Elevator car with a foldable balustrade and control device for an elevator installation having such an elevator car

Abstract

An elevator car has at least one balustrade attached to a roof of the elevator car, which balustrade can be pivoted about a rotation axis between a folded-down position, in which the balustrade is arranged essentially horizontally, and a raised position, in which the balustrade is arranged essentially vertically. The balustrade is mechanically coupled to a 3-state switch, which switch can adopt three different switching states. The balustrade and the 3-state switch thus cooperate such that the 3-state switch adopts a first switching state when the balustrade is in the folded-down position, the 3-state switch adopts a second switching state when the balustrade is in the raised position, and the 3-state switch adopts a third switching state when the balustrade is in neither the folded-down position nor the raised position.

Claims

1. An elevator car comprising: a balustrade attached to a roof of the elevator car, the balustrade being pivotable about a pivot axis between a folded-down position, in which the balustrade is arranged horizontally, and a raised position, in which the balustrade is arranged vertically; and a 3-state switch that can adopt three different switching states, the balustrade being mechanically coupled to the switch, wherein the switch adopts a first of the switching states when the balustrade is in the folded-down position, the switch adopts a second of the switching states when the balustrade is in the raised position, and the switch adopts a third of the switching states when the balustrade is in neither the folded-down position nor the raised position.

2. The elevator car according to claim 1 wherein the 3-state switch is a rotary switch that is moved into each of the three different switching states by being rotated about a rotation axis thereof.

3. The elevator car according to claim 2 wherein the rotary switch is arranged with the rotation axis coaxial with the pivot axis of the balustrade.

4. The elevator car according to claim 1 wherein the 3-state switch is integrated into a joint about which joint the balustrade can be pivoted from the folded-down position into the raised position.

5. The elevator car according to claim 1 wherein the 3-state switch is a cam switch.

6. The elevator car according to claim 1 wherein the 3-state switch includes four electrical terminals and a connection element rotatable about a rotation axis, the connection element being mechanically coupled to the balustrade, wherein the terminals and the connection element cooperate such that: the connection element electrically interconnects a first and a third of the terminals when the balustrade is in the folded-down position; the connection element electrically interconnects a second and a fourth of the terminals when the balustrade is in the raised position; and the connection element does not electrically connect any of the terminals to another of the terminals when the balustrade is in neither the folded-down position nor the raised position.

7. The elevator car according to claim 1 wherein the 3-state switch includes three electrical terminals and a connection element rotatable about a rotation axis, the connection element being mechanically coupled to the balustrade, wherein the terminals and the connection element cooperate such that: the connection element electrically interconnects a first and a second of the terminals when the balustrade is in the folded-down position; the connection element electrically interconnects the second terminal and a third of the terminals when the balustrade is in the raised position; and the connection element does not electrically connect any of the terminals to another of the terminals when the balustrade is in neither the folded-down position nor the raised position.

8. The elevator car according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of the balustrade is attached to the roof of the elevator car, each of the balustrades being mechanically coupled to an associated one of a plurality of the 3-state switch, and wherein the switches are interconnected in series.

9. A control device for an elevator installation including the elevator car according to claim 1 wherein the control device monitors a current one of the switching states of the 3-state switch mechanically coupled to the balustrade and controls an operation of the elevator installation based on the current switching state.

10. The control device according to claim 9 wherein the control device controls the operation of the elevator installation in: a normal mode, in which the elevator car can be moved over an entire travel path thereof within an elevator shaft, when the first switching state is present; and an inspection mode, in which the elevator car cannot be moved or at least cannot be moved over the entire travel path thereof within the elevator shaft, when the second switching state is present.

11. The control device according to claim 10 including a plurality of the balustrade attached to the roof of the elevator car, each of the balustrades being mechanically coupled to one of a plurality of the 3-state switch, wherein the switches are interconnected in series and the control device controls the operation of the elevator installation in the normal mode only when all of the 3-state switches are in the first switching state.

