US2097075A - Control mechanism for elevators and the like - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26, 1937. F. MULLER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 X E-iedm'ch cliiu ller zwfw.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\f:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\W A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Jriealeriefi/ willy F. MULLER Filed Sept. 2, 1936 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS AND THE LIKE Patented Oct. 26, 1937 Unites STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to control mechanisms and more particularly to control mechanisms for elevators and-other machines having translatable members adapted to directions between predetermined limits or stations.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified control mechanism of this nature which, at all times, is subject to manual control but automatically when the tr reached certain predetermined positions, thereby to disconnect the me force and cause it to come to rest.

A further object is to p anism of this nature in which the manual control is carried by the tran These and other objects have been attained by the provision of a control mechanism-including an endwise movable rod,

nected with a manually ried by the translatable to shift said rod axially to effective or ineffective. During the power move ment of the translatable member the manual control maintains its frictional connection with the rod, while the translatable member is moved therealong, and is available to stop said move-' ment at any desired time.

The automatic stopping of the translatable member is efiected by means of suitable devices carried by the translatable member and adapt-- ed, when the member has reached a predetermined position, to actuate mechanism connected to shift the rod in the direction opposite to that in which it was manually shifted to render the power drive effective.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the annexed drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a rear side tion, partly in section, of the improved control mechanism, showing, in full lines, the parts in a neutral or stop position and, in dotted lines,

an up position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts manually shifted to a position the translatable member CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ..-ELEVATORS AND THE'LIKE Friederich Miiller, Elizabeth, N. J.; Union County Trust Company, Elizabeth, N. J., executor of said Friederich Miiller, deceased Application s ambelv 2, 1936, Serial No. 99,012

' 17 Claims. (01. 187-43) Fig. 3 is'a sectional view taken substantially 0n the line .3 3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end View of the switch mechanism shown at theleft of Fig. 1, with the cover plate removed. y

Fig. 5 is a front View illustrating the improved control device embodied in an inclined or stair elevator mechanism, the control device being viewed in a direction opposite to that in Fig. 1. The power means for moving the elevator car is shown diagrammatically and at a reduced scale. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the lined-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention as embodied in a vertically movable form of elevator mechanism. 7

Referring more specifically to the drawings th invention is disclosed as comprising a control member, such forexample, as a rod or tube l slid-- ably mounted in fixed bearings 2 and 3 arranged substantially parallel with the path of movement. (indicated by arrows at) of a power driven translatable member designated generally as A. Inasmuch as thespecific means for translating the member back and forth in opposite directions forms no part of this invention detailed illustration and description there is deemed unnec- Thecontrolmember l is connected at -oneend to a powerd-rive control mechanism which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, may consist of a conventional cut-out and reversing switch S adapted selectively to. close or open a forward or up drive electric-circuit-4 and a reverse or down drive electric circuit 5. The circuits 4 and 5 are connected to a suitable prime mover operatively coupled with the translatable member A to cause it to'be translated ii -opposite directions. The circuits; 4 and 5 include pairs of spaced terminals 4? and 5 adapted tobe connected by a contactmember 6 secured upon one endof the rod-L The contact member 6 is preferably circular, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to make contact with the terminals 4 and 5 in all angular'positions of the rod. I 5 When the contact member 6 is shifted to its intermediate position, as shown in full lines in,

1, both circuits are open and the prime mover will therefore be rendered inefiective to move the member A. V 7 Manual means is provided for shifting the rod axially in either direction selectively to close either the circuit 4 or the circuit 5. This means I is carried by thetranslatable member A and coms be moved in opposite which will be actuated anslatable member has mber from its driving rovide a control mechl5 slatable member. 4

or the like, extending actuable member carmember' and adapted render the power drive eleva to cause movement of downwardly as shown prises a hand lever I fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a stud 8 secured to the member A. At one end the lever 'I carries a hand grasp 9 and at the other end it is pivotally connected with the upper end of a second lever I fulcrumed at II on a housing I2 secured to the member A, as by screws IS. The lower end of the lever I0 carries a stud I4 fitted within an aperture I5 formed in one side of a metallic sleeve I6 slidably mounted within the housing I2 and surrounding the control.

member I. Within a slightly conical bore I6 in the sleeve I5, is adjustably secured a split bushing I'I having a bore I'I which frictionally embraces the control member I. The control member is preferably circular in cross section and may consist of a rod or tube having a hard, smooth and polished outer surface. Such a surface readily may be obtained by chromium plating.

