Elevator system including pit safety interface
The integration of a pit safety interface and sensor assembly in elevator systems addresses the safety concerns for maintenance personnel in the pit by enabling controlled elevator movement based on interface activation, ensuring safe operations.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202311563188.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-06-12
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-22
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing elevator systems lack adequate safety measures to prevent injury to maintenance personnel entering the pit, necessitating additional safety enhancements.
Incorporation of a pit safety interface and sensor assembly that detects personnel in the pit, enabling or disabling elevator movement based on the activation of the pit safety interface, with optional manual bypass options.
Ensures safe operation of elevators by preventing movement when personnel are in the pit unless the safety interface is activated, allowing controlled access for maintenance tasks.
Smart Images
Figure CN119117827A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments described herein relate to elevator systems, and more particularly to elevator systems including a pit safety interface. Background Art
[0002] Personnel, such as maintenance personnel, may need to enter the pit of the elevator shaft for inspection, maintenance, etc. Many safety measures exist to prevent injury to personnel in the pit. Additional safety measures, while not necessary, may be beneficial. Summary of the invention
[0003] According to an embodiment, an elevator system includes: a hoistway; an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway; a pit located at the bottom of the hoistway; a pit safety interface located in the pit; a pit emergency switch located in the pit; a reset device located outside the hoistway; a safety chain contact, which is part of the safety chain of the elevator system; and a sensor assembly configured to initiate opening of the safety chain contact to disable movement of the elevator car when a person in the pit is detected and the pit safety interface is not activated.
[0004] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the sensor assembly is configured to close the safety chain contacts upon completion of a reset function.
[0005] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include where the sensor assembly is configured to enable a temporary manual bypass if a person is detected and the reset function is not engaged.
[0006] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include where the sensor assembly is configured to remain temporarily bypassed while the pit safety interface is activated.
[0007] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include where the sensor assembly is configured to close the safety chain contacts while the pit safety interface is activated.
[0008] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the sensor assembly is configured to exit bypass mode and open the safety chain contacts when the sensor assembly senses a person in the pit and the pit safety interface is not activated.
[0009] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include where the sensor assembly includes a sensor that measures a distance to an object in the pit.
[0010] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the sensor includes at least one of a LIDAR sensor, a millimeter wave RADAR sensor, and an RGBD camera.
[0011] According to another embodiment, a method of operating an elevator system, the elevator system comprising a hoistway, an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway, a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway, a pit safety interface located in the pit, a safety chain contact portion of a safety chain of the elevator system, and a sensor assembly, the method comprising: detecting a person in the pit by the sensor assembly; and when a person in the pit is detected and the pit safety interface is not activated, opening the safety chain contact to disable movement of the elevator car.
[0012] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include the sensor assembly closing the safety chain contacts upon completion of the reset function.
[0013] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include the sensor assembly enabling a temporary manual bypass if a person is detected and the reset function is not engaged.
[0014] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include the sensor assembly remaining temporarily bypassed while the pit safety interface is activated.
[0015] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include the sensor assembly closing the safety chain contacts while the pit safety interface is activated.
[0016] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include the sensor assembly exiting bypass mode and opening the safety chain contacts when the sensor assembly senses a person in the pit and the pit safety interface is not activated.
[0017] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include where the sensor assembly includes a sensor that measures a distance to an object in the pit.
[0018] Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the sensor includes at least one of a LIDAR sensor, a millimeter wave RADAR sensor, and an RGBD camera.
[0019] According to another embodiment, a computer program implemented on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program including instructions for causing a processor to implement a process for operating an elevator system, the elevator system including a hoistway, an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway, a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway, a pit safety interface located in the pit, a safety chain contact portion of a safety chain of the elevator system, and a sensor assembly, the process including detecting a person in the pit by the sensor assembly; and when a person in the pit is detected and the pit safety interface is not activated, opening the safety chain contact to disable movement of the elevator car.
[0020] The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations in a non-exclusive manner unless otherwise expressly indicated. These features and elements and their operation will become more apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that it is intended that the following description and the accompanying drawings are illustrative and explanatory in nature and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures in which like references indicate similar elements.
[0022] Figure 1 An elevator system is shown in which various embodiments of the present disclosure may be employed;
[0023] Figure 2 shows an elevator pit according to an embodiment;
[0024] Figure 3 shows a sensor assembly according to an embodiment; and
[0025] Figure 4 A flow chart showing a process for controlling movement of an elevator car according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an elevator system 101, which includes an elevator car 103, a counterweight 105, a tension member 107, a guide rail 109, a machine 111, a position reference system 113, and a controller 115. The elevator car 103 and the counterweight 105 are connected to each other by the tension member 107. The tension member 107 may include or be configured as, for example, a rope, a steel cable, and / or a coated steel belt. The counterweight 105 is configured to balance the load of the elevator car 103 and to facilitate movement of the elevator car 103 concurrently and in opposite directions relative to the counterweight 105 within the elevator shaft or hoistway 117 and along the guide rail 109.
