Elevator car door coupling systems

Elevator car door systems are provided. The systems include an elevator car having a car door and a movable car door coupling attached to the car and arranged to control operation of the car door. A mounting bracket is attached to the car, a first blade is attached to the mounting bracket, a second blade is attached to the mounting bracket, and a deterrent is attached to the mounting bracket. The first and second blades are operable a landing door coupling to operate the car door. A portion of the movable car door coupling is arranged to contact a ceiling of an elevator shaft during an overrun event when and move a part of the movable car door coupling relative to the car, and when the portion is not in contact with the ceiling, a biasing element urges the portion toward a normal position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of European Application No. 18305569.8, filed May 9, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to elevator systems and, more particularly, to elevator car door systems and elevator car door couplings thereof.

Elevators are equipped with car door couplings to enable operation of an elevator car door in conjunction with a landing door during normal operation. The couplings of such systems are located at the top of the doors. The components of the elevator car doors are located on the exterior of the elevator car and within an elevator shaft. Typically such components extend above a top of the elevator car. It may be advantageous to reduce the footprint or volume occupied by elevator systems, and thus reducing the required space to accommodate the elevator car couplings may be desirable.

SUMMARY

According to some embodiments, elevator car door systems are provided. The elevator car door systems include an elevator car having an elevator car door and a movable elevator car door coupling attached to the elevator car and arranged to control operation of the elevator car door. The movable elevator car door coupling includes a mounting bracket attached to the elevator car, a first blade attached to the mounting bracket, a second blade attached to the mounting bracket, and a deterrent attached to the mounting bracket. The first and second blades are operable to engage with a landing door coupling to operate the elevator car door. A portion of the movable elevator car door coupling is arranged to contact a ceiling of an elevator shaft during an overrun event, wherein, when the portion contacts the ceiling, at least a part of the movable elevator car door coupling moves relative to the elevator car, and when the portion is not in contact with the ceiling, a biasing element urges the portion toward a normal position.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the portion comprises the first blade.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include a first blade support fixedly connected to the mounting bracket, wherein the first blade is moveably connected to the first blade support.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the biasing element connects the first blade to the first blade support.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include at least one connector arranged to moveably connect the first blade to the first blade support.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the first blade support defines a slot and the at least one connector moves along the slot when the first blade is moved due to contact with the ceiling of the elevator shaft.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the at least one connector includes a connector extension arranged to maintain a separation of the first blade from the second blade.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the portion comprises the deterrent.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include a deterrent support fixedly connected to the mounting bracket, wherein the deterrent is moveably connected to the deterrent support.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the biasing element connects the first blade to the first blade support.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include at least one connector arranged to moveably connect the first blade to the first blade support.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the first blade support defines a slot and the at least one connector moves along the slot when the first blade is moved due to contact with the ceiling of the elevator shaft.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the portion comprises a bracket extension of the mounting bracket.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include a secondary mounting bracket, wherein the secondary mounting bracket is fixedly connected to the elevator car and the mounting bracket is movably mounted to the secondary mounting bracket.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the elevator car door systems may include that the biasing element connects the mounting bracket to the secondary mounting bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The roping107engages the machine111, which, in this illustrative embodiment, is part of an overhead structure of the elevator system101, although other arrangements are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The machine111is configured to control movement between the elevator car103and the counterweight105. The position encoder113may be mounted on an upper sheave of a speed-governor system119and may be configured to provide position signals related to a position of the elevator car103within the elevator shaft117. In other embodiments, the position encoder113may be directly mounted to a moving component of the machine111, or may be located in other positions and/or configurations as known in the art.

The elevator controller115is located, as shown in the illustrative arrangement, in a controller room121of the elevator shaft117and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system101, and particularly the elevator car103. In other embodiments the controller115can be located in other locations, including, but not limited to, fixed to a landing or landing door or located in a cabinet at a landing. The elevator controller115may provide drive signals to the machine111to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car103. The elevator controller115may also be configured to receive position signals from the position encoder113. When moving up or down within the elevator shaft117along guide rail109, the elevator car103may stop at one or more landings125as controlled by the elevator controller115.

The machine111may include a motor or similar driving mechanism. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the machine111is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The power supply for the motor may be any power source, including a power grid, which, in combination with other components, is supplied to the motor. Although shown and described with a roping system, elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms of moving an elevator car within an elevator shaft may employ embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 1is merely a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes.

