Security system

Abstract

Provided is a safety system capable of easily managing the safety of a person present inside a hoistway. The safety system comprises: a car-side device which is attached to the car of an elevator, emits a car-side radio wave, and detects the reception intensity and reception angle of a received radio wave; a hall-side device which is attached at the height position of the lowest floor hall inside the hoistway, emits a hall-side radio wave, and detects the reception intensity and reception angle of a received radio wave; and a person-side device which is attached to a person present inside the hoistway, and emits a person-side radio wave. The car-side device or the hall-side device determines whether the distance between the car and the person is shorter than a threshold distance on the basis of the reception intensity of the person-side radio wave received by the car-side device and the reception angle of the person-side radio wave. The hall-side device causes a control board of the elevator to stop the car if it is determined that the distance between the car and the person is shorter than the threshold distance, and does not cause the control board to stop the car if it is determined that the distance between the car and the person is equal to or longer than the threshold distance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator safety system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an elevator safety system. In the safety system, a camera is provided inside the hoistway. The camera photographs a worker present inside the pit. A supervisor present at a remote location monitors the safety of the worker by checking the video of the camera. For example, if the supervisor determines that the safety of the worker is at risk, the supervisor can stop the operation of the elevator.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the safety system described in Patent Document 1, in addition to the worker, a supervisor needs to monitor the inside of the pit. Therefore, it is costly to manage the safety of the worker.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a safety system capable of easily managing the safety of a person present inside the hoistway.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The safety system according to the present disclosure includes a car-side device attached to an elevator car, which transmits car-side radio waves and detects the reception intensity and reception angle of the received radio waves; a landing-side device installed at the height position of the bottom landing inside the elevator hoistway, which transmits landing-side radio waves and detects the reception intensity and reception angle of the received radio waves; and a person-side device attached to a person present inside the hoistway, which transmits person-side radio waves. The car-side device or the landing-side device determines whether the distance between the car and the person is shorter than a threshold distance based on the reception intensity and reception angle of the person-side radio waves received by the car-side device. When it is determined that the distance between the car and the person is shorter than the threshold distance, the landing-side device stops the car at the elevator control panel; when it is determined that the distance between the car and the person is equal to or longer than the threshold distance, the landing-side device does not stop the car.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the car is stopped when it is determined that the distance between the car and the person is shorter than the threshold distance. Therefore, the safety of the people present inside the hoistway can be easily managed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Redundant descriptions of such parts will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

[0010] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the safety system in Embodiment 1.

[0011] In the elevator system 1 of FIG. 1, the hoistway 2 penetrates each floor of the building 3. The pit 2a is the bottom of the hoistway 2. Although not shown, for example, the pit 2a is provided with pit equipment such as buffers and pit switches.

[0012] A plurality of landings 4 are provided on each floor of the building 3 respectively. Each of the plurality of landings 4 faces the hoistway 2. In FIG. 1, the lowest landing 4a among the plurality of landings 4 and the upper landing 4b on the second floor are shown. A plurality of landing floors 5 correspond to the plurality of landings 4 respectively. The landing floor 5 is the floor of the corresponding landing 4. In FIG. 1, the lowest landing floor 5a and the landing floor 5b on the second floor are shown.

[0013] The car 6 is provided inside the hoistway 2. The car 6 can move up and down inside the hoistway 2. The car 6 has a car bottom surface 6a. The car bottom surface 6a is the surface facing the pit 2a among the outer surfaces of the car 6. For example, the car bottom surface 6a is the lowest part of the car 6.

[0014] The control panel 7 is provided in a machine room (not shown). The control panel 7 can control the elevator system 1 as a whole. Specifically, the control panel 7 can control the up and down movement of the car 6 as a whole.

[0015] The safety system 10 is applied to the elevator system 1. The safety system 10 is a system for ensuring the safety of person H who performs maintenance work in the pit 2a. For example, person H performs maintenance work such as inspecting the equipment under the car 6 and investigating abnormal noises in the pit 2a. At this time, the car 6 may move by an up-and-down operation for inspection by person H. Alternatively, the car 6 may be manually operated by a worker other than person H.

[0016] The safety system 10 includes a car-side device 20, a landing-side device 30, and a person-side device 40. Note that the safety system 10 may include components of the elevator system 1 such as the control panel 7.

