3426 results about "Elevator system" patented technology

The invention relates to the field of elevators. In order to early discover and diagnose A elevator fault, the invention adopts the technical scheme that an elevator fault diagnosis and early-warning method based on data drive is achieved by means of a remote service center, a fault diagnosis and prediction terminal and an elevator controller, and the method comprises the steps as follows: firstly, elevator fault data are mined to obtain characteristic information in an elevator fault data stream, and the mined result is stored in an elevator fault case base of the fault diagnosis and prediction terminal; secondly, an elevator fault knowledge base on the fault diagnosis and prediction terminal is updated by the elevator fault case base; thirdly, the case retrieval is carried out on the characteristic of a new elevator fault problem, and the fault diagnosis is carried out on the elevator system by adopting the fault diagnosis method based on the case-base reasoning; and finally information with the characteristic that is most similar with that of the new elevator fault problem is acquired through retrieval of the knowledge or the case in the elevator fault knowledge base to solve the diagnosis problem. The method is mainly suitable for manufacturing and designing image sensors.

Wireless portable vehicle lift system incorporating one or more enhanced communication and / or control features. The lift system can incorporate enhanced touch screen-enabled functionalities, enhanced multi-processor architectures, and / or enhanced emergency stop features.

The present invention deals with a method and an apparatus for the input call needed in an elevator system by means of a wireless call input device. The call input device may be a device provided with a display and a keypad, designed especially for this use. In a preferred embodiment, the call input device is the user's mobile telephone and the system utilizes technology consistent with the Bluetooth standard. RFID technology or the use of bar codes is also possible. For the user a profile is created which contains the user's name, statistical information regarding the destination floors most frequently selected by the user, and possible additional services. The user can input a call from an elevator lobby before arriving to the elevator. After the system has allocated the most suitable elevator to the user, corresponding information is presented on the display of the call input device. This information can be accompanied by guidance information and information about an estimated waiting time. The destination floor alternatives can also be programmed to the call input device by the user him / herself. Additional services can be provided to the user of the call system and to other parties working in the building by connecting the control system to the Internet e.g. via an embedded mobile telephone.

An elevator system (20) utilizes destination entry dispatching techniques. A controller (28) receives an automated destination request that includes a prestored, primary destination. This allows for seamlessly integrating building access and destination entry for the elevator system. A passenger interface (40) allows a passenger to override a prestored destination. The elevator controller (28) allows for override or secondary destination requests to be made at various intervals between receipt of the initial request and arrival of an initially assigned car at an appropriate level to let the passenger board the elevator car.

An elevator system having multiple elevator cars efficiently assigns cars and communicates the car assignments to the potential passengers. A hallway intuitive user interface is readily adapted to installations having varying numbers of elevator cars with varying floor access by incorporating a graphical display that is rendered accordingly. Moreover, a combination of visual, textual and aural indications are given to the passenger that the destination entered is valid and assigned to a car. For those instances where a potential passenger fails to enter a destination correctly, the elevator system retains a traditional elevator control interface in the elevator car.

A display case that includes a body having a first end and a second end and a cavity extending through the body from the first end to the second end, the cavity configured to receive at least one display item therein, such as a model train, and a pair of end caps attached to respective ends of the body and each include an attachment device to removably couple the display case to adjoining display cases. The display cases have different lengths and are attachable to any one of the other display cases. An elevator system is provided having at least one elevator device configured to move display cases. The display system is operable between an expanded state and a collapsed state. The display system has a track attached to distal ends of at least three members. The track and members are collectively collapsible between the expanded and collapsed states.

An elevator system which an autonomous mobile robot and human user can utilize safely and efficiently. The system has an available area detection unit to detect an available area in a cage, and a riding possibility / impossibility determination unit to determine whether or not the autonomous mobile robot can get on the cage based on information on size and position of the available area detected by the available area detection unit. The autonomous mobile robot gets on the cage only when the riding possibility / impossibility determination unit determines that riding is possible.

A safety system for supervising safety of an elevator may include a safety space in an elevator shaft, elevator buffers in the elevator shaft, or both; measuring means for continuous measurement of absolute position of an elevator car; and a safety device. If the safety system includes the safety space, its size may be reduced. If the safety system includes the elevator buffers, their size may be reduced. The safety device may be adapted to receive data about the absolute position of the elevator car; calculate a velocity of the elevator car at each instant of time using the absolute position; monitor the calculated velocity in order to ensure that the calculated velocity remains within an allowed motion limit curve; and control at least one stopping device for stopping uncontrolled motion of the elevator car if the calculated velocity exceeds the allowed motion limit curve.

The invention relates to an elevator system in tall buildings, the system having at least one first elevator shaft, which houses an elevator arranged to stop at floors called transfer levels, and at least one second elevator shaft, which houses elevators whose elevator cars are disposed one above the other in the elevator shaft, which elevator cars are designed to stop during their travel at any floor to which or from which a call has been issued. The second elevator shaft is divided vertically into local shafts situated one above the other, the number of which is at least one for each zone between transfer levels.

