Secure maintenance elevator installation

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator installation comprising: a shaft (12) having a plurality of openings (24, 26) leading respectively onto landings; a plurality of landing doors (28, 30) adapted to close the openings (24, 26) respectively and to be locked in a closed position; a car (32) having a top (34), and adapted to dock opposite the landing doors and to cause the landing doors to be unlocked in order to free the openings; a manual unlocking device (46, 48) to be able to manually release one or the other of said landing doors, while said car (32) is moved away from the released landing door.The installation further includes a presence detector (52, 58) mounted inside said duct (12) to be able to block said cabin (32) when said presence detector (52, 58) provides a signal indicating a presence inside said duct (12). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Elevator installation with secure maintenance

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator installation including an improved safety device.

[0002] Conventional elevator installations, in multi-story buildings with a landing on each floor, comprise a vertical shaft inside which a cabin is adapted to be driven in translation in order to serve these floors.

[0003] Also, the shaft has openings leading to each of the floors, and landing doors closing these openings. As long as the cabin is not adjusted opposite a particular landing door, the latter remains locked in a closing position.

[0004] On the other hand, as soon as the cabin docks opposite a landing door, it causes the automatic unlocking of the latter so as to be able to free the corresponding opening and allow the entry or exit of users between the cabin and the landing.

[0005] Furthermore, in addition to the normal operation of the elevator installation, it is sometimes necessary to intervene in the shaft in order to carry out maintenance operations.

[0006] To do this, on each floor, and in the vicinity of each landing door, a manual unlocking device with restricted access allows a maintenance operator to unlock the landing door when the car is not immobilized opposite. For example, a key lock device is installed in the vicinity of the landing door. And a suitable key allows only the maintenance operator to unlock the landing door.

[0007] Usually, the maintenance operator unlocks the landing door of a given floor, when the car is immobilized on the floor immediately below so as to be able to intervene on the top of the car by descending through the opening of the upper floor thus freed.

[0008] Of course, these intervention conditions require that the cabin be kept in a fixed position, or at the very least that its movements be controlled, so that the operator cannot be accidentally drawn in by the cabin and be crushed at the top of the shaft.

[0009] Also, it is known to do this by installing on the key lock device an electrical contactor making it possible to detect the unlocking of the landing door and to control the protection and / or immobilization systems of the cabin and possibly actually counterweight.

[0010] However, it is not always easy to install such electrical contactors in existing installations, because they are relatively bulky compared to the space available.

[0011] Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to solve is to provide an elevator installation which allows maintenance operators to intervene safely inside the shaft of the elevator installation.

[0012] For this purpose, there is proposed, according to the invention, an elevator installation comprising a shaft extending along a vertical component in a multi-story building having a plurality of landings, said shaft having a plurality of openings opening respectively onto the landings; a plurality of lockable landing doors adapted to respectively close the openings in a closed position and to be locked in said closed position; a cabin having a top, mounted mobile in translation inside said shaft, said cabin being adapted to dock at each landing opposite the corresponding landing door and to cause the automatic unlocking of the landing door to be able to release the opening;a device for manually unlocking each of said landing doors to be able to manually release one or other of said landing doors, while said car is moved away from the released landing door, so as to be able to enter the interior of said shaft. The installation further comprises a presence detector mounted inside said shaft to be able to cause said car to be blocked in translation when said presence detector provides a signal representative of a presence inside said shaft. ;

[0013] Thus, a characteristic of the invention lies in the implementation of a presence detector inside the shaft so as to be able to cause the cabin to be blocked as soon as the maintenance operator enters the shaft. The volume of the shaft is large enough to be able to accommodate such a presence sensor. Such blocking of the cabin does not exclude the possibility of subsequently causing its movement under the control of the operator.

[0014] In addition, and particularly advantageously, said presence detector is installed at said top of said cabin to provide said signal when a presence is detected at said top. In this way, as soon as the maintenance operator crosses the upper opening of the shaft allowing access to the top of the cabin located on the lower floor, the presence detector provides the signal allowing the cabin to be immobilized as will be explained in more detail in the remainder of the description.

[0015] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the installation further comprises another presence detector, while said duct has a free lower end, and said other presence detector is installed in said free lower end. Thus, when it is necessary to intervene on the installations, at the free lower end of the shaft, the implementation of said other detector also allows the cabin to be locked in a fixed position. And in this way, such locking prevents the cabin from accidentally lowering onto the operator.

