OPERATING PANEL FOR AN ELEVATOR WITH SPLASH WATER PROTECTED KEY SWITCH

Abstract

An operating panel for an elevator includes a panel plate having an opening, a key switch arrangement and, optionally, a human machine interface attached to the panel plate. The switch arrangement includes a cover arrangement, a hinge and a key switch. The key switch is attached to the cover arrangement and is activated or deactivated by a key for transmitting activation signals to the elevator control upon activation. The cover arrangement is attached to the panel plate via the hinge and is displaced between a first configuration in which the key switch is arranged behind the cover arrangement and a second pivoted configuration in which the key switch is accessible from the front side of the panel plate. Thus, the key switch is protectively stored in the first configuration, providing splash water protection and an attractive visual appearance, and is pivoted to the second configuration when needed.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. An operating panel for an elevator having an elevator control, comprising: a panel plate having an opening; a key switch arrangement including a cover arrangement, a hinge and a key switch; wherein the key switch is attached to the cover arrangement and is adapted for being activated or deactivated by a key being inserted into the key switch and for transmitting activation signals to the elevator control upon activation; wherein the cover arrangement is attached at the panel plate next to the opening by the hinge; and wherein the cover arrangement is adapted to be displaced between a first configuration in which the key switch is arranged behind the cover arrangement and a pivoted second configuration in which the key switch is accessible from a front side of the panel plate.

18. The operating panel according to claim 17 wherein the cover arrangement is sized to completely cover or fill the opening of the panel plate when the cover arrangement is positioned in the first configuration.

19. The operating panel according to claim 17 wherein the cover arrangement has an L-shaped cross-section formed by a first branch section and a second branch section being arranged transverse to each other.

20. The operating panel according to claim 19 wherein the first branch section is sized to completely cover or fill the opening of the panel plate when the cover arrangement is positioned in the first configuration.

21. The operating panel according to claim 19 wherein the second branch section is sized to completely cover or fill the opening of the panel plate when the cover arrangement is positioned in the second configuration.

22. The operating panel according to claim 19 wherein the first branch section, the second branch section and the hinge are arranged such that the first branch section is positioned over the key switch when the cover arrangement is in the second configuration.

23. The operating panel according to claim 17 including a sealing tightly closing an interface between a border of the opening of the panel plate and the cover arrangement.

24. The operating panel according to claim 17 wherein the hinge permits the cover arrangement to be pivoted from the first configuration to the second configuration in a vertical direction.

25. The operating panel according to claim 17 wherein the hinge permits the cover arrangement to be pivoted from the first configuration to the second configuration in a horizontal direction.

26. The operating panel according to claim 17 wherein the key switch includes a key cylinder which is not protected against splash water.

27. The operating panel according to claim 17 including a spacer arrangement interposed between the cover arrangement and a front portion of the key switch.

28. The operating panel according to claim 17 wherein the cover arrangement has a portion completely filling the opening of the panel plate when being in the first configuration and being substantially flush with the front side of the panel plate.

29. The operating panel according to claim 17 wherein an information relating to one of a purpose and a handling of the key switch arrangement is visualized at a front side of the cover arrangement.

30. The operating panel according to claim 17 including a human machine interface attached to the panel plate, the human machine interface being adapted for inputting operation instructions by a user upon actuation from the front side of the panel plate and transmitting operation instruction signals to an elevator control.

31. An elevator comprising an operating panel according to claim 17.

32. The elevator according to claim 31 wherein the elevator is a firefighter elevator and the key switch is adapted for transmitting activation signals to the elevator control upon activation in order to authorize enabling of restricted firefighter functions of the elevator.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIGS. 1a,b,c show a front view, a side view and a view from below of an operating panel according to an embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration.

[0057] FIGS. 2a,b,c show a front view, a side view and a view from below of the operating panel of FIG. 1 in a second configuration.

[0058] FIGS. 3a,b,c show a front view, a side view and a view from above of an operating panel according to another embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a view from below of the operating panel of FIG. 2 in a second configuration.

[0060] FIGS. 5a,b show a front view and a side view of an operating panel according to a further embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration.

[0061] FIGS. 6a,b show a front view and a side view of the operating panel of FIG. 5 in a second configuration.

