US1810942A - Closure operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY IILH T; BRADY CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec.

June 23, 1931.

FIG!

' T. BRADY CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM June 23, 1931.

Filed Dec. 4,1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 z INVENTOR Rm ATTORNEY BY 'lil'le June 23, 1931. BRADY 1,810,942"

CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANI Sll M CB L mvam'on BY "87,0212" ATTOPNEY Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE THOMAS BRADY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATOR COH- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORIORATION OF NEW JERSEY CLOSUREOPERATING MECHANISM The invention relatds to closure operating mechanism and particularly to operating mechanism for elevator car gates or hatchway doors.

It is advantageous in many elevator installations to provide mechanism for automatically o crating the elevator car gate and hatchway oors, particularly in cases Where these closures must be frequently operated and in cases where their manual operation is inconvenient. In certain types of installations, it is of advantage to provide mechanism for automatically operating the car gate or a hatchway door to one of its operated positions with the movement of such closure toits other operated position efiected either manually or by additional actuating mech- I anism. For example, in elevator systems wherein the operation of the car is under the control of the passengers themselves and wherein a closure must be in closed position before the car may be operated, it is particw larly desirable that operating mechanism vbe provided for moving the'closure to closed position in order that the car may be operated from any point.

The invention is particularly directed to elevator systems in which the'closure operating mechanism is arranged to move the closure to closed position. Although many features of the invention are a pllcable to various types of elevator insta lations, the invention is of particularadvantage in systems in which the elevator car is under the control of the passengers and intending passengers themselves.

One feature of the invention resides in" temporarily restraining the operation of a closure operator to move the closure to closed position. This removes the burden from the passengers and intending passengers of manually holding the closure in open position so that they are free to enter and leave the car without attention to the closure, except the initial act of opening the closure in cases where the closure is arranged for manual provision of restraining means for the closure operatorwhich is released, only upon the fulfillment of certain conditions, to permit" the closure operator to move the closure to closed position. This permits the subjecting of the restraining means to the operation of the controlling devices for the elevator car, such as pushbuttons, and also to the closure and locking of the hatchway doors in cases where the closure operator is pro vided for the elevator car ate, thereby eliminating the possibility of the closure striking a person entering or leaving the car.

A third feature of the invention resides in the provision of a closure operator which is of simple construction, reliable but economical in operation and in which the cost of manufacture and installation is minimized.

Other features and advanta es will become apparent. from the following escription and ap endant claims.

' he invention involves maintaining the closure in any open position to which it is moved, by means of friction mechanism operatively associated with the closure and the release of the friction mechanism to permit the closure operator to move the closure to closed position.

In carrying out the invention, according to the embodiment illustrated, a rotatable member is connected to the closure operator so as to be operated thereby and an eccentrically mounted roller is positioned to cooperate with the rotatable member in such manner that the closure operator in tending to move the closure to closed position acts through the rotatable member to cause the eccentric roller to hold the rotatable member against further movement thereby preventing the closure operator from moving the closure to closed position. The eccentric roller is released by an electromagnet to permit the return of the closure to closed position. This electromagnet is controlled in such manner that its energization to permit the closing operation is only momentary, a latch being provided to maintain the eccentric roller in released position and to operate circuit controlling means to effect the de energization of the magnet. In this manner, the closure is permitted to continue its closing movement without unnecessary consumption of electrical energy. The latch is tripped out as the closure nears closed position, a switch being arranged to be operated by the closure to maintain the releasing electromagnet deenergized after the circuit controlling means controlled by the latch has been restored to its previous condition. The rotatable member may be arranged to be unaffected by the eccentric roller within a certain zone if desired, thereby permitting the continued movement of the closure to closed position after the tripping of the latch and also the immediate reclosure of the closure in the event that it is not moved outside of this zone.

Although the embodiment of the invention which will be described in'dctail is the adaptation of the operating and holding device to bias the gate on the elevator car to closed position and to temporarily hold the car gate in open position, it is to be understood that the operating and holding device is equally suited for use with the hatchway doors atthe various landings of an elevator installation! In the drawings Figure 1 is a schematic View of the front of an elevator car showing an embodiment of the closure operating and holding device of the present invention applied to the car gate.

til) Figure 2 is an enlarged view'of a portion of Figure 1 with parts in section to illustrate the construction of the holding mechanism, the cooperating parts being shown in the positions assumed when the gate is approaching closed position;

F ignre 3 is a section taken alon line 33 of Figure 2 illustrating details of construc: tion;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of two switches adapted to be operated by a cam carried by the car gate, parts being shown in seciion to illustrate details of construction; an

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of anautomatic push button elevator installation embodying the closure operating and holding device of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an elevator car designated 21 is supported by -a car sling, designated as a whole by 22. to which hoisting roping is attached to effect movement of the car in the hatchway. A ate 23, which is illustrated as of the collapsible type, is suspended from hangers provided with rollers 24 engaging a track 25 on the car to guide the gate in movement transverse of the car entrance. A plate 27 mounted on the gate is connected by a link 28 to a gate operating arm 30 adjustably secured to an arm grip 31. The arm grip is pivotally mounted at on a bracket 33 mounted on a plate 34. Plate 34 is supported b angle members 35 from the crosshead 36 o the car sling.

