Solutions for operating elevators

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to solutions for operating elevators. The present invention relates to a method for operating an elevator system. The method comprises: receiving a request to drive an elevator car to a destination; and generating an elevator car motion profile to serve the received request. The elevator car motion profile comprises at least the following motion parameters of the elevator car: acceleration, maximum speed, and deceleration. At least one of the maximum speed of the elevator car and the deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile is defined based on the destination. The present invention also relates to a processing unit and an elevator system configured to at least partially perform the method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the technical field of elevators. In particular, the present invention relates to the safety of elevators. Background Art

[0002] The elevator includes an elevator car, an elevator controller, and a crane. The elevator car is driven by the crane with the aid of hoisting ropes, which run via a traction sheave of the crane. The elevator controller generates a motion profile for the elevator car. The elevator car is driven between landings according to the generated motion profile. An example of an elevator car motion profile 100 is shown in FIG. Figure 1 , where the elevator car first accelerates from the departure landing 102 to a constant maximum speed (also called the maximum rated speed), and then decelerates from the maximum speed to smoothly stop at the destination landing 104. Typically, the speed of the elevator car is limited to a speed limit, which typically corresponds to the maximum speed with a safety factor sf added (e.g., the speed limit may be 115% of the maximum speed). Figure 1 The speed limit is illustrated in FIG by a dashed line 106. The speed limit 106 is constant along the entire hoistway.

[0003] The elevator also includes a safety device (e.g., a safety buffer) arranged in the pit of the hoistway. The size of the safety device is designed to absorb the kinetic energy of the elevator car moving at maximum speed. In addition, a separate buffer can be provided in the pit to absorb the kinetic energy of the counterweight.

[0004] The elevator also includes a hoisting mechanical brake, which can be opened or closed to brake the movement of the elevator hoist and thus also the movement of the elevator car. In addition, the elevator includes an overspeed governor, which actuates the hoisting mechanical brake to stop the elevator car if the speed of the elevator car exceeds a speed limit (e.g., 115% of the maximum speed of the elevator car). In addition, if the speed of the elevator car exceeds a second speed limit (corresponding to the maximum speed with a higher safety factor added, for example, the second speed limit can be 130% of the maximum speed), the overspeed governor mechanically actuates the safety device (e.g., the safety gear of the elevator car) to stop the movement of the elevator car. Therefore, causing the overspeed governor to activate can include two stages, namely, a first actuation stage for a smaller overspeed (e.g., 115% of the maximum speed) and a second actuation stage for a larger overspeed (e.g., 130% of the maximum speed).

[0005] Typically, when there are several elevator cars with different maximum speeds traveling in different hoistways of the same building, each elevator car includes a different overspeed governor with a different triggering limit and a different pit safety device (e.g., with different sizes and structures). Since the size of the pit safety device affects the depth of the hoistway pit, it is necessary to have hoistway pits of different depths in the same building. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments, a simplified overview is given below. This summary of the invention is not a broad overview of the present invention. It is neither intended to identify key or important elements of the present invention, nor to describe the scope of the present invention. The following summary of the invention only presents some concepts of the present invention in a simplified form, as a preface to a more detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a method, a processing unit, a computer program, a computer readable medium and an elevator system for operating an elevator system. Another object of the present invention is to enable a method, a processing unit, a computer program, a computer readable medium and an elevator system for operating an elevator system to enable different elevator car motion profiles for one elevator car in different operating situations.

[0008] The objects of the invention are achieved by a method, a processing unit, a computer program, a computer readable medium and an elevator system as defined in the independent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect, a method for operating an elevator system is provided, wherein the method comprises: receiving a request to drive an elevator car to a destination; and generating an elevator car motion profile to service the received request, the elevator car motion profile comprising at least the following motion parameters of the elevator car: acceleration, maximum speed and deceleration, wherein at least one of the maximum speed of the elevator car and the deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile is defined based on the destination.

[0010] If the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum speed of the elevator car in the generated elevator car movement profile may be lower than the maximum speed of the elevator car in the generated elevator car movement profile if the destination is any destination other than an extreme destination.

[0011] Alternatively or additionally, if the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile may be lower than the maximum deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile if the destination is any destination other than an extreme destination.

[0012] The maximum speed and / or the maximum deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car movement profile may be specific for each destination.

[0013] The method may further include controlling the elevator crane such that the elevator car speed is consistent with the generated elevator car motion profile.

[0014] The method may further include monitoring movement of the elevator car or movement of the counterweight, and in response to detecting that the speed of the elevator car or the speed of the counterweight exceeds an overspeed threshold, triggering one or more safety brakes to stop movement of the elevator car and the counterweight.

[0015] According to a second aspect, a processing unit is provided, wherein the processing unit includes one or more processors and one or more memories including instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processing unit to perform: receiving a request to drive an elevator car to a destination; and generating an elevator car motion profile to service the received request, the elevator car motion profile including at least the following motion parameters of the elevator car: acceleration, maximum speed, and deceleration, wherein at least one of the maximum speed of the elevator car and the deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile is defined based on the destination.

