RU2389676C1 - Elevator control device (versions) and elevator control method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to elevator control systems. Proposed device comprises first system to control first group of elevators and second control system to control second group of elevators that can react to calls from the floors, and system of cross dispatcher control. The latter can receive call from the floors and assign each floor call to first or second system proceeding from the estimation of forecast response times for first and second groups of elevators. Method to control elevators operation during elevators updating period consists in receiving floor calls, data on cab state coming from first group of controllers that control operation of new elevators and data on cab state from second group of controllers that control operation of existing elevators. Then call from the floor is assigned to one group of elevators proceeding from the elevator cab state.

EFFECT: optimum operation during updating.

25 cl, 2 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the construction industry, namely, the management of elevators during the upgrade of elevators. In particular, the invention relates to the dispatch control of existing and updated elevators when receiving calls from floors during elevator modernization works.

State of the art

During the modernization of elevators in houses with residents, individual elevators are decommissioned and upgraded with more modern equipment. Typically, such an upgrade involves the installation of a new elevator controller, and may also include the installation of a new cabin control panel and new electrical connections to the cabin controller.

As the modernization of each cabin is completed, it returns to work, and another cabin is decommissioned for modernization. Thus, in the process of modernization, two groups of elevators are in operation: a group of new elevators that have undergone modernization, and a group of existing elevators that have not yet been modernized. Lifts of both groups usually contain control systems that are incompatible with each other and often belong to different manufacturers. In the process of modernization, it is desirable to coordinate new and existing control systems so that both systems do not respond to the same call from the floor.

One method for supervising elevators when upgrading them is described in US Pat. The new cockpit controller can read in-memory calls from floors through a cross-over device. In this way, the new cab controller can respond to calls that the existing cab controller has not yet answered.

The ongoing modernization of elevators requires upgrading elevator control systems based on the first microprocessors. These systems do not use relay logic circuits for storing calls from floors, as in the previous elevator control systems, which during modernization were used to perform the function of cross-paying off calls. In addition, there is an urgent need to reduce costs and ensure the optimal operation of elevators during the modernization period. The main objective of the invention is the development of an elevator control device and an elevator control method that efficiently function during the modernization of the elevator facilities in the house.

Disclosure of invention

To achieve this technical result, a device for controlling the operation of elevators during the modernization of elevators was developed, which includes a first control system for the first group of elevators installed with the ability to respond to designated calls from floors, a second control system for a second group of elevators installed with the ability to respond to assigned calls with floors, and a cross-dispatch control system installed with the ability to receive calls from floors and assign each call from a floor to howl system or the second system based on an assessment of projected response time for the first group and the second group of elevators. The cross control system can be installed with the possibility of receiving information about the status of elevator cabs of the first group from the first system and about the status of elevator cabs of the second group from the second system. The cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the possibility of calculating for each received call from the floor the first relative intergroup reaction value of the system of the first elevator group based on information about the status of cabins from the first system and the second relative intergroup reaction value of the system of the second elevator group based on information about the cab status from the second system. The cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the possibility of making calls from the floors based on the above first and second values of the relative inter-group reaction value of the system. Information about the status of the cabin may include at least one parameter from the group comprising the location of the cabin, the direction of movement of the cabin, the condition of the door, the presence of an empty cabin and the load of the cabin. A cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the possibility of reassessing the predicted response time and reassigning a previously assigned call from the floor with an unattended call to the floor during the repeat assignment. The first group of elevators may contain upgraded elevators, and the second group of elevators may contain unmodified elevators. An annular elevator communication system may be additionally introduced into the control device, the above-mentioned first system comprising a new controller for each elevator connected to the annular elevator communication system. The cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the ability to connect to new controllers via a ring elevator communication system. The second system may have an existing elevator controller for each elevator of the second group and an existing group controller for making calls from floors to existing elevator controllers. The cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the possibility of making a call from the floor of the above-mentioned second system and then transferring the call from the floor to the existing group controller. A cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the ability to receive cabin status information from existing elevator controllers. A cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the ability to receive cabin status information from an existing group controller. To achieve a technical result, a method for controlling the operation of elevators during the modernization of elevators has been developed, in which they accept a call from the floor, receive information about the status of the cabin from the first group of controllers that control the operation of new elevators, receive information about the status of the cabin from the second group of controllers that control the operation of existing elevators , and assign a call from the floor of one of the elevator groups, first or second, based on information about the status of the cabin. In the method, you can additionally reassign a call from the floor based on the updated information about the status of the cabin when an unattended call from the floor during the repetition of the appointment. In the method, you can assign a call from the floor based on information about the status of the cabin by calculating the relative value of the intergroup response of the system for the first and second groups based on information about the status of the cabin, comparing the corresponding values of the intergroup reaction of the system and assigning a group to receive a call from the floor according to the results of comparing the corresponding values of the intergroup reaction of the system. In the method, cabin status information may include at least one parameter from the group comprising the location of the cabin, the direction of movement of the cabin, the condition of the door, the presence of an empty cabin and the load of the cabin.

