US1194411A - Elevator-car - Google Patents

Description

A. E. MUELLER.

ELEVATOR CAR. APPLICATION HLED Aue.3. m5.

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A. E. MUELLER.

ELEVATOR CAR.

APPLICATlON FILED AUG-3,1915.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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AUG-USTO E. MUELLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T EMIL POI-ILI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELEVATOR-CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUsTo E. MUELLER, a citizen of Argentina, who have declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States of America, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has for its object to provide a safety device for elevator cars, which can be actuated from within the car by the operator and passengers, so as to prevent the car from dropping down in case of accident.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a device that will act in a positive fashion and not be dependent upon springs.

A further object is to arrange the device so that overloading of the car will not be detrimental to the operation of the device, but on the contrary the efl'ectiveness of which will be directly proportional to the load, that is to say, of which the checking or braking action will be the stronger the more passengers there are in the car.

A still further object of myinvention is to arrange the device so that it is easily accessible for repairs or renewal of parts.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully specified.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of the specification and in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an elevator car equipped with my new device; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the car and of the new device; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the car as seen in the direction of the arrows 33 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4- of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a bottom view on the ceiling of the car showing a part of my device and Fig. 7 is a cross section throughone of the pulleys, showing the winding of the cable thereon.

In the drawings 1 denotes the guide pieces of the elevator shaft on which the elevator car C travels up and down and from which the car is suspended in the usual manner by cables 2 carrying the counterbalancing weights 3 and running over pulleys.

The car C has secured to its top 4 lateral pieces 5 which are connected by the cross bar 6 to which the cables 2 are fixed and by two parallel cross spindles 7 the ends of which are rctatively borne in said brackets. Each spindle carries two sets of pulleys 8 and 9, the pulleys 8 being arranged adjacent to the inner faces of the brackets and the pulleys 9 being arranged adjacent to the outer faces of the brackets.

Suspend ed within the car G from the ends 10 of two cables 10 is a framework 11 of light but strong material which normally is adapted to lie near the inner face of the top 4 or the ceiling of the car. The ends 10 of the cables 10 are passed upwardly through perforations 4 in the top of the car and are wound around the corresponding inner pulleys 8 (Fig. 4) so that on the frame being pulled down the cables unwinding at one end from one pulley and at its opposite end winding around the other pulley will revolve the spindles 7 and consequently the outer pulleys 9. Owing to the cable connection between the pulleys the latter will move in unison with one another.

Fixed with one end to and wound around the outer pulleys 9 are cables 12 the opposite ends 12 of which are attached to lever arms 13 fulcrumed at 13 in the brackets 5. There are four such levers, one opposite each outer roller, and each is extended on the other side of its fulcrum and formed to a toothed. cam piece 13 forming a clutch.

Extending vertically through the elevator shaft and midway between each pair of clutch arms 13 on each side of the car is a rail 14 with the opposite surfaces of which the corresponding clutches are adapted to cooperate. These clutches are operated by the pulling action exerted on the frame work 11 through the medium of the cables 10, pulleys 8 and 9 and cables 12. It is evident that the stronger the pulling action or the weight on the frame 11 the stronger the pressure of the clutches 13 against the rails 14 and the more effectively will the descending movement of the car be checked.

For conveniently grasping the frame 11 in order to actuate the clutch arms 13 the former is provided with a number of hanger straps 11. In rest position the frame is supported by two longitudinal rods 15 each provided with a number of fingers 15' and rotatively mounted in suitable bearings 15 15 i lookedin horizontalposition by the bar 16.

