Patent Description:
Elevator cars are known to include electronic visual displays, which may be configured to display still images or videos to passengers. More recently, in buildings with destination landings, such as upper floor restaurants or observation decks, such electronic visual displays are used to display information about the building and/or the observation deck while the elevator car transports passengers to and from the observation deck. <CIT> discloses an apparatus for radiating heat away from a display panel of an elevator. <CIT> and <CIT> each disclose a ventilation means for discharging heat generated from a monitor supported on a wall of an elevator cage. All these documents disclose the preamble of claim <NUM>.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an elevator system as defined by claim <NUM>.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the elevator system includes a plurality of sets of electronic visual displays and further includes a plurality of second flow paths, and each of the second flow paths is arranged adjacent to a respective one of the sets of electronic visual displays.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, each set of electronic visual displays includes a first electronic visual display mounted vertically above a second electronic visual display.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the passenger space is interior of the sets of electronic visual displays.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the gap is fluidly coupled to a source of fluid by a second flow path inlet arranged adjacent a bottom of the electronic visual display, and the gap is fluidly coupled to a location outside the elevator car by a second flow path outlet arranged adjacent a top of the electronic visual display.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the second flow path inlet is vertically above the first flow path inlet.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the second flow path outlet is vertically below the first flow path outlet.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the system includes a second flow path inlet fan arranged adjacent the second flow path inlet and configured to direct fluid to the gap, and a second flow path outlet fan arranged adjacent the second flow path outlet and configured to draw fluid out of the gap.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the elevator car includes a double-walled thickness including the inner wall and an outer wall spaced-apart from the inner wall, the second flow path inlet fan is at least partially arranged in a space between the inner wall and the outer wall, and the second flow path outlet fan is at least partially arranged in the space between the inner wall and the outer wall.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the elevator system includes a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of one of the electronic visual display and the passenger space, and a controller configured to selectively activate the second flow path inlet fan and the second flow path outlet fan in response to the signal.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the elevator system includes a controller configured to selectively activate the second flow path inlet fan and the second flow path outlet fan when the electronic visual display is activated.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the elevator car is in a building with an observation deck, and the electronic visual display is a screen configured to present at least one of images and video pertaining to the observation deck.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method as defined by claim <NUM>.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the step of establishing a flow of fluid within the gap includes directing the fluid into the gap using an inlet fan.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the method includes drawing air out of the gap using an outlet fan.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the method includes activating the inlet fan and the outlet fan in response to a signal from a temperature sensor.

In a further non-limiting embodiment, the method includes activating the inlet fan and the outlet fan when the electronic visual display is activated.

The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination so far as they are within the scope of the appended claims. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

This invention relates to a cooling system for an elevator with electronic visual displays, and a corresponding method. An example system includes an elevator car having an inner wall, and an electronic visual display mounted to the inner wall so as to define a gap between the inner wall and the electronic visual display. Further, fluid is configured to flow through the gap to cool the electronic visual display. Among other benefits, which will be appreciated from the below description, this invention provides effective cooling for electronic visual displays within elevator cars, without being unduly large or expensive, and without drawing high power during operation. The system also simplifies maintenance and is scalable in terms of the number of fans, the size of the elevator car, and/or the number of electronic visual displays within the elevator car. Further, the system is low-noise and produces minimal, if any, condensation.

<FIG> illustrates an example elevator system <NUM>, and in particular illustrates a portion of a passenger space <NUM> (i.e., passenger cabin) of an elevator car <NUM>. The elevator system <NUM>, in this example, is located in a building with a destination landing, such as an upper floor restaurant or an observation deck. In the example, the elevator car <NUM> is configured to travel within a hoistway to transport passengers <NUM> to and from a lobby of the building and the observation deck. While observation decks are mentioned herein, this invention is not limited to elevator systems used in buildings with observation decks, and extends to other elevator systems with electronic visual displays including those intended to provide passengers with an immersive media experience.

