Increasing traffic handling performance of an elevator system based upon load

The method of claim 2, further comprising:

• comparing (i) the maximum velocity of the optimized velocity profile, (ii) a maximum velocity attainable for the distance of the trip;
• and (iii) a maximum velocity attainable with the mechanical equipment of the system,
• choosing the lowest velocity from said comparison;
• and
• programming the drive motor to execute a velocity profile utilizing said lowest velocity.

A method for increasing the traffic handling performance of an elevator driven by a drive motor having a pre-designed power required to move the elevator according to a design velocity when there is a full load on the drive motor, the method comprising:

• measuring the actual load in the car for a particular trip;
• determining if the actual load represents a partial load on the drive motor;
• and
• calculating an optimized velocity higher than the design velocity for the system, the optimized velocity being a function of the pre-designed power of the drive motor and the actual load according to the following relation:
• 5 VEL opt = HP × 33 , 000 × EFF [LeftBracketingBar] ( ( 1 - ( cw ÷ 100 ) ) × CAPA ) - L actual [RightBracketingBar] ( 2 )
• where,
• VELopt=the optimized velocity attainable for the actual load (fpm)
• HP=pre-designed power of the motor (in horsepower)
• EFF=the efficiency of the system (a known value),
• cw is the counterweight (as a % of the maximum car capacity)
• CAPA is the maximum car capacity (lbs.),
• Lactual=the actual load inside the car;
• and
• programming the drive motor to execute the optimized velocity profile for the trip.

An apparatus for increasing the traffic handling performance of an elevator driven by a drive motor having a pre-designed power required to move the elevator according to a design velocity profile when there is a full load on the drive motor, the method comprising:

• means for measuring the actual load in the elevator for a particular trip;
• means for determining if the actual load represents a partial load on the drive motor;
• means for calculating an optimized velocity profile for the trip, the optimized velocity profile being a function of the pre-designed power of the drive motor and the actual load;
• and
• means for programming the drive motor to execute the optimized velocity profile for the trip.

An apparatus for increasing the traffic handling performance of an elevator driven by a drive motor having a pre-designed power required to move the elevator according to a design velocity when there is a full load on the drive motor, the method comprising:

• means for measuring the actual load in the car for a particular trip;
• means for determining if the actual load represents a partial load on the drive motor;
• and
• means for calculating an optimized velocity higher than the design velocity for the system, the optimized velocity being a function of the pre-designed power of the drive motor and the actual load according to the following relation:
• 6 VEL opt = HP × 33 , 000 × EFF [LeftBracketingBar] ( ( 1 - ( cw ÷ 100 ) ) × CAPA ) - L actual [RightBracketingBar] ( 2 )
• where,
• VELopt=the optimized velocity attainable for the actual load (fpm)
• HP=pre-designed power of the motor (in horsepower)
• EFF=the efficiency of the system (a known value),
• cw is the counterweight (as a % of the maximum car capacity)
• CAPA is the maximum car capacity (lbs.),
• Lactual=the actual load inside the car;
• and
• means for programming the drive motor to execute the optimized velocity profile for the trip.

An apparatus for increasing the traffic handling performance of an elevator driven by a drive motor having a pre-designed power required to move the elevator according to a design velocity profile when there is a full load on the drive motor, the method comprising:

• a load weighing component for measuring the actual load in the elevator for a particular trip;
• and
• a controller component including:
• (a) a load determining unit for receiving information from the load weighing component and determining if the actual load represents a partial load on the drive motor;
• (b) a calculating unit for generating an optimized velocity profile for the trip, the optimized velocity profile being a function of the pre-designed power of the drive motor and the actual load;
• and
• (c) a programming unit for programming the drive motor to execute the optimized velocity profile for the trip.

A method for increasing the traffic handling performance of an elevator driven by a drive motor having a pre-designed maximum available torque, the method comprising:

• measuring the actual load within the car for a particular trip;
• modeling a range of velocity profiles based on the actual load and information for the particular trip;
• calculating the resulting torque demand and travel time for each profile;
• and
• selecting the velocity profile with the shortest travel time for the trip and with a torque demand that does not exceed the maximum available torque of the drive motor.