Elevator system

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator system (1) having a pit ladder (4) which is integrated in a lowermost shaft door (3) and the uppermost rung (7) of which is formed by a door sill (5) of the shaft door (3). The pit ladder (4) is pivotable. A toe guard (17) is located under the door sill (5) and is designed in such a way that, when the pit ladder (4) is in a normal position, it covers the gap between the uppermost rung (7) and a second-uppermost rung (8).

Description

[0001] Elevator system

[0002] The invention relates to an elevator system comprising an elevator car that moves within an elevator shaft between a pit and the shaft ceiling, and optionally a counterweight, which is supported by a load-bearing element in the form of a rope or belt and can be driven by a drive unit. Shaft doors are provided in the elevator shaft, and the elevator system includes a pit ladder integrated into the lowest shaft door associated with a pit.

[0003] In such elevator systems, it is common practice for the elevator shaft, including the pit, to be accessible to maintenance personnel for the purpose of servicing and / or cleaning elevator components. Access to the pit is typically via a ladder from the nearest shaft door, i.e., the lowest shaft door leading to the pit. A pit ladder, for example, is disclosed in DE 20 2022 106 602 Ul.

[0004] The EP 3 640 183 Al shows a pit ladder arranged on an adjacent shaft wall, which can be pivoted and pulled towards the shaft door and finally rests against the door threshold.

[0005] CN 111 115 424 A concerns a pit ladder integrated into a bottom shaft door. The pit ladder can be moved away from the shaft wall via hinges and then leaned slightly diagonally against the shaft door, whereby the rungs of the pit ladder always remain parallel to the shaft wall on the door side.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the known invention and in particular to create a lift system whose pit ladder enables simple and safe access into the shaft pit.

[0007] The elevator system comprises an elevator shaft and a pit ladder integrated into the lowest shaft door. The top rung of the pit ladder is formed by the door threshold of the shaft door, and the pit ladder is designed to swivel. The pit ladder is easy and ergonomic to operate. Thanks to its advantageous integration into the shaft door, where the top rung of the pit ladder is formed by the door threshold or at least a portion of it, material is saved. Fewer components are required compared to conventional pit ladders. The swiveling pit ladder also meets high ergonomic standards. Maintenance personnel can easily and safely access the extended ladder from the floor.

[0008] The elevator system further comprises, in addition to the elevator shaft, an elevator car that moves within the shaft between a pit and a shaft ceiling, and optionally a counterweight. The elevator car and the counter-rotating counterweight are supported by a cable and driven by a drive unit. Shaft doors are also provided in the elevator shaft. The fact that the lowest shaft door, which is connected to the pit, incorporates the previously described integrated pit ladder offers numerous advantages.

[0009] The top rung of the pit ladder is formed by the sill (or more precisely, a part thereof) of the shaft door, and the pit ladder is designed to pivot between a position in which the top rung is on the vertical door opening plane and a pivoted maintenance position. The door opening plane runs parallel to the shaft wall in which the lowest and subsequent shaft doors are located. In other words, with conventional shaft doors, the door opening plane would correspond to a vertical plane defined by a fixed sill. The pivot axis of the pit ladder preferably runs vertically through the sill or through the door opening plane. The pit ladder can also assume a normal position. The normal position corresponds to the position in which the elevator system is ready for operation for the transport of people and goods.In its normal position, the top rung is located on the vertical door opening plane defined by the door threshold, and the top rung is flush with the threshold, allowing the shaft door to be operated normally and opened and closed. In this normal position, the swing movement is usually blocked or not possible.

[0010] It is advantageous if the top rung can be securely held in the door sill in a normal position by means of a manually or electronically controlled holding device, wherein the holding device is designed such that, after the holding device is released, the top rung can preferably be moved upwards into an extended position, in which extended position the top rung is free of the door sill, thus enabling the pivoting movement to establish the maintenance position. If the holding device is formed by a locking mechanism, for example, a latching connection or another releasable connection such as a lock, releasing it would be equivalent to unlocking it. The pit ladder can thus be extended and pivoted out to establish the maintenance position.To create a final maintenance position, the pit ladder can be lowered again so that the swung-out top rung is flush with the door threshold.

[0011] The elevator system can have a switch or control element located below the door threshold for activating and / or unlocking the holding device. Preferably, the switch or control element is located below a fixed section of the door threshold. The switch or control element, or more precisely, the component containing this switch or control element, can be attached to the fixed section of the door threshold. Thanks to such an arrangement, the pit ladder can be handled easily yet safely.

[0012] The locking mechanism can have a spring assembly to create a preload for the top rung in its normal position. This spring assembly, after release, pushes the top rung upwards, thus automatically and reliably establishing the extended position.

[0013] The pivot axis of the mine ladder can be positioned in the shaft door in such a way that, when the shaft door is open for maintenance, a free end of one door leaf forms an extension of the first stile of the mine ladder. Such an arrangement meets high requirements for personal safety and is advantageous from an ergonomic point of view. For example, the pivot axis of the mine ladder can be positioned at the edge of the shaft door when it is open.

