EP2444351A1

EP2444351A1 - Elevator device

Info

Publication number: EP2444351A1
Application number: EP06822242A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoshihiko Koizumi
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2006-10-25
Filing date: 2006-10-25
Publication date: 2012-04-25
Also published as: JPWO2008050415A1; EP2444351A4; WO2008050415A1; KR20090047469A; CN101506079B; JP4849487B2; CN101506079A; KR101023358B1

Abstract

Provided is an elevator apparatus in which a lock release key for releasing a lock device of a landing door device from a landing side is kept in a key retaining device. The key retaining device retains the lock release key and restricts removal of the lock release key, and allows the removal of the lock release key when a predetermined operation is performed on the lock release key. An operation control device sets an operation mode to a normal mode when the lock release key is retained in the key retaining device, and sets the operation mode to a maintenance mode when the lock release key is removed from the key retaining device.

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to an elevator apparatus in which a lock device of a landing door device can be released from a landing side by means of a lock release key.

Background Art

In a conventional elevator apparatus, when performing operation on a car or in a hoistway pit, a maintenance worker (or installation operator) releases a lock device of a landing door device by means of a dedicated lock release key, and opens a landing door manually to enter the hoistway (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this process, the maintenance worker operates a manual restoring type switch provided in a vicinity of the landing entrance of the lowermost floor or on the car, thereby switching an operation mode of the car to a maintenance mode and preventing the car from being automatically operated in a normal mode.

Patent Document 1: JP 2-233493 A

Disclosure of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the conventional elevator apparatus described above, if the maintenance worker should forget to operate the manual restoring type switch before closing the landing door, the car is allowed to be operated automatically in the normal mode, while the maintenance worker remains on the car or in the pit.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, this invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of this invention is therefore to provide an elevator apparatus capable of more reliably preventing the car from being automatically operated, with the maintenance worker being in the hoistway.

Means for Solving the Problem

An elevator apparatus of this invention includes: a lock device provided in a landing door device; a lock release key for releasing the lock device from a landing side; and an operation control device for controlling operation of a car through a plurality of operation modes including a normal mode and a maintenance mode, the elevator apparatus further including a key retaining device which retains the lock release key and restricts removal of the lock release key, and which allows the removal of the lock release key where a predetermined operation is performed on the lock release key, in which the operation control device sets the operation mode to the normal mode when the lock release key is retained in the key retaining device, and sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode when the lock release key is removed from the key retaining device.
Further, an elevator apparatus of this invention includes: a lock device provided in a landing door device; a lock release key for releasing the lock device from a landing side; and an operation control device for controlling operation of a car through a plurality of operation modes including a normal mode and a maintenance mode, in which the lock device is provided with a movable member that can be displaced between a first position and a second position, in which the movable member is displaced from the first position to the second position in accordance with lock releasing operation by means of the lock release key, and once being displaced to the second position, the movable member remains in the second position until the movable member is restored to the first position by manual operation, and in which the operation control device sets the operation mode to the normal mode when the movable member is in the first position, and sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode when the movable member is in the second position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a lock device of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the lock device in Fig. 1 in a released state.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a main portion in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a key retaining device for retaining the lock release key in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lock release key in Fig. 4 in a rotated state.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the key retaining device in Fig. 4 with the lock release key removed therefrom.
Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a car starting operation at a control panel in Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is a front view of a keyhole portion of a lock device of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of this invention.
Fig. 9 is a front view of the keyhole portion in Fig. 8 when lock releasing operation is being performed.
Fig. 10 is a front view of the keyhole portion in Fig. 9 with the lock release key removed therefrom.
Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a car starting operation at a control panel 14 according to Embodiment 2.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

