The invention relates to an elevator installation and a method for maintenance of such an elevator installation.
EP 1415947 A1 describes a device and a method for remote maintenance of an elevator installation, wherein the device is installed at the elevator installation and first signals of the elevator installation are converted into second signals and these second signals are passed on to a telecommunications network. The device comprises a processor and a computer-readable data memory in a housing and at least one remote maintenance function is activatable by loading from the computer-readable data memory into the processor. In this manner, sensors or actuators of the elevator installation can be connected with the device and first signals originating from these sensors or actuators can be communicated to the device. The second signals converted in the device are, after passing on to the telecommunications network, evaluated in a remote maintenance center.
The present invention is based on the object of further developing this device and this method.
According to the invention the elevator installation comprises a device for detecting several sensor signals. The device is mounted on at least one car or counterweight of the elevator installation. The device comprises at least one processor and at least one computer-readable data memory in at least one device housing. A first sensor is a position sensor and/or speed sensor and/or acceleration sensor, which is arranged in and/or at the device housing.
This has the advantage that the device can automatically detect sensor signals and thus provide relevant items of maintenance information about the elevator installation independently of sensors or actuators of the elevator installation.
Advantageously the first sensor detects the movement of the car or of the counterweight. Advantageously the position sensor detects positions of the car or of the counterweight, and the speed sensor detects speeds of the car or of the counterweight. Advantageously the acceleration sensor detects accelerations and/or vibrations of the car or the counterweight.
This has the further advantage that movements of the car or the counterweight are detected by the device. In particular, the behavior over time of positions or speeds or accelerations or vibrations as well as the standstill of the car or of the counterweight are detected by the device.
Advantageously the invention also comprises the device as such, comprising at least one processor and at least one computer-readable data memory in at least one device housing, wherein the first sensor is a position sensor and/or speed sensor and/or acceleration sensor, which is arranged in and/or at the device housing. Advantageously the invention also comprises the method for normal operation of an elevator installation with such a device.
Advantageously the device comprises a second sensor arranged in and/or at the device housing. The second sensor is a camera and/or a noise level sensor and/or a light sensor and/or an infrared sensor and/or a movement sensor and/or a smoke sensor. Advantageously, the second sensor detects the car interior and/or the opening or closing of at least one door and/or at least one shaft. Advantageously the door is a car door and/or a floor door and the second sensor detects a car door threshold and a floor door threshold. Advantageously at least one interior of the shaft is detected; advantageously at least one end of the shaft is detected.
This has the particular advantage that a car occupancy or the functioning of the door or of a car lighting or the positioning of the car at a floor or an entry of the shaft by a person or changes in the shaft such as smoke or special noises, etc., is detected by the device.
The device advantageously comprises at least one communications interface. The communications interface is arranged in and/or at the device housing. Further sensor signals of at least one sensor arranged outside the device housing are detected by way of the communications interface.
This brings the advantage that the communications interface can detect further sensor signals from outside the device housing, which leads to a greater variety as well as higher accuracy in the evaluation of the sensor signals.
Advantageously the device is mounted below the car or the counterweight. Advantageously the device is mounted above the car or the counterweight. Advantageously the device is mounted laterally of the car or the counterweight. Advantageously at least one second sensor is connected with the device housing by way of a support. Advantageously at least one second sensor is connected with the device housing by way of a three-dimensionally orientable support.
This brings the further advantage that the device can be variously mounted at the car or at the counterweight. In addition, it is advantageous that the second device is selectively orientable to the elevator installation, which increases the quality of the signal information.
Advantageously the first sensor communicates first sensor signals to the processor and/or the computer-readable data memory by way of at least one signal line. Advantageously the second sensor communicates second sensor signals to the processor and/or the computer-readable data memory by way of at least one signal line. Advantageously the communications interface communicates further sensor signals to the processor and/or the computer-readable data memory by way of at least one signal line. Advantageously at least one computer program means is loaded from the computer-readable data memory into the processor by way of at least one signal line. Advantageously the communicated first sensor signals are evaluated by the computer program means in a first method step. Advantageously the communicated second sensor signals are evaluated by the computer program means in a second method step. Advantageously the communicated further sensor signals are evaluated by the computer program means in a further method step.
