A method for controlling an elevator includes controlling the speed of a vertically moving elevator car during its run from a starting landing to a destination landing according to speed settings, the speed settings defining a constant target speed for the elevator car. The method includes obtaining measurement data of the ongoing run, which measurement data describes vertical speed and/or vertical acceleration of the vertically moving elevator car, determining whether the measurement data meets one or more predetermined criteria indicating unintended vertical speed and/or unintended vertical acceleration, and changing the speed settings of the current run by lowering the constant target speed from a first constant target speed to a second constant target speed if the measurement data meets said one or more predetermined criteria, continuing the run without intermediate stops to said destination landing. An elevator is provided to implement the method.

During an evacuation situation in a building that is equipped with an elevator system and in which a plurality of fixed point markers are arranged at defined sites, an escape route is transmitted to a person by means of a mobile device. The fixed point markers store data that can be received by the mobile device. An instantaneous position of the mobile device can be determined when the mobile device uses data received from a fixed point marker to access a database in which the data is linked to a site of the fixed point marker. The ascertainment of the escape route to a destination is based on the instantaneous position of the mobile device. The person is registered on reaching the destination when the mobile device is detected at the destination.

A method of monitoring vibratory signatures of an elevator car is provided. The method comprising: detecting at least one vibratory signature of an elevator car, the vibratory signature comprising: a first vibratory signature in a first direction; and determining a probable cause of the at least one vibratory signature by comparing the at least one vibratory signature to a known vibratory signature.

A hydraulic elevator system includes a power unit and elevator controller where the elevator car is controlled within the hoistway when a portion of the hoistway might be flooded. The power unit includes a water tight tank having a ventilation tube or snorkel. A moisture sensor is connected with the elevator controller, and positioned within the pit of the hoistway. The moisture sensor detects the existence of a flooded pit condition and communicates such a condition to the elevator controller. The elevator controller initiates a safety sequence when the presence of a flooded pit condition is detected to prevent the elevator car from entering a flooded area of the hoistway.

An elevator system includes a first car, a diagnosis operation control unit (12), a learning operation control unit (13), a setting unit (14), a second car, and an operation control unit (10). The diagnosis operation control unit (12) moves, after an occurrence of an earthquake, the first car to perform a diagnosis operation. The learning operation control unit (13) moves the first car to perform a learning operation. The setting unit (14) sets a reference range for detecting an abnormality in the diagnosis operation on the basis of learning data acquired in the learning operation. The operation control unit (10) controls a position of the second car so as not to be positioned at the same height as the first car when the learning operation is performed by the learning operation control unit (13).

An object of the present invention is to provide a sway amount estimation system that can suppress a reduction in user convenience that would occur if the operation method is switched more than necessary. A sway amount estimation system (300) includes a sensing unit (78), a judgment unit (80), and an estimation unit (79). The estimation unit (79) calculates an estimated value of the amount of sway of an elevator rope due to vibration caused by building sway based on the sway sensed by the sensing unit (78) and an estimation model incorporating the effect of the displacement amplification of the displacement amplifier (7). The judgment unit (80) judges if the estimated value calculated by the estimation unit (79) is greater than a threshold for switching the operation method for the elevator apparatus (11).

An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration damping device including an instability preventing means, for efficiently suppressing amplification of vibration of a long structure, which is mechanically flexible, due to a resonance phenomenon. A vibration damping device (100) for reducing vibration of a long structure (1) includes a displacement amplifier (7) and limiting members (8). The displacement amplifier (7) is arranged along a given position in the longitudinal direction of the structure (1). The displacement amplifier (7) amplifies a displacement of the structure (1). The limiting members (8) control displacement amplification performed by the displacement amplifier (7) such that the displacement of the structure (1) amplified by the displacement amplifier (7) does not become greater than a first displacement, the first displacement being a displacement of the structure (1) by which the structure (1) is not allowed to return to the equilibrium position of the vibration.

An elevator device includes an operation control unit (18), a storage unit (22), a transmission unit (23), a determination unit (25), and a recovery unit (26). When an inspection operation is interrupted by the operation control unit (18), the transmission unit (23) transmits inspection data stored in the storage unit (22) to a plurality of specific devices (20). The determination unit (25) determines whether or not recovery conditions are satisfied on the basis of a plurality of responses from the devices (20) to which the transmission unit (23) transmits the inspection data. For example, the recovery unit (26) restores a normal operation when the determination unit (25) determines that the recovery conditions are satisfied.

A building management system of an occupiable structure with an elevator system includes an elevator video display, a building computing device and a building status system. The building computing device includes a computer processor and a computer readable storage medium. The building status system is configured to send real-time building condition signals to the building computing device, and the building status system is configured to process the real-time building condition signals and output an associated information signal for display on the elevator video display.

A derailment detection apparatus for an elevator includes a conductive line, an upper support device configured to support an upper end portion of the conductive line, a lower support device configured to support a lower end portion of the conductive line, a contact element, which is installed on an ascending/descending body, and is brought into contact with the conductive line when the ascending/descending body derails from guide rail, and a detection unit configured to detect contact of the contact element with the conductive line. The lower support device is fixed to the guide rail by fastening a fastener, and is allowed to move upward and downward along the guide rail by loosening the fastener. The lower support device includes a guide portion configured to guide upward and downward movement of the lower support device along the guide rail.