Remote fault clearing for elevators, escalators, and automatic doors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906773-B2
Application number	US-201815985856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2018
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Controlling an apparatus may include detecting a fault in the apparatus, such that a controller of the apparatus exits a normal operation state for controlling the apparatus and enters a faulted state based on the detected fault, operation of the apparatus is stopped based on the controller entering the faulted state, and the detected fault is recorded in a fault memory or a fault recorder of the controller. The controlling may include receiving a remote fault clearing command subsequent to detecting the fault, and clearing the detected fault in response to the remote fault clearing command, such that the controller exits the faulted state and enters the normal operation state, and operation of the apparatus is enabled based on the controller entering the normal operation state. Clearing the detected fault may include deleting the detected fault from the fault memory or fault recorder.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling an apparatus, the apparatus being an elevator, an escalator or automatic doors, the method comprising:
detecting a fault in the apparatus, such that
a controller of the apparatus exits a normal operation state for controlling the apparatus and enters a faulted state based on the detected fault,
operation of the apparatus is stopped based on the controller entering the faulted state, and
the detected fault is recorded in a fault memory or a fault recorder of the controller;

receiving a remote fault clearing command subsequent to detecting the fault; and
clearing, in response to receiving the remote fault clearing command and in response to a determination that clearing of the detected fault based on remote fault clearing of the controller is permitted, the detected fault by activating a rescue drive function (RDF) switch provided at the controller in response to the remote fault clearing command and without performing a power cycle reset and without manual RDF switch activation, such that
the controller activates the RDF switch to exit the faulted state and enter the normal operation state without power for the apparatus being cycled and without the controller entering a service mode based on manual RDF activation, and
operation of the apparatus is enabled based on the controller entering the normal operation state,

wherein clearing the detected fault includes deleting a recording of the detected fault from the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller,
wherein the activating the RDF switch is performed in response to the remote fault clearing command being received, and the activating the RDF switch causes the clearing the detected fault, such that the recording of the detected fault is deleted from the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the determination that the clearing of the detected fault based on remote fault clearing of the controller is permitted includes a determination that
the detected fault is associated with a particular fault type, and
clearing of faults associated with the particular fault type based on remote fault clearing of the controller is permitted.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the remote fault clearing command is received from a service center via a connectivity/remote monitoring device.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the remote fault clearing command is initiated by a person or by a software algorithm.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the clearing the detected fault includes
clearing all faults recorded in the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller, or
clearing a selection of faults, recorded in the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller, which prevent the controller from exiting the faulted state and entering the normal operation state.

6. A control device, comprising:
a memory storing a program of instructions;
a rescue drive function (RDF) switch; and
a processor configured to execute the program of instructions to
control operation of an apparatus, the apparatus being an elevator, an escalator or automatic doors
detect a fault in the apparatus, such that
a controller of the apparatus exits a normal operation state for controlling the apparatus and enters a faulted state based on the detected fault,
operation of the apparatus is stopped based on the controller entering the faulted state, and
the detected fault is recorded in a fault memory or a fault recorder of the controller,

receive a remote fault clearing command subsequent to detecting the fault, and
clear, in response to receiving the remote fault clearing command and in response to a determination that clearing of the detected fault based on remote fault clearing of the controller is permitted, the detected fault by activating the RDF switch in response to the remote fault clearing command and without performing a power cycle reset and without manual RDF switch activation, such that
the controller activates the RDF switch to exit the faulted state and enter the normal operation state without power for the apparatus being cycled and without the controller entering a service mode based on manual RDF activation, and
operation of the apparatus is enabled based on the controller entering the normal operation state,

wherein clearing the detected fault includes deleting a recording of the detected fault from the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller,
wherein the activating the RDF switch is performed in response to the remote fault clearing command being received, and the activating the RDF switch causes the clearing the detected fault, such that the recording of the detected fault is deleted from the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller.

7. The control device according to claim 6 , wherein
the determination that the clearing of the detected fault based on remote fault clearing of the controller is permitted includes a determination that
the detected fault is associated with a particular fault type, and
clearing of faults associated with the particular fault type based on remote fault clearing of the controller is permitted.

8. The control device according to claim 6 , wherein the clearing the detected fault includes clearing a selection of faults, recorded in the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller, which prevent the controller from exiting the faulted state and entering the normal operation state.

9. A system comprising:
the control device according to claim 6 ; and
a service center configured to send the remote fault clearing command to the control device via a remote monitoring device.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the remote fault clearing command is initiated by a person or by a software algorithm.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program of instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for controlling an apparatus, the apparatus being an elevator, an escalator or automatic doors, the method comprising:
detecting a fault in the apparatus, such that
a controller of the apparatus exits a normal operation state for controlling the apparatus and enters a faulted state based on the detected fault,
operation of the apparatus is stopped based on the controller entering the faulted state, and
the detected fault is recorded in a fault memory or a fault recorder of the controller;

receiving a remote fault clearing command subsequent to detecting the fault; and
clearing, in response to receiving the remote fault clearing command and in response to a determination that clearing of the detected fault based on remote fault clearing of the controller is permitted, the detected fault by activating a rescue drive function (RDF) switch provided at the controller in response to the remote fault clearing command and without performing a power cycle reset and without manual RDF switch activation, such that
the controller activates the RDF switch to exit the faulted state and enter the normal operation state without power for the apparatus being cycled and without the controller entering a service mode based on the manual RDF switch activation, and
operation of the apparatus is enabled based on the controller entering the normal operation state,

wherein clearing the detected fault includes deleting a recording of the detected fault from the fault memory or the fault recorder of the controller,
wherein the activating the RDF switch is performed in response to the remote fault clearing command being received, and the activating the RDF swi

Assignees

• Kone Corp

Inventors

• Mustonen Matti

Classifications

• B66B25/00 Primary

  Control of escalators or moving walkways (walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26; of general application G05) · CPC title

• B66B5/0087

  Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks (devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226) · CPC title

• E05F15/40

  Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions · CPC title

• B66B5/0031

  for safety reasons · CPC title

• B66B5/027

  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