EP4662162A1

EP4662162A1 - Coupler, coupler arrangement and method

Info

Publication number: EP4662162A1
Application number: EP23704311.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mika IJÄS; Mikko Kukkola; Ville Myyryläinen; Lasse Nyman
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2023-02-08
Filing date: 2023-02-08
Publication date: 2025-12-17
Also published as: WO2024165148A1; CN120569345A

Abstract

A coupler, coupler arrangement, and method of opening an elevator car door for servicing a mechanism of a landing door. The coupler (20) comprises two vertically orientated vanes (24, 25) located at a transverse distance from each other. A first vane (24) comprises a gap (G) through which a counterpart (21) mounted on a landing door (16) can pass. The vanes are mounted to an elevator car door (17). The gap is selectively open- able and closable, and when being opened the elevator car door can be opened without open- ing the landing door.

Description

Coupler , coupler arrangement and method

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a coupler mountable on an elevator car door of an elevator .

The invention further relates to coupler arrangement and to a method of opening an elevator car door for servicing a landing door mechanism .

The field of the invention is defined more speci fically in the preambles of the independent claims .

An elevator comprises an elevator car which is moved vertically in an elevator shaft and is stopped at landings . The elevator comprises automatic door system wherein coupling between an elevator car door and a landing door is provided with a coupler arrangement so that the elevator car door and the landing door can open simultaneously when the elevator car is at the landing . The known door opening solutions have shown to contain some disadvantages when servicing door mechanisms .

Brief description of the invention

An obj ect of the invention is to provide a novel coupler and coupler arrangement for a door system of an elevator, as well as to provide a novel method for opening a door of an elevator car when servicing the door system .

The coupler according to the invention is characteri zed by the characteri zing features of the first independent apparatus claim .

The coupler arrangement according to the invention is characteri zed by the characteri zing features of the second independent apparatus claim .

The method according to the invention is characteri zed by the characteri zing features of the independent method claim .

An idea of the disclosed solution is that a coupler comprises two vertically orientated vanes located at a transverse distance from each other . The vanes are mounted or connected to a structure of an elevator car door . A first vane comprises a gap through which a counterpart mounted on a landing door can pass . The gap is selectively openable and closable . The gap is dimensioned so that the counterpart can pass through the opened gap . When the elevator car is at the landing the gap can be opened whereby the elevator car door can be opened without opening the landing door . The gap opening and the elevator car opening are executed by maintenance personnel .

More speci fically the coupler comprises a first vane and a second vane both being elongated pieces mountable vertically on an outer surface of a door of the elevator car and at a lateral distance from each other . The first vane comprises a transverse gap or aperture which is selectively openable and closable . In other words , the first vane comprises a guide surface which does not extend uni formly end to end but has an opening formed by the gap . The gap opens in lateral direction relative to longitudinal axis of the vane . In normal operation of the elevator the gap is closed and can be opened for maintenance , inspection, and possible other purposes .

In practice , when the elevator car arrives at a landing or landing zone , the coupler receives a counterpart of the landing doors between the vanes and engages the elevator car door and the landing door by means of the coupler and the counterpart . When being so engaged, the elevator car door and the landing door open and close together with j oint movement . This engagement can now be temporarily released .

In an alternative door opening solution, the counterparts are not between the vanes but are located outside the vanes . Then the vanes are arranged to move away from each other when the doors are opened . However, the vanes are provided with openable and closable gaps for releasing engagement between the spreading vanes and the counterparts so that the elevator car door can be opened without af fecting the counterparts and thereby opening the landing doors .

An advantage of the disclosed solution is that the engagement or coupling between opening mechanisms of the elevator door and the landing door can be selectively disconnected so that the elevator car door can be opened without opening the landing door . Thus , the di sclosed openable gap provides an independent opening feature for the elevator car door system . This is useful when executing inspection and maintenance measures for the landing doors .

According to an embodiment , the vanes may be mounted on outer surfaces of the elevator car door panels i . e . , on surfaces on the side of an elevator shaft , or alternatively on top or upper structures of the elevator car doors .

