SG189647A1

SG189647A1 - Elevator apparatus

Info

Publication number: SG189647A1
Application number: SG2012076881A
Authority: SG
Inventors: Zama Hidetaka; Sakai Mitsuru; Haneda Nobuhide
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 2011-10-19
Filing date: 2012-10-15
Publication date: 2013-05-31
Also published as: JP2013086933A; CN103058034A

Abstract

OF THE DISCLOSUREWhen a passenger cage (1) of an elevator apparatus travels with the cage door left open, a brake is applied on the passenger cage (1) smoothly. As an open-door travel prevention unit (4), it is provided with a descent stopper (41a) having a wedge shape which is wider in the downward direction and an ascent stopper (41b) having a wedge shape which is wider in the upward direction, respectively arranged in proximity below and above cage halting positions of a guide rail (2), and a mating body (42).FIGURE 4

Description

ELEVATOR APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with an elevator apparatus and pertains in particular to an elevator apparatus preventing the passenger cage from travelling with the cage door left open.

In general, an elevator apparatus is controlled so that a braking device is operated by a control device and the passenger cage does not move with the door left open when it arrives on a calling floor or a destination floor of the elevator. However, situations may be assumed in which a passenger cage moving up and down on a hoistway moves up or down while the door remains open for some reason such as, for example, due to a reduction of the holding power of the braking device and a faulty command. There 1s a risk that a phenomenon like this develops into a serious accident and, in the unlikely event that a phenomenon such as this arises, recovery consumes labor and time and it is also anticipated that the elevator becomes unable to use for a long time, resulting in the situation of causing inconvenience to the users.

As technologies to prevent situations like this, there are, conventionally, one comprising a protrusion part which becomes in a state of protruding toward a guide rail when the cage door opens and a restriction part provided on a wall of the hoistway which mates with the protrusion part of the protruding state (refer, for example, to JP-U-3150564 and JP-A-2010- 120745); one comprising a stopper on the hoistway which does not interfere with the cage door in a state where the passenger cage is in a halt at a story floor level and the cage door is closed and makes contact against the cage door in a state where the cage door is open (refer, for example, to JP-A-2010-143670); and one comprising an axial rotation regulation plate fixed coaxially with a torque transmission axis and having a plurality of insertion holes formed on a single circumference, an insertion rod arranged to be able to move only in the axial direction of the torque transmission axis, and an insertion rod driving mechanism causing reciprocating motion of the insertion rod between an axial rotation restriction position and an axial rotation restriction release position so that the insertion rod is caused to move to the axial rotation restriction position in response to the opening of the cage door (refer, for example, to JP-A-2009- 018882).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the aforementioned prior arts, when the passenger cage travels while the cage door remains open due to some reason, the protrusion part collides with the restriction part, the passenger cage collides with the stopper, and the insertion rod collides with the insertion hole, respectively. That is to say that in the prior arts, it is not considered to reduce the impact accompanying the collision between the means applying a brake on the passenger cage, and due to such impact, there has been the risk that passengers inside the passenger cage would feel discomfort.

The present invention is made for actual circumstances of the aforementioned prior arts and it is intended to provide an elevator apparatus capable of smoothly applying a brake on the passenger cage when the passenger cage travels with the cage door left open.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention is characterized in that, in an elevator apparatus comprising: a passenger cage and a counterweight moving up and down within an hoistway provided in a building; a passenger cage guide rail arranged to stand in the hoistway to guide ascent and descent of the passenger cage; a rope coupling the passenger cage and the counterweight together; a hoist causing the passenger cage and the counterweight to move up and down by driving the rope; and an open-door travel prevention means preventing the passenger cage from travelling when the cage door is open; the open-door travel prevention means comprises: a descent stopper having a wedge shape which becomes wider in the downward direction and an ascent stopper having a wedge shape which becomes wider in the upward direction, respectively arranged in proximity below and above cage halting positions of the passenger case guide rail, and a mating body provided on the passenger cage in a position opposing the stoppers at the time of door opening so that the mating body mates with one of the stoppers when the passenger cage moves up or down in a state with the door open.

