Elevator car pivotable handrail and elevator maintenance method

Abstract

An elevator (10) comprises a car (11) and a counterweight (12), the car being movable in an elevator shaft (13), the counterweight (12) being movable together with the car (11) in the elevator shaft (13) in a moving direction opposite to the moving direction of the car (11). The car (11) comprises a car roof (2) and a handrail (1), the handrail (1) being arranged on the car roof, on the side of the car (11) facing the counterweight (13). The handrail (1) can be pivoted between a first fall protection position and a second fall protection position. In each of these fall protection positions, the handrail (1) can be fixed to prevent accidental movement of the handrail. In the first fall protection position, the handrail (1) has an inclined orientation. In the second fall protection position, the handrail (1) has a vertical orientation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator. In addition, the present invention also relates to a maintenance method of an elevator. Background Art

[0002] An elevator for transporting people and goods comprises a car that can move up and down in a vertical direction in an elevator shaft. The car can be moved by a drive unit using a suspension mechanism (e.g. in the form of a suspension cable or a suspension belt). The elevator also includes a counterweight connected to the car by the suspension mechanism, and the car moves in the elevator shaft in a direction of movement opposite to the direction of movement of the car. For certain situations, people may need to enter the top of the elevator car in order to perform work (e.g. maintenance work) from there. For this reason, people must be able to spend some time safely on the top of the elevator car. For example, if the width of the gap between the car and the adjacent shaft wall is too large, a railing must be installed on the top of the car to prevent falling. Such a railing on the top of the elevator car itself has long been known and has been commonly used. For example, from US 2013 / 0092479 A1, a car for an elevator with a railing is known. The railing includes a horizontally extending handrail that connects the columns to each other, wherein the columns extend vertically and are fixed to the top of the elevator car.

[0003] When performing inspection or maintenance work on an elevator, the maintenance personnel may have to inspect the interior of the elevator shaft from the top of the car. In that case, the inspection involves, for example, the guides, sensors, cables and / or other supporting mechanisms of the shaft door, the lighting system, the elevator car and / or the counterweight. In that case, the maintenance personnel sets the elevator facility to the so-called inspection mode. The maintenance personnel can then move the car by, for example, a control key ("travel button"). In the inspection mode, the car is therefore manually controlled, and the maintenance personnel must constantly actuate the travel button to move the elevator car. During this movement of the car, the car passes - just like in normal operation - the counterweight, which moves in the opposite direction. The movement of the car for inspection and maintenance purposes is also called an inspection run. The car and the counterweight usually pass at about half the height of the elevator shaft and move very close to each other in this case. The passage of the car and the counterweight is potentially dangerous for people who are present on the top of the car, because there is a risk of collision between people and the counterweight in the event of negligence. This applies in individual cases and in particular to any other person who may be travelling with the car and who may be leaning over the railing when another person actuates the travel button.

[0004] Furthermore, the counterweight is usually guided along a counterweight rail. The counterweight rail may be mounted on an omega-shaped bracket, which forms a hollow space through which the counterweight can pass. Such brackets are mounted more or less over the entire shaft height and constitute a hazard to personnel present on top of the car during inspection runs.

[0005] For some time now, so-called machine-room-less elevators have been gaining popularity. Machine-room-less elevators are elevator installations in which the drive unit is no longer arranged in a separate machine room, but in the elevator shaft. In this case, the drive unit is usually positioned at the top, i.e. in the region of the shaft head of the elevator shaft. The drive unit may partially protrude out of the car. In this case, a handrail would be arranged on the car roof so as to be offset inwards from the edge of the car roof to such an extent that, apart from overlapping areas or cast shadows, the handrail is arranged between the drive and the car roof. However, there may be a certain risk of injury during inspection runs when someone reaches over the handrail while the car is being driven upwards in the region of the shaft head. Summary of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide an elevator and a method which reduce the above-mentioned risk of injury to persons on top of the car during an inspection run.

[0007] An elevator comprises a car, which is movable in an elevator shaft, and a counterweight, which is movable together with the car in a direction of movement opposite to the direction of movement of the car in the elevator shaft. The car comprises a car roof and a handrail, which is arranged on the car roof on a side of the car facing the counterweight. The handrail, which is a pivotable handrail, is fixed or can be fixed in a first fall protection position in which the handrail has an inclined orientation. In this first fall protection position, the handrail is positioned inclined, which reduces the accessible area for maintenance personnel, or in other words, the inwardly inclined handrail leads to an increased horizontal distance of the handrail relative to the counterweight. This arrangement reduces the risk of injury to personnel on the car roof during inspection operations.

