How to operate the elevator for inspection

Abstract

A method for operating an elevator (1) for inspection and an elevator implementing such a method are proposed. The elevator comprises a cabin (3), a drive engine (11), a plurality of shaft doors (23), a plurality of signal receivers (33), an engine controller (13), and a door controller (29) that controls the operation of the active door drives (25) of the shaft doors (23). Each of the shaft doors has an associated active door drive for opening and closing the shaft door in opposite directions. At least one of the signal receivers is placed in each of the plurality of floors (21). The method comprises: - receiving a request signal from one of the signal receivers (33) located on one of the floors (21); - in response to the reception of the request signal: - if one of the floors (21) is not the lowest floor (21'), instructing the engine controller (13) to control the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to a first position such that the loop (41) of the cabin (3) is adjacent to the shaft door (23) of one of the floors (21); - if one of the floors (21) is the lowest floor (21'), instructing the engine controller (13) to control the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to a second position above the lowest floor (21'); - then, instructing the door controller (29) to control the door drive (25) of the shaft door (23) on one of the floors (21) to open it actively. The steps include switching the engine controller (13) to inspection mode.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating an elevator for inspection. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an elevator configured to carry out such a method, a computer program product, and a computer-readable medium. Background Technology

[0002] An elevator comprises at least one cabin that can be displaced along an elevator shaft between various floors of a building using a drive engine. Typically, each cabin includes at least one cabin door that can be opened and closed to provide and block access to the cabin. For this purpose, one or more cabin door blades of the cabin door are typically coupled to an active cabin door drive, which includes a motor to displace the cabin door blades, for example. Additionally, each floor is provided with at least one shaft door that can be opened and closed to selectively provide or block access to the elevator shaft. The shaft door is sometimes also called a landing door. Generally, the shaft door does not have an active door drive. Instead, when the cabin stops at one of the floors, the cabin door is mechanically coupled to the shaft door at that floor, allowing the shaft door to open and close together with the cabin door. That is, the cabin door drive also indirectly opens and closes the shaft door ahead of where the elevator cabin is currently stopped. Furthermore, the shaft door is generally locked in a closed state unless the cabin door is coupled to the shaft door.

[0003] During an elevator inspection, a technician requires access to the elevator shaft to verify, for example, the integrity of the elevator components contained within the shaft. To achieve this, in conventional elevators, the technician had to call a cabin to access one of the floors and set the elevator to an inspection mode where calls from the landing control panels or cabin control panels were ignored. The technician then had to unlock the shaft doors. To do this, the technician had to use specific tools, such as a triangular key, to work with a specific mechanism within the shaft door to unlock it. The technician then had to manually open the shaft doors and board, for example, the roof of a waiting cabin. These roofs are typically equipped with control units. Using these control units, the technician could control the drive engine while in inspection mode to displace the cabin to a desired position within the elevator shaft. Significant safety measures had to be taken to prevent injury to the technician during this displacement operation. For example, during the inspection, the cabin had to be prevented from being driven to a position where the technician on the roof or another technician in, for instance, the elevator shaft pit, could be put at risk. Finally, when the inspection was completed, the technician had to exit the elevator shaft and manually re-lock the relevant shaft door.

[0004] Approaches for unlocking the landing door of an elevator are proposed, for example, in WO 2017 / 212105 A1 and WO 2017 / 212106 A1. The problem to be solved

[0005] There may be a need for alternative methods of operating elevators for inspection. In particular, there may be a need for a method of operating an elevator for inspection that allows a technician to access the elevator shaft with minimal effort and / or enhances the technician's safety level. Additionally, an elevator, computer program products, and / or computer-readable media configured to implement such a method may be required.

[0006] Such needs may be satisfied by a claim in one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and in the following specification. means of solving the problem

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for operating an elevator for inspection is proposed. The elevator comprises a cabin displaceable along an elevator shaft, a drive engine for displacement of the cabin, a plurality of shaft doors, a plurality of signal receivers, an engine controller for controlling the operation of the drive engine, and a door controller for controlling the operation of an active door drive of the shaft door. At least one of the shaft door is disposed at each of a plurality of floors, including a bottom floor and at least one top floor. Each shaft door has an associated active door drive for reciprocatingly opening and closing the shaft door. At least one of the signal receivers is arranged at each of the multiple floors. The method comprises at least the following steps:

[0008] - A step of receiving a request signal at one of the signal receptors located in one of the layers,

[0009] - In response to the reception of a request signal:

[0010] - If one of the floors is not the lowest floor, the step of instructing the engine controller to control the drive engine to displace the cabin to a position (here referred to as the "first position") such that the roof of the cabin is adjacent to the shaft door of one of the floors,

[0011] - A step in which, if one of the floors is the lowest floor, the engine controller is instructed to control the drive engine to displace the cabin to a position above the lowest floor (here referred to as the "second position"),

[0012] - Subsequently, a step of instructing the door controller to control the door drive of the shaft door of one of the floors to open actively, and

[0013] - Step of switching the engine controller to inspection mode.

