Elevator and a method

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator having a hoistway, an elevator car movable in the hoistway and provided with a car brake, and a first coupling means movably mounted on the car, and a second coupling means mounted separate from the car at proximity of an end of the hoistway, the first and second coupling means being counterparts for each other and provided for being coupled in force-transmitting manner to each other, the car brake being triggerable by movement of the first coupling means. One of the first and second coupling means has coupling points at different vertical levels, and in the other of said first and second coupling means can couple to said one of the first and second coupling means at each of said coupling points. The invention also relates to a method for forming a safety space in the elevator.

Claims

1. An elevator comprising: a hoistway; an elevator car configured to move in the hoistway, the elevator car including a car brake; and a first coupler on the elevator car such that the first coupler is configured to one of move with the elevator car and relative to the elevator car based on a coupling state, the first coupler including a plurality of coupling members spaced a distance apart at different vertical levels; and a second coupler on a stationary structure at proximity of a bottom of the hoistway, the second coupler being selectively activated to couple in a force-transmitting manner with one of the plurality of coupling members when in the coupling state to trigger the car brake such that each of the plurality of coupling members is configured to couple with the second coupler to trigger the car brake based on a relative position between the first coupler and the second coupler when the elevator car moves in a downward direction towards the bottom of the hoistway.

2. The elevator of claim 1, wherein the second coupler includes a coupling member, and the plurality of coupling members of the first coupler form a plurality of coupling points with the coupling member.

3. The elevator of claim 2, wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are configured to couple to each other by moving the plurality of first coupling members of the first coupler and the coupling member of the second coupler into contact.

4. The elevator of claim 2, wherein the car brake is configured to trigger based on movement of the first coupler, the first coupler movably coupled to the elevator car, the first coupler being coupled with the second coupler, and the plurality of first coupling members engaging with the coupling member.

5. The elevator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first coupling members are configured to laterally move to and away from a position when on a collision course with the coupling member.

6. The elevator of claim 5, wherein the plurality first coupling members and the coupling member are laterally movable by pivoting around an axis parallel to a vertically elongated plate and a car wall.

7. The elevator of claim 1, wherein a free and laterally open space is at an end-side of each of the plurality of coupling members, and the second coupler includes a coupling member, the coupling member is configured to laterally move within the free and laterally open space.

8. The elevator of claim 7, wherein the free and laterally open space is successively located vertically between the plurality of coupling members.

9. The elevator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coupling members include at least 3, 5, 8, or 10 coupling members at the different vertical levels.

10. The elevator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coupling members are distributed over a vertical length of more than 1 meters.

11. The elevator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coupling members are at 15 different vertical levels and include a lowermost coupling member and an uppermost coupling member.

12. The elevator of claim 11, wherein the plurality of coupling members at different vertical levels include a vertically elongated structure, the vertically elongated structure including a vertically elongated plate having a plurality of edges, the plurality of edges corresponding to a plurality of coupling points.

