Method and apparatus to prevent or minimize the entrapment of passengers in elevators during a power failure

US7540356B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Thyssen Elevator Capital Corp. · US

Inventors

• Rory Smith · El Cajon, US
• Richard D. Peters · Westfield, US
• Lutfi Al-Sharif · Bourne, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 18, 2005
• Grant date: Jun 2, 2009
• Expiry date: Jan 30, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B66B5/027
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for handling power outages in a multiple car elevator system in a building having a plurality of floors. The system includes an energy calculator connected to the elevators, and determines a total energy of the elevator system, a total energy required to handle a power outage, a plan to prepare for a power outage and a plan to handle a power outage. The system also includes a movement controller connected to the elevator(s) and the energy calculator. The movement controller receives the plan to prepare and the plan to handle from the energy calculator, and the movement controller executes the plan to prepare if there is no power outage and the movement controller executes the plan to handle if there is a power outage.