EP2499078A1

EP2499078A1 - Elevator and method

Info

Publication number: EP2499078A1
Application number: EP10829578A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kari Kemppainen; Andhikaputra Rahardjo
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2009-11-13
Filing date: 2010-11-12
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: FI20090427L; CN102695664A; WO2011058229A1; FI122064B; FI20090427A0; CN102695664B; EP2499078A4

Abstract

An elevator, which comprises an elevator car (1), which is arranged to move in the elevator hoistway (S), a brake (2) on the elevator car (1), a lever mechanism (12,17,18) connected to the brake (2), by- moving which lever mechanism in relation to the elevator car the brake (2) can be transferred to the braking position, a detent (5) in the elevator hoistway, a detent (6) on the elevator car, via which detent the aforementioned lever mechanism can be moved in order to cause braking of the brake (2), and which detents (5,6) on the elevator car and in the elevator hoistway can be brought, by moving at least one of the detents (5,6), to a relative position, in which the detents (5,6) are on a collision course. The elevator comprises - controllable means (7,8,9) for affecting the position of the detent (6), by controlling which means (7,8,9) the detent (6) can be moved between position I and position II, in which position I the detent (6) on the elevator car and the detent (5) in the elevator hoistway are on a collision course with each other, and in which position II the detents (5,6) are not on a collision course, - a control (10) for controlling the means (7,8,9).

Description

ELEVATOR AND METHOD

Field of the invention

The object of the invention is an elevator and a method for forming a safety space at the end of an elevator hoistway, which elevator is preferably an elevator applicable to transporting people and/or freight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A large number of different safety devices of an elevator are known to prior art, with which safety devices a temporary safety space for a serviceman is achieved at the end of the elevator hoistway. Known from prior art is e.g. a type of arrangement in which a movable detent in the elevator hoistway is arranged to be moved into the path of passage of the activation detent of a safety gear that is disposed on the elevator car. When the detents meet, the safety gear on the elevator car moves to a braking position. Thus the movement of the elevator car can be limited e.g. for the period of time when a serviceman is on the roof of the elevator car or in the pit. Otherwise the serviceman would be prone to getting compressed between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway. Since in these types of solutions there is no need for the detent structures to function as buffers that absorb the kinetic energy of the elevator car, the detents can in these types of solutions be dimensioned to be lightweight in structure. In these solutions, however, movement of the elevator car still continues for the distance required for the braking of the elevator car after the detents hit each other. A problem in prior-art solutions has thus been to find a reliable and simple method to enable movement of the detent that moves along with the elevator car even after it has hit the detent in the hoistway. One problem, among others, has been to prevent the detents from breaking each other after the detents hit each other.- Another problem has been a safe and reliable activation of the detents, i.e. the moving of the detents to such a relative position that the detents are on a collision course. The activation of the detents of the arrangement described above and the switching of the elevator into a safe mode have had to be performed by going into the elevator hoistway and by separately activating the detents at each end of the elevator hoistway.

AIM OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to eliminate, among others, aforementioned drawbacks of prior-art solutions. More particularly, the aim of the invention is to produce a more advanced elevator than before with respect to the safety devices. The aim of the invention is further to produce one or more of the following advantages, among others :

- An elevator and method are achieved, in which the forming of a temporary safety space at the end of the hoistway is simple and safe.

- An elevator and method are achieved, in which the forming of a safety space at the end of the hoistway is easy to automate.

- An elevator and method are achieved, in which the forming of a safety space at the end of the hoistway can be performed with few detent moves.

- An elevator is achieved, in which the activation detent of the brake disposed on the elevator car is still able to move along with the elevator car after hitting the detent in the elevator hoistway.

- An elevator is achieved, in which the brake on the car, e.g. a safety gear, continues to stay securely activated after tripping of the safety gear even after the elevator car has moved past the point where the detent in the elevator hoistway hits the activation detent of the safety gear on the elevator car .

- An elevator is achieved, the detent arrangement of which is simple.

- An elevator is achieved, in which the detent structure is not broken due to a long braking distance of the elevator car.

- An elevator is achieved, the detent arrangement of which is reliable and safe, and which elevator can be dimensioned to be of lightweight structure.