A member 37 adjust-ably secured to arm grip 31 is pivotally connected to the piston rod 38 of a combined gate closing and checking device 40 such as shown in applicants prior Patent, 1,685,081 issued Sept. 25, 1928.

A tongue 41 on the check cylinder 42 of this device is pivotally mounted on a bracket 43 carried by plate 34. \Vith this arrangement a spring withi n casing 44 biases the gate to closed position and the final closing movement of the gate is retarded by the coaction of the check cylinder and piston.

In order that the gate may be temporarily maintained in open position without attention from persons entering or leaving the .3

car, a restraining device is provided to prevent the closing device 40 from moving the gate to closed position. A link 46 is pivotally connected at one end to a clamp 47, adjustably secured on arm 30. Link 46 is adjustably secured in a member 48 pivotally supported on a stud 50. This stud is adjustably mounted in a slot 51 in the face of a disc 53. The )eriphcry of the disc is formed with fla tened portions 54 and 55. nalled upon an eccentric portion 56 of a stub shaft 57. The function of flattened portions 54, 55 and the reason for the eccentric mounting of disc 53 will appear as the description proceeds. A shoulder 58 on shaft 57 bears against one side of a late 60 supported from angle member 35 by brackets 61 and one end of shaft 57 passes through the plate and is threaded to receive a nut 62 bearing against the other side of plate 60 to secure the shaft against rotation. The other end of shaft 57 is threaded to receive a nut 63 adapted to secure a strap 64 against the eccentric portion 56 of the stub shaft. A second stub shaft 65, supported by the plate 60 receives the other end of strap 64, this second stub shaft being secured to the plate by a shoulder 66 and a nut 67.

A roller 70 is eccentrically mounted on stub shaft 65. A lever 71 is connected at one end to roller 70 and at its other end is connected by a link 72 to the armature 73 of an electromagnet 74. A spring 75 mounted between an adjusting screw 76 on a bracket 77 on plate 60 and a boss on lever 71 biases the latter to turn roller 7 O counterclockwise about shaft 65 into contact with the arcuate portion of the peripheral surface of disc 53 to prevent rotation of the disc. An adjustable stop 78 limits the counterclockwise movement of Disc 53 is jourlever 71. Magnet 74 upon energization acts through its armature 73 and link 72 to move lever 71 upwardly against the force of spring 75, thereby freeing disc 53 from the restraining action of roller 70.

A latch 80 pivotally mounted on plate 60 is provided to maintain lever 71 in its raised position, thereby holding eccentric roller out of contact with disc 53. The mass of latch is so distributed with respect to its pivotal mounting that the latch tends to turn to cause a shoulder 81 thereon to engage the .end of lever 71 to support the lever when the latter is raised upon energization of magnet 74. A tripping member 82 adjustably mounted on disc 53 is adapted to engage an extension 83 of latch 80 during rotation of the disc to free lever 71 from latch 80. A stop 84 is provided to limit movement of latch 80 by tripping member 82.

A pair of contacts 85, mounted on and insulated from a bracket 86, are adapted to be bridged by a bridging contact 87. This bridging contact 87 is carried by latch 80. When the lever 71 is resting on stop 78, the left-hand end of lever 71 engages latch 80 below the shoulder 81, so that as a consequence bridging contact 87 is then maintained in engagement with contacts 85. This position of the latch 80 and bridging contact 87 illustrated in Figure 1. \Vhen the left-hand end of lever 71 engages the shoulder 81 of latch 80this occurring as a consequence of energization of magnet 74 and the attendant raising of lever 71the shoulder 81 maintains the lever 71 in its raised position. In this raised position bridging contact 87 is separated from contacts 85. In Figure 2, the lever 71 is shown latched in the shoulder 81 of the latch 80 and the bridging contact 87 is shown separated from contacts 85. Inasmuch as the contacts are arranged in the circuit of magnet 74, the latching of the lever 71 in raised position breaks the circuit for magnet 74. It is to be noted, however, that with this construction, the circuit of the magnet is not broken unless the lever is latched in raised position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, a. cam 88 carried by the gate 23 is adapted to eflect the engagement of contacts of a gate switch, designated as a whole by 90, and the separation of the contacts of an auxiliary gate switch designated as a whole by 91. Gate switch 90 is illustrated at the left of Figure 4. This switch comprises a support 92 mounted upon an insulating base 93 and electrically connected to a binding post 94. A lever 95 pivotally mounted upon support 92 carries a yieldingly mounted contact 96 adapted to be normally maintained out of engagement with a fixed contact 97 by a spring 98 acting on lever 95. The fixed contact 97 is mounted upon the base 93 and its stem is provided with binding nuts. A stop 89 formed on lever 95 is adapted to engage support 92 to limit the movement of lever 95 by spring 98. A roller 99 carried by lever 95 is arranged to be engaged by the cam 88 when the gate reaches closed posi-- tion to move the lever 95 against the force of spring 98 causing contact 96 to engage contact 97. Contacts 96 and 97 are arranged in the circuits for controlling the operationof the elevator car so as to prevent the operation of the car when the gate is not fully closed.