13. The elevator of claim 12, wherein the vertically elongated plate is parallel with a wall of the elevator car.

14. The elevator of claim 1, wherein the stationary structure includes a guide rail.

15. A method for forming a safety space between an elevator car and a bottom of an elevator hoistway via a first coupler and a second coupler, the first coupler on the elevator car such that the first coupler is configured to one of move with the elevator car and relative to the elevator car based on a coupling state, the first coupler including a plurality of coupling members spaced a distance apart at different vertical levels, the method comprising: selectively activating the second coupler to set the second coupler to the coupling state; and coupling one of the plurality of coupling members of the first coupler and the second coupler in a force-transmitting manner to trigger the car brake such that each of the plurality of coupling members is configured to couple with the second coupler based on a relative position between the first coupler and the second coupler when the elevator car moves in a downward towards the bottom of the hoistway.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the coupling of the first coupler and the second coupler creates the safety space between the elevator car and the bottom of the elevator hoistway.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the selectively activating includes setting the first coupler and the second coupler on a collision course with each other.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second coupler includes a coupling member, and the coupling includes coupling one of the plurality of coupling members to the coupling member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an elevator according to an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred structure for the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred structure for the first and second coupling means of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and their co-operation.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred structure for the second coupling means of FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates an elevator according to a preferred embodiment. The elevator comprises an elevator car 1 arranged to travel vertically in an elevator hoistway S. The hoistway S comprises a pit floor and a ceiling, between which the elevator car travels serving landings L. The car 1 can travel within a hoistway, its traveling zone being ultimately limited by ends of the hoistway. The elevator car 1 is provided with a car brake 2 suitable for braking the movement of the car 1, and a first coupling means 3 vertically movably mounted on the car 1, and a second coupling means 4 mounted separate from the car 1 at proximity of an end of the hoistway. In this case, the second coupling means 4 are mounted on a stationary structure of the hoistway S and positioned inside the hoistway S. The first and second coupling means (3,4) are counterparts for each other and they are provided for being coupled in force-transmitting manner to each other. For this purpose, the first coupling means 3 comprises movable coupling members 13, i.e. coupling members 13 mounted movably on the car 1, which coupling members 13 are suitable for being coupled with coupling member(s) 14 comprised in the second coupling means. The first coupling means 3 has plurality of coupling points at different vertical levels, and said second coupling means 4 can couple to the first coupling means 3 at each of said coupling points. Thus, the elevator car 1 need not be in one specific location for the coupling to be possible, but there are plural vertical positions for the elevator car 1 where coupling between the first and second coupling means is possible. The car brake 2 is functionally connected to the first coupling means 3 such that it is triggerable by movement of the first coupling means 3 vertically, especially by movement of movable coupling member(s) 13 of the first coupling means 3. Thereby, when the first and second coupling means 3, 4 are coupled to each other, movement of the car will cause the second coupling means 4, especially the coupling members 14 thereof, to block downwards directed vertical movement of the first coupling means 3, especially vertical movement of coupling member(s) 13 thereof. Thus, movement of the car 1 downwards causes said brake triggering movement of the first coupling means 3 (in this case movement of the coupling member(s) 13 upwards relative to car 1). The connection c between the brake 2 and the first coupling means 3 may be mechanical, e.g. as it is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, but also other connection types, such as an electromechanical connection, are possible. The brake 2 is preferably a brake that can grip elevator guide rails G, such as guide rails for guiding elevator car 1.

(7) Said coupling points at different vertical levels are realized in the preferred embodiment by coupling members 13 for forming said coupling points, which are at different vertical levels, each of the coupling members 13 being suitable for being coupled with a coupling member 14 of the second coupling means 4.

(8) Said first and second coupling means (3,4) are positioned relative to each other such that said coupling points, in particular the coupling members 13 for forming the coupling points, can successively pass the second coupling means 4, in particular the coupling member(s) 14 thereof, when the car 1 moves towards said end of the hoistway with unidirectional movement. To enable the passing, the second coupling means 4, including the coupling member(s) 14 thereof, are positioned in this preferred embodiment at proximity of the end of the hoistway. In this preferred embodiment, said end of the hoistway is the lower end of the hoistway. Said passing makes it possible that the car can travel full length of said traveling zone towards said end when the elevator is in a normal state where coupling between said coupling means 3,4 is not intended/caused. When the elevator is in a state where said coupling is intended, said coupling is caused when the coupling means 3 and 4 level with each other. Consequently, said passing is not possible and the elevator car cannot travel the full length of its traveling zone towards said end.

(9) The elevator can be set to and away from an activated condition where coupling is possible. In particular, the elevator can be set to and away from an activated condition, in which activated condition coupling between said first and second coupling means takes place if the car is in such a position or is later moved to such a position where said first and second coupling means are level with each other. In the preferred embodiment the elevator can be set to this activated condition by moving coupling member(s) 13,14 of the first and second coupling means 3,4 to a collision course as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Correspondingly, the elevator can be set back to deactivated condition where coupling is not possible, by moving coupling member(s) 13,14 of the first and second coupling means 3,4 away from a collision course. To enable said moving of the coupling members 13,14 to collision course, one of the first and second coupling means (3,4) has coupling member(s) laterally movable to and away from a position wherein it/they is/are on collision course with coupling member(s) of the other of the first and second coupling means (3,4), in such condition their vertical projections can overlap and collision follows in case the elevator car moves so that they collide. In the illustrated embodiments, the coupling member 14 of the second coupling means is said laterally movable coupling member. Alternatively, the coupling members 13 of the first coupling means could be movable in said manner. Coupling of said coupling means (3,4) to each other is caused by moving a coupling member 13 of the first coupling means 3 and a coupling member 14 of the second coupling means 4 into contact by relative movement of them. As there are plural coupling points at different vertical levels, particularly plurality of coupling members 13 at different vertical levels comprised in one of the coupling means 3,4, coupling can take place even when some of the coupling members 13 have already passed the coupling member 14. In this type of situation there are still some coupling members at opposite side (in Figures above) of the coupling member 14 of the second coupling means 4, which can cause brake triggering movement to the first coupling means 4. The vertical distance between coupling points can be dimensioned short, which causes that the car can be moved at most a short distance towards the end of the traveling zone after moving the elevator to activated condition. Thus, the car can be stopped from moving much closer to the pit floor. This is important especially when the car is close to pit floor at the time of moving the elevator to activated condition with an intention to access the hoistway below the car 1. Accordingly, the arrangement makes it possible to secure a safety space between the pit floor and the car safely and reliably even when the car is close to the pit floor at the moment of activation. However, the arrangement makes it possible that the car can move above the second coupling means 4 freely even when the elevator is in said activated condition.

