ELEVATOR INSTALLATION AND OPERATING AND/OR DISPLAY PANEL FOR AN ELEVATOR INSTALLATION

Abstract

A landing door of an elevator system includes a door leaf that is equipped with an integrated operating and/or display panel. In the event of a fire, a printed circuit board of the operating and/or display panel is removed from the door leaf by activation of an ejection device comprising intumescent material and being positioned in the door leaf.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An elevator system comprising: a door leaf; an operating and/or display panel mounted in the door leaf; and an ejection device positioned in the door leaf, wherein the ejection device, when activated by heat from a fire, at least partially removes the operating and/or display panel from the door leaf.

16. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein the ejection device includes an actuator that expands in response to the heat, the actuator including a memory metal, a bi-metal or a preloaded spring that expands to at least partially remove the operating and/or display panel from the door leaf.

17. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein the ejection device includes an intumescent material that is activated by the heat to at least partially remove the operating and/or display panel from the door leaf.

18. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein the operating and/or display panel includes a printed circuit board carried by a carrier frame, the printed circuit board being removed from the carrier frame and the door leaf by the activation of the ejection device.

19. The elevator system according to claim 18 wherein the ejection device includes an intumescent material attached to the printed circuit board.

20. The elevator system according to claim 15 including an ejection plate being movable in the door leaf in a direction of the operating and/or display panel, the ejection plate being moved by the activated ejection device to at least partially remove the operating and/or display panel from the door leaf.

21. The elevator system according to claim 20 wherein activated ejection device moves the ejection plate to close a gap in the door leaf that results when the operating and/or display panel is at least partially removed from the door leaf.

22. The elevator system according to claim 20 wherein the operating and/or display panel includes a printed circuit board and the ejection plate is moved to remove the printed circuit board from the door leaf.

23. The elevator system according to claim 22 wherein the activated ejection device moves the ejection plate to close a gap in the door leaf that results when the printed circuit board is removed from the door leaf.

24. The elevator system according to claim 20 including guide means arranged in the door leaf and guiding movement of the ejection plate to the gap.

25. The elevator system according to claim 24 wherein the guide means are guide rods upon which the ejection plate is movably mounted.

26. The elevator system according to claim 24 wherein the operating and/or display panel includes a carrier frame carrying a printed circuit board and wherein the guide means include guide elements formed on the carrier frame, each of the guide elements being received in an associated slot formed in the ejection plate enabling movement of the ejection plate along the guide elements.

27. The elevator system according to claim 20 wherein the ejection device includes intumescent material attached to the ejection plate.

28. The elevator system according to claim 27 wherein the door leaf has a rear wall that forms a fixed stop on which the intumescent material attached to the ejection plate is supported when the intumescent material is activated by the heat.

29. An operating and/or display panel for an elevator system, the panel comprising: a printed circuit board; a carrier frame carrying the printed circuit board; and an intumescent material that moves the printed circuit board relative to the carrier frame and/or moves the printed circuit board and the carrier frame relative to a component of the elevator system when the intumescent material is activated by heat from a fire.

30. A fire-proof flat elevator component comprising: an operating and/or display panel mounted in the elevator component; and an ejection device positioned in the elevator component, wherein the ejection device, when activated by heat from a fire, at least partially removes the operating and/or display panel from the elevator component.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further individual features and advantages of the invention can be derived from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings. In the drawings:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of an elevator system in a side view,

[0028] FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of a landing door with a door leaf with an integrated operating and/or display panel,

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a door leaf with an integrated operating and/or display panel in a side view,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows the door leaf of FIG. 3 with the operating and/or display panel removed during a fire event,

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a door leaf with integrated operating and/or display panel according to a further exemplary embodiment a side view,

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective representation of an operating and/or display panel for installation in a door leaf,

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a door leaf and an operating and/or display panel in a rear view before assembly,

[0034] FIG. 8 shows the operating and/or display panel in an exploded view, and

[0035] FIG. 9 is a side view of the door leaf with an integrated operating and/or display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an elevator system, denoted by 1, for a multi-story building. The building has one elevator shaft 3 or a plurality of elevator shafts as required. The elevator system 1, shown here by way of example, contains an elevator car 2 that can be moved vertically up and down in the elevator shaft 3 for transporting people or goods to individual floors. The elevator car 2 has a car door 2a. A landing door 8 is associated with each floor 4. The elevator system 1 has a counterweight 5 connected to the elevator car 2 via suspension means (e.g. belts or steel cables). In order to move the elevator car 2 and the counterweight 5, a drive unit 7 is provided that is controlled by an elevator control unit 6. The drive unit 6 (e.g. a traction drive) drives the one or more suspension means and thus moves the car 2 and the counterweight 5 in opposite directions.

