阅读说明：本技术 电梯系统的控制装置、电梯系统和控制电梯系统的方法 (control device for an elevator system, elevator system and method for controlling an elevator system ) 是由 理查德·图姆 马里厄斯·马茨 爱德华·斯坦华尔 于 2018-05-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于电梯系统(200)的控制系统(200),电梯系统包括能够在至少两个井道段(110,120)中移动的至少两个电梯轿厢。系统包括至少两个井道控制单元(210,220)和至少两个电梯轿厢控制单元(240,241),其中,每个井道控制单元(210,220)分别分配给井道段(110,120)中的一个,并且每个电梯轿厢控制单元(240,241)分别分配给电梯轿厢中的一个。控制系统(200)设计为在井道控制单元(210,220)之间建立第一通信链路(260),并且,控制系统(200)设计为对于每个井道段(110、120),分别在待分配给相应的井道段(110、120)中的电梯轿厢的电梯轿厢控制单元(240,241)和待分配给相应的井道段(110,120)的井道控制单元(210,220)之间建立第二通信链路(270,271)。本发明涉及具有所述类型的控制系统(200)的电梯系统,并且涉及用于控制所述类型的电梯系统的方法。(The invention relates to a control system (200) for an elevator system (200) comprising at least two elevator cars movable in at least two hoistway sections (110, 120). The system comprises at least two hoistway control units (210, 220) and at least two elevator car control units (240, 241), wherein each hoistway control unit (210, 220) is assigned to a respective one of the hoistway sections (110, 120) and each elevator car control unit (240, 241) is assigned to a respective one of the elevator cars. The control system (200) is designed to establish a first communication link (260) between the hoistway control units (210, 220), and the control system (200) is designed to establish, for each hoistway section (110, 120), a second communication link (270, 271) between the elevator car control unit (240, 241) to be allocated to an elevator car in the respective hoistway section (110, 120) and the hoistway control unit (210, 220) to be allocated to the respective hoistway section (110, 120), respectively. The invention relates to an elevator system with a control system (200) of said type and to a method for controlling an elevator system of said type.)

1. A control system (200) for an elevator installation (200) comprising at least two elevator cars (140) movable in at least two hoistway sections (110, 120), having at least two hoistway control units (210, 220) and at least two elevator car control units (240, 241),

Wherein each of the hoistway control units (210, 220) is designed to be respectively assigned to one of the hoistway sections (110, 120) and each of the elevator car control units (240) is designed to be respectively assigned to one of the elevator cars (140, 141),

Wherein the control system (200) is designed to provide a first communication link (260) between the hoistway control units (210, 220), and

wherein the control system (200) is designed to provide, for each of the hoistway sections (110, 120), a second communication link (270, 271) between the elevator car control unit (240, 241) to be assigned to the elevator car (140, 141) located in the respective hoistway section (110, 120) and the hoistway control unit (210, 220) to be assigned to the respective hoistway section (110, 120), respectively.

2. The control system (200) according to claim 1, further designed to provide, by means of the second communication link (270, 271), direct communication between each of the elevator car control units (240) to be allocated to the elevator cars (140, 141) located in the respective hoistway segment (110, 120) and the hoistway control units (210, 220) to be allocated to the respective hoistway segment (110 ), respectively.

3. The control system (200) according to claim 1 or 2, further designed to provide direct communication between the elevator car control units (240, 241) of two respectively adjacent elevator cars (140, 141) located in the respective hoistway segment (110, 120), respectively, by means of the second communication link (270, 271).

4. The control system (200) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a central control unit (250) communicatively connected with or comprising the hoistway control unit (210, 220).

5. The control system (200) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevator installation (100) comprises at least one exchange unit (165) between two adjacent hoistway sections (110, 120), by means of which exchange unit the elevator car (140, 141) can be changed between the two adjacent hoistway sections (110, 120),

And wherein the control system (200) is further designed such that, when the elevator car (140, 141) is transferred from one hoistway section (110, 120) to another hoistway section (110, 120), the elevator car control unit (240, 241) to be allocated to the elevator car (140, 141) is removed from the second communication link in the one hoistway section and added to the second communication link in the other hoistway section.

