US3103645A

US3103645A - Elevator position indicator system

Info

Publication number: US3103645A
Application number: US763240A
Authority: US
Inventors: Savage Conwell
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1958-09-25
Filing date: 1958-09-25
Publication date: 1963-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-10

Description

Sept. 10, 1963 ELEVATOR POSITION INDICATOR SYSTEM Filed Sept. 25, 1958 DOWN U Fig. I

'5 J2 ii WITNESSES C. SAVAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 3

INVENTOR Conwell Savage wmww ATTORNEY P 1963 c. SAVAGE 3,103,645

ELEVATOR POSITION INDICATOR SYSTEM Filed Sept. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S stem of Patent 2 320 WithAddifions Shown in Heov Lines U3 L- L+4 -4 1. BUR FU' 69 [H467 SUL b6 Bb6 B ELEVATOR PUSlTibN INDICATUR SYSTEM Conwell Savage, New York, N.Y., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 763,240

4 Claims. (Cl. 340-21) This invention relates to positionindicators and it has particular relation to position indicators employed 'in elevator systems.

In various systems, it is a practiceto provide means for indicating at a remote point the position of a mobile device. tice to provide an elevator car position indicator for each elevator car at one or more of the floors of the structure served by the elevator cars to inform prospective passengers of the location of the associated elevator car. Such a position indicator may take the form of a series of letters and/ or numerals, each corresponding to a floor of the structure which is served by the associated elevator car. As the car moves with respect to the structure, suitable means are provided for designating the particular character corresponding to the floor adjacent which the elevator car is positioned. Thus, a pointer which moves synchronously with the elevator car may be employed to designate the appropriate .fioor letter or number; or a window may be provided for successively exposing indicia representing the position of the elevator car associated therewith, the indicia being disposed on a member such as a drum which is moved in accordance with movements of the elevator car by means of a notching or stepping motor. For illustrative purposes, the invention will be described in conjunction with the latter type of car position indicator.

In an elevator system it is also a practice to provide a plurality of floor station units, each operable for registering a call for elevator-service for the associated floor.

For example, in an elevator system, it is a prac- Patented Sept. 10, 1963 intending passengers and .to provide a signal for designating the registration of a floor call for elevator service. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a separate lamp is associated with each floor station push button in elevator systems wherein both an up and a down floor call push button are provided for such floor station; Conveniently, each of the two lamps when energized'may have a distinct color, each color thereby denoting the In a typical elevator system, a floor station unit may take the form of a push button station located at each of the floors served by the elevator car or cars of the system. In order to register a call for elevator service, a prospective or intending passenger at one of the floors may operate the push button for such, floor. Conveniently, the door station unit may include-an up push button for registering calls for up service and a down push button for registering calls for down service. i In accordance with the invention, an elevator system is provided with a car position indicator whose indicia are illuminated when a floor station push button is operated to register a call for elevator service for the floor associated with the position indicator and the push button. The indicia may be illuminated by either an incandescent or a cold cathode gaseous discharge lamp, which isextinguished when the call for service is answered. Such operation appreciably extends indicia il luminating lamp life, as opposed to operation wherein a lamp is continuously energized to illuminate the indicia. Desirably, the lamp is located withinithe housing provided for the position indicator.

It will be observed that operation of an illuminating lamp in the foregoing manner may serve a dual purpose: to illuminate the position indicator indicia in order that they may be more easily observed by prospective or registration of a call for service in a specific direction.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide improved means for indicating the position of a mobile device.

It is another object of the invention to provide means for improving the observability of the indicia for an elevator car position indicator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator system having an elevator car position indicator and an associated floor push button operable for registering calls for elevator service, wherein the indicia are illuminated in response to the operation of the associated floor push button.

It is an additional objectof the invention to provide an elevator system as defined in the preceding paragraph, wherein the indicia are illuminated by means located within the position indicators housing.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an elevator system as defined in either of the two preceding paragraphs, wherein the same illuminating means serves both to improve the observability otf the car position indicators indicia and to provide a signal for designating the registration of a floor call for elevator service. I

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation of a push button station and associated car position indicator embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation, with parts broken away, of the push button station and associated car position indicator illustrated in FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation, with parts broken away, of a rotor assembly suitable for the car position indicator of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of amodification of the embodiment of the invention'illustrated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view with circuits shown in straight-line form of an elevator system embodying the invention.

