Patent Description:
<FIG> shows a principle of implementing motor star sealing function within an elevator system. As shown in <FIG>, three-phase outputs of an inverter are connected to an elevator motor M via phase lines U, V and W. A switch SW and contactor SK are connected to the phase lines. When a car stops at a floor, the switch SW is disconnected and the contactor SK's contacts close, making the three phase lines U, V and W of the motor M short to stop the motor from slipping quickly, thus playing a role in safety protection.

To improve reliability, the effectiveness of the contactor function needs to be detected regularly or irregularly. However, to date, the industry has not provided a simple, reliable and low-cost detection scheme to implement the detection of the contactor function.

Furthermore, <CIT> describes a failure detecting apparatus for detecting a failure in a driving circuit for an electric lifting-lowering device, the driving circuit having a three-phase alternating-current power supply circuit and supplying driving electric power from the three-phase alternating-current power supply circuit to a three-phase alternating-current electric motor and a brake through a motor contactor and a brake contactor, respectively, the failure detecting apparatus comprising: a detecting circuit connected in parallel to each on/off mechanical contact or on/off semiconductor device of the motor contactor and/or the brake contactor and outputting a pulse signal synchronized with an alternating current from the three-phase alternating-current power supply circuit; and a signal processing means having a normal-abnormal detecting function, the signal processing means processing the pulse signal from the detecting circuit and detecting a normal or abnormal condition of each on/off mechanical contact or on/off semiconductor device of the motor contactor and/or the brake contactor; the motor contactor being a three-phase contactor; the signal processing means being capable of processing the pulse signal from the detecting circuit connected in parallel to each on/off mechanical contact or on/off semiconductor device of the motor contactor, which is the three-phase contactor, and detecting a reverse phase of three-phase alternating-current electric power to be supplied to the three-phase alternating current electric motor by the normal-abnormal detecting function; and the detecting circuit having a unilateral photocoupler comprising a light-emitting diode and a phototransistor, in which the light-emitting diode is caused to emit light by an alternating-current voltage applied to the on/off mechanical contact or the on/off semiconductor device, and the light is converted into an electric pulse signal by the phototransistor.

According to the invention, there is provided an elevator functionality device according to claim <NUM>.

Optionally, in the above device, the voltage detection signal is a signal whose amplitude varies with a predetermined period.

Optionally, in the above device, the switching unit is implemented by a contactor whose contacts are closed in the detection mode to conduct the contactor to the voltage signal source and the voltage detection unit to the three-phase phase lines.

In addition to one or more of the above features, in the above device, the voltage detection unit comprises:.

In addition to one or more of the above features, in the above elevator functionality device, the control unit determines whether the function of the contactor is normal in the following manner: if the measurement deviates from the voltage detection signal in magnitude or waveform beyond a set range, it is determined that the function of the contactor is abnormal.

Further, functional abnormality of the contactor includes the following types: unclosed contact, poor contact of the contact, and incorrect connection of the contact.

Optionally, in the above device, the current detection signal is an AC signal.

Optionally, in the above device, the switching unit is implemented by a contactor whose contacts are closed in the detection mode to conduct the contactor to the current signal source and the current signal source to the three-phase phase lines.

In addition to one or more of the above features, in the above device, the current detection unit further comprises: an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert a current signal measured by the current sensor into a corresponding digital signal and to output the digital signal to the control unit as the measurement.

In addition to one or more of the above features, in the above elevator functionality device, the control unit determines whether the function of the contactor is normal in the following manner: if the measurement deviates from the current detection signal in magnitude or waveform beyond a set range, it is determined that the function of the contactor is abnormal.

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present application will be clearer and more easily understood from the following description of various aspects in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals. The accompanying drawings include:.

The present application is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the application are illustrated. However, the present application may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments presented herein. The presented embodiments are intended to make the disclosure herein comprehensive and complete, so as to more comprehensively convey the protection scope of the application to those skilled in the art.

In this specification, terms such as "comprising" and "including" mean that in addition to units and steps that are directly and clearly stated in the specification and claims, the technical solution of the application does not exclude the presence of other units and steps that are not directly and clearly stated in the specification and claims.

Unless otherwise specified, terms such as "first" and "second" do not indicate the order of the units in terms of time, space, size, etc., but are merely used to distinguish the units.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an elevator functionality device in accordance with some embodiments of the present application.

A device <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a control unit <NUM>, a switch SW, a contactor SK, and a function detection device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a driver DRV is coupled with an elevator motor M via three-phase phase lines U, V and W. The switch SW and the contactor SK are connected to the three-phase phase lines U, V and W. The on-off status of the switch SW and the contactor SK is controlled by the control unit <NUM>.

