The present relate to a control system for an elevator.
When the car of an elevator is placed in conditions in which it moves at an abnormally increased speed (which is hereinafter referred to as overspeed conditions) due to, inter alia, failure of a drive device or a control device, different sorts of safety devices are actuated step by step depending on a car speed to cause the car to stop automatically.
In a first stage, when the car speed is more than its rated speed and has exceeded a predetermined velocity (an overspeed velocity to be detected), the motor current of a hoist is cut off and, at the same time, the car is emergency braked by a brake installed in the hoist (an overspeed switch function).
In a second stage, when the car speed further increases and has exceeded an actuation velocity of emergency stop equipment because of, inter alia, breakage of a main rope, a braking mechanism attached to the car emergency brakes the car by clamping guide rails strongly (an emergency stop function).
Traditionally, a mechanical switch utilizing rotation of a governor has been used in a car speed detection device for actuating these safety devices. On the other hand, there is a detection method that implements detection of an abnormal car speed electrically using an encoder or an optical sensor. In this case, duplicated detection devices are used to ensure reliability; if the output values of both the detection devices do not match, it is regarded that a fault occurs in one of the detection devices and braking the car is performed accordingly. In a braking decision, if both the outputs of the detection devices are less than an actuation velocity corresponding to the overspeed velocity to be detected, the car will be moved to a nearby floor by controlling the hoist motor without applying the emergency stop equipment and passengers are allowed to get off the car. As a control system for an elevator, which is of this kind, is found in, e.g., PTL 1.
In PTL 1, a control device equipped with two acceleration sensors and a car speed detection device are installed in a car. Then, if a difference between the outputs of the two acceleration sensors is less than a predetermined threshold, an abnormality decision for the car speed detection device and a decision regarding application of braking means are made using acceleration data.
According to a technology described in PTL 1, a decision regarding application of braking means is performed by utilizing the acceleration sensors attached to the car. However, when measurements are taken by the acceleration sensors installed to the car, an error occurs in output results of the acceleration sensors due to the influence of an inclination of the car, car vibration, noise, etc. When velocity data is calculated from thus measured acceleration data, a mismatch occurs between velocity data including an error and velocity data output by the car speed detection device and it is concerned that emergency stop of the car occurs frequently. In addition, because of applying emergency stop equipment depending on output velocity data, rapid deceleration occurs; this may give a burden to the mind and body of passengers. Therefore, there is a demand for a control system that makes an appropriate decision with regard to overspeed conditions of the car and application of braking means using output values of duplicated car speed detection devices.
An object of the present invention resides in solving a problem noted above and providing a control system for an elevator to reduce erroneous actuation of the emergency stop equipment.
To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention resides in a control system for an elevator including a car; a counterweight connected to the car by a main rope; a hoist having a motor for moving the car up and down; at least two car speed detection devices, namely, a first car speed detection device and a second car speed detection device to measure a moving speed of the car; a hoist brake to apply braking to the hoist; emergency stop equipment to brake the car by grasping guide rails laid along a moving path of the car; and a control device to control the hoist, the hoist brake, and the emergency stop equipment based on outputs of the first car speed detection device and the second car speed detection device. The control device includes a computing unit to calculate acceleration data of the car from velocity data from the first car speed detection device and the second car speed detection device and a decision unit to make a decision regarding an abnormally increased speed of the car. A feature of the invention is that if two pieces of velocity data that have been output from the first car speed detection device and the second car speed detection device respectively differ from one another and acceleration data of the car calculated from one that is higher of the two pieces of velocity data is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, the decision unit decides that either the first car speed detection device or the second car speed detection device which has output the higher one of velocity data is abnormal.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control system for an elevator to reduce erroneous actuation of the emergency stop equipment.
In the following, an example of the present invention is described with the drawings.
The hoist brake 8 which is braking means is installed beside the motor 7 and actuated when a safety switch installed inside a hoistway has been turned off or when the speed of the car 1 has become equal to or more than an actuation velocity of an overspeed switch. When the hoist brake 8 is actuated, it brakes the car 1 by restraining the rotational motion of the hoist 3.
On the other hand, emergency stop equipment 10 which is braking means independent of the hoist brake 8 is installed in the car 1. The emergency stop equipment 10 is equipment for emergency stop of the car 1 when the car 1 does not decelerate even though the hoist brake 8 is actuated because of, inter alia, breakage of the main rope. When the emergency stop equipment 10 is actuated, a braking mechanism brakes the car 1 by grasping the guide rails 9 directly. Actuation of the overspeed switch and the emergency stop equipment 10 is based on velocity data from car speed detection devices 11. The actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 is greater than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch due to their characteristics.
