US2517713A

US2517713A - Elevator door system

Info

Publication number: US2517713A
Application number: US776597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lennius R Rissler
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1947-09-27
Filing date: 1947-09-27
Publication date: 1950-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1967-08-08

Description

Aug. 8, 1950 R. RISSLER ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27. 1947 iNVENTOR l awn/U5 E 535/6/7 ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1950 R. RISSLER ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1947 INVENTOR WITNESSES: fi 732% L arm/a5 E El 3.9/6/7 fl Offim ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1950 I L. R. RISSLER ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 27, 194'? r 2 E We 5 m z WITNESSES:

ATTORN EY Aug. 1950 R. RISSLER 2,517,713

ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM Filed Sept. 27, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I05 I Z 7 /0.9 /07 WITNESSES: INVENTOR sY kfajmn ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1950 ELEVATOR noon SYSTEM Lennius B. Rissler, Hh0kllS,N. .L, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 27, 1947, Serial No. 776,597

1 This invention relates to door assemblies and it has particular relation to elevator systems employing power-driven door assemblies.

Tlhe invention is applicable to door assemblies of. varioustypes such as center opening, side opening, single speed and two-speed door assemblies. However, for the purpose of discussion, reference will be made to door assemblies of the center opening type as employed in elevator systems.

8 Claims; (01. 187--31) In accordance with the invention, an elevator 'car is provided with a door operating motor which opens and closes not only the car doors but the associated hatch or shaft doors. In order to prevent unauthorized door operation, latches are provided for retaining the doors. inclosed positions- Provision is made for release of the latches by the motor disposed on the elevator car. To this end, a slip coupling is provided through which the motor releases the latches. Upon completion of the releasing operation, the slip 'coup- It is a further object of the invention to provide adoor assembly wherein a, motor opens and closes a door and also releases latches which in latched position retain the door in closed position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a motor for operating doors with a slip coupling through which additional functions may be performed.

It is also an objectof the invention to provide cessively closed as an elevator door approaches closed position and wherein the switches are selectively available for performing a desired control operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunc tion with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation with parts broken away of an elevator car embodying the invention;

an elevator system wherein switches are sucv 2 Fig. la is a view in side elevation of a camassembly employed in the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a view in sectional elevation of a portionota hatch suitable for the elevator car of Fig.1; I

Fig. 3 is a view in section through the hatch of Fig. 2, showing the elevator car of Fig.1 adjacent a pair of hatch doors;

Fig. 4 is a view in top plan with parts broken away of a latch assembly embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation with parts broken away showing the latch assembly of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a detailview in section showing the construction of a slip coupling employed in the invention;

Fig.7 is a View in top plan with parts broken away showin a modificationof the latch assembly illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation with parts broken away of the structure shown inFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a control circuit suitable for an elevator system embodying the invention; I

Fig.l0 is a View in side elevation with parts broken away of a modified latch assembly;and Fig; 11 is a view in plan of a contact assembly employedin the latch assembly of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an elevator car i which is mounted in a suitable hatch (not shown in Fig. l) for reciprocation in the direction of the arrows 3. The elevator car includes'a pair of center opening doors 5 and 1. The door 5 is mounted on hangers 9 having rollers II for reciprocation along a horizontal rail l3. In a similar manner, the door I is provided with hangers l5 having rollers ll engagingthe rail l3to guide the door 7 therealong. It will be noted that the door 5 is movable from the closed position illustrated in full lines to an open position fia indicated in dotted lines. The door 1 similarly is movable fromthe closed position illustrated in fulllines to an open position lat indi- I cated in dotted lines.

In order to open and close the doors 5. and I, a door operating lever 18. is pivotally mounted .on the car I" by means of a suitable pivot 2i. One end of the lever [B is pivotally connected to a link 23 which, I in turn, is pivotally connected by "means of a pin 25 to the door 5. In a somewhat similar manner, an operatinglever 21 is pivotally v "secured to the car I by means of a pivot 29. The lever '21 also is pivotally connected to a link 3! which is pivotally attached to the door 5' by means of a suitable pivot 33.

By inspection of Fig. 1, it will be observed that a link has its ends pivotally connected respectively to the levers it or 21. Consequently, as the operating lever is is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, to open the door 5., the link 35 rotates the operating lever 2'! in a counterclockwise direction to open the door '1. Reverse movements of the levers reclose the doors. The structure of Fig. 1 thus far specifically described is well known in the art.