This brings the advantage that the detected sensor signals are already evaluated by the device and do not have to be passed on to an external evaluating unit.
Advantageously at least one item of maintenance information “differentiation of the floor position of the car” or “time plot of the floor position of the car” or “number of car journeys” or “time period of a car journey” or “time period of the car journeys” or “time plot of the car journeys” or “number of the floor stops of the car” or “time period of a floor stop of the car” or “time period of the floor stops of the car” or “time plot of the floor stops of the car” or “travel path covered by the car” or “horizontal vibrations of the car” or “vertical vibrations of the car” is evaluated from the first sensor signals.
Advantageously at least one item of maintenance information “instantaneous car occupancy” or “time plot of the car occupancy” or “number of door movements” or “instantaneous door state” or “time period of the door movement” or “time plot of the door movement” or “instantaneous state of car lighting” or “time plot of the car lighting” or “degree of horizontal and/or vertical flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold” or “time plot of the degree of flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold” or “instantaneous shaft state” or “time plot of the shaft state” or “noise level from a car interior” or “noise level of a door drive” or “noise level from a shaft” or “time plot of such a noise level” or “smoke from a car interior” or “smoke from an interior of a shaft” is evaluated from the second sensor signals.
Advantageously several items of maintenance information are logically interlinked by the computer program means. Advantageously an item of maintenance information “number of car journeys” is logically linked with an item of maintenance information “time plot of the car occupancy” to form an item of maintenance information “differentiation of the car occupancy” or an item of maintenance information “time period of a car journey” and an item of maintenance information “time period of a floor stop of the car” and an item of maintenance information “instantaneous car occupancy” are logically interlinked to form an item of maintenance information “trapped passenger”.
This has the particular advantage that the computer program means logically links and intelligently evaluates items of maintenance information.
Advantageously with the item of maintenance information “differentiation of the car occupancy” car journeys are subdivided into a “number of empty journeys” and a “number of load-carrying journeys” or into a “number of car journeys without passengers” or “number of car journeys with one passenger” or “number of car journeys with two passengers” or “number of car journeys with three passengers” up to “number of full load journeys”.
This has the advantage that the item of maintenance information “differentiation of the car occupancy” supplies a statement about the actual passenger incidence in simple mode and manner.
Advantageously at least one item of maintenance information is compared by the computer program means with at least one reference value. The reference value is loaded form the computer-readable data memory into the processor by way of the signal line. In the case of a negative comparison result at least one alarm report is generated by the computer program means and in the case of a positive computer result at least one serviceability report is generated by the computer program means. Advantageously the computer program means evaluates the detected sensor signals specific to floors.
Advantageously the device comprises at least one communications module, which is arranged in and/or at the device housing. Advantageously the communications module communicates at least one report in at least one network. Advantageously the processor is connected with the communications module by way of at least one signal line. Advantageously the alarm report or the serviceability report of the processor is communicated by the processor to the communications module by way of the signal line and communicated by the communications module in the network.
Advantageously the report in the network is communicated to at least one remote maintenance center. Advantageously at least one detected sensor signal or at least one evaluated sensor signal or at least one item of maintenance information is communicated together with the report to the remote maintenance center. Advantageously the remote maintenance center receives at least one report by at least one communications module in the network. The remote maintenance center checks the communicated report. If an alarm report is communicated, then the remote maintenance center investigates the detected sensor signal communicated with the alarm report or the evaluated sensor signal communicated with the alarm report or the item of maintenance information communicated with the alarm report and if a disturbance, which is linked with the alarm report, of an elevator installation cannot be eliminated in another mode and manner summons at least one maintenance engineer who undertakes appropriate maintenance of the elevator installation on site.
Advantageously at least one report is communicated or received from the maintenance engineer by at least one communications module in the network. At least one report or at least one detected sensor signal or at least one evaluated sensor signal or at least one item of maintenance information is communicated to the maintenance engineer by the communications module of the remote maintenance center or by the communications module of the device in the network.
This has the advantage that the maintenance engineer can perform several maintenance actions assisted by maintenance information.
