JP5748365B2 - Elevator group management system - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an elevator group management system capable of changing a load weight of a counterweight.

  In a traction type elevator, a car is suspended from one end of a main rope wound around a sheave of a hoist, and a counterweight is suspended from the other end. When the sheave is rotated by driving the hoist, the car and the counterweight are moved up and down in opposite directions through the main rope.

  Normally, in such a traction type elevator, the weight of the counterweight is determined to be balanced at 50% of the rated load of the car. This state is called an overbalance rate (hereinafter referred to as OB rate) 50%. The OB rate refers to the loading rate of the car that balances the mass of the counterweight.

  In a state where the counterweight and the car are balanced at an OB rate of 50%, no load is applied to the hoisting machine, so that the car can be operated with the least power. However, the loading capacity of the car is not always constant and varies depending on the number of passengers. When the balance between the counterweight and the car is lost, for example, when the car is driven in the upward direction while the car is heavier than the counterweight, electric power is required. The same applies to driving the car in the downward direction with the car lighter than the counterweight, and requires electric power. In this way, the operation that requires electric power is called “power running operation”.

  On the other hand, when the car is driven in the downward direction in a state where the car is heavier than the counterweight, electric power is not required because the weight of the car can be used. The same applies to driving the car in the upward direction with the car lighter than the counterweight, and no power is required. In this way, the operation that does not require electric power is called “regenerative operation”.

  In addition, during the regenerative operation, the hoisting machine works as a generator, so that electric power is generated. This power is called “regenerative power”.

  Here, in response to the recent demand for power saving, an elevator capable of changing the loading amount of the counterweight has been proposed. As a method of changing the loading amount of the counterweight, for example, there is a method of providing a liquid tank in the counterweight and injecting or discharging the liquid into the liquid tank. Further, there is a method of attaching an additional weight to the counterweight in a detachable manner.

JP 2008-162882 A JP 2009-215049 A JP 2012-56692 A Japanese Patent No. 484951

  However, in such an elevator, the load must be changed by moving the counterweight to a predetermined location, which affects the driving service during that time. In particular, in a group management system having a plurality of elevators (hereinafter referred to as “units”), the load capacity of the counterweight must be changed for each unit, and the operation service during that time will be significantly reduced. .

  Problem to be solved by the present invention is an elevator group management system capable of reducing power consumption by appropriately changing the load weight of each unit's counterweight according to traffic demand while minimizing a decrease in driving service. Is to provide.

The elevator group management system according to the present embodiment has a plurality of units, and these units have an elevator group management system provided with a mechanism capable of changing the loading amount of the counterweight. Traffic demand estimation means for estimating traffic demand on each floor at predetermined time intervals based on driving information, and change of the load capacity of the counterweight based on traffic demand on each floor estimated by this traffic demand estimation means And a change amount determining means for determining the change amount and a change amount determined by the change amount determining means for individually changing the load weight of the counterweight for each unit. a changing method determination means for determining a schedule for changing the payload of each unit of the counterweight as a method, due to the change method determination means According to the determined schedule and a change control means for changing the amount of loading by moving the counterweight in position at the each Unit.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an elevator according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the elevator group management system in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a change amount determination unit provided in the group management control device in the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a change method determination unit provided in the group management control device in the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an overall flow of the C / W loading amount change process of the group management control device in the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the C / W load amount change amount determination process executed in step A12 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the C / W load amount change amount method determination process executed in step A13 of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the average non-response time, the C / W loading amount change time per vehicle, and the number of units that can be changed simultaneously. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a schedule showing a method for changing the C / W load amount in the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an elevator according to an embodiment, and here, the configuration of an elevator including a flexible counterweight ( FCW ) is schematically shown.

  An elevator car 12 and a counterweight (suspending weight) 13 are provided in the hoistway 11 and are supported by guide rails (not shown) so as to be able to move up and down. The car 12 and the counterweight 13 are connected by a rope 14 and are moved up and down in opposite directions by driving the hoisting machine 15.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the car 12 and the counterweight 13 are supported in a 2: 1 roping format, and one end of the rope 14 is fixed to the upper part of the hoistway 11 by a hitch 16. The other end side of the rope 14 is wound around the hoisting machine 15 via a sheave 17 provided at the bottom of the car 12. The other end of the rope 14 wound around the hoisting machine 15 is fixed to the upper part of the hoistway 11 by a hitch 19 via a sheave 18 provided on the counterweight 13.