Auxiliary gate switch 91 is illustrated at the right of Figure 4. This switch comprises a lever 100 pivotally mounted upon a support 101 and carrying a contact 102 adapted to be forced into engagement with a fixed contact 103 by a spring 104 acting on lever 100. The support 101 and contact 103 are mounted upon an insulating base 105, the support 101 being electrically connected to binding post 106, and the stem of contact 103 being provided with binding nuts 107. Lever 100 is provided with a. roller 108 arranged to be engaged by cam 88 when the gate is nearly in closed position, to rock the lever 100 against the force of spring'104 and move contact 102 from engagement with contact 103. Contacts 102 and 103 are arranged in the circuit 'for magnet 74 and thereby prevent the energization of this magnet when, as the gate reaches closed position, the

tripper 82 moves the latch 80 to cause the contact 87 to bridge contacts 85.

,The operation is as follows: Assume that the gate is in closed position. lVhcn the gate -is moved toward open position, arm. 30 is rocked c ounterclockwise acting member 37 to gradually increase the tension of the spring within casing 44 of the gate closing device 40. Arm. 30 acts through link 46 to rotate disc 53 counterclockwise. During the initial part of the gate opening movement the eccentric roller 70 does not engage the disc 53 due to the fact that it is abow the flattened portion 54 and is held out of contact therewith by stop 78. As the arcuate portion of the disc comes under roller 70 and engages therewith it causes clockwise rotation of the roller about shaft 65 against the force of spring 75. As a result the dis tance from the center of shaft 65 to the point of contact of roller 70 with disc 53 is gradually lesscncd until the point of sliding contact is reached. This sliding contact is main-' tained as the,rotati0n of disc 53 continues, thereby preventing the roller from offering any appreciable resistance to the gate opening operation. \Vhen the force acting to move the gate to open position is no longer applied the spring of the gate closing device 40 acting through member 37 and arm 30 tends to movethe gate to closed position. However, the initial movement of arm 30 causes clockwise rot-ationof disc 53 which in turn rotates eccentric roller 70 counterclockwise about shaft 65 increasing the distance through all.

:oai'riveen the centre of shaft 65 and the point oi contact of roller 70 with disc 53 until ler 70 has been turned sufficiently to wedge the disc against further rotation. As a regate closin device 40 is restrained from ,tion and the gate is maintained in open position.

During the initial part of the gate opening operation cam 88 moves out of engagement With rollers 99 and 108 causing the opening of switch 90 and the closing of switch 91. Switch 91, as previously explained, con trols the circuit for magnet 7 4, the closing of this switch permitting the energization of the magnet when the gate is in open position to effect the closing of the gate.

Upon energization of magnet 74 armature 73 is attracted, raising lever 71 against the force of spring 7 and as a consequence e rotating roller 70 clockwise about shaft 65.

all from the disc Such rotation of roller 70 lessens the distance from the center of shaft 65 to the point of contact of the roller and disc and finally results in the disengagement of the roller 70 53. Rotation of disc 53 is thus permitted and gate closing device acts to move the gate to closed position. As lever 71 is raised latch 80 turns by gravity and shoulder 8i thereof falls under the end of 1. lever 71 to maintain the latter in raised posi- When the shoulder of latch 80 seats i110. under the end of lever 71 contact 87 is out all bulging relation with contacts 85 there by interrupting the circuit of magnet Tet.

Such deenergization of magnet 7a avoids position by latch 80 to prevent the interrup tion of the gain closing operation by rcen gagenient of roller 70 with disc 53. In the event latch 80 should stick and fail to enthe end of lever 71 the gate closing operation would not be interrupted as magnet 74 would remain energized to maintain roller '50 out of contact with disc As the gate nears closed position, cam 88 carried thereby operates switch 91 to further open the circuit of magnet 74. When the gate nears closed position. tripping member )2 engages the part 83 of latch 80 rotating the latch counterclockwise to reengage contact 87 with contacts 85 and to move shoulder a all from under the end of lever 71 releasing disc 53 owing to the fact that at the time the latch is released the flattened portion 54 oi the disc underlies the roller. Thus the gate continues its movement to fully closed position Without interference from. the roller. As the gate reaches fully closed position cam 88 closes switch 90. The checking mechanism of gate closing and checking device 40 acts to retard the latter part of the gate closing movement, thus insuring that the gate will be brought to rest easily and quietly.

The gate may be closed manually, if desired, despite the action of roller 70 to prevent the closing of the gate by gate closing and checking device 40. lVhen the additional manual force is applied to close the gate, a slight further rotation of roller 70 is effected until lever 71 engages stop 78. Stop 78 is adjusted to preclude roller 70 being turned sufficiently to prevent the manual closing operation.

