Elevator car and elevator

Abstract

An elevator car includes a car box. The car box includes a frame structure that includes a floor element, vertical beams connected to the floor element, and roof beams connected to the vertical beams. The car box further includes walls, each including wall elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another. The car box includes a roof including roof elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another. The car box includes and interior bounded by at least the floor element, the walls, and the roof. At least on set of elements, of the roof elements and the wall elements, includes elements associated with separate, respective integrated functionalities.

Claims

1. An elevator car comprising: a car box, the car box including a frame structure having a rectangular prism shape, the frame structure including a planar, rectangular-shaped floor element, at least four vertical beams fixed to the floor element at respective bottom edges of the vertical beams, the vertical beams fixed to the floor element proximate to separate, respective corners of the floor element, at least two horizontal, parallel, first roof beams connected to separate, respective pairs of the at least four vertical beams at respective top edges of the vertical beams, and at least two horizontal, parallel, second roof beams extending orthogonally in relation to the first roof beams, the second roof beams extending between separate respective pairs of the at least four vertical beams, adjacent first roof beams and second roof beams fixed to each other, wherein the floor element, the at least four vertical beams, the first roof beams, and the second roof beams bound a rectangular prism-shaped interior of the car box; a plurality of walls in the rectangular prism-shaped interior bounded by the frame structure, each wall defined by a plurality of planar wall elements of rectangular shape inside the frame structure, the plurality of planar wall elements fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another, such that the plurality of walls bound sides of a free interior for receiving and transporting freight and/or passengers within the rectangular prism-shaped interior bounded by the frame structure; and a roof including a plurality of planar roof elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side on top surfaces of the first roof beams, wherein the plurality of planar wall elements is a first element group, the first element group including a first element and a second element, the first element and the second element having separate, respective integrated functionalities, such that a first integrated element having a first functionality is integrated into the first element, and a second integrated element having a second functionality integrated into the second element, the second functionality being different from the first functionality, the first integrated element not having the second functionality and the second integrated element not having the first functionality, and wherein the plurality of planar wall elements are stacked vertically to form each wall of the plurality of walls such that each wall element of the plurality of planar wall elements extends from one vertical beam of the at least four vertical beams to another vertical beam of the at least four vertical beams.

2. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein each of the first integrated element and the second integrated element is a different one of: a passenger user interface integrated into the given element, an elevator control unit integrated into the given element, or a mirror integrated into the given element.

3. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein each element of the first element group includes a first long side and a second long side, at least one element of the first element group is side-by-side with an adjacent element of the plurality of planar roof elements or the plurality of planar wall elements, such that the first long side of the at least one element forms a counterpair to the second long side of the adjacent element to form a male-female-type joint between the at least one element and the adjacent element.

4. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of planar roof elements has a luminaire integrated into the one of the plurality of planar roof elements, the luminaire being a light emitting diode (LED) light strip that is integrated into the one of the plurality of planar roof elements such that the LED light strip is configured to light the interior of the car box.

5. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein at least one planar roof element of the plurality of planar roof elements includes an integrated element that is a ventilation element and/or an air-conditioning element.

6. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein at least one planar roof element of the plurality of planar roof elements includes an emergency exit hatch.

7. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein at least one planar roof element of the plurality of planar roof elements includes a sound-damping cladding.

8. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein at least one planar roof element of the plurality of planar roof elements includes an integrated element that is a ventilation duct and/or ventilation opening.

9. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the floor element is a planar sandwich structure that includes surface plates of a sandwich board and a core material, the core material is a honeycomb structure or a flute profile bent from metal or a honeycomb fabricated from thermoplastic, the surface plates of the sandwich board include a metal material, and the surface plates are fixed to the core material by welding, gluing or riveting.

10. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the floor element is a planar sandwich structure that includes surface plates of a sandwich board and a core material, the surface plates are of a thickness of 0.5-5 mm, and a thickness of the core material of the sandwich board is 10-100 mm.

11. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the floor element is a planar sandwich structure, profile elements are connected to side edges of the planar sandwich structure of the floor element, the profile elements including a metal material in which apertures are arranged for joint elements.

12. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein a plate-like element that covers the floor element is connected to a surface of the floor element that faces the free interior of the car box, the plate-like element is configured to stiffen the frame structure and facilitate a fixing of a wear-resistant surface material to the floor element, and a thickness of the plate-like element is 3-10 mm.

13. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the at least four vertical beams and the first roof beams are profile beams, the at least four vertical beams and the first roof beams having a common continuous cross-sectional profile in a longitudinal direction of the respective beams, a width/height ratio of a cross-section of each beam of the at least four vertical beams and the first roof beams at least 0.5.

14. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of planar roof elements and the plurality of planar wall elements include respective outer surfaces that at least partially comprise a visible outer surface of the car box of the elevator, or the plurality of planar roof elements and the plurality of planar wall elements include respective inner surfaces that at least partially comprise a visible inner surface bounding the interior of the car box of the elevator.

15. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the car box includes a ventilation arrangement, wherein air is conducted between the free interior of the car box and a space outside the car box, via a ventilation duct and flow apertures included in support elements of the plurality of planar wall elements.

16. An elevator, comprising: an elevator hoistway; and the elevator car according to claim 1.

17. An elevator car comprising: a car box, the car box including a frame structure having a rectangular prism shape, the frame structure including a planar, rectangular-shaped floor element, at least four vertical beams fixed to the floor element at respective bottom edges of the vertical beams, the vertical beams fixed to the floor element proximate to separate, respective corners of the floor element, at least two horizontal, parallel, first roof beams connected to separate, respective pairs of the at least four vertical beams at respective top edges of the vertical beams, and at least two horizontal, parallel, second roof beams extending orthogonally in relation to the first roof beams, the second roof beams extending between separate respective pairs of the at least four vertical beams, adjacent first roof beams and second roof beams fixed to each other, wherein the floor element, the at least four vertical beams, the first roof beams, and the second roof beams bound a rectangular prism-shaped interior of the car box; a plurality of walls in the rectangular prism-shaped interior bounded by the frame structure, each wall defined by a plurality of planar wall elements of rectangular shape inside the frame structure, the plurality of planar wall elements fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another, such that the plurality of walls bound sides of a free interior for receiving and transporting freight and/or passengers within the rectangular prism-shaped interior bounded by the frame structure; and a roof including a plurality of planar roof elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side on top surfaces of the first roof beams, wherein the plurality of planar wall elements includes a first planar wall element and a second planar wall element, the first planar wall element and the second planar wall element having separate, respective integrated functionalities, such that a first integrated element having a first functionality is integrated into the first planar wall element, and a second integrated element having a second functionality is integrated into the second planar wall element, the second functionality being different from the first functionality, the first planar wall element not having the second functionality and the second integrated wall element not having the first functionality, and wherein the plurality of planar wall elements are stacked vertically to form each wall of the plurality of walls such that each planar wall element of the plurality of planar wall elements extends from one vertical beam of the at least four vertical beams to another vertical beam of the at least four vertical beams.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will now be described mainly in connection with its preferred embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 presents a frame structure, with functional wall elements, of the car box of an elevator car according to one embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 presents a support element of a functional wall element of a car box of an elevator car according to one embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3a indicatively presents a roof structure of a car box of an elevator car assembled from roof elements differing in their functionality according to one embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 3b presents a three-dimensional oblique top view of a roof structure of a car box of an elevator car assembled from roof elements differing in their functionality according to one embodiment of the invention

(6) FIG. 3c presents a side view of the roof structure of a car box of an elevator car assembled from roof elements differing in their functionality according to FIG. 3b.

(7) FIG. 3d indicatively presents a point of connection of the functional roof elements of the roof structure of a car box of an elevator car according to FIG. 3c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIGS. 1-3d present the structure of a car box I of an elevator car according to one embodiment of the invention.

(9) FIG. 1 presents the frame structure 1 of the car box I of an elevator car according to one embodiment of the invention, which frame structure comprises four elongated vertical beams 2 and two horizontal, parallel, first elongated roof beams 3 in connection with the roof and fixed to the vertical beams 2 and two horizontal, parallel, second elongated roof beams 4 at a distance from each other and essentially orthogonal to the roof beams 4, which adjacent roof beams 3 and 4 are fixed to each other, and an interior, which is bounded by a space bordered by at least a planar floor element 5 of rectangular shape and the vertical beams 2 and the roof beams 3 and 4.

(10) The vertical beams 2 of the frame structure of the car box are C-profile beams opening outwards from the interior, which profile beams have essentially the same continuous cross-sectional profile in the longitudinal direction of the beam. Cuttings and apertures 6 are arranged in the vertical beams for fixing means for fixing the functional wall elements 8a-8f to the vertical beams. The vertical beams 2 of the frame structure 1 of the car box I are rigidly fixed with fixing means 7 to the vertical side edges of a planar floor element 5 of rectangular shape at the bottom edge of a vertical beam 2 and to the horizontal first roof beams 3 at the top edge of a vertical beam 2. In one embodiment of the invention a vertical length stiffener 2a is added to the frame structure 1 of the car box I of the elevator for increasing the stiffening effect of the frame structure of the car box.

