Elevator device, its control method and troubleshooting method

Abstract

To provide a device or method that is convenient for a person to get on an upper surface of a car when a failure occurs in an elevator control device.SOLUTION: In a method of controlling an elevator device 100 that is provided with a car 104, a counterweight 105 connected to the car 104 by a main rope, and a control device 102 that controls lifting operation of the car 104, with the control device 102 being placed on a raised level, when trouble occurs, the car 104 is caused to stop at the nearest floor where it is possible to stop so as to allow passengers to evacuate (S2), after the passengers evacuate, evacuation operation is performed in which the car 104 is caused to move to a floor lower than a specific floor N where the control device 102 is installed (S7), and the car 104 is caused to stand by at a waiting floor that is lower than the specific floor N (S8).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator device, a control method thereof, and a troubleshooting method. [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 Patent Document 1, when a specific floor is set to the top floor, in an inspection mode for inspecting an elevator control device, the car is first raised and lowered, and then stopped at a position where its top surface coincides with the floor level of the top floor. This positioning of the car is performed using various position sensors, etc. (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 the 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] In Patent Document 1, in inspection mode, the top of the car is positioned to match the floor level of the specific floor where the elevator control device is located, and consideration is given to allowing workers to enter the top of the car from the landing door, but no consideration is given to how to enter the top of the car in the event of a malfunction in the elevator control device.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device or method for conveniently accessing the top of an elevator car in the event of a malfunction in the elevator control system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the elevator device of the present invention comprises: An elevator system comprising: a car; a counterweight connected to the car by a main rope; and a control device for controlling the lifting and lowering operation of the car, wherein the control device is disposed elevated; The control device Due to a failure of the control device In the event of a problem, the elevator car is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, allowing passengers to evacuate. After the evacuation of passengers, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car to a floor lower than the specific floor on which the control device is installed, The elevator car is controlled to wait at a waiting floor below the specific floor.

[0008] 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 comprising: a car; a counterweight connected to the car by a main rope; and a control device for controlling the raising and lowering operation of the car, wherein the control device is disposed elevated, Due to a failure of the control device In the event of a problem, the elevator car is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, allowing passengers to evacuate. After the evacuation of passengers, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car to a floor lower than the specific floor on which the control device is installed, The elevator car is made to wait at a waiting floor below the specific floor.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the method for solving problems in an elevator apparatus of the present invention comprises: A method for resolving problems in an elevator system comprising: a car; a counterweight connected to the car by a main rope; and a control device for controlling the raising and lowering operation of the car, wherein the control device is disposed elevated, The control device Due to a failure of the control device trouble of When an earthquake occurs, the elevator car is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, allowing passengers to evacuate. After the evacuation of passengers, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car to a floor lower than the specific floor on which the control device is installed, executes control to make the elevator wait at a waiting floor lower than the specific floor; The worker releases the brake of the car to move the car so that the top of the car is at the floor level of the specific floor, and performs work on the car. The aforementioned Resolve the problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device or method that is convenient for boarding the top surface of the elevator car when a failure occurs in the elevator control 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 of an evacuation operation of a car 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. In other words, the car 104 and the counterweight 105 are connected by the main rope.

[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 system 100 that takes flooding into consideration, the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are installed at an elevated position. That is, the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are placed on a specific floor that is elevated to a position higher by a height He than the floor level 1FL of the first floor.

[0019] The specific floor is a floor that is higher than the height 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 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 example, the first floor is the floor that is almost at the same height as ground level, i.e., the floor closest to ground level. The flood height is the height above ground level that the water level reaches when flooded.

[0021] In this case, the raised height He is set based on the floor level 1FL of the first floor.

[0022] 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.

[0023] In this embodiment, the flood height is assumed to be 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.

[0024] 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. The hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 may also be arranged on different floors. However, when performing maintenance on the elevator device 100, it is more convenient if both the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are arranged on the same floor. Below, a case where the hoisting machine 103 and the control device 102 are arranged on a specific floor will be described.

[0025] When inspecting or repairing the hoist 103 and 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 gets on the car top 104a of the car 104 to perform the work. That is, in this embodiment, the car top 104a of the car 104 serves as a foothold for the worker.

