JP7547786B2 - Stop device, elevator device, and connection method - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an elevator device, a stop device for connecting to a pit switch, and a method for connecting the stop device to the pit switch.

When inspecting an elevator system, the car may need to move at normal speed while a maintenance worker is present in the elevator pit. In this case, in addition to someone to operate the car and someone to perform the inspection in the pit, another person is needed to operate the pit switch to stop the car in an emergency.

Patent document 1 describes an elevator device. In this elevator device, a pit switch moves up and down along a rail. With the elevator device described in patent document 1, the pit switch can be placed in a position that can be reached by a person standing in the pit.

JP 2014-223975 A

The elevator device described in Patent Document 1 requires the installation of a new device to move the pit switch up and down. This poses the problem of high costs for application.

This invention was made to solve the problems mentioned above. The object of this invention is to provide a stopping device that is inexpensive and allows an inspector in the pit to stop the car in an emergency. Another object of this invention is to provide an elevator system equipped with such a stopping device. Another object of this invention is to provide a method for connecting such a stopping device to a pit switch.

The stop device according to the present invention is a stop device connected to the pit switch in an elevator system including a car moving in a hoistway, a control panel that controls the movement of the car, and a pit switch having a terminal and provided for switching from a first state to a second state by a person entering the pit of the hoistway from the landing on the lowest floor, and generating a stop signal to the control panel for stopping the car when the switch is switched to the second state when an electric wire is connected to the terminal. The stop device includes a portable switch to be held and operated by a person in the pit, a first conductor extending from the portable switch for connecting to the terminal, and a second conductor extending from the portable switch for connecting to the electric wire. The portable switch generates a stop signal to the control panel when a specific stop operation is performed when the first conductor is connected to the terminal and the second conductor is connected to the electric wire and the pit switch is in the first state. The portable switch includes a first button and a second button, a first contact that closes when the first button is pressed, and a second contact that closes when the second button is pressed. The stopping operation is an operation for opening at least one of the closed first contact and the closed second contact.

The elevator apparatus according to the present invention includes a car moving in a hoistway, a control panel that controls the movement of the car, a pit switch having a terminal and provided for switching from a first state to a second state by a person entering the pit of the hoistway from a landing on the lowest floor, and generating a stop signal to the control panel to stop the car when the switch is switched to the second state when an electric wire is connected to the terminal, and a stop device connected to the pit switch. The stop device includes a portable switch to be held and operated by a person in the pit, a first conductor connecting the portable switch and the terminal, and a second conductor connecting the portable switch and the electric wire. The portable switch generates a stop signal to the control panel when a specific stop operation is performed when the pit switch is in the first state. The stop device includes a switching device that switches between a first mode in which the electric wire is connected to the terminal and a second mode in which the electric wire is connected to the second conductor.

The connection method according to the present invention is a connection method for connecting a stop device, which includes a portable switch to be held and operated by a person in the pit, a first conductor extending from the portable switch, and a second conductor extending from the portable switch, to the pit switch in an elevator system that includes a car moving in a hoistway, a control panel that controls the movement of the car, and a pit switch having a terminal to which an electric wire is connected and that is provided so that a person entering the pit of the hoistway from the landing on the lowest floor can switch the state from a first state to a second state and that generates a stop signal in the control panel to stop the car when the state is switched to the second state. The connection method includes the steps of switching the pit switch from the first state to the second state, disconnecting the electric wire from the terminal after the pit switch is switched to the second state, connecting the first conductor to the terminal from which the electric wire was disconnected, connecting the second conductor to the electric wire disconnected from the terminal, and switching the pit switch from the second state to the first state after connecting the first conductor to the terminal and the second conductor to the electric wire. When a specific stop operation is performed on the portable switch after the pit switch is switched to the first state, a stop signal is generated on the control panel.

This invention allows an inspector in the pit to stop the car in an emergency. Moreover, this function can be realized at low cost.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an elevator device. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pit switch. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stopping device according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for connecting a stopping device to a pit switch. FIG. 13 shows the state in which the stopping device is connected to a pit switch. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a stopping device. 10 is a flow chart showing another procedure for connecting a stopping device to a pit switch.

The present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Duplicate descriptions will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. In each drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Embodiment 1.
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an elevator apparatus. The elevator apparatus includes a car 1 and a counterweight 2. The car 1 moves up and down in a hoistway 3. The counterweight 2 moves up and down in the hoistway 3. The car 1 and the counterweight 2 are suspended in the hoistway 3 by main ropes 4. The main ropes 4 are an example of a means for suspending the car 1 and the counterweight 2 in the hoistway 3. The roping method for suspending the car 1 and the counterweight 2 is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 1.