Operating forces are applied to the lever l9 through a link 31 which has one end pivotally connected to the lever l9 and its remaining end pivotally connected to a crankv 39. The. free end of the crank 39 is rigidly secured to a shaft 4|. Consequently, as the crank 39 rotates in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in full lines to the position 39a illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l, the doors 5 and I are opened. It should be noted that during this operation the crank '39 travelsless than 180. Also, because of the angular relationships between the crank and the link 31, if the crank rotates at a uniform angular rate, the doors move at low speeds ad jacent their open and closed positions and with a substantially larger velocity adjacent intermediate positions.

Rotation of the shaft 4| is effected by an electric, motor 43 through a suitable gear reduction 45. The electric motor 43 is provided with a suitable reversing control. For example, a push button ma be provided to energize the electric motor for rotation in a first direction tov open the doors. A second push button then maybe provided to energize the motor for rotation in a reverse direction to. close the doors. Since circuits for controlling door operating motors are wellknown in the art, a detailed discussion thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

The elevator car of Fig. 1 is designed for reciprocation in a shaft or hatch 41 which is shown in part in Fig. 2. As well understood .in the. art, the hatch extends in a vertical direction in a bu'ildingto guide the elevator car between a number of floors. At each of the floors the hatch 41 is providedwith a pair of hatch doors 4'9 and 5| which may be moved from the closed .pos'itions illustrated in full lines to the open positions 49a. and 51a shown in broken lines. The door 49 is provided with hangers 53 and hanger rollers 55 for guiding the door along a horizontal rail 5.? which is secured to the hatch. Similarly, the door 5| is provided with hangers 59 andv hanger rollers 6| which guide the door 5| along the rail '51.

In order to assure movement of the doors 49 and '5 in unison, a pair of sheaves 63 and 65 are mounted for rotation adjacent the ends of the rail 51. A flexible cable 51 extends around the sheave 63 and has its ends connected respectively to one of the hangers 53 and one of the hangers 59. In a somewhat similar manner, a flexible cable 69 extends around the sheave 65 and has its ends connected respectively to one of the hangers 55 and one of the hangers 6|. The flexible cables assure movements of the doors in unison in a manner well known in the art.

The doors 49 and 5| are resiliently biased towards closed position in any suitable manner. As illustrated in Fig. 2, a pair of links H and 13 are pivotally connected together. The free end of the link 13 is pivotally connected to the door 49 and the free end of the link H is pivotally connected to a lug 75 which is secured to the hatch. A spring unit 11 is pivotally connected to the link H and to 2. lug I9 which is secured to the hatch. The spring unit 11 continuously urges the link II in a clockwise direction about the lug 15 for the purpose of urging the doors 49 and 5| towards their closed positions. The spring unit I! may include a hydraulic check or shock absorber to prevent slamming of the doors. The spring unit H closes the doors if for any reason they are opened when the elevator car is not adjacent the associated floor. In addition, the spring unit tends to eliminate vibration which otherwise might be present during an opening or closing operation of the doors.

It is desirable that the same motor employed for operating the elevator car doors be employed for opening and closing the hatch doors 49 and 5|. For this reason, mechanism is provided for connecting the elevator car and hatch doors when the elevator car is adjacent such hatch doors. As shown in Fig. 2, the. door 49 is provided with a grooved block 8| which is positioned to receive slidably in the groove a vane83 which is secured to one, of the elevator car doors (the vane is shown in dotted lines in.Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 1, the vane 83 is elongated in the direction of travel of the elevator car. The relationship between the vane 83 and the grooved lock 8| is clearly shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, when the elevator car is adjacent a floor of the associated building the vane 83 is received in the groove 'Bla of the block 8|. When the door 1 on the elevator car is moved by its associated electric motor 43, operating forces are also applied through the vane 83 and the groove block 8| to the door 49. Consequently, the same motor is effective for opening and closing both the elevator car and the doors and the hatch doors.

