LIFT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for operating an elevator system including at least one elevator car for conveying people from a starting stop to a destination stop, wherein a route for conveying the people from the starting stop to the destination stop is determined. In this case, different elevator components of the elevator system are actuated in order to move the at least one elevator car along the determined route, as a result of which actions of these elevator components are triggered. Specific elevator components are selected from amongst these elevator components of the elevator system, and the actions of the selected elevator components are simulated by means of a reproduction apparatus located in the at least one elevator car. The disclosure further relates to an elevator system which is designed for executing a method of this kind.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A method for operating an elevator system comprising an elevator car for conveying people from a starting stop to a destination stop, the method comprising: determining a route for conveying the people from the starting stop to the destination stop, actuating elevator components of the elevator system to move the elevator car along the determined route, triggering actions of the elevator components via actuation of the elevator components, selecting specific elevator components of the elevator system, and replicating the actions of the selected elevator components via a reproduction apparatus disposed at the elevator car.

17. The method of claim 16, including simulating the actions of the selected elevator components by: visualizing the actions of the selected elevator components via an optical reproduction apparatus located at the elevator car; and acoustically simulating the actions of the selected elevator components via an acoustic reproduction apparatus located at the elevator car.

18. The method of claim 16, including selecting the elevator components when at least one of the following criteria is met: an action of the elevator component causes a change in state of the elevator car; an action of the elevator component can be perceived by a passenger located in the elevator car; the elevator component has been assigned to the determined route; an action of the elevator component deviates, when it is carried out, from a prespecification which is prespecified by a normal operation; and the elevator component is prespecified in a list of prespecifications.

19. The method of claim 16, including selecting specific actions of the selected elevator components and simulating only the selected actions of the selected elevator components.

20. The method of claim 19, including selecting an action of the selected elevator components when at least one of the following criteria is met: the action causes a change in state of the elevator car; the action can be perceived by a passenger located in the elevator car; the action has been assigned to the determined route; the action deviates, when it is carried out, from a prespecification which is prespecified by a normal operation; and the action is prespecified in a list of prespecifications.

21. The method of claim 16, including simulating the actions of the selected elevator components at the same time as the triggered action of the respective selected elevator component is respectively carried out.

22. The method of claim 16, including simulating the actions of the selected elevator components with a predetermined time lead in relation to the triggered action of the respective selected elevator component actually being carried out.

23. The method of claim 16, including establishing a communication connection between the elevator system and a mobile terminal and selecting the specific elevator components via the mobile terminal.

24. The method of claim 16, including signaling the actuation of the selected elevator components to the reproduction apparatus and simulating the actions of the selected elevator components after successful signaling.

25. The method of claim 16, including selecting at least one of the following elevator components: a shaft-changing unit, a door unit, a brake unit, a drive unit, a second elevator car traveling in front of the elevator car, a second elevator car traveling behind the elevator car, and safety gear.

26. The method of claim 16, including detecting, by means of sensors, actions of the elevator components and simulating the detected actions via the reproduction apparatus.

27. An elevator system comprising an elevator car which is configured to be movable from a starting stop to a destination stop, wherein a reproduction apparatus is arranged in the interior of the elevator car, wherein the elevator system is configured to execute the method of claim 16.

28. The elevator system of claim 27, including an optical reproduction apparatus arranged in the interior of the elevator car and forms at least a portion of an inner wall of the elevator car.

29. The elevator system of claim 27, including an optical reproduction apparatus arranged in the interior of the elevator car and forms a portion of an inner wall of the elevator car and a remaining portion of this inner wall is of at least partially transparent design.

30. The elevator system of claim 28, wherein the elevator car is connected to a rail system which allows movement of the elevator car in different spatial directions, and the rail system comprises at least one shaft-changing unit which allows a change from one spatial direction to a further spatial direction, wherein the reproduction apparatus forms at least one portion of that inner wall which faces the rail system.

Description

[0046] Further advantageous details, features and refinement specifics of the invention will be explained in more detail in connection with the exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the figures, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an elevator system which is operated in accordance with a variant refinement of a method which is designed according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic illustration of a detail of an exemplary embodiment of an elevator system which is configured according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a simplified schematic illustration of a detail of a further exemplary embodiment of an elevator system which is configured according to the invention; and

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a simplified schematic illustration of a detail of a further exemplary embodiment of an elevator system which is configured according to the invention.

