METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSFER IN AN ELEVATOR AND AN ELEVATOR

Abstract

 A method for transferring electrical power in an elevator (100) and an elevator (100) are presented. The elevator (100) comprises an elevator shaft (13) and an elevator car (10) movable with respect to the elevator shaft (13). The method comprises coupling (71) an elevator car door (11) of the elevator car (10) with a landing door (12) of the elevator shaft (13) with a door coupler (18), and establishing (72) an electrical connection (40) for transferring electrical power between the elevator car (10) and the elevator shaft (13) by utilizing the door coupler (18).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. The invention concerns especially, however, not exclusively, electrical power transfer in elevators.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Elevators have traditionally been operated by utilizing a hoisting motor coupled to a hoisting rope or ropes for moving the elevator car within the hoistway or the elevator shaft, and a wired power line or lines, such as traveling electrical cables, routed to the elevator car for providing electrical power to the electrical equipment arranged to the elevator car.

[0003] Nowadays, elevators are often installed in targets in which the travel height of an elevator car of the elevator may be such that the mechanical strength of the ropes and/or electrical cable may be exceeded, such as in case of very high buildings.

[0004] Furthermore, multicar elevators, that is, elevators having more than one elevator car in operating in its elevator shaft, will face similar challenges with respect to the electrical cabling.

[0005] It has also been suggested to use wireless power transfer instead of travelling cables to transfer power from elevator shaft to the elevator car. In suggested attempts the number of charging equipment in the elevator shaft causes complexity and extra cost for the system. It is also challenging to determine the best location for the equipment in order to utilize space in the elevator shaft efficiently. Thus, there is still a need to develop electrical power transfer in elevators.

SUMMARY

[0006] An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for electrical power transfer in an elevator and an elevator. Another objective of the present invention is that the method simplifies electrical power transfer in elevators, especially, between the elevator shaft and the elevator car.

[0007] The objectives of the invention are reached by a method and an elevator as defined by the respective independent claims.

[0008] According to a first aspect, a method for transferring electrical power in an elevator is provided. The elevator comprises an elevator shaft and an elevator car movable with respect to the elevator shaft. The method comprises coupling an elevator car door of the elevator car with a landing door of the elevator shaft with a door coupler, and establishing an electrical connection for transferring electrical power between the elevator car and the elevator shaft by utilizing the door coupler.

[0009] The utilizing may herein entail, for example, forming the electrical connection, such as a galvanic connection, through the door coupler, or generating a coupling signal once the coupling has occurred which may then be utilized in establishing the electrical connection.

[0010] The method may comprise transferring electrical power between the elevator car and the elevator shaft through the electrical connection.

[0011] The method may comprise establishing the electrical connection as a galvanic connection. The galvanic connection may, preferably, be established through the door coupler.

[0012] The method may comprise establishing the electrical connection as a wireless connection for transferring electrical power wirelessly.

[0013] The method may comprise generating a coupling signal with the door coupler.

[0014] The method may comprise controlling a separate electrical power transfer device arranged to the elevator and configured to establish the electrical connection based on the coupling signal.

[0015] The method may comprise transferring electrical power when the elevator car is at a landing floor. There may be one or several landing floors comprised in the elevator shaft.

[0016] The establishing may comprise establishing the electrical connection for charging an electrical energy storage, such as a battery, comprised in the elevator car.

[0017] According to a second aspect, an elevator comprising an elevator shaft, a door coupler and an elevator car movable with respect to the elevator shaft is provided. The elevator car comprises an elevator car door. The elevator shaft comprises a landing door. The door coupler is arranged to couple the elevator car door and the landing door with each other and is configured to be utilized in establishing an electrical connection between the elevator shaft and the elevator car for transferring electrical power between the elevator shaft and the elevator car.

[0018] The door coupler may be configured to establish the electrical connection, such as a galvanic connection.

[0019] The door coupler may be configured to generate a coupling signal for controlling a separate electrical power transfer device forming the electrical connection.

[0020] The elevator may comprise a separate electrical power transfer device for establishing the electrical connection.

[0021] The electrical connection may be a wireless connection for transferring electrical power wirelessly, such as by utilizing an inductive coupling.

[0022] The elevator car may comprise an electrical energy storage, such as a battery, and wherein the electrical connection is established for charging the electrical energy storage.