7 the operator. Ordinarily the fram'e'll lies.

provided "near the ceiling of the car. The fingers 15 are adapted normally to engage around the side edges of the frame 11 and hold it in position near the ceiling. Fulcrumed in the center of the frame 11, as at 11, is a bar 16 which normally is adapted to extend across the frame 11 engaging with its ends one of the fingers 15 of each rod and thereby locking the rods 15 in position. One end of'the bar 16 is connected by a Wire 17'orthe like to one of the straps 11, as at 11 (Fig. which is nearest tothe stand of v near the ceilingand issupported in that position by the fing rs which are held 'The passengers mayffthusjgrasp and hang onto thestraps 11" without actuating the clutchesand finda good support during'the rapid travel of thecar. 'In case of accident the operator can effect the release of the frame 11 from the supporting fingers 15 by pulling one of the straps 11 which will turn thelocking bar 16 releasing the rods 15 which-'will'be turned around disengaging their fingers l5 rfrom the frame 11. 'The passengers on grasping and pulling the hanger straps 11" will in the aforedescribed manner cause the clutch arms 13 to turn so as to engage the rails 14 and to check the car and thus prevent it from dropping down. The stronger thepull on the straps the more. effective will be the braking action of the clutches13 I In order to enable theoperator to stop the car or to release the clutches at any desired j point,'.I provide the following mechanism: 7 Extending centrally and verticallyalong the inner slides of the car are twofbars 17 which with" their lower ends pass outwardly through the car and are connected by a cross bar 17 extending over the'outer face of the bottomki of the car (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). These bars are supported to. be movable in vertical direction and rest with the cross bar 17 on springs'18 secured to the car (Figs. 3 and 4) The upper ends 17 a of these bars are formed at their side surfaces to racks (Fig. 3). Projecting from the clutch arms 13 through recesses in the brackets 5. arepins 19 which engage with their free ends grooves 20 made in arms 20. These arms are fulcrumedadjacentto the inner faces of the brackets 5 on the same axes as the, clutch levers '13 and are adaptedby reason of the pin coupling to swinginunisonwiththe said clutch 1evers. Ther'eare four levers20 and each is sectors '20? will moy'e V the bars slightly upwardly.

tute for the hitherto used brakes, or as an platform-or treadle QZ-ishinged on the bottom ofthe car, as at 22', and carries at its free end a pin 23 which projects outwardly through a slot 4& made in the bottom of the car to rest against the cross bar 17, connecting the bars 17 (Fig. 3). By stepping on the said treadle the operator will depress the bars 17 and through the racks 17 transmit motion to sectors 20 .device is positively actuated and is not de pendent uponthe elasticity of the springs.

The new device may be used as a substi- 30 auxiliary device and in the latter case may be readily applied to old elevator cars without requiring any material changes in the construction of the car.

7 What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means and members serving normally as supports for the passengers and connectedto said braking means to operate the latter in case of accident.

2. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, members serving normally as supports for the passengers and connected to said braking means to operate the latter in case of accident and locking means for said members to normally hold the same locked.

3. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means and actuating means therefor, including gripping members normally inoperative and serving as supports for the passengers.

1. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating. means therefor, including gripping members extending from the ceiling of the car to be within the reach of the passengers to operate said braking means by pulling thereon and locking means for normally locking said gripping members in inoperative position so that the latter will serve as supports for the passengers without operating said braking means.

5. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, com prising braking means, and actuating means therefor, including a frame Work suspended vnear the ceiling of the car and having gripthe ceiling of the car and having gripping members for the passengers to operate said braking means and locking means for normally locking said frame in inoperative position so that the gripping members will serve as supports for the passengers without operating the said braking means.

7 In an elevator, the combination With the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means and actuating means therefor, including a frame work suspended near the ceiling of the car and having hanger straps normally inoperative and serving as supports for the passengers.

8. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, and actuating means therefor, flexible means operatively connected to said checking means and a frame suspended from said flexible means near the ceiling of the car and having gripping members normally inoperative and serving as supports for the passengers.

9. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating means therefor, including gripping members extending down from the ceiling of the car to be within the reach of the operator and passengers to operate the said checking means by pulling thereon and locking means controlled from the operators stand to normally lock the said gripping members in inoperative position so that the same will serve as supports for the passengers without operating the said braking means.

10. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating means therefor, including gripping members extending down from the ceiling of the car and to be within the reach of the operator and passengers to operate the said braking means by pulling action, a locking device for said gripping members to normally look the said gripping members in inoperative position so that the same will serve as supports for the passengers without operating said braking means and a connection between one of the gripping members serving for the operator and the said locking device, so that by pulling the said gripping member the said locking device will unlock the said members to render the same operative.

11. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating means therefor including a vertically movable frame suspended near the ceiling of the car and having hanger straps to be within the reach of the passengers, and flexible connections between said frame and said braking means to transmit motion to the latter when said frame is pulled downwardly.

12. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating means therefor, including pulleys, cables wound around the same and having their ends passed into the car, a frame work suspended from the ends of said cables near the ceiling of the car and having gripping members to be within the reach of the passengers to operate the said braking means by pulling thereon.

13. In an elevator, the combination with guide rails extending through the elevator shaft and the car, of a safety device, com prising braking means, adapted to cooperate with said rails and supported on said car, and actuating means within the latter normally serving as supports for the passengers and adapted when operative and when pulled upon to operate said braking members in case of accident.

14:. In an elevator, the combination with guide rails extending through the elevator shaft and the car, of a safety device, comprising braking levers fnlcrumed to the car and adapted to cooperate with said rails and actuating means therefor, including cables, a frame work suspended from said cables near the ceiling of the car and having gripping members normally serving as supports for the passengers and adapted when operative and when pulled upon to operate said levers.

15. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device, comprising braking moans, actuating means therefor, including a vertically movable frame suspended near the ceiling of the car and having gripping members to be within the reach of the passengers to operate said braking means in case of accident by pulling thereon, supportin means within the car to normally hold the said frame in inoperative position and a locking device on said frame for lock ing said supporting means and controlled from the operators stand.

16. In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating means therefor, including means extending from the ceiling of the car normally serving as supports for the passengers, and means at the operators stand for releasing the braking means at any desired time.

17 In an elevator, the combination with the car, of a safety device therefor, coinprising braking means, actuating means therefor, extending from the ceiling of the car to be within the reach of and controlled by the passengers, and a movable platform at the operators stand operatively connected to said checking means for releasing the latter at any desired time.

18. In an elevator, the combination with the car, a safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating means therefor extending from the ceiling of the car to be Within the reach of and controlled byv the passengers, and means for releasing said braking means and comprising vertically movable members operatively connected to said braking means and a movable Platform at the operators stand for controlling said vertically movable members.

19. In an elevator, the combination with the ear, ofa'safety device therefor, comprising braking means, actuating means therefor, extending from thereeillng of the ear to be Within the reach of and controlled b the passen ers andmeansfor releasm x b 7 l 1 said braking means; and fcomprising vertically movable" racks supported on said car 1 l u I toothed sector arms meshing W1th said racks and operatively conneeted'to said braking 1 the said braking means at any desired time and comprising vertically movable spring actuated racks supported on said car, toothed sector arms meshing With said racks and operatlvely connected to said braking means and a movable platform at the operators Copies of this patent may be obtained for standfor controlling the movement of said vertical racks.

21. An elevator car, comprising cross spindles rotatively supported on top of said ear, two sets of pulleys fixed on said spindles, cables running over the pulleys of one set and connecting said spindles so as to turn in unison With one another, braking arms fulcrumed to the top of said car, cables running over the pulleys of the second set and connected to said braking arms, and a frame suspended. from the ends of the cables of the first named set of pulleys and located Within and near the ceiling of the car, said frame beingadapted to be controlled by the passengers and to operate the said braking means-through the medium of said cables and pulleys by pulling on said frame.

22. An elevator car, comprising braking arms fulcrumed on top of the car, a passenger controlled frame suspended within and near the ceiling of the car and operatively connected to said braking arms, vertically movable racks supported on the car, toothed sector arms meshing with said racks and connected to said braking arms and a movable platform in the car serving to operate said movable racks into inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUSTO E. MUELLER. Witnesses:

FRANK J. BLAKE, FRED SAARLS, Jr.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 11.0.

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