Abstract:
An elevator control panel device, including an elevator control panel disposed in a doorjamb forming an entrance to the elevator in a building, a panel door rotatably pivoted via a hinge at a hinge side of the panel door and providing access to the control panel, an automatic closing mechanism configured to force the panel door in the closing direction so as automatically to close the panel door when the panel door is open, and at least one lock provided for locking the panel door at an opposite side of the panel door opposite to the hinge side of the panel door, a first member mounted on the panel door, and a second member mounted on the doorjamb, the first member being configured to engage the second member in a locked state automatically upon closing of the panel door.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. JP10-252672 filed Sep. 7, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an elevator control panel device, in particular, to an elevator control panel device allowing the safe and easy pursuit of the maintenance check. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     In a conventional elevator, a machine room (penthouse) is provided at the upper end on top of an elevator shaft of the building wherein a cage ascends and descends. Provided in the machine room is a drive unit for the ascending and descending movement of the cage, and a control panel for controlling the elevator. 
     However, in the conventional configuration with the machine room provided at the upper end part of the shaft, the building height is increased due to the existence of the machine room, and thus it is disadvantageous in terms of the right of sunshine, the building capacity, and the like. That is, the machine room projects above the rooftop of the building, for example, possibly resulting in an infringement of the right to sunlight. Therefore, a machine-roomless elevator without a machine room installed at the upper end part of the shift, but wherein the drive unit and the control panel is installed in part of the space in the shaft, has been recently adopted. 
     While a doorjamb forming the entrance for the cage is provided on each floor of the building provided with the elevator, the conventional elevator is provided with a control panel, for controlling the elevator, inside the doorjamb of the hall of the uppermost floor in the machine-roomless elevator. Moreover, a rotatable panel door for opening/closing the front side of the control panel is provided at the inside front side of the doorjamb. A locking mechanism is provided in the panel door. At the time of a maintenance check, a maintenance worker unlocks the locking mechanism so as to open the panel door for operating the control panel. 
     However, the worker possibly may be interrupted during the performance of maintenance and may need to leave the control panel unattended. If the panel door then remains open while unattended, there is a risk of an accident by the intentional or inadvertent operator of the control panel by a third person other than the maintenance worker, and thus it is preferably for safety purposes that the panel door is always maintained in the closed state except during the time that the maintenance worker actually operates the control panel. 
     The doorjamb provided in the elevator hall, in general, has a height exceeding 2 m. Therefore, the panel door to be provided inside the doorjamb has a longitudinal shape with a large vertical span. However, in the conventional configuration, a part of the panel door is locked with the locking mechanism. 
     Moreover, the locking mechanism has a function of engaging and supporting the panel door mechanically, in addition to the function of prohibiting opening of the panel door. However, in the conventional configuration, since a locking mechanism is provided only in a part of the panel door, if the panel door is in the locked state and is opened by force or handled violently, distortion or deformation is generated between the upper and lower parts of the panel door. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator control panel device with reduced risk of an accident by the intentional or inadvertent operation of the control panel by a third person other than the maintenance worker. 
     This and other objects are achieved by providing a new and improved elevator control panel device, including an elevator control panel disposed in a doorjamb forming an entrance to the elevator in a building, a panel door rotatably pivoted via a hinge at a hinge side of the panel door and providing access to the control panel, an automatic closing mechanism configured to force the panel door in the closing direction so as automatically to close the panel door when the panel door is open, at least one lock provided for locking the panel door at an opposite side of the panel door opposite to the hinge side of the panel door, including a first member mounted on the panel door, and a second member mounted on the doorjamb, the first member being configured to engage the second member in a locked state automatically upon closing of the panel door. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine-roomless elevator; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of an automatic opening and closing means of a panel door; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of a locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view of the locking mechanism in a locking state; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear view of the locking mechanism in an open state; 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view, partly in cross section, of a part of the locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of a mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the upper side of the panel door; 
     FIG. 12 is side view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the upper side of the panel door; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the upper side of the panel door; 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of a mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the lower side of the panel door; 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the lower side of the panel door; and 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the lower side of the panel door. 
