HK40044431A - Elevator system - Google Patents

Description

Elevator system

Technical Field

The invention relates to an elevator system comprising an elevator control, a number of individual movable elevator cars traveling in an elevator runway system comprising at least one elevator runway, preferably at least two elevator runways, wherein the number of elevator cars is greater than the number of elevator runways in the runway system. In the system, elevator cars are movable in an elevator runway system via at least one drive system, and each elevator car is provided with an identifier.

Background

In such so-called multi-car elevator systems, a plurality of elevator cars are arranged to move independently in a track system (usually a normal hoistway system). These elevator cars may be propelled by linear motors or rack and pinion systems or the like.

The elevator system further comprises at least one reader device for the identifier and a car handling module in the elevator controller.

Such an elevator system according to the basic principle of the invention is known from WO2018/177828a 1. This document discloses an elevator car which is provided with an identifier so that the car, in particular its car position, can be unambiguously identified even in the event of a communication failure between the car and the elevator controller. This ensures that the correct elevator car is restored in the event of a fault.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to improve an elevator system of the aforementioned type so that it can better handle different types of elevator cars.

The invention is solved by an elevator according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. Furthermore, advantageous embodiments are specified in the description.

According to the invention, the elevator system comprises elevator cars which differ in at least one parameter (difference parameter). Such parameters may be car size (in particular car height), car decoration, car weight or even car safety equipment and/or car configuration, for example for disabled persons.

The memory of the elevator controller comprises car parameters of a car in motion in the elevator system, and the elevator controller is configured to use the car parameters in the control of the elevator system. By this measure the elevator control comprises information which is important for the movement and handling of the different cars in the runway system, e.g. with respect to car height and thus floor approach, or car weight, e.g. caused by different decorations, which is important for the idling torque initiating car movement. Furthermore, it is possible that different elevator cars may have different transport and/or safety and/or drive characteristics associated with the identification code of each elevator. These characteristics are related to the equipment of the elevator car, e.g. the transport capacity of disabled persons, elevators with a high quality design, VIP cars.

The elevator system is configured to run/stop the elevator car, e.g. depending on the situation of the flow demand or maintenance situation. Cars that are stopped may stop in track systems where they do not substantially interfere with the normal operation of the running elevator car, such as: in the portion of the runway that is rarely used.

In this connection it is clear that the term "running elevator cars" means that these cars are available for calls in call allocation in the elevator system.

Alternatively, a parking or storage location is connected to the runway system, in which parking or storage location currently not operating elevator cars can be parked. The advantage of a parking position is that it does not interfere at all with normal elevator operation.

According to the invention, the identifier comprises at least information about the difference parameter. For example, if cars with two or more different heights or different decorative devices are used, the difference parameters of the car groups differ. Thus, it is not absolutely necessary that each car has a unique identifier, but groups with different parameters obtain different identifiers. Of course, the cars may differ in more than one parameter, and of course each car may have a unique identifier that allows car tracking, for example in a runway system, for example after a power outage event.

In the above system with more cars than runways, the cars may stop running due to changing traffic intensity during the day or week or even when some cars require maintenance or must be repaired. To this end, the car operating module is configured to bring the car parameters of the elevator car to be taken out of service and/or to bring in the car parameters of the elevator car to be taken into operation. By this measure, on the one hand, the elevator controller can acquire the parameters of all running elevator cars and even those stopped, i.e. stopped in an unused area and/or storage location of the runway system. On the other hand, with this information, the elevator control system can replace a particular type of elevator car with the same type of elevator car or a different type of elevator car as needed. The car operating module is therefore always informed which type of elevator car is in operation and which type of elevator car is available, for example for special tasks, for example for handicapped persons or VIP persons. This technique allows the use of double-deck elevators even in high peak flow situations, in addition to ordinary single-deck elevators, to improve the overall capacity performance of the elevator system.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the car handling module comprises or is in communication with a system memory with an identifier of an elevator car connected to the elevator system and related parameters, said parameters comprising at least a difference parameter. By this measure the car operating system has stored all relevant data about the different elevator car types (defined by the difference parameters) irrespective of whether they are in operation (e.g. parked).