Various aspects of the invention are applicable either to an elevator system having a single elevator car or to a system having multiple elevator cars arranged in a bank to serve any desired number of floors. For illustrative purposes, the invention will be described with particular reference to an elevator system having a bank ations now will be given.

Apparatus common to the EamesPatent 2,501,320 and to the presentFIG. may belisted as follows:

' Apparatus Individual to C ar A v S -f Floor call stopping relay. M3; Contacts Olf car running relay. X3 and X4 Cont-acts of down direction prefer- I ence relay. W3 and W4 Contacts of up direction preference relay. 7

Direct current buses.

bz'to b6 :8 Contact segments on floor selector. g2 to g7 32 33 Brushes of floor selector.

Apparatus Common to Both Cars 2DR to 7DR Down call-storing relays. ZUR to 6UR Up call-storing relays. ZDRN to 7DRN "I Cancellation coils for storing ZU'RN to 6URN j relays. 2]) to 7D Down floor buttons. 2U to 6U Up floor buttons.

For a complete description of the apparatus set forth in the above lists, reference may be made to the aforesaid Eames patent. However, to facilitate an understanding of the invention, a brief resume of typical oper- Ihe circuits illustrated in detail in FIG. 5 are intended for operation to register calls for elevator service from the floors of the structure or building served by the elevator cars. For example, if a prospective passenger at the fourth floor desires to register a call for service in the up direction, he presses the push button 4U to connect the up-call-storing relay 4UR across the buses L+3 and L3 The energization of the up callstoring relay .4UR results in closure of the holding contacts 4UR1 .to establish a holding circuit around the push button 4U.

The firsttavailable elevator car to approach the fourth floor whileset for travel in the up direction stops at the fourth floor to answer the call for service. For example,

it the elevator car A is set for travel in the up direction and is approaching the fourth floor, the brush 3-2 engages the contact segment [24 to complete the following stopping circuit:

L+3, 4UR'1, b4, 32, W3, s, L-3

-The energization of the floor call stopping relay S conditions the elevator car A to stop. at the fourth floor.

If the elevator car A stops at the fourth floor, the brush 33 engages the contact segment 04 to complete the following cancelling circuit:

L'-|-3, 4on1, 4URN, 04, 3s, W4, M3, L4

The energization of the cancelling coil 4URN resets the up call storing relay 4UR, and the relay opens. its 1 incandescent filament lamp.

in the down direction. F or example, if the push button 4D is pressed, the down call storing relay 4DR is connected across the buses L+3 and L-3 for energizatiom This relay closes its make contacts 4DR1 to establish a holding circuit around the push button. The first available elevator car set for travel in the down direction which approaches thefourth floor is stopped in response to the registered call; For example, if the elevator car A is the first available car to reach the fourth floor under these conditions, the following stopping circuit is completed: L+3, 4DR1, g4, 42, X3, S, L3

The energization of the cancellation coil resets the down call-storing relay 4BR, which opens its make contact 4DR1 to de-energize the-relay 4DR and the cancelling coil tDRN.

Each of the push buttons has associated therewith a signal device which preferably is in the form of a lamp. Each lamp is designated by the letter L preceded by the reference character of the push button with which the lamp is associated. For example, the lamp lUL is associated with the push :button 4U, and the lamp 4DL is associated with the push button 4D (see also FIG. 2).

Each of the lamps has one terminal connected to that terminal of the associated push button which is connected to the associated call storing relay. The remaining terminal of the lamp is connected to the bus L-3.

A similar energizing circuit is associated with each of the lamps for each of the push buttons.

Although each lamp may be of the low-wattage coldelectrode gaseous-discharge type, preferably it is an Lamps of the former type sometimes are referred to as neon lamps if the gas contained therein is primarily neon.

If desired, the lamps associated with the push buttons may have distinct colors. For example, lamps associated with the up push buttons may be designed to produce a white color, whereas lamps associated with the down push buttons may be designed to produce a red color.

