WO2019007810A1

WO2019007810A1 - Safety arrangement for an elevator shaft entrance with at least one landing door and a frame, elevator shaft entrance, elevator arrangement and method of providing service to an elevator arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2019007810A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/067449
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eduardo DE CASTRO BATISTA; Jose ROBERTO CAZETTA; Rafael TOMIATTO TENGUAM; Jorge SHIGUEO KONISHI
Original assignee: Inventio Ag
Priority date: 2017-07-03
Filing date: 2018-06-28
Publication date: 2019-01-10

Abstract

The invention concerns a safety arrangement for an elevator shaft entrance with at least one landing door and a frame, an elevator shaft entrance, an elevator arrangement and a method of providing service to an elevator arrangement. A safety arrangement (10) for an elevator shaft entrance (11) with at least one landing door (12) and a frame (13) com- prises at least one barrier element (1) for allowing only a partial opening of at least one landing door (12) and/or for obstructing an opening (15) between two landing doors (12) or between a landing door (12) and a door frame (13).The safety arrangement (10) fur- ther comprises at least one switch unit (3) being designed for being fixedly mounted on the landing door (12) or on the door frame (13). The barrier element (1) comprises at least one contact end (2), which is detachably fixable to the switch-unit (3). The switch-unit (3) is designed to generate a signal indicating whether or not the contact end (2) is fixed to the switch unit (3).

Description

Safety arrangement for an elevator shaft entrance with at least one landing door and a frame, elevator shaft entrance, elevator arrangement and method of providing service to an elevator arrangement

The invention concerns a safety arrangement for an elevator shaft entrance with at least one landing door and a frame, an elevator shaft entrance, an elevator arrangement and a method of providing service to an elevator arrangement.

An elevator shaft entrance refers to the frame and landing door which separates a hall way or corridor from the elevator shaft.

Conventionally, when an elevator car reaches an elevator shaft entrance on a floor, an automatic control mechanism provides for allowing to open the landing door of the elevator shaft entrance. The mechanism can experience failures and leave the landing door unlocked after start of the lift.

In case of emergency or service landing doors regularly can be opened by manual control operable from the outside, for example from a control panel arranged in the frame of the elevator shaft entrance.

Some elevator arrangements comprise an elevator shaft entrance in a separate room or on a separate floor, for example a maintenance storey, which is not regularly reached by the elevator car during normal operation. The maintenance storey may provide access to the drive unit of the elevator and to the elevator car for service, attendance and repair or in cases of emergency.

Opening of landing doors, without the elevator car being present, might occur or might even become necessary, in particular at an elevator shaft entrance of a maintenance storey. The absence of an elevator car constitutes a serious danger for users or service staff.

EP 1518815 Bl discloses a safety barrier, which may be mounted on a landing door frame in cases when the landing door has to stay open during an inspection. The safety effect is only achieved when the safety barrier is installed by the service staff. FR2848543 Al discloses a safety device against the risk of falling of persons in the elevator shaft, including a belt system for a landing door. A belt is wound to a mandrel mounted on the landing door. At the other end of the belt a loop is mounted, which when the car is not at the landing door, allows automatic locking of the strap to the door frame or to an opposite landing door, such that the belt acts as a barrier to the empty elevator shaft in case of opening the elevator door without the elevator car being present.

However, the safety device, similarly to the conventional control mechanism, may leave the belt unlocked, when the elevator car restarts its normal operation. Furthermore an at least partially wound-up belt may not provide a sufficient barrier effect.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a safety arrangement, an elevator shaft entrance and an elevator arrangement, which prevent the disadvantages of the known solutions and which in particular permit a safe and convenient use of an elevator door.

The problem is solved by a safety arrangement for an elevator shaft entrance, preferably of a maintenance storey, with at least one landing door and a frame.

The elevator shaft entrance may comprise one or more sliding landing doors which travel along a linear track to the same side of the elevator shaft entrance and provide an opening between the landing door and a lateral part of the frame.

Alternatively the elevator shaft entrance may comprise at least two sliding landing doors which open to facing lateral parts of the frame such that after opening the doors there is an opening between the landing doors.

Alternatively the elevator shaft entrance may comprise swing landing doors, which open by pivoting about a hinge when the door handle is pulled.

