EP1943176B1 - Secured facility for a lift - Google Patents

Abstract

The installation (1) has a platform (5) for accessing a level (P1) and an upper level (P2). The access to the level (P2) is secured by a door (11). A safety device (13) opens the door when the platform has attained the level (P2) and locks the platform in position, when the door is in open state. The device has a self-locking interconnection mechanism with a platform locking part, a door locking part and an interconnection part between the platform and the door.

Description

The present invention relates to an elevator comprising a secure installation including intended to allow access to persons with disabilities to a higher level by guaranteeing those persons, or any other located at said higher level, the risk of falling from said access. It will therefore especially find its use in private homes and also in all public places that must be able to accommodate people with reduced mobility in the best conditions of access.

However, it can be extended in all areas requiring the use of an elevator by eliminating the risk of falling, such as for truck platforms, for the loading of goods, where pallet trucks transit between the platform elevating form and floor of the truck in a very variable time depending on the load to move.

An elevator according to the preamble of claim 1 is shown for example in the document WO-A03072482 .

The lifts for disabled people consist mainly of a lifting platform that allows to go from a first level to a second level, higher than the first, the elevation of the platform being done by all means of Lifting known to those skilled in the art, such as a worm or a belt driven by a motor, or a pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic.

In order to guarantee the safety of persons at the upper level, and in particular to prevent the risk of falling, such as that of a child, access to said higher level is generally closed by means such as a door or a door. fence. These closure means remain however manipulable regardless of the position of the platform; it is therefore not excluded that a person fails to close the door or the barrier, or that a child, careless and unconscious by nature, does not open the said door or barrier, causing his own fall or that of a other person.

The platforms of the elevators are intended for receive wheelchairs for people with disabilities, or possibly people with reduced mobility; these therefore take a longer or shorter time to evacuate said platform and access the upper level because they move more slowly; they are therefore provisionally in an intermediate position, straddling the platform and the firm ground of said upper level. In case of failure of the lifting means, the platform may eventually resume its initial position and down to the lower level; in the case where this failure occurs when the disabled person is in the intermediate position, it is then destabilized, which may eventually cause its fall.

There are known secure installations for elevating devices, such as those used in elevators; these installations generally use a device that allows the opening of an automatically controlled door when the platform is in front of said door, said platform then being immobilized in position as long as the door remains open. These devices are automated, and more or less complex design; and although it is possible to adapt them to elevators for handicapped persons, their installation at home and in public places necessitates more or less significant modifications to existing premises. In addition, these installations, intended especially for elevators, require very rigorous preventive maintenance, to avoid any failure of the automation.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of existing installations by providing a secure installation particularly suitable for lifts for disabled people, which ensures the maintenance in the closed position of the closing means of the door or barrier type, as the platform does not. has not reached the top level, then blocks the platform in position on the upper level as soon as the door or gate is opened.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a secure installation for an elevator, said elevator comprising a platform allowing access from a first level to at least a second upper level, the access to the second level being secured by means of closing the door type, said installation comprising a secure device allowing the opening of said door when the platform has reached the upper level, then locking said platform in position as said door remains open, remarkable in that the secure device is constituted by a self-locking interconnection mechanism comprising purely mechanical means alternately blocking either the platform or the door.

Such an invention has the advantage of being of very simple design and easily adaptable in all public or private spaces and all elevators to serve levels whose access must be secure, especially those intended to allow access to disabled people, ensuring an optimal level of security. Its purely mechanical design allows remarkably to ensure a smooth operation of the installation, without particular risk of failure of electrical or pneumatic components.

• les figures 1 et 2 représentent deux vues en perspective, suivant des angles différents, de l'installation sécurisée objet de la présente invention,
• les figures 3 à 5 représentent le mécanisme d'interconnexion autobloquant mise en oeuvre dans l'installation sécurisée, suivant plusieurs positions de la plate-forme et de la porte.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the description which will be given of a non-limiting example of the invention with reference to the appended drawings among which:

• the Figures 1 and 2 represent two perspective views, from different angles, of the secure installation object of the present invention,
• the Figures 3 to 5 represent the self-locking interconnection mechanism implemented in the secure installation, according to several positions of the platform and the door.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 , the present invention relates to a secure installation 1 for elevator 3, in particular to allow access to a higher level to a disabled person, by guaranteeing that person, or any other person located at said higher level, against the risk of falling.

The secure installation 1 consists of an elevator 3 which essentially comprises a platform 5 and lifting means 7 of said platform for moving it vertically, in both directions, of a first level "P1", at least one second level "P2", greater than the first. The elevator 3 is generally equipped with a non-return bar 9 which enhances the safety of the user. The user, initially located at the first level "P1", is positioned on the platform 5, then lowers the non-return barrier 9 which then allows the actuation of the lifting means 7 which move said platform 5 until 'at the second level' P2 '.

