MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR INCLINED PASSENGER CONVEYORS

Abstract

A monitoring system for an inclined passenger conveyor having a transportation band for conveying passengers between a lower landing region and an upper landing region; an endless drive member on which the transportation band is mounted, and at least one moving hand rail. The monitoring system includes at least one fault detection sensor, provided on a movable component of the inclined passenger conveyor; an associated pressure sensor provided adjacent to and associated with the or each fault detection sensor; and a controller. The or each associated pressure sensor is configured to measure the barometric pressure at a current position of its associated fault detection sensor.

Claims

1. A monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) for an inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210, 310) having a transportation band (12, 112, 212, 312) for conveying passengers between a lower landing region (52, 152, 252, 352) and an upper landing region (54, 154, 254, 354); an endless drive member (230, 330) on which the transportation band (12, 112, 212, 312) is mounted, and at least one moving hand rail (22, 122, 222, 322); wherein the monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) comprises: at least one fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a), provided on a movable component of the inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210; 310); an associated pressure sensor (74a, 174a, 274a, 374a) provided adjacent to and associated with the or each fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a); wherein the or each associated pressure sensor (74a, 174a, 274a, 374a) is configured to measure the barometric pressure at a current position of its associated fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a); and a controller (80, 180, 280, 290, 390); wherein the controller (80, 180, 280, 290, 390) is configured to: receive data relating to a barometric pressure at a first defined vertical height; receive data from the at least one fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a) indicative of a detected fault; determine a fault status from the detected fault data; receive data from the associated pressure sensor (74a, 174a, 274a, 374a); calculate a vertical height of the detected fault data based on a comparison between the barometric pressure at the first defined vertical height and the instantaneous barometric pressure at the location of the fault data; and determine the location of the determined fault status based on the calculated vertical height.

2. The monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) of claim 1, wherein the at least one fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a) is provided on one of: the transportation band (12, 112, 212, 312), the endless drive member (230, 330) or the moving handrail (22, 122, 222, 322).

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein at least one fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a) is provided in the form of an acceleration sensor.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a control station (290, 390) located remotely from the inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210, 310), wherein the controller (80, 180, 280, 290) is further configured to transmit data to the control station (290, 390).

5. The monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) of claim 1, wherein the control station (290, 390) utilises the transmitted data to predict maintenance and/or repair schedules.

6. The monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) of claim 1, further comprising a first stationary pressure sensor (70, 170, 270, 370) provided at a fixed point on the inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210, 310) and configured to measure the barometric pressure at the first defined vertical height.

7. The monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) of claim 1, wherein the controller (80, 180, 280, 380) is further configured to: receive data relating to a barometric pressure at a second defined vertical height; calculate the vertical height of the associated pressure sensor based on comparisons between: the barometric pressure at the first defined vertical height and the associated pressure sensor data; and the barometric pressure at the second defined vertical height and the associated pressure sensor data.

8. The monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) of claim 1, wherein the controller (80, 180, 280, 380) is further configured to determine whether the or each fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a) is moving in an upwards direction or a downwards direction.

9. An inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210, 310) comprising a monitoring system (60, 160, 260, 360) according to claim 1.

10. A method of monitoring an inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210, 310) having a transportation band (12, 112, 212, 312) for conveying passengers between a lower landing point (52, 152, 252, 352) and an upper landing point (54, 154, 254, 354); an endless drive member (230, 330) on which the transportation band (12, 112, 212, 312) is mounted, and at least one moving hand rail (22, 122, 222, 322); the method comprising: receiving data relating to a barometric pressure at a first defined vertical height; receiving fault data from at least one fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a) provided on a moveable component of the inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210, 310); receiving data relating to the instantaneous barometric pressure at the location of the fault data; calculate a vertical height of the detected fault data based on a comparison between the barometric pressure at the first defined vertical height and the instantaneous barometric pressure at the location of the fault data; determine a fault status from the detected fault data; and determine a location of the determined fault status based on the calculated vertical height.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving fault data comprises receiving fault data from at least one fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a) provided on one of: the transportation band, the endless drive member (230, 330) or the moving handrail (22, 122, 222, 322).