[0014] A free end of the door leaf can be formed by a bent sheet metal section, the sharp edge of which is usually fitted with an edge protector. This free end of the door leaf forms a kind of upper handrail for the extended ladder, which can be grasped by a person using the mine ladder to descend or ascend.

[0015] The mine ladder can comprise a first stile on one side adjacent to the pivot axis and a second stile on the other side, with a preferably telescopically extendable handrail attached to the second stile to extend the stile upwards. When the mine ladder is pivoted out or in the maintenance position, the extended handrail ensures safe ascent or descent of the person on the ladder.

[0016] According to another embodiment, a toe guard can be arranged under the door threshold, which is designed in such a way that, when the pit ladder is in a normal position, the toe guard covers the space between the uppermost rung formed by the door threshold and the second-highest rung of the pit ladder.

[0017] Preferably, the toe protection is formed by an omega-shaped mudguard viewed in cross-section, top view, or vertical direction. The omega-shaped mudguard, such as a preferably one-piece sheet metal component, can have a central toe protection section, perpendicularly adjoining web sections, and finally, perpendicularly attached sections.

[0018] Insofar as access to the elevator shaft is required for maintenance and / or cleaning of the elevator system, it is common practice to operate the elevator system in a maintenance mode in which, for example, the elevator car is prevented from moving into the relevant area of ​​the elevator shaft or the car is completely immobilized. There is a risk to maintenance personnel if they forget to put the elevator system into maintenance / safety mode.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the elevator system, a safety switch can be mounted on the toe guard to monitor whether the pit ladder is in its normal position. This advantageous placement on the toe guard reduces the total number of components required for the pit ladder assembly.

[0020] Further advantages and individual features will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment and from the drawings. These show:

[0021] Fig. 1a. 1b perspective views of a shaft door provided in an elevator shaft, the shaft door being closed in Fig. 1a and closed in 1b, Fig. 2 a perspective view of an unlocked and slightly pivoted pit ladder,

[0022] Fig. 3 shows the pit ladder from Fig. 2 with the handrail extended,

[0023] Fig. 4 shows the fully swung-out mine ladder (maintenance position),

[0024] Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of the mine ladder in its normal position, and

[0025] Fig. 6 shows a front view of the mine ladder after the release of a holding device.

[0026] Figures 1a and 1b show an elevator system designated 1. Elevator systems are used for vertical transport in multi-story buildings. The building has an elevator shaft 2 in which an elevator car 5 (not shown) can be moved up and down to individual floors. The elevator car, which moves between a pit and a shaft ceiling, can be supported by a suspension device in the form of a rope or belt and driven by a drive unit, with shaft doors provided in the elevator shaft. The elevator can be designed as a traction elevator system, and in addition to the elevator car, the elevator system can have at least one counterweight (also not shown) that moves in the opposite direction to the elevator car.

[0027] The vertical elevator shaft 2 is bounded at its lower end by a shaft floor. Each floor of the elevator shaft 2 has a shaft door opening in the form of a wall penetration, which is closed by a shaft door 3. The shaft door opening provides access from the floor into the elevator car. The elevator car moves via suspension elements (not shown) to which the elevator car is attached; these suspension elements can be one or more suspension cables or belts. The elevator car also typically has a car door that closes off the interior of the elevator car and faces the shaft wall on the door side. The shaft door 3 has a door leaf designated 6. The respective door leaf 6 comprises or is formed by a bent sheet metal part. A door threshold designated 5 guides the door leaves.In elevator systems, it may be necessary for maintenance personnel to access the pit for servicing and / or cleaning elevator system components. Access to the pit is provided by means of a pit ladder 4 from the nearest shaft door, which is usually the lowest shaft door 3. The elevator system 1 according to the invention, shown in Fig. 2, clearly has a pit ladder 4 integrated into the lowest shaft door 3 and designed to pivot, the uppermost rung 7 of which is formed by the door sill 5 of the shaft door 3.

[0028] A holding device 11 is provided in the elevator shaft 2, which securely holds the pit ladder 4 in a normal position. In the normal position, the uppermost rung 7 can be positioned in the door sill 5. The holding device 11 is designed such that the uppermost rung 7, and with it the entire pit ladder 4, can be moved upwards into an extended position after the holding device 11 is released. In this extended position, the uppermost rung 7 is free relative to the door sill 11, or more precisely, relative to the fixed part of the door sill, so that the pivoting movement for setting up the maintenance position is possible. In Fig. 2, the uppermost rung 7 is extended and pivoted slightly. The holding device 11 can be controlled manually or electronically. In the present embodiment, the holding device 11 has a control element 12 that is movable to a limited extent.By pressing the control element 12 to the right, the locking device 11 could be released, whereupon the rung 7 was automatically raised under spring action.

[0029] The pit ladder 4 comprises two stiles 9, 10 and several rungs 7, 8, the uppermost rung 7 being formed by the door sill 5 as already mentioned. The two stiles are the first stile 9, located on the side associated with the pivot axis S, and the second stile 10, located on the side opposite the pivot axis S.

[0030] A toe guard 17 is arranged under the door threshold 5, which is designed in such a way that, when the pit ladder 4 is in a normal position, it covers the space between the topmost rung 7 and a second-to-topmost rung 8 of the pit ladder 4.

