Patent ID: 6516923
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: B66B

Abstract:
A method of maintaining an elevator system serving a plurality of landings and having (a) a landing door which can be engaged by a corresponding car door to be opened thereby with (i) a landing door lock, (ii) a door lock switch, (iii) a track and a sill, (b) a car door with (i) a car door lock, (ii) a door closed switch, (iii) a door closed position sensor, (iv) a related door motor and (v) a door controller mechanism driving said car door through (vi) a flexible traction loop, (vii) a door position encoder, (viii) a track and a sill, (ix) a between-door safety device, and (x) a door vane interacting with rollers or guides to move a landing door in response to movement of the car door, (c) button components including call buttons selected from car call and landing call button switches with lights, and door buttons selected from door open and close button switches, (d) car guide rails, (e) a car juxtaposition with said rails by (f) car rail guides, which method comprises:(A) monitoring at every landing as each is served by the elevator system, over one or more predetermined measurement spans, parameters corresponding to steps and/or conditions (C) through (UU) selected from (1) the position of the car door when a landing door lock switch opens, (2) a landing door lock switch not closing, (3) a landing door being closed or not, (4) a landing door lock switch opening without a door open command, (5) a landing door lock switch being closed when a landing door is open, (6) number of times that a landing door lock rebounds into an open position after closing, (7) the speed of the car door when a landing door lock switch closes, (8) the number of landing door operations for each landing, (9) the car door closed switch being open or closed; (10) the car door being fully closed, or not, (11) the number of car door operations, (12) a door open command, (13) the position of the car door when the car door closed switch becomes closed, (14) the car door closed position, (15) whether the car is at a landing or moving, (16) frequency of car door not opening fully with final opening speed more than a related threshold, (17) frequency of car door not closing fully with final closing speed more than a related threshold, (18) average time required to open car door at constant low door motor current, (19) average time required to close the car door with constant low door motor current, (20) amount the car door moves in the closing direction after car door motor current ceases when car door has been opened, (21) amount the car door moves in the opening direction after car door motor current ceases when car door has been closed, (22) frequency of an impediment slowing the car door while opening, (23) frequency of an impediment slowing the car door while closing, (24) position of the car door when it stops after opening, (25) the speed of the car door just before it stops after opening, (26) the speed of the car door when a landing door lock switch becomes open, (27) the car door opening, (28) position of the car door when it stops after closing, (29) the car door closing, (30) the speed of the car door just before the car door stops after closing, (31) the mode of operation of the car door, (32) time it takes for the door to open, (33) time it takes for the door to close, (34) a position reached by the car door after it opens without command, (35) the car door closed switch opening without a door open command, (36) the car door leaving a door closed position sensor as it opens, (37) a true car door closed position, (38) operation of a between-door safety device, (39) the car having been parked with the doors closed for a corresponding period of time, (40) runs made by the elevator car, (41) stops at each landing, (42) duration of each operation of a between-door safety device, (43) operation of each one of said button switches, (44) the duration of operation of each one of said button switches, (45) the total number of uses of each one of said button switches, (46) the door open button being used or not, (47) door reversals, (48) the door closed button being used or not, and (49) the total distance that the elevator car has traveled; the parameters (2)-(6), (8), (12), (14), (16)-(23), (28), (32), (33), (38), (41), (43)-(45), and (47) being monitored separately for each landing; (B) performing a maintenance operation on said elevator system in response to a maintenance message generated in any of the following steps (C) through (F), (M) through (O), (R), (DD), (GG), (LL), or (WW); (C) determining the occurrence of at least one of (a) the average of the parameter (1) position when the elevator car is at any given landing, being either (i) greater than a predetermined maximum average position threshold or (ii) less than a predetermined minimum average position threshold, for a number of different landings which exceeds a first predetermined fraction of said landings, (b) the ratio of (i) the number of times that the parameter (2) landing door lock switch not closing when the parameter (3) landing door is closed at a given landing to (ii) the number of times that the parameter (3) landing door is closed at said given landing, exceeding a predetermined first non-closure threshold, for a number of different landings which exceeds a second predetermined fraction of said landings, (c) the ratio of (i) the number of times that the parameter (4) landing door lock switch opens without command at a given landing to (ii) the number of times that the parameter (3) landing door is open at said given landing, exceeding a predetermined first uncommanded opening threshold, for a number of different landings which exceeds a third predetermined fraction of said