According to an embodiment , the disclosed solution is especially intended for elevators which have an elevator shaft with a pit with limited height , or no pit at all . When the elevator is of such a low pit type , there occurs a safety risk i f the lowermost landing door is serviced from the pit . However, the lowermost landing door system can be inspected and serviced safely when the elevator car is at the lowermost landing and the elevator car door is opened in accordance with the present solution for executing the work from the elevator car . Thus , acces s to the pit is not needed .

According to an embodiment , the first vane comprises a basic vane part and a separate closing element . The basic vane comprises a cutting forming an open part . The closing element is selectively mountable and removable on the bas ic vane part for closing and opening the gap . In other words , there is a fixed gap and the vane closing element serves as a bridge element , filler plate , or fi ller element for covering the gap .

According to an embodiment , the coupler comprises a vane cover mountable removably on a surface of the first vane. An advantage is that the combination of the gap and the vane cover is simple, robust, and inexpensive.

According to an embodiment, the vane cover is mounted on the first vane on a surface side facing towards the second vane. In other words, the vane cover is on an inner surface side of the first vane.

According to an embodiment, the vane cover is configured to cover the entire surface of the first vane facing towards the second vane. When the cover is a uniform piece, it may have rigid configuration. Handling of such piece is easy at worksite conditions.

According to an embodiment, the vane cover is a metallic element made by cutting and bending technologies.

According to an embodiment, length of the vane cover is dimensioned to reach from end to end of the first vane.

According to an embodiment, shape of the vane cover corresponds to the shape of first vane.

According to an embodiment, the gap of the vane is located at a center section of the first vane.

According to an embodiment, opposite ends of the vanes comprise bend portions facing away from central axis of the vanes so that a vertical gap or space between the vanes opens at both ends when the bend parts are facing away from each other.

According to an embodiment, the vane cover is provided with quick coupling means for releasable mounting of the vane cover to a basic structure of the first vane. This makes the handling of the vane cover simple and quick.

According to an embodiment, the vane cover is releasable and mountable from above i.e., it is provided with fastening means that allow mounting from a roof top of an elevator car.

According to an embodiment, the vane cover is provided with shape locking elements at its first end portion and at least one fastening screw at its second end portion for releasable mounting to a basic structure of the first vane . The first end portion with the shape locking element is easy and quick to couple to a lower end of the first vane and the fastening can thereafter be secured to an upper end of the first vane by means of the fastening screw . The shape locking element or feature may comprise a hook-like portion or bending configured to receive the lower end of the first vane partly inside it .

According to an embodiment , the disclosed coupler can also be easily retrofitted to existing elevators for facilitating their service operations .

According to an alternative embodiment , there is not a rigid gap, but the first vane is formed of at least two components and at least one of the components is movable relative to another component for selectively forming the gap and closing the gap . Thus , the gap can be formed between a fixed component and the movable component, or between two movable components . Moving arrangement of the one or two movable components may be arranged so that it can be actuated from above . Further, the moving arrangement may comprise a mechanism for easy and quick operation .

According to an alternative embodiment , the first vane is provided with a movable closing element . The movable closing element can be slide or turned relative to the basic structure of the first vane for selectively closing and opening the gap . The movable closing element may be coupled to the basic structure by means of a hinge , for example . Alternatively, the closing element may slide under guidance of suitable guide surfaces . The closing element may be arranged to slide vertically or hori zontally, for example .

According to an embodiment , the disclosed solution relates also to a coupler arrangement for a door system of an elevator . The coupler arrangement comprises a coupler mounted on an outer surface side of an elevator car door and is provided with a vertical first vane and a vertical second vane . The vanes are arranged at a lateral distance from each other . A counterpart is mounted on a landing door facing away from a landing of an elevator i . e . , the counterpart is facing towards the coupler . When the elevator car arrives at a landing, the coupler is configured to receive the counterpart between the vanes . Further, the first vane comprises a transverse gap which is selectively openable and closable and is located at a section corresponding to a position of the counterpart . Relative movement between the coupler and the counterpart is allowed in response to the opening of the gap . Then engagement between the coupler and the counterpart is released in the lateral direction .

