Safety devices, lift systems with safety devices and methods of operating lift systems with safety devices

• US 10,640,330 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation And Operations AG, Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation And Opertions GmbH
• Original Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator AG (TK Elevator Corporation)
• Inventors: Kramer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Salata, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US15/736,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20180186600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 187247, 187277, 187284, 187286, 187287, 187291, 187391, 187393
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/30 effective on driving gear , e.g. acting on power electronics, on inverter or rectifier controlled motor
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/32 effective on braking devices , e.g. acting on electrically controlled brakes brake control H02P, lift brakes per se B66B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 13/22 Operation of door or gate contacts
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/00 Aspects of control systems of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0031 for safety reasons
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0062 by devices, being operable or not, mounted on the elevator car
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0068 by activating the safety brakes when the elevator car exceeds a certain upper or lower position in the elevator shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0093 Testing of safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/02 responsive to abnormal operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/04 for detecting excessive speed
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 9/00 Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12

Abstract

A safety device of a lift system may include a car, an evaluation device, and a measuring device. Conditions where departure from a door zone with an open car door or where impermissible accelerations/speeds are reached within the door zone are identifiable by way of the evaluation device and output signals from the measuring device. In such conditions, a control signal may be generated for braking the car. A safety circuit may be connected to the evaluation device and ensure a first safe zone in a shaft head of a lift shaft during an inspection run. The safety circuit may have a safety switch, and the car may include a tripping means for tripping the safety switch. The safety switch and the tripping means have a first relative position upon which the first safe zone is based, and entry of the car into the first safe zone during the inspection run is preventable by tripping the safety switch, which leads to generation of the control signal and braking of the car.

Claims

1. A safety device of a lift system having a lift car, the safety device comprising:

an evaluation device;

a measuring device, wherein by way of the evaluation device and output signals from the measuring device, conditions where the lift car departs from at least one door zone with an open door, where the lift car reaches an impermissible acceleration within the at least one door zone, or where the lift car reaches an impermissible speed within the at least one door zone are detectable and a control signal for braking the lift car is generated; and

a safety circuit that is connected to the evaluation device to ensure a first safe zone in a shaft head of a lift shaft during an inspection run, wherein the safety circuit includes a safety switch and the lift car includes tripping means for tripping the safety switch, wherein the safety switch and the tripping means have a first position relative to each other based on which the first safe zone is defined, so that the lift car can be prevented from moving into the first safe zone during the inspection run by tripping the safety switch, which causes the evaluation device to generate the control signal for braking the lift car.

2. The safety device of claim 1 further comprising a drive motor, wherein deactivation of the drive motor is effected by the control signal.

3. The safety device of claim 1 further comprising an operating brake, wherein engagement of the operating brake is effected by the control signal.

4. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the safety circuit is inactive during a normal run.

5. The safety device of claim 1 wherein a position of at least one of the safety switch or the tripping means is variable, wherein the safety switch and the tripping means have a second position relative to each other based on which a second safe zone in the lift shaft is defined, so that the lift car can be prevented from moving into the second safe zone during a normal run by tripping the safety switch, which causes the evaluation device to generate the control signal for braking the lift car.

6. The safety device of claim 5 wherein the tripping means is displaceable in a vertical direction with respect to the lift car between the first position and the second position such that a vertical extent of the first safe zone is greater than a vertical extent of the second safe zone.

7. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the safety circuit comprises a switch for monitoring a position of the tripping means.

8. A lift system comprising:

a lift car that is movable in a lift shaft; and

a safety device that includes

an evaluation device,

a measuring device, wherein by way of the evaluation device and output signals from the measuring device, conditions where the lift car departs from at least one door zone with an open door, where the lift car reaches an impermissible acceleration within the at least one door zone, or where the lift car reaches an impermissible speed within the at least one door zone are detectable and a control signal for braking the lift car is generated, and

a safety circuit that is connected to the evaluation device to ensure a first safe zone in a shaft head of a lift shaft during an inspection run, wherein the safety circuit includes a safety switch and the lift car includes tripping means for tripping the safety switch, wherein the safety switch and the tripping means have a first position relative to each other based on which the first safe zone is defined, so that the lift car can be prevented from moving into the first safe zone during the inspection run by tripping the safety switch, which causes the evaluation device to generate the control signal for braking the lift car.

9. The lift system of claim 8 further comprising a drive motor, wherein deactivation of the drive motor is effected by the control signal.

10. The lift system of claim 8 further comprising an operating brake, wherein engagement of the operating brake is effected by the control signal.

11. The lift system of claim 8 wherein the safety circuit is inactive during a normal run.

12. The lift system of claim 8 wherein a position of at least one of the safety switch or the tripping means is variable, wherein the safety switch and the tripping means have a second position relative to each other based on which a second safe zone in the lift shaft is defined, so that the lift car can be prevented from moving into the second safe zone during a normal run by tripping the safety switch, which causes the evaluation device to generate the control signal for braking the lift car.

13. The lift system of claim 12 wherein the tripping means is displaceable in a vertical direction with respect to the lift car between the first position and the second position such that a vertical extent of the first safe zone is greater than a vertical extent of the second safe zone.

14. The lift system of claim 12 wherein the lift car includes a railing that is disposed on a lift car roof and is displaceable in the vertical direction between a first position and a second position.

15. The lift system of claim 14 wherein the safety circuit comprises a switch that monitors a position of the railing.

16. The lift system of claim 14 wherein the railing is coupled to the tripping means such that the railing and the tripping means are displaceable only jointly between the first position and the second position.

17. A method for operating a lift system having a lift car and a safety device that comprises an evaluation device;

a measuring device; and

a safety circuit that is connected to the evaluation device to ensure a first safe zone in a shaft head of a lift shaft in an inspection mode, wherein the safety circuit includes a safety switch and the lift car includes tripping means for tripping the safety switch, wherein the safety switch and the tripping means have a first position relative to each other based on which the first safe zone is defined, the method comprising;

in a normal mode

detecting based on output signals from the measuring device conditions where the lift car departs from at least one door zone with an open car door, where the lift car reaches an impermissible acceleration within the at least one door zone, or where the lift car reaches an impermissible speed within the at least one door zone, and

generating a control signal for braking the lift car when any of the conditions is detected; and

in the inspection mode

generating the control signal for braking the lift car based on tripping of the safety switch, which prevents the lift car from moving into the first safe zone.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising deactivating a drive motor upon generation of the control signal.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising engaging an operating brake upon generation of the control signal.