[0017] The car-side device 20 is attached to the car 6. For example, the car-side device 20 is attached to the bottom surface 6a of the car. A distance to the lowest part of the car 6 is set for the car-side device 20. When the car-side device 20 is attached to the bottom surface 6a of the car, the distance to the lowest part of the car 6 may be set to 0 for the car-side device 20, or the setting of the distance to the lowest part of the car 6 may be omitted.

[0018] The car-side device 20 transmits and receives radio waves of a specific frequency as a beacon device. For example, the car-side device 20 transmits car-side radio waves. The car-side device 20 detects the reception intensity of the received radio waves. The car-side device 20 detects the distance to the device that transmitted the radio waves based on the reception intensity of the radio waves. The car-side device 20 detects the direction in which the device that transmitted the radio waves exists based on the phase and the like of the received radio waves. The car-side device 20 detects a reception angle, which is the angle at which the device that transmitted the radio waves exists with respect to a reference direction, based on the detected information.

[0019] The landing-side device 30 is attached inside the hoistway 2. For example, the landing-side device 30 is attached to the inner wall of the hoistway 2. At this time, the landing-side device 30 is attached at the same height as the height of the landing floor 5a of the lowest-floor landing 4a with respect to the bottom surface of the pit 2a. A vertical distance to the landing floor 5a is set for the landing-side device 30. When the landing-side device 30 is attached at the same height as the landing floor 5a, the distance to the landing floor 5a may be set to 0 for the landing-side device 30, or the setting of the distance to the landing floor 5a may be omitted.

[0020] Similar to the car-side device 20, the landing-side device 30 transmits and receives radio waves of a specific frequency as a beacon device. For example, the landing-side device 30 transmits landing-side radio waves. The car-side device 20 detects the reception intensity of the received radio waves. Similar to the car-side device 20, the landing-side device 30 detects the distance and reception angle from the device that transmitted the radio wave based on the reception intensity, phase, etc. of the received radio wave.

[0021] The landing-side device 30 can notify the control panel 7 of a command to stop the car 6. Specifically, for example, the landing-side device 30 is electrically connected to a pit switch and can cut off the safety circuit of the elevator system 1. When the safety circuit is cut off, the control panel 7 stops the car 6. The landing-side device 30 may be provided so as to be able to communicate with the control panel 7 by wire or wirelessly. In this case, the landing-side device 30 may be able to transmit a command to stop the car 6 to the control panel 7. For example, as an operation to stop the car 6, the landing-side device 30 may transmit a command to stop the car 6 to the control panel 7 instead of cutting off the safety circuit.

[0022] The person-side device 40 is attached to the person H who works in the pit 2a. For example, the person-side device 40 is attached to the top of the head of the person H. A distance to the top of the head of the attached person is set for the person-side device 40. When the person-side device 40 is attached to the top of the head of the person H, the distance to the top of the head of the person may be set to 0 for the person-side device 40, or the setting of the distance to the top of the head of the person may be omitted.

[0023] The human-side device 40 transmits and receives radio waves of a specific frequency as a beacon device. For example, the human-side device 40 transmits human-side radio waves.

[0024] When maintenance inspection of the elevator system 1 is performed, the car 6 may move up and down while the person H is present in the pit 2a. At this time, the human-side device 40 transmits human-side radio waves at a prescribed period. The car-side device 20 receives the human-side radio waves. The car-side device 20 calculates the distance between the top of the person's head and the lowest part of the car 6 based on the received human-side radio waves. When the distance becomes smaller than a prescribed threshold value, the landing-side device 30 stops the car 6.

[0025] Next, the safety system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the safety system in the first embodiment.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the car-side device 20 includes a radio wave unit 21, a detection unit 22, and a calculation unit 23.

[0027] The radio wave unit 21 transmits and receives radio waves as the radio wave unit on the car side. For example, the radio wave unit 21 includes one or more antennas and a control device for the antennas. Specifically, the radio wave unit 21 may perform radio wave transmission, radio wave reception, and control thereof in accordance with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard and using BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology. The car-side device 20 can communicate with the landing-side device 30 and the human-side device 40 via radio waves by the radio wave unit 21.

[0028] The radio wave unit 21 can detect the reception intensity of the received radio wave and the direction in which the radio wave was transmitted. Specifically, for example, the radio wave unit 21 detects the direction in which the radio wave was transmitted using a plurality of antennas based on a radio wave angle measurement method called AoA (Angle of Arrival). At this time, the radio wave unit 21 detects the direction in which the radio wave was transmitted by detecting the difference in the phases of the radio waves received by each of the plurality of antennas. The radio wave unit 21 detects the reception angle based on the direction.

