JP6260479B2 - How to modify passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for remodeling passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways.

In general, a passenger conveyor drives a step at a constant speed, and the driving speed of the step cannot be changed by a switch operation or the like. However, in recent years, when elderly people get on the passenger conveyor, falling accidents etc. are occasionally seen, so it relates to a control function that slows or speeds up the driving speed of the passenger conveyor, that is, a variable speed driving function As demand increases, passenger conveyors equipped with a variable speed drive function have been demanded.

Moreover, the actual use situation of the passenger conveyor for general use can assume a state of a light load operation rate with few users or no users. Therefore, when the power consumption of continuous operation of the passenger conveyor is 100%, the variable speed drive function that enables energy-saving operation that operates at low speed when there is no user by inverter control that can reduce power consumption to about 70%. The demand for passenger conveyors is increasing.

On the other hand, there is an increasing demand for retrofitting passenger conveyors that have already been installed to have the same variable speed drive function from the viewpoint of preventing accidents from falling and saving energy.

As a means of such modification, the three-phase AC power supply and the electric motor that drives the step are connected via electric wiring, and the electric power from the three-phase AC power supply is supplied to the electric motor to operate at a constant speed or In a method for remodeling a passenger conveyor equipped with an existing first control unit for starting and stopping operation control in a machine room, the electric wiring connecting the first control unit and the motor is removed, and this electric wiring is A power converter that converts the frequency of the three-phase AC power supply between the removed first control unit and the motor, and a speed control circuit that issues a speed command to the power converter and controls the frequency conversion. There is known a passenger conveyor remodeling method in which a second control unit configured to control operation at a plurality of speeds is connected via electric wiring (for example, Patent Document 1).

The above-described passenger conveyor remodeling method uses the existing first control unit as it is, and newly adds a power converter that converts the frequency and a speed that controls the frequency conversion by issuing a speed command to the power converter. Since only the second control unit having the control circuit and the power supply control circuit for controlling the power supply of the power converter is used, it is not necessary to remove and install the existing first control unit. It is possible to provide a method for remodeling a passenger conveyor having a variable speed drive function in a short construction period.

JP 2000-289964 A

However, the conventional passenger conveyor remodeling method described above removes the electrical wiring connecting the first control unit and the motor, and removes the electrical wiring between the first control unit and the motor. To connect a power converter that converts the frequency of the above three-phase AC power supply, when switching the power switch to the OFF side when the power converter breaks down, switch the switch manually to switch the three-phase AC power Except when operated by a power source, so-called full inverter control is performed in which power is always supplied from the power converter to the electric motor.
For this reason, even at the rated speed operation that does not require speed control, the electric motor is operated by the electric power passing through the power converter.

Generally, the efficiency of a power converter that converts the frequency is about 95%. Therefore, when operating at the rated speed, it is more efficient and energy saving to operate the motor with a three-phase AC power source that is a commercial power source. Become. For this reason, the above-described conventional passenger conveyor remodeling method is inefficient in terms of energy saving.

In addition, regardless of the usage status of existing passenger conveyors, if a full inverter is used, the three-phase AC power source is inefficient as described above, even though it is operating at the rated speed for most operating hours. Therefore, there is a problem in terms of energy saving and running cost because it is necessary to supply power from a power converter that converts the frequency.

A motor for driving a step and a method for remodeling a passenger conveyor provided with an existing first control unit in a machine room for supplying electric power from a three-phase AC power source to the motor to control operation at a constant speed or start / stop operation In the first control unit, the power switching means for switching the power of the power converter of the second control unit retrofitted by remodeling to convert the frequency of the three-phase AC power source and the three-phase AC power source, A switching control unit for controlling the power switching means, the second control unit to be retrofitted at the time of remodeling is fixed to the machine room, and the power converter is connected to the power switching means via an electrical wiring. Enables switching between the power of the three-phase AC power source and the power converter, and when operating at a rated speed, power is supplied from the three-phase AC power source, and when operating at a speed other than the rated speed, the power Converter And remodeling method of supplying power.

