A method for collecting elevator sensor data in an elevator system and a control system for an elevator system

Abstract

A method for collecting elevator sensor data in an elevator system and a control system for an elevator system In order to facilitate remote diagnosis and servicing of an elevator system, a method for collecting elevator sensor data in an elevator system (100) is suggested. The elevator system (100) comprises a control system (150) connected to a number of sensor systems (140, 152, 199), each sensor system comprising a number of sensors. In the method, sensor data is logged in a ring buffer (151), and in response to an incident condition, the logged sensor data is transmitted from the ring buffer (151) to a cloud server (301) via internet (300), and then raw sensor data is streamed from the sensor systems (140, 152, 199) to the cloud server (301) via internet (300).

Description

[0001] A method for collecting elevator sensor data in an elevator system and a control system for an elevator system

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to elevators , and more specifically, to collecting and transmitting elevator sensor data to a remote service center .

[0004] Technical background

[0005] Modern elevators are complex systems , especially in high building complexes . They typically involve at least one but normally in the larger building complexes at least two or more elevator cars moving in respective elevator shafts . Typically, there is also a large number of sensors involved in an elevator .

[0006] Sensor data is normally used to analyze elevator performance , to determine faulty components and diverse erroneous operation conditions , and for these purposes it has to be available at a service center which may be located remotely, such as , at a service hub acting as service center for a larger number of elevators . A control system evaluates sensor data and, upon detecting that the sensor data fulfills a condition for abnormality, determines that an incident condition is fulfilled . It may then alert a remote service center .

[0007] For the purported uses , the sensor data should be as complete as possible , since otherwise it may be that the faults or errors cannot be analyzed in enough detail . It may not always suffice to send a service employee to the elevator to check the elevator condition and collect data manually, especially if the faults or error occur only occasionally or under certain circumstances , such as , high load situations , which makes the incident condition difficult to be reproduced . Remote diagnosis is normally preferred to save travelling time and increase the efficiency of technical maintenance personnel . If a remote diagnosis can be done , possibly identifying the source of the fault or error , a service technician can schedule a visit and bring along all necessary components that may need to be replaced based on the remote diagnosis . An aspect is that an elevator system is typically connected to a service center through a mobile data connection . Because the sensor data is normally rather highly resolved, its transmission to a service center ( such as , to a cloud service operated by the service center ) takes a lot of bandwidth and is also expensive .

[0008] As an alternative , all the sensor data could be stored at the elevator . This is expensive since it requires a lot of storage space . But locally storing the sensor data does not contribute much to the need of remote analysis and diagnosis .

[0009] Objective of the invention

[0010] An obj ective of the invention is to reduce cost of effective remote analysis and facilitate remote diagnosis and servicing of an elevator . This obj ective can be met with the method according to claim 1 and with the elevator control system according to claim 5 .

[0011] Advantages of the invention

[0012] In a method for collecting elevator sensor data in an elevator system comprising a control system connected to a number of sensor systems , each sensor system comprising a number of sensors , sensor data is logged in a ring buffer . In response to an incident condition, the logged sensor data is transmitted from the ring buffer to a cloud server via the internet . After this , raw sensor data might be streamed from the sensor systems to the cloud server via the internet in case needed and / or requested .

[0013] In this manner, logged sensor data will be available when an incident condition occurs - which usually happens at a random time - so it may be ensured that the logged sensor data can be sent to the cloud server which may facilitate remote diagnostic and remote servicing of the elevator system. Since after the incident condition has been detected, raw sensor data might be streamed, the quality of the remote diagnostics and remote servicing may be further improved . An additional advantage is that bandwidth-costly transmission of raw sensor data by continuous streaming can be avoided in situations where no incident condition has been detected . In a preferred embodiment that sensor data logged in the ring butter is raw sensor data . Preferable the raw sensor data is highly resolved data .

[0014] The sensor data logged in the ring buffer comprises the sensor data recorded j ust before the incident condition . This sensor data is valuable for diagnostics and / or for analyzing the condition of the elevator system j ust before and / or at the incident condition .

[0015] The incident condition may be a request from the remote service center or when an elevator control system determines an event based on sensor data .

[0016] The transmitted data may be used for automatic root cause search . Especially, if an artificial intelligence (Al ) analysis tool is utilized on the logged sensor data , the chances for finding the cause of the incident condition may be improved . In order to be very effective , the Al system needs to be taught which normally would require a sufficient number of incident conditions and related sensor information . Now if such data may be collected at the cloud server (which may be or include a database or a number of computeroperated storage systems ) , it can be ensured that there will be enough incident conditions and related sensor information if there is a plurality of sensor systems that are configured to carry out the method and send it to the same cloud server .

