IT202100024665A1 - System for the digitalisation, automation and robotization of the periodic checks required by the Presidential Decree NR. 162 of 30 April 1999 on elevator systems - Google Patents

Description

Description of the industrial invention with the Title: ?System for the digitisation, automation and robotisation of the periodic checks envisaged by Presidential Decree NR.162 of 30 April 1999 on elevator systems?

Description text

FIELD OF THE TECHNIQUE

The present invention relates to the field of lifts, freight elevators and other lifting systems and/or any machine, structure or system which is equipped with a metal cable for lifting and/or moving and/or transporting things and/or or people.

STATE OF THE ART

In the lift sector, the DPR NR. 162 of 30 April 1999 has decreed which periodic checks must be carried out every six months on each of the elevator systems. The Presidential Decree provides that the maintenance technician must carry out the following checks and/or checks at least once every six (6) months for lifts and at least once a year for goods lifts:

1. check the? integrity? and the efficiency of the parachute, the speed limiter? and other safety devices;

2. carefully check the ropes, chains and their attachments;

3. check the insulation of the electrical system and the efficiency of the earth connections; 4. write down the results of these checks in the booklet supplied with the system.

The current state of the art for the execution of the above mentioned checks provides for the carrying out of several manual operations by one or more? maintenance technicians who we will briefly summarize to better understand the advantages of the invention, both in operational terms and to ensure maximum safety for lift users.

CHECK NR.1

For the verification dell?integrit? and the efficiency of the parachute and the speed limiter, the maintenance technician must take the metal rope for lifting the lift by hand, pulling it upwards to remove it from the large pulley used for daily exercise and place it in the throat of the pulley next to the pi? small diameter pi? small that is used only to simulate an increase in speed? of the lift. Due to the pulley diameter pi? small, the lift will go down? more faster than the normal speed? standard and this activator? the braking system supplied to the parachute system that will block? the descent of the lift immediately, preventing it from falling. At the same time, the parachute system will activate also an electrical device that will provide? to stop the system and to activate an acoustic-visual alarm. The maintenance technician will provide then to raise the lift by a few centimetres, manually turning a special pulley, unlocking the stop wedges, will it restore? the electric alarm and take? again with your hands the lift rope pulling it upwards to remove it from the small simulation pulley and to put it back in the throat of the large operating pulley, thus restoring the lift rope. the standard operating conditions of the ascension plant.

These operations performed by the maintenance technician, in addition to requiring considerable time to be completed, are also considered moderately dangerous and therefore require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

CHECK NO. 2

The control of ropes, chains and their attachments essentially involves two methods.

The first ? an empirical method that is used manually by the maintenance technician, who by placing a piece of wood on the sliding rope is able to detect the broken elementary threads. The second one ? a system called ?Magneto-inductive method? also capable of detecting broken elementary wires, through the magnetic analysis of the rope along its entire length, which can detect any anomaly, both internal and external. For the execution of this check, the technician installer? outside the rope a metal casing that will remain? in a fixed position. Will the rope flow? inside the casing along its entire length during an entire downward movement and an entire upward movement of the lift. A magnetic test instrument connected to the casing will analyze? in real time the entire spectrum of the entire length of the rope, identifying any type of anomaly. At the end of the check, the wrapper will be removed and for all the following six months, the rope will not come? more not even visually checked.

Even for these operations performed by the technician, in addition to requiring considerable time to complete, they are also considered moderately dangerous and therefore require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

CHECK NO. 3

To check the insulation of the electrical system and the efficiency of the connections with the earth, the maintenance technician carries out the following instrumental checks:

? Earth resistance measurement;

? Continuity measure? protective conductors, equipotential conductors and earth conductors;

? Instrumental verification of the automatic interruption devices for protection against indirect contacts;

? Continuity measure? of the entire electrical system.

Once the above checks have been completed, the insulation of the electrical system and the earthing will no longer be damaged. monitored for the next six months.

CHECK NO. 4

At the end of checks 1, 2 and 3, the maintenance technician will report? manually the values of the results on the appropriate booklet supplied with the system.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the present invention ? that of guaranteeing maximum safety for the users of the controlled systems, whether they are lifts or freight elevators or other lifting systems. Another equally important aim of the present invention ? that of digitising, automating and robotising the operations necessary to complete the periodic checks on lifts and freight elevators envisaged by Presidential Decree NR.162 of 30 April 1999.