  Here, the counterweight 13 is provided with a mechanism capable of changing the loading amount. Specifically, a subweight mounting portion 20 is provided on the counterweight 13, and at least one or more subweights 22 supplied from the subweight supply portion 21 are stacked on the subweight mounting portion 20. . Further, the subweight supply unit 21 also has a function of collecting the subweight 22 stacked on the subweight mounting unit 20.

  The subweight supply unit 21 is installed near the top of the hoistway 11. When changing the loading amount of the counterweight 13, the car 12 is lowered and the counterweight 13 is moved to the installation position of the subweight supply unit 21. In this state, the driving mechanism of the subweight supply unit 21 (not shown) is operated, and the subweights 22 are supplied to the subweight mounting unit 20 one by one or the subweights stacked on the subweight mounting unit 20 22 is recovered.

  The specific configuration of each mechanism such as the subweight mounting unit 20 and the subweight supply unit 21 is not directly related to the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the elevator group management system in the embodiment.

There are several elevators in the building. These elevators are provided with a flexible counterweight ( FCW ) as shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, each elevator is referred to as “unit”. In the example of FIG. 1, a configuration in which three units A, B, and C are group-managed is shown, but the number of group management targets is not limited to three, and any number may be used.

  The group management control device 30 controls the operation of each car in response to a hall call or a car call. “Place call” is a call signal registered by operating a hall call button installed at a hall on each floor. This hall call includes information on the registered floor and the destination direction (up / down). The “car call” is a call signal registered by operating a destination floor button provided in the car. This car call includes information on the destination floor.

  The group management control device 30 includes, as a functional configuration for realizing the present invention, an allocation control unit 31, a traffic demand estimation unit 32, a storage unit 33, a change amount determination unit 34, a change method determination unit 35, and a change control unit. 36 is provided. Here, for convenience, the allocation control unit 31, the traffic demand estimation unit 32, the storage unit 33, the change amount determination unit 34, the change method determination unit 35, and the change control unit 36 are all arranged and described in the group management control device 30. However, it is not always necessary to arrange in the same apparatus, and a configuration in which the apparatus is arranged in different apparatuses may be employed.

  The allocation control unit 31 performs hall call allocation control based on the operation information of each unit obtained from the control devices 40a, 40b, 40c. The operation information includes information such as the position of each unit, the driving direction, and the car load. The allocation control unit 31 selects an optimal number from each number based on these pieces of information, and assigns a hall call to the number. A car assigned a hall call is called an “assigned car”.

  The traffic demand estimation part 32 estimates the traffic demand of each floor for every predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes) based on the operation information of each unit. In the storage unit 33, the traffic demand of each floor estimated by the traffic demand estimation unit 32 is stored at predetermined time intervals.

  Based on the traffic demand of each floor estimated by the traffic demand estimation unit 32, the change amount determination unit 34 determines the necessity of changing the loading amount of the counterweights 43a, 43b, 43c, and determines the change amount. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the change amount determination unit 34 includes a characteristic time zone extraction unit 34a, a first average load calculation unit 34b, a second average load calculation unit 34c, and a change amount calculation unit 34d.

  The characteristic time zone extracting unit 34a extracts, as a characteristic time zone, a time zone in which the traffic demand changes greatly based on the traffic demand of each floor for each predetermined time interval stored in the storage unit 33. The change amount determination unit 34 determines that the loading amounts of the counterweights 43a, 43b, 43c,... Need to be changed in the characteristic time zone extracted by the characteristic time zone extraction unit 34a.

  The first average load calculation unit 34b calculates the average car load of each car in the characteristic time zone extracted by the characteristic time zone extraction unit 34a.

  The second average load calculation unit 34c calculates the average car load of each car in the time zone before the characteristic time zone.

  The change amount calculation unit 34d calculates the change amount based on the difference between the average car load calculated by the first average load calculation unit 34b and the average car load calculated by the second average load calculation unit 34c. To do.

  Based on the change amount determined by the change amount determination unit 34, the change method determination unit 35 uses a method (timing and order) for individually changing the loading amounts of the counterweights 43a, 43b, 43c,. decide.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the change method determination unit 35 includes a change time calculation unit 35a, a number determination unit 35b, a work time calculation unit 35c, and a schedule creation unit 35d.

