US2287751A - Interlock for elevator doors - Google Patents

Description

June 23,1942. E, FENN 2,287,751

INTERLOCK' FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Filed Sept. 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l EMORY W FENN INVENTOR- F12" PER ATTORNEY June 23, 1942. I .-w. FENN 2,287,751

INTERLOCK FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Filed Sept. 27. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EMORY W FENN /NVENTOR ER ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1942 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,751 INTERLOOK FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Emory W. Fenii, Chicago, 111.

Application September 27, 1940, Serial No. 358,693

12 Claims. (01. 1s7 s1) This invention relates to an improved interlock for a vertical sliding elevator and dumbwaiter door and has, for one of its principal objects, the provision of a device which will not allow the elevator door to be opened unless the car is at the station where the goods or. passengers are to be removed from the elevator.

One of the important objects of this invention is the provision of a door interlocking device for freight elevators and dumb-waiters which will make the operation of the doors simple and yet fool proof, because of simplicity of design and small number of parts.

Another important object resides in the provision of an automatic door releasing device for elevators and the like.

3 A further object is the provision of a door interlocking and safety device which will open the elevator control circuit when any one of the station doors to the shaft is opened.

One object of the invention is to provide, in connection with an elevator system, means whereby none of the doors in the system can be open while the elevator is traveling. Thisprevents so-called stealing the elevator, and in some buildings, like larger apartment houses, the stealing of groceries and the like which may be sent up in elevators of the dumb-waiter type.

Another important object is to provide, in an interlock for elevators, a construction whereby every part including the base plate is interchangeable whereby the same can be used either on right or left handed devices or in cases where the door opens on upward movement or on downward movement.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of a safety device which, while automatic in nature, requires a minimum amount of maintenance.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is shown in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: j

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device of this invention with the door locked into a closed position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure of Figure 1, showing a cut-away portion of the elevator and door.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device of and the operating mechanism in its normal position while the elevator is being operated.

Figure 4 is a front view of a cut-away portion of the device showing the interlocking mechanism when the door at the station lowers to open instead of raising as in Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 5 is a cut-away portion of the device of Figure 3, showing the relationship of certain elements when the door is open.

Figure 6 isa detailview showing the device when the door has been normally opened.

As shown in the drawings: 7 The reference numeral 8 indicates generally the assembly plate which contains holes 40 that permit the fastening of this device to the proper location in the elevator shaft. The box l0 contains the electricalcontrol switch and is bolted to the assembly plate 8. The rectangular bar I2 which is slidably mounted on the pin I4, is normally held against the key or cotter pin l6 by the spring 18.

When the circuit is closed as shown in Figure 1, the rectangular bar I2, which may be made of any electrical conducting material, is caused to contact the terminals 20 and thus provide a complete circuit for the passage of current. Therefore, with the switch or circuit breaker closed, the dumb-waiter or elevator is ready to be moved to any predetermined station. These terminals .20, to which the control circuit wires (not shown) may be attached, are mounted on an insulating block 22. The numeral 38 indicates a connector used to grip an electrical cable which contains wires that connect the terminals 20.

The element 24, to which the pin I4 is secured, is made of any non-conducting material such as fiber, mica or the like. This element 24 .is fastened to the upper part of the rod 26 by the screws 28. .The box I!) is completely enclosed with a tight fitting cover 42 shown broken away in Figure 1. The built-up portions are an integral'part of the box It], and one of these provides a seating means for the coiled spring 46. These built-up portions are at either lower corner so the box may be used for either right or left-hand camsv32; that is, the box may be used on the right or left side of the shaft, depending on the position of the cam on the elevator.

A flat ribbed plate 48, which operates within the forked end of the hold-up lever arm 52, is fastened to the door 30 in some suitable manner such as by the fiat L-shaped iron 50, which is secured to the door by the bolt 54. The hold-up this invention with the door in a closed position lever arm 52 pivots about the bolt 56, whenever the door 30 is opened or closed. When the door 30 is closed, the fiat ribbed plate 48 contacts the straight prong 58 of the forked lever arm 52, and in so doing, gives it a counter-clockwise rotation which causes the rod 26 and the rocker arm 60 to be forced to their relative normal positions as shown in Figure 3. The rod 25 pivots slightly about the bolt 62. The bolt 62 holds the lever arm 52 pivotally in contact with the rod 26. The bolt 55 holds the lever arm 52 pivotally secured to the assembly plate 8. When the door 30 is closed, the lever arm 52 contacts the rocker arm 60 and raises it to its normal position against the spring 46 and in readiness for operation. The rocker arm 60 is pivotally fastened to the plate 8 by the bolt 66.

