AU2010288655B2

AU2010288655B2 - Service box for elevator systems

Info

Publication number: AU2010288655B2
Application number: AU2010288655A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hugo Felder
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2009-08-27
Filing date: 2010-08-18
Publication date: 2016-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-18
Also published as: KR101772714B1; BR112012004310A2; EP2470462B1; AU2010288655A1; KR20120088681A; CN102574660A; EP2470462A1; HK1172600A1; CN102574660B; WO2011023615A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a service box for an elevator system. The service box comprises a base element (6). The service box comprises a door (3) located in a first plan in a closed state. The service box comprises at least one lifting device (12) connected to the base element (6) and the doors (3), and by means of which the door (3) can be displaced form the first plane into a second plane, wherein the first and the second planes are substantially parallel to each other. The door (3) can be displaced into the second plane for opening the service box.

Description

1 SERVICE BOX FOR ELEVATOR SYSTEMS 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a service box for a lift installation. 5 2. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Certain control elements of functions of a lift installation are located in a protected region which is to be accessible only to authorised persons. Belonging to those are, for example, control elements of inspection control, of the lift attendant box or of the fire brigade function. These control elements are usually arranged in a box 10 with a closed door, for which reason the designation 'hidden box' is also usual for such boxes. The door can usually be opened only with a key or an electronic signal transmitter. Other control elements of functions of a lift installation are arranged in a protected region which is to be accessible to all passengers. A telephone box can, for example be constructed as a box which is closable by a 15 door. However, telephone boxes by contrast to lift attendant boxes, inspection controls or fire brigade boxes are accessible to all passengers. An emergency device for installation in a lift cage of a lift installation is described in EP 1 967 477 Al. Such emergency devices for accommodation of certain functions typically have a swing door. A hinge is usually arranged laterally so that 20 the door can be opened to the left or the right. The hinges can also be arranged at the lower or upper edge of the box so that the door can be opened upwardly or downwardly. In both cases the door pivots out into the space, for example into the passenger compartment, of a lift cage. Doors of that kind thus demand a considerable amount of space. Moreover, opened doors represent a risk of injury 25 and they can be easily squashed and thus damaged. Swing doors additionally have the disadvantage that setting of the door gaps is difficult, due to the frequently high intrinsic weight of such swing doors. It would be advantageous to provide an improved service box for lift installations which does not have the disadvantages of swing door arrangements as in the 30 prior art.

2 3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a lift installation service box that comprises a box-shaped base element, a door which in a closed state lies in a first plane, and at least one lifting device which is connected with the box 5 shaped base element and with the door and by means of which the door is transferrable from the first plane to a second plane, wherein the first and second planes are substantially parallel to one another, wherein for opening of the service box the door is displaceable in the second plane. The door can thereby be displaced over a surface adjacent to the service box such that the door may 10 not protrude away from the box-shaped base element beyond the second plane. Further details and advantages of the invention are described in the following by way of a non-limiting embodiment and with reference to the drawings. 4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a plan view of a control panel with a service box in 15 accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the service box illustrated in fig 1; Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the service box without door, wherein rails are located in a first plane; Figure 3b shows a perspective view of the service box without door, wherein 20 the rails are located in a second plane; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a service box without door in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; Figure Sa shows a side elevation of an example of a lifting device used in a service box in accordance with the present invention, in a second 25 position; and Figure 5b shows a side elevation of the lifting device of Fig 5a in a first position.

