EP4662160A1

EP4662160A1 - An elevator shaft monitoring solution

Info

Publication number: EP4662160A1
Application number: EP23706384.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zuhair Ul HAQ; Olli MALI; Tuomas KANGAS
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2023-02-08
Filing date: 2023-02-08
Publication date: 2025-12-17
Also published as: WO2024165782A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator shaft monitoring system (120). The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) comprises: a guidance system (122) arranged inside an elevator shaft (104); a sensor platform (124) being movable at least vertically along the entire length of the elevator shaft (104) by means of the guidance system (122), wherein the sensor platform (124) comprises at least one sensor device (502a- 502n) configured to provide sensor data from inside the elevator shaft (104); and a control unit (126) con- figured to control at least movement of the sensor plat- form (124) along the elevator shaft (104) by means of the guidance system (122). The invention relates also to a method for providing sensor data from an elevator shaft (104) and elevator systems.

Description

An elevator shaft monitoring solution

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. Especially the invention concerns monitoring of an elevator shaft.

BACKGROUND

Typically, monitoring and inspection of an elevator shaft may be done by using sensors placed on top and below an elevator car travelling along the elevator shaft. Sometimes specialized sensors may also be placed in a pit of the elevator shaft and/or in a machine room. When the elevator car travels along the elevator shaft, the sensors provide data from the elevator shaft, and the provided data may be transferred to a remote entity for evaluation of the data.

The typical elevator shaft monitoring and inspection solution requires similar sensors to be placed on top and below the elevator car to cover the complete elevator shaft. This duplicates the sensor usage and increases the cost. Furthermore, if the elevator is broken and the elevator car is not able to move inside the elevator shaft, the elevator shaft cannot be inspected by means of the sensor placed on top and below the elevator car.

Therefore, there is a need to develop further solutions for monitoring and inspection of an elevator shaft.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

An objective of the invention is to present an elevator shaft monitoring system, a method, and elevator systems for providing sensor data from an elevator shaft. Another objective of the invention is that the elevator shaft monitoring system, the method, and the elevator systems for providing sensor data from an elevator shaft enable improved monitoring of an elevator shaft.

The objectives of the invention are reached by an elevator shaft monitoring system, a method, and elevator systems as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, an elevator shaft monitoring system is provided, wherein the elevator shaft monitoring system comprises: a guidance system arranged inside an elevator shaft; a sensor platform being movable at least vertically along the entire length of the elevator shaft by means of the guidance system, wherein the sensor platform comprises at least one sensor device configured to provide sensor data from inside the elevator shaft; and a control unit configured to control at least movement of the sensor platform along the elevator shaft by means of the guidance system.

The sensor platform may be configured to be moved within a clearance space of the elevator shaft.

The clearance space may be a rear clearance space.

The guidance system may comprise a guidance railing along which the sensor platform is adapted to move.

Alternatively, the guidance system may comprise a cable suspension system adapted to move the sensor platform along the elevator shaft.

The sensor platform may have a modular configuration.

The control unit may be configured to control the sensor platform to move freely up and down along the elevator shaft by means of the guiding system.

Alternatively or in addition, the control unit may further be configured to control operation of the sensor platform.

Alternatively or in addition, the control unit may further be configured to receive a data request from a local elevator system entity and/or from a remote monitoring entity, wherein the data request may comprise a request to provide sensor data to the entity from which the data request is received. Alternatively or in addition, the control unit may further be configured to control the sensor platform to provide the sensor data provided by the at least one sensor device of the sensor platform to a local elevator entity and/or to a remote monitoring entity.

The elevator shaft monitoring system may further comprise an edge device configured act as a communication interface between the sensor platform and the local elevator entity and/or between the sensor platform and the remote monitoring entity.

The edge device may further be configured to process the sensor data provided by the at least one sensor device of the sensor platform.

According to a second aspect, a method for providing sensor data from an elevator shaft is provided, wherein the method comprises controlling at least movement of a sensor platform along the elevator shaft by means of a guidance system arranged inside the elevator shaft, wherein the sensor platform is movable at least vertically along the entire length of the elevator shaft by means of the guidance system, and wherein the sensor platform comprises at least one sensor device configured to provide the sensor data from inside the elevator shaft.

According to a third aspect, an elevator system is provided, wherein the elevator system comprises: an elevator car configured to travel along an elevator shaft, an elevator shaft monitoring system as discussed above configured to monitor the elevator shaft.

