Device for preventing travel of an elevator with its doors open

An exemplary device for preventing travel of an elevator car when a car door is open includes a receiver that remains in a fixed position relative to a hoistway wall. A stop member moves responsive to the car door moving toward an open position such that the stop member engages the receiver to prevent movement of the elevator car when the door is open.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-296203, which was filed on Nov. 20, 2008.

BACKGROUND

Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. 2007-55691, for example, discloses a device for preventing travel of an elevator car with the doors open. In the case of the technology described in that document, a door detection switch detects the state of the doorway, a car position detector detects the position of the car, and a fall-prevention means detects travel with the doors open based on outputs from them. A rope gripper, which is used to hold a rope for hanging the car, is activated when said fall-prevention means has detected travel of the car with its doors open in order to prevent further traveling of the car.

One drawback of such an arrangement is that it relies upon software-based processing and if it fails, the car may be moveable with the doors open.

SUMMARY

An exemplary device for preventing travel of an elevator car when a car door is open includes a receiver that remains in a fixed position relative to a hoistway wall. A stop member moves responsive to the car door moving toward an open position such that the stop member engages the receiver to prevent movement of the elevator car when the door is open.

When the doors are opened as the car arrives at a servicing floor, the stop member engages with the receiver while the doors are opening before the car-side doorway is fully open; thereby travel of the car is prevented while the car-side doorway is partially or fully open due to the engagement of the stop member with the receiver.

In one example, when the stop member is installed on the car door, whereby the stop member moves along with the car door upon opening/closing, travel of the car with the doors open can be reliably prevented using an extremely simple structure.

In one example, a direct-acting guide means, which is used to guide the stop member to move in the horizontal direction relative to the car door, and a biasing means, which is used to apply a biasing force to the stop member in the direction of opening of the door, are installed respectively between the stop member and the car door. A restricting member prevents further advancement of the stop member past a limit position where it is engaged with the receiver. The stop member reaches the limit position at some intermediate point during the opening operation of the car door, and the car door fully opens subsequently while moving relative to the stop member.

In one example, the amount of advancement of the stop member toward a hoistway sidewall can be reduced when the car-side doorway is fully opened.

In some examples, it is also feasible for the stop member to be supported on the frame of the car. This is advantageous in terms of strength because the restricting force for preventing travel of the car with its doors open is borne by the car frame.

In one example while a biasing means, which is used to apply a biasing force to the stop member in the direction of retreat, is installed between the stop member and the frame of the car, a manipulating body, which is used to push the stop member in the direction of advancement, is installed on the car doors, whereby the stop member engages with the receiver when it is pushed by the manipulating body, which moves along with the car doors, when said car doors are opened.

In one example, the stop member is allowed to advance only by a prescribed amount while it is cam-driven by a manipulating body installed on the car doors during the opening operation of said car doors. The amount the stop member advances when the car doorway is fully opened can be also reduced.

In one example, the stop member has a guide surface that is slanted with respect to the opening/closing direction of the car doors, whereby the stop member advances as the manipulating body and the guide surface come into contact when the car doors are opened.

With the disclosed examples, travel of the car can be reliably prevented while the car doorway is partially or fully open due to the engagement of the stop member with the receiver.

In some examples, the amount of advancement of the stop member toward a hoistway wall is reduced and the space required for the hoistway can be reduced.

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3show a first embodiment of a device for preventing travel of an elevator with its doors open. As shown inFIG. 1, two matched standing guide rails3are installed in parallel inside hoistway2, whereby car1travels in the vertical direction inside hoistway2along said guide rails3. Here, both guide rails3have a generally T-shaped cross section, and they are fixed to hoistway walls4using rail brackets (not illustrated).

Car-side doorway1ais created on car1in order for passengers to get on/off said car1, and said car-side doorway1ais opened/closed in the horizontal direction by a matched pair of car-side doors5and6. In this example, a so-called two-leaf door system is adopted as the door opening/closing method for the car-side doors5and6.

