Elevator device and control method thereof

Abstract

To provide an elevator device capable of positioning and stopping a car such that a car top is coincident with a floor level of an installation floor of an elevator control device even when the installation floor of the elevator control device is varied for each elevator device.SOLUTION: An elevator device includes a car and a control device 102 controlling raising / lowering operation of the car. The control device 102 identifies an installation floor of the control device 102 based on submergence height information 411 in a maintenance mode of the control device 102 and performs the raising / lowering operation of the car so as to position its car top at the installation floor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator device and a control method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an elevator system that includes a support member fixed to the wall of the hoistway and an elevator control device supported within the hoistway by the support member so as not to interfere with the car ascending and descending within the hoistway, with the elevator control device positioned to match the landing floor of a specific floor (see paragraph 0009). Patent Document 1 considers that the car is stopped with its top surface aligned with the landing floor of a specific floor, allowing workers to stand on the top of the car for maintenance and inspection (see paragraph 0010). In the elevator system of Patent Document 1, the elevator control device is positioned to match the landing floor of a specific floor, which is located in the middle or upper part of the hoistway, so there is no need to take measures against flooding (see paragraph 0011).

[0003] In the inspection mode for inspecting the elevator control device, the car is first raised and lowered, and then stopped at a position where its top surface is aligned with the floor level of the highest floor. This positioning of the car is performed using various position sensors and the like (see paragraph 0023). Next, the hall door is opened, and a worker enters the top of the car through the hall door. From inside the car, the worker opens the front cover of the elevator control device, which is installed with its bottom end aligned with the hall floor of a specific floor, and performs work such as inspection of the elevator control device (see paragraph 0024). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80834 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the need to position and stop the elevator car so that the top surface of the elevator car (hereinafter referred to as "car top") coincides with the floor level of the floor on which the elevator control device is installed, when the installation floor on which the elevator control device is installed differs for each elevator device.

[0006] Elevator equipment designed to withstand flooding must be installed at a floor level higher than the flood height specified in the hazard map. In this case, the flood height specified in the hazard map will differ for each building in which the elevator equipment is installed, and the floor on which the elevator control equipment is installed will also differ.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator system and a control method thereof that can position and stop a passenger car so that the top of the car coincides with the floor level of the floor on which the elevator control device is installed, even if the floor on which the elevator control device is installed differs for each elevator system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the elevator device of the present invention comprises: An elevator device comprising a car and a control device for controlling the lifting and lowering operation of the car, The control device The flood height information is the flood height specified in the hazard map, and the device is installed on a floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height, In a maintenance mode of the control device, The aforementioned Based on flood height information 、 Floor where the control device is installed The floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height is The elevator car is raised and lowered to position the car on the installation floor.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a control method for an elevator apparatus according to the present invention comprises: A control method for an elevator system including a car and a control device that controls the lifting and lowering operation of the car, the control device uses a flood height specified in a hazard map as flood height information, and is installed on a floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height; In the maintenance mode of the control device, The aforementioned Based on flood height information , the above Control device installation floor The floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height is Identify the The elevator car is raised and lowered to position the top of the car on the installation floor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an elevator device and a control method thereof that can position and stop a passenger car so that the top of the car coincides with the floor level of the floor on which the elevator control device is installed, even if the floor on which the elevator control device is installed differs for each elevator device.

[0011] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of an elevator apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an elevator device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the car is stopped at a position during maintenance work on the control device. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for positioning a car to a floor where a control device is installed, according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of an elevator system 100 of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In each figure, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted. In the following description, the up-down direction corresponds to the ascending and descending direction of the car 104.

[0014] The configuration of an elevator system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of an elevator system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side.

[0015] The elevator device 100 includes a car 104 and a counterweight 105 that move up and down within the elevator shaft 101, a hoist 103 around which a main rope (not shown) is wound, car guide rails 106 and 107 that are installed vertically within the elevator shaft 101 and guide the car 104 as it moves up and down, counterweight guide rails 108 and 109 that are installed vertically within the elevator shaft 101 and guide the counterweight 105 as it moves up and down, and a control device (elevator control device) 102 that controls the lifting and lowering operation of the elevator device 100, including the lifting and lowering of the car 104.

