Method and system for stopping elevators using AC motors driven by static frequency converters

• US 7,775,327 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Danfoss A/S
• Original Assignee: Danfoss A/S
• Inventors: Mennen, Hans-Josef, Abraham, Detlev
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US10/586,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/277, 187/286, 187295-297, 187391-393, 318/434, 318/454, 318/455, 318/474, 318/478, 318/479, 361/30, 361/79
• US Class Current: 187/288
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/308 with AC powered elevator drive
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0031 for safety reasons

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for stopping elevators especially when using at least one three-phase motor operated by a static frequency converter. According to the invention, a brake relay controls the brake of the motor such that releasing of the brake relay causes the motor to be decelerated while the brake relay is coupled to a protective circuit in such a way that the control pulses required for generating the driving motor field are safely blocked when the brake relay is released.

Claims

1. A method for stopping elevators by using at least one AC motor driven by a static frequency converter, in which a brake relay controls the brake of the motor so that de-energizing the brake relay will brake the motor, the brake relay being connected with a safety switch in such a manner that de-energizing the brake relay will reliably block the control impulses required for generating the driving motor field.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a series-connected power semiconductor will disconnect faster than a contact of the brake relay used to control the brake.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein if a safety system is triggered, a call will control the brake relay so that it is pulled in.

4. A system for implementation of the method according to claim 1, comprising an elevator safety circuit acting via the elevator control upon the brake relay located in the static frequency converter, the brake relay controlling the brake of the motor, the static frequency converter comprising a frequency converter logic unit that produces control signals, used by the motor control power semiconductors contained in the inverter, for a rotating-field-producing pulse pattern, and the safety switch, which is on the one side connected to the brake relay and on the other side to the motor control power semiconductors, so that de-energizing the brake relay will disconnect a torque-generating, rotating field of the at least one motor.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the brake relay used is an emergency-out relay conforming to EN 954-1, category 4.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein only one brake relay is provided.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the frequency converter is located in a connection box or in a housing of the at least one motor.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the contact of the brake relay controlling the brake is connected in series with at least one of the motor control power semiconductor.