A multi-mode coordinated control system and method for marine elevator

Abstract

This invention discloses a multi-mode collaborative control system and method for marine elevators, comprising: a landing door button box installed at each landing station, each landing door button box including at least an open / close button for operating the landing door of that floor, a platform control button for calling / sending the platform in landing station control mode, and a request button for sending request signals in centralized control mode; a main control box installed at the main control station, which includes an indicator device for displaying request signals from other landing stations in centralized control mode; and a central controller, communicatively connected to all landing door button boxes and the main control box, configured to switch between landing station control mode and centralized control mode. By switching between the two modes, it can flexibly handle two typical scenarios: daily scattered operations and large-scale centralized transportation, balancing operational convenience and system efficiency. Through unified scheduling by the main control station, the material transportation process becomes orderly and efficient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of marine equipment control technology, and in particular to a multi-mode collaborative control system and method for marine elevators. Background Technology

[0002] Marine elevators are key equipment on ships used for the rapid and safe transport of materials between decks. Traditional elevators typically employ a decentralized deck control mode, where each deck (such as the bomb bay) is equipped with a door button box, allowing operators to independently open and close the doors at their own deck and to call or send the elevator platform to any other deck.

[0003] However, this completely decentralized control model has significant drawbacks in practical applications. When large-scale material allocation is required on board, such as simultaneously transporting materials from multiple decks to the main deck or distributing materials from the main deck to various decks, operators at each deck may compete for limited elevator platforms or available empty material carts, lacking unified coordination and scheduling. This disorderly competition leads to chaotic work processes and prolonged waiting times, not only reducing overall transport efficiency but also potentially causing safety hazards due to misoperation during the competition.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a new type of control system and method that can flexibly switch control modes according to actual task requirements, ensuring the independent operational flexibility of each station while achieving global unified coordination and scheduling. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the inefficiency and coordination problems caused by completely decentralized control in the prior art, and to provide a multi-mode cooperative control system and method for marine elevators.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A multi-mode cooperative control system for marine elevators includes: Each floor station has a door button box, and each door button box includes at least an open / close button for operating the door of the floor, a platform control button for calling / sending the platform in the floor station control mode, and a request button for sending a request signal in the centralized control mode. The main control box, located at the main control station, includes an indicator device for displaying request signals from other stations in centralized control mode. The central controller, which communicates with all floor door button boxes and the main control box, is configured to perform the following operations: Enables switching between floor-level control mode and centralized control mode; In tier station control mode, it handles platform calls or sending commands from any authorized tier station; In centralized control mode, it receives request signals from other floors and displays them on the indicator device of the main control station, and controls the operation of the elevator platform in response to scheduling instructions from the main control station.

[0008] Furthermore, the request button is an illuminated button, and its indicator light is used to indicate that the request signal of the floor is active.

[0009] Furthermore, the indicating device is a group of indicator lights that correspond one-to-one with each floor station.

[0010] Furthermore, the central controller is responsible for processing all input signals, performing logical judgments, and outputting control commands according to the currently selected control mode to drive the elevator platform and landing doors to perform corresponding actions.

[0011] A multi-mode cooperative control method for marine elevators, based on the aforementioned marine elevator control system, includes the following steps: (1) In response to the mode switching command, control the marine elevator to switch between the floor control mode and the centralized control mode; (2) When in the floor control mode, any authorized floor is allowed to independently call or send the elevator platform to any target floor through its floor door button box; (3) When switching to centralized control mode, perform the following steps: Set the main deck level station as the main control station; Other floors, except for the main control station, are prohibited from independently calling or sending commands to the elevator platform. In response to a first request signal issued by any of the other floors, a first indication signal is generated on the indication device of the main control station; and in response to a scheduling instruction input by the operator of the main control station based on the first indication signal, the elevator platform is controlled to move to the floor that issued the first request signal.

[0012] Furthermore, the first request signal is a cargo delivery request or an empty vehicle dispatch request.

[0013] Furthermore, in centralized control mode, the method further includes: automatically canceling the first indication signal and / or the floor indication signal corresponding to the first request signal after a predetermined condition for responding to the first request signal is met.

[0014] Furthermore, the predetermined condition is that the elevator platform has been dispatched to the floor that issued the first request signal.

[0015] Furthermore, in any control mode, the prerequisite safety condition for executing the platform summoning or sending operation is that all floor doors are closed and the elevator platform is idle.

[0016] Furthermore, in any control mode, the prerequisite safety condition for performing the floor door opening operation is that the elevator platform has reached the current floor and all other floor doors are closed.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages: 1. High flexibility: By switching between two modes, it can flexibly cope with two typical scenarios: daily scattered operations and large-scale centralized transportation, taking into account both operational convenience and system efficiency.

[0018] 2. Strong coordination: The centralized control mode effectively avoids the problem of resource competition when multiple floors are operating in parallel. Through the unified scheduling of the main control station, the material transportation process becomes orderly and efficient.

[0019] 3. High security: This invention inherits the original safety interlocking logic (such as the platform can only be moved when all floor doors are closed), and further reduces the risk of misoperation caused by disorderly competition in centralized scheduling.

[0020] 4. Low cost: This invention is mainly implemented by upgrading the control logic and software, requiring minimal modification to existing hardware. It only requires adding a request function to the button box and an indicator device to the main control station, making it easy to implement and promote. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the marine elevator control system provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a diagram of the main control box panel; Figure 3 This is a diagram of the door button box panel. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] See Figure 1 The marine elevator control system of the present invention includes a central controller, multiple landing door button boxes (distributed on each landing station) and a main control box (located on the main deck landing station).

[0024] like Figure 3 As shown, each floor door button box is equipped with: a door open / close button, an emergency stop button, a platform send / call button (for floor mode), a call / send cargo button with indicator light, and a call / send vehicle button with indicator light (for centralized mode).