[0027] Tension member 107 engages machine 111, which is part of the overhead structure of elevator system 101. Machine 111 is configured to control movement between elevator car 103 and counterweight 105. Position reference system 113 can be mounted on a fixed portion of the top of elevator shaft 117 (such as a support or guide rail), and can be configured to provide a position signal related to the position of elevator car 103 within elevator shaft 117. In other embodiments, position reference system 113 can be mounted directly to the moving parts of machine 111, or can be located in other positions and / or configurations as known in the art. Position reference system 113 can be any device or mechanism for monitoring the position of elevator car and / or counterweight, as known in the art. For example, without limitation, position reference system 113 can be an encoder, sensor or other system, and can include rate sensing, absolute position sensing, etc., as those skilled in the art will appreciate.
[0028] As shown, the controller 115 may be located in a controller room 121 of the elevator shaft 117 and configured to control the operation of the elevator system 101 and, in particular, the elevator car 103. It is to be appreciated that the controller 115 need not be located in the controller room 121, but may be located in the hoistway or other locations in the elevator system. For example, the controller 115 may provide drive signals to the machine 111 to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car 103. The controller 115 may also be configured to receive position signals from the position reference system 113 or any other desired position reference device. When moving up or down along the guide rails 109 in the elevator shaft 117, the elevator car 103 may stop at one or more landings 125 as controlled by the controller 115. Although shown as being shown in the controller room 121, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the controller 115 can be located and / or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system 101. In one embodiment, the controller may be remotely located or located in a cloud computing network (e.g., a cloud computing architecture). Controller 115 may be implemented using a processor-based machine, such as a personal computer, a server, a distributed computing network, or the like.
[0029] The machine 111 may include an electric motor or similar drive mechanism. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the machine 111 is configured to include an electric drive motor. The power supply device of the motor can be any power source, including a power grid, which is supplied to the motor in combination with other components. The machine 111 may include a traction wheel that imparts force to the tension member 107 to move the elevator car 103 within the elevator shaft 117.
[0030] The elevator system 101 also includes one or more elevator doors 104. The elevator doors 104 may be attached to the elevator car 103, or the elevator doors 104 may be located on a landing 125 of the elevator system 101, or both. The embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to elevator doors 104 attached to the elevator car 103, or elevator doors 104 located on a landing 125 of the elevator system 101, or both. The elevator doors 104 open to allow passengers to enter and exit the elevator car 103.
[0031] Although shown and described using a roping system including tension members 107, elevator systems that use other methods and mechanisms for moving an elevator car within an elevator shaft may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments may be employed in ropeless elevator systems that use linear motors to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems that use hydraulic lift to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems that use self-propelled elevator cars, such as elevator cars equipped with friction wheels, pressure wheels, or traction wheels. Figure 1 are non-limiting examples presented for purposes of illustration and explanation.
[0032] Figure 2An elevator pit 200 in an example embodiment is shown. The elevator pit 200 is located at the bottom of the hoistway 117 and includes equipment that may need to be accessed or inspected by a person 202. Access to the pit 200 is through an access door 204, which may be a door at the lowest landing of the building or another door. A ladder 206 provides entrance and exit to and from the pit 200. A pit emergency switch 250 is provided in the pit 200, typically located at the top of the ladder 206. During a standard pit access procedure, the pit emergency switch 250 is manually operated by the person 202 before they enter the pit 200 to put the elevator into an operating mode in which the elevator car 103 cannot move. Additionally, a sensor assembly 220 monitors the presence of (one or more) persons 202 in the pit 200. A pit safety interface 210 is provided in the pit 200. The pit safety interface 210 is manually operated by the person 202 to enter an operating mode in which the person 202 is in the pit 200 and the elevator car 103 can move. A reset device 251 is provided outside the access door 204, near or adjacent to the pit entrance. The reset device 251 is manually operated by the person 202 when the sensor assembly 220 needs to be placed back in the operating mode.
