Patent Application
20080023271
The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:
The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In respect of the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical.
Disposed on the outer side of the shaft walls on each of the floors is a conventional floor call transmitter 60 comprising an upward button and a downward button, which make it possible for the user to indicate a travel destination direction (upwardly or downwardly). Moreover, the first elevator car 30 is provided with a conventional car call transmitter 70 which makes it possible for the user to deliver, after entering the elevator car 30, a destination call with the desired destination floor.
In addition, the elevator installation 10 comprises an existing control unit 50 connected with the first drive 32. Moreover, the control unit 50 is disposed in data exchange with all floor call transmitters 60 and the car call transmitter 70.
On the basis of the afore-described existing elevator installation 10 according to
In a first step initially the existing control unit 50 is exchanged for a modern control unit 52. Parallel thereto the conventional floor call transmitter 60 and the car call transmitter 70 of the first elevator car 30 are removed and modern floor destination call panels 62 are installed in the region of the floors 11 to 18, and a modern car panel 72 is installed in the first elevator car 30. All floor destination call panels 62 and the car panel 72 are connected with the control unit 52, so that a data exchange is possible. Moreover, the first drive 32 is connected with the control unit 52.
The control unit 52 is equipped in such a manner that it can fulfill not only the functions of the former control unit 50, but also the functions of modern controls. After performance of these operations the elevator installation 10 is already functionally capable again, i.e. the first elevator car 30 could now already accept again a restricted operation, for example only in the upper floors.
Next, the newly installed control unit 52 is placed in the mode “conversion operation”, which can be already input in advance or set on site. In this mode the first elevator car 30 is blocked for a specific floor zone which must be kept free for the following installation operations. In addition, a reduced maximum travel speed can also be set. In the case of need, further safety precautions of mechanical nature can also be undertaken, such as, for example, the temporary installation of a safety brake.
A second drive 42 in the form of a hydraulic drive is now installed in the region of the pit of the shaft 20. The hydraulic drive is indicated in
Furthermore, a second elevator car 40 is installed in the shaft. This installation is carried out in such a manner that the second elevator car 40 is guided in the guide rails 34 which already guide the first elevator car 30. The second drive 42 is connected with the second elevator car 40 so that the second elevator car 40 is movable by the second drive 42. The second elevator car 40 is equipped with a modern car panel 72. This car panel 72 and the second drive 42 are connected with the control unit 52.
The now completely modernized elevator installation 10 is illustrated in
In the case of need several test journeys for functional checking of the subsequently installed hydraulic elevator can now be carried out. After successful conclusion of this test operation the mechanical safety measures undertaken for the first elevator car 30 can be uninstalled or the control unit 52 converted from the mode “conversion operation” to the mode “normal operation”.
A predetermined floor association for the two elevator cars 30, 40 is provided for the normal operation. In the present example of embodiment, for example, it is provided by way of example that the first elevator car 30 is associated with an upper floor zone B and the subsequently installed second elevator car 40 is associated with a lower floor zone A. In that case the floors 11, 12, 13 and 14 form the first floor zone A and the floors 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 form the second floor zone B. The two floor zones A, B thus overlap at the floor 14, which forms an interchange zone C. Alternatively, the interchange zone can also comprise several floors. The number of floors associated with the interchange zone C can be variably fixed on the basis of operating parameters such as, for example, the time of day or the incidence of transport traffic. In addition, the position of the individual interchange floor or interchange zone C can be defined to be variable.
Instead of installing the new modern control unit 52, the conventional control unit 50 could, in the alternative, be maintained and so adjusted or configured that it can communicate in suitable manner not only with the first drive 32, but also with the second drive 42. In addition, the conventional floor call transmitters 40 and also the car call transmitter 70 could be retained.
The afore-described variants of the method are distinguished particularly by the fact that with a low outlay, namely with maintenance of the previous elevator car 30 and the associated drive 32, an increase in transport capacity can be achieved in that an additional elevator car 40 and an associated additional drive 42 are installed in the shaft 20. Advantageously, at the same time a modern control unit 52 is installed, which controls the first elevator car 30, the second elevator car 40, the first drive 32 and the second drive 42. Moreover, the method according to the invention makes it possible, during the modernization measures, to maintain an at least restricted operation by the former first elevator car 30.
Finally, it is expressly mentioned that the method, which for the sake of simplicity was explained by means of only one existing first elevator car 30 and one subsequently installed second elevator car 40, for modernization of an elevator installation can be readily carried out also on an elevator installation 10 already comprising several existing elevator cars 30 and also several elevator cars 40 can be subsequently installed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06117767.1 | Jul 2006 | EP | regional |
