EP3744672B1 - Speed limit curves control for elevators - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the speed of the car of an elevator with limit curves.

According to the state of the art, EP 3 279 124 A1, KONE, 2018 and EP 2 022 742 A1, ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG, 2009 , methods known in which limit curves are used to monitor the speed of the cabin of an elevator.

The EP 2 583 928 A1, HITACHI LTD , relates to a method for protection against unintentional cabin movement, in which cabin movement with the door open is detected as a movement anomaly.

The WO 03/004397 A1 discloses a method for preventing an impermissibly high travel speed of a load-carrying device of an elevator, in which braking measures are activated when the travel speed of the load-carrying device exceeds a speed limit. WO 03/004397 A1 discloses the preamble of claims 1 and 5.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method of the type mentioned.

This object is achieved, starting from a method of the type mentioned at the outset, by a method according to claim 1, by an elevator control according to claim 5, and by an elevator according to claim 6. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the further dependent claims.

The method according to the invention is a method for monitoring the speed of an elevator car with unlocked car doors within the unlocking zone of the elevator shaft, using a first speed limit curve, a first switching event, a second speed limit curve, and a second switching event. The first speed limit curve has a value profile between a first maximum value at the entry to the unlocking zone and a first minimum value at the designated stop. The first switching event corresponds to passing over the stop or stopping within the Unlocking zone. The second speed limit curve has a value progression between a second maximum value at the designated stop and one or two second minimum values at the entry and exit of the unlocking zone. The second switching event corresponds to a departure signal, in particular the locking or closing of the car door.

This method can offer the advantage that, despite high travel speeds, the car has a shorter braking distance and/or comes to a stop more quickly when deviating from the respective permissible speed. This can increase the safety of the elevator.

The term “cabin” refers to the elevator car. The term “cabin door” also refers to the plural. Unlocked means that at least one car door is unlocked. Locked means that all car doors are locked. For elevators without a locking option, locked means closed and unlocked means open. Unlocked means that at least one car door is unlocked, regardless of whether the car door is open or closed. The landing is the floor level of the stop to which the elevator is approaching. The unlocking zone is the area below and above a landing in which the floor of the car must be located so that the shaft door can be unlocked at this landing. The first speed limit curve corresponds to the limit value for the speed of the car when entering and braking in the unlocking zone. Its maximum speed is limited by the permissible entry speed. The second speed limit curve corresponds to the limit value for the speed of the car when adjusting in order to align the level of the floor of the car with the level of the floor of the building. The alarm response can include opening the safety circuit, reducing the drive speed, shutting down the motor drive, activating the motor brake, the traction sheave brake, the rope brake, or activating the car emergency brakes. All car positions always refer to the car floor level. The minimum and maximum values stated here and below may be based on country-specific legal requirements and, in particular, relevant standards.

Preferably, the first speed limit curve has a first maximum value which is less than or equal to the highest permissible The speed of a car within an unlocking zone intended for arrival is, in particular, less than or equal to 0.8 m/s. Preferably, the first speed limit curve has a first minimum value which is less than or equal to the highest permissible speed of a car with an unlocked door within an unlocking zone, in particular, less than or equal to 0.3 m/s. Preferably, the first speed limit curve decreases continuously between the first maximum value and the first minimum value, in particular decreases continuously and increasingly.

This can have the advantage that the car's speed always remains below the permissible value within the unlocking zone approached for a stop. This can have the advantage that when the car decelerates within the unlocking zone, the speed is automatically reduced within the limits of the first speed limit curve so that the car's speed in the area of the stop is below the maximum permissible value for adjusting the floor level, so that the car can be adjusted immediately after the braking process, even before the car comes to a standstill.

