SUPPORTING MEANS FOR AN ELEVATOR INSTALLATION, WITH MULTIPLE SENSORS ARRANGED ALONG THE SUPPORTING MEANS

Abstract

A supporting belt for an elevator installation has at least one elongate load-bearing element, a casing surrounding the load-bearing element and multiple sensors. The sensors are arranged on the belt at multiple positions spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction of the belt. The sensors each determine at least one physical characteristic of the load-bearing element in a region locally adjacent to the respective sensor and output a signal indicating the physical characteristic. For example, a sensor may determine a local expansion, a local bending, a local acceleration, a locally acting force, a local temperature and/or an electrical conductivity at, in or through the belt. The state of the belt can thereby be determined not only as an average for the entire belt but with regard to multiple positions along the length of the belt, enabling an improved determination regarding discard criteria of the belt.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A supporting means for an elevator installation comprising: at least one elongate load-bearing element; a casing surrounding the at least one load-bearing element; and a multiplicity of sensors arranged on the supporting means at multiple positions that are spaced apart from one another along a direction of longitudinal extent of the supporting means, each of the sensors being adapted to determine at least one physical characteristic of the supporting means in a region locally adjacent to the sensor and to output a signal indicating the determined physical characteristic, and wherein for each of the sensors the at least one physical characteristic is selected from a group comprising a local expansion of the supporting means, a local bending of the supporting means, a local acceleration of the supporting means, a force acting locally on the supporting means, a local temperature of the supporting means and an electrical conductivity through the supporting means.

16. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein the sensors transmit the signal determined physical characteristic to at least one of a remote control system and an external monitoring apparatus.

17. The supporting means according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the sensors transmits the signal wirelessly.

18. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the sensors is connected to the at least one load-bearing element for transmitting the signal through the at least one load-bearing element.

19. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein at least part of one of the sensors penetrates the casing and is in contact with the at least one load-bearing element.

20. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the sensors is integrated in the casing.

21. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the sensors is formed as a miniaturized component based on a semiconductor.

22. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the sensors is adapted to determine the at least one physical characteristic and transmit the signal without a separate energy supply.

23. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the sensors is connected to the at least one load-bearing element to supply the at least one sensor with electrical energy via an electric current flow through the at least one load-bearing element.

24. The supporting means according to claim 15 including multiple load-bearing elements that extend in parallel with one another and the sensors are adapted to determine the at least one physical characteristic in at least one of the load-bearing elements in a region locally adjacent to respective ones of the sensors.

25. The supporting means according to claim 15 wherein the sensors (7) are arranged along the direction of longitudinal extent with adjacent ones of the sensors equidistantly spaced apart from one another.

26. An elevator system comprising: an elevator car; a drive; and a supporting means according to claim 15 wherein the elevator car is supported on the supporting means and the elevator car is displaced by the supporting means being moved by the drive.

27. The elevator system according to claim 26 including an external monitoring apparatus for receiving the signal that indicates the determined physical characteristic from each of the sensors arranged on the supporting means and for determining information regarding a state of the supporting means by processing received signals.

28. A method for monitoring a state of the supporting means according to claim 15, the method comprising the steps of: selecting the at least one physical characteristic from the group comprising the local expansion of the supporting means, the local bending of the supporting means, the local acceleration of the supporting means, the force acting locally on the supporting means, the local temperature of the supporting means and the electrical conductivity through the supporting means; receiving the signals indicating the determined physical characteristic of the supporting means from the sensors arranged on the supporting means at multiple positions; and determining information regarding a state of the supporting means by processing the received signals.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] FIG. 1 shows an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view through a supporting means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view through a supporting means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view through a supporting means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Like reference signs refer in different drawings to like or analogous features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] FIG. 1 shows an elevator installation 100 comprising therein a supporting means or belt 1 according to the invention.

