Improving Elevator Performance by Monitoring Elevator Cab Volume by James O’Laughlin
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EW ECO-ISSUES: Continuing Education Improving Elevator Performance by Monitoring Elevator Cab Volume by James O’Laughlin Learning Objectives After reading this article, you should: N Understand why some elevator applications have the problem of full elevator cabs stopping unnecessarily to service hall calls. N Be able to describe several methods that help minimize the problem of full elevator cabs stopping unnecessarily to serv- ice hall calls. N Recognize why camera technol- ogy provides a better solution for monitoring consumed elevator- cab volume. N Know the application require- ments for monitoring consumed CEDES ESPROS/VOL camera installation (photo elevator-cab volume using courtesy of New York Elevator) infrared camera technology. sponding to hall calls. Increasing the N Obtain knowledge regarding the number of elevators is one possibil- installation and operation of the ity, but is generally cost prohibitive. CEDES ESPROS/VOL Camera Destination-dispatch systems can sensor. also help to alleviate this issue. How- ever, destination-dispatch systems Optimal elevator system perform- are best implemented in new instal- ance has always been a concern for lations, and also may be cost prohib- facilities and building management. itive for modernization applications. People expect that the elevator will More cost-effective solutions include Value: 1 contact hour arrive shortly after they press the hall using load-weighing systems or call button. When the elevator ar- camera-based monitoring to deter- This article is part of ELEVATOR WORLD’s mine a threshold that corresponds to rives, people are disappointed when Continuing Education program. Elevator-industry it is full, and they have to press the the consumed volume inside the ele- personnel required to obtain continuing-education hall call button and wait for the next vator cab. Once the threshold value credits can receive one hour of credit by reading car. The delays and inconvenience has been reached, the elevator con- the article and completing the assessment exami- caused by full cabs arriving to service trol system can perform a bypass or nation questions found on page 149. hall calls are not appreciated. Equally an express run that minimizes or For this article and more continuing-education annoyed are passengers currently in eliminates the unnecessary stops. opportunities, visit www.elevatorbooks.com the elevator who are unnecessarily However, load-weighing systems NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELEVATOR CONTRACTORS ® delayed as they stop for hall calls that cannot improve elevator performance Approved by NAEC for CET CERTIFIED ELEVATOR TECHNICIAN cannot be serviced because the ele- when the consumed elevator cab EDUCATION PROGRAM vator cab is already full of passengers. volume does not correspond to the Approved by NAESAI for QEI Several methods can be used to measured weight. This is particularly minimize the instance of full cabs re- true when elevator loads include Continued November 2008 | ELEVATOR WORLD | 73 EW ECO-ISSUES: Continuing Education Continued passengers and other items such as N The elevator operational control (i.e., ESPROS/VOL field of view) is luggage carts in hotels, gurneys and system must have an electrical 2.9 m X 2.2 m (9.4 ft. X 7.1 ft.) beds in hospitals, or wheelchairs in input that supports the bypass or maximum. Areas larger than this nursing homes. For these and similar express run function. The output can be addressed using two or types of circumstances, measuring from the ESPROS/VOL camera is more cameras, e.g. by series con- the actual consumed volume inside 24 VDC when the percentage nection of signal relay contacts. the elevator cab provides the only change required by the threshold N Mirrored surfaces may result in real solution that addresses this value has been met or exceeded. “double counting.” This results challenge. Particular attention is required for from counting the pixel changes Camera-Based Volume Monitoring hydraulic elevator applications caused by the actual load (e.g., The ESPROS/VOL is a camera- when the bypass function is ac- person) and then counting pixel based system that can operate as complished using fluid dynamics changes also reflected by the mir- part of a stand-alone system or with rather than electrical control. rored surface. This specifically a load-weighing system to help de- N Infrared cameras rely on infrared occurs when the mirrored surface termine when a “cab full” condition light present inside the elevator is within the camera’s field of view. exists. This product is manufactured cab. Halogen lighting provides an When these application require- by CEDES AG in Landquart, Switzer- efficient means of fulfilling this ments are adequately addressed, an land, and is an intelligent