6. The control system (200) of any of the preceding claims, designed for an elevator installation (200) having at least two hoistways (111, 121), which at least two hoistways (111, 121) each comprise at least one, in particular at least two, of the hoistway segments (110, 120).

7. The control system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first communication network designed to provide the first communication link (260), wherein the first communication network comprises in particular a wire-based communication network, in particular a bus or an ethernet.

8. The control system (200) of any one of the preceding claims, having at least two second communication networks, each designed to provide one of the second communication links (270, 271), wherein the second communication networks in particular respectively comprise a wireless communication network, more particularly a WLAN, which further in particular involves the use of slotted hollow conductors (300).

9. Elevator system (100) comprising at least two elevator cars (140, 141) movable in at least two hoistway sections (110, 120), with a control system (200) according to any of the preceding claims, and in particular with at least one exchange unit (165) between two adjacent hoistway sections (110, 120), by means of which exchange unit the elevator cars (140, 141) can be shifted between two adjacent hoistway sections (110, 120),

Wherein each of the hoistway control units (210, 220) is assigned to a respective hoistway segment (110, 120), and each of the elevator car control units (240, 241) is assigned to a respective elevator car (140, 141).

10. A method for controlling an elevator installation (100) comprising at least two elevator cars (140, 141) movable in at least two hoistway sections (110, 120), which elevator installation comprises at least two hoistway control units (210, 220) and has at least two elevator car control units (240, 241), each of which hoistway control units is assigned to one of the hoistway sections (110, 120) and each of which elevator car control units is assigned to one of the elevator cars (140, 141),

Wherein mutual communication between the hoistway control units (210, 220) is performed by means of a first communication link (260), and

Wherein communication between the elevator car control unit (240, 241) assigned to the elevator car located in the respective hoistway segment and the hoistway control unit (210, 220) assigned to the respective hoistway segment (110, 120) is performed by means of a second communication link (270, 271), respectively.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein direct communication is performed between each of the elevator car control units (240, 241) assigned to the elevator cars (140, 141) located in the respective hoistway segment (110, 120) and the hoistway control units (210, 220) assigned to the respective hoistway segment (110, 120) by means of the second communication link (270, 271), respectively.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein between the elevator car control units (240, 241) of two respectively adjacent elevator cars (140, 141) located in the respective hoistway segment (110, 120) is performed by means of the second communication link (270, 271).

13. Method according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the elevator installation (100) comprises at least one exchange unit (165) between two adjacent shaft sections (110, 120), by means of which the elevator car (140, 141) can be changed between the two adjacent shaft sections (110, 120),

and wherein the elevator car control unit (240, 241) assigned to the elevator car (140, 141) is removed from the second communication link in one hoistway segment and added to the second communication link in another hoistway segment when the elevator car (140, 141) changes from one hoistway segment (110, 120) to another hoistway segment (110, 120).

14. Method according to any of claims 10-13, wherein in case of a failure of one of the hoistway control units (210, 220) and/or one of the elevator car control units (140, 141), the operation of the hoistway segment (110, 120) currently allocated to the hoistway control unit and/or the elevator car control unit will be suspended, wherein the remaining hoistway segments continue to operate.

15. The method according to any of claims 10 to 14, which involves using an elevator installation (100) according to claim 9.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a control system of an elevator installation, an elevator installation and a method for controlling an elevator installation, which elevator installation comprises at least two elevator cars movable in at least two hoistways.

background

In addition to elevators in which an elevator car is movable in a hoistway, there is an elevator apparatus including a plurality of elevator cars that are respectively movable in sequence in a plurality of hoistways. In addition, there are elevator installations in which the elevator car can be exchanged back and forth between two adjacent hoistways. This can be achieved, for example, by using a linear motor drive system and an "exchange unit" (also referred to as an "exchanger") whereby the elevator cars can be transferred from one hoistway to another via the transfer hoistways.

However, as the number of elevator cars and hoistways increases, the problem arises that communication between the elevator control system and the individual elevator cars becomes increasingly difficult. This is not only attributable to communication links with limited data transmission capacity per unit time.