In the example of <FIG>, a plurality of passengers <NUM> are traveling between a lobby and an observation deck. The elevator car <NUM>, in this example, includes a plurality of electronic visual displays <NUM>. The electronic visual displays <NUM> are arranged relative to one another such that, collectively, the electronic visual displays <NUM> substantially cover the entirety of the inner walls of the elevator car <NUM>. As such, the electronic visual displays <NUM> can provide the passengers <NUM> with an immersive media experience. While a plurality of electronic visual displays are shown in <FIG>, it should be understood that this invention extends to elevator cars with one or more electronic visual displays. Further, while electronic visual displays <NUM> are shown on three different walls of the elevator car <NUM> in <FIG>, this invention extends to elevator systems with at least one electronic visual display on at least one wall of an elevator car. The invention separately applies to elevator systems with one or more electronic visual displays on a ceiling of the elevator car.

In one example, the electronic visual displays <NUM> display information about the observation deck to the passengers <NUM> as they are transported to or from the observation deck. For instance, the electronic visual displays <NUM> can be used to display an informative video to the passengers <NUM>. The video may include information about the observation deck such as the height of the observation deck, current weather, visibility, visible landmarks, history of the building, and other information. This invention is not limited to electronic visual display that play videos that pertain to observation decks, however. The electronic visual displays <NUM> could display other content such as still images, videos, advertisements, etc. The electronic visual displays <NUM> could present other types of media.

<FIG> is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the elevator system <NUM>, and in particular illustrates a cooling system <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM>. In this invention, the cooling system <NUM> is configured to direct air in a manner that cools the electronic visual displays <NUM>.

The elevator car <NUM> includes side walls <NUM> with a shell having a double-walled thickness. One of the side walls <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. While a double-walled thickness shell including two spaced-apart panels is shown in <FIG>, this invention extends to side walls having a single-walled thickness shell.

In particular, the side walls <NUM> each have a double-walled thickness shell provided by an inner wall <NUM> and an outer wall <NUM> spaced-apart from the inner wall <NUM> in a horizontal direction by a space <NUM>. The space <NUM> is a substantially hollow space in this example. The space <NUM> may also be at least partially filled with noise attenuating material. In the example of a single-walled thickness shell, other noise attenuating features such as baffles may be incorporated into the shell.

The inner and outer walls <NUM>, <NUM> are panels, in this example, and extend from a floor <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM> to a ceiling <NUM>. Together, the inner walls <NUM>, floor <NUM>, and ceiling <NUM> define the passenger space <NUM>. Alternatively, there may be decorative panels below the ceiling <NUM> and/or above the floor <NUM> which partially define the passenger space <NUM>.

The electronic visual displays <NUM> are mounted to the inner walls <NUM>, in this example, by way of mounting brackets <NUM>. The mounting brackets <NUM> are directly attached to both the inner walls <NUM> and the electronic visual displays <NUM>. The electronic visual displays <NUM> are mounted such that a back surface <NUM> of the electronic visual displays <NUM> faces the inner wall <NUM> and is spaced-apart from the inner wall <NUM> so as to define a gap <NUM> between the inner wall <NUM> and the electronic visual display <NUM>. In <FIG>, there are two electronic visual displays <NUM>, with one mounted vertically above another to provide a vertical set of electronic visual displays. While two electronic visual displays <NUM> are shown vertically arranged relative to one another herein, it should be understood that other electronic visual display arrangements are contemplated by this invention. For instance, the two electronic visual displays <NUM> could be replaced with a single, relatively taller electronic visual display. Alternatively, there could be three or more vertically stacked electronic visual displays <NUM>.

Front surfaces <NUM> of the electronic visual displays <NUM>, which include a screen, face toward the center of the elevator car <NUM>. The mounting brackets <NUM> may include vertical and horizontal bracket components. This invention is not limited to any particular type of mounting bracket.