The main rope 4 is wound around the hoist 5. The car 1 is driven by the hoist 5. The control panel 6 controls the hoist 5. That is, the control panel 6 controls the movement of the car 1. A guide rail 7 is installed in the hoistway 3. The movement of the car 1 is guided by the guide rail 7. The car 1 and the control panel 6 are connected by a control cable 8. Communication between the car 1 and the control panel 6 is performed via the control cable 8.

Figure 1 shows an example in which the hoisting machine 5 and the control panel 6 are installed in a machine room 9 above the hoistway 3. The hoisting machine 5 and the control panel 6 may be installed in the hoistway 3. When the hoisting machine 5 and the control panel 6 are installed in the hoistway 3, the hoisting machine 5 and the control panel 6 may be installed at the top of the hoistway 3 or in the pit 3a.

When inspecting such an elevator system, a maintenance worker enters the pit 3a of the elevator shaft 3 from the landing 10 on the lowest floor as necessary. The maintenance worker manually opens the door 11 of the landing 10. A pit switch 12 is provided in the elevator shaft 3 in a position where it can be operated by the maintenance worker who opens the door 11. The pit switch 12 is a switch that is switched from an on state to an off state by a person entering the pit 3a from the landing 10.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a pit switch 12. In the example shown in Figure 2, the pit switch 12 includes a lever 13, a terminal 14, and a terminal 15. An electric wire 16 is connected to the terminal 14. An electric wire 17 is connected to the terminal 15. Figure 2 shows the ON state in which the lever 13 is raised. When the lever 13 is lowered as shown by the arrow A in Figure 2, the pit switch 12 is turned OFF. When the pit switch 12 is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, a stop signal for stopping the car 1 is generated in the control panel 6. That is, by switching the pit switch 12 to the OFF state, the maintenance worker can enter the pit 3a without the car 1 moving. For example, when the maintenance worker switches the pit switch 12 to the OFF state, he or she uses the ladder 18 to descend to the pit 3a.

On the other hand, in an elevator system, during inspection, car 1 may need to be moved at normal speed with a maintenance worker in pit 3a. Normal speed is the speed of car 1 when normal service is performed to transport passengers to their destination floors. For example, when a maintenance worker is investigating an abnormal noise, if car 1 is stopped or moving at a slow speed, the abnormal noise may not occur. In such a case, car 1 must be moved at normal speed with a maintenance worker in pit 3a.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the stop device 20 in the first embodiment. When the maintenance worker is in the pit 3a and needs to move the car 1 at a normal speed, the maintenance worker connects the stop device 20 to the pit switch 12 and uses it. The stop device 20 includes, for example, a portable switch 21, an electric wire 22, an electric wire 23, a terminal 24, and a clip 25.

The portable switch 21 is a switch to be held and operated by a person in the pit 3a. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the portable switch 21 includes a button 26, a button 27, a contact 28, and a contact 29. The contact 28 is a normally open contact. When the button 26 is pressed, the contact 28 closes. When the finger pressing the button 26 is removed from the button 26, the contact 28 opens. The contact 29 is a normally open contact. When the button 27 is pressed, the contact 29 closes. When the finger pressing the button 27 is removed from the button 27, the contact 29 opens.

An electric wire 22 extends from the portable switch 21. A terminal 24 is provided at the end of the electric wire 22. An electric wire 23 extends from the portable switch 21, and a clip 25 is provided at the end of the electric wire 23. For example, the contacts 28 and 29 are electrically connected in series between the terminal 24 and the clip 25.

Next, a method for connecting the stop device 20 to the pit switch 12 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure for connecting the stop device 20 to the pit switch 12. First, a maintenance worker manually opens the door 11 of the hall 10 and switches the pit switch 12 from the on state to the off state (S101).

Next, the maintenance worker removes the electric wire 16 from the terminal 14 of the pit switch 12 (S102). Then, the maintenance worker connects the terminal 24 of the stopping device 20 to the terminal 14 from which the electric wire 16 has been removed (S103). This connects the portable switch 21 to the terminal 14 via the electric wire 22 and the terminal 24. The electric wire 22 and the terminal 24 are an example of a conductor that connects the portable switch 21 to the terminal 14. If the electric wire 16 is connected to the terminal 14 via a connector, the electric wire 22 may also be connected to the terminal 14 via a connector.