Advantageously the maintenance engineer interrogates in the network an item of maintenance information “instantaneous car occupancy” at the remote maintenance center or at the device, whereupon an item of maintenance information “instantaneous car occupancy” is communicated by the communications module of the remote maintenance center or by the communications module of the device in the network. Advantageously the item of maintenance information “instantaneous car occupancy” is received by the maintenance engineer in a machine room of the elevator installation. If the received item of information “instantaneous car occupancy” indicates no passengers in a car, then the car is temporarily stopped by the maintenance engineer for maintenance.
Advantageously an item of maintenance information “time plot of the door movement” is investigated by the maintenance engineer in the remote maintenance center or on the way to the elevator installation and the correct opening or closing of at least one door is ascertained specifically to a floor.
This has the advantage that the maintenance engineer does not have to perform this maintenance action on site, which saves costs and effort.
Advantageously the device comprises an electrical power supply arranged in and/or at the device housing. Advantageously the electrical power supply supplies the processor, the computer-readable data memory, the first sensor and optionally the second sensor and/or the further sensor and/or the communications module with electrical power by way of at least one electrical power line. Advantageously the electrical power supply is designed for autonomy of the device in terms of energy for a year.
This has the particular advantage that the device is operable independently of an external electrical power supply of the building or the elevator installation.
Advantageously a computer program product comprises at least one computer program means suitable for realizing the method for maintenance of an elevator installation in such a manner that at least one method step is executed when the computer program means is loaded into the processor. Advantageously the computer-readable data memory comprises such a computer program product.
Advantageously an existing elevator installation comprising at least one car or at least one counterweight can be retrofitted with at least one device in that the device is mounted below and/or above and/or laterally of the car or the counterweight.
Advantageously an existing elevator installation comprising at least one car or at least one counterweight is modernized in that at least one device is mounted at the car or at the counterweight in that first sensor signals or further sensor signals are evaluated by the computer program means to form an item of maintenance information “number of car journeys” and second sensor signals are evaluated to form an item of maintenance information “time plot of the car occupancy”. The computer program means logically links the item of maintenance information “number of car journeys” and the item of maintenance information “time plot of the car occupancy” to form an item of maintenance information “differentiation of the car occupancy”. For the modernization the power of a car drive and the size of a counterweight are so designed that they correspond with the actual incidence of traffic according to the item of maintenance information “differentiation of the car occupancy”.
Exemplifying embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by way of the figures, for which purpose, in partly schematic form:
The device 10 is illustrated in several exemplifying embodiments. According to
The first sensor 5, 5′ is a position sensor and/or a speed sensor and/or an acceleration sensor. The first sensor 5, 5′ is, for example, a micromechanical single or multiple sensor which is arranged on a substrate. The first sensor 5, 5′ has at least one output at which first sensor signals in the form of speed and/or acceleration signals can be tapped. Embodiments of a first sensor 5, 5′ are explained by way of example in the following:
The second sensor 6, 6′ is a camera and/or a noise level sensor and/or a light sensor and/or an infrared sensor and/or a movement sensor and/or a smoke sensor. The second sensor 6, 6′ detects the car interior 20.1, 21.2 and/or the opening or closing of at least the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 and/or a car door threshold and a floor door threshold and/or the door drive 20.2, 21.2 and/or the shaft S20, S21. The second sensor 6, 6′ has at least one output at which second sensor signals in the form of image signals can be tapped. Explanations of a second sensor 6, 6′ are explained by way of example in the following:
The communications interface 7 is a known and proven interface for data communication with a sensor arranged outside the device housing 11. For example, the communications interface 7 is a serial interface such as a universal serial bus (USB), RS232, etc., or the communications interface 7 is a parallel interface such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI), IEEE 1284, etc. The data communication with the sensor arranged outside the device housing 11 is effected by way of at least one signal line between the sensor and the communications interface 7.
The device 10 comprises at least one processor 1 and at least one computer-readable data memory 2, which are arranged in and/or at the device housing 11. The processor 1 and the computer-readable data memory 2 are arranged on a circuitboard and connected together by way of at least one signal line 8. The processor 1 and the computer-readable data memory 2 communicate bidirectionally in a network according to known and proven network protocols such as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or Internet Packet Exchange (IPX).