The electronic visual displays <NUM> typically generate and emit heat during use. This invention provides a cooling system <NUM> configured to cool the electronic visual displays <NUM>. In a particular embodiment, fluid is configured to flow through the gap <NUM> to cool the electronic visual displays <NUM>. The fluid is air, in one example, and thus this invention may referred to as a forced air cooling system. As will be appreciated from the below, a particular aspect of this invention provides two independent fluid flow paths, one of which is configured to direct fluid to cool the passenger space <NUM> and one of which is configured to direct fluid through the gap <NUM> to cool the electronic visual displays <NUM>.

Specifically, cooling system <NUM> includes a first flow path through which fluid F<NUM> is configured to flow to cool the passenger space <NUM>. In particular, the passenger space <NUM> is fluidly coupled to a source of fluid F<NUM> by a first flow path inlet <NUM> configured to direct fluid F<NUM> into the passenger space <NUM> beneath the electronic visual displays <NUM>. The first flow path inlet <NUM> includes a first port 42A in outer wall <NUM> and a second port 42B in inner wall <NUM> and arranged vertically beneath the first port 42A. The first port 42A is fluidly coupled to air within a hoistway, in one example, and fluid F<NUM> is configured to flow between the first and second ports 42A, 42B within the space <NUM>. The second port 42B is arranged vertically below a bottom-most edge <NUM> of a bottom one of the electronic visual displays <NUM> such that fluid F<NUM> may flow to the passenger space <NUM>. The fluid F<NUM> cools the passenger space <NUM> by directing hot air out an outlet <NUM> in the ceiling <NUM>, in this example. The outlet <NUM> is above a top-most edge <NUM> of a top one of the electronic visual displays <NUM>. The outlet <NUM> does not need to be in the ceiling <NUM> in all examples, and could be in an upper section of the side wall <NUM>, for example. The outlet <NUM> could include a fan <NUM> configured to direct fluid out of the passenger space <NUM>, in some examples.

The cooling system <NUM> also includes a second flow path through which fluid F<NUM> is configured to flow to cool the electronic visual displays <NUM>. The fluids F<NUM>, F<NUM> may both be air and may both be sourced from a hoistway. The fluids F<NUM>, F<NUM> may be sourced from locations other than the hoistway, however. The fluids are referred to separately herein because they are directed through different flow paths.

The gap <NUM> is fluidly coupled to the fluid F<NUM> by a second flow path inlet <NUM>, which includes a port 50A in the outer wall <NUM> and a port 50B in the inner wall <NUM> arranged vertically below the port 50A. The second flow path inlet <NUM> is vertically above the first flow path inlet <NUM>. Fluid F<NUM> is configured to flow in the space <NUM> between the port 50A and 50B. The port 50B is arranged adjacent, and in this example slightly above, the bottom-most edge <NUM> of the bottom electronic visual display <NUM>. As such, fluid F<NUM> exiting the port 50B flows vertically upward through the gap <NUM> and cools the electronic visual displays <NUM> by directing hot air away from the electronic visual displays <NUM>.

The fluid F<NUM> flows vertically upward toward a second flow path outlet <NUM>, which includes port 52A in the outer wall <NUM> and port 52B in the inner wall <NUM>. The port 52B is arranged vertically below the port 52A and is arranged adjacent, and in this example slightly below, the upper-most edge <NUM> of the upper electronic visual display <NUM>. The second flow path outlet <NUM> is vertically below the first flow path outlet <NUM>.

The side wall <NUM> includes two partitions, in this example, to prevent mixing of the various flows of fluid. A first partition <NUM> extends horizontally between the inner wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM> and is arranged below the port 50B to prevent the fluid F<NUM> from mixing with fluid F<NUM>. A second partition <NUM> extends horizontally between the inner wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM> and is arranged above the port 50A to prevent the fluid F<NUM> adjacent the second flow path inlet <NUM>, which is relatively cooler, from mixing with fluid F<NUM> adjacent the outlet <NUM>, which is relatively hotter.

