Elevator arrangement and elevator

Abstract

An elevator arrangement including an elevator with an elevator control system, a safety system and an inspection or maintenance mode, which elevator having an elevator car arranged to run up and down in an elevator shaft along guide rails, and which elevator car is equipped with a roof. The roof of the elevator car is arranged to uncover upper part of the elevator car in order to form a natural safe working space inside the elevator car, and that the arrangement includes a control mechanism in order to control the position of the roof.

Claims

1. An elevator comprising: an elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft along guide rails, and the elevator car including a roof, the roof configured to move with respect to a body of the elevator car between a normally closed position and a fully open position such that, in the fully open position, inspection and maintenance tasks of the elevator shaft are performable from inside the elevator car while the elevator is operating in a maintenance mode; and a control mechanism configured to control the elevator car based on a position of the roof of the elevator car, the control mechanism including a trigger configured to move along with movement of the roof, and first and second control switches configured to activate as the trigger moves in response to the movement of the roof such that, when the roof is at the normally closed position, the trigger causes the first control switch to activate and the second control switch to deactivate to enable the elevator to run in a normal mode, and when the roof is at the fully opened position, the trigger causes the first control switch to deactivate and the second control switch to activate to enable the elevator to run in the maintenance mode.

2. The elevator according to claim 1, further comprising: an articulating roof support configured to open and close the roof only when the elevator is operating in the maintenance mode.

3. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control switches are connected at least to an elevator safety system.

4. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the trigger is a disc with a convex outer edge and a concave recess in a periphery of the disc.

5. The elevator according to claim 4, wherein the control mechanism is configured to, set the elevator to the normal mode, when a trigger of the first control switch is in the concave recess to indicate that the roof of the elevator car is at the normally closed position, and set the elevator to the maintenance mode, when a trigger of the second control switch is in the concave recess to indicate that the roof of the elevator car is at the fully open position.

6. The elevator according to claim 5, further comprising: articulated arms configured to support the roof of the elevator car, the articulated arms including a lower pivot point, a middle pivot point and an upper pivot point wherein the trigger is fastened to the lower pivot point of at least one of the articulated arms at a lower part thereof such that the trigger turns along the lower part of the articulated arm when the roof of the elevator car is opening or closing.

7. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein, while the roof is in the normally closed position, the trigger causes one or more of the first or second control switches to deactivate to prevent the elevator from running in both the normal mode and the maintenance mode, in response to the roof being pressed downwards by a weight on the roof.

8. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to activate safety gear of the elevator.

9. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to control lighting during the maintenance mode.

10. The elevator according to claim 2, wherein the articulating roof support is configured to open and close the roof essentially in a vertical direction.

11. The elevator according to claim 2, wherein the roof comprises: two halves hinged at an upper central part of the elevator car, wherein the articulating roof support includes a pair of hinges configured to open and close respective ones of the halves of the roof by turning the halves towards a center of the elevator car when opening the halves and towards a plurality of car walls of the elevator car when closing the halves.

12. The elevator according to claim 2, wherein the roof comprises: two halves hinged at an upper edge part of the elevator car, wherein the articulating roof support includes a pair of hinges configured to open and close respective ones of the halves of the roof by turning the halves towards a plurality of car walls of the elevator car when opening the halves and towards a center of the elevator car when closing the halves.

13. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein a height of the elevator shaft is equal to a total height of floors of the elevator.

14. An elevator configured to move in an elevator shaft along guide rails, the elevator comprising: a movable roof configured to move with respect to a body of an elevator car between a normally closed position and a fully open position such that, in the fully open position, inspection and maintenance tasks of the elevator shaft are performable from inside the elevator car while the elevator is operating in a maintenance mode; and a control mechanism configured to control the elevator car based on a position of the movable roof of the elevator car, the control mechanism including a trigger configured to move along with movement of the movable roof, and first and second control switches configured to activate as the trigger moves in response to the movement of the movable roof such that, when the movable roof is at the normally closed position, the trigger causes the first control switch to activate and the second control switch to deactivate to enable the elevator to run in a normal mode, and when the movable roof is at the fully opened position, the trigger causes the first control switch to deactivate and the second control switch to activate to enable the elevator to run in the maintenance mode.

