System and method for remote monitoring and maintenance management of vertical transportation equipment

• US 7,002,462 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gannett Fleming Incorporated (Gannett Fleming Affiliates Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gannett Fleming Incorporated (Gannett Fleming Affiliates Incorporated)
• Inventors: Welch, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US10/079,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/3.1, 340/286.02, 340/679, 340/685, 187/193
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 27/00 Indicating operating conditions of escalators or moving walkways of general application G08
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring

Abstract

The Vertical Transportation-Maintenance Management System (VTMMS) invention described herein is directed towards an automated system and method for monitoring, management, and maintenance of transportation equipment, including but not limited to escalators, elevators, moving walkways, baggage carousels, revolving doors, and automated doors. The system and method is also adaptable to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units and other building equipment. The system and method collects data from the monitored equipment and preserves data that is related to equipment alarms, faults, failures, and maintenance requirements and activities as determined by monitoring software.

Claims

1. A system for remote monitoring of vertical transportation equipment comprising:

a) vertical transportation equipment;

b) a Remote Terminal Unit communicably linked to said vertical transportation equipment;

c) a Human-Machine Interface Server communicably linked to said Remote Terminal Unit;

d) a Computerized Maintenance Management System Server communicably linked to said Human-Machine Interface; and

, e) remote devices which are communicably linked to said Computerized Maintenance Management System Server.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a Camera communicably linked to said Remote Terminal Unit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a Video File Server communicably linked to said Human-Machine Interface Server.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a Local Area Network communicably linked to said Computerized Maintenance Management System Server.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a computer work station communicably linked to said Computerized Maintenance Management System Server by said Local Area Network.

6. A system for remote monitoring of vertical transportation equipment comprising:

a) vertical transportation equipment having a Programmable Logic Control b) a Remote Terminal Unit communicably linked to said Programmable Logic Control;

c) a Camera communicably linked to said Remote Terminal Unit d) a Human-Machine Interface Server communicably linked to said Remote Terminal Unit;

e) a Computerized Maintenance Management System Server communicably linked to said Human-Machine Interface; and

, f) remote devices which are communicably linked to said Computerized Maintenance Management System Server.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a Video File Server communicably linked to said Human-Machine Interface Server.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a Local Area Network communicably linked to said Computerized Maintenance Management System Server.

9. The system of claim 8, Further comprising a computer work station communicably linked to said Computerized Maintenance Management System Server by said Local Area Network.

10. A method of monitoring and managing vertical transportation equipment comprising:

a) providing vertical transportation equipment;

b) providing an equipment monitoring system which gathers real-time information corresponding to identified operational parameters for transportation equipment;

c) detecting an equipment fault, failure, or alarm;

d) capturing and storing information relating to said equipment fault, failure, or alarm;

e) transmitting said information relating to said equipment fault, failure, or alarm to a server; and

f) generating a system alarm corresponding to the equipment fault, failure or alarm;

g) transmitting said system alarm to a remote device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

a) generating a work order which corresponds to said equipment fault;

b) transmitting said work order to a Remote Terminal Unit;

c) completing the work order;

d) capturing information from the completed work order;

e) generating predictive and preventative maintenance schedules using information from completed work orders.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein said identified operational parameters are selected from the group consisting of, handrail speed, step speed, current draw on all motors, motor temperatures, electrical consumption, direction of belt travel, deceleration rates, safety device activation times, comb impact force, total run time, run time by direction, run time since last fault, stop distance, and down time.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the equipment monitoring system is comprised of;

a) vertical transportation equipment having a Programmable Logic Control b) a Remote Terminal Unit communicably linked to said Programmable Logic Control;

c) a Camera communicably linked to said Remote Terminal Unit d) a Human-Machine Interface Server communicably linked to said Remote Terminal Unit;

e) a Computerized Maintenance Management System Server communicably linked to said Human-Machine Interface; and

, f) remote devices which are communicably linked to said Computerized Maintenance Management System Server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the equipment monitoring system is further comprised of a Video File Server communicably linked to said Human-Machine Interface Server.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said real-time information comprises video images of the equipment and surrounding areas.

16. A method of monitoring vertical transportation equipment comprising gathering real-time information corresponding to identified operational parameters, wherein said operational parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

speed of travel, current draw on all motors, motor temperatures, electrical consumption, direction of travel, deceleration rates, safety device activation times, comb impact force, total run time, run time by direction, run time since last fault, stop distance, and down time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said vertical transportation equipment is selected from the group consisting of:

escalators, elevators, moving walkways, carousels, revolving doors, and automated doors.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said gathering of real-time information is performed by electronic means.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said real-time information comprises video images of the equipment and surrounding areas.