  The change time calculation unit 35 a calculates the change time per unit based on the change amount determined by the change amount determination unit 34.

  The number-of-units determination unit 35b determines the number of units that can be changed simultaneously based on the change time calculated by the change time calculation unit 35a and the average non-response time in the time zone.

  The work time calculation unit 35c calculates the work time required to change the loading amount of the counterweights 43a, 43b, 43c,... Of each unit based on the simultaneously changeable number determined by the number determination unit 35b.

  The schedule creation unit 35d counters the counterweights 43a, 43b, 43c for each unit so as to complete the change of the loading amount of the counterweights 43a, 43b, 43c,... During the work time calculated by the work time calculation unit 35c. Create a schedule showing the timing and order of changing the loading capacity.

  The change control unit 36 puts the counterweights 43a, 43b, 43c,... Of each unit at predetermined positions via the control devices 40a, 40b, 40c, etc. for each unit according to the timing and order determined by the change method determination unit 35. Move it to change the loading capacity.

  The control devices 40a, 40b, 40c... Of each unit control the operation of each unit according to instructions from the group management control unit 30. In addition, in FIG. 2, although the structure of each number machine is shown simply, it has a structure like FIG.

  The No. A machine includes a hoisting machine 41a, a car 42a that moves up and down by the hoisting machine 41a, and a counterweight 43a. An operation panel 44a having a destination floor button, a door opening button, a door closing button, and the like is provided in the car 42a. A load detector 45a for detecting a loaded load is provided at the bottom of the car 42a.

  Further, a subweight mounting portion 46a is provided on the upper portion of the counterweight 43a, and has a configuration in which the load amount can be varied by connecting with a subweight supply portion 47a installed near the uppermost portion of the hoistway.

The same configuration applies to Unit B and Unit C.
That is, the B machine includes a hoisting machine 41b, a car 42b, and a counterweight 43b. The car 42b is provided with an operation panel 44b and a load detector 45b. The counterweight 43b is provided with a subweight mounting portion 46b, and has a configuration in which the loading amount can be varied by connecting to the subweight supply portion 47b.

  The C machine includes a hoisting machine 41c, a car 42c, and a counterweight 43c. The passenger car 42c is provided with an operation panel 44c and a load detector 45c. The counterweight 43c is provided with a subweight mounting portion 46c, and has a configuration in which the loading amount can be varied by connecting to the subweight supply portion 47c.

  On the other hand, hall call buttons 48a, 48b, 48c,... These hall call buttons 48a, 48b, 48c... Are made of direction buttons for designating an upper direction or a lower direction. When any one of the floor call buttons 48 a, 48 b, 48 c... On each floor is pressed, the hall call on the floor is sent to the group management control device 30 via the transmission cable 49.

  Next, the operation of this system will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the C / W load amount changing process of the group management control device 30. C / W is an abbreviation for counterweight.

  First, the traffic demand estimation unit 32 of the group management control device 30 estimates the traffic demand of each floor at every predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes) and stores it in the storage unit 33 (step A11).

  “Traffic demand” refers specifically to the number of passengers. The greater the number of passengers within a predetermined time interval, the higher the traffic demand. Conversely, the smaller the number of passengers within a predetermined time interval, the less traffic It means that demand is low. The number of passengers can be estimated from changes in the load when each unit stops on each floor.

  Subsequently, the change amount determination unit 34 of the group management control device 30 performs C / W load amount change amount determination processing (step A12). The C / W load amount change amount determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the change amount determination unit 34 extracts a characteristic time zone based on the traffic demand of each floor at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 5 minutes) stored in the storage unit 33 (step B11). ). The traffic demand on each floor in the storage unit 33 referred to at this time is, for example, past data obtained on the same day of the week or one week ago.

  The “characteristic time zone” is a time zone in which traffic demand changes greatly. Specifically, for example, the number of passengers on each floor is totaled every 5 minutes, and the time from when the total value increases to a predetermined value or more to a time when the total value decreases to a predetermined value is extracted as a characteristic time zone. In general, traffic demand (number of passengers) changes greatly in the morning work hours, evening work hours, etc., as compared with normal times, and is therefore extracted as a characteristic time zone.

  Note that, for example, when focusing on the reference floor and the number of people boarding from the reference floor continues for a period of, for example, 30 minutes, the characteristic time zone in which traffic demand (passenger number) changes greatly during that 30 minutes It is also good.

