US3572470A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Zoned elevator control system including an arrangement for controlling the operation of cars in response to the level of traffic in the zones
Assignee: Otis Elevator Co
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Filing: 1969-09-08
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1989-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A zoned elevator control system for a group of cars in which the cars are distributed on a predetermined apportioned basis into various zones of the building for assignment thereto, whereupon in the absence of calls each car is brought to a stop at a landing in a zone to which it is assigned. Thereafter in a zone to which a car is assigned the response to the first landing call is limited to a car assigned to that zone. A landing call in a zone to which no car is assigned starts a car assigned in the nearest lower zone. The level of traffic in each zone is measured individually and is a function of the number of landing calls in registration in the respective zone. An average of a number of landing calls in all zones is derived and a comparison is made between the number of landing calls in each individual zone and the average number of landings calls. Whenever the number in any zone exceeds the average by a predetermined amount it signifies that the zone is a heavy traffic zone. As a result the limitation on the response to landing calls to a car assigned to that zone is removed. This enables a car in the nearest lower zone to respond to landing calls in the heavy traffic zone notwithstanding another car is assigned to that zone. In addition while the heavy traffic demand continues any car in a zone which is in excess of the apportioned number of cars for that zone and therefore is not assigned to that zone is caused to travel toward the heavy traffic zone. All cars entering the heavy traffic zone while the heavy traffic demand continues are assigned to that zone and are thereby prevented from traveling to an unoccupied zone as they otherwise would.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvyn Hirsch
- 👤 John Charles Doane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:32
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B1/00; B66B1/02; B66B1/06; B66B1/14; B66B1/18; B66B1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
An elevator control system for a plurality of cars operating to serve a plurality of landings in a building by starting in response to the operation of individual starting switch means and stopping in response to calls registered in said cars and at said landings, said system segregating said landings into a plurality of groups of landings so as effectively to divide the building into a plurality of zones and comprising control means including assignment switch means individual to each car, each being actuatable upon its respective car being located in a zone in which it is the only car present, zone switching means individual to each zone, each being Actuatable upon a car being located in its respective zone, each said zone switching means when actuated being operable to limit the response to landing calls registered in that zone to a car located therein, each said unactuated assignment switch means being operable to cause the starting switch means of its respective car to cause movement of the car toward a zone whose zone switching means is unactuated, thus causing said cars to distribute themselves into the various zones, wherein the improvement comprises zone traffic signifying means individual to specific zones, each producing a signal characteristic of the level of traffic in its associated zone, averaging means operating in response to said traffic level signals and producing a signal characteristic of the average of said signals, and comparison means operating in response to said average signal and each of said traffic level signals to control the operation of said cars whenever a predetermined relationship exists between said average signal and any of said traffic level signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
An elevator control system for a plurality of cars operating to serve a plurality of landings in a building by starting in response to the operation of individual starting switch means and stopping in response to calls registered in said cars and at said landings, said system segregating said landings into a plurality of groups of landings so as effectively to divide the building into a plurality of zones and comprising control means including assignment switch means individual to each car, each being actuatable upon its respective car being located in a zone in which it is the only car present, zone switching means individual to each zone, each being Actuatable upon a car being located in its respective zone, each said zone switching means when actuated being operable to limit the response to landing calls registered in that zone to a car located therein, each said unactuated assignment switch means being operable to cause the starting switch means of its respective car to cause movement of the car toward a zone whose zone switching means is unactuated, thus causing said cars to distribute themselves into the various zones, wherein the improvement comprises zone traffic signifying means individual to specific zones, each producing a signal characteristic of the level of traffic in its associated zone, averaging means operating in response to said traffic level signals and producing a signal characteristic of the average of said signals, and comparison means operating in response to said average signal and each of said traffic level signals to control the operation of said cars whenever a predetermined relationship exists between said average signal and any of said traffic level signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An elevator control system according to claim 1, wherein said comparison means includes a comparator switching circuit individual to each zone, each comparator switching circuit operating individually to control the operation of said cars whenever said predetermined relationship exists between said average signal and the traffic level signal of the zone associated with said operated comparator switching circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An elevator control system according to claim 1, wherein each comparator switching circuit operates to cause the unactuation of the zone switching means associated with its zone notwithstanding a car is located in said zone whereby a car outside said zone is enabled to respond to landing calls registered therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An elevator control system according to claim 3, wherein each operated comparator switching circuit causes the actuation of the assignment switch means of each car located in its associated zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An elevator control system according to claim 4, wherein the traffic level signal produced by the traffic signifying means associated with each zone is characteristic of the number of landing calls in registration in its associated zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An elevator control system according to claim 5, wherein each comparator switching circuit operates when the number of landing calls in registration in its associated zone exceeds the average number of landing calls in all zones by a predetermined amount.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
178 words
An elevator control system for a plurality of cars operating to serve a plurality of landings in a building by starting in response to the operation of individual starting switch means and stopping in response to calls registered in said cars and at said landings, said system segregating said landings into a plurality of groups of landings, wherein the improvement comprises traffic signifying means individual to at least specific ones of said groups of landings, each operating solely in response to the landing calls in registration in the area of said building comprising its associated group of landings and producing a traffic level signal characteristic of the number of landing calls in registration in its associated area, averaging means operating in response to said traffic level signals and producing a signal characteristic of the average of said signals, and comparison means operating in response to said average signal and each of said traffic level signals to control the operation of said cars whenever a predetermined relationship exists between said average signal and any of said traffic level signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
An elevator control system for a plurality of cars operating to serve a plurality of landings in a building by starting in response to the operation of individual starting switch means and stopping in response to calls registered in said cars and at said landings, said system segregating said landings into a plurality of groups of landings, wherein the improvement comprises traffic signifying means individual to at least specific ones of said groups of landings, each operating solely in response to the landing calls in registration in the area of said building comprising its associated group of landings and producing a traffic level signal characteristic of the number of landing calls in registration in its associated area, averaging means operating in response to said traffic level signals and producing a signal characteristic of the average of said signals, and comparison means operating in response to said average signal and each of said traffic level signals to control the operation of said cars whenever a predetermined relationship exists between said average signal and any of said traffic level signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3378107A
Cited
US3504771A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |