„iValve"
Bucher Hydraulics launches new intelligent lift valve
Widespread interviews with their elevator customers lead Bucher Hydraulics to the conclusion that hydraulic knowledge and experience on construction sites is decreasing.
Hydraulic elevator installations are often performed by sub-contractors who have low hydraulic competence and often lack the skills required for complex adjustments of hydraulic valves – even with electronic valves, which are much easier to set up.
Therefore many valves are not properly adjusted, which results in erratic elevator ride quality and an uncomfortable feeling – both entirely avoidable.
Elevator Service customers lament shrinking margins, and due to ever increasing operating areas, remote access to elevator installations is in increasing demand.
On the basis of these findings, Bucher Hydraulics developed a successor to the proven and widely adopted electronic elevator valve LRV-1, based on an entirely new concept:
The „iValve":
- no more adjustments (iTeach)
-
remote access possible (iAccess)
-
self-monitoring and forecast (iMonitoring)
The new intelligent valve „iValve", designed by Bucher Hydraulics.
iTeach
The iValve is an elevator valve that sets all parameters itself (feature iTeach). After an easy fitting and connection to the controller the mechanic can make a test ride. This first ride will be relatively slow and is not yet optimised, but already good enough for inspection to proceed. Sensors and a microchip analyse this ride immediately, compare it to the optimal driving cycle and make corrections for the next rides. This process is repeated constantly during all the following rides.
As soon as the elevator has analysed enough operating conditions (with cold / hot oil, full load etc.), the elevator is adjusted optimally.
So with the iValve, anybody can make a secure, fast and cost effective installation– no hydraulic experience is required!
iAccess
With the iValve we offer the option iAccess. It allows remote access to the valve and the corresponding electronic card via the controller. All sensor data and statistics (temperature, number of rides, static pressures etc.) and error messages are saved in the iValve and can be displayed on site. Via the remote management system provided by the controller, the option iAccess allows you to access and monitor the iValve remotely. All data can be displayed on your screen in the office.
This enables you to easily diagnose problems before a technician visits the installation. iAccess helps the service mechanic plan and schedule his tours and have the appropriate spare parts with him.
Additionally, parameters and data can be set remotely.
The iValve is the first hydraulic elevator valve that can be fully integrated into a remote management system.
iMonitoring
Most cars inform you how many miles to go until the next fill up or service. The iValve will be able to show such information:
How much time is left until you should clean the filters, which spare parts will have to be replaced when, where could problems arise in a foreseeable time?
This data can be seen on site (during a service visit e.g. because of a door problem) or via iAccess from your office. Thanks to iMonitoring, no elevator need ever be down due to the hydraulic power unit!
With the development of this new intelligent iValve, Bucher Hydraulics are pre-empting clear trends in the hydraulic market and are well prepared for the future.
The new iValve was launched at the Interlift in Germany; it will be available on the market in summer 2010. Because of the time-consuming approvals process, availability of the iValve for North America will be somewhat later. For today’s requirements, Bucher Hydraulics has developed the LRV-PM, a low pressure electronic valve that meets the strong demand for modernisation of older hydraulic systems, which together with the standard LRV-1 for higher pressure applications are available now with the necessary approvals for the North American market.