Advanced smooth rescue operation

• US 9,809,418 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Nagarajan, Prasanna, Lotfi, Amir, Piedra, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): UHLIR, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US15/056,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 187247
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/28 electrical detecting excessive speed B66B5/04 ; control of electrical motor H02P
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/00 Aspects of control systems of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/027 to permit passengers to leave an elevator car in case of failure, e.g. moving the car to a reference floor or unlocking the door

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method of operating an elevator system is provided. The method includes detecting, using a controller, when an external power source is unavailable. The method also includes controlling, using the controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system. The controlling comprises operating at least one of an elevator car, a drive unit, an inverter and a brake. The method further includes detecting, using the controller, an original direction of travel of the elevator car. The method yet further includes detecting, using the controller, a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode. The method includes determining, using the controller, a target floor. The method also includes adjusting, using the controller, a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected.

Claims

1. A method of operating an elevator system, the method comprising:

detecting, using a controller, when an external power source is unavailable;

controlling, using the controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of an elevator car, a drive unit, an inverter and a brake;

detecting, using the controller, an original direction of travel of the elevator car;

detecting, using the controller, a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode;

determining, using the controller, a target floor; and

adjusting, using the controller, a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected;

allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to decrease to about zero velocity, when the near balance mode is detected;

maintaining, using the controller, the about zero velocity for a selected duration of time;

increasing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car in the original direction of travel until it reaches an automatic rescue operation velocity;

maintaining, using the controller, the automatic rescue operation velocity for a second selected duration of time; and

decreasing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car as the elevator car approaches the target floor;

wherein secondary power is provided to the brake, elevator doors, and a positional reference system in the controller;

wherein secondary power is not provided to a drive unit to propel the elevator.

2. A method of operating an elevator system, the method comprising:

detecting, using a controller, when an external power source is unavailable;

controlling, using the controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of an elevator car, a drive unit, an inverter and a brake;

detecting, using the controller, an original direction of travel of the elevator car;

detecting, using the controller, a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode;

determining, using the controller, a target floor;

adjusting, using the controller, a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected;

allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to decrease to about zero velocity, when the motoring mode is detected;

allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to increase in a direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected creep velocity;

deactivating, using the controller, the inverter when the selected creep velocity is less than a selected velocity in the direction opposite the original direction of travel;

increasing, using the controller, the velocity of elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected alternate creep velocity;

maintaining, using the controller, the selected alternate creep velocity for a selected duration of time;

decreasing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel, when the selected duration of time ends;

adjusting, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car as the elevator car approaches the target floor; and

applying, using the controller, the brake when the elevator car is at the target floor.

3. An apparatus for operating an elevator system, the apparatus comprising:

an elevator car;

a drive unit;

an inverter;

a brake;

a controller to control a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of the elevator car, the drive unit, the inverter, and the brake,

wherein the controller performs operations comprising;

detecting when an external power source is unavailable,

detecting an original direction of travel of the elevator car,

detecting a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode,

determining a target floor, and

adjusting a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected;

allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to decrease to about zero velocity, when the near balance mode is detected;

maintaining, using the controller, the about zero velocity for a selected duration of time;

increasing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car in the original direction of travel until it reaches an automatic rescue operation velocity;

maintaining, using the controller, the automatic rescue operation velocity for a second selected duration of time; and

decreasing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car as the elevator car approaches the target floor

wherein secondary power is provided to the brake, elevator doors, and a positional reference system in the controller;

wherein secondary power is not provided to a drive unit to propel the elevator.

4. An apparatus for operating an elevator system, the apparatus comprising:

an elevator car;

a drive unit;

an inverter;

a brake;

a controller to control a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of the elevator car, the drive unit, the inverter, and the brake;

wherein the controller performs operations comprising;

detecting when an external power source is unavailable;

detecting an original direction of travel of the elevator car;

detecting a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode;

determining a target floor;

adjusting a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected;

allowing the velocity of the elevator car to decrease to about zero velocity, when the motoring mode is detected;

allowing the velocity of the elevator car to increase in a direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected creep velocity;

deactivating the inverter when the selected creep velocity is less than a selected velocity in the direction opposite the original direction of travel;

increasing the velocity of elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected alternate creep velocity;

maintaining the selected alternate creep velocity for a selected duration of time;

decreasing the velocity of the elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel, when the selected duration of time ends;

adjusting the velocity of the elevator car as the elevator car approaches the target floor; and

applying the brake when the elevator car is at the target floor.