US1934867A - Elevator gate - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 14, 1933. o. LlNDsTRoM ET AL 1,934,857

` ELEVATOR GATE 3 Sheeibs--SheefI l` Filed sept. 29, 192e Ulli. e ./l

ATTORNEY;

Nov. 14, 1933. N. o. LlNDsTRoM ET-AL V 1,934,857

ELEVATOR GATE Filed Sept. 29, l1,926 3 Sheets-#Sheet 2 mlm;-

"'I n 'BY A TTORNEYJ.'

Nov. 1 4, 1933 N. o. LINDsTRoM r-:r AL 1,934,867

ELEVATOR GATE Filed Sept. 29, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEY.

Patented! Nov., 14, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ELVATGR GATE Nils 0. Lindstrom, Nutley, and Carl F. E. Olofson,

West Orange, N. Ji., assgnors to A. E. See Elevater Company, inc., a corporation of Delairl Ware Application September 29, i926 Serial No. lyi

10 Claims.

Our invention relates' to gates for elevator cars and particularly to means for the automatic operation thereof.

An object oi our invention is to provide power 5 actuated means for the operation of an elevator car gate or door.

Another object oi our invention is to provide means for the remote controlled operation oi an elevator ear gate.

Another object of our invention is to provide means to prevent an automatic elevator being held out of operative condition by failure of a passenger to close the elevator car gate.

In the development of the manufacture of l5 elevators, it has been found convenient to provide elevator devices of certain types, particularly those adapted for installation in the smaller type of apartment buildings and for other service where an attendant continually on duty is undesirable, in combination with elaborate electric controlling system, involving push buttons and contacter devices, such that all of the movements of the elevator car are controlled by push buttons. That is, a passenger arriving at an elevator shaft door pushes a button at the door, and energizes the mechanism, which brings the elevator to that door and releases locks so that the passenger isable to open the door and enter the car. He then pushes a button in the car and the contactor mechanism energizes the hoisting machinery and the elevator car is moved to the chosen floor. The

' lack of an attendant on such elevators necessitates the utmost care in the provision of safety appliances. Not only must all the shaft doorways be provided with doors and means for locking the door either before the car can be moved from that floor or operable by such movement, but the car itself must be provided with a safety gate, or door, to be closed before the car can be moved.

It has however been found by experience that a requirement of manual closing of doors and gates by a passenger is'objectionable. The shaft doors are readily equipped .with spring hinges which will cause them to close and lock, thereby v freeing the electric interlock on them. Difficulty has however been experienced in vinsuring the closing of the car gate, after a passenger leaves it,

in order that the car gate interlock may be freed, and that the car itself then may be vfree to move to another oor upon signale! a passenger at a different oor. This diillculty has tended to delay the operation of automatic elevators, and to make them less satisfactory than they should be. Our invention provides means for the automatic actuation of the elevator car-gate upon signalby a passenger, thus insuring that in the event that the car gate is left open by a departing passenger, signal by another passenger will energize mechanism for closing the car gate, thereby freeing the car gate interlock and allowing the car to move to the desired floor. Our invention further leaves the gate free for ordinary opening and closing by hand in the usual way, and provision is made, such that the pull upon the gate is not so great as to injure a passenger, if he is not out of the way of the gate, when the automatic feature is in operation.

Other objects and structural details of our invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in vertical embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of the embodiment of Figure 1 at the lines 2 2,

Figure 3 is a rudimentary diagram of the electric circuits of my invention, and

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the control circuits used in one embodiment of my invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we show a typical 80 elevator car having a oor l, upright members 2, and cross members (not shown) to which the hoisting cables (not shown) are attached. We further provide a cross member 3 between the uprights 2, upon which is carried a lattice work gate 4 or other suitable door. The lattice work gate 4 may conveniently have a leading edge member 5 with a trolley wheel 6 to carry the weight of the gate, and insure easy movement between open and closed positions. It may also conveniently have an auxiliary trolley wheel support 7 to carry a portion of the weight and to facilitate movements still further. The gate 4 is adapted to be traversed across the car door into the closed position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 1.

We have further provided gate actuating mechanism consisting of a chain and sprocket wheels 9 and 11'. The chain 8 is attached at its 100 ends to a bracket member 12, cooperating with upper end of the gate edge member 5. The sprockets 9 and 11 vare mounted upon a cross member 14 which may conveniently be fastened to the uprights 2. One or both of the sprockets 9 and 11 may conveniently be made adjustable by means of a slotted journal frame 15, as shown in Figure 1, to take up any slack in the chain.

An actuating motor 16 is conveniently mounted upon other cross members'll and 18, and the llo elevation of an ,chain 8 is carried over a sprocket 19 upon the shaft of the motor 16.