Inasmuch as the bushing I! must grip the rod I with sufiicient friction to shift it when the bushing is moved axially and yet be sufficiently free thereon to permit the bushing to be moved therealong by power, it is apparent that'to be practical the amount of friction between the two must be adjusted to a nicety and so maintained under all conditions for great periods of time. Therefore not all materials may be used in making the bushing. I have found that the best results are obtained when the bushing is made of hard wood, such for example, as hard maple. This material affords sufficient compressibility and elasticity to maintain a substantially uniform friction on the rod under all conditions and does not show any appreciable amount of wear even when used for great periods of time. I have also found that the working conditions and wearing qualities are improved when the bushing is impregnated with oil, the oil very slowly finding its way to the bearing surface and affording precisely the right amount of lubrication.

The friction bushing I1 is tapered in the direction of its length and snugly fits within the bore I B A nut I8, threaded within the sleeve I5 and having a shoulder I 9 abutting one end of the bushing, serves to adjust the bushing axially, thereby to vary the degree of friction between the bushing and the rod I. This friction will normally be sufliciently great to cause therod I to be shifted axially when the lever 1 is manipulated but sufficiently small to, permit the bushing to be slid along the rod when the member A is moved by power.

As hereinbefore indicated, this invention provides manual means for initiating the power movement of the translatable means A and automatic means for discontinuing such movement when the member has reached certain predetermined positions. This automatic-cut-out comprises levers and 2I pivotally mounted on the fixed bearings 2 and 3 and having inner ends 2|] and 2M respectively, adapted to engage collars 22 and 23 adjustably secured to the rod I. The outer ends 20 and 2I of the levers 20 and 2I are arranged within the path. of travel of actuating members or lugs 24 and 25 carried by the member A and preferably formed integral with the housing I2. Thus when the translatable member A reaches a predetermined position, contact of one of the members 24 or 25 with one of the levers 20 or 2| will, through the action of the lever on its coacting collar 22 or'23, cause the rod I to be shifted'axially thereby to render the power drive ineffective to translate the mem her A, whereupon it is brought to rest.

Preferably the inner arms of the levers 20 and 2I are materially longer than their outer arms and thus a relatively small movement of the member A and the actuating lugs 24 and 25 will effect a materially greater movement of the rod I in the opposite direction, thereby quickly breaking the electric circuit 4 or 5 and shifting the contact member 6 to a position substantially midway between the pairs of spaced terminals 4 and 5 As above indicated, the translatable member A may be any suitable element, such for example as an elevator car, the power drive therefor may be an electric motor or other suitable means, and the automatic control for the power drive may be a reversing or cut-out switch. In Figs. 5 and 6 the improved control mechanism has been illustrated as embodied in a stair type elevator mechanisminwhich the car A is moved in one direction as by means of a suitable cable C adapted to be wound on a drum D, rotated by a conventional reversible electric motor M. The car may be moved in the opposite direction either by the motor or by gravity. The manual control mechanism is carried by. the car, the actuating lever thereof being indicated by the numeral I. The power drive control means is indicated as a switch S adapted to be automatically actuated by axial movement of the rod I to break the circuit to the motor whenever the car reaches either of two predetermined positions.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the elevator car A, comprising a back board 26 and seats 21 and 28 carried thereby, is supported upon rollers 29 which track within a channel member 30 extending lengthwise of the stairway T. The control rod I also extends lengthwise of the channel 30 between the channel and the sidewall of the stairway which latter is indicated by the line- 111. The automatic stop devices comprising the levers 20 and 2| and the collars 22 and 23 are arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the rod so as to bring the car to rest automatically when it has reached a position at either the top or the bottom of the stairway.