In the following, preferred embodiments of this invention are described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 is a front view of a lock device of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of the lock device in Fig. 1 in a released state, and Fig. 3 is a side view of a main portion in Fig. 2. In the drawings, a latch member 1 is fixed to a hanger case (not shown) fixed to an upper portion of a landing entrance. A hook portion 1a is formed by bending one end of the latch member 1.
A latch 2 is rockably mounted to a door hanger (not shown) fixed to an upper portion of a landing door. An engagement portion 2a is provided at the forward end of the latch 2. When the landing door is in a fully closed state, the engagement portion 2a is engaged with the hook portion 1a, whereby movement of the landing door in the opening direction is prevented.
The latch 2 is provided with a stationary side interlock roller 3 and a movable side interlock roller 4. The stationary side interlock roller 3 is arranged coaxially with the rock shaft of the latch 2. The movable side interlock roller 4 is rockable integrally with the latch 2.
Above the latch member 1, there is fixed in position a lock switch 5 for detecting whether or not the latch 2 is at a position where the latch 2 is engaged with the latch member 1. To the latch 2, there is fixed a contact member 6 coming into contact with the lock switch 5 when the latch 2 is at a position where the latch 2 is engaged with the latch member 1.
Below the latch 2, there are provided a bar-like push-up member 7 vertically movable within a predetermined range, and a support member 8 for supporting the push-up member 7 in a state in which it is vertically movable. The landing door is provided with a keyhole portion 9. The keyhole portion 9 is provided with a keyhole 9a through which a lock release key 10 is inserted when the landing door is opened from the landing side.
By inserting the lock release key 10 through the keyhole 9a and rocking the lock release key 10 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, the push-up member 7 is pushed up by the forward end portion of the lock release key 10, and the latch 2 is rocked clockwise in Fig. 1. As a result, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the engagement of the hook portion 1a and the engagement portion 2a is released, enabling the landing door to be manually opened.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a key retaining device 11 for retaining the lock release key 10 in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lock release key 10 in a rotated state, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the key retaining device 11 in Fig. 4 with the lock release key 10 removed therefrom.
The lock release key 10 is kept with its end portion inserted into the key retaining device 11. The key retaining device 11 is installed, for example, in a landing operation panel (not shown) on a lounge floor. In order to use the lock release key 10, the cover of the landing operation panel is opened, and the lock release key 10 is removed from the key retaining device 11.
The key retaining device 11 retains the lock release key 10 and restricts the removal of the lock release key 10. Further, the key retaining device 11 performs a predetermined operation (in this case, rotating operation and drawing operation) on the lock release key 10, thereby allowing removal of the lock release key 10. More specifically, the key retaining device 11 includes a key cylinder 12 and a key retaining member 13 rotatably provided in the key cylinder 12.
The key cylinder 12 is provided with a retaining member accommodating hole 12a for accommodating the key retaining member 13. In the inner peripheral surface of the retaining portion accommodating hole 12a, there is provided an axial guide groove 12b extending in the axial direction of the key cylinder 12, and a circumferential guide groove 12c extending in the circumferential direction of the key cylinder 12.
The axial guide groove 12b is provided to extend from the opening end portion of the retaining member accommodating hole 12a to the bottom portion of the retaining member accommodating hole 12a. The circumferential guide groove 12c is provided to extend over a range of approximately 90 degrees from the end portion of the axial guide groove 12b. The key retaining member 13 is provided with a main groove 13a into which an end portion of the lock release key 10 is inserted.
At the end portion of the lock release key 10, there is provided an insertion portion 10a which is inserted into the main groove 13a. At an end portion of the insertion portion 10a, there is provided a protrusion 10b to be engaged with the guide grooves 12b and 12c. When, in the state in Fig. 4, the lock release key is rotated clockwise, the state as illustrated in Fig. 5 is attained. When, in the state in Fig. 5, the lock release key 10 is drawn out, the state as illustrated in Fig. 6 is attained.
When, in the state in Fig. 6, the lock release key 10 is inserted into the main groove 13a, the state as illustrated in Fig. 5 is attained. When, in the state in Fig. 5, the lock release key 10 is rotated counterclockwise, the state as illustrated in Fig. 4 is attained. In the state as illustrated in Fig. 4, the protrusion 10b is engaged with the circumferential guide groove 12c, and hence it is difficult to remove the lock release key 10. In contrast, in the state as illustrated in Fig. 5, the protrusion 10b is located in the axial guide groove 12b, and hence removal of the lock release key 10 is allowed.
