, a further bridging surface 57 is provided, which can be brought into contact with the two contact surfaces 55 in order to close an electrical connection between the two contact surfaces 55 and thus between the first control input 51 and the first control output 53.

Furthermore, the two-stage button 25 has a second control input 59 and a second control output 61, which are also each connected to one of two contact surfaces 63. Opposite these contact surfaces 63, a bridging surface 65 is provided on the actuating element 27, which can be brought into contact with the two contact surfaces 63 in order to close an electrical connection between these two contact surfaces 63 and thus between the second control input 59 and the second control output 61 .

In order to actuate the two-stage button 25, a maintenance technician can, for example, depress the actuation element 27 by exerting the force F in the actuation direction 31, starting from a non-actuation position 67 downwards to a first actuation position 69. Since the second spring element 37 is harder than the first spring element 35, the contact closure element 33 is displaced downwards in the actuation direction 31 to approximately the same extent as the actuation element 27.

When the first actuation position 69 is reached, the bridging surface 47 on the contact closure element 33 makes contact with the two opposite contact surfaces 45 and thus short-circuits the safety chain inputs and outputs 41, 43 connected to them. Since the safety chain inputs and outputs 41, 43 are integrated into an entire safety chain of the elevator installation 1, the part of the safety chain that runs through the button 18 is closed.

Furthermore, at the same time, the other bridging surface 57 on the contact closure element 33 makes contact with the contact surfaces 55 opposite it and thus short-circuits the first control inputs and outputs 51, 53 connected to them. By closing the electrical connection between the first control inputs and outputs 51, 53, the two-stage button 25 can generate a first actuation signal that correlates with its first actuation state. This first actuation signal can, for example, be sent to the via the first control inputs and outputs 51, 53 with the two-stage button 25 connected control unit 5 of the elevator installation 1 are transmitted.

The two-stage button 25 can, however, be actuated further beyond the first actuation position 69 by pressing the actuation element 27 further down. Since the contact closure element 33 can no longer be displaced further in the actuation direction 31 once it has reached the first actuation position 69, since it rests against a stop, the second spring element 37 is then compressed in this case. For the user, this has the effect that a lower spring force needs to be overcome in order to depress the actuation element 27 up to the first actuation position 69 than in the case of a further depression of the actuation element 27.

When a second actuation position 71 is reached, the bridging surface 65 then comes into contact with the contact surfaces 63, so that the second control inputs and outputs 59, 61 are short-circuited. By closing the electrical connection between the second control inputs and outputs 59, 61, the two-stage button 25 can generate a second actuation signal that correlates with its second actuation state. This second actuation signal can, for example, be transmitted to the control unit 5 of the elevator installation 1 connected to the two-stage button 25 via the second control inputs and outputs 59, 61.

A maintenance process and the displacement of the elevator car 9 to be controlled via a maintenance switchboard 3 according to the invention are described below by way of example with reference to FIG Fig. 3 described. In the example discussed, the two direction buttons 22 are each designed as two-stage buttons 25. This can support an intuitive operation of the maintenance control panel.

A maintenance technician can first activate the maintenance control panel 3 by, for example, actuating an activation switch (not shown) on the maintenance control panel 3. All buttons 18 are initially in their unactuated state B0.

At a point in time to, the displacement movement of the elevator car 9 can then be started in that the maintenance technician simultaneously actuates the release button 19 and one of the direction buttons 22 by depressing the actuating element 27 of the respective button 18 up to its respective first actuation position 69 and thus the first actuation state B1 adjusts. As a result, on the one hand, the parts of the safety chain of the elevator installation 1 that run through the actuated buttons 18 are closed, so that a power supply to the drive motor 13 is no longer interrupted. On the other hand, a first actuation signal is generated at the actuated direction button 22, on the basis of which the control unit 5 can recognize the direction in which the elevator car 9 is to be displaced and can accordingly supply the drive motor 13 with power.

The maintenance technician can keep the release button 19 and the respective direction button 22 actuated until the elevator car 9 has been moved just before a desired target position.

