Elevator arrangement to open the roof of an elevator car

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator arrangement comprising an elevator with a control system, and an inspection or maintenance mode, which elevator further comprises an elevator car arranged to run up and down in an elevator shaft along its guide rails, and which elevator car is equipped with a roof and a car operating panel. The arrangement comprises actuating means to open the roof of the elevator car, which actuating means are operatively connected to the car operating panel of the elevator.

Claims

1. An elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft along guide rails, the elevator car comprising: a roof configured to transition between a closed position and an open position by moving with respect to an upper part of the elevator car; an actuator configured to at least transition the roof to the open position by moving the roof in a direction that does not penetrate an inside of the elevator car to provide access to elevator components in the elevator shaft during a maintenance mode from inside the elevator car; and a car operating panel operatively connected to the actuator to control access to the elevator components in the elevator shaft by moving the roof.

2. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is further configured to transition the roof to the closed position by moving the roof to prevent access to the elevator components in the elevator shaft from inside the elevator car.

3. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the car operating panel comprises: a plurality of buttons, at least one of the plurality of buttons having at least two different functions depending on an operating mode, at least one of the at least two different functions being associated with the roof.

4. The elevator car according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttons of the car operating panel are configured to switch between the at least two different functions based on whether the operating mode is a normal operating mode or the maintenance mode.

5. The elevator car according to claim 4, wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttons of the car operating panel are configured to switch between controlling a first function in the normal operating mode and a second function to control the actuator to open and close the roof of the elevator car in the maintenance mode.

6. The elevator car according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttons of the car operating panel are configured to control the first function when pressed for a first time period and to control the second function when pressed for a second time period longer than the first time period.

7. The elevator car according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttons of the car operating panel include a door opening button and a door closing button, the door opening button configured to control the actuator to open the roof of the elevator car when pressed in the maintenance mode, and the door closing button configured to control the actuator to close the roof of the elevator car when pressed in the maintenance mode.

8. The elevator car according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttons of the car operating panel include an uppermost floor button and a lowermost floor button, the uppermost floor button configured to control the actuator to open the roof of the elevator car when pressed in the maintenance mode, and the lowermost floor button configured to control the actuator to close the roof of the elevator car when pressed in the maintenance mode.

9. The elevator car according to claim 1 further comprising: a movable roof support configured to support the roof.

10. The elevator car according to claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises: a motor configured to control the movable roof support.

11. The elevator car according to claim 9, wherein the movable roof support comprises: a first pair of arms attached between a ceiling of the elevator car and a first end of the roof; and a second pair of arms attached between the ceiling and a second end of the roof.

12. The elevator car according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is configured to control the movable roof support to move the roof from the closed position to the open position in response to an instruction from the car operating panel inside the elevator car during the maintenance mode via a same button utilized to control movement of the elevator car during a normal operating mode.

13. The elevator car according to claim 12, wherein the actuator is configured such that the movable roof support does not move the roof from the closed position to the open position in response to receipt of the instruction from the car operating panel during the maintenance mode while the elevator car is situated at an uppermost floor.

14. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein an elevator control system is configured to restrict the roof from transitioning from the closed position to the open position during the maintenance mode while the elevator car is situated at an uppermost floor.

15. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the car operating panel is configured to control the actuator to move the roof only after the elevator car has been set to the maintenance mode via an maintenance access panel (MAP) accessible from outside of the elevator car.

16. A movable roof of an elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft along guide rails, the movable roof comprising: a ceiling including a movable panel therein; a movable roof support attached to the movable panel, the movable roof support configured to move between a closed position in which the movable panel is aligned with the ceiling to restrict access to the elevator shaft and an open position in which the movable panel moves with respect to the ceiling in a direction that does not penetrate an inside of the elevator car to allow access to the elevator shaft; and an actuator configured to control the movable roof support to move from the closed position to the open position in response to an instruction from a car operating panel inside the elevator car during a maintenance mode via a same button utilized to control movement of the elevator car during a normal operating mode.

Description

(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 front view an elevator car with the door open and a maintenance person starting to open the roof of the elevator car,

(6) FIG. 5 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic back view an upper part of the elevator car according to the invention when the roof is lifted upwards for maintenance work, and

(7) FIG. 6 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic top view one side of the elevator car according to FIG. 5 when the roof is lifted upwards.

(8) An aspect of the invention is to achieve in every respect a safe elevator arrangement with an elevator car having an openable roof which makes it possible to safely access maintenance and repair targets in an elevator shaft from inside the elevator car, and which also removes the need to step onto the roof of the elevator car, and in addition which also reduces the height of the shaft needed, and in which elevator arrangement the roof of the elevator car can be opened for maintenance purposes safely, fast and easily being inside the elevator car.

(9) 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.

(10) 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.

(11) 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 is 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.

(12) 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.

(13) 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.

(14) 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, an elevator control system, an electrical system, a variety of sensor arrangements and a safety system comprising a maintenance mode, which maintenance 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.

(15) 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.

(16) 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 is in progress. The openable roof 2a of the elevator car 2 is opened by lifting it upwards in this embodiment, 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. 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.

