Elevator car

Abstract

An elevator car includes a car floor; a movable ceiling, which is pivotable between a normal operating position, in which the movable ceiling extends substantially horizontally and a maintenance position, in which the movable ceiling extends into an interior space of the elevator car; a working platform movably attached to the movable ceiling. The working platform is pivotable between a storage position, in which the working platform extends basically parallel to the movable ceiling, and a working position, in which the working platform extends transversely from the movable ceiling; and at least one foldable leg attached to the working platform. The at least one foldable leg is foldable between a storage configuration, in which the at least one foldable leg extends substantially parallel to the working platform, and a working configuration, in which the at least one foldable leg extends transversely from the working platform for supporting the working platform.

Claims

1. An elevator car (6) comprising: a car floor (20); a movable ceiling (24), which is pivotable between a normal operating position as a ceiling of the elevator car, and a maintenance position, in which the movable ceiling (24) extends into an interior space (21) of the elevator car (6); a working platform (25) movably attached to the movable ceiling (24), wherein the working platform (25) is pivotable between a storage position and a working position, in which the working platform (25) extends transversely from the movable ceiling (24); at least one foldable leg (26, 28) attached to the working platform (25), wherein the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) is foldable between a storage configuration and a working configuration, in which the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) extends transversely from the working platform (25) for supporting the working platform (25) on the car floor (20); at least one mechanical link (34) linking the working platform (25) with the movable ceiling (24) and allowing the working platform (25) to pivot with respect to the movable ceiling (24), wherein the at least one mechanical link (34) allows the working platform (25) to move linearly with respect to the movable ceiling (24).

2. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the movable ceiling (24), when arranged in the maintenance position, extends vertically within the elevator car (6), and/or wherein the working platform (25), when arranged in the working position, extends orthogonally from the movable ceiling (24).

3. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) comprises at least two leg portions (26a, 26b, 28a, 28b) pivotably linked with each other.

4. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) is lockable in at least one of the storage configuration and the working configuration; and/or wherein the movable ceiling (24) is lockable in at least one of the normal operating position and the maintenance position.

5. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) comprises at least one step (38).

6. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, comprising at least two foldable legs (26, 28).

7. The elevator car (6) according to claim 6, wherein the at least two foldable legs (26, 28) are mounted towards opposing ends of the working platform (25).

8. The elevator car (6) according to claim 7 further comprising an elevator car door (12), wherein at least one of the two foldable legs (26, 28), which is mounted towards an end of the working platform (25) facing the elevator car door (12), comprises at least one step (38).

9. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical link (34) comprises a support bar (40) attached to and/or formed integrally with the working platform (25), and at least one concave support surface (42) attached to and/or formed integrally with the movable ceiling (24) and supporting the support bar (40).

10. The elevator car (6) according to claim 9, wherein the support bar (40) has a round cross-section.

11. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical link (34) further comprises a mechanical barrier (46) preventing the working platform (25) from being separated from the movable ceiling (24).

12. The elevator car (6) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor (48) configured for detecting whether the movable ceiling (24) is arranged in its normal operating position.

13. The elevator system (2) comprising an elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the elevator system (2) further comprises an elevator controller (9) which is configured for preventing any movement of the elevator car (6) if the sensor (48) does not indicate that the movable ceiling (24) is arranged in its normal operating position.

14. A method of deploying the working platform (25) of an elevator car (6) according to claim 1, wherein the method includes: unlocking the movable ceiling (24); moving the movable ceiling (24) from its normal operating position into its maintenance position; moving the working platform (25) from its storage position into its working position; extending the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) from its storage configuration into its working configuration before, while and/or after the working platform (25) is moved; locking the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) in its working configuration; and supporting the at least one foldable leg (26, 28) on the car floor (20) of the elevator car (6).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically depicts an elevator system comprising an elevator car according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIGS. 2 to 13 schematically depict cross-sectional side views of an elevator car according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention within the working platform arranged in different positions.

(4) FIG. 14 depicts a schematic cross-sectional front view of an elevator car according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention with the working platform arranged in the working position.

(5) FIG. 15 is an enlarged three-dimensional picture of two internal leg hinges according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIGS. 16 and 17 depict schematic enlarged views of a mechanical link according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 schematically depicts an elevator system 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(8) The elevator system 2 includes an elevator car 6 movably arranged within a hoistway 4 extending between a plurality of landings 8. The elevator car 6 in particular is movable in a longitudinal (vertical) direction along a plurality of car guide members 14, such as guide rails, extending along the vertical direction of the hoistway 4. On-ly one of said car guide members 14 is depicted in FIG. 1.