Preferably, the car handling module is configured to deactivate from the memory of the elevator controller the identifier of the elevator car to be stopped and the associated car parameter and/or the parameter of the elevator car to be put into operation together with its unique identifier into the memory of the elevator controller. The car operating module therefore always works with an updated table of elevator cars and their associated parameters, which facilitates the selection of a specific elevator car for a specific task.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the difference parameter is car size (in particular height) or car weight, decorative or special equipment for a specific person, e.g. a disabled person, single or double deck cars, specific safety equipment, etc. The system is thus able to handle several different types or groups of elevator cars differing by at least one difference parameter.

Preferably, the elevator controller may comprise separate call allocation parameters for different elevator car groups and thus an optimized call allocation can be performed for each car group. If desired, a special car, for example for disabled persons, can be put into use in a short time, for example in less than a minute.

Preferably the elevator controller is configured to put the elevator into operation only after all parameters of the elevator have been loaded into the working memory. By this measure it is ensured that the elevator control obtains all relevant car parameters to ensure economical, safe service for the passengers and to adapt the transport service to the specific requirements specified by or associated with the difference parameters.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the differentiated elevator car is the car height and the parameter of the elevator car comprises information about the stopping height of the floor. This measure allows the elevator system to adapt the stopping height of each car to its specific height. This may even include double-deck elevator cars with a reduced number of stops compared to single-deck elevator cars.

Advantageously, the elevator system comprises at least one parking position for the elevator car, which is connected to e.g. the runway system but preferably located separately beside the runway system, which parking position is configured to accommodate at least one parked elevator car stopping. A parked car may typically be located in an area not used in normal operation, while a separate parking location allows for an area of operation of an elevator car that is not in operation, but is placed in connection with a runway system. Thus, the car can be safely parked in the elevator system without affecting the normal operation of the elevator system.

In this case, the car can be put into use very quickly, since the parking place is connected to a runway system, for example by means of a guide beam or stator beam driven by a linear motor. The parking position is preferably located in a position which very easily allows access to the parked elevator car, e.g. for maintenance or service services. The parking position should therefore be located in or above the uppermost floor, for example at or below the technical roof level and/or the lowest floor, i.e. the underground floor and preferably extend beside it. By this measure, the parking position is remote from but connected to the runway system. Thus, the elevator car can be immediately and easily moved from the runway system to a parking position and vice versa. The parking position may preferably be connected to a control cabin of the elevator system. This enables controlled maintenance and maintenance of a parked car at one location in a safe manner.

The parking position can be closed during maintenance so that the elevator cars cannot be taken out of service/put into operation to avoid any car moving in the parking position during maintenance work. This essentially ensures operational safety.

Preferably, in this case the elevator control is configured to drive the elevator car to be taken out of operation into a parking position and/or to drive the elevator car to be taken into operation from a parking position into the runway system. This allows for rapid commissioning/decommissioning of the elevator car.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the car handling module is configured to perform a car change only if the difference parameters of the elevator cars to be changed match. By this measure it is ensured that the dependency of the number of active cars of different car groups is always maintained.

Preferably, a reader device for car identifiers connected to the elevator controller is located at the connection between the runway system and the parking position. By this measure, the identity and car parameters (at least the differential car parameters) can be checked each time the elevator car is put into operation/out of operation. The car handling module of the elevator controller should have knowledge about the position of each individual elevator in the elevator system. By using the reader device in the connection, the position data of each car can be confirmed or updated. Furthermore, this allows monitoring of the function of the car operating module.

Preferably, the drive system is a linear motor drive. However, it is possible to use various systems of elevators, e.g. rack and pinion drives, which allow the elevator to be driven along and taken away from the runway in a runway system, with particular advantages using linear motor drive systems. Thus, the elevator car can move along both the horizontal and vertical runways in the runway system. The connection between these horizontal and vertical runways may be achieved by a rotatable stator beam section which extends horizontally or vertically depending on its turning position. Another advantage of the linear motor drive is that the stator beam may only comprise stator teeth comprising stator bars extending along the runway, while the drive force generating part is a mover mounted on each elevator car. Thus, it is easy to drive the elevator cars on the runways widely independent of each other. Of course, a general drive algorithm should be provided in the elevator controller to avoid collisions between cars.

The linear motor may comprise a stator beam defining a horizontal/vertical or even an angled trajectory of the elevator car. The linear motor may further comprise a plurality of movers coupled to the elevator car and co-acting with stator beams mounted in the runway system. The plurality of movers can be adapted to travel along the stator beam to move the elevator car along the runway.

