Elevator car door interlock

Abstract

An elevator car door interlock for unlocking an elevator car door of an elevator car is provided including a lock member (54) including an electrical contact (72). A rotatable link arm (58) has a sensing mechanism (52, 62) configured to detect a position of the elevator car door. An engagement latch (64) is pivotally mounted to the rotatable link arm. The engagement latch is engaged with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is locked. The engagement latch is rotated out of engagement with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is unlocked.

Claims

1. An elevator car door interlock for unlocking an elevator car door of an elevator car, comprising: a lock member including an electrical contact; a link arm having a sensing mechanism, the link arm being rotatable about a first axis to detect a position of the elevator car door via engagement with an adjacent door vane; and an engagement latch pivotally mounted to the rotatable link arm via a pivot pin defining a second axis, wherein the engagement latch is engaged with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is locked, and the engagement latch is rotated out of engagement with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is unlocked, wherein the rotatable link arm and the engagement latch are rotatable about the second axis defined by the pivot pin in response to engagement between the sensing mechanism and the adjacent door vane.

2. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 1, further comprising a bumper configured to limit rotation of the engagement latch relative to the link arm.

3. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 1, wherein the engagement latch is only configured to rotate out of engagement with the electrical contact when further rotation of the link arm is restricted.

4. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 3, wherein the sensing mechanism is configured to contact the adjacent door vane when the elevator car is in a landing door zone, the contact between the sensing mechanism and the door vane being configured to restrict further rotation of the link arm.

5. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 3, wherein the door vane is mounted to a landing door.

6. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 3, wherein the door vane, driven by the link arm is configured to contact an interlock roller when the elevator car is in a landing door zone, the contact between the door vane and the interlock roller being configured to restrict further rotation of the link arm.

7. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 6, wherein the movable door vane is mounted to the elevator car.

8. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 6, wherein contact between the sensing mechanism of the link arm and the door vane is configured to drive movement of the vane.

9. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 1, wherein the sensing mechanism is a sensing roller.

10. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 1, wherein the link arm is operably coupled to a door operator such that operation of the door operator causes the link arm to rotate about the first axis.

11. The elevator car door interlock according to claim 10, wherein the link arm is connected to a drive belt of the door operator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other features and advantages of embodiments are apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of an elevator car in a hoistway where the elevator doors and the landing doors are in a closed position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view of an elevator car in a hoistway where the elevator car doors and the landing doors in a partially opened position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a detailed front view of a car door interlock device according to an embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of elevator car doors and the car door interlock when the elevator car is within a landing door zone according to an embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the car door interlock of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view of the car door interlock when the elevator car doors and landing doors are coupled and in an open position according to an embodiment;

(8) FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the car door interlock of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment;

(9) FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the car door interlock when the door operator is energized when the elevator is outside a landing door zone according to an embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of a car door interlock device according to another embodiment;

(11) FIG. 10 is a detailed view of elevator car doors and the car door interlock of FIG. 9 when the elevator car is within a landing door zone according to an embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the car door interlock of FIG. 9 when the elevator car doors and landing doors are coupled and in an open position according to an embodiment; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the car door interlock of FIG. 9 when the door operator is energized when the elevator is outside a landing door zone according to an embodiment.

(14) The detailed description of the disclosure describes exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, together with some of the advantages and features thereof, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) Referring now to the FIGS. 1 and 2, a typical elevator installation in which a coupling according to the present disclosure may be used is illustrated. FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an elevator car 20 disposed in a vertical hoistway 22 and positioned so as to correspond to a landing 24 having an opening. Elevator car doors 26, are shown in correspondence with laterally sliding landing doors 28. As is typical in such installations, the elevator car doors 26 are actuated by a door operator 30, shown disposed atop the elevator car 20 and having a drive belt 32, or other drive mechanism. FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of FIG. 1 wherein the elevator doors 26 and the landing doors 28 are in a partially opened condition.

(16) A door coupler 40 disposed on the elevator doors 26 is shown engaged with a corresponding protrusion 42 which extends inwardly from the landing doors 28. The protrusions 42 may be any sort of raised boss, bumper, rod, or roller, configured to provide a simple and effective means for enabling the elevator door couplers 40 to engage and move the landing doors 28. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is desirable that the door coupler 40 firmly grip the landing door protrusion 42 when the elevator and landing doors 26, 28 are operated. In addition, it is also desirable that the coupler 40 completely release said protrusions 42 and maintain sufficient running clearance as the elevator car 20 moves vertically through the hoistway 22.

(17) The door coupler 40 is configured to operate only once it has been determined that the elevator car 20 is positioned within a landing door zone, adjacent at least one landing door 28. In one embodiment, a car door interlock 50 is used to determine whether the elevator car 20 is appropriately positioned within a landing door zone. An example of a car door interlock 50 is illustrated in FIGS. 3-8. As shown, a sensing vane 52 is configured to identify the landing door zone. In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, the sensing vane 52 is a fixed vane mounted to a landing door 28. The car door interlock 50 includes a lock member 54 mounted to a ground component, such as the car door header or hanger 56 for example. The lock member 54 is configured to lock an upper portion of the elevator car doors 26.

(18) A link arm 58 is coupled, such as at a first end 59 for example, to the drive mechanism 32 of the door operator 30. As the door operator 30 moves the drive mechanism 32, the drive mechanism 32 is configured to rotate the link arm 58 about a pivot pin 60. A sensing roller 62 is coupled to a portion of the link arm 58, for example the second end thereof. In addition, an engagement latch 64 is pivotally connected to the link arm 58 and to the car door hanger 56 at pin 66. A bumper 68 is positioned generally adjacent the link arm 58 and a portion of the engagement latch 64. The bumper 68 is configured to limit rotation of the engagement latch 64 about the pivot pin 66.

