EP3153446B1

EP3153446B1 - Elevator safety device

Info

Publication number: EP3153446B1
Application number: EP15189115.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Natarajan Nithil Karimpanackal
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2015-10-09
Filing date: 2015-10-09
Publication date: 2018-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-09
Also published as: EP3153446A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an elevator safety device for implementing a safety space in an elevator shaft having a movable car in the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Common elevator safety devices are capable to implement a temporary zone of protection at elevators installed in a shaft. Commonly these elevators comprise a car that is moved along a substantially vertical car travel path. For protection of maintenance personnel minimum protective spaces are provided in the end zones of said path. The protective spaces ensure that the maintenance personnel are not put at risk in the case of an unexpected movement of the car.
From US 7,278,517 B2 a device is known that provides an elevator installation with a shortened car travel path to establish a temporary protective space below and/or above the car upon activation of the car safety brake device. The speed limiter cable is limited, independently of the speed limiter, in a travel path by a switchable stop device. This limitation causes an actuation of the car safety brake device in the corresponding travel direction.

AIM OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an improved elevator safety device for implementing a safety space in an elevator shaft, especially in case a person enters the elevator shaft pit or when a person has been detected on the elevator car roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object is achieved by claim 1. Advantages embodiments are disclosed in the respective subclaims.
Basic idea of the invention is an elevator safety device for implementing a safety space in an elevator shaft having a movable car in the elevator shaft, the elevator safety device comprising a car safety brake device adapted to stop or keep stopping of a car in the elevator shaft, a speed limiter adapted to actuate the car safety brake device by using a speed limiter revolution belt being spanned by pulleys around which it recirculates. Further, at least one abutment element is fastened to the speed limiter belt, wherein an actuating unit is provided comprising at least one stopping device which is switchable between an opened position, to allow a movement of the speed limiter belt and to allow the at least one abutment element to pass the stopping device, and a closed position, to block a movement of the speed limiter belt by cooperation of the stopping device with said abutment element. According to the invention the speed limiter revolution belt has a substantially rectangular cross section to be specifiable as a belt.
The invention provides the advantage that the speed limiter which is adapted to actuate the car safety brake device is more stable and it works more precisely by using a belt as a speed limiter revolution element. The substantially rectangular cross section of the belt provides more smoothness and reduces noise caused by the limiter revolution element recirculating around pulleys.
By means of this construction, a safety space for maintenance work is created and defined by the cooperation of the abutment element with the stopping device, meaning that the car is kept in standstill or stopping position as soon as and as long as the abutment element hits the stopping device. The size of the safety space is therefore dependant of the respective distance between the stopping device and the abutment element and due to a altering the position of one of these elements the safety space dimension can be varied.
According to a preferred embodiment the at least one abutment element is attached to and exclusively the external back side of the belt. This embodiment provides the advantage that the at least one abutment element is capable to rotate around the pulley of the speed limiter. As a consequence an abutment element which is attached to the external back side of the belt can be used independent of which side of the pulley it is located. In other words, the abutment element can be used on both external sides of a pulley, meaning that the abutment element can move the whole travel path of and along with the speed limiter belt. Therewith, the actuating unit can be switched from the opened position to the closed position, to block a movement of the speed limiter belt by cooperation of the stopping device with said abutment element at any site of the running path of the speed limiter belt. Hence, the elevator safety device can be used in a more flexible and versatile manner.
The stopping device can be switched from the opened position to the stopped position, ensuring the safety space, automatically by the elevator control system, manually by the person entering the safety space or in connection with engaging safety device like a balustrade.
The stopping device can be adapted to be combined with an inspection door located at the roof of a car, making the stopping device switchable automatically in its active condition when opening the inspection door and pivoting the same into its final position so that a stuff-member is ready to enter the space above the car. To ensure a very compact and holistic system the stopping device can be alternatively switched automatically by the elevator control system - or in connection with engaging the safety device by means of activating, i.e. unfolding a balustrade. It is further a convenient embodiment to switch the stopping device to a closed position upon detection of a person entering the elevator shaft above or below the elevator car.
These embodiments further improve the safety level of the elevator safety device since the stopping device switches automatically without an additional action of the service personnel. Additionally for the service personnel it is possible to visually check if the stopping device is switched into the closed position to block the movement of the speed limiter belt by cooperation of the stopping device with said abutment element. This further increases the safety level.
To realize alternative solutions or to adapt the elevator safety device to existing systems the stopping device is switchable mechanically or it is switchable using solenoids. As a consequence the elevator safety device can be added to an existing elevator that is already working in an elevator shaft without adapting the elevator shaft to the elevator device. Consequently the elevator safety device can be attached to existing elevator cars.
According to a further embodiment the elevator safety device comprises a car having balustrades arranged at the roof of the car. The balustrades are collapsible between a folding position and an operating position, wherein the stopping device is switchable from the opened position to the closed position by collapsing the balustrades into the operating position. As already mentioned above this embodiment provides an alternative solution that further improves the safety level of the elevator safety device since the stopping device switches automatically.
To further improve the safety of the elevator safety device the elevator safety device comprises a second stopping device attached at a lower end of the car. Hence for the service personnel working below the elevator car, it is also possible to visually check if the stopping device is switched into the closed position to block the movement of the speed limiter belt by cooperation of the stopping device with said abutment element. Hence, the safety level is further increased.
According to a very preferred embodiment of the elevator safety device the speed limiter is an overspeed governor, especially a bidirectional overspeed governor, leading the speed limiter belt across a circumference of a pulley. Thus, existing elements can be used. Hence the abutment element is capable to rotate around the pulley of the speed limiter and the abutment element is further adapted to block a movement of the speed limiter belt by cooperation of the stopping device with said abutment element from both directions.
Embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures and they are explained in the following description. In this respect,