Car-side doors5and6have door panels5aand6afor opening/closing car-side doorway1aand quasi-rectangular door hangers5band6bthat are attached to the top end parts of said door panels, respectively. Car-side doors5and6are hung from door rails9to be described later using not illustrated door rollers that are attached to the back sides of door hangers5band6b. As is well-known but not illustrated here, guide shoes to be guided by a doorsill are attached to the bottom ends of door panels5aand6a.

On the other hand, door operator7in this example is installed at the top of car1in order to open/close car-side doors5and6. Door rails9, which extend in the horizontal direction, are installed on operator base plate8of door operator7;

and deceleration pulley10is installed in a rotatable fashion above said door rails9at the right end part of operator base plate8inFIG. 1, and slave pulley11is installed in a rotatable fashion at the left end part of operator base plate8inFIG. 1. Endless drive belt12is installed between said deceleration pulley10and slave pulley11, and one of the car-side doors5and the other car-side door6are respectively connected to the upper part of drive belt12and the lower part of drive belt12via coupling members13and14.

When door motor15drives deceleration pulley10to rotate via deceleration belt16, car-side doors5and6part from each other/come together in the horizontal direction so as to open/close car-side doorway1a. Here, as is well-known, door engagement device17, which engages with not illustrated landing-side doors, is installed on door hanger5bof car-side door5positioned on the right inFIG. 1; and said door engagement device17is used to move a landing-side door, not illustrated, in conjunction with car-side door5.

In addition, a stop rod18serves as a stop member to be latched when the car-side doors are opened. The stop rod18is installed in the horizontal direction, that is, in the direction that the doors are opened/closed, on the surface of door hanger6bof car-side door6positioned on the left inFIG. 1. Two matched support members19aand19b, serve the role of a direct-acting guide means for guiding stop rod18in the horizontal direction relative to door hanger6b. A compression coil spring20serves the role of a biasing means for constant application of a biasing force to stop rod18in the direction in which the doors are opened. The spring20and support members19aand19bare installed between stop rod18and door hanger6b.

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 2, stop rod18runs through support members19aand19bthat are fixed to door hanger6b, and compression coil spring20is fitted around stop rod18between support members19aand19b. A first (left side inFIG. 2) end of the compression spring20is received against a first stop pin22athat passes through the stop rod18. A second (right side inFIG. 2) of the compression spring20is received against the support member19b. A second stop pin22b, which also passes through the stop rod18, is used to define the foremost advancement position of stop rod18with respect to door hanger6bin the direction in which the doors are opened as it comes into contact with support member19bprovided on the right inFIG. 2. In other words, compression coil spring20is installed between first stop pin22aand support member19bprovided on the right inFIG. 2. The compression coil spring20constantly pushes against the stop rod18in the direction in which the doors are opened. Then, when the doors are closed as shown inFIG. 2, stop rod18is retained at the foremost advancement position by second stop pin22band support member19b. Here, buffering member21made of rubber is attached to the front end of stop rod18.

A receiver (stop bracket)23, which serves the role of a latching member to be engaged with stop rod18, is attached to guide rail3. This stop bracket23has a latching part24including an oblong vertical latching hole24aand an advancement restricting part25serving as an advancement restricting means on the side provided counter to stop-rod18side of said latching part24at a prescribed distance.

In this example, when car1arrives at the landing of a servicing floor, and car-side doors5and6are opened, stop rod18initially advances toward the hoistway sidewall4together with car-side door6which is moved in the direction of opening of the doors. During this initial advancement, the compression spring20is not compressed, as the support member19b, compression spring20, and stop pin22amove together with the door panel6a. Then, at an intermediate stage of door opening, the stop rod18moves into latching hole24aand engages with latching part24. At this time, buffering member21of stop rod18comes into contact with advancement restricting part25at an advancement limit position, whereby further advancement of stop rod18is prevented. Once stop rod18has reached the advancement limit position, the car-side doors5,6may continue to move further in the direction of opening of the doors while compressing compression coil spring20until the car-side doorway is fully opened as shown inFIG. 3. That is, in the present embodiment, because stop rod18is engaged with latching part24at an intermediate point during the opening operation of the door, travel of the car can be prevented by the engagement of the stop rod18in the stop bracket23, even if car-side doorway1ais only partially open.