[0008] The railing may be designed so that it can pivot between said first fall protection position and a second fall protection position. The railing may be fixed in both fall protection positions to prevent accidental movement of the railing, for example when a person pushes on the handrail of the railing. In the first fall protection position, the railing has an inclined orientation, while in the second fall protection position, the railing has a vertical orientation.

[0009] The first fall protection position, in which the guardrail has an inclined orientation, can be configured with a normal operating mode of the elevator. In the normal operating mode, the car runs normally. This normal operation is understood to be the typical operation of the elevator when requested by passengers. The first fall protection position can also be configured with a maintenance mode of the elevator. In the maintenance mode, maintenance personnel can enter the car roof or step on the car roof and perform maintenance work. The technician on the car roof can modify, repair or replace various components of the elevator. In the maintenance mode, an inspection run can also be performed. When performing an inspection run and when someone hits the inclined guardrail, the guardrail may be pivoted from the first fall protection position to the second fall protection position. In this case, the moving car may stop immediately, for example when the guardrail leaves or has been released from the first fall protection position.

[0010] However, other modes of the elevator comprising a railing that can be pivoted between a first fall protection position and a second fall protection position are also conceivable. For example, in another mode of the elevator, the second fall protection position can be configured with a normal mode and a normal maintenance mode of the elevator. In contrast, maintenance personnel may have to perform an inspection run. The first fall protection position can be configured with an inspection run mode of the elevator for performing an inspection run. Therefore, the maintenance personnel must move the railing from the vertical fall protection position to the inclined fall protection position before starting the inspection run.

[0011] The railing may include a handrail. The handrail defines the horizontal upward completion of the railing. The railing may also include an intermediate horizontal bar. In addition, a kickboard may be provided in the upper region of the car roof. The railing may include two vertical columns. The handrail, the bar and the kickboard connect the columns to each other.

[0012] When the railing is in the first fall protection position, the railing is positioned inclined, which reduces the accessible area for maintenance personnel, or in other words, the inwardly inclined railing leads to an increased horizontal distance of the handrail relative to the counterweight. Due to this fact, the risk of injury to personnel on the car roof during an inspection run can be effectively excluded.

[0013] When the handrail is configured to be pivotable as a whole, the joint for the pivotable movement of the handrail can be mounted on the car roof. However, it is conceivable that the handrail is configured as a two-part handrail with a lower fixed handrail part and an upper movable handrail part. In the latter case, the joint will be arranged at the abutment area between the two handrail parts.

[0014] In a first embodiment, when in the first fall protection position, the railing is inclined relative to the horizontal plane at an angle between 30° and 80°, preferably between 45° and 70°, and particularly preferably between 50° and 60°. With this inclination, a stable railing can be provided that can safely protect people from falling.

[0015] The elevator may include a locking mechanism for fixing the railing in the first fall protection position for stable and safe positioning. Accidental movement of the railing when a person pushes the handrail of the railing can thus be easily prevented. Of course, the elevator may alternatively or additionally also include a locking mechanism for fixing the railing in the second fall protection position.

[0016] In one embodiment, the locking mechanism for fixing the railing in the first fall protection position or the locking mechanism for fixing the railing in the second fall protection position comprises a locking recess and a corresponding locking pin unit. Thereby, an advantageous operation of the railing can be ensured.

[0017] The locking mechanism can be designed such that in response to a pivoting movement of the railing, the railing is locked by means of a latching connection or by means of another connection between the movable railing and a fixed counterpart arranged on the car roof to create an inclined first fall protection position or a vertical second fall protection position.

[0018] The car comprises vertical sides adjacent to the side of the car facing the counterweight. Transverse railings may be arranged on the car roof at these vertical sides. The transverse railings may be fixed railings fixedly mounted on the car roof.

[0019] In order to be able to fix the railing in the first fall protection position, at least one of the transverse rails, and preferably both of the transverse rails, can define a fixing counterpart for connection with the movable railing in the inclined first fall protection position.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, at least one connecting rail can be arranged between the rail and a fixed support element, preferably formed by at least one vertical column, which connecting rail is pivotably connected to the rail and the support element. The support element can be an independent support element. Particularly preferably, the support element can be a vertical column of an adjacent or adjoining transverse rail.