The machine room has a pedestal for fixing the second control unit to be retrofitted at the time of new installation, and the second control unit to be retrofitted is fixed to the pedestal at the time of remodeling. Remodeling method.

The passenger conveyor has passenger detection means for detecting the passenger's boarding at the entrance / exit, and is a remodeling method having a recording unit for recording the number of passengers boarding for a predetermined period from the output of the passenger detection means.

The remodeling method includes a display unit that displays the number of passengers recorded in the recording unit.

The first control unit, after connecting the previous SL power converter via the power switching means and the electric wiring, the passenger detecting means detects the passenger,
The first predetermined period from the time of detection is operated by directly supplying the electric power of the three-phase AC power source to the electric motor at a first speed,
Furthermore, the first of the second predetermined time period after a predetermined period of time is operated by supplying power converted frequency by a pre-Symbol power converter at a second speed to said electric motor,
A remodeling method in which starting and stopping are controlled after the second predetermined period has elapsed.

According to the present invention, the passenger conveyor can be remodeled into a passenger conveyor that is efficient, energy-saving, and low in running cost.

In addition, since it is possible to perform modification after obtaining in advance information on whether or not a power converter that converts the frequency of the three-phase AC power supply is necessary, unnecessary modification work can be prevented.

It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the passenger conveyor which concerns on this Embodiment 1. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the passenger conveyor which concerns on this Embodiment 2. It is explanatory drawing explaining the operation control after remodeling of the passenger conveyor which concerns on this Embodiment 1 or 2.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a main part of a passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining operation control after remodeling of the passenger conveyor according to the first or second embodiment.

First, the configuration of the passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1. A machine room 15 is formed on the upper end side of the frame 1 extending in an oblique direction between two floors (not shown). In the machine room 15, an electric motor 2 and a speed reducer 3 that decelerates the rotation of the electric motor 2 to a necessary constant speed are arranged. The drive sprocket 4 connected to the speed reducer 3 is connected so that the first sprocket 6 is driven via the drive chain 5, and the second sprocket 7 is driven to the first sprocket 6 via the step chain 8. It is connected to. The step chain 8 is endless, and a plurality of steps 9 are connected to the step chain 8, and these steps 9 move in the frame 1.

Moreover, the passenger conveyor which concerns on this Embodiment 1 has the passenger detection means 16 which detects a passenger | crew's boarding at the entrance / exit of a passenger conveyor. The passenger detection means 16 detects the passenger's boarding on the passenger conveyor by infrared rays, a laser, or an image by a camera. The passenger detection means 16 is installed on a pole, an inlet (handrail pull-in portion), an outer deck, or the like that stands in the vicinity of the entrance / exit of the passenger conveyor.

The upper side of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the passenger conveyor before modification, and the lower side of the two-dot chain line shows the configuration added by modification.

The first control unit 10 before the remodeling includes a power switching unit 12 that switches the power of the power converter 14 included in the second control unit 20 that is added to the three-phase AC power source 13 and a switching control that controls the power switching unit 12. Part 21.

For example, a relay (relay) is used for the power switching means 12, and a microcomputer is used for the switching control unit 21.

Moreover, the connection means 18 for connecting the power converter 14 of the 2nd control part 20 retrofitted by remodeling and the power switching means 12 is prepared beforehand.

The second control unit 20 retrofitted by remodeling includes a power converter 14 and a speed control unit 11 that controls the power converter 14.
Moreover, the connection means 18 for connecting with the electric power switching means 12 of the 1st control part 10 is provided.

For example, the speed controller 11 uses a programmable controller, and the power converter 14 uses an inverter.

Next, the outline of the operation control after remodeling of the passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment will be described based on FIG. 1 and FIG.

After the passenger is detected by the passenger detection means 16 and the passenger conveyor is started from the resting state, the switching control unit 21 performs the electric motor 2 with the electric power of the efficient three-phase AC power source 13 for the first predetermined period in FIG. Control to drive.

