Elevator system with control to allocate a call based on charging status of energy storage, and method of controlling an elevator group

• US 8,083,033 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: Kallioniemi, Antti, Haipus, Ilpo
• Primary Examiner(s): Salata, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/987,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20110120811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/277, 187/290, 187/293, 187/296, 187/297, 187380-388, 187391-393, 318799-815
• US Class Current: 187/290
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/2458 For elevator systems with multiple shafts and a single car per shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/103 Destination call input before entering the elevator car
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/211 Waiting time, i.e. response time
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/216 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/222 Taking into account the number of passengers present in the elevator car to be allocated
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/401 by time of the day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 50/00 Energy efficient technologies in elevators, escalators and moving walkways, e.g. energy saving or recuperation technologies

Abstract

An elevator system and a method are provided for controlling an elevator group. The elevator system includes an elevator group, which includes at least two elevator cars, which elevator cars are fitted to be moved in the elevator hoistway according to the calls allocated by the control of the elevator group. The elevator system includes a power supply arrangement, for adjusting the power needed to move the elevator cars. An energy storage is connected to the power supply arrangement. The energy storage is fitted in the first operating situation to yield energy for use in moving the elevator car, and in the second operating situation to receive energy released by movement of the elevator car. The elevator system includes a determination of the charging status of the energy storage, and the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group. The control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate a call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion.

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising:

an elevator group, which comprises at least two elevator cars, the elevator cars being fitted to be moved in the elevator hoistway, according to calls allocated by control of the elevator group;

a power supply arrangement, for adjusting power needed to move the elevator cars, to which power supply arrangement an energy storage is connected;

the energy storage being fitted in a first operating situation to yield energy for use in moving the elevator car and in a second operating situation to receive energy released by movement of the elevator car;

a determination of a charging status of the energy storage;

wherein the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine a change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group; and

wherein the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate a call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion, wherein the allocation criterion is determined according to the charging status of the energy storage.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply arrangement comprises a first power supply circuit for adjusting the power needed to move the first elevator car of the at least two elevator cars, as well as a second power supply circuit for adjusting the power needed to move the second elevator car of the at least two elevator cars;

a first energy storage is connected to the first power supply circuit, and a second energy storage is connected to the second power supply circuit; and

the allocation criterion of the control of the elevator group is determined according to the charging status of both the first energy storage and of the second energy storage.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply arrangement comprises a common power supply circuit for adjusting the power needed to move the first elevator car and the second elevator car;

and an energy storage is connected to the common power supply circuit.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein an optimal charging status is determined for the energy storage, and the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate the call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the change in energy caused by the movement of which best charges or discharges the energy storage towards the optimal charging status.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator group comprises a first elevator car, which is fitted into a first elevator hoistway, and also a second elevator car, which is fitted into a second elevator hoistway.

6. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated destination call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group;

and

the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate a destination call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion.

7. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator system comprises a determination of an operating mode of a power source of the elevator system, and during a determined malfunction of the power source the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate the call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion, wherein the allocation criterion is determined according to the charging status of the energy storage.

12. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein an optimal charging status is determined for the energy storage, and the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate the call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the change in energy caused by the movement of which best charges or discharges the energy storage towards the optimal charging status.

13. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein an optimal charging status is determined for the energy storage, and the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate the call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the change in energy caused by the movement of which best charges or discharges the energy storage towards the optimal charging status.

14. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the elevator group comprises a first elevator car, which is fitted into a first elevator hoistway, and also a second elevator car, which is fitted into a second elevator hoistway.

15. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein the elevator group comprises a first elevator car, which is fitted into a first elevator hoistway, and also a second elevator car, which is fitted into a second elevator hoistway.

16. The elevator system according to claim 4, wherein the elevator group comprises a first elevator car, which is fitted into a first elevator hoistway, and also a second elevator car, which is fitted into a second elevator hoistway.

17. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated destination call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group;

and

the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate a destination call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion.

18. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated destination call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group;

and

the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate a destination call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion.

19. The elevator system according to claim 4, wherein the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated destination call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group;

and

the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate a destination call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion.

20. The elevator system according to claim 5, wherein the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated destination call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group;

and

the control of the elevator group is fitted to allocate a destination call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion.

8. A method for allocating calls in an elevator system, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting an energy storage to a power supply arrangement of the elevator system;

determining a charging status of the energy storage;

determining a allocation criterion according to the determined charging status of the energy storage;

determining a change in energy that would be caused by movement according to an allocated call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group; and

allocating a call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion, wherein the allocation criterion is determined according to the charging status of the energy storage.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

adjusting power needed to move the first elevator car via a first motor bridge incorporated in a common power supply circuit;

adjusting power needed to move the second elevator car via a second motor bridge incorporated in the common power supply circuit;

determining the charging status of the energy storage connected to the common power supply circuit;

determining the change in total energy that would be caused by the movement of the first elevator car and the second elevator car connected to the common power supply circuit; and

allocating the call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in total energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion, wherein the allocation criterion is determined at least according to the charging status of the energy storage.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining an optimal charging status for the energy storage; and

allocating the call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the change in energy caused by the movement of which best charges or discharges the energy storage towards the optimal charging status.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

determining the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to a destination call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group; and

allocating a destination call by favoring in the allocation an elevator car, the determined change in energy caused by the movement of which best meets the allocation criterion.