The car speed detection devices 11 are the devices to detect the moving speed of the car 1 and may be any of those that are capable of detecting a moving speed; e.g., cameras, optical sensors, magnetic sensors, etc. may be used as the devices or the devices may apply a method that calculates a moving speed from moving distance of the car 1. In addition, the car speed detection devices 11 may be installed in any location inside the hoistway, provided that they can output velocity data of the car 1 (installed on top of the car 1 in
The control device 12 to implement control of the elevator includes a computing unit 13 and a decision unit 14. The computing unit 13 includes a memory to store velocity data sent from the car speed detection devices 11 and a computing device to calculate acceleration data of the car 1 from stored velocity data.
The decision unit 14 judges a state of the car 1 from output velocity data from the car speed detection devices 11 and acceleration data from the computing unit 13 and makes a decision regarding application of braking means. Note that, although the control device 12 is depicted to be installed inside the machine room 15 with the hoist 3 and the pulley 5 installed therein in
Simultaneously with when the control device 12 starts a decision procedure regarding application of the braking means, the car speed detection devices 11 acquire velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car 1 at a time t1 (step S101). Acquired velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car 1 are sent to the computing unit 13 and stored into the memory. From velocity data VA0 and VB0 of the car acquired at one measurement period before time t1 (at time t0) and stored in the computing unit 13 and the velocity data VA1 and VB1 stored in the computing unit 13, the computing unit then calculates acceleration data α and β of the car, for example, by differentiating the velocity data (step S102). Note that calculated acceleration data α and β of the car are stored into the memory internal to the computing unit 13 and sent to the decision unit 14.
The decision unit 14 decides whether the car 1 moves at an abnormally increased speed and makes a decision regarding application of the braking means of the car 1, using velocity data VA1 and VB1 output from the car speed detection devices 11 and acceleration data α and β output from the computing unit 13 and in accordance with conditional branches below. Note that conditional branches in the flowchart in
If a match occurs between two pieces of velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car (true at a conditional step S103), the decision unit 14 makes a decision regarding application of the braking means depending on the output car speed. If the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are less than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch (false at a conditional step S104), the decision unit 14 decides that the elevator is placed in a normal operation state. When decelerating the car 1, the control device brakes the car 1 by controlling the motor torque (step S105).
If, at the step S104, the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch (true at the conditional step S104) and less than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (false at a conditional step S106), the decision unit 14 decides that the car 1 has reached the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch and the control device brakes the car 1 using the hoist brake 8 (step S107).
If, at the step S106, the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (true at the conditional step S106), the decision unit 14 decides that the car 1 has reached the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 and the control device brakes the car 1 using the equipment 10 (step S108).
Note that there is a possibility that the car 1 does not decelerate by applying the braking means decided according to the conditional branches depending on an abnormal state of the car 1. For instance, in the event that the main rope 2 linked to the car 1 breaks, it is impossible to brake the car 1 even by controlling the motor torque and by applying the hoist brake 8. Therefore, a decision regarding application of the braking means is performed every measurement period (e.g., 1 to 2 ms) of the car speed detection devices 11; if the car 1 does not decelerate, the braking means should be changed depending on the car speed.
Then, a description is provided for a case in which a mismatch occurs between the two pieces of velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car (false at the conditional step S103). When a mismatch occurs between the outputs of the duplicated car speed detection devices 11, a decision is made that at least one of the car speed detection devices 11 malfunctions and the control device brakes the car 1 according to conditional branches described below.
If both velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch (true at a conditional step S109), the decision unit 14 further decides whether both velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (a conditional step S110). If both velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (true at the conditional step S110), the decision unit 14 decides that the car 1 has reached the emergency stop actuation velocity and the control device brakes the car 1 using the emergency stop equipment 10 (step S111).
If, at the step S110, at least one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is less than the emergency stop actuation velocity (false at the conditional step S110), the decision unit 14 decides whether one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (a condition 112). If both velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are less than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (false at a conditional step S112), the decision unit 14 decides that the car 1 has reached the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch and the control device brakes the car 1 using the hoist brake 8 (step S113). If one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (true at the conditional step S112), the decision unit 14 makes a decision regarding application of the braking means using acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (a conditional step S114).
Here, using
In addition, considering a case in which the output of one of the car speed detection devices 11 is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch and less than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 and the output of the other is less than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch, a threshold δ of acceleration for making a decision regarding actuation of the overspeed switch is set in advance. The threshold δ of acceleration is set at or above the maximum acceleration that is generated by a total of the motor torque and torque attributed to weight difference between the car 1 and the counterweight 6 on the assumption that abnormality has occurred in the motor control. As is the case of means for making a decision regarding actuation of the emergency stop equipment 10, noted previously, in respect of the car speed detection device 11 that has output the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch, a calculation is made of acceleration of the car and, by comparing a result with the predetermined threshold δ of acceleration, it is decided as to whether a fault occurs. Note that a decision regarding application of the braking means is performed every measurement period of the car speed detection devices 11 and such decision is performed, as appropriate, if the car 1 does not decelerate.