[0037] The landing door 8 is designed as a floor door of the elevator system 1, closes the elevator shaft 3 and forms the access from the floor 4 to the elevator shaft 3. If the person who is located on floor 4 wishes to use the elevator, he/she operates an operating panel denoted by 10, for example by pressing a button. The button may be a ductile button. However, the button may also be provided by a touchscreen surface.

[0038] In the present case, the operating panel 10 is designed as a call detection unit for inputting a floor call. After the floor call, the elevator car 2 moves to the floor at which the person made the floor call. In order to inform the person waiting on the elevator car 2, the operating panel 10 can have a floor display, which is why the part 10 can also be referred to below as operating and display panel. The floor display serves to display information about the position of the elevator car, such as the floor on which the elevator car is currently located. Instead of or in addition to this generally numeric display, the operating and display panel 10 can comprise a directional display. The directional display indicates the direction in which the elevator car is currently moving. The operating and display panel 10 could also indicate that an arrival of an elevator car is imminent, whether an elevator car is currently waiting behind the landing door, whether the elevator car is empty or already fully occupied, where the elevator car will go next, etc. The mentioned displays could also be performed via a display panel 10, which is separate from an operating panel 10 and likewise integrated in the door leaf 9 (see FIG. 2).

[0039] The landing doors 8 are equipped with ejection devices (not shown here) which are described in detail below and by means of which the operating and/or display panel 10 can be completely or partially removed from the door leaf 9 in the event of a fire. In FIG. 1, a fire event F is indicated. Due to the temperatures occurring during the fire, the ejection device of the landing door 8 on floor 4 is activated, whereupon the operating and/or display panel denoted by 10 is separated from the door leaf of the landing door 8 and falls to the floor.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the landing door 8 from the front from a floor 4. The landing door 8 has two door leaves that can be moved in opposite directions in order to be moved between an open and a closed position. The door leaf, which is denoted by 9 and is located on the right in FIG. 2 of the present exemplary embodiment, is equipped with an operating and/or display panel 10. Of course, the left-hand door leaf denoted by 9 could alternatively be equipped with an operating and/or display panel 10. It would even be conceivable to equip both door leaves 9, 9 with operating and/or display panels 10. The door leaf 9 is equipped with the already mentioned ejection device (not shown here), by means of which the operating and/or display panel 10 can be completely or partially removed from the door leaf 9 in the event of a fire.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a door leaf 9 with an operating and/or display panel 10 integrated therein. The door leaf 9 has an outer wall 20 and a rear wall 21 running parallel and at a distance therefrom. Furthermore, a support structure (not shown) can be provided between the outer wall 20 and the rear wall 21, which support structure connects the two walls to one another and ensures sufficient rigidity of the door leaf 9. The operating and/or display panel 10 is fixed to the outer wall 20. Fixing can be effected, for example, by an adhesive connection. The ejection device 11 comprises an actuator with a preloaded spring 12. The spring 12 is held in an actuator housing 13 which consists of a plastic material and holds the spring 12 in the preloaded rest position. This position corresponds to the normal state of the elevator system. In the event of a fire, the actuator housing 13 melts, releasing the spring 12. The spring 12 now presses the operating and/or display panel 10 into the direction denoted by arrow f, until the operating and/or display panel 10 comes off. FIG. 4 shows the door leaf 9 in the event of a fire after activation of the ejection device 11. Thereupon, the operating and/or display panel 10 is can be removed from the door leaf 9.

[0042] As a result of a corresponding selection of the adhesive or a point application of the adhesive, the aforementioned adhesive connection is advantageously so weak that the spring force can detach the operating and/or display panel 10 from the outer wall 20. However, detachable connections instead of the adhesive connection are also conceivable. For example, mechanical fixings using screws or the like are also conceivable. The mechanical fixing of the operating and/or display panel 10 to the outer wall 20 can have a predetermined breaking point or predetermined breaking element which, when acted upon by the spring 12, breaks or otherwise yields and thus enables the operating and/or display panel 10 to be removed in the event of a fire.

[0043] Instead of the actuator with the preloaded spring 12 according to FIG. 3, the ejection device 11 could also comprise a body (not shown here) of intumescent material, which body, in the event of a fire, pushes off the operating and/or display panel 10 outward as a result of the volume increase of the intumescent material under the effect of heat.