A further object of the present invention ? that of creating a fixed and easily installable system on any type of lift and/or freight elevator and/or any other lifting system that can detect at any time the occurrence of any of the following breakages/malfunctions/anomalies on the lifts/freight elevators:

? Malfunctions and/or anomalies concerning both the electrical and mechanical system relating to the parachute system;

? Malfunctions and/or anomalies concerning both the electrical and mechanical system relating to the speed limiter system;

? Malfunctions and/or anomalies concerning both the electrical and mechanical systems relating to the other safety devices supplied with the lift/goods elevator system; ? Breakages and/or anomalies present on any rope/belt/chain supplied with the lift/freight lift system;

? Low values of the insulation resistances (below the minimum requirements foreseen by the DM 37 of 22-01-08 (ex Law 46/90));

? Low earth resistance values (below the values recommended by the International Association of Professional Scientists IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the International Fire Association NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)).

A further object of the present invention ? that of saving in a database all the values of the results relating to each check automatically carried out and printing the same results at the discretion of the maintenance managers in the appropriate booklet supplied with the lift systems.

A further object of the present invention ? that of creating a system which, in the event of any of the malfunctions/breakages/anomalies listed above, in addition to activating a local acoustic-visual alarm, is also able to send an alarm automatically to the computer and/or mobile phone of the person in charge as soon as detected any type of anomaly on the lifting ropes. A further object of the present invention ? to create a system that can also be economical.

An additional purpose? moreover, that of creating a system that can be modular and that this?, can be configured in a unit? or in a plurality? of units interconnected with each other.

A further object of the present invention ? that of providing a stand-alone control system that can be purchased separately from the machine and used for one or a plurality? of different machines, therefore a functional system that can be produced independently of the machine/s installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and further advantages obtained thanks to the innovative System for the automation and digitization of the periodic checks foreseen by the DPR NR. 162 dated April 30, 1999 on the elevator systems described by the present invention, will be better clarified hereinafter with reference to the attached figures.

Briefly described below is a preferred embodiment of the system which will be? composed of:

or at least a device for checking the speed limiter? and of the parachute system that will be? in turn composed of:

? at least a complete system of speed limiter? already on the market (figure 5) where ? indicated a simplified diagram of a speed limiter?;

? on the side, in the lower part of the speed limiter?, ? installed a small electric motor which also acts as an encoder (figure 5 n? 31) and which will be? able to rotate both pulleys very slowly, both the main one (figure 5 n? 29) and the test one (figure 5 n? 30) in both directions of travel which will correspond to the up and down movement of the lift;

? to both open sides of the system of the speed limiter? two motorized mechanical arms will be fixed to the floor, in the immediate vicinity (figure 4);

? the two mechanical arms (figure 4) will be exactly equal to each other and will be composed, each of the following components:

? at least two robotic joints (figure 4 n? 23, 24, 25 and 26);

? at least one robotic gripper (figure 4 n? 27);

? at least one electric motor for each joint and one electric motor for the gripper; ? at least one microcontroller/PLC external to the robot for the control of the entire system including all the possible movements of both the speed limiter? (figure 5) and of both mechanical arms (figure 4).

or at least a device for checking the ropes or belts or chains that will be? in turn composed of:

? at least two load cells (figure 1 n? 1);

? at least two ?U? (fig. 1 n? 2);

? at least one rope to check (figure 1 n? 3);

? at least one rubber ring for rope control (figure 1 n? 4);

? at least two wall fixing plates (figure 1 n? 5);

? at least two tie rods (figure 1 n? 6);

? at least four cable clamps (figure 1 n? 7).

or at least a device for measuring the earth resistance that will be? in turn composed of:

? at least two current dispersing rods (figure 2 n? 8 and n? 10);

? at least one additional electrode for measuring the electric voltage (figure 2 n? 9);

? at least one sensor for measuring the electric voltage (figure 2 n? 11);

? at least one sensor for measuring the electric current (figure 2 n? 12);

? at least two electrical resistances (figure 2 n? 13 and n? 14);

? at least one power transformer (figure 2 n? 15).

or at least a device for checking the insulation of the electrical system which will be? in turn composed of:

? at least one control unit (figure 3 n? 16);

? at least one optical alarm system (figure 3 n? 18);

? at least one test button (fig. 3 n? 19);

? at least one alarm silencing button (figure 3 n? 20);

? at least one acoustic alarm system (figure 3 n? 21);

? at least one power transformer (figure 3 n? 17);