Next, the maintenance worker connects the clip 25 of the stopping device 20 to the electric wire 16 removed from the terminal 14 (S104). This connects the portable switch 21 and the electric wire 16 via the electric wire 23 and the clip 25. The electric wire 23 and the clip 25 are an example of a conductor that connects the portable switch 21 and the electric wire 16. If the electric wire 16 is connected to the terminal 14 via a connector, the electric wire 23 may be connected to the electric wire 16 via a connector. A terminal block may be used to connect the electric wire 23 and the electric wire 16.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the state when the stopping device 20 is connected to the pit switch 12. That is, Figure 5 shows the state when the steps from S101 to S104 have been completed. When the maintenance person connects the stopping device 20 to the pit switch 12 as shown in Figure 5, the maintenance person raises the lever 13 as shown by arrow B to switch the pit switch 12 from the OFF state to the ON state (S105). Then, when the maintenance person switches the pit switch 12 to the ON state in S105, he descends to the pit 3a with the portable switch 21. In the pit 3a, the maintenance person investigates the abnormal noise while still holding the portable switch 21.

As described above, portable switch 21 is a switch that a maintenance worker in pit 3a can hold while working. For this reason, electric wires 22 and 23 must be long enough to allow a maintenance worker holding portable switch 21 to move around pit 3a. As an example, pit switch 12 is placed in a position that cannot be reached by anyone standing in pit 3a. In such a case, electric wires 22 and 23 must be several meters long. It is also preferable that portable switch 21 is large enough for a maintenance worker to hold in one hand. It is also preferable that a maintenance worker can operate buttons 26 and 27 with one hand.

When car 1 is moved at normal speed during an abnormal noise investigation, another maintenance worker gets on car 1 and operates car 1. In the following, the maintenance worker who investigates the abnormal noise in pit 3a is given the symbol α. The maintenance worker who operates car 1 is given the symbol β. That is, when investigating the abnormal noise, maintenance worker α is in pit 3a with the portable switch 21.

When maintenance worker α is pressing both buttons 26 and 27, i.e., when both contacts 28 and 29 are closed, car 1 can be moved. Car 1 moves according to the operation of maintenance worker β. Maintenance worker α keeps in contact with maintenance worker β and has maintenance worker β perform the operation to move car 1.

During an abnormal noise investigation, communication between maintenance personnel α and β may not go well for some reason. If maintenance personnel α wants to stop car 1 in such a case, maintenance personnel α can simply remove the finger pressing button 26 from button 26. Maintenance personnel α may also remove the finger pressing button 27 from button 27. This opens contact 28 or contact 29, and a stop signal to stop car 1 is generated in control panel 6. In other words, maintenance personnel α can perform a specific stop operation on portable switch 21 to generate a stop signal in control panel 6 and stop car 1.

Figure 5 shows an example in which the stop operation is an operation for opening at least one of the closed contact 28 and the closed contact 29. As another example, the portable switch 21 may not have the button 27 and the contact 29. In such a case, the stop operation is an operation for opening the closed contact 28. As another example, the portable switch 21 may have an operating means other than a button.

In the example shown in this embodiment, maintenance worker α, who is conducting an abnormal sound investigation in pit 3a, can stop car 1 at his own will in the event of an emergency. Therefore, unlike the conventional method, there is no need for a person other than maintenance worker α and maintenance worker β to operate the pit switch 12 to stop car 1. Furthermore, in the example shown in this embodiment, the above function can be realized at low cost. There is no need to carry out extensive renovation work on the existing elevator equipment to realize the above function.

In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the maintenance worker uses the stop device 20 when moving the car 1 at a normal speed. The maintenance worker may also use the stop device 20 when moving the car 1 at a speed slower than the normal speed.

As another example, the portable switch 21 may further include a lamp (not shown). The lamp is lit when both contacts 28 and 29 are closed. The lamp is an example of a means for notifying that both contacts 28 and 29 are closed. The portable switch 21 may also include a function of vibrating when both contacts 28 and 29 are closed as the above-mentioned notifying means.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing another example of the stop device 20. In the example shown in Figure 6, the stop device 20 further includes a switching device 30 in addition to the portable switch 21, the electric wire 22, and the electric wire 23. The switching device 30 is a device for switching between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a mode in which the electric wire 16 is connected to the terminal 14. In the example shown in Figure 6, the terminal 30a and the terminal 30b are connected in the first mode. The second mode is a mode in which the electric wire 16 is connected to the electric wire 23 and the electric wire 22 is connected to the terminal 14. In the example shown in Figure 6, the terminal 30a and the terminal 30c are connected, and the terminal 30b and the terminal 30d are connected in the second mode. The method of switching the connection between the terminals may be any method. In the example shown in Figure 6, the first mode and the second mode can be easily switched as necessary during the abnormal noise investigation.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing another procedure for connecting the stopping device 20 to the pit switch 12. The procedure shown in Figure 7 corresponds to the procedure shown in Figure 4 with the addition of the procedure shown in S100 and the procedure shown in S106.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, before the pit switch 12 is switched to the OFF state in S101, the car switch 19 is switched from the ON state to the OFF state (S100). The car switch 19 is provided in car 1. The car switch 19 is connected in series with the pit switch 12 in a circuit that generates a stop signal to the control panel 6. That is, when the car switch 19 is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, a stop signal for stopping car 1 is generated in the control panel 6. Also, when the car switch 19 is switched to the OFF state, the power supply to the pit switch 12 is cut off. Therefore, when the car switch 19 is switched to the OFF state in S100, no power is supplied to the pit switch 12 while the steps from S101 to S105 are being performed.