According to an embodiment , the counterpart comprises at least one roller .

According to an embodiment , the counterpart comprises two rollers .

According to an embodiment , the landing door comprises a locking unit which is configured to be opened by pushing the two rollers of the counterpart towards each other by means of the vanes of the coupler .

According to an embodiment , between the rollers o f the counterpart and the vanes of the coupler are clearances on both lateral sides so that there is a physical contact between the rollers and the vanes only when actuating the door system or the landing door locking unit .

According to an embodiment , the disclosed solution relates also to a method of opening an elevator car door for servicing a mechani sm of a landing door of an elevator through the elevator car door being opened . The method comprises : disengaging connection between a coupler of the elevator car door and a counterpart of the landing door when the counterpart is located between a first and second vanes of the coupler ; executing the disengage by opening a gap of the first vane of the coupler whereby the coupler together with the elevator car door is transversally movable relative to the counterpart ; and opening the elevator car door independently in relation to the landing door . According to an embodiment , the method further comprises opening the gap by removing a separate closing element blocking the gap and closing the gap by remounting the closing element .

According to an embodiment , the method further comprises entering at least partly on top of the elevator car through a service hatch and opening the gap of the first vane . Thereafter the elevator car door is opened manually . Servicing the landing door through the opened elevator car door is executed from the elevator car without opening the landing door . Thus , the service and inspection measures can be done safely from the elevator car .

According to an embodiment , the method further comprises opening the elevator car when the elevator car is at a lowermost landing . Then a lowermost landing door mechanism is serviced through the opened elevator car door .

According to an embodiment , the disclosed method is implemented when changing guide shoes of the landing door .

The above disclosed embodiments may be combined in order to form suitable solutions having those of the above features that are needed .

Brief description of the figures

Some embodiments are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings , in which

Figure 1 is a schematic and highly simpli f ied side view of an elevator,

Figure 2 is a schematic side view illustrating access to a coupling arrangement via a service hatch,

Figures 3 - 5 are schematic top views of a center opening door system in di f ferent operational positions ,

Figures 6 and 7 are schematic top views of a sliding telescopic door system in di f ferent operational positions , Figure 8 is a schematic side view o f a coupler arrangement wherein a vane of a coupler comprises a gap and a removable vane cover, Figure 9 is a schematic side view showing independent lateral movement of a coupler relative to a counterpart ,

Figure 10 is a schematic s ide view of another coupler wherein a vane is provided with a vane cover,

Figure 11 is a schematic side view of a coupler arrangement comprising a removable closing element at a gap,

Figure 12 is a schematic side view of a vane provided with a vertically slidable closing element at a gap,

Figure 13 is a schematic side view of a vane provided with a hori zontally slidable closing element at a gap,

Figures 14 and 15 are schematic side views of a coupler arrangement comprising a vane provided with two movable components between which a gap can be formed,

Figure 16 is a schematic diagram showing some features of a coupler arrangement ,

Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing some method steps for servicing a landing door, and

Figures 18 and 19 are schematic side views of another type of a coupler arrangement which is also provided with removable closing elements on vanes .

For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments of the disclosed solution in a simpli fied manner . In the figures , like reference numerals identi fy like elements .

Detailed description of some embodiments

Figure 1 discloses a traction elevator 1 mounted to an elevator shaft 2 of a building B . The elevator 1 comprises an elevator car 3 for receiving load to be transported . The car 3 and a counterweight assembly 4 are suspended from a suspension rope 5 passing via a hoisting machinery 6 . The hoisting machinery 6 comprises a traction sheave 7 driven by means of an electric motor M . Between the suspension rope 5 and the traction sheave 7 occurs friction which is utili zed for transmitting li fting power to the elevator system . The hoisting machinery 6 may comprise one or more additional pulleys 8 for guiding and controlling the suspension rope 5 . The hoisting machinery 6 may be located at an upper machine room 9 , or alternatively the system may be a so called machine room less elevator . A compensation chain or rope 10 may be connected between the counterweight assembly 4 and a bottom of the elevator car 3 . The elevator car 3 can be driven to desired landings L or floors under control of one or more control units CU . Below a first or lowermost landing there may be a pit 11 of an elevator shaft 2 . There may be buf fers 12 in the elevator shaft below the first landing LI .

