PASSENGER CONVEYOR WITH DEEP SLEEP MODE

• US 20180086606A1
• Filed: 07/19/2017
• Published: 03/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: RAASSINA, Pasi, JOKINEN, Risto, VAIRIO, Olavi, LAHTINEN, Ari-Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 10,167,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/34 Details , e.g. call counting devices, data transmission from car to control system, devices giving information to the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 25/00 Control of escalators or moving walkways walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26; of general application G05
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 27/00 Indicating operating conditions of escalators or moving walkways of general application G08
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/12 using one transmitter and one receiver

Abstract

The invention relates to a passenger conveyor, e.g. an elevator, comprising a conveyor motor being controlled by a conveyor control via a motor drive, the motor drive comprising a frequency converter with a rectifier bridge, an intermediate DC circuit and a converter bridge connected with the conveyor motor. The rectifier bridge is configured to be connected to mains via at least one relay, which relay is controlled by the conveyor control, the conveyor comprises a deep sleep mode, in which the frequency converter as well as at least a major part of conveyor control is switched off,

in which conveyor the intermediate DC circuit forms the power supply for the conveyor control. During the activation of the deep sleep mode the conveyor control is configured to open the relay, whereby at least one signal circuit of the conveyor is configured to remain powered at least during the deep sleep mode. The conveyor comprises a wake-up circuit which is connected to the signal circuit and which is configured to be permanently powered at least during the deep sleep mode, which wake-up circuit is configured to close the relay dependent on a signal received from the signal circuit.

Claims

1. Passenger conveyor comprising a conveyor motor being controlled by a conveyor control via a motor drive, the motor drive comprising a frequency converter with a rectifier bridge, an intermediate DC circuit and a converter bridge connected with the conveyor motor,

whereby the rectifier bridge is configured to be connected to mains via at least one relay, which relay is controlled by the conveyor control, the conveyor comprises a deep sleep mode, in which the frequency converter as well as at least a major part of conveyor control is switched off,

in which conveyor the intermediate DC circuit forms the power supply for the conveyor control, whereby during the activation of the deep sleep mode the conveyor control is configured to open the relay, whereby at least one signal circuit of the conveyor is configured to remain powered at least during the deep sleep mode, and

whereby the conveyor comprises a wake-up circuit which is connected to the signal circuit and which is configured to be permanently powered at least during the deep sleep mode, which wake-up circuit is configured to close the relay dependent on a signal received from the signal circuit.

2. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, comprising two parallel relays, i.e. one main relay and one charging relay, which charging relay being configured to charge any capacitors or batteries located in the intermediate DC circuit and which charging relay comprises at least one current limiting component connected to a corresponding charging relay switch, whereby during the activation of the deep sleep mode the conveyor control is configured to open the main relay as well as the charging relay,

in which conveyor the wake-up circuit is configured to close the charging relay dependent on a signal from the signal circuit.

3. Passenger conveyor according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor control is configured to automatically re-start and to close the main relay after the charging relay is closed.

4. Passenger conveyor according to claim 2, wherein the current limiting component is a PTC thermistor connected in series with the charging relay switch.

5. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the wake-up circuit comprises a power supply.

6. Passenger conveyor according to claim 5, wherein the power supply is a transformer connected to mains.

7. Passenger conveyor according to claim 6, wherein the transformer has a power consumption of less than 10 W, preferably less than 5 W, most preferably less than 1 W.

8. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the signal circuit is connected to any call giving devices of the conveyor.

9. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the signal circuit is connected to a remote monitoring center of the conveyor.

10. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the signal circuit is connected with an internal and/or external signal issuing means.

11. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor control is configured to activate the deep sleep mode after no call has been issued for a predetermined time period.

12. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor control is configured to activate the deep sleep mode dependent on the prevailing time.

13. Passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the charging relay is connected in parallel to the main relay.

14. Method for operating a passenger conveyor having a conveyor control comprising a deep sleep mode wherein the power supply of the conveyor control and of a motor drive of an conveyor motor is switched off, whereby the motor drive comprises a frequency converter with a rectifier bridge, an intermediate DC circuit and a converter bridge connected with the conveyor motor, whereby the rectifier bridge is connected to mains via a relay, which relay is controlled by the conveyor control,

whereby the intermediate DC circuit forms the power supply for at least a major part of—

preferably the complete—

conveyor control,

whereby during the activation of the deep sleep mode the relay is opened and at least one signal circuit of the conveyor is remained powered, and whereby upon receipt of a wake-up signal received from the signal circuit, the intermediate DC circuit is charged up again by closing the relay, causing the conveyor control to re-start operation.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein upon receipt of a wake-up signal received from the signal circuit, the intermediate DC circuit is charged up again by closing a charging relay which comprises a current limiting component, and that after the charging up of the intermediate DC circuit the conveyor control is automatically restarted and initiated to close a main relay connecting the rectifier bridge with mains.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein a wake-up signal is generated in case

a call being issued by any call giving device,

a remote monitoring signal is received,

a monitoring circuit issues an operation anomaly signal.