- An elevator is achieved, in which a safety device does not increase the minimum depth of the pit and does not cause risk of stumbling when going into the pit .

-^' An elevator is achieved, in which a small number of complex devices is needed.

- An elevator is achieved, the detent arrangement of which is compact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on an idea, that a safety space can be formed at the end of an elevator by affecting the position of the detent in the elevator hoistway by means of a control. According to the idea, the detent on the elevator car can namely be moved onto a collision course with the detent in the elevator hoistway, as a result of the collision of which detents braking of the brake on the elevator car starts by controlling the means by the aid of the control, which means can affect the position of the detent on the elevator car. The advantages are, among others, the simplicity and safety of the detent activation. Another advantage is that it is possible to automate the operation of the device.

In one basic embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the elevator comprises an elevator car, which is arranged to move in the elevator hoistway, a brake on the elevator car, a lever mechanism connected to the brake, by moving which lever mechanism with respect to the elevator car the brake can be transferred into the braking position, a detent in the elevator hoistway, a detent on the elevator car, via which the aforementioned lever mechanism can be moved in order to cause braking of the brake, and which detents on the elevator car and in the elevator hoistway can be brought, by moving at least one of the detents, to a relative position in which the detents are on a collision course. The elevator comprises

- controllable means for affecting the position of the detent, by controlling which means the detent can be moved between position I and position II, in which position I the detent on the elevator car and the

^• detent in the elevator hoistway are on a collision course with each other, and in which position II the detents are not on a collision course,

- a control for controlling the means.

With this the aforementioned advantages are achieved. In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the controllable means comprise at least a controllable actuator for moving the detent between position I and position II, preferably an electrically- operated actuator, most preferably a solenoid. An advantage is that the operation of the device can be automated reliably and simply.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the braking of the brake caused by the detents colliding with each other is arranged to stop the elevator car at a distance from the end of the elevator hoistway, towards which end the elevator car advances before braking such that a space (safety space) for a person remains between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway, and that when the elevator car in normal drive is stopped at a floor nearest to the aforementioned end no space for a person remains between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway. One advantage is that an elevator with normally low bottom clearance and/or top clearance is achieved, at the end of the hoistway of which elevator there is a safety space, i.e. a space into which a person can fit and which space the car is not able to enter, only if needed.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the elevator comprises the aforementioned detent (5) in the proximity of both ends of the elevator hoistway (S) , and that the collision of the movable detent (6) on the elevator car with either one of the detents in the proximity of the end of the elevator hoistway is arranged to cause movement in the detent (6) in relation to the elevator car, which movement is arranged to be transmitted via a lever mechanism to the brake in order to start braking. One advantage is that with one detent move a safety space can be simultaneously formed simply and safely at both ends of the hoistway.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the brake is a brake that grips the guide rail, which brake is able to brake started by the detent irrespective of the direction of movement of the elevator car, which brake is preferably a bidirectional safety gear that wedges into the guide rail during gripping, and that the elevator comprises the aforementioned detent in the proximity of both ends of the elevator for forming a safety space for a person between the elevator car and the end of the hoistway. An advantage is that components that already exist can be used as the brake. The bidirectionality and placement of the detent . in the proximity of both ends enable the forming of a safety space simultaneously at both ends of the hoistway with one detent move .

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the means comprise at least one passive power unit, such as a spring or a permanent magnet, which is arranged to try to move, preferably by pressing, the detent towards position I when the detent is in position II. The passive power unit ensures the creation of the safety space also during an electricity outage.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the means also comprise an electromagnet for holding the detent in position II. The electromagnet enables the device to be small in size and it assists automation.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the means are arranged in normal drive of the elevator to hold the detent in position II and to move the detent to position I when a safety space is to be formed at the end of the elevator hoistway, preferably in at least a part, preferably in all, of the following situations :