2a 5. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An exemplifying embodiment of control panel 2 is illustrated in Figure 1. This control panel 2 can be arranged on, for example, an inner wall of a lift cage. The 5 control panel 2 has a surface 9 having cut-outs in which, inter alia, a display 20 and elements for control of the lift are inserted. Control elements 21 are arranged on the control panel 2 for the input of the destination storey. The display 20 displays data such as, for example, the current storey, the destination storey or the travel direction. 10 An exemplifying service box I is integrated in the illustrated control panel 2. The service box 1 is covered by a cover 3, which for simpler understanding is termed door 3 in the following. This door 3 is secured by a lock 15. The lock 15 is transferable by means of key (not illustrated) from a closed position I to an open position 11, In an alternative form of embodiment, which is not illustrated, the 15 service box 1 is not equipped with a lock, so that 3 it is freely accessible by anybody. Front surfaces of the display 20, control elements 21, lock 15 and door 3 lie, in an exemplifying embodiment, preferably substantially on a plane of the surface 9 of the control panel. However, it will obvious that the control elements 21 in another exemplifying embodiment can protrude out of the plane of the surface 9. An exemplifying form of embodiment of the service box 1 is shown in Figure 2 in a perspective illustration. The service box 1 is illustrated in a separate, thus uninstalled, state. A box-shaped base element 6 with side walls 7 forms an open space which can be closed by the door 3. In Figure 2 the base element 6 is partly open so that an interior space of the base element 6 is visible. In the illustrated exemplifying embodiment the base element 6 is cuboidal. The side walls 7 are preferably so arranged that in an installed state they form a rectangle as considered from a cage inner side, wherein each two mutually opposite side walls 7 extend parallel to one another. It will be obvious that the shape of the base element 6 can also have other forms. In an exemplifying alternative form of embodiment (not illustrated) the base element 6 is cylindrical with an oval base surface. In the illustrated exemplifying embodiment of the door 3 is so constructed that it is capable of closing an opening of the box-shaped base element 6. In the illustrated form of embodiment the door 3 is rectangular in order to be able to cover the cuboidal box-shaped base element 6. The door has two opposite guide elements which can be guided in rails 4, 4'. These guide elements preferably extend parallel to another. In the form of embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the door edges 5, 5' form these guide elements able to be guided in the rails 4, 4'. However, other guide elements able to be guided in the rails 4, 4' can also be formed at the door 3. In a form of embodiment, which is not illustrated, the door 3 has at an underside guide elements which engage in the rails 4, 4' instead of the door edges 5, 5'. In this form of embodiment the rails 4, 4' are covered and use can also be made of doors 3 which do not have parallel door edges 5, 5', for example oval doors. The rails 4, 4' are connected with lifting devices 12 which are fastened to the side walls 7.

4 In each instance only one lifting device 12 is visible in Figures 2, 3a and 3b. It will be obvious that in the illustrated exemplifying embodiment each rail 4, 4' is connected with a lifting device 12. In a form of embodiment, which is not illustrated, the service box has only one lifting device 12. This can be connected with only one side wall 7 of the base element 6 or with two mutually opposite side walls 7 of the base element 6. The lifting devices 12 can transfer the rails 4, 4' from a first plane to a second plane and conversely. The rails 4, 4' preferably extend parallelly to one another and similarly parallelly to two mutually opposite side walls 7. The rails 4, 4' receive the door edges 5, 5' in guide grooves 14 provided for that purpose so that the door 3 is received to be displaceable and guidable in the rails 4, 4'. The rails 4, 4' each have a respective guide groove 14. This extends in longitudinal direction of the rails 4, 4' and is so dimensioned that the guide elements of the door 3 can be received therein to be displaceable. The guide grooves 14 are open at least towards one side so that the guide elements of the door 3 on this one side can during opening of the door 3 be displaced out of the guide grooves 14. In one form of embodiment a connecting element 8 is arranged between the rails 4, 4' or between the lifting devices 12. The connecting element 8 can be connected with both guide rails 4, 4' and/or with both lifting devices 12 so that the rails 4, 4' or the lifting devices 12 are coupled to one another. The rails 4, 4' during a lifting process of the lifting devices 12 thereby move synchronously. The connecting element 8 imparts additional stability to the lifting devices 12 and the rails 4, 4' mounted thereon. In the illustrated form of embodiment the rails 4, 4' have a projection 10. The projection 10 is a component of the lifting devices 12 and serves for connection of the rails 4, 4' with further components of the lifting devices 12, such as, for example, pivot elements 11. A side wall 7, over which the door 3 can be pushed, can be freely selected. Thus, the service box 1 of Figure 2, when it is installed in a control panel 2 of Figure 1, can be opened upwardly, downwardly, to the left or to the right. An opening direction is preferably selected in such a manner that when the door 3 is open no other functions such as, for example, the display 20 or the control elements 21 are covered. In addition, the selection of the opening direction of the door 3 can be adapted to further circumstances of the lift cage such as, for example, the arrangement of cage walls, cage doors, design elements, 5 handrails or lighting equipment. A service box without door is illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b. In Figure 3a the lifting devices 12 are disposed in a first position and the rails 4, 4' in a first plane. In Figure 3b the lifting devices 12 are disposed in a second position and the rails 4, 4' in a second plane, wherein the second plane is higher than the first plane. In an exemplifying form of embodiment the lifting devices 12 comprise pivot elements 11 which are fastened to the side walls 7. Through the pivot elements 11 the rails 4, 4' are raised in a curved movement. A length of the pivot elements 11 is preferably selected in such a manner that on transfer of the lifting devices 12 from the first position to the second position the rails 4, 4' are lifted to the desired height so that the door 3 can be displaced over a selected side wall 7. The lifting devices 12 can comprise additional spring elements (not illustrated) which assist a lifting movement in one direction. The service box illustrated in Figures 2, 3a and 3b has supports 13 which are arranged in corners of the base element 6. These supports 13 are cylindrical, wherein a circular base surface of this cylinder stands on a base of the base element 6. The supports 13 are arranged in such a manner that the lifting devices 12 are limited in the movement thereof. The supports 13 thereby prevent the lifting devices 12 from being able to be lowered too far and the door 3 being able to drop down into the base element 6. In addition, spring elements which assist raising and/or lowering of the lift devices 12 from the first plane to the second plane and conversely can be arranged in the supports 13. Moreover, the lifting devices 12 can comprise a holding device which fixes the lifting devices 12 in their first or their second position. For example, the lifting devices 12 can be fixed in the first position thereof so that the door cannot spontaneously open, but can be released from the holding device by a pressure on the door. In a further exemplifying embodiment the lifting devices 12 are fixed in their first position. Only through actuation of a key in a lock provided for that purpose can the holding device in that case be released. In a further exemplifying embodiment the lifting devices 12 are fixed in the second position thereof by the holding device. This can be desired in order to avoid or prevent spontaneous closing of the door.