[0014] The method steps may preferably be executed in the indicated order. For safety reasons, the opening of the shaft door should not be indicated until the cabin has arrived at the destination location and stopped, at least where the cabin must be displaced. However, other steps of the method may be performed in a different order. For example, the inspection mode may be initiated immediately upon receiving the request signal, i.e., before displaced the cabin and / or opened the shaft door.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an elevator is proposed that comprises the features described above for the first aspect of the present invention and is configured for one of carrying out and controlling a method according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0016] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a computer program product is proposed. The computer program product comprises computer-readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor of an elevator according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, instruct the elevator to either execute or control a method according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. Alternatively, the computer program product comprises computer-readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a mobile data communication device, instruct the mobile data communication device to transmit one of a finalization signal and a request signal for triggering the elevator according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention for either executing or controlling a method according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable means is proposed. The computer-readable means stores a computer program product according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention.

[0018] The ideas forming the basis of the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted as being based, in particular, on the following observations and perceptions.

[0019] In brief, an embodiment of the method proposed herein benefits from the technical features included in modern elevators to implement an alternative approach for operating the elevator during the inspection process. While conventional elevators generally had manual shaft doors, some modern elevators feature active shaft doors, which are provided with active door drives to open and close the shaft door blades independently of other elevator components, particularly the cabin and its cabin door. It is proposed to utilize these features to implement an alternative approach for initiating the inspection procedure and operating the elevator during the inspection procedure.

[0020] First, several features and functions of the elevator components proposed in this specification will be described in more detail.

[0021] With respect to the basic functions of the cabin, elevator shaft, drive engine, and engine controller, the elevator proposed herein may be similar to existing elevators. Therein, the engine controller may control the drive engine to displace the cabin during normal operation in response to a call received, for example, from one of a number of landing control panels provided on each floor of a building and / or from a cabin control panel provided within the elevator cabin.

[0022] However, compared to most existing elevators, the elevator proposed herein differs in its shaft doors and the way these shaft doors open and close. In particular, in this elevator, each shaft door at each of the various floors must have a unique associated active door drive. These door drives generally include actuators. These actuators can be implemented using, for example, electric motors, hydraulics, pneumatics, or similar means. The actuators may work with one or more shaft door blades, for example, to displace one or more shaft door blades between an open state, where the shaft door allows access from the floor to the elevator shaft, and a closed state, where such access is blocked.

[0023] The active door drive and its actuator can be controlled by a door controller. Each shaft door may have its own door controller to control its door drive. Alternatively, a central door controller may control the door drives of multiple shaft doors.

[0024] Generally, while the elevator is operating normally, the door controller(s) will control the operation of the active door drive of the shaft door in response to a signal received from the engine controller and / or other components of the elevator, and such a signal indicates that the cabin is stopped at one of the current floors and that the door controller can control the opening of the shaft door at this floor by operating the relevant door drive.

[0025] During normal operation, the shaft door must open only when an elevator cabin is parked adjacent to this shaft door. In this situation, the cabin door and each shaft door face each other directly.

[0026] However, to enable elevator inspection, exceptions to this general rule may need to be implemented. In particular, a technician must be able to open the shaft door to access the elevator shaft while a cabin is not parked immediately adjacent to the shaft door.

[0027] For safety reasons, unauthorized persons must be prevented from opening the shaft door when a cabin is not parked in this shaft door. Additionally, measures must be taken to ensure there is no danger to technicians when they open the shaft door when a cabin is not in this shaft door.

[0028] To satisfy these requirements, it is proposed to provide signal receptors on each of the various layers. These signal receptors may be devices capable of receiving signals transmitted from other devices or input by a technician. For example, the signal receptors may be sensors, switches, push buttons, or similar devices.

[0029] In particular, the signal receiver may be configured to receive a so-called request signal. The request signal must indicate that the elevator should be prepared for inspection. The request signal may be transmitted and / or provided to the signal receiver only by an authorized technician. For example, the request signal may include a secret code or encryption. Additionally, the request signal may be generated by a device that is generally accessible only by an authorized technician. Furthermore, or alternatively, the request signal may be generated using a code or computer program that is generally accessible only by an authorized technician.

[0030] In addition, to satisfy the above requirements, a technical measure is implemented that allows a technician to open the shaft door only when the cabin has previously been driven to a position where the technician cannot fall into the elevator shaft.