[0077] The elevator installation 100 comprises an elevator car 102, which can be moved upwards and downwards inside an elevator shaft 106 by means of a drive 104. In the example shown, the drive 104 is attached to a ceiling 108 of the elevator shaft 106; however, said drive could alternatively be housed in a separate engine room, for example. The drive 104 comprises an electric motor 110, by means of which a drive sheave 112 can be driven in a rotatory manner. A surface of the drive sheave 112 may be in frictional contact with a contact surface of the supporting means 1, such that the supporting means 1 can be displaced along the direction of longitudinal extent 9 thereof by the drive sheave 112 being rotated. In the example shown, an end of the supporting means 1 is fastened to the elevator car 102 in this case, in order to hold the elevator car 102. Alternatively, the supporting means 1 may also wind around a pulley attached to the elevator car 102 and be attached at the end thereof to the ceiling 108. An opposite end of the supporting means 1 may optionally hold a counterweight (not shown). As a result of the supporting means 1 moving, the elevator car 102 and, optionally, the counterweight can thus be moved inside the elevator shaft 106. The drive 104 can be controlled in this case by a control system 114.

[0078] During operation of the elevator installation 100, it must be ensured that the supporting means 1 can at all times reliably fulfill its task of holding the elevator car 102. For this purpose, a state of the supporting means 1 that reflects the integrity of the supporting means 1 should be monitored permanently or at least at suitable time intervals.

[0079] The elevator installation 100 proposed here comprises a plurality of sensors 7 on the supporting means 1 thereof for this purpose. The sensors 7 are arranged on the supporting means 1 at multiple positions which are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction of extent 9 of the supporting means 1. In other words, it is not only the case that sensors 7 are arranged at the ends of the supporting means 1 or that the entire supporting means is connected to an external sensor system, as has conventionally usually been the case, but rather multiple sensors 7 are distributed over the length of the supporting means 1, such that one or more sensors 7 are located, for example, in or near a center of the supporting means 1 in the direction of longitudinal extent 9.

[0080] Each of the sensors 7 is designed to determine at least one physical characteristic of the supporting means 1 in a region locally adjacent to the respective sensor 7 and to output a suitable signal 11 on the basis of the determined physical characteristic. A local expansion of the supporting means 1, a local bending of the supporting means 1, a local acceleration of the supporting means 1, a force acting locally on the supporting means 1, a local temperature of the supporting means 1 and/or an electrical conductivity through the supporting means 1 may be determined as a physical characteristic, for example. For this purpose, a sensor 7 may be in mechanical, electrical, thermal or similar contact with the supporting means 1 or with the components thereof, such as load-bearing elements or a casing surrounding said elements.

[0081] In this case, a sensor 7 is designed to output, in the form of the signal 11, the physical characteristic measured or detected thereby. The signal 11 may be output for example as a radio signal, i.e. in the form of an electromagnetic wave 13. Receivers 15, 17 that can receive and pass on this signal 11 in a suitable manner may therefore be provided in or on the elevator shaft 106.

[0082] For example, a receiver 15 may be attached to the elevator car 102 such that said receiver travels with the elevator car 102 through the elevator shaft 106 and is thereby guided, for example, past sensors 7 which are arranged in a region of the suspension 1 near the ends opposite the elevator car 102. During operation of the elevator installation 100, a receiver 15 of this kind attached to the elevator car 102 therefore moves past many of the sensors 7 attached to the supporting means 1 and/or is located near the sensors 7 that are attached to the supporting means 1 near the elevator car 102. Data transmission to this receiver 15 may therefore only have to bridge short distances. A good quality of data transmission can therefore be achieved.

[0083] Alternatively or additionally to a receiver 15 of this kind attached to the elevator car 102 and moved therewith, a receiver 17 can be installed in a stationary manner in or on the elevator shaft 106. For example, a stationary receiver 17 of this kind may be arranged near the center of the elevator shaft 106. Many of the sensors 7 attached to the supporting means are thereby conveyed past the receiver 17 multiple times during the movement of the supporting means 1 taking place in operation of the elevator 100. Signal transmissions therefore have to take place only over short distances. In this way, reliable data transmission from each of the sensors 7 to the receiver 17 is also possible.

[0084] A plurality of receivers 15, 17 may also be provided. For example, multiple stationary receivers 17 may be arranged along the height of the elevator shaft 106.

[0085] The receivers 15, 17 may pass on the signals 11 received thereby from the sensors 7 to the control means 114, for example. The signals 11 can be processed there in order that it is possible to determine the desired information regarding the state of the supporting means 1 therefrom. Alternatively or additionally, the signals 11 may be transmitted to an external monitoring apparatus 116 in order to be able to evaluate the signals 11 and to be able to remotely monitor the state of the elevator installation 100, and in particular the supporting means 1 accommodated therein, therefrom, i.e. for example from a remote control center.