[0029] The detection unit 22 is a sensor that detects the acceleration of the car body side device 20. For example, the detection unit 22 detects that the car 6 has moved by detecting the acceleration.

[0030] The calculation unit 23, as a calculation unit on the car body side, performs calculations based on the radio wave received by the radio wave unit 21 and the measurement value of the detection unit 22. The calculation unit 23 performs calculations for each determination made by the car body side device 20. For example, the calculation unit 23 is a microcomputer having a memory and a processor. Information necessary for the calculation is stored in the calculation unit 23. The function of the calculation unit 23 is realized by the processor executing a program stored in the memory.

[0031] The landing side device 30 includes a radio wave unit 31, a communication unit 32, a command unit 33, and a calculation unit 34.

[0032] The radio wave unit 31, as a radio wave unit on the landing side, transmits and receives radio waves. For example, the radio wave unit 31 includes one or more antennas and an antenna control device. Similar to the radio wave unit 21, the radio wave unit 31 complies with the Bluetooth standard and uses BLE technology to transmit radio waves, receive radio waves, and control them.

[0033] The radio wave unit 31 can detect the reception intensity of the received radio wave and the direction in which the radio wave was transmitted. The radio wave unit 31 detects the direction in which the radio wave was transmitted based on the same radio wave angle measurement method as the radio wave unit 21. The radio wave unit 31 detects the reception angle based on the direction.

[0034] The communication unit 32 can communicate with the control panel 7. For example, the communication unit 32 is an interface that communicates electrically with the control panel 7. Specifically, the communication unit 32 is connected to serial communication wiring wired to each of a plurality of landings 4 not shown in FIG. 2. The serial wiring is connected to the control panel 7.

[0035] The command unit 33 is a device that can notify the control panel 7 of a command to stop the car 6. For example, the command unit 33 is a contact that cuts off a safety circuit (not shown). In this case, the command unit 33 is electrically connected to a pit switch (not shown). Also, for example, the command unit 33 is an interface that transmits a command to the control panel 7. Note that the function of the command unit 33 may be included in the communication unit 32.

[0036] The arithmetic unit 34, as an arithmetic unit on the landing side, performs arithmetic operations based on the radio waves received by the radio wave unit 31 and the information received by the communication unit 32. The arithmetic unit 34 performs arithmetic operations for each determination made by the landing side device 30. For example, the arithmetic unit 34 is a microcomputer having a memory and a processor. Information necessary for the arithmetic operations is stored in the arithmetic unit 34. The arithmetic unit 34 can control the operation of the command unit 33. The function of the arithmetic unit 34 is realized by the processor executing a program stored in the memory.

[0037] The human side device 40 includes a radio wave unit 41 and a notification unit 42. The radio wave unit 41, as a radio wave unit on the human side, transmits and receives radio waves. For example, the radio wave unit 41 includes one or more antennas and an antenna control device. Similar to the radio wave unit 21 and the radio wave unit 31, the radio wave unit 41 conforms to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard and uses BLE technology to transmit radio waves, receive radio waves, and control them. The notification unit 42 can notify a person of information. For example, the notification unit 42 includes a speaker that emits sound and a speaker control device. For example, the notification unit 42 emits sound based on the radio waves received by the radio wave unit 41.

[0038] Note that the radio wave unit 21, the radio wave unit 31, and the radio wave unit 41 may detect the direction in which the device that emits radio waves exists based on a radio wave angle measurement method other than the method called AoA. Specifically, for example, the radio wave unit 21, the radio wave unit 31, and the radio wave unit 41 may operate based on a radio wave angle measurement technique called AoD (Angle of Departure).

[0039] When an angle measurement technique called AoD is adopted, the radio wave unit 41 includes a plurality of antennas. The radio wave unit 41 transmits a plurality of human-side radio waves corresponding to the plurality of antennas respectively. The radio wave unit 21 and the radio wave unit 31 may each include at least one antenna. The radio wave unit 21 detects the direction in which the human-side device 40 exists, which is the direction in which the human-side radio wave is transmitted, by detecting the phase difference between the plurality of human-side radio waves. The radio wave unit 31 detects the direction in which the human-side device 40 exists in the same manner as the radio wave unit 21.

[0040] Next, the first operation of the safety system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overview of the safety system in the first embodiment.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, in the first operation, the car-side device 20 calculates the distance Y between the top of the head of the person H and the lowest part of the car 6. Hereinafter, the height position of the human-side device 40 is regarded as the height position of the top of the head of the person H. The height position of the car-side device 20 is regarded as the height position of the lowest part of the car 6. That is, the distance Y is the distance between the human-side device 40 and the bottom surface 6a of the car.