(9) Although only one elevator car 6 is shown in FIG. 1, the skilled person understands that exemplary embodiments of the invention may include elevator systems 2 including a plurality of elevator cars 6 moving in one or more hoistways 4.

(10) The elevator car 6 is movably suspended by means of a driving member (tension member) 3. The driving member 3, for example a rope or belt, is connected to a drive unit 5, which is configured for driving the driving member 3 in order to move the elevator car 6 along the height of the hoistway 4 between the plurality of landings 8, which are located on different floors.

(11) Details of the roping configuration are not specified in FIG. 1. The skilled person understands that the type of the roping is not essential for the invention and that dif-ferent kinds of roping, such as a 1:1 roping, a 2:1 roping or a 4:1 roping may be employed.

(12) The driving member 3 may be a rope, e.g. a steel wire rope, or a belt. The driving member 3 may be uncoated or may have a coating, e.g. in the form of a polymer jacket. In a particular embodiment, the driving member 3 may be a belt comprising a plurality of polymer coated steel cords (not shown). The elevator system 2 may have a traction drive including a traction sheave for driving the driving member 3. In an alternative configuration, which is not shown in the figures, the elevator system 2 may be an elevator system 2 without a driving member 3.

(13) The elevator system 2 also may comprise e.g. a hydraulic drive or a linear drive. The elevator system 2 may have a machine room (not shown) or it may be a machine room-less elevator system 2.

(14) The elevator system 2 further includes a counterweight 19 attached to the driving member 3 and configured for moving concurrently and in opposite direction with respect to the elevator car 6 along at least one counterweight guide member 15. The skilled person will understand that the invention may be applied also to elevator systems 2 which do not comprise a counterweight 19.

(15) Each landing 8 is provided with a landing door 11, and the elevator car 6 is provided with a corresponding elevator car door 12 for allowing passengers to transfer be-tween a landing 8 and the elevator car 6 when the elevator car 6 is positioned at the respective landing 8.

(16) The drive unit 5 is controlled by an elevator controller 9 for moving the elevator car 6 along the hoistway 4 between the different landings 8.

(17) Input to the elevator controller 9 may be provided via landing control panels 7a, which are provided on each landing 8 close to the landing doors 11, and/or via an elevator car control panel 7b, which is provided inside the elevator car 6.

(18) The landing control panels 7a and the elevator car control panel 7b may be connected to the elevator controller 9 by means of electric wires, which are not shown in FIG. 1, in particular by an electric bus, or by means of wireless data connections.

(19) FIGS. 2 to 13 depict schematic cross-sectional side views of an elevator car according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(20) The elevator car 6 comprises a horizontally extending car floor 20, a ceiling frame 22 comprising a plurality of ceiling frame bars 22a-22d extending in some distance from and parallel to the car floor 20, and side walls 23a-23d extending between the ceiling frame 22 and the car floor 20 defining an interior space 21 of the elevator car 6.

(21) Only two ceiling frame bars 22a, 22b and two side walls 23a, 23b, in particular a rear wall 23a and a front wall 23b, of the elevator car 6 are visible in the side views depicted in FIGS. 2 to 13. Two further ceiling frame bars 22c, 22d, and two further side walls 23c, 23d, i.e. a left side wall 23c and a right side wall 23d, are visible in the front view of the elevator car 6 depicted in FIG. 14, which will be discussed in more detail further below.

(22) At least one elevator car door 12 is provided in at least one of the side walls 23a-23d. In the elevator car 6 depicted FIGS. 2 to 14, an elevator car door 12 is provided in the front wall 23b, which is depicted on the right side of FIGS. 2 to 13.

(23) A movable ceiling 24, which may be a decorative ceiling 24, is movably attached to the ceiling frame 22. The movable ceiling 24 in particular is pivotably linked with the ceiling frame 22 by at least one ceiling hinge 30, which allows the movable ceiling 24 to pivot around a horizontally extending axis A between a normal operating position (see FIG. 2), and a maintenance position (see FIGS. 3 to 14).

(24) During normal operation of the elevator system 2, i.e. when the elevator car 6 is used for transporting passengers between the different landings 8, the movable ceiling 24 is arranged in the normal operating position (see FIG. 2), in which it ex-tends substantially horizontally parallel to the ceiling frame 22 and the car floor 20.

(25) The elevator car 6 further comprises a locking mechanism 32, which is arranged at the ceiling frame 22 and/or at the movable ceiling 24. The locking mechanism 32 allows locking the movable ceiling 24 when it is arranged in the normal operating position in order to prevent the movable ceiling 24 from accidentally dropping into the interior space 21.