The key retaining device 11 is connected to a control panel 14 serving as an operation control device for controlling the operation of the car. When the lock release key 10 is retained in the key retaining device 11, the control panel 14 sets the operation mode to a normal mode (automatic operation mode), and, when the lock release key 10 is removed from the key retaining device 11, it sets the operation mode to a maintenance mode.
More specifically, when the lock release key 10 is in the retaining position as illustrated in Fig. 4, the control panel 14 sets the operation mode to the normal mode, and, when the lock release key 10 is in a position other than the retaining position, it sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode. In this example, when the lock release key 10 is in the retaining position, the protrusion 10b is simultaneously brought into contact with first and second electrodes (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the circumferential guide groove 12c, and conduction is effected between the first and second electrodes through the protrusion 10b. As a result, the control panel 14 detects that the lock release key 10 is in the retaining position. Conversely, when the circuit between the electrodes is cut off, it is detected by the control panel 14 that the lock release key 10 is off the retaining position.
In the normal mode, the car is automatically operated in response to a call from the landing and the car. In the maintenance mode, a call from the landing and the car is made ineffective, and the car is operated manually at low speed by the maintenance worker (or installation operator). Further, when the control panel 14 determines that the landing door has been forced to open when the car has not landed yet, the control panel 14 prohibits the traveling of the car.
Next, Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a car starting operation at the control panel 14 illustrated in Fig. 4. At the start of the car, the control panel 14 checks on the start conditions (Step S1). Next, it is sequentially checked whether the car door is in a fully closed state and whether the landing door is in a fully closed state (Steps S2 and S3). When at least one of the car door and the landing door is not in a fully closed state, the car continues to remain at rest (Step S4), and the checking of the start conditions is executed again.
When both the car door and the landing door are in a fully closed state, it is checked whether the lock release key 10 is in the retaining position or not (Step S5). Further, when the lock release key 10 is in the retaining position, the operation mode is set to the normal mode, and automatic operation is allowed (Step S6). When the lock release key 10 is not in the retaining position, the operation mode is set to the maintenance mode, and automatic operation becomes impossible, with solely manual operation being allowed.
In this elevator apparatus, the lock release key 10 for opening the landing door from the landing side is taken out of the key retaining device 11, whereby the operation mode is forcibly switched to the maintenance mode, and the automatic operation is prohibited until the lock release key 10 is restored to the retaining position in the key retaining device 11. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent automatic operation of the car with the maintenance worker remaining in the hoistway.
The predetermined operation for removing the lock release key 10 is not limited to the rotating operation as described above. For example, it may also be a simple inserting operation, or a complicated operation having a combination of a plurality of rotating operations and drawing operations.
The predetermined operation for removing the lock release key 10 may, for example, be a sliding operation in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lock release key 10.
Further, while in the above-mentioned example, displacement of the lock release key 10 itself is detected so as to switch the operation mode, it is also possible to detect displacement of the key retaining member 13, which is a component displaced together with the lock release key 10, so as to switch the operation mode.
Further, the place for installing the key retaining device 11 is not limited to the interior of the landing operation panel on the lounge floor. It is also possible to install the key retaining device 11 in the landing operation panel on some other floor or to provide a dedicated installation place for the key retaining device.
Further, the lock release key 10 may be one lacking compatibility between different hoistways, whereby, when the lock release key 10 is in the retaining position, it is possible to prevent a landing door from being opened by a lock release key corresponding to another hoistway.
Further, it is also possible to provide in the landing operation panel of each floor an indication means for indicating that the lock release key 10 is not in the retaining position and that maintenance mode operation is being conducted. This makes it possible to prevent an elevator user from trying to operate the landing operation panel or from waiting for the car despite the fact that the elevator apparatus is operating under the maintenance mode.
Further, the lock release key may be of a collapsible type or a telescopic type, which enables the lock release key to be easily accommodated in the small space within the landing operation panel.

