Method for performing an alarm call in an elevator system

• US 5,714,726 A
• Filed: 08/16/1995
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kone Oyj
• Original Assignee: Kone Oyj
• Inventors: Ketoviita, Seppo
• Primary Examiner(s): NAPPI, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US08/515,595
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 187/391, 187/393, 187/394, 187/247
• US Class Current: 187/391
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0006 Monitoring devices or performance analysers B66B5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0025 for maintenance or repair

Abstract

A system for regional and local supervision and monitoring of elevator equipment, that includes a modular system containing a service center set of equipment and an on-site set of equipment connected to at least one building. Communication between these sets of equipment is implemented using a remote communication link. A connection from an elevator car to a service center and from a service center to an elevator car is provided through the on-site equipment. A connection between an elevator car and a preselected service point can be established by the on-site equipment.

Claims

1. A method for testing the operation of a elevator system, comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring signals indicating functions of devices in the elevator system;

determining if a malfunction has occurred in the elevator system based on the monitored signals including whether an elevator has stopped moving;

storing the monitored signals in a memory;

a change determining step determining if a change has taken place in the status of the monitored signal during a time period characteristic to the corresponding malfunction;

transmitting a car call signal to a stopped elevator car, when the time period has lapsed and said change determining step determines that no change has taken place;

determining if the stopped elevator car responds to the car call signal; and

emitting a signal representing a malfunction in the elevator system if said determining step determines that the stopped elevator car did not respond to the car call signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of;

transmitting an alarm signal to a service unit identifying the stopped elevator car, if the stopped elevator car does not react to the car call signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitored signal includes an alarm signal which may be activated by a passenger triggering an alarm button,

said transmitting the car call signal step transmitting the car call signal to the stopped elevator car substantially immediately if the alarm signal is triggered by the passenger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored signals include a combination of signals.

5. A method for arranging service for an elevator which has malfunctioned, comprising the steps of:

monitoring signals from the elevator indicating elevator status;

determining if the monitored signals represent an elevator malfunction;

a first sendinq step sending an alarm call to a service center if the monitored signal represents an elevator malfunction;

transmitting a car call signal to the malfunctioning elevator which instructs the malfunctioning elevator to move to a different position;

determining if the elevator reacts to the car call signal; and

a second sending step sending a service person to service the elevator if said determining step determines that the elevator did not react to the car call signal.

6. The method for arranging service for an elevator according to claim 5, further comprising the step of delaying said first sending step by a time period.

7. The method for arranging service for an elevator according to claim 6, wherein the time period varies according to the type of malfunction.

8. The method for arranging service for an elevator according to claim 7, wherein the monitored signals include an alarm signal triggered by a passenger and wherein the delay time is substantially zero when the alarm signal is triggered by the passenger.

9. The method for arranging service for an elevator according to claim 5, wherein the monitored signals include combinations of signals.

10. The method for arranging service for an elevator according to claim 5, wherein the alarm call sent in said first sending step includes information identifying the malfunctioning elevator and the type of malfunction.

11. A remote elevator monitoring system centrally monitoring information from an elevator system with service center equipment located remote from the elevator system, comprising:

on-site equipment located near the elevator system including

an I/O unit, said I/O unit monitoring signals from the elevator system to determine if a malfunction has occurred; and

a communication device, connecting said I/O unit and the service center equipment;

the service center equipment including a receiver receiving signals from said I/O unit via said communication device;

said I/O unit transmitting a car call signal to the malfunctioning elevator instructing the malfunctioning elevator to move to a different position;

said I/O unit determining if the malfunctioning elevator reacts to the car call signal;

said I/O unit transmitting an alarm call to said service center equipment if the monitored signal represents a malfunction and if the malfunctioning elevator did not react to the car call signal; and

said service center equipment dispatching a service person to service the elevator in response to the alarm call transmitted by said I/O unit.

12. The remote elevator monitoring system according to claim 11, said I/O unit delaying the transmission of the alarm call by a time period.

13. The remote elevator monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein said I/O unit varies the delay time according to the type of malfunction determined by said I/O unit.

14. The remote elevator monitoring system according to claim 13, the elevator system including an alarm button which may be triggered by a passenger, and

wherein the delay time is substantially zero when the alarm button is triggered by the passenger.

15. The remote elevator monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the signals monitored by said I/O unit include combinations of signals.

16. The remote elevator monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the elevator system is distributed in a plurality of buildings and each building includes a corresponding set of on-site equipment.