Patent Publication Number: US-11655122-B2

Title: Elevator door in interlock assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/967,797, filed on May 1, 2018. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Elevator systems are in widespread use for carrying passengers between various levels in buildings, for example. Access to an elevator car requires that elevator car doors open when the car is at a landing at which a passenger desires to board the elevator car, for example. Each landing includes hoistway doors that move with the elevator car doors between open and closed positions. 
     There are various known coupler and interlock arrangements for coupling the elevator car doors to the hoistway doors so that the door mover that causes movement of the car doors also causes desired movement of the hoistway doors. Most door couplers include a set of vanes supported on the elevator car door structure. Most interlocks include a set of rollers supported on the hoistway door structure. When the rollers are received adjacent the vanes, it is possible to move both doors together. The movement of the car doors includes one of the vanes pushing on one of the rollers to move the hoistway door in one direction and the other vane pushing on the other roller to move the hoistway door in the other direction. 
     It is believed that elevator door system components account for approximately 50% of elevator maintenance requests and 30% of callbacks. Almost half of the callbacks due to a door system malfunction are related to one of the interlock functions. 
     Another drawback associated with known interlock arrangements is that the process of installing the interlocks along the hoistway is time-consuming and undesirably complicated. Each interlock has to be positioned to receive the coupler vanes as the elevator car approaches the corresponding landing. Inaccurate interlock placement may result in undesired contact between the coupler vanes and the interlock as the elevator car passes the landing, for example. Additionally, adjusting the rollers to achieve the necessary alignment with the coupler requires adjusting the position of the corresponding hoistway door lock and switch to ensure that the interlock properly cooperates with the lock. If the lock and switch components are not accurately positioned, the elevator may not perform reliably as indications from the switches along the hoistway are needed to ensure that all hoistway doors are closed before the elevator car moves along the hoistway. 
     SUMMARY 
     An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a first base configured to be supported on a hoistway door component, The first base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the hoistway door component. A first bumper is supported on the first base such that pivotal movement of the first base changes a position of the first bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A second base is situated to be selectively moved relative to the hoistway door component. A second bumper is supported on the second base such that selective movement of the second base changes a position of the second bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A latch is situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis relative to the first base between a door locking position and a released position. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of the previous paragraph, the first base is selectively pivoted about the pivot axis. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, the second base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the hoistway door component and the second base is selectively pivoted about the pivot axis. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, the second base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the first base, the second base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the latch, the second base is selectively set in a fixed position relative to the latch, and the second base and the second bumper pivot about the pivot axis with pivotal movement of the latch about the pivot axis when the second base is in the fixed position. 
     An example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs includes at least one fastener that selectively secures the second base in the fixed position relative to the latch. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, when the second base is in the fixed position relative to the latch a mass of the second base urges the latch into the locking position. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, the second base is situated to be selected pivoted relative to the latch, at least one of the second base and the latch includes a boss, at least one of the other of the latch and the second base includes an arcuate slot, the boss is at least partially received in the slot, and relative movement between boss and the slot adjusts a relative position between the latch and the second base. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, the boss comprises a threaded rod and the elevator door interlock includes a threaded fastener that is received on the threaded rod to selectively secure the second base in a fixed position relative to the latch. 
     An example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs includes a switch that provides an indication whether the latch is in the locking position, the latch comprises a switch contact that cooperates with the switch when the latch is in the locking position, the switch contact is separated from the switch when the latch is in the released position, and the switch remains in a fixed position relative to the pivot axis. 
     An example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs includes at least one fastener that selectively holds the first base in a fixed position relative to the hoistway door component. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, at least one of pivotal movement of the first base and movement of the second base adjusts a lateral spacing between the first bumper and the second bumper. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, there is a first lateral spacing between the first and second bumpers when the latch is in the locking position and there is a second, larger lateral spacing between the first and second bumpers when the latch is in the released position. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, the first bumper comprises a roller that is rotatable relative to the first base about a first roller axis that remains fixed relative to the first base and the second bumper comprises a roller that is rotatable relative to the second base about a second roller axis that remains fixed relative to the second base. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, the first base includes at least one boss, the latch includes at least one arcuate slot, the boss is at least partially received in the slot, and at least one end of the slot limits pivotal movement of the latch into the released position. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the elevator door interlock of any of the previous paragraphs, the second base is laterally moveable relative to the pivot axis. 
     An illustrative example method of installing an elevator door interlock, which has a latch that is configured to pivot about a pivot axis and two bumpers, includes positioning the latch in a selected position relative to a hoistway door, adjusting a position of at least a first one of the bumpers relative to the latch by rotating a first base supporting the first one of the bumpers relative to the hoistway door without moving the pivot axis of the latch, and securing the first base in a selected position that secures the first one of the bumpers in a desired position relative to the hoistway door. 
