Abstract:
An elevator installation contains an elevator car ( 12 ) that is arranged movably between floors (S 1 , S 2 ) in an elevator hoistway ( 11 ). The elevator car ( 12 ) has a car door ( 14 ), and the elevator hoistway ( 11 ) has on the each floor (S 1 , S 2 ) a hoistway door ( 13 ). Assigned to the car door ( 14 ), or to the hoistway door ( 13 ), is a sill-section ( 16 ). To draw attention to a gap ( 30 ), or give a warning of a step, between elevator car ( 12 ) and floor (S 1 , S 2 ), it is proposed to arrange in the sill-section ( 16 ) of the elevator car ( 12 ), or of the floor (S 1 , S 2 ), at least one light module ( 20, 21, 22 ).

Description:
This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/CH2005/000606, filed on 18 Oct. 2005. Priority is claimed on that application and on the following application: 
   Country: European, Application No.: 04105282.0, Filed: 25 Oct. 2004 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an elevator installation with an elevator car that is arranged movably in an elevator hoistway between floors, the elevator car having a car door, and/or the elevator hoistway having on the floors a hoistway door. Assigned to the car door or hoistway door is a sill-section. The invention also relates to a method of indicating a gap between an elevator car and a floor in an elevator installation, the elevator car being moved in an elevator hoistway between floors. 
   Modern elevators have a hoistway door and a car door. The hoistway door closes the elevator hoistway on the respective floors when no elevator car is present on this floor. The hoistway door is opened when the elevator car stops at a floor for passengers to enter and leave. The elevator car is closed by an elevator door. While the elevator car is moving in the elevator hoistway, this elevator door is closed. For entering and leaving on a floor, the elevator door is opened. The hoistway door or car door is often executed with two parts, and consists essentially of two door panels, of which a first door panel is guided to approximately the middle of a door opening, and a second door panel closes the remaining open half of a door opening. Irrespective of the execution, the hoistway door, or car door, is guided at least in a floor area of the floor, or of the elevator car, in a sill-section. The sill-section is usually made of aluminum. Despite high accuracy of manufacture, when the elevator car stops, a gap remains between the elevator car and the respective floor. With regard to injury of persons, this gap is mostly not dangerous. It is, however, possible for objects to fall into this gap. Furthermore, should there be a fault in the functioning of the elevator installation, it is possible for there to be a difference in level between the height of the floor and the height of the elevator car which can form a dangerous ledge, or step, that can cause injuries to persons entering or leaving. 
   From JP 04235886 an elevator installation is known that has a sill-section in the floor and a sill-section in the elevator car floor. Arranged on the elevator car door is an outward-projecting plastic cap. Installed below the plastic cap is a light source that, through a slit of the plastic cap, emits light that is visible to entering and leaving passengers. 
   In present-day elevator installations, such an arrangement is no longer possible, since the gap between the level of the floor and the elevator car does not allow the installation of additional elements. Typically, the gap is 1 cm wide. The available space is therefore greatly restricted and the sill-section of the elevator car is correspondingly narrowly constructed. Furthermore, the slit in the plastic cap through which the light emerges can become soiled—since elevator users tread on this plastic cap—which causes the warning of occurrence of a difference in level to be no longer perceptible, and thus useless, so that a safety risk arises. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Against this background, the objective is to propose an elevator installation and a method in which attention is drawn to a gap, or step, between floor and elevator car, and in which the warning function is not impaired by soiling without additional elements and/or space being necessary. 
   The invention is based on the idea that in an elevator installation with an elevator car that is arranged movably in an elevator hoistway between floors, the elevator car having a car door, or the elevator hoistway having on the floors a hoistway door, for the purpose of warning of a gap or a step between car and floor of the elevator installation at least one light module is arranged in a position in which the warning is readily visible. By integration of the light module in a sill-section of the floor and/or of the elevator car, the light is emitted as warning and is certain to be perceived by users of the elevator. Advantageously, the warning light is emitted at exactly that point at which the danger from a gap, or step, occurs. Advantageously, the light module in the sill-section is subjected to a cleaning effect by the constant movement of the door, so that soiling of the light module is constantly removed and thus the warning of a gap, or of a step, is also certain to be perceived. 
   The light module is advantageously arranged in the floor area of the elevator car and/or of the floor. Since persons entering or leaving an elevator usually look at the floor, a light module that is arranged in the sill-section of the car door or hoistway door is especially readily visible. 
   Advantageously, the sill-section has a groove. The light module is directly mounted in this groove, without additional mechanical elements for fastening and/or protection being necessary. Advantageously, the car door and/or the hoistway door respectively are guided in the corresponding sill-section in a door guide-groove. Such a door guide-groove is necessary on the upper side of the sill-section to guide the elevator door. The door guide-groove is the area of the sill-section that lies immediately adjacent to the door, and that guides at least one door panel. According to the invention, the light module is integrated and built into the upper side of the sill-section in space-saving manner. ‘Space-saving’ means that the width of a sill-section is not affected by the presence of the light module. The minimum width of the sill-section, which is largely determined by the width of at least one door panel and space for fastening means, remains unchanged narrow. This integration of the light module into the door guide-groove has the advantage that the rigidity of the sill-section is not impaired by an additional groove. Furthermore, there is no need for additional grooves adjacent to the door guide-groove to pick up and collect possible soiling matter without it being possible for this to be regularly pushed back into the door guide-groove. Additional elements and/or space for integrating the light module into the sill-section are therefore not needed. In addition, installation and maintenance of the light module are made simpler and faster, since the light module is integrated directly into the sill-section in space-saving manner without additional mechanical elements. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the light module extends into a side area of the elevator car and/or of the floor. The light module is also at least partially visible in the side areas of the elevator car or of the floor. The sill-section can then extend into the respective side area, the light module being in this case integrated in this side sill-section. The light module can be arranged exclusively in the side area of the elevator car or of the floor. However, it is also possible to arrange the light module in both the floor area and the side area. Further, it is possible to arrange the light module in the side area of the elevator car, or of the floor, without a sill-section. 
   To allow fault-free functioning of the light module, it is advantageously foreseen for the light module to be arranged in at least one vertical wall of the door guide-groove. This arrangement of the light module prevents dirt in the door guide-groove from covering the light module. In addition, the backwards and forwards movement of the doors in the door guide-groove removes a possible deposit of dirt from in front of the light module. 
   In the case of a telescopic elevator door with multiple door panels, to save as much space as possible the light module is advantageously arranged between the two door guide-grooves for the door panels of the door. 
   A further preferred embodiment of the invention foresees arranging in the door guide-groove a first light module which is directed into a car interior space and can therefore be perceived from the direction of the car interior space. Also arranged in the same door guide-groove on the opposite vertical wall is a second light module that is directed in the opposite direction so as to shine out of the car interior and be perceptible when entering the car. The arrangement of the two light modules in the door guide-groove has the advantage that a light emitted by the light module can be perceived both when entering the elevator car and when leaving the elevator car. Mounting in a respective vertical wall rules out soiling and thus also impairment of visibility. 
   An advantageous embodiment of the invention foresees forming the sill-section with an inner and an outer door guide-groove. This embodiment is especially used when the car door, and/or the hoistway door, is formed of two parts. It is then advantageous for the first light module to be arranged in the outer, and the second light module in the inner, door guide-groove. The first light module is thus visible from the car interior and can be perceived when leaving the elevator car. The second light module is visible when entering the elevator car. Mounting the first and second light modules in the inner and outer door guide-grooves has the advantage that rigidity of the sill-section is maintained, and influence of the localized gap on the light emitted from the light modules is reduced, so that the two light modules can be separately controlled and thereby selectively switched on and off depending on the state of the elevator installation. For example, with the elevator car empty, it is not necessary for the light module directed into the car interior to be switched on, since no persons are present in the car interior. 
