Patent Publication Number: US-2023146042-A1

Title: Device for controlling an elevator system

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a device and to a method for controlling an elevator system and to a corresponding elevator system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An elevator system usually comprises an evacuation controller with which a car can be controlled manually to a stopping point in the event of a fire or a power failure for example. For safety reasons, the evacuation controller must be accessible outside of an elevator shaft in which the car is moving, since the car can block access to the elevator shaft in such cases. 
     At the same time, the elevator system should also be manually controllable inside the elevator shaft, for example to be able to carry out maintenance or inspection work in the elevator shaft. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the invention to improve the controller of an elevator system. 
     This object is achieved by a device, a method, and an elevator system according to advantageous embodiments defined in the following description. 
     A first aspect of the invention relates to a device for controlling an elevator system, wherein the elevator system comprises an elevator shaft which is delimited by a shaft wall, the shaft wall having a wall opening which connects an inner face of the shaft wall to an outer face of the shaft wall. The device comprises a housing for receiving a controller for controlling the elevator system, wherein the housing has a housing opening which allows access to the controller, and the housing is rotatably mounted in the wall opening between a first position and a second position in an operational state of the device. The housing opening is accessible from the outer face of the shaft wall in the first position and from the inner face of the shaft wall in the second position. 
     In other words, the housing opening can face the outer face of the shaft wall in the first position, so that the housing opening is accessible from the outer face, and in the second position can face the inner face of the shaft wall, so that the housing opening is accessible from the inner face or from the interior of the elevator shaft. 
     The wall opening and the housing can be dimensioned in such a way that an outer surface of the housing together with an inner surface of the wall opening forms a relatively small gap, so that, for example, a technician cannot reach past the housing through the wall opening, for example to operate the controller from the inner face when the housing is in the first position, i.e. the housing opening is rotated outward and vice versa. 
     The housing can, for example, be mounted so as to be pivoted horizontally or vertically. In particular, the housing can be cuboid. However, a cylindrical housing is also possible. 
     The wall opening can be closed, for example, on one or both sides with a fireproof cover. The cover can be removable or pivotable. 
     Depending on the position of the housing, it is possible for the controller to provide different types of controllers for controlling the elevator system, including, for example, an evacuation controller or an inspection controller. This is described in more detail below. 
     It is also conceivable, for example, that the housing can also be rotated into a third position in which the housing opening is accessible neither from the outer face of the shaft wall nor from the inner face of the shaft wall. The wall opening can be closed on both sides by a housing wall of the housing. 
     A device of this kind allows the elevator system to be reliably controlled both outside and inside the elevator shaft, without separate controllers being required for this purpose. 
     A second aspect of the invention relates to an elevator system which comprises an elevator shaft delimited by a shaft wall and a device as described above and below. The shaft wall has a wall opening that connects an inner face of the shaft wall to an outer face of the shaft wall. The housing of the device is rotatably mounted in the wall opening between the first position and the second position. 
     A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling an elevator system, as described above and below. The method comprises the following steps: detecting whether the housing is in the first position or the second position by means of a position detection device; activating a first control mode for controlling the elevator system when the position detection device detects that the housing is in the first position; activating a second control mode for controlling the elevator system when the position detection device detects that the housing is in the second position. 
     Features of the device, as it is described above and below, can also be features of the method and vice versa. 
     Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention can be considered, inter alia and without limiting the invention, to be based upon the concepts and findings described below. 
     According to one embodiment, the device further comprises a position detection device, which is designed to detect whether the housing is in the first position or the second position, and the controller, which is received in the housing and is designed to activate a first control mode for controlling the elevator system, when the position detection device detects that the housing is in the first position, and to activate a second control mode for controlling the elevator system when the position detection device detects that the housing is in the second position. 
     The position detection device can, for example, comprise a switch or an arrangement of a plurality of switches which can be actuated by rotating the housing into the first or second position. Additionally or alternatively, the position detection device can comprise one or more sensors for detecting a position of the housing. 
     The two control modes can differ from one another. In particular, in the second control mode, i.e. when the controller is accessible from the inside, specific safety-critical functions of the controller can be deactivated, such as a function for manually moving a car or the like, in order not to endanger a technician located in the elevator shaft. 
     According to one embodiment, the controller in the second control mode prevents manual activation of the first control mode. In this way, it can be avoided that functions of the controller are activated in the second control mode, which could endanger the safety of the technician located in the elevator shaft. 
     According to one embodiment, the controller in the first control mode prevents manual activation of the second control mode. For example—if the controller is only accessible from the outside, i.e. the technician is outside the elevator shaft—specific functions that require visual contact with components inside the elevator shaft are excluded from the controller. 
     According to one embodiment, the controller allows a safety circuit of the elevator system to be bypassed in the first control mode. A drive of the elevator system can be supplied with power via the safety circuit. If the safety circuit is interrupted under specific operating conditions, it can still be bypassed manually, for example by means of an inspection or evacuation controller. The controller can be designed to allow a bypass of this kind, provided it is ensured that the technician is outside the elevator shaft. This is then ensured when the housing opening is in the first position, i.e. is rotated outward and thus the first control mode is active. 