     An example embodiment having one or more features of the method of any of the previous paragraphs includes adjusting a position of a second one of the bumpers relative to the latch by moving a second base supporting the second one of the bumpers relative to the hoistway door without moving the pivot axis of the latch and securing the second base in a selected position that secures the second one of the bumpers in a desired position relative to the first one of the bumpers. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of any of the previous paragraphs, moving the second base comprises rotating the second base relative to the first base. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of any of the previous paragraphs, rotating the first base comprises rotating the first base about the pivot axis of the latch and rotating the second base comprises rotating the second base about the pivot axis of the latch. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of any of the previous paragraphs, securing the second base in the selected position comprises securing the second base to the latch such that the second base remains fixed relative to the latch. 
     In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of any of the previous paragraphs, the elevator door interlock includes a switch that indicates when the latch is in a locked position and the method comprises establishing a position of the switch relative to the pivot axis of the latch before adjusting the position of the first one of the bumpers. 
     The various features and advantages of an example embodiment 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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system including a door interlock designed according to an embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG.  2    is schematically shows an example elevator door interlock designed according to an embodiment of this invention with a latch in a locked position. 
         FIG.  3    shows the example interlock of  FIG.  2    with the latch in a released position. 
         FIG.  4    shows an adjustment feature of the example interlock. 
         FIG.  5    shows the example interlock in another adjusted configuration. 
         FIG.  6    schematically shows another example elevator door interlock designed according to an embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of this invention provide an elevator door interlock that is easily adjustable for properly aligning the interlock with an elevator door coupler. The alignment can be achieved without requiring any adjustment of relative positions of the latch and lock switch components. 
       FIG.  1    schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system  20 . An elevator car  22  includes car doors  24  that are situated adjacent hoistway landing doors  26  when the elevator car  22  is parked at a landing. At least one vane  28  of a door coupler associated with the elevator car doors  24  cooperates with an interlock  30  associated with the hoistway doors  26  so that the elevator car doors  24  and the hoistway doors  26  move together between opened and closed positions. 
       FIGS.  2 - 5    show the interlock  30  of an example embodiment. The interlock  30  includes a first base  32  that is configured to be secured to a portion of a hoistway door  26 , such as a hanger of the hoistway door  26 . The first base  32  comprises a single, circular plate in this example. The first base  32  supports a first bumper  34 , which comprises a roller in this embodiment. Other bumper configurations are useful in other example embodiments. 
     A second base  36  supports a second bumper  38 , which also comprises a roller in this embodiment. A gap G between the bumpers  34  and  38  provides spacing for vanes  28  of the door coupler to be received between the bumpers  34  and  38 . 
     The interlock  30  includes a latch  40  that is moveable between a locking position (shown in  FIG.  2   ) and a released position (shown in  FIG.  3   ). A locking surface  42  on the latch  40  engages a stop  44  on a door lock  46  when the latch  40  is in the locking position. In the released position shown in  FIG.  3   , the locking surface  42  is clear of the stop  44  and the door  26  is free to move with the elevator car door  24 . The latch  40  pivots or rotates about a pivot axis  48  as it moves between the locking and released positions. 
     The second base  36  moves with the latch  40 . A mass of the second base  36  and the bumper  38  serves as a weight that biases the latch  40  into the locking position. 
     The lock  46  includes a switch  50  that provides an indication when the hoistway door  26  is properly locked. The latch  40  supports a switch contact  52  that is coupled with the switch  50  when the latch  40  is in the locking position. The switch contact  52  is separated from the switch  50  when the latch  40  is in the released position and the switch  50  provides an indication regarding the unlocked condition of the hoistway door  26  in a known manner. 
     In the illustrated example, the first base  32  includes a boss  54 , which may comprise a post or pin, for example. The latch  40  includes an arcuate slot  56  into which the boss  54  is at least partially received. The boss  54  and slot  56  cooperate to limit the pivotal or rotary movement of the latch  40  about the pivot axis  48 . 
     One of the features of the illustrated example embodiment is that it allows for adjusting the size of the gap G and setting the lateral position of the bumpers  34  and  38  so that the gap G is properly aligned with the vanes  28  of the door coupler. In this example, the first base  32  is moveable relative to the door component upon which the first base  32  is supported, such as the door hanger (not specifically illustrated). In this example, the first base  32  can be pivoted or rotated about the pivot axis  48  of the latch  40 . Fasteners  58 , such as threaded rods and nuts, secure the first base  32  in a selected fixed position relative to the door component. By loosening the fasteners  58 , it is possible to move the first base  32  relative to the door component. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  4   , the first base  32  can be pivoted or rotated as shown at  62  to change a position of the bumper  34 . As the first base  32  rotates about the pivot axis  48 , the bumper  34  follows an arcuate path that allows for changing the lateral or side-to-side position of the bumper  34  relative to the door component and the lock  46 , for example. The example first base  32  includes arcuate slots  64  that allow for pivotal or rotary adjustment of the first base  32 . Once the desired position of the bumper  34  is established, the fasteners  58  secure the first base  32  and the bumper  34  in a fixed position relative to the hoistway door  26 . 
