US672954A - Automatic device for operating hatch-covers for elevators. - Google Patents

Description

No. 672,954. Patented Am. 30', l90l.

H. B. MURDOCK.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPERATING HATCH COVERS FOB ELEVATORS.

(L zplication filed Apr. 26, 1900.) (lo lodol.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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H. B. MURDUCK. AUIUIATIC DEVICE FUR OPERATING HATCH COVERS FOR ELEVATORS.

. I A umin mea Apr. 26, 1900.

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No. 672.954. Patented Apr. 30, |90L H. B.' MURDUCK.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPERATING HATCH COVERS FOB ELEVATQRS.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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UN I TE D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, HORAOE' B. MURDOOK', OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR To THE ANDER- SON SAFETY ELEVATOR COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME PLA E.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPERATING HATCH-COVERS FOR ELEVATORS.

SPEGIFXCATION formingpart of Letterslatent No. 672,954, dated April 30, 1901. I

r ApplioationfiledApril 26,1900. cerialNo. 14,375. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern. above it, according to whether it belongs to Be it known that I, HORACE B. MURDOCK, a the upper or lower set,) all so constructed and I citizen of the United States of America, residarranged as to cooperate with each other in ing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and the movement of the car, all as more fully 55 State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new hereinafter described, and shown in the acand useful Improvements in Automatic Decompanying drawings, in WhlCh'- vices for Operating Hatch-Covers for Eleva- Figure l is a vertical section through two tors, of which the following is a specification, hatch-openings with the elevator-car in posireference beinghad therein tothe accompanytion .for removing the hatch-cover from the 60 1o ing drawings. 7 upper hatch-opening and' placing one in the 1 This invention relates to elevator attachlower one as in the act of going up. Fig.2 ments in which the hatch-openings in the; is an enlarged elevation of one of the four floors are closed by the hatch-covers carried like corners of the elevator-platform, show by the elevator-car and. depositedin hatching a set of three devices for supportingaset 65 openings in its ascent and descent, and the inof three lower hatch-covers beneath the platventionis particularly designed to form an imform, the housing which incloses the devices provement on the device described inUnited being omitted. Fig. 3 is ave'rtical section States LettersPat-entNo.592,933. In the afore- 1 through the corner of-the platform on line w a: said Letters Patent devices are described for in Fig. 2 in connection with a sectional ele- 7o Operatingasetofhatch-coverscarried beneath. vation of one of the four like devices in each the platform of the elevator-car in such manhatch-opening for supporting a hatch-cover ner that in passing through each hatch-Open; in said opening, the drawings illustrating the .ing it releases one of the hatch-covers and operation of the parts as in releasing one of leaves it in the hatch-opening, and when the the lower set of hatch-covers from the plat- 75 elevator-car goes down the hatch-covers are form and depositing it in the hatch-opening again automatically removed and carried as in the ascent of the elevator-car, the full down with the car beneath its platform. -Itlines showing the parts in position while the is also old to carry a set of hatch-coverson cover is still carried beneath the elevatortop of the elevator-car and operate them by' platform and the. dotted lines after it has 80 o suitable devices to be automatically deposited beenreleased. Fig. 4 is a sectionaljelevation one by one in the hatch-opening on the de-: of the device forsupporting the hatch-covers scending of the elevator-car, and it is cusin a hatch-opening, showing its operation in tomary to equip an elevator with both deconnection with a hatch-cover carried on top vices, so that asthe car goes up it removes of the elevator-car when the elevator-car de- 85 5 one set of hatch-covers from the openings and scends. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the carries them upon top of the car and deactuating-cam and gear-segment. Fig. 6 is posits the other set suspended beneath the a detached plan view of one of the four arms platform in the hatch-openings after passing with which the upper set of hatch-covers are through, and vice versa, in descending. provided for supporting them in the hatch- 90 My invention primarily consists in certain openings. Fig.7 isadetached plan view of one improvements in the device described in the of the four arms with which each hatch-cover above Letters Patent, whereby the same deof the lower set is provided to support it in the vice is applicable'for,operating either set of hatch-openings. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a hatch-covers singly or in combination toportion of one. of the sliding bolts, showing 5 gether. w I the cut-out portion. Fig. 9 ,isa section on To this end the invention comprises the line y y, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 isa perspective view novel construction, arrangement, and opera-. "of the lower end of one of the hangers, showtion of two sets of supporting devices for each ing the cut-out portion.

. hatch-cover, one set for supporting it in the; In the drawings, A representsthe floors in I00 hatch-opening and the other set for supporta building, provided with the usual hatching it on the elevator-car, (either beneath or openings, throughwhich the elevator-car B in its ascent and descent is to pass. 0 is the platform of the elevator-car, and D is one of the two vertical guide-posts, all constructed and arranged to operate in the usual manner.

