WO2007073376A1

WO2007073376A1 - Elevator door guidance assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2007073376A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/046644
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert H. Dold; Bryan R. Siewert; Peng Wang; Lisa A. Prill; Gajawalli Srinivasan
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Company
Priority date: 2005-12-21
Filing date: 2005-12-21
Publication date: 2007-06-28

Abstract

An elevator system (10) includes a guide member assembly (26) and a coupling (28) near the bottom of an elevator door (18, 22) that cooperate to support a weight of the elevator door (18, 22) and space the elevator door (18, 20) a desired distance above the guide member assembly (26). A guide groove (90) near the top of the elevator door (18, 22) extends adjacent to a path of movement of the elevator door (18, 22). A gib (88) connects to the elevator door (18, 22) and extends into the guide groove (90) and follows the guide groove (90) as the elevator door (18, 22) moves.

Description

ELEVATOR DOOR GUIDANCE ASSEMBLY

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to elevator doors. More particularly, this invention relates to an assembly for guiding and supporting an elevator door.

2. Background of the Invention

Elevator systems are widely known and used. A typical elevator system includes an elevator cab that moves within a hoistway between landings in a building, for example, to transport passengers, cargo or both between building levels. Typically, a hoistway entrance and the elevator cab each include at least one elevator door that hangs from a set of rollers attached to the doors with respective brackets. The rollers roll along a track near the top of the door and an actuator supported near the top of the cab moves the cab and hoistway elevator doors between open and closed positions when the cab is at a landing.

The bottom of each elevator door includes a gib that is received into a guide groove within a sill. The gib follows the guide groove as the elevator door moves. The gib and guide groove also cooperate to keep the door plumb.

Disadvantageously, elevator door installation is time consuming and laborious because of a large number of parts and complex adjustments required to achieve a desired elevator door position, for example. It is relatively difficult to establish a desired spacing below each of the elevator doors, between the bottom of the elevator doors and a door sill. Typically, the desired spacing allows enough clearance to prevent interference between the doors and the door sill. At the same time, the desired spacing is small enough to prevent objects from becoming lodged within the spacing.

Controlling the size of the spacing is complex and often requires a significant amount of adjustment during door installation. Since the spacing is near the bottom of the door and the door is supported from the top, the relative positions between all the door assembly components that function to suspend the door determine the size of the spacing. The relative positions of the roller bracket, rollers, track, a side frame that supports the tracks, and the door sill for example often require adjustment and several iterations of re-adjustment to achieve a desired spacing size. Moreover, elevator door parts are not typically fabricated to precise tolerances and installation is largely performed from the top of the car, which further complicates assembly and adjustment. Elevator door systems also face challenges associated with frequent scheduled and unscheduled callback maintenance. Typical maintenance problems include guide grooves that require cleaning and removal of debris. The guide groove is exposed to passengers and cargo entering and exiting the elevator cab. The passengers and cargo track dirt and debris that can accumulate in the guide groove and increase friction between the gib and the guide groove. If the accumulation is large enough, the elevator door may not move as desired within the guide groove. Therefore, typical guide grooves continually require cleaning to remove dirt and debris from the guide groove.

Accordingly, there is a need for an elevator door assembly that is more economical to install and maintain. This invention addresses that need.

SUMMARY QF THE INVENTION

An exemplary elevator door assembly includes a guide member and a coupling near the bottom of the elevator door. The coupling cooperates with the guide member to support the weight of the elevator door.

In another example, the elevator door assembly includes a groove near the top of an elevator door that extends adjacent to a path of movement of the elevator door.

A gib associated with the elevator door extends into the groove and follows the groove as the elevator door moves. The gib functions to direct door movement and to keep the door plumb.

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates selected portions of an example elevator system including a door assembly designed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of selected portions of an example elevator door assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of selected portions of the elevator door assembly of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective illustration of selected portions of another example elevator door assembly embodiment. Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of selected portions of an example guide groove and gib for controlling movement of an elevator door according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows selected portions of an example elevator system 10 including a cab 12 that moves within a hoistway 14 between building levels 16 (one shown). The cab 12 includes cab doors 18 and a hoistway entrance 20 includes hoistway doors 22 that are movable between open and closed positions as schematically shown by the direction arrows D. A guide member assembly 26 near the bottom of the cab doors 18 supports the weight of the cab doors 18.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the guide member assembly 26 includes a coupling 28 near the bottom of the cab doors 18 that is interlocked with a rail 30. In one example, each cab door 18 includes an associated coupling 28. The rail 30 is secured to a cab frame portion 32, for example, by fasteners 34. Sliding surfaces 36 of the rail 30 are adjacent to and in contact with corresponding sliding surfaces 38 of the coupling 28.

