Elevator car and elevator passenger rescue methods

Abstract

To provide an elevator car and the rescue method of elevator passengers capable of reducing a car frame weight and capable of efficiently rescuing the passengers.SOLUTION: In an elevator car 11, a car body 5 is provided with a car doorway 57 and a rescue port 58. A car frame 6 has a floor frame 61 on which the car body 5 is mounted, an upper frame 62 located above the car body 5, and a vertical frame 63 to connect the floor frame 61 and the upper frame 62. A connection bracing member 7B is arranged at the position opposite the rescue port 58 outside the car body 5 and inclined relative to the vertical frame 63 and the floor frame 61. The connection bracing member 7B has a first reinforcement part 73 attached to the vertical frame 63 and a second reinforcement part 74 attached to the floor frame 61. The first reinforcement part 73 is detachably connected to the second reinforcement part 74.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator car and a method for rescuing elevator passengers.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an elevator car in which crossbars are connected to a floor frame and a vertical frame in order to reinforce a car frame having a floor frame and a vertical frame.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an elevator in which rescue exits are provided on the sides of two cars that move individually along two adjacent paths. When passengers are trapped in one car, it is possible to rescue the passengers from one car to the other through the rescue exits of each car by stopping a normal other car at a position adjacent to the one car.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the elevator car disclosed in Patent Document 1, weight reduction of the car frame can be achieved by reinforcement with crossbars. However, in the elevator disclosed in Patent Document 2, when crossbars are arranged opposite to the rescue exits of the car, the crossbars become an obstacle during the rescue of passengers, and it is impossible to efficiently rescue the passengers.

[0006] This disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide an elevator car and a method for rescuing elevator passengers that can reduce the weight of the car frame and efficiently rescue passengers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The elevator car according to this disclosure comprises a car body, a car frame that supports the car body, and a connecting brace member attached to the car frame. The car body is provided with a car entrance and an emergency exit located at a different position from the car entrance. The car frame has a floor frame on which the car body rests, an upper frame located above the car body, and vertical frames connecting the floor frame and the upper frame. The connecting brace member is positioned on the outside of the car body, facing the emergency exit, and is inclined with respect to the vertical frame and the floor frame. The connecting brace member has a first reinforcing part attached to the vertical frame and a second reinforcing part attached to the floor frame, and the first reinforcing part is detachably connected to the second reinforcing part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, the weight of the elevator car frame can be reduced, and passenger rescue can be carried out more efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a configuration diagram showing an elevator according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the elevator car of elevator unit number 1. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the elevator car of elevator number 2 in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a side view showing the basket in Figure 2. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing the basket in Figure 3. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing the basket in Figure 4 with the first reinforcing part detached from the second reinforcing part. [Figure 7]Figure 5 is a side view showing the basket in a state where the first reinforcing part is detached from the second reinforcing part. [Figure 8] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the connection between the first and second reinforcing sections of the connecting brace member. [Figure 9] This is a flowchart showing the method for rescuing passengers from an elevator according to Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments for carrying out the subject matter of this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached figures. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are simplified or omitted as appropriate. The subject matter of this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any modification of any component of the embodiments or omission of any component of the embodiments is possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0011] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an elevator according to Embodiment 1. In the figure, the elevator has a first elevator unit 1 and a second elevator unit 2. The first elevator unit 1 and the second elevator unit 2 are installed adjacent to each other.

[0012] The first elevator unit 1 has a car 11, a counterweight 12, a hoisting machine 13, a deflector wheel 14, and multiple suspension bodies 15. The second elevator unit 2 has a car 21, a counterweight 22, a hoisting machine 23, a deflector wheel 24, and multiple suspension bodies 25.

[0013] A machine room 4 is located above the hoistway 3. The hoistway 3 houses the car 11 and counterweight 12 of the first elevator 1, and the car 21 and counterweight 22 of the second elevator 2. The machine room 4 houses the hoisting machine 13 and deflector 14 of the first elevator 1, and the hoisting machine 23 and deflector 24 of the second elevator 2.

[0014] In the first elevator unit 1, the hoist 13 generates a driving force for moving the car 11 and the counterweight 12. The hoist 13 has a driving sheave 13a. The driving sheave 13a rotates by the driving force of the hoist 13.