[0042] The car-side device 20 receives the human-side radio wave transmitted from the human-side device 40. The car-side device 20 calculates the distance X between the car-side device 20 and the human-side device 40 based on the reception intensity of the human-side radio wave.

[0043] The car-side device 20 detects the direction in which the human-side device 40 exists based on the received human-side radio wave. The car-side device 20 detects the reception angle θ at which the human-side device 40 exists with respect to the bottom surface 6a of the car based on the direction in which the human-side device 40 exists. The reception angle θ is the angle formed by the line segment connecting from the car-side device 20 to the human-side device 40 and the bottom surface 6a of the car, which is the reference plane. Alternatively, the reception angle θ is the elevation angle of the human-side device 40 when the car-side device 20 is taken as the origin and the bottom surface 6a of the car is taken as the reference plane.

[0044] The car-side device 20 calculates the distance Y from the calculated distance X and the reception angle θ based on the following formula (1). Formula (1) is derived from the geometric relationship as shown in FIG. 2. Y = X * sin θ (1)

[0045] The car-side device 20 determines whether the calculated distance Y is smaller than a specified threshold distance. When the car-side device 20 determines that the distance Y is equal to or greater than the specified threshold distance, it determines that the safety of the person H is ensured and does not perform any particular operation. Note that the car-side device 20 may cause the person-side device 40 to notify information indicating the calculated distance Y by voice or the like.

[0046] When the car-side device 20 determines that the distance Y is smaller than the specified threshold distance, it transmits a car-side radio wave indicating an instruction to stop the car 6. The landing-side device 30 receives the car-side radio wave. In this case, the landing-side device 30 performs an operation to stop the car 6 on the control panel 7. The control panel 7 stops the car 6. Note that when the person-side device 40 receives the car-side radio wave, it may notify by voice or the like that danger is detected.

[0047] Next, the second operation of the safety system will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overview of the safety system in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an overview of the second operation of the safety system in the first embodiment.

[0048] In the second operation, the car-side device 20 calculates a corrected distance X' of the distance X calculated in the first operation. The car-side device 20 uses the distance X' instead of the distance X. That is, the car-side device 20 calculates the distance Y from the distance X' and the reception angle θ based on formula (1). The correction of the distance X is performed based on one of several methods.

[0049] In an example of the correction method, the distance X is corrected based on the measured value of the acceleration sensor which is the detection unit 22. When performing the correction, the car-side device 20 also uses information on the reception intensity of the landing-side radio wave from the landing-side device 30.

[0050] Specifically, the car-side device 20 calculates a first distance A between the lowest part of the car 6 and the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor based on the reception intensity of the landing-side radio wave. The first distance A is a distance based on the reception intensity of the radio wave. Note that the distance between the lowest part of the car 6 and the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor can be regarded as the same value as the difference between the height position of the car-side device 20 and the height position of the landing-side device 30. When calculating the first distance A, the distance between the lowest part of the car 6 and the car-side device 20 may be used. When calculating the first distance A, the distance between the landing floor 5a and the landing-side device 30 may be used.

[0051] The detection unit 22 of the car-side device 20 constantly measures the acceleration of the car 6 in the ascending and descending directions. The car-side device 20 calculates the moving speed and the moving distance of the car-side device 20 by integrating the measured value of the acceleration over time. That is, the car-side device 20 calculates the height position of the car 6. The car-side device 20 calculates a second distance B between the lowest part of the car 6 and the landing floor 5a based on the moving distance. The second distance B is a distance based on the acceleration. Note that the second distance B can be regarded as the same value as the difference between the height position of the car-side device 20 and the height position of the landing-side device 30, similar to the first distance A.

[0052] In an example of the correction method, when the moving speed of the car 6 is 0 and the first distance A is 0, the car-side device 20 determines that the car 6 has stopped at the lowest floor landing 4a. In this case, the car-side device 20 resets the second distance B based on the acceleration to 0. When the moving speed of the car 6 is 0 and the first distance A is the distance from the lowest floor landing 4a to the upper floor landing 4b, the car-side device 20 determines that the car 6 has stopped at the upper floor landing 4b. In this case, the car-side device 20 resets the second distance B based on the acceleration to the distance from the lowest floor landing 4a to the upper floor landing 4b. The distance from the lowest floor landing 4a to the upper floor landing 4b is set for each building and stored in the car-side device 20. For example, the distance is set to 4 m.