[0031] Accordingly, in the method proposed herein, the provision of a request signal may be initiated by a technician. As further described below, such a request signal may be provided in various ways. The request signal may then be received by a signal receiver located on the floor where the technician is currently located.

[0032] When a request signal is received, it is first determined whether the floor where the signal receiver receiving the request signal is located is the lowest floor where the elevator operates or one of the upper floors above this lowest floor.

[0033] When a request signal is received by the signal receiver on the lowest floor, this means that a technician wishes to enter the elevator shaft from the shaft door on this lowest floor. In this case, it can be assumed that the technician wishes to enter the pit of the elevator shaft. To enable entry into this pit, the cabin is first controlled to drive to a position above the lowest floor, that is, for example, a position after the first floor or one of the higher upper floors. Once the elevator shaft is then emptied from the cabin, the door controller of the shaft door on the lowest floor can control the door drive of this shaft door to open it actively. Thus, the technician can enter the elevator shaft through this shaft door and provide inspection services in the pit of the elevator shaft.

[0034] If a request signal is received by one of the signal receivers located on one of the upper floors rather than the lowest floor, the engine controller is first instructed to control the drive engine to displace the cabin to a position where the cabin's roof is adjacent to the shaft door of the floor where the request signal was received. That is, the cabin is driven to a position where the cabin's roof is next to the shaft door, without the cabin door directly facing the shaft door. For example, the cabin can be displaced and stopped so that its roof is next to the bottom of the shaft door. Only after the cabin has been displaced and stopped in this manner is the door controller instructed to control the door drive of each shaft door to actively open the shaft door. Thus, when a technician enters the elevator shaft through these shaft doors, the technician can ascend to the roof of the parked cabin. In particular, by parking the cabin with its roof adjacent to the open shaft door, the technician can be prevented from falling into the elevator shaft.

[0035] Additionally, in response to receiving a request signal at one of the signal receivers, the elevator's engine controller may switch to inspection mode. This switch to inspection mode may occur immediately upon receiving the request signal, that is, before displacing the cabin. Alternatively, the switch to inspection mode may be implemented to occur while the cabin is displacing to a destination location above the lowest floor, or afterward, or while its loop is adjacent to the shaft door of the floor where the requesting technician is waiting. This inspection mode differs from the previous normal operating mode in that calls entered by passengers at least at the landing control panel and / or cabin control panel are ignored. Accordingly, during inspection mode, the elevator may no longer provide transportation services to passengers. Therefore, in inspection mode, there is no risk of the cabin being displacing in response to a passenger's call.

[0036] Using the method proposed herein and an elevator configured to implement this method, elevator inspection can be made simpler and safer for technicians. In particular, by simply providing a request signal to one of the elevator's signal receivers, a technician can initiate a procedure to automatically drive the cabin to a position where the technician can safely enter the elevator shaft at the level of the shaft pit or one of the upper floors. Additionally, the shaft door can be automatically opened to provide access to the elevator shaft when the technician is waiting and the request signal has been provided to the local signal receiver.

[0037] According to one embodiment, in inspection mode, the engine controller prevents the drive engine from displacing the cabin after the cabin reaches one of the first and second positions, respectively.

[0038] That is, as a first operation when performing the method proposed in this specification, the cabin is driven to an intended destination position, that is, driven to a first position where its loop is adjacent to the shaft door of the floor where the request signal is provided, or, if the request signal is provided from the lowest floor, driven to a second position above the lowest floor. Upon reaching this destination position, the engine controller switches to a mode in which further displacement of the cabin is not possible. Thus, the position of the cabin is fixed during subsequent inspections. Therefore, as soon as at least each shaft door is opened and a technician can enter the elevator shaft to access the pit or ascend the cabin loop, the cabin is no longer permitted to be displaced. Thus, in such inspection situations, there is no risk of the technician being injured by the displaced cabin. Therefore, the safety of the technician is enhanced in this inspection mode.

[0039] In addition, since displacement of the cabin is generally not permitted as long as one of the shaft doors is open and a technician is accessing the elevator shaft, specific control means provided to the technician to control cabin displacement during the inspection procedure are no longer required.

[0040] In other words, while conventional approaches provided specific control means in the cabin loop and / or the elevator shaft pit to allow technicians to displace the cabin during inspection, the approach described herein can intentionally eliminate the option that enables technicians to displace the elevator while inside the elevator shaft. Therefore, not only can technician safety be increased, but hardware such as specific control means that must be provided to technicians to control displacement during inspection in the pit or cabin loop is not required, thereby avoiding the cost associated with such hardware.

[0041] According to one embodiment, if one of the floors is not the lowest floor during the proposed method, the engine controller controls the drive engine to displace the cabin to a position such that the roof of the cabin is flush with the floor of one of the floors.