[0015] In the first elevator unit 1, a plurality of suspension bodies 15 are wound around the driving sheave 13a and the deflector pulley 14. As the suspension bodies 15, ropes, belts, etc. are used. One end of each suspension body 15 is connected to the car 11, and the other end of each suspension body 15 is connected to the counterweight 12. Thereby, in the first elevator unit 1, the car 11 and the counterweight 12 are suspended in the hoistway 3 by the respective suspension bodies 15. In the first elevator unit 1, when the driving sheave 13a rotates, the car 11 and the counterweight 12 move in the vertical direction in the hoistway 3.

[0016] In the second elevator unit 2, the hoist 23 generates a driving force for moving the car 21 and the counterweight 22. The hoist 23 has a driving sheave 23a. The driving sheave 23a rotates by the driving force of the hoist 23.

[0017] In the second elevator unit 2, a plurality of suspension bodies 25 are wound around the driving sheave 23a and the deflector pulley 24. As the suspension bodies 25, ropes, belts, etc. are used. One end of each suspension body 25 is connected to the car 21, and the other end of each suspension body 25 is connected to the counterweight 22. Thereby, in the second elevator unit 2, the car 21 and the counterweight 22 are suspended in the hoistway 3 by the respective suspension bodies 25. In the second elevator unit 2, when the driving sheave 23a rotates, the car 21 and the counterweight 22 move in the vertical direction in the hoistway 3.

[0018] The car 11 of the first elevator unit 1 moves along a first path set vertically in the hoistway 3. The car 21 of the second elevator unit 2 moves along a second path set vertically in the hoistway 3. The first path and the second path are two paths set in the same hoistway 3. Also, the first path and the second path are adjacent to each other in the width direction of the hoistway 3. Thereby, when the car 11 and the car 21 stop at the same height, the positions of the car 11 and the car 21 are adjacent to each other.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the car 11 of the first elevator unit 1 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the car 21 of the second elevator unit 2 in FIG. 1. Each of the car 11 and the car 21 has a car body 5, a car frame 6, and a plurality of cross members 7. Each of the car 11 and the car 21 is arranged such that the height direction of the car body 5 coincides with the vertical direction.

[0020] In each of the car 11 and the car 21, a specific direction orthogonal to the height direction of the car body 5 is the depth direction of the car body 5. Also, in each of the car 11 and the car 21, a direction orthogonal to both the height direction and the depth direction of the car body 5 is the width direction of the car body 5. Each of the car 11 and the car 21 is arranged in the hoistway 3 such that the width direction of the car body 5 coincides with the width direction of the hoistway 3.

[0021] The car body 5 has a car floor 51, a car ceiling 52, a car front wall 53, a car rear wall 54, a first car side wall 55, and a second car side wall 56. The space inside the car body 5 is surrounded by the car floor 51, the car ceiling 52, the car front wall 53, the car rear wall 54, the first car side wall 55, and the second car side wall 56.

[0022] The car ceiling 52 is located above the car floor 51. The car front wall 53 and the car rear wall 54 face each other in the depth direction of the car body 5. The first car side wall 55 and the second car side wall 56 face each other in the width direction of the car body 5.

[0023] In each of the car 11 and car 21, when viewing the front wall 53 of the car from the outside of the car body 5 along the depth direction of the car body 5, the first car side wall 55 is located to the right of the front wall 53, and the second car side wall 56 is located to the left of the front wall 53. When the positions of car 11 and car 21 are adjacent to each other, the first car side wall 55 of car 11 and the second car side wall 56 of car 21 face each other.

[0024] The cage frame 6 supports the cage body 5. The cage frame 6 has a floor frame 61, an upper frame 62, and a pair of vertical frames 63.

[0025] The cage body 5 rests on the floor frame 61. In this way, the floor frame 61 supports the cage body 5 from below. In this embodiment, the shape of the floor frame 61 is rectangular, following the outer circumference of the cage floor 51.

[0026] The upper frame 62 is located above the car body 5. The upper frame 62 is arranged along the width direction of the car body 5. One end of each suspension body 15 of the first elevator unit 1 is connected to the upper frame 62 of car 11. One end of each suspension body 25 of the second elevator unit 2 is connected to the upper frame 62 of car 21.

[0027] The pair of vertical frames 63 are arranged on both sides of the cage body 5 in the width direction. That is, the cage body 5 is positioned between the pair of vertical frames 63 in the width direction of the cage body 5. Of the pair of vertical frames 63, one vertical frame 63 faces the first cage side wall 55, and the other vertical frame 63 faces the second cage side wall 56.

