US1872770A - Elevator door system - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 23, 1932. N. o. LINDSTROM ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM Filed July 25. 1927 2. Slneeos-Shee(l l ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. N. o. I INDSTROM ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM Filed July 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmf MN MM NNY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 Y `UNIT STATES NILS O. LINDSTROM, F N'TLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. SEE ELEVA'IOR CM- ATsN'r '."PLNY, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM l* Application filed July 23, 1.927. Serial No. 207,831.

My invention relates to elevator door devices, and particularly to elevator doors in cluding means for the automatic closure thereof, and a safety switch for preventing a operation of the elevator car when the dooris open.

For purposes of safety, it is essentiai that the shaftway and car doors of elevators, particularly the fully automatic or push button u) elevators, be so protected that 'the doors can be opened only when the car is stopped at a given'iioor, and so that the elevator car can-V not be moved from a floor until the doors are A closed. Safety devices of this general Vtype l are customary and Fessential parts of all modern elevator systems, and'many elaborate .and complicated systems have been built in attempts to provide the desired degree'of safe'- ty. All of the previous systems are, however,

'i f unduly elaborate, complicated, and subject to disablementsuch that theelevator as a whole becomes inoperative.

My invention provides an extremely simple door control system, adapted to be used 't3 with elevator systems in general and particularly adapted for the fully automatic type of elevator, which system provides the necessary safety with aminimum number of parts of the greatest simplicity.l By the de` :"0 vice lof my invention, I am enabled to provide for the closure of all of the elevator shaftway doors through the agency of a single spring or weight, and to operate a single electric circuit switch for stopping the elevator motion by locking out the power connection thereto, from any of anumber of .shaftway doors. Likewise my'device is par'- ticularly adapted to the fully'automatic elevator system in Which power means for actui i ation of the car door is provided. It provides means whereby the opening of the car door, simultaneously opens the shaftwaydoor at which the car is positioned, but opening it if, only if the elevator is leveled off at'the'floor. My invention further provides means for the controlled closure of the elevator shaftway door at a slow speed, to Vprevent injury toa passenger. rhe system of my invention' fur- "M3 ther contains a minimum number of ruggedv parts ofthe greatest simplicity and durabili'- By the-device of my invention I thus provide an inexpensive, simple, durable, rugged, elevator-door gear adapted to the meeting of all of the needs of a fully automatic system, as well as the needs of simpler'systems.

Other objects and structural. details of my invention will be apparent from the follow'- ing description when read Ain connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation partly in section of an elevator system embodying the device of my invention; FigpQ is a-'front View, partly 'diagram-k matic, of the same embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a plan view in partial section of the same embodiment; Fig. 4L is a front view of the same embodiment showing Ia door in opened position, r Figs. 5 and Gare side elevations ofi-detail modifications, and

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the applica.

tion of the invention to an elevator of the push button automatic electrically controlled type.

Referring to the figures, I provide a shaftway l having guides 2 and a car 3. Doorways are provided at the respective Hoor levels of the elevator shaft, closed by doors which may desirably consist of pairs of sliding doors'l and 5. rIhe elevator car 3 is like-Y wise desirably vprovided with a suitable door member 6 which may consist of a folding lattice door structure, or may consist of a. pair of sliding doors similar vin general pattern to the shaftway doors. A door opening and closing device may beprovided in connection with the car door, according to the system .disclosed inthe copending application Serial No. 138,453, led in the name of Carl F. E. Olofson and myself, assigned to the A. B. See Elevator Company.

The shaftway doors 4; and 5 are desirably v the purpose of controlling their movements.