A two-piece extension it with its sections Ma and 14b rotatably secured to each other at 68 is adjustably fastened at 10 to the arm 66 by the bolt 12. A roller 36 is rotatably mounted on the extension arm Na by the bolt 15. There are projections l8 and ill] on each section of the extension arm Ma and 74b respectively and are adapted to retain the spring 82 in its proper relationship to these projections. The spring 82 urges the section Ma into its normal position against the lug Me which is integral with the section Mb. The spring 82 is sufficiently heavy to prevent any relative folding of the sections Ma and 14b such as might be encountered when the roller 36 is resting against the cam 32 and the rocker arm 50 is in the position shown in Figure 1. However, when the rocker arm 50 and rod are in the position shown in Figure 5, the extension arm 14 assumes a position of angularity relative to its normal position and causes the periphery of the roller 36 to extend to the right to contact the face of the cam 32. Since one prong 84 .of the rod 26 is engaged in the wedge-shaped slot 86 of the rocker arm 50, the section Ma of the extension arm 14, which is pivoted about the point 68, will be made to co-act with the elevator cam whenthe car passes.

Figure 4 exemplifies the arrangement of the mechanism in this device when the elevator shaft door lowers to an open position. This illustration shows the door locked. The principle of this mechanism is, of course, the same as for the device of Figure 3 where the door is raised to an open position. The parts used in this device are substantially the same with .only. a slight modification as can be seen in the drawings. The lever arm 53 is pivotally secured to the plate 8 by the bolt 51. It will be noted that when the door raises, the pivotal point of the hold-up lever arm is at 55 (Figure 3), but where the door lowers to open, the pivotal point is at 5'? (Figure 4). The offset rod 21 is rotatably fastened to the lever arm 53 by the. bolt 63. In its normal position, the hold-up lever arm 53 is raised to a substantial horizontal position and at right angles with the rod 21. The lever arm 53 coacts with the projection 55 of the. rocker arm 6! to hold it in the position shown in Figure 3.

To best explain the functioning and operation of this device, it will be necessary to assume that the door may often be in divers positions and the relative action of the mechanism at such times will be considered. In Figure 3, the device is shown in its normal closed position, and in this position, the electrical circuit is kept closed through the operation of the rod 25 which is pivoted to the hold-up lever arm. This lever arm contacts the rocker arm and holds it and accordingly the roller to the proper distancefrom the elevator cam. In its normal position, the elevator cam never contacts the roller in its passing up and down the shaft. This means a silently operated elevator.

When the elevator stops at a position with the cam opposite the roller, but a predetermined distance from it as shown in Figure 3, the door to the shaft may be opened. In opening the door, the lever arm freely rotates in a clockwise direction and, in so doing, allows the rocker arm which it was holding, to pivot downwardly, aided by the spring 48 and the weight of the arm, into the position shown in Figure 5. During this operation, the rod 25, which is pivoted to the lever arm, also drops downwardly into the position shown in Figure 5. As shown in the drawings, particularly Figures 3 and 5, the rocker arm cannot pivot downwardly in a clockwise rotation beyond the position shown in Figure 5 when the elevator cam is opposite the roller. This allows for free movement by the bifurcated rod 25.

If there is an attempt to open the door from its normally closed position when the elevator is not opposite the roller, the lever arm will be moved from its horizontal position in Figure 3 to an angular position shown in Figure 1. This movement of the hold-up lever arm will allow the rocker arm to pivot in a clockwise direction, beyond the position shown in Figure 5 where the roller hits against the cam, because there is no cam present to prevent its pivotal movement to a position beneath the rod 25 Where the element 84 engages the V-shaped slot 86. The'engagement of the bifurcated rod 26 with the rocker arm prevents any further clockwise rotation of the lever arm which engages the flat ribbed plate 48 which is securely fastened to the door 30 and precludes opening the door.

