WO2018052440A1

WO2018052440A1 - Elevator door closing device

Info

Publication number: WO2018052440A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/052190
Authority: WO
Inventors: Atsushi Yamada; Jiro Kashima; Hisanori SEKI
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Current assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Priority date: 2016-09-16
Filing date: 2016-09-16
Publication date: 2018-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-16

Abstract

An elevator door closing device is provided comprising a closing weight for closing the elevator door and a weight guide for guiding the closing weight. The weight guide includes a vertical section and an inclined section extending at an angle with respect to the vertical section. The closing weight exerts a first gravitational force (F₁) on the elevator door when the closing weight is guided along the inclined section, and the closing weight exerts a second gravitational force (F₂) on the elevator door when the closing weight is guided along the vertical section. The second gravitational force (F₂) is higher than the first gravitational force (F₁).

Description

ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSING DEVICE

BACKGROUND

[0001] This invention relates to an elevator door closing device. More particularly, the invention relates to an elevator door closing device for closing elevator doors using a closing weight.

[0002] In elevator systems, landing doors are placed at each landing to secure an elevator hoistway during periods when an elevator car is not present at the landing. Typically, a door operating device for causing both the landing and car doors to open and close is mounted on the elevator car. Upon arrival at a landing to be served, the car doors and landing doors are engaged and the door operating device drives both doors. When the landing doors are disengaged from the car doors, the landing doors are forced to close by a door closing device through use of springs or weights to ensure the landing doors are closed when the elevator car is not positioned on that floor.

[0003] One example of a prior art elevator door closing device comprises a cylindrical weight guide positioned on a side jamb and a closing weight slidably inserted within the weight guide and connected to a door panel of a landing door. The closing weight exerts a constant closing force on the landing door at all times.

[0004] For obvious safety reasons, the normal door closing force of the door closing device, which is supplied from the springs or weights is set to be small. With a high normal door closing force, passengers or maintenance personnel may be jammed between the landing doors or between a landing door and a side jam and injured. Further, a heavy weight or large tension would cause heavy loads on the door operating device during operation.

[0005] However, particularly in tall buildings, there are occasions when landing doors fail to close properly with a small normal door closing force due to a pressure differential across the doors.

[0006] In view of the above and other considerations, there is a need for an elevator door closing device for reliably closing landing doors and yet maintain a small normal door closing force.

BREIF SUMMARY

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, an elevator door closing device is provided which comprises a closing weight for closing the elevator door and a weight guide for guiding the closing weight. The weight guide includes a vertical section and an inclined section extending at an angle with respect to the vertical section.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the invention, an elevator door closing device is provided which comprises a closing weight for closing the elevator door and a weight guide for guiding the closing weight. The weight guide includes a first section and a second section. The closing weight exerts a first gravitational force (Fi) on the elevator door when the closing weight is guided along the first section of the weight guide, and the closing weight exerts a second gravitational force (F₂) on the elevator door when the closing weight is guided along the second section of the weight guide. The second gravitational force (F₂) is higher than the first gravitational force (Fi).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an elevator system.

[00010] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a center-opening landing door according to the present invention in a fully closed position.

[00011] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the landing door of FIG. 2 in an intermediate position.

[00012] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the landing door of FIG. 2 in a fully opened position.

[00013] FIG. 5 is a side view of an example closing weight of the present invention.

[00014] FIG. 6 is a top view of the closing weight of FIG. 5.

[00015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the closing weight of FIG. 5 and an example weight guide of the present invention.

[00016] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another example closing weight and weight guide of the present invention.

[00017] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a closing weight guided along an inclined section.

[00018] FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a side-opening landing door according to the present invention in a fully closed position.

[00019] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a door closing device positioned on hoistway walls.

[00020] FIG. 12 is an elevation view of an embodiment of a door closing device positioned on a door panel of a center-opening landing door. [00021] FIG.13 is an elevation view of another embodiment of a door closing device positioned on a door panel of a center-opening landing door.

[00022] FIG. 14 is an elevation view of an embodiment of a door closing device positioned on a door panel of a side-opening landing door.

