Elevator control panel opening/closing device

Abstract: In an elevator control panel opening/closing device with a control panel (8) to be used for the elevator maintenance check and a panel door (6) for opening/closing the front side of the control panel (8) provided in a three side frame (1) provided in a building, the panel door (6) is provided rotatably by the configuration wherein the panel door is pivoted at one side end part rotatably via a hinge, with locking mechanisms (15, 16) for locking the panel door (6) provided at the upper and lower parts of the side end part of the panel door (6) opposite to the hinge (10), and at least either one locking mechanism capable of automatically locking the panel door (6) by the closing movement of the panel door (6).

Description: The present invention relates to an elevator control panel opening/closing device, in particular, to an elevator control panel opening/closing device allowing the easy pursuit of the maintenance check. In a conventional ordinary elevator, a machine room is provided at the upper end part of an ascending/descending path of the building, wherein a cage ascends or descends, with a traction machine for the ascending and descending movement of the cage provided in the machine room, and a control panel for controlling the elevator while the maintenance check provided in the machine room. However, in the conventional configuration with the machine room provided at the upper end part of the ascending/descending path, the building needs to be higher due to the existence of the machine room, and thus it is disadvantageous in terms of the right of sun, the building capacity, and the like. Therefore, a machine-roomless elevator without installing the machine room at the upper end part of the ascending/descending path, but installing the traction machine and the control panel, utilizing a part of the space in the ascending/descending path has been adopted recently. While a three side frame comprising the entrance for the cage is provided on each floor of the building provided with the elevator in an ordinary elevator, a control panel for controlling the elevator while the maintenance check is provided inside the three side frame of the hall of the uppermost stage in a 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 three side frame. A locking mechanism is provided in the panel door. At the time of the maintenance check, a maintenance worker unlocks the locking mechanism so as to open the panel door for operating the operation panel. The three side frame provided in the elevator hall, in general, has a height exceeding 2 m. Therefore, the panel door to be provided inside the three side frame has a longitudinal shape with a large vertical span size. However, in the conventional configuration, a part of the panel door is locked with the locking mechanism for the engagement. 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 in the locked state is opened by force or handled violently, distortion or deformation is generated between the upper and lower parts of the panel door. An elevator control panel opening/closing device is already known for example from US-A-5 740 888. An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator control panel opening/closing device without the risk of distortion or deformation of the panel door even if the panel in the locked state is opened forcibly or handled violently. The above-mentioned object can be realized by the following elevator control panel opening/closing device. The present invention provides an elevator control panel opening/closing device provided with a control panel used for the maintenance check of the elevator and a panel door for opening/closing the front side of the control panel in a frame comprising the entrance of the elevator, wherein the panel door is pivoted rotatably via a hinge at one side end part, characterized in that at least two locking mechanisms are provided for locking the panel door by engaging the upper and lower part of the side end part opposite to the hinge of the panel door, and either one of the at least two locking mechanisms is an automatic locking structure wherein the panel door is locked automatically by the movement of closing the panel door from the opening state. According to the configuration, even if the panel door in the locked state is opened by force or handled violently, distortion or deformation of the panel door can be avoided, the locking or opening operation of the panel door can be conducted easily and efficiently, and inconvenience of the inadvertent opening of the panel door by a third person during the elevator maintenance check operation can be prevented. This summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features so that the invention may also be a sub-combination of these described features. The invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 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 plan view of the locking mechanism; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the locking mechanism; FIG. 9 is a front view of a mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the upper side of the panel door; FIG. 10 is side view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the upper side of the panel door; FIG. 11 is a plan view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the upper side of the panel door; FIG. 12 is a front view of a mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the lower side of the panel door; FIG. 13 is a side view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the lower side of the panel door; and FIG. 14 is a plan view of the mounting structure of the locking mechanism with respect to the lower side of the panel door. Hereinafter embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanied drawings. A machine-roomless elevator adopted with this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. The machine-roomless elevator shown in FIG. 1 realized the configuration without a machine room by installing a control panel in the vicinity of the depot or in a box and storing a traction machine at the uppermost part or the lowermost part of the ascending/descending path. In FIG. 1, the traction machine 124 is placed on and fixed with a traction machine mounting base 124A fixed to the uppermost part of a guide rail 123. As shown in FIG. 1, an elevator 100 comprises a plurality of guide rails 103, 123 to be provided in the elevator ascending/descending path 102 in a building, a cage 104, a main rope 117, a counter weight 118, a driving mechanism 119 and an emergency stop mechanism 120. The guide rails 103 are provided in the elevator ascending/descending path 102 of the building substantially parallel with each other along the ascending/descending path 102. In the embodiment shown in the figure, a pair of the guide rails 103 is provided. The cage 104 comprises a cage frame 105 and a cage room 106 for accommodating a passenger. The cage frame 105 is formed as a frame having a size to be interposed between the guide rails 103, 103 parallel with each other. The cage room 106 comprises a cage floor, a front wall having an opening and closing