(11) The rectangular, planar, functional wall elements 8a-8f presented in FIG. 1 comprise one or more of the following functional features: sound-damping cladding 22 integrated into the element, a passenger user interface 20 integrated into the element, an elevator control unit 21 integrated into the element, one or more ventilation openings integrated into the element, communications cables and/or electricity cables, between a device of the elevator car and a control unit of the elevator car and/or an electricity source, integrated into the element, a mirror 23 integrated into the element, and/or a decorative surface 24 integrated into the element for covering an open point on the wall surface.

(12) FIG. 1 presents the aforementioned functional wall elements 8a-8f, which extend essentially from one side of the elevator car to the other and which are fixed with fixing means at least to the vertical beams 2. In the figure the functional wall elements 8a-8f are presented as distributed horizontally, i.e. the aforementioned wall elements are fixed to the frame structure 1 of the elevator car one on top of another in the vertical direction. The bottommost wall element is supported in a support element 9 and the topmost wall element is additionally fixed with fixing means to a roof beam 3 and/or 4 of the frame of the elevator car. The functional wall elements can also be distributed vertically, in which case the aforementioned wall elements would extend essentially from a support element 9 up to a roof beam 3 or 4 and the aforementioned wall elements could be fixed to the frame structure 1 of the elevator car one beside another in the horizontal direction, e.g. by fixing the functional wall elements with fixing means to the roof beams 3 or 4, to the vertical beams 2 and/or to a vertical stiffener 2a.

(13) FIG. 2 presents a support element 9 of the functional wall elements 8a-8f of a car box of an elevator car according to one embodiment of the invention. In the immediate proximity of the planar floor element 5 of rectangular shape, support elements 9 of the wall elements are rigidly fixed to the vertical beams 2 of the elevator car, which support elements comprise in their cross-sectional shape a closed profile, inside which is integrated a ventilation duct 10 for arranging the ventilation and/or air-conditioning of the elevator car. The cross-section of the profile comprises two long parallel sides 9a and 9c in the vertical direction and two short sides 9b and 9d connecting them. Apertures 10a are arranged in the first long side 9a of the cross-section of the profile, for leading in fixing means for the fixing of the support elements 9 to the vertical beams 2. The second long side 9c of the cross-section of the profile comprises on an extension of the long side a flange, which forms an elongated channel-like space on the top surface of the support element 9, on which the aforementioned functional wall element is supported in the lateral direction at its bottom edge. The first short side 9b of the cross-section of the profile comprises a horizontal detent surface, on which the aforementioned wall element is supported in the vertical direction. The second short side 9d of the cross-section of the profile comprises an inclined side 9d, preferably at an angle of 30-60 degrees to the horizontal, which comprises flow apertures 10b for ventilating air for arranging ventilation and/or air-conditioning in the elevator car.

(14) FIG. 3a presents an indicative view of a roof structure 11 of the car box of an elevator car according to the invention, which comprises one or more functional roof elements 11a-11e, the bottom surface of which roof element 11a-11e is placed against the top surfaces of the profile of the roof beams 3, in which case the roof element 11a-11d is simply supported in its position in the vertical direction and withstands well loading exerted on the roof element from outside that is orthogonal to the plane.

(15) The functional roof elements 11a-11e presented in FIG. 3b comprise one or more of the following functional features: sound-damping cladding integrated into the element 11a, one or more luminaires 12, for lighting the interior of the elevator car, integrated into the element 11b, an air-conditioning element and/or a ventilation element integrated into the element 11c, and/or one or more ventilation openings 19, for arranging air-conditioning and/or ventilation of the interior of the elevator car, an emergency exit hatch 13 integrated into the element 11d, a decorative surface 11e integrated into the element for covering an open point on the roof surface, an emergency exit ladder integrated into the element, communications cables and/or electricity cables, between a device of the elevator car and a control unit of the elevator car and/or an electricity source, integrated into the element

(16) The functional roof element 11a according to the invention presented in FIG. 3b comprises a sound-damping element integrated into the roof element. The sound-damping element is preferably a non-combustible covering of rectangular shape and of essentially the size of the roof element, which is fixed to the outer surface of the roof element. The sound damping material is preferably e.g. mineral wool coated with glass fabric.

