OPERATIONAL MODES FOR MULTICAR HOISTWAY SYSTEMS

• US 20180022574A1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Pasini, Jose Miguel, Ginsberg, David, Hsu, Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 10,829,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/2466 For elevator systems with multiple shafts and multiple cars per shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/28 electrical detecting excessive speed B66B5/04 ; control of electrical motor H02P
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 11/0005 Constructional features of hoistways
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 11/0045 in the hoistway
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 11/0407 actuated by an electrical linear motor in the counterweight B66B17/12
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/223 Taking into account the separation of passengers or groups
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/405 by input of special passenger or passenger group
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 9/003 for lateral transfer of car or frame, e.g. between vertical hoistways or to/from a parking position

Abstract

A ropeless elevator system (10) includes a plurality of elevator cars (14) configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane (13, 15, 17), a propulsion system (16, 18) to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars, and a controller (46). The controller is configured to operate in an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands, and to selectively operate in an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars performs a predetermined task and is prevented from performing the in-group mode service demands.

Claims

1. A ropeless elevator system comprising:

a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane;

a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars; and

a controller configured to operate in an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands, and to selectively operate in an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars performs a predetermined task and is prevented from performing the in-group mode service demands.

2. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system is a linear propulsion system comprising:

a primary portion mounted in the hoistway, the primary portion comprising a plurality of motor segments; and

a plurality of secondary portions, wherein at least one secondary portion of the plurality of secondary portions is mounted to one elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars.

3. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein the hoistway is partially constructed and is configured for use in a building under construction.

4. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is programmed to:

reserve at least two designated, non-overlapping areas on the hoistway;

allow elevator car traffic that must go through the designated area to serve the service demands assigned thereto prior to switching to the out-of-group mode; and

direct at least one selected car to each designated area of the at least two designated areas.

5. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is programmed to:

receive schedule information for future use of the elevator system; and

devise, based on the received schedule information, a predefined path for the at least one selected elevator car such that the at least one selected elevator car meets a demand of the future use with minimal conflict between selected elevator cars.

6. The ropeless elevator system of claim 5, wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is further programmed to:

announce the beginning of the future use; and

move the at least one selected elevator car to a predetermined start position.

7. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is programmed to:

assign a specific task to the at least one selected elevator car;

receive information regarding operational constraints and capabilities of the at least one selected elevator car assigned to the specific task; and

perform the specific task by operating the at least one selected elevator car in a predetermined manner within the received operational constraints and capabilities.

8. The ropeless elevator system of claim 7, wherein the at least one selected elevator car is at least one of a winch car having a winch configured to pull a load, a container car configured to couple to a load, a long object puller configured move an object hanging beneath the long object puller, and an elevator car having elongated secondaries.

9. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected elevator car is at least two selected elevator cars, and wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is programmed to:

assign a specific task to the at least two selected elevator cars;

move the at least two selected elevator cars to a preparation area such that the at least two selected elevator cars can be prepared to perform the specific task; and

perform the specific task by simultaneously operating the at least two selected elevator cars in collaboration and in a predetermined manner within the received operational constraints and capabilities.

10. The ropeless elevator system of claim 9, wherein the specific task is moving a load horizontally.

11. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lane is a plurality of lanes, and wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is programmed to:

define a one-way circulation path around the plurality of lanes, the one-way circulation path configured to move the at least one selected elevator car in an upward direction, a horizontal direction, and a downward direction; and

assign the at least one selected elevator car to the one-way circulation path for circulation exclusively therein during at least a portion of the out-of group mode.

12. The ropeless elevator system of claim 11, wherein in the out-of-group mode the controller is further programmed to:

selectively remove the at least one selected elevator car from the one-way circulation path to serve a demand at a location that is not on the one-way circulation path; and

return the at least one selected elevator car to the one-way circulation path after the demand has been served.

21. The ropeless elevator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control terminal in signal communication with the controller, the control terminal configured to enable authorized personnel to switch the elevator system between the in-group mode and the out-of-group mode.