The installation 1 also consists of closing means of the door or barrier type 11 which close the access to the second level "P2", thus preventing a person from passing through this access if the platform is located not exactly in position in front of it.

In the remainder of the description, in order to facilitate its reading, the term "door 11" will be used to define the closing means. The skilled person may, however, consider any implementation having the same function, such as a rigid barrier or simply a chain, depending on the degree of risk of falling into the environment where it is installed, said barrier or said chain having to have fastening means design adapted to the installation.

The installation provided with its secure device 13, is remarkable in that it blocks the door 11 in the closed position as the platform 5 has not reached the upper level "P2", and once the level reached, the disabled person can then open said door 11 and the opening thereof then blocks the platform 5 in position at the level "P2", thus ensuring its accessibility in complete safety.

The secure device 13, as represented on the Figures 3 to 5 in several phases of operation, is remarkable in that it consists solely of a self-locking interconnection mechanism 15 between the door 11 and the platform 5, requiring no automated assistance and / or electrical.

The mechanism 15 is remarkable in that it comprises purely mechanical means that alternately block either the platform 5 or the door 11; these purely mechanical means consist simply of three mechanical parts, namely: a blocking part 17 of the platform 5, a blocking part 19 of the door 11 and an interconnection piece 21 between the platform 5 and the door 11.

The part 17 is mounted in pivot connection 23 on the frame 25 of the secure device 13. The part 17 has a concavity for example in the form of "V", "U" or "C". According to a preferred and nonlimiting mode of design on which the rest of the description is based, and as represented on the Figures 3 to 5 the piece 17 is in the general form of "V"; the pivot connection 23 is disposed at the tip 27 of the "V" of the piece 17. The general shape "V" is intended to receive a stop 29 integral with the platform 5; the position of the abutment 29 with respect to that of the pivot connection 27 is such that during the upward vertical translation of said platform 5, this abutment 29 fits into the concavity 30 of the "V" and bears on the first side 31 of the "V", initially in an almost horizontal position, as represented on the figure 3 . The vertical upward movement of the stop 29 thus rotates the workpiece 17 relative to the frame 25 until the platform reaches the second level "P2"; in this position, the second side 33 of the "V" is then preferably inclined slightly above the horizontal, as represented on the Figures 4 and 5 . This ensures that, in case of malfunction of the lifting means 7, the second side 33 of the "V" is in opposition to the relative the downward movement of the stop 29 of the platform 5.

The part 17 is also mounted in pivot connection 35, at the end 37 of the first side 31 of the "V", with the interconnection piece 21; the pivoting of the part 17 relative to the frame 25 thus transmits a movement to the interconnection piece 21.

In a preferred embodiment is not limiting, the angle of the "V" of the part 17 will be between sixty and ninety degrees (60 ° to 90 °). However, we can consider any type of shape for the part 17, the latter having a concavity and performing the same functions as those described above for the general shape of "V".

In accordance with Figures 3, 4 and 5 , the blocking part 19 of the door 11 is mounted in pivot connection 39 relative to the frame 25 of the secure device 13. The part 19 has a concavity for example in the shape of "V", "U" or "C" . According to a preferred and nonlimiting mode of design on which the rest of the description is based, and as represented on the Figures 3 to 5 , the piece 19 is in the form of "V" which has, for example, an angle of between twenty and forty degrees (20 ° and 40 °). The position of the pivot connection 39 on the piece 19 is preferably along the axis of symmetry and substantially halfway up the "V". The shape "V" is intended to receive a stop 41 disposed, for example, on the blank 42 of the door 11; when the door 11 is in the closed initial position, as represented on the figure 3 , the stop 41 is disposed in the concavity 43 of the "V", said "V" being in an inclined position, opposite to the opening direction of the door, namely the direction of disengagement of the stop 41 from the "V" from piece 19.

The piece 19 is mounted in sliding connection with the interconnection piece 21. For this, the interconnection piece 21 is provided with a groove 45 in the shape of an "L" in which are arranged guides made on the piece 19, these guides being implemented by the pivot connection 39 and a guide pin 47. The guide pin 47 is preferably disposed at the tip 48 of the "V" of the piece 19, the right defined by the guide pin 47 and the pivot connection 39 is preferably close to the axis of symmetry of said "V".

As for the piece 17, the piece 19 may have any type of shape, the latter having a concavity 43 and performing the same functions as those described above for the general shape of "V".

As represented in figure 3 in the initial position where the door 11 is closed and the platform at the first level "P1", the interconnection piece 21 is in sliding connection with the piece 19 along the long side 49 of the "L" shape. In this position, the piece 19 is locked in the long side 49 of the groove 45, which prevents the pivoting of said piece 19 relative to the frame 25 and thus prevents the extraction of the stop 41 from the concavity 43 of the " V "; it is therefore impossible to open the door 11.

