Automatic elevator inspection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11440769-B2
Application number	US-201815973622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2018
Priority date	May 12, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

Elevator systems and methods including an elevator car within an elevator shaft, at least one component subject to inspection, the at least one component having an indicator element thereon, and an inspection system comprising a detector located on the elevator car and arranged to detect the presence of the indicator element in a detection region such that when the indicator element is detected within the detection region, a notification regarding a state of operation of the at least one component is generated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator system comprising:
an elevator car within an elevator shaft;
a landing within the elevator shaft, the landing having a landing door;
a landing door lock subject to inspection, the landing door lock having an indicator element thereon, the landing door lock including a first body and a second body arranged to lock the landing door, at least one of the first body and the second body including the indicator element, wherein one of the first body and the second body comprises a securing element and the other of the first body and the second body comprises a locking element, the locking element configured to releasably engage with the securing element to lock the landing door; and
an inspection system configured to inspect and monitor the landing door lock, the inspection system comprising a detector located on the elevator car and arranged to detect the presence of the indicator element in a detection region such that, when the indicator element is detected within the detection region, a notification regarding a state of operation of the landing door lock is generated.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit, the control unit configured to generate a notification when the indicator element is detected within the detection region.

3. The elevator system of claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to perform monitoring of the elevator system based on a predefined schedule.

4. The elevator system of claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to generate a notification or message to indicate that maintenance is required on a particular landing door lock of the elevator system.

5. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the first body is fixedly attached to the landing door and is movable with movement of the landing door and the second body is fixedly attached to a landing door frame.

6. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator element is at least one of a colored paint, a textured surface, or a reflective surface on at least a portion of the locking element that interacts with the securing element.

7. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator element is present on a portion of the respective first body or second body such that when the indicator element is detected within the detection region an error of the landing door lock exists.

8. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein detection of the indicator element within the detection region indicates proper operation of the landing door lock.

9. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein detection of the indicator element within the detection region indicates a malfunction with operation of the landing door lock.

10. A method for inspecting a landing door lock of an elevator system comprising:
moving an elevator car to a landing within an elevator shaft;
observing a detection region using a detector located on the elevator car, the detection region being a region of the landing door lock, the landing door lock comprising a first body and a second body with the first body and second body arranged to lock the landing door, wherein at least one of the first body or the second body includes an indicator element, and wherein one of the first body and the second body comprises a securing element and the other of the first body and the second body comprises a locking element, the locking element configured to releasably engage with the securing element to lock the landing door;
determining if the indicator element is present within the detection region; and
generating a notification when the indicator element is present within the detection region.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
moving the elevator car to a second landing within the elevator shaft;
observing a detection region of the second landing using the detector, the detection region being a region of a component to be inspected at the second landing;
determining if an indicator element at the second landing is present within the detection region; and
generating an error notification when the indicator element is present within the detection region.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method is performed automatically based on at least one of (i) a maintenance schedule, (ii) a predetermined interval, (iii) every time the elevator stops at a landing, (iv) a customer complaint, (v) a request made at an onsite location, (vi) a request made at an offsite location, or (vii) a scheduled maintenance visit.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating, with a control unit, a notification when the indicator element is detected within the detection region.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring, with a control unit, the elevator system based on a predefined schedule.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating a notification or message to indicate that maintenance is required at a particular landing door lock of the elevator system.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first body is fixedly attached to the landing door and is movable with movement of the landing door and the second body is fixedly attached to a landing door frame.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indicator element is present on a portion of the respective first body or second body such that when the indicator element is detected within the detection region an error of the landing door lock exists.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein detection of the indicator element within the detection region indicates proper operation of the landing door lock.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein detection of the indicator element within the detection region indicates a malfunction with operation of the landing door lock.

20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indicator element is at least one of a colored paint, a textured surface, or a reflective surface on at least a portion of the locking element that interacts with the securing element.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Fauconnet Aurelien

Classifications

• B66B9/00

  Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures (characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12) · CPC title

• B66B13/16

  Door or gate locking devices controlled or primarily controlled by condition of cage, e.g. movement or position · CPC title

• B66B5/0018 Primary

  Devices monitoring the operating condition of the elevator system · CPC title

• B66B3/002

  Indicators · CPC title

• B66B5/0025 Primary

  for maintenance or repair · CPC title