[0028] Each vertical frame 63 is positioned along the height of the basket body 5. The lower end of each vertical frame 63 is fixed to the floor frame 61. The upper end of each vertical frame 63 is fixed to the upper frame 62. In this way, each vertical frame 63 connects the floor frame 61 and the upper frame 62.

[0029] Multiple bracing members 7 are attached to the cage frame 6. Furthermore, multiple bracing members 7 are connected to the floor frame 61 from a pair of vertical frames 63 on the outside of the cage body 5. In this way, each bracing member 7 reinforces the cage frame 6. In this embodiment, four bracing members 7 are attached to the cage frame 6. Also, in this embodiment, one vertical frame 63 is connected to the floor frame 61 via two bracing members 7, and the other vertical frame 63 is connected to the floor frame 61 via the remaining two bracing members 7.

[0030] Each vertical frame 63 has two upper brace mounting sections 65 in its middle section. As a result, the cage frame 6 has four upper brace mounting sections 65. The four upper brace mounting sections 65 correspond individually to four brace members 7. Each brace member 7 is attached to the vertical frame 63 via the corresponding upper brace mounting section 65.

[0031] Four lower bracing attachment points 66 are provided on the outer perimeter of the floor frame 61. Each lower bracing attachment point 66 is positioned lower than each upper bracing attachment point 65. The four lower bracing attachment points 66 are located at the four corners of the floor frame 61. As a result, two of the four lower bracing attachment points 66 are positioned closer to the front wall 53 of the car than each vertical frame 63, and the remaining two lower bracing attachment points 66 are positioned closer to the rear wall 54 of the car than each vertical frame 63.

[0032] The four lower bracing attachment points 66 correspond individually to the four bracing members 7. Each bracing member 7 is attached to the floor frame 61 via the corresponding lower bracing attachment point 66. As a result, each bracing member 7 is positioned at an angle to the vertical frame 63 and the floor frame 61.

[0033] The elevator car body 5 is provided with an elevator car entrance 57 and an escape exit 58. The elevator car entrance 57 can be opened and closed by a pair of elevator car doors (not shown). The escape exit 58 can be opened and closed by an escape door (not shown).

[0034] During normal operation of the first elevator unit 1, with the car 11 stopped at each floor, passengers can board and alight from the car body 5 of the car 11 through the car entrance 57 of the car 11. During normal operation of the second elevator unit 2, with the car 21 stopped at each floor, passengers can board and alight from the car body 5 of the car 21 through the car entrance 57 of the car 21.

[0035] In the first elevator car 11, as shown in Figure 2, the car entrance 57 is provided on the front wall 53 of the car, and the rescue exit 58 is provided on the first side wall 55 of the car. As a result, in the car 11, the rescue exit 58 is located in a different position from the car entrance 57. In the car 11, the rescue exit 58 is provided on the first side wall 55 of the car, avoiding a position opposite the vertical frame 63. In this embodiment, in the car 11, the rescue exit 58 is provided in a position closer to the rear wall 54 of the car than to the vertical frame 63.

[0036] On the other hand, in the second elevator car 21, as shown in Figure 3, the car entrance 57 is provided on the front wall 53 of the car, and the rescue exit 58 is provided on the side wall 56 of the second car. As a result, in car 21 as well, the rescue exit 58 is located in a different position from the car entrance 57. In car 21, the rescue exit 58 is provided on the side wall 56 of the second car, avoiding a position opposite the vertical frame 63. In this embodiment, in car 21, the rescue exit 58 is provided in a position closer to the rear wall 54 of the car than to the vertical frame 63.

[0037] In both cage 11 and cage 21, of the four bracing members 7, three are standard bracing members 7A, and one bracing member 7 is a connecting bracing member 7B. In both cage 11 and cage 21, each standard bracing member 7A is positioned to avoid facing the cage entrance 57 and the rescue exit 58, respectively. In contrast, in both cage 11 and cage 21, the connecting bracing member 7B is positioned facing the rescue exit 58.

[0038] Therefore, in car 11, as shown in Figure 2, of the two bracing members 7 located on the first car side wall 55 side of the car body 5, the bracing member 7 located closer to the car rear wall 54 is the connecting bracing member 7B. Similarly, in car 21, as shown in Figure 3, of the two bracing members 7 located on the second car side wall 56 side of the car body 5, the bracing member 7 located closer to the car rear wall 54 is the connecting bracing member 7B.