At least one computer program means is loaded from the computer-readable data memory 2 into the processor 1 and executed. The computer program means evaluates detected sensor signals. For this purpose the sensors 5, 5′, 6, 6′ and the communications interface 7 are connected with the processor 1 and/or the computer-readable data memory 2 by way of at least one signal line 8. The sensor signals are continuously or discontinuously detected by the sensors 5, 5′, 6, 6′ and the communications interface 7 and communicated to the processor 1. Sensor signals are, for example, detected at time intervals of milliseconds (msec) or seconds (sec) or minutes (min) or hours (h). The first sensor 5, 5′ communicates first sensor signals, the second sensor 6, 6′ communicates second sensor signals and the communications interface 7 communicates further sensor signals. The computer program means evaluates first sensor signals in a first method step, the computer program means evaluates second sensor signals in a second method step and the computer program means evaluates further sensor signals in a further method step. The computer program means determines the degree of correspondence of the detected signals with at least one reference value. The reference value is stored in the computer-readable data memory 2 and loadable into the processor 1 by way of the signal line 8. In the case of a high degree of correspondence the statement confidence and reliability of the evaluation is high and with low correspondence the statement confidence and reliability of the evaluation is low. The sensor signals evaluated by the computer program means are communicated to the computer-readable memory 2 and stored.
In the first method step first sensor signals of a position sensor and/or a speed sensor and/or an acceleration sensor are evaluated. A car journey consists of the phases: acceleration of the car 20, 21 from a start floor stop, travel of the car 20, 21 at substantially constant speed and braking of the car 20, 21 into a destination floor stop. The first sensor signal of the position sensor and/or speed sensor and/or acceleration sensor supply an unambiguous statement about a start and an end of a car journey.
First sensor signals of the position sensor supply as items of maintenance information “positions of the car 20, 21 in the shaft S20, S21”. The positions detected by the position sensor are compared by the computer program means with at least one reference value in the form of a reference position. For example, reference positions give the position of the car 20, 21 at floors S1-S8. The positions detected by the position sensor are evaluated by the computer program means and indicate an instantaneous floor position of the car 20, 21.
The positions detected by the position sensor are provided with a time stamp. The computer program means ascertains from the difference of the time instants of positions of the car 20, 21 as an item of maintenance information a “time period of a car journey” or a “time period of a floor stop of the car 20, 21”. The positions provided with time stamps can be summated in freely selectable time windows and supplied as an item of maintenance information a “differentiation of the floor position of the elevator car 20, 21” or a “time plot of the floor position of the car 20, 21” or a “number of car journeys” or a “time period of the car journeys” or a “number of floor stops of the car 20, 21” or a “time period of the floor stops of the car 20, 21” or a “travel path covered by the car 20, 21”.
The first sensor signals of the speed sensor of the simple integration of the first sensor signals of the acceleration sensor according to time supplies or supply speeds of the car 20, 21 during the car journey. The first sensor signals of the acceleration sensor supply accelerations of the car 20, 21 during a car journey. The speeds and accelerations are detected in directionally-dependent manner and differentiated into upward journeys and downward journeys. The single integration of the first sensor signals of the speed sensor according to time or the double integration of the first sensor signals of the acceleration sensor according to time supplies, as an item of maintenance information, a “travel path of the car 20, 21 covered in the car journey”. The computer program means thus ascertains from the simple integration of the first sensor signals of the speed sensor according to time or from the double integration of the first sensor signals of the acceleration sensor, as item of maintenance information, “a travel path of the car 20, 21 covered”.
The computer program means thus ascertains a time instant of the start of the acceleration of the car 20, 21 from a start floor stop and a time instant at the end of braking of the car 20, 21 into a destination floor stop. The computer program means determines therefrom at least one item of maintenance information such as a “number of car journeys” or a “number floor stops of the car 20, 21”. In addition, the computer program means determines, as an item of maintenance information, a “time period of a car journey” or a “time period of a floor stop of the car 20, 21” from the difference of these time instants.