This lever mechanism may desirably consist of a first lever 7 pivoted by a-pivot mempropriate `Hoor. the motor 34 is energized by appropriate ber 8 to the shaftway wall. A second lever 9 is desirably pivote-d at 11 to the end of the lever 7, and at 12 to the movable door. The lever 9 has an extension 14, in the form of a bell crank lever, upon which may desirably be mounted a roller 15. The lever 7 may desirably have a tail lever member 16 and a counterweight 17. A te-nsion device such as a vertical rod, or ribbon member 18 is desirably provided extending the length of the shaftway. The tension or ribbon member 18 is desirably supported by a spring 19, of medium strength, which may be described as a 10 lb. spring. At the bottom of the ribbon member 18 is positioned a dash pot member 21 consisting'of a cylinder 22, piston 23, and control valve 24. The ribbon member 18 is attached to the piston 23, and a spring 25 is provided for producing a downward movement of the piston 23 and attached ribbon member 18. The spring 25 is desirably considerably stronger than the spring 19` and may be described as a 30 lb. spring. Along the length of the ribbon 18, at appropriate points in each floor level, are attached a plurality of collar members 26. The collar members may be adjustably fastened by screws 27 as indicated, or they may be fastened permanently in place by pins or rivets. Cooperating with the attached collars 26 are movable collars 28, surrounding the ribbon member 18, and 'positionedjust below the liXed collars 26. Between the collars 28 and the door-lever tail-member 16 are attached connector members 29 which may take the form of tension devices such as lengths of chain or` may take the lform of rsuitable bar members. VAt a convenient point along the length of the ribbon A18, which may desirably be near the upper end, is positioned a safety switch member 31, adapted to be opened by an upwardmovement of the ribbon member 18.

n The car door, which may be constructed ac cording to the `disclosure in the previously mentioned copending application, desirably has a door guide member 32. A slide member 33 cooperating with the guide 32 is desirably attached to the leading edge of the car door 6. A motor 34 and chain 35 according to the disclosure of the previously mentioned application, are likewise also desirably provided for the automatic actuation of the gate 6. Upon the slide member 33 is positioned a carrier plate 36, adapted to engage with the roller 15 upon the end of the bell crank 14'for opening the doors 4.

For the operation of my device, the elevator system may, if desired, be made fully automatic as indicated in Fig. 7, so that upon the pushing of any floor button 40 by a passengerl the elevator mechanism is brought into operation, and the ca-r carried to the ap- Upon stopping at the iioor,

means to open the doors. The movement of the chain by the motor 34 carries the slide 33 and the plate 36 in an appropriate direction to open the car door, in the instance shown, ltoward the right. The plate 36 cooperates with the roller 15, and through the agency of the bell crank lever 14 moves the bar 9 downward, and with it the bar 7, thereby freeing the toggle joint at the pivot 11 and permitting the door portion 4 to open. Simultaneously the tail lever member 16 is carried upward by the movement of the lever 17 and carries with it the chain member 29 and the collar 28. This upward movement lifts the ribbon against the pressure of the spring 25 and the portion of the ribbon above the collar 28 is lifted by the spring 19, to open the contact 31, thereby locking out the starting contactor'on the motor panel board. A4 single door may be opened at a time, and the ribbon -18 lifted without disturbance of the corresponding members at the other doors because of the free movement possible between the collars 28 and the ribbon which form a release mechanism. The members 26 at the closed doors are simply lifted away from the corresponding collars 28, and the door levers are held in closed position by the counterweights 17. f

By this means the car door and an appropriate shaftway door are opened for the access of'pa'ssengers. The position taken by the levers when'the door is fully opened is shown in further detail in Fig. 4 where the plate 36 is shown'pulled tothe right, the levers 7 and 9 are shown folded downward behind a portion of the door, and the ribbon 18, and the collars26 and 28 are shown lifted to the full upward position for the opening of the contactor 31.