[0016] If the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum speed of the elevator car in the generated elevator car movement profile may be lower than the maximum speed of the elevator car in the generated elevator car movement profile if the destination is any destination other than an extreme destination.

[0017] Alternatively or additionally, if the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile may be lower than the maximum deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile if the destination is any destination other than an extreme destination.

[0018] The maximum speed and / or the maximum deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car movement profile may be specific for each destination.

[0019] The processing unit may further be configured to control the elevator crane such that the elevator car speed is consistent with the generated elevator car motion profile.

[0020] The processing unit may be one of: an elevator control unit, a drive unit, a combined processing entity comprising a drive unit and at least a part of the elevator control unit.

[0021] According to a third aspect, a computer program is provided, wherein the computer program comprises instructions for causing the above-mentioned processing unit to execute the above-mentioned method.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium having stored thereon the above-described computer program.

[0023] According to a fifth aspect, an elevator system is provided, wherein the elevator system comprises: at least one elevator car, and a processing unit as described above.

[0024] The elevator system may also include an electronic overspeed monitoring device, which includes: a safety controller communicatively connected to the elevator car or to the counterweight via a safety data bus; one or more brake control units; one or more safety brakes, including trigger elements connected to the one or more brake control units; an absolute positioning system, configured to continuously provide information representing the movement of the elevator car or the movement of the counterweight, and communicatively connected to the safety controller via the safety data bus, wherein the safety controller can be configured to: obtain information representing the movement of the elevator car or the movement of the counterweight from the absolute positioning system, monitor the movement of the elevator car or the movement of the counterweight, and trigger one or more safety brakes to stop the movement of the elevator car (202) and the counterweight when the speed of the elevator car or the counterweight is detected to meet an overspeed threshold.

[0025] Various exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, as well as their constructions and methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplary and non-limiting embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0026] The verbs "comprise" and "include" are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the presence of unrecited features. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the features recited in the dependent claims may be freely combined with each other. Furthermore, it should be understood that the use of "a" or "an" (i.e., the singular) throughout this document does not exclude a plurality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 An example of an elevator car motion profile according to the prior art is schematically illustrated.

[0029] Figure 2 An example of an elevator system according to the invention is schematically illustrated.

[0030] Figure 3A An example of a method according to the invention is schematically illustrated.

[0031] Figure 3B A further example of the method according to the invention is schematically illustrated.

[0032] Figure 4 An example of an elevator car motion profile according to the invention is schematically illustrated.

[0033] Figure 5 An example implementation of an electronic overspeed monitoring device in an elevator system according to the invention is schematically illustrated.

[0034] Figure 6 An example of a trigger limit according to the invention is schematically illustrated.

[0035] Figure 7 An example of a processing unit according to the invention is schematically illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Figure 2 An example of an elevator system 200 according to the invention is schematically illustrated, in which embodiments of the invention may be implemented as will be described. The elevator system 200 may include at least one elevator car 202, an elevator control unit 204, a drive unit 206, and an elevator crane. Figure 2 The example elevator system shown is a conventional rope-based elevator system 200 that includes a hoisting rope 218 or belt for carrying (i.e., suspending) an elevator car 202. The belt may include a plurality of hoisting ropes 218 traveling within the belt. To carry the elevator car 202, the ropes 218 may be arranged from the elevator car 202 through a sheave (i.e., traction wheel) of a crane to a counterweight 216. Figure 2In a one-to-one (1:1) roping as shown in FIG. 2 , the elevator car 202 can be arranged at one end of the rope 218, and the counterweight 216 can be arranged at the other end of the rope 218. In the case of a 1:1 rope ratio, the elevator car 202, the counterweight 216, and the hoisting rope 218 all travel at the same speed. Alternatively, in a two-to-one (2:1) rope ratio, one end of the hoisting rope 218 passes from a dead end hitch arranged at the top terminal of the hoistway 208, down to below the elevator car pulley (multiple) (i.e., the elevator car's (multiple) traction sheave), up over the traction sheave of the crane, down around the counterweight pulley (multiple) (i.e., the counterweight traction sheave), and up to another dead end hitch arranged at the top terminal of the hoistway 208a, 208b. In a 2:1 rope ratio, the speed of the elevator cars 202a, 202b and the counterweights 220a, 220b is half the speed of the hoisting ropes. In addition, one or more diverting pulleys can be used to guide the hoisting ropes 218 to the elevator cars 202 and / or the counterweights 216. For example, the counterweight 216 can be a metal tank with ballast, the weight of which is about 40% to 50% of the weight of a fully loaded elevator car 202. The drive unit 206 is configured to control the elevator crane to drive the elevator car 202 along the elevator shaft 208 between the landings 210a-210n. The elevator control unit 204 is configured to at least partially control the operation of the elevator system 200, for example, the elevator control unit 204 can control the drive unit 206 to drive the elevator car 202. If the elevator system 200 includes a machine room, the elevator control unit 204 can be arranged in the machine room of the elevator system 200. The machine room (i.e., motor room) may reside above the shaft 208, at the bottom of the shaft 208, or in the middle of a building adjacent to the shaft 208. Alternatively, the elevator control unit 204 may be arranged to a landing (e.g., arranged to a frame of a landing door at the one landing). In particular, in the case where the elevator system 200 is implemented as a machine room-less elevator system, the elevator control unit 204 may be arranged to a landing, but in the case where the elevator system includes a machine room, the elevator control unit 204 may also be arranged to a landing. Alternatively, the elevator control unit 204 may be implemented as an external control unit (e.g., the external control unit resides in a technical room adjacent to the elevator system 200 in the same building, or in a building different from the elevator system 200) or a remote server (e.g., a cloud server or any other external server). In Figure 2 In the example elevator system 200, the elevator control unit is arranged at the topmost landing 210n. The drive unit 206 can be arranged in the hoistway 208 (such as Figure 2200 in the example elevator system 200 shown). The drive unit 206 controls the elevator crane by supplying power from the mains to the motor 212 of the elevator crane, thereby driving the elevator car 202. The elevator control unit 204 and the drive unit 206 can be implemented as separate entities. Alternatively, the elevator control unit 204 and the drive unit 206 can be implemented at least partially as a combined entity. The elevator system also includes a hoisting mechanical brake 214 for stopping the movement of the elevator car 202.