- when the electricity is disconnected from the means > and/or

- controlled by the control if the safety circuit disconnects, and/or

- controlled by the control if the means for detecting an intrusion in an elevator hoistway detect that an intrusion has occurred in the elevator hoistway.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the detent 5 comprises a guide surface A, along which the detent 6 moves after the detents collide.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the elevator is an elevator with low bottom clearance and/or an elevator with low top clearance.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the detent on the elevator car is arranged to move controlled by the detent in the elevator hoistway in relation to the detent (5) in the horizontal direction x and in the vertical direction y after the detents (5 and 6) hit each other. One advantage, among others, is that the detent 6 does not remain in contact with that point of the detent 5 which the detent 6 first hits. Since the detents are able to move in relation to each other in the lateral direction and in the vertical direction, the detent 6 is able to exit from the point of the detent 5 as viewed in the direction of movement of the elevator car. In other words, the detent 6 is able to change its path of movement after hitting the detent 5 and, that being the case, the elevator structures are not damaged during the braking distance of the elevator car.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, as a result of the collision of the detents (5, 6) the detent 6 on the elevator car is arranged to move in the direction of the vertical plane (the xy plane) (e.g. in the direction x and/or y) , and that when the detent (6) is moved to position I it is moved essentially in the horizontal direction Z, which direction Z is perpendicular with respect to the aforementioned vertical plane (the xy plane) . Activating the detent 6 in the lateral direction z means that the forces produced in the collision do not try to move the detent 6 away from position I because the forces produced in the collision of the detents 5 and 6 are exerted in different directions, mainly in the directions x and y.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, as a result of the collision of the detents (5, 6) the detent 6^' on the elevator car is arranged to move in the horizontal direction x and/or in the vertical direction y, and that when the detent (6) is moved to position I it is moved at least in the horizontal direction z, which directions z, x and y are at right angles with respect to each other. In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the detent (5) is supported such that it is able to yield at least in the direction x, preferably also in the direction y, after the detent (6) hits it. The suspension of the support minimizes impacts produced in the collision and enables the movement of the elevator car in the opposite direction to the activation direction of the safety gear after the gripping has occurred. In this way the gripping is easy to dismantle. This may form a separate invention independent of the detent activation method.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the detent (5) is supported such that it is able to move after the detent (6) hits it, more particularly by pivoting around a horizontal fulcrum. The horizontal fulcrum is preferably disposed such that it allows pivoting of the detent 5 out of the way of the detent 6 when the detent 5 advances along the detent 6 towards the end of the hoistway. The structure is simple and assists the yielding and behavior of the detent in a gripping situation and also in a dismantling situation of the gripping.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the detent (6) is supported on a transmission means, which is supported on the elevator car via a horizontal axis (13) , around which horizontal axis the detent (6) pivots along with the transmission means when the detents (5, 6) collide with each other, and which horizontal axis is preferably at least essentially in the direction of the activation direction of the detent 6 (direction z) . An advantage is that the movable detent is supported on a second movable part, in which case several support/hinge points on the car structure can be avoided. This also makes the total structure small in size and enables small-sized individual components.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the detent (6) is supported on the transmission means (12) , through which transmission means the movement of the detent 6 caused by the collision of the detents 5 and 6 is transmitted to the brake 2, in a movable manner in relation to the transmission means such that the detent 6 can be moved with the means 7,8,9 in relation to the transmission means, preferably at least in the direction of the aforementioned horizontal axis (direction z) , in order to move the detent between position I and II. An advantage is that the movable detent is supported on a second movable part, in which case several support/hinge points on the car structure can be avoided. This also makes the total structure small in size and enables small-sized individual components.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the detent (6) is a roller, which comprises a horizontal axis of rotation, which axis of rotation is preferably in the direction z.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the rope of the overspeed governor is fixed to a lever mechanism that mechanically connects the detent 6 and the brake. An advantage is that the braking can be simply started with different starting principles via the same power transmission apparatus. In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the sill of the door of the lowermost elevator floor is at a distance of at most 0.5 m, preferably at most 0.25 m, from the bottom of the elevator hoistway. In this case the elevator has a very shallow pit or even no pit at all, which makes the elevator one that is fast and simple to install.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the braking of the brake started by the detent (5) is arranged to stop the elevator car at a distance from the end of the elevator hoistway, towards which end the elevator car advances before braking, such that a free space remains between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway in question, which space meets preferably at least one of the following criteria:

A rectangular polyhedron of a size of at least 0.5m*0.6m*0.8m when lying on one of its sides can be fitted into the space, preferably when the space is the space between the elevator car and the roof of the elevator hoistway,

A rectangular polyhedron of a size of at least 0.5m*0.6m*l .0m when lying on one of its sides can be fitted into the space, preferably when the space is the space between the elevator car and the bottom of the elevator hoistway.