Since the hatch doors are accessible to the public at each floor of the building in which the elevator system is located, it is desirable that the doors be latched against unauthorized operation. For this purpose, a latch unit 85 is mounted on one of the hangers 53 (see Fig. 2) and a latch casing 81 is secured to the rail 51. Release of the latch unit. is effected by rotation of a rod 89 which has an operating arm 9| and anoperating roller 93 at one end thereof. Emergency release of the latch unit may be effected by arms A which are engageable by a removable operatingkey K. The construction of the latch unit 85 and the latch casing 81 will be understood .from astudy of Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be observed that two

latches

85a and 85b are mounted for rotation on a pin 95 which is secured to the hanger '53. The latch 85a has an arm 91 which cooperates with a stop pin 99 secured tothe hanger 53. to permit a'limited rotation of the latch 85a about the ,pin 95. The latch 85b may be provided with an arm (not shown) similar to the arm 9'! for the same purpose.

The latch 850. has .a lip ||1| which cooperates with a rib I93. of the casing 81 to latch the doors against movement. As the doc-rs approach closed position, a. bevel H14. on the latch 85a ridesv over the rib I03 until the lip 'Hll drops to prevent an opening movement of the doors. In order to expedite operation of the elevator system, the lip lfll, may be designed to drop over the rib I03 before the doors reached fully closed position. For example, the doors may be approximately two inches from fully closed position when the latch 85a drops to prevent a reopening of the doors.

During the continued closing operation of the doors, thelip IOI movesawayfrorn therib I03 to the position illustratedinFig 5. I

The latch 85b is designed to. latchlthe doors in fully closed position. To this end,'the latch 85?) has a lip I05 which rides over the rib I03 and drops in the position illustrated inFig. 5 just as the doors reach fully closed position.

In order to release the latches, a release lever I01 is pivotally secured by a pin I09 to the casing 81. This lever has a plate I II positioned under the lips IOI and I05. Consequently, when the releaselever I01 is rotated in a. clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, the plate III raises the lips I05 and IDI until he lips can be withdrawn over the rib I03.

It will be recalled that the release operation of the latches may be effected by rotation of the rod 89. This rod is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings H3 and .I I5 provided inthe casing 81. The rod 99 carries a pin II1. which projects Conveniently, one or more of the latches may be employed for operating an electric switch to provide a control for theelevator system. For example, in Figs. 4 and 5, the latch 05a has an insulating plate I2I secured thereto in any suitable manner as by a machine screw I23. The insulating plate IZI has a metal strip I25 secured to its lower face in any suitable manner. By inspection of Fig. 5, it will be observed that the metal strip I25 is positioned to engage the operating pin I21 of an electric switch I29. Consequently, as the lip IOI clears the rib I03 during a closing operation of the doorsthe metal strip I25 drops to engage the pin I21 and operate the switch I29. It will be recalled that such operation occurs when the doors are a proximately two inches from their fully closed position. The switch I29 may be in the control circuit for the elevator car to prevent movement of the elevator car until the latch 85a has entered the casing 81 to prevent opening of the associate doors. The switch ,will be discussed further below.

It will be recalled that the latches may be released by suitable actuation of the roller93 to rotate the rod 89. The weight of the roller and arm 9| normally keep the rod in the position i1- lustrated in Fig. 5. For the purpose of actuating the roller 93, a cam I3I is provided (see Figs. 1, la. and 3). The cam I3I is secured to the elevator car by parallel links I33 (see Fig. 1a).

Each of the links I33 is pivoted to the cam and to an angle member I35 which is secured to the elevator car. By inspection of Fig. 1a., it will be observed that the full lines show the cam I3I in retracted position. As the cam islifted by means of a link I31, the links I33 approach a horizontal position and project thecam towards the broken line position I39 to actuate the roller 93.

I The link I311is actuated by means of a bell-.

otallyconnected thereto. ;The remaining end of the rod I45 is connected pivotally to an arm I41 which is mounted for rotation about the axis of 6 slip coupling which is illustrated in detail in Fig.6. As shown in Fig. 6, the crank 39 has a male conical. surface I53 which is positioned adjacent a mating female conical surface I55 formed in the arm I41. The arm I41 is resiliently biased to wards the crank 39 by means of a coil spring I51 which is located between two washers I59 and I 6|. The washer I59 surrounds the shaft 4| and abuts a shoulder 4Ia formed on the shaft. Suitable friction material M may be located between the arm I41 and the adjacent surfaces of the crank 39 and the washer I6I. Such material may take the form of leather or other materials commonly employed for facings of clutches or brakes. From the foregoing discussion, it is clear that the arm I41 is coupled to the shaft 4| through a slip friction clutch or slip coupling.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the arm I41 has a limited angular movement. For example, a movement of 5 aboutthe axis of the shaft 4| may suflice to move the cam I3I between its retracted and expanded positions. However, the slip coupling permits continued rotation of the shaft 4| to complete the opening or closing of the associated doors.