In this case, therefore, the object of the invention is to allow simple and rapid communication with individual elevator cars even in an elevator installation with a large number of elevator cars or hoistways.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, a control system, an elevator installation and a method for controlling an elevator installation are proposed with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous configurations are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

The control system according to the invention is provided for an elevator installation comprising at least two elevator cars movable, in particular individually movable, in at least two shaft sections, i.e. in a substantially mutually independent manner. At least two shaft control units and at least two elevator car control units are provided, wherein each shaft control unit is designed to be respectively assigned to a shaft section, and each elevator car control unit is designed to be respectively assigned to an elevator car. The control system is furthermore designed to provide a first communication link between the shaft control units and, for each shaft section, a second communication link is provided between the elevator car control unit which can be assigned to the elevator car located in the corresponding shaft section and the shaft control unit which can be assigned to the corresponding shaft section.

In addition, in this type of elevator installation in which the control system can be used, in particular at least two hoistways each comprising at least one hoistway section can be provided. Thus, this type of elevator installation may comprise only a total of two shaft sections allocated to two shafts. However, preferably, at least one of the hoistways may also comprise two or more hoistway sections. It is also contemplated to provide only a hoistway including two or more hoistway sections.

Nowadays, a plurality of individual communication links are provided in this type of control system, which communication links can be used in a mutually independent manner. Thus, for example, it is sufficient if the elevator car control unit of an elevator car located in one shaft section can communicate with only one shaft control unit that can be assigned to the respective shaft section. The hoistway control unit may in turn communicate with other hoistway control units or optionally with a superordinate central control unit via another communication link. In this way it is further ensured that each elevator car or an assignable elevator car control unit can be activated or can receive control information, however, the necessary bandwidth of the respective communication link is significantly reduced since, overall, fewer communication participants are involved in the respective communication link.

In particular, in this way, it is also possible to prevent unnecessary information from being transmitted via the communication link. Thus, for example, where only a single communication link or a single communication network is used in total, each message transmitted will include data that is not required by many other communication participants. By means of the proposed control system, these data can be reduced, as a result of which the communication speed can also be increased.

Another advantage of the proposed control system is its modular structure. A control system for an elevator installation of any size can thus be provided in a very simple manner. In particular, for this purpose, the individual hoistway control units are configured to be of identical design. Advantageously, the individual elevator car control units are also configured in the same design. Thus, additional shaft sections and/or elevator cars can be added to the existing system in a very simple manner. Furthermore, the control system can be expanded in a highly simple manner. In addition, advantageously, a failure of one elevator car or one elevator car control unit, for example, will not lead to a failure of the entire elevator installation or of the entire control system, but only of the elevator car concerned or, where applicable, of the hoistway concerned. Thus, in the event of a failure of one of the hoistway control units and/or one of the elevator car control units, the operation of the hoistway section currently assigned to the hoistway control unit and/or the elevator car control unit can be suspended, wherein the remaining hoistway sections continue to operate. Advantageously, the elevator installation can thus be kept in service at least in a limited manner.

Advantageously, the control system is further designed to provide direct communication between one of the elevator car control units, which can be assigned to the elevator cars located in the respective shaft section, and the shaft control unit assigned to the respective shaft section, respectively, by means of the second communication link. Thus, information can be transmitted in an exceptionally quick and simple manner to the individual elevator cars, e.g. the target floor, but in particular safety-relevant data or parameters, such as driving parameters relating to the current speed and/or acceleration of the elevator car, the setting of the exchange unit, the gap between one elevator car and the next elevator car, or the communication of "stopping points" (i.e. points which are continuously calculated by the elevator car control unit and which define the latest point at which an elevator car can be stopped).

Advantageously, the control system is further designed to provide direct communication between the elevator car control units of two respectively adjacent elevator cars located in the respective shaft section by means of the second communication link, respectively. Two adjacent elevator cars are understood here to mean in particular two directly successive elevator cars in a shaft section. In this way, information can be exchanged quickly, e.g. depending on the clearance or speed of the preceding elevator car, for example to allow the speed to be adjusted.

advantageously, the control system further comprises a central control unit communicatively connected with or comprising the hoistway control unit. For example, the central control unit may be incorporated in the first communication link, or, however, the hoistway control unit for example constitutes a module of the central control unit. As mentioned above, a central control unit of this type may allow control of the entire elevator installation. In this case, however, modular designs with different communication links are now used.

