US1221885A - Safety elevator mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. MARTIN. SAFETY ELEVATOR MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FlLEi) AUG. H. 1915- Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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J. A. MARTIN.

SAFETY ELEVATOR MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1 l; 1915- 1,291,,5. Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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J. A MARTIN.

SAFETY ELEVATOR MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUGJI, 1915. 1,321, 5, Patented Ap1210 I917.

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Sim-WW3 run s rains razrnnr onnio JOHN A. MARTIN, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. WOODARD, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

SAFETY ELEVATOR. MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented a e. in, 1917.

Application filed August 11, 1915. Serial No. 44,895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Elevator Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices for elevators for preventing accidents while passengers are entering or leaving the car.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a safety mechanism which is initiated for action by adjustment of the controller to a neutral position, and in its most improved embodiment, the invention employs electrical mechanism which is ener gized by the closing of a circuit upon adjustment of said controller to a neutral position,

The invention also includes adoor locking means of a novel character which is adapted to be released to permit the door of the landing to be opened and which is arranged to be actuated by opening movement of the door to energize novel mechanism functioning to lock the controller against movement from its neutral position while the door is in an open position.

The novel door locking mechanism of this invention is so arranged and constructed as to permit of adjustment of the parts thereof in such a manner as to prevent said mechanism from functioning as a locking mechanism but to permit said mechanism to func tion as an actuating mechanism, and further, in special instances, said mechanism may be sub-divided so as to act solely as an actuating mechanism especially at ground floor landings where it is not desired to lock the door additionally with respect to the individual locking latch thereof.

It is a feature of this invention to provide the locking mechanism or improved safety devicewitha source of power, or'preferably, a circuit wholly independent of the operating source of power and mechanism of the elevator car, but which is so related to the controller of the car as to be initiated thereby when the controller is adjusted to a neutral position, it being a cardinal feature of this invention to provide a safety mechanism which may be readily attached to any type of elevator an'd which may be quickly thrown out of operation, in case of breakage, without shutting down the elevator. In practice, and where this invention is embodied in electrical form, I prefer to connect up with the lighting circuit of the car.

The invention has many other features and objects which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and which will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

' In the drawings Figure l is a view of side elevation of an elevator showing the same approaching a landing with parts of the mechanism in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the elevator door in a closed position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of a plunger circuit closer.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of my improved safety mechanism illustrating the electrical connections.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of my imline 3'3 of of in section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a rear View of the controller. Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

In the illustrated form of the invention, 1 designates an elevator car and 2 designates a landing. The invention is shown applied to that type of elevator shaft in which each landing is provided with a sliding door 3 which is movable behind a landing cage 4, into an open position.

Reference will first be made to the improved door mechanism locking means shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3.

A base 5 is selectively anchored to that portion of the landing 2 which faces the elevator so as to dispose portion of the mechanism of said door locking means at the desired elevation for timely coaction with devices carried by the car 1 whereby opening movement of the door may be effected only when the car is within the selected range of flush relation with the landing, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

. spindle 7, and having one terminal anchore-d to said spindle at 9 and the other terminal anchored at said base at 10. Spindle 7 is provided with a locking arm 11 which is preferably equipped with a roller 12 adapted for engagement with the rear edge 13 of the door 3 to hold the latter in a closed position. The action of spring 8 is normally to turn the spindle 7 into the position shown in Fig. 2. When the door 3 is shifted to the left of Fig. 2 into an open position, after the spindle 7 has been released, the door 3 Will positively engage the roller 12 and turn the arm 11 to the left of Fig. 2 and as the door 3 advances to the left of Fig. 2 it will not only have actuated the spindle 7 but it Will maintain the latter in an actuated position as long as the door remains open. One member of a latch device, as indicated at 14, is mounted on said spindle 7 and is shown in the form of an actuating plate or strip. Said actuating I plate 14 is provided with arms 15 which are shown fixed on spindle 7 by said screws 16 so that as the spindle 7 is oscillated, rocking movement will be imparted to plate 14. Plate 14 is provided with end portions 17 which are preferably bent at an angle to the plane of the plate 14 proper. In the present construction, I provide the plate 14 with a lug or latch portion 18 for coaction with a bolt member of the latch mechanism.

The said bolt member is indicated at 19 and is recessed at 20 to provide an overhangingend 21 for engagement with said lug 18. The bolt 19 is journaled in a bearing 22'for reciprocating movement and I provide the bolt 19 with a shank 23 which 1 is slidable in a bearing 24. A stop such as a cotter pin 25 may be secured in said shank to limit movement of the bolt 19 to the right of'Fig. 3, beyond the position shown. When the bolt 19 is shot into the position shown in Fig. 3, the door 3 will be positively held against opening movement irrespective of the individual latch with which the door may be provided. When the bolt 19 is retracted to the left of the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the plate 14 will be released so that the door 3 may be opened.

