Elevator run profile modification for smooth rescue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10822197-B2
Application number	US-201715783629-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2017
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A method of operating an elevator system is provided. The method includes powering, using a battery, the elevator system when an external power source is unavailable. The method also includes controlling, using a controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system. The controlling comprises operating at least one of the battery, an elevator car, a drive unit, and a brake. The method further includes determining, using the controller, a run profile of the elevator car in response to a selected deceleration. The method yet further includes operating, using the controller, the elevator car in response to the run profile determined, and determining, using the controller, an actual velocity of the elevator car.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating an elevator system, the method comprising:
powering, using a battery, the elevator system when an external power source is unavailable;
controlling, using a controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of the battery, an elevator car, a drive unit, and a brake;
determining, using the controller, a run profile of the elevator car in response to a selected deceleration;
operating, using the controller, the elevator car in response to the run profile determined;
determining, using the controller, an actual velocity of the elevator car;
determining, using the controller, an actual electrical current of the drive unit when the actual velocity is not less than a selected velocity;
comparing the actual electrical current to a selected electrical current, wherein the selected electrical current is an electrical current that the drive unit is capable of sinking when the elevator system is in a regenerative mode; and
adjusting, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance; or
maintaining, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is not above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using the controller, a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and
commanding, using the controller, the brake to stop the elevator car when the projected stop position is within a selected stop position range and the velocity is within a selected velocity range.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using the controller, a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and
determining, using the controller, an actual velocity of the elevator car when the projected stop position is not within a selected stop position range or the velocity is not within a selected velocity range.

4. An apparatus for operating an elevator system, the apparatus comprising:
a battery to power the elevator system when an external power source is unavailable;
an elevator car;
a drive unit;
a brake;
a controller to control a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of the battery, the elevator car, the drive unit, and the brake,
wherein the controller performs operations comprising:
determining a run profile of the elevator car in response to a selected deceleration;
operating the elevator car in response to the run profile determined;
determining an actual velocity of the elevator car;
determining, using the controller, an actual electrical current of the drive unit when the actual velocity is not less than a selected velocity;
comparing the actual electrical current to a selected electrical current, wherein the selected electrical current is an electrical current that the drive unit is capable of sinking when the elevator system is in a regenerative mode; and
adjusting, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance; or
maintaining, using the controller, the run profile when the actual electrical current is not above the selected electrical current to avoid electrical current limit faults and velocity tracking faults, while adapting to hoistway loss variations, load weighing inaccuracies, and load imbalance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and
commanding the brake to stop the elevator car when the projected stop position is within a selected stop position range and the velocity is within a selected velocity range.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a projected stop position and a velocity of the elevator car; and
determining an actual velocity of the elevator car when the projected stop position is not within a selected stop position range or the velocity is not within a selected velocity range.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Piedra Edward

Classifications

• B66B5/027 Primary

  to permit passengers to leave an elevator car in case of failure, e.g. moving the car to a reference floor or unlocking the door · CPC title

• B66B1/36

  Means for stopping the cars, cages, or skips at predetermined levels · CPC title

• B66B1/3407 Primary

  Setting or modification of parameters of the control system · CPC title

• B66B5/021

  the abnormal operating conditions being independent of the system (alarm systems in general G08B) · CPC title

• B66B1/30 Primary

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