[0026] When work is performed on the car top 104a, 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 work.

[0027] When a worker gets on from the landing floor to the car top 104a, the car top 104a of the car 104 is positioned so that it 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 the worker can get on (the boarding range in Figure 2).

[0028] Below, we will explain how to respond to trouble such as a breakdown in a component implemented in the control device 102. If a trouble occurs in a component implemented in the control device 102, the movement of the car 104 is restricted. However, when a trouble occurs, it is not always the case that the movement of the car 104 becomes completely impossible, and there are also troubles in which the car 104 can move several times before it becomes impossible to move.

[0029] In this embodiment, evacuation operation of the car 104 will be described, targeting a problem where the car 104 can move several times before it becomes impossible to move. As a specific example, a case will be described where a problem occurs during high-speed operation, and after the evacuation of passengers is complete, evacuation operation to another floor is possible.

[0030] In this case, it may become impossible for the elevator car 104 to move during the evacuation operation, so it is preferable that the travel distance during the evacuation operation is short.

[0031] In addition, in the elevator device, the weight of the counterweight 105 is set to a weight that balances the weight of the car 104 including passengers when 50% of the passenger capacity is loaded in the car 104. Therefore, when there are no passengers, the weight of the car 104 is lighter than the weight of the counterweight 105, and by releasing the brake, the car 104 can be moved in an upward direction.

[0032] Therefore, in the evacuation operation, it is preferable to have the car 104 wait at a floor below the specific floor. In this case, the car 104 waiting at a floor below the specific floor can move toward the specific floor by having an operator release the brake.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control device 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the evacuation operation, the elevator car 104 needs to be moved to a floor near the specific floor where the control device 102 is installed and below the specific floor, and wait there. Hereinafter, the floor where the elevator car 104 waits will be referred to as the waiting floor.

[0034] In this case, for example, to set the standby floor to one floor below the specific floor, the flood height specified in the hazard map differs for each elevator device or each building in which the elevator device is installed, so the floor (specific floor) on which the control device 102 is installed will also differ, and the standby floor for evacuation operation will also differ. For this reason, logic is required to identify the floor on which the control device 102 is installed.

[0035] In this embodiment, the floor that is higher than the flood height specified in the hazard map and closest to the flood height is identified as the installation floor (specific floor). That is, the control device 102 estimates the installation floor (specific floor) based on the flood height specified in the hazard map. The flood height specified in the hazard map will be referred to as "flood height information 411."

[0036] In order to identify (calculate) a specific floor, the heights (floor height data) Hf1, Hf2, Hf3, ... (see Figure 2) of each floor 1FL, 2FL, 3FL, ... are required, and this floor height data is called "floor height information 412." That is, the floor height information 412 is compared with the flood height information 411, and the floor that is higher than the flood height and closest to the flood height is identified as the installation floor. As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the flood height is set based on the height (floor height) of the first floor, which is equal to the ground level, so that the specific floor can be identified if floor height data Hf2, Hf3, ... for the second floor and above are available.

[0037] 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 and the car height information 413 are information determined by customer specifications, and are also stored in the memory unit 402.

[0038] In this embodiment, the train stops at the nearest floor at the time of the failure and evacuates passengers. Completion of this evacuation, i.e., passengers getting off the car 104, is detected by the car load sensor 403. The fact that the load detected by the car load sensor 403 has reached the weight of the car 104 is input to the control device 102 as car load information 431.

[0039] The control device 102 includes a microcomputer 401 that inputs flood height information 411, floor height information 412, car height information 413, and car load information 431 and executes various processes described in Fig. 4. The control device 102 automatically executes movement operation to the waiting floor based on the processing results of the microcomputer 401. In this case, it is necessary that the detection value of the car load sensor 403 is the weight of the car 104.

[0040] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of an evacuation operation of the car 104 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is also a diagram showing a flowchart of a method for resolving a problem in the elevator system 100 using the present invention. In step S1, a problem such as a breakdown occurs.