(19) When the elevator car doors 26 are in a closed position, the engagement latch 64 is oriented generally horizontally such that an engagement hook 70 located at an end of the engagement latch 64 is arranged in contact with an electrical switch 72 of the lock mechanism 54. This contact sends a signal to the safety chain of the elevator system confirming that the elevator car doors 26 are closed.

(20) The elevator car doors 26 are closed in FIGS. 4 and 5. As the elevator car 20 enters a door landing zone, the door operator 30 actuates the drive mechanism 32 in a first direction, indicated by arrow A, causing the link arm 58 to pivot about pin 60, such as in a counterclockwise direction for example. This movement of the link arm 58 causes the sensing roller 62 disposed near an end of the link arm 58 to rotate into contact with the sensing vane 52. Upon detection of the presence of the sensing vane 52, further operation of the drive mechanism 32 in the first direction causes the engagement latch 64 to pivot about pin 66 until the engagement latch 64 contacts the bumper 68 (see FIG. 7). Rotation of the engagement latch 64 about the pivot pin 66 separates the engagement hook 70 from the electrical switch 72, thereby generating a signal that the elevator car doors 26 are unlocked. In this position, the car doors 26 and landing doors 28 are coupled and are able to translate to a fully open position, as shown in FIG. 6.

(21) To close the elevator car doors 26, the door operator 30 actuates the drive mechanism 32 in a second, opposite direction, causing the link arm 58 to pivot about pin 60 and the engagement mechanism to rotate about pin 66 such that the engagement hook 70 rotates into contact with the electrical switch 72. The link arm 58 further rotates to move the roller 62 away from the sensing vane 52. In this position, the elevator car 20 is free to move throughout the hoistway 22 without interference between any of the plurality of sensing vanes 52 located at the various landings 24 and the car door interlock 50.

(22) Referring now to FIG. 8, if the door operator 30 actuates the drive mechanism 32 when the elevator car 20 is not within a landing door zone, for example if power to the car door operator 30 is lost, the elevator car doors 26 will not open. In the absence of the sensing vane 52, operation of the door operator 30 causes the link arm 58 to rotate freely about the pivot pin 60. Without the contact between the sensing roller 62 and the sensing vane 52, the link arm 58 rotates relative to the engagement latch 64. The engagement latch 64 does not rotate about pivot 66. As a result, the engagement hook 70 remains in contact with the electrical switch 72 and the car doors 26 remain locked. The car door interlock 50 illustrated and described herein is intended as an example only and other door devices configured to detect the position of the elevator car 20 within the hoistway 22 are within the scope of the disclosure.

(23) Another embodiment of the car door interlock 50 is illustrated in FIGS. 9-11. In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, the sensing vane 52 is connected to a portion of the elevator car 20, such as the elevator car door hanger 56 for example, and is configured to move between a first position (FIG. 9) and a second position (FIG. 10). One or more links 80 may be used to pivotally mount the sensing vane 52 to the car door hanger 56.

(24) The principle of operation is substantially similar to the car door interlock 50 of FIGS. 3-8. With reference to FIG. 10, as the elevator car 20 with closed and locked car doors 26 enters a door landing zone, the door operator 30 actuates the drive mechanism 32 in a first direction, indicated by arrow A, causing the link arm 58 to pivot about pin 60. This movement of the link arm 58 causes the sensing roller 62 to rotate into contact with the sensing vane 52. The force applied to the sensing vane 52 via the sensing roller 62 causes the sensing vane 52 to pivot relative to the car door hanger 56 (FIG. 11).

(25) When the elevator car 20 is positioned within a landing door zone, the sensing vane 52 moves into engagement with an interlock roller 82. For clarity, the interlock roller 82 is illustrated in the FIGS. as being mounted adjacent the landing doors 28 at a position above the door coupler 40; however, the interlock roller 82 is actually located adjacent the door coupler 40 and the drive mechanism 32, and would be in contact with a portion of the rotated sensing vane 52 illustrated in FIG. 11. The contact between the sensing vane 52 and the interlock roller 82, limits further rotation of the sensing vane 52, and therefore the link mechanism 58. As a result, further operation of the drive mechanism 32 in the first direction causes the engagement latch 64 to pivot about pin 66, for example until a portion of the latch 64 contacts the bumper 68. Rotation of the engagement latch 64 about the pivot pin 66 separates the engagement hook 70 from the electrical switch 72, thereby generating a signal that the elevator car doors 26 are unlocked. In this position, the car doors 26 and landing doors 28 are coupled and are able to translate to a fully open position.

(26) To close the elevator car doors 26, the door operator 30 actuates the drive mechanism 32 in a second, opposite direction, causing the link arm 58 to pivot about pin 60 and the engagement latch 64 to rotate about pin 66 such that the engagement hook 70 rotates into contact with the electrical switch 72. The rotation of the link arm 58 additionally rotates the roller 62 away from the sensing vane 52, thereby allowing the sensing vane to return to its original position.

(27) Referring now to FIG. 12, if the door operator 30 actuates the drive mechanism 32 when the elevator car 20 is not within a landing door zone, the elevator car doors 26 will not open. In the absence of the interlock roller 82, operation of the door operator 30 causes the sensing vane 52 to move freely between the first and second positions. Without the contact between the interlock roller 82 and the sensing vane 52, the link arm 58 rotates freely relative to the engagement latch 64. The engagement latch 64 does not rotate about pivot 66. As a result, the engagement hook 70 remains in contact with the electrical switch 72 and the car doors 26 remain locked.

(28) The car door interlocks 50 described herein are configured to operate independently from the door coupler 40. Accordingly the car door interlock 50 may be used in both new elevator systems and retrofit applications.

(29) While the disclosure has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, embodiments can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.