The partitions <NUM>, <NUM> divide the side wall <NUM> into three vertical sections in this example. The first section provides first flow path inlet <NUM> and extends from the floor <NUM> to the first partition <NUM>, which is at about knee height of an average-height passenger. The second section provides the second flow path inlet <NUM> and extends vertically between the first partition <NUM> and the second partition <NUM>, which is at about waist height. The third section provides the second flow path outlet <NUM> and extends from the second partition <NUM> to the ceiling <NUM>.

In one example, the flow of fluid F<NUM> is established (i.e., introduced) within the second flow path by passively flowing from the second flow path inlet <NUM> to the second flow path outlet <NUM> without being forced by a fan. In another example, the cooling system <NUM> includes at least one fan (e.g., one at the inlet, one at the outlet, or both) configured to actively establish the flow of fluid F<NUM> through the second flow path. While fans are illustrated relative to the second flow path, it should be understood that one or more fans (e.g., fan <NUM>) could also be used relative to the first flow path in order to actively establish the flow of fluid F<NUM>. Alternatively, the flow of fluid F<NUM> may be established passively.

In the example of <FIG>, the cooling system <NUM> includes a second flow path inlet fan <NUM> arranged adjacent the second flow path inlet <NUM> and configured to direct fluid F<NUM> into the gap <NUM>. The cooling system <NUM> further includes a second flow path outlet fan <NUM> arranged adjacent the second flow path outlet <NUM> and configured to draw, and exhaust, fluid F<NUM> out of the gap <NUM>. The fans <NUM>, <NUM> are shown schematically in <FIG>. In this example, the second flow path inlet fan <NUM> is mounted in the port 50B and is at least partially arranged in the space <NUM> between the inner wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM>. The second flow path outlet fan <NUM> is mounted in the port 52B and is at least partially arranged in the space <NUM>. Thus, the fans <NUM>, <NUM> are at least partially recessed into the side wall <NUM>. The fans <NUM>, <NUM> may be fully recessed in other examples. In those examples, the fans <NUM>, <NUM> are completely within the space <NUM>. The fans <NUM>, <NUM> may also be mounted to the outer wall <NUM> in examples where it is not possible to mount fans to the inner wall <NUM>.

The fans <NUM>, <NUM> are electronically connected to a controller <NUM>, and the fans <NUM>, <NUM> are selectively activated in response to instructions from the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is shown schematically in <FIG>. The controller <NUM> includes electronics, software, or both, to perform the necessary control functions. In one non-limiting embodiment, the controller <NUM> is an elevator drive controller. Although it is shown as a single device, the controller <NUM> may include multiple controllers in the form of multiple hardware devices, or multiple software controllers within one or more hardware devices. A controller area network (CAN) <NUM>, illustrated schematically, allows the controller <NUM> to communicate with various components of the elevator system <NUM> by wired and/or wireless electronic connections.

In one aspect of this invention, the controller <NUM> is electronically connected to a temperature sensor <NUM>. In <FIG>, a single temperature sensor <NUM> is shown. The temperature sensor <NUM> is mounted adjacent one of the electronic visual displays <NUM> and is configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the electronic visual displays <NUM>. Additional temperature sensors may be mounted to other electronic visual displays <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> may alternatively be mounted adjacent the passenger space <NUM> and be configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the passenger space <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to selectively activate the fans <NUM>, <NUM> in response to the signal(s) from the temperature sensor(s). In another example, there are no temperature sensors, and instead the controller <NUM> activates the fans <NUM>, <NUM> when the electronic visual displays <NUM> are activated (i.e., turned on). The controller <NUM> may also independently activate a fan <NUM> arranged in outlet <NUM> based on information from one or more of the temperature sensors, for example.