[0039] Figure 4 is a side view of the car 11 shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a side view of the car 21 shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the state of the car 11 as seen from the first car side wall 55 side. Figure 5 shows the state of the car 21 as seen from the second car side wall 56 side. In both the car 11 and the car 21, the car body 5 is placed on the floor frame 61 via a plurality of vibration isolation devices 8 provided at the four corners of the floor frame 61. As a result, the transmission of vibrations from the car frame 6 to the car body 5 is suppressed in both the car 11 and the car 21.

[0040] Each standard bracing member 7A has a main body portion 71 and a rod-shaped portion 72.

[0041] The main body portion 71 is a strip-shaped portion that is normally arranged along the longitudinal direction of the bracing member 7A. One end of the main body portion 71 is attached to the vertical frame 63 via the upper bracing attachment portion 65. A rod-shaped portion 72 is fixed to the other end of the main body portion 71.

[0042] The rod-shaped portion 72 protrudes from the other end of the main body portion 71 in the longitudinal direction of the bracing member 7A. The rod-shaped portion 72 is attached to the floor frame 61 via the lower bracing attachment portion 66. At least a portion of the rod-shaped portion 72 is threaded.

[0043] On the other hand, the connecting brace member 7B has a first reinforcing portion 73 and a second reinforcing portion 74.

[0044] The first reinforcing portion 73 is a strip-shaped portion that runs along the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member 7B. One end of the first reinforcing portion 73 is attached to the vertical frame 63 via the upper brace attachment portion 65. The other end of the first reinforcing portion 73 is connected to the second reinforcing portion 74.

[0045] The second reinforcing portion 74 is positioned along the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member 7B. The length of the second reinforcing portion 74 is shorter than the length of the first reinforcing portion 73. The second reinforcing portion 74 has a plate-shaped portion 741 and a rod-shaped portion 742.

[0046] The plate-like portion 741 is shaped like a strip of metal along the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member 7B. The other end of the first reinforcing portion 73 is connected to one end of the plate-like portion 741. The rod-shaped portion 742 is fixed to the other end of the plate-like portion 741.

[0047] The rod-shaped portion 742 protrudes from the other end of the plate-shaped portion 741 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member 7B. The rod-shaped portion 742 is attached to the floor frame 61 via the lower brace mounting portion 66. At least a portion of the rod-shaped portion 742 is threaded. The shape of the rod-shaped portion 742 in the connecting brace member 7B is the same as the shape of the rod-shaped portion 72 in the brace member 7A.

[0048] Each upper brace mounting section 65 has a mounting shaft 651. In each upper brace mounting section 65, the mounting shaft 651 is arranged along the width direction of the cage body 5. The main body 71 of each standard brace member 7A is attached to the vertical frame 63 so as to be rotatable about the mounting shaft 651 of the corresponding upper brace mounting section 65. The first reinforcing section 73 of the connecting brace member 7B is attached to the vertical frame 63 so as to be rotatable about the mounting shaft 651 of the corresponding upper brace mounting section 65.

[0049] Each lower bracing mounting section 66 has a socket 661 and a nut 662. The socket 661 has a through hole. The socket 661 is fixed to the floor frame 61 with the through hole inclined relative to the horizontal plane.

[0050] The rod-shaped portion 72 of each standard bracing member 7A is inserted into the through-hole of the socket 661 of the corresponding lower bracing mounting portion 66. The nut 662 is screwed onto the rod-shaped portion 72 inserted into the through-hole of the socket 661. In each standard bracing member 7A, the nut 662 screwed onto the rod-shaped portion 72 engages with the socket 661, preventing the rod-shaped portion 72 from coming out of the socket 661. Each standard bracing member 7A is attached to the floor frame 61 by tightening the nut 662 onto the rod-shaped portion 72.

[0051] The rod-shaped portion 742 of the connecting brace member 7B is inserted into the through-hole of the socket 661 of the corresponding lower brace mounting portion 66. The nut 662 is screwed onto the rod-shaped portion 742 inserted into the through-hole of the socket 661. In the connecting brace member 7B, the nut 662 screwed onto the rod-shaped portion 742 engages with the socket 661, preventing the rod-shaped portion 742 from coming out of the socket 661. The second reinforcing portion 74 of the connecting brace member 7B is attached to the floor frame 61 by tightening the nut 662 onto the rod-shaped portion 742.

[0052] The other end of the first reinforcing section 73 is detachably connected to the plate-shaped section 741 of the second reinforcing section 74 by a wing nut 75, which serves as a fastener. In the connecting brace member 7B, the first reinforcing section 73 is separated from the second reinforcing section 74 by removing the wing nut 75.