The landings L are provided with landing doors and the elevator car 3 is provided with an elevator car door . For clarity reasons the doors and their opening mechanisms are not disclosed in Figure 1 . However, the elevator car door is engaged with each landing door when the elevator car arrives at respective landing L . The engagement with the doors can be done with a coupler arrangement disclosed in this document .

Figure 2 discloses a lower part of the elevator 1 and a situation when an elevator car 3 is positioned at a lowermost landing LI for service purposes . Maintenance personnel inside the elevator car 3 can open a service hatch 13 on a roof 14 of the elevator car 3 and can then enter at least partly on the roof 14 with help of a stand 15 . Then the maintenance personnel have access to a coupler arrangement engaging a landing door 16 and an elevator car door 17 . For clarity reasons the coupler arrangement is not shown in Figure 2 . When the coupler arrangement is disengaged, the elevator car door 17 can be opened and required inspection and service measures can be done from the elevator car . There is no need to enter to a pit 11 and to open the landing door 16 . Thus , working conditions are safe and pleasant when operating inside the elevator car .

Figures 3 and 4 disclose a basic structure of a door system with a center opening principle . A landing door 16 may comprise two door panels 16a, 16b which open in opposite lateral directions when actuated by an opening actuator 18 . Movement of the landing door 16 is transmitted to an elevator car door 17 which is provided with two door panels 17a, 17b also opening from the center to opposite lateral sides . Opening force generated by the opening actuator 18 is transmitted from the landing door 16 to the elevator car door 17 by means of a coupler arrangement 19 comprising a coupler 20 mounted on outer side of the elevator car door 17 and a counterpart 21 mounted to the landing door 16 on a surface facing towards the coupler 20 . The coupler 20 and the counterpart 21 are in accordance with the features disclosed in this document . Further, there are first transmission means 22 for transmitting opening and closing forces between the door panels 16a and 16b, and correspondingly second transmission means 23 for transmitting opening and closing forces between the door panels 17a and 17b . The transmission means 22 , 23 may comprise for example wire ropes , chains , transmission belts , or links . In Figure 4 the doors 16 and 17 are fully opened .

Figure 5 discloses a service situation wherein a gap G is formed to a left side vane of the coupler 20 so that the right side door panel 17a can be pushed manually open without af fecting to the counterpart 21 . Since the door panel 17a is mechanically connected to the left side door panel 17b by means of the mentioned second transmission means 23 , both door panels 17a, 17b open simultaneously . When the elevator car door 17 is open, free access to mechanisms of the landing door 16 is provided .

Figure 6 discloses another type of a door system wherein the disclosed solution can be implemented when servicing landing doors . In this case a landing door 16 and an elevator car door 17 are sliding telescopic doors wherein door panels 16a, 16b and 17a, 17b can slide laterally on one side and at least partly inside each other . An opening actuator 18 moves a door panel 16a and a transmission arrangement transmits the movement to door panel 16b which retracts inside the door panel 16a . In a normal operating mode , a coupler arrangement 19 transmits the movement also to a door panel 17a and further to the door panel 17b so that the door panel 17b retracts inside the door panel 17a . Transmission means for connecting the door panels 16a, 16b and 17a, 17b together are not shown .

Figure 7 discloses that the elevator car door 17 can be opened independently in relation to the landing door 16 . A coupler 20 of the coupler arrangement comprises an openable gap G in one of its vanes and makes it possible to move the coupler 20 together with the door 17 to the right . The landing door 16 remains closed and of fers thereby possibility to provide inspections and service for it . The coupler arrangement is in accordance with the features and embodiments disclosed in this document .