An elevator system utilizes a destination entry control technique and delays indicating which car is assigned to a request to allow an individual to arrive near an elevator lobby. An elevator group assignment is made responsive to a destination request. An indication regarding the group assignment is provided to a passenger within a first time from the receipt of the request. A second indication regarding a car assigned to carry that passenger to the desired destination is provided at a second, later time from the request. Separating out the group assignment indication and the car assignment indication is accomplished in one example by providing separate interfaces at different locations within a building.

The invention relates to an elevator system with at least one shaft, in which at least two cars can be made to travel along a common traveling path, and also with a shaft information system for determining the positions and speeds of the cars, which is connected to an electrical safety device. In order to develop the elevator system in such a way that a high handling capacity can be achieved with constructionally simple means, while reliably preventing car collisions, it is proposed according to the invention that an emergency stop of at least one car is triggerable independently of the control units by means of the safety device if the distance between a first car and a second car or an end of the traveling path goes below a preselectable critical distance, and that the safety gear of at least one car is triggerable if the distance which this car assumes from the neighboring car or an end of the traveling path goes below a preselected minimum distance, the control units of at least all the cars of one traveling path being connected to one another and altogether forming a group control device.

The present invention deals with a method and an apparatus for the input call needed in an elevator system by means of a wireless call input device. The call input device may be a device provided with a display and a keypad, designed especially for this use. In a preferred embodiment, the call input device is the user's mobile telephone and the system utilizes technology consistent with the Bluetooth standard. RFID technology or the use of bar codes is also possible. For the user a profile is created which contains the user's name, statistical information regarding the destination floors most frequently selected by the user, and possible additional services. The user can input a call from an elevator lobby before arriving to the elevator. After the system has allocated the most suitable elevator to the user, corresponding information is presented on the display of the call input device. This information can be accompanied by guidance information and information about an estimated waiting time. The destination floor alternatives can also be programmed to the call input device by the user him / herself. Additional services can be provided to the user of the call system and to other parties working in the building by connecting the control system to the Internet e.g. via an embedded mobile telephone.

A monitoring device for a suspension-and-traction apparatus of an elevator system that includes at least one electrically conductive cord contains a measurement apparatus for determining a resulting resistance. The measurement apparatus is connected to the cord with contacting elements contacting opposite ends of cord. Damage to the suspension-and-traction apparatus is detected by a contact point that can register protruding conductive parts of the cord and, in another embodiment, the contacting elements each contain a plurality of mutually differing resistance elements such that each of at least two electrically conductive cords of the suspension-and-traction apparatus is connected to the monitoring device through two of the resistance elements.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus capable of routine placement and replacement of fabricator tools in a designated tool location. The tool location can be selected from multiple tool locations arranged in a matrix with horizontal and vertical designations. In another aspect, the fabricator tool placement and replacement can be accomplished while maintaining a clean space environment about the fabricator tool.

An elevator system includes a safety device strategically positioned within a hoistway to provide overhead or under car clearance during an inspection procedure, for example. An example safety device includes a triggering member that is selectively moved into a stopping position to engage a safety brake for preventing movement of an elevator car beyond a selected vertical position. The triggering member is selectively moveable in an automated manner between a retracted position and a stopping position. When the triggering member is in a retracted position, it has no effect on normal elevator system operation. When the triggering member is in the stopping position, it provides for maintaining adequate clearance between an elevator car assembly and another surface or structure within an elevator hoistway.

An elevator system comprises at least two independently operable elevator cars in each of a plurality of elevator shafts within a building. The elevator system comprises at least one first elevator shaft having a lower first and a lower second region, where a first elevator car moves within the lower first region of the first elevator shaft and a second elevator car moves within the lower second region. The first and second elevators are moveably controlled independently of each other within the first shaft. The system also includes at least one second elevator shaft having an upper first and an upper second region, where a third elevator car moves within the upper first region of the second elevator shaft and a fourth elevator car moving within the upper second region. The third and fourth elevator cars also are moveably controlled independently of each other.

An elevator system uses a supercapacitor to store electric energy. Furthermore, the supercapacitor can be used as a source of reserve power in emergency situations, such as power failures. The supercapacitor is connected together with three switching branches to a rectified signal of the power supply of the motor. By closing and opening the switches, the supercapacitor can be charged when the motor load is small. When the motor load is large or when the power supply fails, the electric energy contained in the supercapacitor can be discharged for use by the motor. In an emergency, the motor drives the elevator at a speed lower than normal, and therefore a supply voltage lower than normal is sufficient. Also, energy obtained from braking of the elevator can be stored in the supercapacitor, which has a storage capacity of considerable magnitude as compared to an ordinary capacitor. By applying the invention, the energy consumption of the elevator can be reduced because the waste energy obtained from the power supply can be stored and utilized when more energy is needed.

A system continuously drives an elevator hoist motor during normal and power failure conditions. A regenerative drive delivers power from a main power supply to the hoist motor during normal operation. A rescue operation circuit includes a backup power supply and is operable in the event of a failure of the main power supply to disconnect the regenerative drive from the main power supply and connect the back up power supply to the regenerative drive to provide substantially uninterrupted power to the hoist motor.