(10) Said coupling points include several coupling points at different vertical levels. Said coupling points preferably include at least 5, preferably at least 8, more preferably at least 10 coupling points at different vertical levels. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 there are 10 coupling points formed by 10 coupling members 13. Said coupling points are distributed over a vertical length which is preferably less than 3 meters and more than 1 meters, more preferably at least 1.5 meters, most preferably at least 2 meters. In the embodiments shown this length is around 2 meters. As one aim is to achieve rapid stopping of the car after coupling, said coupling points include coupling points which are less than 50 cm apart, more preferably less than 30 cm apart. These same dimensions are of course preferable with the coupling members 13 as well. Said coupling members 13 at different vertical levels comprise a lowermost coupling member and an uppermost coupling member and a coupling member 13 or plurality of coupling members 13 between the lowermost and an uppermost coupling member, all at different vertical levels. Said coupling members 13 at different vertical levels comprise a lowermost coupling member and an uppermost coupling member having preferably at least 1 meter distance between them.

(11) The elevator as shown in FIG. 1 comprises the means 11, 12 for remotely setting the elevator at least to an activated condition. By operating said means 11, 12 said movement of the coupling member(s) to or from the collision course can be caused. In the preferred embodiment, said means are operable by a person intending to enter the hoistway S. Said means 11,12 are accessible from the landing L closest said end of the traveling path. They comprise an interface 12 connected to coupling means 4 for moving the coupling members or the coupling means 3,4 to collision course when operated. The interface 12 may be in the form of a lever rotatable by a triangular key, which interface is common in elevators to be used by maintenance persons for opening elevator doors. As an alternative to said interface, the means 11,12 for remotely setting the elevator at least to an activated condition could comprise a door position sensing means, such as sensor, operatively connected to coupling means 4 for moving the coupling members 13,14 or the coupling means 3,4 to collision course if a door leading to the hoistway is opened. Presence of said means 11,12 is preferable for the sake of safety, but not necessary, because said lateral movement of the laterally movable coupling member 14 could be caused also manually after entering the hoistway.

(12) Force for moving said lateral movement of the laterally movable coupling member 14 such that coupling members 13, and 14 of the first and second coupling means are on collision course may be produced in many alternative ways. For example, the movable coupling member 14 may be arranged to be moved with manual force or by releasing the coupling member to be moved by gravity force or by releasing the coupling member to be moved by a force of a spring means, such as a spring or equivalent for producing a force for moving the coupling members 14. In the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1, the connection 11 may be in the form of a cable connecting the interface 12 and the coupling means 4. When the lowest landing door is opened with a triangular emergency opening key, the connection 11, e.g. in the form of a cable, transmits force to the coupling means 4 and triggers said lateral movement of the coupling members 14, e.g. by releasing a holding means 18 (such as a latch, not showed) comprised in the coupling means 4. Said holding means 18, when in unreleased (i.e. holding) condition, hold the coupling member 14 in inactivated state against force of gravity and/or against force of an auxiliary spring means. In said triggering, this holding is ceased, and the coupling member 14 moves (in this case dropped down) laterally to collision course with coupling members 13.

(13) The coupling member 14 can transmit vertical reaction force to the coupling member 13 when they collide. Said laterally movable coupling member 14 is in the preferred embodiment pivotal. Thus, it is laterally movable to collision course with coupling members 13 by pivoting around an axis. To enable said vertical reaction force, the range of pivoting movement is preferably limited such that the coupling member 14 cannot pivot over and away from the position where said collision course with coupling members 13 is realized. The second coupling means may for this purpose comprise a limiting means 15 for pivoting of the coupling member 14. It is not necessary that said lateral movement is realized by pivoting of coupling member 14. Alternatively, the laterally movable coupling member could be movable with linear movement, such as linear horizontal movement.

