ELEVATOR SYSTEM

• US 20080283341A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: Jahkonen, Pekka, Syrman, Timo, Korvenranta, Sakari, AULANKO, Esko
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/289
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/308 with AC powered elevator drive

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator system and a method for reducing total power in an elevator system. According to the invention, the elevator system comprises at least one elevator without counterweight for moving people and/or goods, which elevator without counterweight comprises a power converter unit, an elevator motor, a traction sheave, a set of hoisting ropes and an elevator car, and which elevator system comprises means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. Elevator system, said elevator system comprising at least one elevator without counterweight for moving people and/or goods, said elevator without counterweight comprising a power converter unit, an elevator motor, a traction sheave, a set of hoisting ropes and an elevator car plus means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage, wherein means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage comprise at least one elevator without counterweight, namely, a weighted elevator, said weighted elevator comprising a weight, a set of hoisting ropes and a motor and a traction sheave, and the power converter units of at least one elevator without counterweight for moving people and/or goods and at least one weighted elevator are connected to a common direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

14. Elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are arranged in the direct-voltage intermediate circuit of the elevator system, to which circuit is also connected a power converter unit arranged to control the elevator motor.

15. Elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage comprise a flywheel and a motor.

16. Elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for storing electric energy and discharging a storage of electric energy.

17. Elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

18. Elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the electricity supply and/or in the power converter unit arranged between the electricity network and the direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

19. Elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the power converter unit arranged to control the elevator motor.

25. Elevator system according to claim 14, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage comprise a flywheel and a motor.

26. Elevator system according to claim 14, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for storing electric energy and discharging a storage of electric energy.

27. Elevator system according to claim 15, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for storing electric energy and discharging a storage of electric energy.

28. Elevator system according to claim 14, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

29. Elevator system according to claim 15, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

30. Elevator system according to claim 16, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

31. Elevator system according to claim 14, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the electricity supply and/or in the power converter unit arranged between the electricity network and the direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

32. Elevator system according to claim 15, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the electricity supply and/or in the power converter unit arranged between the electricity network and the direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

20. Method for reducing the total power in an elevator system, said elevator system comprising at least one without counterweight for transporting people and/or goods, said elevator without counterweight comprising a power converter unit, an elevator motor, a traction sheave, a set of hoisting ropes and an elevator car, wherein at least one weighted elevator and the power converter unit of said weighted elevator for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are provided in the elevator system.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein power obtained from the electricity network is used for charging the storage of mechanical energy.

22. Method according to claim 20, wherein power generated by the motor of an elevator comprised in the elevator system is used for charging the storage of mechanical energy.

23. Method according to claim 20, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging the energy storage are used to reduce the average power in the elevator system.

24. Method according to claim 20, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging the energy storage are used to reduce peak power in the elevator system.