Emergency elevator power management
First Claim
1. An elevator system, comprising:
- a plurality of elevator cars;
a plurality of elevator machines, respectively associated with the elevator cars to selectively cause movement of the associated elevator car, at least some of the elevator machines respectively operating in a first mode including consuming power and in a second mode including generating power;
a power source that provides power for elevator car movement, the power source having a power output threshold corresponding to a maximum power capacity of the power source and a power intake threshold corresponding to a maximum amount of generated power that can be taken in by the power source; and
at least one controller that is configured todetermine when the power source is providing power for the elevator system, anddynamically adjust how the plurality of machines move the elevator cars to maximize a number of the plurality cars being used to move passengers, to keep power consumption by the elevator system below the power output threshold and to keep power generation by the elevator system below the power intake threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes: a plurality of elevator cars; a plurality of elevator machines, respectively associated with the elevator cars to selectively cause movement of the associated elevator car, at least some of the elevator machines respectively operating in a first mode including consuming power and in a second mode including generating power; a power source having a power output threshold and a power intake threshold; and at least one controller that is configured to determine when the power source is providing power for the elevator system, and dynamically adjust how the plurality of machines move the elevator cars to maximize a number of the plurality cars being used to move passengers while keeping power consumption by the elevator system below the power output threshold and keeping power generation by the elevator system below the power intake threshold.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An elevator system, comprising:
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a plurality of elevator cars; a plurality of elevator machines, respectively associated with the elevator cars to selectively cause movement of the associated elevator car, at least some of the elevator machines respectively operating in a first mode including consuming power and in a second mode including generating power; a power source that provides power for elevator car movement, the power source having a power output threshold corresponding to a maximum power capacity of the power source and a power intake threshold corresponding to a maximum amount of generated power that can be taken in by the power source; and at least one controller that is configured to determine when the power source is providing power for the elevator system, and dynamically adjust how the plurality of machines move the elevator cars to maximize a number of the plurality cars being used to move passengers, to keep power consumption by the elevator system below the power output threshold and to keep power generation by the elevator system below the power intake threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating an elevator system that includes a plurality of elevator cars, a plurality of elevator machines, and a power source, wherein the elevator machines are respectively associated with the elevator cars to selectively cause movement of the associated elevator cars, wherein the power source provides power for elevator car movement, and wherein the power source has a power output threshold corresponding to a maximum power capacity of the power source and a power intake threshold corresponding to a maximum amount of generated power that can be taken in by the power source, the method comprising:
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determining when the power source is providing power for the elevator system; and dynamically adjusting how the plurality of machines move the elevator cars to maximize a number of the plurality of cars being used to move passengers, to keep power consumption by the elevator system below the power output threshold and to keep power generation by the elevator system below the power intake threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification