Safety arrangement for an elevator

Abstract

A safety arrangement includes an external device for inspection purposes within an elevator hoistway, and a human detection sensor in electrical communication with the external device and an elevator controller. The human detection sensor is configured to detect the presence of a person within the hoistway in response to an opening operation of the external device to prevent movement of an elevator car.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to elevator safety systems. In particular, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the presence of personnel in the elevator shaft during maintenance and inspection. Background Technology

[0002] Basically, the inspection switch is located in a predetermined position within the shaft, such as on top of the elevator car or in the pit at the bottom of the shaft, so that maintenance technicians or mechanics who have access to the shaft can prevent accidental movement of the elevator car and safely perform elevator system maintenance and inspection.

[0003] Specifically, maintenance technicians or mechanics can enter the shaft through the landing doors, climb to the top of the elevator car, activate the inspection switches, and perform inspection, maintenance, or repair on equipment installed on each floor, elevator ropes, brakes, etc. When access to the pit area is required, maintenance technicians or mechanics enter the shaft through the landing doors at the lowest floor, also activate the inspection switches, and inspect equipment such as motors and other control devices installed in the pit.

[0004] However, if a maintenance technician or mechanic enters the shaft through the landing door and accidentally closes the landing door without activating the maintenance / inspection switch, the elevator car will automatically resume normal operation, and the mechanic on top of the elevator car or inside the shaft will be at risk of being placed in a dangerous position.

[0005] Furthermore, even if the elevator system is set to maintenance / inspection mode, the elevator may still move unexpectedly during maintenance and inspection.

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide an elevator safety device and an elevator maintenance and inspection method that can improve the safety of maintenance technicians or mechanics with a simple structure when they enter the shaft and perform maintenance and inspection in the shaft, without having to set up cumbersome safety operations. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a safety device for an elevator includes a human body detection sensor. The human body detection sensor is configured to detect activation of an external device in electrical communication with the human body detection sensor, and in response to the detection, generate an output to the elevator controller to prevent movement of the elevator car.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, a safety device for an elevator includes an external device for inspection purposes within the elevator shaft, and a human body detection sensor electrically communicating with the external device and the elevator controller. The human body detection sensor is configured to detect the presence of a person in the shaft in response to an opening operation of the external device and to generate an output to the elevator controller to prevent movement of the elevator car.

[0009] In some embodiments, the external device includes a portable work light.

[0010] In some embodiments, the safety device further includes a light switch for turning a light fixture installed in the shaft on and off, the light switch being electrically connected to a human detection sensor. The human detection sensor is configured to prevent movement of the elevator car in response to the activation of the light switch.

[0011] In some embodiments, the human body detection sensor includes a current detector for detecting current in the external device in response to the activation of the external device; and a human body detection relay connected to the current detector and the elevator controller for generating an output to the elevator controller in response to the detection of current in the external device to prevent movement of the elevator car.

[0012] In some embodiments, the current detector is connected to the human body detection relay via a first contact, and the first contact is configured to disconnect in response to current detection by an external device.

[0013] In some embodiments, the human body detection relay is connected to the drive control circuit of the elevator controller via a second contact, and the second contact is configured to open in response to the opening of the first contact to prevent movement of the elevator car.

[0014] In some embodiments, the safety device further includes a light switch for turning a light fixture installed in the shaft on and off. The light switch includes a third contact that is electrically connected in series with a first contact of a human detection sensor.

[0015] In some embodiments, the human body detection relay is connected to the drive control circuit of the elevator controller via a second contact, and the second contact is configured to open in response to the opening of a third contact to prevent movement of the elevator car.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for performing elevator maintenance and inspection is disclosed. The method includes inserting an external device for inspection purposes within the elevator shaft into a human body detection sensor connected to an elevator controller; and generating an output to the elevator controller in response to the insertion of the external device into the human body detection sensor to prevent movement of the elevator.

[0017] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for performing elevator maintenance and inspection is disclosed. The method includes sensing the activation operation of an external device carried into the elevator shaft by a maintenance technician or mechanic during maintenance and inspection, and generating an output to the elevator controller based on the sensed activation operation of the external device to prevent movement of the elevator car.

[0018] In some embodiments, the external device includes a portable work light.

[0019] In some embodiments, the method further includes installing a light fixture in the shaft, sensing the activation of the light fixture, and generating an output to the elevator controller based on the sensed activation of the light fixture to prevent movement of the elevator car.

[0020] In some embodiments, sensing the power-on operation of an external device includes detecting a current in the external device in response to the power-on operation of the external device.

[0021] These and other aspects of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, which can be briefly described below. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary safety device for detecting the presence of personnel inside a well shaft according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example portable work lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing an example lamp installed in an elevator shaft on which the safety device according to the present invention is provided. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a safety device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Essentially, the safety device 1 includes a human body detection sensor 3 connected to an elevator controller 4 for automatically activating the elevator's maintenance / safety mode. The elevator controller 4 can be implemented using a general-purpose microprocessor that executes a computer program stored on a storage medium to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively, the elevator controller 4 can be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or in a hardware / software combination. In one embodiment, the human body detection sensor 3 is configured to automatically activate the elevator's maintenance / safety mode when an external device, such as a portable work light 2, is inserted into the human body detection sensor 3. In another embodiment, the human body detection sensor 3 is configured to automatically activate the elevator's maintenance / safety mode in response to current detection or an on / off operation of an external device inserted into the human body detection sensor 3.

[0026] like Figure 1As shown, safety device 1 includes a portable work light 2 used by maintenance technicians or mechanics during elevator maintenance and inspection, and a human body detection sensor 3 connected between the work light 2 and the elevator controller 4. The human body detection sensor 3 includes a current detector 5 for detecting current in the work light 2 in response to its activation. The current detector 5 is connected to a human body detection relay 6 via an on / off contact 7. The contact 7 is configured to disconnect or deconnect in response to current detection in the work light 2. The human body detection relay 6 is further connected to contacts 8 of the drive control circuit 9 of the elevator controller 4. The drive control circuit 9 may be an existing circuit or a safety chain, and it is also connected to an existing inspection switch located on the top of the elevator car or in the pit at the bottom of the hoistway. The human body detection relay 6 is configured to disconnect or deconnect contacts 8 of the drive control circuit 9 in response to the opening of contact 7, which prevents or disables movement of the elevator car.

[0027] In one example, the human body detection sensor 3 is connected to the elevator controller 4 at any predetermined location, but it can be installed or integrated into the elevator controller 4. Furthermore, the human body detection sensor 3 can be configured to be carried together with or integrated with the work light 2 of the present invention, and can be connected to the elevator controller 4 via a control panel (not shown) in the elevator car. It can also be installed in a predetermined location on the elevator car or in the hoistway.

[0028] As described in detail below, the safety device 1 may further include a light switch 15 for one or more light fixtures installed along the elevator shaft.

[0029] Figure 2 An example of an external device or work light 2 constituting the safety device 1 of the present invention is shown. The work light 2 may be a conventional ordinary work light including an external power plug 12 such as an AC plug.

[0030] Here, we will refer to Figure 1 and 2 A detailed description is provided of a method for maintaining and inspecting an elevator using a safety device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] When performing maintenance and inspection of the elevator system, maintenance technicians or mechanics carrying external devices such as portable work lights 2 can enter the shaft through the landing door located above the current position of the elevator car and climb to the top of the elevator car to connect the external power plug 12 to a socket (e.g., AC 100 to 240V) located at a predetermined position on the top of the elevator car.

[0032] When maintenance technicians or mechanics turn on the external device or work light 2, the current detector 5 of the human body detection sensor 3 detects current and disconnects or breaks the connection to the contact 7 of the human body detection relay 6. As a result, the human body detection relay 6 shuts down. This, in turn, disconnects the contact 8 of the drive control circuit 9 in the elevator controller 4 to prevent or disable the movement of the elevator car. In other words, the human body detection relay 6 detects the presence of a person in the shaft in response to the activation of the external device or work light 2 and disables the normal operation of the elevator car. Therefore, the elevator controller 4 enables the elevator car to stop and ensures that the elevator is in maintenance and inspection mode.

[0033] With this design, even if maintenance technicians or mechanics perform maintenance and inspections without activating any inspection switches, they can reliably stop the elevator car operation by simply turning on the external device or work light 2 for inspection purposes within the shaft. It is noteworthy that during inspections within the shaft, the mechanic will never fail to turn on the work light 2. Therefore, the possibility of serious accidents occurring within the shaft can be reliably avoided.

[0034] Figure 3 The diagram shows the construction of a lamp 10 installed in the shaft on which the safety device 1 of the present invention is located. The lamp 10 is a conventional lamp arranged in the shaft, but as shown in the figure, it differs from conventional lamps in that, in addition to a lighting circuit 14 that includes an external power supply, it is also connected to a human detection sensor 3 via a human detection circuit 17.

