Double deck elevator with linear actuator adjustment mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11618651-B2
Application number	US-202117404207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2021
Priority date	Jan 15, 2018
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

An illustrative example elevator assembly includes a header beam and a first elevator cab supported by the header beam. A plurality of vertically oriented rods extend beneath the first elevator cab. A horizontally oriented mid-beam is coupled to a first one of the rods near a first end of the mid-beam and coupled to a second one of the rods near a second end of the mid-beam. A second elevator cab is situated beneath the first elevator cab and beneath the mid-beam. At least one linear actuator is supported at least partially on the mid-beam. The linear actuator selectively causes vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the rods.

First claim

We claim:

1. An elevator assembly, comprising:
a header beam;
a first elevator cab supported by the header beam;
a plurality of vertically oriented rods extending beneath the first elevator cab;
a horizontally oriented mid-beam coupled to a first one of the rods near a first end of the mid-beam and coupled to a second one of the rods near a second end of the mid-beam;
a second elevator cab situated beneath the first elevator cab and beneath the mid-beam;
at least one linear actuator supported at least partially on the mid-beam, the linear actuator selectively causing vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the rods; and
a pantograph linkage coupled to the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab,
wherein
the at least one linear actuator selectively causes expansion or contraction of the pantograph linkage to cause a change in a distance between the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab,
a load of the second elevator cab is supported by the pantograph linkage,
the rods respectively comprise a stop surface near a bottom of the rod,
the second elevator cab includes a plurality of catches, and
the catches are situated to contact respective stop surfaces when the second elevator cab moves a predetermined distance beneath the first elevator cab.

2. The elevator assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one linear actuator comprises at least one rotatable shaft aligned with the mid-beam.

3. The elevator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one linear actuator comprises at least one of
a worm gear device,
a ball screw device,
a roller screw device,
a lead screw device, and
a jack screw device.

4. The elevator assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the pantograph linkage comprises a plurality of links and a plurality of pivots that allow the links to move relative to each other;
the at least one linear actuator includes at least one rotatable shaft aligned with the mid-beam;
at least two of the links or at least two of the pivots are operatively engaged with the shaft;
rotary movement of the shaft causes the links to move relative to each other; and
movement of the links relative to each other causes the second elevator cab to move vertically relative to the first elevator cab.

5. The elevator assembly of claim 4 , wherein
the rods remain in a fixed position relative to the first elevator cab; and
the second elevator cab is configured to move relative to the rods during vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the first elevator cab.

6. The elevator assembly of claim 1 , comprising
a roping arrangement secured to the header beam, and wherein
the second elevator cab is suspended beneath the first elevator cab; and
the roping arrangement is configured to support a load of the first elevator cab and a load of the second elevator cab.

7. An elevator assembly, comprising:
a header beam;
a first elevator cab supported by the header beam;
a plurality of vertically oriented rods extending beneath the first elevator cab;
a horizontally oriented mid-beam coupled to a first one of the rods near a first end of the mid-beam and coupled to a second one of the rods near a second end of the mid-beam;
a second elevator cab situated beneath the first elevator cab and beneath the mid-beam;
at least one linear actuator supported at least partially on the mid-beam, the linear actuator selectively causing vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the rods; and
a pantograph linkage coupled to the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab,
wherein
the at least one linear actuator selectively causes expansion or contraction of the pantograph linkage to cause a change in a distance between the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab,
the pantograph linkage comprises a plurality of links and a plurality of pivots that allow the links to move relative to each other,
the at least one linear actuator includes at least one rotatable shaft aligned with the mid-beam,
at least two of the links or at least two of the pivots are operatively engaged with the shaft,
rotary movement of the shaft causes the links to move relative to each other, and
movement of the links relative to each other causes the second elevator cab to move vertically relative to the first elevator cab.

8. The elevator assembly of claim 7 , wherein
the at least one linear actuator comprises at least one rotatable shaft aligned with the mid-beam.

9. The elevator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one linear actuator comprises at least one of
a worm gear device,
a ball screw device,
a roller screw device,
a lead screw device, and
a jack screw device.

10. The elevator assembly of claim 7 , wherein
a load of the second elevator cab is supported by the pantograph linkage;
the rods respectively comprise a stop surface near a bottom of the rod;
the second elevator cab includes a plurality of catches; and
the catches are situated to contact respective stop surfaces when the second elevator cab moves a predetermined distance beneath the first elevator cab.

11. The elevator assembly of claim 7 , wherein
the rods remain in a fixed position relative to the first elevator cab; and
the second elevator cab is configured to move relative to the rods during vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the first elevator cab.

12. The elevator assembly of claim 7 , comprising
a roping arrangement secured to the header beam, and wherein
the second elevator cab is suspended beneath the first elevator cab; and
the roping arrangement is configured to support a load of the first elevator cab and a load of the second elevator cab.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Chaudhry Zaffir A
• Manes Enrico
• Schmidt Walter Thomas

Classifications

• B66F7/0666

  Multiple scissor linkages vertically arranged · CPC title

• B66B11/022 Primary

  with changeable inter-deck distances · CPC title

• B66B11/0213 Primary

  for multi-deck cars · CPC title