Abstract:
An elevator system for a multistory structure having a plurality of elevator shafts is shown which includes at least one independently movable elevator car in each elevator shaft. A digital computer with memory is used to control elevator cars including the dispatch of cars from terminal floors. A daily control parameter table in memory identifies a plurality of different methods of scheduling dispatch of elevator cars from terminal floors, groups of floors to be serviced by each elevator car, and cars in a shaft to be coupled for tandem operation. The memory is periodically read for selecting for each elevator car one of said methods of scheduling dispatch and for identifying the group of floors to be serviced by the cars. The selected method of scheduling the dispatch of cars is implemented and cars are limited to servicing the selected group of floors. One method of scheduling dispatch includes obtaining a measure of estimated passenger demand for travel in one direction that is incapable of being met by cars currently in service. A passenger loading threshold limit for travel in the one direction is selected which may range from zero to maximum capacity of the elevator car to be dispatched. When the measure of estimated passenger demand for travel in the one direction that is incapable of being met by cars currently in service equals the passenger loading threshold limit a car dispatch signal is issued for dispatch of a car from the terminal floor. Where a plurality of independently-operated cars are included in a hoistway, operation in either a coupled or decoupled manner is provided.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of controlling a plurality of elevator cars disposed in a common hoistway. When the amount of time elapsed since a moving elevator has started is within a range which is determined by the position from which the moving elevator has started and the position from which a stopped elevator will start, a determination is made that there is the possibility that the two elevators move in parallel. Hence, the stopped elevator is prevented from starting. When such an amount of time is out of the range, a command is issued to start the stopped elevator. Thus, the stopped elevator is no longer prevented from starting when the amount of time elapsed since the moving elevator has started is out of the range within which the two elevators may move in parallel. The waiting time is minimized during which the elevator is prevented from starting, thus improving reliability.
Abstract:
An elevator system is shown that includes an elevator shaft (12) in building (10) and a plurality of elevator cars (C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3) that are movable up and down within the shaft along vertical axis (20). The elevator cars are independently movable by drive motors (D.sub.1, D.sub.2 and D.sub.3) attached to the cars through hoisting cables (24, 28 and 34). The motors are controlled by motor controllers (MC.sub.1, MC.sub.2 and MC.sub.3) which, in turn are controlled by a computer (62) having as inputs service and destination requests, load weight and car location. Different operating modes are shown (FIGS. 5-8) including one in which serviced floors (F.sub.1 through F.sub.16) are serviced by no more than one elevator car at a time, and the cars travel sequentially from one end floor to the other end floor (FIGS. 5 and 6). Simultaneous servicing of a plurality of different floors is shown (FIGS. 7 and 8) and travel of empty elevator cars to a designated floor without responding to floor calls also is shown (FIGS. 6 and 8). Counterweights (CW.sub.1, CW.sub.2 and CW.sub.3) are attached by cables to the respective elevator cars (C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3), which counterweights travel along a vertical axis (38) laterally displaced from the elevator car axis (20). Shock absorbers (54) are provided for absorbing impact of accidental collision between adjacent counterweights (FIG. 3 ) which shock absorbers include coil springs (58) and dashpots (60).
Abstract:
The movement of a plurality of elevator cars (12, 14) in an elevator hoistway (16) is coordinated for situations in which the regions of the hoistway that are serviceable by the cars (12, 14) at any given time are configured to overlap. A car stop plan for each elevator car (12, 14) is generated that includes a sequence of stops for servicing demand assigned to the elevator car (12, 14). Operation of the elevator cars (12, 14) is then coordinated based on the car stop plans such that each elevator car (12, 14) services its assigned demand without interfering with the car stop plans of any other of the plurality of elevator cars (12, 14).
Abstract:
The invention is based on elevator control of an elevator installation (10; 10') with at least two elevator cars (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36; 26', 28', 30'), which are provided for being moved independently of one another in a common elevator well (14, 16, 18; 16'), and with a control device (12; 12'). The invention proposes that the control device (12; 12') is provided for maintaining a defined minimum distance between in each case two successive elevator cars (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 26', 28', 30') and a defined maximum distance between in each case two successive elevator cars (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36; 26', 28', 30').
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for operating a lift system (1) having a shaft system (2) and a plurality of lift cars (3) that are moved between floors (4) separately from one another in circulating operation such that the lift cars (3) are moved upwards in a first shaft (5) and are moved downwards in a second shaft (6). In this case, at least a number of shaft positions (7) that can each be approached by the lift cars (3) is defined that corresponds to the number of lift cars (3), with synchronisation of the movement of the lift cars (3) being performed in respect of these defined shaft positions (7). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a lift system (1) having a shaft system (2), a plurality of lift cars (3) that are movable in the shaft system (2) and a control device for operating the lift system (1), wherein the control device is set up to operate the lift system (1) in accordance with a method according to the invention.
Abstract:
If a front car arrives in response to a car call and a landing call is assigned to a rear car in the same hoistway for the same floor and the same direction as the car call, a user who needs to board the rear car to which the landing call is originally assigned may erroneously board a car that has arrived at a car call destination in response to the car call. In an elevator system in which a plurality of cars are operated in a coupled or independent manner in a single hoistway, an elevator group-control device includes a front-car car-call detection means for detecting a car call of a front car with respect to its traveling direction out of the plurality of cars or for detecting a floor and a car that are assigned a destination floor of a registered destination floor call; and a rear-car assignment-candidate exclusion means for excluding, from assignment candidate cars, a rear car in the same hoistway as the front car assigned the car call when a landing call for the same direction as the traveling direction is registered at a floor registered by the car call detected by the front-car car-call detection means.