The pivoting of the part 17, generated by the upward vertical translation of the abutment 29 of the platform 5, causes the displacement of the interconnection piece 21 which makes it possible to transit from the position shown in FIG. figure 3 to that represented at figure 4 ; during this transition, the interconnection piece 21 slides along the first side 49 of the groove 45 in "L" and with respect to the axis of the part 19 defined by the pivot connection 39 and the guide pin 47.

The figure 4 represents an intermediate step where the platform 5 has reached the upper level "P2" and where the door 11 is still closed, but can be opened. Indeed, in this position, the stop 29 is inserted into the "V" of the part 17, and the pivot connection 39 of the part 19 is in the angle 51 of the groove 45 in "L". The piece 19 can then pivot relative to the frame 25 under the action of the force exerted by the stop 41 on said piece 19 when opening the door 11; the pivoting of the piece 19 generates a support of the guide pin 47 on the interconnection piece 21; it then pivots relative to the part 17, simultaneously causing its displacement relative to the part 19. The pivot connection 39 then slides along the short side 53 of the "L" and the guide pin 47 slides along the large side 49, until the guide pin 47 reaches the angle 51 of the groove 45 where the axis of the part 19, defined by the guide pin 47 and the pivot connection 39 is located along the small side 53 of the groove 45 as shown in FIG. figure 5 position in which the stop 41 is extracted from the "V" of the piece 19 and the door 11 is open. The interconnection piece 21 is then locked relative to the piece 19, which consequently prevents the rotation of the piece 17 relative to the frame 25, and therefore blocks the stop 29 inserted inside the "V". of said part 17. The blocking of the stop 29 in the "V" therefore eliminates any risk of descent of the platform 5, in particular in case of failure of the lifting means 7.

Conversely, the descent of the platform 5 is allowed when the door 11 is closed. When closing said door 11, the abutment 41 fits into the "V" of the part 19 which pivots, the axis defined by the guide pin 47 and the pivot connection 39 then passing from the position defined according to the short side 53 of the "L", shown in figure 5 , at the position defined along the long side 49, shown in FIG. figure 4 , then authorizing the descent of the platform 5; the stop 29 then translates vertically downwards, causing the pivoting of the piece 17 and the sliding of the interconnection piece 21 along the long side of the groove 45 in "L" and along the axis of the piece 19 defined by the guide pin 47 and the pivot connection 39.

The design of the self-locking interconnection mechanism requires proper sizing of the three pieces (17, 19 and 21) to first ensure the blocking in position of the "V" of the piece 19, as represented on the figure 3 , as the stop 29 does not enter the part 17, then to allow the pivoting of said piece 19 to disengage the stop 41 of the "V", as shown in the figure 4 , and finally to guarantee the locking in position of the "V" of the part 17, as represented on the figure 5 , as long as the stop 41 does not enter the room 19.

As a nonlimiting example, an identical spacing will be chosen between that separating the pivot connection 39 and the guide pin 47 on the part 19 and that separating the pivot connection 23 and the pivot connection 35 on the part 17; regarding the "L" groove 45, the length of the short side 53 will be equal to the spacing between the pivot connection 39 and the guide pin 47 on the part 19, and the length of the long side 49 will be three times that on the short side 53.

The chassis 25 of the secure device 13 will have, in a preferred and non-limiting mode, the shape of a housing as shown in FIGS. Figures 1 and 2 in which is inserted the self-locking interconnection mechanism; the parts (17, 19, 21) will therefore be of small thickness to limit the depth and bulk of the housing, to facilitate its implementation on the site. The parts (17, 19, 21) will, however, be sufficiently sized to mechanically resist in case of failure of the lifting means 7 of the elevator 3.

The housing of the device 13 comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a notch 55 arranged vertically, as shown in FIG. figure 1 ; the stop 29 penetrates inside said notch 55 and consequently it comes into contact with the part 17. The stop 29 will therefore have a shape adapted, according to its position on the platform 5, to allow it to be inserted correctly in notch 55 and in the "V" of part 17.

Similarly, the housing of the device 13 comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a notch 57 arranged horizontally, as shown in FIG. figure 2 , allowing the stop 41 to penetrate inside the latter in order to insert it into the piece 19. The stop 41 will thus also have a shape adapted, according to its position on the door 11, to allow it to be inserted correctly into the notch 57 and in the "V" of piece 19.

According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, the interconnection piece has a "T" groove, inclined in a position identical to that of the "L" groove shown in FIGS. Figures 3 to 5 , the "T" groove corresponding, in this case, to the downward extension of the long side 49 of the groove 45 in "L".