To achieve the technical result, a device for controlling the operation of elevators of the first group of modernized elevators and a second group of unmodified elevators was developed, which includes the first group of controllers for controlling the operation of the first group of elevators, the second group of controllers for controlling the operation of the second group of elevators, and a cross-dispatch control system for receiving calls from floors and assignment of floor calls to the first and second groups of controllers based on the relative intergroup reaction value and systems for the first and second groups of elevators. The cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the possibility of receiving information about the status of cabs for elevators of the first group from the first group of controllers and about the status of cabs for elevators of the second group from the second group of controllers. The cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the possibility of calculating for each received call from the floor the first relative intergroup response value of the system based on information about the status of cabs for the first group of elevators and calculating the second relative intergroup value of the reaction of the system based on information about the status of cabins for the second elevator group . Information about the status of the cabin may include at least one parameter from the group comprising the location of the cabin, the direction of movement of the cabin, the condition of the door, the presence of an empty cabin and the load of the cabin. The cross-dispatch control system is capable of reassessing the predicted response time and reassigning the previously assigned call from the floor to an unattended call to the floor during the reassignment. An annular elevator communication system can be additionally introduced into the control device, the cross-dispatch control system being installed with the possibility of connecting to the first group of controllers via an annular elevator communication system. The second group of controllers may contain an existing elevator controller for each elevator of the second group and an existing group controller for making calls from the floor to existing elevator controllers. The cross-dispatch control system can be installed with the possibility of assigning a call from the floor to the second group of controllers and then transferring the call from the floor to the existing group controller.

Briefly, the essence of the invention is as follows. During the modernization of the elevator facilities in the cross-dispatch system, calls from the floors are distributed between the group of new elevators and the group of existing elevators. In the cross-dispatch system, information from the new group and from the existing group is tracked and the response time for each group is estimated. Based on this assessment, the cross-dispatch system assigns a call from the floor to one of these groups.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a block diagram representing a cross-dispatch control system for distributing calls from floors among a group of existing elevator controllers and a group of new elevator controllers.

Figure 2 graphically presents a diagram of the algorithm of the cross-dispatch control system when distributing calls from floors between a group of existing elevator controllers and a group of new elevator controllers.

The implementation of the invention

1 shows an elevator system 10 being upgraded. During the modernization work, the cross-dispatch control system 12 coordinates the work of a group of 14 new elevators and a group of 16 existing elevators. In response to calls from the floors that are received via the bus 18 calls from the floors, the cross-dispatch control system 12 determines whether to send a call from the floor to the new cabin controllers 20 or to the existing group controller 22, which controls the operation of the existing 24 cabin controllers. For this call from the floor, the cross-control system 12 determines the estimated response time for the new controllers 20 of the cab of the group 14 of new elevators and for the existing controllers 24 of the cabs of the group of 16 existing elevators. Depending on which elevators of which group, it is assumed that they will be the first to respond to the call from the floor, the cross-dispatch control system 12 will send the call from the floor. The cross-dispatch control system 12 monitors responses to calls from floors and can review and reassign calls from floors if the reaction of the assigned group has not followed within the time period of the repeat assignment. The system of cross-dispatch control 12 receives calls from floors from the bus 18 calls from floors on a serial communication line with remote subscribers (RSL - remote serial link). As part of the upgrade, new call buttons from the floor can be installed, and a serial line with remote subscribers can also be installed if the system 16 of the existing elevators does not use a serial line to transfer calls from the floor.

The cross-dispatch control system 12 interacts with the new booth controllers 20 through a communication system in which there is distributed access to each call from the floor, and each controller 20 predicts a response time to service the call from the floor. New controllers 20 cabs exchange information and determine which of the cabs should answer the call from the floor.

In one embodiment, the cross-dispatch control system 12 and the new cabin controllers 20 communicate via an annular elevator communication system, as described in US Pat. No. 5,202,540 to Auer et al. And US Patent No. 5,551,532 to Coopersmith. As described in the patents of Auer et al. And Coopersmith, each controller calculates the relative system response (RSR) for each received call from the floor. The new cab controllers 20 exchange RSR values, and the new cab controller with the best RSR value answers the call from the floor. The calculation of the RSR value can be done using a number of factors. Examples of the use of RSR values in the appointment of an elevator call are given in US patents 4,363,381 and US 4,815,568 issued to Bittar, and US patent 5,146,053 issued to Powell et al.