[0031] The pivot axis S is positioned such that, when the shaft door 3 is open for maintenance, the pivot axis S is near a free end 6 of the door leaf adjacent to the pivot axis, thereby forming a vertical extension of a first stile 9 of the mine ladder 4. A telescopically extendable handrail 16 is attached to the second stile 10 for extending the stile 10. For safe handling of the mine ladder 4, and thus for the person to enter the shaft as safely as possible, it is advantageous if the handrail 16 is extended as early as possible. In Fig. 3, the handrail 16 is fully extended. The pivoting movement can now be carried out by grasping the handrail 16 with one hand and turning it away until the position shown in Fig. 4 is reached, which corresponds to the maintenance position at least with respect to the angular position of the pivoted mine ladder. An arrow in Fig.Figure 4 indicates that the pit ladder 4 is pressed downwards to establish the final maintenance position; the pit ladder 4 can be lowered against the spring force of the spring assembly. In the maintenance position, the uppermost rung 7 is flush with the door sill 5, and the lowered uppermost rung 7 is secured in position by means of the holding device 11. The person can now climb the pit ladder 4 and enter the shaft pit.

[0032] On the right, the extended handrail 16 serves as a support for maintenance personnel, allowing them to hold onto it with their right hand, at least at the beginning of their descent. On the opposite, left side, the person can hold onto the free end 14 of the door leaf 6 while descending. To protect the left hand, the end 14 of the door leaf is fitted with an edge protector 15.

[0033] Figure 4 clearly shows that the toe guard 17 is formed by an omega-shaped protective plate when viewed vertically. The toe guard 17 formed by the omega-shaped protective plate has a central toe guard section 18, perpendicularly adjoining web sections 19, and finally, perpendicularly adjoining fastening sections 20. A safety switch 21 is attached to the central toe guard section 18 of the toe guard 17, which allows monitoring of whether the pit ladder 4 is in its normal position. Lateral skirt sections 22 are provided outside the respective rungs 9 and 10 in the elevator shaft and are attached to the door sill 5. The shape of the two skirt sections 22 corresponds to conventional shaft door skirts. Construction details of the pit ladder 4 can be seen in Figures 5 and 6. In Fig. 5, the pit ladder 4 is in its normal position.In the normal position, the uppermost rung 7 is located on the vertical door opening plane defined by the door threshold 5 and is flush with the threshold. In this position, the shaft door can be operated normally and opened and closed.

[0034] An arrow in Fig. 5 indicates how to operate the control element 12 so that the normal position of the mine ladder 4 can be released and the mine ladder 4 can be swung out. In the normal position, the swiveling movement is usually blocked or not possible.

[0035] In Fig. 6, the spring arrangement of the holding device 11, indicated by 13, is visible. The spring arrangement 13 serves to generate a preload for the uppermost rung 7 in its normal position. After release following actuation of the slide 12, the uppermost rung 7, and with it the entire remaining ladder, is pushed upwards.

[0036] The holding device 11 can, for example, be formed by a locking mechanism providing a latching connection. In this case, the holding device 11 could further include, for example, a spring-loaded locking bolt (not shown here) which engages in a complementary bolt receptacle associated with one of the uppermost rungs 7 for securing the device.

Claims

1. Lifting system (1) with a lift shaft (2) and a pit ladder (4) integrated in a lowest shaft door (3), the uppermost rung (7) of which is formed by a door threshold (5) of the shaft door (3), wherein the pit ladder (4) is designed to pivot.

2. Lifting system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis of the pit ladder runs in a vertical direction through the door threshold (5) or through the door opening plane.

3. Lifting system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the uppermost rung (7) can be arranged in a normal position in the door sill (5) by means of a holding device (11) and that the uppermost rung (7) can be moved into an extended position after releasing the holding device (11).

4. Lifting system (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a switch or control element (12) for actuating and unlocking the holding device (11) is arranged below the door threshold (5).

5. Lifting system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the holding device (11) has a spring arrangement (13) for generating a preload for the uppermost rung (7) in a normal position.

6. Lifting system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pivot axis of the pit ladder (4) is arranged in the shaft door (3) such that, when the shaft door is open for maintenance, a free end (4) of a door leaf (6) forms an extension of a first stile (9) of the pit ladder (4).

7. Elevator system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the door leaf is formed by a bent sheet metal part, the end of which is equipped with an edge protector (15).

8. Elevator system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the The pit ladder (4) comprises a stile (10) to which a preferably telescopically extendable handrail (16) is attached for extending the stile (10) upwards.

9. Elevator system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a toe guard (17) is arranged below the door threshold (5), which is designed such that, when the pit ladder (4) is in a normal position, it covers the space between the uppermost rung (7) formed by the door threshold and the second-highest rung (8) of the pit ladder (4).

10. Elevator system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the toe guard (17) is formed by an omega-shaped protective plate.

11. Lifting system (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a safety switch (21) is attached to the toe guard (17) with which it is possible to monitor whether the pit ladder (4) is in the normal position.

Images