According to a fourth aspect, an elevator system is provided, wherein the elevator system comprises: at least two elevator cars, wherein each elevator car is configured to travel along a respective adjacent partition of a shared elevator shaft; and an elevator shaft monitoring system as discussed above configured to monitor the adjacent partitions of the shared elevator shaft.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator environment, into which an elevator shaft monitoring system may be implemented.

Figure 2A illustrates schematically an example of a clearance space of the elevator shaft.

Figure 2B illustrates schematically an example of a rear clearance space of the elevator shaft.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate a non-limiting example implementation of a guidance railing to the elevator shaft.

Figures 3C and 3D illustrate non-limiting example implementations of a cable suspension system to the elevator shaft.

Figure 4A illustrates an example of providing sensor data from a sensor platform to a local elevator entity and/or to a remote monitoring entity.

Figure 4B illustrates an example of providing sensor data from the sensor platform to the local elevator entity and/or to the remote monitoring entity via an edge device.

Figure 4C illustrates an example of providing sensor data from the sensor platform to the local elevator entity and/or to the remote monitoring entity in response to receiving a data request.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically an example of components of the sensor platform. Figure 6 illustrates schematically an example of components of a control unit.

Figure 7 illustrates schematically an example of a method for providing sensor data from the elevator shaft.

Figure 8A illustrates schematically an example of a common elevator monitoring system implemented to monitor a shared elevator shaft of an elevator system comprising at least two elevator cars.

Figure 8B illustrates schematically an example of a common elevator monitoring system implemented to monitor a shared elevator shaft of an elevator system comprising two or more elevator cars.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator environment 100, into which an elevator shaft monitoring system 120 may be implemented. The elevator environment, e.g. an elevator system, 100 comprises an elevator car 102 configured to travel along a respective elevator shaft 104 between a plurality of floors, i.e. landings, 106a-106n. The elevator system 100 further comprises a hoisting machine configured to drive the elevator car 102 along the elevator shaft 104 between the floors 106a-106n, and an elevator control system 108 configured to control the operation of the elevator system 100 at least in part. The elevator control system 108 may comprise an elevator controller and/or one or more other local controllers, e.g. add-on installation controllers. The elevator control system 108 may for example reside in a machine room 110, as illustrated in the example of Figure 1 , and/or in one of the floors 106a- 106n. For sake of the clarity the hoisting machine is not illustrated in Figure 1. The elevator system 100 further comprises elevator doors, e.g. landing doors 114a-114b and a car door 116. The elevator system 100 may further comprise one or more known elevator related entities, e.g. user interface devices, safety circuit and devices, a counterweight, guide rails, and/or elevator brakes, etc., which are not shown in Figure 1 for sake of clarity. The elevator system 100 further comprises the elevator shaft monitoring system 120 configured to monitor the elevator shaft 104. The elevator system 100 may further comprise more than one elevator car 102, i.e. at least two elevator cars 102, wherein each elevator car 102 is travelling along a separate elevator shaft 104 or along a respective partition of a shared elevator shaft. The elevator shaft monitoring system 120 may also be implemented to monitor each elevator shaft (either the separate elevator shafts 104 or the shared elevator shaft) in order to monitor the elevator shafts of the elevator system 100 comprising at least two elevator cars 102 as will be described later in this application.

The elevator shaft monitoring system 120 comprises a guidance system 122, a sensor platform 124, and a control unit 126. The guidance system 122 is arranged inside the elevator shaft 104. The sensor platform 124 comprises at least one sensor device 502a-502n configured to provide (e.g. measure) sensor data (SD) from inside the elevator shaft 104. The sensor data may comprise different kind of sensor data (for example, but not limited to, image data, depth data, radar data, temperature data, and/or humidity data, etc.) from inside the elevator shaft 104 depending on which at least one sensor device 502a-502n is used. The sensor data may comprise sensor data relating to the elevator shaft 104 itself and/or sensor data relating to one or more elevator related entities and/or components inside the elevator shaft 104. The at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124 are discussed more later in this application. The sensor platform 124 is movable vertically along the entire length of the elevator shaft 104 by means of the guidance system 122. In other words, a movement range of the sensor platform 124 in a vertical direction (V) along the elevator shaft 104 extends from a headroom 111 of the elevator shaft 104 to a pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104. In case of an elevator system 100 with a machine room 110, the movement range of the sensor platform 124 in its upper end may further extend inside the machine room 110 as illustrated in the example of Figure 1 . In case of a machine room less elevator system 100, the movement range of the sensor platform 124 in its upper end may extent to the headroom 111 of the elevator shaft 104. In some embodiments, the sensor platform 124 may further be movable horizontally, i.e. in a horizontal direction (H), inside the elevator shaft 104 as will be described later in this application.