Preferably, the elevator car is releasably held on the stator beam, which allows stopping the elevator car comprising the mover connected thereto or replacing or changing the elevator car comprising the mover connected thereto. If the elevator system comprises a parking position, the stator beam preferably extends into the parking position, so that when stopping the elevator car, the elevator car can be driven into the parking position without releasing it from the stator beam.

Preferably, the elevator control comprises different sets of control parameters for groups of elevator cars with different parameters. Accordingly, the control of the elevator car is always optimized for its specific difference parameters, such as height, weight, etc.

The invention also relates to a method for operating an elevator system according to the above description, in which, in connection with putting an elevator car into operation/out of operation, the identifier of the elevator car in question and the relevant car parameters are added to/taken out of use from the memory of the elevator controller. With regard to the advantages of this solution, reference is made to the description of the elevator system of the invention.

Preferably, the setting of at least a part of the elevator control program is performed in the case that the difference parameter comprises a safety parameter interacting with a safety component of the elevator system. This allows the elevator control system to include specific safety issues for a specific car in the safety steering module of the elevator control system to achieve optimal safety of the elevator system.

In case a linear motor drive is used, preferably the mover may be coupled directly to the elevator car, or to a sling or bracket of the car (if present). Of course, more than one mover may be coupled to one elevator car. The mover, sling or bracket may be fixed to the elevator cabin by means of detachable fixing means, so that the cabin may be easily released and replaced. In this case the linear motor part of the elevator car, i.e. the mover and its mountings, and finally the suspension ropes of the system, can remain, while the rest of the car, i.e. the cabin, is replaced in some storage location. This allows us to extract a special nacelle for some special needs. Compared with the technology of replacing the whole elevator car, the variable elevator car technology has the following advantages: the number of the car movers and the car slings can be reduced. Thus, such a system is more cost effective. A disadvantage is that the time for replacing a car with another car is relatively long, because the nacelle must be separated from the car sling and runner each time, and a new nacelle must be fixed to the car sling and runner.

The floor heights of different cars may vary slightly or widely, so the motor and sling system must know this and stop at different locations when approaching the floor. The offset of each car can be stored in the system or can be read directly from the car by the motor + sling combination and automatically adjusted to its stopping position.

Interchangeable cars can have different floor heights and the present invention therefore solves this problem. The elevator control system identifies the different cars by their identifiers and automatically corrects the floor level.

The elevator control preferably has a tracking algorithm which tracks the identified elevator cars on their path in the runway system. This has the advantage that it is sufficient to read the car ID and thus to confirm the car position at larger intervals.

In one aspect of the invention, a multi-car elevator system is provided with interchangeable cars and the elevator system may have storage space for the cars. A car in the elevator system can be replaced with another car in the car storage space.

The elevator cars can have different characteristics, which affect elevator control, e.g. by different elevator control parameters. These characteristics can be e.g. different weights of the elevator car, different floor height positions of the elevator car, different door operator parameters of the elevator car, different power consumptions of the elevator car, different display information presented on the displays of the different elevator cars, etc.

The different weight of the elevator car may e.g. be due to different decoration of the elevator car, or different materials or dimensions of the elevator car. Different floor heights may result from different heights of the elevator car or different fixing points of the elevator car to the mover/sling/bracket. The different door operator parameters may be, for example, different door opening/closing times of the respective door operators or different closing or opening torques of the respective door operators. The different display information of the car can be e.g. different graphical information presented on a display inside the elevator car. This may be due to the different physical dimensions of the displays of different elevator cars or due to different preferences regarding the style or information to be presented.

Different elevator cars may also have different safety devices that are brought into the elevator safety system when a car is replaced. These safety devices may be, for example, different car brakes, different safety devices, different buffers or safety rails, different position and movement sensors of different elevator cars, different hatches or movable maintenance structures of different elevator cars, etc. These different safety devices may affect the operation of the elevator safety system, e.g. affect the operation of the elevator safety controller. For example, different car brakes/safety devices may affect the emergency stopping distance of the elevator car or the deceleration during an emergency stop of the elevator car. Different position/movement sensors may require different scaling, different startup runs, etc. in the elevator controller. Different hatches/movable maintenance structures may have an impact on e.g. the elevator maintenance operation mode or the rescue operation mode.

