Abstract:
An elevator emergency escape device is activated by mechanical failure, power outage, an earthquake, fire, etc. When the device is triggered by a passenger breaking a cover over an emergency button and pressing the button, the device plays a voice message that informs all the passengers of the situation. The brake is released, and the elevator cab is aligned with the nearest floor, unless the situation dictates a predetermined floor at a different level. The elevator cab can be moved by backup electrical systems, or by manual operation. The device includes the voice message, a braille system for blind passengers, and a lifting device for handicapped persons.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an elevator emergency escape device. Particularly, when an elevator breaks down by a mechanical failure, a power outage, an earth quake, a fire in the building and so on, the elevator passengers are immediately informed by a voice device and a window is opened for grasping a manual operated cable. Then, these passengers can manually pull the cable to enable this elevator to arrive at a closest floor. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Referring to FIG. 1, it is a conventional elevator emergency escape device. In which, an action rod  2  is disposed on a brake  1 . The brake  1  is mounted on a motor transmission shaft in a mechanical control room above the elevator. A pulling rod  3  is horizontally pivoted and one pivoted end of the pulling rod  3  contacts with the action rod  2 . The other free end of the pulling rod  3  is rotatable within a range. A pulling cable  4  is connected with the free end. A middle portion of the pulling rod  3  is disposed with a rotary wheel  5  for an action cable  6  winding on. A transmission wheel  7  is positioned by one side of the rotary wheel  5 . And, a supporting rod is positioned by the rotary wheel  5 . The rotary wheel  5  drives the transmission wheel  7 . With regard to the operation, a user pulls down the pulling cable  4  to make the pulling rod  3  move down. At this moment, the brake  1  is released from the motor transmission shaft. So, once the rotary wheel  5  is rotated, the transmission wheel  7  will drive an action wheel  8  to rotate accordingly. Then, the motor transmission shaft will be rotated, too. Therefore, the elevator cab is possible to move up or move down by manually pulling this pulling cable  4 . 
     However, although the movement of the elevator cab can be manually operated by hand, it is still very inconvenient. All these operations are just based on feeling. It is not sure whether this elevator cab will precisely arrive at a safe floor or not. Even an additional battery and motor can be added in this system, it still has many related disadvantages on operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an elevator emergency escape device. When an elevator breaks down by a mechanical failure, a power outage, an earthquake, a fire in the building and so on, the elevator passengers are immediately informed by a voice message and a window is opened. Then, one of the passengers can manually pull the cables via the window to enable a back-up power supply source and to release the brake. Also, this elevator will arrive at a closest floor automatically. 
     The next objective of the present invention is to provide an elevator emergency escape device. When no power is supplied, the window is opened. So, the pulling cable can be reached through this window. By operating the pulling cable, this elevator cab can be moved up or down so as to arrive at a closest floor and then all the trapped elevator passengers can escape. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide an elevator emergency escape device. When the pulling cable is not working, an emergency button is disposed in the elevator cab. After breaking the protective cover of the emergency button, the emergency button can be pressed down to open the elevator door for escape. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide an elevator emergency escape device. In which, a voice device, braille and a handicap action element are provided in the elevator cab so that the handicap can escape, too. 
     Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an elevator emergency escape device. When an earthquake happens, the elevator will automatically stop, inform the elevator passengers by voice, and open the elevator door. Also, when the building is on fire, the elevator will automatically arrive at a safe floor that is preset as an emergency escape floor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a conventional elevator emergency escape device. 
     FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the operation. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the window portion of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view from a selected portion in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is to provide an elevator emergency escape device. It is to solve the related problems caused by an elevator&#39;s mechanical failure, a power outage, an earthquake, a fire in the building and so on, Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the following portions or elements. 
     An elevator lifting motor  10  is to be used under a normal condition for driving the elevator cab up or down. And, a brake  11  is extended from one end of a shaft of the elevator lifting motor  10 . 
     An emergency driving system is provided. A window  20  for emergency operation is disposed in the elevator cab and covered by a window cover  26 . Under an emergency condition, a window controller  82  can be activated to open this window  20 . Through the window  20 , a controlling cable  21  as well as manual operated cables  61 ,  62  can be reached and grasped by hands. 
     A window  20  is disposed in an elevator cab. The window  20  is covered by a window cover  26  and the window cover  26  is controlled by a window controller  82  so that the window  20  can be opened under an emergency condition. 
     An emergency power supply device is sequentially composed of a building emergency power source, a back-up power source  22  in a mechanical control room and a second back-up power source  50  in the mechanical control room. When the emergency system is utilized on the elevator lifting motor  10 , the back-up power source  22  is electrically connected to a driving motor  23  which has a cab alignment controller  24 . The output from the driving motor  23  is tuned by a governor  25  so as to provide an optimal rotation speed. This output further transmits to a power shaft  32  via two gears  30 ,  31 . An arm  40  is connected with a brake release rod  41  for releasing the brake  11 . The brake release rod  41  can be micro-adjusted by an adjusting device  42  to maintain at a best position. The arm  40  also connects to a sliding shaft  33  that is movably fitted on the power shaft  32  and can transmit the rotation thereon. One end of the power shaft  32  is disposed with a clutch gear  34 . Once the clutch gear  34  slides into a gear  12  of the elevator lifting motor  10 , the output of the driving motor  23  can transmit to an axle  13  of the elevator lifting motor  10 . The arm  40  also has a counterweight  43 . An earthquake detection device  44  is set closely around two sides of the counterweight  43 . On extended end of the arm  40  is connected with the controlling cable  21 , an electromagnetic activator  45  and a second back-up power source  50 . The controlling cable  21  can be manually operated by hand to make the arm  40  rotate a small angle. As a result, the electromagnetic activator  45  will be enabled. 