Further, the solution disclosed in this document can be implemented in any other type of door systems . Thus , number of door panels may be only one, or there may be three panels , for example . Also , opening directions may be di fferent from the exemplary door systems .

Figure 8 discloses a coupler arrangement 19 comprising a coupler 20 and a counterpart 21 . The coupler 20 comprises a first vane 24 and a second vane 25 between which are rollers 26 of the counterpart 21 when an elevator car is positioned vertically at a landing . The vanes 24 , 25 are elongated pieces and may be made of metallic material , or any other suitable material capable for transmitting door opening forces . The first vane 24 is provided with a gap G at its middle section . When the elevator car is at the landing, the rollers 26 and the gap G are aligned . The gap G is in normal use closed by means of a vane cover 27 which serves as a removable closing element 28 . Thus , the vane cover 27 can be removed for the duration of service operations and can be remounted thereafter . The vane cover 27 may comprise a shape locking element 29 , such as a hooklike bending 30 , at its lower end, and a fastening screw 30 at its upper end portion . The vane cover 27 can be easi ly detached D from above . Remounting is faci litated s ince the shape locking element 29 can at first be hooked to the lower end of the first vane and then secured by means of the fastening screw 31 . The structures of the vanes 24 , 25 and the vane cover 27 are simple , inexpensive , and durable .

Figure 9 illustrates a situation when the vane cover 27 is removed and the gap G is open . Then the coupler 20 and the elevator car door can be moved to the left in Figure 9 . S ince the coupling between the coupler 20 and the counterpart 21 i s released, the counterpart 21 and the landing door remain immovable .

Figure 10 discloses a coupler 20 which di ffers from the one shown in Figures 8 and 9 only in that the vanes 24 and 25 comprise support parts 32 , 33 , which can strengthen the structures of the vanes .

Figure 11 discloses a coupler 20 wherein a gap G of a first vane 24 is closable by means of a separate removable closing element 28 mountable on an outer surface side of the first vane 24 . The clos ing element 28 can be supported to the first vane 24 by means of a support element 34 and locked in place by means of a fastening screw 31 or corresponding fastening element .

Figures 12 and 13 discloses second vanes 24 comprising sliding closing elements 28 . In Figure 12 the closing element 28 can slide vertically and is supported by means of support elements 35 and 36 . In Figure 13 the closing element 28 can slide in transverse direction and is supported by means of support elements 37 and 38 .

Figures 14 and 15 disclose a coupler 20 wherein a first vane 24 comprises two components 24a and 24b which are movable relative to each other so that a gap G can be formed between them .

Figure 16 is a summary of basic features of a coupler arrangement . These features are already disclosed above in this this document . Figure 17 discloses measures needed for servicing landing door mechanisms in accordance with the present solution .

Figures 18 and 19 disclose a coupler arrangement 19 which is also provided with removable closing elements 28 on vanes 24 , 25 . The solution di f fers from the ones shown in the previous Figures in that the counterparts 21 are not between the vanes 24 , 25 but are located outside them . Then the vanes 24 , 25 are arranged to move away from each other when the doors are opened . The vanes are provided with openable and closable gaps G for releasing engagement between the spreading vanes 24 , 25 and the counterparts 21 so that the elevator car door can be opened without af fecting the counterparts 21 and to the opening the landing doors . Figure 19 shows in broken lines situation, when the vanes 24 , 25 are spread away from each other without moving the counterparts 21 .

The gaps G may be provided with vane covers 27 which may be of similar type as in the previous Figures , and further, their mounting means and other features may also be of similar type as is disclosed in this document .

The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention . In its details , the invention may vary within the scope of the claims .