(26) For preventing an unauthorized movement of the movable ceiling 24, a special tool or key, which is available only to authorized mechanics, may be necessary for unlocking the locking mechanism 32. The locking mechanism 32 may be connected with the elevator controller 9 in order to allow unlocking the locking mechanism 32 only after the elevator car 6 has been stopped and/or in order to prevent any movement of the elevator car 6 while the locking mechanism 32 in unlocked.

(27) On the side facing away from the interior of the elevator car 6, i.e. on the upper side in FIG. 2, a working platform 25 is attached to the movable ceiling 24. The working platform 25 is attached to the movable ceiling 24 via a mechanical link 34. The mechanical link 34 allows the working platform 25 to move with respect to the movable ceiling 24. The functionality and details of the structure of the mechanical link 34 will be discussed further below.

(28) In the configuration depicted in FIG. 2, the working platform 25 is arranged in a storage position, in which it extends parallel to the decorative ceiling 24.

(29) Two foldable legs 26, 28 are pivotably attached to the working platform 25 by respective external leg hinges 27, 29. In the configuration depicted in FIG. 2, the foldable legs 26, 28 are arranged in their respective storage configurations extending substantially parallel to the working platform 25 in a folded configuration.

(30) In order to deploy the working platform 25 from its normal operating position, the locking mechanism 32 is unlocked, and the movable ceiling 24 is pivoted together with the working platform 25 and the two foldable legs 26, 28 around the horizontal axis A into the interior space 21 of the elevator car 6 (cf. FIGS. 2 to 4) until it reaches the maintenance position depicted in FIG. 4. When arranged in the maintenance position, the movable ceiling 24 extends in a substantially vertical orientation basically parallel to the side walls 23a-23d of the elevator car 6.

(31) After the movable ceiling 24 has been moved into the maintenance position, at least one of the foldable legs 26, 28, in particular a rear leg 28, which is mounted to the working platform 25 at a position next to the mechanical link 34 connecting the working platform 25 to the movable ceiling 24, is moved from its storage configuration, in which it extends basically parallel to the working platform 25, into an at least partially extended configuration, in which it extends transversely from the working platform 25 (see FIG. 5).

(32) Simultaneously, or after the at least one foldable leg 26, 28 has been at least partially extended, the working platform 25 is pivoted from its storage position, in which the working platform 25 extends basically parallel to the movable ceiling 24 (see FIGS. 2 to 5), towards a working position, in which the working platform 25 extends at an angle from the movable ceiling 24 (see FIG. 6).

(33) While the working platform 25 is pivoted towards the working position, both foldable legs 26, 28 are fully extended into their respective working configurations (see FIGS. 7 to 11).

(34) Each foldable leg 26, 28 comprises two leg portions 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b, which are pivotably linked with each other by an internal leg hinge 26c, 28c, respectively. The internal leg hinges 26c, 28c are lockable at least in the storage configuration (see FIGS. 2 to 3) and/or in the fully extended working configuration (see FIGS. 8 to 14) of the foldable legs 26, 28 in order to prevent an undesired folding/unfolding of the foldable legs 26, 28. Optionally, the internal leg hinges 26c, 28c may be lockable in intermediate configurations, too.

(35) The internal leg hinges 26c, 28c in particular may include ratchet mechanisms, which allow unfolding the leg portions 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b from the storage configuration into the working configuration, but which prevent folding the leg portions 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b back into the storage configuration without unlocking the internal leg hinges 26c, 28c. The internal leg hinges 26c, 28c, for example, may be unlocked by pressing an unlocking button or lever (not shown) provided at the internal leg hinges 26c, 28c.

(36) An enlarged three-dimensional picture of an exemplary configuration of two internal leg hinges 26c is shown in FIG. 15.

(37) After both foldable legs 26, 28 have been fully extended into their working positions (see FIG. 11) the working platform 25 is moved into its working position (see FIGS. 12 and 13). When arranged in the working position, the working platform 25 extends substantially orthogonally from the substantially vertically extending movable ceiling 24 basically parallel to the car floor 20, as it is shown in FIG. 13. When the working platform 25 is arranged in the working position, lower ends 26d, 28d of the foldable legs 26, 28 contact the car floor 20 of the elevator car 6 supporting the working platform 25 on the car floor 20. After the working platform 25 has been arranged in the working position with the foldable legs 26, 28 supporting the working platform 25 on the car floor 20 of the elevator car 6, a mechanic 36 may climb onto the working platform 25 for performing maintenance and/or repair on top of or above the elevator car 6 (see FIG. 13).

(38) In order to make it easier, safer and more convenient for mechanics 36 to climb onto the working platform 25, at least one of the foldable legs 26, 28 may comprise at least one step 38, in particular a plurality of steps 38 forming a ladder extending between the car floor 20 and the working platform 25. The at least one step 38 in particular may be formed at a “front leg” 26, which is mounted closer to the end of the working platform 25 facing towards the elevator car door 12 than the other (“rear”) leg 28, when the working platform 25 is arranged in the working position.