The passengers may then enter the car and press the car button to indicate the iioor to which they desire to go. Pressure of the car button energizes the motor 34 in the reverse direction and moves the door 6 to the closed position. The movement of the door. and with it the slide 33, carries the plate 36 away from the roller 15. This removes the pressure upon the bell crank lever 14- and frees door 4. The downward pressure of the 25 upon the ribbon 8 is then effective through the collar 26. the collar 28. the chain 29 the lever tail 16 to swingV the .levers 7 and 9 into the position shown in Fig. 2, for the closure of the shaftway door. As the door 4- closes, the ribbon 18 moves downwardly until, when the door 4 is substantially closed, a circuit is closed by the device 31 to energize the main elevator motor and the associated winding gear. 'The elevator gear then moves the car to the desired floor, and stops, whereupon the motor 34 is energized in the direction first described, and pulls the chain 35 to open the car door 6, and the apstructive matter.

propriate shaftway door 4 as previously described, for the egress 'of the passengers.

All of the elevator doors are thus controlled by a single spring closing member, and the opening of any door stops the movement of the elevator through the opening of a single circuit device. This construction is particularly advantageous, because of the fact that it reduces the maintenance required upon electrical safety devices, a single one only being required as ldistinguished from onefor each shaftway door of the prior art. The construction is further highly advantageous because ofthe fact that all the doors are closed by the same moderately powerful spring. This construction makes it impossible for a passenger to be caught in the doorway and injured by unduly high-tension upon the door closing device. Likewise the doors are closed slowly because of thepresence of the dash pot 21. The fact that a single dashl pot only isv used for all ofthe doors is advantageous, since it reduces the cost. Also the dash pot is vlocated in an advantageous place, being at the bottom of the shaftway, conveniently available for inspection and maintenance, and in a position where there is ample room for a dash pot of adequate size. The dash pot thus is desirably constructed in a rather larve size, with relatively large fluid passages. This ccnstruction prevents the fouling of thepassages and faulty operation of the'dash pot through the presence of dirt or other obl have described the operation of my' invention as applied to a fully automatic elevator system. It is, however, equally well adapted to a manual elevator operating system of the usual type. in such an embodiment, the car may be operated by a control lever under the hand of an operator, who also opens and closes the elevator gates. Tn my construction, the opening of the car gate by the operator simultaneously opens the shaftway gate, without the necessityV for a separate operation. Likewise the shaftvvay gate closes slowly, easily, and automatically upon the closure of the car gate by the operator. Such a system likewise has advantages in speed of operation, and safety and certainty of handling.

Tt is, of course, desirable that appropriate Circuit switches be provided in connection with the car gate as well Vas with the shaftway gates. Such safety devices may, however, take the form shown in my copending application, and need not be here described.

The bell crank lever 14 may, as previously suggested, be made as an integral part with the lever 9. Such construction is however not entirely desirable, because of the fact Jthat it results in a smaller amount of movement of the door 4 than of the door 6. The

' bell crank lever 14 is desirably made separate from the lever portion.9, pivoted upon the same pivot 12, and adapted to cooperate with the lever 9 by means of a stop 40, so that the pressure of the plate 36 upon the roller 15, moves the lever 14,k and with it the lever 9 downward, enough to break the toggle joint lock between the levers 7 and 9. A stop 41 is desirably provided attached to the door 4 and cooperating withthe bell crank lever. 14 to limit its motion so that enough 'movement of the lever 14 is allowed to break the toggle lock,and no more. Such construction permits the application of pressure from lthe plate 36, throughthe roller 15, lever 14 andthe stop described, to carry the door -4 towards the open position, the levers 9 kand 7 moving together in an appropriate manner. This construction is shown in Fig. 4.