[0037] According to another example of the present invention, the elevator system 200 can be a non-rope-based elevator system. In a non-rope-based elevator system, instead of using a hoisting rope, a motor (e.g., a linear motor, a track and pinion motor, etc.) acting directly on the elevator car 202 can be used to provide the propulsion force of the elevator car 202 in a rope-free manner.

[0038] In the following, reference is primarily made to conventional rope-based elevator systems (e.g. Figure 2 Although various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to an example elevator system 200 of the present invention, the present invention is not limited only to conventional rope-based elevator systems, and the embodiments of the present invention described in this application may also be implemented in non-rope-based elevator systems.

[0039] Next, refer to Figure 3A An example of a method for operating an elevator according to the invention is described. Figure 3A The flow chart of the present invention is schematically illustrated. At step 310, the processing unit receives a request (e.g., a service request) to drive the elevator car 202 to the destination. The processing unit includes the elevator control unit 204, the drive unit 206, or a combined processing entity including the drive unit 206 and at least part of the elevator control unit 204. The processing unit can receive the request from the call device in response to a user interaction (e.g., a user pressing an elevator user interface button). The elevator call device can be a car operating panel arranged inside the elevator car 202 for generating a request to drive the elevator car 202 to the destination landing. Alternatively or additionally, the call device can be a landing call panel arranged to each landing 210a-210n for generating a request to drive the elevator car to the landing 210a-210n, and the landing call panel from which the request is generated resides in the landing. Alternatively or additionally, the call device can also be a mobile terminal device (e.g., a mobile phone or a tablet computer) configured to communicate with the processing unit. If the processing unit includes a drive unit 206 , the drive unit 206 may receive the request from the call device via the elevator control unit 204 .

[0040] At step 320, in response to receiving the request, the processing unit is configured to generate an elevator car motion profile to service the received request. The elevator car motion profile includes at least the following motion parameters of the elevator car: acceleration, maximum speed, and deceleration. The processing unit defines at least one of the maximum speed of the elevator car and the deceleration of the elevator car in the generated elevator car motion profile based on the destination. In addition, when generating the elevator car motion profile, the position of the elevator car can be considered so that the elevator car following the elevator car motion profile will stop at the correct position at the destination.

[0041] If the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 in the generated elevator car motion profile may be lower than the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 in the generated elevator car motion profile if the destination is any destination other than an extreme destination. This allows a higher maximum speed to be used for elevator cars 202 that are configured to drive to destinations other than extreme destinations. An extreme destination may be a top-most landing (e.g., Figure 2 The floor station 210n in the middle) or the bottom floor station (e.g., Figure 2 Alternatively or additionally, if the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum deceleration of the elevator car 202 in the generated elevator car motion profile is lower than the maximum deceleration of the elevator car 202 in the generated elevator car motion profile if the destination is any other destination other than the extreme destination. When the deceleration of the elevator car 202 begins, the deceleration first gradually increases from zero to the maximum deceleration value, and then gradually decreases from the maximum deceleration back to zero when the elevator car 202 reaches the destination landing. This allows the elevator car to have no sudden changes in deceleration, which may cause discomfort to passengers. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the elevator system may be provided with a high-friction hoisting rope, which can achieve a higher maximum deceleration to destinations other than extreme destinations. In this case, the higher maximum deceleration may, for example, be 1 m / s 2 Up to 1.35m / s 2 (1m / s 2 -1,35m / s 2 ). Therefore, the lower maximum deceleration to reach the extreme destination may be, for example, 0.7 m / s 2 - up to 1m / s 2 The high friction hoisting rope may be a rope or belt with a high friction coating, such as a polyurethane coating. Without the high friction coating, the rope may start to slip on the traction sheave at higher maximum decelerations.