The control unit 126 is configured to control the movement of the sensor platform 124 along the elevator shaft 104 by means of the guidance system 122. The control unit 126 may be configured to control the sensor platform 124 to move freely at least up and down along the elevator shaft 104 by means of the guidance system 122. This enables for example that the movement of the sensor platform 124 along the elevator shaft 104 may be controlled independently of movements of the elevator car 102 along the elevator shaft 104. This, in turn, enables that the sensor data from inside the elevator shaft 104 may be provided, e.g. for monitoring and/or inspection purposes, independently of the movements of the elevator car 102, which increases availability of the sensor data from inside the elevator shaft 104. For example, the sensor data from inside the elevator shaft 104 may also be provided in case the elevator is broken causing e.g. that the elevator car 102 is not able to be moved along the elevator shaft 104. The free and independent movement of the sensor platform 124 along the elevator shaft 104 enables also substantially undisturbed view to the elevator shaft 110 as the elevator car 102 is not disturbing the measurements with the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124. The control unit 126 may further be configured to control operation of the sensor platform 124, e.g. the operation of the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124. The control unit 126 may for example be configured to generate one or more control signals (CSs) to the sensor platform 124 to control the movement and/or the operation of the sensor platform 124. For example, the one or more control signals generated by the control unit 126 may comprise at least one command to move the sensor platform 124 by means of the guidance system 122 to a certain at least one location inside the elevator shaft 104, e.g. to the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104, to a certain floor 106a- 106n, to the top of the elevator shaft 104, and/or to the machine room 110, etc.. Alternatively or in addition, the one or more control signals generated by the control unit 126 may for example comprise at least one command to move the sensor platform 124 a certain journey along the elevator shaft 104, e.g. between two floors 106a-106n, from the headroom 111 of the elevator shaft 104 to the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104 and/or vice versa, and/or from the machine room 110 to the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104 and/or vice versa, etc.. Alternatively or in addition, the one or more control signals generated by the control unit 126 may for example comprise at least one command to move the sensor platform 124 to follow a movement of the elevator car 102, for example in order to provide sensor data relating to one or more components of the elevator car 102 (e.g. pulleys, rail guides, door couplers, door zone sensors, etc.) during the movement of the elevator car 102. This allows for example inspection of operation of the one or more components of the elevator car 102. The one or more control signals generated by the control unit 126 may further comprise for example at least one command to the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124 to provide sensor data from inside the elevator shaft 104. The at least one command may for example comprise an indication which sensor device(s) 502a-502n is used to provide the sensor da- ta and/or when the sensor data is provided, etc.. The at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124 may for example be controlled (e.g. by means of the at least one command of the one or more control signals) to provide the sensor data during the movement of the sensor platform 124 and/or after the sensor platform 124 has arrived at its destination location. The control unit 126 is a local control unit, i.e. locates within the elevator system 100. The control unit 126 may be implemented as a part of the sensor platform 124 as illustrated in the example of Figure 1. Alternatively, the control unit 126 may be implemented as a separate unit from the sensor platform 124 communicatively coupled to the other components of the sensor platform 124.