FIG. 2is a schematic illustration of an elevator system201that may incorporate embodiments disclosed herein. As shown inFIG. 2, an elevator car203is located at a landing225. The elevator car203may be called to the landing225by a passenger or mechanic227that desires to travel to another floor within a building or perform maintenance on a portion of the elevator system201. The elevator car203includes car doors231and the landing225includes landing doors233. When the elevator car203is located at the landing225, an opening operation can be performed wherein a component of the car doors231will engage with a component of the landing doors233to open both sets of doors231,233and then enable ingress and egress between the elevator car203and the landing225.

A landing door lintel229of the elevator system201(which may be located at one or more landings225) can house various of the components of the doors to enable operation thereof. For example, operational components for locking/unlocking of the landing doors233and the car doors231(e.g., couplings) may be located behind the lintel, with the operational components of the landing doors233being located within the landing door lintel229and the operational components of the car doors231being located on the elevator car203and arranged to interact with the landing door components, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Typically, the coupling elements of the elevator car doors will extend above the elevator car.

It is advantageous to reduce the volume or footprint of an elevator system within a building. To accommodate such reductions, the amount of space located above and below an elevator car at the top and bottom of an elevator shaft may be reduced. As such, the components and equipment installed and located on top of the elevator car may be required to have altered configurations or otherwise accommodate such reductions in available space.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, movable elevator car door couplings are described herein. The elevator car door couplings of the present disclosure are arranged to remain in the traditional location relative to an elevator car during normal operation. However, when the elevator car approaches the top of the elevator shaft, such as in an over-run situation, the elevator car door couplings are movable to prevent damage thereto, thus allowing for reduced footprint of the elevator system within a building.

Turning now toFIGS. 3A-3B, schematic illustrations of a movable elevator car door coupling300in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure are shown. The movable elevator car door coupling300is arranged to be mounted and fixed to an elevator car and is arranged to allow for coupling with a landing door coupling, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.FIG. 3Aillustrates the movable elevator car door coupling300in a locked position andFIG. 3Billustrates the movable elevator car door coupling300in an unlocked position, e.g., after engagement and/or actuation with a landing door coupling.

The movable elevator car door coupling300includes a mounting bracket302that fixedly attaches or connects to the elevator car. Attached to the mounting bracket302are a first blade304and a second blade306. The blades304,306are movably mounted to the mounting bracket302by one or more pivot mounts308. The pivot mounts308are rotatable about a pivot or fixed point that is attached to the mounting bracket302. The first blade304is connected to a first blade support310and the second blade306is connected to a second blade support312. The blade supports310,312may be directly connected to the pivot mounts308, and the blades304,306may be arranged to interact with components of a landing door lock mechanism and/or landing door coupling, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, the second blade306and the second blade support312may be a unitary body.

Further, as shown, a deterrent314is arranged relative to the blades304,306to prevent access to the blades304,306and thus prevent unauthorized or improper operation of the movable elevator car door coupling300, and thus prevent unauthorized or improper opening of an elevator car door. The deterrent314, in this embodiment, is movably mounted to a deterrent support316. The deterrent support316is fixedly attached to the mounting bracket302.

As shown inFIG. 3A, during normal operation, in a locked position, the first blade304and the deterrent314extend above the mounting bracket302. The extension of these elements may interact with or contact a ceiling of an elevator shaft. However, in this embodiment, the first blade304and the deterrent314are movably attached to the movable elevator car door coupling300to enable movement of such components when contact is made with a ceiling of an elevator shaft. To allow for the movement of the first blade304and the deterrent314, biasing elements are provided. For example, as shown, the first blade304is connected to the first blade support310by a first biasing element318and the deterrent314is connected to the deterrent support316by a second biasing element320. In normal operation, as shown inFIGS. 3A-3B, the biasing elements318,320do not impact or affect operation of the movable elevator car door coupling300. That is, the biasing elements318,320do not interfere with operation of the couplings and elevator door operations. However, as described herein, if an overrun event or other situation occurs wherein the elevator car approaches the top of the elevator shaft, the biasing elements318,320enable portions of the movable elevator car door coupling300to move to prevent damage thereto.

For example, turning now toFIGS. 4A-4B, schematic illustrations of a movable elevator car door coupling400mounted to an elevator car403in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure are shown.FIG. 4Aillustrates the movable elevator car door coupling400, in a first position, at the start of contact with a ceiling435of an elevator shaft417.FIG. 4Billustrates the movable elevator car door coupling400in a second position, after contact and further movement of the elevator car403occurs. As shown inFIG. 4B, parts of the movable elevator car door coupling400move to allow for the movement of the elevator car403relative to the ceiling435.