In the position shown inFIG. 3, the door is held in place by the door mover so that the support member19bis effectively stationary. The spring20urges the stop pin22aaway from the support member19bso that the stop rod18is urged in the direction of door opening (to the left).

On the other hand, when car-side doors5and6are instructed to close, first car-side door6is initially closed by enabling the compressed coil spring20to relax to its uncompressed state while the stop rod18remains engaged with the stop bracket23. Then, at an intermediate point when the coil spring20is fully uncompressed, the continued closing of the door6b(by door operator7) enables the stop rod18to retreat along with car-side door6to subsequently part from stop bracket23, whereby car1becomes ready to travel. That is, in the present embodiment, the engagement of stop rod18with stop bracket23is maintained until some intermediate point during the door closing operation of car-side doors5and6, and stop rod18is released from stop bracket23when a safe state is attained while the door closing operation progresses.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, because stop rod18is reliably engaged with stop bracket23when car-side doorway1ais fully open, travel of car1with its doors open can be reliably prevented, so the safety of the elevator can be improved.

In particular, because stop rod18is not only engaged with stop bracket23when car-side doorway1ais fully open but also when car-side doorway1ais partially open, travel of car1during the door opening operation of car-side doors5and6can be reliably prevented, resulting in an advantage that the safety of the elevator can be further improved.

In addition, because the movement of stop rod18in the direction of opening of the doors is restricted by advancement restricting part25of stop bracket23during the door opening operation of car-side door6while reducing the relative amount stop rod18protrudes from car1when car-side door1ais completely open, there is an advantage that the space required for hoistway2can be reduced in the horizontal direction.

Furthermore, because travel of car1with its doors open can be prevented using a simple structure, that is, installation of stop rod18on the front surface of door hanger6b, not only can said mechanism be made smaller and lighter, but also a sufficient maintenance space can be assured in order for service personnel to work and move around during maintenance of the elevator.

FIGS. 4-7show a second embodiment including a car stop member27, which is installed in such a manner that it can pivot with respect to the frame of the car in order to serve the role of the member to be latched, is installed in addition to stop rod26that is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, whereby stop rod26pushes car stop27during the door opening operation of car-side doors5and6. That is, in the present embodiment, stop rod26functions as a manipulating body used to manipulate car stop27.

More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, bracket28having pivot shaft28ain the vertical car direction is attached to a car frame of the car not shown in the figure, and quasi-cylindrical attachment base part29of car stop27is fitted loosely around pivot shaft28aof bracket28. Furthermore, push part30to be pushed by stop rod26and stop part31to be engaged with a receiver (stop plate)33to be described later are extended in the diameter direction from attachment base part29. Then, when said car stop27pivots with respect to pivot shaft28a, stop part31advances toward/retreats from stop plate33.

In addition, twisted coil spring32, which serves the role of a biasing means, is provided between stop27and bracket28. Twisted coil spring32is retained by bracket28at one end while it is retained by push part30at the other end. Car stop27is constantly biased by said twisted coil spring32in the pivoting direction of retreat of stop31from the side counter to the side having the stop bracket33. Here, car stop27is held at its retreat limit position using a pivot restricting member (not illustrated) when car-side doorway1ais closed as shown inFIG. 5.

On the other hand, quasi-rectangular latching hole33awith the long side formed in the vertical direction is created on stop plate33serving as the latching member fixed to guide rail3, whereby stop part31of car stop27can move into said latching hole33a.

Then, when car-side doors5and6are opened as car1arrives at the landing of a floor, stop rod26, which moves along with car-side door6, comes into contact with push part30of car stop27during the door opening operation, and said push part30is pushed by stop rod26in the direction of opening of the doors. As a result, as shown inFIG. 7, car stop27pivots, stop part31of said car stop27moves into latching hole33a, and outer surface33bof latching hole33aserves the role of an advancement restricting means in order to prevent further advancement of stop part31from the advancement limit position, where the front end part of said stop part31comes into contact with said outer surface33b. As described above, because further advancement of stop rod26is prevented by said car stop27once car stop27reaches the advancement limit position, the continued opening of the doors5,6causes the compression of coil spring20until the car-side doorway is fully opened as shown inFIG. 7.