[0086] As an alternative to wirelessly transmitting the signals 11 using the electromagnetic waves 13, the signals 11 may also be conducted to the control means 114 and/or to the external monitoring apparatus 116 by means of electric lines that are accommodated in the supporting means 1 or are attached to the supporting means 1.

[0087] In particular, the fact that electrically conductive structures are usually accommodated in any case in the supporting means 1 in the form of metal load-bearing elements that are accommodated therein and can also be used for transmitting signals through the supporting means 1 ultimately to the control system 114 or to the external monitoring apparatus 116 can be used advantageously. For this purpose, the sensors 7 may couple signals generated therefrom e.g. into one of the electrically conductive load-bearing elements. At one location, e.g. at one end of the supporting means 1, the load-bearing element used for conducting signals can then be connected to the outside to a line connected to the control system 114 or the monitoring apparatus 116, for example.

[0088] FIGS. 2 to 4 show different embodiments of supporting means 1 in a perspective sectional view.

[0089] Each supporting means 1 comprises load-bearing elements 3, which are surrounded by a casing 5. The supporting means 1 shown is a flat belt in the case of which multiple load-bearing elements 3 extend in parallel with the direction of longitudinal extent 9 of the supporting means 1 and are arranged adjacently so as to be mutually parallel. Load-bearing elements 3 of this kind of a belt are also referred to as cords and may comprise, for example, a braid or a bundle of metal wires or consist thereof. The load-bearing elements 3 may have a diameter in the range of from typically one or a few millimeters to a few centimeters. A lateral distance between adjacent load-bearing elements 3 may be of the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the load-bearing elements, i.e. may be in the range of from a few millimeters to several centimeters.

[0090] In the embodiment of the supporting means 1 formed as a belt by way of example, each of the load-bearing elements 3 is surrounded by part of a casing 5, such that the load-bearing elements 3 are separated from one another both mechanically and electrically. The casing 5 may consist of a plastics material, in particular of a polymeric material, preferably an elastomeric material. In this case, the casing 5 forms, together with the load-bearing elements 3 accommodated therein, a unit in the form of the belt forming the supporting means 1.

[0091] During use of the supporting means 1, a front surface 19 of the belt forms the contact surface via which the supporting means 1, for example, is in frictional contact with the drive sheave 112 of the drive 104. This front surface 19 may be textured or smooth, for example. A textured front surface 19 may, for example, comprise a plurality of mutually parallel channels or grooves 29. A rear surface 21 located opposite the front surface 19 is usually smooth, i.e. not textured.

[0092] Alternatively to a belt provided with multiple load-bearing elements 3, the supporting means 1 could also be provided with merely a single load-bearing element 3 as the core and a casing surrounding said core.

[0093] In the example shown in FIG. 2 of a belt-like supporting means 1, multiple sensors 7 are attached to the rear surface 21 of the casing 5 along the direction of longitudinal extent 9. The sensors 7 are applied to the rear surface 21 and are mechanically connected thereto or mechanically fastened therein.

[0094] In this case, a protrusion 23 projects into the casing 5, for example. This protrusion 23 can ensure mechanical fastening of the sensor 7. This protrusion 23 can also establish sensory contact with one of the load-bearing elements 3 inside the casing 5, such that the sensor 7 is connected via this protrusion 23 to the load-bearing element 3 mechanically, electrically, thermally or in a similar manner, for example. In this way, the sensor 7 can determine physical characteristics of the supporting means 1 and in particular of the load-bearing elements 3 accommodated therein.

[0095] For example, the sensor 7 can detect, via the protrusion 23, a local expansion or bending of the load-bearing element 3. For this purpose, changes in length, changes in orientation and/or changes in voltage, for example, inside the load-bearing element 3 can be measured.

[0096] Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 7 can measure, directly or optionally by means of the protrusion 23 thereof, forces or accelerations acting locally on the supporting means 1, in particular forces or accelerations acting locally on the load-bearing element 3 accommodated in said supporting means.

[0097] Temperatures such as those prevailing locally on the rear surface 21 or inside the supporting means 1, for example on a contacted load-bearing element 3, can also be measured by the sensor 7.

