Improvements in Passenger Elevators or Lifts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
Improvements in Passenger Elevators or Lifts.
We, EDWARD LYON HAIL and GEORGE HAIL, Gentlemen, both of 294 Washington
Street, City of Providence, in the County of Providence, and State of Rhode Island,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the folowing statement:-
This invention has relation to elevators of the class known as passenger elevators,
which are employed for carrying persons between the floors of a building. There
are many dangers incident to taking passengers on and letting them off from an
elevator car, resulting from the possibility of the car starting before the door of
the corridor is closed, and hence one of the objects of our invention is to prevent
dangers of this kind by connecting the door of the corridor in such way with the
motor controlling-device as to lock the same from action during the time that the
corridor is open and until it is closed.
To these ends therefore the invention consists of an elevator having a driving
mechanism for elevating and lowering the car, a device for controlling the move-
ments of the driving mechanism and operated by a line, an opening device for
the door of the corridor, a lock for locking the motor controlling device, and con-
nections between the door opening device and the lock whereby when the door is
opened by the said device, the lock is moved into engagement with the motor con-
trolling device to hold the latter from movement.
The invention likewise consists of other features of improvement which we will
hereinafter describe with particularity and set forth in detail in the claims hereto
appended.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters desig-
nating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
Of the drawings
Figure 1 is a more or less conventional view, showing one form in which our
invention may be embodied, there being illustrated in said figure a corridor door,
a motor controlling device, a lock for the motor, a device for opening said corridor
door and connections between said door opening device and the lock for the motor
controlling device.
Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the position of the various parts when
the door opening device has been moved to cause the locking of the motor con-
trolling device.
Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, illustrate a slightly different embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 7 illustrates a series of corridor doors all equipped with door opening
devices, each of which controls the lock for the motor controlling device, one door
being represented as having been opened and the motor controlling device being
shown as locked.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, illustrate latches for locking the door and which are
arranged to be operated when the handle of the lever is grasped.

page_text: Figure 11 shows in perspective the hook end of the bell crank lever.
Referring to the drawings,
a indicates a corridor door which is adapted to slide back and forth to open and
close the aperture leading from the corridor into the elevator hatchway. At b we
have indicated a shaft, the movements of which control the movements of the
mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator car, and is controlled by a
pulley b¹ on which a controlling line x passes, which line may be actuated by the
attendant on the car.
The raising and lowering mechanism may consist of a motor of any nature that
it may be desirable to use, such as an electric motor, an hydraulic cylinder, etc.,
the motor not being shown as it forms no part of the present invention.
Upon the said shaft h, on which, as above stated, is affixed a pulley for the
controlling line, (and between said line and the motor) we rigidly secure a disk c
which is provided in its periphery with the notch d, and when the disk is in that
position which it will assume when the motor is at rest, the notch is in alignment
with and is adapted to receive a sliding bolt e, which reciprocates in the guides f f.
The asid bolt is connected at its end with a line g which may be either a rope,
a chain, or any other means for accomplishing the purpose to be described, which
line is passed around an idler pulley near the bolt, and an idler pulley i at the
top of the well or hatchway, and has upon its end a weight j. The line extends
throughout the length of the hatchway in position to be engaged by the door open-
ing device, or levers, connected therewith, as we will proceed to hereinafter describe.
The weight is sufficiently heavy to hold the bolt c out of engagement with the
notch in the disc c, and in order to throw the sliding bolt into the notch when
desired, we employ a weighted lever having an end extending down into an aper-
ture or slot in the bolt. When the bolt is relieved of the weight the weighted
lever will throw it forward so as to enter the notch d in the disk c. For drawing
down upon the line so as to throw the bolt e into engagement with the motor con-
trolling device, we employ means which co-act with the corridor door as we will
now describe.
7 is a lever fulcrumed at m on a stationary support, » which is shown as on the
wall of the hatchway. The lever passes between two rollers oo journaled on the
door a, and is cam-shaped or curved so that when it is swung upon the pivot m,
it
throws the door open as will be understood.
The line is provided with stops, clips or attachments with which may engage
the forked end g of a bell crank lever r pivoted on the wall of the hatchway in
proximity to the line; and the end of the lever r is connected by a link s with the
end of the door opening lever. l.
1
The end of the bell crank lever to which the link & is attached, is provided with
a cam slot into which a pin s on the link s extends. The link slides longi-
tudinally in guides, and the cam slot is so arranged that the first movement
of the lever upwards, will cause the pin to thrust the rear end of the bell crank
lever upward, and force the forked end downward to operate the lock for the motor
controlling device, the remainder of the movement of the lever not affecting the
lever r,
since the pin s travels in a straight portion of the cam slot, as shown in
Fig. 2. The rollers oo on the door are separated far enough to allow the lever l
to be moved sufficiently to cause the locking of the motor controlling device,
prior to any movement of the door towards open position.
Now it will be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that when the lever begins to move
upwards and backwards, the links will be drawn forward, rocking the lever r on
its pivot, and thereby causing the forked end thereof to engage the clip or attach-
ment on the line thus forcing down the said line and allowing the weighted
lever to throw the bolt e into the notch d of the motor controlling device, and then
the continued movement of the lever will cause the moving of the door to open
position.
In Figure 7, we have shown a series of doors (one being opened), each equipped
with an opening device for operating on the line connected to the lock for the