On the other hand, during the door closing operation of car-side doors5and6, first car-side door6is initially moved in the direction of closing of the doors while car stop27is retained at the advancement limit position by the pushing operation force of stop rod26generated by the biasing force of compression coil spring20, until the compression spring20is fully uncompressed at an intermediate point during the door closing operation. Then, after the intermediate point at which the spring20is fully uncompressed, the stop rod26is moved, along with the door6, to the foremost retracted point with respect to door hanger6bby the door operator7, such that car stop27pivots in the direction of retreat of stop part31due to the biasing force of twisted coil spring32. As a result, stop part31parts from stop plate33, and car1becomes ready for travel.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, not only can almost the same effect as that of the first embodiment be achieved, but an advantage is also offered in terms of strength in that because car stop27is supported by the frame of the car, the force preventing travel of the car is borne by the frame of the car.

FIGS. 8-10are diagrams showing a third embodiment in which a bottom part of a vertically extending attachment plate34aof a manipulation body34is fixed to door hanger6b, and roller34bis installed at the top of said attachment plate34ain a rotatable fashion. On the other hand, car stop member35, which serves the role of the stop member to be latched, is connected to the top end part of operator base plate8at the left end part inFIG. 8via linking members36aand36b. That is, car stop35, linking members36aand36b, and operator base plate8are used to configure a parallel linking mechanism that utilizes operator base plate8as a fixation node, whereby car stop35is allowed to retreat toward a receiver (stop plate)39to be described later while it is guided by linking members36aand36b. Here, car stop35is biased constantly by the weight of car stop35itself in the direction of closing of car-side door6, and it is retained at the retreat limit position by a pivoting restricting member not illustrated while in the state shown inFIG. 8in which car-side doorway la is fully closed.

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 9, car stop35has quasi-trapezoidal plate main body37and protrusion part38that extends from said stop main body37toward the stop plate39side, and guiding surface37aas the end surface counter to the stop plate39side of stop main body37is formed slanting downward in the direction of opening of car-side door6.

On the other hand, quasi-rectangular latching hole39awith the long side formed in the vertical direction is created on stop plate39that serves the role of a latching member fixed to guide rail3.

In the case of a device for preventing travel of an elevator with its doors open that is configured in the aforementioned manner, when car-side doors5and6are opened when car1arrives at the landing of a floor, car stop35is cam-driven at an intermediate point during the opening operation by manipulating body34, which is moved along with car-side door6, so as to advance toward the stop plate39. More specifically, at the intermediate point during the door opening operation, the roller34bof manipulating body34reaches the guiding surface37aof the car stop35. Subsequently, the continued door opening operation causes the roller34bto ride down the guiding surface37a, thereby forcing linking members36aand36bto pivot upward so as to move car stop35by a prescribed amount toward stop plate39side and resultantly enable protrusion part38of said stop35to move into latching hole40aof stop plate39as shown inFIG. 10. Travel of car1is prevented when car stop35engages with stop plate39in said manner. Then, once car stop35is engaged with stop plate39, roller34bis moved along the bottom surface of stop main body37while the engagement between car stop35and stop plate39is maintained as car-side doors5,6are further moved in the direction of opening of the doors until car-side doorway1ais fully opened.

On the other hand, during the door closing operation of car-side doors5and6, the roller34bof manipulating body34initially rolls along the bottom surface of the car stop member35until an intermediate point at which the roller34bthen rolls up the guiding surface37aso as to lower car stop35. As the car stop35is lowered the linking members36aand36bpivot thereby enabling the protrusion part38of car stop35to part from stop plate39, and car1becomes ready for travel.

Therefore, also in the present embodiment, almost the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be achieved.

Furthermore, although the device for preventing travel of an elevator with its doors open was applied to a so-called a two-leaf door system, which involves two biparting doors, used as the door opening/closing system in the first to the third embodiments, the present invention can also be applied to an elevator that utilizes a so-called single-opening door system as the door opening/closing system.