[0016] The car 104 and the counterweight 105 are provided inside a hoistway 101 provided in a building, and are suspended in a bucket-like manner by a main rope wound around a hoisting machine 103.

[0017] 1 and 2, automatic adjustment of the car position during maintenance work on the elevator system 100 will be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the car 104 is positioned and stopped during maintenance work on the control device 102 in an elevator system 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] In the elevator device 100, the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are installed at an elevated position in consideration of flooding. That is, the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are placed on a specific floor that is elevated by a height He above the floor level 1FL of the first floor. The first floor is a floor that is at approximately the same height as the ground, i.e., the floor closest to the ground.

[0019] Here, the specific floor is a floor that is higher than the height position where flooding may occur (hereinafter referred to as the flood height) and is closest to the flood height. The flood height is the flood height position specified in the hazard map. In other words, the specific floor (installation floor) on which the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are installed is a floor that is higher than the flood height specified in the hazard map and is closest to the flood height.

[0020] In this case, the raised height He is set based on the case where the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are placed at floor level 1FL of the first floor.

[0021] Since the hoist 103 and the control device 102 are installed on a specific floor, the specific floor may be referred to as the installation floor of the hoist 103 and the control device 102, or simply as the installation floor.

[0022] In this embodiment, the flood height is higher than the floor level 1FL of the first floor and lower than the floor level 2FL of the second floor. In this case, the specific floor (installation floor) is the second floor, and the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are installed on the second floor.

[0023] 1 and 2 merely show that the specific floor is the second floor with respect to the arrangement of the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102, and the arrangement of the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 on the specific floor is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, it is sufficient that at least the control device 102 of the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 is arranged on a specific floor, and the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 may be arranged on different floors. However, in terms of performing maintenance on the elevator apparatus 100, it is more convenient if both the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are arranged on the same floor. The control device 102 arranged on the specific floor will be described below.

[0024] When performing maintenance work such as an insulation test on the control device 102, the car top (top surface) 104a of the car 104 is positioned at floor level 2FL of the second floor, which is a specific floor, and a worker rides on the car top 104a of the car 104 to perform the maintenance work. That is, in this embodiment, the car top 104a of the car 104 serves as a foothold for the worker.

[0025] Therefore, to enable workers to board from the landing floor to the car top 104a, the car 104 is first positioned so that the car top 104a coincides with the floor level 1FL of the boarding floor (for example, the first floor). In this case, the car top 104a does not need to coincide with the floor level 1FL of the boarding floor, and it only needs to be positioned within the range where workers can board (the boarding range in Figure 2).

[0026] When the worker has finished getting on the car top 104a, the car top (top surface) 104a of the car 104 is positioned at floor level 2FL of the second floor, which is a specific floor.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control device 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] When positioning the car top (top surface) 104a of the car 104 at the floor level of a specific floor, the flood height specified in the hazard map differs for each elevator device, and therefore the floor (specific floor) on which the control device 102 is installed also differs. Therefore, logic is required to identify the floor on which the control device 102 is installed.

[0029] In this embodiment, a floor that is higher than the flood height specified in the hazard map and closest to the flood height is specified as the installation floor (specific floor), and the car top (top surface) 104a of the car 104 is positioned at the floor level of the specific floor. The movement (raising and lowering) of the car 104 for this purpose will be referred to as "specific floor movement operation." The flood height specified in the hazard map will be referred to as "flood height information 411." In addition, to specify (calculate) the specific floor, the height (floor height data) Hfl of each floor 1FL, 2FL, ... (see Figure 2) is required, and this floor height data will be referred to as "floor height information 412."

[0030] Since the car height Hc (see FIG. 2) of the car 104 varies depending on the specifications of the elevator system 100, in order to position the car top (top surface) 104a of the car 104 at the floor level of a specific floor, it is necessary to perform specific floor movement operation in accordance with the floor height information 412 and the car height Hc. The car height used in this specific floor movement operation will be referred to as "car height information 413."

[0031] During maintenance work, a handrail 104b is installed on the car top 104a. The handrail 104b is stored in a folded state on the car top 104a, and is unfolded onto the car top 104a during maintenance work. In other words, the car 104 is provided with an assembled handrail 104b on the car top 104a.