[0042] The present invention enables that when the elevator car 202 leaves an extreme destination, the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 may be higher than the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 when the elevator car 202 approaches the extreme destination, for example, the maximum speed of the elevator car approaching the extreme destination may be 1 m / s, and the speed of the elevator car leaving the extreme destination may be 2.5 m / s. In other words, the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 near the extreme destination may be different depending on the direction of movement of the elevator car 202. Alternatively or additionally, the acceleration of the elevator car 202 leaving the extreme destination may be higher than the deceleration of the elevator car 202 approaching the extreme destination. Figure 4 Some non-limiting examples of elevator car motion curves according to the present invention are illustrated. Figure 4 In the example of FIG. 4 , the processing unit is first configured to generate a first elevator car motion profile 402 in response to receiving a request to drive the elevator car 202 to the topmost landing 210n. The departure landing for the first elevator motion profile 402 is the bottommost landing 210a. Next, the processing unit is configured to generate a second elevator car motion profile 404 in response to receiving a second request to drive the elevator car 202 to the second bottommost landing 210b. The departure landing for the second elevator motion profile 404 is the topmost landing 210n. Figure 4 As can be seen in FIG. 4 , the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 in the second elevator car motion profile 404 is higher than the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 in the first elevator car motion profile 402. Furthermore, the acceleration of the elevator car 202 in the second elevator car motion profile 404 is higher than the deceleration of the elevator car 202 in the first elevator car motion profile 402. Furthermore, the deceleration of the elevator car 202 in the second elevator car motion profile 404 is higher than the deceleration of the elevator car 202 in the first elevator car motion profile 404. By limiting the deceleration in the extreme destination to be lower than the acceleration, it can be ensured that the speed and therefore the kinetic energy of the approaching elevator car 202 in the vicinity of the end of the hoistway is relatively small, thereby ensuring that the speed of the elevator car can be sufficiently decelerated before hitting the pit safety device 220 (e.g., a safety buffer, arranged in the pit of the hoistway 208).

[0043] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, in the generated elevator car motion profile, the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 and / or the maximum deceleration of the elevator car 202 may be specific (i.e., separately for each destination, not only for extreme destinations). This allows the maximum speed of the elevator car 202 and / or the maximum deceleration of the elevator car 202 to be defined to be different for each destination.

[0044] The method according to an example embodiment of the present invention may further include controlling 330 the elevator crane such that the speed of the elevator car 202 is consistent with the generated elevator car motion curve. The drive unit 206 provides power to the motor 212 of the crane to drive 206 the elevator car 202 according to the generated elevator car motion curve. If the processing unit includes an elevator control unit 204 (i.e., the elevator control unit 204 is configured to generate the motion curve), the processing unit is configured to control the elevator crane such that the speed of the elevator car 202 is consistent with the generated elevator car motion curve indirectly via the drive unit 206. The method may include providing 340 the generated elevator car motion curve to the drive unit 206, which then controls the elevator crane such that the speed of the elevator car 202 is consistent with the generated elevator car motion curve, such as Figure 3B An example of the method according to the invention is shown in FIG.

[0045] According to an example embodiment of the invention, the method may further include monitoring the movement of the elevator car 202 or the movement of the counterweight 216, and in response to detecting that the speed of the elevator car 202 or the speed of the counterweight 216 exceeds an overspeed threshold, triggering one or more safety brakes (i.e., hoisting mechanical brake 214 and / or elevator car brake) to stop the movement of the elevator car 202 and the counterweight 216. The overspeed threshold is a continuous curve that decreases toward the pit of the hoistway and / or the elevated structure in the top terminal of the hoistway 208, such that the triggering occurs at a lower speed as the elevator car 202 approaches the pit and / or the elevated structure. In other words, the overspeed threshold value varies depending on the position of the elevator car 202 within the hoistway 208, such that the overspeed threshold value near the pit 606 and / or the overhead structure is lower than the overspeed threshold value in the middle portion of the hoistway 208, thereby enabling efficient and safe overspeed monitoring of the elevator car 202, which travels according to different elevator car motion profiles 402, 404, which are generated for the same elevator car based on the destination landing. Monitoring the movement of the elevator car 202 or the movement of the counterweight 216 by means of an electronic overspeed monitoring device will be described later in this application.

[0046] Above, the invention is mainly described with reference to a method for operating an elevator system, but the invention also relates to an elevator system 200 comprising at least one elevator car 202 and a processing unit configured to perform one or more of the above method steps.