     According to one embodiment, the controller prevents a safety circuit of the elevator system from being bypassed in the second control mode. This can prevent the drive of the elevator system from being set in motion by means of the controller, i.e. a car is moved while the technician is in the elevator shaft. 
     According to one embodiment, the controller allows switching over of the elevator system to normal operation in the first control mode. 
     According to one embodiment, the controller in the second control mode prevents the elevator system from switching over to normal operation. 
     This can also prevent the technician located in the elevator shaft from being endangered by a moving car. 
     According to one embodiment, the housing opening is not accessible from the inner face of the shaft wall in the first position. It can thus be ruled out that the controller is operated from the inside, when it should actually only be operated from the outside. 
     According to one embodiment, the housing opening is not accessible from the outside of the shaft wall in the second position. It can thus be ruled out that the controller is operated from the outside when it should actually only be operated from the inside. 
     According to one embodiment, the housing can only be rotated in one direction. In this way, unintentional adjustment of the housing can be avoided. For example, it can also be achieved that the technician has to leave the elevator shaft in order to turn the housing from the second position back to the first position. 
     According to one embodiment, the device further comprises a locking mechanism that blocks a movement of the housing between the first position and the second position in a locked state and releases it in an unlocked state. The locking mechanism can be adjusted manually between the locked state and the unlocked state. For example, the housing can be rotatable from both sides of the shaft wall from the first position to the second position, i.e. from outside to inside. In order to prevent the housing from rotating starting from the outer face of the shaft wall from the second position back to the first position, i.e. inside out, the device may comprise a latching mechanism that restricts rotation of the housing. Such a latching mechanism can, similar to a cable tie, comprise a latch and a counterpart that can be moved relative to the latch and in which the latch engages in a form-fitting manner, so that the housing can only be rotated in a specific direction. The latching mechanism can be manually released by the technician, for example by lifting the latch so that the housing can also be rotated in the other direction. The latching mechanism can be designed in such a way that it can only be released inside the elevator shaft, for example by the latch being accessible only from the inner face of the shaft wall. 
     According to one embodiment, the device also comprises a lockable housing door for closing the housing opening. The housing door can be movably attached to the housing in order to close the housing opening there. It is also possible for the housing door to be movably attached to the outer face of the shaft wall in order to close the wall opening there and thus prevent access to the housing opening. For example, the device can also comprise a first housing door for closing the wall opening on the outer face of the shaft wall and a second housing door for closing the wall opening on the inner face of the shaft wall. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, although neither the drawings nor the description should be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1   : is an elevator system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2   : is a housing of  FIG.  1    in the first position; 
         FIG.  3   : is a housing of  FIG.  1    in the second position; and 
         FIG.  4   : is a flow chart for a method according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Like reference signs denote like or equivalent features in the various drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    shows an elevator system  100  having an elevator shaft  102  which is delimited by a shaft wall  104 . The shaft wall  104  has a continuous wall opening  106  which connects an inner face  108  of the shaft wall  104  to an outer face  110  of the shaft wall  104 . The elevator system  100  also comprises a device  112  for manually controlling the elevator system  100  by a technician  113 . 
     The wall opening  106  can be located next to a door opening in the shaft wall  104 , for example. It is also conceivable that the wall opening  106  is located in the region of a shaft pit or in an upper region of the elevator shaft  102 . 
     The device  112  allows controlling the elevator system  100  from the outer face  110  on the one hand and from the inner face  108  on the other hand. For this purpose, the device  112  has a housing  114  which is mounted within the wall opening  106  so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation  116  between a first position and a second position. The axis of rotation  116  can be aligned transversely to a longitudinal axis of the wall opening  106 , for example horizontally or vertically. In  FIG.  1   , the axis of rotation  116  is oriented vertically, for example. 
     A controller  120  with various operating elements  122  for operating the elevator system  100  by the technician  113  is arranged in the housing  114 . For example, the operating elements  122  can comprise a rotary switch for switching over between a normal operation and a special operation such as a maintenance or evacuation mode, a button for enabling a movement of a car  123 , and buttons for specifying a direction of travel of the car  123 . 
     The housing  114  has a housing opening  124  through which the technician  113  can access the operating elements  122  inside the housing  114 . 
     In order to be able to access the controller  120  or the operating elements  122  from the outer face  110 , the technician  113  rotates the housing  114  into the first position in which the housing opening  124  faces the outer face  110 , as is shown in  FIG.  1   . In order to be able to access the controller  120  or the operating elements  122  from the inner face  108 , the technician  113  rotates the housing  114  into the second position in which the housing opening  124  faces the inner face  108 . 
     Additionally or alternatively to the housing  114 , the operating elements  122  can be mounted at least partially so that they can rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein the operating elements  122  are accessible from the outer face  110  in the first position and from the inner face  108  in the second position. 