     FIG. 17 is a side view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism having a solenoid. 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism provided in a doorjamb. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, FIG. 1 shows a machine-roomless elevator of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The machine-roomless elevator shown in FIG. 1 dispenses with the machine room by installing a control panel in the vicinity of the depot in the elevator hall or on an elevator cage and storing a drive unit at the uppermost part or the lowermost part of the shaft. In FIG. 1, the drive unit  124  is placed on and fixed with a drive unit mounting base  124 A to the uppermost part of a guide rail  123 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, an elevator  101  includes a plurality of guide rails  103 ,  123  to be provided in the elevator shaft  102  in a building, a cage  104 , a cable  117 , a counter weight  118 , a driving mechanism  119  and an emergency stop mechanism  120 . 
     The guide rails  103  are provided in the elevator shaft  102  of the building substantially in parallel with each other along the shaft  102 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a pair of the guide rails  103  is provided. 
     The cage  104  includes a cage frame  105  and a cab  106  for accommodating a passenger. The cage frame  105  is interposed between the parallel guide rails  103 ,  103 . 
     The cab  106  includes a cage floor, a front wall having an opening and closing door  112  facing to the hall, a pair of side plates connected with right and left end parts of the front wall, a rear plate connecting the pair of the side plates and parallel with the front wall, and a ceiling plate  116 . The cage  104  is supported by rotatable car sheaves  122 ,  122  at the lower side thereof. The car sheaves  122 ,  122  are wound around by the cable  117 . 
     The cable  117 , made of metal, is attached at one end to the upper end part of one of the above-mentioned pair of the guide rails  103 ,  103 , and to the upper end part of one of the counter weight guide rails  123 ,  123  later described by at its other end. The cable  117  is placed around the car sheaves  122 ,  122  for suspending the cage  104  in the elevator shaft  102  of the building along the guide rails  103 ,  103 . 
     The counter weight  118  is vertically movable along the pair of the counter weight guide rails  123 ,  123  provided along one of the guide rails  103  and is suspended by the cable  117 . The counter weight  118  balances the cage  104  via the cable  117  when a certain number of passengers enter the cab  106  of the cage  104 . 
     The driving mechanism  119  includes a traction sheave (not illustrated) around which the cable  117  is wound and a drive unit  124  for rotating the traction sheave. The driving mechanism  119  moves the cage  104  vertically along the guide rails  103 ,  103  via the cable  117  by rotating the traction sheave with the drive unit  124 . 
     The emergency stop mechanism  120 , such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,786, includes a governor device  125  and a speed governor rope  126  partially connected to the cage  104 . The emergency stop mechanism  120  immediately stops the cage  104  automatically by constraining the speed governor rope  126  when the cage  104  falls at a rate higher than the rated speed. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show a doorjamb  1  serving as the frame of the elevator entrance provided in the elevator hall of the building. The doorjamb  1  includes a ceiling beam  2  and a pair of side beams  3 ,  4  extending downward from both ends of the ceiling beam  2  so as to form a gate-like shape, with a horizontal beam  5  provided integrally with the lower end part of the one side beam  3 . 
     A panel door  6  is provided inside the one side beam  3 . Behind the panel door  6  is a control panel installing part  7  in which a control panel  8  for controlling the elevator is placed. The panel door  6  is placed between the ceiling beam  2  of the doorjamb  1  and the horizontal beam  5  such that the panel door  6  is pivoted rotatably via hinges  10  at one side thereof for opening/closing and providing access to the front side of the above-mentioned control panel  8 . The space between the panel door  6  and the other side beam  4  of the doorjamb  1  forms an entrance opening  11  for the cage of the elevator, with entrance doors  12 ,  13  provided at the entrance opening  11 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, an extension spring  14  is mounted between the rear side of the panel door  6  and the ceiling beam  2  for automatically closing the panel door  6 . Further, locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  are provided at the upper and lower parts of the side of the panel door  6  opposite the hinge  10 , that is, on the free end side. The locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  have a size smaller than the thickness of the panel door  6 . For example, “Latch Lock”, which is a product name and sold by Tochigi-ya Corporation, can be used as the lock mechanisms  15 , 16 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 to  9 , the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  include a C-shaped frame  17 , a rod  18  provided inside the frame  17  and a lock pin  19  connected with the rod  18 , a key body  21  having a key hole  20 , mounted with the frame  17 , and the connecting pin  25  for moving the rod  18  and the lock pin  19  back and forth in the axial direction according to the operation of the key to be inserted into the key hole  20  of the key body  21 . 
