Measuring weight of a compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016002004-A1
Application number	US-201314772529-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 5, 2013
Priority date	Mar 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed a load measurement system ( 100 ) includes a compartment ( 110 ), a damper ( 112 ) and a weight calculation unit ( 131 ). The damper ( 112 ) is configured to be positioned between the compartment ( 110 ) and a platform ( 121 ) and to compress at a predetermined rate based on a load of the compartment ( 110 ). The weight calculation unit ( 131 ) is configured to calculate a weight of the compartment ( 1 10) based on the compression of the damper ( 112 ).

First claim

1 . A load measurement system, comprising:
a compartment; a damper configured to be positioned between the compartment and a platform and to compress at a predetermined rate based on a load of the compartment; and a weight calculation unit configured to calculate a weight of the compartment based on the compression of the damper.

2 . The load measurement system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a non-contact sensor configured to measure a distance between the sensor and the compartment, wherein the weight calculation unit calculates the weight of the compartment based on the measured distance between the sensor and the compartment.

3 . The load measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is an eddy-current transducer.

4 . The load measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a magnetoresistive sensor.

5 . The load measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

6 . The load measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the weight calculation unit calculates a difference between a height of the damper when no weight is applied to the damper and a height of the damper based upon the damper being compressed between the compartment and the platform, and the weight calculation unit calculates the weight of the compartment by inserting the calculated difference into a predetermined algorithm.

7 . The load measurement system of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined algorithm is a linear algorithm comprising the multiplication of the difference with a constant value.

8 . The load measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an H-shaped plate on a bottom surface of the compartment having ends of the H extending substantially to edges of the bottom surface.

9 . The load measurement system of claim 8 , wherein the damper includes a first plurality of dampers located outside the H and first and second center dampers located at opposite ends of the H between extended segments of the H.

10 . The load measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the damper includes a spring and an elastic filler surrounding the spring.

11 . The load measurement system of claim 10 , wherein the spring and the elastic filler surrounding the spring are configured to have a linear relationship between a load received by the damper and a distance that the damper compresses.

12 . The load measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the compartment is an elevator car.

13 . A damper, comprising:
an upper plate configured to be attached to a compartment; a lower plate configured to contact a platform; a first spring located between the upper plate and the lower plate; and an elastic filler surrounding the first spring, wherein the first spring and the elastic filler are configured to compress at a predetermined rate based on a force being exerted against the upper plate and the lower plate.

14 . The damper of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined rate is a linear rate.

15 . The damper of claim 13 , wherein the elastic filler is rubber.

16 . The damper of claim 13 , wherein the upper plate, the lower plate and the first spring are made of metal.

17 . The damper of claim 13 , further comprising a second spring adjacent to the first spring arranged to compress together with the first spring between the upper plate and the lower plate.

18 . A method, comprising:
compressing a damper between a compartment and a platform; sensing a compression distance of the damper, corresponding to a difference between a non-compressed state and a compressed state based on the compressing of the damper; and calculating a weight of the compartment based on the compression distance of the damper.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein sensing the compression distance of the damper includes measuring an eddy current generated by an eddy current transducer.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein sensing the compression distance of the damper includes measuring a resistance of a magnetoresistive sensor.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein calculating the weight of the compartment comprises:
calculating a difference between a length of the damper in a non-compressed state and a compressed length of the damper; and applying the difference to a pre-defined algorithm.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the pre-defined algorithm is a linear algorithm which includes multiplying the difference by a predefined constant to calculate the weight of the compartment.

Assignees

• Tan Gang
• Yao Zhiyong
• Guo Xiaofei
• Wu Bin
• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Tan Gang
• Yao Zhiyong
• Guo Xiaofei
• Wu Bin

Classifications

• G01G23/06

  Means for damping oscillations, e.g. of weigh beams · CPC title

• B66B1/3476 Primary

  Load weighing or car passenger counting devices (B66B5/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01G19/00

  Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups {(electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00)} · CPC title

• G01G3/04

  using a plurality of springs · CPC title

• B66B11/0226

  Constructional features, e.g. walls assembly, decorative panels, comfort equipment, thermal or sound insulation · CPC title