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving data relating to a barometric pressure at a second defined vertical height; and the calculating a vertical height of the detected fault data is based on comparisons between: the barometric pressure at the first defined vertical height and the instantaneous barometric pressure at the location of the fault data; and the barometric pressure at the second defined vertical height and the instantaneous barometric pressure at the location of the fault data.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether the at least one fault detection sensor (72a, 172a, 272a, 372a) is moving in an upwards direction or a downwards direction.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a location of the detected fault on a predetermined trajectory path, based on the determination of upwards or downwards travel direction and the calculated vertical height.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting data to a control station (290, 390) located remotely from the inclined passenger conveyor (10, 110, 210, 310).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Certain examples of this disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0055] FIG. 1 shows an escalator according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 2 shows an inclined moving walkway according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a monitoring system for an inclined passenger conveyor according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a schematic of a monitoring system for an inclined passenger conveyor according to an example of the present disclosure; and

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary method of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] The passenger conveyor shown in FIG. 1 is an escalator 10 comprising a transportation band 12 formed of a plurality of escalator steps 14. A truss 16 extends between a lower landing region 52 and an upper landing region 54. Two balustrades 20 which support moving handrails 22 extend parallel to the transportation band 12.

[0061] The transportation band 12 is coupled to a drive member (not shown in FIG. 1) which may be for example a drive belt or a drive chain. The drive member is driven by a drive means (not shown), such as a drive motor.

[0062] The escalator 10 is arranged to travel in a conveyance direction 50 (represented with the dashed line arrow). In FIG. 1, the conveyance direction is indicated as upwards. It will be appreciated that the escalator can also convey passengers in a reverse direction, i.e. in a downwards conveyance direction. When the escalator is operating to convey passengers upwards, the moveable components (such as the transportation band 12, the moving handrail 22 and the drive member) move in an upwards conveyance direction and a downwards return direction. When the escalator 10 is operating to convey passengers downwards, the moveable components move in a downwards conveyance direction and an upwards return direction.

[0063] The escalator 10 is provided with a monitoring system 60. The monitoring system 60 includes a first stationary barometric pressure sensor 70, a first fault detection sensor 72a with a first associated barometric pressure sensor 74a, a second fault detection sensor 72b with a second associated barometric pressure sensor 74b, and a controller 80.

[0064] The first stationary barometric pressure sensor 70 is provided in the lower landing region 52. It will be appreciated that the first stationary barometric pressure sensor 70 can be located at any known, fixed location on or near the escalator 10.

[0065] The first fault detection sensor 72a is fixed to the moving handrail 22, and the first associated barometric pressure sensor 74a is provided on the moving handrail 22, in close proximity to the first fault detection sensor 72a. The second detection fault sensor 72b is provided on one of the steps 14, and the second associated barometric pressure sensor 74b is provided on the step 14 on which the second fault sensor 74b is located, and in close proximity to the second fault detection sensor 72b.

[0066] It will be appreciated that additional fault detection sensors and associated barometric pressure sensors can be provided on any of the moveable component of the inclined passenger conveyor, for example at other locations on the moving handrail and/or on other steps 14, and/or on a drive chain/drive belt (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0067] The controller 80 is provided at the upper landing region 54. It will be appreciated that the controller 80 can be located at any known location on or near the escalator 10.

[0068] The passenger conveyor of FIG. 2 is an inclined pallet type moving walkway 110. The inclined moving walkway 110 comprises a transportation band 112 formed of a plurality of pallets 114. A truss 116 extends between a lower landing region 152 and an upper landing region 154. Two balustrades 120 which support moving handrails 122 extend parallel to the transportation band 112.

[0069] The inclined moving walkway 110 is arranged to travel in a conveyance direction 150 (represented with the dashed line arrow). In FIG. 2, the conveyance direction is indicated as upwards. It will be appreciated that the inclined moving walkway can also convey passengers in a reverse direction, i.e. in a downwards conveyance direction.

[0070] A monitoring system 160 includes a first stationary barometric pressure sensor 170 provided in the upper landing region 152. It will be appreciated that the first stationary barometric pressure sensor 170 can be located at any known, fixed location on or near the moving walkway 110.

[0071] A first fault detection sensor 172a is provided on the moving handrail 122, and an associated barometric pressure sensor 174a is provided on the moving handrail 122, in close proximity to the first fault detection sensor 172a.

[0072] A second fault sensor 172b is fixed on one of the pallets 114, and a second associated barometric pressure sensor 174b is provided on the pallet 114 on which the second fault sensor 172b is located, and in close proximity to the second fault detection sensor 172b.