Embodiment 2

Next, Fig. 8 is a front view of a keyhole portion of a lock device of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of this invention, Fig. 9 is a front view of the keyhole portion in Fig. 8 when lock releasing operation is being performed, and Fig. 10 is a front view of the keyhole portion in Fig. 9 with the lock release key removed therefrom. The general construction of the lock device is substantially the same as that of Embodiment 1.
In the drawings, a keyhole portion 21 is provided in the landing door. Further, the keyhole portion 21 includes an inner cylinder 22, and an outer cylinder 23, which is a movable member surrounding the inner cylinder 22. The inner cylinder 22 is provided with a keyhole 22a through which the lock release key 10 is inserted.
In the state as illustrated in Fig. 8, the lock release key 10 is inserted through the keyhole 22a, and the inner cylinder 22 is rotated clockwise by approximately 90 degrees as seen in the drawing, whereby the engagement of the latch 2 and the latch member 1 is released, and the lock device is released. When, in this state, the lock release key 10 is pulled out of the keyhole 22a, the latch 2 is restored to the original position, and the inner cylinder 22 is also automatically restored as illustrated in Fig. 10.
The outer cylinder 23 can be rotationally displaced between a first position (normal position) illustrated in Fig. 8 and a second position (maintenance position) illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The outer cylinder 23 is displaced from the first position to the second position as the inner cylinder 22 is rotated through lock releasing operation by the lock release key. Further, when the outer cylinder 23 has been displaced to the second position, the outer cylinder 23 is kept (latched) in the second position until it is restored to the first position by manual operation from the landing or from within the hoistway. The outer cylinder 23 is provided with a mark 23a for indicating the rotating position of the outer cylinder 23.
When the outer cylinder 23 is in the first position, the control panel 14 sets the operation mode to the normal mode, and when the outer cylinder 23 is in the second position, it sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode. More specifically, when the outer cylinder 23 is in the first position, the control panel 14 sets the operation mode to the normal mode, and when the outer cylinder 23 is in a position other than the first position, it sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode.
Next, Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a car starting operation at the control panel 14 according to Embodiment 2. In the drawing, when both the car door and the landing door are in the fully closed state, it is checked whether the outer cylinder 23 is in the first position or not (Step S8). Further, when the outer cylinder 23 is in the first position, the operation mode is set to the normal mode, and automatic operation is allowed (Step S6). When the outer cylinder 23 is not in the first position, the operation mode is set to the maintenance mode, and automatic operation becomes impossible, with solely manual operation being allowed.
In this elevator apparatus, when lock releasing operation is performed on the lock device by the lock release key, the outer cylinder 23 is displaced from the first position to the secondposition, and the outer cylinder 23 displaced to the second position remains in the second position until it is restored to the first position by manual operation. Further, when the outer cylinder 23 is in the first position, the control panel 14 sets the operation mode to the normal mode, and when the outer cylinder 23 is in the second position, it sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode. Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the car from being automatically operated while the maintenance worker is in the hoistway.
It is also possible to provide in the landing operation mode of each floor an indication means for indicating that the outer cylinder 23 is not in the first position, and that the elevator apparatus is operating under the maintenance mode. This helps to prevent an elevator user from trying to operate the landing operation panel or from waiting for the car despite the fact that the elevator apparatus is operating under the maintenance mode.
Further, while in Embodiment 2 the lock device is released by rotating the inner cylinder 22, it is also possible, for example, to release the lock device through the operation of raising the forward end of the lock release key as in the case of Embodiment 1. In this case, the movable member may be moved up, for example, to the second position through the lock releasing operation by the lock release key, and may be latched in the first position until it is moved downwards by manual operation. In this way, there are no particular limitations regarding the lock releasing method, and the direction in which the movable member is displaced is changed according to the lock releasing method.
Further, while in Embodiment 2 there is described a type in which the keyhole portion 21 is exposed at the landing, this invention is also applicable to a type (hidden type) in which the keyhole portion is not exposed. For example, also in a type in which lock releasing operation is performed by inserting a lock release key into a gap between the landing door and the landing jamb, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of Embodiment 2 by using a movable member displaced from the first position to the second position through the lock releasing operation thereof.

Claims

An elevator apparatus comprising:
a lock device provided in a landing door device;

a lock release key for releasing the lock device from a landing side; and

an operation control device for controlling operation of a car through a plurality of operation modes including a normal mode and a maintenance mode,

the elevator apparatus further comprising a key retaining device which retains the lock release key and restricts removal of the lock release key, and which allows the removal of the lock release key when a predetermined operation is performed on the lock release key,

wherein the operation control device sets the operation mode to the normal mode when the lock release key is retained in the key retaining device, and sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode when the lock release key is removed from the key retaining device.
The elevator apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the key retaining device is provided in a landing operation panel.
An elevator apparatus comprising:
a lock device provided in a landing door device;

a lock release key for releasing the lock device from a landing side; and

an operation control device for controlling operation of a car through a plurality of operation modes including a normal mode and a maintenance mode,

wherein the lock device is provided with a movable member that can be displaced between a first position and a second position,

the movable member is displaced from the first position to the second position in accordance with lock releasing operation by means of the lock release key, and once being displaced to the second position, the movable member remains in the second position until the movable member is restored to the first position by manual operation, and

the operation control device sets the operation mode to the normal mode when the movable member is in the first position, and sets the operation mode to the maintenance mode when the movable member is in the second position.
The elevator apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 through 3 further comprising a landing operation panel, wherein the landing operation panel is provided with an indication means for indicating that the elevator apparatus is operating under maintenance mode.