Patent Application
20180305176
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for detecting an abnormal condition of an elevator system. In particular, the present invention relates to an abnormal condition detection device of an elevator system relating to rope sway and a method for detecting abnormal condition of an elevator relating to rope sway.
In an elevator which is installed in a high-rise building, when building sway or shaking occurs due to earthquakes or strong winds, elevator ropes and cables resonate and the magnitude of the oscillation increases, which will cause the ropes and cables to collide against the hoistway walls or caught by elevator equipments installed in the hoistway.
In such a case, not only the ropes and the cables are damaged, but also the operation of the elevator may be disturbed. For these reasons, various efforts have been made to detect abnormalities related to building sway.
For example, JP-A-2009-166939 discloses an elevator system for detecting an abnormality of rope sway using at least two cameras installed on a horizontal plane of the hoistway near the top of the hoistway, and the abnormality detection is carried out by taking an image of elevator ropes from two different angles on the same horizontal plane and calculating a difference between the current position and the original position of the elevator ropes.
However, in such a configuration, especially in a case when the elevator is installed in a high-rise building, not only it is difficult to accurately estimate vibration mode of a plurality of elevator ropes, it is impossible to accurately detect an abnormal condition of each individual rope when the extremely long elevator ropes extending a few hundred meters in the hoistway swing simultaneously and come into contact with each other due to building sway.
JP-A-2015-113182 discloses a method for detecting an abnormality of elevator ropes with fewer cameras by installing a camera in the middle of the hoistway with respect to the vertical direction of the hoistway and capturing an image of the ropes obliquely with respect to the vertical direction.
However, when the elevator is installed in a high-rise building, behavior of a plurality of elevator ropes cannot be monitored along the entire length from the intermediate position to either ends of the hoistway that may be few hundred meters away from the cameras installed at the intermediate position. It is particularly difficult to detect rope sway in a dark hoistway of a high-rise building.
In addition, as the tension of an elevator rope also varies depending on the numbers of passengers in the elevator car, constructing an elevator abnormality detection system capable of dealing with all of these factors involves complication of the rope sway detection device or program.
Therefore, there exists in the art a need for providing an elevator system, capable of detecting an abnormal condition relating to a building sway with less complicated structure even in the high-rise building and capable of performing an accurate elevator control in accordance with the estimated amplitude of the ropes or cables.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an abnormal condition detection device of an elevator relating to rope sway is disclosed. The elevator includes a governor having a governor rope wrapped around a governor sheave and a tension sheave. The abnormal condition detection device includes a plurality of TOF cameras each disposed at different heights in the hoistway and configured to monitor rope sway of the governor rope and capture an image of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras. The image includes image data and distance data of the governor rope. The abnormal condition detection device further includes a rope sway detector connected to the TOF cameras for detecting rope sway of the governor rope and transmitting an abnormal condition detection signal to an elevator controller.
The rope sway detector is configured to detect an abnormal condition of the governor rope by estimating maximum amplitude of the governor rope based on a vibration mode of the governor rope and amplitude of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras, and the vibration mode of the governor rope is calculated from amplitude changes of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras in time series.
In some embodiments, the amplitude changes of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras are calculated based on the difference between an actual position and a normal position of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras in time series.
In some embodiments, the actual position of the governor rope is calculated based on rope sway of the governor rope in the transverse direction with respect to each TOF camera and a distance between each TOF camera and the governor rope.
In some embodiments, the governor rope extends along a first path and a second path between the governor sheave and the tension sheave in a looped manner. The governor rope is attached to the elevator car at the second path adjacent to the elevator car, and the TOF cameras are arranged adjacent to the first path of the governor rope which is not attached to the elevator car
In some embodiments, each TOF camera monitors rope sway of the governor rope along the first path.
In some embodiments, the elevator controller is configured to control operation of the elevator car based on the maximum amplitude of the governor rope.
In some embodiments, the rope sway detector is configured to detect the abnormal condition if the maximum amplitude exceeds a threshold value.
In some embodiments, the rope sway detector transmits to the elevator controller a signal to immediately stop the elevator car if the maximum amplitude exceeds a first threshold value.
In some embodiments, the rope sway detector transmits to the elevator controller a signal to stop the elevator car at the nearest floor if the maximum amplitude exceeds a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value.
In some embodiments, the rope sway detector transmits to the elevator controller a signal to decelerate elevator car speed if the maximum amplitude exceeds a third threshold value that is less than the second threshold value.