vision requirement. However, when flu- infrared camera-based monitoring sensor that uses infrared comple- orescent lighting is the sole source system may be used for measuring mentary metal-oxide-semiconductor of lighting in the elevator cab, an the consumed volume inside an ele- camera technology. The micro- additional infrared light source may vator cab and signaling that a bypass processor inside the device provides be necessary to ensure adequate or express run condition has occurred. a camera image of more than 100,000 ambient infrared light is available. Mounting Considerations gray-scale pixels. The internal soft- N Consistent lighting inside the ele- The mounting location and orien- ware algorithm then compares the vator cab is also required. Lighting tation of an ESPROS/VOL infrared current pixel image against a reference variation caused by direct or indi- camera is critical to performance. image stored in its internal memory. rect sunlight showing through a There are two model types: one for When the percentage of pixels that glass window will impact system ceiling mounting (ESPROS/VOL-V) have changed meets or exceeds the performance negatively. For non- with a vertical view and one for wall user-defined “cab full” threshold, an glass enclosed elevators, this is mounting (ESPROS/VOL-A) with an output is generated. The elevator op- generally not an issue as the pixel angled view. The sensor may be erational control can then perform a comparison used to determine inconspicuously mounted due to its bypass or an express run to the des- whether or not the bypass thresh- small size (the housing is 126 mm tination floors selected from inside old has been reached should occur long X 67 mm wide X 36 mm deep, the elevator cab without stopping when the elevator door is closed. or 4.96 in. long X 2.64 in. wide X 1.42 unnecessarily for waiting hall calls. N The camera’s field of view must be in. deep). However, the system will Monitoring elevator cab volume considered. Based on a 2.1-m be most effective when the elevator consumption using an infrared-camera (6.8-ft.) mounting height, the ob- cab floor is in full view. system includes the following appli- served space inside the elevator The ideal position for ceiling- cation requirements: cab for a field of view equal to 54° mounted applications is in the center Figure 1: ESPROS/VOL images showing different levels of elevator cab volume consumption (l-r): 15% full; 50% full; 75% full 74 | WWW.ELEVATOR-WORLD.COM | November 2008 of the cab with a full view of the ele- ble. The mounting location shown in of the elevator on the wall directly vator cab floor. Figures 2-5 were Figure 3 only partially monitors the above the elevator door. Figure 5 captured in an elevator with a floor elevator cab floor. In this case, that was captured in an elevator with a area of 1.2 m X 1.5 m (3.9 ft. X 4.9 ft.) part of the floor in the front of the floor area of 1.2 m X 1.5 m (3.9 ft. X at a mounting height of 2 m (6.5 ft.). cab is out of camera view. 4.9 ft.) at a mounting height of 2.1 m The crosshair shown in Figure 2 The mounting location indicated (6.8 ft.). The crosshair shown in Fig- shows the mounting position of the by the crosshair shown in Figure 4 ure 5 shows the mounting position camera in the ceiling with respect to affects system performance by dou- of the camera located on the wall the elevator cab floor. Camera images ble counting pixels, once for an ac- above elevator cab door. are slightly rectangular (i.e., not square) tual person or object and once for To mount the ESPROS/VOL, fasten as the view is larger for the housing the associated reflection in the mir- the mounting plate provided with the length than for the housing width. ror. As more passengers or objects device to the selected location in the Care should be taken to avoid un- enter the cab, the double counting elevator cab. Once the mounting plate favorable mounting locations. Figures effect becomes worse. has been secured, slide the ESPROS/ 3 and 4 show mounting locations The ideal position for wall- VOL housing onto the mounting that should be avoided when possi- mounted applications is in the middle plate as shown in Figure 6 below. Continued Figure 2: Correct mounting location for ESPROS/VOL-V in ceiling Figure 3: Incorrect mounting location for ESPROS/VOL-V in ceiling of eleva- of elevator cab tor cab (0.5 m from back of elevator cab) Figure 4: Incorrect mounting location for ESPROS/VOL-V in ceiling of eleva- Figure 5: Correct mounting location for ESPROS/VOL-A on wall of elevator tor cab near mirrored back wall cab above elevator door Figure 6: Fastening the mounting plate and then sliding the ESPROS housing on to the mounting plate November 2008 | ELEVATOR WORLD | 75 EW ECO-ISSUES: Continuing Education Continued Device Connections lishing which threshold value should (green) is illuminated, the occupied A single 11-conductor cable, 2 m be used.