The elevator installation preferably comprises at least one exchange unit between two adjacent shaft sections, by means of which the elevator car can be changed between two adjacent shaft sections. In the case of two shaft sections in two different shafts, a change of shaft can be provided in particular. For this purpose, for example, at the interface between one hoistway (i.e. in particular a vertical hoistway) and a conversion hoistway (i.e. in particular a horizontal hoistway), the above-mentioned exchange unit (also referred to as exchanger) can be provided. This type of exchanger allows to change the direction of movement of the elevator car, in particular between vertical, horizontal and diagonal. Preferably, the control system can then also be designed such that, when the elevator car changes from one shaft section to another shaft section, the shaft control unit assigned to the elevator car is removed from the second communication link of one shaft section and added to the second communication link in the other shaft section. Furthermore, in this way each hoistway control unit continues to be responsible for the elevator car or the associated elevator car control unit located in its respective hoistway section. This type of exchange may then be initiated, for example by the hoistway control unit, so that the correct or desired communication link is available later, even shortly thereafter.

Advantageously, the control system comprises a first communication network designed to provide a first communication link. The first communication network may preferably comprise a wire-based communication network, in particular a bus or an ethernet network. Wire-based communication networks of this type are particularly suitable for hoistway control units, since they can be configured in a fixed arrangement and can moreover transmit relatively large amounts of data.

Preferably, the control system comprises at least two second communication networks, each designed to provide one of the second communication links. The second communication networks preferably each comprise a wireless communication network, in particular a WLAN. For this purpose, a "gap wave type hollow conductor" or a "drain wave type conductor" may be used very particularly preferably. Gap wave type hollow conductors or leaky wave type hollow conductors may be placed along the hoistway for firstly improving signal transmission and secondly for preventing unauthorized access.

it is further preferred if the communication network is configured as a redundant design, i.e. for example the infrastructure or elements thereof are present in duplicate. In this way, the fail-safe is improved.

Another object of the invention is an elevator installation with at least two elevator cars movable in at least two shaft sections, further comprising a control system according to the invention and particularly also at least one exchange unit between two adjacent shaft sections, by means of which exchange unit the elevator cars can be changed between two adjacent shaft sections. Each shaft control unit is assigned to a shaft section and each elevator car control unit is assigned to an elevator car. The elevator arrangement may additionally comprise at least two hoistways, each hoistway comprising at least one hoistway segment, in particular two hoistway segments, respectively, of the type described in more detail above.

It is provided in particular that the elevator installation comprises a linear motor drive system by means of which at least two elevator cars can be driven in at least two shaft sections. According to an advantageous configuration, at least one drive section of the linear motor drive system is assigned to one hoistway section or hoistway portion. The at least one drive section may advantageously be actuated by means of a hoistway control unit (or hoistway section control system). In particular, a plurality of drive sections are assigned to one shaft section, which can then also be actuated, preferably by means of an associated shaft control unit.

With regard to the advantages and further configurations of the elevator installation according to the invention, reference will be made to the description of the control system set forth above in order to avoid repetitions.

Another object of the invention is a method for controlling an elevator installation having at least two elevator cars movable in at least two hoistway sections, having at least two hoistway control units and having at least two elevator car control units, each hoistway control unit being assigned to one hoistway section and each elevator car control unit being assigned to one elevator car. Mutual communication between the hoistway control units is performed by means of the first communication link and communication between the elevator car control units assigned to the elevator cars located in the respective hoistway section and the hoistway control units assigned to the respective hoistway section is performed by means of the second communication link. By means of an elevator installation, in particular an elevator installation according to the invention is provided, which in turn comprises a control system according to the invention.

With regard to the advantages and further configurations of the method according to the invention, reference will be made to the description of the control system set forth above in order to avoid repetitions.

Further advantages and configurations of the invention emerge from the description and the drawings.

It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those described below can be applied not only in the respective combinations shown, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is illustrated schematically in the drawings with reference to exemplary embodiments and is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1a and 1b show in a preferred embodiment a schematic representation of an elevator installation with a control system according to the invention, in which the elevator cars are located in different positions.