The coupling 28 includes a coupling portion 40 that extends through an opening 42 in a cover 44 that generally covers the rail 30. The opening 42 is elongated and extends adjacent to the rail 30 in the direction D of door movement. In the illustrated example, the opening 42 is in a side 46 of the cover 44 to protect against dirt and debris collecting on the sliding surfaces 36 and 38, which could otherwise interfere with smooth movement of the coupling 28 along the rail 30. In one example, a top surface 48 of the cover 44 functions as a door threshold of the elevator entrance.

The coupling portion 40 supports the cab door 18 at a joint 50 that includes a hanger 52, an interlock vane 54, and a shield 56. A fastener 58 secures the coupling portion 40, the hanger 52, the interlock vane 54, and the shield 56 together with the cab door 18.

In the illustration, the coupling 28 interlocks with the rail 30 to allow movement of the coupling 28 along the rail 30 in the direction of door movement D while preventing relative movement in other directions. This provides the benefit of allowing the coupling 28 to move in the direction D with the cab door 18 while transferring the weight of the cab door 18 through the coupling 28 to the rail 30.

Supporting the weight of the cab door 18 from the bottom, as in the above example, provides the ability to control a size of a spacing X below the cab door 18 without complex adjustments that are typically required during installation of previously known door assemblies.

In one example, the spacing X between the cab door 18 and the cover 44 is selected before installation of the cab door 18. The spacing X is determined by a relative position between the rail 30, cover 44, coupling 28, and the joint 50 attachment to the cab door 18. A tight fit between the rail 30, cover 44, coupling 28, and cab door 18 allows little or no play between the cab door 18 and the cab frame portion 32. Thus, the size of the spacing X can be accurately determined during a design stage and preselected by designing nominal dimensions of the guide member assembly 26, coupling 28, rail 30, or joint 50, for example.

In another example, a length Li of the coupling portion 40 is designed to be longer or shorter to respectively increase or decrease the spacing X. In another example, a length L₂ between the joint 50 and the bottom of the cab door 18 is designed to be longer or shorter to respectively decrease or increase the spacing X.

The guide member assembly 26 provides the ability to preselect the size of the spacing X based upon just a few parts that can be preassembled in a fixed relationship. This avoids having to depend on adjustment during installation of an elevator door to control a spacing size near the bottom of the elevator door. In one example, at least the rail 30, coupling 28, and cover 44 are furnished for installation as a module (i.e., preassembled). In conventional elevator assemblies, support frames, brackets, rollers, track, and other parts are furnished separately and assembled on-site. A module that is assembled off-site and delivered to the installation site in a preassembled condition provides the benefit of reducing the amount of assembly and adjustment during on-site door installation.

In another example, at least the sliding surfaces 36 of the rail 30 include a hard coating and the surfaces 38 of the coupling 28 are coated with a low friction material. The hard coating reduces wear on the sliding surface 36 and the low friction material reduces friction between the rail 30 and the coupling 28. This provides smooth movement between the rail 30 and the coupling 28 during operation of the cab doors 18.

In one example, the coupling 28 comprises a porous metal impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene. In another example, the rail 30 is made of a metal and the hard coating has a hardness greater than a hardness of the metal.

Given this description, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the example guide member assembly 26 may be adapted to be secured to a building landing to support the hoistway doors 22 in a similar manner as described above.

Figure 4 shows selected portions of another example guide member assembly 26' and a coupling 28' that cooperate to support a weight of the cab door 18', similarly to as described above. The guide member assembly 26' in this example additionally supports a weight of a door operator assembly 80, shown schematically in the illustration.

In the illustrated example, the door operator assembly 80 includes an actuator 82 and pulley 84 near one end of the rail 30' that cooperate to move a drive member 86 (e.g., a belt, chain, etc.). The drive member 86 is coupled to the cab door 18' in a known manner to selectively move the cab door 18'.

In the illustrated example, supporting the weight of the door operator assembly

80 and cab door 18' with the guide member assembly 26' provides the benefit of consolidating the weight-bearing function into a single support (i.e., the guide member assembly 26') rather than using an entire door frame to provide support, which is a drawback of previously known door assemblies. In one example, the guide member assembly 26' is robustly designed to bear the weight of the cab door 18' and the door operator assembly 80. Other support members, such as a header member and side frame members, are designed less robustly because they do not bear much weight. This saves material cost and space in the assembly.

Further, positioning the door operator assembly 80 near the bottom of the elevator door simplifies installation. Door operator assemblies are conventionally installed above the doors and often require lifting the door operator assembly into position while conducting overhead installation. Positioning the door operator assembly 80 near the bottom of the cab door 18' eliminates these laborious installation tasks.