The sensor platform 124 is configured to be moved within a clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104. In the context of this application with the term clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104 is meant a void that exists between a space reserved for the elevator car 102 and walls 208, 210, 212 of the elevator shaft 104 surrounding the space reserved the elevator car 102. The clearance space 202 allows the movement and alignment of the elevator car 102 within the elevator shaft 104, as well as provides a margin of safety for passengers of the elevator and maintenance personnel. Depending on the configuration of the elevator system 100, one or more entities of the elevator system 100 locating inside the elevator shaft 104 (e.g. the counterweight, the guide rails, etc.) may have an effect the clearance space 202, e.g. by restricting the clearance space 202 available for moving the sensor platform 124. The installation location of the sensor platform 124 and the guidance system 122 within the clearance space 202 may for example depend on placements of the one or more entities of the elevator system 100 locating inside the elevator shaft 104 (e.g. the counterweight, the guide rails 204, 206). An example of the clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104 is illustrated in Figure 2A, which illustrates a top view of the elevator shaft 104. The clearance space enables a wide view to the elevator shaft 104. Preferably, the clearance space 202 is a rear clearance space 202aof the elevator shaft 104. In other words, preferably the sensor platform 124 may be configured to be moved within the rear clearance space 202a of the elevator shaft 104. The rear clearance space 202a is part of the clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104. In the context of this application with the term rear clearance space 202a of the elevator shaft 104 is meant a void that exists between the space reserved for the elevator car 102 and the walls 208, 210, 212 of the elevator shaft 104 behind the space re- served for the elevator car 102 and extends at least partially to the sides of the space reserved for elevator car 102 when viewed from the landing side. . An example of the rear clearance space 202a of the elevator shaft 104 is illustrated in Figure 2B, which illustrates a top view of the elevator shaft 104. For example, the rear clearance space 202a may extend from one guide rail, e.g. a first guide rail, 204 arranged to a first side wall 208 of the elevator shaft 104 behind the space reserved for the elevator car 102 to another guide rail, e.g. a second guide rail, 206 arranged to a second side wall 210 of the elevator shaft 104 being opposite to the first side wall 208 of the elevator shaft 104. The first guide rail 204 may for example locate substantially in the middle of the first side wall 208 of the elevator shaft 104 depending on the configuration of the elevator system 100. Similarly, the second guide rail 206 may for example locate substantially in the middle of the second side wall 208 of the elevator shaft 104 depending on the configuration of the elevator system 100. The rear clearance space 202a enables a wider view angle to the landing doors 114a- 114n and their opening mechanics.

According to an example, the guidance system 122 may comprise a guidance railing 122a along which the sensor platform 124 is adapted to move. To move the sensor platform 124 along the guidance railing 122a, the sensor platform 124 comprises a motor entity 504. In other words, the sensor platform 124 is adapted to move along the guidance railing 122a by using the motor entity 504 according to the control by the control unit 126, e.g. according to the one or more control signals generated by the control unit 126. The guidance railing 122a may for example be fixed to a wall(s) 208, 210, 212 of the elevator shaft 104. The sensor platform 124 may be mounted movably to the guidance railing 122a, e.g. with a mounting element, to enable the movement of the sensor platform 124 along the guidance railing 122a. The guidance railing 122a may be arranged to the elevator shaft 104 so that sensor platform 124 is adapted to move along the guidance railing 122a within the clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104. Preferably, the guidance railing 122a may be arranged to the elevator shaft 104 so that sensor platform 124 is adapted to move along the guidance railing 122a within the rear clearance space 202a of the elevator shaft 104. Figures 3A and 3B illustrate a non-limiting example implementation of the guidance railing 122a to the elevator shaft 104, wherein the guidance railing 122a is arranged to the elevator shaft 104 so that the sensor platform 124 is adapted to move along the guidance railing 122a within a rear clearance space 202a of the elevator shaft 104. Figure 3A illustrates a top view of the elevator shaft 104. Figure 3B illustrates a side view of the elevator shaft 104. For sake of clarity the rear clearance space 202a is not shown in Figure 3B.

According to another example, the guidance system 122 may comprise cable suspension system 122b adapted to move the sensor platform 124 at least vertically along the elevator shaft 104. The cable suspension system 122b and the sensor platform 124 may together form a cable suspended sensor system. The cable suspension system 122b may comprise a motorized winch arranged to each mounting point 302a-302d, from which the cable suspension system 122b is mounted to the elevator shaft 104. The cable suspension system 122b comprises at least two mounting points 302a-302d. At least one mounting point 302a, 302d of the at least two mounting points 302a-302d resides at the top of the elevator shaft 104, e.g. in the headroom 111 or in the machine room 110, and at least one mounting point 302b, 302c of the at least two mounting points 302a-302d resides in the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104. The at least one mounting point 302a, 302d at the top of the elevator shaft 104 may reside on a ceiling of the elevator shaft 104 and/or on at least one wall 208, 210, 212 of the elevator shaft 104 in the headroom 111 or in the machine room 110. The at least one mounting point 302b, 302c in the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104 may be reside on a bottom (e.g. floor) of the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104 and/or on the wall 208, 210, 212 of the elevator shaft 104 in the pit 112. Mounting the cable suspension system 122b to the elevator shaft 104 from the at least two mounting points 302a-302d, wherein at least one mounting point 302a, 302d resides at the top of the elevator shaft 104 and at least one mounting point 302a-302d resides in the pit of the elevator shaft 104, enables that the sensor platform 124 may be moved vertically along the entire length of the elevator shaft 104 by means of the cable suspension system 122b. Mounting the cable suspension system 122b to the elevator shaft 104 from at least four mounting points 302a-302d, wherein at least two mounting points 302a, 302d reside at the top of the elevator shaft 104 at a distance from each other in the horizontal direction and at least two mounting point 302a-302d resides in the pit of the elevator shaft 104 at a distance from each other in the horizontal direction, enables that the sensor platform 124 may also be moved horizontally inside the elevator shaft 104 by means of the cable suspension system 122b in addition to the vertical movement. The cable suspension system 122b may further comprise one or more supporting points along the shaft walls 208, 210, 212 (e.g. attached rollers) to provide stability and support to the cable suspension system 122b. The cable suspension system 122b may be arranged to the elevator shaft 104 so that the cable suspension system 122b is adapted to move the sensor platform 124 at least vertically along the elevator shaft 104 within the clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104. Preferably, the cable suspension system 122b may be arranged to the elevator shaft 104 so that the cable suspension system 122b is adapted to move the sensor platform 124 at least vertically along the elevator shaft 104 within the rear clearance space 202a of the elevator shaft 104. Each motorized winch controls a suspension cable connected to the sensor platform 124. By controlling reeling of the suspension cables by the motorized winches, the sensor platform 124 may be moved within the clearance space 202.