(39) Such a configuration is illustrated in FIG. 14 showing a front view, i.e. a view through the elevator car door 12 (not shown in FIG. 14), of the elevator car 6 with the working platform 25 being arranged in its working position.

(40) In order to allow positioning the lower ends 26d, 28d of the foldable legs 26, 28 on the car floor 20 of the elevator car 6 when the working platform 25 is pivoted around a horizontally extending axis (cf. FIGS. 11 to 13), the mechanical link 34 linking the working platform 25 with the movable ceiling 24 is configured not only for allowing the previously described pivoting motion of working platform 25 with respect to the movable ceiling 24, but it further allows the working platform 25 to move linearly along the length of movable ceiling 24, i.e. in a substantially vertical direction, when the movable ceiling 24 is arranged substantially vertically in its maintenance position.

(41) A schematic view of a mechanical link 34 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 11 to 13, 16 and 17.

(42) The mechanical link 34 comprises a support bar 40, which is attached to or formed integrally with the working platform 25, and a curved, in particular concave, support surface 42 supporting the support bar 40. The support surface 42 is attached to or formed integrally with the movable ceiling 24.

(43) As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the support bar 40 has a round cross-section resulting in a round outer peripheral surface 44 of the support bar 40. The round outer peripheral surface 44 allows the support bar 40 to rotate with respect to the support surface 42. This allows the working platform 25 to pivot with respect to the movable ceiling 24.

(44) The support bar 40 is not fixed to the support surface 42. Instead, the support bar 40 may be lifted of the support surface 42 (see FIG. 17). This allows the working platform 25 to move linearly, in particular vertically, with respect to the movable ceiling 24.

(45) In consequence, as soon as the lower end 26d, 28d of at least one of the foldable legs 26, 28 reaches the car floor 20 of the elevator car 6 (cf. FIG. 12), the working platform 25 is lifted by lifting the support bar 40 from the support surface 42 in order to allow placing the lower ends 26d, 28d of both foldable legs 26, 28 firmly onto the car floor 20 (cf. FIGS. 12 and 13).

(46) As a result, the support bar 40 does not contact the support surface 42 but is lifted from the support surface 42 when the working platform 25 is in its final working position, in which the foldable legs 26, 28 are supported on the car floor 20 of the elevator car 6 (see FIG. 13). Thus, the weight of the working platform 25 and a mechanic 36 standing on the working platform 25 is not loaded on the movable ceiling 24. In consequence, the movable ceiling 24, the ceiling hinge 30 and the mechanical link 34 need to be designed only for supporting the weight of the working platform 25 and the foldable legs 26, 28, but not for supporting the additional weight of the mechanic 36.

(47) For preventing the working platform 25 from being completely separated from the movable ceiling 24, a mechanical barrier 46 may be provided above the support surface 42. The mechanical barrier 46 limits the maximum vertical distance between the support bar 40 and the support surface 42. The mechanical barrier 46 may be removable/detachable in order to allow detaching the working platform 25 from the movable ceiling in exceptional situations.

(48) Optionally, the elevator car 6 may be equipped with at least one sensor 48 (see FIGS. 2 to 14), which is configured for detecting whether the movable ceiling 24, the working platform 25 and/or the foldable legs 26, 28 are arranged in their respective normal operation/storage positions and configurations as depicted in FIG. 1. The sensor 48 may be a mechanical sensor, an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a combination thereof. The sensor 48 may deliver a signal to the elevator controller 9, and the elevator controller 9 may allow the elevator car 6 to move in normal operation only if the sensor 48 confirms that the movable ceiling 24, the working platform 25 and the foldable legs 26, 28 are arranged in their respective normal operation/storage positions and configurations.

(49) If the sensor 48 does not confirm that the working platform 25 and the foldable legs 26, 28 are arranged in their respective normal operation/storage positions and configurations, the elevator controller 9 may prevent any movement of the elevator car 6.

(50) Alternatively to preventing any movement of the elevator car 6, the elevator controller 9 may be configured to allow the elevator car 6 to move in a restricted maintenance mode only if the sensor 48 does not confirm that the working platform 25 and the foldable legs 26, 28 are in their respective normal operation/storage positions and configurations. Moving the elevator car 6 in a restricted maintenance mode allows the mechanic 36 to perform special maintenance tasks which need the elevator car 6 to move while the working platform 25 is arranged in its working configuration. When the elevator car 6 is moved in the restricted maintenance mode, the positions, the speed and/or the acceleration of the elevator car 6 may be restricted compared to a normal mode of operation.

(51) While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention shall not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the dependent claims.