12. The control device according to claim 10 including a plurality of the balustrade attached to the roof of the elevator car, each of the balustrades being mechanically coupled to one of a plurality of the 3-state switch, wherein the switches are interconnected in series and the control device controls the operation of the elevator installation in the inspection mode only when all of the switches are in the second switching state.

13. The control device according to claim 9 wherein the control device controls the operation of the elevator installation in an exception mode wherein the elevator car cannot be moved within an elevator shaft or can be moved in the elevator shaft only in compliance with additional safety precautions when the third switching state is present.

14. The control device according to claim 13 including a plurality of the balustrade attached to the roof of the elevator car, each of the balustrades being mechanically coupled to one of a plurality of the 3-state switch, wherein the switches are interconnected in series and the control device controls the operation of the elevator installation in the exception mode only when at least one of the switches is in the third switching state or when at least one of the switches is in a different switching state than another of the switches.

15. An elevator installation including an elevator car comprising: a balustrade attached to a roof of the elevator car, the balustrade being pivotable about a pivot axis between a folded-down position, in which the balustrade is arranged horizontally, and a raised position, in which the balustrade is arranged vertically; a 3-state switch that can adopt three different switching states, the balustrade being mechanically coupled to the switch, wherein the switch adopts a first of the switching states when the balustrade is in the folded-down position, the switch adopts a second of the switching states when the balustrade is in the raised position, and the switch adopts a third of the switching states when the balustrade is in neither the folded-down position nor the raised position; and a control device monitoring a current one of the switching states of the 3-state switch mechanically coupled to the balustrade and controlling an operation of the elevator installation based on the current switching state.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an elevator installation comprising an elevator car and a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a balustrade for an elevator car according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a 3-state switch for an elevator car according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an alternative 3-state switch for an elevator car according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) The drawings are only schematic and are not true to scale. Like reference signs refer in different drawings to like or analogous features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows an elevator installation 100 in which an elevator car 1 is received in an elevator shaft 3 so as to be vertically movable. The elevator car 1 is held, together with a counterweight 5, by a cable-like bearing means 7 which can be moved by a drive unit 9. The drive unit 9 can be controlled using a control device 11.

(7) Two balustrades 15 are attached to a roof 13 of the elevator car 1. Each of the two balustrades 15 is foldable, i.e. can be pivoted, as indicated by the arrow 16, between a folded-down position (as shown in FIG. 1), in which the balustrade is arranged essentially horizontally and thus in parallel with the roof 13 of the elevator car 1, and a raised position (as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1), in which the balustrade 15 is arranged essentially vertically and thus perpendicularly to the roof 13 of the elevator car. In this case, a rail 21 can be pivoted about a joint 17 or about a rotation axis formed by said joint 17.

(8) As can be clearly seen in the enlarged detail in FIG. 1, a 3-state switch 19 is integrated into the joint 17 of the balustrade 15. Said 3-state switch 19 is mechanically coupled to the balustrade 15 or to a portion of the balustrade 15 that is pivotable together with the rail 21, such that said switch is also moved when the balustrade 15 is pivoted.

(9) In this case, the 3-state switch 19 is designed to adopt a first switching state when the balustrade 15 is in the folded-down position, and to adopt a second switching state when the balustrade 15 is in the raised position. When the balustrade 15 is in neither the folded-down position nor the raised position, but instead somewhere therebetween, the 3-state switch adopts a third switching state. In the example shown, the 3-state switch is designed as a rotary switch, the rotation axis of which is coaxial with a pivot axis of the balustrade 15.

(10) FIG. 2 shows an optional development of a balustrade 15 for an elevator car 1 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this development, the balustrade 15 is designed as a telescopically extendable balustrade. In this case, the pivotable rail 21 can be extended in the direction of the arrow 22 by pulling out an extension piece 23. In this way, a height which the balustrade 15 reaches can be increased, for example in order to comply with regulations applicable in this regard. When the balustrade 15 is not required and is stored in the folded-down position thereof, the extension piece 23 can be retracted, such that the balustrade 15 requires as little space as possible on the roof 13 of the elevator car 1. The extension piece 23 can increase the height of the balustrade 15 by up to at least 10 cm for example, preferably up to at least 30 cm. Overall, the balustrade 15 can have a height of at least 70 cm, preferably at least 110 cm.