[0042] That is, a first position can be set so that the level of the upper surface of the cabin roof substantially corresponds to the level of the floor of the floor where the request signal is provided to the local signal receiver. Thus, for example, no dangerous step difference occurs between the floor of the floor and the cabin roof, and a technician can easily and safely climb onto the cabin roof as soon as the shaft door opens.

[0043] In this context, the term “flush” may be interpreted, for example, as the level of the floor of corresponding floors and the level of the upper surface of the cabin roof within an acceptable tolerance. Such tolerance may, for example, be less than 50 cm, preferably less than 20 cm or less than 5 cm or even less than 2 cm.

[0044] According to one embodiment, in order to enable the reception of a request signal during the proposed method, a technician initiating the transmission of a reception signal must be on one of the floors, outside the elevator shaft and in close proximity to one of the signal receivers located on the floor.

[0045] In other words, the signal receiver is configured such that the manner in which the request signal is provided to the signal receiver ensures that the technician initiating the transmission of the received signal may not be located somewhere far from the elevator, or in particular, may not be located inside the elevator shaft. Instead, it must be ensured that the technician is located near a signal receiver located at the floor where the technician wishes to enter the elevator shaft, where the signal receiver must be placed outside the elevator shaft. In particular, the technician must be able to provide the request signal to the signal receiver only while the technician is sufficiently close to this signal receiver.

[0046] "Proximity" may mean that the distance between the technician and the signal receiver must be less than the shortest distance between the signal receiver and the shaft door of each floor. For example, "proximity" may mean that the distance between the technician and the signal receiver must be less than 10 m, preferably less than 3 m, or even less than 1 m.

[0047] Therefore, it can be guaranteed that the technician can provide only a request signal as long as they are located within each floor and not inside the elevator shaft. Thus, it is possible to prevent the proposed method from being initiated by providing a request signal while the technician is not on each floor. This prevents the floor doors of each floor from opening during the method when the technician is not nearby. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the proposed method from being initiated by providing a request signal while the technician is, for example, inside the elevator shaft, i.e., inside the elevator cabin. Thus, the entire inspection procedure can be made safer for both the technician and others.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the signal receiver can receive a request signal from a data communication device via short-range wireless data communication.

[0049] This means that a technician may use a data communication device to generate a request signal and provide the request signal to a signal recipient. Here, the signal recipient and the data communication device must exchange the request signal using near-field wireless data communication technology. Such near-field wireless data communication technology may be, for example, Bluetooth communication or any other type of near-field communication (NFC). Near-field wireless data communication technology may have the characteristic that the transmission of the request signal is possible only when the data communication device is in close proximity to the signal recipient. "Close proximity" may be interpreted as defined above.

[0050] For example, the request signal can be transmitted by a mobile data communication device carried by a technician.

[0051] Such a mobile data communication device may be a portable device having a processor for data processing, some memory for data storage, and a data communication interface for exchanging data with other devices. For example, such a mobile data communication device may be a technician's smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc. Such a mobile data communication device may be programmed using a specific application ("app") for generating and transmitting request signals, for example, when operated by a technician.

[0052] Alternatively, the request signal may be transmitted using a passive mobile data communication device in which data may be stored but not processed and / or not actively emitted. For example, such a passive mobile data communication device may be an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) ​​device capable of emitting a radio frequency code upon request. Here, the radio frequency code may represent or encrypt the request signal and may be received by a signal receiver.

[0053] According to an alternative embodiment, the signal receptor can receive a request signal by manually operating the signal receptor by a technician.

[0054] In such an embodiment, the technician may not require any portable technical device to generate and provide the request signal. Instead, the technician may provide the request device by working directly and manually with the signal receiver. For example, the signal receiver may have one or more push buttons, switches, or similar sensors to be actuated.

[0055] Preferably, the signal receiver is configured to generate a request signal by manually operating the signal receiver so that only an authorized technician can provide the receiving signal. For example, the signal receiver may be protected by a protective means that prevents the operation of the signal receiver, and such protective means may be removed only by a technician using, for example, a key or similar means. Alternatively, the signal receiver may be operated by anyone, but only an authorized technician knows the specific manner in which it must be operated to generate a request signal. For example, the signal receiver may be operated by a patterned sequence of manual operations, and such patterned sequence of manual operations forms a type of code representing the request signal. Specifically, the signal receiver may be a landing operation panel or part thereof provided on each floor near the local shaft door, and the receiving signal may be input by operating a push button, switch, or sensor of such landing operation panel in a predefined patterned sequence of operations.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the method proposed herein further includes the following steps:

[0057] - A step of receiving a finalization signal at a single signal receptor,

[0058] - In response to receiving that final episode signal:

[0059] - A step of instructing the door controller to control the door drive of the shaft door of one of the floors to actively close it, and

[0060] - Step to switch the engine controller back to normal operation mode.