     The second base  36  is also moveable relative to the hoistway door  26  to allow for changing the position of the bumper  38 . In the illustrated example, the fastener  60  is secured to the latch  40  and at least partially received through a slot  66  on the second base  36 . In other embodiments the latch  40  includes a slot and the fastener is fixed to the second base  36 . When the fastener  60  is loosened, the second base  36  can be rotated or pivoted as shown at  68  about the pivot axis  48  of the latch  40 . Such movement of the second base  36  allows for changing the lateral or side-to-side position of the bumper  38 . Once the desired position of the bumper  38  is achieved and the desired gap G is established, the fastener  60  secures the second base  36  in a fixed position relative to the latch  40 . In most situations the latch  40  is in the locking position during the bumper position adjustment 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the gap G has a centerline  70  that is laterally positioned relative to the pivot axis  48  based on the positions of the bumpers  34  and  38 , respectively. By making an adjustment to the lateral or side-to-side positions of the bumpers  34  and  38 , the same gap G can be established to accommodate the vanes  28  of the door coupler in a different location relative to the hoistway door  26  to achieve proper alignment with the door coupler. Comparing  FIGS.  2  and  4   , for example, the centerline  70 ′ in  FIG.  4    is further away from the pivot axis  48  than the centerline  70  in  FIG.  2   . 
       FIG.  5    shows another adjusted condition in which the gap G has been shifted to the left (according to the drawings) compared to the positions shown in  FIGS.  2  and  4   , for example. By loosening the fasteners  58  and  60 , the first base  32  can be pivoted or rotated as shown at  62 ′ and the second base  36  can be pivoted or rotated as shown at  68 ′. Once the desired positions of the bumpers  34  and  38  are achieved and the appropriate gap G has been established, the fasteners  58  and  60  secure the first base  32  and second base  36  in appropriate positions, respectively. As can be appreciated by comparing  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the centerline  70  in  FIG.  5    is further to the left (according to the drawings) compared to the centerline  70 ′ in  FIG.  4   . Adjusting the position of the gap G relative to the pivot axis  48  does not require any adjustment of the relative positions of the switch  50  and the switch contact  52  because the pivot axis  48  of the latch  40  does not move during any of the adjustments. 
     Another example embodiment is shown in  FIG.  6   . In this example, the first base  32  is moveable relative to the hoistway door  26  by rotating or pivoting the first base  32  about the pivot axis  48  of the latch  40  as included in the embodiment of  FIGS.  2 - 5   . The second base  36  in this example is moveable linearly instead of pivotally or rotationally. In this example, the second base  36 ′ includes two slots  66 ′ oriented to allow side-to-side or lateral movement of the second base  36  relative to the latch  40  as represented by the arrows  80 . This embodiment also allows for changing the positions of the bumpers  34  and  38  to establish a gap G appropriately aligned with the vanes  28  of a door coupler without requiring any movement of the latch  40  relative to the lock  46  so that there is no risk of misalignment between the switch  50  and the switch contact  52 . 
     Having the ability to adjust the position of the gap G allows for aligning interlocks  30  along an entire hoistway with the door coupler vanes  28  of the elevator car  22 . Such lateral adjustments can be achieved to move the position of the bumpers  34  and  38  without having to move the locks  46  or the switches  50  for each set of hoistway doors. This provides a significant advantage in that there is no need to adjust the latch  40  relative to the lock  46  or switch  50 , which simplifies the task of achieving desired alignment between the vanes  28  of the door coupler and the interlocks  30  along the hoistway. The relative positions of the pivot axis  48  of the latch  40  and the switch  50  does not need to change so that there is no risk of a misalignment between the switch  50  and the switch contact  52 . Eliminating the need to adjust the relative positions of the switch  50  and the switch contact  52  enhances the reliability of proper operation of the elevator system and reduces the amount of labor required to achieve proper alignment between the door coupler vanes  28  and the interlocks  30  along a hoistway. 
     Another feature of the illustrated example embodiments is that they allow for the position of the latch pivot axis  48 , the lock  46 , the switch  50  and the switch contact  52  to all be pre-established in a controlled manufacturing setting. The interlock  30  may be installed as a preassembled unit, which further reduces labor, time and cost and further enhances the accuracy of the relative positions of the components of the interlock  30  leading to more reliable elevator system operation. 
     Interlocks designed according to an embodiment of this invention further facilitate reducing callbacks that are otherwise associated with problems or malfunctions caused by interlock misalignment. Embodiments of this invention provide cost savings not only during installation or maintenance procedures but also by reducing the need for maintenance or adjustment during the service life of the associated elevator system. 
     The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.