Patent Publication Number: US-2021163260-A1

Title: Emergency stop system for elevator

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments herein relate to elevator systems and more specifically to a system and method for an emergency stop system for an elevator. 
     Within an elevator pit, i.e., in an elevator hoistway, there may be a circumstance where a person such as a field technician needs access. This circumstance may pose a risk to such persons if an elevator car is allowed to run in the hoistway. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is an elevator system having: a holding relay configured to energize and deenergize a circuit, the holding relay configured to communicate over a wireless network with a mobile device, wherein the holding relay is configured to: deenergize the circuit responsive to receiving a first signal via the wireless network from the mobile device, indicative of the mobile device being in or near a first architectural location. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the first architectural location is in or near a hoistway pit. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the holding relay is further configured to: energize the circuit responsive to receiving a second signal from the mobile device when the mobile device has left the first architectural location. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the elevator system includes: an elevator controller operationally connected to the circuit and configured to: stop an elevator car or prevent the elevator car from traveling to the first architectural location upon detecting that the circuit is deenergized; and run the elevator car upon detecting that the circuit is energized. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the elevator system includes: a hoistway, wherein: the elevator controller is in a controller room of the hoistway; the first architectural location is a hoistway pit of the hoistway; and the elevator car is positioned to move within the hoistway. 
     Further disclosed is an elevator system having: a stop switch that includes a motion sensor; wherein the stop switch is configured to: deenergize a circuit upon detecting, with the motion sensor, that a person is located within a first architectural location, to thereby stop an elevator from traveling to the first architectural location; energize the circuit upon detecting, with the motion sensor, that a person is no longer located within the first architectural location. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate: the stop switch configured to communicate with a holding relay, and wherein the stop switch is configured to energize and deenergize the circuit via the holding relay; wherein the stop switch is configured to: transmit a first signal to the holding relay to deenergize the circuit upon detecting, with the motion sensor, that the person is located within the first architectural location; and transmit a second signal to the holding relay to energize the circuit upon detecting, via the motion sensor, that the person has left the first architectural location. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, wherein: the stop switch includes: a plunger; and an actuator configured to move the plunger upon the stop switch detecting, via the motion sensor, that the person is in the first architectural location. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the plunger is a pull cap. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the stop switch includes a housing and the stop switch is configured to: move the pull cap away from the housing by the actuator when the stop switch detects, via the motion sensor, that the person is in the first architectural location. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the stop switch is configured to: transmit a second signal to the holding relay to energize the circuit upon detecting manual retraction of the pull cap. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the elevator system includes: an elevator controller operationally connected to the circuit and configured to: stop an elevator car or prevent the elevator car from traveling to the first architectural location upon detecting that the circuit is deenergized; and run the elevator car upon detecting that the circuit is energized. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the elevator system includes: a hoistway, wherein: the elevator controller is in a controller room of the hoistway; the first architectural location is a hoistway pit of the hoistway; and the elevator car is positioned to move within the hoistway. 
     Further disclosed is an elevator system, having: a mobile device that includes: a communication module configured to communicate over a wireless network with a holding relay of the elevator system, the holding relay configured to energize and deenergize a circuit; a geo-tracking module configured to track a location of the mobile device; wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit a first signal to the holding relay to deenergize the circuit. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the mobile device transmits the first signal upon the mobile device detecting that it is in or near a first architectural location. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the mobile device continuously transmits the first signal. 
     In addition to one or more of the above disclosed features, or as an alternate, the mobile device is further configured to: transmit a second signal to the holding relay to energize the circuit upon the mobile device detecting that it has left the first architectural location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an elevator system that may employ various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a stop switch of the elevator system according to a disclosed embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows a mobile device that communicates with the elevator system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a method of operating the elevator system according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing another method of operating the elevator system according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an elevator system  101  including an elevator car  103 , a counterweight  105 , a tension member  107 , a guide rail  109 , a machine  111 , a position reference system  113 , and an elevator controller  115 . The elevator car  103  and counterweight  105  are connected to each other by the tension member  107 . The tension member  107  may include or be configured as, for example, ropes, steel cables, and/or coated-steel belts. The counterweight  105  is configured to balance a load of the elevator car  103  and is configured to facilitate movement of the elevator car  103  concurrently and in an opposite direction with respect to the counterweight  105  within an elevator shaft  117  (or hoistway) and along the guide rail  109 . 
     The tension member  107  engages the machine  111 , which is part of an overhead structure of the elevator system  101 . The machine  111  is configured to control movement between the elevator car  103  and the counterweight  105 . The position reference system  113  may be mounted on a fixed part at the top of the elevator shaft  117 , such as on a support or guide rail, and may be configured to provide position signals related to a position of the elevator car  103  within the elevator shaft  117 . In other embodiments, the position reference system  113  may be directly mounted to a moving component of the machine  111 , or may be located in other positions and/or configurations as known in the art. The position reference system  113  can be any device or mechanism for monitoring a position of an elevator car and/or counter weight, as known in the art. For example, without limitation, the position reference system  113  can be an encoder, sensor, or other system and can include velocity sensing, absolute position sensing, etc., as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. 
