US3212607A

US3212607A - Elevator safety device

Info

Publication number: US3212607A
Application number: US250673A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray W Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-01-10
Filing date: 1963-01-10
Publication date: 1965-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-19

Description

Oct. 19, 1965 R. w. SMITH ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE ww .m f V S #4 7 /A/ m W. M R f.. no): 8 1 -I B 4 V 3 inw 0 Uhu LIN. fu ,lud M. m. T w 9 0V. 3 Ll 69 9 I2 5 \\NNNNN ENS JWMM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,212,607 ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE Ray W. Smith, BOX 43, Oak Hill, Dublin, N.H. Filed Jan. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 250,673 11 Claims. '(Cl. IS7-61) This invention relates to means f-or unlocking outer landing doors of an elevator wel-l in the event of an emergency, as where, for example, the elevator cab is stopped between iloors so that the .automatic unlocking door devices are inoperative.

In al1 of the present day residential and commercial elevator installations, the outer door which closes olf the elevator well from a landing is normally locked against opening except when the elevator cab is opposite said landing. This is a safety feature to prevent a 4person at a landing from accidentally opening the outer d-oor when there is no cab int-o which he may step. When an elevator cab stops opposite a particular landing, the door is automatically unlocked so that it may be opened either manually or by power means. On the other hand, should there be a power failure or other emergency, the cab may be trapped lbetween floors so lthat the .automatic unlocking mechanism becomes inoperative, which thereby prevents an occoupant from opening .a landing door either above or below the cab position.

The pre-sent invention obviates the above described deliciency of the prior art by providing mechanical actuator structure located in the elevator well and extending lengthwise thereof which is accessible to a cab occupant n-o matter what the position of the elevator cab. This actuator structure may be moved by the cab occupant and in turn is operatively connected to each landing door loc-k mechanism so as to mechanically unlock same. Consequently, the elevator cab need not be in near proximity with the door lock mechanism.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide emergency elevator landing d-oor unlocking means whereby a landing door may be mechanically unlocked from any position in the elevator well.

Br-oadly speaking an impor-tant object of the invention is to also provide emergency actuating means for .allowing a cab occupant t-o override an automatic door lock mechanism from any position in the well.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rod located in the well and extending lengthwise thereof which has connected thereto plurality of handles spaced apart for grasping by a cab occupant, with said r-od being mounted for rotational movement such that it can mechanically unlock the landing doors.

One further `object of the present invention is the provision of an additional closure fastener for eaoh landing door such that the door may be opened after unlocking by mere pushing or pulling pressure.

These and other objects of the present invention will rbe lapparent during the course of the following description, which is to be read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an elevat-or installation incorporating this invention;

`FIGURES 2A, 2B, and 2C are different views of a preferred embodiment of an 'actuating handle used in moving the emergency actuator structure;

FIGURES 3A and 3B are different views sh-owing how a conventional automatic door lock mechanism may be operatively connected .with the emergency actuator structure;

FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5 show different embodiments of additional closure fasteners which may be used in a landing door.

3,212,607 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 ICC FIGURE 1 is a simpliiied view in elevation of a typical installation utilizing the present invention. Several doors or landings 10, 12, 14, etc. are shown opening into an elevator well 16 in which move-s a cab 18. As is customary, a certain small distance is maintained between the front wall 20 of cab 18 and the front wall 22 of well 16. In order that this gap will not be visible to the cab occupant when the cab is directly opposite a landing,

threshold portions

24, 26 and 28 can extend from each landing if so desired.

Each landing is closed off from well 16 by doors whose

jambs

30, 32, 34, etc, are shown in FIGURE 1. An

individual lock mechanism

36, 38, etc. is operatively associated with each landing door such that said d-oor is l-ocked from opening unless cab 18 is opposite its associated landing. Thus, whenever cab 18 is opposite a landing such as 12, lock mechanism 36 senses this relative position in 4any well known way so las to unlock the landing door .and permit its opening either manually or -by motor means. However, if cab 18 is displaced from any one of the landings, .as shown in FIGURE 1, then each

lock mechanism

36, 38, etc. remains unactuated in order to prevent the landing doors from being opened.

