US1623267A - Electric interlock for elevator doors - Google Patents

Description

I April 5,1927.

S. P EELLE EILEC'IRIG I-N'I'ERLOCK FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Filed April 10, 1925 I INVENTOR ATTORNEK Patented Apr. 5, 192?,

nonnnrr s. rnELLn, or norms, NEW YORK,- ASSIGNOR TO TEE rnELLn COMPANY, BROOKLYN, NEW YonK, A conronnrron or new YORK.

rarest- ELECTRIC INTERLOCK FOR ELEVATOR DOORS.

Application filed April 10, 1925. Serial No. 22,188.

My invention relates to electric interlocks for elevator doors, and more particularly to a construction of look by which 1ts assembly in the elevator door installation will be' may be operated only when the doors of all of the floors of a building are closed. In securing the deslred result it has long been the practice to provide switch mechanisms arranged in the c1rcu1t.to the motor and controlled by a member carried by the door, so that upon any door being opened, the switch mechanism will also be opened to interrupt the circuit to the elevator motor and willremain open until the door has been again closed. 7

The various switch mechanisms adjacent all of the doors of one vertical series have been arranged in electrical series with each other and with the elevator motor, thus permitting the circuit to the motor to be controlled by the movements of the door at any lVhen making the elevator door. installation which includes the electric interlocks, great difliculty has heretofore been experi enced in wiring the interlock system, and the construction of the interlock has been such that there has been present a certain factor of uncertainty in its operation, since while the closing of the circuit resulted from a positive movement of the locking mechanisms of the door, the opening of the circuit, although controlled by the elevator door lock mechanism, was permitted and not positively caused by such movement.

Experience has shown that it is not uncommon for operators to destroy the efficiency of the electric interlock system by blocking a switch mechanism in such a way as to prevent the interruption of the cir- .cuit with the opening of a door, thus clestroying the safety factor designed to be introduced in elevator door installations by the use of such electric interlocks. 7 .With the above conditions in mind, I have produced an electrical interlock for use in combination with elevator doors of the so-called counterbalanced or analogous types of doors, wherein each switch mechanism may be i'irmly .supported'from the rail structure for the elevator doors in operative relation to the co-operating lockingmechanism upon the doors for controlling same, so that a violent opening and closingmovement of the doors cannot'disarrange any of the parts of the switch mechanism, or any of the electrical connections therein. The construction is also such. as to permit ready access to all parts of the switch mechanism during the installation of the electric interlock system, while preventing interference with the switch mechanism by-the elevator operator in a manner which would tend to prevent the opening, of the circuit simultaneously with the initial openingof-the door. 7

While the construction of the switch mechanism proper is such as to cause the automatic actuation of the switch arm carrying a movablecontact, I so construct this arm and the co-operating member of the lockmechanism carried by the door, that this automatic feature may be relied upon solely to maintain the contacts separated, the initial separation of these contacts being positively effected upon the operation of the door lock mechanism, and thus ensure not only against a possible failure of the inter ruption of the circuit with the release of the lock mechanism preparatory to the opening of a door but'the blocking of the switch arm and the switch mechanism by the operator. y V

In protecting the switch mechanism from access theretoby an operator from within the shaft, while at the same time facilitating the making of electrical connections of the system, I provide a housing formed of one integral castingprovided with connecting chambers so formed as to permit free access to the electrical conduits connecting the different housings of a system and also to the switch mechanism proper, and the making of the electrical connections with the switch contacts, this housing being so formed as to avoid any possible short circuiting through the movement of the switch arm mounted in one of these chambers. Both chambers are preferably provided with r closure covers for the exclusion of dust, dirt and oil, and for. preventing access to within the housingwithout the use of'toolsr The housing also has 'c'ast integrally therewith securing meansconnected with the Wall an-,

j gle of the elevator guides, and a striker plate trolled by the lock mechanism of the ele-' vator door. By this construction per-ma operative upon the actuating. member connency in the relation of various parts necessary to a reliable actuation of the interlockmechanism is secured, since under no circumstances can any of the parts of the interlock become so disarranged as to interfcre with a. positive, certain operation of the interlock with each unlatching and latching of the lock uponthe elevator door.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of hereto appended. Referring to the drawings,

parts hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims Fig. 1 is a view of one electrical interlock mechanism of a system, and of fragmentary portions-of an elevator door and its latch mechanism controlling the functioning of V same; and of the rail structure for supporting' the interlock; and