The different identifier or difference parameter may also include or relate to car speed and/or car acceleration. The car speed and/or acceleration is usually dependent on certain characteristics of the car, such as size and weight, and has a significant effect on the functioning of the entire elevator system. For this reason, different cars may also have a different number of movers.

The invention thus enhances the control of different elevator cars (according to different parameters).

The elevator cars are configured such that they can be identified by the elevator controller via their identifier. This identification may be performed in any suitable manner, such as using a serial number or identifier associated with the car (e.g., an RFID tag, QR code, bar code, electrical storage component, etc.). Each elevator car may even include a unique identifier that facilitates position detection/monitoring of each individual car.

The elevator system is preferably provided with a memory or server associated therewith and the difference parameters of different elevator cars are indexed by the identity of the respective elevator car. Preferably, when a car is replaced by another car in the elevator system,

-deleting the control parameters of the replacement elevator car from the working memory of the elevator controller, and

-the control parameters of the newly introduced car are retrieved from the memory/server to the working memory of the elevator controller.

Advantageously, in this case the control parameters relating to normal elevator operation are introduced into that part of the working memory which is responsible for normal elevator operation.

Preferably, if the control parameters are related to elevator safety operation, i.e. elevator safety system, they are introduced into that part of the working memory which is responsible for the safety operation (e.g. the memory of the programmable safety controller).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is not possible to drive a newly introduced car before all required parameter changes have been successfully verified. This function enhances the safety of the elevator system.

Additional measures, such as additional set-up runs, may also be required before the elevator car is brought into normal operation. This is especially the case when one or more parameters relating to the safety operation of the elevator have been changed.

Typically, all parameters of all cars may be stored in the same memory of the elevator controller, or they may be retrieved from an external storage (e.g. a (cloud) server, etc.). In practice it is possible that each car has its own frequency converter and/or its controller with its own memory, and that the parameters relating to the cars are stored in the controller of the frequency converter. Then, when a car is replaced, the frequency converter and/or its controller is associated with the new car and the new car parameters (car weight, etc.) are loaded from the system store into the frequency converter and/or its controller. Thus, in practice the term "elevator control" also encompasses the drive unit, e.g. the frequency converter and/or its control.

The following terms are used as synonyms: stator pole-stator tooth-tooth; orthogonal vertical 90 degrees; parking position/area storage position/area; an elevator car of an elevator car run in service is available to allocate an elevator car called in the system; operating a usage service; elevator car groups with the same difference parameters; the elevator group elevator type;

drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these illustrations:

fig. 1 is a side view of an elevator with two elevator runways with vertical and horizontal stator beams, which act together with movers pivotally connected at several elevator cars,

fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section in the corner area between the elevator runway and the elevator car, showing a rotatable stator beam part co-acting with a rotatably pivotable mover of the elevator car,

figure 3 is a vertical stator beam co-acting with the mover of the elevator car,

fig. 4 is a schematic view of a system control of the elevator system of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an elevator 10 as an example of a passenger conveyor, which has a runway system with two vertical elevator runways 12, 14, which two vertical elevator runways 12, 14 are connected at least at their upper and lower ends by horizontal runways 16, 18. In the runway systems 12, 14, 16, 18, elevator cars 20a-20d may be moved by linear motors. The linear motor is formed by an upper mover 22 and a lower mover 24, the upper mover 22 and the lower mover 24 being rotatably mounted, i.e. pivotally connected to the rear side of the elevator car, co-acting with vertical stator beams 26a, b, horizontal stator beams 28a, b and a rotatable stator beam portion 30 rotatably mounted to a common rear wall 32 of the vertical and horizontal runways 12, 14, 16, 18. The vertical elevator runways 12, 14 are typically located between the runway walls 31 of the building. Each car 20a-20f has its own car identifier 23, which may be a bar code, QR code, RDIF or a corresponding per se known identification device. The car identifier comprises at least one difference parameter which assigns the car to different elevators a, B of different size, weight, decoration, equipment, etc.

By the arrangement of the vertical stator beams 26a, 26b and the horizontal stator beams 28a, 28b and the rotatable stator beam sections 30 located between them, the elevator cars 20a-20d can be moved by their movers 22, 24 in the two vertical elevator runways 12, 14 and in the two horizontal elevator runways 16, 18 in a path of trajectory as indicated by the arrows. The advantage of this solution is that no counterweight and hoisting ropes are needed, which makes the basic concept very useful for high-rise buildings, such as skyscrapers, where the vertical length of the elevator runway is more or less unlimited. The height-limiting factor of a conventional traction sheave elevator is the weight of the elevator ropes, which sum up to several tons in weight in the high runway. This limitation is not present in the concept of linear motor based elevators.

The docking doors are designated by the reference numeral 34 and are preferably located in a common side wall facing the viewer, i.e. opposite to the common rear wall 32 where the stator beams 26a, b, 28a, b are mounted. But of course the landing doors could also be on the same rear wall 32 or where the stator beams are mounted.

The lowermost horizontal runway 18 is connected to a parking position 19, which parking position 19 is situated beside the two vertical elevator runways 14, 16 and can accommodate two elevator cars 20e, 20f which are not in operation and/or are to be serviced or repaired. Non-operation means that the elevator car is not available for any call issued in the elevator system. At the entrance to the parking location 19, a reader device 21 is positioned and connected to the elevator control. Via the reader device 21 it is possible to read the individual car identifier 23 so that the elevator controller obtains information about the different car parameters, from which information the car belongs to group a or group B. The identifier may comprise unique identification data so that each individual elevator can be identified by the elevator controller. Of course, additional reader devices 21 may be located in the runway system.

Fig. 2 shows the co-action of the rotatable stator beam portion 30 and the forcers 22, 24 via a pivot joint 36 rotatably mounted to a wall, in particular a rear wall or support structure 38 of the elevator car 20. The rotatable stator beam section 30 and the forcers 22, 24 are rotatable about a common axis of rotation r. The rotatable stator beam portion 30 includes a beam section 40, which beam section 40 vertically (as shown) abuts the vertical stator beams 26a, 26b and horizontally abuts the horizontal stator beams 28a, b. The beam section 40 is optionally mounted to a turntable 42, the turntable 42 being pivotally connected to the back wall 32 of the elevator runway by means of a bearing 44, whereby the turntable 42 and/or the movers 22, 24 are driven about a common axis of rotation r, preferably by means of a rotary drive. Thus, the entire arrangement of the rotatable stator part and the mover may be rotated by only one rotary drive. During rotation, the linear motor is turned off so that the movers 22, 24 and the beam section 40 are fixedly attached to each other by magnetic forces between the stator sections and the movers 22, 24 so that the car does not move during changing trajectory paths. Thus, no brakes are required for holding the movers 22, 24 and the beam sections 40 of the rotatable stator beam section 30 together. In any case, additional separate detents may be introduced to keep the mover fixed to the rotatable stator beam portion 30 during rotation. This may be necessary in alternative embodiments where the magnetic force is otherwise insufficient, for example in embodiments where the stator poles are realized by magnets (e.g. Halbach arrays) and the rotor coils of the mover are air coils, i.e. the rotor is implemented without a ferromagnetic core. After the entire arrangement has changed to the horizontal direction, the beam section 40 is now aligned with the horizontal stator beams 28a, 28b and the movers 22, 24 can be energized again to transport the elevator cars 20a-d along the horizontal elevator runways 16, 18.

Fig. 3 shows a horizontal cross section of the vertical stator beams 26a, b and the movers 22, 24. Thus, the vertical stator beams 26a, b comprise stator beams 46 having a square cross section with four stator faces 50 on their sides comprising stator teeth 52. The movers 22, 24 include active portions 54 located in a C-shaped mover housing 56 surrounding the stator beam 46, the active portions 54 facing the corresponding stator face 50 of the stator beam 46 to generate an upward propulsion force capable of driving the elevator cars 20a-d in upward and downward directions against the force of gravity. The mover housing 56 forms together with the active mover part 54 the movers 22, 24 of the linear motor of the elevator. The mover housing 56 is mounted to the support structure 38 of the car 20 via a pivot joint 36. The stator beam 46 is supported by mounts 58 to the back wall 32 of the elevator runs 12, 14, 16, 18. The physical properties of the four different stator faces 50 of the vertical stator beams 26a, b and the corresponding active mover sections 54 of the movers 24, 25 are preferably the same.