The construction disclosed utilizes a relatively light spring at the upper end of the ribbon 8, and a heavier spring 25 at the lower end of the ribbon. rThe spring 25 may be replaced by a counterweight if, desired, as for y example by increasing the weight of the piston 23 and eliminating the spring 25 although the speed of operation when so constructed is not as great. Likewise the spring 19 vrmay be replaced by` a lever 42 and counterweight 48, as shown in Fig. 5.' o

The safety switch, or, lockout switch 31, is desirably positionednear the top of the ribbon 18, since when so positioned it will y function to stop the lelevator in the event that the ribbon 18 should break. Breakage of the ribbon releases theV spring 19 and lpermits it to lift the contact members 31. This operation can fail only in the event that the ribbon breaks between the switch 31 and the spring 19, which is extremely unlikely. However' to avoid any such possibility, the switch 31 may be mounted directly above the'spring 19 as in Fig. 6, thereby reducing the possibility of failure to a vanishingly small value.V

' A detailed Wiring diagram of the electrical circuits is shown in Figure 7 which for the sake` of simplicity and clearness, showsv an automatic -elevator system involving only two floors or landings and omits the electrical control within the car, the hoisting motor and its connections from reversing switches, and various other circuits well known and in common use. y

Tn the wiring diagram, the source of current is the main line wires 44 and 45. There is a push button for each floor landing 46 and 46. Since there are only two floors, each push button will cause the elevator to move in only one direction. In case the system includes mor-e than two landings, a floor selecting device (not shown, but well known) will be connected to the various push buttons inorder to enable each push button to bring the Ielevator car to its landing no-fmatter where it may be positioned inthe shaft; that is, the

"asl

-floor landings.

car will sometimes be moved upward and sometimes downward by a single push button in order to bring it to the floor cont-rolled by such push button as when the push button is on a floor intermediate'the top and bottom In any case, the elevator gate will be automatically brought to a closed position by closing the push button circuit before the hoisting motor is operated, and when the elevator reaches the desired licor landing, the elevator gate, and the shaftway door will be automatically opened as will now be described.

There is a relay associated with each push button, its energizing coil being in a circuit closed thereby. As shown, the relay 47 associated with the push button 46 will upon movement of the push button 46 be energized by a circuit as Jfollows: from line wire 44 through wires 48, 49, 50, relay coil 47, wire 51, relay arm 52, contact 5.3, wire 54, push button 46, wires 55 and 56, cont-act 57, arm 58, and wires 59 and 60 to line wire 45. The relay 47 vis thereby energized andthe conducting arms 61 and 62 thrown to the left whereby the circuit through Athe push button 46 is opened at 53 and a circuit closed as-ollows: from line wire 44, to arm 52 as before, thence through arms 61, 62, and 63, wire 64, resistance 65, wires 66, 67 and 68, relay coil 69, wire 70, relay arm 71, contact 72, wire 73 to line wire 45. K

` The energizing of relay coil 69 causes the conducting arms 74 and 75 to be thrown to the left, separating arm 58 from contact 57 and thereby making it impossible to close a circuit through either of the push buttons 46 or 46. Furthermore, the contacting of arm 75 with arm'76 causes the closing of a circuit'from wire 68 through wire 77, relay coil 78, wire 79, contact 80, arm 81, wires 82, 83 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74, and 58 and wires 59 and 60 to line .wire 45. y 'i The energizing of relay coil causes the conducting arms 85 and 86 to bethrown to the left and a circuit to be closed as follows:

from line wire 44 through wires 48-and 87,4

contactA 88, arm 89 of reversing switch R, series field windings 90 of gate motor 34, lead 91, motor armature and lead 92, part of the current being shunted through resistance 93, thence through resistance 94, arm 95, Contact 96, wire 97, arms 98, 86, 85 and 99, wire 100,-