It is believed that the operation of the lamps now may be set forth. Let it be assumed that a prospective passenger at the fourth floor presses the push button 4U to register a call for service in the up direction. As a result of such pressure of the push button, the up call storing 4UR1. It will be noted that the lamp 4UL now is energized through the following circuit:

The energization of the lamp continues until the relay 4UR is reset to open its contacts 4UR1. Each of the lamps is similarly energized in response to operation of its associated push button.

Referring to "FIG. 2, it will be observed that upon the registration of floor calls for elevator service, the lamps 4DL and/ or 4UL serve to illuminate the indicia disposed on the peripheral surface 45A of the drum 45 of the car "position indicator.

Similarly, the lamps provided for the other car position indicators of the system will illuminate the indicia associated therewith upon the registration of floor calls for elevator service. In addition, it will be noted that the energized lamps may serve as call registered signals, and if the up and down call lamps have distinct colors, such colors will denote the registration of a call for service in a specific direction. If dual signal units are provided as aforementioned, each lamp conveniently "registering means for said intermediate landing for illumi said indieia may illuminate the indicia for both of the elevator cars. a

. 11f, however, a separate position indicator is provided for eachcar and if the floor call registering push buttons for each floor are common to all of the elevator cars of the system, an additional lamp may be'connected in parallel with each of the lamps 2DL through 7DL'and .2UL through 6UL to illuminate, the indioia for each addi-.

tio'nal position indicator at each floor 'upon the "registr ation of a floor call (for elevator service for the associated If desired, up floor-call registering and floor-call reg: istered signal circuits similar to' those described above may be provided for the first floor. Such circuits, how ever, are not here illustrated.

Although the invention has been, described with ref erence to certain specific embodiments'thereof, numerous modifications falling invention are possible. I claim as my invention: a 1

1x111 an elevator system, a structure" having a pluwithin the spirit and scope of the 7 rality of landings'including a first terminal landing, a

second terminal landing and an intermediate landing located "between the terminal'landings, an elevator car,

directions relative to the structure to serve the landings, landing first call registering means operable from said intermediate landing for registering a call for elevator service in 'a first of said two'directions, first cancelling means for cancelling 'a call registered by said landing first call registering means, landing second call, registering means operable from said intermediate landing for regsistering acall for elevator service in the second of said 'two'dire'ctions, second cancelling means for cancelling. a call registered by said landing second callregist-ering means, indicatingmeans disposed at said intermediate landing, said indicating means having indicia for designating the position of the elevator car with respect to the structure, and, illuminating means responsive to the registration of ala'nding first call by said landing first call means mounting the elevator oar for movement in two first illuminatingmeans'responsive to and indicative of the registration of a landingfirst call by said landing first call registering means for said intermediate landing for illuminating said indicia solely during the period between the initial registration of said landing first call and the cancellation thereof by-saidfirst cancelling means, and

second illuminating l means responsive to landgindigcatives; 1 of the registration of a landing second call by said landing second call registering means for said intermediate landing for illuminating said indicia solely during the period between the initial registration of said landing second call and the cancellation thereof by said second cancelling H16 ans 3. In an elevatorsystema structure having .a plurality V of landings including a firstterminal landing; a second 3 terminal landing" andan intermediate landing located between the terminal landings, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement in two directions relative ito thelstructure" to' SEIVfi'lLlIB landings, landing firstfcall'registering means operable'from said intermediate landing vfor registering a call for elevator service in a first of said two directions, first cancelling means for cancelling a call registered by said landingfirst-call registering means, landing second call registering means open. able from said intermediate landing for registering a call lor elevator service in the second of said .twodirections, *second cancelling means for ca'ncellinga call registered by said landing secondtcall registering means, indicating means disposed atsaid intermediate landing, a housing for said indicating means, said indicating means having indici'a fordesignating'the position of the elevatorcar with resp'ectto the structure, said housing having an aperture for viewing-the one of saidindicia which designates the position of the elevator car at any giventime, first illuminating means responsive ,to the registration of a landing first call by said landing firstcallregistering means 7 for said intermediate landing for illuminating said one nati'ng said indicia dnring'the period between the initial tion of said landing second call. I 'a structureihaving a plurality 2. In an elevator system, of landings including a first terminallanding, a second "terminal landing and a'n intermediate landing located between =the terminal "landings, an'elevator oars, means of the regregistering calls for elevatorservice from the associatedlanding,firsrmeansdisposed iatsaid associated landing 'and'responsiveto a system condition for providing a re- .det'ermine'dvisual indication, and second means respon- 7 mounting the elevator car'for movement in two directions relative to the structure to serve the landings, landing first call registering means operable from said intermediate landing'for registering a call for elevator-service in a first of said two direction, first cancelling meansior cancelling a call. registered by said landing first call-registering means, landing second call registering means operable from said intermediate landing for registering a call for elevator service inthe second of said'two directions, second cancelling means for cancelling a call registered by said landing second call registering means, 1

