Elevator shaftway intrusion device

• US 5,283,400 A
• Filed: 06/24/1991
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TOC Holding Company of New York Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TOC Holding Company of New York Incorporated
• Inventors: Cummins, Robert F., Brochhagan, Thomas, Vitiello, Joseph, Leone, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NAPPI, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US07/719,418
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 187/105, 187/100, 187/105, 187/130, 187/139, 187/140
• US Class Current: 187/391
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0031 for safety reasons

Abstract

There is provided an elevator shaftway intrusion detector which utilizes a proximity detector including an energy source for generating a detection field within a zone of detection including the elevator shaft-side roof and floor and a corresponding receiver for receiving the detection field when an object enters the detection zone and thereafter generating a detection signal. A power supply and switching network are employed for applying power from the power supply to the proximity detector and which are responsive to the detection signal for applying power from the power supply to a detection indicator such as a siren.

Claims

1. A detection system for detecting intrusion into an elevator shaft having an elevator cab therein and a plurality of elevator shaft access ways in at least one wall of said shaft comprising:

an intrusion detector mounted at a location within the shaft above the elevator cab for monitoring an energy field in a zone of detection including at least a portion of the elevator shaft proximate the top of said cab and for providing a detection signal representing a disturbance in said energy field caused by an intruder in the shaft, entering said zone of detection.

2. The detection system according to claim 1 wherein said intrusion detector further comprises source means for generating said energy field in said zone of detection.

3. The detection system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said energy field is an electromagnetic field.

4. The detection system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said energy field is a sonic field.

5. The detection system according to claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the infrared frequency band.

6. The detection system according to claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency band.

7. The detection system according to claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the microwave frequency band.

8. The detection system according to claim 4 wherein said sonic field comprises sonic energy in the ultrasonic frequency band.

9. The detection system according to claims 1 or 2 further comprising a power supply for supplying power to said system and a detection indicator responsive to said detection signal for indicating said intrusion.

10. A detection system for detecting intrusion into an elevator shaft having an elevator cab therein and a plurality of elevator shaft access ways in at least one wall of said shaft comprising:

an intrusion detector mounted at a location within the shaft above the elevator cab for monitoring an energy field in a zone of detection including at least a portion of the elevator shaft proximate the top of said cab and said wall of said shaft and for providing a detection signal representing a disturbance in said energy field caused by an intruder in the shaft, entering said zone of detection.

11. The detection system according to claim 10 wherein said intrusion detector further comprises source means for generating said energy field in said zone of detection.

12. The detection system according to claims 10 and 11 wherein said energy field is a electromagnetic field.

13. The detection system according to claims 10 and 11 wherein said energy field is a sonic field.

14. The detection system according to claim 12 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the infrared frequency band.

15. The detection system according to claim 12 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency band.

16. The detection system according to claim 12 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the microwave frequency band.

17. The detection system according to claim 13 wherein said sonic field comprises sonic energy in the ultrasonic frequency band.

18. The detection system according to claims 10 or 11 further comprising a power supply for supplying power to said system and a detection indicator responsive to said detection signal for indicating said intrusion.

19. A detection system for detecting intrusion into an elevator shaft having an elevator cab therein and a plurality of elevator shaft access ways in at least one wall of said shaft comprising:

an intrusion detector mounted at a location within the shaft below the elevator cab for monitoring an energy field in a zone of detection including at least a portion of the elevator shaft proximate the bottom of said cab and for providing a detection signal representing a disturbance in said energy field caused by an intruder in the shaft, entering said zone of detection.

20. The detection system according to claim 19 wherein said intrusion detector further comprises source means for generating said energy field in said zone of detection.

21. The detection system according to claims 19 or 20 wherein said energy field is an electromagnetic field.

22. The detection system according to claims 19 or 20 wherein said energy field is a sonic field.

23. The detection system according to claim 21 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the infrared frequency band.

24. The detection system according to claim 21 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency band.

25. The detection system according to claim 21 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the microwave frequency band.

26. The detection system according to claim 22 wherein said sonic field comprises sonic energy in the ultrasonic frequency band.

27. The detection system according to claims 19 or 20 further comprising a power supply for supplying power to said system and a detection indicator responsive to said detection signal for indicating said intrusion.

28. A detection system for detecting intrusion into an elevator shaft having an elevator cab therein and a plurality of elevator shaft access ways in at least one wall of said shaft comprising:

an intrusion detector mounted at a location within the shaft below the elevator cab for monitoring an energy field in a zone of detection including at least a portion of the elevator shaft proximate the bottom of said cab and said wall of said shaft and for providing a detection signal representing a disturbance in said energy field caused by an intruder in the shaft, entering said zone of detection.

29. The detection system according to claim 28 wherein said intrusion detector further comprises source means for generating said energy field in said zone of detection.

30. The detection system according to claims 28 or 29 wherein said energy field is an electromagnetic field.

31. The detection system according to claims 28 or 29 wherein said energy field is a sonic field.

32. The detection system according to claim 30 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the infrared frequency band.

33. The detection system according to claim 31 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency band.

34. The detection system according to claim 30 wherein said electromagnetic field comprises electromagnetic energy in the microwave frequency band.

35. The detection system according to claim 31 wherein said sonic field comprises sonic energy in the ultrasonic frequency band.

36. The detection system according to claims 28 or 29 further comprising a power supply for supplying power to said system and a detection indicator responsive to said detection signal for indicating said intrusion.