[0051] The elevator system 10 which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 is an elevator system which is used, in particular, in so-called high-rise buildings, that is to say buildings with heights of several 100 meters. In this case, the elevator system 10 comprises a shaft system comprising a large number of vertical shafts 75 and horizontal shafts 76. In this case, a vertical shaft 75 or horizontal shaft 76 of this kind does not have to be structurally designed as a shaft. Instead, a vertical shaft 75 or horizontal shaft 76 of this kind can also be a rail or a pair of rails along which an elevator car 20 can be moved.

[0052] In this case, the elevator system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a large number of elevator cars 20. People can be conveyed from a starting stop to a destination stop by means of the elevator cars 20. FIG. 1 illustrates, by way of example, a starting stop 25 and a destination stop 26.

[0053] In order to convey a person from a starting stop 25 to a destination stop 26 by means of an elevator car 20 of the elevator system 10, the elevator system 10 can comprise, in particular, a so-called destination call controller (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 1). In the case of a destination call controller of this kind, the desired destination floor is input outside the elevator car 20, for example via an input terminal. The destination floor is then no longer input within the elevator car 20. However, provision is also made, in particular, for refinements of the elevator system 10 in which, particularly in the case of a starting floor with a so-called external call, an elevator car 20 is first requested and the destination floor is determined by way of a so-called internal call which is made within the elevator car 20.

[0054] Once the destination stop 26 has been determined, a route 27 for conveying the person from the starting stop 25 to the destination stop 26 is determined, in particular dynamically determined. In this case, dynamic determination of the route means that the route is not irreversibly defined once, but rather can be determined again and therefore changed during the movement of the elevator car 20 from the starting stop 25 to the destination stop 26, in particular due to transportation requests made by further people and the associated movement of the further elevator cars 20. For example, it is possible that the route 27 for moving an elevator car 20 from the starting stop 25 to the destination stop 26 had initially been determined and subsequently, in particular owing to a change in the traffic situation, the route 28 can be determined in order to reach the destination stop 26 from the starting stop 25.

[0055] In order that an elevator car 20 of the elevator system 10 can be moved along the intended route 27, 28, corresponding elevator components of the elevator system 10 have to be actuated. In the case of an elevator system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, this actuation is performed, in particular, by means of a decentralized control system (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 1). The elevator components which usually have to be actuated for moving an elevator car 20 of the elevator system 10 include, in particular, a drive unit, a shaft-changing unit, a brake unit and also a door unit (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 1).

[0056] For example, a door unit is usually initially actuated, so that the doors to the elevator car 20 which is intended to move the person from a starting stop 25 to the destination stop 26 are opened at the starting stop 25. Once the person has entered, the door unit is actuated again, so that the doors close. For departure of the elevator car 20, actuation of the brake unit is required in particular, so that the brake which has held the elevator car 20 at the starting stop 25 is released. Furthermore, in particular, actuation of the drive unit is provided, so that the drive unit is activated and the elevator car 20 can be moved. In the case of the elevator system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, the drive unit provided is, in particular, a linear motor drive. In the case of a linear motor drive of this kind, the corresponding rail sections of the shaft system of the elevator system 10 or the coils which are arranged along corresponding rail sections are advantageously correspondingly actuated in order to move the elevator car 20. If the elevator car 20 changes over from a vertical shaft 75 to a horizontal shaft 76, as is the case in the routes 27, 28 for example, a corresponding shaft-changing unit furthermore has to be actuated, so that said shaft-changing unit switches the elevator car 20 and thereby allows a change from one elevator shaft to another elevator shaft. Therefore, in summary, it can be said that corresponding actions of the respective elevator components, such as closing doors, releasing the brake etc., are triggered by the actuation of these elevator components.

