A method which provides for level monitoring of an elevator car within a hoistway at a plurality of floors by providing a plurality of sensed signals which is indicative of an elevator position of the elevator car relative to a plurality of targets having a plurality of light absorptive surfaces and a plurality of light interactive regions, the plurality of targets mounted within the hoistway at the plurality of floors. The plurality of sensed signals is processed to provide a leveling variable, a floor number variable and a direction of travel variable which indicate a direction of travel of the elevator car within the hoistway. The leveling variable, floor number variable and direction of travel variable are stored at a remote elevator monitoring central processor.

Method for monitoring elevator leveling performance with improved accuracy

The invention concerns a device for monitoring a control unit including a safety chain. The invention calls for the monitoring device to have a testable switching device fitted with input and output terminals such that, from several such switching devices, a monitoring loop can be set up along which a continuous signal, in particular a continuous sequence of digital signals, can be passed to give a 'digital stand-by current loop'.

Device for monitoring a control unit.

An apparatus for detecting obstructions includes a plurality of emitters for radiating beams of energy, a plurality of detectors for providing detector signals in response to the beams of energy radiated by the plurality of emitters and a controller for determining if the beams of energy are obstructed by analyzing the detector signals and implementing a dynamic detection threshold. The controller generates an average beam strength and current beam strength from which said controller means determines if an obstruction is present by determining if the current beam strength is within a predetermined range of the average beam strength.

Variable beam detection using a dynamic detection threshold

Disclosed is a 2-way flow control valve whereby a constant hydraulic fluid volume flow may be adjusted by serial arrangement of a restrictor orifice and a control orifice. In the case of a reverse flow through the flow control valve of the present invention, a check actuating element of the flow control valve may be displaced against the bias of its own check spring in such a way that a bypass channel which bypasses the restrictor orifice can be controlled open.

Flow-control valve

The present invention includes a method and a system for communicating with a controller of an elevator car (10). A first input device (40) is inserted between a pair of elevator car sliding doors (12, 14). Energy beams (36) transmitted between the pair of elevator sliding doors (12, 14) are selectively blocked to communicate information to the controller.

Method and system for communicating with a controller of an elevator

A two-channel forked fail-safe light barrier generates shaft position information in the region of the floors for the premature opening of the doors on arrival of an elevator car and includes a cyclical dynamic self-monitoring circuit by means of which a prophylactic fault recognition is possible. The self-monitoring circuit is responsive to the arrival and standstill of the car at a floor and periodically simulates genuine operational sequences as a brief emergence of the switching vane by an optical short-circuit of the fail-safe light barrier. The simulation effects interruption of the light barrier relay power which is, however, shorter than the release time of the relays so that the relays do not release when the circuit is intact. A sequence of timing signals controls the sequence of the self-monitoring functions and, in the case of any kind of component faults, this sequence is disturbed and a corresponding reaction in the safety circuits of the elevator control takes place by way of the relay contacts. A cyclically appearing test signal is generated as the primary control signal for the simulated interruptions.

Two-channel forked light barrier detecting vertical position

Eine zweikanalige Gabellichtschranke in Failsafe-Ausfuhrung fur die Erzeugung einer Schachtinformation im Bereich der Stockwerke fur das vorzeitige Turoffnen bei Ankunft der Kabine weist eine zyklisch dynamische Selbstuberwachung (ZDU, 6) auf mittels welcher eine prophylaktische Fehlererkennung moglich ist. A two-channel forked light barrier in fail-safe design for the generation of a shaft information in the field of stories for the premature opening the door upon arrival of the cabin has a cyclically dynamic self-monitoring (CBE, 6) by means of which a prophylactic error detection. Die ZDU (6) simuliert bei Ankunft und Stillstand der Kabine auf einem Stockwerk periodisch echte Betriebsablaufe, indem durch optischen Kurzschluss der FS-Lichtschranke ein kurzzeitiges Austauchen der Schaltfahne simuliert wird. The CBE (6) simulated on arrival and stopped the car at a floor periodic real operations by a short-term emersion of switching flag is simulated by optical short-circuit the FS-light barrier. Der dadurch bewirkte Unterbruch der Relaisspeisung ist jedoch kurzer als die Abfallzeit der Relais, so dass diese bei intakter Schaltung nicht abfallen. The effected thereby interrupting the relay power is shorter than the decay time of the relay, so that they do not fall off with intact circuit. Ein sequentieller Ablauf von Zeitsignalen (tA/B1..4, tVB) steuert den Ablauf der Selbstuberwachungsfunktionen. A sequential sequence of timing signals (TA / B1..4, tVB) controls the sequence of self-monitoring features. Bei irgendwelchen Komponentenfehlern wird dieser Ablauf gestort und es erfolgt via Relaikontakte eine entsprechende Reaktion in den Sicherheitskreisen der Aufzugssteuerung. In case of any component failure, this process is disturbed and it takes place via Relaikontakte an appropriate response to the safety circuits of the elevator control. Ein zyklisch erscheinendes Testsignal (TSA, TSB) ist das primare Steuersignal fur simulierte Unterbruche. A cyclically appearing test signal (TSA, TSB) is the primary control signal for simulated interruptions.

Bernhard Sprecher

Papers

Two-channel forked light barrier detecting vertical position

Two-channel forked light barrier in Failsafe-design