  In such a time zone, since the traffic demand is large, the effect of power saving can be expected by changing the C / W loading amount. Therefore, it is preferable to complete the change of the C / W load amount before entering this time zone, and to start the operation in the time zone (for example, driving at the time of going to work or driving at the time of leaving) after the change is completed.

  Next, the change amount determination unit 34 calculates an average car load (referred to as W1 data) of each car in a characteristic time zone (step B12). As a calculation method, the average value may be obtained from the sum of the loads in the car of each unit, or considering the frequency of car calls, for example, the average value only for cars with high car call frequency May be calculated.

  Further, the change amount determination unit 34 calculates the average car load (referred to as W2 data) of each car in the time zone before the characteristic time zone (step B13).

  The “time zone before the characteristic time zone” is a time zone immediately before the traffic demand changes greatly. For example, when 8: 00-8: 30 in the morning is extracted as a characteristic time zone, the time zone is before 8:00. If the time width is the same as the characteristic time zone, the time zone is 7: 30-8: 00. W2 data for this time zone is calculated. The calculation method is the same as the method for calculating W1 data.

  After calculating the W1 data and the W2 data, the change amount determination unit 34 obtains the difference ΔW between them and determines the value of ΔW as the change amount of the C / W loading amount (step B14).

ΔW = | W1-W2 |
The change amount ΔW obtained in this way is the C / W load amount to be changed before entering the characteristic time zone.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the change amount ΔW is determined, the change method determination unit 35 of the group management control device 30 performs a C / W load amount change method determination process (step A13). The “change method” referred to here is the timing and order of changing the C / W load amount. The C / W load amount changing method determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the change method determination unit 35 calculates the time per vehicle required for the change from the change amount ΔW of the C / W load amount determined in Step A12 (Step C11). This time is determined by the characteristics of the C / W loading capacity changing mechanism provided in each unit.

  Next, the change method determination unit 35 determines the number of units to be changed simultaneously based on the C / W loading amount change time per vehicle and the average non-response time in the time zone for change (step C12).

  The “time zone for changing” is a time zone before the characteristic time zone.

  “Non-response time” is the time from when a hall call is registered until the unit to which the hall call is assigned (assigned car) arrives at the registration floor of the hall call. This non-response time is obtained from the assignment control unit 31. “Average unanswered time” is an average of unanswered time of each unit in the time zone.

  FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the average non-response time, the C / W loading amount change time per vehicle, and the number of units that can be changed simultaneously. The number of units that can be changed simultaneously may be obtained by referring to the table shown in FIG. 8, or a relational expression corresponding to this table may be created and the number of units that can be changed simultaneously in accordance with the relational expression. good.

  Next, the change method determination unit 35 calculates the work time (total time) required for the change from the total number managed in the group and the number that can be changed simultaneously (step C13). Then, the change method determination unit 35 creates a change schedule for the C / W loading amount of each unit so as to complete the replacement work before entering the characteristic time zone (step C14). In this case, it is determined which unit is to be changed at which timing in consideration of the number of units that can be changed at the same time during the work time (total time) calculated in step C13.

  More specifically, for example, in a group management system of 6 units, the change time of the C / W loading amount per unit is “2 minutes 30 seconds”, and the characteristic time zone is “8: 00 to 8:30”. Suppose that When the average non-response time in the time zone before entering the characteristic time zone is “8 seconds”, the number that can be changed simultaneously from the table in FIG. 8 is “3”. Therefore, in step C13, the work time (total time) required for the change is calculated as “5 minutes (2 minutes 30 seconds × 2 times)”. In step C14, a schedule is created so as to complete the change of the C / W loading capacity of the six units for this working time of 5 minutes.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a schedule showing a method for changing the C / W load amount.
In this example, the working time is 5 minutes from “7:55 to 8:00”, the C / W loading capacity of Units A, B, and C is changed first, and then units D, E, and F are changed. It is shown that the C / W load capacity of the unit is changed. In addition, the combination of number machine is arbitrary, For example, you may make it a combination of "A machine, B machine, F machine" and "D machine, E machine, C machine".

  Returning to FIG. 5, when the schedule indicating the method for changing the C / W load amount is determined, the C / W load amount of each unit is changed by the change control unit 36 of the group management control device 30 (step A14). .