Meanwhile, on the assumption that abnormality has occurred in velocity data from the car speed detection devices 11 due to, inter alia, spike noise, if calculated acceleration of the car has exceeded a predetermined threshold ε of acceleration, it is also possible that the control device waits for a predetermined time without braking the car and makes a decision regarding application of the braking means again. Here, the threshold ε of acceleration is set to a value greater than the thresholds γ and δ of acceleration on the assumption that acceleration data rapidly increases due to noise.
By the decision method described above, the decision unit 14 decides to apply what braking means of the car 1. Returning to
Otherwise, if acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the emergency stop actuation velocity is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold γ of acceleration (true at the conditional step S114), the decision unit 14 decides that a fault occurs in the car speed detection device 11 that has output the emergency stop actuation velocity and the control device brakes the car 1 by applying the hoist brake 8 instead of the emergency stop equipment 10 (step S116). That is, when one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 that have been output from the first car speed detection device 11A and the second car speed detection device 11B respectively is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 and the other is equal to or more than the actuation velocity for applying the hoist brake 8 and less than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10, and if acceleration of the car 1 calculated from the higher one of velocity data is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold, the control device brakes the car 1 by actuating the hoist brake 8.
According to conditional branches above, the decision unit 14 can decide to apply what braking means in the case that velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car differ from one another (false at the conditional step S103) and both velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car which have been output are equal to or more than the overspeed switch actuation velocity (true at the conditional step S109).
Then, a description is provided about the decision method in the case that at least one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is less than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch (false at the conditional step S109). For this case, the decision unit 14 decides whether one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch (a conditional step S117). If both velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car are less than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch (false at the conditional step S117), the decision unit 14 decides that a fault occurs in at least one of the car speed detection devices 11, though the speed of the car 1 is less than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch and the control device stops the car at a nearby floor by decelerating the motor (step S118).
If one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch (true at the conditional step S117), the decision unit 14 then decides whether one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (a conditional step S119). That is, the decision unit 14 decides whether one that is higher of velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10. If one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment (true at the conditional step S119), the decision unit 14 makes a decision regarding application of the braking means using acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the emergency stop actuation velocity (a conditional step S120).
If acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 is less than the predetermined threshold γ of acceleration (false at the conditional step S120), it is possible that the car speed detection device 11 that has output the emergency stop actuation velocity operates normally and, therefore, the control device brakes the car 1 by applying the emergency stop equipment 10 (step S121).
Otherwise, If acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the emergency stop actuation velocity is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold γ of acceleration (true at the conditional step S120), the decision unit 14 decides that a fault occurs in the car speed detection device 11 that has output the emergency stop actuation velocity and the control device stops the car at a nearby floor by decelerating the motor instead of applying the emergency stop equipment 10 (step S122). That is, if acceleration of the car calculated from one that is higher of velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold, the decision unit 14 decides that either the first car speed detection device 11A or the second car speed detection device 11B which has output the higher one of velocity data is abnormal. Then, the control device stops the car 1 at a nearby floor by controlling the motor toque of the hoist 3.
If one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 of the car is less than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10 (false at the conditional step S119), that is, if one velocity data of the car is equal to or more than the actuation velocity of the overspeed switch and less than the actuation velocity of the emergency stop equipment 10, the decision unit 14 makes a decision regarding application of the braking means using acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the overspeed switch actuation velocity (a conditional step S123).
If acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the overspeed switch actuation velocity is less than the predetermined threshold δ of acceleration (false at the conditional step S123), it is possible that the car speed detection device 11 that has output the overspeed switch actuation velocity operates normally and, therefore, the control device brakes the car 1 by applying the hoist brake 8 (step S124).
Otherwise, if acceleration data α or β relevant to the car speed detection device 11 that has output the overspeed switch actuation velocity is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold δ of acceleration (true at the conditional step S123), the decision unit 14 decides that a fault occurs in the car speed detection device 11 that has output the overspeed switch actuation velocity and the control device stops the car at a nearby floor by decelerating the motor instated of applying the hoist brake (step S125). That is, when one of the velocity data VA1 and VB1 that have been output from the first car speed detection device 11A and the second car speed detection device 11B respectively is equal to or more than the actuation velocity for applying the hoist brake 8 and less than the emergency stop actuation velocity and the other is less than the actuation velocity for applying the hoist brake 8, and if acceleration of the car 1 calculated from the higher one of velocity data is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold, the control device stops the car 1 at a nearby floor by controlling the motor toque of the hoist 3.
As described hereinbefore, according to the present example, it is possible to decide to apply what braking means depending on overspeed conditions of the car 1 by utilizing velocity data of the car having been output from the duplicated car speed detection devices 11 and acceleration data of the car calculated by the computing unit 13. Therefore, it is possible to restrain erroneous activation of the emergency stop equipment.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2018-203721 | Oct 2018 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2019/037219 | 9/24/2019 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2020/090286 | 5/7/2020 | WO | A |
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