[0032] During maintenance work on the control device 102, the lid of the control device 102 needs to be opened, which may cause interference between the lid of the control device 102 and the handrail 104b. For this reason, after a worker gets on top of the car 104a, the car 104 needs to be moved to a height position (hereinafter referred to as the maintenance height) where the lid of the control device 102 does not interfere with the handrail 104b. In other words, the car 104 needs to be moved to a maintenance position where the lid of the control device 102 can be opened when assembling the handrail 104b, and where the lid of the control device 102 can be placed on the handrail 104b.

[0033] In addition to the handrail 104b, equipment such as an air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as on-car equipment) is mounted on the car top 104a, and these may become obstacles during maintenance work on the control device 102. For this reason, it is necessary to perform a position adjustment (adjustment operation) in the vertical direction (up and down direction) of the car 104 to move it to a position where maintenance can be easily performed, in accordance with the handrail height Hhr (see FIG. 2) and the height of the on-car equipment. Therefore, in this embodiment, the position of the car 104 is adjusted using height information about the handrail 104b, on-car equipment, etc. This height information about obstacles such as the handrail 104b and on-car equipment will be referred to as "obstacle information 414." In FIG. 2, only the handrail height Hhr is shown as a representative example of the obstacle information 414. The handrail height Hhr dimension may be determined from the car height Hc and handrail type in the product specifications. In this case, the obstacle information 414 will be the car height Hc and handrail type in the product specifications.

[0034] In this embodiment, this height position adjustment is performed automatically. Hereinafter, this position adjustment will be referred to as automatic maintenance height adjustment operation. In the following explanation, the position adjustment of the car 104 refers to the position adjustment in the height direction (up and down direction).

[0035] The control device 102 is installed so that the height position of its lowest end coincides with the floor level of the specific floor. In this case, the installation height of the control device 102 coincides with the floor level of the specific floor. However, this is not limited to this, and the control device 102 may be installed at a position raised a predetermined height from the floor level of the specific floor. In this case, the installation height of the control device 102 relative to the floor level of the specific floor is a height position obtained by adding the predetermined raised height dimension to the floor level of the specific floor, and this predetermined raised height dimension may be adjusted during automatic maintenance height adjustment operation. This installation height of the control device 102 relative to the floor level is referred to as "base height information 415."

[0036] When the height position of the bottom end of the control device 102 coincides with the floor level of a specific floor, the base height information 415 becomes zero (0). When the base height information 415 is unified to zero (0), the base height information 415 becomes unnecessary.

[0037] The height of the control device 102 varies depending on its type, capacity, etc. Therefore, during automatic maintenance height adjustment operation, it is preferable to adjust the position of the car 104 taking this height into consideration. Information such as the type, capacity, and height of the control device 102 will be referred to as "model information 416."

[0038] Depending on the content of the maintenance work, the location or parts to be inspected of the control device 102 differ. For this reason, in the automatic maintenance height adjustment operation, it is preferable to adjust the position of the car 104 taking into consideration the location or parts to be inspected. Since the magnitude of this position adjustment is determined depending on the content of the maintenance work, the information used for this position adjustment will be referred to as "work content information 431."

[0039] As described above, the flood height information 411 is information determined by the flood height specified in the hazard map, and is stored in the memory unit 402 of the control device 102. The floor height information 412, car height information 413, obstacle height information 414, base height information 415, and model information 416 are information determined by customer specifications, and are stored in the memory unit 402. The work content information 431 is information that differs for each maintenance work, and is input for each maintenance work from the input device 403 of the control device 102. The control device 102 is equipped with a microcomputer 401 that inputs the flood height information 411, floor height information 412, car height information 413, obstacle height information 414, base height information 415, model information 416, and work content information 431, and executes the various processes described in Fig. 4. Based on the processing results of the microcomputer 401, the control device 102 automatically executes specific floor movement operation and automatic maintenance height adjustment operation, and controls the hoisting machine 103 to position the car 104.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation for positioning a car to a floor where a control device is installed, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] In step S1, the elevator car 104 is positioned so that its upper portion 104a coincides with the floor level 1FL of the boarding floor (for example, the first floor), and a worker gets on to the upper portion 104a of the elevator car from the landing floor.

