Elevator Group Evacuation Coordination via Transfer Floor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In very tall buildings, if the travel between the evacuation floor and the discharge floor is impeded due to a degraded hoistway condition, occupants may have to use stairs for evacuation, as existing elevator systems may not effectively coordinate the operation of multiple elevator cars to ensure safe and efficient evacuation.
Innovation Solution
A method and control system for building elevator systems that allows the second elevator group to enter an evacuation mode when the first elevator group is inhibited from reaching the discharge floor, prioritizing travel between the transfer floor and the discharge floor, and optionally changing the evacuation discharge floor to a secondary transfer floor, ensuring continued evacuation operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the first elevator group is used to evacuate occupants from the evacuation floor to the discharge floor, then evacuation efficiency is improved, but if the hoistway condition is degraded, the elevator group is inhibited from traveling to the discharge floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transfer floor as an intermediary location in the evacuation process. Instead of directly transporting occupants from the evacuation floor to the discharge floor, the system uses the transfer floor as an intermediate stopping point where occupants can transfer between elevator groups. This mediator approach allows the system to work around hoistway restrictions and degraded conditions by breaking the direct path into segments that can be managed by different elevator groups with different floor access permissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The evacuation process is segmented into multiple independent stages: first, occupants are transported from the evacuation floor to the transfer floor by the first elevator group; second, occupants are transferred from the first elevator group to the second elevator group at the transfer floor; third, the second elevator group transports occupants from the transfer floor to the discharge floor. This segmentation allows each elevator group to operate independently within its authorized floor range, improving both reliability and efficiency.
2Productivity
If multiple elevator groups are coordinated for evacuation, then evacuation capacity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of multiple elevator groups under a unified evacuation mode that coordinates their operations. The system combines the capabilities of the first elevator group (authorized for evacuation floor access) and the second elevator group (authorized for discharge floor access) into a coordinated evacuation process. This merging allows the system to leverage the combined capacity of multiple elevators while managing complexity through integrated control logic that activates the evacuation mode across all groups simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer floor serves as a mediator that simplifies the coordination between multiple elevator groups. By establishing a common intermediate location, the system reduces the complexity of direct multi-elevator coordination to a simpler two-stage process: first elevator group delivers occupants to the transfer floor, then the second elevator group picks up and delivers them to the discharge floor. This intermediary approach makes the coordination logic more manageable while maintaining high evacuation capacity.
3Reliability
If the second elevator group enters evacuation mode to service the transfer floor and discharge floor, then evacuation reliability is improved, but regular elevator service between these floors is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational mode of the second elevator group based on evacuation needs. During normal operations, the second elevator group provides regular service between the transfer floor and discharge floor. When an evacuation is initiated and the first elevator group is inhibited from reaching the discharge floor, the system dynamically transitions the second elevator group into evacuation mode, prioritizing evacuation tasks over regular service. This dynamic switching allows the system to maintain ease of operation during normal conditions while ensuring reliability during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the second elevator group when transitioning to evacuation mode. Specifically, it alters the priority parameters and floor access permissions to enable the elevator to service the transfer floor and discharge floor during evacuation. This parameter change allows the same physical system to adapt between normal service mode and evacuation mode, resolving the contradiction between maintaining regular service availability and ensuring evacuation reliability when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating a building elevator system includes determining that an evacuation call is active for an evacuation floor serviced by a first elevator group. A transfer floor serviced by the first elevator group is set as an evacuation discharge floor of the first elevator group. A second elevator group is requested to enter an evacuation mode of operation. The second elevator group is operable to service the transfer floor and a discharge floor. The transfer floor is set as the evacuation floor of the second elevator group. Control of the first elevator group and the second elevator group is coordinated to evacuate one or more occupants from the evacuation floor serviced by the first elevator group to the discharge floor serviced by the second elevator group.