It will be recalled that the latch a. shownin Fig. 5 is designed to operate a switch I129 about two inches before closure of the doors. If desired, a similar electric switch I65 (Figs. '7 and 8) may be associated with a latch 8513 which corresponds to the latch 85b of Fig. 4. To this end, it may be necessary to space the parts toprovide adequate room for theswitch I65 but, except for the changes herein mentioned, the structure of the latch unit and casing otherwise remains the same as. that described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

The latch 85B of Figs. 7 and 8 is similar tothe latch b Of Fig. 4 except that an extension I61 is provided for reception of an insulating plate I69. The insulating plate I69 is similar to plate I 2 I but may be somewhat shorter for the reason that it engages its associated switch I65 only when the doors are in fully closed position. The lever I01a correspondsto the lever I01 of Figs. 4 and 5 but is provided with a somewhat larger plate I IIa because of the increased spacing between the latches 85A and 8513. When the structure of Figs. 7 and 8 is employed, the switches I29 and I65 are successively actuated as the doors approach their fully closed positions.

The arrangement of the switches I29 and IE5 may be similar to that illustrated in Fig. 9. p In Fig. 9 the hatch doors for the various floors are indicated by the labels, Door 1" and Door 2. It will be understood that the number of doors corresponds to the number of floors but it will be assumed, for the purpose of simplicity, that only two doors are served by the elevator car. The switches I29 and l 55 of all the doors are connected in series with a car switch CS and the solenoid of a relay R between two conductors LI andLZ which represents a source of direct current. The switches I29 and IE5 for Door #1 are illustrated in detail. If Door #1 is open both of the switches I29 and I65 are open. As the door oloses, the switch I29 closes in advance of the switch I65. It will be assumed that the relay R controls the starting circuit for the elevator car. i

In order to permit either of the s-witchesI29 and IE5 to control in part the energization of the relay R, jumpers may be provided for shunting either of theswitches. As shown in Fig. 911a 43 to open the doors.

single-pole double-throw switch 'IH is provided. In the full line position of the switch I'll, the

contacts of the switch I65 are shunted and the contacts of the switch I29 are shunted in the dotted line position of the switch 'i'l l. With the switch III in the position illustrated in full lines, the switch I 29 is efiective for preventing energization of the relay R when the Door #1 is open. Since this switch closes when the door is approxi mately two inches from its closed position, the relay R is made effective for energization upon operation of the car switch before complete closure of the door.

'With the switch I'll in its dotted line position, the switch I is efiective 'for preventing energization of the relay B when the door I is open. Since this switch does not close until the door is substantially in its closed position, the relay R .cannot be energized until the door is substantially closed. Such operation may be desirable under certain conditions'such as night operation of the elevator system.

It is "believed that the operation of the system is apparent from the foregoing discussion. When the elevator car approaches a floor at which the doors are to be opened, a circuit is completed in a conventional manner for energizing the motor Such energization may take place several inches in advance of the arrival of the elevator car at th desired floor. It will be understood that the cam it'll and the vane 83 have lengths sufficient to permit such advance energization of the electric motor.

In response to energization of the electric motor 43, the shaft 4| and the arm I' l! are rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l. The rotation of the arm I0 which may be through an angle of the order of five degrees is sufficient to advance the cam I3I to unlatch the doors. The five degree rotation of the shaft 4| necessary to unlock the doors may move the doors a distance of the order of of an inch. The mechanism has sufficient play to permit such movement of the doors.

Following completion of the movement of the arm I41, the shaft AI and the crank 39 continue to rotate. Such rotation is permitted by the slip coupling connection between the arm it? and the shaft 4|. The rotation of the crank continues until the doors are fully open or until the doors are reversed.

As the doors open, the

latches

85a and 85b leave their associated casing 87 and the switch or switches associated with the latches are opened.

movement of the doors as the elevator car moves away from the associated floor.

