Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring an activity of a user controlling an operation of a conveyor system with a remote control device, the method comprises: receiving control data from the remote control device, the control data defining user input provided at least in accordance with time; comparing the control data to a reference data; and setting, in accordance with a comparison between the control data and the reference data, a detection result to express one of the following: (i) a continuation of the operation of the conveyor system, (ii) a discontinuation of the operation of the conveyor system. The invention also relates to a control device, to a system, and to a computer program product.

Abstract: A method for testing an elevator hoisting machine brake with a preselected test load TL includes confirming empty elevator car positioned at a test location stest; obtaining information of elevator balancing B; obtaining information of friction Fr of the elevator at the test location stest; determining required assisting test torque TM of a hoisting machine motor based on said test load TL, balancing B and friction Fr; opening one of the brakes while keeping rest of the brakes engaged in braking position, applying torque with the motor at most up to the required test torque TM, measuring movement of the elevator car, and if movement of the elevator car was detected, generating a signal indicating degraded condition of one or more hoisting machine brakes.

Abstract: A drive system for driving an electric motor includes a drive control unit and a frequency converter including a speed controller. The drive control unit is configured to: define a speed reference of the electric motor; preset operating parameters of the speed controller to provide a first response time of the speed controller, before a drive of the electric motor is initiated; adjust at least one operating parameter of the speed controller to provide a second response time of the speed controller, after the speed of the electric motor reaches a constant speed, wherein the second response time is slower than the first response time; and readjust the at least one operating parameter of the speed controller to provide the first response time, before a deceleration from the constant speed is initiated. A method is disclosed for controlling the drive system for driving the electric motor.

Abstract: An electrical converter unit and a method for reducing thermal stress of a power semiconductor switch, such as an IGBT, of an electrical converter unit, the electrical converter unit comprising at least a gate control circuit wherein the electrical converter unit controls an electrical motor. The method comprises determining load and estimating required motor current based on the determined load and/or a predetermined speed profile. The electrical converter unit has at least a first operating state and a second operating state. The second operating state is used if predetermined criteria is fulfilled, the predetermined criteria relating to at least one of the following: estimated required current, measured motor speed, temperature of the power semiconductor switch and/or electrical converter unit, temperature model of the power semiconductor switch and/or electrical converter unit.

Abstract: It is desired that elevators are not operated when the brake is not completely released. Thus, the disengaging of brakes must be monitored or guaranteed otherwise. For providing guaranteed opening, the current for opening the brake is determined and then an additional current is provided to the brakes in order to guarantee the opening. The current for opening the brake is determined by doing a test sequence for each brake individually. In the test sequence, one brake is used to hold the elevator. Then, a momentum is applied to the elevator for moving the elevator car. The current is determined by increasing the current to the engaged brake gradually until the elevator moves. When the movement is detected, the current value is stored. When the elevator is operated regularly, the additional current is added to the stored value.

Abstract: A method for determining a rotor position of an electric motor, an elevator and an electrical converter unit are presented. The method comprises supplying a first excitation signal to the electric motor, determining a first response signal generated in the motor in response to the first excitation signal, determining, based on the first response signal, an electrical angle of a direct axis of the motor with respect to a stationary reference frame, supplying a second excitation signal to the motor, wherein the second excitation signal is based on the determined electrical angle, determining a second response signal generated in the motor in response to the second excitation signal, and determining the rotor position based on the second response signal.

Abstract: A method for identifying parameters, such as a magnetization-axis and torque-axis inductances, of a permanent magnet motor of an elevator includes applying, such as by a brake controller, at least one hoisting machinery brake to prevent rotation of a rotor of the permanent magnet motor, determining, by a first method, a mean value of motor inductance, as well as the magnetization-axis inductance and the torque-axis inductance as relative inductance values based on the mean value, determining, by a second method, being different than the first method, a mean value of motor main inductances, and determining absolute values of the magnetization-axis and the torque axis inductances based on the motor main inductance obtained by the second method and the relative inductance values obtained by the first method.

Abstract: Brake release sensors for an elevator can be replaced by an arrangement wherein the brake release is determined from the force caused by the brake. This is achieved by providing measuring device for measuring the weight of an elevator car between the brake and the motor body so that the weight of the elevator car is measured only when the brake is on.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator parking brake comprising brake pads configured to provide a braking force against a guide rail in a loading and unloading situation of an elevator car; and at least one sensor. The elevator parking brake is configured to allow a predetermined amount of movement within the elevator parking brake in the loading and unloading situation of the elevator car, and the at least one sensor is configured to provide at least one indication associated with the movement within the elevator parking brake in the loading and unloading situation of the elevator car.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method of initiating a regenerative converter (1) and corresponding converter (1) including a line bridge (2) and a machine bridge (3), which are interconnected via a DC intermediate circuit (8A, 8B). The method comprises charging, through the line bridge (2) and while the machine bridge (3) remains inactive, the DC intermediate circuit (8A, 8B) to a target voltage (14) higher than peak value of the mains voltage (13).

