Elevator Rescue Run Control via Sensor Feedback and Reserve Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator cars often become jammed outside the exit floor due to functional nonconformances such as electricity outages or control errors, requiring manual intervention by servicemen to perform rescue runs, which can be unsafe and imprecise.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize sensors to receive operational data, select and execute rescue run functions, including electromagnetic brakes and a reserve power drive, allowing for controlled and precise movement of the elevator car to the exit floor, even during power outages, with an electronic safety controller managing the process to ensure safety and bypass safety contacts as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual rescue run by serviceman is used, then the elevator car can be freed from jammed position, but the safety of the rescue operation is compromised and the stopping precision at exit floor is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator system performs the rescue operation autonomously without requiring manual intervention by a serviceman. The control unit automatically controls the hoisting machine to move the elevator car to the exit floor and opens the brakes to stop the car, enabling the system to rescue itself from the jammed position.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of opening brakes and controlling the hoisting machine is replaced by an electronic control system. The control unit electronically controls the hoisting machine and brake mechanisms to perform the rescue run, substituting human mechanical actions with automated electronic control.
2Measurement precision
If manual rescue run is performed, then the elevator car can be moved to exit floor, but the stopping precision at exit landing is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically monitors the position of the elevator car and controls the braking system to stop the car with high precision at the exit floor. The system self-regulates the braking force based on real-time position feedback, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and achieving precise stopping.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives information from sensors measuring the operation of the elevator and uses this feedback to adjust the braking force and stopping position. The system continuously monitors the car's position and braking status, automatically adjusting control parameters to achieve precise stopping at the exit floor.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electromagnetic brakes are used with reserve power drive, then the elevator can be rescued during electricity outage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake controller is pre-configured with multiple operating modes including a rescue run mode. The control unit is programmed with rescue algorithms that automatically activate when power failure is detected. The system prepares the brake controller and hoisting machine in advance for emergency operation, enabling immediate rescue response during power outages without requiring additional complex hardware.
4Reliability
If sensors and electronic safety controller are used to automate rescue run, then safety and precision are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit and brake controller are designed to perform multiple functions: normal elevator operation control, emergency brake activation, rescue run execution, and position monitoring. By making these control systems multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby improving safety and precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and precise rescue runs without manual supervision, allowing for remote initiation and monitoring, ensuring passenger safety by accurately positioning the elevator car at the exit floor and recording malfunctions for post-rescue maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
one or more electromagnetic machinery brakes, and a brake controller, which is configured to open the machinery brake(s) by supplying current to the electromagnets of the machinery brake(s), and also to apply the machinery brake(s) to brake the hoisting machine by disconnecting the current supply of the electromagnets
Implementation Method 2
a reserve power drive for supplying electric power to the aforementioned one or more machinery brakes during an electricity outage of the elevator
Implementation Method 3
After the brakes have been opened the traction sheave of the hoisting machine is able to rotate, in which case the elevator car starts to move from the effect of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for performing a rescue run with an elevator. In the method information is received from the sensors measuring the operation of the elevator about the points being measured with the sensors in question, one or more rescue run functions are selected on the basis of information received from the sensors, and also a rescue run, including the selected one or more rescue run functions, is performed.