In this way the space remaining between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway is safe for a person (safety space) .

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, when the elevator car is stopped at a floor nearest to the aforementioned end at least one aforementioned criterion is not fulfilled.

In one basic embodiment of the idea according to the invention, in the method for forming a safety space at the end of the elevator hoistway, the safety space is formed at the end of the elevator by moving the detent on the elevator car onto a collision course with the detent in the elevator hoistway, as a result of the collision of which detents the braking of the brake on the elevator car is arranged to start. The elevator comprises controllable means for affecting the position of the detent and that in the method the detent on the elevator car (1) is moved by controlling the aforementioned means with the control comprised in the elevator onto a collision course with the detent in the elevator hoistway. The advantages are, among others, the simplicity and safety of the detent activation. Another advantage is that it is possible to automate the operation of the device.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, the elevator of the method is according to one of the preceding embodiments.

In a more refined embodiment of the idea according to the invention, with the method a safety space is formed simultaneously at both ends of the elevator hoistway by moving the detent on the elevator car by controlling the aforementioned means with the control comprised in the elevator onto a collision course with the detent in the proximity of the top and lower end of the elevator hoistway. In this way a safety space is formed at both ends of the hoistway with one detent move simultaneously and safely.

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 ideas. The features of the various embodiments of the invention can be applied within the framework of the basic inventive idea in conjunction with other embodiments. The features mentioned in conjunction with each aforementioned embodiment can also separately from the features mentioned in conjunction with the other embodiments form a separate invention, in which case at least some of the features of the aforementioned basic embodiment can be omitted.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention will be described in detail by the aid of some examples of its embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents by way of reference an elevator according to the invention.

Fig. 2 presents in more detail parts of an elevator of Fig. 1. Fig. 3a presents the detent on the elevator car of an elevator presented in Figs. 1 and 2 in position I.

Fig. 3b presents the detent on the elevator car of an elevator presented in Figs. 1 and 2 in position II.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 presents an elevator according to the invention, which elevator comprises an elevator car 1, an elevator hoistway S and means for moving the elevator car (not shown), such as e.g. a traction sheave machine supported on the building and hoisting ropes. The elevator car 1 comprises a brake 2, to which a movable mechanical detent 6 is connected, by moving which detent 6 the brake 2 is arranged to be transferred to the braking position. The elevator hoistway S comprises a mechanical detent 5. The detent 6 on the elevator car is arranged to be moved between position I and position II, in which position I the detents 5, 6 are on a collision course, and in which position II the detents 5, 6 are not on a collision course. When the detent 6 is in position I after the elevator car 1 has moved towards the end of the elevator hoistway at a certain distance from the end, the detents 5 and 6 hit each other. Thus the detent 6 is arranged to be moved by means of the support force of the detent 5 in order to transfer the brake 2 to the braking position when the elevator car is at a pre-defined point. When the brake 2 has moved to the braking position, the movement of the elevator car stops after a certain braking distance. The detent 5 is arranged at a suitable distance from the end of the hoistway, so that even after a braking distance a safe space for a person remains between the elevator car 1 and the end of the elevator hoistway S. The elevator comprises controllable means (7,8,9) for affecting the position of the detent (6) , controllable means (7,8,9) for affecting the position of the detent (6), by controlling which means (7,8,9) the detent (6) can be moved between position I and position II, in which position I the detent on the elevator car and the detent in the elevator hoistway are on a collision course with each other, and in which position II the detents (5,6) are not on a collision course. The means (7,8,9) comprise a controllable actuator 7, and also a control 10 for controlling the means (7,8,9). The means 7,8,9 can be controlled with the control 10 such that from the signal of the control the detent 6 switches from mode I to mode II or vice versa or it is kept in the prevailing mode. Switching from one mode to another is implemented according to what is presented in Figs. 2, 3a and 3b. From the signal of the control 9 the actuator 7 is arranged to exert a force on the detent 6 in the direction z, which force pulls it towards position II. In addition, a passive power unit is arranged to act on the detent, which power unit in the preferred solution presented is a spring 8. The spring is arranged to try to move the detent 6 towards position I when the detent 6 is in position II. By means of the passive power unit the detent 6 is arranged to try to move to position I in a fail-safe manner. When it is desired to move the detent 6 to position II the actuator 7 pulls the detent to position II against the force of the spring 8. Keeping the detent in position II could be implemented at its simplest with an actuator 7, but in the embodiment presented it is performed with a controllable power unit 9, which is preferably an electromagnet. The advantage of the power unit 9 is the smaller size of the actuator 7 and lower power consumption. When it is desired to move the detent 6 to position I the pull of the actuator and/or of the electromagnet is stopped and the spring 8 pulls the detent 6 to position I. The spring 8 can perform this singly or assisted by the actuator 7. The means (7,8,9), controlled by the signal of the control 10, are arranged to hold the detent (6) in position II in normal drive of the elevator and to move the detent 6 to position I when a safe space (safety space) is to be formed for a person at the end of the elevator hoistway. The safety space is arranged by moving the detent 6 with means 7,8,9 to position I, preferably at least in the following situations:

- when the electricity is disconnected from the means (7,8,9) ,

- controlled by the control 10 if the safety circuit disconnects,

- controlled by the control 10 if the means for detecting an intrusion in an elevator hoistway detect that an intrusion has occurred in the elevator hoistway.

The control 10 can be in connection with the elevator control or it can be a separate control unit. The control 10 can control the means 7,8,9 e.g. with an electrical signal. The actuator 7 is preferably an electrically operated actuator, e.g. a solenoid. The aforementioned control signal can be e.g. a change of control current that is supplied to the means 7,8,9, such as a disconnection or an increase or any other prior art method whatsoever. The control signal can be transmitted to the means 7,8,9 wirelessly or by wireline. The movability of the detent 6 is arranged by supporting it on a transmission means 12 in a movable manner in relation to the transmission means, which transmission means 12 is mechanically connected to the brake 2. The transmission means 12 is supported on the elevator car 1 via a horizontal axis 13, around which horizontal axis the detent 6 pivots when the detents (5,6) meet, by means of which pivoting movement the movement of the detent 6 brought about by the collision of the detents 5 and 6 is transmitted to the brake 2. With the means (7,8,9) the detent 6 can be moved in relation to the transmission means 12 in the direction of the aforementioned horizontal axis (direction z) , in order to move the detent between position I and position II. For this purpose the detent 6 is fixed in a hinged manner (joint 41) to the transmission means 12. The advantage of this is that the activation direction of the detent 6 is essentially at a right angle with respect to the directions of the forces that act on the detent 6 when the detents 5 and 6 collide. The means 7,8,9 affecting the position of the detent are supported on the transmission means 12 in a manner allowing them to move along with it. For these reasons the movement of the detent 6 when the detents 5 and 6 collide does not exert great loads on the means (7,8,9). On the other hand, this also enhances the compactness of the structure. The position of the detent (6) is determined with means 15, which are connected to the control. The detent 6 is preferably a roller, which comprises a horizontal axis of rotation in the same direction as the tilting axis of the transmission means. The transmission means 12 is connected to the brake 2. This is done by connecting a lever 17 to the transmission means 12, which lever is connected to a lever 18 supporting the roller of the brake 2 (here a roller-type safety gear) . When the lever 18 is bent around its support axis 19 in either direction, the roller of the bidirectional safety gear presented climbs along the wedge piece towards the guide rail (to the top right or to the bottom right in Fig. 2) and the gripping starts. As presented in Figs . 1 and 2 , the overspeed governor rope R is fixed to the lever mechanism (12,17,18) that mechanically connects the detent 6 and the brake 2, preferably to the lever 18 supporting the roller-type safety gear as presented in the figures. An advantage is that the braking can simply be started with different starting principles via the same power transmission apparatus. The overspeed governor can function e.g. such that it comprises means in connection with the overspeed governor wheel 70 for stopping the wheel in an overspeed situation.

