Elevator safety circuit monitor and control for drive and brake

• US 6,056,088 A
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Gerstenkorn, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Salata, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US09/158,020
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/280, 187/390, 187/391, 187/393, 318/434, 318/454, 318/455, 318/474, 318/478, 318/479, 361/30, 361/79
• US Class Current: 187/390
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0031 for safety reasons

Abstract

Monitoring equipment for an elevator drive control includes two modules, a safety circuit sensor system and a motor-switching and/or brake-switching circuit, wherein the monitoring of a safety circuit and the consequential actions resulting therefrom takes place exclusively by means of electronic components while avoiding electrically conductive separating locations. By the use of electronic components, electromechanical switching elements, which have electrically conductive separating locations, can be dispensed with. In addition, an appreciable reduction in the noise level is achieved, since switching noises no longer arise. This has an advantageous effect particularly in the case of elevator installations without a machine room. Furthermore, the manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced and a high security and reliability of the monitoring equipment can be ensured by the use of usual electronic components.

Claims

1. Monitoring equipment for a drive control for an elevator installation with a frequency converter drive, the drive control including an elevator drive motor regulated by a frequency converter for operating an elevator car, a brake for stopping the elevator car and a safety circuit for indicating operating states of the elevator installation, the monitoring equipment comprising:

a motor switching and/or brake switching circuit connected between a safety circuit and at least one of a drive motor and a brake for an elevator car associated with the safety circuit, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit responding to operation of the safety circuit for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake, the monitoring equipment being formed exclusively of electronic components without electromechanical contactors or relays for reducing acoustic noise and electrically conducting separating locations in the monitoring equipment;

a signal source connected to the safety circuit for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit;

a current sensor connected between the safety circuit and an evaluating unit for generating one output signal; and

a voltage sensor connected to the safety circuit for generating another output signal, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit being responsive to said output signals for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake.

2. The monitoring equipment according to claim 1 wherein said signal source is a direct current signal source connected to the safety circuit for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit.

3. The monitoring equipment according to claim 1 wherein said signal source is an alternating current signal source connected to the safety circuit for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit.

4. The monitoring equipment according to claim 1 wherein said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit includes a frequency converter power unit, a drive/control unit of variable voltage and variable frequency, an intelligent protection system and a brake control connected together, wherein said intelligent protection system discerns all monitoring and controlling functions that are relevant to safety of the safety circuit, said drive/control unit, said frequency converter power unit and said brake control.

5. The monitoring equipment according to claim 4 wherein said intelligent protection system executes the monitoring and controlling functions, that are relevant to safety, in two channels and includes a state comparator for comparison of data generated in said two channels.

6. The monitoring equipment according to claim 5 including a microcontroller with a program in each said channel for processing the monitoring and controlling functions.

7. The monitoring equipment according to claim 4 including a microcontroller with a program for recognizing faults in an operating sequence of switching operations of the safety circuit, said drive/control unit, said frequency converter power unit, said brake control and said intelligent protection system whereby dangerous states of operation of the elevator are prevented.

8. Monitoring equipment for a drive control for an elevator installation, the drive control including an elevator drive motor for operating an elevator car, a brake for stopping the elevator car and a safety circuit for indicating operating states of the elevator installation, the monitoring equipment comprising:

a safety circuit sensor system for sensing operation of a safety circuit for an elevator;

a motor switching and/or brake switching circuit connected between said safety circuit sensor system and at least one of a drive motor and a brake for an elevator car associated with the safety circuit, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit responding to operation of the safety circuit for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake, the monitoring equipment being formed exclusively of electronic components for reducing acoustic noise and electrically conducting separating locations in the monitoring equipment;

a signal source connected to said safety circuit sensor system and for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit and wherein said safety circuit sensor system includes a current sensor connected to an evaluating unit for generating one output signal and a voltage sensor for generating another output signal, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit being responsive to said output signals for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake; and

wherein said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit includes a frequency converter power unit, a drive/control unit of variable voltage and variable frequency, an intelligent protection system and a brake control connected together, wherein said intelligent protection system discerns all monitoring and controlling functions that are relevant to safety of said safety circuit sensor system, said drive/control unit, said frequency converter power unit and said brake control.

9. The monitoring equipment according to claim 8 wherein said signal source is a direct current signal source connected to said safety circuit sensor system for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit.