15. The elevator according to claim 14, further comprising: an elevator control system configured to enable the elevator car to move in the elevator shaft only if the movable roof of the elevator car is at the fully opened position or the normally closed position.

16. The elevator according to claim 14, wherein the trigger includes a disc configured to rotate in response to movement of the movable roof, the disc having a recess therein.

17. The elevator of claim 16, wherein the disc has a convex outer edge and the recess is in a periphery thereof, the recess being concave.

18. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein during a transition between the normally closed position and the fully opened position, the trigger causes the first and second control switches to each deactivate to inhibit the elevator from running in both the normal mode and the maintenance mode.

19. The elevator according to claim 14, wherein, while the movable roof is in the normally closed position, the trigger causes one or more of the first or second control switches to deactivate to prevent the elevator from running in both the normal mode and the maintenance mode, in response to the movable roof being pressed downwards by a weight on the movable roof.

20. The elevator according to claim 14, wherein during a transition between the normally closed position and the fully opened position, the trigger causes the first and second control switches to each deactivate to inhibit the elevator from running in both the normal mode and the maintenance mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention will be described in detail by the aid of example embodiments by referring to the attached simplified and diagrammatic drawings, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic back view a part of the building where the back wall of the elevator shaft is removed, and an elevator in the elevator shaft, in which elevator the solution according to the invention can be used,

(3) FIG. 2 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic back view the upper part of the elevator shaft in the building according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic back view the upper part of the elevator shaft in the building according to FIG. 1 in the situation where the maintenance or repair task is in progress,

(5) FIG. 4 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic side view an upper part of the elevator car according to the invention in a situation where the roof of the elevator car is opening for instance for maintenance work,

(6) FIG. 5 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic and an enlarged side view a part of the electrical control mechanism according to the invention in order to control the position of the roof of the elevator car, in the situation where the roof is in its uppermost position,

(7) FIG. 6 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic and an enlarged side view a part of the electrical control mechanism according to the invention in order to control the position of the roof of the elevator car, in the situation where the roof is in its lowermost position,

(8) FIG. 7 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic side view an upper part of the elevator car according to another embodiment of the invention when the roof is partially open for maintenance work, and

(9) FIG. 8 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic side view an upper part of the elevator car according to yet another embodiment of the invention when the roof is open for maintenance work.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) An aspect of the invention is to achieve an elevator arrangement with an elevator car having an easily openable and controllable roof which makes it possible to access maintenance and repair targets in an elevator shaft and in the outer upper part of the elevator car from inside the elevator car, and which also removes the need to step onto the roof of the elevator car, and in addition to that, also reduces the height of the shaft needed.

(11) FIG. 1 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic back view a part of the building 1 where the back wall of the elevator shaft 1c is removed, and an elevator in the elevator shaft 1c, in which elevator the solution according to the invention can be used. The building 1 has a roof 1a just above the elevator shaft 1c and four floors 1b served by the elevator.

(12) The elevator comprises among other things an elevator car 2 with an openable roof 2a, which elevator car 2 is arranged to run up and down in the elevator shaft 1c along guide rails 3, and a counterweight or balance weight 2b that is also arranged to run up and down in the elevator shaft 1c along its guide rails which are not presented in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity. Later in this connection only balance weight 2b is mentioned when either counterweight or balance weight is meant.

(13) Advantageously the supporting and moving of the elevator car 2 are separated from each other. This makes it possible to achieve an elevator structure where the height of the headroom above the elevator car 2 can be as low as possible. The elevator car 2 is driven by a hoisting machinery 8 equipped with a drive wheel 7. Advantageously the hoisting machinery 8 is located at the bottom part of the elevator shaft 1c, below the elevator car 2 and advantageously below the first floor level 1b.