     The manual operated cables  61 ,  62  are wound on a cable disk  60 . The manual operated cables  61 ,  62  can be pulled by hand via the window  20 . The cable disk  60  is co-axially engaged with a bevel gear  63 . The bevel gear  63  is geared with another bevel gear  35  disposed on the power shaft  32 . Thus, when a user pulls the manual operated cables  61 ,  62  by hand, the pulling force will transmit to the axle  13  of the elevator lifting motor  10 . 
     If none of the above elements is working, an emergency button  70  can be pressed down after breaking a protective cover  71 . No matter the elevator cab is precisely aligned with the floor or not, the elevator door will be opened immediately. However, this is the last choice for escape. It is to ensure all the elevator passengers still can escape even under the worst condition. 
     A handicap device  80  as shown in FIG. 4 is set on the back of the window cover  26 . It means that after opening the window cover  26 , the handicap device  80  will show out. The voice message will pop out, too. In addition, braille is disposed on the window cover  26  for the blind. And, a lifting activator  81  is provided in the lower portion of the window cover  26  for the handicap. 
     A voice device and window controller  82  is able to provide a voice message and to open the window cover  26  automatically while this elevator is out of control. 
     The second back-up power source  50  contains a battery liquid  51 , an anti-evaporation cover  52  and several electric plates  53 . A hooking rope  54  is connected between the second back-up power source  50  and the arm  40 . Once the arm  40  is rotated or swung, the arm  40  will pull the hooking rope  54  so that the second back-up power source  50  will rotate to a totally up-side-down position. Then, the battery liquid  51  contacts with (or mixes with) the electric plates  53  to create a certain reaction. Consequently, electricity is therefore generated for emergency use. 
     When the elevator breaks down by a mechanical failure, a power outage, an earth quake, a fire in the building or the like, an elevator passengers are informed by a voice message and then the elevator cab will be aligned with a closest floor by an emergency power source. When it is on fire, the elevator cab will automatically arrive at a preset emergency escape floor. This elevator cab can be moved by an electrical system or by a manual operation. The elevator cab further comprises a voice device for providing the voice message, braille for blind persons, and a lifting activator. And, an emergency button with a protective cover is disposed on the elevator cab so as to allow a passenger to break the protective cover to press down the emergency button so that the elevator cab&#39;s door will be aligned with a closest floor and then opened. 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is just an example about a hydraulic powered elevator. That is the emergency driving system that is utilized on a hydraulic cylinder. It includes the following portions or elements. 
     It has a hydraulic cylinder  14  for lifting or lowering the elevator cab. A cab alignment controller  24  is set on the back of a driving motor  23 . A governor  25  is disposed on the front end thereof. The axle of the driving motor  23  has a gear  15  and a rotary wheel  16 . The rotary wheel  16  is connected with the crank  17  so that the hydraulic cylinder activator  18  will be enabled to make the hydraulic cylinder move up. 
     A manual operated cable  64  is disposed behind the window  20  so it can be pulled by hand to lift up the elevator cab. The manual operated cable  64  is wound on a cable disk  60 . The cable disk  60  is co-axially engaged with two gears  19 ,  15 . Once the manual operated cable  64  is pulled, it will enable the hydraulic cylinder activator  18  to provide a hydraulic media (such as a hydraulic liquid or oil) into the hydraulic cylinder  14  for lifting up the elevator cab. 
     A back-up power source  22  and a second back-up power source  50  are provided for emergency power supply. A hooking rope  54  is connected between the second back-up battery  50  and the controlling cable  21 . The other end of the controlling cable  21  is first connected to a manual release valve  28  and then connected to a counterweight  43  and an earthquake detector  44 . Also, another pressure release loop of the hydraulic cylinder  14  is disposed with an electromagnetic release valve  29  such that when the power is normally supplied, this electromagnetic release valve  29  can be used. 
     According to the above-mentioned emergency escape device, the emergency escape method is described as follows. 
     About the order of this elevator emergency escape power supply: 
     1. If the building emergency power system is available, this power source can be used as the first choice. If not, the back-up power source will provide the power needed. In case the back-up power source is not working, the second back-up power source will provide the power. Otherwise, the manual operation is the last option. 
     When the elevator breaks down by a mechanical failure or a power outage, the emergency escape procedure can be seen as follows. 
     1. The voice device sends out a voice message. 
     2. The window controller is enabled to open the window. 
     3. One of the trapped passengers can grasp the related cables to move the elevator cab to a closest floor. Then the elevator door will be aligned with the floor. For the handicap, this passenger can be informed by the voice message and by the braille so that the lifting activator can be enabled to let the elevator door align with the floor for emergency escape. 
     4. If the controlling cable also breaks down, the passenger still can pull the up or down manual operated cables so that the elevator cab can be moved to a closest floor for emergency escape. 
     5. If none of the above-mentioned system or method is working, one passenger can breaks the protective cover to press down the emergency button. Hence, the elevator will move to a closest floor for emergency escape. 
     When the elevator is out of order by an earthquake, the emergency escape procedures are as follows. 
     1. The voice device sends out a voice message. 
     2. This elevator cab will stop at a closest floor and open the elevator door. 
     3. After which, this elevator becomes the normal condition and can be used as usual. 
     When the elevator is out of order by a fire in the building, the emergency escape procedures are as follows. 
     1. The voice device sends out a voice message. 
     2. This elevator cab will stop at a closest floor and open the elevator door. 
     3. If the closest floor is not safe (such as on fire), this elevator cab can arrive at a safe floor by the manual operation (by hand). Once it arrives the preset safe emergency escape floor, the elevator door will open to allow these passengers to escape. 
     The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.