[0016] Here too, locking the cabin does not exclude the possibility for the operator to control the cabin in motion after it has stopped.

[0017] Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment, said presence detector is adapted to cause said car to be blocked in translation when, in addition, one or other of said landing doors is manually released. In this way, the car is blocked in translation under the dual condition that a landing door has been manually released and that a maintenance operator has slipped inside the shaft to intervene at the top of the car, or in the free lower end. This also prevents the car from being accidentally blocked. Indeed, the only possibilities for the maintenance operator to access the shaft are the openings. Also, if no landing door has been unlocked, there is no probability that an operator could have entered the shaft. Thus, if the presence detector were activated inopportunely by any other means, it would not cause the car to be accidentally blocked.

[0018] Preferably, said presence detector is a volumetric detector. Thus installed at the top of the cabin, the volumetric detector makes it possible to provide a reliable signal, as soon as a maintenance operator operates at the top of the cabin. The volumetric detector is for example an infrared detector. It therefore operates in the corresponding electromagnetic frequency.

[0019] Furthermore, said cabin is suspended from a suspension member by its top, and a strain sensor is installed between said suspension member and said top. In this way, the strain sensor can then additionally transmit a signal when the maintenance operator is leaning on the top of the cabin. Indeed, its weight makes it possible to activate the strain sensor. This third signal can make it possible to confirm the presence of the operator on the cabin.

[0020] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said cabin is preferably secured to a cable extending to an upper end of said sheath opposite said lower end, said cable having a counterweight opposite said cabin, and said presence detector further causes said counterweight to be blocked in translation when said presence detector provides said signal representative of a presence inside said sheath. In other words, the cable is engaged in a drive pulley at the top of the sheath. The cabin and the counterweight are then driven in opposite directions inside the sheath. Also, it is necessary to keep the counterweight in a fixed position inside the sheath when an operator maintenance takes place inside.

[0021] Advantageously, the elevator installation further comprises yet another presence detector located above each of said openings. In this way, it is confirmed that an operator has entered the shaft.

[0022] Furthermore, preferably, the elevator installation according to the invention further comprises auxiliary control members for the cabin located inside the shaft. Auxiliary control members are for example located at the top of the cabin, so that the operator can control the cabin in translation when he intervenes there.

[0023] Other auxiliary control members may also be installed in said free lower end, so that the operator can control the cabin when working inside the free lower end.

[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of particular embodiments of the invention, given for informational but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig.l] is a schematic side view in cross section of an elevator installation according to the invention; and,

[0026] [Fig.2] is a flowchart of operation of the elevator installation illustrated in [Fig.l],

[0027] [Fig. 1] shows an elevator installation 10 according to the invention. It comprises a shaft 12 extending vertically inside a building 14, from a lower end 15 to an upper end 17. The building 14 here has two floors, a first 16 and a second 18, served by the elevator installation 10. The number of floors is obviously not limiting.

[0028] Thus, the first floor 16 has a first landing 20 contiguous to the elevator shaft 12, while the second floor 18 has a second landing 22.

[0029] Furthermore, the sheath 12 has a first opening 24 opening onto the first bearing 20, at the first stage 18 and a second opening 26, at the second stage 18, opening onto the second bearing 22.

[0030] Also, the first opening 24 is closed by a first landing door 28, while the second opening 26 is closed by a second landing door 30.

[0031] The elevator installation 10 comprises a cabin 32 suspended by its top 34 from a traction cable 36. The top of the cabin 34 also has a roof 35 closing the upper part of the cabin 32.

[0032] The traction cable 36 extends in a loop in the upper end 17 of the sheath 12, passing through a traction group 38 and extending back to be suspended from a counterweight 40.

[0033] The traction group 38 comprises a drive pulley 42, in which comes engaged the traction cable 36. The drive pulley 42 is driven by a geared motor 44.

[0034] In addition, the elevator installation 10 comprises an electronic control card 43, located in the upper end 17 of the shaft 12, near the geared motor 44. The electronic control card 43 is electrically connected, on the one hand to the geared motor 44, and on the other hand to the cabin 32 by means of a free electrical cable 4L

[0035] Furthermore, the elevator installation 10 comprises a parachute system 45 secured to the cabin 32 and crossed by a guide rail 47 of the cabin 32. The parachute system 45 is electrically controllable, either directly by means of an electric actuator, or by means of the speed limiter to which it is connected. Here, it is directly controllable by an electric actuator. And when it is controlled, the cabin 32 becomes secured to the guide rail 47 and is then held in a fixed position inside the shaft 12.