Figure 4, toward the lett until the contact bar 108 of the elevator gate switch 21 is kshifted from the upper contacts 109 to the lower contacts 110. The gate switch is such that when the gate reachesthe open position the contact bar 108 is moved to close the circuit between upper contacts 109, and when the gate reaches The connections between the contacts 110 will establish a circuit as follows: from line wire '44, through wires 48, 49 and 50, relay coil 47, wire'51, arms 52, 61, 62, and 63, wire 64up limit switch 111, wire 112, contact 113 of down reversing switch R, resistance 114, wires and 116, relay coil 117, wire 118, contact bar 108 of the elevator gate switch 21, wires 8.3 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and 58, and wires 59 and 60 to line wire 45. The effect of the energizing of the relay coil 117 is to throw the arms 119 and 121 to the left thus causing the openingfof the gate motor circuit at 101 and 105 and stopping the gate motor. The arm 120 is also thrown to the left, thereby separating 80 and 81, deenergizing relay 78 and opening the gate motor circuit at 85 and 86. Furthermore, a circuit is completed from line wire 44 through wire 122, relay coil 123- of gate motor reversing switch R, wire 124, switch 21, wires 83 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and 58, and wires 59 and 60- to line wire 45. Thel elect of energizing c oil 123 vis to actuate the reversing switch R to change the connections to the armature of the gate motor'34 to reverse the direction of rotation of the elevator gate motor 34 when f' it is again energized.

The arm by contacting with the arm 81 closes a circuit as follows: from line wire 44 to contact 113 of down reversing switch R as before, thence through'wire 125, coil 126 of up reversing switch R, wire 127, coil 128 ot potential or circuit breaking switch, wire' 129, locking out switch 31, wire 130, arms 120 and81, wires 82, 83 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and 58, and wires 59 and 60 to line wire 45. rlhe effect of the closing of such circuit is the closing by the reversing switch R of the hoisting motor circuit (not shown) thereby causing the motor to raise the elevator from its lower toits upper position level with the landing upon which push button 46 is situated. As it reaches that landing, it causes by well known means, the opening of the up limit switch 111 and thereby opens the hoisting motor circuit and stops the elevator car.; it also causes the deenergizing oi the relay coil 117. y

The deenergizing of' the coil 117 permits arms 119 and 120 to be returned to their original position, thereby establishing a circuit to relay coil 78 and to the elevator'gate motor 34. Since the relay' coil of the reversing switch R of the elevator gate motor 34 is energized as hereinbeitore described, the elevator gate motor will operate-to traverse the gatev from the closed to the open position, the shaftway door being simultaneously opened as hereinbefore described. The openingot the elevator gate will cause contact bar 108 to close the gap between contacts 109 and'open the circ-uit between contacts 110.

The opening of the circuit between contacts 110 will deenergi'ze the relay coil 123.

The connection between the contacts 109 will cause a circuit to be closed as ollows: from line wire 44, through wire 131, contact bar 108, wire 132, relay coil 133, wire 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and 58, and wires 59 and 60 to line wire 45. The energizing ot coil causes the arm 71 to be thrown to the right, thereby deenergizing coils 69, 47 and 1.33 and restoringv the various parts to their original positions.

The circuits controlled by push button 46' are similar in all respects to those described in connection with push button 46 and the operation is the same except that the reversing switch R will so connect the hoisting motor as to cause the elevator car to descend until it reaches the landingnpon which push button 46 is located, at which time the elevator car causes the opening of the down limit switch 134 and energizes the various relays as before.

By the device of my invention I am thus enabled to provide a highly satisfactory elevator door control system, having much fewer, and simpler, and more rugged parts than the devices of the prior art. The door control device of my invent-ion is likewise highly suitable for automatic operation, and when so operated provides the utmost convenience and safety. The device also is eX- tremely simple and easy of maintenance.

lVhile I have shown but a single embodiment ot my invention in the figures, and have described but two embodiments, it is capable of embodiment in still other forms without departure from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed upon the scope of the claims describing my invention as are required by the prior art.