[0057] In the case of the elevator system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, provision is then made for specific elevator components of the elevator system 10 to be selected and the actions of the selected elevator components to be simulated by means of a reproduction apparatus (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 1) located in the respective elevator cars 20. In the case of the elevator system illustrated in FIG. 1, provision is made in this case, in particular, for shaft-changing units of the elevator system 10 to be selected as elevator component. That is to say, when an elevator car 20 of the elevator system 10 is moved from a starting stop 25 to a destination stop 26 and a shaft-changing unit of the elevator system 10 is actuated and therefore operated in the process, so that the elevator car can change, for example, from a vertical shaft 75 to a horizontal shaft 76, the action of this shaft-changing unit is simulated in said elevator car 20, specifically only in this elevator car. If another elevator car of the elevator car is switched from one shaft to another shaft by means of said shaft-changing unit, this is simulated only in said other elevator car. The actions of the shaft-changing units of the elevator system 10 are preferably simulated by means of a display as an optical reproduction device (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 1).

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an elevator system 10. In this case, an elevator shaft 70 is illustrated, in which a first elevator car 20 and a second elevator car 21 are moved largely independently of one another. In this case, the elevator cars 20, 21 can be moved in the shaft 70 largely independently of one another, for example, with the aid of belt or rope drives (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 2). An elevator system of this kind is known, for example, by the name TWIN elevator. A configuration of an elevator system of this kind is described, for example, in EP 1 698 580 B1. As an alternative, provision can be made, in particular, for the elevator cars 20, 21 of the elevator system 10 to be moved in the elevator shaft 70 by means of a linear motor drive.

[0059] The elevator system 10 comprises, as symbolically illustrated in FIG. 2, a control system 30. This control system 30 controls, in particular, a large number of elevator components of the elevator system 10. The elevator components symbolically illustrated in FIG. 2 are a drive unit 40, a brake unit 41 and a door unit 42. The elevator cars 20, 21 themselves are also further components of the elevator system 10. Further elevator components, not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 2, can be, for example, rails along which the elevator cars 20, 21 are moved, terminals for placing calls, sensors for monitoring the area in front of the elevator system, sensors for monitoring the opening and closing of the shaft and car doors etc. Actions of these elevator components 40, 41, 42 are triggered by the actuation of the elevator components 40, 41, 42 of the elevator system 10 by means of the control system 30.

[0060] In the case of the elevator system 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, the drive unit 40, the brake unit 41 and the door unit 42 are selected as elevator components of the elevator system 10. The criterion for this selection is that actions of these elevator components 40, 41, 42 are usually perceived by people being conveyed from a starting stop to a destination stop by way of an elevator car 20, 21 of the elevator system 10, in particular owing to corresponding movements of the elevator car or of the doors of the respective door unit. As an alternative, these elevator components 40, 41, 42 can be prespecified in a memory unit of the elevator system 10 (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 2), wherein only elevator components which are prespecified in this memory unit are selected.

[0061] In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 of an elevator system, an optical reproduction apparatus 50, 51, in particular an OLED display, is arranged in each of the elevator cars 20, 21 of this elevator system 10. An acoustic reproduction apparatus 60, 61, for example a loudspeaker, is further arranged in each of the elevator cars 20, 21 of this elevator system 10. Actions of the selected elevator components 40, 41, 42, which actions affect the respective elevator car 20, 21, are simulated by means of these optical reproduction apparatuses 50, 51 and acoustic reproduction apparatuses 60, 61. That is to say, in particular, that actions of selected elevator components 40, 41, 42 of this kind, which actions affect the elevator car 20, are visualized by means of the optical reproduction apparatus 50. Actions of the components 40, 41, 42, which actions affect the elevator car 20, are acoustically simulated by means of the acoustic reproduction apparatus 60 of the elevator car 20.

[0062] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, provision can be made, for example, for the elevator car 20 of the elevator system 10 to be at a stop, for example the destination stop, and for the doors of the elevator cars 20 to be opened. The door unit 42 is therefore executing an action. This opening of the doors of the door unit 42 is simulated by means of the optical reproduction apparatus 50. At the same time, a noise which acoustically simulates the opening of the doors of the door unit 42 is made by means of the acoustic reproduction apparatus 60. In this case, the door opening is simulated at the same time as the actual opening of the doors of the door unit 42 in this exemplary embodiment.