[0062] The figures are only schematic and not to scale. Same reference signs refer to same or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] Conventionally, an operating panel of an elevator may comprise a key switch which may be activated by authorized personal using a key and thereby authenticating themselves as being authorized. Such key switch may include a standard key cylinder into which a key may be inserted and which, upon such key insertion, may for example be turned between an activated and a deactivated position.

[0064] As standard key cylinders are typically not specifically protected against external influences such as splash water, additional measures may have to be taken in case a key switch shall be operated under critical environmental condition.

[0065] For example, a specific sealing arrangement may be provided within the key switch or its key cylinder. However, such specific sealing arrangement may add significant complexity and/or costs to the key switch.

[0066] Alternatively, the key switch may be fixed at a panel plate of the operation panel and, additionally, an external hatch or flap may be attached to the panel plate and such hatch or flap may cover the underlying key switch as long as it is not used. In case access to the key switch is required, the hatch or flap may be displaced e.g. by pivoting it in an upside direction thereby exposing the underlying key switch. However, handling such hatch or flap may be troublesome. Furthermore, the hatch or flap may disturb an aesthetical visual appearance of the operation panel.

[0067] FIGS. 1a,b,c show an operating panel 1 for an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention in a front view, a side view and a view from below. The operating panel 1 comprises a panel plate 3, a human machine interface 5 and a key switch arrangement 7.

[0068] The panel plate 3 is a planar plate and may be for example part of a housing enclosing circuitry or electronics forming part of an elevator control. The panel plate 3 may be made for example with a metal plate, a plastic plate or any other kind of plate. The panel plate 3 may be planar. The panel plate 3 comprises a rectangular opening 9. The opening 9 may have any other contour and is a through-hole.

[0069] In the example shown, the human machine interface 5 is established with a plurality of push buttons 11. For ease of visualization, the human machine interface 5 is only shown in the front view of FIG. 1a and the side view of FIG. 1b. By pushing one of the push buttons 11, a user may input operation instructions for example for requesting a transfer of an elevator car to a specific floor or level. Additionally, the human machine interface 5 may comprise further push buttons for requesting e.g. opening or closing an elevator door or for initiating an alarm. Upon actuation of one of the push buttons 11, the human machine interface 5 may transmit corresponding operation instruction signals to an elevator control. Such elevator control or parts thereof may be accommodated for example behind the panel plate or at any other location within an elevator arrangement.

[0070] Instead of implementing the human machine interface 5 with push buttons 11, any other kind of human machine interface 5 may be used for the operating panel 1. For example, the human machine interface may be implemented by a plurality of switches which may be actuated for example mechanically by pressing a switch or capacitively by touching a surface of a switch. Alternatively, the human machine interface may be implemented in any other way such as for example with a touch-sensitive screen, which allows a user to input operation instructions which indicate his request to the elevator.

[0071] The key switch arrangement 7 comprises a cover arrangement 13, a hinge 15 and at least one key switch 17.

[0072] The key switch 17 is directly or indirectly attached to the cover arrangement 13. In the example shown (see FIG. 1b), the cover arrangement 13 comprises two through-holes 19. The key switch 17 comprises an enlarged front portion 21 and a cylindrical or rectangular body 23 having a smaller diameter/shape than the front portion 21. The key switch 17 is inserted with its cylindrical or rectangular body 23 into one of the through-holes 19 until the enlarged front portion 21 abuts to a surface of the cover arrangement 13. In such position, the key switch 17 may be fixed to the cover arrangement 13 by any suitable fixing means such as by a lock nut (not shown).

[0073] The key switch comprises a key cylinder 25 having a slot 27 into which a key may be inserted. Upon inserting the key into the slot 27 and, optionally, turning the key cylinder 25, the key switch 17 may be activated or deactivated and corresponding activation signals may be transmitted to the elevator control.

[0074] The cover arrangement 13 is pivotably attached to the panel plate 3 via the hinge 15. Any type of hinge 15 may be used. In the embodiment shown, the hinge 15 comprises two separate portions which are provided at both lateral sides of the cover arrangement 13 and are attached to the panel plate 3 next to the opening 9.

[0075] In the embodiment shown, the cover arrangement 13 comprises a first branch section 29 and a second branch section 31. The first and second branch sections 29, 31 extend rectangularly to each other. Both branch sections 29, 31 have a sheet-like two-dimensional structure. The cover arrangement 13 and its branch sections 29, 31 may be made for example from a metal sheet being bent into a suitable geometry. Alternatively, the cover arrangement 13 may be provided as a molded plastic device or tension profile.

[0076] The cover arrangement 13 may be pivoted around a rotation axis of the hinge 15. FIGS. 1a,b,c show a first configuration of the cover arrangement 13 in which the first branch section 29 is arranged within the opening 9 of the panel plate 3. Therein, the first branch section 29 has a geometry and size such as to completely fill out the opening 9 thereby substantially closing the opening 9 against any external influence. An outer surface of the first branch section 29 is substantially flush with an outer surface of the panel plate 3 thereby obtaining an attractive visual appearance.

[0077] One or more sealings 33 may be provided at a circumference of the first branch section 29 in order to tightly seal the cover arrangement 13 against the panel plate 3. The sealings may enclose the first branch section 29 in a ring-like manner. The sealing may close an interface or gap between the cover arrangement 13 and a border of the panel plate 3 at the opening 9 in a substantially water tight manner.

[0078] Furthermore, an additional water protection arrangement 45 may be provided. For example, an angular sheet may be fixed at an inner surface of the panel plate 3 e.g. underneath the opening 9. Such water protection arrangement 45 may be arranged and formed such that water which unintentionally enters though the opening 9 is hindered from reaching e.g. electronics or other water-sensitive components arranged behind the panel plate 3 but instead is collected in an area away from such water-sensitive components.

[0079] FIGS. 2a,b,c show the operation panel 1 of FIG. 1 with the cover arrangement 13 being in a second configuration. This second configuration may be assumed upon rotating the cover arrangement 13 around the axis of the hinge 15 in a vertical direction as indicated with the arrow 35 shown in FIG. 2b.

[0080] In such second configuration, the second branch section 31 is arranged such as to completely cover the opening 9 in the panel plate 3. Accordingly, while the second branch section 31 of the cover arrangement 13 closes the opening 9 in such second configuration, the key switch 17 is accessible from the front side of the panel plate 3 and may therefore be actuated for example by inserting a key into the slot 27. Sealings (not separately shown) may be provided in order to tightly seal an interface between the cover arrangement 13 and the panel plate in such second configuration.

[0081] The first branch section 29 is positioned slightly above the key switch 17 in such second configuration of the cover arrangement 13 such that this first branch section 29 extending in a horizontal direction acts like a roof. Accordingly, this roof-like first branch section 29 may prevent e.g. splash water from reaching the key switch 17 underneath.

[0082] FIGS. 3a,b,c show an operating panel 1 for an elevator according to another embodiment of the present invention in a front view, a side view and a view from above in a first configuration. FIG. 4 shows the same operating panel 1 in a view from above in a second configuration.

[0083] Therein, a key switch arrangement 7 is arranged such that it may be pivoted in a horizontal direction between the first and the second configuration. Portions of a hinge 15 are fixed to the panel plate 3 such that they form a vertical rotation axis. A cover arrangement 13 of the key switch arrangement 7 comprises a first branch section 29 and a second branch section 31 each being sheet-like and extending rectangular to each other. The first branch section 29 extends in a vertical plane whereas the second branch section extends in a horizontal plane and above a key switch 17. The key switch 17 is attached to the cover arrangement 13 at a third branch section 32 extending rectangularly to each of the first and second branch sections 29, 31. Accordingly, a longitudinal axis of the key switch 17 extends in parallel to the first and second branch sections 29, 31. All three branch sections 29, 31, 32 together preferably form an integrated part such that the cover arrangement 13 may be made e.g. by injection molding.

[0084] In the first configuration shown in FIGS. 3a,b,c, the first branch section 29 of the cover arrangement 13 closes the panel plate 3 by completely filling its opening 9. Therein, the first branch section 29 may be flush with the panel plate 3. The key switch 17 is oriented parallel to a surface of the panel plate 3 and does therefore require only a relatively small installation depth. In such first configuration, the key switch 17 is hidden behind the first branch section 29. The key switch 17 is therefore protected and may not be accessed from outside.

[0085] Upon turning the cover arrangement 13 around the axis of the hinges 15 in a horizontal direction 37, the cover arrangement 13 may be brought into its second configuration in which the key switch 17 may be accessed from outside, i.e. a key may be inserted into a key slot 27 by a user standing in front of the panel plate 3. In such second configuration, the key switch 17 is oriented rectangular to a front surface of the panel plate 3. Furthermore, the key switch 17 is protected against e.g. splash water from above due to the second branch 31 of the cover arrangement extending above the key switch 17 and acting like a roof.