Fig. 2a and 2b show in a preferred embodiment a schematic view of a control system according to the invention, in which the elevator car control unit is located in different positions.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a slotted hollow conductor of the type that can be used in the context of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a shows a schematic representation of an elevator installation 100 according to the invention with a control system 200 in the form of a preferred embodiment. In the present example, the elevator installation 100 comprises two hoistway sections 110 and 120, in the present example four elevator cars 140, 141 are movable in the hoistway sections, for example. In the illustrated example, the hoistway sections 110 and 120 each include portions of a respective (vertical) hoistway 111 or 121, which may include additional hoistway sections above and/or below.

Also shown are two transition hoistways 130 and 135, which interconnect the two hoistways 111 and 121 at different points. The conversion shaft is connected to the shaft by means of an exchange unit 165. Thus, the shaft section is located between two exchange units. These transfer hoistways or exchange units can be arranged, for example, at the lowermost and uppermost floors served by the elevator installation 100, in particular where the elevator installation performs a "continuous-turn mode of operation". However, as shown in fig. 1a, the exchange unit is also arranged in particular between the lowest floor and the highest floor of the building.

In the shaft sections 110 and 120 and in the transfer shafts 130 and 135, respectively, rails 160 are provided, along which rails 160 the elevator car 140 can be conveyed, for example by means of suitable guide means. At the intersection between the hoistway and the conversion hoistway, an exchange unit 165, or "exchanger," is provided. By means of these exchange units 165, the elevator cars 140, 141 can be switched between vertical movement and horizontal movement in the present exemplary embodiment.

The movement of the elevator cars 140, 141 along the track 160 can be achieved, for example, by means of a "linear motor drive system". The elevator installation 100 is a "multi-car elevator installation", which is designated, for example, by the name MUL-Are known. In this type of multi-car elevator installation, the elevator cars 140, 141 can travel annularly in a "continuous-turn mode of operation" (i.e., up in one hoistway and down in the other hoistway). It is understood that also further hoistways with hoistway sections and in particular further elevator cars may be provided.

A control system 200 is also provided. In the present example, the control system 200 comprises a central control unit 250, two hoistway control units 210 and 220, and four elevator car control units 240, 241. A hoistway control unit 210 is assigned to the hoistway section 110 and a hoistway control unit 220 is assigned to the hoistway section 120. Each elevator car control unit 240, 241 is assigned to one of the elevator cars 140, 141, respectively. It should be noted that in this example, only the individual control units are shown, but the communication links are not shown, for clarity.

fig. 1b shows another schematic illustration of the elevator installation 100 from fig. 1a, but with the elevator cars 140, 141 and their associated elevator car control units 240, 241 in different positions. A more detailed description is provided below.

Fig. 2a shows a schematic representation of a control system 200 according to the invention in the form of a preferred embodiment, as previously shown in fig. 1a or fig. 1b in an exemplary manner. The central control unit 250 is interconnected with the hoistway control units 210 and 220 by a first communication link 260.

As already indicated, the central control unit and the hoistway control unit may be separate control units; however, the hoistway control unit may also be a module of the central control unit 250. The first communication link 260 may comprise a bus or an ethernet, for example.

in addition to the hoistway control unit 210, two slave control units 211 and 212 are shown, which may be elements of the hoistway control unit 210. Similarly, in addition to the hoistway control unit 220, two slave control units 221 and 222 are shown. In this way, for example, the control system of the exchange unit can be more simply integrated in the control system of the shaft section, and in particular the slave control unit 212 or 222 can be arranged at the lower end of the respective shaft section, for example, in order to perform control of the respective exchange unit, while the slave control unit 211 or 221 is responsible for control of the elevator car or communication with the elevator car control unit 240.

Now, although more exemplary elevator car control units are shown in this example, as previously shown in fig. 1a and 1b, elevator car control units 240, 241 are also shown. Each of these elevator car control units 240, 241 may be configured with the same design.

Furthermore, two second communication links 270 and 271 are shown, which are assigned to the hoistway section 110 or 120. The elevator car control unit 240 located in the hoistway section 110 is now integrated in the second communication link 270 and can thus communicate with the hoistway control unit 210. In particular, it can also be provided that an elevator car control unit located in the hoistway section 110 communicates with a slave control unit 211 as an element of the hoistway control unit 210.