[0053] Figure 6 is a side view showing the first reinforcing part 73 separated from the second reinforcing part 74 in cage 11 of Figure 4. Figure 7 is a side view showing the first reinforcing part 73 separated from the second reinforcing part 74 in cage 21 of Figure 5. In both cage 11 and cage 21, when the first reinforcing part 73 is separated from the second reinforcing part 74, the first reinforcing part 73 is suspended from the mounting shaft 651 of the upper brace mounting part 65 by its own weight. As a result, the first reinforcing part 73 is positioned along the vertical frame 63 and detached from the position facing the rescue opening 58.

[0054] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the connection between the first reinforcing portion 73 and the second reinforcing portion 74 in the connecting brace member 7B of Figure 4. The plate-shaped portion 741 of the second reinforcing portion 74 has an elongated hole 76 provided along the longitudinal direction of the second reinforcing portion 74. The elongated hole 76 penetrates the plate-shaped portion 741 in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped portion 741.

[0055] The first reinforcing portion 73 is provided with a projection 77. The projection 77 protrudes from the first reinforcing portion 73 in the thickness direction of the first reinforcing portion 73. The projection 77 has a pair of sides formed along the longitudinal direction of the first reinforcing portion 73. In this embodiment, the shape of the projection 77 is that of a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0056] The projection 77 is inserted into the elongated hole 76. When the projection 77 is inserted into the elongated hole 76, the longitudinal directions of the first reinforcing portion 73 and the second reinforcing portion 74 coincide with the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member 7B. Also, when the projection 77 is inserted into the elongated hole 76, the pair of sides of the projection 77 contact the inner surface of the elongated hole 76, thereby preventing the first reinforcing portion 73 from rotating relative to the second reinforcing portion 74. When the projection 77 is inserted into the elongated hole 76, the projection 77 can slide within the elongated hole 76 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member 7B. Thus, the elongated hole 76 acts as a guide hole for the projection 77.

[0057] A screw hole 78 is provided in the projection 77. The depth direction of the screw hole 78 coincides with the thickness direction of the first reinforcing portion 73. The wing nut 75 is screwed into the screw hole 78 of the projection 77. In this way, the wing nut 75 is attached to the projection 77. A flat washer 79 is interposed between the wing nut 75 and the plate-shaped portion 741.

[0058] The wing nut 75 fastens the first reinforcing part 73 to the plate-shaped part 741 of the second reinforcing part 74 by being attached to and tightened on the projection 77 inserted into the elongated hole 76. In other words, the first reinforcing part 73 is fastened to the second reinforcing part 74 by the wing nut 75 attached to the projection 77.

[0059] In the connecting brace member 7B, the first reinforcing part 73 is separated from the second reinforcing part 74 by removing the wing nut 75 from the projection 77. This allows the separation of the first reinforcing part 73 and the second reinforcing part 74 in the connecting brace member 7B to be done manually without the use of tools. The configuration of the connecting brace member 7B is the same in both the cage 11 and the cage 21.

[0060] Next, the operation will be described. During normal elevator operation, car 11 moves along the first path of the hoistway 3, and car 21 moves along the second path of the hoistway 3. The movement of car 11 is controlled by a control device (not shown) in the first elevator unit 1. The movement of car 21 is controlled by a control device (not shown) in the second elevator unit 2. As a result, the movement of car 11 and car 21 are controlled independently of each other.

[0061] If elevator car 11 comes to a sudden stop due to a malfunction in elevator car 1 1 while it is descending, the floor frame 61 of elevator car 11 will receive a downward inertial force from the car body 5 via each vibration isolation device 8. As a result, the floor frame 61 of elevator car 11 will bend downward at the position of each vibration isolation device 8. At this time, the increase in the amount of bending of the floor frame 61 of elevator car 11 is suppressed by the support of each bracing member 7.

[0062] In the connecting brace member 7B of the cage 11, the projection 77 slides in the elongated hole 76 in a direction that increases the length of the connecting brace member 7B as the floor frame 61 flexes. As a result, the projection 77 engages with the second reinforcing part 74 at the end of the elongated hole 76. Consequently, tension is applied not only to each normal brace member 7A but also to the connecting brace member 7B in the cage 11, suppressing the increase in the amount of flexing of the floor frame 61.