The present invention provides, in its preferred embodiment, a mechanical .actuator structure 40 which extends lengthwise of well 16. Structure 40 is mounted for movement to an operative position, said movement being effected by a cab occupant who has access thereto. A plurality of .actuating handles 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, etc. Aare provided for use in moving structure 40 and .are spaced .along the length of the well so that a cab occupant has access to lat least one of them no matter where the cab stops in the Well. It the cab has a trap door in its ceiling for access to its top then this can be taken int-o consideration when determining the proper spacing. Each actuating handle is operatively connected to structure 40 so that by grasping and moving the former, structure 40 is moved to its operative position. A

mechanical connection

52, 54, etc. is made between structure 40 and each of the lock mechani-

sms

36, 38, etc. This mechanical connection is such that whenever structure 40 is moved t-o its operative position, the lock mechanisms .are mechanically unlocked no matter what the cab location within well 16. In other Words, the movement of structure 40 t-o i-ts operative position overrides the automatic feature normally present in each lock mechanism, so that the landing doors may be opened for an emergency escape by ya cab occupant. The present invention may 'be adapted for use with either sliding, swinging, or accordion type landing doors.

vIn the preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuator structure 40 takes the form of a rod mounted in said well for rotation about its longitudinal axis to its operative position. FIGURES 2A, 2B .and 2C show such a rod 56 which is mounted in the well by a plurality of eye bolts 58 which are secured to the well wall. Rotation of rod 56 to its operative position can be effected by grasping and moving any one of .a plurality of actuating handles. In FIGURES 2A-2C, a preferred embodiment of one such actuating handle is generally indicated by reference numeral 60. Handle `60 serves as a link by being pivoted near its lower end to the front wall 22 of well 16 by means of a stud 62 extending from said front wall. A knob 64 is attached to the ltop of link 60 to facilitate grasping of the handle by a cab occupant. As best shown in the plan View of FIGURE 2C, link 60 is generally located between the cab 118 .and the landing wall of well -16 so that it can be reached by the cab occupant without too much diflculty. The exa-ct location of link 60 with respect to cab 18 is not otherwise crucial except that .it should be Iaccessible to the cab occupant with minimum inconvenience. The lower end of link 60 is pivoted to one end of a horizontal link 66 by means of pin 68. The other end of link 66 in turn is connected to rod 56 by means of a protrusion 70 from rod 56 which operatively connects the two. Protrusion 70 and link 66 are so connected that their relative movements cannot cause binding therebetween. This function may be conveniently provided .by making an aperture 72 in link 66 large with respect to the diameter of protrusion 70, so that the latter can swivel therein during any rotation of rod 56. Consequently, it is `seen that when the hand knob 64 is moved to the right in FIGURE 2 A, link 66 moves in the opposite direction to rotate rod 56 in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above (FIGURE 2C). This counterclockwise ro-tation moves -pipe 56 to an operative position whereby the llanding doors are unlocked, as will be subsequently described. The primary advantage derived lfnorn the illustrated handle mechanism is that angular rotation of the rod can be effect-ed by moving the actuat-ing handle in a direction parallel to the long dimension of the gap existing between the cab `and front Well wall. In this way, accessibility and operation of the actuating handle by the cab occupant can be assured without an undue gap width. Furthermore, the pivoted link arrangement provides multiplication of force for the rotation of rod 56 which may prove advantageous if bhe cab occupant is a child, woman, or inrmed person.

For some installations, it may be advantageous to normally maintain rod 56 in its unoperative position, such as is shown in FIGURES 2A and 2C, except while an actuating handle is being held in -its operating position by a cab occupant. Such biasing means may take the form of a spring 74 one end of which is connected to link 60 and the other end of which is connected to a protrusion 76 which extends from well wall 22. As viewed in FIG- URE 2A spring 74 is holding link 60 in its inoperative position, but link 60 can be moved by superior force to effect counterclockwise rotation of rod 56. A stop 78 protruding from wall 22 may also be provided to prevent such spring 74 from moving link 60 and handle 64 beyond the desired position.

FIGURES 3A and 3B show plan and elevation views, respectively, in the vicinity of a landing door lock mechanism. There are many conventional automatic lock mechanisms which can be easily adapted for operative mechanical connection with common actuator structure such as rotatable rod 56. One such lock mechanism, particularly useful where a swinging door is involved, is that shown in FIGURES 3A and 3B. This lock unit 80 may be located at the top of each landing door jamb as shown in FIGURE l. The associated swinging door 82 has an extension 84 at its free end which enters a corresponding opening in unit St) when the door is closed. This extension 84 is gripped in the closed position by internal lock mechanism not part of the present invention. A shaft 86 is connected to this internal lock mechanism for causing said gripping action when it is rotated to its most clockwise position as viewed in FIGURE 3B. When rotated counterclockwise, however, shaft 86 causes the release of extension 84. Shaft 86 in turn is connected with an arm 88 which extends inwardly of the well. Arm 88 is provided with a roller 90 at its outer end which is adapted to contact a slide 92 carried by cab 18. In FIGURE 3B, it is assumed that cab 18 is opposite a landing so that slide or cam 92 has the position shown relative to roller 90. For this cab and slide position, roller 90 is pushed towards Well wall 22 so that arm 88 rotates shaft 86 counterclockwise. This internally releases extension 84 and thus unlocks door 82 which may thereafter be opened manually. However, when cab 18 is displaced from a landing, the sloping surface of slide 92 permits roller 90 and arm 88 to assume the dot-dash position shown in FIGURE 3B, since shaft 86 Iis internally biased within unit 80 in a manner to maintain its clockwise position in the absence of a counter force applied to roller 90.

