Elevator component separation assurance system and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035684-B2
Application number	US-201615274483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

An elevator car separation assurance system and method of operation includes determining a position and velocity of each one of a plurality of cars by a safety motion state estimator. A safety assurance module of the system is configured to determine a separation map associated with a first car and an adjacent second car of the plurality of cars. The system is further configured to initiate a first separation assurance-induced event associated with at least one of the first and the second cars and based on the separation map. A recovery manager of the system is configured to detect the first separation assurance-induced event, and upon detection, slow at least a third car of the plurality of cars down.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating an elevator car separation assurance system comprising:
determining a position and velocity of each one of a plurality of cars by a safety motion state estimator;
selecting a pre-programmed separation map associated with a first car and an adjacent second car of the plurality of cars by a safety assurance module;
initiating a first separation assurance-induced event associated with at least one of the first and the second cars and based on the separation map;
detecting the first separation assurance-induced event by a recovery manager; and
slowing at least a third car of the plurality of cars down based on the detection by the recovery manager.

2. The method of operating the elevator car separation assurance system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first separation assurance-induced event is a Ustop.

3. The method of operating the elevator car separation assurance system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first separation assurance-induced event is actuation of a secondary brake.

4. The method of operating the elevator car separation assurance system set forth in claim 1 further comprising:
initiating a second separation assurance-induced event based on a second separation map; and
stopping at least one of the plurality of cars by the recovery manager based on initiation of the first and second separation assurance-induced events.

5. The method of operating the elevator car separation assurance system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first car is in a lane and the second car is in a transfer station.

6. The method of operating the elevator car separation assurance system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second cars are in a transfer station.

7. The method of operating the elevator car separation assurance system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second cars are in a lane.

8. The method of operating the elevator car separation assurance system set forth in claim 1 , wherein a first car is in a transfer station and the second car is in a parking station.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Roberts Randall
• Fargo Richard N
• Ginsberg David

Classifications

• B66B1/2491

  For elevator systems with lateral transfers of cars or cabins between hoistways · CPC title

• B66B1/32

  effective on braking devices {, e.g. acting on electrically controlled brakes (brake control H02P, lift brakes per se B66B5/02)} · CPC title

• B66B11/0407 Primary

  actuated by an electrical linear motor (in the counterweight B66B17/12) · CPC title

• B66B1/30 Primary

  effective on driving gear {, e.g. acting on power electronics, on inverter or rectifier controlled motor} · CPC title

• B66B9/003

  for lateral transfer of car or frame, e.g. between vertical hoistways or to/from a parking position · CPC title