-' Fig. 2' is a section on the line 22 of Likeletters refer to like par ts'in both of i 'said. views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown infthe'drawings, a indicates the upper section of acounterbalanced elevator door of the. usual construction, and?) the lower secti'on thereof. The upper section carries the usuallatch member 0 co-operating. with a striker member (5 constituting a part of the top bar structure of the lower section. At 6 are shown portions of'the connecting means between the two door sections by winch they are caused to have simultaneous movement in opposite directions during'the opening and closing of the door. 7

In the drawings, the invention is shown asapplied 'to ordinary counterbalanced doors in which the two sections have movement in the same vertical p-lane, but theinventioir may be applied in exactly the same manner to doors in which the sect-ions have movement in parallel verticalplanes, or in which they pass fmm one vertical plane to another 'diiring'the opening and closing movement. The door sections wand b are mounted upon suitable guides 7 carried by what is i wardly of. the shaft.

known asa wall angle g' which extends inlVhen electric interlocks are used, the switchincchanism form- "ing apart oftheinterlock is mounted upon the wall angle 9 in a position where the ,rnovable switch member ,will be actuated substantially simultaneously with the gagement of the. latch member a with its lbers 2' a to prevent relative movement of the hous striker member (Z, thus permitting power to be applied to the elevator motor only atter the door has been closcdwhile at the same time interrupting the circuit to said mot-or substantially simultaneously w1th,.or prior to, the initial opening movement of the doors.

hly present invention relates more part-i0 V ularly to a construction of the switch mech-.;

anism by which it may be wired with greater facility, and the various parts of the mechanism will not be subject to likelihood of disarrangement from vibrations due to the repeated actuation of doors, imparting greater reliability or dependability to its functioning; 'At the same time, the constrnction of the switch mechanism is such as to cause-the actuation of the latch member in either locking or unlocking the door to act positively upon the switch mechanism to cause the making and breaking of the en- .cuit to be under the control of the latch memher, the construction of the movable part of the switch, however, being such as to prevent the closing of the switch except under the control of said latch member.

The electric interlockof my invention includes a particular construction of housing forkthe switch mechanism proper, a particular construction of switch mechanism proper, and a particular construction of cooperating member actuated by the latch mechanism and co-operating with said housing andsaid switch mechanism. 7

The switch mechanism proper is vvithin a housing having a curved striker plate 72/, the curved surface of whichis presented upwardly 0f the top and having an opening therethrough at h adjacent the bottom, of the housing. 7 gThis housing has upper and lower nipples z'z" for the reception'of the ends of ordinary electrical conduits 2' said nipples including clamp momand being int-eriorly shouldered at ing and the fittings. This housing for convenience of expression may be'considered the convenient connectionof the wires with the b .iding posts of the switch mechanism. The top and bottom walls of said housing with the switch mechanisnn and to permit are connected by a vertically extending partiti-on h supporting the binding posts and the contacts of the switch mechanism, this partition being of a'width to afford an opening between the chambers ZIP-b sufiicient to permit convenient access from the chamber 72, to the chamber b when making the electrical connections.

The portion of the housing about the chamber h extends from the portion forming the chamber h a" sufficient distance to afford ample space between the rear edge ofthe partition 72/ and the closed back of the housing (as shown more particularly in Fig. 2) to permit the convenient running of wires, and access to the chamber it from both the back and front thereof.