[0061] That is, the method proposed herein may include the step of receiving a request signal to enter a procedure (corresponding to "check-in") of driving the cabin to a specific first or second position and switching the engine controller to an inspection mode, as well as additionally including the step of receiving a finalization signal. Receiving such finalization signal may indicate that the inspection procedure is completed (corresponding to "check-out"). In response to receiving the finalization signal, the previously opened shaft door may be closed again and the engine controller may be switched back to normal operation.

[0062] Accordingly, by generating and transmitting a finalization signal, the technician can indicate that he has completed the inspection procedure. Here, similar to the above description regarding the reception of the request signal, the manner in which the signal receiver is located and / or the manner in which the finalization signal is transmitted to the signal receiver can be configured to ensure that the finalization signal is transmitted only when the technician leaves the elevator shaft and returns near the signal receiver on that floor and through the shaft door through which he previously entered the elevator shaft.

[0063] According to one embodiment, when a request signal is received, the identity of the technician initiating the transmission of the request signal can be detected.

[0064] This allows one of the signal receptors to register the reception of the request signal when it receives the request signal, which not only triggers subsequent reactions such as cabin displacement and switching to inspection mode, but also detects who transmitted the request signal.

[0065] Here, the identity of the technician who initiated the transmission of the request signal can be detected using various technical means. For example, a data communication device used to transmit the request signal may include identification data in a data package representing the request signal. Such identification data may identify, for example, the owner or user of the data communication device. Alternatively, the technician who initiated the transmission of the request signal may be identified by image analysis of a photograph taken by a camera, analysis of a fingerprint collected by a fingerprint sensor, or by using various other means.

[0066] If the technician's identity is detected, it can be verified, for example, whether this technician has the authority to enter the elevator shaft after initiating the method proposed here. Additionally, or alternatively, the technician's identity can be stored so that, for example, who inspected the elevator at a later point in time can be tracked.

[0067] In addition, according to a specific embodiment, when a finalization signal is received, the identity of the technician who initiated the transmission of the finalization signal is detected, and the engine controller switches back to normal operation mode only if the identity of the technician who initiated the transmission of the request signal is the same as the identity of the technician who initiated the transmission of the finalization signal.

[0068] In other words, the identity of the technician can be detected at both the start of the method proposed herein, i.e., when the request signal is received and thus before the inspection begins, and at the completion of the method proposed herein, i.e., when the finalization signal is received and thus when the inspection is completed. In this case, the engine controller switches back to normal operation only if the same technician transmitted the original request signal and subsequently transmitted the finalization signal.

[0069] Therefore, it can be ensured that, for example, no one other than the technician who originally started the inspection can switch the engine controller back to normal operation. In particular, in a situation where the first technician sends a request signal and enters the elevator shaft to start the inspection, it can prevent a second technician, who, for example, has not started the inspection and is unaware that the first technician is inside the elevator shaft, from switching the elevator back to normal inspection and endangering the first technician.

[0070] In an elevator configured to execute or control an embodiment of the method proposed herein, at least each of the plurality of door controllers may be configured to satisfy SIL3 requirements. In a preferred elevator configured to execute or control an embodiment of the method proposed herein, each of the plurality of signal receivers, an engine controller, a door controller, and communication established to exchange signals between the plurality of signal receivers, the engine controller, and the door controller may be configured to satisfy SIL3 requirements.

[0071] This means that all components involved in monitoring and / or controlling any cabin motions and shaft door opening motions in the elevator may be required to meet the high safety requirements defined in the SIL3 (Safety Integrity Level 3) standard. Thus, it can be ensured that a malfunction of any component will not cause potentially dangerous situations, such as displacing the cabin while a technician is inside the elevator shaft or opening the shaft door when the cabin has not been driven to a first position near the shaft door.

[0072] The engine controller and / or door controller(s) included in the elevator proposed herein may be programmable. They may have, for example, a processor for executing computer-readable instructions and / or processing data, and memory for storing instructions and / or data. A computer program product containing computer-readable instructions may be written in any computer-readable language. When executing computer-readable instructions, the engine controller and / or door controller(s) perform or control the steps of the method proposed herein. Optionally, the engine controller and door controller(s) may be implemented as a single controller device.

[0073] Additionally, a computer program product in the form of an application ("app") can be used to instruct a mobile data communication device, such as a smartphone, to transmit one of a request signal and a finalization signal to trigger the elevator to execute or control the method proposed herein.