The second speed limit curve preferably has a second maximum value which is less than or equal to the highest permissible speed of a car with an unlocked car door within an unlocking zone, in particular less than or equal to 0.3 m/s. The second speed limit curve preferably has one or two second minimum values which are less than or equal to the highest permissible speed of a car with an unlocked car door within an unlocking zone, in particular less than or equal to 0.3 m/s, in particular 0 m/s. The second speed limit curve preferably decreases continuously between the second maximum value and the one or two second minimum values, in particular decreases continuously and increasingly.

This can have the advantage that the speed of the cabin always remains below the permissible value when adjusting the floor level at the stop reached.

Preferably, the unlocking zone has an extension according to specifications. Preferably, the unlocking zone has an extension of less than or equal to 35 cm or less than or equal to 20 cm above and below the stop.

Preferably, the method has a tolerance range for the stop of the cabin of less than or equal to 2 cm above and below the stop.

The method monitors the speed of the car with unlocked car doors after the car enters the unlocking zone until the first switching event occurs to determine whether the first speed limit curve is reached or exceeded, and after the first switching event occurs until the second switching event occurs to determine whether the second speed limit curve is reached or exceeded, and initiates an alarm reaction when one of the limit curves is reached or exceeded.

The elevator control according to the invention is an elevator control for an elevator with a car in an elevator shaft, wherein the elevator control is designed to carry out the aforementioned method.

This can create the aforementioned advantages.

The elevator according to the invention is an elevator with a cabin in an elevator shaft with an aforementioned elevator control.

This can create the aforementioned advantages.

Further features of the invention are indicated in the drawings.

Fig. 1

Diagramm der Grenzkurven

Overview of the drawing:
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. Like reference numerals in the individual figures denote corresponding elements. They show:

Fig. 1

Diagram of the limit curves

Detailed description of the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the limit curves.

Axis 11 shows the possible height position of an elevator car around a stop 23. The stop is surrounded by an unlocking zone with an upper limit of the unlocking zone 21 and a lower limit of the unlocking zone. Within the unlocking zone, the car may travel with the car door unlocked under certain conditions, according to certain specifications.

Axis 12 shows the speed of an elevator car in the area of an unlocking zone and has various speed barriers 31, 32, 33, and 34. The maximum permissible entry speed 34 for the car entering the unlocking zone corresponds to the first maximum value 34 of the first speed limit curve 41. The minimum permissible adjustment speed 33 corresponds to the first minimum value 33 of the first speed limit curve 41 and the second maximum value 33 of the second speed limit curve 42. The minimum adjustment speed 32 corresponds to the minimum value(s) 32 of the second speed limit curve 42. The zero point of speed 31 corresponds to a standstill of the car.

The first speed limit curve 41 begins at the upper limit of the unlocking zone 21 with the maximum permissible adjustment speed 34 and reduces the speed continuously and progressively down to the maximum permissible adjustment speed 34 at the stop position. The first speed limit curve 41 is a limit curve of the speed as a function of the position.

The second speed limit curve 42 begins at the upper limit of the unlocking zone 21 with the minimum adjustment speed 32 and continuously increases, increasing less and less, to the maximum adjustment speed 33 at the position of the stop 23, from where it continuously decreases more and more to the minimum adjustment speed 32 at the lower limit of the unlocking zone 22. The speed limit curve 42 always remains above speed 0. The first speed limit curve 42 is a limit curve of the speed as a function of the position.

The speed curve 41 touches the speed curve 42 at the position of the stop at the maximum permissible adjustment speed 33.

The car's speed curve 13 shows the car entering the unlocking zone (21, 22) at the upper limit of the unlocking zone 21 at a speed below the maximum permissible limit speed 42. After entering the unlocking zone (21, 22), the car door is unlocked and begins to open. The car's speed curve 13 continues below the speed of the first limit curve 41 until it comes to a standstill in the area of the stop 23. After coming to a standstill, the car's position can be readjusted at a speed below the second speed limit curve 42. After the door closes and locks for departure, the speed curve 13 is independent of the maximum permissible readjustment speed 33 and the maximum permissible entry speed 34.

