Elevator system

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator system that is capable of appropriate operation when long-period ground motion occurs.　An elevator system according to the present disclosure comprises: a reception means that receives long-period ground motion data included in an earthquake early warning which has been issued the Meteorological Agency upon occurrence of an earthquake; an estimation means that, in accordance with building information stored in advance and the long-period ground motion data, estimates the class of long-period ground motion of the building; and a determination means that, in accordance with the estimated class of the long-period ground motion, determines control content for an elevator.

Description

elevator system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to elevator systems.

[0002] The conventional elevator earthquake control operation system disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes an earthquake information receiving device that receives an emergency earthquake warning including the time of occurrence of an earthquake and the location information of the epicenter, an earthquake information prediction device that predicts the time of arrival of the main shock and the magnitude of the shaking based on the earthquake information received by the earthquake information receiving device, long-period vibration detection means that detects long-period vibrations of the building in which the elevator is installed, and an elevator control device that performs earthquake control operation of the elevator based on the predicted information predicted by the earthquake information prediction device and the detection results of the long-period vibration detection means when the earthquake information receiving device receives the emergency earthquake warning.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-001368

[0004] Traditionally, elevators have been equipped with long-period vibration sensors at the top of elevator shafts (such as in the machine room) to detect long-period vibrations. These sensors have different levels based on their settings, and the detected levels are sent from the sensors to the control panel, which then uses the data to control elevator operation—that is, to perform controlled operation during long-period vibrations. For example, Level 0: Stop for a certain period of time; Level 1: Reduced speed; Level 2 or higher: Suspended operation. The current problem is that the settings for each level are set low to activate before the building begins to shake strongly. This means that the sensors can be activated by strong winds and other factors other than long-period vibrations caused by earthquakes, resulting in reduced operational efficiency. Changing the sensor settings requires the assistance of a specialized technician.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator system that can operate appropriately when long-period seismic motion occurs.

[0006] The elevator system according to the present disclosure includes a receiving means for receiving long-period seismic motion data included in an earthquake early warning sent by the Japan Meteorological Agency when an earthquake occurs, an estimating means for estimating the class of long-period seismic motion of the building based on pre-stored building information and the long-period seismic motion data, and a determining means for determining elevator control content based on the estimated class of long-period seismic motion.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an elevator system that can operate appropriately when long-period seismic motion occurs.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an elevator system according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of an elevator control device according to Embodiment 1.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Common or corresponding elements in each drawing are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be simplified or omitted. The configurations shown in the following embodiments are examples of the technical ideas of the present disclosure, and may be combined with other known technologies, or multiple technical ideas described in the present disclosure may be combined. Furthermore, it is also possible to omit or modify part of the configuration without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an elevator system according to embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1, the elevator system 1 of this embodiment includes an elevator control device 2 that controls the operation of the elevator, and a management server 3 that manages the elevator control device 2.

[0011] The management server 3 receives long-period ground motion data included in the Earthquake Early Warning distributed by the Japan Meteorological Agency 4 when an earthquake occurs. In this case, the management server 3 corresponds to a receiving means. The long-period ground motion data may include at least one of the following information: the latitude and longitude and depth of the epicenter, the magnitude, the time of the earthquake occurrence, and an area where long-period ground motion of scale 3 or higher is expected. The long-period ground motion data may also include at least one of the following: the maximum value of the long-period ground motion scale for each area, the long-period ground motion scale for each individual observation point, the long-period ground motion scale by period, the maximum value of the absolute velocity response spectrum value in the period band from 1.6 seconds to 7.8 seconds, and the maximum value of the absolute velocity response spectrum value. Using these data makes it possible to accurately estimate the long-period ground motion scale of a building.

[0012] The management server 3 stores in advance information about buildings in which elevators are installed. The building information may include, for example, at least one of the following information: the latitude and longitude of the building's location, the building's height, and the building's structural type (steel, reinforced concrete, steel reinforced concrete, etc.). Using this data makes it possible to accurately estimate the class of long-period seismic motion of the building. The management server 3 may also calculate the building's resonant frequency from the building's height and structure.

[0013] The management server 3 estimates the class of long-period earthquake motion of the building in accordance with the pre-stored building information and long-period earthquake motion data. In this case, the management server 3 corresponds to the estimation means. In this embodiment, by using the building information and the long-period earthquake motion data, it is possible to accurately estimate the class of long-period earthquake motion of the building.

[0014] Class 1 long-period earthquake motion corresponds to a moderately large tremor, and is characterized by the following: Most people indoors feel the tremor. Some are startled. Blinds and other hanging objects sway violently.

[0015] Class 2 long-period earthquake motion corresponds to large shaking, and is characterized by the following: Large shaking is felt indoors, and people feel the need to hold on to something. People find it difficult to walk without holding on to something, and other movements are hindered. Furniture with casters moves slightly. Dishes on shelves and books on bookshelves may fall.

[0016] Class 3 long-period earthquake motion corresponds to extremely strong shaking, and is characterized by the following: It becomes difficult to stand. Furniture with casters moves significantly. Unsecured furniture may move, and unstable items may fall over. Partition walls may crack.

[0017] Class 4 long-period earthquake motion corresponds to extremely strong shaking, and is characterized by the following: You will be unable to stand and will have to crawl to move. You will be thrown about by the shaking. Furniture with casters will move significantly and some may fall over. Most loose furniture will move and some may fall over. Partition walls and other structures will develop many cracks.