In the present invention configured in this way, at the time of ascent or descent of the passenger cage, the mating body is in a standby position and outside the vertically projected area of the descent stopper and the ascent stopper so that it does not interfere with ascent or descent of the passenger cage. On the other hand, when the passenger cage arrives at a floor and the cage door opens, the mating body takes a braking position opposing the stoppers. Then, when the passenger cage moves down or up with the cage door left open due to some reason, the mating body slides on the slanting faces of one of the stoppers and applies a brake on the passenger cage due to a friction force. In this way, by the mating body sliding in contact with the slanting faces of the stopper, it is possible to apply a brake on the passenger cage smoothly since the braking force increases gradually.

Also, the present invention is characterized in that the mating body comprises: a braking arm in which two arm portions forming a pair are linked capable to rotate with an axis as a fulcrum and one end thereof is capable of opposing the stoppers; a braking spring installed inside the other end of the braking arm between the arm portions; and a braking arm moving mechanism causing reciprocating motion of the braking arm between a braking position in which one end opposes the stoppers and a standby position in which the one end of the braking arm does not oppose either of the stoppers.

In the present invention configured in this way, at the time of ascent or descent of the passenger cage, the braking arm is in a standby position and outside the vertically projected area of the descent stopper and the ascent stopper so that it does not interfere with ascent or descent of the passenger cage. On the other hand, when the passenger cage arrives at a floor and the cage door opens, one end of the braking arm takes a braking position opposing the stoppers. Then, when the passenger cage moves down or up with the cage door left open for some reason, one end of the braking arm makes contact with one of the stoppers so as to put it in between and, subsequently, the braking arm slides in contact while exerting the reaction force of the braking spring on the slanted faces and a brake is applied on the passenger cage with a friction force. In this way, by sliding while exerting the reaction force of the braking spring on the slanted faces of the stopper via the braking arm, the braking power gradually increases and it is possible to apply a brake on the passenger cage more smoothly.

According to the present invention, it is possible to smoothly apply a brake on the passenger cage when the passenger cage travels with the cage door left open so that an elevator apparatus with improved comfortableness can be implemented.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 1s a schematic configuration diagram of an elevator apparatus related to the present invention;

Fig. 2 1s a side elevation of an open-door travel prevention means showing an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an arrow view along A-A of Fig. 2 which shows stoppers in the present embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along B-B of Fig. 2 which shows the open-door travel prevention means in the present embodiment;

Fig. 5 1s a sectional view of the open-door travel prevention means showing a state in which the braking arm is in a position opposing to one of the stoppers; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the open-door travel prevention means showing a state in which the braking arm is in a position of a greater width of the stopper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, there will be given a description, based on the drawings, of an embodiment of an elevator apparatus related to the present invention.

An elevator apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises: a passenger cage | moving up and down within a hoistway provided in a building; passenger cage guide rails 2 arranged to stand in the hoistway to guide ascent and descent of the passenger cage 1; a rope 3 connected to passenger cage 1; and an open-door travel prevention means 4 arranged in the upper part of passenger cage 1 and preventing the passenger cage 1 from travelling when a not-illustrated cage door is open.

The open-door travel prevention means 4 comprises, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, a descent stopper 41a having a wedge shape which becomes wider in the downward direction and an ascent stopper 41b having a wedge shape which becomes wider in the upward direction, respectively arranged in proximity below and above a cage halting position of the guide rail 2.

The descent stopper 41a and the ascent stopper 41b are fixed to the base part of the cage guide rail 2 by bolts 5.

Also, the open-door travel prevention means 4 comprises, as shown in Fig. 2, a mating body 42 which is provided on the passenger cage 1 and is in a position opposing the stoppers 41a and 41b at the time of door opening so that it mates with the stopper 41a or 41b when the passenger cage 1 moves up or down in a state with the door open. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. 4 to 6, this mating body 42 comprises: a braking arm 422 in which two arm portions forming a pair are linked capable to rotate with an axis 421 as a fulcrum and one end thereof is capable of opposing the stoppers 41a and 41b; a braking spring 423 installed inside the other end of this braking arm 422 between the arm portions; and a braking arm moving mechanism 424 which causes reciprocating motion of the braking arm 422 between a braking position in which one end thereof opposes the stoppers 41a and 41b and a standby position in which the one end of the braking arm 422 do not oppose either of the stoppers 41a and 41b.