[0042] In step S2, the car-mounted maintenance signal or handrail signal (HRS) is used as a trigger to transition from normal operation mode to a maintenance mode (maintenance mode). The car-mounted maintenance signal is a signal that is emitted by operating a switch for switching to maintenance mode, and this switch is provided on the car 104a. The handrail signal is a signal that is emitted by unfolding a folded handrail. In addition to these signals, a signal that is emitted when the landing door (hatch door) is opened, or customer specification information may also be used as a trigger signal.

[0043] When the mode is shifted to the maintenance mode, in step S3, the flood height information 411 is compared with the floor height information 412 to identify the floor (specific floor) on which the control device 102 is installed.

[0044] In step S4, the floor height of the specific floor is identified as the installation position of the control device 102 (A). That is, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the height position of the lowest end of the control device 102 coincides with the floor level of the specific floor, and the floor level of the specific floor is identified as the installation position (height position) of the control device 102.

[0045] In step S5, the car height Hc and handrail type in the product specifications are used as obstacle information 414, and the handrail height dimension is identified from the car height Hc and the handrail type (B).

[0046] In step S6, a specific maintenance signal and an operation (UP / DN) signal are input to the control device 102. The specific maintenance signal is a signal that specifies the maintenance content, and maintenance work content such as insulation testing or part replacement is input as work content information 431. The height to be adjusted by position adjustment of the car 104 (automatic maintenance height adjustment operation) will be changed depending on the maintenance work content. The operation (UP / DN) signal corresponds to a start switch signal, and the completion of the input work is transmitted to the control device 102, starting the operation mode in the maintenance mode (maintenance operation mode). The maintenance operation mode is a mode for actually operating the car 104 up and down, and includes an input mode for inputting and setting information, and a maintenance operation mode.

[0047] In step S7, the positional relationship between (A) and (B) is calculated. (A) is the floor level of the specific floor identified as the installation location of the control device 102, and (B) is the height dimension of the handrail identified as the obstacle. By calculating the positional relationship between (A) and (B), the height position of the car top 104a of the car 104, including the position adjustment amount, is identified. In identifying this height position including the position adjustment amount, the component to be maintained and its height position are identified based on the specific maintenance signal (maintenance work content) input in step S6.

[0048] In step S8, it is determined whether the maintenance target part and the handrail are at the same height. If the maintenance target part (maintenance target position) of the control device 102 and the handrail are at the same height, the handrail 104b will obstruct access to the maintenance target part (maintenance target position) during maintenance, so the process proceeds to step S9. If the maintenance target part (maintenance target position) of the control device 102 and the handrail are not at the same height, the handrail 104b will not obstruct access to the maintenance target part (maintenance target position) during maintenance, so the process proceeds to step S10.

[0049] In step S9, the position of the car top 104a is automatically adjusted to a position that does not interfere with the maintenance work, and the process proceeds to step S11. In this case, the position of the car top 104a is automatically adjusted from the position specified in (A) to a position that does not interfere with the maintenance work.

[0050] In step S10, the position of the car top 104a is automatically adjusted to the position specified in (A), and the process proceeds to step S11. In this case, the car 104 is positioned assuming that position adjustment for the obstacle is not necessary.

[0051] In step S11, a worker performs maintenance work.

[0052] In this embodiment, the car top 104a of the elevator car can be automatically positioned on the control device 102, which is located at a different height for each elevator device 100 to avoid flooding. Furthermore, if an obstacle such as a handrail 104b is present, the car top 104a can be automatically positioned at a height that avoids the obstacle. For example, when performing an insulation test on the control device 102, the car top 104a, which serves as a work platform, can be moved to a height position where the control panel insulation test point avoids the handrail 104b. In other words, this embodiment can provide an elevator device that can position and stop the car 104 so that the car top 104a is at the floor level of the floor where the control device 102 is installed, even if the control device 102 is installed on a different floor for each elevator device. This improves the efficiency of maintenance work in the elevator device of this embodiment.

[0053] The elevator device 100 according to the present invention described above has the following features. (1) An elevator device 100 including a car 104 and a control device 102 that controls the lifting and lowering operation of the car 104, In the maintenance mode of the control device 102, the control device 102 identifies the floor on which the control device 102 is installed based on the flood height information 411, and operates the elevator car 104 to raise and lower the car top 104a to position the car top 104a at the installation floor.