     The locking mechanisms  15 , 16  can be set in the open state or the closed state by inserting the key into the key hole  20  and turning the key by 90 degrees. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, at the time of the open operation, with the rotation of the key, a lever  20   a  is turned and pushes the interlocking member  23 , thereby retracting the pin  19 . The open state can be maintained by pulling the key out a short distance with the key turned by 90 degrees. At this time, the key is still left in the key hole  20 . A pin (not shown) is installed on the bottom of the key hole  20 . When the key is fully inserted into the key hole  20 , the pin (not shown) is pushed thereby enabling the key to rotate. If the key is pulled out by the short distance after turning by 90 degrees in order to be in the open state, the pin (not shown), which is spring biased, returns back and the key is restricted its rotation. Thus, the pin  19  remains retracted in spite of a righting force of a coil spring  31 , and the locking mechanisms  15 , 16  is maintained to be in the open state. 
     The lock pin  19  projects outward from one side part of the frame  17 , with the projecting end cut into an inclined surface  19   a  inclined in one direction. As shown in FIG. 10, the other end of the lock pin is a small diameter shaft part  19   b , with a through hole  24  formed therein. 
     The small diameter shaft part  19   b  is fitted freely in a fitting hole  18   a  formed in the rod  18 . A connecting pin  25  is inserted removably into the through hole  24  of the small diameter shaft part  19   b  from the outside of the rod  18  so that the rod  18  and the lock pin  19  are interlocked with each other by the connecting pin  25 . 
     The end part of one end side of the connecting pin  25  is fitted freely in a long hole-shaped guide hole  26  formed at the front side of the frame  17 . By pulling out the connecting pin  25 , rotating the lock pin  19  by 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis and inserting the connecting pin  25  into the through hole  24  again, the orientation of the inclined surface  19   a  at the tip of the lock pin  19  can be inverted. 
     The panel door  6  at the side opposite to the hinges  10  has a side plate  6   a  bent to the rear side thereof and provided with the above-mentioned locking mechanisms  15 ,  16 . The mounting structure of one locking mechanism  15  provided at the upper side of the panel door  6  is shown in FIGS. 11 to  13 , and the mounting structure of the other locking mechanism  16  is shown in FIGS. 14 to  16 , respectively. 
     The one locking mechanism  15  is mounted such that the frame  17  contacts with the inner surface of the side plate  6   a , the key hole  20  of the key body  21  is exposed to the outer surface of the side plate  6   a , with the end face of the key body  21  piercing through the side plate  6   a , and the lock pin  19  projects upward, with the inclined surface  19   a  formed at the tip thereof facing to the rear side of the doorjamb  1 . An L-shaped engaging member  30  is mounted to the lower surface of the ceiling beam  2  of the doorjamb  1 , independently from the doorjamb  1 , with the lock pin  19  detachably engaged with the engaging member  30 . 
     The other locking mechanism  16  as shown in FIG. 14 is mounted such that the frame  17  contacts the inner surface of the side plate  6   a , the key hole  20  of the key body  21  is exposed to the outer surface of the side plate  6   a , with the end face thereof piercing through the side plate  6   a , and the lock pin  19  projects downwardly, with the inclined surface  19   a  formed at the tip thereof facing to the rear side of the doorjamb  1 . An L-shaped engaging member  30  is mounted to the upper surface of the horizontal beam  5  provided below the panel door  6 , independently from the horizontal beam  5 , with the lock pin  19  detachably engaged with the engaging member  30 . 