Figure 3C illustrates a non-limiting example implementation of the cable suspension system 122b to the elevator shaft 104. Figure 3C illustrates a side view of the elevator shaft 104. The cable suspension system 122b of the example of Figure 3C is mounted to the elevator shaft 104 from one mounting point 302a residing in the headroom 111 of the elevator shaft 104 (i.e. on the ceiling of the elevator shaft 104 in this example) and from one mounting point 302b residing in the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 112 of the elevator shaft 104 (i.e. on the floor of the elevator shaft 104 in this example). For sake of clarity the motorized winches at the mounting points 302a, 302b are not shown in Figure 3C. In the example of Figure 3C the cable suspension system 122b is arranged to the elevator shaft 104 so that the cable suspension system 122b is adapted to move the sensor platform 124 vertically along the elevator shaft 104 within the clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104. For sake of clarity the clearance space 202 is not shown in Figure 3C.

Figure 3D illustrates another non-limiting example implementation of the cable suspension system 122b to the elevator shaft 104. Figure 3D illustrates a front view of a shaft wall 208, 210, 212 of the elevator shaft 104. The shaft wall 304 may for example be the back wall 212 or a side wall 208, 210 of the elevator shaft 104 viewed from the landing side. The cable suspension system 122b of the example of Figure 3D is mounted to the elevator shaft 104 from two mounting points 302a, 302d residing in the headroom 111 of the elevator shaft 104 (i.e. on the ceiling of the elevator shaft 104 in this example) and from two mounting points 302b, 302c residing in the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 112 of the elevator shaft 104 (i.e. on the floor of the elevator shaft 104 in this exam- pie). The two mounting points 302a, 302d residing in the headroom 111 of the elevator shaft 104 are at a first distance from each other in the horizontal direction and the two mounting points 302b, 302c residing in the pit 112 of the elevator shaft 104 are at a second distance from each other in the horizontal direction. Preferably the first distance and the second distance are substantially equal. In the example of Figure 3D, the four mounting points 302a-302d are substantially at the four corners of the shaft wall 208, 210, 212. This enables that the sensor platform 124 may be moved over the entire shaft wall 208, 210, 212 in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction. In other words, in the example of Figure 3D the cable suspension system 122b is arranged to the elevator shaft 104 so that the cable suspension system 122b is adapted to move the sensor platform 124 vertically and/or horizontally over shaft wall 208, 210, 212 of the elevator shaft 104 within the clearance space 202 of the elevator shaft 104. For sake of clarity the motorized winches at the mounting points 302a-302d and the clearance space 202 are not shown in Figure 3D.