[0036] The elevator installation 10 comprises locking members, a first 46 and a second 48, making it possible to lock the landing doors 28, 30 respectively in the position where they close the openings 24, 26.

[0037] When the cabin 32 docks at one of the floors 16, 18, in other words when it comes into alignment with the corresponding opening 24, 30, it then automatically controls the locking members 46, 48 to unlock the landing doors 28, 30.

[0038] Thus, as shown in [Fig.l], the cabin causes the first locking member 46 to be controlled to unlock the first landing door 28 and thus free the opening 24. It is then possible to access the interior of the cabin 32 from the first landing 20.

[0039] Then, the first landing door 28 closes and again closes the first opening 24, while the first locking member 46 is controlled to automatically lock the first landing door 28 in its closed position.

[0040] Furthermore, the locking members 46, 48 can also be controlled manually by means of a specific key 50.

[0041] Indeed, when the elevator installation 10 is defective, it is generally necessary to enter the interior of the shaft 12, and in particular the top of the cabin 32. This possibility is offered only to maintenance operators. Also, the specific key 50 is usually a socket wrench of triangular section, and it allows the maintenance operator to unlock the landing door 28, 30 to access the interior of the shaft 12 independently of the position of the cabin 32.

[0042] A safety problem then arises since it is necessary to ensure that the cabin 32 remains stationary when a maintenance operator enters the interior of the shaft. 12.

[0043] According to the invention, the top 34 of the cabin 12 is equipped with a first presence detector 52.

[0044] The first presence detector 52 is here a volumetric detector operating in the infrared. In other words, it records the variation of the infrared radiation above the cabin 32. Also, the first presence detector 52 is electrically connected to the parachute 45 by a first control cable 54.

[0045] Therefore, when the maintenance operator enters the interior of the shaft 12, through the second opening 26, to descend onto the roof 35 of the cabin 12, located on the lower floor 16, the infrared radiation varies so that a signal is emitted by the detector. This signal is transmitted by a first control cable 54 to the parachute 45, which interacts with the guide rail 47 so as to block the cabin 32 in translation inside the shaft 12. In this way, the maintenance operator can descend onto the roof 35 of the cabin 32 without risk of being crushed by the cabin in the upper end 17 of the shaft 12.

[0046] In terms of intervention and maintenance of the elevator installation 10, it is also necessary to intervene inside the shaft 12 in its lower end 15.

[0047] The lower end 15 defines a lower reserve 56, inside which a maintenance operator can operate when the cabin 32 is docked at the level of the second landing 22, above the first landing 20. Then, the maintenance operator proceeds to unlock the first landing door 28 by manually acting on the first locking member 46 using the specific key 50. Then, he enters inside the shaft 12 through the first opening 24 to descend into the lower reserve 56.

[0048] Also, with regard to safety, it is necessary to ensure that the cabin 32 remains stationary so that it does not crush the maintenance operator.

[0049] According to the invention, the lower reserve 56 is equipped with a second presence detector 58 which operates in a similar manner to the first presence detector 52. It is connected by a second control cable 60 to the electronic control card 43 at the upper end 17 of the sheath 12 to then reach the cabin 32 via the free electrical cable 41 then the parachute 45.

[0050] Thus, as soon as the maintenance operator enters the interior of the shaft 12 and descends into the lower reserve 56, the infrared radiation varies and the second detector 58 emits a second signal. This second signal is transmitted to the parachute 45 which makes it possible to block the cabin 32 in translation inside the shaft 12 at the level of the second stage 18.

[0051] In this way, the maintenance operator is assured of being able to intervene without risk. to be crushed by cabin 32.

[0052] Furthermore, the locking members 46, 48 are electrically connected to the electronic control card 43 so as to be able to provide it with a specific signal when the specific key 50 unlocks them manually.

[0053] We will now refer to the flowchart of [Fig.2] to describe a mode of operation of the elevator installation 10.

[0054] Thus, the program starts in a first step 62 when one or other of the locking members 46, 48 is manually controlled using the specific key 50 and the car is not docked opposite the corresponding opening. In other words, the first step 62 implies that one or other of the landing doors 28, 30 possibly releases one or other of the openings 24, 26.