     For example, the housing  114  can have a closed housing wall  125  on a side opposite the housing opening  124 , which side faces the inner face  108  in the first position, in order to close the wall opening  106  on the inner face  108  in such a way that the technician  113  cannot reach the housing opening  124  from the inner face  108 , or faces the outer face  110  in the second position, in order to close the wall opening  106  on the outer face  110  in such a way that the technician  113  cannot reach the housing opening  124  from the outer face  110 . 
     In addition, the housing wall  125  can be given an appearance of the shaft wall  104 , i.e. be adapted to the color or structure thereof, by means of a corresponding decoration. The housing wall  125  can thus be integrated into the shaft wall  104  inconspicuously. 
     It is also possible for the housing wall  125  to be flush with the outer face  110  in the second position. Additionally or alternatively, the housing wall  125  can terminate flush with the inner face  108  in the first position. 
     The device  112  can comprise a position detection device  126  which is designed to detect whether the housing  114  is in the first position or in the second position. For example, the position detection device  126  can have a switch that is actuated by the housing  114  and generates a corresponding switching signal as soon as the housing  114  assumes the first position. Based on the switching signal, the controller  120  can activate a first control mode. For example, the first control mode can be activated as long as the switching signal is present at the controller  120 . If the housing  114  leaves the first position, the switch returns to its rest position and no longer generates a switching signal. Accordingly, the controller  120  deactivates the first control mode and activates a second control mode instead, which is used to control the elevator system  100  from the elevator shaft  102 . 
     The position detection device  126  may also comprise a plurality of such switches, for example a first switch for signaling that the housing  114  is in the first position, and a second switch for signaling that the housing  114  is in the second position. Additionally or alternatively to such switches, the position detection device  126  can comprise a suitable sensor for detecting a corresponding position of the housing  114 . 
     The control modes can differ, for example, in that in the first control mode a safety circuit, which in the closed state supplies a drive of the elevator system  100  with power, can be bypassed, while this is not possible in the second control mode (the safety circuit is usually interrupted under specific operating conditions that deviate from normal driving operation, for example in the event of a malfunction or when an inspection is carried out). This can prevent the drive from being set in motion while the technician  113  is in the elevator shaft  102 . 
     Furthermore, the controller  120  can be configured in such a way that a switching over of the elevator system  100  to normal operation is only possible in the first control mode, i.e. only if the controller  120  is accessible from the outer face  110 . 
     The elevator system  100  can be controlled by a higher-level elevator controller that is connected to the safety circuit and performs various functions by interrupting or bypassing parts of the safety circuit. The controller  122  can inform the elevator controller which control mode is active at any given time. Depending on the control mode, the elevator controller can, for example, activate or deactivate specific current paths in the safety circuit. For example, the first control mode can be a mode for an emergency electrical operation and the second control mode can be a mode for a pit inspection. 
     For example, upon rotating the housing  114  to the second position, the elevator controller may disable a bypass path for electrical emergency operation. In this way, the safety circuit can only be closed if none of the safety switches in the safety circuit have tripped. 
     The elevator controller or the controller  122  can be implemented as a software and/or hardware module. 
     For example, the housing  114  may be coupled to a freewheel mechanism  128  that causes the housing  114  to rotate in only one direction. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the device  112  may comprise a manually adjustable locking mechanism  130  that blocks a movement of the housing  114  between the first position and the second position in a locked state and releases it in an unlocked state. 
     For example, the housing  114  may be fixed in either the first position or the second position in the locked state. 
     The locking mechanism  130  may only be released using a special key, for example. 
     It is possible for the locking mechanism  130  to be integrated into the freewheel mechanism  128 . 
     In order to prevent unauthorized persons from being able to access the controller  120 , the housing opening  124  can be closed with a housing door  132 . For example, the housing door  132  is movably mounted on the shaft wall  104  and, in the closed state, covers the entire wall opening  106  at the outer face  110 . The housing door  132  can be lockable. Similar to the housing wall  125 , the housing door  132  can have a decoration imitating the shaft wall  104  on its outer face. 
       FIG.  2    shows the wall opening  106  viewed from the outer face  110 . As already shown in  FIG.  1   , the housing  114  is in the first position. The individual operating elements  122 , which are freely accessible through the housing opening  124 , can be seen. 
       FIG.  3    shows the wall opening  106  in the same view as in  FIG.  2   , with the difference that in this case the housing  114  is rotated to the second position. It can be seen how the wall opening  106  is closed by the housing wall  125  in the second position. A lock  300  for a special key for locking or unlocking the housing  114  by means of the locking mechanism  130  is also shown. 
       FIG.  4    shows a flow chart of a method  400  for controlling the elevator system  100 , as can be carried out by the device  112  from  FIGS.  1  to  3   . 
     In a first step  410 , it is detected by the position detection device  126  whether the housing  114  is in the first position or the second position. 
     If it is detected that the housing  114  is in the first position, the first control mode is activated in a second step  420   a.    
     Alternatively, the second control mode is activated in a second step  420   b  if it is detected that the housing  114  is in the second position. 
     Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “including,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps, and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. 
     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.