landings, and (d) the ratio of (i) the number of times that the parameter (5) landing door lock switch being closed when the landing door is open at a given landing to (ii) the number of times that the parameter (3) landing door is open at said given landing, exceeding a predetermined switch bypassed threshold, for a number of different landings which exceeds a fourth predetermined fraction of said landings, and in response thereto, generating a maintenance message to adjust the position of the car door vane; (D) determining the occurrence of at least one of (a) the average of the parameter (1) position when the elevator car is at any given landing being either (i) greater than said maximum average position threshold for a number of different landings which is less than a fifth predetermined fraction of said landings, or (ii) less than a minimum average position threshold when said step (C) maintenance message is not being generated, (b) the ratio of (i) the number of times that the parameter (2) landing door lock switch does not close when the parameter (3) landing door is closed at a given landing to (ii) the number of times that the parameter (3) landing door is closed at said given landing, exceeding a predetermined second non-closure threshold, and (c) the ratio of (i) the number of times that the parameter (4) landing door lock switch opens without a door open command at a given landing to (ii) the number of times that the parameter (3) landing door is open at said given landing, when said step (C) maintenance message is not being generated, exceeding a predetermined second uncommanded opening threshold, and in response thereto, generating a maintenance message to adjust the position of the landing door lock at said given floor; (E) determining the occurrence of at least one of (a) the ratio of (i) the number of said parameter (6) landing door lock rebounds at a given floor to (ii) the number of occurrences of the parameter (3) landing door is closed at said given floor, which occur with the parameter (7) speed in excess of a high speed threshold, when said step (C) maintenance message is not being generated, is below a predetermined high speed rebound threshold, (b) the parameter (8) number of landing door operations at a given landing exceeding a predetermined total door operation threshold, (c) the ratio of (i) the number of said parameter (6) landing door lock rebounds at a given landing to (ii) the number of the parameter (3) landing door is closed at said given landing, which occur with the parameter (7) speed below a low speed threshold, exceeding a predetermined low speed rebound threshold, (d) the total number of the parameter (6) landing door lock rebounds at a given landing exceeding a total rebound threshold, and (e) the ratio of (i) the number of times that the parameter (5) landing door closed switch being closed when the landing door is open at a given landing to (ii) the number of times that the parameter (3) landing door is open at said given landing, exceeding a predetermined switch bypassed threshold, for a number of different landings which is less than a sixth predetermined fraction of said landings, and in response thereto, generating a maintenance message to either (i) adjust or (ii) clean the landing door lock at said given floor; (F) generating a maintenance message to perform at least one of (i) cleaning or (ii) adjusting the car door closed switch in response to at least one of the following conditions (G) through (L): (G) said parameters (9)-(11) are monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (9) car door closed switch is not closed when (ii) the parameter (10) car door is fully closed to (b) (iii) the parameter (11) number of car door operations when (iv) the parameter (9) car door closed switch is closed, exceeds a predetermined car door closed switch failure frequency threshold; (H) said parameters (9)-(11) are monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (9) car door closed switch is closed when (ii) the parameter (10) car door is not fully closed to (b) the parameter (11) number of car door operations, exceeds a predetermined car door switch bypassed frequency threshold; (I) said parameters (9-12 and 15) are monitored whenever the parameter (15) car is at a landing, with the parameter (10) car door being fully closed, and the ratio of (a) (i) the parameter (9) car door closed switch being open when (ii) there has been no parameter (12) door open command to (b) (iii) the parameter (11) number of car door operations in response to (iv) the parameter (12) door open command, exceeds a predetermined car door lock switch open at landing frequency threshold; (J) said parameters (9-12 and 15) are monitored whenever the parameter (15) car is moving, with the parameter (10) door being fully closed and the ratio of (a) (i) the parameter (9) car door closed switch being open when (ii) there has been no parameter (12) door open command to (b) (iii) the parameter (11) number of car door operations in response to the (iv) parameter (12) door open command, exceeds a predetermined car door switch open in flight frequency threshold; (K) said parameters (11), (13) and (14) are monitored and (a) said parameter (13) position of the car door when the car door closed switch becomes closed is less than a predetermined threshold distance from (b) said parameter (14) door closed position; (L) said parameter (11) is monitored and exceeds a predetermined car door closed switch operation threshold; (M) determining when any said monitored parameter (16)-(23) does not meet a respectively corresponding parameter threshold when the car is at a given landing, for a number of different landings which exceeds a seventh predetermined fraction of said landings, or said monitored parameter (11) has exceeded a corresponding threshold and, in response thereto, generating a maintenance message to perform at least one of (a) adjustment or (b) cleaning of (i) the car door track or (ii) the car door sill; (N) determining when any said monitored parameter (16)-(20), (22) or (23) does not meet respectively corresponding parameter threshold when the car is at a given landing, for a number of different landings which is less than an eighth predetermined fraction of said landings, or said monitored parameter (8) has exceeded a corresponding threshold, and, in response thereto, generating a maintenance message to perform at least one of (a) adjustment or (b) cleaning of (i) the landing door track or (ii) the landing door sill at any said given landing; (O) generating a maintenance message to adjust said flexible traction loop in response to at least one of the following steps (P), (Q): (P) opening said car door at low speed with constant current to said motor and with said landing door disengaged from said car door, a number of times, each time recording the parameter (24) position of the car door when it stops after opening, and generating said maintenance message of said step (O) if the average of the positions recorded exceed a predetermined average open position threshold; and (Q) monitoring the parameter (11) number of car door operations over a predetermined measurement span, and generating said maintenance message of said step (O) if the number of car door operations exceeds a door operation threshold; (R) generating a maintenance message to adjust at least one of (i) the elevator car door motor or (ii) the related door controller mechanism in response to at least one of the following conditions (S) through (CC): (S) said parameters (24), (25) and (27) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (24) open position is less than (ii) a minimum door open position threshold after opening with (iii) the parameter (25) speed less than (iv) a low door unlocking speed threshold when the elevator car is at a given landing to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (27) door opening at said given landing, exceeding a low speed position frequency threshold, for a number of said landings which exceeds a ninth predetermined fraction of said landings; (T) said parameters (1), (26) and (27) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (26) speed exceeds a high door unlocking speed threshold with (ii) the parameter (1) position being within a range of proper positions to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (27) door opening, at any landing, exceeding a maximum high door speed frequency threshold for a number of landings which exceeds a tenth predetermined fraction of said landings; (U) said parameters (1), (26) and (27) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (26) speed exceeds a maximum door unlocking speed threshold at any landing with (ii) the parameter (1) landing door lock opening position being within a predetermined first range of positions to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (27) door opening at any landing, exceeding a first unlocking speed frequency threshold; (V) said parameters (1), (26) and (27) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (26) speed is less than a minimum unlocking speed threshold at any landing with (ii) the parameter (1) landing door lock opening position being within a predetermined second range of positions to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (27) car door opening at any landing, exceeding a second unlocking speed frequency threshold; (W) said parameters (28), (29) and (30) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (28) door close position exceeds a maximum door close position threshold after (ii) the door closes with said parameter (30) door closing speed being less than a maximum door closing speed threshold when the car is at a given landing, to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (29) door closing at said given landing, exceeding a low speed closing position frequency threshold, for a number of different landings which exceed an eleventh predetermined fraction of said landings; (X) said parameters (7) and (29) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that the parameter (7) door switch closing speed exceeds a maximum lock closing speed threshold to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (29) door closing, exceeding a maximum high closing speed frequency threshold; (Y) said parameters (7) and (29) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that the parameter (7) car door closing speed is less than a minimum lock closing speed threshold to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (29) door closing, exceeding a maximum low closing speed frequency threshold; (Z) said parameters (29) and (30) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that the parameter (30) door closing speed exceeds a high door closing speed threshold when the car is at a given landing to (b) the number of occurrences of the parameter (29) door closing at said given landing, exceeding a high door closing speed frequency threshold, for a number of different landings which exceeds a twelfth predetermined fraction of said landings; (AA) the parameters (31) and (32) being monitored and (i) the variation of the parameter (32) car door opening time, when (ii) in a parameter (31) normal operation mode, exceeding a maximum opening time variation threshold, while the car is at a given landing, for a number of different landings which exceeds a fourth percentage threshold; (BB) the parameters (31) and (33) being monitored and (i) the variation of the parameter (33) car door closing time when in a parameter (31) normal operation mode, exceeding a maximum