ELEVATOR

• US 20100078267A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murolet IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/296
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving

Abstract

A car is suspended by suspension means and raised and lowered by means of a hoisting machine. Electric power supplied to a motor of the hoisting machine is controlled by an electric power converter. The electric power converter is controlled by means of a control apparatus. The control apparatus estimates a maximum value of a regenerative voltage at time of a regenerative operation of the hoisting machine when the car is running. When the estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage reaches a predetermined voltage limit value, the control apparatus controls the electric power converter so as to stop an increase in estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage.

Claims

1. An elevator apparatus, comprising:

a hoisting machine including a driving sheave and a motor for rotating the driving sheave;

suspension means wound around the driving sheave;

a car suspended by the suspension means to be raised and lowered by the hoisting machine;

an electric power converter for controlling electric power supplied to the motor; and

a control apparatus for controlling the electric power converter,

wherein the control apparatus estimates a maximum value of a regenerative voltage at time of a regenerative operation of the hoisting machine when the car is running, and controls the electric power converter so as to stop an increase in estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage when the estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage reaches a predetermined voltage limit value.

2. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control apparatus reduces an acceleration of the car to stop the increase in estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage.

3. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the motor is a synchronous motor driven by a d-axis current and a q-axis current; and

the control apparatus estimates the maximum value of the regenerative voltage based on the d-axis current, the q-axis current, and an angular speed of the motor.

4. An elevator apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control apparatus sets the d-axis current to a predetermined value and the q-axis current to a value determined based at least on an acceleration torque.