[0055] From then on, the two presence detectors 52, 58 are “awakened” in a wake-up step 64. In other words, they are active.

[0056] Then, the program checks in a verification step 66, whether the maintenance operator is working above the cabin 32, or inside the lower reserve 56. The elevator must then be stopped.

[0057] After the first presence detector 52 located at the top 34 of the cabin 32 has emitted a first first signal, advantageously, a confirmation is called on the roof 35 through a first confirmation step 68. The confirmation is carried out, either by a push button located on the roof of the cabin 32, or by means of another presence detector. A second first signal is then emitted by the push button, or the other detector, not shown, and this second first signal orders the control of the parachute 45 in a blocking step 70. In other words, the blocking of the cabin 32 is here carried out under the triple condition, that the second landing door 30 is in a position in which it releases the second opening 26, that the first presence detector 52 emits a first first signal, and that the push button or other detector has emitted a second first signal.

[0058] Nevertheless, as soon as the operator takes up position on the cabin 32, he has the possibility of controlling it in translation under his control by means of auxiliary cabin control members, not shown.

[0059] According to another implementation variant, the confirmation step 68 is dispensed with. Therefore, the blocking of the cabin 32 is carried out on the sole double condition that the second landing door 30 is in a position in which it releases the second opening 26 and that the first presence detector 52 emits a first first signal.

[0060] If, on the other hand, the second presence detector 58 emits a first second signal, a confirmation is called up through a second confirmation step 72, in the lower reserve 56, by means of a push button or a presence detector for example. A second second signal is then emitted and it orders in the same way, the control of the parachute 45 according to the blocking step 70. In other words, the blocking of the cabin 32 is carried out under the triple condition, that the first landing door 28 releases the first opening 24, that the second presence detector 58 emits a first second signal, and that a second second signal is emitted.

[0061] However, as soon as the operator takes up position in the lower reserve 56, he also has the possibility of controlling the translation of the cabin 32 under his control.

[0062] Also, it is possible here also as a variant to dispense with the second confirmation step 72 so that the blocking of the cabin 32 takes place under the sole dual condition that the first landing door 28 releases the first opening 24 and that the second presence detector emits a first second signal.

Claims

Claims

1. Elevator installation comprising: - a shaft (12) extending along a vertical component in a multi-story building (14) having a plurality of landings (20, 22), said shaft having a plurality of openings (24, 26) opening respectively onto the landings; - a plurality of lockable landing doors (28, 30) adapted to respectively close the openings (24, 26) in a closed position and to be locked in said closed position; - a cabin (32) having a top (34), mounted to move in translation inside said shaft (12), said cabin being adapted to approach each landing (20, 22) opposite the corresponding landing door (28, 30) and to cause the automatic unlocking of the landing door to be able to release the opening;- a manual unlocking device (46, 48) for each of said landing doors (28, 30) to be able to manually release one or other of said landing doors, while said cabin (32) is moved away from the released landing door, so as to be able to penetrate inside said shaft (12); characterized in that it further comprises a presence detector (52, 58) mounted inside said shaft (12) to be able to cause said cabin (32) to be blocked in translation when said presence detector (52, 58) provides a signal representative of a presence inside said shaft (12).;

2. Elevator installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said presence detector (52) is installed at said top (34) of said car (32) to provide said signal when a presence is detected at said top.

3. Elevator installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises another presence detector (58), while said shaft (12) has a free lower end (15), and in that said other presence detector (58) is installed in said free lower end (15).

4. Elevator installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said presence detector (52, 58) is adapted to cause said cabin (32) to be blocked in translation when, in addition, one or other of said landing doors (28, 30) is released ma- only.

5. Elevator installation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said presence detector (52, 58) is a volumetric detector.

6. Elevator installation according to claim 5, characterized in that said volumetric detector is an infrared detector.

7. Elevator installation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said cabin (32) is suspended from a suspension member by its top, and in that a stress sensor is installed between said suspension member and said top.

8. Elevator installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said cabin (32) is integral with a cable (36) extending to an upper end (17) of said shaft opposite said lower end (15), said cable (36) having a counterweight (40) opposite said cabin (32), and in that said presence detector (52, 58) further causes said counterweight (40) to be blocked in translation when said presence detector provides said signal representative of a presence inside said shaft (12).

9. Elevator installation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises yet another presence detector above each of said openings.

10. Elevator installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises auxiliary control members of the cabin (32) located inside the shaft (12).

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