Abstract: Brake release sensors for an elevator can be replaced by an arrangement wherein the brake release is determined from the force caused by the brake. This is achieved by providing measuring device for measuring the weight of an elevator car between the brake and the motor body so that the weight of the elevator car is measured only when the brake is on.

Abstract: A safety arrangement of an elevator and a method for monitoring electrical safety in an elevator system is disclosed. The safety arrangement of an elevator includes a motor drive of the elevator, which motor drive includes a main circuit, an accessible conducting part, which is earthed, an insulator, which is adapted to electrically insulate the aforementioned conducting part from the aforementioned main circuit and also a monitoring circuit, which is configured to determine an earth fault of the aforementioned main circuit occurring via the aforementioned conducting part. The monitoring circuit is configured to form a signal indicating the danger of electric shock in the motor drive of the elevator, if the aforementioned earth fault is diagnosed.

Abstract: A method for determining a rotor position of an electric motor, an elevator and an electrical converter unit are presented. The method comprises supplying a first excitation signal to the electric motor, determining a first response signal generated in the motor in response to the first excitation signal, determining, based on the first response signal, an electrical angle of a direct axis of the motor with respect to a stationary reference frame, supplying a second excitation signal to the motor, wherein the second excitation signal is based on the determined electrical angle, determining a second response signal generated in the motor in response to the second excitation signal, and determining the rotor position based on the second response signal.

Abstract: A method includes commanding a brake controller to open a machinery brake, measuring the brake current of the machinery brake, and when the measured brake current does not meet or exceed a predetermined threshold value within a predetermined time period, then generating a signal indicating failure of the machinery brake and cancelling the elevator run sequence, else executing the elevator run sequence.

Abstract: A method for controlling an elevator includes controlling the speed of a vertically moving elevator car during its run from a starting landing to a destination landing according to speed settings, the speed settings defining a constant target speed for the elevator car. The method includes obtaining measurement data of the ongoing run, which measurement data describes vertical speed and/or vertical acceleration of the vertically moving elevator car, determining whether the measurement data meets one or more predetermined criteria indicating unintended vertical speed and/or unintended vertical acceleration, and changing the speed settings of the current run by lowering the constant target speed from a first constant target speed to a second constant target speed if the measurement data meets said one or more predetermined criteria, continuing the run without intermediate stops to said destination landing. An elevator is provided to implement the method.

Abstract: A method for performing an emergency stop with an elevator and a safety arrangement of an elevator. In the method, when an emergency stop criterion is fulfilled, the elevator car is driven with the electric motor of the hoisting machine to a stop with a given deceleration profile.

Abstract: An adjustable brake controller of an elevator brake including a DC bus, first terminals for connecting the brake controller to a first magnetizing coil, second terminals for connecting the brake controller to a second magnetizing coil, a first controllable power switch coupled between the first terminals and the DC bus, the first controllable power switch being configured to supply electric power from the DC bus to the first magnetic coil responsive to a first control signal, a second controllable power switch coupled between the second terminals and the DC bus, the second controllable power switch being configured to supply electric power from the DC bus to the second magnetizing coil responsive to a second control signal, and a controller configured to generate the first and the second control signals for controlling the first and second power switches, respectively, with a brake open mode and a brake holding mode.

Abstract: An elevator includes a control system for monitoring the load of a car, which control system is adapted to prevent the normal starting of the elevator, optionally also including relevelling, when there is an overload in the car. The elevator includes at least one position measuring device, speed measuring device and/or movement measuring device in order to determine the movement and/or position of the car, and the control system of the elevator is adapted to remove the prevention of normal starting when at least one said position measuring device, speed measuring device and/or movement measuring device detects that the car moved or is moving upwards in the elevator shaft.

Abstract: The system for controlling the opening and/or closing of a normally-closed machinery brake opening by means of at least one magnetizing coil and closing by means of at least one closing spring comprises: at least one estimation and control loop according to the invention and at least one measuring and control circuit according to the invention, which are connected or can be connected to each other, and of which a) the estimation and control loop is configured to use an input (I(t)) produced by the measuring and control circuit, and b) the measuring and control circuit is configured to use the modulation reference (UGE) produced by the estimation and control loop for connecting the voltage (U9) to be connected over the magnetizing coil.

Abstract: An elevator includes an elevator car and lifting machinery including a traction sheave, an electromechanical machinery brake, and an electric motor having a rotor. The traction sheave, the electromechanical machinery brake and the rotor of the electric motor are connected via a shaft, whereby the lifting machinery moves the elevator car upwards and downwards in a vertically extending elevator shaft controlled by a main control unit.