The system 12 cross-dispatch control receives from the new controllers 20 booths information regarding the status of each controller. The information obtained may include, for example, the location of each cabin, the direction of movement of each cabin, the condition of the door, the presence of an empty cabin (may include operational status, as well as data on calls already assigned to this controller). Thus, the cross-control system 12 periodically receives status information for each booth from the new group 14, by which the cross-control system 12 can obtain the likely response time to a new call from the floor.

Figure 1 shows a group 16 of existing elevators, the structure of which includes the existing group controller 22 and the existing controllers 24 cabs. If the cross-dispatch control system 12 routes a call from the floor to a group 16 of existing elevators, this call from the floor gets to the existing group controller 22. Based on the information about the status of the cabs coming from the existing controllers 24, the existing group controller 22 decides which cabin should serve a call from the floor, and gives a control command to a specific controller 24, which is assigned to this call from the floor.

The cross-control system 12 communicates with an existing group controller 22 and also receives cab status information from existing cab controllers 24. Information about the status of the cabs is similar to the information received from the new controllers 20 cabs, in the sense that information about the status of the cabs comes from the existing group controller 22 and the existing controllers 24 cabs.

If a cab location matrix is attached to each cab of an existing group 16, cab locations can be established by connecting the cross-control system 12 to the cab location matrix of each cab. To improve dispatching work, other information, if available, can be used, for example, the state of the load.

When a call from the floor enters the cross-dispatch control system 12, the relative inter-group relative system response (iRSR) is calculated for both groups — the new group 14 and the existing group 16. The call from the floor determines the floor and direction (for example, 4th floor down). The cross-supervisory system 12 uses cabin status information received from the new group 14 and from the existing group 16 to calculate the iRSR value for each cabin. The cross-supervisory system 12 determines the best cabin iRSR for the new group 14 and the best cabin iRSR for the existing group 16. After that, the call is assigned to the group with the best calculated iRSR.

When calculating the cabin iRSR value, the cross-control system 12 considers the presence of a free cabin a status indicator with the highest priority. The next priority status indicators include the direction of movement of the cabin, its location and / or condition (doors). An iRSR value based on the status of a booth moving toward the call floor and in the same direction will obviously exceed the value for a booth moving in the opposite direction.

In the event that both groups, 14 and 16, have the same best iRSR values, the iRSR value of one of the two groups receives an addition. For example, in case of equality of values, the additive can be given to the new group 14, since this group of elevators is being modernized and should provide a higher quality of work compared to the existing group 16. In addition, the new group 14 grows as the modernization progresses, while the size of the existing group 16 is reduced until all existing cabins disappear and the modernization is complete.

In the event that in one of the two groups there are no free cabs, an addition to the iRSR value will be given to the other group where there are free cabs. The absence of free cabs can occur, for example, when all the cabins in the group are not in working condition (ie, in the "not busy" state, normal operation or parking modes) or when the cabins of this system cannot get to that floor, where did the call come from. In a special case, the cross-dispatch control system 12 can also assign some call from the floor to both groups - 14 and 16. A similar duplicate appointment can be in the case of a call to rise from the lobby floor. By assigning a call to both groups 14 and 16, better lobby service can be provided.

Figure 2 presents a diagram of the algorithm of the system 12 cross-dispatch control. Work begins with receiving a call from the floor via bus 18 (step 30). Next, the cross-dispatch control system 12 calculates the iRSR value for each car of the group of 14 new elevators (step 32) and for each car of the group 16 of existing elevators (step 34). Then, the cross-supervisory system 12 compares the best iRSR values of the new group with the best iRSR values of the existing group (step 36). If the new group 14 has a more suitable iRSR value, the cross-dispatch control system 12 routes the call from the floor to the new group 14 (step 38). At the same time, the cross-dispatch control system 12 starts the timer of the assignment repeat period, which sets the time during which the call service from the floor should begin.

The cross-control system 12 is connected to the communication system of the new group 14, while receiving information from the new controllers 20 of the booths when they answer their calls from floor floors. In step 40, the cross-dispatch control system 12 checks whether the assigned call has been served by the new system. If the service call from the floor was performed, then the system 12 cross-dispatch control deletes the call from the floor from memory (step 42) and the process related to this call ends (step 44).