6 In an exemplifying form of embodiment the service box comprises a locking mechanism for the door 3. With fully opened and/or fully closed door 3 and/or at a defined position therebetween the door 3 detents in the locking mechanism, which is provided in the rails 4, 4'. The door 3 thereby, for example, does not have to be held if in opened state it would close under gravitational force. In an exemplifying embodiment the locking mechanism consists of dogs at the door 3 and recesses co-operating therewith in the rails 4, 4'. Figure 4 shows an alternative form of embodiment of the lifting devices 12. Here, the rails 4, 4' are raised in a linear movement. In Figure 4 the lifting devices 12 are illustrated in a second position in which the lifting devices 12 protrude and in which a door (not illustrated) could be displaced in the rails 4, 4'. The rails 4, 4' in this form of embodiment have a projection 10 differently shaped from the rails 4, 4' in Figures 3a and 3b. The projection 10 is also in this form of embodiment connected with further components of the lifting devices 12. The projection 10 has rail-shaped elements which extend perpendicularly to the rails 4, 4' and which are displaceably connected with further components of the lifting devices 12. Through displacement of these rail-shaped elements relative to further components of the lifting devices 12 and relative to the base element 6 the rails 4, 4' are transferred from the first plane to the second plane and conversely. In the form of embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 no connecting element 8 is provided. Figures 5a and 5b show components of a further form of embodiment of the lifting device 12 (without projections 10 of the rails 4, 4'). In that case in each instance only one side wall 7 of the service box is shown. It will be obvious that in a use state a second lifting device 12 is arranged at an opposite side wall 7, which is not illustrated. In Figure 5b the lifting device 12 is disposed in a first position and in Figure 5a the lifting device 12 is disposed in a second position. Rails are not illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b. The lifting device 12 of this form of embodiment comprises scissors element 16, 16', guide cams 18 and guide slots 19. The guide cams 18 are fastened to the scissors elements 16, 16'. In this exemplifying embodiment there are two upper, two lower and one middle guide cams 18. Each scissors element 16, 16' has a respective lower and upper guide cam 18. The middle guide cam 17 is connected with both scissors elements 16, 16' and interconnects these. Each guide cam 18 is mounted in a respective guide slot 19. Two upper guide slots 19, which mount the two upper guide cams 18, are formed to be curved. A middle guide slot as well as two lower guide slots, which mount the middle and the two 7 lower guide cams 18, respectively, are formed to elongate and without bends. If the lifting device 12 is transferred from the first position to the second position and conversely the guide cams 18 displace in the guide slots 19. On lifting the door (not illustrated) by hand the scissors elements 16, 16' are vertically raised and simultaneously horizontally guided together. If the lifting device 12 is moved by, for example, a biased spring the rails and the door (not shown in this illustration) are vertically lifted by a horizontal guidance together of the scissors element 16, 16'. For actuation of a service box according to the invention the procedure can be, for example, as follows. With the door 3 closed, initially the lifting devices 12 are released from the holding device. This can take place, for example, by means of a key or by means of pressure on the door 3. The lifting devices 12 and thus the door 3 are then guided from the first position thereof to the second position thereof. This can take place, for example, by hand or by the action of a biased spring. The rails 4, 4' and the door 3 received therein thereby move from the first plane thereof to the second plane thereof. The door 3 is now displaced in the rails 4, 4' and thereby opened. This is preferably effected by hand. When a door 3 is completely opened the door is preferably fixed in the locking device. Control elements of functions accommodated in the service box can now be operated without the door 3 having to be held. After operation of the control elements of functions the door 3 is closed again. In that case the door 3 is released from the locking device and displaced in the rails until it is disposed substantially directly above the opening of the service box. The lifting devices 12 are then transferred from the second position thereof to the first position thereof so that the rails 4, 4' and the door 3 are transferred from the second plane to the first plane. This process is preferably undertaken by hand. When the door 3 is closed the holding device is now actuated. This can be carried out by a key and a lock or also by snap-closing of a hatchet so that the lifting devices 12 on closing are automatically suspended in the holding device. Instead of rails 4, 4' use can also be made of other forms of mechanisms for transfer of the door 3 from a first plane to a second plane. Various forms of embodiment are available to the expert. For example, the door 3 can be suspended by way of a single rotary element. this single rotary element is preferably arranged near a corner of the door 3. On rotation through ninety degrees in clockwise sense or in counter-clockwise sense the door 3 frees the opening of the box-shaped base element 6 so that the control elements accommodated therein are accessible. The rotary element comprises a lifting device 12 8 and can have a holding device in order to fix the door 3 in a defined position. In this form of embodiment no rails 4, 4' are necessary, since the door is rotated away.

