Search

CN-117003081-B - Elevator power supply unit

CN117003081BCN 117003081 BCN117003081 BCN 117003081BCN-117003081-B

Abstract

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car configured for movement along a path. An elevator car power supply is supported for movement with the elevator car and includes a plurality of power sources. The switching station proximate the path is configured to remove a selected number of power sources having a capacity below a selected level from the elevator car supply and replace each of the removed number of power sources with a replacement power source having a capacity above the selected level.

Inventors

  • J. T. Osier
  • R. ROBERTS

Assignees

  • 奥的斯电梯公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20221121
Priority Date
20220505

Claims (15)

  1. 1. An elevator system, comprising: An elevator car configured for movement along a path; An elevator car power supply supported for movement with the elevator car, the power supply including a plurality of power sources, and A switching station adjacent to the path and configured to Removing a selected number of the power sources having a capacity below a selected level from the elevator car power supply, and Replacing each of the removed number of power sources with a replacement power source having a capacity above the selected level; The elevator system further comprises: A second elevator car, and A second elevator car power supply supported for movement with the second elevator car, the second elevator car power supply including a plurality of power sources, Wherein, the The exchange station is configured to Removing a selected number of the power sources having a capacity below the selected level from the second elevator car power supply, and Replacing each of the removed number of power sources with a replacement power source having a capacity above the selected level; Wherein the elevator system comprises a plurality of vertical paths and at least one horizontal transition path extending between the vertical paths, wherein, The elevator car power supply is supported on the elevator car, The second elevator car power supply is supported on the second elevator car, The elevator car and the second elevator car are each configured to move along the horizontal transition path, and The switching station is in a position for removing and replacing the selected number of power sources while the elevator car or the second elevator car is in a corresponding position along the horizontal transition path.
  2. 2. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein, The elevator car power supply includes a frame, Each of the power sources is at least partially received by a compartment of the rack, and Each compartment includes an interface configured to establish an electrically conductive connection with the power source received by the compartment.
  3. 3. The elevator system of claim 2, wherein each compartment includes a holder configured to fix the power source relative to the compartment to maintain the electrically conductive connection with the power source.
  4. 4. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the exchange station includes at least one coupling device configured to Removing the selected number of power sources having a capacity below the selected level from the elevator car power supply, Placing each removed power source in a selected location on the switching station, where the capacity of the power source may be increased above the selected level, Selecting the alternate power source from the switching station for each removed power source, and Each replacement power source is placed into a position on the elevator car power supply previously occupied by the corresponding removed power source.
  5. 5. The elevator system of claim 1, comprising: a capacity detector that detects a capacity of each of the power sources of the elevator car power supply and provides an indication of the detected capacity, and A controller that controls when the switching station removes the selected number of power sources from the elevator car power supply.
  6. 6. The elevator system of claim 5, comprising a vertical motion and dispatch controller that receives an indication from at least one of the capacity detector and the controller, wherein the vertical motion and dispatch controller directs the elevator car to travel to the exchange station when the indication from the capacity detector corresponds to a need to remove and replace the selected number of the power sources.
  7. 7. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein, The elevator car includes a top, a bottom, and sides between the top and the bottom, and The elevator car power supply is supported on at least one of the sides of the elevator car.
  8. 8. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein, The elevator car being cantilevered on one of the sides, and The elevator car power supply is supported on the one of the side portions.
  9. 9. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the elevator car comprises a cabin and the elevator car power supply is positioned below the cabin.
  10. 10. The elevator system of claim 1, comprising: Counterweight, and Coupling the elevator car to a load bearing assembly of the counterweight, Wherein, the The elevator car power supply is supported on the counterweight, and The elevator system includes at least one electrically conductive connection between the elevator car power supply and the elevator car.
  11. 11. A method, comprising: controlling movement of a plurality of elevator cars along a path, wherein an elevator car power supply moves with each of the elevator cars, each of the power supplies comprising a plurality of power sources; determining that at least one of the plurality of power sources has a capacity below a selected level; causing at least one of the elevator cars of the plurality of elevator cars to move such that the elevator car power supply is adjacent to a switching station located on a horizontal path extending between a plurality of vertical paths; Removing a selected number of the power sources having a capacity below the selected level from the elevator car power supply, and Replacing each of the removed number of power sources with a replacement power source having a capacity above the selected level.
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The elevator car includes a top, a bottom, and sides between the top and the bottom, and The elevator car power supply is supported on at least one of the sides of the elevator car.
  13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The elevator car being cantilevered on one of the sides, and The elevator car power supply is supported on the one of the side portions.
  14. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the elevator car comprises a cabin and the elevator car power supply is positioned below the cabin.
  15. 15. The method of claim 11, comprising supporting the elevator car power supply on a counterweight coupled with the elevator, wherein at least one conductive member connects the elevator car power supply and the elevator car.

Description

Elevator power supply unit Technical Field The present application relates to elevator systems, and more particularly to elevator systems that include an elevator car power supply (power supply). Background Elevator systems are useful for carrying passengers and articles between different levels of a building. Elevator cabs typically require electrical power to power the illumination and ventilation of the elevator cabin. A car operating panel is one exemplary device typically positioned within an elevator cab that must communicate with other portions of an elevator system, such as a scheduler. Conventional elevator systems include a trailing cable having one end connected to the elevator car to supply electrical power to and facilitate communication with the elevator car. Trailing cables are generally effective, however, they add weight and material costs associated with elevator systems. Disclosure of Invention An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car configured for movement along a path. An elevator car power supply is supported for movement with the elevator car and includes a plurality of power sources. The switching station proximate the path is configured to remove a selected number of power sources having a capacity below a selected level from the elevator car supply and replace each of the removed power sources with a replacement power source having a capacity above the selected level. In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above, the elevator car power supply includes a chassis, each of the power sources is at least partially received by a compartment of the chassis, and each compartment includes an interface configured to establish an electrically conductive connection with the power source received by the compartment. In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above, each compartment includes a holder configured to fix the power source relative to the compartment to maintain an electrically conductive connection with the power source. In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above, the exchange station includes at least one coupling device configured to remove a selected number of power sources having a capacity below a selected level from the elevator car power supply, place each removed power source in a selected location on the exchange station where the capacity of the power source can be increased above the selected level, select a replacement power source from the exchange station for each removed power source, and place each replacement power source into a location on the elevator car power supply previously occupied by the corresponding removed power source. In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above, the elevator system includes a capacity detector that detects a capacity of each of the power sources of the elevator car power supply and provides an indication of the detected capacity, and a controller that controls when the switching station removes a selected number of power sources from the elevator car power supply. In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described above, the elevator system includes a vertical motion and dispatch (dispatching) controller that receives an indication from at least one of the capacity detector and the controller. When the indication from the capacity detector corresponds to a need to remove and replace a selected number of power sources, the vertical motion and dispatch controller directs the elevator car to travel to the switching station. In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described above, the elevator car includes a top, a bottom, and sides between the top and bottom, and the elevator car power supply is supported on at least one of the sides of the elevator car. In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above, the elevator car is Cantilevered (CANTILEVERED) on one of the sides and the elevator car power supply is supported on that one of the sides. In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above, the elevator car comprises a cabin and the elevator car power supply is positioned below the cabin. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described above, the elevator system includes a counterweight and a load bearing assembly coupling the elevator car to the counterweight. The elevator car power supply is supported on the counterweight and the elevator system includes at least one electrically conductive connection between the elevators. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described above, the elevator system includes a second elevator car and a second elevator car power supply supported for movement with the second elevator car. The second elevator car power supply includes a plurality