   Alternatively, it is possible for the first light module and the second light module to be arranged in adjacent walls of a sill-section. This makes a common voltage supply to the two light modules possible with consequent reduction of the installation outlay and costs. 
   A further preferred embodiment of the invention foresees the light module being so controlled that it emits a light signal depending on a position of the elevator car. By this means attention can, for example, be drawn to a dangerous situation from a difference in level between the floor and the elevator car. It is also possible to divide the light module into sections and to switch the sections on and off alternately. The light module can extend over the entire length in the floor area and/or in the side area of the elevator car and/or of the floor. It can, however, also be arranged on one or several positions in the floor area or in the side area of the elevator car and/or of the floor. 
   Advantageously, the light module emits a light signal in the white range of wavelengths. White light is especially readily visible. It is also advantageous for the light signal emitted by the light module to be emitted depending on a car door position and/or a hoistway door position. It is, for example, not necessary to activate the light module when the doors are closed, since a light module integrated in the sill-section is then no longer visible. A further possibility is for the light module to be always permanently switched on when the respective doors are opened, without regard to the elevator position. This has the advantage that the user of the elevator is always made aware of the gap between the elevator car and floor, irrespective of whether or not there is a difference of level between floor and elevator car. 
   It is especially advantageous for the light module to be formed of LEDs that are arranged, for example, on a printed circuit board. These LEDs are preferably covered with a diffusing disk that is preferably made from a scratch-resistant material. By this means it is possible to make the light module very compact and self-contained so that it can be inserted into even very small grooves of sill-sections, for example smaller than 1.5 cm. Through the diffusing disk, the light emitted by the LEDs is distributed uniformly so that the light module acts as a band of light. The use of LEDs ensures a low current consumption. Through use of the scratch-resistant material of the diffusing disk, the light module is protected against soiling and damage. The life of LEDs is also much longer than that of other, conventional, light sources. 
   It is also possible to integrate into the light module organic light-emitting substances that begin to glow when fed with current. Such OLEDs require no background illumination and are constructed flexibly. They also consume only very little energy, the emitted light being readily visible from every angle. OLEDs of large area can also be realized so that a light module according to the invention can have OLEDs mounted along its entire length. Other plastics, so-called smart plastics, that emit light can also be used. 
   A further means of causing the light module to glow is to integrate into the light module an optical waveguide. Coupled into an end-face of the optical waveguide by means of a good light source as, for example, a laser or LED, is a light. The optical waveguide is, in principle, intended to conduct light along its longitudinal axis, but when light is coupled into its end-face, light is also visible on the long side even of unmodified optical waveguides that are not sheathed. Furthermore, it is possible to modify a long side of the optical waveguide in such manner that light can emerge from the long side of the optical waveguide. For this purpose, the refractive index on the respective long side of the optical waveguide must be so altered that total reflection of the guided light waves does not occur there, but that the light waves can emerge from the optical waveguide at these points. Small irregularities in the surface of the inner optical waveguide change the refractive index so that the light can emerge at these points. The use of optical waveguides is advantageous because the coupling of light into the optical waveguide can be foreseen at positions in the elevator car, or on the floor, at which sufficient space is available and the supply of electric current is also unproblematical. 
   In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is arranged on the car door and/or the hoistway door a cleaning element in the area of the light module which, when the car door and/or hoistway door is opened or closed, is moved over the light module in such manner as to clean it. This cleaning element can take the form of, for example, a rubber lip or a brush. Through its movement over the light module when opening or closing, deposits of dirt on the light module are reliably removed. 
   It is especially advantageous for the light module to change its light color depending on a state of the elevator installation. For this purpose it is necessary to integrate into the light module light-emitting diodes, or substances, that can emit light of different colors, or to arrange several light-emitting diodes or substances that respectively emit different colors. A further means of increasing the warning effect of the light module is to change an illumination duration of the light module depending on a danger situation or warning situation. Thus it is possible, for example, that on occurrence of a difference in level between floor and elevator car, the light module has imposed on it a timed pulse so that a pulsating light is emitted, its perceptibility being thereby increased. By contrast, to draw attention to a gap, a permanently active light is used. The permanently active light indicates to the passenger that there is no danger from a step. To alter the level of the warning function, it can be foreseen that when there is great danger as, for example, from a particularly high step between the level of the floor and the level of the elevator car, the light module is caused to flash at short intervals. When there is less danger, the interval between switching on and switching off can be lengthened. 