Fig. 4 shows a system control device 60 of the elevator system 10. The system control 60 comprises an elevator control 62 which is connected to a call-giving device 64, which call-giving device 64 has, for example, a decimal keypad 66 for entering a destination floor and a destination control panel for indicating the display 68 of the assigned elevator car 20. Alternatively, the call-giving device 64 may be a simple up/down button panel.

An elevator controller 62, typically a group controller, is also connected to each elevator car 20a-20f, and in particular to the movers 22, 24 and the controller of each elevator car 20a-20 f. Through this connection, the elevator controller 62 is able to move each elevator car individually in the runway systems 12, 14, 16, 18 of the elevator system 10 and in the parking position 19. In addition, an elevator controller 62 is connected to the rotary drive of each rotatable stator beam section 30. Thus, the elevator control, together with the electronic control of each individual elevator car 20a-f, is able to divert each elevator car 20a-d individually through the runway system 12, 14, 16, 18 to serve the calls entered by the call-giving devices 64 in the elevator system 10 and allocated by the allocation control portion known per se of the elevator control 62, which achieves optimal call allocation under different driving parameters, such as driving time, waiting time, energy consumption, etc.

Furthermore, the elevator control 62 is connected to at least one reader device 21, which reader device 21 is located in the runway system 12, 14, 16, 18 and/or in the parking position 19 and/or in the connection region between them.

The elevator controller 62 includes a car operating module 70 and a memory 72, the memory 72 including data necessary for operation of the elevator system 10 and possibly data regarding components in the elevator system 10.

The system control device 60 of the elevator system 10 operates as follows:

in the above system of fig. 1, which includes more cars 20a-f than runways 12, 14, 16, 18, cars 20a-f may stop operating due to changing traffic intensity over a period of time, for example, during a day or week, or even when certain cars 20e, 20f require maintenance or must be repaired. To this end, the car operating module 70 is configured to bring the car parameters of the elevator car 20a-f to be taken out of service and/or to introduce the car parameters of the elevator car 20a-f to be taken into operation. Of course, this action need not include a complete change of elevator car, but may simply stop the car or run the car, for example to accommodate changing traffic conditions. The elevator control 62 is thus able to acquire the parameters of all elevator cars 20a-d in operation on the one hand and even those elevator cars 20e, f which are not in operation, i.e. are stopped in the stopping position 19 of the elevator system 10. On the other hand, using information including at least the difference parameter or associated with the car identifier 23, the elevator controller 62 can replace the elevator cars 20a-d of a particular type a, B with elevator cars 20e, f of the same type a, B or other types of elevator cars as needed. The car operating module 70 is therefore always informed which type a, B of elevator car is in operation and which type of elevator car is available, for example for special tasks, for example for handicapped persons or VIP persons. This technique allows the use of double-deck elevators even in high peak flow situations, in addition to ordinary single-deck elevators, to improve the overall capacity performance of the elevator system. If the car identifiers are unique, they can be used to identify and/or confirm the location of each individual elevator car 20a-f in the elevator system 10.

List of reference numerals:

10 Elevator passenger conveyor

12 first (vertical) elevator runway

14 second (vertical) elevator runway

16 go up horizontal runway

18 lower horizontal runway

19 parking position/area-storage position/area

20 elevator car

21 reader device for car identifiers

22 upper car mover

23 car identifier comprising at least information about a difference parameter of each car

24 lower car mover

26a, b vertical stator beam

28a, b horizontal stator beam

30 rotatable stator beam sections between horizontal and vertical stator beams

31 wall of elevator runway

32 common rear wall of all elevator runways carrying stator beams

34 stop door

36 pivot joint between car and mover

38 (rear) wall or support structure of an elevator car for mounting a pivot joint

40 stator segment fixed to a rotatable stator portion

42 turntable

44 bearing for a turntable on the rear wall of an elevator runway

46 stator bar with a square horizontal cross section, four sides of which each have a stator face

48 mounting for mounting a stator beam to the rear wall of an elevator hoistway

50 stator face with stator poles/teeth

54 active mover part of the mover facing the stator face of the stator beam

56 mover housing carrying an active mover part surrounding a stator beam

System control apparatus for elevator system

62 Elevator (group) controller

64 calling and sending device

66 decimal keyboard

68 display

70 car operating module

72 memory

A, B different groups or types of elevator cars specified by difference parameters

r common axis of rotation of rotatable stator part and mover

Claims (18)