In the elevator functionality device shown in <FIG>, the function detection device <NUM> is used to detect whether a function of the contactor SK is normal. Referring to <FIG>, the function detection device <NUM> includes a voltage signal source <NUM> coupled with the contactor SK, a voltage detection unit <NUM> coupled with the three-phase phase lines U, V, and W, and a contactor SKT. As shown in <FIG>, the contactor SKT is arranged between the contactor SK and the voltage signal source <NUM> and between the voltage detection unit <NUM> and the phase lines U, V, and W. In addition, resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected between an input of the respective corresponding voltage detection unit <NUM> and ground. It should be noted that the contactor SKT here is only exemplary, and in other embodiments, other types of switching elements may be used instead of the contactor SKT.

The elevator functionality device <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be operated in both normal mode and detection mode. When operating in the normal mode, under the control of the control unit <NUM>, the switch SW is open and the contacts of the contactor SK are closed, thus shorting the three-phase phase lines U, V and W to generate a counter-electromotive force in the coil of the motor M that prevents the motor from rotating; at the same time, under the control of the control unit <NUM>, the contacts of the contactor SKT are open, causing the function detection device <NUM> to disconnect from the contactor SK and the three-phase phase lines U, V and W.

The function detection device <NUM> operates only in the detection mode, and the operating principle of the device is described below.

When operating in the detection mode, the control unit <NUM> sends a command to enter an open status to the switch SW and a command to close the contacts to the contactor SK; at the same time, the control unit <NUM> also sends a command to close the contacts to the contactor SKT, which causes the voltage signal source <NUM> to conduct with the contactor SK and the voltage detection unit <NUM> to conduct with the three-phase phase lines U, V and W.

In the detection mode, if the function of the contactor SK is normal (the contacts may be closed), a voltage detection signal generated by the voltage signal source <NUM> is applied to the three-phase phase lines U, V and W via the contactor SK. Since the voltage detection unit <NUM> is conducted to the three-phase phase lines U, V and W, the measured voltage signal is the same or similar to the voltage detection signal in terms of amplitude or waveform. In other words, the deviation between the measured voltage signal and the voltage detection signal in terms of amplitude or waveform will not exceed a set range.

In the detection mode, if the contacts of the contactor SK fail to close, this will result in the voltage detection signal Vt generated by the voltage signal source <NUM> no longer being able to be applied to the three-phase phase lines U, V and W, but instead generating an induced voltage within the windings of the motor M. Exemplarily, assuming that the contact of the contactor SK connected to the phase line V cannot be closed, the voltage signal on the phase line V measured by the voltage detection unit <NUM> will be significantly different from the voltage detection signal in terms of amplitude or waveform.

In addition, in the detection mode, if the contacts of the contactor SK are in poor contact (for example, assuming that the contact of the contactor SK connected to the phase line U is in poor contact), it is equivalent to connecting a resistor in series with the phase line U. This will cause the voltage detection signal generated by the voltage signal source <NUM> to have a voltage drop on the phase line U. Therefore, the voltage signal on the phase line U measured by the voltage detection unit <NUM> will also be significantly different from the voltage detection signal in terms of amplitude or waveform.

Referring to <FIG>, the voltage detection unit <NUM> is coupled with the control unit <NUM> to output the voltage measurement to the control unit <NUM>. Accordingly, the control unit <NUM> may determine whether the function of the contactor SK is normal based on the measurement. For example, the control unit <NUM> may determine whether the function of the contactor SK is normal in the following manner: if the measurement deviates from the voltage detection signal in magnitude or waveform beyond a set range, it is determined that the function of the contactor is abnormal.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a voltage detection unit that may be applied to the embodiments shown in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, a voltage detection unit <NUM> comprises an integrator <NUM> and an analog-to-digital converter <NUM>. The integrator <NUM> is connected to the three-phase phase lines U, V and W via the contactor SKT. When the contacts of the contactor SKT are closed, the voltage signal on the three-phase phase lines U, V and W is input to the integrator <NUM> for integration. The analog-to-digital converter <NUM> converts the integrated voltage signal generated by the integrator <NUM> into a corresponding digital signal and outputs this digital signal to the control unit <NUM> as the measurement.

In some embodiments, the voltage detection signal is a signal whose amplitude varies with a predetermined period, such as square wave, triangle wave and sine wave.

A device <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a control unit <NUM>, a switch SW, a contactor SK and a function detection device <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, a driver DRV is coupled with an elevator motor M via three-phase phase lines U, V and W. The switch SW and the contactor SK are connected to the three-phase phase lines U, V and W and their on-off status is controlled by the control unit <NUM>.