[0023] According to a third aspect, an elevator is provided. The elevator comprises an elevator shaft with at least two landings, each landing having at least one landing door. The elevator further comprises an elevator car movable between landings, the elevator car having at least one elevator car door. The elevator also comprises a power supply device for supplying power from at least one of the landings to the elevator car, the power supply device comprising separate primary and secondary parts, which are configured to establish electrical power connection between the primary part and the secondary part when arranged at corresponding positions, wherein at least one of the landing doors comprises the primary part and the car door comprises the secondary part.

[0024] The present invention provides a method for transferring electrical power in an elevator and an elevator. The method provides advantages over known solutions such that the method facilitates the electrical power transfer by utilizing a door coupler arranged to the elevator. As the door coupler is arranged to the elevator for coupling the elevator car door to the landing door, there is no need for additional components to be utilized in establishing the electrical connection between the elevator shaft and the elevator car.

[0025] Various other advantages will become clear to a skilled person based on the following detailed description.

[0026] The expression "a plurality of" refers herein to any positive integer starting from two, e.g. to two, three, or four.

[0027] The terms "first" and "second" do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0028] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention presented herein are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used herein as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0029] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0030] The embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates an opening movement of an elevator car door and a landing door coupled to each other by a door coupler according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates schematically an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Figure 1 illustrates schematically an elevator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention from a side view. The elevator 100 may comprise an electric motor 16 for moving an elevator car 10 comprised in the elevator 100. The elevator car 10 may be mechanically coupled to the electric motor 16, for example, by a hoisting rope 15, hydraulic means (not shown) or in more direct manner such as in case of a linear motor 16. The operation of the electric motor 16 may be controlled by an electrical drive 24 such as a frequency converter or an inverter. The elevator shaft 13 of the elevator 100 may comprise walls 17 or structures 17 defining the elevator shaft 13. The shaft 13 may essentially define a closed volume, however, it may also comprise an open structure having, preferably, at least two landing floors or landings. The landing floor may comprise a sill 19. Furthermore, the elevator car floor level 20 may advantageously be arranged to substantially level or align with the floor level of the landing floor when stopped at the landing floor.

[0032] The electric motor 16 may be arranged to the elevator shaft 13 and configured to move the elevator car 10 by a hoisting rope 15. Alternatively, the electric motor 16 may be a linear electric motor comprising a stator beam 21 arranged in fixed manner to the elevator shaft 13, and mover 22 or movers 22 mounted on the elevator car 10 and arranged to be in electromagnetic engagement with the stator or stators of the stator beam 21.

[0033] Furthermore, the elevator 100 may preferably comprise a door coupler 18 configured for coupling the elevator car door 11 and the landing door 12 to each other. The door coupler 18 may comprise a coupling portion and a counterpart with which the coupling portion is configured to couple with. According to an embodiment, the coupling portion may be mounted on the elevator car door 11 and configured to couple with the counterpart mounted on the landing door 12 for establishing the coupling for opening and/or closing said doors. According to another embodiment, the coupling portion may be mounted on the landing door 12 and configured to couple with the counterpart mounted on the elevator car door 12 for establishing the coupling for opening and/or closing said doors.

[0034] The door coupler 18, particularly its components, may be so fitted that when the elevator car 10 moves past the landing door 12, the counterpart, such as element(s) extending or protruding from the landing door 12, preferably towards the elevator car door 11, for example, rollers, engage with the gripping elements of the coupling portion, which are mounted on the elevator car door 11. The gripping elements may be, for example, vanes. According to some embodiments, the door coupler 18 may essentially be similar to any one of the door couplers disclosed in figures 5-10 and in the description related to said figures of patent publication US 5950766 A, however, the door coupler 18 according to the present invention may differ from the ones disclosed in US 5950766 A. The door couplers 18 may or may not be configured to form a galvanic connection or a current pathway through the door coupler 18.

[0035] According to a preferable embodiment of the present invention, the elevator car 10 may comprise an electrical energy storage 14, such as a battery 14 and, optionally, a supercapacitor. The electrical energy storage 14 may be coupled to the motor 16, for example, to a mover 22 of an electrical linear motor 16. The electrical energy storage 14 may alternatively or in addition by used for providing electrical energy to various electrical equipment 25 or appliances 25 comprised in the elevator car 10, such as lighting, user interfaces, electrical appliances, etc.

[0036] The elevator 100 may further comprise an electrical power source 23, such as a main electrical power supply from which or via an electrical drive or a converter electrical power may be drawn to operate the electric motor 16 and/or the electrical equipment or appliances of the elevator car 10 and/or to supply current to charge the electrical energy storage 14, if any.