When the elevator car 9 has sufficiently approached the target position aimed for by the maintenance technician at a point in time t ₁ , the maintenance technician can initiate a controlled braking process of the elevator car 9 with the aid of the maintenance switchboard 3.

For this purpose, the maintenance technician can continue to depress the actuating element 27 of the direction button 22, which is held in the first actuation state, until its second actuation position 71 and thus the second actuation state B2 are reached. This direction button 22 then generates the second actuation signal. When the control unit 5 receives this second actuation signal, it begins to regulate the power supply to the drive motor 13 in a controlled, continuously reducing manner. The elevator car 9 is braked in a controlled manner in this way. When the elevator car 9 has come to a standstill, the control unit 5 can also activate its safety brake.

The maintenance technician can then release the actuation of the release button 19 and the previously actuated direction button 22 again _{at time t 2 and, for example, to one} Time t ₃ deactivate the maintenance switchboard 3 and, if necessary, end the maintenance process.

Since abrupt emergency stops of the elevator car 9 during maintenance operations can be avoided with the aid of the maintenance control panel 3 presented here and instead the shifted elevator car 9 can be braked in a controlled manner by the maintenance technician when it reaches a target position, excessive wear and tear on components of the elevator installation 1 can be avoided.

Finally, it should be pointed out that terms such as “having”, “comprising”, etc. do not exclude any other elements or steps and that terms such as “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as a restriction.

List of reference symbols

1

Elevator system

3

Maintenance switchboard

5

Control unit

7th

Elevator control

9

Elevator cabin

11

Counterweight

13th

Drive motor

15th

Traction sheave

17th

Suspension means

18th

Button

19th

Release button

21

Down direction button

22nd

Direction button

23

Up direction button

25th

two-stage button

27

Actuator

29

casing

31

Actuation direction

33

Contact closure element

35

first spring element

37

second spring element

39

Stop piece

41

Security chain entrance

43

Safety chain exit

45

Contact surfaces at the entrance and exit of the safety chain

47

Bridging area to the safety chain entrance and exit

51

first control input

53

first control output

55

Contact surfaces at the first control input and output

57

Bridging area to the first tax entry and exit

59

second control input

61

second control output

63

Contact surfaces at the second control input and output

65

Bridging area to the second control input and output

67

Non-actuation position

69

first actuation position

71

second actuation position

Claims (13)

1. Maintenance control panel (3) for controlling displacement movements of an elevator car (9) of an elevator system (1), wherein the maintenance control panel (3) comprises:

   at least three buttons (18) including an activation button (19) and two direction buttons (22) including a downward direction button (21) and an upward direction button (23);

   wherein each of the buttons (18) has a safety chain input (41), a safety chain output (43) and an actuation element (27) which can be displaced in an actuation direction (31) from a non-actuation position (67) and, when the actuation element (27) is displaced in the actuation direction (31) beyond a first actuation position (69), each of said buttons transitions from a non-actuated actuation state (B0) to a first actuated actuation state (B1) in which an electrical connection between the safety chain input (41) and the safety chain output (43) is closed so that a part of a safety chain of the elevator system (1) that extends through the button (18) is closed;

   wherein the downward direction button (21) and the upward direction button (23) each have a first control output (53) and are each configured such that, in the first actuation state (B1), a first actuation signal which correlates with the first actuation state (B1) is output at the first control output (53);

   wherein at least one of the buttons (18) is designed as a two-stage button (25) and

   - has the first control output (53) and a second control output (61),

   - is configured such that, in the first actuation state (B1), a first actuation signal which correlates with the first actuation state (B 1) is output at the first control output (53) and no actuation signal is output at the second control output (61), and