   In a method according to the invention for indicating a gap between an elevator car and a floor in an elevator installation, it is foreseen that the car door or hoistway door has assigned to it a sill-section. Arranged in a groove in the sill-section of the floor, and/or of the elevator car, is at least one light module that emits a light in the visible range of wavelengths. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained in more detail below by reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated diagrammatically in the drawings. Shown are in 
       FIG. 1  a diagrammatic illustration of an elevator installation; 
       FIG. 2  an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of the detail A of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  a diagrammatic illustration of a sill-section according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  an alternative embodiment of a sill-section according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5   a  an enlarged diagrammatic illustration of the detail B of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 5   b  an enlarged illustration of the detail C of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement of the light module in the elevator car or on the floor; 
       FIG. 7  a diagrammatic illustration of a light module according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A structure of an elevator installation  10  is shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 1 . The elevator installation  10  contains an elevator car  12  that is caused to move in an elevator hoistway  11  between floors S 1  and S 2 . The elevator car  12  is fastened to an elevator rope  24  to which motion is imparted by a motor (not shown). The elevator car  12  is closed by car doors  14 . On the floors S 1  and S 2 , the elevator hoistway  11  is closed by hoistway doors  13 . In front of the hoistway doors  13  on the floors S 1  and S 2  are elevator landings  25 ,  26 . A floor area of a floor S 1 , S 2  is indicated by reference number  15 . A floor area of the elevator car  12  is indicated by reference number  23 . 
   Used in the exemplary embodiment described here are car doors  14  and hoistway doors  13  consisting in each case of two door panels ( FIG. 6 ), a first door panel  13   a ,  14   a  covering a first door area, and a second door panel  13   b ,  14   b  covering a second door area, of the elevator car  12  or of the floor S 1 , S 2 . The hoistway door  13  is also formed of two parts. The door panels  14   a ,  14   b ,  13   a ,  13   b  of the car door  14  and of the hoistway door  13  are each guided in a sill-section  16 . The sill-section  16  is arranged in the floor area  15  of the respective floor S 1  or S 2 . The sill-section  16  in the elevator car  12  is arranged in the floor area  23  of the elevator car  12 . The sill-sections  16  for the hoistway door  13  and for the car door  14  are essentially identically executed. 
   The sill-section  16  of the hoistway door  13  has an outer door guide-groove  17  and an inner door guide-groove  18 . When viewed from an elevator landing  25 ,  26 , the outer door guide-groove  17  is arranged furthest towards the elevator car  12 , and the inner door guide-groove lies further into the elevator landing  25 ,  26 . The door guide-grooves are, for example, 1.4 cm wide. 
   The inner door guide-groove  18  in the sill-section  16  of the elevator car  12  is set further into the car interior  27  than the outer door guide-groove  17  of the sill-section  16  of the elevator car  12 . 
   The sill-section  16  has a groove  19  that is arranged adjacent to the inner and outer door guide-grooves  17 ,  18 . This groove  19  is preferably dimensioned smaller than the door guide-grooves  17 ,  18 . According to the invention, it is foreseen that in the groove  19  that runs between the door guide-grooves  17  and  18  a light module  20  is integrated. Clearly apparent from  FIG. 2  is that the door panels  14   a ,  14   b  of the car door  14 , and the door panels  13   a ,  13   b  of the hoistway door  13 , are moved over the respective light module  20  in the sill-section  16  of the elevator car  12 , and of the floor S 2 , and thus exert a cleaning effect on the light module  20 . The space between the door panels  13   b  and  14   a  is very restricted and does not permit any mechanical elements to be built in between the two door panels. 