[0063] Furthermore, if car 21 comes to a sudden stop due to a malfunction in the second elevator unit 2 while car 21 is descending, the increase in the amount of deflection of the floor frame 61 in car 21 is suppressed by the support of each bracing member 7, similar to the case of car 11. At this time, in the connecting bracing member 7B of car 21, the projection 77 that slides through the elongated hole 76 engages with the second reinforcing part 74, similar to the connecting bracing member 7B of car 11. As a result, when car 21 comes to a sudden stop, tension is applied not only to each of the normal bracing members 7A of car 21 but also to the connecting bracing member 7B of car 21, suppressing the increase in the amount of deflection of the floor frame 61 of car 21.

[0064] If a passenger becomes trapped in one of the elevator cars, car 11 or car 21, that car becomes a malfunctioning car that cannot move in the elevator shaft 3. In contrast, the other car is a normal car that can move in the elevator shaft 3. Therefore, if a passenger becomes trapped in one of the elevator cars, car 11 or car 21, the passenger trapped in the malfunctioning car can be rescued using the other normal car.

[0065] For example, if elevator car 11, carrying passengers, stops due to a malfunction in elevator unit 1, elevator car 11 becomes immobile and passengers become trapped inside. Therefore, if passengers become trapped in elevator car 11, elevator car 21, which is functioning normally, is used to rescue the passengers trapped in the malfunctioning elevator car 11.

[0066] Next, a method for rescuing passengers from the elevator car 11 in the event that passengers are trapped inside the car 11 will be described. Figure 9 is a flowchart of the elevator passenger rescue method according to Embodiment 1. The elevator passenger rescue method includes a car movement step S1, an escape hatch opening step S2, a bracing operation step S3, and a passenger movement step S4.

[0067] <Basket transfer process S1> If a passenger becomes trapped in car 11 due to some abnormality and car 11 becomes an abnormal car, a car relocation process S1 is performed to move car 21. Car 21 is a normal car that can move in the hoistway 3. In car relocation process S1, car 21 is moved to a position adjacent to car 11. That is, in car relocation process S1, car 21 is moved to the same height as the stopping position of car 11. At this time, car 21 is moved by manual operation by a rescue worker. Also, at this time, the rescue worker is placed in car 21 and car 21 is moved. When car 21 stops in a position adjacent to car 11, the respective rescue exits 58 of car 11 and car 21 face each other.

[0068] <Rescue opening process S2> After the elevator car movement process S1, the escape hatch opening process S2 is performed to open the escape hatches 58 of elevator cars 11 and 21. In the escape hatch opening process S2, the escape hatches 58 of elevator cars 11 and 21 are opened by moving the escape doors. At this time, in elevator car 11, the passengers inside the elevator car body 5 open the escape hatch 58 of elevator car 11. In elevator car 21, the rescuers inside the elevator car body 5 open the escape hatch 58 of elevator car 21.

[0069] <Bracing operation process S3> After the rescue exit opening process S2, a bracing operation process S3 is performed in which the first reinforcing part 73 is separated from the second reinforcing part 74 in the connecting bracing member 7B of each of the elevator cars 11 and 21. In the bracing operation process S3, in each of the elevator cars 11 and 21, the first reinforcing part 73 is separated from the second reinforcing part 74 by removing the wing nut 75 of the connecting bracing member 7B from the projection 77. At this time, in elevator car 11, the passengers inside the elevator car body 5 separate the first reinforcing part 73 of elevator car 11 from the second reinforcing part 74. In elevator car 21, the rescuers inside the elevator car body 5 separate the first reinforcing part 73 of elevator car 21 from the second reinforcing part 74.

[0070] Here, when car 11 and car 21 are stopped in the hoistway 3, no downward inertial force is applied from the car body 5 to the floor frame 61, so the tension applied to the connecting bracing members 7B of car 11 and car 21 is reduced. Therefore, in the bracing operation process S3, the wing nuts 75 are easier to remove from the connecting bracing members 7B of car 11 and car 21, and the first reinforcing part 73 is easier to separate from the second reinforcing part 74.

[0071] In the bracing operation process S3, when the first reinforcing part 73 is separated from the second reinforcing part 74, the first reinforcing part 73 is suspended from the mounting shaft 651 of the upper bracing mounting part 65 by its own weight. As a result, the first reinforcing parts 73 of each of the cages 11 and 21 move to a position away from the position facing the respective escape exits 58 of cages 11 and 21.