(11) FIGS. 3 and 4 show possible embodiments of a 3-state switch 19, as said switch can advantageously be implemented as a rotary switch, in particular as a cam switch, that is to be coupled to the balustrade 15. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the 3-state switch 19 comprises four electrical terminals 25a-25d. A connection element 27 is provided between two mutually opposing terminals in each case, which connection element can be rotated about a rotation axis 28, as indicated by the arrow 30. In this case, the linear connection element 27 can electrically interconnect two opposing terminals 25a-25d in each case. In a first switching state which the 3-state switch 19 adopts when the balustrade 15 mechanically coupled thereto is in the folded-down position thereof, the connection element 27 connects a first and a third terminal 25a, 25c. In a second switching state, in which the balustrade 15 is in the raised position thereof, the connection element 27 connects a second and a fourth terminal 25b, 25d. Electrically connecting opposing terminals in each case makes it possible to close corresponding circuits. A monitoring unit 29 can identify this and/or convey this to the control device 11. The monitoring unit 29 may be arranged on the elevator car 1 for example, and transmit corresponding signals to the control device 11 via a data line 32 for example (see FIG. 1).

(12) On the basis of the switching state currently adopted by the 3-state switch 19, as has been identified by the monitoring unit 29 and transmitted to the control device 11, the control device 11 can then appropriately control the elevator installation 100. If it is identified, for example, on the basis of the switching state, that all the balustrades 15 on the roof of the elevator car 1 are stored in the folded-down position thereof, the control device 11 can control the operation of the elevator installation 100 in the normal mode thereof and thus move the elevator car 1 over the entire travel path thereof within the elevator shaft 3. If, however, all the 3-state switches 15 are in the second switching state thereof and thus indicate that all the balustrades 15 on the roof 13 of the car 1 are folded up into the raised position thereof, the control device 11 can assume that an inspection is currently to be carried out, during which a person may stand on the roof 13 of the elevator car 1. Accordingly, the control device 11 controls the operation of the elevator installation 100 in accordance with an inspection mode, and allows the elevator car 1 to move at most over a limited travel path.

(13) If the control device 11 identifies that at least one of the balustrades 15 is in neither the folded-down position thereof nor in the raised position thereof, or if the control device 11 identifies that at least one of the balustrades 15 is in the folded-down position thereof and another of the balustrades is in the raised position thereof, the control device 11 assumes that the elevator installation 100 is to be operated neither in normal mode nor in inspection mode. Instead, the control device 11 transitions into an exception mode in which the elevator car 1 either may not move at all within the elevator shaft 3 or may move therein at most in compliance with additional safety precautions.

(14) FIG. 4 shows a further possible embodiment of a 3-state switch 19, in which just three electrical terminals 31a-31c are provided. In this case, unlike in the example shown in FIG. 3, a connection element 33 is not straight and does not connect terminals that are opposite one another with respect to the rotation axis 28 of the 3-state switch 19, but instead, in the example shown, said connection element is curved and connects two adjacent terminals of the 3-state switch 19 in each case, which terminals are arranged along the periphery of the 3-state switch 19 so as to be offset from one another by 90 in each case. In this case, in a first switching state, the connection element 33 connects a first and a second terminal 31a, 31b, whereas, in a second switching state, the connection element 33 electrically interconnects the second and a third terminal 31b, 31c. As is also the case in the example shown in FIG. 3, the 3-state switch 19 can be transferred from the first switching state into the second switching state and vice versa by means of the balustrade 15 coupled thereto being pivoted 90 in the direction 30.

(15) Other embodiments of 3-state switches 19 can also be implemented. In particular, other geometrical arrangements of terminals and/or connection elements may be provided. Using the 3-state switch 19 it is possible to ascertain with a high degree of reliability whether a balustrade 15 is currently folded down or raised or is in an undefined intermediate state, just one switch being sufficient for identifying all three situations.

(16) Finally, it should be noted that terms such as comprising and the like do not preclude other elements or steps, and terms such as a or one do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

(17) In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.