[0041] In step S2, when a problem such as a breakdown occurs, the car 104 is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, and passengers are evacuated (rescued). Completion of passenger evacuation can be detected when the detected value of the car load sensor 403 becomes the weight of the car 104, and after detecting the completion of passenger evacuation, evacuation operations from step 103 onwards are executed.

[0042] In step S3, it is determined whether or not the trouble is such that evacuation operation to another floor is possible. The microcomputer 401 of the control device 102 determines whether or not evacuation operation is possible based on an error code corresponding to the trouble. If the determination result in step S3 is YES, the process proceeds to step S4. If the determination result in step S3 is NO, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0043] In step S4, it is determined whether the stopping floor of the elevator car 104 (car stopping floor) is equal to or lower than the installation floor (specific floor) of the control device 102. If the determination result in step S4 is YES, the process proceeds to step S7. If the determination result in step S4 is NO, the process proceeds to step S9.

[0044] In step S7, as an evacuation operation, the elevator car 104 is moved (evacuated) to the floor one floor below (the N-1 floor) the specific floor N (N=2 in the description of this embodiment).

[0045] After the evacuation operation in step S7, the elevator car 104 is made to wait on the N-1th floor (waiting floor) in step S8. Automatic operation by the control device 102 is carried out until the waiting operation in step S8.

[0046] When a worker arrives while waiting on the N-1th floor in step S8, in step S10, the worker releases the brake and raises the car 104. As described above, the difference in weight between the car 104 and the counterweight 105 allows the car 104 to move in an upward direction.

[0047] In step S11, the worker aligns the car top 104a with the floor level of a specific floor N and gets on the car top 104a.

[0048] In step S12, a worker performs work such as part replacement on the car top 104a, and when the work is completed (step S13), normal operation can be restored (step S14).

[0049] If the determination result in step S3 is NO, the process goes to step S5, where the vehicle continues to wait on the nearest floor.

[0050] If the determination result in step S4 is NO, the car 104 needs to be lowered, but the car 104 cannot be lowered due to the weight difference between the car 104 and the counterweight 105. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S9, where a weight Wt is loaded into the car 104 to make the weight of the car 104 heavier than the weight of the counterweight 105. This allows the worker to release the brake, thereby lowering the car 104 (step 10), and the process can proceed to step 11.

[0051] In step S6, it is determined whether the stopping floor of the car 104 (car stopping floor) is equal to or lower than the installation floor (specific floor) of the control device 102. This determination can be made by an operator, but the determination may also be made by the control device 102 and the determination result may be displayed. In this state, the car 104 can only be lowered. If the determination result is NO, the process proceeds to step S9, where a weight Wt is loaded into the car 104, thereby enabling the steps from step S10 onwards to be executed. On the other hand, if the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S10, where an operator must release the brake to raise the car 104 from the nearest floor where it was stopped for the evacuation of passengers.

[0052] As an evacuation operation, the elevator car 104 is moved to the N-1 floor and waits there, thereby shortening the travel distance (travel time) required for workers to move the car top (top) 104a to the floor level of a specific floor N in order to board the car top 104a.

[0053] In this embodiment, the difference in weight between the car 104 and the counterweight 105 is utilized to move the car 104 in the upward direction as much as possible. This avoids the need to load the weight Wt into the car 104, and improves work efficiency in the event of a problem.

[0054] The above-described embodiment has the following features in the elevator system 100, the control method for the elevator system 100, and the troubleshooting method (fault repair method) for the elevator system 100.

[0055] (1) An elevator device 100 including a car 104, a counterweight 105 connected to the car 104 by a main rope, and a control device 102 that controls the lifting and lowering operation of the car 104, wherein the control device 102 is disposed elevated, The control device 102 In the event of a problem, the elevator car 104 is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, allowing passengers to evacuate. After the passengers have evacuated, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car 104 to a floor below the specific floor N where the control device 102 is installed. The elevator car 104 is controlled to wait at a waiting floor below the specific floor N.

[0056] (2) The waiting floor in this elevator device 100 is floor N-1, which is one floor below the specific floor N.