As stated above, disc 53 is mounted upon the eccentric portion 56 of stub shaft 57. Shaft 57 may be turned in its hearings in plate 60 and strap 64 to rotate eccentric portion 56 thus raising or lowering disc 53 rela tively to roller 70 to secure the initial adjust ment desired or to compensate for wear of the disc or roller. A further adjustment for Wear may be made by removing roller 70. together with lever 71, from shaft 65 and turning the roller one hundred and eighty degrees about its connection to lever 71. lVhen roller is replaced on shaft 65 an unworn surface is presented for engagement with the arcuate portion of the periphery of disc 53. Disc 53 may also be rotated, if desired, to present the unworn arcuate portion and the other flattened portion 55 of the disc for cooperation with roller 70. In this event the stud 50 is mounted in slot 5:2 and tripping member 82 is shifted accordingly.

It is obvious that if a disc Without flattened peripheral portions is substituted for disc 53 an arcuate portion of such a disc underlies the roller 70 in all positions of the disc. With this arrangement the roller acts not only to prevent gate closing and checking device 40 from closing the gate but also to maintain the gate in any position to which it is moved from fully closed position.

The gate operating and holding device described above is particularly suited for use in closing the gate on the elevator car of automatic push button elevator installations wherein the hatchway doors afl'ording access to the car at the various landings are manually opened and automatically closed, as by combined operating and checking devices associated With each door. Figure 5 schematically illustrates such an automatic push button elevator installation embodying the gate operating and holding device described above. For convenience, a four-floor installation is shown.

In Figure 5 the various electromagnetic Y above enumerated switches.v For example,

the contacts B 161 are contacts of the down direction switch B. o

The elevator car is raised and lowered by a motor, designated as a whole by 110, whic for convenience is illustrated as of the direct current type. The armature of the elevator motor is designated 111, its starting resist'-' ance 112, its series field winding 113 and its;

separatelyexcited field winding 114. is the release coil for the elevator motor electromagnetic brake 116, and 117 is the stopping resistance or dynamic brake. Door lock .contacts are provided for each hatchwa'y door, these contacts being arranged in series relation and represented in Figure 5 by a single pair of contacts'designated 120. Auxiliary door contacts are also provided for each door, these contacts bemg arranged 1n series relation and represented by a single pair of contacts designated 121. Door lock contacts 120 are engaged only when their respective doors are closed andlocked, and are provided its to prevent the operatioh of the elevator car except when all hatchway doors are closed and locked. Such locks and contacts actuated by a retiring cam on the car are well known in the elevator indust so that as a consequence the details thereo have not been shown. A typicalconstruction thereof is shown in a plicants U. S. Patent No. 1,669,075. T e auxiliary door contacts 121 are engaged whenever their respective doors are closed, even though the doors are not locked and their purpose will be seen as the descri tion proceeds. A retiring cam is provi ed to control the door'locks, only the actuatin magnet 122 for the cam being illustrated? Two gate switches 99 are provided, their contacts being arranged in the circuit for the actuating coilP 123 of the potential switch to prevent completion of the starting circuits of the car while the gate is open. The contacts of auxiliary gate switch h 91 are arranged in the circuit-of gate releasing magnet 4 as previously stated. A push button 128 for each floor is provided in the car. A push button 129 is also provided at each floor. Push buttons 128 and 129 will be closed position-that is,

hereinafter referred to as car buttons and ball buttons respectively. A floor controller designated as a whole by 130, is provided and comprises switches 131-, 132, 133 and 134 for the intermediate floors and terminal switches 135 and 136 for the top and bottom floors respectively. An emergency stop button 137 is provided in the car. The 'various safety de- Vises, such as final limit switches, the switch operated by the car safety brake, and governor opera-ted switch, are indicated as a whole by 138.- The service switch for connecting thesystem to a suitable power source is designate 139. r 4

Assume, for example, that the elevator car isat the third floor and that car gate 23 is in open position, Assume further that all the hatchway doors are closed and that all hatch- -.way doors, except that at the third floor where the car is ositioned, are locked in closed position wit iary door their related door lock contacts 120engaged. The auxil contacts 121,.assoc1ated with all the hatch-- way doors including that at the third floor are engaged. 'When service switch 139 is closed a circuit is completed from the ositive main, through the left-hand blad e of switch 139, wire 200, auxiliary door contacts 121, contacts H 144, coil T 140, contacts K 148, wire 202, and the right-hand blade of switch 139, to the ne ative main for energizing soil T 140. Coi T 140, upon energlzation, cause contacts T 141 to se arate.

A prospective passenger at t e third floor, desiring,to use the elevator. car, opens the hatchway door manually. door moves from closed position auxilia oor contacts 121 separate, deenergizing coil T 1.40. As a result, contacts T 141 engage completin a circuit from wire 200, through contacts 1 141, coil 150, to wire 202, energizing coil V 150 of the time limit switch causing the contacts V 151 to separate, thereby interrupting the circuit for hall buttons 129 in wire 204.