(17) FIG. 4 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic view the elevator car 2 with the doors open and a maintenance person starting to open the roof 2a of the elevator car 2. The elevator arrangement according to the invention comprises opening means to open and close the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 when the elevator is set to the maintenance mode, with the help of maintenance access panel (MAP) that is usually, for instance, in the control center of the elevator. Maintenance access panel (MAP) can be also called as emergency and test panel. The opening means are activated with the help of the car operating panel (COP) 2e inside the elevator car 2 to open and close the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 when the elevator is set to the maintenance mode.

(18) The operations of the buttons of the car operating panel 2e have been arranged so that they activate different functions in a normal operating mode of the elevator and in the maintenance mode of the elevator. For instance, the Door Open button may open the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 in the maintenance mode, and correspondingly the Door Close button may close the roof 2a when pressed in the maintenance mode. Also other buttons can be used and also many kinds of the combinations of the buttons can be used. In that case, for example, two buttons are pressed simultaneously or a button can be pressed twice in a short time or the button can be hold pressed for a certain time.

(19) FIG. 5 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic view, an upper part of the elevator car 2 according to the invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 5 the roof 2a is open for a maintenance or repair work and a created manhole or opening 2c on top of the elevator car 2 makes it possible to reach to the elevator appliances or components in the elevator shaft 1c from inside the elevator car 2. In FIG. 5 the back walls of the elevator shaft 1c and the elevator car 2 are removed and the elevator shaft 1c and elevator car 2 are seen from their backside. In the situation of FIG. 5 the door 2d of the elevator car 2 is closed.

(20) In the embodiment of FIG. 5 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 the safe maintenance mode. The moving of the roof 2a can be carried out in several ways. One way is to use articulated arms and one or more actuators, for example gas springs 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 actuators are not presented in the FIG. 5. The actuators are controlled by the elevator control system according to the commands given by the buttons of the car operating panel 2e in the elevator car 2. The elevator arrangement comprises means, which are connected with the elevator control system and the maintenance action panel (MAP) to allow the use of the buttons of the car operating panel 2e to open and close the roof 2a of the elevator car 2.

(21) FIG. 5 also presents corner casings 12a, 12b that are fastened at opposite upper corners inside the elevator car 2, preferably onto the side walls of the elevator car 2 but possibly also to the under surface of the roof 2a. The corner casings 12a, 12b may comprise car lighting and other electrical appliances, including all printed circuit boards needed by an elevator car, a reserve battery with its charger, and also apertures for elevator car ventilation.

(22) FIG. 6 presents in a simplified and diagrammatic top view one side of the elevator car 2 according to FIG. 5 when the roof 2a is lifted upwards. The roof 2a is not shown in FIG. 6. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 the second corner casing 12b comprises among other things a maintenance control unit 13 with operating buttons 14, such as maintenance mode buttons, and an emergency stop button 15.

(23) The elevator arrangement according to the invention can be advantageously used in maintenance work for example by using the following phases: in the beginning the elevator car 2 is called to the lowermost floor 1b for example by a floor landing call button, the switch to enable test operations is activated in the maintenance action panel (MAP), the elevator car 2 arrives at the lowermost floor 1b or the floor 1b where the maintenance person is, and the elevator doors 1e, 2d are opened, the maintenance person presses the call button in the car operating panel 2e and the elevator car 2 runs to the wanted floor 1b and stops at the floor 1b keeps the doors 1e, 2d closed, the maintenance person gives a short push to the Door Open button to open the doors 1e, 2d of the elevator car 2. After that the doors 1e, 2d are closed, for opening the roof 1a of the elevator car 2 the maintenance person presses steadily the Door Open button for at least some seconds. When the maintenance mode is activated the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 now opens. However, if the elevator car 2 is in its uppermost floor the roof 2a does not open. the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 is closed by pressing steadily the Door Close button for at least some seconds.

(24) When the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 is closed the maintenance person can run with the elevator car 2 from one floor 1b to another floor 1b by using car operating panel 2e in a normal way, though the elevator is not in the normal mode. After arriving to a new floor 1b the maintenance person can again open the roof 2a of the elevator car 2 and perform the tasks needed.

(25) If the car operating panel 2e of the elevator car 2 comprises neither Door Open button nor Door Close button the uppermost floor button can be used to open the roof 2a and the lowermost floor button can be used to close the roof 2a.

(26) The predefined buttons of the operating panel 2e of the elevator car 2, either the Door Open and Door Close buttons or the uppermost floor button and lowermost floor button, or some other appropriate buttons have two operation modes depending on the way to press the predefined buttons. When the pressing time is short the operation is a normal operation in the normal operation mode, and when pressing time is steady and at least some seconds the buttons either open or close the roof 2a of the elevator car 2. Thus, depending on the pressing time the same button of the operating panel 2e of the elevator car 2 can, for example, open the doors 1e, 2d of the elevator car 2 or open the roof 2a of the elevator car 2.

(27) 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. For instance, the roof can be opened around a hinge to one side of the elevator car or from the middle to two sides of the of the elevator car or the roof can be a flexible element comprising narrow slats, which are connected to each other in a way that they can make a part of the roof bend downwards at the upper corner of the elevator car when the roof is opening and sliding away from the top of the manhole or the opening of the elevator car.

(28) 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.

(29) 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 moves them.