After the pit switch 12 is switched from OFF to ON in S105, the maintenance worker β who is contacted switches the car switch 19 from OFF to ON (S106). This supplies power to the pit switch 12 and the stopping device 20. When the car switch 19 is switched ON, the maintenance worker α, while holding the portable switch 21, investigates the abnormal noise in the pit 3a.

1 Cage, 2 Counterweight, 3 Hoistway, 3a Pit, 4 Main rope, 5 Hoist, 6 Control panel, 7 Guide rail, 8 Control cable, 9 Machine room, 10 Landing, 11 Door, 12 Pit switch, 13 Lever, 14-15 Terminal, 16-17 Electric wire, 18 Ladder, 19 Cage switch, 20 Stop device, 21 Portable switch, 22-23 Electric wire, 24 Terminal, 25 Clip, 26-27 Button, 28-29 Contact, 30 Switching device, 30a-30d Terminal

Claims (6)

A car moving through the elevator,
A control panel for controlling the movement of the car;
a pit switch having a terminal, which is provided for switching from a first state to a second state by a person entering the pit of the elevator from the landing on the lowest floor, and which generates a stop signal to the control panel for stopping the car when the pit switch is switched to the second state while an electric wire is connected to the terminal;
In an elevator device comprising: a stop device connected to the pit switch,
a portable switch to be held and operated by a person in the pit;
a first conductor extending from the portable switch for connection to the terminal;
a second conductor extending from the portable switch for connection to the electrical wire;
Equipped with
the portable switch generates the stop signal to the control panel when a specific stop operation is performed while the first conductor is connected to the terminal, the second conductor is connected to the electric wire, and the pit switch is in the first state ;
The portable switch includes:
A first button and a second button;
a first contact that closes when the first button is pressed;
a second contact that closes when the second button is pressed;
Equipped with
A stopping device , wherein the stopping operation is an operation for opening at least one of the first contact, which is closed, and the second contact, which is closed . 2. The stopping device according to claim 1 , wherein said portable switch further comprises an indicating means for indicating that both said first contact and said second contact are closed. A car moving through the elevator,
A control panel for controlling the movement of the car;
a pit switch having a terminal, which is provided for switching from a first state to a second state by a person entering the pit of the elevator from the landing on the lowest floor, and which generates a stop signal to the control panel for stopping the car when the pit switch is switched to the second state while an electric wire is connected to the terminal;
A stop device connected to the pit switch;
Equipped with
The stopping device is
a portable switch to be held and operated by a person in the pit;
a first conductor connecting the portable switch and the terminal;
a second conductor connecting the portable switch and the electric wire;
Equipped with
the portable switch generates the stop signal to the control panel when a specific stop operation is performed while the pit switch is in the first state ;
The elevator apparatus includes a switching device, the stop device being configured to switch between a first mode in which the electric wire is connected to the terminal and a second mode in which the electric wire is connected to the second conductor . The elevator apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the pit switch is arranged in a position that cannot be reached by a person standing in the pit. A car moving through the elevator,
A control panel for controlling the movement of the car;
a pit switch having a terminal to which an electric wire is connected, which is provided for switching from a first state to a second state by a person entering a pit of the elevator from a landing on the lowest floor, and which generates a stop signal to the control panel to stop the car when switched to the second state;
In an elevator device comprising:
a portable switch to be held and operated by a person in the pit;
a first conductor extending from the portable switch;
a second conductor extending from the portable switch;
A method for connecting a stopping device to the pit switch, comprising:
switching the pit switch from the first state to the second state;
after the pit switch is switched to the second state, disconnecting the wire from the terminal;
connecting the first conductor to the terminal from which the electric wire is removed;
connecting the second conductor to the wire removed from the terminal;
switching the pit switch from the second state to the first state after connecting the first conductor to the terminal and the second conductor to the wire;
Equipped with
A connection method in which, when a specific stop operation is performed on the portable switch after the pit switch is switched to the first state, the stop signal is generated in the control panel. switching a car switch provided in the car from a third state to a fourth state before switching the pit switch to the second state;
switching the car switch from the fourth state to the third state after switching the pit switch to the first state;
Further comprising:
6. The connection method according to claim 5 , wherein the car switch is directly connected to the pit switch in a circuit for generating the stop signal to the control panel.

Images