As the car gate is in open position when the prospective passenger opens the hatchway' door, the contacts of ate switches 90,are at this time in separated position and the contacts of auxiliary gate switch 91 are in engaged position. Gate switches 90 thus maintain open the circuit for actuating coil P 123 of the potential switch to prevent completion of the car starting circuit until the gate is closed. With the auxiliary gate switch 91 in with the contacts thereof in engaged position-there exists a;

partiallycomplete circuit for the gate releasmg magnet 74. Such a circuit is incom lete, owever, at the contacts J 154 and 149. The contact 87, it will be recalled is in engagement with contacts 85 when the door is latched in open position.

:After the passenger enters the car, the hatchway door at the third floor closes automatically and auxiliary door contacts 121 reengage reenergizing coil T 140, resulting in the separation of Contacts T 141. Separation of contacts T141 deenergizes coil V 150 and contacts V 151 start to reengage, their reengagement being retarded by a dash-pot V 152 associated with switch V. Dash-pot V 152 is arranged to retard the engagement of contacts 151 but permits their immediate separation on energization of coil V 150. The dash-pot is adjusted to provide an interval of several seconds duration between the deenergization of coil V 150 and the engagement of contacts V 151, thus maintaining the circuit for hall buttons 129 interrupted for several seconds after the hatchway door closes in order to aflord the passenger an o portunity to operate a car button without being subject to interference with the control of the car by operation'of a hall button.

Assume that. after the hatchway door closes the passenger in the car operates the car button 128 corresponding to the second floor thereb completing a circuit from wire 200, throu safety devlces 138, stop button 137, coil J 153, coil N155, second floor car button 128, coil H 142, and contacts K 147 and P 127 to wire 202 for energizing the retiring cam switch coil J 153, coil N 155 of the floor switch for the second floor and actuating coil H 142 of the car holding switch. Energization of coil H 142 causes the engagement of contactsH 143 and the separation of contacts H 144. The purpose of contacts H 143 will be ex lained later. The separation of contacts 144 again breaks the circuit for coil T 140, causing the reengagement of contacts T 141 and the consequent reenergization of coil V 150 resulting in contacts V 151 being restored to fully separated position. Thus, if the permitted time interval has expired after the hatchway door closed before a car button was pushed, the separation of contacts- H 144, in response to the pushing of a car button, restores the car to the exclusive control of the occupant of the car, provided a hall button has not been pushed.

The energization of the second floor switch N 155 causes engagement of contacts N 156,

the purpose of which will be explained later.

The energization of coil J 153 results in the engagement of contacts J 154, preparing cirsuits for actuating coil P 123 of the potential switch and the gate release magnet 74 and completing the circuit of retiring cam magnet 122. On energization of magnet 122 the retiring cam is operated to lock the hatchway door at the third floor and engage the related door lock contacts 120. The engagement of contacts 120, together with the engagement of contacts H 143, completes a circuit for holding coil H 145 and hall breaking switch coil I 157 from wire 200, through safety devices 138, coil H 145, contacts H 143, coil I 157 and door lock contacts 120, to wire 202. En-

ergization of coil I 157 results in the separation of contacts I 158 to further open the hall button circuit in wire 204.

The engagement of door lock contacts 120, together with the engagement of second floor switch contacts N 156, completes a circuit for non-interference switch coil K 146 and down direction switch actuating coil B 160, thls circuit being also a holding circuit for sec- 2 0nd floor switch coil N 155 and retiring cam switch coil J 153. This circuit may be traced from wire 200, through safety devices 138, stop button 137, coil J 153, 0011 N 155, contacts N 156, intermediate switch 134 and terminal switch 136 of the floor con troller, contacts A 171 of up direction switch A, down direction switch coil B 16O, co1l K 146 and door lock contacts 120 to wire 202.

As coil K 146 is energized, non-interference switch contacts K 147 separate to open the circuit of the car buttons and hall buttons in wire 210. Contacts K 148 also separate to further open the circuit of coil T 140. Contacts K 149 engage to complete a circuit from wire 200, through contacts J 154, contacts of auxiliary gate switch 91, magnet 74, latch contacts 85 and 87, and contacts K 149, to wire 202 for energizing the ate release magnet 74. Upon energization o magnet 7 4, the gate closing and checking device 40 starts to move gate toward closed position, as previously described. When the shoulder of latch 80 has firmly engaged the end of lever 71, contact 87 moves away from contacts 85 thereby interrupting the circuit of magnet 74. However, as lever 71 is supported in raised position by the latch, roller is maintained out of engagement with disc 53. Consequently, although magnet 74 is deenergized to prevent unnecessary consumption of cur rent, the gate closing device is operative to continue moving the gate to closed position.

Non-interference switch coil K 146 is made subject to door lock contacts 120 to prevent energization of the gate releasing magnet prior to the locking of the hatchway door. Thus, the possibility of a person opening the hatchway door and being struck by the moving gate is obviated.