[0053] The car-side device 20 calculates a corrected distance X' from the distance X, the first distance A, and the second distance B based on the following formula (2). X' = X * B / A (2)

[0054] After that, the car-side device 20 calculates the distance Y based on the distance X', and performs the same operation as the first operation. That is, the distance Y is corrected based on the first distance A and the second distance B.

[0055] The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 starts at an arbitrary timing. In the flowchart, the car 6 is not stopped at either the lowest floor landing 4a or the upper floor landing 4b.

[0056] In step S001, the person-side device 40 transmits a person-side radio wave. The car-side device 20 receives the person-side radio wave.

[0057] After that, the operation of step S002 is performed. In step S002, the car-side device 20 calculates the distance X based on the reception intensity of the person-side radio wave. The car-side device 20 calculates the reception angle θ.

[0058] After that, the operation of step S003 is performed. In step S003, the car-side device 20 receives the landing-side radio wave. The car-side device 20 calculates the first distance A based on the reception intensity of the radio wave. The car-side device 20 calculates the second distance B based on the acceleration.

[0059] After that, the operation of step S004 is performed. In step S004, the car-side device 20 calculates a distance X' obtained by correcting the distance X with the first distance A and the second distance B.

[0060] After that, the operation of step S005 is performed. In step S005, the car-side device 20 calculates the distance Y.

[0061] After that, the operation of step S006 is performed. In step S006, the car-side device 20 determines whether the distance Y is smaller than a specified threshold distance.

[0062] In step S006, when it is determined that the distance Y is greater than or equal to a specified threshold distance, the operation of step S007 is performed. In step S007, the car-side device 20 transmits a command to cause the human-side device 40 to notify the information on the value of the distance Y. The human-side device 40 notifies the human H of the value of the distance Y by voice.

[0063] After that, the operation of the flowchart ends.

[0064] In step S006, when it is determined that the distance Y is less than the specified threshold distance, the operation of step S008 is performed. In step S008, the car-side device 20 transmits a car-side radio wave indicating a command to stop the car 6. The landing-side device 30 performs an operation to stop the car 6 based on the car-side radio wave. The human-side device 40 notifies that danger is detected based on the car-side radio wave.

[0065] After that, the operation of the flowchart ends.

[0066] Note that after the car 6 is stopped by the landing-side device 30, the operation of restarting the operation of the car 6 is performed by a worker such as the human H.

[0067] Note that in the first operation, steps S003 and S004 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 are omitted, and the operation of step S005 is performed after step S002.

[0068] According to the first embodiment described above, the safety system 10 includes a car-side device 20, a landing-side device 30, and a human-side device 40. The car-side device 20 calculates the distance between the car 6 and the human H. When it is determined that the distance between the car 6 and the human H is shorter than the threshold distance, the landing-side device 30 performs an operation to stop the car 6 on the control panel 7. At this time, monitoring by a monitor other than the human H is not required. Therefore, the safety of the human H existing inside the hoistway 2 can be easily managed.

[0069] Furthermore, when work was performed while a supervisor or the like monitored the person present in the pit 2a as in the prior art, it was necessary for the supervisor or the like and the person to communicate with each other while performing the work. For this reason, the workability of the work was reduced. According to the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to communicate for safety management, it is possible to suppress a reduction in workability.

[0070] Note that the calculation and determination processes performed by the car-side device 20 may be performed by the landing-side device 30 instead. In this case, the car-side device 20 may transmit a car-side radio wave indicating information on the reception intensity and phase difference of the human-side radio wave to the landing-side device 30. Alternatively, the car-side device 20 may perform the calculation up to the distance X and the reception angle θ, and transmit a car-side radio wave indicating the values of the distance X and the reception angle θ to the landing-side device 30. The landing-side device 30 may perform necessary calculations and determinations based on the received car-side radio wave.

[0071] In addition, the car-side device 20 measures acceleration. In the safety system 10, based on the height position of the car 6 calculated based on the measured value of the acceleration and the reception intensity of the landing-side radio wave received by the car-side device 20, the distance X between the car 6 and the person H is corrected to the distance X'. At this time, the distance X is corrected to the distance X' based on the ratio of the first distance A and the second distance B. That is, the distance Y is corrected based on the first distance A and the second distance B. For this reason, the distance between the car 6 and the person H can be calculated more accurately. Specifically, the distance is calculated using the ratio of the first distance and the second distance. As a result, the safety of the safety system 10 can be improved.