[0047] The elevator system 200 according to the present invention may also include an electronic overspeed monitoring device for monitoring the movement of the elevator car 202 or the movement of the counterweight 216. The electronic overspeed monitoring device may include a safety controller 502 communicatively connected to the elevator car 202 via a safety data bus, and an absolute positioning system. Figure 5 As shown, the safety data bus can run within the moving cable 503. Alternatively, the safety data bus can be implemented wirelessly (e.g., via electromagnetic radio signals). The electronic overspeed monitoring device can be used for safe elevator operation near at least one extreme destination. The electronic overspeed monitoring device also includes one or more brake control units and one or more safety brakes. The one or more safety brakes can include the hoisting mechanical brake 214 of the elevator system 200 and / or the elevator car brake ( Figure 5 not shown).

[0048] The elevator car 202 may include a first brake control unit for controlling an elevator car brake. The first brake control unit is connected to the elevator car brake via a cable. The elevator car brake is a holding brake for holding the elevator car 202 each time the elevator car 202 stops at a landing. The elevator car brake engages the guide rail against the elevator car 202 in a prong-like manner. The elevator car brake includes a trigger element connected to the first brake control unit. The trigger element of the elevator car brake may include, for example, an electromagnet. Alternatively, the trigger element of the elevator car brake may include a linear actuator (e.g., a spindle motor). In the case of a hydraulic or pneumatic brake, the trigger element of the elevator car brake may include an electrically controllable valve. Each time the elevator car 202 stops at a landing, the elevator car brake is closed, and when, for example, the elevator car 202 starts to move again according to a newly generated elevator car motion curve, the elevator car brake is turned off. Elevator car brakes are particularly used in mid-rise and high-rise elevator systems. In low-rise elevator systems, hoisting mechanical brakes 214 may be sufficient to hold the brakes, but elevator brakes may also be used in low-rise elevator systems. Mid-rise and high-rise elevator systems are implemented in, for example, high buildings (e.g., travel heights of more than 15-100 meters) that include a large number of landings, and low-rise elevator systems are implemented in lower buildings (e.g., travel heights of up to 15 meters) that include fewer landings. Safety controller 502 may be arranged to a landing 210a-210n (arranged to the frame of the landing door at the one landing 210a-210n).

[0049] The drive unit 206 may include a second brake control unit for controlling a hoisting mechanical brake 214. The hoisting mechanical brake 214 includes a trigger element connected to the brake control unit. The trigger element may include, for example, an electromagnet. When the brake control unit supplies current to the trigger element, the hoisting mechanical brake 214 may be opened, and when the current supply to the trigger element is interrupted, the hoisting mechanical brake 214 may be closed. The second brake control unit is connected to the trigger element of the hoisting mechanical brake 214 via a cable.

[0050] The safety controller 502 can be configured to monitor the movement of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216 near at least one extreme destination (e.g., within a portion of the elevator hoistway 208) where the speed of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216 approaching the pit of the elevator hoistway 208 and / or the elevated structure in the top terminal of the hoistway 208 is decelerated from a maximum speed. The safety controller 502 can receive information representing the movement of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216 from an absolute elevator positioning system. The absolute positioning system can include an encoder and a door zone sensor system and is communicatively connected to the safety controller 502 via a secure data bus.

[0051] The encoder may be configured to continuously provide position information of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216. The encoder may be arranged to the elevator car 202 in association with (multiple) elevator car pulleys or at least one guide roller (i.e., guide shoe) inserted between the elevator car 202 and the guide rail to provide continuous position information of the elevator car 202. Alternatively, the encoder may be associated with a governor pulley of a mechanical overspeed governor to provide continuous position information of the elevator car 202. In addition to the electronic overspeed monitoring device configured to perform overspeed monitoring, the elevator car 202 may also be provided with a mechanical overspeed governor (OSG). The overspeed governor may be arranged inside the hoistway 208. The overspeed governor may include a governor pulley (i.e., sheave) rotated by a governor rope, the governor rope forming a closed loop and coupled to the elevator car 202, so that the governor rope moves at the same speed as the elevator car 202, i.e., the rotation speed of the governor pulley corresponds to the speed of the elevator car 202. The regulator pulley may be arranged, for example, at the upper end of the regulator rope loop. Alternatively, an encoder may be arranged to the counterweight 216 in association with a (multiple) counterweight pulley or at least one second guide roller inserted between the counterweight 216 and the second guide rail to provide continuous position information of the counterweight 216. At least one first guide rail is arranged vertically in the hoistway to guide and direct the travel path of the elevator car 202. At least one guide roller may be inserted between the elevator car 202 and the first guide rail to ensure that the lateral movement of the elevator car 202 is kept at a minimum when the elevator car 202 travels along the first guide rail. In addition, a second guide rail may be arranged vertically in the hoistway 208 to guide and direct the travel path of the counterweight 216. At least one guide roller may be inserted between the counterweight 216 and the second guide rail to ensure that the lateral movement of the counterweight 216 is kept at a minimum when the counterweight 510 travels along the second guide rail. The encoder may be a magnetic encoder (e.g., an orthogonal sensor such as a Hall sensor) including a magnetic wheel (e.g., a magnetic ring) that is mounted concentrically with an elevator car pulley, a counterweight pulley, a guide roller, or a governor pulley of an overspeed governor. The encoder may be configured to measure incremental pulses from a rotating magnetic wheel to provide position information of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216. Regardless of the position of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216 in the elevator shaft 208, the position information may be continuously acquired. The magnetic wheel may include alternating evenly spaced north and south poles around its circumference. The encoder may have an A / B orthogonal output signal for measuring the magnetic poles of the magnetic wheel. In addition, the encoder may be configured to detect changes in the magnetic field when the alternating magnetic poles of the magnetic wheel pass through it. The output signal of the orthogonal sensor may include two channels A and B, which may be defined as the number of pulses per revolution (PPR). In addition, the position associated with the pulse start point may be defined by counting the number of pulses. Since the channels are orthogonal to each other (i.e., phase shifted by 90 degrees), the direction of rotation may also be defined.