Claims

1. Service box for a lift installation, the service box comprising: a box-like base element; 5 a door which in a closed state lies in a first plane; and at least one lifting device which is connected with the base element and the door and by means of which the door is transferrable from the first plane to a second plane, wherein the first and second planes are substantially parallel to one another; 10 wherein the door for opening of the service box is displaceable in the second plane.

2. Service box according to claim 1, wherein the door comprises two parallelly extending guide elements and wherein the lifting device comprises rails in which the two guide elements of the door are received to be displaceable so 15 that the door is displaceable in the direction of the parallelly extending guide elements.

3. Service box according to claim 2, wherein the door has sides that are constructed as the guide elements and are received in guide grooves of the rails in displaceable manner. 20

4. Service box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide elements are arranged at an underside of the door.

5. Service box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rails and the door are arranged substantially parallel to a surface which the service box surrounds in an installed state. 25

6. Service box according to claim 5, wherein the door for opening is displaceable upwardly, downwardly, to the left or to the right over the surface. 10

7. Service box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lifting device comprises pivot elements which are connected with the rails and the box shaped base element.

8. Service box according to claim 7, wherein the lifting device is devised such 5 that on transfer from a first position to a second position by the pivot elements, a curved movement of the rails and the door is executed.

9. Service box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rails and the door are transferrable by the lifting device from the first plane to the second plane in a linear movement.

10 10. Service box according to any one of claims I to 9, wherein a holding device fixes the lifting device in one position.

11. Service box according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a locking device arranged at the rails locks the door in one position.

12. Lift installation with a service box according to any one of claims I to 11. 15 INVENTION AG WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS P40156AU00