The braking of the brake 2 caused by the detents (5,6) colliding with each other is arranged to stop the elevator car 1 at a distance from the end of the elevator hoistway, towards which end the elevator car advances before braking such that a safe space for a person remains between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway. This can be achieved by the placement of the detents (5,6). When the elevator car in normal drive is stopped at the floor nearest to the aforementioned end, no safe space for a person remains between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway. In. this case an elevator arranged according to the invention is particularly advantageous because the elevator can be an elevator with low bottom clearance and/or an elevator with low top clearance, which elevator can -be converted- to-be—safe—in—its—bottom—cl-earance and top clearance by activating the detent 6. The sill of the door D of the . lowermost elevator floor is preferably at a distance of at most 0.5 m, preferably at most 0.25 m, from the bottom of the elevator hoistway (in the manner presented in Fig. 1). In this case the elevator car must be able to advance to close to the end in normal drive. Since a large free space, into which a person can safely fit, is not left at the end in normal drive, the pit of the elevator hoistway can be left to remain shallow or can even be totally omitted.

As presented in Fig. 1, the brake 2 is most preferably a brake that corresponds to the guide rail 3, but it could alternatively be of another type, e.g. a brake corresponding to the elevator ropes. There are detents 5 in the proximity of both ends of the elevator hoistway S. The detent 6 on the elevator car to be moved by the control is thus particularly advantageous because by moving one detent a safety space is achieved at both ends without going into the elevator hoistway. However, the detent 5 can, if desired, also be installed in the proximity of only one end of the elevator hoistway S. When a detent 5 is installed at both ends of the hoistway, the brake 2 must be able to brake the movement occurring in both directions. The brake 2 is in this case preferably a bidirectional safety gear. When the detent arrangement is only at one end of the hoistway, the brake 2 can be any prior-art type of safety gear whatsoever, preferably a unit-directional safety gear. When the elevator car 1 moves in the longitudinal direction of the hoistway S so far that the detents (5 and—6-)—hi —each—other-,—the—detent—5—starts—to—move—the detent 6 in relation to the detent 5 in the transverse direction x of the elevator hoistway and at the same time the detent 6 moves in relation to the detent 5 in the direction of movement y of the elevator car. This enables continuation of the movement of the detent 6 during braking of the elevator car 1 until the elevator car has stopped. This is achieved with the geometries of the detents 5 and 6. The detent 5 comprises a guide surface A, along which the detent 6 moves after the detents 5 and 6 collide. The detent surface A is elongated in the vertical direction and the detent 6 moves along with it and supported against it, e.g. sliding or rolling, after the detents 5 and 6 collide such that the contact point between the detents 5 and 6 moves from a first height to a second height. The elongated shape of the detent (5) enables the detent (6) to move in the direction X, from the effect of the guidance of the detent surface and from the effect of the support, causing starting of braking, and after starting as the movement of the elevator car continues the detent surface, along which the detent 6 has advanced such that the contact point between the detents 5 and 6 has moved from the first height to the second height, prevents the detent (6) from moving back, thus ensuring continuation of braking. The detent (5) is supported on the elevator hoistway or on a fixed structure of it, preferably on a guide rail (3) . The detent 5 is preferably supported flexibly in the lateral direction, preferably via a spring 16. An advantage is the giving way of the detent in a collision situation, in which case the susceptibility to breakage is reduced, owing to e.g. shock absorption and the flexibility in tolerances. The flexibility, however, is dimensioned such that—the- force—esis-t=4-ng--fehe -f-l-ex^

produce a sufficiently great support force on the detent 6 in order to activate the brake 2.

In the method according to the invention for forming a safety space at the end of the elevator hoistway, to which safety space the elevator car is not temporarily able to advance, the safety space is formed by moving the detent (6) on the elevator car (1) onto a collision course with the detent (5) in the elevator hoistway (S) , as a result of the collision of which detents (5,6) braking of the brake (2) on the elevator car (1) is arranged to start. The elevator comprises controllable means (7,8,9) for affecting the position of the detent

(6) , and that in the method the detent (6) on the elevator car (1) is moved by controlling the aforementioned means (7,8,9) with the control (10) comprised in the elevator onto a collision course with the detent (5) in the elevator hoistway (S) . The method is implemented in a manner presented elsewhere in the application with reference to Figs. l-3b. The elevator is thus according to what is presented elsewhere in the application, e.g. Figs. l-3b. With the method a safety space is preferably formed simultaneously at both ends of the elevator hoistway by moving the detent (6) on the elevator car by controlling the aforementioned means