Then, when the first predetermined period has elapsed, the switching control unit 21 controls the power switching unit 12 so that the power consumption is reduced and the speed can be immediately restored to the first speed when the next passenger is detected. Then, the electric power for driving the electric motor 2 is switched from the electric power by the three-phase AC power source 13 to the electric power by the newly installed power converter 14, and decelerated to the second speed.

Furthermore, when the second predetermined period elapses, the speed control unit 11 controls the electric power for driving the electric motor 2 by the newly installed electric power converter 14 in order to suppress power consumption, and pauses the passenger conveyor.

As shown in FIG. 3, the above-described series of operations is performed by driving the motor 2 with the power of the three-phase AC power source 13 for the first predetermined period, and a new power converter until the passenger conveyor stops for the second predetermined period. The electric motor 2 is driven at a variable speed by the electric power of 14.

Thus, by the operation control after remodeling of the passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment, the motor 2 is operated by the three-phase AC power source 13 which is a commercial power source during the operation at the first speed, and the second During operation at this speed, by operating the electric motor 2 with the newly installed power converter 14, it is possible to perform an operation that saves energy and is low in running cost.

Next, the passenger conveyor before remodeling driving the step 9 at a constant speed (first speed) by the three-phase AC power source 13 is driven by the electric motor 2 driven by the power of the three-phase AC power source 13 and a power converter. The procedure for remodeling to a passenger conveyor capable of switching between driving of the electric motor 2 by 14 will be described.

As shown in the first control unit 10 in FIG. 1, the passenger conveyor before remodeling does not have the power converter 14 but has the power switching means 12 and the switching control unit 21 in advance. The power switching means 12 is connected to the three-phase AC power source 13 and the electric motor 2 by electric wiring.

The power switching means 12 and the electrical wiring have connection means 18 for connecting the power converter 14 in advance. The connection means 18 is, for example, a connector for connection.

In the first embodiment, first, the power converter 14 is fixed via a pedestal (not shown) prepared in advance in a machine room of a new passenger conveyor. Next, the power converter 14 is connected to the electrical wiring and power switching means 12 via the connection means 18.

The pedestal is not prepared in advance, and may be installed together with the power converter 14 when remodeling.
Further, the power converter 14 may be directly fixed to the machine room without using a pedestal.

In this way, by preparing a configuration necessary for installation and connection so that the power converter 14 can be retrofitted to an existing passenger conveyor in advance, except for the expensive power converter 14, in a short construction period. It can be remodeled into a passenger conveyor capable of switching between driving of the electric motor 2 by the electric power of the three-phase AC power supply 13 and driving of the electric motor 2 by the power converter 14.
(Embodiment 2)

Next, a function capable of switching between driving of the electric motor 2 by the electric power of the three-phase AC power source 13 and driving of the electric motor 2 by the power converter 14 is a passenger to be modified from the viewpoint of energy saving and running cost. After determining whether or not the conveyor is necessary, the procedure of the second embodiment for remodeling into a passenger conveyor that can be modified will be described.

When installing a passenger conveyor in a commercial facility where the frequency of use of the passenger conveyor is unpredictable, install a passenger conveyor with an inexpensive three-phase AC power supply 13, start using the passenger conveyor, and check the usage status In addition, an expensive power converter 14 can be added in a short construction period. In other words, if the passengers frequently use the passenger conveyor, the motor 2 driven by the power of the three-phase AC power source 13 is energy saving and running cost is lower, so it is determined that no modification is necessary. If the use is sporadic, it is determined that remodeling is necessary because the power converter 14 is added to make the speed variable to reduce the energy and running costs.

According to the second embodiment, the passenger detection unit 16 that detects the passenger's boarding is provided at the entrance / exit of the passenger conveyor, and the first control unit 10 records the number of passengers boarding in a predetermined period from the output of the detection unit 16. The recording unit 17 is provided. By confirming the detection status of the recording unit 17 on the display unit 19, the use status of the passenger conveyor can be grasped, and the necessity of additional remodeling of the second control unit 20 having the power converter 14 can be examined.