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, the upper panel of the main control box contains indicator lights corresponding to each floor station, used to display the status of their cargo or empty vehicle requests.

[0026] The central controller is responsible for processing all input signals, performing logical judgments, and outputting control commands according to the currently selected control mode to drive the elevator platform and landing doors to perform corresponding actions.

[0027] This invention also provides a multi-mode coordinated control method for marine elevators, employing the aforementioned marine elevator control system. The core of this method lies in introducing two switchable operating modes: a deck control mode and a centralized control mode.

[0028] In the floor control mode, the control system maintains the traditional operation mode, allowing any authorized floor to independently call or send the elevator platform through its floor door button box, which is suitable for small-scale, scattered transportation tasks.

[0029] In centralized control mode, the control system centralizes control. Specifically, the main deck level is designated as the main control station, and other levels are prohibited from independently calling or dispatching elevator platforms. Other levels with transport needs must issue a request signal (such as a cargo transport request or an empty vehicle dispatch request) through their landing door button box. This request signal will generate a corresponding indication signal on the main control station's indicator device (such as an indicator panel). The main control station operator, based on overall needs, centrally dispatches elevator platforms to the requesting level, thereby achieving global optimized management of the transport process.

[0030] Preferably, in centralized control mode, when the elevator platform is successfully dispatched to the requested floor, the system automatically cancels the corresponding indication signals on the floor and the main control station to clearly reflect the current task status.

[0031] Preferably, in centralized control mode, the method further includes: Once the predetermined conditions for responding to the first request signal are met, and the first request signal is a cargo delivery request or an empty vehicle dispatch request, the first indication signal and / or the floor indication signal corresponding to the first request signal will be automatically cancelled.

[0032] The predetermined condition is that the elevator platform has been dispatched to the floor where the first request signal was issued.

[0033] In any control mode, the prerequisite safety condition for performing a platform summoning or sending operation is that all floor doors are closed and the elevator platform is idle.

[0034] In any control mode, the prerequisite safety condition for performing the landing door opening operation is that the elevator platform has reached the current landing station and all landing doors of all other landing stations are closed.

[0035] The workflow of this invention: After the system is powered on, select the working mode according to the task requirements.

[0036] If the floor control mode is selected, each floor operator can, as usual, directly operate the platform send / call button of their floor to dispatch the platform to the target floor when the safety conditions are met (all floor doors are closed and the platform is idle).

[0037] If centralized control mode is selected, control is transferred to the main deck. At this time, if the third-level station needs to transport cargo to the main deck, its operator presses the "Call / Send Cargo (with indicator light)" button for that level. The indicator light on this button illuminates, and simultaneously, the indicator light on the main deck's main control box representing the third-level "Call / Send Cargo" also illuminates. Upon seeing this signal, the main deck operator, in conjunction with requests from other levels, dispatches the elevator platform to the third-level station via the main control box. When the platform arrives at the third-level station, the central controller automatically turns off the corresponding "Call / Send Cargo" indicator lights on both the third-level station and the main control box, indicating that the request has been responded to. Subsequently, the third-level station operator opens the landing door to perform loading and unloading operations. After the operation is completed, the operator can press the "Call / Send Cargo" button again to request the platform to return to transport the cargo, or press the "Call / Send Vehicle" button to request the dispatch of an empty vehicle.

[0038] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-mode collaborative control system for marine elevators, characterized in that, include: Each floor station has a door button box, and each door button box includes at least an open / close button for operating the door of the floor, a platform control button for calling / sending the platform in the floor station control mode, and a request button for sending a request signal in the centralized control mode. The main control box, located at the main control station, includes an indicator device for displaying request signals from other stations in centralized control mode. The central controller, which communicates with all floor door button boxes and the main control box, is configured to perform the following operations: Enables switching between floor-level control mode and centralized control mode; In tier station control mode, it handles platform calls or sending commands from any authorized tier station; In centralized control mode, it receives request signals from other floors and displays them on the indicator device of the main control station, and controls the operation of the elevator platform in response to the scheduling instructions from the main control station.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The request button is an illuminated button, and its indicator light is used to indicate that the request signal of the floor is active.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The indicating device is a set of indicator lights that correspond one-to-one with each floor station.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The central controller is responsible for processing all input signals, performing logical judgments, and outputting control commands according to the currently selected control mode to drive the elevator platform and landing doors to perform corresponding actions.

5. A multi-mode cooperative control method for marine elevators, based on the system described in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: (1) In response to the mode switching command, control the marine elevator to switch between the floor control mode and the centralized control mode; (2) When in the floor control mode, any authorized floor is allowed to independently call or send the elevator platform to any target floor through its floor door button box; (3) When switching to centralized control mode, perform the following steps: Set the main deck level station as the main control station; Other floors, except for the main control station, are prohibited from independently calling or sending commands to the elevator platform. In response to a first request signal issued by any of the other floors, a first indication signal is generated on the indication device of the main control station; and in response to a scheduling instruction input by the operator of the main control station based on the first indication signal, the elevator platform is controlled to move to the floor that issued the first request signal.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first request signal is a cargo delivery request or an empty vehicle dispatch request.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In centralized control mode, the method further includes: automatically canceling the first indication signal and / or the floor indication signal corresponding to the first request signal after a predetermined condition for responding to the first request signal is met.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The predetermined condition is that the elevator platform has been dispatched to the floor that issued the first request signal.

9. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In any control mode, the prerequisite safety condition for performing a platform summoning or sending operation is that all floor doors are closed and the elevator platform is idle.

10. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In any control mode, the prerequisite safety condition for performing the landing door opening operation is that the elevator platform has reached the current landing station and all landing doors of all other landing stations are closed.

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