page_text: motor controlling device, and from the said figure it will be seen that if any one
of the said doors he opened, the motor controlling device will be locked.
The door opening lever is provided with a depending portion & having a knob
or handle u on the lower end thereof which may be grasped by the attendant on
the car for throwing the lever upwards and backwards.
In Figures 3 to 7, inclusive, we have shown the door opening and closing lever
as operating to start the door toward open position immediately upon its being
swung on its pivot. And in this case the entire movement of the lever is utilised
in opening the door although the motor controlling device is locked before the door
is moved to any extent. In all other respects the devices operate precisely the
same as above set forth.
In Figure 8, the door latch 2 is pivoted at 2 and has a pointed hooked end to
engage a catch on the door framing. It is provided with a knob, being so
placed as to be at the side of the handle a, so that both may be grasped by the
attendant at the same time, to both unlatch the door, and raise the lever to start
the said door towards open position, the knob being released as soon as the latch
strikes the bridge c³.
In Fig. 9, the end of the depending arm of the lever is bifurcated, as at ³, there-
by allowing the knob ² to be placed below and near to the handle w, in a position
to be easily grasped.
In Figure 10, the bifurcated end of the lever is provided with springs f which
yieldingly engage the knob on the latch so that in opening the door, the operator
merely takes hold of the lever handle a and swings the lever upward, the springs
drawing the latch out of engagement with the catch and then releasing it, as the
latch is prevented from further upward movement by the bridge e*.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that it is not necessary to always employ
the mechanism for locking the valve in connection with a door opening and closing
lever, as a hand operated lever may be employed separately and independently of
the door for locking the valve controlling devices.
It will be understood that we do not intend to limit ourselves to the precise
details of construction as herein shown and described, nor to the particular form of
motor controlling line or device employed, since any other of the well known
electrical or mechanical controllers may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said 'in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In an elevator, a corridor door, a motor controlling line, a motor controlling
device between the line and the motor, a lock for said device, means for opening the
corridor door, and connections between said door opening means and said lock
whereby, when the 'door is opened, the motor controlling device is locked against
movement.
2. In an elevator, a corridor door, means for opening said door, a motor con-
trolling line, a motor controlling device between the line and the motor, a lock for
said device and a line connected with said lock and with said door opening means
whereby when the door is opened the motor controlling device is locked.
3. In an elevator, a corridor door, a lever for opening said door, a motor con-
trolling line, a motor controlling device between the line and the motor, and a
lock for said motor controlling device co-acting with the door opening lever
whereby when the door is opened the motor controlling device is locked.
4. In an elevator, a corridor door, a lever for opening said door, a motor con-
trolling line, a motor controlling device between the line and the motor, a lock
for said motor controlling device, a line connected with said lock, and means
extending from the door opening lever and adapted to engage said line for causing
the lock to engage the motor controlling device when the door is opened.
5. In an elevator, a motor controlling line, a motor controlling device between
the line and the motor, a lock for the same, a weighted line normally holding the

page_text: lock out of engagement with said device. means for acting upon said weighted line
to allow the lock to engage the motor controlling device, and means for opening
the corridor door and connected with the last said means whereby when the door is
opened the motor controlling device is locked.
6. In an elevator, the combination with a motor controlling line, a motor con-
trolling device between the line and the motor, a weighted bolt adapted to normally
engage the motor controlling device, means for holding the bolt out of engagement
with the motor controlling device, and a lever connected with the last said means
in such way that when the door is opened the lock will be allowed to engage the
motor controlling device.
7. In an elevator, a movable door, a motor controlling device, a lock for said
device, a lever for opening said door and fulcrumed on a support relatively to
which the door moves, and connections between said lever and said lock for lock-
ing said controlling device prior to any movement of the door towards open
position.
8. In an elevator, a movable door, a motor controlling device, a lock for said
device, a lever for opening said door and fulcrumed on a support relatively to
which the door moves, said door opening lever being connected to said door but
having a limited movement relatively thereto, and connection between said lever
and said lock, whereby the said lever may be actuated to lock the motor control-
ling device prior to its opening the door.
9. In an elevator, a movable door, a motor controlling device, a lock for said
device, a lever for opening door and having a pin and a bell crank lever having
à cam slot to receive the pin on said lever, and connections between said bell crank
lever and the said lock.
10. In an elevator, a motor controlling line, a motor controlling device between
the line and the motor, a lock for said device, a hand operated lever, and connec-
tions between said lever and said lock whereby when the lever is actuated the motor
controlling device is locked.
11. In an elevator, a corridor door, a movable latch thereon, in combination with
a motor controlling line, a motor controlling device operated by said line, a lock for
said motor controlling device, a lever for opening said door, and connected to said
lock for the motor controlling device, said lever having means for yieldingly
engaging the latch, whereby when said lever is operated, the latch is disengaged
from its catch, the motor controlling device is locked, and the door is opened.
Doted this 5th dox of Va 100%
EDWARD LYON HAIL
GEORGE HAIL
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.