   - is configured such that the actuation element (27) can be displaced in the actuation direction (31) beyond the first actuation position (69) into a second actuation position (71), and such that, when the actuation element (27) is displaced in the actuation direction (31) beyond the second actuation position (71), the two-stage button (25) transitions into a second actuated actuation state (B2) in which the electrical connection between the safety chain input (41) and the safety chain output (43) is closed, the first actuation signal which correlates with the first actuation state (B 1) is output at the first control output (53), and a second actuation signal which correlates with the second actuation state (B2) is output at the second control output (61).
2. Maintenance control panel according to claim 1,
   wherein the two-stage button (25) also has a first control input (51) and a second control input (59) and wherein the two-stage button (25) is configured to close a first electrical connection between the first control input (51) and the first control output (53) and to keep open a second electrical connection between the second control input (59) and the second control output (61) in the first actuation state (B1), and wherein the two-stage button (25) is also configured to close both the first electrical connection between the first control input (51) and the first control output (53) and the second electrical connection between the second control input (59) and the second control output (61) in the second actuation state (B2).
3. Maintenance control panel according to claim 2,

   wherein the two-stage button (25) comprises the actuation element (27) and a contact closure element (33),

   wherein the actuation element (27) is configured to keep the second electrical connection open in the non-actuation state (B0) and in the first actuation state (B1) and to close the second electrical connection in the second actuation state (B2), and

   wherein the contact closure element (33) is configured to keep the first electrical connection open in the non-actuation state (B0) and to close the first electrical connection in both the first actuation state (B1) and the second actuation state (B2).
4. Maintenance control panel according to claim 3,

   wherein the two-stage button (25) also has a housing (29),

   wherein the actuation element (27) and the contact closure element (33) can be displaced relative to one another and relative to the housing (29) in the actuation direction (31), and

   wherein the contact closure element (33) is held on the housing (29) via a first spring element (35) which is elastically deformable in the actuation direction (31), and

   wherein the actuation element (27) is held on the contact closure element (33) via a second spring element (37) which is elastically deformable in the actuation direction (31).
5. Maintenance control panel according to claim 4, wherein the first spring element (35) has a softer spring constant than the second spring element (37).
6. Maintenance control panel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the direction buttons (22) are each designed as the two-stage buttons (25).
7. Elevator control system (7) for controlling displacement movements of an elevator car (9) of an elevator system (1), comprising:

   a control unit (5) for controlling a power supply to a drive motor (13) driving the elevator car (9);

   a maintenance control panel (3) according to any of the preceding claims.
8. Elevator control system according to claim 7,
   wherein the control unit (5) is electrically connected to the safety chain inputs (41) and safety chain outputs (43) provided on the maintenance control panel (3) in order to monitor a current control state of the maintenance control panel (3) and to automatically interrupt the power supply to the drive motor (13) if at least one of the following conditions applies:

   (i) the activation button (19) is in the non-actuated state;

   (ii) the upward direction button (21) and the downward movement button (23) are both in the non-actuated state.
9. Elevator control system according to either claim 7 or claim 8,

   wherein the control unit (5) is electrically connected to the maintenance control panel (3) via the second control output (61) of the two-stage button (25) in order to monitor the second actuation signals output by the two-stage button (25), and

   wherein the control unit (5) is designed to reduce the power supply to the drive motor (13) in a controlled manner when a second actuation signal is received.
10. Elevator control system according to claim 9, wherein the control unit (5) is designed to continuously reduce the power supply to the drive motor (13) when a second actuation signal is received.
11. Elevator control system according to either claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the control unit (5) is designed to activate a brake on the elevator car (9) after the power supply to the drive motor (13) has been reduced.
12. Elevator system (1) comprising an elevator control system (7) according to any of claims 7 to 11.
13. Method for displacing an elevator car (9) of an elevator system (1) by means of an elevator control system (7) according to any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the method comprises:

    starting a displacement movement of the elevator car (9) by simultaneously actuating the activation button (19) and one of the direction buttons (22) until they reach their first actuation position (69);

    maintaining the displacement movement of the elevator car (9) by simultaneously holding the activation button (19) and said one of the direction buttons (22) in their actuation position (69) until the elevator car (9) has been moved to just before a target position;

    initiating a controlled braking process of the elevator car (9) by actuating the two-stage button (25) until it reaches its second actuation position;

    stopping the actuation of the activation button (19) and said one of the direction buttons (22) as soon as the elevator car (9) has come to a standstill.

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