[0072] In addition, the human-side device 40 notifies the person H of the value of the distance between the car 6 and the person H. For this reason, the person H can perform safety management according to the notified distance.

[0073] Further, the car-side device 20 is attached to the bottom surface 6a of the car. The landing-side device 30 is attached at the same height as the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor. The person-side device 40 is attached to the top of the head of the person H. In this case, the position where the car-side radio wave is transmitted from the car-side device 20 corresponds to the position of the lowest part of the car 6. The position where the landing-side device 30 receives the radio wave and the position where the landing-side radio wave is transmitted correspond to the height position of the landing floor 5a. The position where the person-side radio wave is transmitted from the person-side device 40 corresponds to the position of the uppermost part of the person H. Therefore, in the safety system 10, without performing additional calculations, the position of the lowest part of the car 6, the height position of the landing floor 5a, and the position of the uppermost part of the person H can be accurately grasped. As a result, the safety of the person H can be further improved.

[0074] Furthermore, in the safety system 10, each operation is executed by radio waves transmitted and received between the car-side device 20, the landing-side device 30, and the person-side device 40. Therefore, the safety system 10 can be retrofitted to existing facilities. As a result, it can be applied to a wide variety of elevator types and models.

[0075] Note that the safety system 10 may be applied to an elevator system 1 without a machine room and with the control panel 7 provided in the lower or upper part of the hoistway 2.

[0076] Note that in the safety system 10, the arithmetic processing performed by the car-side device 20 may be calculated by the landing-side device 30. Also, the arithmetic processing performed by the landing-side device 30 may be calculated by the car-side device 20. In either case, the car-side device 20 and the landing-side device 30 provide information to each other by transmitting or receiving radio waves indicating the necessary information.

[0077] Next, another example of the correction method applied in the second operation of the safety system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overview of the safety system in Embodiment 1.

[0078] In another example shown in FIG. 6, instead of the second distance B in one example, a third distance B' based on the operation information of the car 6 is used for the correction of the distance X. For example, the operation information of the car 6 is created by the control panel 7 based on a signal from a governor encoder (not shown).

[0079] In another example, the landing-side device 30 acquires information on the height position of the car 6 from the control panel 7. The landing-side device 30 transmits a landing-side radio wave indicating the information on the height position of the car 6 to the car-side device 20. The car-side device 20 calculates a third distance B' between the lowermost part of the car 6 and the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor based on the height position of the car 6 indicated by the landing-side radio wave.

[0080] The car-side device 20 calculates a corrected distance X' by correcting the distance X using the third distance B' instead of the second distance B. Therefore, the distance Y is corrected based on the third distance B'.

[0081] According to another example of the first embodiment described above, the landing-side device 30 acquires information on the height position of the car 6 acquired from the control panel 7. In the safety system 10, based on the height position of the car 6 acquired from the control panel 7 and the reception intensity of the landing-side radio wave received by the car-side device 20, the distance X between the car 6 and the person H is corrected to the distance X'. Therefore, the distance between the car 6 and the person H can be calculated more accurately.

[0082] Embodiment 2. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overview of the safety system in Embodiment 2. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the safety system in Embodiment 2. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts as those in the first embodiment. The description of such parts is omitted.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 7, the landing-side device 30 calculates a reception angle λ as the direction in which the person-side device 40 exists based on the person-side radio wave. The landing-side device 30 determines whether or not the person-side device 40 exists at a position lower than the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor based on the reception angle λ.

[0084] Specifically, the landing-side device 30 calculates a reception angle λ, which is the elevation angle of the human-side device 40 with respect to a plane including the landing-side device 30 and perpendicular to the horizontal direction, based on the direction in which the human-side device 40 exists. Note that the reception angle λ can also be defined as the angle formed by the line segment connecting the landing-side device 30 and the human-side device 40 with respect to the reference axis passing through the landing-side device 30 and facing the vertical direction.

[0085] The landing-side device 30 determines whether the reception angle λ is less than 90°. When the landing-side device 30 determines that the reception angle λ is less than 90°, it determines that the position of the person H, which is the position of the human-side device 40, is lower than its own position, that is, lower than the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor. When the landing-side device 30 determines that the reception angle λ is 90° or more, it determines that the position of the person H, which is the position of the human-side device 40, exists at the same height as the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor or at a position higher than the landing floor 5a. Here, the landing-side device 30 may regard the position of the human-side device 40 as the height position of the top of the head of the person H. Alternatively, the landing-side device 30 may calculate the height position of the top of the head of the person H from the position of the human-side device 40.