(7,8,9) with the control (10) comprised in the elevator onto a collision course with the detent (5) in the proximity of the top end and bottom end of the elevator hoistway (S) . In the preferred solution presented, when the detent 6 is moved to position I it is moved essentially in the hOrizontat direction^" z^~, which direction- z- s perpendicular with respect to the aforementioned vertical plane (the xy plane) . In the preferred solution presented this movement is made in a hinged manner, but it could also be made without a hinge, e.g. with a straight movement in the direction z. When the solution is hinged, the arm of the detent 6 extending to a joint 41, as viewed from above, is parallel with the transmission means 12 when the detent 6 is in position I and at an angle when the detent 6 is in position II. In this case minimal detrimental torsion is caused in a collision situation.

When in the application it is stated that the detent 6 is on the elevator car it means that the detent 6 is in connection with the car and supported on the car. It is obvious that the detent arrangement 5 presented can also be in the proximity of only one end of the hoistway. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, in which embodiments the invention is described using examples, but that many adaptations and different embodiments of the invention are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims presented below.

Claims

1. Elevator, which comprises an elevator car (1), which is arranged to move in an elevator hoistway (S) , a brake ^"(2) on the elevator car (1) , a lever mechanism (12,17,18) connected to the brake (2), by moving which lever mechanism in relation to the elevator car the brake (2) can be transferred into the braking position, a detent (5) in the elevator hoistway, a detent (6) on the elevator car, via which detent the aforementioned lever mechanism can be moved to cause braking of the brake (2) , and which detents (5,6) on the elevator car and in the elevator hoistway can be brought, by moving at least one of the detents (5,6), to a relative position in which the detents (5,6) are on a collision course, characterized in that the elevator comprises

- controllable means (7,8,9) for affecting the position of the detent (6) , by controlling which means (7,8,9) the detent (6) can be moved between position I and position II, in which position I the detent (6) on the elevator car and the detent (5) in the elevator hoistway are on a collision course with each other, and in which position II the detents (5,6) are not on a collision course,

- a control (10) for controlling the means (7,8,9).

2. Elevator according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the controllable means (7,8,9) comprise at least a controllable actuator (7) for moving the detent (6) between position I and position II, preferably an electrically operated actuator, most preferably a solenoid.

3. Elevator according to any of claims 1-2 above, characterized in that the braking of the brake (2) caused by the detents (5,6) colliding with each other is arranged to _stop the elevator car (1) at a distance from the end of the elevator hoistway, towards which end the elevator car (1) advances before braking, such that a space for a person remains between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway (S) , and in that when the elevator car in normal drive is stopped at a floor nearest to the aforementioned end no space for a person remains between the elevator car and the end of the elevator hoistway.

4. Elevator according to any of claims 1-3 above, characterized in that the elevator comprises the aforementioned detent (5) in the proximity of both ends of the elevator hoistway (S) , and in that the collision of the movable detent (6) disposed on the elevator car (1) with either one of the detents (5) in the proximity of the end of the elevator hoistway (S) is arranged to cause movement in the detent (6) in relation to the elevator car (1) , which movement is arranged to be transmitted via the lever mechanism (12,17,18) to the brake (2), starting the braking.

5. Elevator according to any of claims 1-4 above, characterized in that the brake (2) is a brake that grips the guide rail (3) , which brake is able to brake started by the detent (6) irrespective of the direction of movement of the elevator car (1) , which brake is preferably a bidirectional safety gear that wedges into the guide rail during gripping, and in that the elevator comprises the aforementioned detent (5) in the proximity of both ends of the elevator hoistway (S) for forming a safety space for a person between the elevator car (1) and the end of the hoistway (S) .

6. Elevator according to any of claims 1-5 above, characterized in that the means (7,8,9) comprise at least one passive power unit (9) , such as a spring or a permanent magnet, which is arranged to try to move, preferably by pressing, the detent (6) towards position I, when the detent (6) is in position II.