A single latch c(Fig.' .10) may be employed to perform the functions of .both of the latches 55a and'85b. The latch85c is mounted for rotation about a pin 950 which corresponds to the pin of Figs. 4 and 5. An arm 91c cooperates with a stop ,pin 990 to limit rotation of the latch.

Two lips IiJIc and I550 are provided on the latch 850. The lip IflIc corresponds to the lip ml of Figs. 4 and 5, and cooperates in the same way with the rib I03 of the casing 810 tolatch the door against opening. The lip I05c corresponds to the lip I05 ofFigs. 4 and 5. The lip H350 drops over the rib I03 just as the doors reach fully closed position .to retain the doors in closed position.

During a. door-opening operation, both lips of the latch 850 .are guided over the rib I03 by raising the plate I II in the manner discussed with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

.An insulatingplate I2Ic of stepped formation is secured to the latch 85c and carries two electroconductive strips I250 and d. During .a door closing operation the strip I250 drops upon two spring electrical contacts I290 vjust as lip lIlIc passes over the rib I03. The strip I250 and the contacts I290 constitute a switch (corresponding to the switch I29 of Figs. 4, 5 and v9,) which completes a circuit when the doors are say two inches from fullyclosed position.

As the .doors continue to close, the lip I050 finally drops overthe .rib I03 to bring the strip I25d into bridging relationship with two spring contacts I550. The strip I25d and thecontacts I650 constitute a switch corresponding to. the switch ['65 of Figs. '7, 8 and 9. The contacts I290 and i850 are secured to a suitable insulating block 1B.

Althoughtheinvention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications thereof are possible. Therefore, the appended claims have been drafted to cover not only the modifications herein. illustrated but also all other modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a door assembly, a door, a supporting structure mounting the door for movement from a closed to an open position, anoperating member, a support mounting the member for movement through a predetermined. path, coupling mechanism responsive to movement of the operating member through the path for moving the door between the closed and open positions, a control element, translating means responsive to movement of'the control element, and a slip coupling connecting the control element to the operating member, said slip coupling permitting movement of the'operating member independ- 'entl of the control element.

'89 to return the release lever IN to the position.

illustrated in Fig. 5. As the doors close, the

latches

85a and 85b successively close. If the switches I29 alone are effective as (1001' interlock switches, when the doors for a floor at which the elevator car is parked are within two inches of "85b drops into latching position. The vane 53;

has a length sufiicient to permit this final closing 2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the control element is restricted to a path of movement substantially smaller than the predetermined .path, and thetranslating means comprises ;a releasable door lock.

3. In a. door assembly, a .door, a supporting structure mounting the door for movement from a closed to an open position, an operating member, a support mounting the member for rotation through a predetermined angle, coupling mechanism responsive to rotation of the operating member through said predetermined. angle for opening and closing thedoor, a control element, a slip coupling connecting the control elemerit to the operating member for rotation therewith, said slip coupling permitting movement of the operating member when the control element is restrained from movement, a door latch, and mechanism responsive to movement of the control element through an angle substantially smaller than the predetermined angle for actuating the latch.

4. A door assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said coupling mechanism in response to rotation of the operating member in a first direction through the predetermined angle opens the door and wherein the coupling mechanism in response to the return of the operating member in a second direction through the predetermined angle closes the door, said operating element in response to movement in the first direction through a small portion of the predetermined angle releasing said latch, and said operating element in response to a return thereof through said small portion of the predetermined angle in the second direction conditioning said latch for a latching operation.

5. In a door assembly, a door, a supporting structure mounting the door for movement from 2 a closed to an open position, a first latch for retaining the door substantially in closed position, a second latch for securing the door against an opening operation in response to arrivalot the i0 door within a predetermined distance from closed position; and means mounting the latches for independent pivoted movement about a common axis.

6. In a door assembly as defined in claim 5, common means for releasing both of said latches to permit opening of the door.

7. An elevator system comprising a door assembly as defined in claim 3 in combination with means cooperating with the door latch for latching the door in either of two difierent degrees of closure.

8. An elevator system as claimed in claim '7 in combination with switch means having circuitcontrolling contacts opened and closed in response to operation of the latch.

LENNIUS' R. RISSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,683,925 Shonnard Sept. 11, 1928 1,909,063 McCormick May 16, 1933 2,240,820 Wilmot May 6, 19 11 2,318,090 McCormick May 4, 1943