Reference will thus be made to the means for retracting bolt 19 to free locking plate 14.

A spindle 26 is suitably journaled in bearings 27, mounted on base 5, and an actuated plate 28 is fixed on spindle 26 by means of arms 29, the arrangement providing for rocking movement of actuated plate 28 about a fixed axis which is shown to be parallel With the axis of spindle 7. A spiral spring 30 is coiled about said spindle 26 and one end of said spring, as indicated at 31, extends beneath said plate 28 while the remaining end is anchored to base 5, at 32. The action of spring 30 is normally to shift plate 28 into the position shown in Fig. 3. Plate 28 is connected at 33 with a link 34 and the latter is bifurcated at its opposite end where it is pivotally connected at 35, with shank 23 of bolt 19. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the spring 30 acts to hold the bolt 19 in a shot position but if the plate 28 is shifted toward the shank 23 then the bolt 19 will be retracted out of engagement with actuating plate 14.

In practice, the parts may be set so that sufficient play will be afforded whereby the locking device may be thrown out of action, as a locking device proper, when desired.

Attention is directed to the fact that return movement of actuating plate 14 from an outward position, to the position shown in Fig. 3, is merely caused by spring 8. Furthermore, the outer face of part 21 is fiat so that the spring 8 could not latch the plate 14 into locked relation with bolt 19, as shown in Fig. 3, unless the bolt 19 had been first retracted. Thus, if for any reason it was desired not to have this portion of the mechanism function as a locking mechanism, it would merely be necessary to retract the bolt 19 and advance the plate 14 so that it would overlap instead of underlap the lip 21 of bolt 19. In this adjustment, the plate 14 would function solely as an actuating plate and not at all as a locking plate. The advantages accruing from this construction will be more readily apparent in the following description.

Reference will next be made to that portion of the mechanism which is carried by the elevator car, and which, in the present construction, is of an electrical type, in contradistinction to the door locking means, which latter is purely mechanical.

A lock releasing mechanism is shown mounted depending from the bottom of the elevator car and the same includes a linearally movable spring controlled and electrically actuated plunger 36. Said plunger 36 is provided on its outer end with a roller 37 which is in range for sliding or rolling contact with and projection against actuated plate 28, the upper and lower ends of which frame 417, depending from the elevator 1 and 1 preferably provide bearings 418 and are preferably inclined as indicated at 38. The forward end of said plunger 36 is journaled for reciprocating movement in a bearing 39, depending from the car 1 and a stop screw 10 projects into a hollowed out portion 11 of said plunger 36. The plunger 36 is provided with a slot 12 for coaction with the stop screw 10 to limit movement of the plunger 36 in opposite directions. A spring 43 is interposed between stop 410 and a suitable shoulder as to normally hold the plunger 26 in a retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1. The plunger 36 extends through and is electrically operated by a solenoid 15 said plunger having an enlarged core 16. The solenoid as is mounted in a suitable 49 to guide the reduced ends 50, of the plunger 36.

It will now be clear that as the solenoid is energized, the plunger 36 will be projected to the left of Fig. 1 into engagement with actuated plate 28 in a manner to rock the latter and retract the bolt 19. The length of plate 28 will provide ample range of contact for theplunger 36 and it will be under stood that the base 5 and the plunger 36, when initially installed, will be relatively disposed in such selected coacting range as to provide for operative engagement either when the car floor is flush with the landing or is above or below the same within a given range of distance dependent upon the desire of the owner of the building.

Reference will next be made to a device which is also preferably in the form of a plunger and which is adapted to be actuated by the actuating plate 14, said plunger being herein shown as a circuit closer or switch.

Referring to Fig. 41, the said plunger is shown at 51 and is provided on its free end with a roller 52. The plunger 51 reciprocates in a suitable mounting or bearing 53 which is preferably secured by a base 5-1 to the bottom of the car 1 so that the plunger 51 will occupy the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Bearing 53 is provided with a slot 55through which a stop screw 56, extends, said screw projecting into a hollowed-out portion 57, of the plunger 51. A spring 58 is interposed between stop 56 and an abutment 59 to normally dispose the plunger 51 in the forward position shown in Fig. 4. The rear end of said plunger 51 is provided with a block of insulating material 60 for actuating engagement at 61 with a spring member 62 of a switch. The spring member 62 is anchored, at 63 and is provided with a contact terminal 64 adapted for engagement with a contact terminal 65. Terminal 65 is disposed on a spring mounting 66, anchored at 67. The spring mounting 66 is tempered so as normally to approach terminal 6-1, when the switch terminals'are in the open position shown in Fig. 1. When the plunger 51 is retracted to the right of Fig. 1, terminal 6% will be forced into engagement with terminal 65 and the abutment 61 and block 60 are so proportioned that the engagement of terminal 6 1 with terminal 65 will be under such a degree of stress as not only to tension spring 62 but also spring 66, the latter being preferably flattened against its base 54 thereby insuring a most effective electrical closure of the circuit. hen the spring 58 returns the plunger 51 to the position shown in Fig. 4,

