IP Library Granted Patent US 7,837,012
Granted Patent B2
US 7,837,012 · App. 10/573,651 · Granted Nov 23, 2010

Control device for elevator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,837,012
App. No.
10/573,651
Granted
Nov 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides an elevator controller including: a main control unit for controlling running of an elevator, in which the main control unit predictively calculates a continuous temperature state of a predetermined componential equipment of the elevator and performs an operation control of the elevator based on the predicted temperature state such that the componential equipment is not overloaded. Accordingly, a temperature rise in the componential equipment is suppressed, thereby enabling to prevent the elevator from becoming inoperable.

Claims (33)

1. An elevator controller comprising:

a main control unit for controlling running of an elevator,

wherein the main control unit calculates a plurality of first elevator travel parameters for an operation of the elevator, calculates a future predicted temperature state of a predetermined component of the elevator, compares the predicted temperature state to a range of permitted temperature states, performs operational control of the elevator using the first elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state is within the range, and changes at least one of the plurality of first elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state is outside of the range to obtain second travel parameters that will maintain a temperature of the component within the range and performs operation control of the elevator using the second elevator travel parameters.

2. The elevator controller according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a thermal sensing device that detects a temperature of the component; and

change amount input means for inputting a predetermined change amount concerning the component,

wherein the main control unit calculates a predicted value of a temperature state of the component using the temperature detected by the thermal sensing device and the change amount inputted by the change amount input means.

3. The elevator controller according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined change amount is a drive input amount for driving the component.

4. The elevator controller according to claim 3 , wherein the component comprises a power drive unit that drives a motor for causing a hoisting machine to rotate in response to a command from the main control unit, and the drive input amount comprises a current value of the power drive unit.

5. The elevator controller according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined change amount comprises a temperature rise amount of the component.

6. The elevator controller according to claim 2 , wherein the change amount of the component comprises a time average.

7. The elevator controller according to claim 1 , wherein the main control unit calculates the future predicted temperature state of the component based on changes with time in one of statistics, namely, a number of starts of the elevator per unit time and a number of passengers on the elevator per unit time, and performs the operation control of the elevator based on the temperature state such that the component does not become overloaded.

8. The elevator controller according to claim 1 , wherein:

the control unit reduces at least one of a plurality of elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state exceeds a maximum of the range and increases at least one of the elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state is below a minimum of the range.

9. The elevator controller according to claim 8 , wherein the elevator travel parameters comprise plural of acceleration, deceleration, jerk, and maximum speed.

10. The elevator controller according to claim 1 , wherein:

the control unit determines a plurality of sets of elevator travel parameters based upon comparing the predicted temperature state to the range, selects one of the sets based upon a comparison of one of the elevator travel parameters in the sets, and controls operation of the elevator based upon the one set of elevator travel parameters.

11. The elevator controller according to claim 10 , wherein the elevator travel parameters comprise plural of acceleration, deceleration, jerk, and maximum speed.

12. A method of operating an elevator operating system, comprising:

using a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of a component of a drive system of the elevator;

calculating a first elevator travel parameters using the temperature;

calculating a future predicted temperature state of the component of the drive system;

comparing the predicted temperature state to a range of permitted temperature states;

using the first elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state is within the range;

changing at least one of a plurality of elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state is outside of the range to obtain second elevator travel parameters that will maintain a temperature of the component within the range, and

using the second elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state is outside of the range.

13. The method according to claim 12 , comprising:

reducing at least one of a plurality of elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state exceeds a maximum of the range; and

increasing at least one of the elevator travel parameters if the predicted temperature state is below a minimum of the range.

14. The method according to claim 12 , comprising:

determining a plurality of sets of elevator travel parameters based upon comparing the predicted temperature to the range;

selecting one of the sets based upon a comparison of one of the elevator travel parameters in the sets; and

controlling operation of the elevator based upon the one set of elevator travel parameters.

Assignments (3)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE Recorded May 23, 2013
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.; TUBE FORMING, L.P.; WT HOLDING COMPANY INC.; WOLVERINE JOINING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 030487/0555 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 8, 2011
From: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 026562/0557 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2006
From: SAKAI, MASAYA; UEDA, TAKAHARU
To: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 017850/0446 →