     The mounting state of the one locking mechanism  15  at the upper part of the panel door  6  and that of the other locking mechanism  16  at the lower part of the panel door  6  are inverted with respect to the upper and lower direction, and thus the orientation of the inclined surfaces  19   a  of the lock pins  19  are inverted with respect to the front and rear direction. However, since the orientation of the inclined surface  19   a  can be inverted to the opposite direction by pulling out the connecting pin  25  and rotating the lock pin  19  as mentioned above, the inclined surface  19   a  of the lock pin  19  of the one locking mechanism  15  and the inclined surface  1   9   a  of the lock pin  19  of the other locking mechanism  16  can be oriented in the same direction, that is, toward the rear side of the doorjamb  1 , and thus the same parts can be used commonly for both locking mechanisms  15 ,  16 . 
     When the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  are in the locked state, the locking pin  19  is engaged with the inner side of the engaging member  30 . By inserting the key into the key hole  20  in the locked state, and rotating the key in one direction for the opening operation, the lock pin  19  is retracted by a predetermined stroke so as to be detached from the engaging member  30 . Then, the opened state can be maintained by pulling the key out a short distance. On the other hand, by rotating the above-mentioned key in the opposite direction from the opened state for the locking operation, the lock pin  19  is moved outward by a predetermined stroke so as to be engaged with the engaging member  30 . Then, the locked state can be maintained again. 
     In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, in the locking mechanism  15  provided at the upper side of the panel door  6 , a coil spring  31  is provided at the outer periphery of the rod  18  such that the lock pin  19  is always biased in the outward (upward) direction by the coil spring  31 . An automatic locking structure is provided such that in the state where the lock pin  19  is at the fully extended outward position by a predetermined stroke by the locking operation with the key, if a longitudinal pushing force acts on the lock pin  19  via the inclined surface  19   b , the lock pin  19  is moved downward independently of the key operation, overcoming the bias provided by the above-mentioned coil spring  31 . If the pushing force is released, the lock pin  19  is moved outward again by the predetermined stroke by the biasing force provided by the coil spring  31 . 
     The operation of this embodiment will be explained. Normally, the panel door is locked by the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16 . In the locked state, the side plate  6   a  of the panels door  6  opposite the side with the hinge  10  is supported stably by the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  at upper and lower points of the panel door, and thus, if the panel door  6  is forced opened or handled violently, it is less likely that the panel door  6  will be distorted or deformed. 
     Moreover, since the key hole  20  of each locking mechanism  15 ,  16  is exposed at the side plate  6   a  of the panel door  6 , it can hardly be seen from the front side of the panel door. Therefore, the front surface of the panel door  6  viewed from the elevator hall is neat, and thus a preferred appearance can be achieved. 
     On the other hand, in the maintenance check of the elevator, a worker inserts the keys to the key hole  20  of the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16 , respectively so as to rotate the keys for the opening operation. Then, the keys are pulled out by a short distance in order to maintain the open state. According to the opening operation, the lock pins  19  of the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  are retracted from the position engaged with the engaging member  30  so as to release the engagement so as to be in the open state. 
     Therefore, by pulling the panel door  6  in the locking mechanism open state to the elevator hall side, to against the resistance of the extension spring  14 , the panel door  6  can be opened. Then, the opened state of the panel door  6  can be maintained by the worker holding it by hand or body so as to operate the control panel  8  inside the doorjamb  1  in this state. 
     After operating the control panel  8 , with the panel door  6  in the open state, the one locking mechanism  15  provided in the automatic locking structure is operated to be in the locked state by the key. According to this operation, the lock pin  19  of the one locking mechanism  15  is moved outward to the locked position. This operation can be conducted immediately after opening the panel door  6 . 
     Thereafter, when the hand or the body is put off from the opened panel door  6 , the panel door  6  automatically rotates in the closing direction by the force of the extension spring  14 . At the time, according to the rotation in the closing direction of the panel door  6 , the inclined surface  19   a  at the tip of the lock pin  19  contacts with the rim of the engaging  32  member  30  so that the lock pin  19  is moved backward, against the bias of the coil spring  31 . When the lock pin  19  moves ahead of the rim of the engaging member  30 , the lock pin  19  is moved outward again by the force of the coil spring  31  so that the lock pin  19  is engaged with the inner side of the engaging member  30 , and the panel door  6  is automatically locked by the engagement. At the time, the other locking mechanism  16  is left in the open state by the preliminary key operation, so that its lock pin  19  is maintained at the retracted position, and thus it is maintained in the open state even if the panel door  6  is closed automatically. 
