Cedes wants to revolutionize elevator safety

Cedes is presenting a product in the form of iDiscovery, which according to the Swiss company, "is unique in its function and handling and sets new standards in terms of safety."

The iDiscovery is an EN 81-20/50-compliant position supervisor unit. In combination with the APS (Absolute Positioning System) from Cedes, it takes over the safety-relevant functions of an elevator in a single system.

This highly integrated system makes the many individual systems and components of a conventional elevator no longer necessary. "In combination, the APS and iDiscovery reduce the costs and the complexity of the elevator as well as the associated installation and maintenance efforts immensely," Cedes stated.

The iDiscovery not only monitors the position and velocity of the car, its status and hoistway doors, but also additional status signals of the elevator, such as emergency control and inspection control switches. As soon as an unsafe situation arises, the iDiscovery opens the elevator’s safety chain. In addition, there are also two output contacts available to trigger an additional emergency brake and a safety brake, which can be activated electronically.

A whole new level of safety

iDiscovery enables levelling, re-levelling and preliminary operations with open doors. It identifies any unintended car movement, monitors the velocity of the car within the door zone and ensures that it does not leave the door zone with the doors open.

It identifies overspeed with a range of different speed limits and monitors the retardation towards the hoistway end. Additional safety-relevant functions include the final limit switches, monitoring of the safety gear, checking whether the doors are bridged and bridging of the doors for maintenance work.

Confirmed by iDiscovery EC type approval test

In combination with the APS, the iDiscovery represents a completely electronic replacement of the overspeed governor. If it detects overspeed, dedicated safety outputs open the safety chain in order to stop the elevator and engage the machine brake or trigger an electronically activated safety gear.

The iDiscovery and its safety functions fulfil the SIL3 requirements in accordance with IEC 61508 and can be used within the intended applications in accordance with EN 81-20. This is confirmed by the iDiscovery EC type approval test.

Simple integration and configuration

The iDiscovery can be integrated into the existing control system concept. Configuration of the safety-relevant parameters, such as the rated speed for example, is made possible by configuration clips.

The automated and uncomplicated programming of the iDiscovery is performed on-site. This involves the elevator travelling from the bottom to the top of the hoistway at inspection speed.

The rated speed, bottom floor, top floor, final limit positions and floor positions are read in using the configuration and floor clips. The entire process can be performed quickly and simply without any additional aids. The on-site configuration negates the need to manage and keep available a range of devices with different preconfigured rated speeds.

Autonomous and flexible

Together, the iDiscovery and APS form a complete, autonomous system boasting an extensive operating range of up to 1,500 metres and a tripping speed of up to 20 m/s.

The iDiscovery requires but a minimum of interaction with the elevator control system: a single CAN interface in accordance with the CANopen DS417 standard is sufficient. The safety functions are performed autonomously. This makes it possible to integrate the iDiscovery into any existing elevator system.

The iDiscovery has a modular concept. Due to the fact that it is independent from the APS mounting location and the ability of APS to transmit data up to 1500 meters, iDiscovery can be installed wherever it is most suitable - for example, directly or directly onto the car.

cedes.com