Elevator installation with a device for furnishing a temporary protective space, a method for mounting the device and a method for furnishing the temporary protective space

• US 7,278,517 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Gut, Hubert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, TERRELL HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US10/838,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20040222046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 187/300, 187/301, 187/302, 187/360, 254/269
• US Class Current: 187/300
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 19/007 method for modernisation of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/005 Safety of maintenance personnel
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0068 by activating the safety brakes when the elevator car exceeds a certain upper or lower position in the elevator shaft

Abstract

A device provides an elevator installation with a shortened car travel path to establish a temporary protective space below and/or above the car upon activation of the car safety brake device. The speed limiter cable is limited, independently of the speed limiter, in a travel path by a switchable stop device. This limitation causes an actuation of the car safety brake device in the corresponding travel direction.

Claims

1. A device for an elevator installation having a car movable in a shaft, and a car safety brake device acting on the car and being actuable by a speed limiter cable, the device comprising:

at least one abutment fastened to one of the speed limiter cable and an actuating unit for the safety brake device; and

at least one stop device switchable between an open position and a stopping position and fastened in the shaft for blocking movement of the speed limiter cable when in said stopping position and in cooperation with said at least one abutment to actuate the safety brake device and prevent movement of the car whereby said at least one stop device is not switched to said stopping position in response to an overspeed condition of the car.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one stop device is mounted in an upper end of the shaft and said at least one stop device cooperates with said at least one abutment to provide a lower temporary protection space in the shaft when said at least one stop device is in said stopping position.

3. The device according to claim 2 including another stop device mounted in a lower end of the shaft and wherein said at least one abutment and said another stop device cooperate to provide an upper temporary protection space in the shaft when said another stop device is in an associated stopping position.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one stop device is mounted in a lower end of the shaft and said at least one abutment and said at least one stop device in said stopping position cooperate to provide an upper temporary protection space in the shaft.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one abutment is fastened to a counter run of the speed limiter cable.

6. The device according to claim 1 including a coupling point attached to the actuating unit, said coupling point and said at least one abutment being connected to form a subassembly.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein when said at least one stop device is mounted in an upper end of the shaft, said at least one abutment and said at least one stop device cooperate to provide an upper temporary protection space in the shaft when said at least one stop device is in said stopping position.

8. The device according to claim 7 including another stop device mounted in a lower end of the shaft and wherein said at least one abutment and said another stop device cooperate to provide a lower temporary protection space in the shaft when said another stop device is in an associated stopping position.

9. The device according to claim 6 wherein when said at least one stop device is mounted in a lower end of the shaft, said at least one abutment and said at least one stop device cooperate to provide a lower temporary protection space in the shaft when said at least one stop device is in said stopping position.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one abutment has a cylinder shape with round ends and is clamped to the speed limiter cable.

11. The device according claim 1 wherein said at least one abutment includes means providing a further limited movement of the car when said at least one abutment engages said at least one stop device.

12. The device according claim 11 wherein said means providing a further limited movement includes a spring biasing an abutment end of said at least one abutment.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one stop device includes a fork shaped to enclose the speed limiter cable on three sides and block said at least one abutment in said stopping position.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one stop device includes an electrically actuated magnet for switching into said stopping position.

15. A method of mounting a device for providing a temporary protection space in an existing or new elevator installation shaft in which a car is braked by a car safety brake device actuable by blocking a speed limiter cable, comprising the steps of:

a) fastening at least one abutment to the speed limiter cable; and

b) mounting at least one switchable stop device in the shaft relative to the speed limiter cable whereby when the at least one stop device is switched to a stopping position, the at least one stop device engages the at least one abutment and blocks the speed limiter cable, said at least one stop device not being switched to said stopping position in response to an overspeed condition of the car.

16. A method of furnishing a temporary protection space above and/or below a car in an elevator shaft in which the car is braked by a car safety brake device actuable by blocking a speed limiter cable, comprising the steps of:

a) fastening at least one abutment to the speed limiter cable;

b) mounting at least one switchable stop device in the shaft; and

c) switching the at least one switchable stop device to a stopping position whereby the at least one switchable stop device engages the at least one abutment to limit travel of the speed limiter cable and prevent the car from entering a protection space in the shaft, said at least one stop device not being switched to said stopping position in response to an overspeed condition of the car.