The energization of coil B 160 results in operation of down direction switch B interrupting the circuit of up direction switch coil A 170 at contacts B 161 and preparing the circuits of elevator motor 110 and brake release coil 115 for operation of the car in the down direction. Circuits are also prepared for accelerating switch coil C 180.

As the gate nears closed position, the auxiL iary gate switch 91 opens, further opening the circuit for magnet 74. Latch 80 is then engaged by tripping member 82 and rocked thereby about its pivot, removing its shoulder from under lever 71. Lever 71 thereupon drops against stop 78. the roller 70, however,

being above the flattened portion of the disc 1 permitting the gate to continue to closed position. Contact 87, moving with the latch, en-

- gages contact 85 in the circuit for magnet 74 ut the circuit for the magnet is maintained open by gate switch 91, now opened.

As the gate reaches closed position, the contacts of gate switches 90 engage and complete a circuit from wire 200, through contacts J 154, gate switch 90, coil P 123, gate switch 90, to wire 202 for actuating coil P 123 of the potential switch. U n energization of coil P 123, the contacts P 124, P 125 and P 126 engage to connectthe armature 111, the series field winding 113, and the shunt windin 114 of the elevator motor and alsothe bral e release coil 115 to wires 200 and 202. Contacts P 127 separate to open the hall and our button circuit in wire 210 thereby renderin g the hall and car buttons ineffective to control operation of the elevator car while the.

potential switch is closed.

The elevator motor armature and field winding being energized and brake 116 released, the elevator motor starts the car in the down direction. As the counter E. M. F. of the motor builds up, accelerating switch coil C 180 causes the engagement of contacts C 181, C 182 and C 183 in succession to shortcircuit the starting resistance 112 and series field winding 113 in steps. As a result, the elevator motor is brought to full speed. As the car leaves the third floor, the intermediate switch 131 of the floor controller closes to enable the car to return to the third fioor.'

As the car nears the second floor, intermediate switch contacts 134 of controller 130 separate interruptin the circuit for coils J 153, N 155, B 160 and K 146. As coil N 155 deenergizes, the floor switch contacts N 156 separate in preparation for a subsequent operation. As coil B 160 deenergizes down direction switch B operates to interrupt the circuits of elevator motor 110 and brake release coil 115 and to connect dynamic brake resistance 117 across the motor armature 111. The deenergization of coil 115 results in the application of brake 116 which, assisted by dynamic brake resistance 117 connected across armature 111, brings the car to rest at the second floor.

Upon deenergization of retiring cam switch coil J 153, contacts J 154 separate to interrupt the circuits of potential switch coil P123 and retiring cam magnet 122. On deene'rgization of coil P 123, contacts P 124, P 125 and P 126 separate and contacts P 127 engage. Contacts P 124, P 125 and P 126 control the circuits of motor 110 and brake release coil 115, these circuits having previously been opened on separation of the contacts of down direction switch B. Contacts P 127 on engagement prepare the circuit for the hall and car buttons for a subsequent operation.

As coil K 146 deenergizes, the contacts K 147 and K 148 engage while contacts K 149 tion of door lock contacts 120 interrupts the circuit through coils H 145 and I 157. On deenergization of coil 157 contacts I 158 engage, preparing the hall button circuit in wire 204. The hall button circuit, however, remains open at contacts V 151. ()n deenergization of coil H 145 contacts H 143 sepa rate and contacts H 144 engage. tion of contacts H143 is in preparation for a subsequent operation under control of a car button. Engagement of contacts H 144,

together'with engagement of contacts K 148, completes the circuit for coil T 140, effectlng the separation of contacts T 141, resulting in deenergizationof coil V 150. As coil V 150 is deenergized, contacts V 151'start to engage, their engagement being retarded for the interval provided by dash-pot V 152 to afford the occupant of the car an opportunity to open the hatchway door to leave the car. This eliminates the possibility of the car starting in response to a hall button 129 before the occupant has had a. reasonable op portunity to open the hatchway door after the car arrives at its destination.

'When the occupant of the car opens the car gate, eccentrically mounted roller 70 is turned to permit the gate opening operation, as previously described. As the gate is moved from closed position, the contacts of gate switches 90 separate and the contacts of auxiliary gate switch 91 engage. The opening of gate switches 90 further opens the circuit of potential switch coil P 123. The closing of auxiliary gate switch 91 prepares the circuit of.

magnet 74 in preparation for a subsequent gate closing operation. When the occupant of the car opens the hatchway door, auxiliary door contacts 121 separate, deenergizing coil T 140, resulting in engagement of contacts T 141 to energize coil V 150 to cause the re storation of contacts V 151 to their fully separated position. The hall button circuit thus remains interrupted until the contacts V 151 reengage under the retarding action of dash-pot V 152 after auxiliary door contacts 121 engage as the hatchway door closes.

In the event that the occupant of the our desires to change his destination, he may operate the stop switch 137 thereby stopping the car. It is to be noted, however, that the circuit including hall breaking switch coil I 157 is not interrupted if the stop occurs be- Separatween floors. Consequently, the control of the car cannot be taken from the occupant by a person at a floor regardless of the time which elapse-s before another car button is operated.