Agate switch 21 is provided and, preferably, adjustably mounted upon the cross member 14.

f8; A cam roller 22 is mounted upon an extension from the bracket 12 and adapted to engage with the switch actuating bars 23 and 24, when the gate is drawn to its closed position. 1

Suitable energizing means which may suitabl be apart of the main-control contactor mechanism, are provided for supplying energy to the motor 16. These means are preferably designed in such way that the action of a push button, either at any of the elevator shaft doors, or in the car, will cause the closing of a circuit to the motor 16, which will be maintained until the engagement of the cam roller 22 with the switch bar 23 causes the opening oi' such circuit. This circuit is shown in a rudimentary form in Figure 3 in which the motor 16 is shown as in series with the gate switch 21, a source of energy 25, and push buttons 26.

A detailed, though somewhat incomplete, diagram cf the electrical circuits is shown in Figure 4, which for the sake of simplicity and clearness shows 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.

Referring to such diagram, the source of current is the main line wires 27 and 28. Two push buttons 26 and 26" are shown, one for each iioor. Since there are only two floors each push button will cause the elevator to move in only one direction. In case the system includes more than two landings a floor selecting device (not shown, but well known) will be'connected to the various push buttons in order to enable each push button to bring the elevator car to its landing, no

matter where it may be positioned in the shaft;

that is, the car will sometimes be moved upward and sometimes downward by a single push 4button in order to bring it to the floor controlled by such push button, as when the push button is on a iioor intermediate the top and bottom floors or landings. In any case the elevator gate will be automatically brought to a closed position by closing of the push button circuit before the hoisting motor is operated, as will be now described.

There is a relay for each push button, its energizing coil being in a circuit closed thereby. As shown, the relay 29 will upon movement of push button 26 be energized by a circuit as follows: from line wire 27 through wires 32, 31, 30, relay coil 29, wire 33, relay arm 34, contact-.35, wire 36, push button 26', wires 37 and 38, contact 39, arm 40, and wires 4l and'42 to line wire 28. The relay 29 vis thereby energized and the conducting arms 43 and 44 thrown to the left whereby the circuit through the push button 26 is opened at 35 and a circuit closed as follows: from line wire 27 to arm 34 as before, thence through arms 44, 43, and 45, wire 46, up limit switch 47, wire 48, contact 49 of down reversing switch R, resistance 50, wires 51 and 52, relay coil 53 and wires 54 and 42 to line wire 28. f

' The energizing of relay coil 53.causes the conducting arms 55 and 56 to be thrown to the left, separating arm 40 from contact 39 and thereby making it impossible to close a circuit through either of the push buttons 26 and 26". Furthermore the contacting of arm 56 with arm 57 causes the closing of a circuit from wire 51 through wire 58, relay coil 59, wire 60, contact 61, arm 62, wires 63 and 64, shaftway door switches 65 and 66, wire 67, arms 57, 56, 55, and 40 and wires 41 and 42 to line wire 28.

The energizing of relay coil 59 causes the conducting arms 68 and 69 to be thrown to the left and a circuit to be closed as follows: from line wire 27 through wires 32 and 70, series eld windings 71 of gate motor 16, lead 72, motor armature and lead 73, part of the current being shunted through resistance 74, thence through resistance 75, wire 76, arms 77, 69, 68 and 78, wire 79, contact 80, arm 81, wire 82, arm 83, contact 84, wires 85 and 42 to line wire 28. The motor 16 also has a shunt field winding 86 connected across from wire to arm 68, as shown.

The result of the closing of the circuits Just described is the starting of the gate motor 16 which causes the traversing of the elevator car gate from its open position as shown in Fig. 1, toward the left until roller 22 engages arm 23 of switch 21 and thereby causes the opening of the circuit throughthe gate motor 16 by means which will be now described.

Whenever the elevator gate is open, the gate switch 21 will be open as shown in Fig. 4, but upon actuation of arm 23 Fig. 1 by roller 22 contacts will be engaged and a circuit thereby established as follows: from line wire 27 as before to wire 51, thence through wire 87, relay coil 88, Wire 89, contacts 90, 91 and 92 of gate switch 21, wires 93, 64, door switches 65 and 66, Wire 67, arms 57, 56, 55 and 40, and wires 41 and 42 to line wire 28. 'I'he effect of the energizing of the relay coil 88 is to throw the arms 94 and 96 to the left thus causing the opening of the gate motor circuit at and 84 and stopping the gate motor. The arm 95 is also thrown to the left, thereby separating 62 and 61, deenergizing relay 59 and opening the gate motor circuit at 68 and 69.

The arm 95 by contacting with the arm 62 closes a circuit as follows: from line wire 27 to contact 49 of down reversing switch R as before, thence through wire 97, coil 98 of up reversing switch R', wire 99, coil 100 of potential switch or circuit breaking switch, wire 101, arms 95 and 62,

wires 63 and 64, and through door switches 65 and 66, as before, to line wire 28. The 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 to its upper position level with 'the landing upon which push button 28' is situated. As it reaches said landing it causes by well known means the opening of the up limit switch 47 and thereby opens the hoisting motor circuit and stops the elevator car; it also causes the deenergizing of the relay coils 29, 53 and 88 and the restoring` of the various parts to their original positions.

