Emergency Back-Up Power System For Traction Elevators

• US 20140209415A1
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reynolds & Reynolds Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reynolds & Reynolds Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,601,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/290
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 11/04 Driving gear ; Details thereof, e.g. seals braking devices acting on the driving gear B66B5/02; of mining-hoist winding devices B66B15/08
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/027 to permit passengers to leave an elevator car in case of failure, e.g. moving the car to a reference floor or unlocking the door
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/458 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 50/00 Energy efficient technologies in elevators, escalators and moving walkways, e.g. energy saving or recuperation technologies

Abstract

An emergency power supply for a traction elevator system utilizes a microprocessor-based control arrangement with pulse-width modulator technology to create an efficient, cost-effective back-up power system for a traction elevator. The microprocessor-based control arrangement is used to sense a power loss, or any type of irregularity in the power supply. Upon sensing some type of power malfunction, the microprocessor-based control arrangement disconnects the elevator system from the main power source and then generates a control signal to initiate the supply of back-up power. Once the elevator electrical system has been recharged and stabilized, the microprocessor-based control arrangement will sense that recovery has occurred and will then provide an appropriate speed and direction command to the traction motor drive system.

Claims

1. A back-up power system for a traction elevator comprising:

a microprocessor-based control arrangement configured to recognize a loss of an input power supply, as well as irregularities in the power supply, including phase irregularities, the microprocessor-based control arrangement including a control module for generating a control signal to remove the input power supply from the traction elevator and a pulse-width modulated indicator signal;

an inverter timing system operatively connected to the microprocessor-based control arrangement, wherein the inverter timing system receives the indicator signal from the microprocessor-based control arrangement;

a back-up power generating means communicating with the inverter timing system, wherein the back-up power generating means generates an output to provide back-up power, wherein the inverter timing system includes a job cycle lockout timer, which limits an amount of time that the back-up power generating means supplies output power and ensures operation of a full elevator cycle prior to returning to normal control power; and

a main power lockout timer, which prevents simultaneous operation of the back-up power system and normal control power.

2. The backup power system of claim 1, wherein the back-up power generating means further comprises:

a dc battery power system;

a dc/dc converter operatively connected to the output of the dc battery power system; and

a three-phase generating means operatively connected to an output of the dc/dc converter, wherein the generating means generates an output consisting of a plurality of sine wave outputs.

3. The backup power system of claim 2, wherein the dc battery power system further comprises:

at least one dc battery; and

a battery charger system operatively connected to the batteries, wherein the charger system charges the dc battery under normal control power operation.

4. The back-up power system of claim 2, wherein the dc/dc converter further comprises:

a capacitor system to provide an ac current source to the converter;

a transformer, wherein a secondary of the transformer is operatively connected to a bridge rectifier and a low resistance capacitor bank to provide a dc voltage to the back-up generating means; and

an H-bridge configuration FET circuit to drive the transformer.

5. The back-up power system of claim 2, wherein the three phase generating means further comprises at least one half bridge IGBT system, wherein the IGBT system provides a 120 degree phasing between any two sine wave outputs.