/ indicating means disposed at said. intermediate landing,

said indicating-means having indicia [for designating the position of the elevator ear with respect to the structure,

said-first means solely during cell is registered.

indicium with a first color solely' duri'ng the period between the initial registration of said landing first call and the cancellation thereo-f by said first cancelling means, and

second illuminating means responsive to the registration" of a landing second callby said landing second call r eg- 'istering means for said intermediate landing for illuminating said one indicium with a second color solely during the periodjbetweenflthe initial registration of said landing second call and the cancellation thereof by said second cancelling means, said first and second illuminating means {being disposed within said housing;

of landings, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure to serve the landings, landing call means operable'lrom a landing for sive to the registration of a la'nding calbby said landing call means for said associated landing for illuminating the period in which such References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,710,192' Rowntree Apr. 23, 1 929 1,819,247 Kinnard Aug. 18, 193 1 1,821,500 Dunn s Sept. 1, 1931 1,896,784 Norton Feb. '7, 1933 2,303,473' Baum f. ,Dec.1'1, 1942 2,728,064' Savage Dec. 20, 1955 2,852,756 -Eames Sept. 16, 1958 "4; Inan elevatorsystem, a structure liaving'a pluralityfi

Claims

3. IN AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM, A STRUCTURE HAVING A PLURALITY OF LANDINGS INCLUDING A FIRST TERMINAL LANDING, A SECOND TERMINAL LANDING AND AN INTERMEDIATE LANDING LOCATED BETWEEN THE TERMINAL LANDINGS, AN ELEVATOR CAR, MEANS MOUNTING THE ELEVATOR CAR FOR MOVEMENT IN TWO DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO THE STRUCTURE TO SERVE THE LANDINGS, LANDING FIRST CALL REGISTERING MEANS OPERABLE FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE LANDING FOR REGISTERING A CALL FOR ELEVATOR SERVICE IN A FIRST OF SAID TWO DIRECTIONS, FIRST CANCELLING MEANS FOR CANCELLING A CALL REGISTERED BY SAID LANDING FIRST CALL REGISTERING MEANS, LANDING SECOND CALL REGISTERING MEANS OPERABLE FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE LANDING FOR REGISTERING A CALL FOR ELEVATOR SERVICE IN THE SECOND OF SAID TWO DIRECTIONS, SECOND CANCELLING MEANS FOR CANCELLING A CALL REGISTERED BY SAID LANDING SECOND CALL REGISTERING MEANS, INDICATING MEANS DISPOSED AT SAID INTERMEDIATE LANDING, A HOUSING FOR SAID INDICATING MEANS, SAID INDICATING MEANS HAVING INDICIA FOR DESIGNATING THE POSITION OF THE ELEVATOR CAR WITH RESPECT TO THE STRUCTURE, SAID HOUSING HAVING AN APERTURE FOR VIEWING THE ONE OF SAID INDICIA WHICH DESIGNATES THE POSITION OF THE ELEVATOR CAR AT ANY GIVEN TIME, FIRST ILLUMINATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE REGISTRATION OF A LANDING FIRST CALL BY SAID LANDING FIRST CALL REGISTERING MEANS FOR SAID INTERMEDIATE LANDING FOR ILLUMINATING SAID ONE