[0017] A control system for an elevator system is connected to a number of sensor systems , each sensor system comprising a number of sensors . The control system further comprises a ring buffer . The control system is configured to log sensor data in the ring buffer, and, in response to an incident condition, to transmit the logged sensor data from the ring buffer to a cloud server via internet , and then to stream raw sensor data from the sensor systems to the cloud server .

[0018] The control system may be configured to discard older data by overwriting the oldest data in the ring buffer . This may increase the efficiency of the control system since it does not need to specifically delete older data . List of drawings

[0019] In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended drawing FIG 1 which shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary elevator system comprising a control system .

[0020] Detailed description

[0021] FIG 1 shows an exemplary elevator system 100 , which can usually be found in this form in buildings , but also in ships or other vertically extending structures . The elevator system includes an elevator car 110 , often also referred to as a car, and a counterweight 102 in a shaft 101 .

[0022] The shaft usually extends predominantly vertically, preferably with an inclination of less than 15 ° . There is usually a number of landing platforms 203 with a number of landing doors 202 .

[0023] Car 110 and counterweight 102 are suspended from a suspension element 103 , which is guided over one or more deflection rollers 104 .

[0024] The design chosen for illustration corresponds to a 1 : 1 suspension with 50% weight compensation; It is known to those s killed in the art that there are numerous types of suspension with a different number or configuration of deflection rollers , counterweights and suspension elements are possible .

[0025] The suspension element 103 is guided over a traction sheave 105 and driven by it . For this purpose , the traction sheave 105 is mechanically connected to the drive machine 120 , so that the drive machine 120 can transmit mechanical energy to it .

[0026] The drive machine 120 may include a transmission .

[0027] Instead of a traction sheave 105 , a drive drum or a direct drive may also be possible .

[0028] In the example shown, the drive machine 120 and traction sheave 105 are installed at the top of the elevator system 100 . Typically, these and other parts of the drive are provided in a separate engine room ( not shown) , but the elevator system 100 can also be designed without an engine room .

[0029] Alternatively, the engine room or the location where the drive components are accommodated can also be located in other positions that do not necessarily have to be in close proximity to the elevator shaft 101 .

[0030] The drive components can form a unit with the elevator car .

[0031] The drive machine 120 typically also functions as a brake in order to enable controlled travel of the elevator car 110 even in the event of mechanical energy being released .

[0032] The braking function can be guaranteed by the drive machine 120 in various ways , for example by a mechanical brake , which can also act as a parking brake , or by an electromotive brake , also known as a dynamo brake , as well as a direct current or countercurrent brake .

[0033] The drive machine 120 is connected to the energy supply system 121 ( such as , mains network or building power network ) via electrical conductors 122 . The number of conductors depends on the type of drive machine 120 . For example , in the case of a separately excited synchronous motor , it may be necessary to provide an excitation current in addition to the rotating field, while this is not the case for asynchronous motors , direct current motors with commutators or permanent magnet synchronous motors .

[0034] The wiring of the motor also influences the number of conductors required, e . g . in contrast to a star connection, a delta connection, also known as a delta connection, eliminates the need for a neutral conductor .

[0035] Numerous other drive forms and wiring options are known to those s killed in the art , so they will not be discussed in more detail here . Depending on how the energy supply system 121 is designed, different designs are also possible for the electrical conductors 123 , for example with one or more , for example three , external conductors .

[0036] In an advantageous embodiment , the connection to energy supply system 121 is a three-phase electrical connection .

[0037] In a further embodiment , the connection to energy supply system 121 additionally comprises a neutral conductor .

[0038] The energy supply system 121 supplies the drive machine 120 with the energy necessary for operation . The energy supply system 121 may be monitored with energy supply system sensors 152 .

[0039] The elevator system 100 comprises elevator car sensors 140 for monitoring different aspects of the elevator car 110 , such as , the landing door or car door . The car sensors 140 may further include at least one sensor for measuring a movement direction parameter of the elevator car 110 .

[0040] The control system 150 is preferably connected to a large number of possible sensors , such as , power supply measurements (voltage , used electrical power or electrical current from energy supply system 121 , electrical drive monitor 199 , and / or elevator car sensors 140 .