(14) A traction member 6 is connected between the balance weight 2b and the elevator car 2. The traction member 6 can be a single member or a bunch of similar parallel members, for instance, the traction member 6 can be a toothed belt, chain or other type of member that does not slip on the drive wheel 7. In this embodiment the suspension ratio of the traction member 6 is 2:1. In that case the first end of the traction member 6 is secured at its first fastening point 9, for example at the bottom part of the elevator shaft 1c. From the first fastening point 9 the traction member 6 is led upwards to go over and around a traction sheave 2e in connection with the balance weight 2b and from the traction sheave 2e the traction member 6 is led downwards to go under and around a diverting pulley 6b and the drive wheel 7 of the hoisting machinery 8 at the bottom part of the elevator shaft 1c, from where the traction member 6 continues upwards to go over and around diverting pulleys 6c at the bottom of the elevator car 2 and from the diverting pulleys 6c again downwards to its second fastening point 9a where the second end of the traction member 6 is secured, for example at the bottom part of the elevator shaft 1c.

(15) The elevator car 2 is suspended by suspension element 4 that is connected between the balance weight 2b and the elevator car 2. The suspension element 4 can be a single member or a bunch of similar parallel members, for instance suspension ropes. In this embodiment the suspension ratio of the suspension element 4 is 2:1. In that case the first ends of the suspension element 4 are secured at their first fastening point 4c, for example at the top part of the guide rail 3, from which the suspension element 4 is led downwards to go under and around a diverting pulley 2d in connection with the balance weight 2b. From the diverting pulley 2d the suspension element 4 is led upwards to go over and around a diverting pulley 4a that is fitted with bearings on its shaft, for instance at the upper part of the guide rail 3. From the diverting pulley 4a the suspension element 4 descends downwards to go under and around diverting pulleys 5 at the bottom of the elevator car 2 and from the diverting pulleys 5 the suspension element 4 is led upwards to its second fastening point 4b where the second end of the suspension element 4 is secured, for example at the top part of the guide rail 3. The elevator car 2 is also equipped with safety gear system that is arranged to stop the movement of the elevator car 2 and to lock the elevator car 2 into the guide rails 2 when needed. Thanks to the suspension like this the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 can be openable, which means that greatest part of the upper part of the elevator car (2) can be uncovered in order to expose a manhole for performing maintenance, test, inspection and/or repair works, etc. in the elevator shaft 1c and at top part of the elevator car 2.

(16) Each floor has a landing door 1e that is presented in FIG. 1 seen from the direction of the elevator shaft 1c. In addition the elevator comprises at least an operating system, a control system, an electrical system, a variety of sensor arrangements and a safety system comprising an inspection mode, which inspection mode is here a common term for the operation mode which is activated when performing inspection, test, maintenance or repair work or other operations that require a safe working environment.

(17) FIG. 2 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic back view the upper part of the elevator shaft 1c in the building 1 according to FIG. 1. Also in this figure the back wall of the elevator shaft 1c is removed and the elevator shaft 1c is seen from its backside. In the situation of FIG. 2 the elevator car 2 is in its uppermost floor 1b in the top part of the elevator shaft 1c. The top clearance between the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 and the ceiling 1d of the elevator shaft 1c is at its minimum. In that solution the height of the elevator shaft 1c is equal to the total height of the floors 1b of the building 1 or even less than the total height of the floors 1b of the building 1. In that case the elevator shaft 1c can be totally inside the building 1.

(18) FIG. 3 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic back view the upper part of the elevator shaft 1c in the building 1 according to FIG. 1 in the situation where the maintenance or repair task, etc. is in progress. The openable roof 2a of the elevator car 2 is opened, in this embodiment by lifting it upwards, and a maintenance hole or opening is created between the uplifted roof 2a and the upper edges of the elevator car 2. The elevator car 2 has been run with a service run or inspection run in an appropriate location in the elevator shaft 1c so that the working person being inside the elevator car 2 has an easy access to the elevator components and appliances in the elevator shaft. In this case the required safety space is created at least partly inside the elevator car 2. In case the maintenance work is done lower in the elevator shaft 1c, the uplifted roof 2a protects the working person also from falling tools and other objects that may fall down into the elevator shaft 1c from other working sites above, for instance from a top part of a neighboring elevator shaft where another elevator is installed at the same time.