The movable elevator car door coupling400is similar to that shown and described above. For example, the movable elevator car door coupling400includes a mounting bracket402that mounts the movable elevator car door coupling400to the elevator car403. The movable elevator car door coupling400includes a first blade404and a second blade406, as described above. The first blade404is movably connected to a first blade support410with a first biasing element418arranged therebetween. Similarly, a deterrent414is movably attached to a deterrent support416by a second biasing element420. As shown, in the normal operation position (FIG. 4A), the first blade404and the deterrent414extend above a top437of the elevator car403.

However, during an overrun event, such as shown inFIG. 4B, the first blade404and the deterrent414are moved relative to the elevator car403to allow the top437of the elevator car403to move closer to the ceiling435of the elevator shaft417. As shown inFIG. 4B, the biasing elements418,420are extended to allow for the first blade404and the deterrent414to move relative to the elevator car403(i.e., the elements move downward relative to the top437of the elevator car403). In this embodiment, the first blade404and the deterrent414contact the ceiling435of the elevator shaft417, which forces the first blade404and the deterrent414to move, applying pressure or force against the biasing elements418,420. The extended biasing elements418,420will apply a biasing force such that when the elevator car403moves away from the ceiling435of the elevator shaft417, the first blade404and the deterrent414will be returned to the normal position (shown inFIG. 4A). That is, the biasing elements418,420apply a restoring force to return the first blade404and the deterrent414to the normal operation position after an overrun or other contact and force is applied to the first blade404and the deterrent414.

Turning now toFIGS. 5A-5C, schematic illustrations of a movable elevator car door coupling500in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure are shown.FIG. 5Ais an isometric illustration showing the structure of a movable first blade504,FIG. 5Bis an isometric illustration showing the structure of a movable deterrent514, andFIG. 5Cis an enlarged, sectional illustration of the movable first blade504. The movable elevator car door coupling500is similar to that shown and described above with respect toFIGS. 3A-4B, and thus similar features may not be labeled or described in detail again. As shown inFIGS. 5A-5C, one or more first connectors522are arranged to connect the first blade504to a respective first blade support510and one or more second connectors524are arranged to connect the deterrent514to a deterrent support516.

As shown inFIG. 5A, the movable first blade504is movably attached to a first blade support510, with the first blade support510fixedly connected to a mounting bracket502. The connection between the first blade504and the first blade support510is provided using the first connectors522. The first connectors522may be screws, bolts, or other element that may allow for supported yet movable connection between the first blade504and the first blade support510. The first connectors522are arranged to translate or move along one or more respective first slots or tracks526formed in the first blade support510. Further, a first biasing element518engages with and connects the first blade504to the first blade support510and is arranged to provide a restoration force to the movable first blade504. At least one of the first connectors522is arranged with a predefined length in order to ensure proper separation and/or spacing between the first blade504and a second blade506, as shown inFIG. 5C.

As shown inFIG. 5B, the movable deterrent514is movably attached to deterrent support516, with the deterrent support516fixedly connected to the mounting bracket502. The connection between the deterrent514and the deterrent support516is provided using the second connectors524. The second connectors524may be screws, bolts, or other element that may allow for supported yet movable connection between the deterrent514and the deterrent support516. The second connectors524are arranged to translate or move along one or more respective second slots or tracks528formed in the deterrent support516. Further, a second biasing element520engages with and connects the deterrent514to the deterrent support516and is arranged to provide a restoration force to the movable deterrent514.

As noted above, one of the first connectors522may be arranged to ensure a separation or spacing between the first blade504and the second blade506. For example, as shown inFIG. 5C, one of the first connectors522has a connector extension530that operates as a spacer between the first and second blades504,506. Although shown with a single first connector having the connector extension530, in some embodiments all first connectors522may include a connector extension530.

Turning now toFIGS. 6A-6B, schematic illustrations of a movable elevator car door coupling600in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure are shown. The movable elevator car door coupling600in this embodiment has similar elements as described above, having a mounting bracket602, a first blade604, a second blade606, and a deterrent614. The movable elevator car door coupling600is attached to an elevator car603by a secondary mounting bracket632. In this embodiment, the secondary mounting bracket632is fixedly attached to the elevator car603and the mounting bracket602is movably attached to the secondary mounting bracket632.

As shown inFIGS. 6A-6B, the mounting bracket602includes a bracket extension634. The bracket extension634extends a distance above the mounting bracket602, and extends a distance beyond an extent of the first blade604and the deterrent614. The bracket extension634is arranged to contact a ceiling of an elevator shaft and in response to such contact, urge the mounting bracket602downward, with all attached components moving with the mounting bracket602. For example, as shown, the mounting bracket602is movably attached to the secondary mounting bracket632by one or more bracket connectors636. The bracket connectors636are arranged to move along or through respective slots or tracks638formed in the secondary mounting bracket632.