7. Elevator according to any of claims 1-6 above, characterized in that the means (7,8,9) also comprise an electromagnet (10) for holding the detent (6) in position II.

8. Elevator according to any of claims 1-7 above, characterized in that the means (7,8,9) are arranged in normal drive of the elevator to hold the detent (6) in position II and to move the detent (6) to position I when a safety space is to be formed at the end of the elevator hoistway (S) , preferably in at least a part, more preferably in all, of the following situations:

- when the electricity is disconnected from the means (7,8,9), and/or

- if the safety circuit disconnects, preferably controlled by the control (10) , and/or

- if the means for detecting an intrusion in an elevator hoistway (S) detect that an intrusion has occurred in the elevator hoistway (S) , preferably controlled by the control (10) .

9. Elevator according to any of claims 1-8 above, characterized in that the detent (5) comprises a guide surface (A) , along which the detent (6) moves after the detents (5 and 6) collide.

10. Elevator according to any of claims 1-9 above, characterized in that the detent (6) on the elevator car (1) is arranged to move controlled by the detent (5) in the elevator hoistway (S) in relation to the detent (5) in the horizontal direction (x) and in the vertical direction (y) after the detents (5 and 6) collide with each other.

11. Elevator according to any of claims 1-10 above, characterized in that the detent (6) on the elevator car is arranged, as a result of the collision of the detents (5, 6), to move in the direction of the vertical plane (the xy plane) , and in that when the detent (6) is moved to position I it is moved essentially in the horizontal direction Z, which direction Z is perpendicular with respect to the aforementioned vertical plane (the xy plane) .

12. Elevator according to any of claims 1-11 above, characterized in that the detent (5) is supported such that it is able to yield at least in the direction x, preferably in the directions x and y, after the detent (6) collides with it.

13. Elevator according to any of claims 1-12 above, characterized in that the detent (5) is supported such that it is able to move after the detent (6) collides with it, more particularly by pivoting around a horizontal fulcrum.

14. Elevator according to any of claims 1-13 above, characterized in that the detent (6) is supported on the transmission means (12) , which is supported on the elevator car via a horizontal axis (13) , around which horizontal axis the detent (6) pivots along with the transmission means (12) after the detents (5,6) collide with each other, and which horizontal axis is preferably at least essentially in the direction (direction z) of the activation direction of the detent (6) .

15. Elevator according to any of claims 1-14 above, characterized in that the detent (6) is supported on the transmission means (12), through which transmission means (12) the movement of the detent (6) caused by the collision of the detents (5) and (6) is transmitted to the brake (2) , in a movable manner in relation to the transmission means (12) such that the detent (6) can be moved with the means (7,8) in relation to the transmission means (12) , preferably at least in the direction (direction z) of the aforementioned horizontal axis, in order to move the detent between position I and position II.

16. Elevator according to any of claims 1-15 above, characterized in that the overspeed governor rope is fixed to the lever mechanism that mechanically connects the detent (6) and the brake (2) .

17. Elevator according to any of claims 1-16 above, characterized in that the sill of the door (D) of the lowermost elevator floor is at a distance of at most 0.5 m, preferably at most 0.25 m, from the bottom of the elevator hoistway (S) .

18. Method for forming a safety space at the end of the elevator hoistway, to which safety space the elevator car is not temporarily able to advance, in which method the safety space is formed by moving the detent (6) on the elevator car (1) onto a collision course with the detent

(5) in the elevator hoistway (S) , as a result of the collision of which detents (5,6) the braking of the brake (2) on the elevator car (1) is arranged to start, characterized in that the elevator comprises controllable means (7,8,9) for affecting the position of the detent

(6) , and in that in the method the detent (6) on the elevator car (1) is moved by controlling the aforementioned means (7,8,9) with the control (10) comprised in the elevator onto a collision course with the detent (5) in the elevator hoistway (S) .

19. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elevator is according to any of claims 1-17 above .

20. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that with the method a safety space is simultaneously formed at both ends of the elevator hoistway (S) by moving the detent (6) on the elevator car by controlling the aforementioned means (7,8,9) with the control (10) comprised in the elevator onto a collision course with the detents (5) in the proximity of the top end and bottom end of the elevator hoistway (S) .