? at least one equipotential node (figure 3 n? 22).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE SPEED LIMITER? AND OF THE PARACHUTE SYSTEM

To better understand the device for checking the speed limiter? and of the parachute system object of the present invention, ? It is necessary to briefly explain when the parachute system supplied with the lift comes into operation. To ensure safety, when you have a speed increase? of a lift going down (or even up), the parachute system (both electrical and mechanical) supplied with the lift comes into operation, blocking the car instantly or progressively. In the previous paragraph STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE we have seen the operations that the maintenance technician must carry out to test the safety gear system. In this paragraph we will explain how the device for verifying the parachute system works and on what principles it is based, part of the system for the automation and digitization of the six-monthly periodic checks on the lifts object of this invention. The speed limiter? (figure 5) ? equipped with two pulleys where the pulley pi? small (figure 5 n? 30) is used exclusively to simulate an increase in speed? of the cabin compared to the speed? standard that is reached when using the pulley operating diameter pi? large (fig. 5 n? 29).

Will the microcontroller external to the system proceed? to perform the following sequence of operations:

? will activate? the appropriate robotic joints (figure 4 n? 23, 24, 25 and 26) of both mechanical arms (figure 4) by lifting and tilting them until the rope enters the robotic gripper (figure 4 n? 27);

? will activate? the robotic grippers (figure 4 n? 27) of both mechanical arms which will tighten gently but firmly around the rope;

? will activate? the appropriate robotic joints (figure 4 n? 23, 24, 25 and 26) which will lift the rope from the large pulley (figure 5 n? 29) and deposit it inside the throat of the small pulley (figure 5 n? 30);

? will activate? the robotic grippers of both mechanical arms in reverse to reopen them and release the rope;

? will activate? the suitable robotic joints (figure 4 n? 23, 24, 25 and 26) of both mechanical arms in the opposite direction to bring them back to the rest position by moving them away from the rope at a safe distance;

? actioner? the elevator descent function.

Will the decrease in the diameter of the pulley cause? an increase in speed? of the rope and consequently also of the speed? of the cabin that will be? perceived by the motor-encoder supplied to the speed limiter? (figure 5 n? 31) who will send? the signal to the external microcontroller which in turn actuar? immediately the mechanical block that arrester? the descent of the elevator and will deactivate? the elevator descent command.

At this point, the microcontroller will proceed? to carry out the following further sequence of operations:

? will activate? the electric motor-encoder (Figure 5 n? 31) for a short time by rotating both pulleys in the opposite direction to raise the lift by a few centimetres, thus freeing the mechanical lock previously activated by the parachute system supplied with the lift;

? will activate? the appropriate robotic joints (figure 4 n? 23, 24, 25 and 26) of both mechanical arms by lifting them until the rope enters the robotic grippers (figure 4 n? 27) of both mechanical arms;

? will activate? the robotic grippers (figure 4 n? 27) of both mechanical arms which will tighten gently but firmly around the rope;

? will activate? the appropriate robotic joints (figure 4 n? 23, 24, 25 and 26) of both mechanical arms which will lift the rope from the small pulley (figure 5 n? 30) and deposit it inside the throat of the large pulley (figure 5 n? 29);

? will activate? the robotic grippers (figure 4 n? 27) in the opposite direction to reopen them and release the rope; ? will activate? the suitable robotic joints (figure 4 n? 23, 24, 25 and 26) of both mechanical arms in the opposite direction to bring them back to the rest position by moving them away from the rope at a safe distance;

? Will I restore? the electrical block bringing the lift system back to standard operating conditions;

? End of speed limiter test? and the parachute system.

MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE ROPES

With reference to figure 1 (to which all numerical references reported in this paragraph will refer), ? represented a schematization of the device for controlling the ropes. In particular, the ring (figure 1 n? 4) is installed perpendicular to the sliding of the rope (figure 1 n? 3) so that, if the rope does not show any defects or anomalies/thorns, it slides inside the ring keeping always the same tension on the arms (figure 1 n? 6) . This tension will come constantly measured by the load cells (figure 1 n? 1) in real time. If there were pins or deformations of the rope, the tension on the arms (figure 1 n? 6) would increase proportionally with the entity? pins/deformations and the visual/acoustic alarm system would operate automatically. In particular, the breakage of one or more? elementary wires and/or crushing and/or any other damage that the rope should suffer would cause an increase in the nominal diameter and/or an ovalization of the rope itself and the ring having an internal diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the nominal diameter of the rope would consequently dragged by the broken wires/strands and/or by the deformation of the rope upwards or downwards depending on the direction of movement of the rope, causing an increase in tension on the arms (figure 1 n? 6) which would be immediately detected and quantified by the load cells (figure 1 n? 1).

