Adjustable multicar elevator system
AssigneeKone Corporation
InventorsAri Hänninen, Ari Koivisto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multicar elevator system includes a group of individually drivable elevator cars and two shafts coupled to each other with at least two transfer channels. The system further includes a control unit configured to operate the system in either of two operating modes, wherein in the first mode the group of elevator cars is arranged to travel to a first vertical direction in the first shaft and to another vertical direction in the second shaft through the transfer channels. In the second mode, a first sub-group of elevator cars are parked in one of the shafts and at least one elevator car belonging to a second sub-group of elevator cars is arranged to travel in the both vertical directions in the other shaft upon a call.
Claims14
A multicar elevator system comprising:
- a group of individually drivable elevator cars;
- two shafts coupled to each other with at least two transfer channels;
- and
- a control unit configured to control the elevator system to operate in either of two operating modes,
- wherein:
- in the first operating mode the group of elevator cars is arranged to travel to a first vertical direction in the first shaft and to another vertical direction in the second shaft and wherein each of the elevator cars is transferred between the shafts through the at least two transfer channels wherein the travel of the group of elevator cars is initiated upon a call,
- in the second operating mode a first sub-group of elevator cars is arranged to be parked in one of the shafts and at least one elevator car belonging to a second sub-group of elevator cars is allowed to travel in any vertical direction in the other shaft upon a call, and
- the control unit is further configured to control the operation of the elevator system, in the second operating mode, by instructing an adjustment of a number of elevator cars in the second sub-group.
A method for controlling an operation of a multicar elevator system, the method comprising:
- determining an operational state of the elevator system;
- and
- controlling the operation of the elevator system by selecting an operating mode for the elevator system on the basis of the determined operational state of the elevator system, wherein the operating mode is selected between two operating modes,
- wherein:
- in the first operating mode the group of elevator cars is arranged to travel to a first vertical direction in the first shaft and to another vertical direction in the second shaft and wherein each of the elevator cars is transferred between the shafts through the at least two transfer channels wherein the travel of the group of elevator cars is initiated upon a call,
- in the second operating mode a first sub-group of elevator cars is arranged to be parked in one of the shafts and at least one elevator car belonging to a second sub-group of elevator cars is allowed to travel in any vertical direction in the other shaft upon a call, and
- in the second operating mode, controlling the operation of the elevator system, by instructing an adjustment of a number of elevator cars in the second sub-group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.