As mentioned above, the elevator system <NUM> may include a plurality of electronic visual displays <NUM>. The electronic visual displays <NUM> may be arranged in vertical sets, with each vertical set including a plurality of electronic visual displays arranged vertically one over the other. <FIG> illustrates one such vertical set, and thus includes one second flow path. It should be understood that the cooling system <NUM> may include additional second flow paths. Specifically, the cooling system <NUM> may include one second flow path, substantially similar to the one shown in <FIG>, arranged adjacent each vertical set of electronic visual displays. When there are additional second flow paths, the additional fans may be electronically connected in series (i.e., daisy chained) in order to reduce bulky electrical harnesses.

The cooling system <NUM> may further include various seals and partitions configured to keep the fluid F<NUM> within the gap <NUM> and prevent mixing of the fluids F<NUM>, F<NUM>. The seals and partitions may extend between adjacent electronic visual displays <NUM>, between the inner wall <NUM> and the electronic visual displays, etc. In one example, the seals and partitions may be provided in part by the mounting brackets <NUM>, various gaskets, and/or other structures such as baffles.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate another aspect of the present invention. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an elevator car <NUM> similar to the elevator car <NUM> with like reference numerals pre-appended with a "<NUM>. " <FIG> and <FIG> do not show any electronic visual displays, although they would be arranged similar to the previous embodiment. <FIG> and <FIG> also only show the second flow path. It should be understood that the first flow path would be arranged similarly to the embodiment of <FIG>.

The elevator car <NUM> includes a single-thickness shell side wall <NUM>. In <FIG>, there is a vertically-arranged baffle <NUM> on an outer surface <NUM> of the side wall <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> in this example faces the hoistway. The baffle <NUM> allows fluid such as the fluid F<NUM> to enter and exit at the axial ends of the baffle <NUM>. In this example, the baffle <NUM> covers fans <NUM> and <NUM> and provides protection relative to the fans similar to that which is provided by the outer wall <NUM> in the previously discussed embodiment. The baffle <NUM> also attenuates noise and permits fluid to flow in a desired direction. While only one baffle <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the side wall <NUM> may incorporate a number of similarly-arranged baffles. Further, the baffle <NUM> may be used in the embodiment of <FIG> to attenuate noise and cover the inlets and/or outlets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The baffle <NUM> may be used when retrofitting existing elevator cars with a system as described herein.

It should be understood that terms such as "generally," "substantially," and "about" are not intended to be boundary less terms, and should be interpreted consistent with the way one skilled in the art would interpret those terms. Further, directional terms such as "vertical," "horizontal," "above," and "below" are used consistent with their plain and ordinary meanings with reference to the normal operational attitude of an elevator car and should not otherwise be considered limiting.

Although the different examples have the specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples so far as it is within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, the various figures accompanying this invention are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show certain details of a particular component or arrangement.

Claim 1:
An elevator system (<NUM>), comprising:
an elevator car (<NUM>, <NUM>) having an inner wall (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a passenger space (<NUM>); and
an electronic visual display (<NUM>) mounted to the inner wall (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) so as to define a gap (<NUM>) between the inner wall (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the electronic visual display (<NUM>), wherein fluid (F<NUM>) is configured to flow through the gap (<NUM>) to cool the electronic visual display (<NUM>);
a first flow path through which fluid (F<NUM>) is configured to flow to cool the passenger space (<NUM>); and
a second flow path through which fluid (F<NUM>) is configured to flow to cool the electronic visual display (<NUM>); wherein
the passenger space (<NUM>) is fluidly coupled to a source of fluid by a first flow path inlet (<NUM>) configured to direct fluid (F<NUM>) into the passenger space (<NUM>) beneath the electronic visual display (<NUM>), and
the passenger space (<NUM>) is fluidly coupled to a location outside the elevator car (<NUM>, <NUM>) by a first flow path outlet (<NUM>) arranged above the electronic visual display (<NUM>).