closing time variation threshold, while the car is at a given landing, for a number of different landings which exceeds a fifth percentage threshold; (CC) the parameters (34) and (35) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that the parameter (34) position exceeds a maximum door open without command position threshold to (b) the total number of occurrences of the parameter (35) switch opening without command, exceeding a maximum position without command frequency threshold; (DD) generating a maintenance message to perform at least one of (i) adjustment or (ii) replacement of the door position encoder in response to at least one of the following conditions (EE) and (FF): (EE) the parameters (11) and (36) are monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of times that (i) the parameter (36) leaving a door closed position sensor occurs at a position at variance with (ii) the parameter (37) true door closed position by more than a position threshold to (b) the parameter (11) number of door operations, at any landing, exceeding a door position error frequency threshold; (FF) the parameter (11) number of car door operations is monitored and exceeds an encoder operation threshold; (GG) generating a maintenance message to either (i) adjust or (ii) replace the between-door safety device in response to at least one of the conditions (HH)-(KK): (HH) the parameters (38)-(40) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of occurrences of (i) the parameter (38) between-door safety device operation when (ii) the parameter (39) car door state is present at any given landing to (b) the parameter (40) number of runs, exceeding a maximum safety device frequency threshold; (II) the parameters (38), (39) and (41) being monitored and the ratio of (a) the number of occurrences of (i) the parameter (38) between-door safety device operation at any given landing concurrently with the parameter (39) car door state not being present, to (b) number of the parameter (41) stops at said given landing, being less than a minimum safety device frequency threshold, for a number of different landings which exceeds a thirteenth predetermined fraction of said landings; (JJ) the parameter (42) duration being monitored and the average value of the parameter (42) duration exceeding a between-door safety device threshold; (KK) the parameter (38) being monitored and the total number of the parameter (38) operations of a between-door safety device exceeding a total between-door safety device threshold; (LL) generating a maintenance message to perform at least one of (i) adjustment or (ii) replacement of a related one of said button switches in response to a corresponding one of the following conditions (MM)-(RR): (MM) the parameter (41) stops at each landing and the parameter (43) operation of each call button both being monitored and the ratio of calls per stop for any landing being below a corresponding upper call frequency threshold; (NN) the parameter (40) runs by the elevator car and the parameter (43) operation of each door button during the absence of the parameter (39) being monitored and the ratio of door button operations per run for either door button exceeding a corresponding upper door button frequency threshold; (OO) the parameter (44) duration of operation of a button switch being monitored over a last given number of operations, and the average thereof exceeding a corresponding duration threshold; (PP) the parameter (45) total number of uses of a button switch being monitored and exceeding a corresponding button switch useful life threshold; (QQ) the parameter (40) runs by the elevator car, the parameter (46) door open button use and the parameter (47) door reversals all being monitored and there being (i) no instances of parameter (46) use of door open button during a predetermined number of parameter (40) runs while (ii) the parameter (47) door reversals exceeds a door reversal threshold; (RR) the parameter (40) runs by the elevator car and the parameter (48) door close button use both being monitored and there being no instance of parameter (48) use of door close button for a predetermined threshold number of parameter (40) runs; (SS) generating a maintenance message to replace a related one of said call button lights in response to a corresponding one of the following conditions (TT)-(VV): (TT) the parameter (41) stops at each landing and the parameter (43) operation of each call button switch being monitored and the ratio of calls per stop at any landing exceeding a corresponding call button light frequency threshold; (UU) the parameter (44) duration of operation of a call button switch being monitored and exceeding a call button light duration threshold; (VV) the parameter (45) total number of uses of each call button switch being monitored and one of them exceeding a corresponding button light useful threshold; (WW) performing at least one of the following steps (XX) and (YY): (XX) determining the occurrence of at least one of (a) the variation in the parameter (1) position at any given landing exceeding a first position variation threshold, for a number of different landings which exceeds a fourteenth predetermined fraction of said landings, and (b) the parameter (49) total distance exceeding a total distance threshold, and in response thereto generating a maintenance message to adjust or replace the car rail guides; (YY) determining the occurrence of the variation in the parameter (1) position at any given landing exceeding a second position threshold, for a number of different landings which is less than a fifteenth predetermined fraction of said landings, and in response thereto generating a maintenance message to adjust the side-to-side clearance of said car guide rails at any said given landing.