Patent ID: 6538574
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: B66B

Abstract:
A device for signaling the position of an elevator car during a passenger evacuation, comprising:an elevator controller cabinet housing an elevator control unit associated with an elevator car; a plurality of landing door safety contacts connected in series in a door contact chain, each said landing door safety contact being associated with a separate landing door at one of a plurality of floors served by the elevator car, each said landing door safety contact being normally closed and being opened in response to the presence of the elevator car at the associated landing door; a source of electrical power connected to one end of said door contact chain; and a detection circuit mounted in said cabinet and being connected to an end of said door contact chain opposite said electrical power source, said detection circuit being responsive to power provided by said electrical power source for indicating to a rescuer person a presence of the elevator car at one of the landing doors, said detection circuit generating a first indication signal when all said landing door safety contacts are closed representing an absence of the elevator car from the landing doors and generating a second indication signal when one of said landing door safety contacts is open representing a presence of the elevator car at the associated landing door.