Referring further to <FIG>, the function detection device <NUM> includes a current signal source <NUM> coupled with the contactor SK, a current detection unit <NUM>, and a contactor SKT. The current signal source <NUM> may be, for example, an AC current source. As shown in <FIG>, the current detection unit <NUM> comprises current sensors 422A, 422B, 422C, and an analog-to-digital converter 422D. The current sensors 422A, 422B, 422C are arranged near the three-phase phase lines U, V, and W to measure the current flowing through the respective corresponding phase lines U, V, and W, respectively. As shown in <FIG>, the contactor SKT is arranged between the contactor SK and the current signal source <NUM>, and the current signal source <NUM> is connected to phase lines U, V and W via the contactor SKT and resistors R1, R2 and R3. It should be noted that the contactor SKT here is only exemplary, and in other embodiments, other types of switching elements may be used instead of the contactor SKT.

The elevator functionality device <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be operated in both normal mode and detectionmode. When operating in the normal mode, under the control of the control unit <NUM>, the switch SW is open and the contacts of the contactor SK are closed, thus shorting the three-phase phase lines U, V and W. At the same time, the contacts of the contactor SKT are open, causing the function detection device <NUM> to isolate from the contactor SK and the three-phase phase lines U, V and W.

When operating in the detection mode, the control unit <NUM> sends a command to enter an open status to the switch SW and a command to close the contacts to the contactor SK; at the same time, the control unit <NUM> also sends a command to close the contacts to the contactor SKT, which causes the current signal source <NUM> to conduct with the contactor.

In the detection mode, if the function of the contactor SK is normal (the contacts can be closed), a current detection signal It generated by the current signal source <NUM> flows through the contactor SK to the three-phase phase lines U, V and W. Therefore, the current sensors 422A, 422B and 422C will measure the current signals lu, Iv and Iw flowing through the respective corresponding phase lines U, V and W. The deviation between the measured current signals and the current detection signal in terms of amplitude or waveform is within a set range.

In the detection mode, if the contacts of the contactor SK fail to close, this will result in the current detection signal generated by the current signal source <NUM> no longer flowing into the corresponding phase line. For example, when the contactor SK's contact connected to the phase line W fails to close, no more current flows through the phase line W. Therefore, the current sensor 422C measures a current value of <NUM>, although the current sensors 422A and 422B still measure the current flowing through the phase lines U and V.

In addition, in the detection mode, if the contacts of the contactor SK are in poor contact (for example, assuming that the contact of the contactor SK connected to the phase line U is in poor contact), it is equivalent to connecting a resistor in series with the phase line U. This will cause the current signal measured by the current sensor 422A flowing through the phase line U being significantly different from the current detection signal in terms of amplitude or waveform.

Referring to <FIG>, the analog-to-digital converter 422D of the current detection unit <NUM> is connected to the current sensors 422A, 422B and 422C and the control unit <NUM>, which converts the current signals measured by the sensors into corresponding digital signals and outputs the digital signals to the control unit <NUM> as the measurement.

Accordingly, the control unit <NUM> may determine whether the function of the contactor SK is normal based on the measurement. For example, the control unit <NUM> may determine whether the function of the contactor SK is normal in the following manner: if the measurement deviates from the current detection signal in magnitude or waveform beyond a set range, it is determined that the function of the contactor SK is abnormal.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both.

To demonstrate this interchangeability between hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functionality in changing ways for the particular application. However, such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

Although only a few of the specific embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present application may be embodied in many other forms without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the examples and implementations shown are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive, and various modifications and substitutions may be covered by the application without departing from the scope of the application as defined by the appended claims.

Claim 1:
An elevator functionality device (<NUM>) comprising:
a control unit (<NUM>);
a contactor (SK) configured to short three-phase phase lines (U, V, W) of an elevator motor (M) together by closing contacts;
a device (<NUM>) for detecting a function of a contactor, the device (<NUM>) for detecting a function of a contactor comprising:
a voltage signal source (<NUM>) coupled with the contactor (SK);
a voltage detection unit (<NUM>) coupled with the three-phase phase lines (U, V, W) of the elevator motor (M);
a switching unit arranged between the contactor (SK) and the voltage signal source (<NUM>) and between the voltage detection unit (<NUM>) and the three-phase phase lines (U, V, W),
wherein, in a detection mode, the switching unit is configured to conduct the voltage signal source (<NUM>) to the contactor (SK) to provide a voltage detection signal to the three-phase phase lines (U, V, W) via the contactor (SK) and to conduct the voltage detection unit (<NUM>) to the three-phase phase lines (U, V, W), the voltage detection unit (<NUM>) being configured to measure voltage of the three-phase phase lines (U, V, W) and to output measurement to the control unit (<NUM>);
wherein, the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to perform the following operations in the detection mode: instructing the contactor (SK) to cause the contacts to close, instructing the switching unit to conduct the voltage signal source (<NUM>) to the contactor (SK) to provide a voltage detection signal to the three-phase phase lines (U, V, W) via the contactor (SK) and to conduct the voltage detection unit (<NUM>) to the three-phase phase lines (U, V, W), and determining whether a function of the contactor (SK) is normal based on the measurement.