[0018] The management server 3 determines the control content of the elevator according to the class of the estimated long-period ground motion. In this case, the management server 3 corresponds to a determining means. For example, the management server 3 may reduce the speed of the elevator or suspend operation according to the class of the estimated long-period ground motion. For example, if the management server 3 estimates that the shaking of the building corresponds to class 1 of long-period ground motion, the management server 3 may reduce the speed of the elevator. Furthermore, if the management server 3 estimates that the shaking of the building corresponds to class 2 of long-period ground motion, the management server 3 may suspend operation of the elevator.

[0019] With this embodiment as described above, elevators can be operated in an appropriate controlled manner when long-period seismic motion occurs. Furthermore, appropriate controlled operation can be performed even in buildings where long-period vibration sensors are not installed. Furthermore, controlled operation can be performed before the long-period seismic motion becomes large.

[0020] The elevator system 1 may be applied to a building in which a long-period vibration sensor is installed. In a building in which a long-period vibration sensor is installed, there is a possibility that the sensor may malfunction if it detects swaying of the building due to wind. In response to this, application of the elevator system 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to prevent malfunctions due to wind. In this case, the sensitivity of the long-period vibration sensor may be reduced. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent malfunctions due to wind. The elevator control device 2 may transmit information detected by the long-period vibration sensor to the management server 3.

[0021] The elevator system 1 is equipped with a change means that allows the user 5 to change the elevator control content corresponding to the estimated long-period ground motion class. For example, a virtual database is shared with the management server 3, and the user 5 can access the database's website and change and set the elevator control content corresponding to the long-period ground motion class. For example, the user 5 can change the elevator control content so that the elevator speed is reduced when the long-period ground motion is estimated to correspond to class 2, and the elevator operation is suspended when the long-period ground motion is estimated to correspond to class 3. The management server 3 stores the elevator control content corresponding to the long-period ground motion class set by the user 5, and controls the elevator control device 2 according to the control content. In this embodiment, the user 5 can change the elevator control content corresponding to the estimated long-period ground motion class, allowing for flexible settings that meet the user 5's needs.

[0022] In the case of a system equipped with a long-period vibration sensor, the elevator control device 2 or management server 3 may verify whether the estimated long-period seismic motion class is correct based on the estimated long-period seismic motion class and the signal detected by the long-period vibration sensor. For example, if the long-period seismic motion is estimated to correspond to class 2 and the long-period vibration sensor detects class 1 long-period seismic motion while the elevator control device 2 is out of service, the estimation of class 2 long-period seismic motion is incorrect, and it is considered that the actual long-period seismic motion is class 1, so the elevator control device 2 may resume the outage of service.

[0023] Furthermore, the elevator system 1 may use AI to learn the data detected by the long-period vibration sensors and the estimated results of the long-period ground motion class as big data, and may then use the learning results to correct the mathematical formula for estimating the long-period ground motion class.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of the elevator control device 2 in embodiment 1. The following description will be given taking the elevator control device 2 as an example, but the same applies to the management server 3. Each function of the elevator control device 2 is realized by, for example, a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware 600. The processing circuit may include a processor 601 and a memory 602. A portion of the processing circuit may be formed as dedicated hardware 600, and the processing circuit may further include a processor 601 and a memory 602. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the processing circuit is formed as dedicated hardware 600. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the processing circuit further includes a processor 601 and a memory 602 in addition to the dedicated hardware 600.

[0025] The processing circuitry of which at least one portion is dedicated hardware 600 may be, for example, a single circuit, multiple circuits, a programmed processor, parallel programmed processors, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0026] When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 601 and at least one memory 602, the functions of each part of the elevator control device 2 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.

[0027] The software and firmware are written as programs and stored in memory 602. The processor 601 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing the programs stored in memory 602. The processor 601 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 602 may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM, or a magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, minidisk, DVD, etc.

[0028] In this way, the processing circuit can realize the functions of the elevator control device 2 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these. Note that each function of the elevator control device 2 may be realized by multiple devices working together, or by a single device. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the elevator control device 2 may be implemented on a server or the like on an external network.

[0029] 1 elevator system, 2 elevator control device, 3 management server, 4 meteorological agency, 5 user, 600 dedicated hardware, 601 processor, 602 memory

Claims

1. A receiving means for receiving long-period ground motion data included in the earthquake early warning distributed by the Japan Meteorological Agency when an earthquake occurs, Estimation means for estimating the class of long-period ground motion of a building in accordance with pre-stored building information and the long-period ground motion data, A determination means for determining the elevator control content according to the estimated class of long-period ground motion, An elevator system equipped with this system.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, further comprising a modification means that allows the user to change the control content of the elevator according to the estimated class of long-period ground motion.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the building information includes at least one of the latitude and longitude of the building's location, the building's height, and the building's structural type.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the long-period ground motion data includes at least one of the following: the latitude, longitude, and depth of the epicenter; the magnitude; the time of the earthquake; the region where long-period ground motion of class 3 or higher is expected; the maximum value of the long-period ground motion class for each region; the long-period ground motion class for each individual observation point; the class of long-period ground motion by period; the maximum value of the absolute velocity response spectral value in the period band from 1.6 seconds to 7.8 seconds; and the maximum value of the absolute velocity response spectral value.