The ring (figure 1 n? 4) will have to be made of soft material so as not to damage the rope in any way and must? be constructed in such a way that, if the broken wires/strands get stuck inside the ring, the same will break in a predetermined weak point without causing further damage to the rope.

Furthermore, the system will be able to detect, recognize and isolate the vibrations to which ? subjected the rope during the? operation? of the lift to avoid the risk of incurring false alarms.

The system can also be equipped with one or more? cameras capable of displaying the pinnings and/or defects of the rope previously signaled by the load cells. The images can be transmitted to a remote operator who will evaluate the entity? of the breaks and can decide for a possible further on-site inspection.

DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE INSULATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE EFFICIENCY OF THE EARTH CONNECTIONS

CHECKING THE INSULATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

For the verification of the insulation of the electrical system it will be? necessary to apply a test voltage dependent on the panel and on the system to be checked, for a short time (30 or 60 seconds) then you will have to? detect the instantaneous value of the insulation resistance. This verification can be performed only by deactivating the power to the panel for a couple of minutes, to remove voltage from the entire system to be checked. Will the system be capable of activating and deactivating the panel and the system autonomously. As this direct measurement of the insulation resistance ? much influenced by the temperature and by? humidity?, it will be necessary? therefore equip the system with special sensors that detect both the ambient temperature and the humidity rate? of the air in the instant in which the check is carried out to compare the result obtained in the previous measurements via the microcontroller. By this method? Is it possible to analyze the trend that, over time, represents more? the evolution of the insulation characteristics of the tested system (or of the equipment) effectively. Sar? It is also possible to relate the value obtained to the minimum thresholds to be respected for a correct evaluation (indicated in the standards relating to electrical systems or materials). If the measurement conditions remain stable (same test voltage, same measurement time, etc.) the interpretation of the measurement trend by the microcontroller allows obtaining excellent diagnostics on the insulation of the installation or material. In addition to this absolute value, ? should analyze the variation as a function of time: a relatively weak but very stable insulation value? less alarming than a measurement that is unstable over time, despite its value being above the recommended minimums. In any case, any sudden drop in the insulation resistance value indicates a problem to be detected.

The device, object of this invention, will be? capable of carrying out, in a totally autonomous and automatic way, all the above-mentioned measurements, detecting all the parameters and evaluating whether the results will be congruous and regular with respect to the limit values indicated in the various regulations mentioned in the Paragraph?SCOPE OF THE INVENTION?. In figure 3 ? represented a preferred scheme of device for measuring the insulation of the electrical system. In particular, the transformer (figure 3 n? 17) feeds the unit directly? control (figure 3 n? 16) that if the insulation resistance were to drop below 500 K? would activate the optical alarms (figure 3 n? 18) and the acoustic alarm (figure 3 n? 21).

CHECKING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE EARTH CONNECTIONS

CONTINUITY TEST? OF PROTECTIVE, MAIN AND SUPPLEMENTARY EQUIPOTENTIAL CONDUCTORS

This test serves to verify the? existence and continuity? of the connections with the earthing system.

? it is necessary to verify that all masses and extraneous masses are connected to the earth node and therefore to the earth plate; in periodic checks? however, it is permissible to carry out the test on a representative sample (e.g. 20-25% in very large systems).

Will I come used a sensor for measuring the continuity? of the protective conductors, a sensor for measuring the continuity? of the earth conductors and a sensor for measuring the continuity? of equipotential conductors.

In low voltage systems, which represent the vast majority of lifts and freight elevators, the test will be? performed in sequence, for example by verifying:

the continuity? between a mass and the zone switchgear ground bar;

the continuity? of the EP between the zone framework and the general framework;

the continuity? between the switchgear ground bar and the grounded node.

The device, object of this invention, will be? capable of carrying out, in a totally autonomous and automatic way, all the above-mentioned measurements, detecting all the parameters and evaluating whether the results will be congruous and regular with respect to the limit values indicated in the various regulations mentioned in the Paragraph?SCOPE OF THE INVENTION?.