Further items of maintenance information such as a “number of car journeys” or a “number of floor stops of the car 20, 21” or a “time period of a car journey” or a “time period of a floor stop of the car 20, 21” or a “travel path covered by the car 20, 21” can be summated in freely selectable time windows. This summation can be carried out specifically to a floor. The result of this summation is an item of maintenance information “time plot of the car journeys” or “time plot of the floor stops of the car 20, 21”. By a time plot of a state variable there is understood the time behavior of the state variable. The “time plot of the car travels” accordingly indicates the car journeys coded in terms of time.
First sensor signals of a three-axis acceleration sensor supply, as items of maintenance information, “horizontal vibrations of the car 20, 21” or “vertical vibrations of the car 20, 21”. The computer program means determines the degree of correspondence of the vibrations, which are detected by the three-axis acceleration sensor, with reference values in the form of reference vibrations. The degree of correspondence can be measured in mg and quantified. For example, horizontal vibrations are still acceptable if they lie in the range of greater than 13 mg or equal to 16 mg; horizontal vibrations are small if they lie in the range of greater than 10 mg or equal to 13 mg and horizontal vibrations are very small if they lie below 10 mg. Correspondingly, vertical vibrations are still acceptable if they lie in the range of greater than 15 mg or equal to 18 mg; vertical vibrations are small if they lie in the range of greater than 10 mg or equal to 15 mg and vertical vibrations are very small if they lie below 10 mg.
In the second method step second sensor signals of a camera and/or a noise level sensor and/or a light sensor and/or an infrared sensor and/or a movement sensor and/or a smoke sensor are evaluated.
Second sensor signals of a camera supply an image from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 and/or about the opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 and/or from the shaft S20, S21. The image detected by the camera is evaluated by the computer program means and for this purpose compared with a reference value in the form of a reference image. The reference image indicates a reference state of the car interior 20.1, 21.1 or a reference state of a car lighting or a reference state on opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 or a reference state of the degree of flushness of a car door threshold with a floor door threshold. For example, reference images indicate in 10% steps an empty car interior 20.1, 21.1 or a full car interior 20.1, 21.1 or a lit car interior 20.1, 21.1 or an unlit car interior 20.1, 21.1 or an open door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 or a closed door 20.2, 21.2, T1-T8 or a sufficient degree of flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold or an insufficient degree of flushness of the car door threshold with floor door thresholds or an empty interior of the shaft S20, S21 or entry of the interior of the shaft S20, S21. With knowledge of the present invention the expert can obviously undertake other, for example finer, degrees of stepping in the comparison of the image detected by the camera with the reference image. Obviously also 5% steps or 1% steps can be undertaken instead of the afore-described 10% steps.
The computer program means determines a degree of correspondence of the image detected by the camera with the reference image. The degree of correspondence can be measured and quantified in pixel units and/or length units and/or brightness units. The computer program means determines from the comparison of the image detected by the camera with a reference image, as item of maintenance information, an “instantaneous car occupancy” as well as a time instant of the opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 or, as item of maintenance information, an “instantaneous door state” or the “degree of horizontal and/or vertical flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold” or an “instantaneous shaft state” or an “instantaneous state of the car lighting”. The computer program means in that case determines, from a plurality of reference images, that image which has the greatest correspondence with the image detected by the camera.
Several images detected by the camera are compared by the computer program means as an image sequence with a reference value in the form of a reference image sequence. Thus, the opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 is recorded as an image sequence with 25 images per second. Deviations from the reference door movement such as jamming or shuddering or reversing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 are ascertained as a pixel difference in individual images of the image sequence with those of the reference image sequence.
The image detected by the camera can also be measured. The computer program means determines, as a further item of maintenance information, a “horizontal difference of car door threshold and floor door threshold” and/or a “vertical difference of car door threshold and floor door threshold” and compares this determined difference of car door threshold and floor door threshold with a reference value in the form of a reference difference of car door threshold and floor door threshold. A sufficient degree of flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold is present when the horizontal difference of car door threshold and floor door threshold is less than or equal to 20 millimeters and/or when the vertical difference of car door threshold and floor door threshold is less than or equal to 35 millimeters; the degree of flushness is otherwise insufficient.
The image detected by the camera is provided with a time stamp. The computer program determines, as item of maintenance information, a time period of the door movement from the difference of the time instants of images in the opening and closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8. The computer program means compares this item of maintenance information, which is determined from time stamps, “time period of the door movement” with a reference value in the form of a reference time period of the door movement. A normal door movement is present when it is between 3.5 and 3.0 seconds. A quick door movement is present when it is less than 3.0 seconds.
The result of the comparison of the image detected by the camera with the reference image can be summated in freely selectable time windows and supplies, as item of maintenance information, a “time plot of the car occupancy” or a “number of door movements” or a “time plot of the door movement” or a “time plot of the degree of flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold” or a “time plot of the shaft state” or a “time plot of the car lighting”. This summation can be carried out specifically to a floor. For example, the “time plot of the car occupancy” indicates the nature of the car occupancy at rush hours (morning or evening) or at weekdays (Monday to Friday) as well as weekends (Saturday and Sunday). The maintenance information “time plot of the car occupancy” thus supplies a statement about how much traffic the elevator installation 100 has to manage at which times. Since a large amount of traffic leads to wear, the maintenance information “time plot of the car occupancy” allows an installation-specific preventative maintenance. In addition, the elevator installation 100 shall be available without fault particularly where there is a large amount of traffic and the item of maintenance information “time plot of the car occupancy” thus allows an installation-specific serviceability check. The same applies to the “time plot of the door movement” or the “time plot of the degree of flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold” or the “time plot of the car occupancy”. Since the shaft S20, S21 in normal operation of the elevator installation 100 should not, for reasons of safety, be entered, the “time plot of the shaft state” permits a check that in fact in normal operation of the elevator installation 100 nobody enters the interior of the shaft S20, S21. This applies particularly to the ends of the shaft, i.e. the shaft head and the shaft pit. This check can be carried out permanently.
Second sensor signals of a noise level sensor supply, as item of maintenance information, “noise level from the car interior 20.1, 21.1” or “noise level from the car drive 20.2, 21.2” or “noise level from the shaft S20, S21”. The noise level detected by the noise level sensor is compared by the computer program means with at least one reference value in the form of a reference noise level. The reference noise level indicates a reference state of the noise level from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 or the noise level from the door drive 20.2, 21.2 or the noise level from the shaft S20, S21.
The computer program means determines the degree of correspondence of the noise level detected by the noise level sensor with the reference noise level. The degree of correspondence can be measured and quantified in dB and/or time units. For example, a noise level from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 is satisfactory if it lies in the range of greater than 53 dB or equal to 56 dB, the noise level from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 is good when it lies in the range of greater than 50 dB or equal to 53 dB and the noise level from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 is very good when it lies below 50 dB. Correspondingly, a noise level from the door drive 20.2, 21.2 or a noise level from the shaft S20, S21 is acceptable when it is less than or equal to 60 dB.
The second sensor signals of the noise level sensor supply information about the starting and stopping of the door drive 20.1, 21.2. The computer program means thus determines the time period in which the door drive 20.2, 21.2 runs during opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8. This time period of the running of the door drive 20.2, 21.2 substantially corresponds with the item of maintenance information “time period of the door movement”. The computer program means determines a degree of correspondence of the time period of the running of the door drive 20.2, 21.2 with a reference value in the form of a reference time period of the door drive. A normal door movement is present when the time period of the running of the door drive 20.2, 21.2 lies between 3.5 and 3.0 seconds. A quick door movement is present when the time period of the running of the door drive 20.2, 21.2 is less than 3.0 seconds.
The result of the evaluation of the noise level, which is detected by the noise level sensor, from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 or noise level from the door drive 20.2, 21.2 or noise level from the shaft S20, S21 can be summated in freely selectable time windows and supplies, as item of maintenance information, a “time plot of such a noise level”. This summation can be carried out specifically to a floor.
Second sensor signals of a light sensor supply, as items of maintenance information, “degrees of brightness from the car interior 20.1, 21.1”. The degrees of brightness detected by the light sensor are compared by the computer program means with at least one reference value in the form of a reference brightness. The computer program means determines the degree of correspondence of the degrees of brightness detected by the light sensor with the reference brightness. The degree of correspondence can be measured and quantified in lux. For example, a brightness from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 is satisfactory when it lies in the range of 50 to less than or equal to 60 lux, the brightness from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 is good when it lies in the range of 60 to less than or equal to 100 lux and the brightness from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 is very good when it lies above 100 lux. The result of this evaluation is the instantaneous state of the car lighting.