In addition, although Embodiment 2 demonstrated the case where the said 1st control part 10 had the said recording part 17 and the said display part 19, the said recording part 17 and the said display part 19 are machine rooms other than the said 1st control part 10. 15 may be installed.
Furthermore, you may install in monitoring centers other than the machine room 15 of a passenger conveyor.

In general, the power exchanger 14 is a complicated and precise device, and is likely to fail.
In the modification to the conventional full inverter, since the electric motor 2 is always driven by the electric power of the power converter 14, there is a risk of a secondary disaster such as a passenger falling down due to a sudden stop due to a failure of the power converter. is there.
However, according to the first or second embodiment, the driving of the electric motor 2 by the electric power of the power converter 14 that is likely to break down is a situation in which passengers are not in the vehicle, so that the risk of disaster due to the failure can be reduced. On the other hand, since the operation at the rated speed at the first speed on which the passenger is boarding is driven by the three-phase AC power source 13, the power converter 14 breaks down, stops suddenly, and the passenger falls over. A disaster can be prevented.

Further, in the modification to the conventional full inverter, since the electric motor 2 is always driven by the electric power of the power converter 14, the power supply situation is bad, and the power converter is instantaneously interrupted when the three-phase AC power supply 13 fails. There is a risk of causing a secondary disaster such as an emergency stop and a passenger falling due to the influence of the alarm signal accompanying the 14 blackout. On the other hand, according to the first or second embodiment, since the operation is performed by the three-phase AC power supply 13 in a situation where passengers are in, the operation is not affected by the momentary power failure of the three-phase AC power supply 13. It can be continued and secondary disasters as described above can be prevented.

Furthermore, even if the power converter 14 breaks down, it can be easily performed only by the operation by the three-phase AC power source 13 which is the operation control of the existing passenger conveyor by changing the software or switching the switch (not shown). Since it can be returned, the passenger conveyor can be used normally until the power converter 14 is restored.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame 2 Electric motor 3 Reduction gear 4 Drive sprocket 5 Drive chain 6 1st sprocket 7 2nd sprocket 8 Step chain 9 Step 10 1st control part 11 Speed control part 12 Power switching means 13 Three-phase alternating current power supply 14 Power converter 15 Machine Chamber 16 Passenger detection means 17 Recording part 18 Connection means 19 Display part 20 Second control part 21 Switching control part

Claims (5)

An electric motor that drives the steps;
In a method for remodeling a passenger conveyor provided with an existing first control unit in a machine room for supplying electric power from a three-phase AC power source to the electric motor to control operation at a constant speed or start / stop operation,
A power switching means for switching the power of the power converter of the second control unit to be retrofitted by remodeling to convert the frequency of the three-phase AC power source and the three-phase AC power source in the existing first control unit;
A switching control unit for controlling the power switching means,
Fix the second control unit to be retrofitted to the machine room when remodeling,
By connecting the power converter with the power switching means via electrical wiring,
Enable switching between the three-phase AC power source and the power of the power converter ,
A passenger conveyor remodeling method, characterized in that when operating at a rated speed, the electric power of the three-phase AC power supply is directly supplied to the electric motor . The machine room has a pedestal for fixing the second control unit to be retrofitted when newly installed,
The method for remodeling a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit to be retrofitted at the time of remodeling is fixed to the pedestal. The passenger conveyor has passenger detection means for detecting passenger entry at the entrance and exit,
The method for remodeling a passenger conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a recording unit that records the number of passengers boarding in a predetermined period from the output of the passenger detection means. The said passenger conveyor has a display part which displays the passenger boarding number recorded on the said recording part, The remodeling method of the passenger conveyor of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The first control unit detects the passenger after the power converter is connected to the power switching unit via the electrical wiring, and the passenger detection unit detects the passenger.
The first predetermined period from the time of detection is operated by directly supplying the electric power of the three-phase AC power source to the electric motor at a first speed,
Furthermore, after the first predetermined period has elapsed, the second predetermined period is operated by supplying the electric power having the frequency converted by the power converter to the electric motor at a second speed,
The method for remodeling a passenger conveyor according to claim 3 or 4, wherein control for starting and stopping is performed after the second predetermined period has elapsed.

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