An elevator system

Abstract

According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator system comprising an elevator car (100) configured to move in an elevator shaft (200) comprising at least a bottom landing and an elevator pit (216), and an elevator controller (102) configured to move the elevator car (100) into a predetermined service access level in the elevator shaft (200) in response to a received service access call. The elevator car (100) comprises an at least partially openable service access floor (202) to provide access to the elevator pit (216) through the openable service access floor (202). The service access floor (202) in its opened state is configured to provide a refuge space (218) at least partially inside the elevator car (100) for a person in the elevator pit (216) when the elevator car (100) is at the predetermined service access level (212).

Description

[0001] AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Elevators used in buildings require a certain amount of space in building structures , and there is always a need to minimi ze the space allocated for the elevators in the buildings .

[0004] Another aspect that has an ef fect on the elevators is various regulatory requirements relating, for example , to safety .

[0005] In general , there is a need for decreasing elevator shaft pit depths for making a building structure simpler and for saving building costs of the building . Further, in some elevator systems , an entry to the pit may be arranged via an elevator car . In other words , an elevator car may have a service access , which can be opened in order to enable access to the pit . The access to the pit , however, should be made available for maintenance personnel only and by such an arrangement that accessing the pit is safe for the maintenance personnel and the pit access arrangement does not pose a risk to bystanders either .

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] According to the invention, an elevator system is provided that comprises an elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft compri sing at least a bottom landing and an elevator pit , and an elevator controller configured to move the elevator car into a predetermined service acces s level in the elevator shaft in response to a received service access call . The elevator car comprises an at least partially openable service access floor to provide a service access to the elevator pit through the openable service access floor . The service access floor in its opened state is configured to provide a refuge space at least partially inside the elevator car for a person in the elevator pit when the elevator car is at the service access level .

[0008] In one embodiment o f the invention, the service acces s floor comprises a partially or fully opening floor of the elevator car .

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined service access level is provided above the bottom landing level .

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator car comprises an apron, and wherein the predetermined service access level is provided at a height above the bottom landing level depending at least partly on the height of the apron .

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator system further comprises an unlocking mechanism associated with the service access floor, a keyhole of the unlocking mechanism being arranged into a location at the elevator car that is concealed during a normal elevator operation mode .

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator system further comprises an unlocking mechanism associated with the service access floor, wherein the unlocking mechanism becomes accessible when the elevator car moves to the predetermined service access level in the elevator shaft .

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, a keyhole of the unlocking mechanism is arranged into a bottom front edge of the elevator car, the front edge being exposed in view when the elevator car is at the predetermined service access level in the elevator shaft . In one embodiment of the invention, the concealed location comprises one of the following : an openable or a slidable carpet edge strip at a sill ; behind a ventilation grid; under a sill profile ; and under or behind a skirting section .

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings , which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this speci fication, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention . In the drawings :

[0016] FIG . 1 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an elevator system according to an example embodiment .

[0017] FIG . 2 illustrates a fully opening up-li fting service access floor of an elevator car according to an example embodiment .

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following description discloses an elevator system . The elevator system comprises an elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft comprising at least a bottom landing and an elevator pit . The elevator system further comprises an elevator controller configured to move the elevator car to a predetermined service access level in the elevator shaft in response to a service access call . The elevator car comprises an at least partially openable service acces s floor to provide access to the elevator pit . The service access floor in its opened state is configured to provide a refuge space at least partially inside the elevator car for a person in the elevator pit when the elevator car is at the predetermined service access level . The term "at least partially openable service access floor" may refer to service access floor that can be fully opened or partially opened to provide the necessary refuge space . The illustrated solution may enable , for example , a low elevator pit that is compliant with regulatory requirements for a refuge space at the elevator pit when the elevator car is in an extreme position . Further, as maintenance may be performed with an opened or up-li fted car service access floor, access to the elevator pit may be arranged through the opened car service access floor . Further, no other means are required for creating the refuge space ( for example , additional safety devices ) , and in a maintenance situation there is always a permanent refuge space available , even when the elevator car is in its extreme bottom position ( on the bottom buf fers ) .

[0020] FIG . 1 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an elevator system according to an example embodiment . The elevator system comprises an elevator controller 102 configured to control movement of an elevator car 100 in an elevator shaft . The elevator controller 102 may be configured to receive a service access call . In response to the service access call , the elevator controller 102 may be configured to move the elevator car 100 to a predetermined service access level in the elevator shaft . The elevator controller 102 may be connected to a drive 104 that controls the movement of the elevator car 100 in the elevator shaft by a motor 106 .

[0021] The predetermined service access level in the elevator shaft may refer to a speci fic location or a location range in the elevator shaft that is above the bottom landing near the elevator pit . In an example embodiment , the elevator controller may have a speci fic elevator call ( i . e . a service access call ) configured, upon receipt of which it moves the elevator car 100 to the predetermined service access level . The service access call may be made available , for example , for maintenance personnel only, to ensure that only licensed maintenance personnel can access the pit by opening or l i fting the service access floor of the elevator car . In an example embodiment , the predetermined service access level may be provided 0-500 mm or 0- 800 mm above the bottom landing .