[0073] A third fault detection sensor 172c is fixed on the drive member (not shown in the diagram), and an associated barometric pressure sensor 174c is provided on the drive member, in close proximity to the third fault detection sensor 172c.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a generic representation of an inclined passenger conveyor 210, for conveying passengers in a conveyance direction 250. It will be appreciated that this could represent the escalator shown in FIG. 1 or the inclined moving walkway of FIG. 2. For ease of understanding, FIG. 3 is a simplified, cross-sectional representation which highlights the moving components which move along the conveyance path and back along a return path.

[0075] The inclined passenger conveyor 210 includes a handrail 222, a transportation band 212 (dashed line) and a drive member 230 for driving the transportation band 212. The inclined passenger conveyor 210 is shown to be transporting passengers upwards (indicated with the arrow), in which case the handrail 222, the transportation band 212 and the endless drive member 230 (e.g. belt or chain) are all moving in a clockwise direction. It will be appreciated that the disclosure can be applied to an inclined passenger conveyor transporting passengers downwards.

[0076] A monitoring system 260 includes: a first stationary barometric pressure sensor 270 provided at the upper landing region; a second stationary barometric pressure sensor 270a provided at the lower landing region; a first fault detection sensor 272a with a first associated barometric pressure sensor 274a provided on the handrail 222; a second fault detection sensor 272b with a second associated barometric pressure sensor 274b provided on the conveyance band 212; and a third fault detection sensor 272c with a third associated barometric pressure sensor 274c provided on the drive member 230, and a controller 280.

[0077] The sensors 270, 270a, 272a, 272b, 272c, 274a, 274b, 274c are provided with a power source which could be a battery or include an energy harvesting module.

[0078] The sensors 270, 270a, 272a, 272b, 272c, 274a, 274b, 274c are configured for wireless communication with the controller 280.

[0079] The controller 280 is configured for wireless communication with a control station 290, located remotely from the passenger conveyor 210. For example, the controller 280 can be configured to electrically communicate with a cloud computing network via a network interface device. The network interface device includes any communication device (e.g., a modem, wireless network adapter, etc.) that operates according to a network protocol (e.g., Wi-Fi, Ethernet, satellite, cable communications, etc.) which establishes a wired and/or wireless communication with a cloud computing network.

[0080] FIG. 4 shows a generic representation of an inclined passenger conveyor 310 moving in a conveyance direction 250 having the same moving components as depicted in FIG. 3. The inclined passenger conveyor 310 includes a handrail 322, a transportation band 312 (dashed line) a drive member 330, and a monitoring system 360. The inclined passenger conveyor 310 is shown to be transporting passengers upwards (indicated with the arrow), in which case the handrail 322, the transportation band 312 and the endless drive member 230 are all moving in an anti-clockwise direction.

[0081] The monitoring system 360 of FIG. 4 includes a first fault detection sensor 372a with a first associated barometric pressure sensor 374a provided on the handrail 322; a second fault detection sensor 372b with a second associated barometric pressure sensor 372b provided on the conveyance band 312; and a third fault detection sensor 372c with a third associated barometric pressure sensor 374c provided on the drive member 330, a controller 380 and a control station 390.

[0082] The operation of the moving handrail monitoring system will now be described with reference to the examples described above and the method 500 as schematically represented in FIG. 5.

[0083] During operation of the inclined passenger conveyor, the handrail 22, 122, 222, 322 the transportation band 12, 112, 212, 312 and the endless drive member 230, 330 are driven. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the driven components move upwards in a conveyance direction, and in a downwards return direction. Fault detection sensors provided on one or more of these driven components monitor for abnormal conditions.

[0084] In the moving handrail monitoring system of FIG. 3, the first stationary pressure sensor 70, 170, 270 measures a static, reference barometric pressure P(ref) at the known location of the first stationary pressure sensor (Step 510). Data from the first stationary pressure sensor 70, 170, 270 is transmitted to and received by the controller 80, 180, 280.

[0085] In the moving handrail monitoring system of FIG. 4, a reference barometric pressure P(ref) is provided by one of the associated barometric pressure sensors 372a, 372b, 372c at a first defined vertical height. The reference barometric pressure P(ref) is advantageously determined at a maximum vertical height or a minimum vertical height of the associated barometric pressure sensor 372a, 372b, 372c, i.e. at a turning point corresponding to a maximum or a minimum barometric pressure reading of the associated barometric pressure sensor 372a, 372b, 372c.

[0086] Data from the or each fault detection sensor is transmitted to and received by the controller 80, 180, 280, 380 along with a barometric pressure reading P(fault) from the associated pressure sensor associated with the or each fault detection sensor (Step 520).