The control unit 126 may further be configured to control the sensor platform 124 to provide the sensor data provided by the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124 to a local elevator entity of the elevator system 100, e.g. to the elevator control system 108, and/or to a remote monitoring entity 402. This enables local and/or remote monitoring of the elevator shaft 104. Figure 4A illustrates an example of providing the sensor data (SD) from the sensor platform 124 to the elevator control system 108 being the local elevator entity and/or to the remote monitoring entity 402. According to an example, the elevator shaft monitoring system 120 may further comprise an edge device 404 configured act as a communication interface between the sensor platform 124 and the local elevator entity and/or between the sensor platform 124 and the remote monitoring entity 402. In other words, the sensor platform 124 may be configured to provide the sensor data to the local elevator entity and/or to the remote monitoring entity 402 via the edge device 404. The edge device 404 may further be configured to process the sensor data. The edge device 404 may for example be arranged inside the machine room 110 or to the elevator car 102, e.g. on the rooftop of the elevator car 102. Figure 4B illustrates an example of providing the sensor data (SD) from the sensor platform 124 to the elevator control system 108 being the local elevator entity and/or to the remote monitoring entity 402 via the edge device 404. Alternatively or in addition, the control unit 126 may be configured to receive a data request (DR) from the local elevator entity and/or from the remote monitoring entity 402. The data request may comprise a request to provide sensor data to the entity from which the data request is received. For example, the data request may indicate what kind of sensor data is requested to be provided and when. For example, the data request may comprise a specific component in the elevator shaft 104, from which the sensor data is requested to be provided, or a specific location in the elevator shaft 104, from where the sensor data is requested to be provided. Locations of fixed components within the elevator shaft 104 may for example be predetermined or learned and stored during a learning run of the sensor platform 124 while commissioning of the elevator shaft monitoring system 120. Alternatively or in addition, the data request may for example comprise instruction to follow the movement of the elevator car 102 and provide sensor data during the movement of the elevator car 102. In order to be able to follow the movement of the elevator car 102, the control unit 126 needs to be aware of the location of the elevator car 102 during the movement of the elevator car 102. The control unit 126 may obtain location data representing the location of the moving elevator car 102 from a local controller, e.g. from the elevator control system 108. Alternatively, the control unit 126 may obtain the location data by using at least one sensor 502a- 502d of the sensor platform 124, e.g. to provide image data and/or depth data. Alternatively, the control unit 126 may obtain the location data from the edge device 404 arranged to the elevator car 102, in case the edge device 404 comprises at least one sensor (e.g. accelerometer and/or pressure sensor, etc.) configured to provide location data. Alternatively or in addition, the data request may for example comprise a specific viewing angle for the at least one sensor device 502a-502n. The control unit 126 may receive the data request on demand, e.g. triggered by an event, or by according to a schedule. In response to receiving the data request, the control unit 126 may control, e.g. by means of the one or more control signals (CS), the movement and/or the operation of the sensor platform 124 to provide the sensor data according to the data request. For example, the sensor platform 124 may be controlled, e.g. by means of the one or more control signals, in response to receiving the data request to provide the sensor data during the movement of the sensor platform 124 and/or after the sensor platform 124 has arrived at its destination location. The data request functionality improves the local and/or remote monitoring of the elevator shaft 104. Furthermore, the data request functionality allows remote access to the sensor data from inside the elevator shaft 104. Figure 4C illustrates an example of providing the sensor data (SD) from the sensor platform 124 to the elevator control system 108 being the local elevator entity and/or to the remote monitoring entity 402 in response to receiving the data request (DR). In Figure 4C the sensor data (SD) is provided directly from the sensor platform 124 to the elevator control system 108 and/or to the remote monitoring entity 402, but the sensor data (SD) may also be provided via the edge device 404 as discussed above.

Figure 5 illustrates an example of components of the sensor platform 124. The sensor platform 124 may have a modular configuration. The modular configuration enables addition of one or more sensor devices 502a-502n to the sensor platform 124, removal of one or more sensor devices 502a-502n from the sensor platform 124, and/or or replacement of one or more sensor devices 502a- 502n with other one or more sensor devices 502a-502n. As discussed above, the sensor platform 124 comprises at least one sensor device 502a-502n. As also discussed above, the sensor platform 124 may further comprise the control unit 126 and/or the motor entity 504 for moving the sensor platform 124 along the guidance rail. The sensor platform 124 may further comprise a communication unit 506. The communication unit 506 may provide one or more communication interfaces for communication with any other unit, e.g. the remote monitoring entity 402, the edge device 404, the control unit 126, and/or with any other unit. The type of the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124 is not limited, and the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124 may comprise any kind of at least sensor device. According to a non-limiting example, the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124 may comprise at least one imaging device, a time-of-flight (ToF) camera, a radar device, a temperature sensor device, and/or a humidity sensor device, etc.. The at least one imaging device may for example comprise at least on optical imaging device (e.g. a camera and/or a video camera) and/or at least one imaging device based on any other imaging technology. The sensor data provided by the at least one imaging device may comprise image data. The sensor data provided by the ToF camera may comprise for example depth data. The sensor data provided by the radar device may comprise radar data. The sensor data provided by the temperature sensor device may comprise temperature data. The sensor data provided by the humidity sensor device may comprise humidity data.