Accordingly, the elevator car control units 240, 241 located in the hoistway section 120 are integrated in the second communication link 271 and can thus communicate with the hoistway control unit 220. In particular, it can also be provided here that the elevator car control unit located in the shaft section 120 communicates with a slave control unit 221 as an element of the shaft control unit 220.

The elevator car control units of the elevator cars located in the hoistway can therefore only communicate with the hoistway control units assigned to the respective hoistway section. As already indicated above, it can also be provided that the elevator car control units of two elevator cars, respectively located in the vicinity of a shaft section (i.e. one above the other or one below the other) are configured for direct mutual communication. Communication between the elevator car control units of the elevator cars in different shaft sections is not provided and not required.

With reference to fig. 1a and 1b and fig. 2a and 2b, the sequence of the method according to the invention is described below in the form of a preferred embodiment. In the case of an elevator car moving from one shaft section to another shaft section, the elevator car control unit assigned to the elevator car is removed from the second communication link in the outgoing shaft section and assigned to the communication link of the new shaft section.

In the example shown in fig. 1a, the elevator car 141 located at the upper right in the shaft section 120 can be transferred into the shaft section 110 by means of the transfer shaft 130 or an associated exchange unit. In fig. 1b, the elevator car 141 has been located in the hoistway section 110. Thus, the elevator car control unit 241 of the elevator car 141 is removed from the second communication link 271 and thus from the hoistway control unit 220 according to fig. 2a and assigned to the second communication link 270 or the hoistway control unit 210. In fig. 2b, the elevator car control unit 241 has been assigned to the second communication link 270 or the hoistway control unit 210. In this way it can be ensured that exclusively and additionally all those elevator car control units located in one hoistway communicate with the associated hoistway control unit.

The same applies to switching over or to switching over to the track section from a shaft section, for example located in the same shaft, but above or below the shaft section concerned. Thus, for example, in the hoistway 111 according to fig. 1a or 1b, further hoistway sections may be provided above and below the hoistway section 110, respectively.

In fig. 1b it can also be seen that the elevator car is already in the conversion hoistway 135. Once the elevator car arrives in the shaft section 120, the relevant elevator car control unit can be assigned to the new second communication link.

It should be noted that in the case of e.g. a transition between shaft sections (e.g. they are located one above the other in the shaft), the reassignment of the relevant elevator car control unit to the new second communication link and thus to the new shaft control unit can take place directly at the switching unit transition.

When changing from one shaft section to another shaft section via a change of shaft, the associated elevator car control unit can be allocated to the new second communication link and thus to the new shaft control unit when the new shaft section is reached or when the associated exchange unit is switched, respectively. Then, depending on the direction of the transition, a transition hoistway can be associated with one hoistway section or another. However, it is also contemplated that a transition hoistway may be assigned to a particular hoistway section. It is also conceivable to treat the change-over hoistway as a separate hoistway section, which then in particular will be associated with a dedicated hoistway control unit.

In this way, the communication load is reduced, wherein all necessary communication links are always available. For example, the overall computational power to be provided may be additionally reduced, since fewer data packets will be transmitted via the communication link.

The second communication link 270 or 271, respectively, may comprise a wireless communication network, as here illustrated by the dashed line. To ensure the availability of this type of wireless communication link in high shafts, for example, "slotted hollow conductors" may be used, as described in more detail below with reference to fig. 3.

In certain areas, the second communication link 270 or 271 may also include a wire-based communication network, for example in an area between the hoistway control unit and the start of the hoistway or hoistway portion, as shown by the solid lines in fig. 2.

Fig. 3 now shows in cross section a schematic view of a slotted hollow conductor 300 of the type that can be used in the context of the present invention. The slotted hollow conductor 300 may extend along a respective hoistway.

In the slotted hollow conductor 300, there is provided a hoistway antenna 310, which may be connected to a hoistway control unit, such as the hoistway control unit 210 in this example. On the elevator car control units 240, 241 (in this example, only 240 is shown for exemplary purposes), corresponding elevator car antennas 320 are provided in turn, which move along the slotted hollow conductor 300 as the elevator car moves in the hoistway. Radio waves generated by the antenna propagate inside the slotted hollow conductor 300 along the inside thereof, and communication can be performed between the elevator car control unit and the corresponding hoistway control unit quickly and safely.