     At the time of an elevator maintenance check, the control panel  8  may need to be operated several times. However, if the panel door  6  is opened throughout the work, there is a risk of an unexpected accident by the intentional or inadvertent operation of the control panel  8  by a third person other than the maintenance worker, and thus it is preferable for safety purposes that the panel door  6  is maintained always in the closed state except during the time that the maintenance worker actually operates the control panel. 
     In the present invention, as mentioned above, after the operation of the control panel  8 , the panel door  6  is closed automatically owing to the force by the extension spring  14  as an automatic closing means, and is locked automatically by the one locking mechanism  15 . Therefore, except the time that the maintenance worker operates the control panel  8 , the panel door  6  can always be maintained in the closed state to allow safe control. 
     Moreover, since the panel door  6  is closed automatically by the force of the extension spring  14 , the risk of failure in closing can surely be prevented. Furthermore, since the automatically closed panel door  6  is locked automatically by the one locking mechanism  15 , the panel door  6  cannot be opened by a third person inadvertently, and thus the safety can be reinforced. 
     In operating the control panel  8  by opening the panel door  6  again by the maintenance worker, the panel door  6  is opened by the opening operation of the one locked locking mechanism  15  with the key. At the time, since the other locking mechanism  16  is maintained in the open state, the open operation is not needed for the other locking mechanism  16 , so that the open operation is needed only for the one locking mechanism  15 . Therefore, the operability can further be improved. 
     After completing all the work of the maintenance check, in closing the panel door  6  finally, since the one locking mechanism  15  is in the locked state by the automatic locking operation according to the automatic closure of the panel door  6 , only by the locking operation of the other locking mechanism  16  with the key, the panel door  6  can be locked surely by the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16 . 
     Although the lower surface of the ceiling beam  2  or the upper surface of the horizontal beam  5  can be damaged by the contact with the tip of the lock pins  19  at the time of the opening/closing operation of the panel door  6 , if the lock pins  19  of the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  are to be engaged with the engaging parts formed flush with the lower surface of the ceiling beam  2  or the upper surface of the horizontal beam  5  directly, since the dedicated engaging member  30  is provided, projecting from the lower surface of the ceiling beam  2  and the upper surface of the horizontal beam  5  so that the lock pin  19  is engaged with the engaging member  30  in the present invention, the contact of the tip of the lock pin  19  with the lower surface of the ceiling beam  2  or the upper surface of the horizontal beam  5  can be prevented at the time of the opening/closing operation of the panel door  6 , and thus damage on the lower surface of the ceiling beam  2  or the upper surface of the horizontal beam  5  can be prevented. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but for example, a configuration wherein the locking mode of the two locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  can be switched selectively between the automatic locking structure with the panel door  6  automatically locked by the closing operation of the open panel door  6 , and the manual locking structure with the panel door  6  locked manually, or a configuration wherein a mechanism operated by an electromagnetic means using a solenoid  40 , or the like as shown in FIG. 17, is used as the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16 , can be adopted as well. 
     Moreover, the locking mechanisms  15 ,  16  are not necessarily provided in the panel door  6 , but can be provided in the doorjamb  1 , which supports the panel door  6  for locking the panel door  6 , as shown in FIG.  18 . In this case, since a locking mechanism is not provided inside the panel door  6 , an extra space can be provided inside the panel door  6 , and thus the inner space of the panel door  6  can be utilized effectively by placing appliances or parts in the front side of the control panel  8 . 
     Furthermore, if only the effective use of the inner space of the panel door  6  is targeted, a configuration wherein only one locking mechanism is provided at the doorjamb  1  side of the panel door  6  can be adopted. 
     According to the present invention heretofore explained, even if the panel door in the locked state is opened forcibly or handled violently, distortion or deformation of the panel door can be prevented. Moreover, the locking or opening operation of the panel door can be conducted easily and efficiently. Furthermore, the inconvenience of inadvertent opening of the panel door by a third person in the elevator maintenance check operation can be prevented. 
     Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the pending claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.