[0044] A variant of an ejection device 11 based on intumescent material is shown in FIG. 5. The body of intumescent material 19 is attached to the inside of the rear wall 21. An ejection plate 16 is arranged in the door leaf 9 between the intumescent material 19 and the operating and/or display panel 10. The ejection plate 16 is movably mounted on guide rods 22. If the intumescent material 19 foams up in the event of a fire, the ejection plate 16 is moved against the operating and/or display panel 10 in the direction indicated by arrows f. The ejection plate 16 then pushes the operating and/or display panel 10 out of the fixing of the outer wall 20. The ejection plate 16 pushes against the inside of the outer wall 20 and closes the gap in the outer wall 20 that results from the removal of the operating and/or display panel 10. Due to the intumescent material 19, an advantageous ejection device 11 which can be automatically activated under the effect of heat can be created for removing the operating and/or display panel 10 containing easily flammable or combustible parts, which has a positive effect on the fire safety of the elevator system 1.

[0045] In order to optimize the ejection process, intumescent material 18 is attached on the inside surface of the operating and/or display panel 10 and additionally supports the ejection of the operating and/or display panel 10. However, this intumescent material 18 can also be omitted, in particular if, for reliable separation, the inside surface of the operating and/or display panel 10 has, for example, elevations or projections provided by electronic components or, where applicable, by additional spacers.

[0046] The arrangement shown in FIG. 5 with the ejection plate 16 could also be advantageous with other actuators. For example, the intumescent material 19 can be replaced by an actuator that can be activated under the effect of heat and has a preloaded spring or, where applicable, also by an actuator that expands in heat and has a memory metal or a bi-metal.

[0047] FIGS. 6 to 9 relate to a further exemplary embodiment of a door leaf 9 of a landing door 8, wherein the door leaf 9 has an operating and/or display panel 10 integrated in the door leaf 9, and wherein the door leaf 9 has an ejection device 11 based on intumescent material, for at least partially removing the operating and/or display panel 10 from the door leaf 9. The operating and/or display panel 10 contains a printed circuit board 14 with the electronic components for operating the operating and/or display panel, and a carrier frame 15 for carrying the printed circuit board 14. A touchscreen surface 25 can be arranged on the printed circuit board 14. However, other operating and display elements can also be provided if required.

[0048] The printed circuit board 14 with the touchscreen surface 25 can be glued on the carrier frame 15. FIG. 8 shows, for example, that intumescent material 18 is arranged on the printed circuit board 14. The intumescent material 18 can form a spacer so that the printed circuit board 14 is spaced apart from the internal metallic door leaf parts 17 that become hot in the event of a fire. As the other FIGS. 6, 7, and 9 show, the intumescent material 18 arranged on the printed circuit board 14 can also be omitted.

[0049] A rectangular cutout 27 which is associated with the outer wall 20 and into which the operating and/or display panel 10 is inserted is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 6. After insertion from the inside, the operating and/or display panel 10 is fixed to the outer wall 20 using adhesive. A corresponding frame-shaped adhesive region on the carrier frame 15 is denoted by 26. The cutout 27 in the outer wall 20 can again be seen in FIG. 7.

[0050] Furthermore, an ejection plate 16 that can be moved in the direction of the printed circuit board 14 is arranged in the door leaf 9. For guiding the ejection plate 16, guide elements in the form of guide tongues 23 created by bending are formed onto the carrier frame 15. The ejection plate 16 has four slots 24 into which the guide tongues 23 are received. The ejection plate 16 can thus be guided in a simple manner along the guide tongues 23 in the horizontal direction.

[0051] Intumescent material 19 in the form of a comparatively thick plate is attached to the ejection plate 16. The rear wall 21 is closed in the region of the operating and/or display panel 10 by a cover part 17 detachably fastened to the rear wall. The cover part 17 forms a fixed stop on which the intumescent material 19 can be supported in the event of a fire.

[0052] Like the outer wall 20, the rear wall 21 and the support structure, the ejection plate 16 is made of a metal and is thus comparatively fire-resistant. The ejection plate 16 is designed and integrated in the door leaf 9 in such a way that, after removing the printed circuit board 14, it closes the carrier frame 15 or the interior thereof.

[0053] In the event of a fire, the following can, for example, happen: When a fire breaks out in the building, smoke and hot gases can pass from the fire via the elevator shaft 3 to the landing door 8. If a particular temperature is exceeded, the intumescent material 19 is activated. The now activated intumescent material 19 increases its volume so that the ejection plate 16 is displaced against the printed circuit board 14. As a result of the effect of heat, the intumescent material 18 arranged on the printed circuit board 14 can likewise increase its volume, resulting in an additional movement of the printed circuit board 14 outward. The printed circuit board 14 can thus be efficiently pushed outward until it comes off of the door leaf 9. However, cases during a fire are also conceivable in which the intumescent material 18 is activated first and the intumescent material 19 is activated only thereafter. The ejection device 11 shown here with the two intumescent materials 18 and 19 thus generates a two-stage ejection process. The ejection plate 16 is displaced further toward the outer wall 20 and closes the carrier frame 15. The gap resulting from the removal of the printed circuit board 14 in the cutout 27 in the door leaf 9 is now closed again.

[0054] 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.