a the resiliency of spring 62 will be sufficient ated elevators and the same includes a housing 68, 68 provided with sets of contacts 69 and 70 into engagement with which a wiping closure 71 may be selectively thrust. Thus circuit is closed for ascending or descending movement of the car through the car operating circuit, not shown, dependent upon the direction in which 71 is swung. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 5, that 71 must be swung a relatively considerable distance from the neutral position, into engagement with either set of contact terminals 69 or 70. A. controller lever is indicated at 72 and is provided with a handle 73. Lever 72 is mounted at 7 1 and is provided with a tooth segment 75 for mesh engagement with a gear wheel 7 6 to actuate said closure 71. This general description of the controller box will suffice to make the operation of our invention clear in connection therewith.

Reference will next be made to my novel means for locking the controller in its neutral adjustment.

Lever 72 is provided with a sector 77 having one tooth or notch 78 therein. The locking lever 7 9 is pivotally mounted at 80 upon a base 81 which is disposed adjacent the controller box 68. One end of said lever 7 9 terminates in a tooth 82 adapted to enter said notch 78. The remaining end of lever 79 is pivotedly connected at 83 with the core 84 of a solenoid 85. When solenoid 85 is energized the lever 79 will be rocked so as to project itstooth 82 into notch 78 and thereby lock lever 7 2 in a neutral pos1- tion.

Reference will next be made to my improved controlling switch for closing the circuit to initiate operation of certain portions of the safety device immediately upon adjustment of the lever 72 to a neutral position.

Carried by the closure 71, or in a manner to be moved therewith, is a switch actuator 86 adapted to engage an abutment 87. Abutment 87 is mounted upon spring member 88 of the controlling switch and said member 88 is provided with a terminal 89 for engagement with a fixed terminal 90. The spring member 88 is shown anchored to a mounting 91. Thus it will be seen that after the elevator operating current has been cut off, and before the lever 72 has reached aneutral position, the actuator 86 will approach abutment 87 and when the lever 72 has finally reached a neutral position the controlling switch will be forced into a circuit closing position.

The electrical connections and the operation of my improved safety device will next be described in detail.

My improved safety mechanism is operated from a circuit which is independent from the operating circuit of the car, and

I preferably utilize the lighting circuit of the car, two leads of which are designated at 92 and 93 as being connected with terminals 94 and 95 of a switch which is designed to disconnect the safety mechanism in case the same gets out of order so as to avoid shutting down the car. The switch blades are indicated at 96 and 97 as being hinged to terminals 98 and 99. A switch bar 100, having-a suitable handle, serves to permit of operation of said switch. Terminal 98 is connected by conductor 101 with terminal 91 of the controlling switch. Terminal 90,- of the controlling switch, is connected by conductor 102 with solenoid 45. Conductor 103 completes circuit from solenoid 45 back to the remaining terminal 99, of said switch. This is the main, or' primary circuit. A branch circuit includes a conductor 104 which connects line 101 with solenoid 85, the latter being connected by conductor 105 with terminal of the lock actuating switch. The remaining terminal 64, of said switch, is connected by conductor 106 with line 103.

Now it will be observed by reference to Fig. 5 that the closure 71, of the controller, has considerable free or idle movement be tween a neutral position and prior to engagement with either set of terminals 69 or 70. In other words, the closure 71 could be moved to some extent either to the right or left of the accurate neutral position occupied in 'Fig. 5 vwithout starting the car. However, if such movement were made it would open the controlling switch for the reason that the actuator 86 would move off from abutment 87. It is one of the important features of this invention not only to energize or initiate operation of the safety mechanism when the controller is in a nonoperative position but to compel the operator to adjust the controller accurately to a neutral position before the door can be opened.

The diagrammatic view shown by Fig. 5 assumes that the throw out switch will be closed and that the car has just been brought to a position of rest in flush relation with or in the required adjacency to a landing. The controlling lever at 7 2 has been adjusted to an accurate neutral position thereby actuating the controlling switch to energize solenoid 45 and cause the plunger 36 to be projected against the releasing plate or strip 28. This will retract bolt 19 and release latch plate 14 so as to permit the operator to unlatch the door 3 and slide the same into an open position. Immediately upon opening the door 3 the latter will engage roller 12 and the roller will ride along the side of the door 3. This actuation of roller 12 will turn spindle 7 so as to shift locking plate 14 outwardly against roller 52 of plunger 51. Such retraction of plunger 51 will engage terminal 64 with terminal 65 and close circuit to energize solenoid 85. This will rock lever 7 9 and project tooth 82 into notch 78 thereby locking the controlling lever 7 2 against movement accidentally or otherwise from a neutral position. It will also be noted that lever 72 will be locked during initial opening movement of the door and it is the intention to lock the lever 72 before the door has been opened sufiiciently, or any where nearly so, as to permit of anyone entering or departing from the car. Now with the parts .in this position, it would be absolutely impossible to start the car while the door was open. However, should any unforseen emergency or exigency arise which would require the car to be moved, the safety mechanism would readily be deenergized by opening the throw-out switch.