[00023] The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00024] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an elevator system. An elevator car 3 moves vertically within an elevator hoistway 1 enclosed by hoistway walls 2 to carry passengers to different floors of a building and comprises car doors 4. Landing doors 5 are placed at each landing to secure the elevator hoistway 1 during periods when the elevator car 3 is not present at the landing. A door operating device (not shown) for causing both the landing and car doors 4, 5 to open and close is mounted on the elevator car 3. Upon arrival at a landing to be served, the car doors 4 and landing doors 5 are engaged and the door operating device drives both doors. When the landing doors 5 are disengaged from the car doors 4, the landing doors 5 are forced to close by a door closing device (not shown) to ensure the landing doors 5 are closed when the elevator car 3 is not positioned on that floor.

[00025] Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a landing door 5 according to the present invention in a fully closed position. The landing door 5 is a center-opening door with two landing door panels 6, 7. In their upper area the landing door panels 6, 7 are each attached to a different door hanger 8, 9 and in their lower area are guided in a groove of a door sill 10. A landing jamb 11 comprising side jambs and a head jamb is located on each landing. A header 12 is located above the landing jamb 11 and is fixed to a building structure. On the header 12, a door rail 14 is fixed for guiding the door hangers 8, 9 by means of door hanger rollers (not shown).

[00026] A door relating mechanism 15 is provided to connect the landing door panels 6, 7 so that the landing door panels 6, 7 can be opened or closed to equal extents. The door relating mechanism 15 includes cable door clamps 18, 19 attached to a respective door hanger 8, 9 and pulleys 16, 17 fixed to both ends of the header 12. A cable 20 is wound around the pulleys 16, 17 with two ends of the cable 20 connected to one cable door clamp and the other cable door clamp connected to an intermediate portion of the cable 20.

[00027] To force the landing doors 5 to close when the elevator car 3 is not positioned on that floor, the landing doors 5 are equipped with a door closing device 22. The door closing device 22 includes a closing weight 23, a weight guide 24 for guiding the closing weight 23 and a wire rope 26 which connects the closing weight 23 to the door hanger 9 of landing door panel 7. The weight guide 24 is fixed to a hoistway wall 2. A diverter pulley 25 is positioned on the header 12 to divert the wire rope 26 from a horizontal direction to a downward oblique direction.

[00028] The weight guide 24 includes a vertical section 24a and an inclined section 24b extending at an angle with respect to the vertical section 24a. The inclined section 24b is disposed above the vertical section 24a and the sections 24a, 24b are connected at a transition point P. The closing weight 23 includes a plurality of interconnected rollers 28 which run along the weight guide 24.

[00029] When the landing doors 5 are fully closed as shown in figure 2, the closing weight 23 is fully positioned in the vertical section 24a. More specifically, the door closing device 22 is adjusted so that all of the rollers 28 of the closing weight 23 reach the vertical section 24a at a position of about 50 to 100 mm before full door close (corresponding to a door gap of about 100 to 200 mm) in each stroke of door travel. In other words, the transition point P corresponds to a door position of about 50 to 100 mm before full door close. This transition point P may comprise a curved portion for allowing a smooth transition between the sections.

[00030] Figure 3 shows an intermediate position of the landing doors 5 where the closing weight 23 is partially positioned in the vertical section 24a and partially positioned in the inclined section 24b. Figure 4 shows a fully open position of the landing doors 5 where the closing weight 23 is fully positioned in the inclined section 24b.

[00031] One example of the closing weight 23 and weight guide 24 is shown in figures 5 to 7. The rollers 28 of the closing weight 23 are connected by connecting plates 36 and pins 37. An end bracket 38 for connecting the closing weight 23 to the wire rope 26 is attached to one of the end rollers by the pin 37. The weight guide 24 comprises a rail 40 having a rectangular U-shaped cross-section with protrusions 40a, 40a on both sides of the rail 40. The rollers 28 each have a recess 28a between end faces 28b, 28b so that the rollers 28 may run along the protrusions 40a, 40a of the rail 40.

[00032] Figure 8 shows another example of a closing weight and weight guide comprising a rail 140 having a rectangular tube-like cross-section and rounded rollers 128 which run inside the tube-like rail 140. [00033] With reference to figure 9, when the closing weight 23 travels along the inclined portion 24b of the weight guide 24, a first gravitational force Fi (N) is exerted on the landing door panel 7.

Fi = 9.8 * w * cos (x)

Where "w" (kg) is the mass of the closing weight 23 and x is the angle of inclination of the inclined portion 24b. This first gravitational force Fi corresponds to the normal door closing force.

[00034] As the rollers 28 of the closing weight 23 travel past the transition point P, the gravitational force exerted by the closing weight 23 gradually increases. When the last roller travels past the transition point P and all of the rollers 28 are positioned in the vertical portion 24a, a second gravitational force F₂ (N), equal to the gravity on the closing weight 23, is exerted on the landing door panel 7.