F represents the hatch-covers for closing the hatch-openings. They may be of any known construction, preferably as described in the aforesaid Letters Patent, in which a tubular outer frame is used filled in with Wirenetting and asbestos. The covers of the upper and lower set are alike, and each is provided at or near the four corners with outwardly-projecting brackets to support the covers in the hatch-openings in the usual manner at four points on opposite sides. The brackets G of the lower set of hatch-covers have arms 1), between which are mounted the rubber roller-bufiers a, separated by a metallic antifriction-wheel a, all arranged as shown in Fig. 7.

H represents pivoted hangers or carryinglatches for supporting the hatch-covers from the platform of the elevatorcar. These hangers or carrying-latches are arranged in groups at the sides of the platform, near the corners, and each consists of a bar pivoted at its upper end upon a common bed-plate and formed atits lower end with an outwardlyprojecting shoulder (1, adapted to form a support or seat for the rubber buffers a of the hatch-covers, said shoulder having a cut-out portion (1 for the reception of the wheel a. The hanger engages between guide-lugs d and is backed bya spring a, which presses it outwardly as far as a stop 0 beneath the extreme upper end will allow, a set-screw c in the end of the hanger adjusting the hanger in its normal position. The hangers of each group are suitably stepped off, and the brackets G of the hatch-covers are correspondingly placed in line with the hangers, so that each cover is independently supported by four hangers, one below the other. Each hanger is rounded off below the supporting-shoulder to form a cam c, and each group is partially inclosed within a housing I, detachably se cured, and'the upper end of this housing is beveled 01f and forms a cam I.

J represents the sliding supports for the covers in the hatch-openings. Each support comprises a casingf, a sliding bolt it, having a cut-out portion h, said bolt being guided in the casing and provided with rack-teeth, a toothed segment 1', secured upon a shaftj, or preferably made integral with the shaft, and a double cam 70, secured upon the end of the sh aftj, all so arranged that by turning the cam from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 into the position shown in dotted lines the bolt is projected, while the reverse movement retracts it into the casing.

To limit the movement in either direction, the gear-segment has at both ends the plain portions 1', which act as stops'in connection with the bolt. I also construct the cam 70 with rubbing faces 70 by securing pieces of rawhide in recesses made in the faces of the cam. They also deaden the noise. There are four of these supporting devices in each hatch-opening, the sliding bolts thereof being in line with the rubber buffers a of one of the hatch-covers and adapted to support the same when projected outwardly, while the cams k are in vertical line with a set of four wipers secured to the sides of the platform, one set of wipers for each hatch-opening. These wipers are preferably made integral with the base-plate of the hangers and project beyond the housing, as shown in Fig. 3, havinga suitable shoulder 70' for securing the housing I thereto.

Lrepresents the brackets which are secured to opposite sides of the frame-bars of those hatch-covers which form the upper set carried on top of the elevator-car and by means of which they are supported in the hatch openings. As shown in detail in Figs. 4and 6, the brackets are made with a finger Z, adapted to strike the cam in the descent of the elevator-car, and thereby project the bolt 71, so that the cover may rest thereon while the car descends. Z represents suitable buffers on the under sides of said brackets to deaden the noise incidental to theoperation. The brackets on the upper covers, the same as those of the lower covers, arein alinement with and cooperate only with the supporting devices of that particular hatch -opening which the cover is designed to close, and all of these brackets on both the upper and lower covers are adjustably secured on the covers, except for those of the uppermost and lowermost hatch-opening, for which the bracket may be formed integral with the corner-pieces.

M represents suitable buflfers in the four corners of the upper hatch-covers, so that in picking up these covers they will be noiselessly piled up on the top of the car, the lowermost of these upper covers being preferably fixedly secured on top of the car, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it may close the hatchopening in the first floor while the elevatorcar is in the basement. To prevent the platform from swaying while passing through the hatch-openings, suitable guides Q Q are secured in the openings and on the platform, respectively.

The parts being constructed and arranged as shown and described, they are intended to operate as follows: Supposing in Fig. 1 the elevator-car to be ascending and carrying a cover freely suspended below it by four hangers, as H, (two on a side,) while the hatchopening on the floor above is closed bya cover F, supported upon the bolts of foursupporting devices, it will be seen that as the top of the elevator-car passes through a hatch-opening it lifts 01f the cover and carries it up with it, and thus the covers of all the hatch-openings through which the elevator-car passes will be lifted off one after another and piled up on top of the elevator-car. In the upward passage of the platform through a hatch-opening the cam 1, formed by the upper end of the housing I, first pushes back the sliding rectly below their shoulders,and the cover th us remains behind, supported in the hatch-opening by the rubber buffers resting upon the bolts h, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3. The hangers after being pushed out of engagement with the buffers a are Withdrawn on the further upward movement of the platform with little friction by reason of the metal disk at making arolling contact with the hanger. Supposing the elevator-car to be on its downward trip, the platform in approaching a hatch-opening will cause one set of four wipers to strike the lower horns of the cams k of the four supporting devices of the cover in the hatch-opening and retract the bolts, while at the same time four hangers are pushed in behind the rubber buffers a of the supportingbrackets of the cover and reengage with the same, so that in the further downward movement it is carried down with the platform. As the top .of the elevator-car passes down through a hatch-opening the fingers Z of the uppermost cover carried on top of the elevator-car will strike the upper horn of the cams k, and thereby again project the bolts h, as plainly shown in Fig. 4, thus leaving one of the upper set of covers suspended in the hatch-opening. It will thus be seen that with but a single set of supports in each opening I am enabled to support both sets of covers thereon in either the ascent or descent of the elevator-car, which is a decided advantage.