[0054] (2) The elevator car 104 has an obstacle 104b on the car top 104a that may hinder maintenance work on the control device 102. The control device 102 adjusts the height position of the car 104 so as to avoid the obstacle, using the obstacle information 414 including the height information of the obstacle.

[0055] (3) The flood height information 411 is the flood height specified on the hazard map. The floor on which the control device 102 is installed is set to be higher than the flood height specified in the hazard map and closest to the flood height.

[0056] (4) The elevator car 104 is provided with an assembled handrail 104b on the car top 104a, The control device 102 uses the height information of the handrail 104b as the obstacle information 414.

[0057] (5) The control device 102 includes an input device 403 for inputting work content information 431; The control device 102 uses the work content information 431 to identify the height position of the part to be maintained, and adjusts the height position of the car 104 based on the height position of the part to be maintained and the height information of the handrail 104b.

[0058] The control method for the elevator device 100 according to the present invention has the following features. (6) A control method for an elevator device including a car 104 and a control device 102 that controls the lifting and lowering operation of the car 104, In the maintenance mode of the control device 102, the floor on which the control device 102 is installed is identified based on the flood height information 411; The elevator car 104 is raised and lowered to position the car top 104a at the installation floor.

[0059] (7) Using obstacle information 414 provided on the car 104a and including height information of obstacles that may hinder maintenance work on the control device 102, the height position of the car 104 is adjusted to avoid the obstacles.

[0060] (8) Flood height information 411 is the flood height specified on the hazard map, The floor on which the control device 102 is installed is higher than the flood height specified in the hazard map and is the floor closest to the flood height, and the elevator car 104 is operated to move up and down.

[0061] (9) The height information of the assembled handrail provided on the car top 104a is used as the obstacle information 414.

[0062] (10) Using the work content information 431 input from the input device 403 provided in the control device 102, the height position of the maintenance target component is identified; The height position of the car 104 is adjusted based on the height position of the component to be maintained and the height information of the handrail 104b.

[0063] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of the embodiments with other configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of the embodiments with other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 100... elevator device, 102... control device, 104... car, 104a... top of car 104, 104b... obstacle (handrail), 403... input device for inputting work content information 431, 411... flood height information, 414... obstacle information, 431... work content information.

Claims

1. An elevator device including a car and a control device for controlling the lifting and lowering operation of the car, The control device includes: The flood height designated in the hazard map is used as flood height information, and the flood height information is installed on a floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height, The elevator device is characterized in that, in a maintenance mode of the control device, a floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height is identified as an installation floor of the control device based on the flood height information, and the elevator car is raised and lowered to position the top of the car at the installation floor.

2. In claim 1, The elevator car has an obstacle on the elevator car that hinders maintenance work on the control device, The elevator device, wherein the control device adjusts a vertical position of the car so as to avoid the obstacle, using obstacle information including height information of the obstacle.

3. In claim 2, The car includes a prefabricated handrail on the car; The elevator apparatus, wherein the control device uses height information of the handrail as the obstacle information.

4. In claim 3, The control device includes an input device for inputting work content information, The control device uses the work content information to identify the height position of the part to be maintained, and adjusts the height position of the car based on the height position of the part to be maintained and height information of the handrail.

5. A control method for an elevator apparatus including a car and a control device for controlling an up-down operation of the car, comprising: the control device is installed on a floor that is higher than and closest to a flood height designated in a hazard map, the flood height being used as flood height information; In a maintenance mode of the control device, a floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height is identified as an installation floor of the control device based on the flood height information; a control method for an elevator system, comprising: operating the elevator car up and down to position the top of the elevator car at the installation floor.

6. In claim 5, A control method for an elevator device, comprising: adjusting a vertical position of the car to avoid an obstacle provided on the car and that impedes maintenance work on the control device, using obstacle information including height information of the obstacle.

7. In claim 6, 13. A method for controlling an elevator apparatus, comprising the steps of: detecting an obstacle on the elevator car; detecting a height of the elevator car;

8. In claim 7, Identifying a height position of a component to be maintained using work content information input from an input device provided in the control device; A control method for an elevator apparatus, comprising: adjusting a height position of the car based on the height position of the part to be maintained and height information of the handrail.

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