Therefore, for other than a cab location opposite the landing, arm 88 takes a position which in turn prevents extension 84 from being withdrawn from lock unit 80. All that is necessary to unlock a door in the absence of a cab is some provision to move arm 88 downward so as to rotate shaft 86 in its counterclockwise direction. This function is provided by an extension 94 from rod 56 which makes contact with arm 88 whenever rod 56 is rotated to its operative position. Extension 94 bears against arm S8 and moves it just as if slide 92 were making contact with roller 90.

In most, if not all, swinging door installations, a conventional spring-biased latch bolt lock is also provided at the free end of the door, said latch bolt being retracted by a door knob on either side. Thus, once the automatic lock mechanism has been actuated to release protrusion 84, the cab occupant must still move a door knob to retract the latch bolt in order to open the landing door. The purpose of such additional closure fastener means is to insure that the door remains tightly closed except when it is deliberately opened for passage, since means are usually provided which prevent power from being supplied to the lift motor whenever a landing door is partially ajar. However, with such a conventional latch bolt closure fastener, a cab occupant would still need to be adjacent the door knob even though he had managed to disable the automatic lock mechanism by the emergency actuator rod. A simple and novel solution to this problem is merely to reverse the conventional latch bolt unit so that the curved surface of the latch bolt faces the landing. This structure is shown in FIGURE 4 which is a sectional plan view of a swinging door 82 provided with a springbiased latch bolt unit 96 having rotatable knobs 98 and 100 on either side thereof. The latch bolt 102, however, has its curved exterior surface 104 facing the landing, so that it is necessary to move the knobs in order to retract bolt 102 when the door is to be closed. When in the closed position, it can be seen that mere pushing or pulling on the door will cause latch bolt 104 to retract as the door is opened. It is therefore unnecessary to move knob 98 in order to exit from the elevator wall after the door has been unlocked. The conventional biasing of latch bolt 102 to its extended position still insures that door 82 is kept tightly shut in the absence of pulling or pushing pressure. An alternative closer fastener structure 106 is shown in FIGURE 5 which may be used in lieu of the reversed latch bolt unit, or which may be used in addition thereto so as to provide additional retention of the door in its closed position. This fastener 106 is a standard spring-biased ball catch which is mounted in the door and makes contact with a receptacle 103 in the door jamb so as to frictionally maintain the door in its closed position except when pulling or pushing pressure is applied to the door.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and/or described, modications thereto may be obvious to those skilled in the art Without departure from the novel principles recited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elevator installation including a cab movable -in a Well which in turn is closed off from a plurality of its landings by doors, the combination comprising:

(a) individual door lock mechanism at each of plural landings which is automatically unlocked or locked according to whether the cab is opposite to or displaced from its said landing, respectively; and

(b) unitary emergency actuator means located adjacent the well and mounted solely on the well wall and accessible to a cab occupant, for any location of the cab in the well, which is operatively connected to all of said door lock mechanisms for unlocking same upon actuation by a cab occupant.

2. In an elevator installation including a cab movable in a well which in turn is closed oi from a plurality of its landings by doors, the combination comprising:

(a) individual door lock mechanism at each of plural landings which is automatically unlocked or locked according to whether the cab is opposite to or displaced from its said landing, respectively;

(b) unitary mechanical actuator means located adjacent the well and extending lengthwise thereof for accessibility by a cab occupant, for any location of the cab in the well, which is mounted for rotational movement by a cab occupant to an operative position; and

(c) an individual mechanical connection between said actuator means and each of said door lock mechanisms for unlocking all of said door lock mechanisms when said actuator means is rotated to said operative position.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said actuator means includes a rod extending lengthwise of the Well which is mounted for angular rotation about its longitudinal axis to said operative position.

4. In an elevator installation including a cab movable in a Well which in turn is closed ol from a plurality of its landings by doors, the combination comprising:

(b) unitary mechanical actuator structure located adjacent the well and mounted solely on the well wall and extending lengthwise thereof which is mounted for movement to an operative position;

(c) an individual mechanical connection between said actuator structure and each of said door lock mechanisms for unlocking all of said door lock mechanisms when said actuator structure is moved to said operative position; and

(d) a plurality of actuating means located in the well for accessibility by a cab occupant and spaced apart along the length of said well, each said actuating means being operatively connected to said actuator structure for individually moving same to said operative position, where said spacing between actuating means is such that at least one can be reached by a cab occupant for any location of the cab in the well.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said actuator structure comprises a rod extending lengthwise of the well which is mounted for angular rotation about its longitudinal axis to said operative position.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said actuator structure comprises a rod extending lengthwise of the well which is mounted for angular rotation about its longitudinal axis to said operative position, and each said actuating means includes mechanical linkage which is supported by the well wall.