If the call from the floor was not serviced by the new system 14, the cross-dispatch control system 12 checks if the sending time, counted by the timer, has expired (step 46). If the timer repeat assignment did not expire, the cross-dispatch control system 12 again checks to see if the call from the floor has been served (step 40). This cycle is repeated until the call from the floor is serviced, and then this call will be deleted from the memory (step 42) or the assignment will time out. If the reassignment time expires, the cross-control system 12 returns to steps 32 and 34 and recalculates the iRSR values for both the new group 14 and the existing group 16. This recalculation is based on the cab status information currently available. Thus, the decision on reappointment is made on the basis of indicators of the current status of the cabin.

In step 36, if the iRSR value of the existing system is more appropriate, the cross-dispatch control system 12 routes the call signal to the existing group controller 22 of the existing group 16 (step 48). The call from the floor is activated for a time specified by the program (for example, 500 milliseconds) so that the existing group 16 has enough time to receive a call from the floor and generate the corresponding output signal, which turns on the signal indicator of the existing group 16. This signal is then used by the system 12 cross-dispatch control to determine when a call from the floor of the existing system 16 occurred (step 50). When the system 12 cross-dispatch control detects a trailing edge of the indicator signal, the call from the floor is considered canceled and is deleted from the memory system 12 cross-dispatch service. A message is also sent via the ring network to the new controllers of 20 cabins.

If the call from the floor is served by the existing group 16, the cross-dispatch control system 12 checks to see if the appointment retry timer has expired (step 52). If the reassignment time has not expired, the cross-supervisory system 12 continues to monitor the alarm indicator to determine if the call from the floor has been served. If the reassignment time has expired, the cross-control system 12 returns to steps 32 and 34 and recalculates the iRSR value for each booth of both the new group 14 and the existing group 16.

The use of cross-dispatch control system 12 with iRSR calculation provides a number of advantages as a result of elevator upgrades. A significant advantage is the simplified hardware interface with a group 16 of management of existing elevators. Since the system 12 cross-dispatch control does not require saving the call from the floor in the memory device of the existing group 16, there is no need for special equipment for connecting with specific storage devices (for example, relay storage devices). This, in turn, significantly reduces the design and installation time of the new elevator management group 14, since there is no need to adapt to the specific storage device of the existing system to carry out the upgrade. This reduces both costs and installation time.

The operation of dispatch control calls from the floors of elevators can be significantly improved using the system 12 cross-dispatch control. Since the elevators of group 14 and group 16 will not answer the same calls from floor areas, each group gets the opportunity to independently distribute calls from floor areas and provide optimal elevator maintenance of the building when upgrading elevators.

The ability to monitor information from an existing elevator group 16 (e.g., location of an individual cabin, direction, door status, operating status, and other information related to elevator operation) allows the cross-dispatch control system 12 to predict the response of both the new group 14 and the existing group 16, and Based on the results of the comparison, assign a call from the floor to the group that has the best opportunities for servicing the call. This greatly improves the dispatching service as a whole during the upgrade.

In the cross-dispatch control system 12, the same algorithms may or may not be used to determine the response time required by the new group 14 and the existing group 16 to select a booth to service the call from the floor. Using the actual service time of the new group 14 and the existing group 16 when making a call from the floor, the cross-dispatch control system 12 can adjust the parameters used in calculating the iRSR values for each group. As a result, the forecast of service time can be made more accurate by the results of work.

The cross-dispatch control system 12 can be implemented using one of the controllers, which will ultimately be used in the new group 14. The controller uses software to perform the functions of the cross-dispatch control system, and this controller works until only one existing elevator remains for modernization. From this moment, in the new group 14 there are all but one elevator, and in the existing group 16 there are no more working elevators. Cross-dispatch control software can be blocked or removed, and the controller can then be used to upgrade the last elevator. Thus, the use of the system 12 cross-dispatch control can be achieved with minimal hardware costs and with minimal installation time.

Although in FIG. 1, a bus 18 is connected directly to the cross-supervisory system 12, other configurations are possible. For example, the bus 18 can be connected to one of the new controllers 20 of the cabin of the new group 14, and calls from the floors can be transferred to the system 12 cross-dispatch control via a ring communication system of elevators.