door 112 facing to the depot, a pair of side plates connected with the 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 supports driven sheaves 122, 122 rotatably at the lower side thereof. The driven sheaves 122, 122 are wound around by the main rope 117. The main rope 117, made from a metal, is attached to the upper end part of one of the above-mentioned pair of the guide rails 103, 103 at one end part, and to the upper end part of one of the guide rails for counter weight 123, 123 later described by at the other end part. The main rope 117 is placed around the driven sheaves 122, 122 for suspending the cage 104 in the elevator ascending/descending path 102 of the building along the guide rails 103, 103. The counter weight 118 is provided along the pair of the guide rails for counter weight 123, 123 vertically movably. The guide rail for counter weights 123, 123 are provided along one of the guide rails 103. The counter weight 118 is suspended by the main rope 117. The counter weight 118 balances the cage 104 via the main rope 117 when a certain number of passengers get on the cage room 106 of the cage 104. The driving mechanism 119 comprises a traction sheave (not illustrated) wound around by the main rope 117 and a traction machine 124 for rotating the traction sheave. The driving mechanism 119 moves the cage 104 vertically along the guide rails 103, 103 via the main rope 117 by rotating the traction sheave with the traction machine 124. The emergency stop mechanism 120 comprises a governor device 125 and a speed governor rope 126 mounted to the cage 104. The emergency stop mechanism 120 is for immediately stopping the cage 104 automatically by constraining the speed governor rope 126 when the cage 104 dives at a rate higher than the rated speed. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a three side frame 1 as the frame comprising the elevator entrance provided in the elevator hall of the building. The three side frame 1 comprises a ceiling beam 2 and a pair of side beams 3, 4 elongating downward from both end parts 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 of beam 3. A space at the rear side of the panel door 6 is a control panel installing part 7. A control panel 8 for controlling the elevator is placed in the control panel installing part 7. The panel door 6 is placed between the ceiling beam 2 of the three side frame 1 and the horizontal beam 5 such that the panel door 6 is pivoted rotatably via a hinge 10 at one side end part thereof for opening/closing the front side of the above-mentioned control panel 8 by the rotating movement of the panel door 6 around the hinge 10. The space between the panel door 6 and the other side beam 4 of the three side frame 1 forms an entrance opening 11 for the cage of the elevator, with entrance doors 12, 13 provided at the rear side of 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 as an automatic closing means for automatically closing the panel door 6 such that the panel door 6 is forced elastically by the extension spring 14 in the closing direction. Further, locking mechanisms 15, 16 are provided at the upper and lower parts of the side end part of the panel door 6 on the opposite side with respect to the above-mentioned 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. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the locking mechanisms 15, 16 comprise 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 an interlocking member 23 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 optionally in the open state or the closed state by inserting the key into the key hole 20 and turning the same. The open state can be made by pulling out the key from the key hole 20. The locking mechanisms 15, 16 to be in the open state when the key is pulled out from the key hole 20 can be realized by adjusting the position of the pulling groove at the time of pulling out the key from the key hole 20, or by pulling out the key from the key hole 20 in the open state, that is, when the lock pin 19 is at the receded position. The lock pin 19 projects outward from one side part of the frame 17, with the end face of the projected tip side cut into an inclined surface 19a inclined in one direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the other side end part of the lock pin is a small diameter shaft part 19b, with a through hole 24 formed therein. The small diameter shaft part 19b is fitted freely in a fitting hole 18a formed in the rod 18 as well as a connecting pin 25 is inserted removably into the through hole 24 of the above-mentioned small diameter shaft part 19b 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 the axis and inserting the connecting pin 25 into the through hole 24 again, the orientation of the inclined surface 19a at the tip of the lock pin 19 can be inverted. The panel door 6 has a side plate 6a bent to the rear side thereof, at the side rim opposite to the hinge 10, with the inside of the side plate 6a 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. 9 to 11, and the mounting structure of the other locking mechanism 16 is shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, respectively. The one locking mechanism 15 is mounted such that the frame 17 contacts with the inner surface of the side plate 6a, the key hole 20 of the key body 21 is exposed to the outer surface of the side plate 6a, with the end face of the key body 21 piercing through the side plate 6a, and the lock pin 19 projects upward, with the inclined surface 19a formed at the tip thereof facing to the rear side of the three side frame 1. An L-shaped engaging member 30 is mounted to the lower surface of the ceiling beam 2 of the three side frame 1, independently from the three side frame 1, with the lock pin 19 engaged with the engaging member 30 detachably. The other locking mechanism 16 is mounted such that the frame 17 contacts with the inner surface of the side plate 6a, the key hole 20 of the key body 21 is exposed to the outer surface of the side plate 6a, with the end face thereof piercing through the side plate 6a, and the lock pin 19 projects downward, with the inclined surface 19a formed at the tip thereof facing to the rear side of the three side frame 1. An L-shaped engaging member 31 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 engaged with the engaging member 30 detachably. 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 17 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 19a of the lock pins 19 are inverted with respect to the front and rear direction. However, since the orientation of the inclined surface 19a can be inverted to the opposite direction by rotating the lock pin 19 by pulling out the connecting pin 25 as mentioned above, the inclined surface 19a of the lock pin 19 of the one locking mechanism 15 and the inclined surface 19a 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 three side frame 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 moved backward by a predetermined stroke so as to be detached from the engaging member 30. Then, the opened state can be maintained. 