[0086] When the landing-side device 30 determines that the reception angle λ is 90° or more, it transmits a command to the control panel 7 to operate at a low speed slower than the normal operating speed.

[0087] When the landing-side device 30 determines that the reception angle λ is less than 90°, it transmits a command to the control panel 7 to operate at the normal operating speed. For safety management, when the car 6 reaches the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor while moving downward, it is controlled to stop once. Therefore, when the human-side device 40 exists at a position lower than the landing floor 5a of the lowest floor, the safety of the person H in the pit 2a can be ensured even if the car 6 is operated at the normal operating speed.

[0088] The flowchart shown in FIG. 8 starts at an arbitrary timing.

[0089] In step S101, the human-side device 40 transmits a human-side radio wave. The landing-side device 30 receives the human-side radio wave.

[0090] After that, the operation of step S102 is performed. In step S102, the landing-side device 30 calculates the reception angle λ.

[0091] After that, the operation of step S103 is performed. In step S103, the landing-side device 30 determines whether the reception angle λ is less than 90°.

[0092] If it is determined in step S103 that the reception angle λ is less than 90°, the operation of step S104 is performed. In step S104, the landing-side device 30 may send a command to the control panel 7 to operate at the normal operating speed. Note that in step S104, the landing-side device 30 may end without sending the command.

[0093] After that, the operation of the flowchart ends.

[0094] If it is determined in step S103 that the reception angle λ is 90° or more, the operation of step S105 is performed. In step S105, the landing-side device 30 sends a command to the control panel 7 to operate at a low speed slower than the normal operating speed.

[0095] After that, the operation of the flowchart ends.

[0096] According to the second embodiment described above, the landing-side device 30 sends a command regarding the operating speed of the car 6 to the control panel 7 according to the reception angle of the human-side radio wave. Specifically, conventionally, when work is performed in the pit 2a, the car 6 has been operating at a low speed slower than the normal operating speed. In this embodiment, when the person H is present at a position lower than the landing floor 5a, since safety is ensured, the car 6 can operate at the normal operating speed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the work efficiency of maintenance work. That is, in the safety system 10, the safety of the person H can be ensured without deteriorating the workability of maintenance.

[0097] Note that the landing-side device 30 may determine whether the person-side device 40 is located at a position lower than the landing-side device 30 based on the reception angle λ´, which is the elevation angle of the person-side device 40 with respect to the horizontal plane including the landing-side device 30, instead of the reception angle λ. In this case, the following relationship of formula (3) holds between the reception angle λ´ and the reception angle λ. λ´ = 90° - λ (3)

[0098] Embodiment 3. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an overview of the safety system according to Embodiment 3. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts as those in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, and the description of such parts is omitted.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 9, in Embodiment 3, the landing-side device 30 receives a radio wave indicating the value of the reception angle θ from the car-side device 20. The landing-side device 30 calculates the height position of the person-side device 40 using the reception angle θ and the reception angle λ. As shown in FIG. 9, based on the reception angle θ and the reception angle λ, the height position of the person-side device 40 can be uniquely calculated from geometric relationships.

[0100] The landing-side device 30 acquires operation information including the ascending / descending direction of the car 6, the height position of the car 6, and the ascending / descending speed of the car 6 from the control panel 7. The landing-side device 30 calculates the time margin until the car 6 contacts the person H when the car 6 continues to move, based on the operation information and the information on the height position of the person-side device 40. Specifically, the landing-side device 30 calculates the distance between the bottom surface 6a of the car and the person H from the height position of the car 6 and the height position of the person-side device 40. The landing-side device 30 calculates the time margin until the car 6 contacts the person H by dividing the distance between the bottom surface 6a of the car and the person H by the ascending / descending speed of the car 6. Note that in this calculation, it may be assumed that the ascending / descending speed of the car 6 takes a constant value.

[0101] For example, the landing-side device 30 transmits a landing-side radio wave indicating a grace period. The person-side device 40 receives the landing-side radio wave indicating the grace period. The person-side device 40 alerts the person H by notifying the grace period to the person H by voice based on the landing-side radio wave.

[0102] Further, when the grace period is shorter than a specified threshold time, the landing-side device 30 may perform an operation to stop the car 6.

[0103] Note that, instead of the landing-side device 30, the car-side device 20 may perform the same calculation. In this case, the car-side device 20 receives a radio wave indicating the value of the reception angle λ from the landing-side device 30.