     The elevator controller  115  is located, as shown, in a controller room  121  of the elevator shaft  117  and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system  101 , and particularly the elevator car  103 . For example, the elevator controller  115  may provide drive signals to the machine  111  to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car  103 . The elevator controller  115  may also be configured to receive position signals from the position reference system  113  or any other desired position reference device. When moving up or down within the elevator shaft  117  along guide rail  109 , the elevator car  103  may stop at one or more landings  125  as controlled by the elevator controller  115 . Although shown in a controller room  121 , those of skill in the art will appreciate that the elevator controller  115  can be located and/or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system  101 . In one embodiment, the controller may be located remotely or in the cloud. 
     The machine  111  may include a motor or similar driving mechanism. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the machine  111  is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The power supply for the motor may be any power source, including a power grid, which, in combination with other components, is supplied to the motor. The machine  111  may include a traction sheave that imparts force to tension member  107  to move the elevator car  103  within elevator shaft  117 . 
     Although shown and described with a roping system including tension member  107 , elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms of moving an elevator car within an elevator shaft may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments may be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a linear motor to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a hydraulic lift to impart motion to an elevator car.  FIG. 1  is merely a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes. 
     Remaining with  FIG. 1 , a hoistway pit (pit)  200  (also referred to as a first architectural location) is illustrated. A person  210  such as a field technician may need to enter the hoistway pit (pit)  200 , e.g., to perform maintenance. A stop switch  220  may be positioned within the pit  200 . The stop switch  220  may be electronically connected with the elevator controller  115  in the controller room  121  by a circuit  230  (shown schematically) having a holding relay  2310  which keeps the circuit  230  energized. The circuit  230  may be wired through the elevator shaft  117 , e.g., along the guide rail  109 . 
     The stop switch  220  may include a housing  2205 . A pull cap  2210  may extend forwardly from the housing  2205 . The pull cap  2210  may be, e.g. a mushroom style pull cap (plunger). When the pull cap  2210  is pulled away from the housing  2205 , e.g., by the person  210 , the stop switch  220  is in a stop configuration. This may disrupt power to the holding relay  2310 , which may deenergize the circuit  230 . Upon sensing the power loss in the circuit  230 , the elevator controller  115  may stop the elevator car  103 . When the pull cap  2210  is retracted, i.e., pushed back toward the housing  2205 , the stop switch  220  is in a run configuration, or vice versa. Upon entering the run configuration, the holding relay  2310  may be energized, which may energize the circuit  230 . Upon sensing power in the circuit  230 , the elevator controller  115  may run the elevator car  103 . 
     According to an embodiment, the stop switch  220  may include a motion sensor  2215  that may be integrated into the housing  2205 . A switch controller  2220  of the stop switch  220  may be in electronic communication with the motion sensor  2215 . According to an embodiment upon sensing the person  210  in the pit  200 , the stop switch  220  may send a first signal to the holding relay  2310 , via a holding relay controller  2325 , to deenergize the circuit  230 . As indicated above, this may result in the elevator controller  115  sensing the power loss in the circuit  230  and stopping the elevator car  103 . Once the person  210  (or other moving object) is no longer detected by the stop switch  220  the stop switch  220  may send a second signal to the holding relay  2310  to energize the circuit  230 . As indicated above, this may result in the elevator controller  115  sensing the restored power in the circuit  230  and running the elevator car  103 . 
     Another embodiment of the stop switch  220  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the housing  2205 , the pull cap  2210  and the motion sensor  2215  of the stop switch  220 . The stop switch  220  may further include an actuator  2225 , illustrated schematically. The actuator  2225  may be a solenoid or other implement that is controlled, e.g., by the switch controller  2220 . Upon the stop switch  220  sensing the person  210  in the pit  200 , the actuator  2225  is controlled to push out the pull cap  2210 . This action places the stop switch  220  in the stop configuration, or vice versa. As indicated, when the stop switch  220  is in the stop configuration, power may be disrupted to the holding relay  2310 , the circuit  230  may be deenergized, and the elevator controller  115  may stop the elevator car  103 . Manually retracting (pushing back) the pull cap  2210  toward the housing  2205 , the stop switch  220  is again in the run configuration. Upon entering the run configuration, the holding relay  2310  may be energized, which may energize the circuit  230 . Upon sensing power in the circuit  230 , the elevator controller  115  may run the elevator car  103 . 