I do not claim anything new as to construe-. tion of the devices for supporting the covers in the hatch-openings or from the platform, as these and the manner of their operation are substantially the same as in the aforesaid Letters Patent, except as to the brackets G of the lower hatch-cover, which I have secured adj ustably upon the frame-bars of the cover and provided with a metal wheel a between the rubber buifers a. This is a distinct improvement, as it prevents the hangers from dragging the covers by holding the camface a of the hangers out of contact with the rubber buffers in the act of releasing or reengaging said hangers with the covers, while the shoulders of the hangers and the sliding bolts h are suitably grooved to keep them out of contact with the metal wheel. Aside from this specific improvement my invention relates mainl'y'to the construction of the hatchcovers forming the upper set, whereby the same supports in the hatch-openings provided for the lower set are adapted to cooperate with them. To this end said covers have been provided with the brackets L and fingersl and the platform with the cam I, which for the sake of simplicity have been formed as part of the housing, but obviously may be made independent projections.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an automatic device for operating hatch-covers for elevators, the combination of a hatch-opening having a single set of sliding support-s fixed in said hatch-opening and adapted to be automatically projected and retracted by the movement of the car in either direction, a cover for said hatch-opening sus pended beneath the platform of the car from the car itself, means operated by the movement of the car to disconnect said cover from the car and support it in the hatch-opening on the ascent of the car, and a second cover supported on'top of the ear adapted to close said hatchway and separate means oooper'at ing with the same supports in the hatch-opem ing in the movement of the car to automatically project and retract said supports tosupport said second cover in the hatch-opening in the descent of the car.

2. In a device for operating hatch-covers for elevators, the combination of two sets of hatch-covers, one detachably suspended beneath the platform of the car and the other supported on top thereof, and adapted to close the hatch-openings alternately in the ascent and descent of the car, a single set of sliding supports in each hatchway adapted to support one of either set of covers, said sliding supports being adapted to automatically engage with and support said hatch-covers in the ascending and descending movement of the car.

3. In a device for operating hatch-covers for elevators, the combination with the elevator-car, of carrying-latches dependent from the platform of the car, a lower set of hatchcovers with which said carrying-latches are adapted to automatically engage, to support said covers below the car, means for tripping said carrying-latches in the hatch-openings, .in the ascent of the car, an upper independ ent set of hatch-covers supported on top of the car, sliding supports in each hatch-opening adapted to engage with and'support said hatch-covers in the hatchways and means for automatically projecting and retracting said supports in both the ascending and descending movement of the car.

4. In a device for operating hatch-covers for elevators, the combination with an elevator-car, a hatch-cover supported on top of said car and provided with brackets as L, sliding bolts mounted in the hatch-openings and adapted to support said hatch-cover in the hatch-opening, cams as k for projecting and retracting said sliding bolts, fingers as lon the cover for actuating said cams in one direction and a cam as I on the platform for operating said cam in the other direction by the movement of the car.

5. In a device for operating hatch-covers for elevators, the combination with the ele- IIO vator-car, of carrying-latches dependent from the platform of the car, a lower set of hatchcovers with which said carrying-latches are adapted to engage to support said covers below the car, means for automatically operating said latches in the movement of the car, an upper set of covers supported on top of the car and means common to both sets of covers for supporting the same in the hatchopening, said means comprising a series of sliding bolts secured in each hatch-opening and means carried bythe car and upper covers for projecting and retracting said bolts in either the upward or downward movement of the car.

6. In a device for operating hatch-covers for elevators, the combination with the elevator-car, of a hatch-cover normally resting on top of the elevator car and adapted to close the hatch-opening of the elevator-shaft, sliding bolts secured in the hatch-opening and and carrying-latches for suspending the hatch- 30 covers from the platform of the car, the supporting-brackets G of the hatch-covers provided with the rubber buffers a and the metal wheel a interposed between the rubber buffers and of larger diameter than the butfers. 35'

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE B. lVIURDOCK.

Witnesses:

OTTO F. BARTHEL, Jos. A. NOELKE.

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