The braking arm moving mechanism 424 has a moving iron core 424a which supports the braking arm 422 and is capable of sliding in the lateral direction; a body 424b enclosing the moving iron core 424a; a spring 424c provided between the movable iron core 424a and the body 424b to connect them together; and a coil 424d to which electric power is supplied in response to a door close signal and the electric power is cut off in response to a door open signal.

In the present embodiment, at the time of ascent or descent of the passenger cage 1, a door close signal is output and electric power is supplied to the coil 424d. Accordingly, the moving iron core 424a is attracted by the coil 424d overcoming the elastic force of the spring 424c and, as shown in Fig. 4, the braking arm 422 is in the standby position. At this time, the braking arm 422 is outside the vertically projected area of the stoppers 41a and 41b so that it does not interfere with ascent or descent of the passenger cage 1. On the other hand, when the passenger cage 1 arrives at a floor and a door open signal is output so that the cage door opens, as shown in Fig. 5, the electric power supplied to the coil 424d is cut off and, accordingly, the moving iron core 424a moves in a direction away from the coil 424d due to the elastic force of the spring 424c¢ for one end of the braking arm 422 to be in a braking position opposing the stoppers 41a and 41b.

When the passenger cage 1 moves down, for example, with the cage door left open due to some reason, the one end of the braking arm 422 makes contact with the descent stopper 41a so as to put it in between. When the passenger cage 1 further moves down from this state, as shown in Fig. 6, the braking arm 422 slides in contact while exerting the reaction force of the braking spring 423 to the slanted faces as they move rotationally due to the slant of the descent stopper 41a. In this way, a brake is applied on the passenger cage 1 with a friction force due to the sliding contact between the braking arm 422 and the descent stopper 41a.

Here, as for the brake on the passenger cage 1, the braking power gradually increases by one end of the braking arm 422 sliding on the slanted faces of the descent stopper 41a in the direction of the increasing width and applying the reaction force of the braking spring 423 on the slanted faces of the descent stopper 41a via the braking arm 422, resulting in smooth braking. Also, when the anomalous descent of the passenger cage 1 is repaired and the passenger cage 1 returns back to a standby position, the braking arm 422 restores to the original position by the elastic force of the braking spring 423.

Incidentally, a description has been given here as taking an example of the case where the passenger cage 1 moves down with the cage door left open due to some reason; when the passenger cage 1 moves up, by the braking arm 422 sliding in contact with the ascent stopper 41b, a brake is applied gradually on the passenger cage 1.

According to the present embodiment, an elevator apparatus with improved comfortableness can be implemented since a brake can be applied on the passenger cage 1 smoothly when the passenger cage 1 travels with the cage door left open due to some reason.

-G-

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that although the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An elevator apparatus comprising: a passenger cage (1) and a counterweight moving up and down within an hoistway provided in a building; a passenger cage guide rail (2) arranged to stand in the hoistway to guide ascent and descent of the passenger cage (1); a rope (3) coupling the passenger cage and the counterweight; a hoist causing the passenger cage (1) and the counterweight to move up and down by driving the rope (3); and an open-door travel prevention means (4) preventing the passenger cage (1) from travelling when the cage door is open; the open-door travel prevention means (4) comprising: a descent stopper (41a) having a wedge shape which is wider in a downward direction and an ascent stopper (41b) having a wedge shape which is wider in an upward direction, respectively arranged in proximity below and above cage halting positions of the passenger cage guide rail (2); and a mating body (42), provided on the passenger cage (1) in a position opposing the stoppers (41a, 41b) at a time of door opening so that the mating body (42) mates with one of the stoppers (41a, 41b) when the passenger cage (1) moves up or downin a state with the door open.

2. The elevator apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the mating body (42) comprises: a braking arm (422) in which two arm portions forming a pair are linked capable of rotating with an axis (421) as a fulcrum and one end thereof is capable of opposing the stoppers (41a, 41b); a braking spring (423) installed inside another end of the braking arm (422) between the two arm portions; and a braking arm moving mechanism (424) causing reciprocating motion of the braking arm (422) between a braking position in which one end thereof opposes the stoppers (41a, 41b) and a standby position in which the one end of the braking arm (422) do not oppose either of the stoppers (41a, 41b).