[0021] The at least one connecting rail can have two lever parts connected by a hinge. The connecting rail can be designed such that the inclined first fall protection position can be easily fixed when the two lever parts are positioned in a straight line.

[0022] The elevator may comprise at least one safety switch or sensor which is able to detect whether the railing is resting in the first fall protection position or is correctly engaged in the first fall protection position. This will ensure that a check run can only be performed when the railing is in the first fall protection position. It is particularly advantageous when the elevator comprises at least one safety switch or sensor which is able to detect whether the railing correctly adopts one of the fall protection positions.

[0023] The safety switch or sensor may be connected to a processing unit, in particular a processing unit comprised in an elevator control device for controlling and / or monitoring the movement of an elevator car. The elevator comprises a drive unit for moving or displacing the car and the elevator control device for controlling the operation of the drive unit. It is also conceivable that the at least one safety switch or sensor described above may be integrated in a safety circuit of the elevator, which in particular activates the drive brake in an emergency.

[0024] For example, for the first mentioned elevator mode, when the guardrail is in the first fall protection position, the associated safety switch is closed. The car can run normally in normal operation mode, and inspection runs can be carried out in maintenance mode. When the guardrail is released from the first fall protection position, the safety switch is actuated and thus opens, and the elevator control device then prevents the drive from moving the car or triggers an emergency stop via the safety circuit.

[0025] Another aspect of the invention may relate to a balustrade for an elevator car roof of an elevator, preferably according to the preceding description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Other individual features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the following exemplary embodiments. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, neither the accompanying drawings nor the description should be interpreted as limiting the present invention. These figures are only schematic and not to scale. The same reference numerals refer to the same or similar features.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an elevator car with a railing in a vertical fall protection position;

[0028] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 a car having a railing in an inclined fall protection position;

[0029] Figure 3 shows a side view of the elevator during an inspection run with the railing in a tilted fall protection position;

[0030] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A top view of an elevator car of an elevator.

[0031] Figure 5 Shows Figure 3 Side view of the elevator car of an elevator.

[0032] Figure 6 Shows Figure 3 A variation of the elevator.

[0033] Figure 7 A perspective enlarged view of a locking pin for securing the railing in one of the fall protection positions is shown.

[0034] Figure 8 A front view showing a retrofitted movable railing behind an existing conventional fixed railing; and

[0035] Fig. 9 Shown for Figure 8 A perspective enlarged view of the joint of the movable railing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Figure 1 The upper part of a car 11 of an elevator for transporting people and goods vertically up and down is shown. The car 11 has a car roof 2 on which a railing 1 is arranged. The railing 1 comprises a handrail 5 in the upper part and an intermediate rod 6 arranged approximately at half the height. However, the railing 1 may also comprise a skirting board on the floor of the car roof 2. Two vertical columns 4 are provided for supporting the handrail 5 and the intermediate rod 6.

[0037] The handrail 1 is arranged on the car roof, adjacent to the edge 14 of the car roof 2, at the side of the car 11 facing the counterweight (not shown here). The column 4 is connected to the car roof 2 via a joint 28, which enables the handrail 1 to be pivotably attached to the car roof. The movable handrail can be pivoted about a horizontal rotation axis between two positions.

[0038] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the guardrail 1 has an inclined orientation which may correspond to a first fall protection position. In a preferred mode of the elevator 10, the first fall protection position is assigned to a normal operating mode of the elevator 10. In the normal operating mode, the car 11 may be operated normally. The first fall protection position is also assigned to a maintenance mode of the elevator. In the maintenance mode, an inspection run may also be performed. When an inspection run is performed and when a person hits the inclined guardrail 1, the guardrail may perform a pivoting movement in the direction of the second fall protection position. This pivoting movement of the guardrail 1 may be monitored and a controller (not shown here) may immediately stop the car.

[0039] In an alternative mode of elevator 10, as Figure 2 The inclined railing 1 shown is associated with the inspection mode of operation. Figure 1In the first fall protection position, the handrail 1 has a vertical orientation corresponding to the second fall protection position. In this case, the second fall protection position is associated with the normal mode of the elevator. When a maintenance person is present on the car roof 2 where an inspection run needs to be carried out, the handrail 1 has to be pivoted from the second fall protection position to the first fall protection position. FIG. 2 refers to the first fall protection position. In the first fall protection position, the handrail 1 is positioned inclined, which reduces the accessible area on the car roof 2. As a result, the horizontal distance of the handrail 5 relative to obstacles in the shaft (e.g. a drive unit arranged at the shaft head, a counterweight against movement and / or an Ω-shaped bracket) is increased so that the person on the car roof can safely carry out an inspection run (see FIG. 3 ). In accordance with Figure 2 In the example of an embodiment of , the railing 1 is inclined at an angle of approximately 60° to the horizontal.