[0033] Figure 3 The sensor assembly 220 in the example embodiment is shown. The sensor assembly 220 includes one or more sensors 222. The sensor 222 can be a distance sensor that generates distance measurements in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional field of view. The sensor 222 can be implemented using a LIDAR sensor, a millimeter wave RADAR sensor, an RGBD camera, or other distance measurement sensors. The sensor assembly 220 includes a processor 224 that controls the operation of the sensor assembly 220. The processor 224 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 processor 224 can be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or in a combination of hardware / software. The processor 224 allows the sensor assembly 220 to perform calculations locally, also known as edge computing. The processor 224 is capable of sending commands to other components of the elevator system 101 based on the results of the local calculations.
[0034] The sensor assembly 220 includes a memory 226 that can store computer programs executable by the processor 224, reference data, sensor data, etc. The memory 226 can be implemented using known devices such as random access memory. The sensor assembly 220 includes a communication unit 228 that allows the sensor assembly 220 to communicate with other components of the elevator system 101 (such as other sensor assemblies and / or the elevator controller 115). The communication unit 228 can be implemented using a wired connection (e.g., LAN, Ethernet, twisted pair, etc.) and / or a wireless connection (e.g., WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth, etc.).
[0035] In operation, the sensor assembly 220 is capable of opening the safety chain of the elevator system 101 under certain conditions. The safety chain is a known component of the elevator system and typically includes a plurality of contacts (e.g., relays) in series that control power to the elevator system machine 111 to enable or disable movement of the elevator car 103. If any of the contacts of the safety chain are open, the elevator car 103 is prevented from moving. In an example embodiment, the sensor assembly 220 is capable of controlling the safety chain contact 230 to open or close the safety chain. It is to be understood that the safety chain contact 230 is one of several contacts that make up the safety chain.
[0036] The pit safety interface 210 may be a manually operated switch, touch panel, console, or other input mechanism used to temporarily bypass the automatic response of the sensor assembly to open the safety chain contacts 230. When the pit safety interface 210 is activated (e.g., by continuously maintaining contact with one or more buttons), a signal is presented to the sensor assembly 220. The pit safety interface 210 may communicate with the sensor assembly 220 via a wired connection 211. The pit safety interface 210 may communicate with the sensor assembly 220 via a wireless connection. The pit safety interface 210 allows the personnel 202 to be in the pit 200 and still allow movement of the elevator car 103. This may be useful, for example, in a situation where the personnel 202 needs to perform an inspection of the elevator system 101 while the elevator car 103 is moving.
[0037] Figure 4 A flow chart showing a process performed by the sensor assembly 220 in an example embodiment for allowing controlled movement of the elevator car 103. The process is designed to ensure that if the person 202 is in the pit 200, the elevator car 103 can only be moved while the pit safety interface 210 is transmitting a bypass signal. When the sensor assembly 220 is activated (e.g., initial installation, restart after power failure, etc.), the process is as shown in Figure 4 Start by clicking "Start" in the dialog box.
[0038] At 300, the sensor assembly 220 determines whether the person 202 is in the pit 200. This operating state is referred to as the normal operating mode. References to detecting the person 202 in the pit 200 include detecting the person 202 at one or more locations in the pit ladder 206, the pit entrance (e.g., the perimeter of the pit 200), or the pit area (e.g., as much as possible of the pit 200). The number of points within a certain distance (e.g., within the inner wall of the pit) greater than a threshold indicates that the person 202 is in the pit 200. When no person 202 is in the pit 200, background distance measurements are collected to establish a baseline. Then, when the person 202 appears in the foreground (front) of the understood environmental background, the person 202 can be classified by the processor 224. In one example, the distance measurement defines a cloud of points in the field of view. The number of points within a certain distance (e.g., within the inner wall of the pit) greater than the threshold indicates that the person is in the pit 200. The presence or direction of travel of person 202 may also be determined (eg, by comparing point distributions across multiple frames of the field of view) to verify whether person 202 is present in pit 200 .
[0039] If no person 202 is present in the pit 200 at 300, the process loops until a person 202 is detected. Once a person 202 is detected in the pit 200, the flow proceeds to 302, where the sensor assembly 220 determines whether the pit emergency switch 250 is activated (e.g., car movement is stopped). If "yes", the process loops back to 300.
[0040] If the pit emergency switch 250 is not activated at 302, the process proceeds to 304, where the sensor assembly 220 determines whether a reset function has been performed. The reset function can be performed in a variety of ways, including manually and / or automatically. A manual reset includes a person performing a reset action (e.g., pressing a reset button on the reset device 251 when an "all clear" state is confirmed). An automatic reset may include the sensor assembly 220 determining with a certain high confidence level that no one is in the pit 200. In the above description and in Figure 4 In either of the reset examples shown in the embodiments of , the reset function acts as an interrupt rather than a latched state and thus returns execution to normal mode when the safety chain is closed at 306 .
