Method and device for maintenance of an elevator or escalator installation

• US 20060144646A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Weiss, Markus, Engel, Werner
• Granted Patent: US 7,172,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/391
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 25/006 Monitoring for maintenance or repair for security reasons B66B29/005
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0087 Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226

Abstract

A method and a device for maintenance of an elevator or escalator installation includes an interface for connection of a controller of the installation with a display and control unit for display of operating parameters or for input of control commands and data, and connection equipment for creating a data connection with a maintenance center. Data and parameters stored in the maintenance center can be transferred to the display and control unit by the data connection after an identification check. A fault log with component designations, which is transferred by the data connection from the display and control unit to the maintenance center, can be produced in dependence on a comparison between operating parameters and transferred data and parameters.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining an elevator or escalator installation with a display and control unit adapted to be coupled to an interface of the installation, wherein the installation is identified and operating parameters of the installation are transmitted to the display and control unit and wherein data and parameters of the installation are requested by way of a data connection between the display and control unit and a maintenance center located remotely from the installation and are transferred to the display and control unit and operating faults of the installation are ascertained on the display and control unit by a test routine in dependence on a comparison between operating parameters and transferred data and parameters, comprising the steps of:

a. associating at least one of the components of the installation with the respective ascertained operating fault;

b. identifying each of the components of the installation associated with the respective ascertained operating fault; and

c. producing a fault log with a specification of the ascertained operating faults and the identified components.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the fault log and data for specification of the identified components is transmitted by way of the data connection to the maintenance center.

3. The method according to claim 1 including inputting an identification code into the display and control unit wherein a scope of access to the data and parameters stored in the installation and in the maintenance center depends on the identification code.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transferred data and parameters contain at least one of purchase order data, technical documents, replacement parts lists and parameters relative to maintenance.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the fault log, a list of the identified components and the transferred data and parameters can be displayed by the display and control unit.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the fault log, a list of the identified components and the transferred data and parameters can be processed by the display and control unit.

7. The method according to claim 1 including changing the operating parameters of the installation through the display and control unit.

8. The method according to claim 1 including forming the data connection by at least one of data connection equipment connected with the display and control unit and an emergency call terminal of the installation.

9. The method according to claim 1 including selecting a number of the components to be exchanged from the fault log or the identified components.

10. The method according to claim 9 including comparing the number of components to be exchanged with a state of replacement parts in a parts store and generating a signal if a deficient state is present.

11. The method according to claim 10 including utilizing the signal to generate a request for delivery of missing replacement parts.

12. The method according to claim 1 including determining the maintenance operations to be carried out from the fault log and automatically invoicing the maintenance operations.

13. A device for maintenance of an elevator or escalator installation, the installation including an interface for connection of a controller of the installation with a display and control unit for display of operating parameters and for input of control commands and data, and connection equipment for creating a data connection with a maintenance center, wherein data and parameters, which are stored in the maintenance center can be transferred to the display and control unit by the data connection and wherein operating faults of the installation are ascertainable by a test routine in dependence on a comparison between the operating parameters and the transferred data and parameters, comprising:

means in the display and control unit for associating at least one operating fault with at least one of the components and identifying the at least one component; and

means in the display and control unit for producing a fault log with a specification of the at least one ascertained operating fault and the at least one identified component.

14. The device according to claim 13 including means for performing the comparison automatically.

15. The device according to claim 13 wherein the display and control unit communicates at least one of the fault log and the specification of the at least one identified component to the maintenance center.

16. The device according to claim 13 wherein the data connection equipment is contained in the installation and is activatable by the display and control unit.

17. The device according to claim 13 wherein a means for running through the test routine is activatable by the display and control unit and generates a test result for transfer to at least one of the display and control unit and the maintenance center.

18. The device according to claim 13 wherein the display and control unit communicates at least one of the fault log and the specification of the at least one identified component to the maintenance center and in response, the maintenance center generates a report to the display and control unit.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein the report includes at least one of an availability status for replacement parts and repair instructions for rectification of the operating faults listed in the fault log.