[0052] The door zone sensor system may include a reader device 506 (e.g., a Hall sensor) arranged to the elevator car 202 or counterweight 216 and a target (preferably a magnet) 508a-508n arranged to the hoistway 208 in the door area of ​​each landing 210a-210n. The door zone can be defined as an area extending from a lower limit below the floor plane to an upper limit above the floor plane, in which the landing door and the car door device are engaged and operable. For example, the door zone can be determined to be from -400mm to +400mm. Preferably, the door zone can be from -150mm to +150mm. When the elevator car passes one of the targets 508a-508n, the reader 506 arranged to the elevator car 202 can obtain the door zone information of the elevator car 202. Alternatively, when the counterweight 216 passes one of the targets 508a-508n, the reader 506 disposed to the counterweight 216 can obtain the door zone information of the counterweight 216. The information representing the movement of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216 includes the obtained door zone information of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216 and the continuous position information of the elevator car 202 or the counterweight 216.

[0053] Safety controller 502 may monitor movement of elevator car 202 or counterweight 216 near at least one extreme destination. Figure 5 Schematically illustrates one example implementation of an electronic overspeed monitoring device in an elevator system 200 for monitoring the movement of an elevator car 202. Alternatively, the electronic overspeed monitoring device can be implemented in the elevator system 200 to monitor the movement of the counterweight 216. The elevator system 200 is otherwise similar to Figure 2 The elevator system 200 shown, however Figure 5The elevator system 200 further includes components of an electronic overspeed monitoring device. If the safety controller 502 detects that the speed of the elevator car 202 meets the overspeed threshold, the safety controller 502 triggers one or more safety brakes (i.e., the hoisting mechanical brake 214 and / or the elevator car brake) to stop the movement of the elevator car 202. The overspeed threshold 602 is a continuous curve, and the overspeed threshold 602 decreases toward the pit 606 of the hoistway 208 and / or the overhead structure in the top terminal of the hoistway 208, so that when the elevator car 202 approaches the pit 606 and / or the overhead structure, the triggering occurs at a lower speed. In other words, the overspeed threshold 602 varies according to the position of the elevator car 202 in the hoistway 208, such that the overspeed threshold near the pit 606 and / or the elevated structure is lower than the overspeed threshold in the middle portion of the hoistway 208, thereby enabling overspeed monitoring of the elevator car 202, the elevator car 202 traveling according to different elevator car motion profiles, and different elevator car motion profiles are generated for the same elevator car based on the destination landing. The speed of the elevator car 202 can be higher in the middle portion of the hoistway 208 than near the pit 606 and / or the elevated structure. When the elevator car 202 is traveling at the maximum speed v max When traveling, the speeding threshold 602 is higher than the maximum speed v max That is, the overspeed threshold 602 may be added with a safety factor sf (e.g., 115% of the maximum speed), and when the elevator car approaches the pit or the elevated structure, the speed of the elevator car 202 begins to decrease, the overspeed threshold begins to decrease, and at the location of the pit 606 and / or the elevated structure, the overspeed threshold 602 level reaches a lower limit 603 of the overspeed threshold 602, which may be a lower maximum speed v2 with a safety factor sf added (e.g., 115% of the lower maximum speed v2). Added to the maximum speed v max The safety factor added to the lower maximum speed v2 can be the same safety factor or a different safety factor.

[0054] As discussed in the background, in the prior art solutions, the pit safety device is sized to absorb or store the kinetic energy of an elevator car traveling at maximum speed so as to be able to safely stop the movement of the elevator car. The sizing of the pit safety device refers to the sizing of the buffer stroke (i.e., the distance the buffer can be compressed) in the case of a buffer. In other words, the size of the pit safety device can be determined according to the maximum speed of the elevator car, or the maximum speed of the elevator car can be limited according to the size of the pit safety device. The higher the maximum speed of the elevator car, the longer the buffer stroke needs to be in order to absorb or store the kinetic energy of the elevator car traveling at maximum speed. In addition, because the safety element needs to be installed in the pit, the sizing of the pit safety device also affects the depth of the pit. Therefore, the longer the buffer stroke, the deeper the pit needs to be. The safety device of the counterweight can be similarly sized to absorb the kinetic energy of the counterweight.