In some embodiments, the governor rope further comprises a plurality of governor rope guards arranged along the vertical direction of the hoistway so as to accommodate the first path of the governor rope which is not attached to the elevator car.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for detecting abnormal condition of an elevator relating to rope sway is described. The method includes the steps of: monitoring rope sway of a governor rope using a plurality of TOF cameras each disposed at different heights in a hoistway; sending an image of the governor rope taken by each TOF camera to a rope sway detector, the image including image data and distance data of the governor rope; calculating vibration mode of the governor rope based on amplitude changes of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras on one vibration plane of the governor rope in time series; estimating a maximum amplitude of the governor rope based on the vibration mode of the governor rope and amplitude of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras; and detecting abnormal condition of the elevator if the maximum amplitude exceeds a threshold value.
In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of calculating an actual position of the governor rope in time series with respect to a normal position in a horizontal plane of the hoistway at each height of the TOF cameras, based on rope sway of the governor rope in the transverse direction with respect to each TOF camera and a distance between each TOF camera and the governor rope.
In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of calculating vibration direction and amplitude of the governor rope at each height of the TOF cameras in time series, based on the difference between the actual position and the normal position of the governor rope.
In some embodiments, detecting abnormal condition further includes transmitting a signal to immediately stop the elevator car to an elevator controller if the maximum amplitude exceeds a first threshold value.
In some embodiments, detecting abnormal condition further includes transmitting a signal to stop the elevator car at the nearest floor to the elevator controller if the maximum amplitude exceeds a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value.
In some embodiments, detecting abnormal condition further includes transmitting a signal to decelerate elevator car speed to the elevator controller if the maximum amplitude exceeds a third threshold value that is less than the second threshold value.
These and other aspects of this disclosure will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which can be briefly described as follows.
Furthermore, a governor 7 for limiting the speed of the elevator car 2 is installed in the hoistway. As shown in
As shown in
Next, the arrangement of the rope sway detector with time-of-flight (TOF) cameras in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
One advantage of adopting TOF camera instead of a conventional camera is that it not only makes it possible to reliably detect the oscillation of the governor rope 10 in total darkness, but also makes it possible to easily detect oscillations of the governor rope 10 in every direction in a horizontal plane (X-Y plane) with a single camera, since one single TOF camera 15 can detect rope sway in two different vector directions simultaneously, i.e. the transverse direction (left-right direction) and the backward and forward direction (the direction towards and away from the TOF camera 15) with respect to the camera's view.
Furthermore, in the present invention, utilizing a single governor rope 10 for detecting an abnormal condition of an elevator system relating to building sway can eliminate the need for monitoring a plurality of main ropes 6 as in the conventional building sway detection systems, which will improve accuracy of abnormal detection in the elevator system. Specifically, since the governor rope 10 is tightened by the governor sheave 8 and the tension sheave 9 over the entire length of the hoistway and, hence, the tension of the governor rope 10 is theoretically constant, the natural vibration mode of the governor rope 10 can be obtained more accurately than the main ropes 6.
Moreover, the length of the main ropes 6 between the elevator car 2 and the sheaves 4 varies as the elevator car 2 moves in the hoistway. As the length of the main ropes 6 between the elevator car 2 and the sheave 4 varies, amplitude and vibration mode of the main ropes 6 often change as well. However, since the RSD controller 14 in accordance with the present invention utilizes monitoring data of the first path 10a of the governor rope extending along the entire length of the hoistway, there is no need to consider change in amplitude and change in vibration mode of the main ropes 6 in response to length change of the main ropes 6 between the elevator car 2 and the sheaves 4 when the elevator car 2 moves in the hoistway.
Next, the configuration of the RSD controller 14 in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to
RSD controller 14 includes a risk analysis unit 17 and a power line communication/power supply (PLC/PSR) unit 18. The RSD controller 14 is generally arranged in a machine room (not shown) above the top floor of a building or arranged in an operation control panel (not shown) arranged at any specific location in a building.
The risk analysis unit 17 is connected to an elevator controller 19 via a network 20 including, but not limited to, a controller area network (CAN) so as to control the operation of the elevator car 2 based on the magnitude of the oscillation of the governor rope 10 as will be described later. The elevator controller 19 is generally responsible for controlling the operation of the elevator system, including elevator group control, elevator security, elevator speed, etc.
The risk analysis unit 17 is also connected through PLC/PSR unit 18 to a plurality of camera controllers 21 associated with respective TOF cameras 15 arranged as described above, and configured to receive an image of the governor rope 10 obtained from each TOF camera 15 in real time.
The elevator system 1 includes an alternating current (AC) power source (e.g. AC 100V), and the AC power is provided to the PLC/PSR unit 18. The PLC/PSR unit 18 is configured to convert the AC power to direct current (DC) power for supplying the DC power (e.g. DC 24V) through line 23 to the risk analysis unit 17. The PLC/PSR unit 18 is interconnected with the risk analysis unit 17 via a local area network 22 including but not limited to Ethernet and also interconnected with a plurality of camera controllers 21 associated with respective TOF cameras 15 via a communication line 16 including but not limited to power line communication (e.g. AC 100V).
