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.
A first embodiment of the present invention is described in conjunction with the two snapshots in
Safety equipment is provided which comprises a first electro-optical detection system 20 with a first light source 21 arranged in a lower region of the upper elevator car A1, as schematically indicated in
In addition, the detection system 20 comprises a first detector 22 which comprises a light-sensitive first sensor region in an upper region of the upper elevator car A2. Photodiodes, phototransistors or other light-sensitive elements can be used as the sensor region 22.
The first light source 21 is so designed and arranged that it delivers a focused first light beam L1 at a first angle W1 with respect to the vertical direction z. In the illustrated example the light beam L1 is directed downwardly.
A snapshot (spacing between the cars amounts to S1) is shown in
If the relative spacing of the two elevator cars A1 and A2 now reduces to a minimum spacing S2, as shown in
According to the present invention the first angle W1 is so predetermined or set that on approach of the upper and lower elevator cars A1, A2 the first light beam L1 is incident on the first sensor region 22 as soon as the minimum spacing S2 is reached. At this instant of incidence the light beam L1 is thus detectable by the first detector 22, 24 and this detector 22, 24 triggers a reaction R1 which, for example, is passed on by way of a line or connection 23 to a control or the like.
The present invention now allows different forms of realization or constructional stages of the safety equipment.
In the simplest form of realization a reaction can be triggered directly on the first occasion of incidence of the light beam L1 on the sensor region 22. In this case it is sufficient if the sensor region 22 has a size—in the sense of area extent—which allows it to ensure that notwithstanding fluctuations in the elevator installation 10 a secure detection of the light beam L1 by the detector 22, 24 is possible.
A further form of realization of the present invention is indicated in
These sections are preferably able to be separately evaluated, i.e. they have respective individual electrical connections. For preference, with the different forms of embodiment there is provided an appropriate evaluating system 24 (or 24 and 28 in the case of
If now the same spacings as in
Since the upper elevator car A1 continues to move forward at the speed v1 towards the lower car A2 the ‘light spot’ generated by the light beam L1 displaces to the left. The safety equipment can now be so designed, programmed or set that with the first incidence at the section 22.1 of the sensor region 22 a pre-warning is given as a reaction or the elevator installation 10 or elevator car A1 and/or A2 is transferred to a pre-warning mode. If the light spot now goes beyond a previously fixed further section 22.4 of the sensor region 22 a final reaction can be triggered (for example, an emergency stop by triggering the braking equipment or the safety brake of the upper and/or the lower elevator car A1, A2). This two-stage approach offers additional safety and thereby assists with avoidance of erroneous triggerings.
A further form of realization of the present invention is now explained by reference to
A further variant is shown in
In the illustrated example the two angles are the same, i.e. W1=W2. The angles can, however, also be predetermined or set to be different. In the case of identical execution of the electro-optical detection systems and if W1=W2, the two electro-optical detection systems transmit signals at the same time or trigger reactions R3, R4 at the same time.
It is schematically indicated in the figures that the detectors trigger respective reactions. The form of reactions differs depending on the respective form of embodiment, programming or setting of the devices. In the figures it is indicated that the detectors are in a position of issuing signals or data by way of lines or other connections 23 or 27. These signals or data are then either processed before reactions are triggered or they directly trigger the reactions, for example in that they open a switch which is part of a safety circuit.
There are numerous possibilities of managing the triggering of the reactions. The respective realization depends on various details of the respective elevator installation 10. If, for example, the elevator installation has an own safety circuit per elevator car A1, A2, the safety circuit of the upper and/or lower elevator car A1, A2 can be interrupted by the detector or detectors.
A multi-mobile elevator installation 10 preferably comprises an own safety circuit per elevator car A1, A2 in which several safety elements, such as, for example, safety contacts and safety switches, are arranged in a series circuit. The corresponding elevator car A1 or A2 can be moved only when the safety circuit and thus also all safety contacts integrated therein are closed. The safety circuit is connected with the drive or the brake unit of the elevator installation 10 in order to interrupt travel operation of the corresponding elevator car A1 or A2 if such a reaction is desired.
The present invention can, however, also be used in elevator installations which are equipped with a safety bus system instead of the mentioned safety circuit.
Alternatively or additionally to opening the safety circuits also the brakes of the respective elevator cars A1, A2 can be triggered.
Alternatively or additionally also possible safety brakes of the respective elevator cars A1, A2 can be triggered.
Thus, one or several of the following reactions can be triggered by the detectors 22, 24 or 26, 28 depending on the respective form of embodiment:
opening a safety circuit of at least one elevator car A1, A2,
signal to an elevator control,
triggering a braking device of at least one elevator car A1, A2,
triggering a safety brake of at least one elevator car A1, A2,
transferring at least one elevator car A1, A2 to a pre-warning state,
adaptation of the vertical speed v1, v2 of at least one elevator car A1, A2.
Thus, a spacing control or a combined spacing and safety control can be realized by the present invention.
The angles W1, W2 can be set in a range of zero to 90° with respect to the vertical direction z. The angles W1, W2 preferably lie in the range between zero degrees and 60° degrees and, particularly preferably, between 10° and 50°.
Advantageously the angle W1, W2 is set to be variable in time in dependence on single or several parameters, such as the position, speed or acceleration of a elevator car A1, A2, the spacing, relative speed or relative acceleration of the elevator car A1, A2 relative to a reference point or the operational state of the elevator installation 10.
Thanks to the setting of the angle W1, W2 the angle W1, W2 can, for example, be set to be smaller in the case of a greater speed of the car A1, A2 so that the light beam L1, L2 is incident at an earlier point in time on the detector 22, 24 and this can thus trigger a reaction R1, R2, R3, R4 at an earlier point in time. With a lower speed, the necessity of an early reaction R1, R2, R3, R4 correspondingly reduces and thus a greater angle W1, W2 can be set. The connection between acceleration and angle behaves in analogous manner.
The operational state of the elevator installation 10, such as, for example, in the inspection or maintenance state, often presets a reduced maximum speed. Thus, in the case of an inspection travel of the elevator car A1, A2 the angle W1, W2 of the light beam L1, L2 can be increased after transfer of the elevator car A1, A2 to an inspection state, since the elevator car A1, A2 can be moved only at reduced speed.
The position of the elevator cars A1, A2 serves, for example, for the purpose of determining the time instant of a variable setting of the angle W1, W2. Accordingly, a critical spacing between the elevator cars A1, A2 or between an elevator car A1, A2 and the shaft end is defined. If this value is fallen below, the variable setting of the angle W1, W2 begins.
If several elevator cars travel in the same shaft 11, then corresponding safety equipment can also be provided between these elevator cars.
Moreover, corresponding sensor regions can also be provided at the lower and/or upper shaft end of the elevator shaft 11 so as to prevent a risk-laden approach of an elevator car to the respective shaft end. The operating principle is the same in this case as described in connection with the other forms of embodiment.
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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06119935.2 | Aug 2006 | EP | regional |