[0037] According to various embodiments, the elevator 100 may comprise an elevator control unit 1000. There may be external units connectable or connected to a communication interface of the elevator control unit 1000. External units may comprise wireless connection or a connection by a wired manner. The communication interface provides interface for communication with external units such as the elevator car 10, the electric motor 16, the elevator car doors 11 or the landing doors 12 of the landing floors, or the electrical drive 24 to the elevator control unit 1000. There may also be connecting to the external system, such as a laptop or a handheld device. There may also be a connection to a database of the elevator 100 or an external database including information used in controlling the operation of the elevator 100.

[0038] The elevator control unit 1000 may comprise one or more processors, one or more memories being volatile or non-volatile for storing portions of computer program code and any data values and possibly one or more user interface units. The mentioned elements may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus.

[0039] The processor of the elevator control unit 1000 is at least configured to implement at least some method steps as described hereinlater. The implementation of the method may be achieved by arranging the processor to execute at least some portion of computer program code stored in the memory causing the processor, and thus the elevator control unit 1000, to implement one or more method steps as described hereinlater. The processor is thus arranged to access the memory and retrieve and store any information therefrom and thereto. For sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and control the operation of the elevator control unit 1000, among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 illustrates schematically an elevator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from above. The elevator 100 in Fig. 2 may comprise similar features as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, it is shown in Fig. 2 that there may be two landing doors 11 and two elevator car doors 12, that is, double doors. In Fig. 2, a sliding door type of a double door has been shown for landing doors 12 and elevator car doors 11. Although it is shown that both of the doors of the double doors comprise a door coupler 18, that is, comprising a coupling portion and a counterpart, it may as well be such that only one of them comprises the door coupler 18 and the other door is coupled to the door having the door coupler by a coupling mechanism, such as by a belt, for instance.

[0041] Figure 3 illustrates schematically various stages of the opening movement of elevator car doors 11 and landing doors 12 coupled with each other by a door coupler 18 according to an embodiment of the present invention. At 301, the doors 11, 12 are fully closed and the elevator car 10 is at a landing floor, for instance. As the elevator car 10 has been moved to the landing floor, the door coupler 18 has coupled the elevator car doors 11 and the landing doors 12 to each other by the coupling portion and the counterpart. At 302, the elevator car doors 11 are being opened by an actuator mechanically coupled to the elevator car doors 11. The door coupler 18 thus moves the landing doors 12 relative to the movement of the elevator car doors 11 due to the coupling between said doors 11, 12. At 303, the doors 11, 12 are fully opened.

[0042] Figure 4 illustrates schematically an electrical power transfer arrangement 200 of the elevator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The door coupler 18 has coupled the elevator car door 11 and the landing door 12 to each other and established an electrical connection 40, in this case a galvanic connection between the landing door 12 and the elevator car door 11. The galvanic connection may be utilized for transferring electrical power from the main power supply 23 to the elevator car 10, for example, to charge the electrical energy storage 14 thereof. The electrical connection 40 may alternatively or in addition be established to any component of the elevator car 10 into which the electrical power is to be transferred. It is to be noted that the although the door coupler 18 establishes the electrical connection 40 between the doors 11, 12, an electrical connection, galvanic or wireless, may still need to be arranged between the landing door 12 and the elevator shaft 13 and/or the main power supply 23 or any other electrical power source utilizable in the elevator 100. Similar remark may be made regarding the electrical connection between the elevator car door 11 and the elevator car 10 and/or the electrical energy storage 14 thereof in order to establish the whole current pathway from the electrical power source 23 to the elevator car 10. At the doors 11, 12 are arranged to move, the electrical connections between the doors 11,12 and the elevator shaft 13 and the elevator car 10, respectively, may need to enable the relative movement of the doors 11, 12 with the respective structures.

[0043] Figure 5 illustrates schematically an electrical power transfer arrangement 200 of the elevator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical power transfer arrangement 200 may comprise wireless means for transferring electrical power between the doors 11, 12, for example, by inductive coupling. Said means may be comprised in the door coupler 18 such that when the coupling occurs, a coupled inductor 50 is formed by when two inductors having an airgap in order to enable movement with respect to each other are aligned with each other so that magnetic circuit is formed through which electrical power may be transferred between the elevator car door 11 and the landing door 12.