[0074] Finally, the computer-readable medium containing the computer program product described above may be any portable computer-readable medium for temporary or non-temporary data storage, such as a CD, CVD, flash memory, etc. Alternatively, the computer-readable medium may be part of a computer or a computer network, such as the cloud or the internet, from which the computer program product can be downloaded.

[0075] It should be noted that possible features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention are described herein in part with respect to a method for operating an elevator for inspection and in part with respect to an elevator configured to implement such a method. Those skilled in the art will recognize that features may be suitably transferred from one embodiment to another and that features may be modified, adapted, combined, and / or replaced to achieve further embodiments of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0076] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings and description should not be construed as limiting the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates an elevator configured to execute a method of operating an inspection elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drawing is merely schematic and not of actual scale. Identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar features. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0077] FIG. 1 illustrates an elevator (1). The elevator (1) is illustrated in a side view. Additionally, a part of the elevator (1) is illustrated in a front view as visualized in the partial view within the dashed frame line.

[0078] The elevator (1) includes a cabin (3) that is displaceable along an elevator shaft (5). The elevator cabin (3) is maintained and displaced by a suspension traction means (7), such as a rope or belt. At the opposite end, the suspension traction means (7) is connected to a counterweight (9). The suspension traction means (7) is driven by a drive engine (11). The drive engine (11) is controlled by an engine controller (13). It should be noted that the arrangement of the suspension traction means (7) and the drive engine (11) shown in FIG. 1 is depicted in a very schematic manner.

[0079] The elevator cabin (3) includes a cabin door (15) for opening and closing access to the elevator cabin (3). The cabin door (15) can be actively opened and closed by a cabin door drive (17). The cabin door drive (17) is controlled by a cabin door controller (19).

[0080] Each of the multiple floors (21) is provided with at least one shaft door (23). The shaft door (23) can be opened or closed to allow or block access to the elevator shaft (5). The elevator (1) presented herein includes an active door drive (25) in each shaft door (23) to actively open or close each shaft door (23) by laterally displacing the shaft door blades (27). Each of the door drives (25) is controlled by a door controller (29). In the example presented herein, the door controller (29) is integrated into the engine controller (13). For a simpler formulation, the terms "door drive (25)" and "door controller (29)" should refer only to the shaft door (23) and not to the cabin door (15) (having the "cabin door drive (17)" and "cabin door controller (19)").

[0081] Additionally, a landing operation panel (31) is provided in each of the multiple floors (21) adjacent to the shaft door (23). For example, such a landing operation panel (31) may include one or more push buttons (32) that can be operated by passengers to call the cabin (3) to their floor (21).

[0082] Additionally, in the illustrated example, a separate signal receiver (33) is arranged next to the landing operation panel (31). The signal receiver (33) is configured to receive signals such as a request signal and a finalization signal.

[0083] During normal operation of the elevator (1), the engine controller (13) controls the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to one of the floors (21) in response to a passenger call provided by operating one of the landing operation panels (31). Here, the drive engine (11) is controlled so that the cabin (3) stops at the landing position such that the cabin floor (35) is substantially flat with the floor (37) of the floor (21) where the cabin (3) is to pick up or deliver passengers.

[0084] For inspection purposes, the normal operation of the elevator (1) must be temporarily suspended. For this purpose, according to the method proposed herein, a technician may access the elevator (1) at one of the floors (21), such as, for example, the lowest floor (21') or one of the multiple floors (21'', 21'''). When approaching the shaft door (23) at this floor (21), the technician (39) may begin to emit a request signal. This request signal is then received by the signal receiver (33) of each floor (21). This reception of the request signal may be communicated from the signal receiver (33) to, for example, the engine controller (13) and / or the door controller (29). In response to the reception of such a request signal, it is determined whether the received signal was received from the signal receiver (33) located at the lowest floor (21') or from one of the signal receivers (33) located at one of the upper floors (21'', 21''').

[0085] When a reception signal is received by one of the signal receivers (33) located on one of the upper floors (21'', 21'''), the engine controller (13) will control the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to a position where the loop (41) of the cabin (3) is adjacent to the shaft door (23) of the floor (21''') where the request signal was received. Preferably, the cabin (3) is stopped at a level where the upper surface of its loop (41) is substantially flat with the floor (37) of the corresponding floor (21'''). Subsequently, the door controller (29) controls the door drive (25) on the corresponding floor (21''') to actively open the associated shaft door (23). Thus, the technician (39) can enter the elevator shaft (5) by stepping onto the loop (41) of the waiting cabin (3). In such a position, the technician (39) can inspect, modify, repair, or replace various components of the elevator (1), such as, for example, car guide shoes, car brakes, front bracket fixtures, suspension traction means (7), and end connectors on the cabin side as well as the counterweight side, counterweight guide shoes, shaft information, load measuring devices, headroom deflection pulleys and / or other components (components not shown for the simplification and clarity of the drawing).