As indicated in Fig. '7 this control mechanism is also adaptable to elevators which are moved vertically to a plurality of floors or stations, the various floors being designated by the letters a, b,'c, d, and e.

In this embodiment of the invention it may be desirable to counterbalance the control rod I. This readily may be accomplished by the use of a counterweight 3| attached to the rod I by a cable 32 passed over suitable rollers 33 and 34.

In this embodiment of the invention it may be desirable to place the control switch S at the lower end of the rod I.

Referring now to Fig. 1 and considering that the control device is embodied in an elevator mechanism as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and that the car is at rest intermediate its two extreme positions, the operation of the device is as follows: Should the operator desire to move the car upwardly he grasps the handle 9 and shifts the lever 'I clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5 or, as viewed in Fig. 1, counter-clockwise from its full line position to its dotted line position. This will swing the lever I I3 and through sleeve I6 and friction bushing I'I, shift the rod upwardly as seen in Fig. 5 or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, thus causing the contact element to close the up" circuit-4 as indicated in dotted lines. As the car moves upwardly the friction bushing I'l slides on the rod I and holds the circuit closed.

The operator may at any time reverse the movement of the lever l and shift the rod in the 'opposite direction to break the up circuit and arrest the movement of'the car A, or if desired, he may shift the lever to its other extreme position and close the down circuit 5 whereupon the car will be moved downwardly. When the car reaches either of its extreme positions the rod l is automatically shifted as above described, the circuit is broken and the car is brought to rest.

The mechanism is so designed and constructed that the direction of movement of the translatable member corresponds to the direction of movement of the hand grasp 9 and the bushing I1. This not only avoids confusion to the operator but it also causes such movement to exert a force on the rod in a direction which tends to hold the power controllerin a position to effect such movement.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that I have provided an improved control mechanism which may have a wide range of applications, which is constantly under the control of the operator and which will be automatically actuated to arrest the movement of the translated member when it has reached any one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is:

1. A control mechanism for an elevator car comprising an axially movable control element; means holding said element against lateral movement; power control mechanism connected with said element and adapted to be actuated by endwise movements thereof; a manually actuable member carried by said car; and a constant frictional connection between said manually actuable member and said element whereby the latter may be moved endwise by the former.

2. A control mechanism for an elevator car, comprising an axially movable rigid control element; means holding said element against lateral movement; power control means connected with said element and adapted to be actuatedby endwise movement thereof; a manually actuable member carried by said car; a constant frictional connection between said manually actuable member and said control element whereby the latter may be shifted axially in one direction by the former to render the power drive effective to move said car and means actuated by the movement of said car to shift said control element axially in the opposite direction to render said power drive inefiective.

3. A control mechanism for elevators or the like having a power drive, comprising a translatable car; an axially movable control rod extending substantially parallel with the movement of said car and adjacent thereto; means holding said rod against lateral movement; means connected with said rod and actuated by the movement thereof to control said power drive; a manually actuable control lever carried by said car; a constantly acting frictional connection between said lever and said rod whereby the rod may be shifted manually in one direction to render said power drive effective to move said car relative to said rod and in opposition to said friction; and means actuated by the movement of said car to shift said rod in the opposite direction to render the power drive ineffective.

4. In combination with an elevator mechanism comprising a car and electrically actuated means for moving said car to a plurality of stations, a control mechanism including an electric switch for controlling the action of said electrically actuated means; an endwise movable control rod arranged parallel to the. movement of said car and extending'from one station toanother; means holding said rod against lateral movement; an operativeconnection between said rod and said switch whereby the latter may be actuated by axial movements of the former; and means including a constantly acting friction device engaging said rod and manual means connected with said friction device and carried by said car for shifting said rod axially at will.