(14) In the preferred embodiment, the coupling members 13,14 of said first and second coupling means (3,4) are in the form of stop members having a stop surface, the stop surface of the members 13 of the first coupling means 3 facing said end of the hoistway and the member(s) 14 of the second coupling arrangement facing the opposite direction. In this way the arrangement is simple to form such that there are the second coupling means can effectively block or at least limits vertical movement of the first coupling means when they are coupled to each other. A laterally open free space is located vertically between successive coupling members 13 at different vertical levels into which space a coupling member 14 of the other of said first and second coupling means (3,4) can be laterally moved by moving coupling member(s) 14 of one of said coupling means laterally. In the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the coupling members 14 of the second coupling means 4 are in this way movable. This is preferable, because in this way the moving is easy to trigger from position separate from the car, such as from the landing L. Also, in this way the additional movable structures need not be placed in unity of the car 1.

(15) FIG. 2 illustrates preferred details for the embodiment of FIG. 1. The car brake 2 is functionally connected to the first coupling means 3 such that it is triggerable by movement of the first coupling means 3, especially by movement of movable coupling member(s) 13 of the first coupling means 3. The first coupling means 13 are mechanically connected to the brake 2 with a lever arrangement 21. The lever arrangement 21 is arranged to transmit movement of any one of the coupling members 13 to movement of a wedging part 22 placed between a tapered wedging surface of the brake body and a surface of the elevator guide rail G. Vertical movement of the coupling member(s) 13 moves the wedging part deeper into a convergent gap between the guide rail G and the brake body. Further movement of the elevator car 1 will increase the wedging effect and the car movement is finally stopped. The structure of the brake can be corresponding as that of a safety gear, which is a commonly known elevator component. In fact, it is preferable that said brake 2 additionally functions as a safety gear. Accordingly, it is preferable that said brake 2 can also be triggered with an overspeed governing device 5 as illustrated in FIG. 1, i.e. based on car speed. This is however not necessary. The brake 2 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is able to stop movement of the elevator car 1 in one direction. The brake 2 could alternatively be in the form of a two-directional safety gear well known in the field of elevator technology, whereby it could brake and stop the car in two directions. In this way, a safety space could be formed in both of the two ends of the hoistway in corresponding manner. In this case, a second coupling means 4 would be positioned at proximity of each of the two ends of the hoistway. Instead of the preferred arrangement of FIG. 2 alternatively another type of arrangement for connecting the coupling means 3 to brake 2 such that movement of coupling means 3 causes brake triggering. For example, the brake 2 could be a hydraulically or electrically operable brake instead of lever arrangement. In that case, the arrangement would comprise an actuator, such as a spring-powered actuator or a hydraulic actuator or a solenoid actuator. The brake 2 could also differ in type, as it is not necessary that it is a wedging type of brake. For example, the brake could alternatively be in the form of a disc brake.

(16) FIG. 2 illustrates preferred details for the embodiment of FIG. 1, especially for the structure of the first coupling means 3 and preferred functional interplay between the first and second coupling means 3,4. In this embodiment, the first coupling means 3 having coupling points at different levels comprises a vertically elongated rigid object comprising said coupling members 13 at different vertical levels for forming said coupling points. The rigid object is in the form of a vertically elongated plate having plurality of edges for forming of said coupling members at different levels facing towards said end of the hoistway. In particular, the plate has a plurality of vertically spaced cutouts forming said edges. In particular the cutouts are holes at intervals as above each other. The coupling members are formed by the plate section between successive cutouts. The plate is placed parallel with the car wall and mounted vertically movably on the car 1. In this way, the lateral space consumed by the first coupling means 3 is minimized. The structure is also very simple and cheap to manufacture. In this way, a great number of coupling points/coupling members can be formed in space efficient manner. The coupling member 14 of the second coupling means is movable laterally to and away from the cutouts. The coupling member is movable by pivoting around an axis parallel to said plate and/or car wall.

(17) FIG. 4 illustrates the second coupling means 4 with preferable details. The second coupling means 4 are arranged to be mounted on a stationary structure, which is in this case an elevator guide rail G. The coupling member 14 thereof may be arranged to be movable a limited length (see the vertical arrow) in vertical direction towards said end of the hoistway such that after collision of the coupling members 13,14 the coupling members 14 can move towards said end pushed by the coupling members 13. This length is preferably at most 1 meter, more preferably less than 50 cm. The second coupling means 4 are arranged to resist this vertical movement. In this way the brake triggering movement is early initiated and yet the parts where brake triggering movement is caused is less likely to be able to return back to normal condition soon after collision. Also, in this way the coupling members or other structures are not broken after collision due to continuance of the movement for a certain braking length. In order to achieve one or more of these properties in the preferred embodiment the second coupling means 4 comprise a mounting base 16 to be fixed on a structure G, and a body 17 carrying the coupling member 14 of the second coupling means 4. The body 17 is mounted movably on the mounting base 16 but with a limited vertical moving range. There may be means (not shown) for resisting and/or limiting the movement of the body 17 relative to the mounting base 16. These means may comprise a spring means for resisting vertical movement of the body 17, such as a compression spring between the body 17 and the mounting base 16 but this is not necessary. Alternatively, the body 17 and the mounting base 16 may be fixed to each other with a friction connection. The relative movement of the body 17 and the mounting base 16 is preferably guided by guiding means, such as their vertically elongated surfaces opposing each other. For this purpose the mounting base 16 and the body 17 have tubular cross-shapes telescopically movable relative to each other.