Three TOF cameras 15, as described in detail with reference to
Although the RSD controller 14 in accordance with the present invention is described as a controller independent of the elevator controller 19, it may be implemented in the elevator controller 19 as a part of the operation control unit.
Next, a method of estimating the maximum amplitude of the governor rope 10 using the RSD controller 14 in accordance with the present invention will be described.
As shown in
As shown in
On the other hand, if building sway occurs when the building is subjected to strong winds or earthquakes, it can be recognized that the governor rope 10 oscillates and sways with respect to base position (indicated by dashed line) as shown in
In this case, each TOF camera 15 captures real-time image of the governor rope 10 swinging from side to side with respect to the normal position (base position). For example,
The risk analysis unit 17 of the RSD controller 14 receives real-time image of the governor rope 10 taken in the horizontal direction of the hoistway by each TOF camera 15. The image includes both image data and distance data regarding the governor rope 10. As shown in
Subsequently, the risk analysis unit 17 calculates vibration mode of the governor rope 10 from the amplitude changes at each height of the TOF cameras 15 on one vibration plane of the governor rope 10 in time series. Since the governor rope 10 is tightened by the governor sheave 8 and the tension sheave 9 over the entire length of the hoistway and thus the tension of the governor rope 10 is theoretically constant, the vibration mode of the governor rope 10 can be obtained more accurately than the elevator main ropes 6. Moreover, since the RSD controller 14 in accordance with the present invention utilizes monitoring data of the governor rope along the first path 10a which is not attached to the elevator car 2 for detecting abnormality of the elevator system 1 associated with building sway, there is no need to consider amplitude change and vibration mode change of elevator ropes 6 in response to length change of the ropes 6 between the elevator car 2 and the sheaves 4 when the elevator car 2 moves in the hoistway.
The risk analyst unit 17 then estimates the maximum amplitude of the governor rope 10 based on the calculated vibration mode and amplitude of the governor rope 10 at each height of the TOF cameras 15. For example, when the governor rope 10 is vibrating in mode 1 as shown in
The RSD controller 14 then proceeds to step 603 which estimates a maximum amplitude of the governor rope 10 based on the calculated vibration mode and amplitude of the governor rope 10 at each height of the TOF cameras 15 as described above and compares the maximum amplitude with three threshold values in order to control the operation of the elevator system 1. The threshold values are predetermined maximum amplitude values which may be set by taking into consideration the length, linear density and tension of the governor rope 10, the height of a building, etc.
At step 604, the maximum amplitude of the governor rope 10 is compared with a first threshold value. If the maximum amplitude exceeds the first threshold value, then the risk analysis unit 17 of the RSD controller 14 determines that the elevator system is in an abnormal condition and immediately transmits a signal to stop the elevator car 2 to the elevator controller 19 (step 607). Upon detecting the emergency stop condition at step 607, the elevator controller 19 may additionally generate a warning to an elevator service company for an inspection. Once the abnormal condition is cleared, the elevator controller 19 allows the RSD controller 14 to resume operation and the algorithm returns to step 601 to repeat process. If the maximum amplitude is less than the first threshold, then the algorithm proceeds to step 605 and the maximum amplitude is compared with a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value.
At step 605, if the maximum amplitude exceeds the second threshold value, then the risk analysis unit 17 determines that the risk of causing the main ropes 6 as well as the governor rope 10 to sway and collide against the elevator equipments is high, and the risk analysis unit 17 transmits a signal to the elevator controller 19 to stop the elevator car 2 at the nearest floor in order to allow the passengers to exit (step 608). Once the abnormal condition is cleared, the RSD controller 14 may be restarted either manually or automatically in a known manner and the algorithm returns to step 601 to repeat process. If the maximum amplitude is less than the second threshold, then the algorithm proceeds to step 606 and the maximum amplitude is further compared with a third threshold value that is less than the second threshold value.
At step 606, if the maximum amplitude exceeds the third threshold value, then the risk analysis unit 17 determines that the risk of causing the main ropes 6 as well as the governor rope 10 to sway and collide against the elevator equipments is relatively low, and the risk analysis unit 17 transmits a signal to the elevator controller 19 to decelerate car speed at step 609, followed by returning to step 601 to repeat process. If the maximum amplitude is less than the third threshold, then the risk analysis unit 17 of the RSD controller 14 determines that the elevator system 1 is in a normal condition (step 610). Following the execution of step 610, the algorithm returns to step 601 to repeat process.
Although a particular embodiment has been described with respect to rope sway detection of the governor rope 10 for the elevator car 2, the rope sway detection system according to the present invention may also be applied to the governor rope for a counter weight.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the exemplary embodiments as illustrated in the drawings, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