[0086] FIGS. 5a,b show an operating panel 1 for an elevator according to a further embodiment of the present invention in a front view and a side view in a first configuration. FIGS. 6a,b show the same operating panel 1 in a front view and a side view in a second configuration.

[0087] This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in contrast to this preceding embodiment, the key switch 17 is fixed in a different manner to the cover arrangement 13. While in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the enlarged front portion 21 of the key switch 17 directly abuts to a surface of the cover arrangement 13, the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes an additional spacer arrangement 39 which is interposed between the cover arrangement 13 and the front portion 21 of the key switch 17. Such spacer arrangement 39 may comprise e.g. a cylindrical ring which encloses a partial portion of the body 23 of the key switch 17.

[0088] Due to such spacer arrangement 39, the key switch 17 does extend less far to a rear side of the cover arrangement 13 but instead protrudes beyond the front side of the second branch section 31 of the cover arrangement 13 to which it is attached. As a result, an installation depth for the switch arrangement 7, i.e. a distance d up to which the switch arrangement 7 extends behind the plane of the panel plate 3, may be smaller than in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0089] This is visualized with the dotted circular line which indicates a maximum depth extension 41 of the components of the switch arrangement 7 during turning the switch arrangement 7 from the first to the second configuration. It may be seen that in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, such maximum depth extension mainly depends on a width of the first and second branch sections 29, 31 of the cover arrangement 13. In contrast hereto, without the spacer arrangement 39, i.e. in an embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such maximum depth extension 43 mainly depends on a length of the key switch 17, as indicated with the circular dotted line 43 in FIG. 1b, and is generally larger than the corresponding maximum 41 extension in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0090] In another alternative embodiment which is not visualized in figures, the key switch arrangement may be adapted such that the cover arrangement may be pivoted from the first configuration to the second configuration in an opposite direction than in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, (i.e. in a clock-wise direction). Also in such embodiment, in the first configuration, a first branch section of the cover arrangement may close the opening in the panel plate. The cover arrangement may then be pivoted to the second arrangement in which access to the key switch is enabled. However, in such embodiment, no second branch section is positioned above the key switch while being in the second configuration. Instead, either there is no second branch section or, if a second branch section is provided at the cover arrangement, this second branch section is arranged below the key switch when being in the second configuration. This may have two effects: while, of course, such lacking second branch section or a second branch section arranged below the key switch may not serve as a protecting roof e.g. against splash water, an absence of such second branch section may simplify an access to the key switch. Typically, key switch arrangements are position at a relatively low height within an elevator car, e.g. at 80 cm above a car bottom, and any protecting second branch section extending like a roof above the key switch may hinder access to the key switch. Avoiding such obstacles may simplify use of the key switch.

[0091] In all embodiments, an information relating to a purpose of the key switch (17) and/or relating to a handling of the key switch arrangement 7 may be visualized at a front side of the cover arrangement (13), i.e. for example at a surface of the first branch section 29 extending towards the front side of the panel plate 3 when being in the first configuration. Such information may be written or symbolic. For example it may be written fire switch or a symbol indicating fire may be visualized. It shall be noted that basically any other key switch function can be fixed behind the cover, fire is the main reason, but also reservation car fan, car light could be an option). Further, for indicating a handling of the key switch arrangement, it may be written turn here or press here or simply a symbol of an arrow may indicated a motion direction. The information may be engraved, imprinted, glued on or visualized in any other way.

[0092] Finally, it should be noted that the term comprising does not exclude other elements or steps and the a or an does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.

[0093] 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0094] 1 operating panel [0095] 3 panel plate [0096] 5 human machine interface [0097] 7 key switch arrangement [0098] 9 opening [0099] 11 push buttons [0100] 13 cover arrangement [0101] 15 hinge [0102] 17 key switch [0103] 19 opening in cover arrangement [0104] 21 front portion of key switch [0105] 23 body of key switch [0106] 25 key cylinder [0107] 27 key slot [0108] 29 first branch section [0109] 31 second branch section [0110] 32 third branch section [0111] 33 sealing [0112] 35 vertical pivoting direction [0113] 37 horizontal pivoting direction [0114] 39 spacer [0115] 41 maximum depth extension [0116] 43 maximum depth extension [0117] 45 water protection arrangement