[0057] (3) The car 104 is configured so that the car top 104a of the car 104 can be moved to coincide with the floor level of a specific floor N by an operator releasing the brake.

[0058] (4) The control device 102 identifies (estimates) the specific floor N based on the flood height information specified in the hazard map.

[0059] (5) A control method for an elevator device 100 including a car 104, a counterweight 105 connected to the car 104 by a main rope, and a control device 102 that controls the lifting and lowering operation of the car 104, wherein the control device 102 is disposed elevated, When a problem occurs, the elevator car 104 is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, allowing passengers to evacuate (S2). After the passengers have evacuated, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car 104 to a floor below the specific floor N where the control device 102 is installed (S7). The elevator car 104 is made to wait at a waiting floor below the specific floor N (S8).

[0060] (6) The waiting floor in this control method for the elevator device 100 is floor N-1, which is one floor below the specific floor N.

[0061] (7) A method for resolving problems in an elevator system 100 including a car 104, a counterweight 105 connected to the car 104 by a main rope, and a control device 102 for controlling the lifting and lowering operation of the car 104, wherein the control device 102 is disposed elevated, The control device 102 When a problem occurs, the elevator car 104 is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, allowing passengers to evacuate (S2). After the passengers have evacuated, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car 104 to a floor below the specific floor N where the control device 102 is installed (S7). Execute control to make the elevator car 104 wait at a waiting floor below the specific floor N (S8). The worker releases the brake of the car 104, thereby moving the car 104 so that the car top 104a of the car 104 is aligned with the floor level of the specific floor N (S10, S11), and performs work on the car top 104a of the car 104 to resolve the problem (S12).

[0062] (8) The standby floor in this method for resolving trouble in the elevator device 100 is floor N-1, which is one floor below the specific floor N.

[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... car top of car 104, 105... counterweight.

Claims

1. An elevator system including a car, a counterweight connected to the car by a main rope, and a control device for controlling the lifting and lowering operation of the car, the control device being disposed at a raised position, The control device includes: When a problem occurs due to a breakdown of the control device, the elevator car is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, thereby enabling passengers to evacuate; After the evacuation of passengers, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car to a floor lower than the specific floor on which the control device is installed, An elevator apparatus characterized in that the elevator car is controlled to wait at a waiting floor lower than the specific floor.

2. In claim 1, The elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waiting floor is one floor below the specific floor.

3. In claim 2, The elevator apparatus is characterized in that the elevator car is configured so that an operator can release a brake to move the elevator car so that the elevator car's top surface coincides with the floor level of the specific floor.

4. In claim 3, The elevator device, wherein the control device identifies the specific floor based on flood height information specified in a hazard map.

5. A control method for an elevator system comprising: a car; a counterweight connected to the car by a main rope; and a control device for controlling an elevation operation of the car, the control device being disposed at a raised position, the method comprising the steps of: When a problem occurs due to a breakdown of the control device, the elevator car is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, thereby enabling passengers to evacuate; After the evacuation of passengers, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car to a floor lower than the specific floor on which the control device is installed, A control method for an elevator apparatus, comprising: making the elevator car wait at a waiting floor which is lower than the specific floor.

6. In claim 5, 2. The control method for an elevator apparatus, wherein the waiting floor is one floor below the specific floor.

7. A method for solving problems in an elevator system comprising: a car; a counterweight connected to the car by a main rope; and a control device for controlling an up-down operation of the car, the control device being disposed at a raised position, the method comprising the steps of: The control device includes: When a problem occurs due to a breakdown of the control device, the elevator car is stopped at the nearest floor where it can be stopped, thereby enabling passengers to evacuate; After the evacuation of passengers, an evacuation operation is performed to move the elevator car to a floor lower than the specific floor on which the control device is installed, Execute control to make the elevator wait at a waiting floor lower than the specific floor, The method for resolving elevator equipment problems is characterized in that an operator releases the brake of the car, moves the car so that the top of the car is aligned with the floor level of the specific floor, and performs work on the car to resolve the problem.

8. In claim 7, 2. The method for solving troubles in an elevator apparatus, wherein the waiting floor is one floor below the specific floor.

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