Now I will assume that a passenger has alighted from or entered the car and that the operator wishes to start the latter. It will be first necessary to close the door thereby permitting the arm 11 to assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, under the action of springs 8. This will return actuating plate 14 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and release plunger 51 for action under spring 58 to free terminal 64 from terminal 65. Thus the branch circuit will be opened even while controlling switch is closed and the solenoid 85 will be denergized. The weight of the core will tilt the lever 79 so as to free tooth 82 from notch 78 thereby unlocking the controller only after the elevator door has beenmoved to a closed position. Now the controller 72 will be moved to the right or left to effect an ascending or descending travel of the car thereby freeing the abutment 87 and allowing member 88 to spring outwardly and disengage terminal 89 from terminal 90, of the controlling switch. This will deenergize solenoid 45 and the spring 43 will retract plunger 86 so as to free the releasing plate 28 for movement into the position shown in Fig. 3 under action of spring 30. This will cause bolt 19 to be shot into locking engagement with latch lug 18, it being understood that spring 8 will hold plate 14 in the position shown in Fig. 3 for engagement by bolt 19.

It will be seen that throughout this entire cycle of operation, dependence is not placed upon any spring or springs to initiate operative movement of the parts as all parts are positively actuated for operative movement either mechanically or magnetically and springs are only utilized to restore parts to initial or starting positions.

On ground floor landings it is not so important to hold the doors against opening movement and in some such special cases this feature of my invention may be dis pensed with in which case the bolt 19 and plate 28 together with their connected parts would be omitted from such special landing.

In this event, the plate 14 would act solely as an actuating plate for the plunger 51 and would not function in any way as a locking plate. However, in any event, plate 14 is always positively actuated by opening movement of the door for shifting plunger 51 to close the branch circuit and lock the controller. In any case where the locking feature is omitted, the plunger 36 would be shifted idly at such landing.

The device of my invention also provides for omission of the door locking feature without any structural alteration of that portion of the device mounted on the landing. For instance, if for any reason it was desired to temporarily or otherwise dispense with the locking feature on some landing other than the ground floor landing it would be merely necessary to retract the bolt 19 and allow the plate 14 to be pressed by spring 8 against the outer face of lip 21 of bolt 19.

The locking device may be located on thetion from an absolute flush relation between the car floor and the landing so that the wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

. I claim 1- 1. In combination, an elevator shaft including a landing and a door, an elevator car, a door locking means mounted on said landing and including a rotary spindle having a locking arm engaging the door to hold the latter against opening movement and adapted to be actuated by the door when the same is opened, a latch plate mounted on said spindle, a bolt for locking said latch plate in a door holding position, a pivotedly mounted releasing plate operatively connected with said bolt, means carried by said car for actuating said releasing plate to free said door, a controller for said car, and means on said car and actuated by said latch plate when the latter is operated by opening movement of the door to lock said controller, substantially as described.

2. In combination, an elevator shaft including a landing and a door, an elevator car, door-locking means mounted on said landing and including a rotary spindle having a locking arm engaging and serving to hold the door against opening movement but adapted to be actuated by the door when the latter is opened, said spindle alsohaving mounted thereon a latch plate provided at its engaging end with a lug; av bolt engaging said latch plate to lock the same, and having an overhanging end engaging said lug, a releasing member for said bolt, means carried by said car for actuating said releasing member to free the door, a controller for said car, and means on said car for actuation by said latch portion when the latter is operated by opening movement of the door to lock said controller, substantially as described.

3. In combination, an elevator shaft including a landing and a door, an elevator car, door locking means mounted on said landing and including a rotary spindle having a backing arm engaging and serving to hold the door against opening movement, said spindle also having a latch-plate provided at its engaging end with a lug; a bolt engaging said latch plate to lock the same, and having an overhanging end engaging said lug, a releasing member for said bolt, and means carried by the car for actuating said releasing member to free the door,

substantially as described.

4. In combination with a'car, a car land- 5 movement of the car, an engaging device carried by the car to control said lever locking means, and a device mounted on said landing adapted to engage said engaging device of Copies of this patent may be obtained for the car upon opening movement of said door, said landing device including a spring controlled rotary spindle having a door engaging arm and a swinging member adapted to engage said engaging device of the car.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

JOHN A. MARTIN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C.

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