   An enlarged illustration of a sill-section  16  is shown in  FIG. 3 , specifically for a two-panel car door  14 . The outer door guide-groove  17  is arranged at the outermost edge of the elevator car  12 . Arranged between the outer door guide-groove  17  and the inner door guide-groove  18  is the groove  19  in which the light module  20  is accommodated. The movement of a diagrammatically sketched door panel  14   a  of the car door  14  in the outer door guide-groove  17  is indicated in  FIG. 3  by the arrows. 
   In an alternative embodiment according to  FIG. 4 , a light module  21 ,  22  is arranged in a vertical wall of the door guide-groove  17 ,  18 . Also shown is the sill-section  16  that is used in an elevator car  12 . Integrated in the outer door guide-groove  17  is a first light module  21  that is arranged on the wall that faces into the car interior  27 . Arranged on the vertical wall in the inner door guide-groove  18  is a second light module  22  which is visible when entering the elevator car  12 . In this embodiment, the groove  19  that is arranged between the inner and outer door guide-grooves  17 ,  18  is open, so that possible deposits of dirt in the groove  19  can be picked up without being caught on the edges between the door panels  14   a ,  14   b  of the car door  14  and the sill-section  16 . 
   The embodiment according to the invention of a sill-section  16  with a light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  is shown enlarged in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b ,  FIG. 5   a  showing enlarged the detail B of  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5   b  showing enlarged the detail C of  FIG. 3 . 
   The light module  22  shown in  FIG. 5   a  is accommodated with positive fit in the sill-section  16  and arranged in a vertical wall. The door panel  14   b  of the car door  14  is fitted with a cleaning element  28  which, on movement of the car door  14 , is moved over the light module  22  and thereby exerts a cleaning effect. 
   In  FIG. 5   b , arranged on the door panel  14   a  of the car door  14  is a cleaning element  29  which, on movement of the car door  14 , travels over the groove  19  and the light module  20  integrated therein and thereby cleans the light module  20 . 
   As an alternative to arrangement of the light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  in the sill-section  16  in the floor area  23 ,  15  of the car door  14 , or of the hoistway door  13  respectively, it is also possible to arrange the light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  in a side area  31  of the elevator car  12  or of the floor S 1 , S 2 . This arrangement is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this arrangement, the light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  can be guided in the side area  31  in a sill-section  16  that extends into this side area  31 . However, it is also possible for the light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  to be arranged in the side area  31  without use of a sill-section  16  in either the elevator car  12  or on the floor S 1 , S 2 . In the case of a sill-section  16  arranged at the side, the light module  21 ,  22  is cleaned by the car door  14 , or hoistway door  13  respectively, being pushed into the door guide-grooves  17 ,  18  at the side. 
   The control of the light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  is not explained further here. It is performed by an elevator control that is not shown. 
   With the embodiment according to the invention, it is made possible to draw attention to a gap  30  between a floor S 1 , S 2  and the elevator car  12 . The light modules  20 ,  21 ,  22  are so arranged that they can be integrated into the sill-section  16  without great constructional outlay. The integration of the light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  into the sill-section  16  has the advantage that sliding of the car door  14 , or hoistway door  13 , past and over the respective light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  exerts a cleaning effect, so that the warning function of the light module  20 ,  21 ,  22  is not impaired by soiling. 
   The light modules can be directly integrated into a groove in the sill-section, the groove having smaller dimensions than the door guide-grooves. Space is thereby saved, and no additional mechanical element is needed for installation. In particular, no space is needed for the light module on the sill-section (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     FIG. 7  shows diagrammatically a light module  20  according to the present invention. Preferably fastened onto each of the outer ends of the light-module carrier is a cylindrical LED  40  that emits light into the inside of the channel. Through the tubular lens that lies in the channel of the light-module carrier, the light of the LEDs is distributed uniformly and projected outward. The lens and the LEDs are protected by a transparent cover  42 . The holder  41  holds the LED and also performs a cooling function.