The front of the housing is provided with extensions k and 7&0 extending above and below the top and the bottom respectively of the housing, by means of which the housing may be securely bolted to the wall angle 9 adjacent the edge of the flange thereof extending inwardly of the shaft, the striker member it being positioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to the said edge of said wall angle.

All parts of the housing It to if and portions of the nipples 'iz" are made of a single integral casting, thus ensuring per 'manency in the relation of all of the parts of the housing.

The opening by which access may be had to the chamber 7:? and'from said chamber to the chamber 76 is closed by a cap and the front of the chamber ha is closed by a cap j thus protecting the wiring and switch mechanisms from dust, dirt and oil which accumulate rapidly about all parts of a rail structure of an elevator shaft.

The switch mechanism proper consists of two fixed contacts -40 also serving as binding posts by means of which the conductor wire m may beconnected with one of said contacts, and the conductor wire m may be connected with the other of said contacts. These contacts are mounted upon a block 70 of insulating material, the means securing saidcontacts in posit-ion upon said plate being insulated by the strip 70 from the partition 1 to which the contacts are secured by means of the insulating block W, by screws, or'in any other desired manner. V r

Co-operating with the contacts 70- 73 is a bridge contact plate n slidingly mounted upon an angular, stem 91/ and acted upon by a spring M, a pin a limiting the action of said spring upon said stem at. 'The stem n is carried by a block of insulation 0, the

means of attachment of said stem and said block being protected by an insulating strip 0, said stem being secured to a switch arm fixed contacts 7a-k'. The normal action of the spring if, when the movable contact 15 engaged with the fixed contacts, will be to elevator motor, the wires mm being a part of this circuit. This member, in the form of the invention shown, comprises a bolt 9 having a projection q at the free end thereof, adapted to enter a recess or socket in the movable switch member ;0 formed by an extension r at the bottom of said switch arm and an upwardly :ext'end-V ing end r carried by said extension. The construction of said projection and the arrangement of said socket forming parts are such that these parts engage or interlock substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the bolt member Q with the switch arm, so that the retraction of said bolt member will supplement" the action of the spring 77, and of the overbalancing weight p in moving the bridge contact member out of engaging relation with the fixed contacts 7c7s, substantially. simultaneously with, or immediately following, the release of the latch c, or during the initial opening movement of the door sections at and b.

The latch member 0 isacted upon by a suitable spring 0 having a normal tendency 'not only to engage the latch member with its co-operating keeper, but to engage the member g withthe switch arm p.

At 8 I have shown a guide strap for the member or bolt 9, there being suflicient clearance to compensate for the slight are t of movement of said bolt, resulting from pivotal movement of the latch member-c.

The operation of the herein described interlock is substantially as follows In installing the interlock, the housing with the switch mechanism assembled therein is mounted by means of bolts to the inwardly directed flange of the wall angle, being so positioned as to have the opening through the striker plate It in accurate register with the member or bolt g, and the socket formed 1n the switch arm 37 in engaging relation with the projectiong. The

conduits 2' are then positioned in the nipples iz" provided therefor respectively, each of these conduits extending from the housing at one door opening to the housing-at the adjacent door openings above and below; i The shoulderswithin the nipples 2 7 will prevent sliding. movement oi the con- 7 duits to within the chamber 7x of any housing, these shoulders supplementing the action of the clamps formed by the said nipples. V Y Y By.tl1isconstruct-ion, since all of the switches are'in series inthe same circuit, it is apparent that, short lengths of wire may be used, thus avoiding all'that delay and inconvenience incidental to drawing a wire throughoutthe entire length of the conduit and the various housings before making the electrical connections, and cutting and reby r the adjusting the'wire' when making-such coni ncctions. When' these short lengths are used, the free ends of the wire may be conveniently brought by hand about the partit on if and connected with one or the other of the binding posts formed by the contacts le -71.