Since the circumference of the roller extends into the path of the cam, it might be thought that if the door is held upwardly against the element 52a as the elevator passes, the cam will strike the roller and disengage the rocker arm from the element 84, thus permitting the rod 26 to drop to the position shown in Figure 5 and thereby allow opening of the door. But such is not the case because when the moving elevator strikes the roller 35, the element Ma merely pivots about 68 and compresses the spring 82 leaving the prong 84 engaged in the slot 85. It can be seen that with this device, any attempt to open the doors to the elevator shaft when the elevator is not standing at that landing will be futile. To disengage the rocker arm, it is only necessary to lower the door to a completely closed position, thereby raising the rod 25 out of the V-shaped slot 86 and permitting the rocker arm to move out from under the end of the rod. The door is then again in position to be opened.

Herein is provided a device which will preclude so-called stealing the elevator, as it passes from floor to floor. Such a practice of stealing the elevator, which may have on it groceries or other commodities is now prevalent in hotels and apartment houses.

This invention is made to operate with a minimum number of moving parts. The parts are interchangeable and may be used for doors which open right or left.

It must be remembered that this invention provides an interlocking mechanism which the elevator cam does not contact, if no attempt is made to open the door and steal theelevator, when passing up and down the shaft, thereby eliminating the constant. clickingof .the elevator.

cam on the roller which all other prior types of door interlocking devices have. This provides for a silent operating mechanism which is highly important in hospitals and dwellings.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughouta wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. Interlocks for elevator doors having an electrical circuit, a circuit breaker, means for actuating the circuit breaker, said means comprising a rod, a forked lever arm, a flat plate cooperating with the forked end of the lever arm, locking means for the circuit breaker and door, said locking means comprising a rocker arm engaging the rod, means for actuating the lock ing means, said means comprising a two-piece pivotally joined extension arm adjustably secured to said rocker arm at one end and having a roller on its opposite end. 7

2. In an interlock for elevator doors, a door, a lever arm, a circuit interrupting arm pivotally secured to the lever arm, a rocker arm, an extension arm, said extension arm being composed of two pivotally joined elements held in proper relationshipby a spring, and adjustably secured to the rocker arm and a cam on the elevator.

3. In an interlock for elevator doors having an electrical circuit, a cam on the elevator, an assembly plate, a switch, a rocker arm, a twopiece jointed extension arm secured thereto to cooperate with the elevator cam, means for holding the switch and rocker arm in their respective positions, means for actuating the rocker arm, and means for actuating the switch.

4. In an interlock for elevator doors having an electrical circuit, an elevator cam, an assembly plate, a switch, a rocker arm, an extension arm secured thereto to cooperate with the elevator cam, means for holding the switch and rocker arm in their respective positions, said means including a lever arm, means for actuating the rocker arm, and means for actuating the switch.

5. In an interlock for elevator doors having an electrical circuit, a cam in the elevator, an assembly plate, a switch, a rocker arm, an extension arm secured thereto to cooperate with the elevator cam, means for holding the switch and rocker in their respective positions, said means including a lever arm, means for actuating the rocker arm, said means comprising the elevator cam, and means for actuating the switch.

6. In an interlock for elevator doors having an electrical circuit, an elevator cam, an assembly plate, a switch, a rocker arm, an extension arm secured thereto to cooperate with the elevator cam, means for holding the switch and rocker arm in their respective positions, said means including a lever arm, means for actuating the rocker arm, said means comprising the elevator cam, means for actuating the switch, said means comprising a plate on the door cooperating with a forked end of the lever arm.

7. In an elevator system, having a number of landings and a car, a door at each landing, interlock means at each landing for preventing opening of a door except when the car is at that landing, said means including a lug on the door, a rod vertically movable in the interlock means, a circuit make and break switch controlled by the rod, and means for locking the rod in current making position except when the. car is'at a landing, said means including a rocker :zrmhaving an end adapted to project below the end of the vertical arm, and a lever arm operated by the lug on a landing door for shifting the vertical arm to break the circuit.