A biasing element640connects the mounting bracket602to the secondary mounting bracket632to apply a restoring force to return the mounting bracket602to a normal position if a force is applied to the bracket extension634that moves the mounting bracket602. In normal operation, the biasing element640does not impact or affect operation of the movable elevator car door coupling600. That is, the biasing element640does not interfere with operation of the couplings and elevator door operations. However, as described herein, if an overrun event or other situation occurs wherein the elevator car approaches the top of the elevator shaft, the biasing elements318,320enable portions of the movable elevator car door coupling300to move to prevent damage thereto.

As shown, a belt642and an operator644of an elevator car door coupling are shown relative to the movable elevator car door coupling600. The operator644and belt642are attached to the elevator car603, as known in the art. The belt642connects to or passes through a portion of the movable elevator car door coupling600, and thus when the movable elevator car door coupling600moves, the belt642will stretch, as illustratively shown.

Turning now toFIGS. 7A-7B, schematic illustrations of a movable elevator car door coupling700mounted to an elevator car703in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure are shown.FIG. 7Aillustrates the movable elevator car door coupling700, in a first position, at the start of contact with a ceiling735of an elevator shaft717.FIG. 7Billustrates the movable elevator car door coupling700in a second position, after contact and further movement of the elevator car703occurs. As shown inFIG. 7B, parts of the movable elevator car door coupling700move to allow for the movement of the elevator car703relative to the ceiling735.

The movable elevator car door coupling700is similar to that shown and described above with respect toFIGS. 6A-6B. For example, the movable elevator car door coupling700includes a mounting bracket702movably attached to a secondary mounting bracket732and is mounted to the elevator car703. The movable elevator car door coupling700includes a first blade704, a second blade706, and a deterrent714, as described above. The mounting bracket702includes a bracket extension734that extends above the first blade704and the deterrent714such that the bracket extension734defines the highest point or surface of movable elevator car door coupling700. As shown, in the normal operation position (FIG. 7A), the first blade704, the deterrent714, and the bracket extension734extend above a top737of the elevator car703.

However, during an overrun event, such as shown inFIG. 7B, the mounting bracket702(along with the attached components) is moved relative to the secondary mounting bracket732and thus relative to the elevator car703to allow the top737of the elevator car403to move closer to the ceiling735of the elevator shaft717. As illustratively shown inFIG. 7B, the mounting bracket702is moved downward relative to the secondary mounting bracket732because of contact between the bracket extension734and the ceiling735. The ceiling735contacts the bracket extension734which forces the mounting bracket702to move, applying pressure or force against a biasing element (not shown). The extended biasing element will apply a biasing force such that when the elevator car703moves away from the ceiling735of the elevator shaft717, the mounting bracket702will be returned to the normal position (shown inFIG. 7A). That is, the biasing element applies a restoring force to return the mounting bracket702to the normal operation position after an overrun or other contact and force is applied to the bracket extension734of the mounting bracket702.

As shown inFIG. 7B, a belt742is extended or stretched downward as the mounting bracket702is moved downward. However, the operator744does not move, as it is fixed to the elevator car. The bracket extension734is arranged such that it extends slightly higher relative to the top737of the elevator car703than the operator744, even in a fully depressed position (e.g., as shown inFIG. 7B).

Advantageously, embodiments provided herein provide for elevator car door couplings which enable reduced space occupied by elevator systems. The elevator car door coupling or a part thereof is movable by contacting a ceiling of an elevator shaft. During such contact, the elevator car door coupling or the contacting part will move without damage occurring thereto. That is, the elevator car door coupling or a part thereof will translate vertically if the elevator car door coupling (or part thereof) contacts the ceiling of the elevator shaft. The elevator car door coupling will return to a normal or initial position due to a restoring force applied by a biasing element, such as a spring. Advantageously, the elevator car door coupling is still fully functional even after contact with the ceiling of the elevator shaft.

Advantageously, the elevator car door coupling can be retained at a traditional high point relative to an elevator car, and yet accommodate reduced volume configurations for elevator systems. For example, an overhead security volume can be reduced while maintaining a fully functional elevator car door coupling. Because of the movability of elevator car door couplings of the present disclosure, the elevator car door couplings are still fully functional even after contact with a ceiling of an elevator shaft.