[0041] If a reset has been performed at 304 , the flow proceeds to 306 where the sensor assembly 220 closes the safety chain contacts 230 (if open). The flow returns to 300 .
[0042] If the sensor assembly 220 determines at 304 that the reset function has not been executed, then the process proceeds to 308 where the sensor assembly 220 determines whether a bypass signal is being transmitted from the pit safety interface 210. Activation of the pit safety interface 210 enables bypass at 308, at which point the process proceeds to 310 where the sensor assembly 220 temporarily closes the safety chain contacts 230 (if open). The sensor assembly 220 remains temporarily bypassed at 308 until the sensor assembly 220 no longer receives a bypass signal from the pit safety interface 210, at which point the process flows to 312. The bypass signal from the pit safety interface 210 is transmitted only if the interface 210 is actively engaged by the person 202 in the pit 200.
[0043] At 312, the sensor assembly 220 opens the safety chain contacts 230. At this stage, the sensor assembly 220 is in active (triggered) mode. From 312, the process returns to 302.
[0044] The embodiments described herein allow that even when a detection mechanism is implemented (eg opening a safety chain via a relay), necessary service tasks will be performed safely.
[0045] As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and means for practicing those processes, such as the processor 224 in the sensor assembly 220. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions implemented in a tangible medium such as a network cloud storage, an SD card, a flash drive, a floppy disk, a CD ROM, a hard drive, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and executed by the computer, the computer becomes a means for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into a computer and / or executed by the computer, or transmitted through a transmission medium, loaded into a computer and / or executed by the computer, or transmitted through a transmission medium (such as through electrical wiring or cabling, through optical fiber, or via electromagnetic radiation), wherein when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and executed by the computer, the computer becomes a means for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create a specific logic circuit.
[0046] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "comprises and / or comprising" specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or groups thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each of which has certain features in a specific embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of changes, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not previously described but consistent with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the embodiments described. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An elevator system, comprising: Well; an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway; A pit located at the bottom of the shaft; A pit safety interface, located in the pit; a pit emergency switch, located in the pit; a reset device, located outside the hoistway; a safety chain contact, the safety chain contact being part of a safety chain of the elevator system; as well as A sensor assembly is configured to initiate opening of the safety chain contacts to disable movement of the elevator car when a person is detected in the pit and the pit safety interface is not activated.
2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor assembly is configured to close the safety chain contacts upon completion of a reset function.
3. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: The sensor assembly is configured to enable a temporary manual bypass if a person is detected and the reset function is not engaged.
4. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein: The sensor assembly is configured to remain temporarily bypassed while the pit safety interface is activated.
5. The elevator system according to claim 4, wherein: The sensor assembly is configured to close the safety chain contacts while the pit safety interface is activated.
6. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein: The sensor assembly is configured to exit the bypass mode and open the safety chain contacts when the sensor assembly senses a person in the pit and the pit safety interface is not activated.
7. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor assembly includes a sensor that measures a distance to an object in the pit.
8. The elevator system according to claim 7, wherein: The sensor includes at least one of a LIDAR sensor, a millimeter wave RADAR sensor, and an RGBD camera.
9. A method of operating an elevator system, the elevator system comprising a hoistway, an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway, a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway, a pit safety interface located in the pit, a safety chain contact portion of a safety chain of the elevator system, and a sensor assembly, the method comprising detecting a person in the pit by the sensor assembly; and When a person in the pit is detected and the pit safety interface is not activated, the safety chain contacts are opened to disable movement of the elevator car.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the sensor assembly closing the safety chain contacts upon completion of a reset function.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, if a person is detected and the reset function is not engaged, the sensor assembly enabling a temporary manual bypass.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the sensor assembly remaining temporarily bypassed while the pit safety interface is activated.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the sensor assembly closing the safety chain contacts while the pit safety interface is activated.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising, when the sensor assembly senses a person in the pit and the pit safety interface is not activated, the sensor assembly exiting the bypass mode and opening the safety chain contacts.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein: The sensor assembly includes a sensor that measures a distance to an object in the pit.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein: The sensor includes at least one of a LIDAR sensor, a millimeter wave RADAR sensor, and an RGBD camera.
17. A computer program implemented on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a processor to implement a process for operating an elevator system, the elevator system comprising a hoistway, an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway, a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway, a pit safety interface located in the pit, a safety chain contact portion of a safety chain of the elevator system, and a sensor assembly, the process comprising detecting a person in the pit by the sensor assembly; and When a person in the pit is detected and the pit safety interface is not activated, the safety chain contacts are opened to disable movement of the elevator car.