Figure 6 illustrates schematically an example of components of the control unit 126. The control unit 126 may comprise a processing unit 610 comprising one or more processors, a memory unit 620 comprising one or more memories, a communication unit 630 comprising one or more communication devices, and possibly a user interface (III) unit 640. The mentioned elements may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus. The memory unit 620 may store and maintain portions of a computer program (code) 625, the obtained image data, and any other data. The computer program 625 may comprise instructions which, when the computer program 625 is executed by the processing unit 610 of the control unit 126, may cause the processing unit 610, and thus the control unit 126 to carry out desired tasks, e.g. one or more of the operations of the control unit 126 described above and/or one or more of method steps that will be described later in this application. The processing unit 610 may thus be arranged to access the memory unit 620 and retrieve and store any information therefrom and thereto. For sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and control the operation of the control unit 126, among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory unit 620 is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention. The communication unit 630 provides one or more communication interfaces for communication with any other unit, e.g. the at least one sensor device 502a-502n of the sensor platform 124, the remote monitoring entity 402, the edge device 404, and/or with any other unit. The user interface unit 640 may comprise one or more in- put/output (I/O) devices, such as buttons, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, loudspeaker, display and so on, for receiving user input and outputting information. The computer program 625 may be a computer program product that may be comprised in a tangible nonvolatile (non-transitory) computer- readable medium bearing the computer program code 625 embodied therein for use with a computer, i.e. the control unit 126.

Above the invention is described referring to the elevator shaft monitoring system 120. Next an example of a method for providing sensor data from inside the elevator shaft 104 by using the elevator shaft monitoring system 120 (de- scribed above) is described by referring to Figure 7. Figure 7 schematically illustrates the invention as a flow chart.

At a step 710, the control unit 126 controls the movement of the sensor platform 124 at least vertically along the elevator shaft 104 by means of the guidance system 122 as discussed above. According to an example, the control unit may control the sensor platform 124 to move freely up and down along the elevator shaft 104 by means of the guiding system 122 as discussed above. In some embodiments, the sensor platform 124 may further be moved horizontally inside the elevator shaft 104 as also described above.

At a step 720, control unit 126 may further control the operation of the sensor platform as discussed above. According to an example, the control unit 126 may control the movement and/or the operation of the sensor platform 124 at the step 710 and/or at the step 720, in response to receiving the data request from the local elevator entity of the elevator system 100 and/or from the remote monitoring entity 402, to provide the sensor data according to the data request as discussed above. This step of receiving the data request is illustrated with an optional step 700 in Figure 7.

At a step 730, the control unit 126 may further control the sensor platform 124 to provide the sensor data provided by the at least one sensor device 502a- 502n of the sensor platform 124 to the local elevator entity of the elevator system 100 and/or to the remote monitoring entity 402 as discussed above. According to an example, the sensor platform 124 may provide the sensor data to the local elevator entity and/or to the remote monitoring entity 402 via the edge device 404 as discussed above.