[0086] The cabin (3) adjacent to the shaft door (23) may not necessarily be located in a position where the roof (41) is flush with the floor (37) of the corresponding floor (21'''). It may be desirable to displace the cabin (3) to a position where the roof (41) is significantly above the floor (37) of the floor (21'''). For example, such a cabin position may be useful when a technician (39) needs to inspect, repair, or replace the drive engine (11) located in the area of ​​the shaft head of the elevator shaft, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this case, the technician (39) may go up onto the cabin roof (41) which is about 50 cm or more above the floor of the top floor.

[0087] When a reception signal is received at the signal receiver (33) located at the lowest level (21'), the engine controller (13) will control the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to a position above the lowest level (21'), that is, so that the cabin floor (35) is sufficiently above the pit (43) of the elevator shaft (5) so that a technician (39) can enter such a pit (43). Subsequently, the door controller (29) controls the door drive (25) at the lowest level (21') to actively open the associated shaft door (23). Thus, the technician (39) can enter the pit (43) of the elevator shaft (5). In the pit (33), the technician can inspect, modify, repair, or replace various components of the elevator (1), such as, for example, the machine's traction sheave pulley, loose belt (tension of the traction means), electric drive and the motor and / or other components of the fan (components not shown for the simplification and clarity of the drawing). In addition, the technician (39) can clean the pit (43).

[0088] Additionally, upon receiving a request signal, the engine controller (13) switches to inspection mode. In this inspection mode, calls entered by a passenger, for example, on one of the landing control panels (31) or the cabin control panel, are ignored. Additionally, any displacement of the cabin (3) is prevented as long as the shaft door (23) is opened on one of the floors (21) in response to receiving the request signal.

[0089] In an exemplary embodiment, a technician (39) may use a data communication device (45), such as his smartphone, to generate and transmit data forming a request signal. For this purpose, a specific application may be programmed and uploaded to the data communication device (45). Upon activation of this application, the data communication device (45) may transmit data forming a request signal, for example, as electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic waves may be received by a suitable sensor included in the signal receiver (33). Preferably, the data communication is set to short-range wireless data communication so that the signal receiver (33) can receive the request signal only when the data communication device (45) is sufficiently close to the signal receiver (33).

[0090] In an alternative embodiment, the signal receiver (33) may not be implemented as a separate device and may be part of an existing device generally used for other purposes. For example, the signal receiver (33) may be integrated into the landing operation panel (31) at each layer (21). In such an embodiment, a technician (39) may provide a request signal, for example, by operating the landing operation panel (31) in a specific manner. For example, a push button (32) of the landing operation panel (31) may be operated according to a specific operation sequence, which is known only to an authorized technician.

[0091] When the inspection work is completed, the technician (39) can leave the elevator shaft (5) through the open shaft door (23). The technician (39) can then transmit a finalization signal that can be received by the signal receiver (33). Upon receiving the finalization signal, the door controller (29) can be instructed to control the door drive (25) of the open shaft door (23) to close the shaft door (23). After that, the engine controller (13) can be switched back to normal operation mode.

[0092] With the method and elevator (1) proposed herein, the inspection of the elevator (1) can be substantially simplified and made safer. In particular, when initiated by transmitting a request signal, the shaft door (21) next to the technician (39) can be opened actively and automatically. Additionally, the cabin (3) has already been driven to a suitable position where its roof (41) is substantially flat with the floor (37) so that the technician (39) can easily and safely climb onto the cabin roof (41). Alternatively, the technician (39) can easily enter the pit (43) after the cabin (3) is automatically removed from such a pit (43). Since no further displacement of the cabin (3) is allowed during the inspection mode, the risk of injury to the technician (39) is minimized. Furthermore, no control device is required for the cabin roof (41) or the pit (43). Generally, a toe guard for the cabin roof (41) and / or an apron for the cabin threshold are also not required. Therefore, the cost of such hardware can be reduced.