The result of the valuation of the degrees of brightness, which are detected by the light sensor, from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 can be summated in freely selectable time windows and supply the item of maintenance information “time plot of the car lighting”.
Second sensor signals of an infrared sensor supply a thermal image from the car interior 20.1, 21.1. The thermal image detected by the infrared sensor is compared by the computer program means with at least one reference value in the form of a reference thermal image. The computer program means determines the degree of correspondence of the thermal image detected by the infrared sensor with the reference thermal image. The degree of correspondence can be measured and quantified in pixels. For example, reference thermal images in 10% steps indicate an empty car interior 20.1, 21.1 or a full car interior 20.1, 21.1. The computer program means thus determines, from a plurality of reference images, that which has the greatest correspondence with the thermal image detected by the infrared sensor. The computer program means determines, as item of maintenance information, an instantaneous car occupancy from the comparison of the thermal image detected by the infrared sensor with a reference numeral image.
Several thermal images detected by the infrared sensor can be compared with one another. The computer program means compares thermal images, which are successive in time, with one another and determines temperature changes in the car interior 20.1, 21.1. The computer program means determines, as item of maintenance information, an “instantaneous car occupancy” from the size and number of image regions with temperature changes.
The thermal image detected by the infrared sensor is provided with a time stamp. The result of this comparison of the thermal image detected by the infrared sensor with the reference thermal image can be summated into freely selectable time windows and supplies, as an item of maintenance information, a “time plot of the car occupancy”. This summation can be carried out specifically to a floor.
Second sensor signals of a movement sensor supply movements from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 and/or about the opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8. The movements detected by the movement sensor are evaluated by the computer program means. For example, movements from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 indicate an “instantaneous car occupancy” or movements about the opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8 indicate, as item of maintenance information, an “instantaneous door state”.
The movements detected by the movement sensor are provided with a time stamp. The computer program means determines, as item of maintenance information, a time period of the door movement from the difference of the time instants of movements in the opening or closing of the door 20.3, 21.3, T1-T8. The computer program means compares this item of information “time period of the door movement” ascertained from time stamps with a reference value in the form of a reference time period of the door movement. A normal door movement is present when it is between 3.5 and 3.0 seconds. A quick door movement is present when it is less than 3.0 seconds.
The movements provided with time stamps or the result of the comparison of the movements detected by the movement sensor with the reference time period can be summated in freely selectable time windows and supply, as item of maintenance information, a “time plot of the car occupancy” or a “number of door movements” or a “time period of the door movement” or a “time plot of the door movement”. This summation can be carried out specifically to a floor.
Second sensor signals of a smoke sensor supply smoke data about the car interior 20.1, 21.1 and/or smoke data about the interior of the shaft S20, S21. The smoke data detected by the smoke sensor are evaluated by the computer program means. For example, smoke data from the car interior 20.1, 21.1 indicate an item of maintenance information “smoke from a car interior 20.1, 21.1” and smoke data from the interior of the shaft S20, S21 indicate an item of maintenance information “smoke from an interior of a shaft S20, S21”.
At least one first sensor 5, 5′ can be combined with at least one second sensor 6, 6′ and/or with at least one communications interface 7 in the device 10. Numerous combination possibilities are in that case possible. Some of these are explained by way of example in the following:
In the exemplifying embodiment according to
In the exemplifying embodiment according to
In the example of embodiment according to
In the exemplifying embodiment according to
The device 10 comprises at least one communications module 3. The communications module 3 can bidirectionally communicate in a network 12. The network 12 can be realized by radio network or landline network. Known radio networks are Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) or WiFi (IEEE 802.11). Known landline networks are the cable-bound Ethernet, Power Line Communication (PLC), etc. PLC allows data transmission by way of the electrical power supply of the car 20, 21 or by way of other lines, which are present, of the car 20, 21. Known network protocols for communication are TCP/IP, UDP and IPX. The processor 1 is connected with the communications module 3 by way of at least one signal line 8. The processor 1 can thus communicate at least one report to the communications module 3 by way of the signal line 8 and communicate by the communications module 3 in the network 12. With knowledge of the present invention it is also possible for a sensor arranged outside the device housing 11 to also communicate, instead of the communications interface 7, by way of the communications module 3 with the device 10 and thus communicate further sensor signals in the network 12.