[0044] Furthermore, the door coupler 18 may be used in various embodiments of the present invention to generate a coupling signal when the coupling occurs. Thus, the coupling signal may be used as an indication, for example, in the elevator control unit 1000 or a device controlling the operation of the electrical power transfer arrangement 200 that the electrical connection 40 has been established or at least that the electrical connection may now be established by closing a switch which establishes the electrical connection or the current pathway, for instance.

[0045] A solid state switch 30 or a mechanical relay or contactor may be arranged to the current pathway 40 such that the switch 30 is closed and current pathway 40 is energized when a sensor associated with door coupler indicates that landing door and car door coupler counterparts are located face to face, that is, aligned or in corresponding positions. Said sensor may be a proximity sensor, such as an inductive proximity sensor, for example.

[0046] Figure 6 illustrates schematically an electrical power transfer arrangement 200 of the elevator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The door coupler 18 has coupled the elevator car door 11 and the landing door 12 to each other and established the electrical connection 40. The electrical connection 40, galvanic or wireless, such as by inductive coupling, may be established through a separate electrical power transfer device 60. The device may be positioned in close proximity to the door coupler 18 or may be position a relatively long distance away from the door coupler 18, such to other side of the elevator car 10 as shown in Fig. 6. The separate electrical power transfer device 60 may comprise, for example, a mechanical contactor which may be controlled by a controlling device 61 in connection with the separate electrical power transfer device 60. Alternatively or in addition, the separate electrical power transfer device 60 may comprise an electrical converter for converting the current and voltage suitable for being injected to the elevator car 10, such as for charging the electrical energy storage 14. According to another embodiment, the separate electrical power transfer device 60 may comprise a coupled inductor 50 for transferring electrical power in wireless manner.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elevator 100, which may comprise at least two landings in the elevator shaft and wherein each landing has at least one landing door, may comprise a power supply device, such as similar to the separate electrical power transfer device 60, for supplying electrical power from at least one of the landings to the elevator car, wherein the power supply device may comprise separate primary and secondary parts, which are configured to establish electrical power connection between the primary part and the secondary part when arranged at corresponding positions. Preferably, the landing door may comprise the primary part and the car door may comprise the secondary part. The corresponding positions refer herein to positions in which the primary and secondary parts are aligned or facing each other in such a way that electrical power transfer from one part to another is possible. This may entail, for example, that a magnetic circuit comprising at least part of the primary and at least part of the secondary part is being formed when the primary and secondary are arranged at the corresponding positions, thus, enabling electrical power transfer based on induction. Furthermore, the primary and secondary parts may also be in electrical connection with respect to each other galvanically at the corresponding positions.

[0048] The operation of the separate electrical power transfer device 60 may be controlled by the controlling device 61 or the elevator controlling unit 1000 in connection with the separate electrical power transfer device 60. The door coupler 18 may be configured to generate the coupling signal 65 when the coupling between the doors 11, 12 occurs. The coupling signal 65 may then be utilized to establish the electrical connection 40 between the elevator shaft 13 and the elevator car 10. The established electrical connection 40 may then be utilized in transferring electrical power, such through a galvanic connection or by inductive coupling, for example, through the door coupler 18 or through the separate electrical power transfer device 60. The electrical power transfer arrangement 200 may be configured such that a signal is provided to a contactor for establishing the electrical connection 40 or to an electrical converter or any electrical power supply being connected to the electrical connection 40, for instance, for supplying the electrical power to the elevator car 10.

[0049] Figure 7 illustrates a flow diagram of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 70, referring to a start-up phase, the necessary tasks such as obtaining components and systems, and calibration and other configuration may take place. Specific care must be taken that the individual elements work together, for example, that the door coupler 18 is arranged properly so that coupling may be performed at a certain point during the operation of the elevator 100. Communication, such as for the coupling signal, and electrical connections, such as said electrical connection 40, between various components and (sub-)systems may be established.

[0050] At step 71, coupling an elevator car door 11 of the elevator car 10 with a landing door 12 of the elevator shaft 13 with a door coupler 18 may be performed. The door coupler 18 may couple said doors 11, 12 with each other mechanically or by a magnetic force, for instance. The coupling may occur preferably automatically as the elevator car 10 arrives at the landing floor.

[0051] At step 72, establishing an electrical connection 40 for transferring electrical power between the elevator car 10 and the elevator shaft 13 by utilizing the door coupler 18 may be performed. According to an embodiment, the utilizing may entail that the door coupler 18 itself forms a current path between the elevator car door 11 and the landing door 12. According to another embodiment, the utilizing may entail that the door coupler 18 generates a coupling signal 65 which may be, for example, utilized for establishing a current path through a separate electrical power transfer device 60. The separate electrical power transfer device 60 may, for example, be arranged between the elevator car 10 and the elevator shaft 13 at a landing floor to some other location with respect said doors 11, 12 or the door coupler 18. The separate electrical power transfer device 60 may be a contactor which may establish a galvanic connection in response to the coupling signal or it may utilize inductive coupling, such as in case a coupled inductor having an airgap, for establish the electrical connection 40.