When a door is closed, the latch mechanism c,'the switch arm 79, and the member member or bolt actuated fromthe latch and acting upon said switch arm will be in the positions shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the spring a? being t'ensioned through the pressure exerted upon the switch arm spring acting upon the latch mechanism. 7 When the parts are so posi- V I tioned, it is tobe noted that the projection 1 is engaged wlththe upwardly extending end '1" oftheextension r.

hen it is desired to open the door, the latch is actuated by the operator to disengage its hooked end from the keeper cl upon the door section b,-.the pivotal movement of the latch member in thus disengaging it from said 1 keeper d drawing the bolt or member Q away from the wall angle. This movement'of said member or bolt w ll not only permit the spring a and the overbalancing weight g) to. act to separate the bridge contact n from the hXed contacts 7- --Zi', but willimpart a positive movement .7 to said switch arm inthe event that it does i" not m we as rapidly asdoes the bolt They il'i'iov'enient o't the member or bolt 9 must occur before opening movement can be I imparted to the door, or be complete by the time that the latch member 0 is disengaged ironr its keeper (l. 1 v

The overbalancing wei ht p" will,- .through the switch arm 72,1naintain the contactf'n out of engagement with the fixed contacts Zs-Zf. I p V A door i's closed by merely drawing down the upper section, this movement, through the connecting means 6, causing the lower section bio have auuinvard movement.

the; end of the member orbolt reachesv the opening thr'oi'igh the striker/z, which will be substantially. simultaneously with the 'passageof the hooked end of the latch through its keeper (Z, the spring cacts si-' doors to remain open multaneously upon said latch member and said fixed contacts. This rubbing contact will ensure a desired intimate engagement between the movable and the fixed contacts thus eiiectively closing the circuit through Saidswitch mechanism, it'being understood that all other switch mechanisms in the shaft must be likewise closed in order to permit theapplication of power to the ele vator. When engaging theswitch arm. 9,

the projection q of the'membe'r or bolt 7Q will enter the socket formed by the. extension 1" and projecting end 1*, so that the bolt cannot be. with-drawn from its engaging relation with the switch arm without moving the contact plate 12 out of engaging relation with the fixed contactsjc kp The interlocking of the member or bolt g with the switch arm '20 in the manner described not only ensures the opening of the V circuit prior to, or simultaneously with,,the initial-opening movement of the door, but prevents the blocking of the switch arm in a manner to cause it to operate independ ently of the door, or to remainclosed, notwithstanding that the member or bolt 1 has been retracted and the door opened. In fact,- this construction prevents any tamporing with the switch mechanism which would result in a condition permitting operated nevertheless. .7

The offsetting of the two chambers h h with relation to each other, not only brings the striker h inwardly of the shaft in the proper position with relation to the plane of movement or the member q, but positions the conduits i so as to afford ample space for thehandling ot'the ends of the wires, and their convenient passage to the Cl1t111-- and the elevator to be e ber h and connection with the binding posts upon the contacts 7c7c.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construe-.

tion shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without de-- parting from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Having described the invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is V 1. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the. combination with a vertically movable door section, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, and a guide structure for said section including a wall angle, of a housing secured to said wall angle having an opening therethrough adapted to permit the passage of a bolt, and a striker plate adapted to guide the bolt to said opening, an electrical switch mechanism in said housing embodying therein co-operating fixed and movable contact members, and a movable member projecting across the opening in said housing, said contacts being arranged in circuit with the motor for actuating an elevator car, a bolt operatively connected with said latch mechanism and adapted to pass through said opening and engageusaid movable member when the door section is in the closed position, a socket forming projection upon said movable member and projecting through the opening in said housing into engaging relation with said bolt, and a projection upon said bolt adapted to enter and interlock with said socket, whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuated to both close and open the circuit in which it is arranged substantially simultaneously with the setting and the release of said latch mechanism, with the closing, or preparatory to the opening, of the door' section.

2. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a door structure comprising two door sections having simultaneous vertical movement in opposite directions when opening and closing the door, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried by one of said sections, and a guide structure for said sections including a wall angle, of a housing secured to said wall angle at substantially the meeting point of said door sections having an open ing therethrough adapted to permit'the passage of a bolt, and a striker-plate adapted to guide the bolt to said opening, an electrical switch mechanism in said housing embodying therein co-operating fixed and movable contact members, and a movable member projecting across the opening in said housing, said contacts being arranged in circuit with the motor for actuating an elevator car, a bolt operatively connected with said latch mechanism and adapted to pass through said opening and engage said movable member when the door sections are in the closed position, a socket forming projection upon said movable member and projecting through the opening in said housing into engaging relation with said bolt, and a projection upon said bolt adapted to enter and interlock with said socket, whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuated to both close and open" the circuit in which it is arranged substantially simultaneou sly with the setting and the release of said latch mechanism with the closing, or

preparatory to theopening, of the door.

3. An electric interlock for elevatordoors embodying therein the combination with a vertically movablefdoor section, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, ind a guide structure for said section including a wall angle, of a. housing secured to said engage said switch arm when the door section is in the closed position, said bolt having a projection adapted to interlock with said socket-forming means upon said movable switch arm when the door section is in the, closed position, whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuated to both close and open the circuit in which it is arranged substantially simultaneously with'the setting and the release of said latch mechanism with the closing, or preparatory to the opening, of the door section.

4:. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with ;a

door structure comprising two door sections having a simultaneous vertical movement in opposite directions when opening and closing the door, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried by one of said sections, and a guide structure for said sections including a wall angle, of a housing secured to said wall angle at substantially the meeting point of said door sections having an opening therethrough adapted to permit the passa e of a bolt, and a. striker plate adapted to gui e the bolt to said opening, an electrical switch mechanism-in said housing arranged in circuit with the motor for actuating an elevator car, said switchmechanism including a movable switch arm having socket-forming means projecting through said openin in said housing and beyond said striker p ate, and a bolt operatively connected with said latch mechanism and adapted to pass through said opening and engage said switch arm when the door section is in the ,closed position, said bolt having a projection adapted to interlock with said socketforming means upon said movable switch arm when the door section is in the closed position, whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuated tov both close and open the circuit in which it -is arranged substantially simultaneously with the setc iHe'rena'ssar said latch mechanism wit .theclosing, or preparatory to the openof the door section. I5; Anpelectric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a "vertically movable door sectlon, a spring ,actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, and a guide structure tor'said section including. aT wal'l angle, of a housing secured to vsaid wall angle having an opening there-- 'through'adapted' to permit the passage of a bolt, and a striker plate adapted to guide the bolt tosaid opening, an electrical switch mechanism in said housing arranged in oilcuit'with the motor for actuating an elevator car,sa'1d switch mechanism including spaced fixed- .contacts within said housing, a p1-v v oted switch arm, a istem carried by said switch arm,; bridge contact slidably mounted upon'said stem, a. spring acting to normally thrust said bridge contact towards said fi-Xed contacts, an overbalanc ng weight operative upon said switch arm to normally maintain said bridge contact out of engagement with said fixed contacts, a socket iornn ing. pro ectlon upon said switch arm propecting through the opening-in said housing int-o engaging relation with a bolt, and a bolt operatively connected with said latch mechanism and adapted to pass through said 5 openingxand engage said switch arm when the door section is in the closed position,

said bolt-having a projection adapted to interlock with said socket-forming projec tio-n' upon said movable switch arm when l door section is in the closed position, whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuat-ed to both close and open'the circuit in which it is arranged substantially simultaneously with the setting and the rel'e'ase .oiisaid latch mechanism with the closirrg, "or preparatory to the opening, of the door sect-ion. 7

6; An electric interlock for 'elevator doors embodyin-g therein the combination with a vertically movable door section, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby,