CHECKING THE CORRECT OPERATION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION DEVICE

OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF A DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH

Considering the circuit to be protected as a single node, is it possible? to state that the algebraic sum of the currents in it must be zero (Kirchhoff's first law). Therefore, if you measure the intensity? of the current in a single-phase system, will you observe? that the incoming current will be? same as the outgoing one. In a three-phase system, the sum of the currents, giving a positive sign for the incoming flows and a negative sign for the outgoing ones, will result? Nothing.

If the insulation of equipment connected to the installation fails, ? is it possible to create a connection pi? or less effective between the power line and the metal casing (technically defined mass), which pu? become a cause of electrocution if touched.

because in the distribution centers of the electricity network and in the MV/LV transformation cabins (medium voltage/low voltage) the neutral point ? connected to earth, any connection between a phase of the electric line and earth undergoes a current flow. This current is dispersed to the ground and does not return through the differential switch upstream of the system, which detects that the sum of the node currents is not ? more nothing and it intervenes by opening the electric circuit.

For? Automation of this check will come? produced a circuit equipped with sensors and devices capable of simulating a fault in the circuit, i.e. capable of simulating a difference between the incoming currents and the outgoing currents and will RCDs with automatic reset be installed without the need? of human intervention to reset the RCDs after the test.

EARTH RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT

Frequently keeping under control that the earth resistance values remain within suitable values is fundamental for the safety of the users. Figure 2 represents a system for the automation of earth resistance measurement. In particular, by closing the circuit breaker, an electric voltage Vup is created between the earth electrode (figure 2 n? 8) and the supplementary earth electrode (figure 2 n? 9) which will measured by the voltage sensor (figure 2 n? 11), and will begin? to circulate a current I that will come? measured by the current sensor (fig. 2 n? 12). The value of the grounding resistance sar? equal to the ratio between the voltage Vup and the current I. This value will arrive? to the microcontroller and if it will exceed? certain limits set according to the regulations in force, will activate? a local alarm both optical and acoustic and will provide? to inform electronically the maintenance workers who will be able to cos? intervene promptly.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS

It is therefore immediately clear how many and what advantages the innovative system for the automatic control of the wire ropes supplied to vehicles used for lifting materials and/or people brings, completely customizable and adaptable to the needs of the users.

To conclude, these and further variants are to be considered the object of the present invention as as better described in the attached claims.

Claims (1)

CLAIM 1 System for the automation and digitization of the periodic checks required by the DPR NR. 162 of 30 April 1999 on elevator systems comprising at least one system complete with speed limiter, at least one electric motor which also acts as an encoder (31), at least one main pulley (29), at least one test pulley (30), at least two motorized mechanical arms which will in turn comprise at least four robotic joints (23, 24, 25 and 26), at least one robotic gripper (27), at least one electric motor for each joint and an electric motor for the gripper, at least one microcontroller/ PLC external to the robot for the control of the entire system including all the possible movements of both the speed limiter? both of both mechanical arms for the robotization of the periodic verification for the control of the integrity? and of the efficiency of the parachute and the speed limiter? of any type of lift and freight elevator. CLAIM 2 System for the automation and digitization of the periodic checks required by the DPR NR. 162 of 30 April 1999 on elevator systems as per claim 1 further comprising at least two load cells (1), at least two ?U? (2), at least one rope to be checked (3), at least one rubber ring for checking the rope (4), at least two wall fixing plates (5), at least two tie rods (6), at least four cable clamps (7) for the digitization and automation of the periodic verification for the control of the ropes and/or chains of any type of lift and freight elevator. CLAIM 3 System for the automation and digitization of the periodic checks required by the DPR NR. 162 dated 30 April 1999 on elevator systems as per claim 1 and claim 2, further comprising at least two current dispersing rods (8 and 10), at least one additional electrode for measuring the electric voltage (9), at least one sensor for measurement of the electric voltage (11), at least one sensor for measuring the electric current (12), at least two electric resistors (13 and 14), at least one power transformer (15) for the digitization and automation of the periodic check for the control of the efficiency of the connections with the earth and for measuring the earth resistance of any type of lift and goods lift. CLAIM 4 System for the automation and digitization of the periodic checks required by the DPR NR. 162 of 30 April 1999 on elevator systems as per claim 1, claim 2, and claim 3, further comprising at least one control unit (16), at least one optical alarm system (18), at least one test button (19 ), at least one alarm silencing button (20), at least one acoustic alarm system (21), at least one power transformer (17), at least one equipotential bonding node (22) for digitizing and automating the periodic verification for checking the ?insulation of the electrical system of any type of lift and freight elevator.