[0087] The or each associated pressure sensor provides a barometric pressure P(fault) reading at the location of the associated fault detection sensor. Data from the or each associated pressure sensors are transmitted to and received by the controller 80, 180, 280, 380 (Step 530).

[0088] A vertical height of the detected fault data is determined by comparison of the associated barometric pressure P(fault) with the reference barometric pressure P(ref) provided by the first stationary pressure sensor 270 or by one of the associated barometric pressure sensors 372a, 372b, 372c (step 540).

[0089] The vertical height of the detected fault data be determined using the Barometric formula below:

[00001]$z\left(\mathrm{fault}\right)=\frac{T\left(ref\right)}{L}\left({\left(\frac{P}{P\left(ref\right)}\right)}^{\frac{-LR}{9}}-1\right)$

[0090] Where R is the specific gas constant=287.053 J/(kg K), L is the atmospheric lapse rate (change in temperature divided by distance)=−6.5×10−3 K/m, and T(ref) is the temperature at the same reference point for which P=P(ref).

[0091] A location of the detected fault status is determined using the vertical height of the fault data and the known geometry of the inclined passenger conveyor (step 550). Using the detected fault data, a fault status can be determined (step 560).

[0092] Step 540, 550 and 560 can be carried out by the controller 80, 180, 280, 280 located in the vicinity of the inclined passenger conveyor. Alternatively, some or all data from the sensors can be transmitted from the controller 80, 180, 280, 380 to the remotely located control station 290, 390 in which case some or all of steps 540, 550 and 560 are carried out at the remotely located control station 290.

[0093] In a further example, two or more reference barometric pressure readings are used. With reference to FIG. 3, the first stationary barometric pressure sensor 270 provides a first reference pressure P(ref1) and the second stationary barometric pressure sensor 270a provides a second reference pressure P(ref2) at a second known vertical height. In this case the two reference pressures are used to calculate the vertical height of the fault data. The vertical height can be calculated with reference to each stationary barometric pressure sensor and an average taken. It will be appreciated that further stationary barometric pressure sensors can be provided at other fixed locations on or near the inclined passenger conveyor. The provision of two or more stationary sensors provides redundancy in the system.

[0094] With reference to FIG. 4, one of the associated barometric pressure sensors 372a, 372b, 372c provides a first reference pressure P(ref1) at a first known vertical height, such as its maximum height; and a second reference pressure P(ref2) at a second known vertical height, such as its minimum height. In this arrangement, since no stationary barometric pressure sensors are required, the total number of barometric pressure sensors is reduced, which results in a less complex and lower cost solution.

[0095] In a further example, not represented in the Figures, the method includes determining whether the at least one fault detection sensor 72a, 172a, 272a, 372a is moving in an upwards direction or a downwards direction. This step is achieved by receiving and analysing data from at least one acceleration sensor provided on the transportation band 12, 112, 112, 312, the moving handrail 22, 122, 222, 322 or the drive member 230, 330. The acceleration sensor providing the input for this determination may be the fault determination sensor itself or another acceleration sensor.

[0096] As the acceleration sensor provided on one of the moving components moves, the gravitational force changes at the turning points. When the inclined passenger conveyor is not moving, gravity is the only prominent (constant) acceleration, and this reference data is stored. When the moving component starts to move, it accelerates which means that the acceleration sensor is subjected to additional acceleration upwards or downwards (as a result of the movement) in addition to gravity. The change in acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor is used to determine direction of movement.

[0097] Additionally or alternatively, data from one or more of the associated barometric pressure sensors can also be analysed to determine a direction of movement: decreasing air pressure indicates upwards movement, and increasing air pressure indicates downwards movement.

[0098] Additionally or alternatively, the direction of movement can be determined by analysing the calculated vertical height over a time period, i.e. if the height decreases over time, the inclined passenger is determined to be travelling down.

[0099] It is advantageous to reduce possible external atmospheric influences and to achieve this the data from all sensors should be measured in a sufficiently small time window. (e.g. 30 seconds). A time stamp is transmitted with the data from the sensors. If the pressure measured by all the sensors is within the defined time window, then it can be said that the atmospheric pressure changes are negligible. Therefore, the pressure difference is the result of the difference in height, and the height can be determined using the Barometric formula.

[0100] While the disclosure has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of examples, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed examples. Rather, the disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various examples of the disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure may include only some of the described examples. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.