1. An elevator system (10), comprising:

an elevator controller (62);

a plurality of individual movable elevator cars (20a-20f) which travel in an elevator runway system (12, 14, 16, 18) comprising at least one elevator runway, preferably at least two elevator runways, whereby the number of elevator cars (20a-20f) is higher than the number of elevator runways in the runway system (12, 14, 16, 18),

the elevator cars (20a-20f) are movable in an elevator runway system (12, 14, 16, 18) via at least one drive system,

in the elevator system (10), each elevator car (20a-20f) is provided with an identifier (23),

whereby the elevator system (10) further comprises at least one reader device for the identifier (23) and a car handling module (70) in the elevator controller (62) that processes information about the elevator cars (20a-20f) and the identifiers (23) of the elevator cars (20a-20f) relating to the position of the elevator cars (20a-20f) in the elevator system (10),

characterized in that the elevator system (10) comprises at least one elevator car (20a-20f) with different parameters (difference parameters),

the memory of the elevator controller (62) includes car parameters for cars (20a-20f) in operation in the elevator system (10),

an elevator controller (62) is configured to use the car parameter in the control of the elevator system (10);

the identifier (23) comprises at least information about the difference parameter,

and the car handling module (70) is configured to deactivate car parameters of the elevator car (20a-20f) to be taken out of operation and/or to introduce car parameters of the elevator car (20a-20f) to be taken into operation.

2. The elevator system (10) of claim 1, wherein the car maneuvering module (70) includes or is in communicative connection with a system memory having an identifier (23) of an elevator car (20a-20f) connected to the elevator system (10) and related parameters, the parameters including at least a difference parameter.

3. Elevator system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the car handling module (70) is configured to deactivate from the memory of the elevator controller (62) the identifier (23) of the elevator car (20a-20f) to be deactivated and the associated car parameter and/or the parameter of the elevator car (20a-20f) to be put into operation together with its unique identifier (23) into the memory of the elevator controller (62).

4. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the difference parameter is car size or car weight, car speed, car acceleration, number of movers, decoration or special equipment for a specific person, e.g. a disabled person.

5. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator controller (62) is configured to put the elevator into operation only after loading all its parameters into working memory.

6. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the difference parameter is car height and the parameter of the elevator car (20a-20f) comprises information about the stopping height at the floor.

7. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator system (10) comprises at least one parking location (19) for an elevator car (20a-20f) connected to a runway system (12, 14, 16, 18), which at least one parking location (19) is configured to accommodate at least one parked elevator car (20e, 20f) stopping.

8. Elevator system (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the elevator control (62) is configured to drive the elevator car (20a-20f) to be taken out of service into the parking position (19) and/or to drive the elevator car (20a-20f) to be taken into service from the parking position (19) into the runway system (12, 14, 16, 18).

9. Elevator system (10) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the parking location (19) is located at the uppermost and/or lowermost level of the vertical runway and extends beside it.

10. Elevator system (10) according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a reader device for the car identifier (23) is connected to the elevator control (62) and is located at the connection between the runway system (12, 14, 16, 18) and the parking location (19).

11. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the running elevator cars (20a-20f) are interchangeable in the elevator system (10).

12. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the car handling module (70) is configured to perform a car change only if the difference parameters of the elevator cars (20a-20f) to be changed match.

13. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive system is a linear motor drive (22, 24, 26a, b, 28a, b).

14. Elevator system (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that the linear motor drive (22, 24, 26a, b, 28a, b) comprises a mover (22, 24) mounted at the elevator car (20a-20f), which mover co-operates with a stator beam (26a, b, 28a, b) mounted in the runway system (12, 14, 16, 18).

15. Elevator system (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that the elevator car (20a-20f) is releasably held on a stator beam (26a, b, 28a, b).

16. Elevator system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator controller (62) comprises different sets of control parameters for elevator cars (20a-20f) with difference identifiers and/or difference parameters.

17. Method for operating an elevator system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in connection with putting an elevator car (20a-20f) into operation/out of operation, an identifier (23) of the elevator car (20a-20f) and the relevant car parameters are added to/taken out of use from a memory of an elevator controller (62).

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the setting of at least a part of the elevator control program is performed in case the difference parameter comprises a safety parameter interacting with a safety component of the elevator system (10).