5. In combination with a translatable member and power means tomove said member, a control mechanism for said power means including a manually actuable element carried by said member; an endwise movable rod. supported in bearings adjacent the path of movement of said member and parallel thereto, said bearings holding saidirod'against lateral movement; a constantly acting frictional driving connection between said manually actuable element and said rod whereby the-latter may be shifted axially by movements 'ofthe former in all of the various positions of said member; a control device for rendering said power means effective or ineffective to translate said member; and an operative connection between said rod and said control device. e

6. A control mechanism as set forth in claim 2 in which the frictional connection between the manually actuable member and said control element comprises a constantly acting friction bushing slidably mounted on said control element and connected to be shifted by said member, said bushing having suilicientfriction on said control element to cause said element to be shifted by movement of said manually'actuable element but insufficient to prevent power movement of said bushing along said control element. 7

7. A control mechanism for a power actuated translatable member, comprising an axially movable control rod; means holding said control rod against lateral movement; power control mechanism connected with said rod and adapted to be actuated by end-wise movements thereof; a manually actuable lever fulcrumed on said translatable member; asleeve surrounding said rod and connected with said lever to be shifted axially thereby; and a friction bushing carried by said sleeve and grasping said rod to move said rod axially when said sleeve is shifted by said lever, thereby to initiate a movement of said translatable member.

8. A control mechanism for a power actuated translatable member, comprising an axially movable control rod; power control mechanism connected with said rod and adapted to be actuated by end-wise movements thereof; a manually actuable element carried by said translatable member; a sleeve having a tapered bore surrounding said rod; an operative connection between said element and said sleeve for shifting the latter axially by movements of the former; a tapered friction bushing fitted within said bore and frictionally engaging said rod; and means for adjustingsaid bushing in said bore to vary the friction on said rod.

9. A control mechanism as set forth in claim '7 in which means also is provided for overcoming the friction on said rod and automatically shifting the rod in a direction opposite to' that in which it was manually shifted, thereby to arrest the movement of said translatable member.

10. A control mechanism as set forth in claim 8 in which the friction bushing is made of relatively hard wood.

11. A control mechanism as set forth in claim 8 in which the friction bushing is made of relatively hard wood impregnated with oil.

12. A control mechanism as set forth in claim 8, in which the friction bushing is split in the direction of its length, and the adjusting means therefor comprises an adjusting nut threaded in said sleeve and having a portion engaging said bushing.

13. A control mechanism as set forth in claim 8 in which the friction bushing is made of two relatively movable parts separated in the direction of the length of the rod and the adjusting means acts simultaneously on both parts to adjust them lengthwise within the tapered bore in the sleeve.

14. In combination with a translatable member and power means to move said member, a control mechanism 'for said power means including a manually actuable element carried by said translatable member; an axially movable control element supported adjacent the path of movement of said member and parallel thereto; means engaging said control element adjacent its ends to hold it against lateral movement; stantly acting impositive driving connection between said manually actuable element and said control element by means of which the latter may be shifted axially by movements of the former in all of the various positions of said member; a control device for said power means; and an operative connection between said control element and said power control device.

15. A control mechanism for an elevator car comprising a movable rod extending substantially parallel to the path of movement of said car; means holding said rod against lateral movea COD.-

ment; a power control mechanism connected with said rod and adapted to be actuated by movements thereof; a manually actuable member carried by said car; and a constantly operative connection between said member and said rod to move the latter, thereby to actuate said control mechanism.

16. A control mechanism for an electrically actuated elevator car comprising arod extending substantially parallel to the path of movement of the car; means holding said rod against lateral movement; an electric circuit including a control switch, at one end of said rod, comprising a fixed element and a cooperating movable element on said rod for controlling the movement of the car; a manually actuable element carried by said car; and means for moving said rod by movements of said manually actuable element. 7 o

17. A control mechanism for an elevator car comprising a reversible electric motor connected to actuate said car; a movable control rod extending lengthwise of the movement of the car; means holding said rod against lateral movement; a forward and a reverse electric circuit connected with said motor; a switch connected with said electric circuits; said switch including two fixed elements each of which is connected with one of said electric circuits and a cooperating movable element carried by said control rod, said movable element having two operative positions, one in contact with each of said fixed elements and one neutral position intermediate said fixed elements; and manually actuable means carried by the car to move said rod thereby selectively to move said movable element to .any one of its three positions.

FRIEDERICH MULLER.

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