I claim as my invent-ion:

1. In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of doors opening thereto and sliding door members cooperating therewith, means comprising sets of toggle levers :tor controlling the movements of said doors, one of said levers of said sets having a bell crank lever portion adapted to cooperate with an opening means, and another of said levers having a counterweight and tail member, and a common tension member cooperating with the tails ot said levers, and means comprising a controlled spring vfor applying force for the closure ot said doors. y

2. In an elevator system, an automatic operating means comprising-'a push button electrical control system having means for the automatic control ot the movements of saidelevator, and automatic means torthe opening and closing of said car door, said means being adapted to open a shalitwaydoor siimiltaneously, and means other than said car door common to all ot said shaftway doors for the controlledV closure thereof upon actuation otsaid automatic members, and means associated with saidv closure means for locking out the car power-connection when a shattway door is opened. V

3. In an elevator system, a shaftway having openings thereto at different floor landings, doors tor the shaftway openings, an elevator car in the shaftway, means formoving the elevator car, a gate on the elevator car, gate operating means for moving the gatein one direction to open rthe gate and in the opposite direction to close the gate, means on the gate for engaging the shattway doors to open the doors with the gate, and additional means common to all of the shaftway doors for controlling the closure thereof.

4. In an elevator system, a shattway having openings thereto at different floor landings, doors for the shattway openings, an

elevator car in the shaftway, means for movmg the elevator car, a gate on the elevator car, gate-operating means for moving the gate in one direction to open the gate andV in ythe opposite direction to close the gate,

means on the gate for engaging the shaftway doors to open the doors with the gate, additional meansA common to all of the shaiitway doors for controlling the closure thereof, and

means for locking out the elevator ear operating means when a shaftway door is open.

5. In an elevator system, a shattway having a plurality of openings thereto, an elevator car in the shattway, means for moving the elevator car, sliding doors for the shaftway openings, means comprising sets of toggle levers for each ot the doors for con-V trolling the movements ot the doors, one ot the levers of said `sets having a bell crank lever portion adapted to cooperate with an opening means, and another of said levers having a counter weight and tail member,y a common member under tension cooperating with the tails ot said levers, means comprising a controlled spring for applying a torce for the closure of said doors, and means cooperating with the common member under tension for locking out the elevator car moving means when a shattway door is open.

6. In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of openings thereto, an elevator car in the shaftway, means for moving the elevator car, sliding doors for the shaftway openings, means comprising sets of toggle aiY i" and another of said levers having a counterweight and tail member, a common member under tension cooperating with the tails ot' said levers, means comprising a controlled spring for applying a force to the common "E," member under tension for the closure of said doors, and means cooperating with the common member under tension for locking out the elevator car moving means when the common member is not under tension.

v 7 In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of openings thereto, an elevator car in the shaftvvay, means for moving the elevator car, sliding doors for the shaftway openings, means comprising sets of toggle levers for each of the doors for controlling the movements of the doors, one of the levers of said sets having a bell crank lever portion adapted to cooperate With an opening means, and another of said levers having 2-51 a counterweight and tail member, a common member under tension cooperating With the tails of said levers, means comprising a controlled spring for applying a force to the common member under tension for the closure of said doors, and means cooperating with the common member under tension for locking out the elevator car moving means Whenv a shaftway door is open and When the common member is not under tension.

8. In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of openings thereto, an elevator car in the shaftway, means for moving the elevator car, a gate on the elevator car, sliding doors for the shaftway openings, a set of toggle levers for each of the shaft- Way doors for controlling the movement of the door and locking the doors in the closed position, one of the levers on the sets having a bell crank lever portion, means on the elevator car gate adapted to cooperate With the bell crank lever to break the toggle lock and move the bell crank lever to open the door in accordance With the movement of the car gate, and means common to all the shatWay doors for controlling the closure thereof.

9. In an elevator system, a shaftvvay having a plurality of openings thereto, an elevator car in the shaftway, means for moving the elevator car, a gate on the elevator car,

isliding doors for the shaftWay openings, a

set of toggle levers for each of the shaftvvay doors for controlling the movement of the doors and locking the doors in the closed position, one of the levers on the sets having -a bell crank lever portion, means on the elevator car gate adapted to cooperate With the bell crank lever to break the toggle lock and move the bell crank lever to open the door in accordance with the movement of the car 65 gate, another of said levers having a counterweight and tail'membe'r, acommon member under tensionV cooperating With the tails of said levers, means comprising a controlled spring for applying a Jforce for the closurev lll)

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