Method and device for automatic checking of the availability of technical equipment in or at a building

• US 7,665,581 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Richter, Lutz, Schuster, Kilian, Friedli, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLON SANTANA, EDUARDO
• Application Number:
  US10/598,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20070174065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 187380-388, 187391-394
• US Class Current: 187/391
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0025 for maintenance or repair

Abstract

The method serves for automatic checking of the availability of technical equipment which is arranged in or at a building and executes at least one repeatable procedure, and comprises the following steps. There is determined at least one estimated value (N_S(i,t)) for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a first time period and/or second estimated value (N_S(i,t+Δt)) for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a second time period. A measured value N_m(i,t)) for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for the first time period is determined and the measured value is compared with at least one of the estimated values (N_S(i,t), N_S(i,t+Δt)). If the measured value (N_m(i,t)) is smaller by a predetermined amount (N_S(i,t)−N_min(i,t), ΔN_s) than the respective estimated value (N_S(i,t), N_S(i,t+Δt)) at least one test of the technical equipment is carried out, in which test at least one reaction of the technical equipment is registered and compared with a target reaction, wherein in the case of availability of the technical equipment the reaction corresponds with the target reaction.

Claims

1. A method for automatic checking of the availability of technical equipment in or at a building, wherein the technical equipment executes at least one repeatable procedure, comprising the steps of:

performing at least one test of the technical equipment in which test at least one reaction of the technical equipment is registered and compared with a target reaction, wherein in the case of availability of the technical equipment the reaction corresponds with the target reaction; and

determining a measured value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a first time period is determined and the test is carried out when the measured value is smaller by a predetermined amount than a predetermined value which is set to be either equal to a first estimated value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for the first time period or equal to a second estimated value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a second time period.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein if the reaction does not correspond with the target reaction, a predetermined information is communicated to a monitoring station.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein each reaction and/or each procedure is registered by registration of a change of a state of at least one of a drive, a current supply, a sensor, a light source of the technical equipment and registration of signals for control of the technical equipment.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein a duration of a time interval is predetermined and a number of performances of the procedure, which are registered during the time interval, is determined and the measured value is calculated from the number and the duration.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein a number of performances of the procedure is predetermined and a duration of a time interval in which these performances are registered is determined and the measured value is calculated from the number and the duration.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first estimated value and the measured value for the first time period are determined and the second estimated value for the second time period is set to a first value which (i) is equal to the first estimated value if the first estimated value and the measured value differ by more than a predetermined amount or (ii) is smaller than the first estimated value if the measured value is smaller than the first estimated value by more than the predetermined amount or (iii) is greater than the first estimated value if the measured value is greater than the first estimated value by more than the predetermined amount.

7. A device for automatic checking of the availability of technical equipment in or at a building, which technical equipment includes a control and executes at least one repeatable procedure, which device comprises:

a command transmitter by which a predetermined command for execution of at least one test of the technical equipment can be given to the control, wherein the test is so selected that in the case of availability of the technical equipment a target reaction of the equipment can be registered;

a registration device for registration of a reaction which follows the command of the technical equipment; and

a device for comparison of the reaction with the target reaction including;

equipment for determining and/or storing a first estimated value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a first time period and/or for determination and/or storage of a second estimated value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a second time period;

a measuring device determining a measured value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for the first time period; and

a control device for controlling the command transmitter in such a manner that the command is given when the measured value is smaller by a predetermined amount than one of the estimated values.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said registration device and/or said measuring device comprises:

equipment for registering a change a state of at least one of a drive, a current supply, a sensor, a light source, the technical equipment, and equipment for registering signals for control of the technical equipment.

9. The device according to claim 7 wherein a communications connection is present for communication of predetermined information to a monitoring station for the case that the reaction does not correspond with the target reaction.

10. A method for automatic checking of the availability of elevator equipment in a building, wherein the elevator equipment executes at least one repeatable procedure, comprising the steps of:

performing at least one test of the elevator equipment in which test at least one reaction of the elevator equipment is registered and compared with a target reaction, wherein in the case of availability of the elevator equipment the reaction corresponds with the target reaction; and

determining a measured value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a first time period is determined and the test is carded out when the measured value is smaller by a predetermined amount than a predetermined value which is set to be either equal to a first estimated value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for the first time period or equal to a second estimated value for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a second time period.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein each reaction and/or each procedure is registered by registration of a change of a state of at least one of an elevator drive, a drive current supply, a sensor, a light source of the elevator equipment and registration of signals for control of the elevator equipment.