[0040] In the first fall protection position, the column 4 of the railing 1 rests on the stop element 7, which stops the pivoting movement of the railing 1. The locking mechanism for fixing the railing 1 in the first fall protection position comprises a latch 9 which can be locked in place. Figure 1 See. A latch 9 is associated with one of the stop elements 7 and can engage with the corresponding column 4. Thus, in response to a pivoting movement of the balustrade 1, the balustrade 1 can be locked by means of a latching connection between the movable balustrade 1 and a fixed counterpart formed by the stop element 7 to establish an inclined first fall protection position. A similar locking mechanism can be envisaged for fixing the balustrade 1 in a second fall protection position. For the second fall protection position, two stop elements 8 formed by short vertical struts are fixedly mounted on the car roof. One of these stop elements 8 includes a latch 29 which can engage with the corresponding column 4 when the balustrade 1 performs a return pivoting movement to create the second fall protection position.

[0041] Figures 3 to 5 A further embodiment of a movable railing 1 is shown which provides a vertical fall protection position on one side and an inclined fall protection position on the other side. Figure 3 Some details about the elevator system are also shown. The elevator represented by 10 features a car 11 that can be moved up and down for transporting people or goods. The movement of the car 11 occurs, for example, by a suspension mechanism (not shown here) that supports the car 11 or the car 11 is suspended from the suspension mechanism. For example, the suspension mechanism can be one or more supporting cables or supporting belts. The elevator shaft in which the car 11 travels is marked as 13. The car 11 is guided along a car guide rail 22. The counterweight 12 is guided along a counterweight guide rail 23. For example, the counterweight guide rail 23 is mounted on an omega-shaped bracket 24. The movable handrail 1 named above is arranged at the side of the car 11 facing the counterweight 12.

[0042] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment, the railing 1 is in a first fall protection position, in which the railing 1 is positioned inclined. In order to fix the railing 1 in the inclined first fall protection arrangement, the posts 30 adjacent to the fixed transverse railing 3 can be used.

[0043] from Figure 4 As can be seen, the railing 1 comprises a handrail 5, an intermediate bar 6 and a skirting 26. The movable railing 1 is arranged between two transverse rails 3, 3'. These rails 3, 3' are fixed rails and can be used to fix two fall protection positions of the railing 1. Additionally or alternatively, separate stop elements or support elements can be used to fix one or both of the fall protection positions. Figure 4 Implicitly, a stop element 8 is featured, which serves to support and secure the railing 1 in the vertical fall protection position.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a car roof 2 with a movable guardrail 1. For a better overview, the transverse guardrails are not shown here. In the example of a first embodiment, the guardrail 1 is in a position such as Figure 5 The first fall protection position shown is inclined at an angle of approximately 45°. The railing 1 is dimensioned such that its height is approximately 70 cm; the railing 1 thus meets the height requirements of elevator regulations (eg European standard EN81-21).

[0045] according to Figure 6 The movable guardrail can be detachably connected to the front post 31 of the transverse guardrail 3, 3' using a locking mechanism including a locking notch and a corresponding locking pin unit 15 to ensure a vertical fall protection position, and as an example, the locking pin unit 15 can be Figure 7 31 ; a corresponding locking pin unit 15 can be associated with the balustrade 1 . Alternatively, the locking notch can be associated with the balustrade 1 and the corresponding locking pin unit 15 can be associated with the column 31 . The locking pin unit 15 comprises a pin 34 which is biased to a closed position under the action of a spring bias. The pin can be brought into an open position by pulling the handle 33. The corresponding opening movement is indicated by an arrow.

[0046] At least one connecting track 16, and preferably two connecting tracks 16 (on each lateral side), are arranged between a vertical post 31 defining a fixed support element on one side and the railing 1 on the other side. Thus, one (or more) connecting tracks are connected in a pivotable manner to the railing 1 and to one (or more) posts 31. Each connecting track 16 has two lever parts 19, 20 connected by a hinge.