The safety arrangement comprises at least one barrier element allowing only a partial opening of at least one landing door and/or for obstructing an opening between two landing doors or between a landing door and a door frame. The safety arrangement further comprises at least one switch unit, which is designed for being fixedly mounted on the landing door or on the door frame.

Preferably the switch unit is arranged on the door frame due to fire protection. However, the switch unit may be provided with a protective sleeve and be mounted on a landing door.

The barrier element comprises at least one contact end, which is detachably fixable to the switch-unit. The switch-unit is designed to generate a signal indicating whether or not the contact end is fixed to the switch unit.

The barrier element may obstruct the opening such that the risk of unintentional entering the shaft is reduced.

The barrier element may allow only a partial opening of the door or the doors, such that a partial access to the shaft is possible, but the doors still prevent a person from completely entering the shaft.

The barrier element may remain installed when the doors are closed and when the doors are partially opened therefore allowing the partial access. The barrier element allows the person at least to have a look into the shaft and if necessary to remove the barrier element.

The barrier element may be a blocking element mounted on the floor or on a part of the frame. The blocking element restrains a landing door from being completely opened, for example by providing an abutment face against which the landing door abuts, such that the way for a completed opening movement of the door is only clear when the blocking element is removed.

The barrier element may be a flexible connection element such as a cable, rope, a cord, a belt, a chain, a slidable lattice or a folding grille, which may bridge a distance between two landing doors or between a frame and a landing door. For uninstalling the barrier element the flexible barrier element does not have to be completely removed but only one end has to be detached.

The barrier element preferably comprises at least one contact end, which is detachably fixable to the switch-unit.

Preferably the ends of the barrier element are fixed or fixable with respect to at least one landing door.

Preferably the barrier element is a steel cable with a diameter of 1 to 3 mm, most preferably 2 mm with a traction resistance of 2000 to 3000 N, most preferably 2300 N.

The barrier element or rope respectively may comprise two contact ends to be detachably fixable to two switch units, one at each end of the rope. Hence the user may choose which contact end he detaches to uninstall the barrier element and to provide better access to the shaft. It may depend on the user which side he prefers.

Preferably the rope or barrier element respectively comprises one contact end, which is detachably fixable to the switch-unit, and a connection end, which is fixed or fixable to the landing door or to the door frame. Hence as long as the rope is installed it spans a distance between the switch unit on a landing door or a frame and an opposite landing door or frame.

The connection end may be screwed, fused, bonded or clamped to the frame or the landing door.

Preferably the switch unit is arranged on the frame and the connection end is fixed or fixable to an opposite door.

In a preferred embodiment of the safety arrangement the length of the rope is designed to avoid a complete opening of the at least one landing door. Especially the length of the rope is smaller than the width of the elevator shaft entrance. Preferably the length of the rope does not allow an opening between the landing door and the frame or between two landing doors of more than 200-600mm, in particular not more than 300mm. When the landing door has to be opened, the safety mechanism permits an opening wide enough to enable looking into the shaft, to release the rope and to provide a service action. At the same time the safety mechanism prevents a staff person from falling into the shaft. This is not only caused by the provision of the rope, which obstructs the opening, but also by the landing door itself, which remains partly closed as long as the rope is not released.

In a favourable embodiment of the invention the contact end of the rope comprises a link element which is designed to be manually and/or mechanically fixed to the switch unit.

Preferably the rope comprises a stiffened element, for example a jacket or a bush, encompassing the endpiece of the rope, which acts as a socket. The link element facilitates for example the insertion of the contact end into a corresponding opening in the switch unit.

A mechanical and/or manual fixation provides a higher security against failure of automatic systems, than an electro-magnetic and/or electronic fixation.

Advantageously the switch unit and/or the contact end comprise a contact surface for a screw for fixing the contact end to the switch unit.

The contact face may comprise a tapped hole, having an orientation perpendicular to the insertion direction of the contact end, such that a screw may be guided through the link element and through the switch unit to hold the link element within the switch unit.

Alternatively the screw may provide for a clamping of the link element against the switch unit.

Preferably the link element may comprise a flattened end and the switch unit may comprise a push button. The link element may press the push button when the contact end is fixed to the switch unit.

Alternatively the switch unit may comprise an electro-magnetic, an optical or an acoustical sensor for asserting that the contact end is present in or at the switch unit.

