Elevator car apron

Abstract

Elevator systems are provided. The systems include an elevator car movable along an elevator shaft, the shaft having a pit floor and a shaft top, the elevator car having an elevator car door sill, a plurality of landings arranged along the elevator shaft, wherein each landing has a landing door, and a car apron assembly. The car apron assembly includes a semi-rigid curtain attached to the elevatorcar door sill at a first end of the semi-rigid curtain. The semi-rigid curtain folds from a deployed state to a folded state when contacting the pit floor, and, when in the deployed state, the semi-rigid curtain extends below the elevator car to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car when the elevator car is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing.

Description

technical field [0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to elevator systems, and more particularly to elevator car skirts and safety mechanisms for elevator systems. Background technique [0002] Conventional safety requirements for elevator shafts result in large spaces both at the top and at the bottom of the elevator shaft. However, such enlarged space may be disadvantageous for architectural reasons. Accordingly, elevator hoist manufacturers have attempted to reduce the hoistway or elevator shaft overhead size and pit depth while maintaining safety features. Currently, mechanics go to or on top of the car or in the pit for inspection or maintenance activities of the various components of the elevator car system. Consequently, safety spaces or volumes are employed within elevator shafts to protect mechanics in emergency situations, and thus require increased roof and pit dimensions. [0003] Additional advances and designs have attempted to complet...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Due to the rigid and fixed nature of the car skirt, such contact can cause significant damage to the car skirt

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