[0072] <Passenger transfer process S4> After the bracing operation process S3, a passenger movement process S4 is performed in which passengers in the car body 5 of car 11 move into the car body 5 of car 21. In the passenger movement process S4, passengers move from the car body 5 of car 11 to the car body 5 of car 21, passing through the emergency exit 58 of car 11 and the emergency exit 58 of car 21. At this time, the first reinforcing portion 73 of each connecting bracing member 7B is detached from the position facing the respective emergency exits 58 of car 11 and car 21, so the first reinforcing portion 73 of each connecting bracing member 7B does not obstruct the movement of passengers. Therefore, in the passenger movement process S4, it becomes easier for passengers to move from car 11 to car 21.

[0073] After the passenger transfer process S4, the rescue of the passengers is completed when the elevator car 21 carrying the passengers moves to the nearest floor.

[0074] If a passenger becomes trapped in car 21 and car 21 becomes a malfunctioning car, the passenger trapped in car 21 is rescued by using car 11 as a normal car. In other words, the operation of car 11 and the operation of car 21 are reversed depending on whether car 11 or car 21 becomes a malfunctioning car. Even if a passenger becomes trapped in car 21 and car 21 becomes a malfunctioning car, the car movement process S1, rescue exit opening process S2, bracing operation process S3, and passenger movement process S4 are performed in that order. This completes the transfer of the passenger from inside the car body 5 of car 21 to inside the car body 5 of car 11. After the passenger movement process S4, the passenger rescue is completed when car 11, which is a normal car with the passenger inside, moves to the nearest floor.

[0075] In elevator cars 11 and 21 of this type, a connecting brace member 7B is positioned on the outside of the car body 5, facing the emergency exit 58. In the connecting brace member 7B, a first reinforcing part 73 attached to the vertical frame 63 of the car frame 6 is detachably connected to a second reinforcing part 74 attached to the floor frame 61 of the car frame 6. As a result, the car frame 6 can be reinforced by the connecting brace member 7B, and the strength of the car frame 6 itself can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the components that make up the car frame 6, and thus reduce the weight of the car frame 6. Consequently, it is possible to miniaturize the hoisting machines 13 and 23, and reduce the overall cost of the elevator.

[0076] Furthermore, the first reinforcement section 73 can be separated from the second reinforcement section 74. This allows the first reinforcement section 73 to be removed from the position facing the rescue exit 58. As a result, when rescuing passengers trapped in the elevator car 11 or car 21 through the rescue exit 58, the first reinforcement section 73 will not get in the way. Therefore, the rescue of passengers from the elevator car 11 or car 21 can be carried out efficiently.

[0077] Furthermore, in the connecting brace member 7B, an elongated hole 76 is provided in the second reinforcing portion 74, and a projection 77 is provided in the first reinforcing portion 73. When the projection 77 is inserted into the elongated hole 76, the projection 77 can slide along the elongated hole 76 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member 7B. The first reinforcing portion 73 is fastened to the second reinforcing portion 74 by a wing nut 75 attached to the projection 77. Therefore, the first reinforcing portion 73 can be detachably connected to the second reinforcing portion 74 with a simple configuration. In addition, when the car 11 and car 21 are stopped, the amount of tension applied to the connecting brace member 7B can be reduced. This makes it easier to separate the first reinforcing portion 73 from the second reinforcing portion 74. Consequently, the rescue of passengers from car 11 or car 21 can be performed more efficiently.

[0078] Furthermore, the fastener used to secure the first reinforcing part 73 to the second reinforcing part 74 is a wing nut 75. Therefore, the wing nut 75 can be removed from the projection 77 without using tools, making it even easier to separate the first reinforcing part 73 from the second reinforcing part 74.

