Elevator run profile modification for smooth rescue

• US 10,822,197 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2017
• Issued: 11/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Piedra, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Uhlir, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/783,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20180037437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 187247
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/30 effective on driving gear , e.g. acting on power electronics, on inverter or rectifier controlled motor
• 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

A method of operating an elevator system is provided. The method includes powering, using a battery, the elevator system when an external power source is unavailable. The method also includes controlling, using a controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system. The controlling comprises operating at least one of the battery, an elevator car, a drive unit, and a brake. The method further includes determining, using the controller, a run profile of the elevator car in response to a selected deceleration. The method yet further includes operating, using the controller, the elevator car in response to the run profile determined, and determining, using the controller, an actual velocity of the elevator car.

Claims

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

powering, using a battery, the elevator system when an external power source is unavailable;

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

determining, using the controller, a run profile of the elevator car in response to a selected deceleration;

operating, using the controller, the elevator car in response to the run profile determined;

determining, using the controller, an actual velocity of the elevator car;

determining, using the controller, an actual electrical current of the drive unit when the actual velocity is not less than a selected velocity;

comparing the actual electrical current to a selected electrical current, wherein the selected electrical current is an electrical current that the drive unit is capable of sinking when the elevator system is in a regenerative mode; and

adjusting, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance;

or

maintaining, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is not above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the controller, a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and

commanding, using the controller, the brake to stop the elevator car when the projected stop position is within a selected stop position range and the velocity is within a selected velocity range.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the controller, a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and

determining, using the controller, an actual velocity of the elevator car when the projected stop position is not within a selected stop position range or the velocity is not within a selected velocity range.

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

a battery to power the elevator system when an external power source is unavailable;

an elevator car;

a drive unit;

a brake;

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

wherein the controller performs operations comprising;

determining a run profile of the elevator car in response to a selected deceleration;

operating the elevator car in response to the run profile determined;

determining an actual velocity of the elevator car;

determining, using the controller, an actual electrical current of the drive unit when the actual velocity is not less than a selected velocity;

comparing the actual electrical current to a selected electrical current, wherein the selected electrical current is an electrical current that the drive unit is capable of sinking when the elevator system is in a regenerative mode; and

adjusting, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance;

or

maintaining, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is not above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and

commanding the brake to stop the elevator car when the projected stop position is within a selected stop position range and the velocity is within a selected velocity range.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and

determining an actual velocity of the elevator car when the projected stop position is not within a selected stop position range or the velocity is not within a selected velocity range.