Patent GB-372000-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in position indicator for elevators
IPC: B66B3/02
Filed: 1931-02-24
Abstract: 372,000. Position indicators for lifts. WAYGOOD-OTIS, Ltd., 54, Fetter Lane, London.-(Otis Elevator Co. ; 260, 11th Avenue, New York, U.S.A.) Feb. 24, 1931; No. 5771. [Class 78 (ii).] The position of a lift cage is indicated by a column of light which lengthens as a series of electrically energizable elements are energized successively by a device controlled by the position of the cage. The indicating system is described as applied to a bank of four lifts 14 in building having eight floors. The circuit controlling mechanism 22, Fig. 1, for the indicator 24 is actuated by mechanism 20 driven by the shaft 18 of the hoisting drums 16. The shaft 32, Fig. 1, is connected by level gears to a shaft 34, Fig. 4, which terminates in a crosshead 36 carrying a plurality of projecting clutch pins 37 in engagement with openings 38; Fig. 10, in a clutch head 40. Slidable clutch members 43; Fig. 11, are mounted in radial apertures 42 in the head 40, and are pressed into contact with a hub member 46 by coil springs 44 held in place by adjustable nuts 45. The member 46 is secured to a gear 48 which drives a gear 55 through the gear train 50, 53, 54 The gear 55 is mouted on a pin 57 which can be secured in any position in a vertical slot 59 in the bracket 27. This adjustment permits the use of various sizes of gears 55, 54 according to the height of the building. Radially adjustable pins 60 are mounted in slots 61 in the gear 55, and to one of them is attached a chain 63 through which the mechanism 22 is actuated. Stop members 64, 65 are secured to the gear 55 in such positions that they come into contact with the gear 54 when the extreme low and high positions of the lift are reached, and thus limit the movement of the gear to its normal amount. If the chain 63 and gear 55 become out of adjustment with relation to the lift, one of the stops will engage the pinion before the lift has completed its travel, and will retain the gear 55 and chain 63 in extreme normal position without breakage of any part while the journey of the lift is completed owing to the construction of the clutch members 43. The electric control circuits are reversed by a switch comprising a movable arm 66, Fig. 5, and a fixed bracket 68 on which are mounted separated conducting sections 70, 71, 72. The terminal 74 of the conductor 70 is connected to a current source by a lead 75, and the terminals 76, 77 of the conductors 71, 72, respectively, are connected by leads 124, 125 to the controlling mechanism 22. The arm 66 is mounted on the shaft 34 in such a manner that it can turn therewith, or be turned with respect thereto. A part 78 of the arm is formed separately from the remainder; and is mounted slidably on pins 79 and pressed by springs 80 into engagement with the shaft 34. A yoke 85, Fig. 9, is mounted on a pin 84 carried by the arm 66, and its ends 88 are maintained in engagement with slidable brushes 90, 91 by a spring 87. The lower end of the chain 63 is connected by a cable 97 and turnbuckle 97<1> to a circuit controller 96, Figs. 2 and 5, which is slidably mounted in a housing 94 of insulating material. A plurality of brushes 110, 111 are mounted in the front wall of the housing and are maintained in contact with the controller 96 by yokes 102 and springs. Each pair of brushes is connected to a binding post 113 by a lead 109, and each binding post 113 is connected by a conductor 112 to a corresponding post 114 connected to a lamp 144. The leads 124, 126 are connected to binding posts 126, 126a, and 127, 127a, respectively, from which conductors' 116 lead to brushes 122, 122a, and 123, 123a. The controller 96 is a bar of insulating material on which are mounted a number of conducting and insulating elements placed in two series 128, 128a, Fig. 6. The indicator 24 is provided with panels 140 of frosted glass behind each of which is a series of partitions 141 and lamps 144. The lamps are mounted on a conducting baseboard 145 terminating in a binding post 146 connected to a source of current. The controller 96 moves up or down in accordance with the movement of a lift, and causes the lamps to be lit in succession.