- and a guide structureior said section in- :cltiding "awall angle, of a. housing secured to said wall angle, having opening therethrough adapted to "permit the passage of abolt, two connected chambers, one of which is offset toward the wall of the elevator shaft with relation to the other, a striker plate adapted to guide the bolt to said opening, and a partition 7 partially closing the chamber inwardly ofthe shai't, spacedfixed 'contacts carried'by and insulated from said partition, "am'ovable switch arm mounted 'liYSfl'ICl Cllfllhbfil ad acent said'partition and projecting across the opening in said l1ousing, a bridge contact carried by said switch and adapted to cooperate with said fixedyco'ntacts to make-or break the circuit "to th-e motor for the elevator car, a bolt 'tively.

operatively connected with said latch inecjhamsm and adapted to pass through said open mg in said housing and engage said SWitQll arm when the door section is in the closed position, means operative upon said switch arm whereby the bridge contact will be maintained out'oi eng'agement with said fixed n contacts when said bolt is withdranui from engagement with said arm while the door 7' is open, a socket forming projection upon said switch arm pro ecting through the epenmg 113 said housing into relation with said bolt, and a projection upon said bolt adapted to enter and interlock with said socket, whereby said switch mechanism will be positivelyactuated to openthelci'rcuit inwhich it is arranged substantially simultaneously with the settingand the release of said latch mechanism with the closing, or preparatory to the opening, ol the door section. a I r 7. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a vertically movable door section, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, and

guide structure for said section including a wall angle, or a housing secured to said wall angle, having two connectedchambers,

one of which is oliset toward the wall or the j elevator shaft with relation to the other, conduit nipples leading am said chamberpositioned toward the wall: of the elevator shaft,

tacts to make or break the circuit to the motor for the elevator car, a bolt op'eratively a connected with said latch mechanism and adapted to engage said switch arm and close said switch mechanism when the door sec tion is in the closed position, means operative upon said switch arm whereby the bridge contact will be maintained out of one gagement with said fixed contacts when said bolt is withdrawn from engagement with said arm while the door is open, and-removable closure caps for said chambers respec- 8. An electric interlock forelevator doors em'bodyingatherein the combination with a vertically movable door section, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, and

a guide structure for said section including a wallangle, of a housing secured to said wall angle, having two connected chambers, one of which-1s oli set toward the wall of the elevator shaft with relation to the other, a

partitionpartially closing the chamber in-,

ward-1y ofthe shaft," spaced fixed contacts carried by and insulated trom-saidpartition, a movable switch arm mounted in saidchamber adjacent said partition, a bridge contact carried by said switch arm and adapted to co-operate with said fixed contacts to make or break the circuit to the motor for the elevator car, a bolt operatively connected with said latch mechanism and adapted to engage said switch arm and close said switch mechanism when the door section is in the closed position, a striker member having an opening therethrough adapted to permit the passage of said bolt into or out of engaging relation with said switch arm and formed integrally with other portions of said housing, and means operative upon said switch arm whereby the bridge contact will be maintained out of engagement with said fixed contacts when said bolt is withdrawn one of which is offset toward the wall of the elevator shaft with relation to the other, a partition partially closing the chamber inwardly of the shaft, spaced fixed contacts carried by and insulated from said partition, a movable switch arm mounted in said mally thrust said bridge contact towards" said fixed contacts, an overbala-ncing weight operative upon said switch arm to normally maintain said bridge contact outof engagement with said fixed contacts, a bolt operatively connected with said latch mechanism and adapted to engage said switch arm and close said switch mechanism when the door section is in the closed position, and a striker member having an opening therethrough adapted to permit the passage of said bolt into or out of engaging relation with said switch arm and formed integrally with other portions of said housing, said bolt having a projection adapted to interlock with said socket-forming means uponv said movable switch arm when the door section is in the closed position, whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuated to open the circuit in which it is arranged substantially simultaneously with the release of said latch mechanism preparatory to the opening of the door section. 1

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 7th day'of April, 1925.

ROBERT S. PEELLE.

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