[0022] FIG . 2 illustrates a fully opening, li fting service access floor 202 of an elevator car 100 according to an example embodiment . FIG . 2 illustrates an embodiment in which the predetermined service access 212 level is close to a bottom landing level 220 . The service access floor 202 may be supported from below by a scis sor linkage mechanism or some other compressible substructure , and / or from the sides by guide rails embedded in the wall panels or corners of the elevator car 100 , and it may be li fted by, for example , a gas spring or electric motor coupled to the supporting substructure , or, for example, trapezoidal screw drives inside service access floor guide rails , operated manually or by one or more electric motors .

[0023] The predetermined service access level 212 may be provided, for example , 0-500 mm above the bottom landing level 220 , and in in another embodiment , 0- 800 mm above the bottom landing level 220 . The vertical position di f ference between the predetermined service access level 212 and the bottom landing level 220 is indicated with an arrow 214 . The predetermined service access level 212 may be determined, for example , according to the pit height for providing a suf ficient space in height for service and inspection and safe entry to the elevator pit 216 . In an example embodiment , the depth of the elevator pit 216 calculated from the bottom landing level 220 can be as low as 400 mm . In practice , a sling and other supporting structures may at least partly define the amount of vertical space needed at the elevator pit bottom, as the refuge space 218 extends to the interior of the elevator car 100 .

[0024] In alternative embodiments , the service access floor 202 of the elevator car 100 may be hinged to open as one piece or to be folded open in multiple sections .

[0025] In an example embodiment , a bottom landing door can be opened with an emergency opening device when elevator car is positioned at the service access level 212 . During maintenance work, entry of outsiders to an elevator pit 216 , by falling or otherwise , may be prevented by closed doors of the elevator car 100 and a car apron 206 covering the gap between the bottom front edge of the elevator car 100 and landing door sill 222 . Further, in an example embodiment , wherein the predetermined service access level 212 may be provided at a height above the bottom landing level 220 depending at least partly on the height of the apron 206 .

[0026] Further, the opening of the service access floor 202 may be configured so that it can be unlocked for opening, for example , with a triangle key, when the elevator car 100 is at the service access level 212 . A safety circuit may be associated with the service access floor 202 such that a safety circuit is opened, when the service access floor 202 is opened . In an example embodiment , this may mean that the elevator car 100 is not allowed to move when the safety circuit is open . In order to ease access to the elevator pit 216 , a pit ladder 210 may be arranged in the bottom of the elevator car 100 and turned down for the maintenance technician to enter the elevator pit 216 . FIG . 2 also illustrates that a refuge space 218 may extend all the way up to a bottom of the service access floor 202 . Thus , the height of the refuge space 218 can be controlled with the height of the service access floor 202 .

[0027] In an example embodiment , the elevator car 100 may further comprise an unlocking mechanism 208 associated with the service access floor 202 . The unlocking mechanism 208 may become accessible at the predetermined service access level . A keyhole of the unlocking mechanism 208 may be arranged into a location at the elevator car 100 that is concealed during a normal elevator operation mode . The unlocking mechanism 208 may be arranged, for example , into a bottom front edge of the elevator car 100 , the front edge being exposed in view when the elevator car 100 is at the service access level 212 in the elevator shaft 200 .

[0028] In another example embodiment , the keyhole of the unlocking mechanism 208 may be arranged into a concealed location in the elevator car, for example , an openable or a slidable carpet edge strip at a sill , behind a ventilation grid, under a sill profile , or under or behind a skirting section, such that the keyhole can be accessed by removing the concealing component only when the car 100 is at the predetermined service access level 212 .

[0029] While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features as applied to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosure . Moreover, it should be recogni zed that structures and / or elements shown and / or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiments may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice .

[0030] The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features , to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present speci fication as a whole , in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art , irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims . The applicant indicates that the disclosed aspects / embodiments may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features . In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modi fications may be made within the scope of the disclosure .

Claims

CLAIMS1. An elevator system, comprising: an elevator car (100) configured to move in an elevator shaft (200) comprising at least a bottom landing (220) and an elevator pit (216) ; an elevator controller (102) configured to move the elevator car (100) to a predetermined service access level (212) in the elevator shaft (200) in response to a received service access call; wherein the elevator car (100) comprises an at least partially openable service access floor (202) to provide access to the elevator pit (216) through the openable service access floor (202) , wherein the service access floor (202) in its opened state is configured to provide a refuge space (218) at least partially inside the elevator car (100) for a person in the elevator pit (216) when the elevator car (100) is at the predetermined service access level (212) .

2. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the service access floor (202) comprises a partially or fully opening floor of the elevator car (100) .

3. The elevator system of claimsor 2, wherein the predetermined service access level (212) is provided above the bottom landing (220) level.

4. The elevator system of any of claims 1 - 3, wherein the elevator car (100) comprises an apron (206) , and wherein the predetermined service access level (212) is provided at a height above the bottom landing (220) level depending at least partly on the height of the apron (206) .

5. The elevator system of any of claims 1 - 4, further comprising an unlocking mechanism (208) associated with the service access floor (202) , akeyhole of the unlocking mechanism (208) being arranged into a location at the elevator car (100) that is concealed during a normal elevator operation mode.

6. The elevator system of any of claims 1 - 4, further comprising an unlocking mechanism (208) associated with the service access floor (202) , wherein the unlocking mechanism (208) becomes accessible when the car (100) moves to the predetermined service access level (212) in the elevator shaft (200) .

7. The elevator system of claim 6, wherein a keyhole of the unlocking mechanism (208) is arranged into a bottom front edge of the elevator car (100) , the front edge being exposed in view when the elevator car (100) is at the predetermined service access level (212) in the elevator shaft (200) .

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