The report is at least one alarm report or at least one serviceability report. An alarm report or a serviceability report is generated by the processor 1 in dependence on items of maintenance information. For this purpose the computer program means compares at least one item of maintenance information with at least one reference value. In the case of a negative comparison result at least one alarm report is generated and in the case of a positive comparison result at least one serviceability report is generated.
An alarm report or serviceability report is generated when a “number of car journeys” or a “time period of a car journey” or a “time period of car journeys” or a “number of floor stops of the car 20, 21” or a “time period of a floor stop of the car 20, 21” or a “time period of floor stops of the car 20, 21” or a “travel path covered by the car 20, 21” or “horizontal vibrations of the car 20, 21” or “vertical vibrations of the car 20, 21” or an “instantaneous car occupancy” or a “time plot of the car occupancy” or a “number of the door movements” or an “instantaneous door state” or a “time period of the door movement” or a “time plot of the door movement” or an “instantaneous state of the car lighting” or a “time plot of the car lighting” or a “degree of horizontal and/or vertical flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold” or a “time plot of the degree of flushness of the car door threshold with a floor door threshold” or a “noise level from a car interior 20.1, 21A” or a “noise level from a door drive “20.2, 21.2” or a “noise level from a shaft S20, S21” or a “differentiation of such a noise level” or a “time plot of such a noise level” or a “differentiation of the floor position of the car 20, 21” or a “time plot of the floor position of the car 20, 21” or a “smoke from a car interior 20.1, 21.1” or a “smoke from an interior of a shaft S20, S21” exceeds a reference value.
Several items of maintenance information can be logically interlinked by the computer program means to form items of maintenance information. Some of these are explained by way of example in the following:
According to
The maintenance engineer 001 similarly has a communications module (not shown in
The device 10 or the remote maintenance center 1000 can also communicate to a further communications module sensor signals detected by the device 10 or evaluated sensor signals or items of maintenance information in the network 12. Such a further communications module is, for example, a mobile telephone of a passenger or a dwelling control center in a dwelling of a passenger or a building control center in the building of the elevator installation 100. The dwelling control center or building control center is a communications module with an input means such as buttons, knobs, etc., and output means such as lights, screens, etc., and a network adapter. Thus, a passenger can, before he or she leaves a dwelling in the building, call up by the building control center in the network 12 the item of information “instantaneous car occupancy” at the remote control center 1000 or the device 10. As answer the passenger obtains transmission in the network 12 of the item of maintenance information “instantaneous car occupancy” as an image of the car interior 20.1, 21.1 on the screen. The passenger can thus ensure prior to a journey by a car 20, 21 whether and which passengers are present in the car 20, 21. In the same mode and manner a building control center can monitor the safe transport of the passenger by the item of maintenance information “instantaneous car occupancy”.
The device 10 comprises at least one electrical power supply 4. The electrical power supply 4 is arranged in and/or at the device housing. The electrical power supply 4 is, for example, a battery or an accumulator or a fuel cell or a solar cell or a wind turbine. The electrical power supply 4 supplies, by way of at least one electrical power line 9, the processor 1, the computer-readable data memory 2, the first sensor 5, 5′ and optionally the second sensor 6, 6′ and/or the communications interface 7 and/or the communications module 3 with electrical power. The electrical power supply 4 is designed for autonomy of the device 10 in terms of energy for a year. The electrical power supply 4 is, for example, renewed by exchange of the battery or the accumulator or the fuel cell. This exchange can be carried out by the maintenance engineer 001. The electrical power supply 4 can, however, also be recharged by connection of a further electrical power supply by way of at least one electrical power line or inductively. The further electrical power supply can be an electrical power supply of the car 20, 21 or of the elevator installation 100.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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08102359.0 | Mar 2008 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP09/52024 | 2/20/2009 | WO | 00 | 12/1/2010 |