  In the example of the schedule of FIG. 9, first, the operation service of Units A, B, and C is interrupted, and each C / W is moved to a predetermined position (installation position of the subweight supply unit) and loaded. Change the amount. The amount of change at this time is obtained in step B14 in FIG. During this period, Unit D, Unit E, and Unit F are performing normal operation services.

  Next, the operation service of Unit D, Unit E, and Unit F is interrupted, and the C / W is moved to a predetermined position (the installation position of the subweight supply unit) to change the loading amount. During this time, Unit A, Unit B, and Unit C are returned to normal operation services.

  In this way, the change work can be completed without completely interrupting the operation service during the operation by changing the C / W loading amount of each unit at the same time, instead of changing the C / W loading amount at the same time. In addition, by changing the C / W load capacity of each unit according to traffic demand, it is possible to suppress power consumption and perform efficient operation.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, a group of elevators that can suppress power service reduction as much as possible, and appropriately change the load weight of each unit's counterweight according to traffic demands to save power. A management system can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the counterweight loading amount is changed using the mechanism for increasing / decreasing the subweight as shown in FIG. 1, but the loading amount of the counterweight is changed by another method. But it ’s okay.

  In short, several embodiments of the present invention have been described, but these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Hoistway, 12 ... Ride car, 13 ... Counterweight, 14 ... Rope, 15 ... Hoisting machine, 16 ... Hitch, 17 ... Sheave, 18 ... Sheave, 19 ... Hitch, 20 ... Subweight mounting part, 21 ... Sub weight supply unit 22 ... Sub weight 30 ... Group management control device 31 ... Allocation control unit 32 ... Traffic demand estimation unit 33 ... Storage unit 34 ... Change amount determination unit 35 ... Change method determination unit 36 ... change control unit, 40a, 40b, 40c ... No. controller, 41a, 41b, 41c ... hoisting machine, 42a, 42b, 42c ... car, 43a, 43b, 43c ... counterweight, 44a, 44b, 44c ... operation Panel, 45a, 45b, 45c ... Load detector, 46a, 46b, 46c ... Subweight mounting part, 47a, 47b, 47c ... Subweight supply part, 48a, 48b, 4 c ... hall call button, 49 ... transmission cable.

Claims (4)

In the elevator group management system, which has multiple units, and these units are provided with a mechanism that can change the load capacity of the counterweight.
Traffic demand estimating means for estimating traffic demand of each floor at predetermined time intervals based on the operation information of each unit,
Based on the traffic demand of each floor estimated by this traffic demand estimating means, a change amount determining means for determining the necessity of changing the loading amount of the counterweight and determining the change amount;
Based on the change amount determined by the change amount determining means, a schedule for changing the load amount of the counterweight of each unit is used as a method for individually changing the load amount of the counterweight for each unit. A change method determining means for determining;
An elevator group management system comprising: a change control means for changing the load amount by moving the counterweight to a predetermined position for each of the units according to the schedule determined by the change method determining means. The change amount determining means is
Characteristic time zone extracting means for extracting, as a characteristic time zone, a time zone in which the traffic demand largely changes based on the traffic demand of each floor for each predetermined time interval estimated by the traffic demand estimating means,
2. The elevator group management system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the loading amount of the counterweight needs to be changed in the characteristic time zone extracted by the characteristic time zone extraction means. The change amount determining means is
First average load calculating means for calculating an average car load of each of the above-mentioned units in the characteristic time zone;
A second average load calculating means for calculating an average in-car load of each of the cars in a time zone before the characteristic time zone;
Change amount calculation means for calculating a change amount based on a difference between the average car load calculated by the first average load calculation means and the average car load calculated by the second average load calculation means; The elevator group management system according to claim 1, comprising: The change method determining means is
A change time calculating means for calculating a change time per vehicle based on the change amount determined by the change amount determining means;
A unit number determining unit that determines the number of units that can be simultaneously changed based on the changed time calculated by the changed time calculating unit and the average non-response time in the time zone;
Work time calculating means for calculating the work time required for changing the load capacity of the counterweight of each unit based on the simultaneously changeable number determined by the number determining means,
The timing and order of changing the counterweight loading amount of each unit so as to complete the change of the loading amount of the counterweight of each unit during the operation time calculated by the operation time calculating means is shown. A schedule creation means for creating a schedule;
The change control means includes
The elevator group management system according to claim 1, wherein the load capacity is changed by moving the counterweight to a predetermined position for each of the units according to the schedule created by the schedule creation means.

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