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 forward 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 one 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 forced elastically in the forward 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 forward direction by a predetermined stroke by the locking operation with the key, if the pushing force functions to the lock pin 19 via the inclined surface 19b, the lock pin 19 is moved backward independently from the key operation, resisting to the above-mentioned coil spring 31, but if the pushing force is released, the lock pin 19 is moved forward again by the predetermined stroke by the force of the above-mentioned coil spring 31. The operation of this embodiment will be explained. In the ordinary time, the panel door is locked by the locking mechanisms 15, 16. In the locked state, the side end part of the panel door 6 at the opposite side with respect to the hinge 10 is supported stably by the locking mechanisms 15, 16 at two upper and lower points, away from each other, and thus, even if the panel door 6 is forced to open or handled violently, the panel door 6 cannot be distorted or deformed. Furthermore, in a machine-roomless elevator with the control panel provided in the narrow ascending/descending path, the space at the inner side of the panel door 6 can be utilized for appliances or parts effectively. Moreover, since the key hole 20 of the locking mechanisms 15, 16 are exposed at the side face of the panel door 6, it cannot 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 preferable 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. According to the opening operation, the lock pins 19 of the locking mechanisms 15, 16 are moved backward from the position engaged with the engaging member 30 for releasing the engagement so as to be in the open state. Therefore, by pulling the panel door 6 in the state to the elevator hall side, resisting to the extension spring 14, the panel door 6 can be opened. Then, the opened state of the panel door 6 can be maintained by holding it by the worker by hand or body so as to operate the control panel 8 inside the three side frame 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 forward 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 is 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 19a at the tip of the lock pin 19 contacts with the rim of the engaging member 30 so that the lock pin 19 is moved backward, resisting to the coil spring 31. When the lock pin 19 moves ahead the rim of the engaging member 30, the lock pin 19 is moved forward 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 31, and the panel door 6 is automatically locked by the engagement. At the time, the other locking mechanism 16 is left in the opened state by the preliminary key operation, so that the lock pin 19 is maintained at the backward position, and thus it is maintained in the opened state even if the panel door 6 is closed automatically. At the time of the elevator maintenance check, the control panel 8 needs to be operated several times during the work, however, if the panel door 6 is opened throughout the work, there is a risk of the unexpected accident by the intentional or inadvertent operation of the control panel 8 by a third person other then the maintenance worker, and thus it is preferable that the panel door 6 is maintained always in the closed state except the time that the maintenance worker operates the control panel 8 in terms of the safety control. 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 the 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 closing state to allow the 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 securely 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 open operation of the locked one 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 operativity 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 securely 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, and the like, is used as the locking mechanisms 15, 16, can be adopted as well. Moreover, the locking mechanisms 15, 16 are not necessarily be provided in the panel door 6, but can be provided at the three side frame 1 side, which supports the panel door 6 for locking the panel door 6. 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 one locking mechanism is used without using a plurality of locking mechanism, with the locking mechanism provided at the three side frame 1 side, which supports the panel door 6 so as to lock 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.

Claims: An elevator control panel opening/closing device provided with a control panel (8) used for the maintenance check of the elevator and a panel door (6) for opening/closing the front side of the control panel (8) in a frame (1) comprising the entrance of the elevator in a building, wherein the panel door (6) is pivoted rotatably via a hinge (10) at one side end part, characterized in that at least two locking mechanisms (15, 16) are provided for locking the panel door (6) by engaging the upper and lower part of the side end part opposite to the hinge of the panel door (6), and either one of the at least two locking mechanisms (15, 16) is an automatic locking structure wherein the panel door (6) is locked automatically by the movement of closing the panel door (6) from the opening state. The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising an automatic closing means (14) for forcing the panel door (6) elastically in the closing direction so as to close the open panel door automatically. The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (15, 16) are provided inside the panel door (6), with the key holes (20) of the locking mechanisms (15, 16) exposed to the side face of the panel door (6). The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (15, 16) have a size smaller than the thickness of the panel door (6). The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (15, 16) comprise a means for selectively switching an automatic locking function for locking the panel door automatically by the closing movement of the open panel door, and a manual locking function for locking the panel door manually. The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (15, 16) comprise a means for operating with an electromagnetic means. The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (15, 16) comprise a lock pin (19) for the forward or backward movement by the key operation, and a dedicated engaging member capable of engaging with the lock pin by the forward or backward movement of the lock pin in the frame (1). The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (15, 16) comprise a lock pin (19) to be moved forward or backward by the key operation, with the tip end face notched with the inclination as the inclined surface, and which the orientation of the inclined surface is changeable. The elevator control panel opening/closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (15, 16) comprise a mechanism for opening with the key pulled out.

Inventors: GOTOH TAKASHI, KOBAYASHI KIYOSHI, GOTOH, TAKASHI, KOBAYASHI, KIYOSHI
Applicants: TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B66B11
IPC codes: B66B1, B66B11, B66B13