The circuits controlled by push button 26 are similar in all respects to those described in Aconnection with push button 26I and the/operation is the same except that thereversing switch R `will so connect the hoisting motor as to cause the elevator car to descenduntil it reaches the landing upon which push button'26 is located, at which time the elevator car causes the opening of the down limit switch 102, stops the hoisting motor, and restores the various relays 29, 53 and 88 to their original positions.

In the operation of the mechanism of our invention, a passenger may signal for the car by pushing any of the buttons 2,6, shown in Figure u55 therewith and actuated by the closure `of said n gate, power actuated me 3, or 26', 26", Figure 4. The closing of the push button will cause the energization of the control mechanism of the elevator and if the elevator gate, as well as all of the shaitway doors, are closed and their electrical interlocks freed, the car will proceed to the desired floor. In the event, however, that the car gate is open when the button is pushed, the interlock on it prevents the, elevator mechanism from functioning. Contacter means for example 29, Figure 4, are then actuated by the button 26', and cause the closing of a suitable circuit from the source of electrical energy 2 7, 28 through the motor 16. The motor thereupon revolves and traverses the chain 8 over its sprocket, thereby drawing the gate edge member 5 toward its closed position and closing the gate, until the circuit of the motor l6`is opened by the action of the gate switch 2l. The closing of the gate 4 and the actuation of the gate switch 21 frees the electrical interlock on the car, andthe contactor mechanism is then in condition to energize the elevator motor and move the car to the desired iioor.

It isunderstood of lcourse that holding contactors are provided for keeping the circuit of motor 16 closed untill the gate'switch 21 is actuated, in order thatv itmay not be necessaryforv the passenger to press any of the buttons 26 or 26' and 26", Figure 4, continuously until the gate is closed. Such holding contactors are however part of the electrical art and the application thereof is well known to those skilled in that art. They are preferably made an integral part of the 'automatic control mechanism system, and the design will vary according to the conditions 'of the installation in a fashion which is understood by those skilled in the art.

By these means we are enabled to provide an automatically actuated elevator car gate, adapted for cooperation with the mechanism of a push button controlled elevator system for the. automatic closure of the elevator car gate, and the prevention thereby of a blocking of the elevator through a passengers carelessness, andthe con sequent holding out of service.

While we have shown but a single embodiment of our invention in the accompanying description, it is capable of various modifications therefrom without departing from ,the spirit thereof '50 .and it is desired therefore, um muy such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are required by the prior art or indicated bythe appended claims.

We claim as our invention: 1. In combination, an elevator car, a gate in combination therewith, a gate switch cooperating ns for closing said gate, and push buttonmeans for controlling the movementsof saidelevatoncar, automatic mechanism actuated by said pushV buttons for operating said car, means in sai/d electric mechanism for restraining the operation of the car until said gate switch is actuated,` and means cooperating with for moving said gate, and

said push buttons for energizing said gate closing means when said gate switch is not actuated.

` 2. In combination, an elevator car, a. gate cooperating therewith, a gate switch actuated thereby, a plurality of push buttons, and an electric motor for operating said gate under the joint control of said gate switch and said psh buttons.

3. In combination, an elevator mechanism for moving an elevator car, a gate on said car, a remote control of the push button type for closing said gate and causing the actuation of said elevator mechanism.

4. In an automatic elevator system, a car, a gate on said car, means for closing said gate, means for moving saidcar, and means common to said gate and said car moving nleans, away from said car for electrically controlling the closing of the gate and the movement of the'car.

5. In an automatic elevator system, a car, a gate on said car, means for closing said gate and moving said car, and a plurality of push button means at diierent landings for automatically controlling the closing of the gate and the movement of the car. i

6. In an elevator system, a car, electrical means for moving the same, a gate on said car, electrical means for closing said gate, and means away from said car for causing the energizing of said electrical means to close said gate and move said car.

7. In an elevator system, a car, means for moving the same, agate on said car, electrical means for moving said gate, control means therefor away from the car, and means actuated by the movement of said gate for deenergizing the gate moving means.

8. In an elevator system, a car, means for movmg the same, a gate on said car, electrical means means actuated by the movement of said gate /f/or deenergizing the gate moving means and fori/energizing said car moving means.

9. In an automatic elevator, the combination with a holst motor circuit including switching de vices for energizing and de-energizing the hoist motor for operating the hoist motor for moving theelevator cage to predetermined levels, of a gate lfor said cage, a motor for closing said gate, and an electrical circuit for energizing the motor y to close the gate controlled by ssaid'hoist motor switching devices.

10. In an automatic elevator, the combination with a hoist motor circuit, including switching devices for energizing or de-energizing the hoist motor for operating the hoist motor for moving means for operating said swritch controlledby 35 said hoist motor circuit.

. vNHS O. LINDSTROM.

CARL F. E. OLOFSON.

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