[0052] At an optional step 73, transferring electrical power between the elevator car 10 and the elevator shaft 13 through the electrical connection 40 may be performed. This may entail transferring power through the door coupler 18 or the separate electrical power transfer device 60.

[0053] According to a preferable embodiment, the elevator car 10 may comprise an electrical energy storage 14, such as a battery. The establishing of the electrical connection 40 may preferably comprise establishing the electrical connection 40 for charging the electrical energy storage by electrical power from the elevator shaft 13 or initially from the main electrical power supply 23.

[0054] At 79, the method execution is ended or stopped. The method flow may be executed once, intermittently, or preferably continuously at least at a landing floor.

[0055] The method described hereinabove may be used advantageously such that electrical power may be provided efficiently whenever the elevator car 10 has been arranged to a landing floor. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elevator 100 may comprise one or preferably several landing floors of which one or many or all may comprise a door coupler 18 which configured to couple said doors 11, 12 to each other and to be utilized in establishing the electrical connection 40.

[0056] The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

1. A method for transferring electrical power in an elevator (100), wherein the elevator (100) comprises an elevator shaft (13) and an elevator car (10) movable with respect to the elevator shaft (13), the method comprising

- coupling (71) an elevator car door (11) of the elevator car (10) with a landing door (12) of the elevator shaft (13) with a door coupler (18), and

- establishing (72) an electrical connection (40) for transferring electrical power between the elevator car (10) and the elevator shaft (13) by utilizing the door coupler (18).

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising transferring (73) electrical power between the elevator car (10) and the elevator shaft (13) through the electrical connection (40).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising establishing the electrical connection (40) as a galvanic connection.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising establishing the galvanic connection through the door coupler (18).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising establishing the electrical connection (40) as a wireless connection for transferring electrical power wirelessly.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising generating a coupling signal (65) with the door coupler (18).

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising controlling a separate electrical power transfer device (60) arranged to the elevator (100) and configured to establish the electrical connection (40) based on the coupling signal (65).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising transferring electrical power when the elevator car (10) is at a landing floor.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the establishing (72) comprises establishing the electrical connection (40) for charging an electrical energy storage (14), such as a battery, comprised in the elevator car (10).

10. An elevator (100) comprising an elevator shaft (13), a door coupler (18) and an elevator car (10) movable with respect to the elevator shaft (13), wherein the elevator car (10) comprises an elevator car door (11), and wherein the elevator shaft (13) comprises a landing door (12), and wherein the door coupler (18) is arranged to couple the elevator car door (11) and the landing door (12) with each other and is configured to be utilized in establishing an electrical connection (40) between the elevator shaft (13) and the elevator car (10) for transferring electrical power between the elevator shaft (13) and the elevator car (10).

11. The elevator (100) according to claim 10, wherein the door coupler (18) is configured to establish the electrical connection (40), such as a galvanic connection.

12. The elevator (100) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the door coupler (18) is configured to generate a coupling signal (65) for controlling a separate electrical power transfer device (60) forming the electrical connection (40).

13. The elevator (100) according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the elevator (100) comprises a separate electrical power transfer device (60) for establishing the electrical connection (40).

14. The elevator (100) according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein the electrical connection (40) is a wireless connection for transferring electrical power wirelessly, such as by utilizing an inductive coupling.

15. The elevator (100) according to any one of claims 10-14, wherein the elevator car (10) comprises an electrical energy storage (14), such as a battery, and wherein the electrical connection (40) is established for charging the electrical energy storage (14).

16. An elevator (100) comprising:

an elevator shaft (13) with at least two landings, each landing having at least one landing door (12);

an elevator car (10) movable between the landings, the elevator car (10) having at least one elevator car door (11);

wherein the elevator (100) comprises a power supply device for supplying power from at least one of the landings to the elevator car (10), the power supply device comprising separate primary and secondary parts, which are configured to establish electrical connection between the primary part and the secondary part when arranged at corresponding positions, wherein at least one of the landing doors (12) comprises the primary part and the car door (11) comprises the secondary part.

Drawing