[0104] According to the third embodiment described above, the car-side device 20 or the landing-side device 30 calculates the height position where the person H exists based on the reception angle θ and the reception angle λ. At this time, the information on the reception intensity of the person-side radio wave does not need to be used. Therefore, depending on the conditions under which the car-side device 20 and the landing-side device 30 receive radio waves, the height position where the person H exists can be calculated more accurately.

[0105] Further, the car-side device 20 or the landing-side device 30 calculates a grace period. The person-side device 40 notifies the person H of the grace period. Therefore, the danger of contact with the car 6 can be alerted to the person H. As a result, the safety can be improved.

Industrial Applicability

[0106] As described above, the safety system according to the present disclosure can be used in an elevator system.

Explanation of Signs

[0107] 1 Elevator system, 2 hoistway, 2a pit, 3 building, 4 landing, 4a lowest floor landing, 4b upper floor landing, 5 landing floor, 5a lowest floor landing floor, 5b second floor landing floor, 6 car, 6a car bottom surface, 7 control panel, 10 safety system, 20 car side device, 21 radio wave section, 22 detection section, 23 calculation section, 30 landing side device, 31 radio wave section, 32 communication section, 33 command section, 34 calculation section, 40 person side device, 41 radio wave section, 42 notification section, H person

Claims

1. A car-side device attached to an elevator car, transmitting car-side radio waves, and detecting the reception intensity and reception angle of the received radio waves; A landing-side device attached at the height position of the lowest landing inside the hoistway of the elevator, transmitting landing-side radio waves, and detecting the reception intensity and reception angle of the received radio waves; A person-side device attached to a person existing inside the hoistway, transmitting person-side radio waves; comprising: Based on the reception intensity and reception angle of the person-side radio waves received by the car-side device, the car-side device or the landing-side device determines whether the distance between the car and the person is shorter than a threshold distance; When it is determined that the distance between the car and the person is shorter than the threshold distance, the landing-side device stops the car at the control panel of the elevator, and when it is determined that the distance between the car and the person is the same as or longer than the threshold distance, the landing-side device does not stop the car. A safety system.

2. The car-side device measures acceleration and calculates the height position of the car based on the measured acceleration; Based on the reception intensity of the landing-side radio waves received by the car-side device and the height position of the car calculated by the car-side device, the car-side device or the landing-side device corrects the value of the distance between the car and the person. The safety system according to claim 1.

3. Based on the reception intensity of the landing-side radio waves received by the car-side device, the car-side device or the landing-side device calculates a first distance between the car and the lowest landing. Based on the height position of the car based on the acceleration calculated by the car-side device, a second distance between the car and the lowest landing is calculated, and the value of the distance between the car and the person is corrected using the ratio of the first distance and the second distance. The safety system according to claim 2.

4. The car-side device calculates a first distance between the car and the lowest landing based on the reception intensity of the landing-side radio waves; The landing-side device receives information on the height position of the car from the control panel; Based on the information on the height position of the car obtained by the landing-side device from the control panel, the car-side device or the landing-side device calculates a third distance between the car and the lowest landing, and based on the first distance and the third distance, the value of the distance between the car and the person is corrected. The safety system according to claim 1.

5. The safety system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the human-side device notifies the human of the distance between the car and the human calculated by the car-side device or the landing-side device.

6. The landing-side device determines whether the human exists at a position lower than the height of the lowest-floor landing based on the reception angle of the human-side radio wave, and when it is determined that the human exists at a position lower than the height of the lowest-floor landing, causes the car to be operated at a normal operating speed on the control panel, and when it is determined that the human exists at a position equal to or higher than the height of the lowest-floor landing, causes the car to be operated at a speed lower than the normal operating speed on the control panel. The safety system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. The safety system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the car-side device or the landing-side device calculates the height at which the human exists based on the reception angle of the human-side radio wave received by the car-side device and the reception angle of the radio wave received by the landing-side device.

8. The car-side device or the landing-side device calculates a margin time until the car contacts the human based on the operation information including the height position of the car and the ascending / descending speed of the car calculated by the control panel and the information on the height at which the human exists, and the human-side device notifies the human of the calculated margin time. The safety system according to claim 7.

9. The car-side device is attached to the bottom surface of the car, the landing-side device is attached at the same height as the floor of the lowest-floor landing inside the hoistway, and the human-side device is attached to the top of the human's head. The safety system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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