Elevator car with foldable working platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11427441-B2
Application number	US-202016937112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2020
Priority date	Jul 23, 2020
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

An elevator car defining an interior space for accommodating passengers and/or cargo, comprising a support frame positioned above the interior space, a working platform moveable between a stowed position, above the interior space, and an operational position, within the interior space and at least one extendable suspension arrangement arranged to suspend the working platform from the support frame. The extendable suspension arrangement includes a connection plate, a first arm member connected at a first end to the support frame and slidably connected to a first connection point of the connection plate and a second arm member connected at another first end to the working platform and slidably connected to a second connection point of the connection plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator car ( 1 ) defining an interior space ( 2 ) for accommodating passengers and/or cargo, the elevator car ( 1 ) comprising:
a support frame ( 4 ) positioned above the interior space ( 2 );
a working platform ( 6 ) moveable between a stowed position, above the interior space ( 2 ), and an operational position, within the interior space ( 2 ); and
at least one extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 a , 8 b ) arranged to suspend the working platform ( 6 ) from the support frame ( 4 ), the extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 a , 8 b ) comprising:
a connection plate ( 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d );
a first arm member ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c , 12 d ) connected at a first end ( 3 a , 3 b , 3 c , 3 d ) to the support frame ( 4 ) and slidably connected to a first connection point ( 16 a , 16 b , 16 c , 16 d ) of the connection plate ( 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d );
a second arm member ( 14 a , 14 b , 14 c , 14 d ) connected at another first end ( 5 a , 5 b , 5 c , 5 d ) to the working platform ( 6 ) and slidably connected to a second connection point ( 18 a , 18 b , 18 c , 18 d ) of the connection plate ( 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d );
wherein the first arm member ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c , 12 d ) and the second arm member ( 14 a , 14 b , 14 c , 14 d ) are configured to slide parallel to each other, along a sliding direction ( 13 a ), in order to extend the extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 a , 8 b ) when the working platform ( 6 ) moves between the stowed position and the operational position, and wherein the first connection point ( 16 a , 16 b , 16 c , 16 d ) and the second connection point ( 18 a , 18 b , 18 c , 18 d ) have an offset ( 17 a ) from one another across the connection plate at least in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction ( 13 a ).

2. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first connection point ( 16 a , 16 b , 16 c , 16 d ) and the second connection point ( 18 a , 18 b , 18 c , 18 d ) additionally have another offset ( 19 a ) from one another along the sliding direction ( 13 a ).

3. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the connection plate ( 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d ) comprises a pivot point ( 28 a , 28 b , 28 c , 28 d ) arranged such that the connection plate ( 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d ) rotates about the pivot point ( 28 a , 28 b , 28 c , 28 d ) when the working platform ( 6 ) moves between the stowed position and the operational position.

4. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first connection point ( 16 a , 16 b , 16 c , 16 d ) comprises a first projection and wherein the first arm member ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c , 12 d ) comprises a slot ( 20 a , 20 b ), and the first projection is configured to slide in the slot.

5. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 4 , wherein the slot ( 20 a , 20 b ) extends along substantially the entire length of the first arm member ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c , 12 d ).

6. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 4 , wherein the connection plate ( 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d ) comprises a second projection ( 24 a , 24 b ), wherein the second projection ( 24 a , 24 b ) is also configured to slide in the slot ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the first arm member ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c , 12 d ).

7. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , comprising a first extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 a ) and a second extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 b ), wherein the first extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 a ) suspends the working platform ( 6 ) from a first side of the support frame ( 4 ), and wherein the second extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 b ) suspends the working platform ( 6 ) from a second, opposing side of the support frame ( 4 ).

8. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first extendable suspension arrangement ( 8 a , 8 b ) further comprises:
a secondary connection plate ( 10 b , 10 c );
a secondary first arm member ( 12 b , 12 c ) connected at a first end ( 3 b , 3 c ) to the support frame ( 4 ) and slidably connected to a first connection point ( 16 b , 16 c ) of the secondary connection plate ( 10 b , 10 c );
a secondary second arm member ( 14 b , 14 c ) connected at a first end ( 5 b , 5 c ) to the working platform and slidably connected to a second connection point ( 18 b , 18 c ) of the secondary connection plate ( 10 b , 10 c );
wherein the first arm member and the second arm member are configured to slide parallel to each other, along a sliding direction, and wherein the first connection point ( 16 b , 16 c ) and the second connection point ( 18 b , 18 c ) are offset from one another at least in a direction perpendicular to the sliding;
wherein the first connection plate ( 10 a , 10 d ) and the secondary connection plate ( 10 b , 10 c ) are attached together at their respective pivot points ( 28 a , 28 b , 28 c , 28 d ), so as to be movable relative to each other.

9. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the counterforce generator comprises at least one deflector ( 130 , 132 , 154 , 224 a , 224 b , 236 a , 236 b ) such as a deflection sheave, and the tension member is arranged to pass over the at least one deflector, and wherein the tension member is arranged in a roping ratio of at least 2:1 with the hoisting device.

10. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a counterforce generator ( 120 , 140 , 218 ) configured to provide a counterforce; and
a tension member ( 124 , 216 a , 216 b ), connected to the working platform ( 6 ) and to the counterforce generator ( 120 , 140 , 218 ), so as to transmit the counterforce and thereby hoist the working platform ( 6 ) from the operational position to the stowed position.

11. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the counterforce generator ( 120 , 140 , 218 ) is a hoisting device; and
wherein the tension member ( 124 , 216 a , 216 b ) is arranged such that a suspending portion ( 217 a , 217 b ) of the tension member suspends the working platform ( 6 ), wherein the hoisting device is configured, when actuated, to alter the length of the suspending portion ( 217 a , 217 b ), so as to hoist the working platform between the stowed position and the operational position.

12. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the counterforce generator comprises at least one spring element ( 140 ) and the spring element is arranged to be compressed as the working platform ( 6 ) is moved from the stowed position to the operational position, and thereby provide the counterforce acting to move the working platform ( 6 ) from the operational position to the stowed position.

13. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the counterforce generator comprises at least one counterweight ( 120 ) and the tension member ( 124 ) is fixed at one end to the at least one counterweight ( 120 ) and connected to the working platform ( 6 ) such that, as the at least one counterweight ( 120 ) moves downwards vertically relative to the elevator car ( 1 ), the working platform ( 6 ) is hoisted in from the operational position to the stowed position.

14. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the counterforce generator ( 218 ) is a worm screw.

15. An elevator system ( 101 ) comprising an elevator car ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Fauconnet Aurelien
• Beauchaud Frederic
• Marechal Romain
• Montigny Guillaume
• Caze Arnaud
• Convard Emmanuel
• Rigot Michael
• Angoulevant Joachim
• Jimenez-Gonzalez Agustin
• Quiles Manzanas Juan

Classifications

• B66B11/0246 Primary

  Maintenance features (devices facilitating maintenance in general B66B5/0087) · CPC title

• B66B5/0087

  Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks (devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226) · CPC title

• B66B9/00

  Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures (characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12) · CPC title