US 2003/0070883 A1 · Elevator selector

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved elevator selector system. One embodiment incorporates all of the operational and A17 code required car position sensing functions into a single car mounted enclosure, without any external mechanical roller switches, by incorporating directional limits, normal terminal slow down and emergency terminal speed limiting functions into a tape selector. All operational and sensing functions may be implemented using a standard 3-inch wide tape by disposing of magnetic signalers on the opposite side of the tape from the side used for leveling and floor identification. An alignment tool facilitates placement of magnets. Tape guides permit the selector to run smoothly along the tape. Optical rather than magnetic sensors may be used for quadrature hole counting to detect relative speed and location without interfering with other magnetic functions. All selector components may be tethered to the selector enclosure to prevent accidental loss down the hoistway. Structural foam and heavy internal gussets may be used for the selector enclosure. Alignment pins on the selector enclosure facilitate component installation. Stress distributing nut plates create a strong interface between the selector enclosure and steel mounting bracket.

Claims45

Dependent claims

An elevator selector system for use with an elevator system having an elevator car that is vertically displaceable in a hoistway and a controller for controlling the car's vertical movement, the selector system comprising:

a selector housing mounted to the elevator car;
a first and second light emitting device mounted in the selector housing, the first light emitting device located vertically above the second light emitting device;
a first and second light sensor, the first light sensor mounted in the selector housing horizontally in line with the first light emitting device, the second light sensor mounted in the selector housing horizontally in line with the second light emitting device;
a tape vertically mounted in the hoistway, the tape passing between the first light emitting device and the first light sensor and passing between the second light emitting device and the second light sensor;
a logic circuit for controlling the outputs of the light emitting devices and for decoding signals from the light sensors;
and
a wiring harness for connecting the logic circuit to the controller.

4 more elements

A selector for a system having a moving part that is linearly displaceable between locations and that requires multiply redundant linear position or zone information about said moving part, the selector comprising:

a linear track including a first set of magnets comprising equal length strip magnets placed end-to-end with an alternating North and South polarity on their face along said track for identification of a first position or zone with quantity of alternating magnets sufficient to form required length for said position or zone and a second set of magnets comprising strip magnets placed end-to-end with all South polarity on their face along said track for identification of a second position or zone with quantity of magnets sufficient to form required length for said position or zone;
a selector unit including a selector housing or enclosure mounted on said moving part, aligned with guide means for maintaining precise positioning in plane perpendicular to the travel of said linear track relative to the magnets, and a first set of three North only sensing sensors, and a second set of three North only sensing sensors, and a third set of six South only sensing sensors spatially distributed and mounted within or on said housing linearly in the direction of said linear movement in such a way as to be actuated respectively by said North or South faced strip magnets;
the first set of magnets having a linear spacing that is less than the length of said strip magnets such that one said North faced magnet's actuation range can actuate any two, but not all three of said first set of three North sensing sensors such that at least one of the said sensors is actuated when said moving part is within the particular zone defined by said first set of alternating strip magnets;
the second set of magnets having a linear spacing that is less than the length of said strip magnets such that one said North faced magnet's actuation range can actuate any two, but not all three of said second set of three North sensing sensors such that at least one of the said sensors is actuated when said moving part is within the particular zone defined by said first set of alternating strip magnets;
the first set of sensors and said second set of sensors being interlaced such that the first sensor of the said first set and the first sensor of the said second set are spaced linearly along said track as close to each other as practical, the second sensor of the said first set and the second sensor of the said second set are spaced linearly along said track as close to each other as practical, the third sensor of the said first set and the third sensor of the said second set are spaced linearly along said track as close to each other as practical so as to have the respective first, second and third sensor actuation points for a particular magnet practically in the same location for said first and second set;
the third set of magnets having a linear spacing that is less than the length of said strip magnets such that one said South faced magnet's actuation range of the first set of alternating magnets can actuate any two, but not three of said third set of six South sensing sensors;
the third set of six South sensing sensors arranged such that the first South faced magnet of the said first set of alternating magnets will actuate the forth sensor of the said third set of six South sensing sensors at the same location of the said moving part as the second South faced magnet of the said first set of alternating magnets actuates the first sensor of the said third set of six South sensing sensors, and said first magnet actuates said fifth sensor at the same point as said second magnet actuates said second sensor, and said first magnet actuates said sixth sensor at the same point as said second magnet actuates said third sensor;
the third set of six South sensing sensors arranged such that as said moving part enters into a zone defined by said first set of alternating magnets, a sequence of six relevant logical combinations of sensor actuation states occur to said sensors, those six relevant combinations being (first and forth and not second), (first and forth and not third), (second and fifth and not third), (second and fifth and not forth), (third and sixth and not forth), and (third and sixth and not fifth);
the third set of sensor and said first set of sensors being interlaced such that at a point at which said first North faced magnet actuates said first sensor of said first set of North sensing sensors, the said first combination of sensor actuation states said third set of South sensing sensors also occurs, and in which at the point at which said first North faced magnet actuates said second sensor of first set of North sensing sensors, the said third combination of sensor actuation states of said third set of South sensing sensors also occurs, and in which at the point at which said first North faced magnet actuates said third second sensor of first set of North sensing sensors, the said fifth combination of sensor actuation states of said third set of South sensing sensors also occurs;
the third set of six South sensing sensors arranged such that as said moving part enters into a zone defined by said second set of South facing polarity strip magnets, a sequence of four relevant logical combinations of sensor actuation states occur to said sensors, those four relevant combinations being (sixth and fifth and forth), (fifth and forth and third), (forth and third and second), and (third and second and first);
a first logic circuit for decoding the said six combinations of said six South sensors to derive a constant detection signal from the over-lapping sequence of the said six combinations and for decoding said 4 combinations of said 6 South sensors to derive a constant detection signal from overlapping sequence of said 4 combination;
a second logic circuit for decoding the 3 signals from said set of 3 sensors of the first set of said North sensors to derive a constant detection signal from the over-lapping sequence of the said 3 signals;
and
a third logic circuit for decoding the 3 signals from said set of 3 sensors of the second set of said North sensors to derive a constant detection signal from the over-lapping sequence of the said 3 signals.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Elevator selector

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Elevator selector

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Abstract

Claims45