[0063] In particular, provision is made for sensors 45, 46, 47 to be assigned to the respective elevator components 40, 41, 42 in each case. In this case, these sensors 45, 46, 47 monitor the actions of these elevator components 40, 41, 42.

[0064] If, for example, the door unit 42 is actuated by means of the control system 30 of the elevator system 10, so that the doors of the door unit 42 open and access to the elevator car 20 is cleared, this is signaled to the optical reproduction apparatus 50 and the acoustic reproduction apparatus 60 at the same time. In this case, the sensor 47 detects the movement pattern of the doors of the door unit 42. The detected sensor signals of the sensor 47 are transmitted to the reproduction apparatuses 50, 60 of the elevator car 20 in this case. If the doors of the door unit 42 do not completely open as intended, for example on account of a technical fault, this is detected by means of the sensor 47. Since the sensor data is transmitted to the reproduction apparatuses 50, 60, the reproduction apparatuses 50, 60 will also simulate the incomplete opening of the doors of the door unit 42 in the simulation 90 of the door opening of the door unit 42.

[0065] In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, provision can further be made for the traveling speed of the elevator car 21 to have to be reduced on account of the elevator car 20 stopping. To this end, the control system 30 has to correspondingly actuate the drive unit 40 in order to reduce the drive speed. The corresponding action of the drive unit 40 is monitored by the sensor 45 in this case. In accordance with the detected signals of the sensor 45, a simulation 91 of the action of the drive unit 40 is performed by means of the optical reproduction apparatus 50 of the elevator car 21. In this case, the reduction in the speed of revolution of the drive unit 40 is, for example, schematically illustrated in the simulation 91. In this case, this action is not simulated by means of the acoustic reproduction apparatus 61.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a further detail of an exemplary embodiment of an elevator system. FIG. 3 once again illustrates two elevator cars 20, 21 of an elevator system 10. In the case of this elevator system 10, the elevator cars 20, 21 are moved along rails 80 by means of a linear motor drive (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 3). In this case, FIG. 3 illustrates vertically running rails 80, which form a vertical elevator shaft, and horizontally running rails 80, which form a horizontal elevator shaft. A shaft-changing unit 43, which is also referred to by the term exchanger in the prior art, is provided for changing from the vertical shaft to the horizontal shaft, or vice versa. Said shaft-changing unit is a rail section which can be rotated about an axis in order to allow either a movement of an elevator car along the vertical rail section or a movement of an elevator car along the horizontal rail section.

[0067] The elevator cars 20, 21 of the elevator system 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 are connected to the rails 80 by means of a carriage in accordance with the so-called backpack solution in this case. The inner wall of the elevator cars 20, 21, which inner wall faces the rails 80 in each case, is designed as an optical reproduction apparatus 50, 51 in this case.

[0068] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the elevator car 20 is located exactly at a shaft-changing unit which is concealed by the elevator car 20. In order to change from the vertical shaft to the horizontal shaft, said shaft-changing unit has to be rotated. An action of this kind of the shaft-changing unit is associated with noise in this case. In addition, an action of this kind of the shaft-changing unit can lead to juddering phenomena and/or vibrations of the elevator car 20. In the case of a conventional elevator system, an elevator user may not recognize these noises and juddering phenomena and would accordingly feel uneasy as a result.

[0069] In the case of the elevator system 10 illustrated in FIG. 3, this is counteracted by way of the shaft-changing units 43 of the elevator system 10 being selected as elevator components, wherein actions of this shaft-changing unit 43 are simulated in the respective elevator cars 20, 21 by means of the optical reproduction apparatus 50, 51. In this case, the corresponding simulation is performed in the elevator car 20, 21 which is affected by the action of the shaft-changing unit 43. By way of example, FIG. 3 illustrates how the rotation of the shaft-changing unit 43 is simulated by way of a simulation 90 by means of the optical reproduction apparatus 50 of the elevator car 20. In this case, provision is made as an advantageous refinement for the simulation to be performed with a predetermined time lead, for example with a time lead of three seconds, before the actual action of the shaft-changing unit 43. As a result, an elevator user is advantageously made aware of the imminent action in good time. Since the operation of the shaft-changing unit 43 results in a change in the direction of travel of an elevator car, an elevator user can advantageously prepare for this owing to the early simulation and be sure to take a secure position in the elevator car.