Above the invention is described by implementing the elevator shaft monitoring system 120 in the elevator system 100 comprising one elevator car 102 configured to travel along the respective elevator shaft 104. However, the elevator system 100 may further comprise more than one elevator car 102, i.e. at least two elevator cars 102, each elevator car 102 configured to travel along a separate elevator shaft 104 or along a respective partition of a shared elevator shaft 104. For example, the elevator system 100 may be a part of an elevator group, i.e. a group of two or more elevator cars 102, configured to operate as a unit serving the same floors. The elevator shaft monitoring system 120 described above may similarly be implemented to monitor each elevator shaft (either separate elevator shafts 104 or the shared elevator shaft 804) in order to monitor the elevator shafts 104, 804 of the elevator system 100 comprising at least two elevator cars 102. For example, a separate elevator monitoring system 120 may be implemented to monitor each separate elevator shaft 104 of the elevator system 100 comprising at least two elevator cars 102, wherein each elevator car 102 configured to travel along a respective separate elevator shaft 104. Alternatively, a common elevator monitoring system 120 may be implemented to monitor the shared elevator shaft 804 of the elevator system 100 comprising at least two elevator cars 102, wherein each elevator car 102 is configured to travel along a respective adjacent partition 804a, 804b of the shared elevator shaft. The shared elevator shaft 804 may be partitioned into separate areas 804a-804n for each individual elevator car 102 due to hoisting machine mechanics. According to an example, the sensor platform 124 of the common elevator monitoring system 120 may be arranged to be moved at least vertically within an interconnecting continuous clearance space 202 extending between two adjacent partitions 804a, 804b of the shared elevator shaft 804 by means of the guidance system 122, e.g. the guidance rail 122a or the cable suspension system 122b, arranged between two adjacent partitions 804a, 804b of the shared elevator shaft 804, so that the elevator shaft monitoring system 120 may conveniently serve to monitor both partitions 804a, 804b of the shared elevator shaft 804, either simultaneously or in time division. Figure 8A illustrates schematically an example of the common elevator monitoring system 120 implemented to monitor the shared elevator shaft 804 of the elevator system 100 comprising at least two elevator cars 102. Figure 8A illustrates a front view of the shared elevator shaft 804, i.e. the shared elevator shaft 804 viewed from the landing side. According to another example, the sensor platform 124 of the common elevator monitoring system 120 may be arranged to be moved vertically and horizontally within the interconnecting continuous clearance space 202 extending between the more than two adjacent partitions 804a-804n of the shared elevator shaft 804 by means of the guidance system 122 comprising the cable suspension system 122b so that the monitoring system 100 may conveniently serve to monitor all partitions 804a-804n of the shared elevator shaft 804. The cable suspension system 122b may for example be mounted to the elevator shaft 804 from four mounting points 302a-302d residing substantially at the four corners of the back wall 212 of the shared elevator shaft 804. Figure 8B illustrates schematically an example of the common elevator monitoring system 120 implemented to monitor the shared eleva- tor shaft 804 of the elevator system 100 comprising more than two elevator cars 102. Figure 8B illustrates a front view of the shared elevator shaft 804, i.e. the shared elevator shaft 804 viewed from the landing side.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

1 . An elevator shaft monitoring system (120) comprising: a guidance system (122) arranged inside an elevator shaft (104); a sensor platform (124) being movable at least vertically along the entire length of the elevator shaft (104) by means of the guidance system (122), wherein the sensor platform (124) comprises at least one sensor device (502a- 502n) configured to provide sensor data from inside the elevator shaft (104); and a control unit (126) configured to control at least movement of the sensor platform (124) along the elevator shaft (104) by means of the guidance system (122).

2. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor platform (124) is configured to be moved within a clearance space (202) of the elevator shaft (104).

3. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to claim 2, wherein the clearance space (202) is a rear clearance space (202a-202d).

4. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guidance system (122) comprises a guidance railing (122a) along which the sensor platform (124) is adapted to move.

5. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guidance system (122) comprises a cable suspension system (122b) adapted to move the sensor platform (124) along the elevator shaft (104).

6. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor platform (124) has a modular configuration.

7. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (126) is configured to control the sensor platform (124) to move freely up and down along the elevator shaft (104) by means of the guiding system (122).

8. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (126) is further configured to control operation of the sensor platform (124).

9. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (126) is further configured to receive a data request from a local elevator system entity and/or from a remote monitoring entity (402), wherein the data request comprises a request to provide sensor data to the entity from which the data request is received.

10. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (126) is further configured to control the sensor platform (124) to provide the sensor data provided by the at least one sensor device (502a-502n) of the sensor platform (124) to a local elevator entity and/or to a remote monitoring entity (402).

11. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising an edge device (404) configured act as a communication interface between the sensor platform (124) and the local elevator entity and/or between the sensor platform (124) and the remote monitoring entity (402).

12. The elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to claim 11 , wherein the edge device (404) is further configured to process the sensor data provided by the at least one sensor device (502a-502n) of the sensor platform (124).

13. A method for providing sensor data from an elevator shaft (104), wherein the method comprises controlling at least movement of a sensor platform (124) along the elevator shaft (104) by means of a guidance system (122) arranged inside the elevator shaft (104), wherein the sensor platform (124) is movable at least vertically along the entire length of the elevator shaft (104) by means of the guidance system (122), and wherein the sensor platform (124) comprises at least one sensor device (502a-502n) configured to provide the sensor data from inside the elevator shaft (104).

14. An elevator system (100) comprising: an elevator car (102) configured to travel along an elevator shaft (104), an elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of claims 1 to 12 configured to monitor the elevator shaft (104).

15. An elevator system (100) comprising: at least two elevator cars (102), wherein each elevator car (102) is configured to travel along a respective adjacent partition (804a-804n) of a shared elevator shaft (804); and an elevator shaft monitoring system (120) according to any of claims 1 to 12 configured to monitor the adjacent partitions (804a-804n) of the shared elevator shaft (804).