(17) The functional roof element 11b according to the invention presented in FIG. 3b comprises a luminaire 12, preferably a LED light source, integrated into the roof element for lighting the interior of the elevator car. The roof element 11b forms at least a part of the inner wall of the casing, into which casing the aforementioned luminaire is disposed. The roof element is arranged to be opened from above the roof of the car, for servicing, replacing or installing a luminaire.

(18) The functional roof element 11c according to the invention presented in FIG. 3b comprises a ventilation element and/or an air-conditioning element integrated into the roof element. At their simplest, the venting and ventilation are implemented with ventilation ducts and ventilation apertures 19 arranged in a roof element, which in the figure are presented as elongated apertures in the center part of the roof element. The ventilation apertures can also be perforations and/or punchings and/or elongated apertures in the center part of the roof element and/or on the edges of same. The roof element can also comprise a fan element, with which air is supplied under pressure into the elevator car for boosting the air flow. The roof element can also comprise an air-conditioning element, with which air is cooled or warmed before being supplied into the elevator car.

(19) The functional roof element 11d according to the invention presented in FIG. 3b comprises an emergency exit hatch 13 integrated into the roof element. The emergency exit hatch is a rectangularly-shaped planar element, and comprises brackets on its opposite sides for a pivoting arrangement of the hatch. The frame structure of the emergency exit hatch integrated into the aforementioned roof element comprises an aperture, which the aforementioned hatch is arranged to cover. The aforementioned planar hatch element and/or the aforementioned frame structure is/are manufactured from a plate element and the supporting of the hatch on the frame structure is implemented with folds in the plate element of the aforementioned hatch. The emergency exit hatch can also comprise pivot brackets implemented with folds on its opposite sides and the aperture can comprises folds with pivot apertures on its opposite sides, for receiving the aforementioned pivot brackets. The emergency exit hatch presented in the figure is disposed in the center part of a roof element, but preferably the emergency exit hatch can also extend to essentially from one edge side of the elevator car to another.

(20) FIG. 3b presents a roof of an elevator car comprising functional roof elements 11a-11d according to the invention, of rectangular shape and on a horizontal plane. FIG. 3b presents functional roof elements 11a-11d in a certain sequence, but a roof structure comprising roof elements can be assembled according to varying structural and visual needs from materials specified by the customer and in a sequence specified by the customer. It is advantageous to assemble the roof structure according to the operating site to include the necessary functional elements and/or communication cabling and/or electrical wiring. In this way also the location of roof elements, and thereby of functions, in the roof structure of an elevator car can be optimized according to the regulations and needs of the operating site.

(21) FIG. 3c presents a side view of a roof of an elevator car comprising functional roof elements 11a-11d according to the invention and FIG. 3d a magnification of a point of connection between roof elements. A functional roof element comprises a planar plate element 14 of rectangular shape, which plate element comprises along its long sides essentially vertical folds 14a, 14b and essentially horizontal folds 14c, 14d of a height and width of preferably at most 50 mm, even more preferably at most 40 mm. The horizontal fold 14d on the first long side of the plate element is implemented outwards from the plate element and the horizontal fold 14c on the second long side of the plate element is implemented inwards from the plate element. On the opposite short sides of the aforementioned plate element 14 are essentially vertical folds 15, in height of essentially the same height as the folds 14a, 14b of the long sides. L-shaped machinings 15a and/or apertures 15b are arranged in the folds 15 on the opposite short sides for the lead-ins of the fixing means for fixing the roof elements to the top horizontal beam 3 of the frame of the elevator car. The long side of a plate element is essentially the width of the elevator car in length and the short side can be selected according to customer needs.

(22) The folds 14a-14d, 15 further stiffen the roof element and different roof elements can be tightly connected to each other also in the horizontal direction and the roof structure becomes rigid and durable to loading from the plane direction and orthogonally to the plane direction of the roof. In addition, the folds improve the sound damping of the points of connection of the roof elements.

(23) All the joints referred to in this application can be implemented mechanically by connecting, e.g. with a screw and nut, by riveting, by welding or by glueing. The joint means can comprise a screw, a nut, a rivet, a stud, a nail or some other corresponding element suited to joining.

(24) Some inventive embodiments are also presented in the descriptive section and in the drawings of the present application. The inventive content of the application can also be defined differently than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of expressions or implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. The features of the various embodiments of the invention can be applied within the framework of the basic inventive concept in conjunction with other embodiments. The additional features mentioned by each preceding embodiment can also singly and separately from the other embodiments form a separate invention.

(25) It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that in developing the technology the basic concept of the invention can be implemented in many different ways. The invention and the embodiments of it are not therefore limited to the examples described above, but instead they may be varied within the scope of the claims.