In another example, the door operator assembly 80 is furnished for installation as a module with the guide member assembly 26', similar to the module described above. Figure 5 shows selected portions of a gib 88 in a guide groove 90 near the top of the cab door 18". In the illustration, a bracket 91 connects the gib 88 to the cab door 18". The gib 88 is received into the guide groove 90 during door installation and follows the groove 90 during door movement to keep the cab door 18 plumb.

The guide groove 90 includes a nominal depth D_N and the gib 88 includes a nominal length L_N. In this example, the nominal depth D_N is greater than the nominal length L_N to provide a clearance between an upper surface 92 of the guide groove 90 and an end 94 of the gib 88. The clearance provides the benefit of allowing the gib 88 to follow the guide groove 90 without introducing any vertical interference.

The clearance also provides a range of possible relative vertical positions of the cab door 18" while allowing the gib 88 to function properly to keep the cab door 18" plumb. In the illustration, the gib 88 is received all the way into the guide groove 90. In another example, the car door 18" is installed in a lower vertical position than shown. The gib 88 is received into the guide groove 90 in a correspondingly lower vertical position but still functions to keep the cab door 18" plumb. Thus, the ability of the gib 88 to function properly is somewhat independent of the exact cab door 18" position. This allows simplified installation of the cab door 18" as the relative vertical distance between the guide groove 90 and a guide member assembly 26, 26' supporting the cab door 18" near the bottom need not be exact for the gib 88 to be at least partially received into the guide groove 90 and function properly to guide the cab door 18".

Further, positioning the guide groove 90 and gib 88 above the cab door 18 eliminates the problem of dirt and debris collecting in the guide groove 90 from passengers and cargo passing through the hoistway entrance 20 and may reduce the maintenance requirements to clean out the guide groove 90, which is a drawback of known grooves near the bottom of the doors.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art might recognize that certain modifications to the discussed examples are possible. Such modifications come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope of protection granted this invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:

1. An elevator door assembly comprising: an elevator door having a top and a bottom; a guide member near the bottom adapted to guide movement of the elevator door; and a coupling near the bottom of the elevator door and associated with the guide member to moveably support a weight of the elevator door.

2. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein the guide member includes a rail portion that is in sliding contact with the coupling along the direction of elevator door movement.

3. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein the guide member includes a rail portion guiding movement of the elevator door along a direction of elevator door movement and a cover portion that is above the rail portion and below the elevator door.

4. The assembly as recited in Claim 3, wherein the cover portion extends at least partially around the rail portion and includes a surface facing transverse to the elevator door, the surface having an opening that extends adjacent to the rail portion, and the coupling is at least partially received in the opening for movement along the opening.

5. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein the guide member includes a first surface and a second surface facing opposite the first surface, the first surface restricting movement of the coupling in a direction parallel to the elevator door.

6. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein one of the guide member or the coupling includes a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface facing oppositely from the first sliding surface, and the other of the guide member or the coupling includes corresponding sliding surfaces in sliding contact with, respectively, the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface.

7. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, including an elevator door operator having a drive member adapted to move the elevator door, and the guide member supports at least one of the elevator door operator or the drive member.

8. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a material having a first hardness and a coating that has a second hardness that is relatively harder than the first hardness.

9. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein the coupling includes a porous metal having a friction material impregnated within pores in the porous metal.

10. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein the coupling cooperates with the elevator door and the guide member to space the elevator door a desired distance above the guide member.

11. The assembly as recited in Claim 10, wherein the coupling is connected to the elevator door and to the guide member, and the elevator door is spaced a vertical distance above the guide member.

12. The assembly as recited in Claim 10, wherein the guide member includes a rail portion connected to the coupling to guide movement of the elevator door and a cover portion at least partially between the rail portion and the elevator door, and the desired distance is between the cover portion and the elevator door.

13. The assembly as recited in Claim 10, wherein the coupling includes a portion that extends transversely to a direction of elevator door movement, the portion having a nominal dimension that at least partially establishes the desired distance.

14. The assembly as recited in Claim 10, including a joint connecting the coupling and the elevator door together, the rigid joint being spaced a distance from the bottom of the elevator door and the distance at least partially establishes the desired distance.

15. The assembly as recited in Claim 1, including a groove near the top of the elevator door that extends adjacent to a path of movement of the elevator door and a gib connected to the elevator door, wherein the gib extends at least partially into the groove and follows the groove as the elevator door moves.

16. The assembly as recited in Claim 15, wherein the groove is within a plane of the elevator door and above the elevator door.

17. The assembly as recited in Claim 15, including a vertical spacing between the groove and the gib.

18. The assembly as recited in Claim 15, wherein the gib remains fixed relative to the elevator door during movement of the elevator door.

19. The assembly as recited in Claim 16, including a guide member near a bottom of the elevator door that supports a weight of the elevator door with a desired spacing between the guide member and the elevator door.