(18) The second coupling means 4 also include preferably, but not necessarily, the ability to yield when the elevator car is moved away from the end at proximity of which this second coupling means 4 is positioned. In particular, the second coupling means 4 is positioned at proximity of and end (in Figures a lower end) of the of the hoistway S, and when the coupling means (3,4) are coupled, movement of the first coupling means 3 away from the end (in Figures upwards) is configured to release the coupling between said coupling means 3,4, and movement of the first coupling means 3, especially coupling member(s) thereof, toward the end (in Figures downwards) is configured to be blocked or at least resisted by the second coupling means 4, especially by coupling members 14 thereof. In the solution as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, this yielding is achieved as the coupling member 14 of the second coupling means 4 is arranged to pivot to one direction only from the state of collision course, and pivoting of the member 14 in this pivoting direction can be caused by moving the coupling member 13 away from the close end of the hoistway S (in Figures upwards). Accordingly, the car 1 can be driven towards safe direction even while the safety space is formed.

(19) In the method a safety space s is formed between elevator car and an end of the elevator hoistway S, the elevator being as described above. In the method before a person enters the hoistway S the elevator is temporarily set to activated condition. In the activated condition coupling between said first and second coupling means takes place if the car 1 is in such a position or is later moved to such a position where said first and second coupling means 3,4 are level with each other. Accordingly, if the car 1 is at the time of activation positioned such that said first and second coupling means 3,4 are level with each other coupling is performed and if not then the coupling will be performed if the car 1 later reaches such a position that said first and second coupling means are level with each other. Due to the specific construction of the coupling means 3,4, as earlier described, a safety space s can be reliably in formed with the method wherever the car 1 is positioned. The elevator can be set to activated condition by moving the coupling members of the first and second coupling means 13,14 on collision course with each other. After activation, the person enters the hoistway S. After this the person exits the hoistway. After this, the elevator is set away from said activated condition to inactivated condition, in which inactivated condition coupling between said first and second coupling means is not possible. In this way the elevator is set back to normal operation condition. For ensuring the independence of the car position, it is preferable that in the activated condition, the coupling member(s) 14 of the second coupling means are on collision course with all the coupling members 13 at different vertical levels of the first coupling means.

(20) In the preferred embodiment as shown in Figures said second coupling means 4, including the coupling member(s) 14 thereof, are mounted at proximity of the lower end of the hoistway S. The mounting position of the second coupling means 4 affects the height of the safety space formed with the arrangement. This mounting position is at proximity of the lower end of the hoistway S preferably at a predetermined distance from the lower end of the hoistway, but preferably below the halfway of the hoistway height. The second coupling means 4 is mounted on a stationary structure, such as a stationary structure of the hoistway S. Elevator guide rail(s) form a preferred mounting base for the second coupling means 4, because thus the vertical position of the coupling means can be easily adjusted optimal. The Figures show the lower end of the hoistway being the end in which the safety space s is formed. However, a safety space can be alternatively arranged to be formed in the upper end of the hoistway in a corresponding manner. In that case, the devices could work oppositely in the vertical sense. Of course, a safety space can be alternatively arranged to be formed in the upper end of the hoistway in this manner. In this case, the brake 2 would be preferable to construct two-directional such that it can be triggered to brake in two directions. Thus, there's no need to have a several brakes. In this case, also the movably mounted coupling means would be mounted movably on both vertical directions.

(21) The elevator is preferably of the type having low pit. Especially, the vertical distance d between the pit floor and the sill of the lowest landing is preferably less than 1 meter, but may be even less than 0.5 meters.

(22) As illustrated in context of the preferred embodiment, it is preferable that the first coupling means has the coupling points at different vertical levels. However, alternatively it is also possible that the second coupling means has said coupling points at different vertical levels. In that case, said first and second coupling means (3,4) are positioned relative to each other such that said coupling points are successively passed by said other of the first and second coupling means (3,4) when car 1 moves towards said end of the hoistway with unidirectional movement.

(23) It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.