[0055] The electronic overspeed device according to the present invention having a reduced overspeed threshold allows the pit safety device 220, 510 to be sized to absorb or store the kinetic energy of an elevator car or counterweight 216 traveling at a lower maximum speed v2 because the electronic overspeed device is configured to monitor the movement of the elevator car 202 or counterweight 216 approaching the pit 606 (and / or the overhead structure) so that the speed of the elevator car 202 or counterweight 216 does not exceed the lower limit 603 of the overspeed threshold at the location of the pit 606. The lower maximum speed v2 may be substantially lower than the maximum speed v2 of the elevator car 202. max This means that the pit safety device 220, 510 can be dimensioned according to the lower maximum speed v2, instead of the maximum speed v2 of the elevator car 202. max , which results in a reduced buffer stroke. Thus, the electronic overspeed device according to the present invention enables the use of reduced safety devices 510 (e.g., reduced buffers of the elevator car 202 and counterweight 216) and reduced pit depth.

[0056] exist Figure 6 An example of an overspeed threshold 602 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 , where the overspeed threshold 602 decreases toward a pit 606 of the hoistway 208. Figure 6 , an example of an elevator car motion curve 604 is also illustrated, in which the elevator car first accelerates from the departure landing (in this example, the topmost landing 210n) to a maximum speed v max , then from the maximum speed v max The vehicle is decelerated to smoothly land at the destination landing (the bottom landing 210a in this example). Figure 6, the movement of the elevator car 202 is monitored using an electronic overspeed monitoring device near the bottom-most landing 210a (i.e., near the pit 606 of the hoistway 208). However, alternatively or additionally, the movement of the elevator car 202 can be monitored using an electronic overspeed monitoring device near the top-most landing 210n. As described above, the hoistway safety device 220 of the elevator car 202 and the hoistway safety device 510 of the counterweight 216 and the pit depth are sized according to the lower maximum speed v2. In comparison, for an elevator car 202 traveling in the same hoistway, Figure 6 Also illustrated is a conventional constant speed limit 106 (e.g., 115% of the maximum speed) and an elevator car motion profile 100 for an elevator car 202 traveling in the same hoistway (including the same pit depth and similarly sized pit safety devices 220, 510) used with a conventional mechanical overspeed governor. According to the conventional elevator car motion profile 100, the elevator car first accelerates from the departure landing 210n to the maximum speed and then decelerates from the maximum speed to smoothly stop at the destination landing 210a. The size of the pit safety devices 220, 510 limits the maximum speed of the conventional elevator car motion profile 100 to a lower maximum speed v2, which results in the maximum speed of the conventional elevator car motion profile 100 and the conventional constant speed limit 106 being substantially lower than the maximum speed v according to the present invention. max and overspeed threshold 602. If the elevator car motion curve with a conventional overspeed governor is required to be the same as the elevator car motion curve 604 according to the present invention, this means that the maximum speed v max The pit safety device is dimensioned so that the pit safety device should be longer and the pit depth deeper than in the example according to the invention, in which the pit safety device and the pit depth are dimensioned for a lower maximum speed v2.

[0057] Figure 7An example of a processing unit according to the present invention is schematically illustrated. The processing unit may include one or more processors 702, one or more memories 704, a communication unit 708 including one or more communication devices, and a user interface (UI) 706. The mentioned elements may be coupled to each other communicatively using, for example, an internal bus. The one or more processors 702 may be any suitable processor for processing information and controlling the operation of the processing unit and other tasks. The one or more memories 704 may store portions of computer program code 705a-705n and any other data, and the one or more processors 702 may cause the processing unit to operate as described by executing at least some portions of the computer program code 705a-705n stored in the one or more memories 704. In addition, the one or more memories 704 may be volatile or non-volatile. In addition, the one or more memories 704 are not limited to a certain type of memory, but any memory type suitable for storing the described information fragments may be applied in the context of the present invention. The communication unit 708 may be based on at least one known communication technology, wired or wireless, to exchange pieces of information as previously described. The communication unit 708 provides an interface for communicating with any external unit such as a database and / or any external system. The user interface 706 may include an I / O device (e.g., button, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, speaker, display, etc.) for receiving input and output information.

[0058] Some aspects of the present invention may relate to computer programs 705a-705n stored in one or more memories 704 of the processing unit 204. Implementation of the method according to the present invention as described above may be arranged such that a computer program 705a-705n comprising machine-readable instructions is stored in one or more memories 704 of the processing unit 204, and when the computer program code 705a-705n is executed by one or more processors 702, causes the processing unit to perform one or more of the method steps described above.