Although the present invention has been described by way of preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific details of its implementation may vary within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (25)

1. The device for controlling the operation of elevators during the modernization of elevators, including the first control system for the first group of elevators installed with the ability to respond to designated calls from the floors, the second control system for the second group of elevators installed with the ability to respond to assigned calls from the floors, and a system cross-dispatch control, installed with the ability to receive calls from floors and assign each call from the floor to the first system or second system based on estimates predictable x response times for the first group and the second group of elevators. 2. The control device according to claim 1, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of receiving information about the status of elevator cabs of the first group from the first system and the status of elevator cabs of the second group from the second system. 3. The control device according to claim 2, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of calculating for each received call from the floor the first relative intergroup response value of the system of the first elevator group based on information about the status of cabins from the first system and the second relative intergroup response value of the system the second group of elevators based on information about the status of cabins from the second system. 4. The control device according to claim 3, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of making calls from floors based on the above first and second values of the relative intergroup value of the response of the system. 5. The control device according to claim 2, in which the information about the status of the cabin includes at least one parameter from the group comprising the location of the cabin, the direction of movement of the cabin, the condition of the door, the presence of an empty cabin and the load of the cabin. 6. The control device according to claim 1, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of reassessing the predicted response time and reassigning the previously assigned call from the floor when an unattended call to the floor during the repetition of the appointment. 7. The control device according to claim 1, in which the first group of elevators contains upgraded elevators, and the second group of elevators contains unmodified elevators. 8. The control device according to claim 7, in which an annular elevator communication system is additionally introduced, the above-mentioned first system comprising a new controller for each elevator connected to the annular elevator communication system. 9. The control device of claim 8, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of connection with new controllers on the ring elevator communication system. 10. The control device according to claim 7, in which the second system has an existing elevator controller for each elevator of the second group and an existing group controller for making calls from floors to existing elevator controllers. 11. The control device of claim 10, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of making a call from the floor of the above-mentioned second system and then transferring the call from the floor to the existing group controller. 12. The control device of claim 10, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of receiving information about the status of the cabin from existing elevator controllers. 13. The control device of claim 10, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of receiving information about the status of the cabin from the existing group controller. 14. The method of controlling the operation of elevators during the modernization of elevators, in which they accept a call from the floor, receive information about the status of the cabin from the first group of controllers that control the operation of new elevators, receive information about the status of the cabin from the second group of controllers that control the operation of existing elevators, and assign a call from the floor of one of the elevator groups, first or second, based on information about the status of the cabin. 15. The method according to 14, in which additionally reassign the call from the floor based on the updated information about the status of the cabin in an undeserved call from the floor during the repetition of the appointment. 16. The method according to 14, in which a call from the floor is assigned based on cabin status information by calculating a relative value of the intergroup response of the system for the first and second groups based on cabin status information, the corresponding values of the intergroup reaction of the system are compared, and groups for reception call from the floor according to the results of comparing the corresponding values of the intergroup reaction of the system. 17. The method according to 14, in which information about the status of the cabin includes at least one parameter from the group comprising the location of the cabin, the direction of movement of the cabin, the condition of the door, the presence of an empty cabin and the load of the cabin. 18. The device for controlling the operation of elevators of the first group of modernized elevators and the second group of non-modernized elevators, including the first group of controllers for controlling the operation of the first group of elevators, the second group of controllers for controlling the operation of the second group of elevators and a cross-dispatch control system for receiving calls from floors and assigning calls to floors the first and second groups of controllers based on the relative intergroup value of the reaction of the system for the first and second groups of elevators. 19. The control device according to claim 18, wherein the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of receiving information about the status of cabs for elevators of the first group from the first group of controllers and about the status of cabs for elevators of the second group from the second group of controllers. 20. The control device according to claim 19, in which the cross-dispatch control system is installed with the possibility of calculating for each received call from the floor the first relative intergroup value of the response of the system based on information about the status of the cabs for the first group of elevators and calculating the second relative intergroup value of the response of the system to based on information about the status of cabins for the second group of elevators. 21. The control device according to claim 19, in which the information about the status of the cabin includes at least one parameter from the group comprising the location of the cabin, the direction of movement of the cabin, the condition of the door, the presence of an empty cabin and the load of the cabin. 22. The control device of claim 18, wherein the cross-dispatch control system is configured to reassess the predicted response time and reassign a previously assigned floor call to an unattended floor call during a repeat assignment. 23. The control device according to claim 18, in which an annular elevator communication system is additionally introduced, the cross-dispatch control system being installed with the possibility of connecting to the first group of controllers via an annular elevator communication system. 24. The control device of claim 18, wherein the second group of controllers comprises an existing elevator controller for each elevator of the second group and an existing group controller for making calls from the floor to existing elevator controllers. 25. The control device according to paragraph 24, in which the system of cross-dispatch control is installed with the ability to assign a call from the floor to the second group of controllers and then transfer the call from the floor to the existing group controller.

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