Fig. 1: shows a schematic view of an elevator safety device known in the prior art,
Fig. 2: shows a schematic view of an elevator safety device according the present invention,
Fig. 3: shows a schematic view of an elevator safety device according the present invention, wherein the stopping device is in a closed position,
Fig. 4: shows a further schematic view of an elevator safety device according the present invention, wherein the stopping device is in a closed position, and
Fig. 5a, b: show a schematic comparison of a car comprising balustrades in a folding position and in an operating position.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an elevator safety device known in the prior art. The elevator comprises a car 26 that is movable in a vertical direction in an elevator shaft 14. The elevator further comprises a safety brake device 16 that is adapted to be actuated by a speed limiter 18 in form of an overspeed governor. The speed limiter comprises a speed limiter cable recirculating around two pulleys. The speed limiter further comprises an abutment as shown for example in US 7, 278, 517. At an upper part of a side wall of the elevator shaft 14 a stopping device 24 is installed which is switchable between an opened position, to allow a movement of the speed limiter cable and to allow the abutment in form of a sphere to pass the stopping device 24, and a closed position, to block a movement of the speed limiter cable by cooperation of the stopping device 24 with said abutment sphere, when the car 26 is in a higher position in the elevator shaft 14. Thereby a safety space above the car 26 can be implemented when for example service personnel is standing on the roof 28 of the car 26. Further at a lower part of the side wall of the elevator shaft 14 a second stopping device is attached to block a movement of speed limiter cable by cooperation of the second stopping device with said sphere, when the car 26 is in a lower position of the elevator shaft 14. Thereby a safety space below the car 26 can be implemented when service personnel is working below the car 26.
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an elevator safety device 10 according to the present invention. A car 26 is movable in an elevator shaft 14 in a vertical direction. The elevator safety device 10 comprises a car safety brake device 16 that is adapted to stop the car 26 in the elevator shaft 14. Further the elevator safety device 10 comprises a speed limiter 18 that is adapted to actuate the car safety brake device 16 by using a speed limiter revolution belt being spanned by pulleys around which it recirculates. The speed limiter revolution element is formed as a belt 20 having a substantially rectangular cross section. Further at least one abutment element 22 fastened to the speed limiter belt 20 which is formed here in a triangular shape and is attached to and exclusively at the external back side of the belt 20. Additionally, on the roof 28 of the car 26 a stopping device 24 and below the car 26 a second stopping device 32 are attached. The stopping device 24 at the roof is combined with a car-door as the maintenance entrance for the stuff to enter the shaft. Opening said maintenance door means to automatically actuate the stopping device for defining a shortened moving path for the car relative to the top end of the shaft. Alternatively, upon detection of a person stepping on the car roof, the stopping device can be automatically activated. The stopping device 24 and the second stopping device 32 are respectively switchable between an opened position, to allow a movement of the speed limiter belt 20 and to allow the at least one abutment element 22 to pass the stopping device 24 or the second stopping device 32, and a closed position, to block a movement of speed limiter belt 20 by cooperation of the stopping device 24 or the second stopping device 32 with said abutment element 22. Figure 2 shows the second stopping device 32 in an opened, i.e. non-activated position.
Figure 3 shows the elevator safety device 10 of Fig. 2 in a position in which the safety device is triggered. As said above, the stopping device 24 is in a closed position, i.e. activated position so that a movement of speed limiter belt 20 by cooperation of the stopping device 24 with the abutment element 22 is blocked as soon as the abutment element hits the stopping device. As a consequence the safety brake device 16 is actuated by the speed limiter 18 and a safety space 12 is implemented above the car 26 so that a service personnel can work on the roof 28 of the car 26 without any risk. It has to be noted that for the service personnel it is thereby possible to visually check if the stopping device 24 is switched into the closed position to block the movement of the speed limiter belt 20 by cooperation of the stopping device 24 with the abutment element 22.
Figure 4 shows a further schematic view of an elevator safety device 10 according the present invention, wherein the second stopping device 32 is in a closed position and wherein a movement of speed limiter belt 20 by cooperation of the second stopping device 32 with the abutment element 22 is blocked. As a consequence the safety brake device 16 is actuated by the speed limiter 18, a safety space 12 is implemented below the car 26 and service personnel can work below the car 26 without any risk. Similarly as shown in Fig. 3 it has to be noted that for the service personnel standing below the car 26 it is thereby possible to visually check if the second stopping device 32 is switched into the closed position to block the movement of the speed limiter belt 20 by cooperation of the second stopping device 32 with the abutment element 22. Hence the safety level is significantly increased.
Figures 5a and 5b show a schematic comparison of a car 26 comprising balustrades 30 in a folding position and in a operating position. The balustrades 30 are arranged at the roof 28 of the car 26 and are the balustrades 30 are collapsible between a folding position and an operating position. In figure 5a the balustrades 30 are collapsed in the folding position. Figure 5b shows the balustrades 30 in the operating position. The stopping device 24 (not shown) is switchable from the opened position to the closed position by collapsing the balustrades 30 into the operating position.
The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not restricted by the exemplary embodiments discussed in the description or depicted in the figures.