[0047] Figure 8A movable handrail 1 is shown which provides a vertical fall protection position and an inclined fall protection position, while the handrail 1 is arranged behind a fixed handrail 27. The fixed handrail 27 may be a pre-existing handrail mounted on the car roof. Thus, the movable handrail 1 may advantageously be implemented in a retrofit. The handrail 1 is connected to the car roof 2 via a joint 28 which enables the handrail 1 to be pivotally attached to the car roof. In accordance with Figure 8 In the example of an embodiment of the invention, the joints 28 are designed so that the function of fixing the railing in a certain pivot position, in particular in the first fall protection position and the second fall protection position, can be integrated in these joints. For this specific purpose, the joints 28 include a ratchet mechanism which prevents the railing from accidentally pivoting back in the opposite direction towards the counterweight (not shown). Fig. 9 Some technical details of such a ratchet mechanism based joint 28 for a railing 1 are shown. The ratchet mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel and a pawl, wherein the rotation of the ratchet wheel in one direction can be blocked by the pawl.

Claims

1. An elevator (10), comprising a car (11) and a counterweight (12), wherein the car is movable in an elevator shaft (13), the counterweight (12) being movable together with the car (11) in the elevator shaft (13) in a moving direction opposite to the moving direction of the car (11), the car (11) having a car roof (2) and a handrail (1), the handrail being arranged on the car roof on a side of the car (11) facing the counterweight (12), characterized in that: The handrail (1) is pivotally attached to the car roof about an axis adjacent to an edge of the car roof, and the handrail (1) is fixed or can be fixed in a first fall protection position, in which the handrail (1) has an inclined orientation, which tilts the handrail inward away from the edge of the car roof to increase the horizontal distance of a person on the car roof relative to the counterweight, wherein the handrail (1) can be pivoted between the first fall protection position and a second fall protection position, and the handrail (1) can be fixed in these two fall protection positions to prevent accidental movement of the handrail, and in the second fall protection position, the handrail (1) has a vertical orientation.

2. The elevator (10) according to claim 1, wherein: When in the first fall protection position, the railing (1) is inclined at an angle of 30° to 80° relative to the horizontal plane.

3. The elevator (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein: The elevator (10) comprises a locking mechanism for fixing the railing (1) in the first fall protection position and / or a locking mechanism for fixing the railing (1) in the second fall protection position.

4. The elevator (10) according to claim 3, wherein: The locking mechanism for fixing the railing (1) in the first fall protection position comprises a locking notch and a corresponding locking pin unit (15); and / or the locking mechanism for fixing the railing (1) in the second fall protection position comprises a locking notch and a corresponding locking pin unit (15).

5. The elevator (10) according to claim 3, wherein: Each of the locking mechanisms is designed such that, in response to a pivoting movement of the guardrail (1), the guardrail (1) is locked by means of a latching connection between a movable guardrail and a fixed counterpart arranged on the car roof (2) to create the first fall protection position or to create the second fall protection position.

6. The elevator (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein: Transverse railings (3, 3') are arranged on the car roof (2) on a vertical side adjacent to the side of the car (11) facing the counterweight (12).

7. The elevator (10) according to claim 6, wherein: The transverse railing (3) is fixedly mounted on the car roof (2), and at least one of the transverse railings (3, 3') defines a fixing counterpart for fixing the railing (1) in the first fall protection position and / or in the second fall protection position.

8. The elevator (10) according to claim 7, wherein: Both of the transverse rails (3, 3') define fixing partners for fixing the railing (1) in the first fall protection position and / or in the second fall protection position.

9. The elevator (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein: At least one connecting track (16) is arranged between the railing (1) and the fixed support element, the connecting track (16) being connected to the railing (1) and the fixed support element in a pivotable manner.

10. The elevator (10) according to claim 9, wherein: The fixed support element is formed by at least one vertical column (31).

11. The elevator (10) according to claim 9, wherein: The at least one connecting rail (16) has two lever parts (19, 20), which are connected together via a hinge.

12. The elevator (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein: At least one safety switch or sensor is provided to enable detection of whether the railing (1) is resting in the first fall protection position or is correctly engaged in the first fall protection position.

13. A maintenance method for an elevator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the maintenance method comprising the following steps: Before starting the inspection run, a pivotable guardrail (1) facing the counterweight (12) is moved from a vertical fall protection position to an inclined fall protection position to increase the horizontal distance of a person on top of the car relative to the counterweight.

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