13. A method of controlling a ropeless elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having at least one lane and a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars, the method comprising:

operating in an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands; and

selectively operating in an out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars performs a predetermined task and is prevented from performing the in-group mode service demands.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein operating in the out-of-group mode further comprises:

reserving at least two designated areas on the hoistway;

allowing elevator car traffic that must go through the designated area to serve the service demands assigned thereto prior to switching to the out-of-group mode; and

directing at least one selected car to each designated area of the at least two designated areas.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein operating in the out-of-group mode further comprises:

receiving schedule information for future use of the elevator system; and

devising, based on the received schedule information, a predefined path for the at least one selected elevator car such that the at least one selected elevator car meets a demand of the future use with minimal conflict between selected elevator cars.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein operating in the out-of-group mode further comprises:

assigning a specific task to the at least one selected elevator car;

receiving information regarding operational constraints and capabilities of the at least one selected elevator car assigned to the specific task; and

performing the specific task by operating the at least one selected elevator car in a predetermined manner within the received operational constraints and capabilities.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one selected elevator car is at least two selected elevator cars, and wherein operating in the out-of-group mode comprises:

assigning a specific task to the at least two selected elevator cars;

moving the at least two selected elevator cars to a preparation area such that the at least two selected elevator cars can be prepared to perform the specific task; and

performing the specific task by simultaneously operating the at least two selected elevator cars in collaboration and in a predetermined manner within the received operational constraints and capabilities.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one lane is a plurality of lanes, and wherein operating in the out-of-group mode comprises:

defining a one-way circulation path around the plurality of lanes, the one-way circulation path configured to move the at least one selected elevator car in an upward direction, a horizontal direction, and a downward direction; and

assigning the at least one selected elevator car to the one-way circulation path for circulation exclusively therein during the out-of group mode.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein operating in the out-of-group mode further comprises:

selectively removing the at least one selected elevator car from the one-way circulation path to serve a demand at a location that is not on the one-way circulation path; and

returning the at least one selected elevator car to the one-way circulation path after the demand has been served.

20. A method of controlling a ropeless elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator cars configured to travel in a hoistway having a plurality of lanes and a propulsion system to impart force to each elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars, the method comprising:

operating in an in-group mode where the plurality of elevator cars perform service demands; and

selectively operating in a first out-of-group mode, a second out-of-group mode, a third out-of-group mode, a fourth out-of-group mode, and a fifth out-of-group mode where at least one selected elevator car of the plurality of elevator cars performs a predetermined task and is prevented from performing the in-group mode service demands,

wherein operating in the first out-of-group mode comprises;

reserving at least two designated areas on the hoistway;

allowing elevator car traffic that must go through the designated area to serve the service demands assigned thereto prior to switching to the out-of-group mode; and

directing at least one selected car to each designated area of the at least two designated areas;

wherein operating in the second out-of-group mode comprises;

receiving schedule information for future use of the elevator system; and

devising, based on the received schedule information, a predefined path for the at least one selected elevator car such that the at least one selected elevator car meets a demand of the future use with minimal conflict between selected elevator cars;

wherein operating in the third out-of-group mode comprises;

assigning a specific task to the at least one selected elevator car;

receiving information regarding operational constraints and capabilities of the at least one selected elevator car assigned to the specific task; and

performing the specific task by operating the at least one selected elevator car in a predetermined manner within the received operational constraints and capabilities;

wherein operating in the fourth out-of group mode comprises;

assigning a specific task to at least two selected elevator cars;

moving the at least two selected elevator cars to a preparation area such that the at least two selected elevator cars can be prepared to perform the specific task; and

performing the specific task by simultaneously operating the at least two selected elevator cars in collaboration and in a predetermined manner within the received operational constraints and capabilities;

wherein operating in the fifth out-of-group mode comprises;

defining a one-way circulation path around the plurality of lanes, the one-way circulation path configured to move the at least one selected elevator car in an upward direction, a horizontal direction, and a downward direction; and

assigning the at least one selected elevator car to the one-way circulation path for circulation exclusively therein during the out-of group mode.