F₂= 9.8 * w

This second gravitational force F₂ corresponds to a high door closing force.

[00035] As explained above, the transition point P corresponds to a door position of about 50 to 100 mm before full door close in each stroke of door travel. While the closing weight 23 is guided along the inclined section 24b of the weight guide 24, a normal door closing force Fi is exerted on the landing door panel 7. As the door panels 6, 7 approach the fully closed position, the door closing force gradually increases. At a position of about 50 to 100 mm before full door close, a high door closing force F₂ is exerted on the landing door panel 7 to ensure the landing door panels 6, 7 are closed despite any pressure differential across the door panels 6, 7.

[00036] Figure 10 shows another embodiment of a landing door 105 of the present invention which is a side-opening door in which two door panels 106, 107 are connected by a door relating mechanism 115 such that the door panels 106, 107 open and close telescopically. The door panel 106 opens and closes at a higher speed than the door panel 107. The door relating mechanism 115 includes pulleys 30, 31 fixed to both ends of a plate 29 attached to the door hanger 9 of the low speed door panel 107. A cable 34 is wound around the pulleys 30, 31 with one point of the cable 34 connected to the door hanger 8 of the high speed door panel 106 by a cable door clamp 32 and another point of the cable 34 fixed to a building structure by a fastening member 33. In this embodiment, the closing weight 23 is connected to the high speed door panel 106.

[00037] Referring again to figure 1, area A is the area in which the weight guide 24 is fixed to a front hoistway wall 2a facing the front of the elevator car 3. Figure 11 shows another embodiment in which the weight guide 24 is fixed to a side hoistway wall 2b facing a side of the elevator car 3. This may be preferred when there is not enough space on the front hoistway wall 2a. A diverter pulley 46 is provided on the front hoistway wall 2a and a diverter pulley 47 is provided on the side hoistway wall 2b to guide the wire rope 26 along the hoistway walls 2a, 2b.

[00038] Figures 12 to 14 show further embodiments where the door closing device 22 is provided on a landing door panel. Figures 12 and 13 show the door closing device 22 provided on the landing door panel 6 of a center-opening door and figure 14 shows the door closing device 22 provided on the landing door panel 106 of a side-opening door. The diverter pulley 25 is positioned on the door hanger 8. As shown in figures 13 and 14, a pulley 42 may be provided on the closing weight 23 and the wire rope 26 may be looped around the pulley 42 to obtain an appropriate distance of travel. In figure 13, one end of the wire 26 is attached to the door hanger 9 and the other end of the wire 26 is secured to the door panel 6. In figure 14, one end of the wire 26 is secured to the header 12 and the other end of the wire 26 is secured to the door panel 106.

[00039] While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An elevator door closing device, comprising:

a closing weight for closing the elevator door; and

a weight guide for guiding the closing weight, the weight guide including a vertical section and an inclined section extending at an angle with respect to the vertical section.

2. The elevator door closing device of claim 1, wherein the elevator door closing device is provided for closing a landing door.

3. The elevator door closing device of claim 2, wherein the landing door includes two door panels and the closing weight is attached to one of the door panels.

4. The elevator door closing device of claim 2, wherein the weight guide is positioned on a hoistway wall.

5. The elevator door closing device of claim 1, further comprising a wire rope which connects the closing weight to the elevator door.

6. The elevator door closing device of claim 1, wherein the weight guide comprises a rail with a U-shaped cross-section.

7. The elevator door closing device of claim 1, wherein the weight guide comprises a tube-like rail.

8. The elevator door closing device of claim 1, wherein the vertical section and the inclined section of the weight guide is connected by a curved portion.

9. The elevator door closing device of claim 1, wherein the closing weight comprises at least one roller which runs along the weight guide.

10. The elevator door closing device of claim 9, wherein the closing weight comprises a plurality of rollers.

11. An elevator door closing device, comprising:

a closing weight for closing the elevator door; and

a weight guide for guiding the closing weight, the weight guide including a first section and a second section;

wherein the closing weight exerts a first gravitational force (Fi) on the elevator door when the closing weight is guided along the first section of the weight guide, and the closing weight exerts a second gravitational force (F₂) on the elevator door when the closing weight is guided along the second section of the weight guide, the second gravitational force (F₂) being higher than the first gravitational force (Fi).