[0059] The computer program may be stored in a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a USB stick, a CD-ROM disk, a DVD disk, a Blu-ray disk) or another article of manufacture tangibly embodying the computer program that is at least accessible by one or more processors 702 of the processing unit 204. The computer program may also be loaded from a remote server via a remote link.

[0060] Above, the present invention is described so that it is implemented in an elevator system 200 including one elevator car, but the present invention may also be implemented in an elevator system including a plurality of elevator cars (ie, elevator groups) adapted to travel in separate hoistways.

[0061] The invention thus described provides great advantages over prior art solutions. For example, the invention improves the safety of the elevator at least in part. Moreover, the invention enables different elevator car motion profiles with different motion parameters to be used for one elevator car in different operating situations. The invention improves the transport capacity of the elevator system and reduces the travel time of the elevator car within safety limits.

[0062] In the present patent application, the verb "meet" is used in the context of an overspeed threshold or speed limit to indicate that a predetermined condition is met. For example, the predetermined condition may be reaching and / or exceeding the overspeed threshold.

[0063] The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and / or interpretation of the appended claims.The lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless expressly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A method for operating an elevator system (200), the method comprising: - receiving (310) a request to drive the elevator car (202) to a destination, and - generating (320) an elevator car motion profile (402, 404) to service the received request, the elevator car motion profile (402, 404) comprising at least the following motion parameters of the elevator car (202): acceleration, maximum speed and deceleration, wherein at least one of the maximum speed of the elevator car (202) and the deceleration of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car motion profile (402, 404) is defined based on the destination; If the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum deceleration of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car motion curve (402, 404) is lower than the maximum deceleration that would occur if the destination were any destination other than the extreme destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum speed of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car motion curve (402, 404) is lower than the maximum speed that would be present if the destination were any destination other than the extreme destination.

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum speed and / or the deceleration of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car movement profile (402, 404) is specific for each destination.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising controlling (330) an elevator crane such that the elevator car speed is consistent with the generated elevator car motion profile (402, 404).

5. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising monitoring movement of the elevator car (202) or movement of the counterweight (216), and in response to detecting that a speed of the elevator car (202) or a speed of the counterweight (216) exceeds an overspeed threshold, triggering one or more safety brakes to stop the movement of the elevator car (202) and the counterweight (216).

6. A processing unit, the processing unit comprising one or more processors (702) and one or more memories (704), the one or more memories (704) comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors (702), cause the processing unit to perform: - receiving a request to drive the elevator car (202) to a destination, and - generating an elevator car motion profile (402, 404) to service the received request, the elevator car motion profile (402, 404) comprising at least the following motion parameters of the elevator car (202): acceleration, maximum speed and deceleration, wherein at least one of the maximum speed of the elevator car (202) and the deceleration of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car motion profile (402, 404) is defined based on the destination; If the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum deceleration of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car motion curve (402, 404) is lower than the maximum deceleration of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car motion curve (402, 404) when the destination is any destination other than the extreme destination.

7. The processing unit of claim 6, wherein if the destination is an extreme destination, the maximum speed of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car motion curve (402, 404) is lower than the maximum speed if the destination is any destination other than the extreme destination.

8. The processing unit according to any of claims 6 to 7, wherein the maximum speed and / or the maximum deceleration of the elevator car (202) in the generated elevator car movement profile (402, 404) is specific for each destination.

9. The processing unit according to any one of claims 6 to 8, the processing unit being further configured to control an elevator crane such that the elevator car speed is consistent with the generated elevator car motion profile (402, 404).

10. The processing unit according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the processing unit is one of: an elevator control unit (204), a drive unit (206), a combined processing entity comprising a drive unit (206) and at least a part of an elevator control unit (204).

11. A computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processing unit according to any one of claims 6 to 10 to perform a method according to claims 1 to 5.

12. A computer readable medium having stored thereon the computer program product according to claim 11.

13. An elevator system (200), comprising: at least one elevator car (202), and A processing unit according to any one of claims 6 to 10.

14. The elevator system (200) according to claim 13, further comprising an electronic overspeed monitoring device, the electronic overspeed monitoring device comprising: - a safety controller (502), communicatively connected to the elevator car (202) or to the counterweight (216) via a safety data bus, - one or more brake control units, - one or more safety brakes comprising a triggering element connected to said one or more brake control units, - an absolute positioning system configured to continuously provide information representative of the movement of the elevator car (202) or the movement of the counterweight (216) and communicatively connected to the safety controller (502) via the safety data bus, The security controller (502) is configured to: - obtaining information representative of the movement of the elevator car (202) or of the counterweight (216) from the absolute positioning system, - monitoring the movement of the elevator car (202) or the movement of the counterweight (216), and - If it is detected that the speed of the elevator car (202) or the counterweight (216) meets an overspeed threshold, one or more safety brakes are triggered to stop the movement of the elevator car (202) and the counterweight (216).

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