[0093] Finally, it should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and that "a" or "an" does not exclude the plural. Additionally, the elements described in connection with the embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that the reference numerals within the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claim 1 A method for operating an elevator (1) for inspection, wherein the elevator (1) comprises: - a cabin (3) displaceable along an elevator shaft (5); - a drive engine (11) for displacement of the cabin (3); - a plurality of shaft doors (23), wherein at least one of the shaft doors (23) is disposed in each of a plurality of floors (21) including a bottom floor (21') and at least one upper floor (21'', 21'''), and each of the shaft doors (23) has an associated active door drive (25) for opening and closing the shaft door (23) in opposite ways; - a plurality of signal receivers (33), wherein at least one of the signal receivers (33) is disposed in each of the plurality of floors (21); - an engine controller (13) for controlling the operation of the drive engine (11); - the shaft doors (23). The method comprises a door controller (29) that controls the operation of the active door drives (25), and the method comprises: - receiving a request signal at one of the signal receivers (33) located in one of the layers (21); - in response to the reception of the request signal, - if one of the layers (21) is not the lowest layer (21'), instructing the engine controller (13) to control the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to a first position such that the loop (41) of the cabin (3) is adjacent to the shaft door (23) in one of the layers (21); - if one of the layers (21) is the lowest layer (21'), instructing the engine controller (13) to control the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to a second position above the lowest layer (21'); - After that,A method for operating an elevator (1) for inspection, comprising the steps of: instructing the door controller (29) to actively open the door drive (25) of the shaft door (23) at one of the floors (21); and switching the engine controller (13) to an inspection mode. Claim 2 In claim 1, in the inspection mode, the engine controller (13) prevents the drive engine (11) from displacing the cabin (3) after the cabin (3) has reached one of the first and second positions, respectively, a method of operating the elevator (1) for inspection. Claim 3 A method of operating an elevator (1) for inspection, wherein, in the case where one of the floors (21) is not the lowest floor (21'), the engine controller (13) controls the drive engine (11) to displace the cabin (3) to a position such that the loop (41) of the cabin (3) is flush with the floor (37) of one of the floors (21). Claim 4 A method of operating an elevator (1) for inspection, wherein, in order to enable the reception of the request signal, a technician (39) initiating the transmission of a reception signal must be located on one of the floors (21) in close proximity to one of the signal receivers (33) located outside the elevator shaft (5) and on the floor (21). Claim 5 In claim 1, the signal receiver (33) receives the request signal via short-range wireless data communication from a data communication device (45), a method for operating an elevator (1) for inspection. Claim 6 In claim 5, the method of operating the elevator (1) for inspection, wherein the request signal is transmitted by a mobile data communication device (45) carried by a technician. Claim 7 In claim 1, the method of operating the elevator (1) for inspection, wherein the signal receptor (33) receives the request signal by manually operating the signal receptor (33) by a technician (39). Claim 8 A method for operating an elevator (1) for inspection, further comprising: - receiving a finalization signal at one signal receiver (33); - in response to receiving the finalization signal, - instructing the door controller (29) to actively close the door drive (25) of the shaft door (23) at one of the floors (21); and - switching the engine controller (13) back to normal operating mode. Claim 9 In claim 8, a method of operating an elevator (1) for inspection in which the identity of a technician (39) who initiates the transmission of the request signal is detected upon receiving the request signal. Claim 10 A method for operating an elevator (1) for inspection, wherein, upon receiving the finalization signal, the identity of the technician (39) who initiated the transmission of the finalization signal is detected, and the engine controller (13) is switched back to a normal operating mode only when the identity of the technician (39) who initiated the transmission of the request signal is the same as the identity of the technician (39) who initiated the transmission of the finalization signal. Claim 11 As an elevator (1), - a cabin (3) displaceable along an elevator shaft (5), - a drive engine (11) for displacement of the cabin (3), - as a plurality of shaft doors (23), wherein at least one shaft door (23) is disposed in each of a plurality of floors (21) including a bottom floor (21') and at least one upper floor (21'', 21'''), and each of the shaft doors (23) has an associated active door drive (25) for opening and closing the shaft door (23) in opposite ways, said plurality of shaft doors (23), - as a plurality of signal receivers (33), wherein at least one signal receiver (33) is disposed in each of the plurality of floors (21), said plurality of signal receivers (33), - an engine controller (13) for controlling the operation of the drive engine (11), and - a control for controlling the operation of the active door drives (25) of the shaft doors (23). The elevator (1) includes a door controller (29), and is configured to perform and control a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Claim 12 In claim 11, each of the signal receptors (33) is positioned on one of the layers (21) and outside the elevator shaft (5), elevator (1). Claim 13 In claim 11, the communication established to exchange signals between each of the plurality of signal receivers (33), the engine controller (13), the door controller (29), and the plurality of signal receivers (33), the engine controller (13), and the door controller (29) is configured to satisfy SIL3 requirements, elevator (1). Claim 14 A computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer program comprises: - computer-readable instructions instructing the elevator (1) to execute and control the method according to claim 1 when executed by a processor of the elevator (1); and - one of computer-readable instructions instructing the elevator (1) to transmit one of the request signal and the finalization signal for triggering the elevator (1) to execute and control the method according to claim 8 when executed by a processor of a mobile data communication device (45). Claim 15 A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program described in Article 14.

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