10. The monitoring equipment according to claim 8 wherein said signal source is an alternating current signal source connected to said safety circuit sensor system for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit.

11. The monitoring equipment according to claim 8 wherein said intelligent protection system executes the monitoring and controlling functions, that are relevant to safety, in two channels and includes a state comparator for comparison of data generated in said two channels.

12. The monitoring equipment according to claim 11 including a microcontroller with a program in each said channel for processing the monitoring and controlling functions.

13. The monitoring equipment according to claim 8 including a microcontroller with a program for recognizing faults in an operating sequence of switching operations of said safety circuit sensor system, said drive/control unit, said frequency converter power unit, said brake control and said intelligent protection system whereby dangerous states of operation of the elevator are prevented.

14. Monitoring equipment for a drive control for an elevator installation with a frequency converter drive, the drive control including an elevator drive motor regulated by a frequency converter for operating an elevator car, a brake for stopping the elevator car and a safety circuit for indicating operating states of the elevator installation, the monitoring equipment comprising:

a motor switching and/or brake switching circuit connected between a safety circuit and at least one of a drive motor and a brake for an elevator car associated with the safety circuit, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit responding to operation of the safety circuit for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake, the monitoring equipment being formed exclusively of electronic components without electromechanical contactors or relays for reducing acoustic noise and electrically conducting separating locations in the monitoring equipment;

a signal source connected to the safety circuit for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit; and

a sensor connected to the safety circuit for generating an output signal representing a characteristic of the electrical power supplied by the signal source through the safety circuit, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit being responsive to said output signal for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake.

15. The monitoring equipment according to claim 14 wherein said signal source is one of a direct current signal source and an alternating current signal source connected to the safety circuit for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit.

16. The monitoring equipment according to claim 14 wherein said sensor is one of a current sensor and a voltage sensor.

17. A drive control for an elevator system with a frequency converter drive, the elevator system including at least one elevator car moved by a drive motor regulated by a frequency converter and stopped by a brake, a safety circuit including contacts generating signals representing operation of the safety circuit and a source of electrical power for operating the drive motor, the drive control comprising:

monitoring equipment being formed from electronic components without electromechanical contactors or relays having relatively low levels of noise generation, cross talk and shock potential including;

a signal source generating electrical power at at least one of a magnitude and a frequency different from a magnitude and frequency of a source of electrical power for operating a drive motor for moving an elevator car of the elevator system, said signal source being connected to contacts of the safety circuit;

a sensor connected to said signal source for sensing a characteristic of the signal source electrical power representing operation of the safety circuit contacts; and

a motor switching and/or brake switching circuit connected to said sensor and between the safety circuit and at least one of the drive motor and a brake for the elevator car, said motor switching and/or brake circuit operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake in response to operation of the safety circuit contacts sensed by said sensor.

18. Monitoring equipment for a drive control for an elevator installation, the drive control including an elevator drive motor for operating an elevator car, a brake for stopping the elevator car and a safety circuit for indicating operating states of the elevator installation, the monitoring equipment comprising:

a safety circuit sensor system for sensing operation of a safety circuit for an elevator;

a motor switching and/or brake switching circuit connected between said safety circuit sensor system and at least one of a drive motor and a brake for an elevator car associated with the safety circuit, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit responding to operation of the safety circuit for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake, the monitoring equipment being formed exclusively of electronic components for reducing acoustic noise and electrically conducting separating locations in the monitoring equipment;

a signal source connected to said safety circuit sensor system and for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit and wherein said safety circuit sensor system includes a sensor connected to the safety circuit for generating an output signal representing a characteristic of the electrical power supplied by said signal source through the safety circuit, said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit being responsive to said output signal for operating at least one of the drive motor and the brake; and

wherein said motor switching and/or brake switching circuit includes a frequency converter power unit, a drive/control unit of variable voltage and variable frequency, an intelligent protection system and a brake control connected together, wherein said intelligent protection system discerns all monitoring and controlling functions that are relevant to safety of said safety circuit sensor system, said drive/control unit, said frequency converter power unit and said brake control.

19. The monitoring equipment according to claim 18 wherein said signal source is one of a direct current signal source and an alternating current signal source connected to the safety circuit for supplying electrical power to the safety circuit.

20. The monitoring equipment according to claim 18 wherein said sensor is one of a current sensor and a voltage sensor.