This design of the inclined "T" groove is remarkable and will preferably be adapted to secure devices 13 equipping installations consisting of at least three levels: a ground floor, a first level, and a second level. In this case, the piece 17 will preferably have a concavity shaped "U" or "C". Thus during the elevation of the platform 5, the stop 29 penetrates into the "U" or "C" shape of the part 17 and the self-locking interconnection mechanism 15 evolves identically to the operation described above. When the platform 5 is at the first level, the pivot connection 39 of the part 19 is in position facing the short side 53 of the groove 45, which then allows the opening of the door 11 and the pivoting of the piece 19, the pivot connection 39 translates in this case along the short side 53.

When the platform does not stop at the first level and continues to rise to the second level, the stop 29 on the platform is supported on the upper part of the shape in "U" or "C" of the piece 17 and thus rotate it until said stopper 29 exceeds the first level and disengages from said shape "U" or "C". In this case the pivot connection 39 and the pin 47 continue their translation along the long side of the inclined "T" and said pivot connection 39 exceeds the position corresponding to the short side 53, which prevents the pivoting of the part 19 and thus keeps the door 11 in the locked position, in a secure mode. The platform then continues its elevation to the next level which is itself equipped with a secure device, either with an interconnection piece 21 provided with an "L" groove, if it is the last level, either with an interconnection piece 21 provided with an inclined "T" groove, if it is an intermediate level.

According to a first variant not shown in the appended figures, it will be possible to also install a door at the level "P1" allowing access to the platform 5 of the elevator 3, the closing of said door allowing the actuation of lifting means 7.

According to another variant, it may be envisaged to install a door or, preferably, a barrier directly on the elevator, replacing the anti-return bar.

In this case the door located at the level "P1" will be in a preferred and non-limiting mode also equipped with a secure device comprising a self-locking interconnection mechanism similar to that described above, but mounted in an inverted position, the stop 29 on the platform 5 being blocked in the direction of the rise and not the descent.

Claims (10)

1. Lift comprising a secured facility (1), said lift (3) comprising a platform (5) allowing access to a first level "P1" and to at least one second upper level "P2", the access to the second level "P2" being secured by door-type closing means (11), said facility (1) comprising a secure device (13) enabling the opening of said door (11) when the platform (5) has reached the upper level "P2", then the blocking of said platform (5) in position as long as said door (11) remains open, characterised in that the secure device (13) consists of a self-locking interconnection mechanism (15) comprising purely mechanical means (17, 19, 21) for alternately blocking the platform (5) or the door (11).
2. Lift as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the self-locking interconnection mechanism (15) is comprised of a part (17) for blocking the platform (5), a part (19) for blocking the door (11) and an interconnection part (21) between these two blocking parts (17, 19), said parts (17, 19) being mounted pivotingly (23, 39) with the chassis (25) of the secure device (13).
3. Lift as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the blocking part (17) of the platform (5) has a concavity in the general shape of a "V", with the tip (27) of the "V" being mounted pivotingly (23) on the chassis (25) and the end (37) of one (31) of the sides of the "V" being mounted pivotingly (35) with the interconnection part (21).
4. Lift according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the blocking part (19) of the door (11) has a concavity in the general shape of a "V" and is mounted pivotingly (39) on the chassis (25), said pivot connection (39) being located approximately on the axis of the "V" at mid-height of the "V", said part (19) also being mounted slidingly in relation to the interconnection part (21).
5. Lift as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the interconnection part (21) has a groove (45) in the form of an inclined "L" or "T" allowing for the mounting slidingly with the blocking part (19) of the door (11).
6. Lift as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the interconnection part (21) slides along the large side (49) of the "L" and in relation to an axis defined by the pivot connection (39) and a guide-pin (47) on the part (19), then slides simultaneously following the small side (53) of the "L", in relation to the pivot connection; (39), and following the large side (49), in relation to the guide-pin (47).
7. Lift according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that a stop (29) on the platform (5) is engages in the concave form of the part (17) during the elevation of said platform (5), driving the pivoting of said part (17) in relation to chassis (25).
8. Lift as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the pivoting of the blocking part (17) of the platform (5) drives the translation of the interconnection part (21) following the axis defined by the guide-pin (47) and the pivot connection (39) on the blocking part (19) of the door (11) until the pivot connection (39) reaches the angle (51) of the groove (45) in the form of an "L", position wherein the platform (5) has reached the upper level "P2", authorising the opening of the door (11).
9. Lift according to any of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that a stop (41) on the door (11) is released from the blocking part (19) of the door (11) during its opening, driving the pivoting of said part (19) in relation to chassis (25).
10. Lift as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the pivoting of the part (19) drives the translation of the guide-pin (47) following the large side (49) of the groove (45) in the form of an "L" and the translation of the pivot connection (39) following the small side (53) until said guide-pin (47) reaches the angle (51), which blocks in position the part (17) wherein is engaged the stop (29) of the platform (5).

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