[0079] Furthermore, this elevator passenger rescue method includes a car movement process S1, an escape hatch opening process S2, and a bracing operation process S3. In the car movement process S1, if one of the cars, car 11 or car 21, becomes a malfunctioning car, the other normal car is moved to a position adjacent to the malfunctioning car. In the escape hatch opening process S2, the escape hatches 58 of both the malfunctioning car and the normal car are opened. In the bracing operation process S3, the first reinforcing part 73 of the connecting bracing member 7B of both the malfunctioning car and the normal car is separated from the second reinforcing part 74. As a result, when rescuing passengers from the malfunctioning car to the normal car through the escape hatches 58 of car 11 and car 21, the connecting bracing members 7B of car 11 and car 21 do not get in the way. This allows for efficient rescue of passengers from car 11 or car 21. Furthermore, the cage frame 6 can be made lighter by reinforcing it with the connecting bracing member 7B.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the second reinforcing portion 74 may be rotatable relative to the floor frame 61 in both the cage 11 and the cage 21. In this case, the socket 661 into which the rod-shaped portion 742 of the second reinforcing portion 74 is inserted is provided on the floor frame 61 so as to be rotatable about a mounting axis along the width direction of the cage body 5. In this way, when the first reinforcing portion 73 is separated from the second reinforcing portion 74, the second reinforcing portion 74 can be removed from a position facing the rescue opening 58.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the length of the second reinforcing portion 74 in each of the baskets 11 and 21 is shorter than the length of the first reinforcing portion 73. However, the length of the second reinforcing portion 74 may be longer than the length of the first reinforcing portion 73, or the length of the second reinforcing portion 74 may be the same as the length of the first reinforcing portion 73. In this case, by separating the first reinforcing portion 73 from the second reinforcing portion 74, at least one of the first reinforcing portion 73 and the second reinforcing portion 74 can be removed from the position facing the rescue opening 58.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the elongated hole 76 is provided in the second reinforcing part 74 and the projection 77 is provided in the first reinforcing part 73. However, the elongated hole 76 may be provided in the first reinforcing part 73 and the projection 77 may be provided in the second reinforcing part 74. In this case, the elongated hole 76 is provided in the first reinforcing part 73 along the length direction of the first reinforcing part 73. Even in this case, the first reinforcing part 73 can be detachably connected to the second reinforcing part 74. Also, in this case, the elongated hole 76 may be a round hole. Even in this case, when the floor frame 61 flexes, the amount of flexing of the floor frame 61 can be suppressed by the support of the connecting brace member 7B.

[0083] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the elongated hole 76 is provided in the second reinforcing portion 74. However, the elongated hole 76 may be a round hole. Even in this case, when the floor frame 61 flexes, the amount of flexing of the floor frame 61 can be suppressed by the support of the connecting brace member 7B.

[0084] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the fastener for fastening the first reinforcing part 73 to the second reinforcing part 74 is a wing nut 75. However, the fastener for fastening the first reinforcing part 73 to the second reinforcing part 74 does not have to be a wing nut 75. As long as the fastener can be removed from the projection 77 without using tools, a hexagonal bolt may be used as the fastener for fastening the first reinforcing part 73 to the second reinforcing part 74, for example.

[0085] The configurations shown in the embodiments described above are merely examples of the content of this disclosure. The embodiments can be combined with other known technologies. Some parts of the configurations of the embodiments can be omitted or modified without departing from the gist of this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 5 Carriage body, 6 Carriage frame, 7B Connecting brace member, 57 Carriage entrance, 58 Emergency exit, 61 Floor frame, 62 Upper frame, 63 Vertical frame, 73 First reinforcement section, 74 Second reinforcement section, 75 Wing nut (fastener), 76 Slotted hole, 77 Projection.

Claims

1. The basket body and A cage frame that supports the aforementioned cage body, The connecting brace member attached to the cage frame and Equipped with, The aforementioned cage body is provided with a cage entrance and an escape exit located at a different position from the cage entrance. The cage frame comprises a floor frame on which the cage body rests, an upper frame located above the cage body, and vertical frames connecting the floor frame and the upper frame. The connecting brace member is positioned on the outside of the cage body, facing the rescue opening, and is inclined with respect to the vertical frame and the floor frame. The connecting brace member has a first reinforcing portion attached to the vertical frame and a second reinforcing portion attached to the floor frame. The first reinforcing part is an elevator car that is detachably connected to the second reinforcing part.

2. Of the first and second reinforcing parts, one is provided with an elongated hole, and the other is provided with a projection that is inserted into the elongated hole. When the projection is inserted into the elongated hole, the projection can slide within the elongated hole in the longitudinal direction of the connecting brace member. The elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the first reinforcing portion is fastened to the second reinforcing portion by fasteners attached to the projection.

3. The elevator car according to claim 2, wherein the fastener is a wing nut.

4. In an elevator car according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which moves independently along two adjacent paths, if a passenger is trapped in one of the cars, the other car, which is a normal car, is moved to a position adjacent to the malfunctioning car, thereby causing the rescue exits of the malfunctioning car and the normal car to face each other. After the cage movement process, there is a rescue outlet opening process in which the rescue outlets of the abnormal cage and the normal cage are opened, After the rescue opening step, a bracing operation step is performed in which the first reinforcing part is separated from the second reinforcing part in the connecting bracing member of the abnormal cage and the normal cage. A method for rescuing passengers from an elevator equipped with [a specific feature / system].

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