Claims

1. A coupler (20) for a door system of an elevator car ( 3 ) ; wherein the coupler (20) comprises: a first vane (24) and a second vane (25) both being elongated pieces mountable vertically on a structure of a door (17) of the elevator car and at a lateral distance from each other; char ac t e r i z e d in that at least the first vane (24) comprises a transverse gap (G) ; and wherein the gap (G) is selectively openable and closable .

2. The coupler as claimed in claim 1, cha r ac t e r i z e d in that the first vane (24) comprises a basic vane part and a separate closing element (28) ; the basic vane comprises a cutting forming an open part; and the closing element (28) is selectively mountable and removable on the basic vane part for closing and opening the gap (G) .

3. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 or 2, char ac t e r i z e d in that the coupler (20) comprises a vane cover (27) mountable removably on a surface of the first vane (24) .

4. The coupler as claimed in claim 3, cha r ac t e r i z e d in that length of the vane cover (27) is dimensioned to reach from end to end of the first vane (24) .

5. The coupler as claimed in claim 3 or 4, char - ac t e r i z e d in that shape of the vane cover (27) corresponds to the shape of the first vane (24) .

6. The coupler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 3 - 5, char ac t e r i z e d in that the vane cover (27) is provided with quick coupling means for releasable mounting the vane cover (27) to a basic structure of the first vane (24) .

7. The coupler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 3 - 6, char ac t e r i z e d in that the vane cover (24) is provided with shape locking elements (29) at its first end portion and at least one fastening screw (31) at its second end portion for releasable mounting to a basic structure of the first vane (24) .

8. A coupler arrangement (19) for a door system of an elevator ( 1 ) ; wherein the coupler arrangement (19) comprises: a coupler (20) mounted on a shaft side structure of an elevator car door (17) and is provided with a vertical first vane (24) and a vertical second vane (25) arranged at a lateral distance from each other; a counterpart (21) mounted on a landing door (16) facing away from a landing (L) of an elevator (1) ; and wherein the vanes (24, 25) of the coupler (20) are configured to co-operate with the counterpart (21) at the landing (L) when opening the doors (16, 17) ; char ac t e r i z e d in that at least the first vane (24) comprises a transverse gap (G) which is selectively openable and closable and is located at a section corresponding to position of the counterpart (21) ; and wherein relative movement between the coupler (20) and the counterpart (21) is allowed in response to the opening of the gap (G) and thereby followed release of engagement between the coupler (20) and the counterpart (21) in the lateral direction.

9. The coupler arrangement as claimed in claim 8, char ac t e r i z e d in that the counterpart (21) comprises at least one roller (26) .

10. The coupler arrangement as claimed in claim 8 or 9, char ac t e r i z e d in that the coupler (20) is configured to receive the counterpart (21) between the vanes (24, 25) at the landing (L) .

11. A method of opening an elevator car door (17) for servicing a mechanism of a landing door (16) of an elevator (1) through the elevator car door (17) being opened, char ac t e r i z e d by disengaging connection between a coupler (20) of the elevator car door (17) and a counterpart (21) of the landing door (16) when relative lateral movement occurs during the opening between the counterpart (21) and first and second vanes (24, 25) of the coupler (20) ; executing the disengage by opening a gap (G) of the first vane (24) of the coupler (20) whereby the coupler (20) together with the elevator car door (17) is transversally movable relative to the counterpart (21) ; and opening the elevator car door (17) independently in relation to the landing door (16) .

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, char ac - t e r i z e d by opening the gap (G) by removing a separate closing element (28) blocking the gap (G) and closing the gap (G) by remounting the closing element (28) .

13. The method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, char ac t e r i z e d by entering at least partly on top of the elevator car (3) through a service hatch (13) and opening the gap (G) ; opening the elevator car door (17) manually; and servicing the landing door (16) through the opened elevator car door (17) from the elevator car (3) without opening the landing door (16) .

14. The method as claimed in any one of the preced- ing claims 11 - 13, char ac t e r i z e d by opening the elevator car door (17) when the elevator car (3) is at a lowermost landing (LI) ; and servicing a lowermost landing door (16) mechanism through the opened elevator car door (17) .