7. In an elevator installation including a cab movable in a well which in turn is closed off from a plurality of its landings by doors, the combination comprising:

(a) individual door lock mechanism at each of plural landings which includes an element extending therefrom inwardly of said well, said element being normally maintained at a first position but movable to a second position for causing its lock mechanism to lock or unlock, respectively, the associated landing door;

(b) means carried by the cab for contacting and moving each lock element to its said second position whenever the cab is opposite the associated landing;

(c) unitary mechanical actuator means including a rod located adjacent the well and extending lengthwise thereof for accessibility by a cab occupant, for any location of the cab in the well, said rod being mounted for angular rotation about its longitudinal axis by a cab occupant to an operative position; and

(d) individual mechanical means carried by said actuator means at each said landing for contacting and moving each lock element to its said second position whenever said rod is rotated to said operative position.

8. In an elevator installation including a cab movable in a well which in turn is closed olf from a plurality of its landings by doors, the combination comprising:

(b) means carried by the cab for contacting and moving each lock element to its said second position whenever the cab is opposite the associated landings;

(c) unitary mechanical actuator structure including a rod located adjacent the Well and extending lengthwise thereof which is mounted for angular rotation about its longitudinal axis between rst and second positions;

(d) individual mechanical means carried by said actuator structure at each said landing for contacting and moving each lock element to its said second position whenever said rod is rotated to its said second position; and

(e) a plurality of actuating handles located in the well for accessibility by a cab occupant and spaced apart along the length of said well, each said actuating handle including mechanical linkage which is supported by the well wall and being operatively connected to said actuator structure for individually rotating said rod to its said second position, where said spacing between handles is such that at least one can be grasped by a cab occupant for any location of the cab in the well.

9. In an elevator installation including a cab movable in a well which in turn is closed otf from a plurality of its landings by doors, the combination comprising:

(a) individual door lock mechanism at each of plural landings which includes an element extending therefrom inwardly `of said well, said element being normally maintained at a first position but movable to a second position for causing its lock mechanism to lock or unlock, respectively, the associated landing door;

(c) a rod extending lengthwise of the well which is mounted for angular rotation about its longitudinal axis between iirst and second positions;

(d) individual mechanical means carried by said rod at each said landing for contacting and moving each lock element to its said second position whenever said rod is moved to its said second position; and

(e) a plurality of actuating handles located in the well for accessibility by a cab occupant and spaced apart along the length of said well, each said actuating handle including a iirst link pivotally connected to the well wall, and a second link one end of which is pivotally connected to said iirst link and the other end of which is connected to said rod for rotating same to its said second position, where said spacing between handles is such that at least one can be grasped by a cab occupant for any location of the cab in the well.

10. In an elevator installation including a cab movable in a well which in turn is closed oi from a plurality of its landings yby doors, the combination comprising:

(a) individual door lock mechanism at each .of plural landings which is automatically unlocked or locked according to whether the cab is opposite to or displaced from a said landing, respectively; and

(b) unitary emergency actuator means located adjacent the well and mounted solely on the well Wall and accessible to a cab occupant, for any location of the cab in the Well, which is operatively connected to at least one of said door lock mechanisms for unlocking same upon actuation by a cab occupant.

I11. In an elevator installation including a cab movable ,in a well which in turn is closed off from a plurality of its landings by doors, the combination comprising:

(a) individual door lock mechanism at each of plural landings which is automatically unlocked or locked according to Whether the cab is opposite to or displaced fr-om a said landing, respectively;

(b) unitary mechanical actuator means located adjacent the well and mounted solely on the Well wall and extending lengthwise thereof for accessibility by a cab occupant, for any location of the cab in the References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Mallory 292-244 Sundh 187-61 Hubbard 292-73 Lars-on 187-61 Brubaker 187-61 Prince 187-61 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

10. IN AN ELEVATOR INSTALLATION INCLUDING A CAB MOVABLE IN A WELL WHICH IN TURN IS CLOSED OFF FROM A PLURALITY OF ITS LANDINGS BY DOORS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) INDIVIDUAL DOOR LOCK MECHANISM AT EACH OF PLURAL LANDINGS WHICH IS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED OR LOCKED ACCORDING TO WHETHER THE CAB IS OPPOSITE TO OR DISPLACED FROM A SAID LANDING, RESPECTIVELY; AND (B) UNITARY EMERGENCY ACTUATOR MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT THE WELL AND MOUNTED SOLELY ON THE WELL WALL AND ACCESSIBLE TO A CAB OCCUPANT, FOR ANY LOCATION OF THE CAB IN WELL, WHICH IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FOR UNLOCKING SAME UPON ACTUATION BY A CAB OCCUPANT.