In a beneficial embodiment the safety arrangement comprises a control unit, to which the switch unit is electrically connected or connectable. The control unit is designed to allow an ordinary driving operation of the elevator cabin only when at least all contact ends are fixed to the respective switch units.

Hence after having opened the landing door(s) the control unit ensures that the safety mechanism is ready for a subsequent opening of the landing door(s).

Preferably the control unit is designed to receive signals of a landing door sensor, and is designed to allow only service operations of the elevator car, as long as the landing door is open.

Service operations may include movements of the elevator car, for example to reach a conventional position at a proximate floor.

Preferably the control unit is designed to allow an ordinary driving operation of the elevator cabin only when the landing door is closed.

The problem is also solved by an elevator shaft entrance, preferably of a maintenance storey, comprising at least one landing door, preferably a sliding door, a frame and a safety arrangement as described above.

The barrier element is preferably arranged on the side of the landing doors and/or the frame facing the shaft. Thus the safety arrangement may not be released, for example the contact end may not be removed from the switch unit, as long as the landing doors are closed.

The problem is also solved by an elevator arrangement comprising at least one elevator car, a maintenance storey and at least one elevator shaft entrance as described above. Typically the landing doors of a maintenance storey do not have to be fully opened during normal operation of the elevator and full access through the entrance opening is not necessary, because the maintenance storey is not regularly headed for. In case of emergency a partial opening of the landing door is enough to start a service. The problem is also solved by a method of providing service to an elevator arrangement comprising an elevator shaft entrance of a maintenance storey described above. The method comprises the step of partly opening at least one landing door. The opening may be obstructed by a barrier element and/or the landing door may not be allowed to complete the opening movement.

After this at least one contact end of at least one barrier element, preferably a rope, is detached from the switch unit. Preferably a wing screw is loosened and/or removed.

If necessary the landing door is then completely opened, such that a service step may be provided.

After that the landing door may be partly closed, for example in case the barrier element may only be fixed to a partly closed landing door.

The contact end of the barrier element is fixed to the switch unit, preferably by tightening a wing screw. Preferable all contact ends of all barrier elements are fixed to respective switch units.

The switch unit then generates a signal indicating that the contact end is fixed to the switch unit and ordinary driving operation may be restarted.

Preferably an ordinary driving operation of the elevator car is not started before a control unit signals that the landing door is closed and/or all contact ends are fixed to the respective switch units.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following in exemplary embodiments and with the aid of drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a safety arrangement with two ropes;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a rope;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an elevator shaft entrance.

Figure 1 shows a safety arrangement 10 comprising two ropes 1 and two switch units 3. The ropes 1 each comprise a contact end 2, which is detachably fixable to a corresponding switch-unit 3. The ropes 1 each comprise a connection end 4, which is fixed to a landing door 12 of an elevator shaft entrance 11 (see figure 3).

The switch units 3 are fixedly mounted on a door frame 13 of the elevator shaft entrance (see figure 3).

The switch-unit 3 is designed to generate a signal indicating whether or not the contact end 2 is fixed to the switch unit 3.

The allowed opening 15 between the landing door 12 and the frame 13 is wide enough to provide a look into the elevator shaft (not explicitly shown) and narrow enough so that there is no risk of falling into the shaft. The opening 15 may have for example a width of 300 mm.

The contact end 2 of the ropes 1 comprises a link element 6 (see figure 2) which is designed to be manually and mechanically fixed to the switch unit 3.

The switch unit 3 comprises a contact surface 7 for a screw 8 for fixing the contact end 2 of the rope 1 to the switch unit 3.

The safety arrangement 10 further comprises a control unit 9. The switch unit 3 is electrically connected to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 is designed to allow an ordinary driving operation of the elevator cabin only when all contact ends 2 are fixed to the respective switch units 3.

A service for an elevator arrangement may be provided by opening the landing doors 12 as wide as the ropes 1 allow. The contact ends 2 of the ropes 1 are then detached from the switch units 3, by loosening and removing the wing screws 8. The doors 12 may then completely be opened. After having provided a service step, the landing doors are partly closed, such that the contact ends 2 of the ropes 1 may be fixed to the switch unit 3 by tightening the wing screw 8. The switch unit 3 generates a signal indicating that the contact ends 2 are fixed to the switch units 3 which is received by the control unit 9.

An ordinary driving operation of the elevator car may start as soon as the control unit 9 signals that the landing doors 12 are closed and all contact ends 2 are fixed to the respective switch units 3.

Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view on a rope 1. The rope 1 comprises a contact end 2, which is fixable to a corresponding switch-unit 3 and a connection end 4, which is to be fixed to a landing door 12 (see figure 1).

The length 5 of rope 1 is designed to prevent a complete opening of the landing door 12. The length 5 of rope 1 is smaller than the width 14 of the elevator shaft entrance 11 (see figure 3).

The contact end 2 of the ropes 1 comprises a link element 6 which may be inserted into the switch unit 3 and may be fixed with a screw 8 (see figure 1).

Figure 3 shows an elevator shaft entrance 11 , preferably of a maintenance storey, in a perspective view. The elevator shaft entrance 11 comprises two landing doors 12, in this case sliding doors, a frame 13 and a safety arrangement not explicitly shown.

The safety arrangement 10 (see figure 1) prevents a door opening across the complete width 14 of the elevator shaft entrance 11.

Reference numbers rope (1)

contact end 2

switch unit (3)

connection end 4

length of rope (5)

link element (6)

reception (7)

screw (8)

control unit (9)

Safety arrangement (10)

elevator shaft entrance (11) landing door (12)

frame (13)

width of the elevator shaft entrance (14) partial opening (15)

Claims

1. Safety arrangement (10) for an elevator shaft entrance (11) with at least one landing door (12) and a frame (13), preferably of a maintenance storey, comprising

- a barrier element (1), for allowing only a partial opening of one of the at least one landing door (12) and/or for obstructing an opening (15) between two landing doors (12) or between one of the at least one landing door (12) and the door frame (13),

- a switch unit (3) being designed for being fixedly mounted on the landing door (12) or on the door frame (13),

wherein the barrier element (1) comprises a contact end (2), which is detachably fixable to the switch-unit (3), and wherein the switch-unit (3) is designed to generate a signal indicating whether or not the contact end (2) is fixed to the switch unit (3), wherein the barrier element is a rope (1), whereof the ends (2, 4) are fixed or fixable with respect to at least one landing door (12), and wherein the rope (1) comprises the contact end (2), which is detachably fixable to the switch-unit (3).

2. Safety arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rope comprises a connection end (4), which is fixed or fixable to the landing door (12) or to the door frame (13).

3. Safety arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the maximal length of rope (5) is designed to avoid a complete opening of the at least one landing door (12), especially the length of rope (5) is smaller than the width (14) of the elevator shaft entrance (11).

4. Safety arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the contact end

(2) comprises a link element (6) which is designed to be manually and/or mechanically fixed to the switch unit (3).

5. Safety arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the switch unit

(3) comprises a contact surface (7) for a screw (8) for fixing the contact end (2) to the switch unit (3).

6. Safety arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety arrangement (10) comprises a control unit (9), wherein the switch unit (3) is electrically connected or connectable to the control unit (9), which is designed to allow an ordinary driving operation of the elevator cabin only when at least all contact ends (2) are fixed to the respective switch units (3).

7. Safety arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the control unit (9) is designed to receive signals of a landing door sensor, and is designed to allow only service operations of the elevator car, as long as the landing door (12) is open and/or to allow an ordinary driving operation of the elevator cabin only when the landing door (12) is closed.

8. Elevator shaft entrance, preferably of a maintenance storey, comprising at least one landing door (12), preferably a sliding door, a frame (13) and a safety arrangement (10) according any of claims 1-8.

9. Elevator arrangement comprising at least one elevator car, maintenance storey and at least one elevator shaft entrance (11) according to claim 9.

10. Method of providing service to an elevator arrangement comprising an elevator shaft entrance (11) as claimed in claim 8, comprising the steps of

- (i) partly opening at least one landing door (12),

- (ii) detaching a contact end (2) of a barrier element (1), preferably a rope (1), from the switch unit (3), preferably by loosening and/or removing a wing screw (8),

- (iii) preferably completely opening the landing door (12),

- (iv) preferably providing a service step,

- (v) preferably partly closing the landing door (12),

- (vi) fixing the contact end (2) of the barrier element (1) to the switch unit (3), preferably by tightening a wing screw (8).

11. Method as claimed in claim 10, comprising the step of starting an ordinary driving operation of the elevator car not before a control unit (9) signals that the landing door (12) is closed and all contact ends (2) are fixed to the respective switch units (3).