Upgraded elevator control circuit and method dealing with fire danger

• US 6,715,586 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William A. Shubin
• Original Assignee: William A. Shubin
• Inventors: Shubin, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US10/128,906
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 187/316, 187/317, 187/247, 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 49/43, 491/18, 318/66, 318/71, 388/826, 388/830, 388/834, 388/930
• US Class Current: 187/316
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 13/143 electrical

Abstract

A method for upgrading an elevator control circuit having a phase 1, alternate and phase 2 input circuits, includes placing a first impedance of a switching device across a door motor armature of the elevator control circuit for enabling a selected door closure speed, and placing a second impedance of the switching device in series with a door motor field of the elevator control circuit for enabling a selected door operating torque. The method further provides a logic circuit enabling the impedances when an input signal is present at, at least one of, the phase 1 and the alternate input circuits; and disabling the impedances when an input signal is present at the phase 2 input circuit.

Claims

1. An upgraded elevator control apparatus functional in a building and comprising in combination:

an elevator control circuit having a phase 1, alternate and phase 2 input circuits; and

an upgrading circuit;

the upgrading circuit providing a switching means enabled for placing a first variable impedance across a door motor armature of the elevator control circuit thereby enabling a selected door closure speed;

the switching means further enabled for placing a second variable impedance in series with a door motor field of the elevator control circuit thereby enabling a selected door operating torque;

the upgrading circuit further providing a means for logically enabling the first and second variable impedances when an input signal is present at, at least one of the phase 1 and the alternate input circuits of the elevator control circuit, and for logically disabling the first and second variable impedances when an input signal is present at the phase 2 input circuit of the elevator control circuit, the apparatus further comprising means for sensing smoke on at least two floors of the building and for communicating with the logically enabling means for overriding optical door control and enabling the first and second impedances when smoke is sensed on at least one of the at least two floors of the building.

2. An upgraded elevator control method functional in a building and comprising the steps of:

providing an elevator control circuit having a phase 1, alternate and phase 2 input circuits;

providing an upgrading circuit including a switching means;

enabling the switching means for placing a first variable impedance across a door motor armature of the elevator control circuit thereby selecting a door closure speed;

enabling the switching means further for placing a second variable impedance in series with a door motor field of the elevator control circuit thereby selecting a door operating torque;

providing an input signal at, at least one of the phase 1 and the alternate input circuits of the elevator control circuit so as to enable the first and second variable impedances;

providing an input signal at the phase 2 input circuit of the elevator control circuit so as to logically disable the first and second variable impedances;

further providing a means for sensing smoke on at least two floors of the building;

overriding optical door control and enabling the first and second impedances when smoke is sensed on at least one of the at least two floors of the building.