[0041] Typically, the control system 150 may be housed in the engine room and its dimensions can correspond, for example , to an expansion module in the nano-ITX form factor .

[0042] In order to facilitate remote diagnostics , it is advantageous , if data can be collected before and directly after a certain incident ( e . g blockage of car door 201 ) for diagnostics purposes .

[0043] Therefore , the present invention is to improve the control system 150 to comprise a ring buffer 151 . The control system 150 constantly logs the last few minutes or hours of sensor data in the ring buffer 151 , and upon an incident condition, ( e . g temperature threshold is reached, or car door 201 is blocked) transmits the logged history of data via internet 300 to a cloud server 301 , and it might also streams for a certain time after the incident condition has been detected the full sensor raw data into the cloud .

[0044] The method for collecting elevator sensor data in an elevator system 100 comprising a control system 150 connected to a number of sensor systems 140 , 152 , 199 , each sensor system comprising a number of sensors , comprises the steps of :

[0045] - logging sensor data in a ring buffer 151 ;

[0046] - in response to an incident condition, transmitting the logged sensor data from the ring buffer 151 to a cloud server 301 via internet 300 , and then to stream raw sensor data from the sensor systems 140 , 152 , 199 to the cloud server 301 via the internet 300 .

[0047] The incident condition may be a request from a remote service center or when an elevator control system 150 determines an event based on sensor data .

[0048] The transmitted data may be used for automatic root cause search .

[0049] The control system 150 for an elevator system 100 is connected to a number of sensor systems 140 , 152 , 199 , each sensor system comprising a number of sensors . The control system 150 further comprises a ring buffer 151 . The control system 150 is configured : to log sensor data in the ring buffer 151 , and, in response to an incident condition, to transmit the logged sensor data from the ring buffer 151 to a cloud server 301 via internet 300 , and then, in case needed and / or requested, to stream raw sensor data from the sensor systems 140 , 199 to the cloud server 301 .

[0050] The control system may be configured to discard older data by overwriting .

[0051] In other words , the system consists of :

[0052] - circular buffer on the elevator that constantly logs the last few minutes or hours of sensor data . All the data that is older is discarded due to limited storage ; - a controller or edge devices that detects certain conditions and triggers the transmission of the data from the buffer and, in case needed and / or requested, follow up streaming of raw sensor data ; and

[0053] - cloud storage where the transmitted data is stored and can be used for automatic or manual root cause search for better maintenance recommendations .

[0054] The invention should not be understood to be limited only by the below claims , but the invention is to be understood to include all their legal equivalents and the combinations of the embodiments presented .

[0055] List of reference numerals used :

[0056] 100 elevator system

[0057] 101 shaft

[0058] 102 counterweight

[0059] 103 suspension element

[0060] 104 deflection roller

[0061] 105 traction sheave

[0062] 110 elevator car

[0063] 120 drive machine

[0064] 121 energy supply system, e . g . mains network

[0065] 122 electrical conductors

[0066] 140 elevator car sensors

[0067] 150 control system

[0068] 151 ring buffer

[0069] 152 energy supply system sensors

[0070] 199 electrical drive monitor

[0071] 201 car door

[0072] 202 landing door

[0073] 203 landing platform

[0074] 300 internet

[0075] 301 cloud server

Claims

Claims :

1. A method for collecting sensor data in an elevator system (100) comprising a control system (150) connected to a number of sensor systems (140, 152, 199) , each sensor system comprising a number of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:- logging sensor data in a ring buffer (151) ;- in response to an incident condition, transmitting the logged sensor data from the ring buffer (151) to a cloud server (301) via internet (300) .

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the incident condition is a request from the remote service center or when an elevator control system (150) determines an event based on sensor data.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the transmitted data is used for automatic root cause search.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: an artificial intelligence analysis tool is utilized on the logged sensor data and streamed raw sensor data to find a cause of the incident condition.

5. A control system (150) for an elevator system (100) , characterized in that:- the control system (150) is connected to a number of sensor systems (140, 152, 199) , each sensor system comprising a number of sensors;- the control system (150) further comprises a ring buffer (151) ; and wherein: the control system (150) is configured: to log sensor data in the ring buffer (151) , and, in response to an incident condition, to transmit the logged sensor data from the ring buffer (151) to a cloud server (301) via internet (300) .

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein: the control system is configured to discard older data by overwriting the oldest data in the ring buffer.

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