Elevator component inspection systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11577932-B2
Application number	US-201816045822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2018
Priority date	Jul 26, 2018
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

Elevator systems and methods are provided. The systems include an elevator car movable within an elevator shaft, the elevator car includes an elevator car door interlock device operable to open and close elevator car doors, a plurality of landing doors located at respective landings along the elevator shaft, wherein each landing door includes a landing door interlock device operable to open and close a respective landing door, wherein each landing door interlock device is engageable by the elevator car door interlock device to enable operation of the elevator car doors and the respective landing door simultaneously. An elevator component inspection system is configured with a detector located on the top of the elevator car and arranged to monitor the interlock devices, wherein the detector obtains inspection data associated with the elevator car door interlock device and the plurality of landing door interlock devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator system comprising:
an elevator car movable within an elevator shaft, the elevator car includes an elevator car door interlock device arranged on a top of the elevator car and operable to open and close elevator car doors, wherein the elevator car door interlock device comprises at least one blade/vane;
a plurality of landing doors located at respective landings along the elevator shaft, wherein each landing door includes a landing door interlock device operable to open and close a respective landing door, wherein each landing door interlock device comprises at least one roller that is engageable by the at least one blade/vane to enable operation of the elevator car doors and the respective landing door simultaneously; and
an elevator component inspection system comprising a detector located on the top of the elevator car and arranged to monitor at least one of a contact and a gap between the at least one blade/vane and the at least one roller at each landing door, wherein the detector obtains inspection data associated with an interaction between the at least one blade/vane and the at least one roller.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to:
analyze the inspection data;
determine if the inspection data indicates a threshold is exceeded; and
generate a notification when a threshold is exceeded.

3. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the inspection data comprises a minimum area of contact between the at least one blade/vane and the at least one roller of each landing door interlock device.

4. The elevator system of claim 3 , wherein the minimum area of contact is defined as at least 50% of the at least one roller of each landing is in contact with the at least one blade/vane.

5. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the inspection data comprises a minimum clearance gap between the at least one blade/vane and the at least one roller.

6. The elevator system of claim 1 , further comprising a first support arm and a second support arm mounted to the top of the elevator car, wherein the detector is mounted to the first support arm and the first support arm extends from the second support arm at an angle α, the first support arm having a length/and the second support arm extends a height h from the top of the elevator car.

7. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the inspection data comprises a detected presence of a marker when the landing door interlock device and at least one landing door interlock device are in a closed position.

8. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein each landing door interlock device comprises a pair of rollers and the elevator car door interlock device comprises at least one of a set of vanes and a set of blades.

9. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the detector is positioned at hoistway clear.

10. A method for inspecting components an elevator system, the method comprising:
initiating a door interlock check sequence of an elevator system having an elevator car movable within an elevator shaft, the elevator car includes an elevator car door interlock device arranged on a top of the elevator car and operable to open and close elevator car doors and a plurality of landing doors located at respective landings along the elevator shaft, wherein each landing door includes a landing door interlock device operable to open and close a respective landing door, wherein each landing door interlock device is engageable by the elevator car door interlock device to enable operation of the elevator car doors and the respective landing door simultaneously;
moving the elevator car along an elevator shaft between the plurality of landing doors;
performing, during the moving of the elevator car, an inspection sequence with an elevator component inspection system comprising a detector located on the top of the elevator car and arranged to monitor the elevator car door interlock device and the plurality of landing door interlock devices; and
capturing inspection data with the detector, the inspection data associated with the elevator car door interlock device and the plurality of landing door interlock devices.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
analyzing the inspection data;
determining if the inspection data indicates a threshold is exceeded; and
generating a notification when a threshold is exceeded.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inspection data comprises a minimum area of contact between the elevator car door interlock device and at least one landing door interlock device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the minimum area of contact is at least 50% of the elevator car door interlock device is contacted by a respective element of the landing door interlock device.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inspection data comprises a minimum clearance gap between the elevator car door interlock device and at least one landing door interlock device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the minimum clearance gap is a spacing between 1 and 4 mm.

16. The method of claim 10 , the method further comprises detecting a marker, wherein the inspection data comprises a detected presence of the marker when the landing door interlock device and at least one landing door interlock device are in a closed position.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein each landing door interlock device comprises a pair of rollers and the elevator car door interlock device comprises at least one of a set of vanes and a set of blades.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting the inspection data to at least one of a mobile device, a remote device, a distributed computing system, and an elevator controller.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising processing the inspection data on the at least one of a mobile device, a remote device, a distributed computing system, and an elevator controller.

20. An elevator system comprising:
an elevator car movable within an elevator shaft, the elevator car includes an elevator car door interlock device arranged on a top of the elevator car and operable to open and close elevator car doors;
a plurality of landing doors located at respective landings along the elevator shaft, wherein each landing door includes a landing door interlock device operable to open and close a respective landing door, wherein each landing door interlock device is engageable by the elevator car door interlock device to enable operation of the elevator car doors and the respective landing door simultaneously; and
an elevator component inspection system comprising a detector located on the top of the elevator car and arranged to monitor the elevator car door interlock device and the plurality of landing door interlock devices during travel of the elevator car between the plurality of landings, wherein the detector obtains inspection data associated with the elevator car door interlock device and the plurality of landing door interlock devices.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Sudi Sandeep
• Tripp Daniel M

Classifications

• B66B13/12

  Arrangements for effecting simultaneous opening or closing of cage and landing doors · CPC title

• B66B1/3461

  between the elevator control system and remote or mobile stations · CPC title

• B66B13/22

  Operation of door or gate contacts · CPC title

• B66B5/0018 Primary

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

• 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