Elevator Floor Height Mapping for Maintenance Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face challenges in accurately diagnosing maintenance issues due to the inability to precisely locate noise or vibration sources within the system, hindering efficient maintenance processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that generate a floor height map by analyzing run group data, including information on elevator car traversals, to determine the likelihood of potential floor heights and travel sequences, thereby identifying specific maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If condition-based maintenance processes are implemented to detect noise or vibration, then maintenance detection capability is improved, but the ability to precisely locate the source of noise or vibration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical height dimension to the maintenance detection system. By mapping floor heights and creating a three-dimensional spatial model (combining horizontal position with vertical elevation), the system can precisely locate noise or vibration sources in both plan view and elevation, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and location precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an intermediary floor height map that acts as a bridge between the sensor data and the physical elevator system. This map correlates sensor measurements with specific floor locations and heights, enabling precise source localization without requiring direct physical measurement at each potential source location
2Loss of time
If floor height mapping is implemented to improve maintenance personnel efficiency, then maintenance time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-generating floor height maps and storing them in the database before maintenance events occur. The system proactively collects sensor data during normal operations, processes it to create spatial maps, and stores this information for rapid retrieval during maintenance, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (floor height map) of the physical elevator system's spatial characteristics. This virtual representation allows maintenance personnel to query and visualize the system geometry without physically inspecting each component, reducing maintenance time while the computational processing handles the complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of generating a floor height map for an elevator system having an elevator car traveling in a hoistway includes: accessing (702) run group data, the run group data including information corresponding to a plurality of runs of an elevator car for a plurality of floor traversals by the elevator car; evaluating (704) potential floor heights for at least one floor of the hoistway and potential floor travel sequences in response to the run group data; determining (706) a likelihood of each combination of potential floor heights and potential floor travel sequences for the plurality of floor traversals; selecting (708) potential floor heights and a potential floor travel sequence, as selected floor heights and a selected floor travel sequence, in response to the likelihood; generating (710) the floor height map in response to the selected floor heights and the selected floor travel sequence.