When the gate is moved only a short distance from closed position it is returned to closed position Without the necessity of energizing magnet 74, if the opening movement has not resulted in removing the flattened portion 54 of disc 53 from beneath roller 70. Under these conditions, lever 71 being in engagement with stop 7 8 maintains roller out of contact with disc 53 and con sequently roller TO does not interfere with the movement of the gate. Although such movement of the gate results in stori ng, only a small force in the spring of gatd closing device 40, the weight of the parts of this device together with the weight of arm grip 31 acts through arm 30 to return the gate to closed position. If, after a button has been pushed the gate is opened suiliciently to turn disc 53 so that flattened portion 54 is moved from beneath roller 70 and the areaate portion into engagement therewith, cam 88 moves out of engagement with roller 108 causing contact 1013 to engage contact 103, thus reenergizing magnet 74: to raise roller 70 out of engagement with disc 54 to permit the gate to be closed, as previously described.

Although the gate operating and holding device has been described adapted to an automatic push button elevator system, it is equally applicable to other types of control systems, such as other systems in which the control is effected by push buttons or systems in which an attendant is provided to controi both the starting and stopping of the car or only the starting thereof. Furthermore, a manually operable gate control switch may be provided, in the system in which the mechanism is employed, to control the energization of magnet 74. In any of these systems, in which the ate operating and holding device is embofied, a person using the car is relieved of the burden of holding the gate in open position while en tering or leaving the car and also of the burden of closing the gate. A closed car gate is also assured while the'car is in motion, thus protecting occupants of the car from the possibility of injury by contact with projections in the hatchway. As stated above, power operated means, such as described in applicants prior patent, ma also be provided to open the car gate an the operating and holding device may be used on hatchway doors as Well as car gates.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this inven-' tion could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In combination with a closure; a closure operator adapted to move said closure to closed position; means for restraining said closure operator from moving said closure comprising, a rotatable member operable upon movement of said closure, and means adapted to engage-said rotatable member to prevent movement of said closure to closed position by said closure operator; means adapted to be operated to free said rotatable member from said engaging means to permit said closure to be moved to closed position by said closure operator, said last mentioned means being momentarily operated; a latch adapted to maintain said engaging means out of cooperative relation with said rotatable member to permit continued movement of said closure by said closure operator upon cessation of operation of said momentarily operated means; and means carried by said rotatable member adapted to release said latching means as said closure nears closed position.

2. In combination with a closure; a closure operator adapted to move said closure to closed position; means for restrainin said closure operator from moving said clbsure from an open position toward closed position, said means comprising, a rotatable member operable by said closure operator, and an eccentrically mounted roller adapted to engage said member to revent movement of said member and there y prevent movement of said closure toward closed position by said closure operator; means adapted to free said member from the restraint 'of said roller and permit said closure operator to move said closure to closed position, said last mentioned means being momentarily operated; and a latch adapted to maintain said member free from the restraint of said roller to permit said closure operator to continue movement of said closure to closed position.

3. In combination with a closure; a closure operator adapted to move said closure to closed position; means for restraining said closure opepator from moving said closure from an open position toward closed posi tion, said means comprising, a rotatable member operable upon movement of said closure, and an eccentrically mounted roller adapted to engage said member to prevent movement of said closure toward closed position by said closure operator; a lever connected to said roller, an electromagnet having an armature connected to said lever and adapted upon energization to move said roller from engagement with said member to permit movement of saidclosure to close position by said closure operator, said ro. atable member having a flattened portion adapted to underlie said roller; and a stop adapted to be engaged by said lever whereby movement of said closure within a predetermined zone is unaffected by said roller.

4. In combination with a closure; a closure operator adapted to bias said closure to closed position; means for restraining said closure operator from moving said closure from an open toward closed position, said means comprising, a rotatable disc connected to rotate whenever movement of said closure occurs, and an eccentrically mounted roller adapted to engage said disc to prevent movement of said closure toward closed position by said closure operator; a lever connected to said roller; an electromagnet having an armature connected to said lever and adapted, upon energization, to rotate said roller about its eccentric mounting from engagement with said disc to permit movement of said closure to closed position by said closure operator, said electromagnet being momentarily energized; a latch adapted upon energization of said electromagnet to engage said lever to maintain said roller from contact with said disc thereby permitting continued movement of said closure by said closure operator upon deenergization of said electromagnet; and means carried by said disc adapted to move said latch from engagement with said lever when said closure nears closed position.

5. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a closure adapted when open to aiford access to said car; a closure operator adapted to bias said closure to one of its operated positions; and means for holding said closure in any other position, when so moved, said means comprising, a rotatable member operable by said closure operator, a stub shaft, a roller eccentrically mounted on said stub shaft, a lever connected to said roller, a spring engaging said lever to bias said roller about said shaft into contact with said rotatable member,whereby the tendency of said closure operator to move said closure to said one position operates said rotatable member which in turn causes said roller to turn on said shaft so as to decrease the distance between the center of the shaft and the point of contact of said roller and said rotatable member to prevent operation of said rotatable member and thereby prevent operation of said clo sure operator to move said closure to said one position.

6. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a closure adapted when open to afford access to said car; a closure operator adapted to bias said closure to one of its operated positions; a rotatable member operable upon movement of said closure; a stub shaft; a roller eccentrically mounted on said shaft; a lever connected to said roller; a spring engaging said lever to turn said roller about said shaft into contact with said member to prevent movement of said closure by said closure operator; and neans cooperating with said lever to turn said roller about said stub shaft to increase the distance between the center of said stub shaft and the point of contact of said roller and said rotatable member to permit said closure operator to move said closure to said one position.

7. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a gate on said car; a closure operator connected to said gate for biasing said gate to closed position; a rotatable member operable upon movement of said gate; means adapted to cooperate with said member to prevent the closing of said gate by said closure operator; electromagnetic means adapted, upon energization, to release said means first mentioned means from cooperation with said member to permit movement of said gate to closed position by said closure operator; a latch adapted to maintain said first mentioned means in released position; and a switch operable to deenergize said electromagnetic means upon operation of said latch.

8. In an elevator installation; anelevator car; a gate on said car; a gate operator biasing said gate to closed position; a rotatable member operable upon movement of said gate; a stub shaft; a roller eccentrically mounted on said stub shaft; a lever connected to said roller; a spring'engaging said lever for biasing said roller for rotation about said shaft into contact with said rotatable member to prevent movement of said gate by said closure operator; means cooperating with said lever to turn said roller about said stub shaft to permit movement of said gate by said gate operator, said means being momentarily operated; a latch adapted to engage said lever to maintain said roller out of contact with said rotatable member to permit continued movement of said gate by said gate operator upon cessation of operation of said momentarily operated means; a trip ca rriedby said rotatable member adapted to free said lever from said latch when said gate reaches a predetermined position in closing to permit said spring to return said roller to position for engaging said rotatable member; said rotatable member having a flattened portion adapted to underlie said roller when said gate is moved to said predetermined position; and a stop adapted to be engaged by said lever to maintain said roller out of contact with the flattened portion of said rotatable member to permit continued free movement of said gate to fully closed position.

9. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a gate for said car; a gate operator for biasing said gate to closed position; means for maintaining said gate in open position, when so moved, comprising a rotatable disc mounted on said car and operable upon movement of said gate, an eccentrically mounted roller, a lever connected to said roller, and

means biasing said lever to move said roller into contact with said disc to prevent rotation thereof; electromagnetic means connected to said lever adapted to move said roller from contact with said disc to permit said gat operator to close said gate; a latch adapted to engage said lever to maintain said roller from contact with said disc: a switch controlled by said latch adapted upon operation to de energize said electromagnetic means; a tripping member carried by said disc adapted to release said latch to permit said spring to restore said roller to operative position and to close said switch to prepare the circuit for said electromagnetic means, the peripheral surface of said disc being provided with a flattened portion adapted to be moved into alignment with said roller when said gate is moved within a predetermined zone: a stop adapted to be engaged by said lever to maintain said roller out of contact with the flattened portion of said disc so that the final movement of said gate to closed position by said gate operator is nnretarded by said roller a cam carried by said gate and a switch operable by said cam when said gate is moved into said zone for maintaining the circuit of said electromagnetic means open when said first mentioned switch is closed by said tripping member.

10. In an elevator installation having a hatchway, an elevator car movable therein, operating means controlling the movement of said car in said hatchway, a gate for said car and means biasing said gate to closed position; restraining means for preventing the operation of said biasing means and for maintaining said gate in any of a plurality of open positions; means for releasing said gate from said restraining means to permit said biasing means to close said gate; means for energizing said releasing means upon the operation of said car operating means; means controlled by said releasing means to deenergize the same when said gate is freed from said restraining means; and other means controlled by said releasing means adapted to permit continued movement of said gate by said biasing means upon deenergization of said releasing means.

11. In an elevator installation having a hatchway and an elevator car movable therein; operating means controlling the move ment of said car in said hatchway; a gate for said oar; means biasing said gate to closed position; restraining means for preventing the operation of said biasing means and for maintaining said gate in any of a plurality of open positions; electromagnetic meansenergizable to release said gate from said restraining means to permit said biasing means to close said gate; means for energizin said releasing means upon the operation 0? said ear operating means; a switch controlled by said releasing means and adapted to deenergize the latter when said gate is freed from said restraining means; other means controlled by said releasing means adapted to permit continued movement of said gate by said biasing means upon dcenergization of said releasing means; means adapted to 0p erate said switch to prepare an energizing circuit for said releasing means when said gate in closing reaches a predetermined position; and a switch controlled by the position oi said gate adapted to be closed when said gate is open and to be opened when said gate is in substantially closed position, said switch upon being opened, as the gate reaches substantially closed position, acting to maintain said energizing circuit interrupted.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS BRADY.

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