Reference Numerals:

10: elevator safety device
12: safety space
14: elevator shaft
16: safety brake device
18: speed limiter
20: speed limiter belt
22: abutment element
24: stopping device
26: car
28: roof
30: balustrades
32: second stopping device

Claims

Elevator safety device (10) for implementing a safety space (12) in an elevator shaft (14) having a movable car in the elevator shaft, the elevator safety device (10) comprising:
- a car safety brake device (16) adapted to stop a car in the elevator shaft (14),

- a speed limiter (18) adapted to actuate the car safety brake device (16) by using a speed limiter revolution element being spanned by pulleys around which it recirculates,

- at least one abutment element (22) fastened to the speed limiter revolution element, and

- an actuating unit comprising at least one stopping device (24) which is switchable between an opened position, to allow a movement of the speed limiter revolution element and to allow the at least one abutment element (22) to pass the stopping device (24), and a closed position, to block a movement of speed revolution element by cooperation of the stopping device (24) with said abutment element (22), characterized in that the speed limiter revolution element is a belt (20) having a substantially rectangular cross section.
Elevator safety device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one abutment element (22) is attached to and exclusively the external back side of the belt (20).
Elevator safety device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stopping device (24) is attachable to a car (26).
Elevator safety device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the stopping device (24) is adapted to be combined with an inspection door located at a roof of a car, making the stopping device (24) switchable automatically when opening the inspection door to enter the space above the car (26).
Elevator safety device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that switching of the stopping device (24) to a closed position is enabled upon detection of a person entering the elevator shaft (14) above or below the elevator car.
Elevator safety device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stopping device (24) is switchable mechanically.
Elevator safety device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stopping device (24) is switchable using solenoids.
Elevator safety device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator safety device (10) comprises a car (26) having balustrades (30) arranged at a roof (28) of the car (26).
Elevator safety device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the balustrades (30) are collapsible between a folding position and an operating position, wherein the stopping device (24) is switchable from the opened position to the closed position by collapsing the balustrades (30) into the operating position.
Elevator safety device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator safety device (10) comprises a second stopping device (32) attached at a lower end of the car (26).
Elevator safety device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the speed limiter (18) is an overspeed governor leading the speed limiter belt (20) across a circumference of a pulley.
Elevator safety device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abutment element (22) is formed in a triangular or rectangular shape.
Elevator having an elevator car movable within an elevator shaft and an elevator safety device (10) according to one of the claims 1 - 12.