Within an unlocking zone (21, 22), with the car door unlocked, the maximum entry speed 34 is 0.8 m/s (5.12.1.4.c) and the maximum re-leveling speed is 0.3 m/s (5.12.1.4.d), whereby a stop (5.6.7.1) must be initiated under certain conditions and under certain conditions (5.6.7.5). An unlocking zone has a maximum extension of 20 cm below and above the landing for car and shaft doors that are not jointly driven, and 35 cm for car and shaft doors that are jointly driven. This means that the upper and lower limits of the unlocking zone are 20 cm and 35 cm from the landing, respectively.

With the method according to the invention, these conditions for removing the stop in the event of an alarm reaction can be better met.

List of reference symbols:

11

Height position of the floor level of the cabin

12

Speed of the cabin

13

Speed profile of the cabin

21

Upper limit of the unlocking zone

22

Lower limit of the unlocking zone

23

Stop (ground level of the floor)

31

Zero point of speed

32

minimum adjustment speed

33

maximum permissible adjustment speed

34

maximum permissible entry speed

41

first limit speed curve

42

two limit speed curves

Claims (6)

1. Method

   • for monitoring the speed of a car of a lift,

   • with the car door unlocked,

   • within the unlocking zone of the lift shaft,

   • wherein the speed is monitored with:

   • - a first speed-limit curve (41) that has

   ▪ a range of values between

   ▪ a first maximum value (34) at the entry (21) to the unlocking zone

   ▪ and a first minimum value (33) at the envisaged stopping point (23),

   • a first switchover event,

   ▪ which corresponds to the car travelling beyond the stopping point (23) or to a stoppage within the unlocking zone;

   characterized in that the speed is also monitored with:

   • a second speed-limit curve (42) that has

   ▪ a range of values between

   ▪ a second maximum value (33) at the envisaged stopping point (23)

   ▪ and one or two second minimum values (32) at the entry (21) to, and the exit (22) from, the unlocking zone and

   • a second switchover event,

   ▪ which corresponds to a departure signal,

   • wherein the speed of the car, with the car door unlocked, is monitored:

   ▪ following entry (21) of the car into the unlocking zone until the occurrence of the first switchover event, for when the first speed-limit curve (41) is reached or exceeded, and

   ▪ following occurrence of the first switchover event until the occurrence of the second switchover event, for when the second speed-limit curve (42) is reached or exceeded; and

   • in the event of one of the limit curves being reached or exceeded,

   ▪ an alarm reaction is initiated.
2. Method according to Claim 1,

   • the first maximum value (34) is smaller than or equal to the highest permissible speed of a car within an unlocking zone envisaged for arrival, in particular smaller than or equal to 0.8 m/s, and/or

   • the first minimum value (33) is smaller than or equal to the highest permissible speed of a car, with the door unlocked, within an unlocking zone, in particular smaller than or equal to 0.3 m/s, and/or

   • declines continuously, in particular declines continuously to a progressive extent, between the first maximum value (34) and the first minimum value (33).
3. Method according to either of the preceding claims,

   • the second maximum value (33) is smaller than or equal to the highest permissible speed of a car, with the car door unlocked, within an unlocking zone, in particular smaller than or equal to 0.3 m/s, and/or

   • the second minimum value (32) or one of the two second minimum values (32) or the two second minimum values (32) is/are smaller than or equal to the highest permissible speed of a car, with the car door unlocked, within an unlocking zone, in particular smaller than or equal to 0.3 m/s, in particular 0 m/s, and/or

   • declines continuously, in particular declines continuously to a progressive extent, between the second maximum value (33) and the second minimum value (32) or one of the two second minimum values (32) or the two second minimum values (32).
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the departure signal is the locking or closing of the car door.
5. Lift-control system for a lift with a car in a lift shaft,
   characterized in that
   the lift-control system is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.
6. Lift with a car in a lift shaft, having a lift-control system according to the preceding claim.

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