     In a further embodiment, the person  210  has a mobile device (mobile phone)  240 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the mobile phone  240  has a communication module  2410  and a geo-tracking module  2420 , e.g., to track a specific location of the mobile phone  240 . The mobile phone  240  and the holding relay  2310  are both configured to communicate over a wireless network  250 , which may be a Bluetooth or other personal area network or similar low energy and rapid pairing network. 
     When the mobile phone  240  determines that the person  210  is in the pit  200 , the mobile phone  240  may transmit a third signal to the holding relay  2310 . The third signal may be the same as the first signal, instructing the holding relay  2310  to deenergize the circuit  230 . As indicated above, this may result in the elevator controller  115  sensing the power loss in the circuit  230  and stopping the elevator car  103 . Alternatively, rather than transmitting a third signal only upon determining the person  210  is in the pit  200 , the signal is always transmitted by the mobile phone  240 , e.g., so that the holding relay  2310  receives the signal whenever the mobile phone  240  is in close proximity to the pit  200 . For example, the communications may be calibrated so that the signal is received when the mobile phone  240  is in or near the pit  200 . 
     Once the mobile phone  240  detects that the person  210  is no longer in the pit  200 , the mobile phone  240  may send a fourth signal to the holding relay  2310 , or may send no additional signal. The fourth signal may be the same as the second signal, instructing the holding relay  2310  to energize the circuit  230 . Or the holding relay  2310  may energize the circuit  230  after detecting no additional signal for a predetermined period of time. As indicated above, this may result in the elevator controller  115  sensing the restored power in the circuit  230  and running the elevator car  103 . 
     With the above configurations, human error of forgetting to engage the stop switch is removed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart shows a method of operating the elevator system  101  according to an embodiment. As shown in block  405  the method includes the mobile phone  240  transmitting the first signal to the holding relay  2310  to deenergize the circuit  230  upon the mobile phone  240  detecting via the geo-tracking module that it is in the pit  200 , or when the mobile phone  240  is close enough to the holding relay  2310  such that the first signal is received. 
     As shown in block  410  the method includes the holding relay  2310  deenergizing the circuit  230  responsive to receiving a first signal via the wireless network  250 . As shown in block  415  the method includes the elevator controller  115  stopping an elevator car  103  upon detecting that the circuit  230  is deenergized. In one embodiment, instead of stopping the elevator car  101 , the elevator car  101  is controlled such that it remains a predefined distance of the pit  200 , e.g., where the distance is measured in feet or levels. 
     As shown in block  418  the method includes the mobile phone  240  transmitting the second signal to the holding relay  2310  to energize the circuit  230  upon the mobile phone  240  detecting that it has left the pit  200 . As shown in block  420  the method includes the holding relay  2310  energizing the circuit  230  responsive to receiving the second signal. As shown in block  425  the method includes the elevator controller  115  running the elevator car  103  upon detecting that the circuit  230  is energized. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a further flowchart shows a method of operating the elevator system  101  according to another embodiment. As shown in block  510 , in one embodiment the method may include the stop switch  220  detecting, via the motion sensor  2215 , that a person  210  (or another moving object) is located in the pit  200 . As shown in block  520  the method may include the stop switch  220  transmitting a first signal to the holding relay  2310  to deenergize the circuit  230  upon detecting that the person  210  is in the pit  200 . In certain embodiments, as shown in block  520 , the method may further include actuating the plunger (e.g., biasing the pull cap  2210  away from the housing  2205  by the actuator  2225 ) when the stop switch  220  detects the person  210  in the pit  200 . However, within the scope of the disclosure are embodiments in which the stop switch  220  transmits the first signal to the hold relay  2310  without requiring the pull cap  2210  to be physically moved to an actuated position, e.g., away from the housing  2205 . 
     As shown in block  530  the method includes the holding relay  2310  deenergizing the circuit  230  responsive to receiving the first signal from the stop switch  220 . As shown in block  535  the method includes the elevator controller  115  stopping an elevator car  103  or preventing the elevator car  103  from traveling to the pit  200  upon detecting that the circuit  230  is deenergized. 
     As shown in block  540 , in one embodiment the method may also include the stop switch  220  transmitting the second signal to the holding relay  2310  to energize the circuit  230  upon detecting, via the motion sensor  2215 , that the person  210  has left the pit  200  or upon detecting manual retraction of the pull cap  2210 . As further shown in block  540 , the method alternatively includes the stop switch  220  transmitting the second signal to the holding relay  2310  to energize the circuit upon detecting manual retraction of the plunger (pull cap  2210 ). 
     As shown in block  545  the method includes the holding relay  2310  energizing the circuit  230  responsive to receiving the second signal. As shown in block  550  the method includes the elevator controller  115  running the elevator car  103  upon detecting that the circuit  230  is energized. 
     As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as a processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as network cloud storage, SD cards, flash drives, floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in the particular embodiments, but the present disclosure is not thus limited. Rather, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.