[0098] It is also conceivable to design the sensors 7 and attach them to the supporting means 1 such that said sensors can be used to generate electrical currents locally through one of the load-bearing elements 3. For example, an electrical voltage between two adjacent sensors 7 can be generated and as a result an electrical current flow through the load-bearing element 3 connecting said sensors can be produced. In particular, changes to an electrical current produced in this manner may indicate possible damage to the load-bearing element 3. In this case, advantageously, the damage may be not only identified, but also located in the region between the two sensors 7.

[0099] In the example shown, each sensor 7 is provided with a sensor system 25 and a sending and/or receiving unit 27. The sensor system 25 is used in this case to measure the physical characteristic to be determined of the supporting means 1. The sending and/or receiving unit 27 can then convert the determined measuring signal into a signal 11 to be output. This signal 11 can then be transmitted to the control system 114 and/or the external monitoring apparatus 116 to be further processed and evaluated.

[0100] Signal transmission of this type can in turn take place wirelessly, for example by means of electromagnetic waves 13. Alternatively, the sending and/or receiving unit 27 may couple, via the protrusion 23, the generated signal 11 into the electrically conductive load-bearing element 3 and transmit said signal to the control system 114, and optionally further to the external monitoring apparatus 116, for example, via said element. Individually wiring each sensor 7 would be conceivable as another alternative.

[0101] In the example shown in FIG. 2, furthermore, adjacent sensors 7 cannot exchange signals 11 and data merely with the control system 114 and/or the external monitoring apparatus 116, but rather signal transmission between adjacent sensors 7 is conceivable. In this case, the adjacent sensors 7 can communicate with one another wirelessly, for example by means of electromagnetic waves 14. In this way, an exchange of information between sensors 7, for example, is conceivable.

[0102] In particular, it is conceivable that adjacent sensors 7 can, for example, coordinate an electrical current flow through a piece, connecting said sensors, of a load-bearing element 3 in order to be able to locally determine a change in electrical resistance or another electrical value inside the load-bearing element 3. In this way, it is in particular possible to allow changes in electrical characteristics inside load-bearing elements 3 of a supporting means 1 to be determined and evaluated not only globally, i.e. for the entire load-bearing element 3, but also locally, i.e. for example in regions between two adjacent sensors.

[0103] In the example shown in FIG. 2, sensors 7 can be attached to the supporting means 1 along the direction of longitudinal extent 9 such that said sensors each contact the same load-bearing element 3 (third from left in the example shown) and determine corresponding local physical characteristics near this load-bearing element 3. However, additional sensors 8 may also be arranged on the supporting means 1, using which sensors, for example, other physical characteristics, such as a temperature or similar, can be measured locally, on the basis of which additional information regarding a current local state of the supporting means 1 can preferably be derived.

[0104] In the example of a supporting means 1 shown in FIG. 3, a sensor 7 is integrated in the casing 5 of the supporting means 1. In other words, the sensor 7 is located completely inside the casing 5 and is therefore protected, similarly to the load-bearing elements 3, by the casing 5 against mechanical and/or chemical influences. In the example shown, the sensor 7 extends substantially over the entire width of the belt-like supporting means 1. A plurality of protrusions 23 contact each of the load-bearing elements 3 accommodated in the supporting means 1. Physical characteristics of the supporting means 1 may in this case be locally determined in regions on or adjacent to each of the load-bearing elements 3.

[0105] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 by way of example, a sensor 7 is accommodated even deeper inside the supporting means 1. In particular, the sensor 7 is accommodated laterally between adjacent load-bearing elements 3 and is therefore located deep inside the casing 5. In this case, the sensor 7 may in turn contact, by means of protrusions 23, one or, in the example shown, two load-bearing elements 3 that extend adjacently thereto in order to be able to locally determine the physical characteristics of said elements.

[0106] In addition to the possibility, as already explained, of signal transmission from the sensor 7 to the control system 114 and/or the external monitoring apparatus 116 through one of the load-bearing elements 3, the sensor 7 may be supplied with energy with the aid of one or more load-bearing elements 3 accommodated in the supporting means 1. For example, a sensor, as shown in FIG. 4, may contact, by means of protrusions 23 or other contacting means, two separate load-bearing elements 3 to which a suitable electrical voltage has been applied externally, in order to be able to ensure energy supply for the sensor 7 by means of a current flow through the load-bearing elements 3.