(19) FIG. 4 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic view, an upper part of the elevator car 2 according to the invention. In FIG. 4 the roof 2a is partially open for a maintenance or repair work and supported by articulated arms 11 with lower, middle and upper pivot points. Partially open here means that the roof 2a is lifted upwards but it is not yet in its uppermost position. An uncovered manhole or opening 2b on top of the elevator car 2 makes it possible to reach the elevator appliances or components in the elevator shaft 1c from inside the elevator car 2 when the roof 2a is fully open, i.e. in its uppermost position. The vertical position of the roof 2a is controlled with an electrical control mechanism 13 that is installed at the lower part of at least one of the articulated arms 11 supporting the roof 2a.

(20) In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the roof 2a is openable by lifting it straight upwards. For that purpose the elevator comprises opening means 10 that are arranged to open and close the roof 2a when the elevator is switched on to a safe inspection or maintenance mode, later in a shorter way referred only as “inspection mode”. The moving of the roof 2a can be carried out in several ways. One way is to use the articulated arms 11 mentioned above and one or more actuators to turn the articulated arms 11. In this embodiment four articulated arms 11 are used, two pieces on each side of the elevator car 2. The articulated arms 11 help to lift and lower the roof 2a. The actuators to lift and lower the roof 2a are not presented in FIG. 4, but they can be, for instance, gas springs, screws driven by a crank or electric motor, springs associated with dampening gas springs, or the roof 2a can be even moved manually by pushing the roof 2a upwards and pulling it downwards. When lifting and lowering the roof 2a manually gas springs can be used to ease the lifting and to dampen the movement of the roof 2a when closing it so that the roof 2a does not unwantedly hit the upper edges of the elevator car 2.

(21) FIGS. 5 and 6 present in a simplified, diagrammatic and an enlarged side view a part of the electrical control mechanism 13 according to the invention in order to control the position of the roof 2a of the elevator car 2. FIG. 5 presents the situation where the roof 2a is in its uppermost position, and FIG. 6 presents the situation where the roof 2a is in its lowermost position. The electrical control mechanism 13 comprises a trigger element 13a and at least two electrical control switches, a normal closed switch 12a or the first switch and a normal open switch 12b or the second switch, which switches 12a, 12b are operatively connected at least to the elevator control system and the elevator safety system. The trigger element 13a is, for example, a roundish disc that has convex outer edges on both sides of a concave recess 13b in the periphery of the disc. The trigger element 13a is fastened to the lower pivot point of at least one articulated arm 11 at the lower end of said articulated arm 11. So, the disc of the trigger element 13a turns or rotates along the lower part of the articulated arm 11 and at the same time the trigger element 13a rotates around its pivot point.

(22) The control switches 12a, 12b are placed so that when the roof 2a is in its lowermost position the trigger of the normal closed switch 12a is in the recess 13b of the trigger element 13a. In that case the elevator control system has received a signal that the elevator is in a normal mode and that the elevator can be run in a normal mode.

(23) When lifting the roof 2a the articulated arm 11 rotates around its lowermost pivot point and at the same time the trigger element 13a rotates around its pivot point. At that time the trigger element 13a changes the state of the normal closed switch 12a by pushing the trigger the normal closed switch 12a inwards, and as a result the power circuit that enables inspection mode opens. In that case the elevator control system receives a signal that the elevator is not any more in a normal mode and the elevator comes to a halt if the roof 2a has been tried to lift during a normal run of the elevator. If the elevator car 2 was not in motion the elevator cannot start running as long as the roof 2a is not in its uppermost position.

(24) When the roof 2a has been lifted to its uppermost position the trigger of the normal open switch 12b hits the recess 13b, the power circuit that enables inspection mode closes and the normal open switch 12b sends the elevator control system a signal that the inspection mode is allowed. In that case the inspection run is allowed.

(25) In case, when the roof 2a is in its lowermost position and the elevator is in the normal mode, somebody steps onto the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 the weight of the person presses the roof 2a downwards, the trigger element 13a rotates and the trigger of the normal closed switch 12a comes out from the recess 13b in which case the elevator control system receives a signal that the elevator is not any more in the normal mode. In that case neither the normal mode run nor the inspection run is allowed.