An elevator safety arrangement and a method for implementing safety spaces in an elevator has a mechanical safety device which can be set to a working position to ensure a sufficient safety space in the elevator shaft and an electric safety system for identifying the operating state of the mechanical safety device. According to the method of the invention, detectors in the electric safety system are read by an electric safety controller and, when a functional deviation is detected, one or more stopping devices are actuated to bring the elevator system into a safe operating state.

A brake (42) is tested in an elevator system (10) including a car (12) and a counterweight (14) connected to the car (12) by a rope (16). The car (12) is positioned at a reference position in the hoistway (HW) adjacent to a hoistway limit switch (23), and the brake (42) is engaged to hold the car (12) at the reference position. The rotating member (46) is then driven to provide a testing force on the brake (42) that simulates a load in the elevator car (12) of at least a maximum rated load for the car (12). The brake test is terminated if the hoistway limit switch (23) is actuated.

An elevator system (20) includes a plurality of cars (22) and destination entry devices (40) located some distance from the elevator cars (22). A controller (38) dispatches an elevator car to a requested destination entered by a passenger before the passenger enters an elevator car. In one example, the controller (38) uses an expected arrival time corresponding to the time it is expected to take for a passenger to travel from the location where the destination request is entered to the location of the elevator car to decide how to dispatch a car to service that request. In one example, the controller dispatches an elevator car to the requested destination on a next trip of that car if the expected arrival time of the passenger near that car occurs at or before the departure time for that next trip. Otherwise, the controller (38) dispatches the car to the requested destination on a subsequent trip after the next trip.

A monitoring device for a suspension-and-traction apparatus of an elevator system that includes at least one electrically conductive cord contains a measurement apparatus for determining a resulting resistance. The measurement apparatus is connected to the cord with contacting elements contacting opposite ends of cord. Damage to the suspension-and-traction apparatus is detected by a contact point that can register protruding conductive parts of the cord and, in another embodiment, the contacting elements each contain a plurality of mutually differing resistance elements such that each of at least two electrically conductive cords of the suspension-and-traction apparatus is connected to the monitoring device through two of the resistance elements.

A back-up power system for a traction elevator includes a power sensing device to sense a power loss or irregularity of the normal control power. An inverter timing system is connected to the power loss sensing device. The inverter timing system receives a power sensing signal from the power sensing device. A back-up power generating system communicates with the inverter timing system and generates an output to provide back-up power to the elevator system.

An improved system of variable speed drives that enhances the energy efficiency of an elevator system by enabling power transfer between the variable speed drives of two or more elevators via a common DC bus. Any combination of regenerative and non-regenerative variable speed drives may be used with the present invention. Energy storage devices may be connected to the common DC bus further improve efficiency.

An elevator system (20) includes a sensor (30, 36) for detecting the presence of an individual within a hoistway (24). A controller (32) prevents movement of an elevator car (22) whenever an individual is in the hoistway (24). A pit override device (34) provides an override signal to the controller (32) permitting movement of the elevator car (22) if someone is in a pit (26). A car top override device (38) selectively provides an override signal to the controller (32) permitting movement of the car. A disclosed example includes controlling at least one light (40) within the hoistway (24) in conjunction with movement or attempted movement of the elevator car (22).

An elevator system (20) includes multiple cars (22, 24) within a hoistway (40). Parking positions (72, 74) are provided outside the range of passenger service levels (70). A destination entry strategy is used by a controller (60) for directing movement of the elevator cars (22, 24). The inventive combination of multiple cars in a hoistway, parking positions outside of the normal passenger service level range and destination entry car movement control allows for reducing car travel speed, reducing car size or both while still meeting desired handling capacity needs or even exceeding the desired handling capacity associated with another elevator system that requires larger cars, higher speeds and more building space.

The present invention discloses a method for controlling an elevator system. In the method, hints relating to potential elevator passengers are received from at least one observation point connected to the elevator system. Based on the hints, forecasts relating to potential elevator passengers are prepared, on the basis of which forecasts one or more anticipatory control actions are executed.

An elevator system has on each floor hall call buttons that are inter-connected with piconet modules (15), such as modules conforming to BLUETOOTH™ specifications; similar piconet modules (16) may be associated with hall fixtures such as lanterns and gongs; similar piconet modules (50) may be associated with hoistway doors, on each floor, so as to form a wireless communication system with a similar piconet module (19) at the controller (18); and a piconet module (40) may be associated with the car operating panel. A module (43) may be interconnected with the car door lock switch; a module (44) may be interconnected with a safety switch; modules (48) and (49) may be interconnected with lower and upper limit switches; and a module (49) may be interconnected with an overspeed detector, so as to form a safety chain. A prospective passenger (53) may carry a portable device with a piconet module (54) to request elevator service and receive acknowledgment, and maintenance personnel (58) may use a personal ditigal assistant having a piconet module (58) therein to acquire current and historical information about the elevator and to issue executable commands to the elevator system.