[0107] Alternatively, the sensors 7 may be formed as passive components or may each be equipped with an individual energy supply, such as a battery.

[0108] Finally, possible designs of embodiments of a supporting means according to the invention or of an elevator installation equipped therewith or of a monitoring process that can be carried out using said supporting means and advantages that can be achieved thereby can be summarized as follows, partially by using an alternative word choice to the description above:

[0109] Arranging multiple sensors on or inside a supporting means so as to be distributed over the length thereof can be considered a core aspect.

[0110] The sensors may be small enough to be attached only locally to the supporting means or even to integrate them in said means. Physical characteristics such as a bending, a loading, a temperature and/or a vibration on or in the supporting means can be identified using these sensors.

[0111] For example, the sensors in the supporting means can be used to determine how often a portion of the supporting means is bent. It is possible to derive therefrom, for example, when a discard criteria for the supporting means is reached. This can have the advantage, inter alia, that a history of an entire travel region of the supporting means can be determined and the supporting means can be replaced at the right time, without falling below a required breaking load, for example.

[0112] Unacceptably high local accelerations may be suggestive of a defect, and therefore the elevator installation can be taken out of operation. The state of the supporting means determined on the basis of signals from the sensors can be evaluated by a control system or an external monitoring apparatus and, for example, associated information can be passed on to an elevator control system. Essentially, a change in acceleration behavior compared with a new state, for example, may lead to premature end of operation of the supporting means.

[0113] The supporting means can be better used, depending on the use of the elevator, up to its discard criteria using a history of the complete length of the supporting means and of the respective bending profile. Hitherto, only a number of journeys of the elevator installation have been evaluated for this purpose. Furthermore, an online query as to a state of the supporting means of the elevator installation is possible at any time via a telemonitoring system. As a result, for example, timely service planning can prevent downtime, for example.

[0114] In a specific embodiment, a loading state can be determined very precisely by means of information regarding respective tensile stress in a supporting means, for example, which tensile stress is detected by the sensors. This information can provide the loading state of the car to the control system. Additionally, differences in tension inside multiple supporting means can be displayed to a technician and can be readjusted during installation or in a servicing situation. This means that, inter alia, the service life of the supporting means can be better utilized and travel comfort can be maintained.

[0115] If there is a loose segment or an entire supporting means region due to a fault, for example, this can be detected immediately. Advantageously, there is no delay at all inside a sensor chain.

[0116] Furthermore, precise monitoring of the supporting means can lead to an adjustment in a safety assessment and can re-evaluate historic safety factors on the basis of inadequate state information.

[0117] Temperatures in individual segments of the supporting means can provide information in the event of a fire. For example, a travel distance inside the elevator installation can be restricted and therefore the system can remain in operation for longer.

[0118] According to a possible embodiment, multiple individual sensors are attached in or on the supporting means at a specific spacing. The sensors may, for example, be arranged on the rear or on the running profile of the supporting means or in the supporting means. The sensors may be connected to electrically conducting cords and/or fibers or may be attached thereto in an electrically insulated manner. A signal can be transmitted either to an end point via a conductor or directly to a receiver via telemetry. During initial installation or servicing, a position of the sensor system can be taught by means of a teach-in process, which can provide additional information, but is optional. Information on supporting means such as time of production, production batch or supporting means type can be stored in the sensor system directly by the manufacturer. Temperature information, acceleration states and supporting means tensions over local portions can be supplied to the control system for further processing.

[0119] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as comprising, having, etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as a/an or one do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the embodiments above can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0120] 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0121] 1 supporting means [0122] 3 load-bearing element [0123] 5 casing [0124] 7 sensor [0125] 8 additional sensor [0126] 9 direction of longitudinal extent [0127] 11 signal [0128] 13 electromagnetic wave [0129] 14 electromagnetic wave [0130] 15 receiver [0131] 17 receiver [0132] 19 front surface [0133] 21 rear surface [0134] 23 protrusion [0135] 25 sensor system [0136] 27 sending and/or receiving unit [0137] 29 channel or groove [0138] 100 elevator installation [0139] 102 elevator car [0140] 104 drive [0141] 106 elevator shaft [0142] 108 ceiling [0143] 110 motor [0144] 112 drive sheave [0145] 114 control system [0146] 116 external monitoring apparatus