(26) In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the electrical control mechanism 13 with its trigger element 13a and control switches 12a, 12b is also arranged to activate the safety gear of the elevator. In that case the safety gear comprises a solenoid that is controlled by the control switches 12a, 12b. When the control mechanism 13 triggers the solenoid it activates the safety gear in which case the movement of the elevator car 2 comes to its halt after a certain predetermined travel if the elevator car 2 starts to move. When the roof 2a reaches its uppermost position the normal open switch 12b is activated and the inspection run becomes allowed in the inspection mode.

(27) The same control switches 12a, 12b can be arranged to control the lighting during the inspection run. In that case the lamps for the lighting are placed, for instance onto the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 or in the edges of the up moving roof 2a. In that case the lighting needs no additional switches.

(28) FIG. 7 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic side view an upper part of the elevator car 2 according to another embodiment of the invention when the roof 2a is open for maintenance or repair work and the position of the roof 2a is controlled by the electrical control mechanism 13. In this embodiment the roof 2a consists of two halves that are hinged with a hinge 2c at their first ends at the upper part of the sidewalls of the elevator car 2 in the middle area of the elevator car 2. Thus the halves of the roof 2a are closing towards the front edge and back edge of the elevator car 2 and opening towards the center of the elevator car 2. This gives more space for maintenance work in the backside of the elevator car 2 and in the front side of the elevator car 2 where, for example the door machinery is. An advantageous place for the trigger 13a of the electrical control mechanism 13 is in connection with the hinge 2c.

(29) FIG. 8 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic side view an upper part of the elevator car 2 according to yet another embodiment of the invention when the roof 2a is open for maintenance or repair work and the position of the roof 2a is controlled by the electrical control mechanism 13. In this embodiment the roof 2a also consists of two halves that are hinged with a hinge 2c at their first ends at the upper part of the sidewalls of the elevator car 2. In this case the hinge points are close the front wall and back wall of the elevator car 2. In this case the halves of the roof 2a are closing towards the center of the elevator car 2 and opening towards the front edge and back edge of the elevator car 2. This gives more space for maintenance work in the sides of the elevator car 2 where, for example the guide rails are. An advantageous place for the trigger 13a of the electrical control mechanism 13 is in connection with the hinge 2c.

(30) According to the invention the elevator car 2 has roof 2a that can be lifted upwards to create an access for maintenance purposes to the elevator appliances in the elevator shaft 1c and to elevator components at the upper part of the elevator car 2. The person performing maintenance tasks can stand in a good position on a special portable working surface that is placed inside the elevator car 2, and has an access to all the components that need maintenance. During the maintenance tasks the interior of the elevator car 2 is in this case a natural safe working space according to the elevator regulations. In addition the uppermost position of the uplifted roof 2a is arranged so that the cap between the roof 2a and the upper edges of the elevator car 2 is so small that the maintenance person cannot climb out from the elevator car 2 into the elevator shaft 1c and step onto the roof 2a. The walls of the elevator car 2 have been arranged to act as railings for the maintenance person.

(31) The elevator arrangement also comprises a mechanical upper safety means to prevent the elevator car from colliding the ceiling 1d of the elevator shaft 1c when the inspection mode is witched on. The upper safety means is operatively connected to bi-directional safety brakes fastened to the elevator car 2.

(32) It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the examples described above but that it may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. Thus, for instance the roof of the elevator car and the mechanisms for opening and closing the roof can be different from what is presented above.

(33) It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the suspension and/or traction ratio of the elevator car can be different from what is presented above. The suspension and/or traction ratio can be, for instance 1:1, the suspension ratio can also be 2:1 but the traction ratio 1:1. However, it is essential that the elevator structure is such that the roof of the elevator car can be easily opened.

(34) It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the suspension and traction arrangement of the elevator car can be different from what is presented above. The location of the hoisting machinery can also be in the upper part of the elevator shaft, and the suspension and traction of the elevator car can be carried out in different ways, for instance with common hoisting ropes that suspend the elevator car and the balance weight and also move them.

(35) It is still further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the electrical control mechanism in order to control the position of the roof of the elevator car can also be different from what is presented above.