[0070] In respect of the elevator car 21 of the elevator system 10, FIG. 3 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a simulation 91 of an action of an elevator component. In this exemplary embodiment, provision is made for the elevator car 21 to be intended to be moved downward, wherein a further elevator car, not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 3, prevents the elevator car 21 from traveling further downward. Therefore, the elevator car 21 has to make a stop and wait until the corresponding route, which is blocked by the further elevator car, is cleared. In order that this stoppage of the elevator car 21, the cause of which is not usually clear to an elevator user, is understood by the elevator user, provision is made for the stoppage of the further elevator car blocking the route to be simulated in a simulation 91 by means of the display unit 51. As a result, it is made clear to an elevator user in a simple manner that the elevator car 21 can only continue to be moved when the stoppage of the further elevator car is terminated. This is preferably likewise visualized by means of the reproduction apparatus 51.

[0071] It should be noted that provision is made, in particular, for not all actions of this further elevator car to be displayed as an elevator component by means of the reproduction apparatus 51. Provision is advantageously made for only selected actions of the further elevator car, which actions influence the movement of the elevator car 21, such as stoppages at stops along the route of the elevator car 21, to be simulated. Furthermore, according to one variant refinement, provision can be made for elevator components of which the actions are simulated by means of the reproduction apparatus in the elevator cars which are moved along this route to be prespecified for a specific route.

[0072] FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, an elevator car 20 of an elevator system. An elevator user 110 with a mobile terminal 100 is located in this elevator car 20. In this case, an optical reproduction device 50 is provided in the elevator car 20 by the mobile terminal 100, for example a smartphone. In this case, provision is made, in particular, for a communication connection 120 to be established between the mobile terminal 100 and the elevator system, not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 4. To this end, the elevator system advantageously comprises corresponding a transmitter/receiver unit.

[0073] The mobile terminal 100 advantageously comprises a program product which can be executed by means of the mobile terminal 100 and allows the mobile terminal 100 to communicate with the elevator system and to set up the communication connection. The communication connection 120 can be established in a wireless manner, for example as a WLAN or Bluetooth connection.

[0074] Once the communication connection 120 is established, the mobile terminal 100 can advantageously be used to select which actions of which elevator components should be simulated by means of the reproduction apparatus 50 of the mobile terminal 100. If the elevator car 20 is moved, for example, from a starting stop to a destination stop, the selected actions of the selected elevator components are reproduced in accordance with the prespecification made, and the selected actions of the selected elevator components are therefore simulated. If the elevator car 20 comprises a reproduction apparatus, the actions can alternatively or additionally be simulated by means of this reproduction apparatus. In this case, provision can be made, in particular, for cameras to monitor the elevator components and for the corresponding image data to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 100. This image data is then reproduced by means of the optical reproduction device 50 of the mobile terminal 100 in order to simulate the actions of the elevator components. In this regard, a configuration of this kind is also, in particular, an aid to servicing and maintenance personnel who have to make a repair or perform a maintenance service in the elevator system.

[0075] The exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures and explained in conjunction with said figures serve to explain the invention and do not have a limiting effect on said invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0076] 10 Elevator system [0077] 20 Elevator car [0078] 21 Elevator car [0079] 25 Starting stop [0080] 26 Destination stop [0081] 27 Route [0082] 28 Route [0083] 30 Control unit [0084] 40 Drive unit [0085] 41 Brake unit [0086] 42 Door unit [0087] 43 Shaft-changing unit [0088] 45 Sensor [0089] 46 Sensor [0090] 47 Sensor [0091] 50 Optical reproduction device [0092] 51 Optical reproduction device [0093] 60 Acoustic reproduction device [0094] 61 Acoustic reproduction device [0095] 70 Elevator shaft [0096] 75 Vertical shaft [0097] 76 Horizontal shaft [0098] 80 Pair of rails [0099] 90 Simulation [0100] 91 Simulation [0101] 100 Mobile terminal [0102] 110 Elevator user [0103] 120 Communication connection