Method and apparatus for improving the servicing of an elevator system

A method of improving the servicing of an elevator system by determining when preventive maintenance is due, when preventive maintenance should be scheduled, and when immediate service is required, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the usage of predetermined elevator system functions,
• collecting usage data in response to the monitoring step,
• establishing predetermined usage parameters, including both usage thresholds and upper usage limits, for at least certain of the monitored functions,
• comparing said usage data with the associated parameters,
• placing predetermined maintenance services on a maintenance due list associated with a monitored function reaching its threshold parameter,
• monitoring the status of predetermined items of the elevator system which can cause shutdown of at least a portion thereof,
• reporting the need for scheduled maintenance service, for all of the items on the maintenance due list when the usage of a monitored function reaches its associated upper usage limit,
• and reporting the need for immediate elevator service when the status of an item which can cause shutdown indicates a possible shutdown, with this step also including the step of reporting all maintenance services on the maintenance due list as maintenance services which should also be performed.

A method of improving the service of an elevator system by determining when preventive maintenance is due, when preventive maintenance should be scheduled, and when immediate service is required, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring, on-site, the usage of predetermined elevator system functions, collecting, on-site, usage data in response to the monitoring step,
• sending the usage data to a central computer,
• establishing predetermined usage parameters for the central computer, including both usage thresholds and upper usage limits, for at least certain of the monitored functions,
• comparing said usage data with the associated parameters,
• placing predetermined maintenance services on a maintenance due list when a monitored function reaches the associated threshold parameter,
• monitoring, on-site, the status of predetermined items of the elevator system which can cause shutdown of at least a portion thereof,
• reporting from the site of the elevator system to the central computer the need for immediate elevator service when the status of an item which can cause shutdown indicates a possible shutdown,
• and reporting from the central computer to a maintenance scheduling function:
• (a) the need for scheduled preventive elevator service, for all of the services on the maintenance due list, when the usage of a monitored function reaches its associated upper usage limit, and (b) the need for immediate elevator service in response to receiving the reporting of such a need from the elevator system site, with this step also including the step of reporting all maintenance services on the maintenance-due list as maintenance services which should also be performed.

An elevator system, comprising:

• a plurality of elevator cars mounted in a building to serve the floors therein,
• monitoring means for providing data relative to the usage of predetermined elevator system functions,
• memory means for storing said usage data,
• means for providing first and second parameters related to the usage of at least certain of the monitored functions, with said first parameter being a usage threshold which, when reached, indicates that predetermined maintenance services are due, and with the second parameter being an upper usage limit, which, when reached, indicates that maintenance should be scheduled for said predetermined maintenance services,
• comparison means for periodically comparing said usage data with said first and second parameters, and for indicating when the first and second parameters are reached,
• means responsive to said comparison means for creating a maintenance due list which includes maintenance services to be performed which are associated with each monitored function whose usage has reached its associated first parameter,
• and means responsive to the indication that a second parameter has been reached for indicating that maintenance should be scheduled for all of the maintenance services on the maintenance due list.