8, In an elevator system, having a number of landings and a car, a door at each landing, interlock means at each landing for preventing opening of a door except when the car is at that landing, said means including a lug on the door, a rod vertically movable in the interlock means, a circuit make and break switch controlled by the rod, and means for locking the rod in current making position except when the car is at a landing, said means including a rocker arm having an end adapted to project below the end of the vertical arm, and a lever arm operated by the lug on a landing door for shifting the vertical arm to break the circuit, said lever arm also operating to shift the rocker arm to lock the vertical arm when a car is not at the land- 9. In an elevator system, having a number of landings and'a car, a door at each landing, interlock means at each landing for preventing opening of a door except when the car is at that landing, said means including a lug on the door, a rod vertically movable in the interlock means, a circuit make and break switch controlled by the rod, and means for locking the rod in current making position except when the car is at a landing, said means including a rocker arm having an end adapted to project below the end of the vertical arm, and a lever arm operated by the lug on a landing door for shifting the vertical arm to break the circuit, said lever arm also operating to shift the rocker arm to lock the vertical arm when a car is not at the landing, and a cam on the elevator acting to lock the rocker arm in retracted position for release of the Vertical arm by the lever arm when the elevator is at a landing.

10. In an elevator system, having a number of landings and a car, a door at each landing, interlock means at each landing for preventing opening of a door except when the car is at that landing, said means including a lug on the door, a rod vertically movable in the interlock means, a circuit make and break switch controlled by the rod, and means for locking the rod in current making position except when the car is at a landing, said means including a rocker arm having an end adapted to project below the end of the vertical arm, and a lever arm operated by the lug on a landing door for shifting the vertical arm to break the circuit, said lever arm also operating to shift the rocker arm to lock the vertical arm when a car is not at the landing, and a cam on the elevator acting to lock the rocker arm in retracted position for release or the vertical arm by the lever arm when the elevator is at a landing, a roller on the rocker arm adapted to normally stay out of contact with the elevator cam and ride against the same for maintaining the rocker arm in retracted position when the door is opened at the time that the elevator is at that landing.

11. In an elevator system, having a number of landings and a car, a door at each landing,

interlock means at each landing for preventing opening of a door except when the car is at that landing, said means including a lug on the door, a rod vertically movable in the interlock means, a circuit make and break switch controlled by the rod, and means for locking the rod in current making position except when the car is atv a landing, said means including a rocker arm having an end adapted to project below the end of the vertical arm, and a lever arm operated by the lug on a landing door for shifting the vertical arm to break the circuit, said lever arm also operating to shift the rocker arm to lock the vertical arm when a car is not at the landing, and a cam on the elevator acting to lock the rocker arm in retracted position for release of the vertical arm by the lever arm when the elevator is at a landing, a roller on the rocker armadapted to normally stay out of contact with the elevator cam and ride against the same for maintaining the rocker arm in retracted position when the door is opened at the time that the elevator is at that landing, and further means on the rocker arm adapted to prevent release of the vertical bar by the rocker arm in the event that said bar has been locked against downward movement by a door opening movement when the elevator is not at that landing.

12. In an elevator system, having a number of landings and a car, a door at each landing, interlock means at each landing for preventing opening of a door except when the car is at that landing, said means including 2. lug on the door, a rod vertically movable in the interlock means,

a'circuit make and'break switch. controlled by thero'd', and'means for'locking the rod in current making position except when the car is at a landing, said means including a rocker arm having an end adapted to project below the end of the vertical arm, and a lever arm operated by the lug on a landing door for shifting the vertical arm to break the circuit, said lever arm also operating to shift the rocker arm to lock the vertical arm when a car is not at the landing, and a cam on the elevator acting to lock the rocker arm in retracted position for release of the vertical arm by the lever arm when the elevator is at a landing, a roller on the rocker arm adapted to normally stay out of contact with the elevator cam and ride against the same for maintaining the rocker arm in retracted position when the door is opened at the time that the elevator is at that landing, and further means on the rocker arm adapted to prevent the release of the vertical bar by the rocker arm in the event that said bar has been locked against downward movement b a door opening movement when the elevator is not at that landing, said means comprising a broken joint in the. rocker arm and a bifurcated link and spring in connection with the joint.

EMORY W. FENN.

Images