[0035] More specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the switch 15 of the lamp 10 includes a contact 16 for the human body detection sensor 3 and is configured to disconnect or break in response to an on operation (i.e., a closing operation) of the lamp switch 15 of the lamp 10 turning on the lamp 13. The contact 16 is connected in series with the on / off contact 7 of the human body detection relay 6 of the human body detection sensor 3. Therefore, the lamp 10 is configured such that the contact 16 of the human body detection circuit 17 disconnects in response to the lamp switch 15 being turned on in the shaft, and the human body detection relay 6 triggers the contact 8 of the drive control circuit 9 of the elevator controller 4 to disconnect in response to the disconnection of the contact 16.

[0036] Here, we will refer to Figure 1 Detailed description Figure 3 An embodiment of this method. When maintenance technicians or mechanics are able to enter the shaft for maintenance and inspection, one or more light fixtures 10 arranged along the shaft can be turned on by activating a light switch 15 that is generally installed in a predetermined location within the shaft (e.g., in the pit or on top of the elevator car). Figure 1As shown, when the light switch 15 is turned on, the contact 16 of the human body detection circuit 17 is disconnected or broken. As a result, the human body detection relay 6 of the human body detection sensor 3, which is connected in series with the contact 16, is turned off. This, in turn, disconnects the contact 8 of the drive control circuit 9 in the elevator controller 4 to prevent or prohibit the movement of the elevator car. In other words, the human body detection sensor 3 detects the presence of a person in the shaft in response to the turning on of the light fixture 10 in the shaft and disables the normal operation of the elevator car. Therefore, the elevator controller 4 enables the elevator car to stop and ensures that the elevator is in maintenance and inspection mode.

[0037] According to the present invention, even if a maintenance technician or mechanic accidentally fails to activate any inspection switch during maintenance and inspection, the elevator car operation can be reliably stopped by simply turning on an external switch for inspection purposes, a portable work light 2, or a light fixture 10 installed in the shaft. It is noteworthy that during inspections within the shaft, the mechanic will never fail to turn on the work light 2 or the light fixture 10. Therefore, the possibility of serious accidents occurring in the shaft can be reliably avoided.

[0038] By combining the human body detection sensor 3 according to the invention with existing elevator systems, the present invention provides an improved elevator safety system that can be easily retrofitted to existing elevators without extensive modifications and using compact, lightweight, and inexpensive devices. Furthermore, the safety device 1 according to the invention operates more reliably than conventional safety systems using motion sensors or optical sensors, and can be manufactured at a lower cost and with lower technical requirements.

[0039] Although the invention has been specifically shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A safety device for an elevator, comprising: Human body detection sensor The human body detection sensor is configured as follows: Activation of an external device that is electrically in communication with the human body detection sensor is detected, wherein the external device includes a portable work light, and In response to the detection, an output is generated to the elevator controller to prevent the elevator car from moving; The safety device is characterized in that it further includes a light switch for turning on and off a light fixture installed in the shaft, the light switch being electrically connected to the human body detection sensor, wherein the human body detection sensor is configured to prevent movement of the elevator car in response to the turning operation of the light switch.

2. A safety device for an elevator, comprising: External devices for inspection purposes within elevator shafts, and Human body detection sensors that are electrically in communication with the external device and the elevator controller. The human detection sensor is configured to detect the presence of a person in the shaft in response to the activation of the external device, and to send an output to the elevator controller to prevent movement of the elevator car. The human body detection sensor is characterized in that it includes a current detector for detecting the current of the external device in response to the activation operation of the external device; and a human body detection relay connected to the current detector and the elevator controller to generate an output to the elevator controller in response to the detection of the current of the external device to prevent the elevator car from moving.

3. The safety device of claim 2, wherein, The current detector is connected to the human body detection relay via a first contact, and the first contact is configured to disconnect in response to current detection by the external device.

4. The safety device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The human body detection relay is connected to the drive control circuit of the elevator controller via a second contact, and the second contact is configured to disconnect in response to the first contact opening to prevent movement of the elevator car.

5. The safety device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The safety device further includes a light switch for turning on and off a light fixture installed in the shaft, wherein the light switch includes a third contact that is electrically connected in series with a first contact of the human body detection sensor.

6. The safety device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The human body detection relay is connected to the drive control circuit of the elevator controller via a second contact, and the second contact is configured to disconnect in response to the disconnection of the third contact to prevent movement of the elevator car.

7. A method for performing elevator maintenance and inspection, the method comprising: An external device for inspection purposes within the elevator shaft is inserted into a human body detection sensor connected to the elevator controller. The elevator controller generates an output in response to the external device being inserted into the human body detection sensor to prevent the elevator from moving. Sensing the activation of lights installed in the shaft; as well as Based on the sensed activation of the lights, an output is generated to the elevator controller to prevent the elevator car from moving; The feature is that sensing the power-on operation of the external device includes detecting the current of the external device in response to the power-on operation of the external device.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The external device includes a portable work light.

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