Elevator car

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11655121-B2
Application number	US-202017091932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2020
Priority date	Nov 8, 2019
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

An elevator car includes a car floor; a movable ceiling, which is pivotable between a normal operating position, in which the movable ceiling extends substantially horizontally and a maintenance position, in which the movable ceiling extends into an interior space of the elevator car; a working platform movably attached to the movable ceiling. The working platform is pivotable between a storage position, in which the working platform extends basically parallel to the movable ceiling, and a working position, in which the working platform extends transversely from the movable ceiling; and at least one foldable leg attached to the working platform. The at least one foldable leg is foldable between a storage configuration, in which the at least one foldable leg extends substantially parallel to the working platform, and a working configuration, in which the at least one foldable leg extends transversely from the working platform for supporting the working platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator car ( 6 ) comprising:
a car floor ( 20 );
a movable ceiling ( 24 ), which is pivotable between a normal operating position as a ceiling of the elevator car, and a maintenance position, in which the movable ceiling ( 24 ) extends into an interior space ( 21 ) of the elevator car ( 6 );
a working platform ( 25 ) movably attached to the movable ceiling ( 24 ), wherein the working platform ( 25 ) is pivotable between a storage position and a working position, in which the working platform ( 25 ) extends transversely from the movable ceiling ( 24 );
at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) attached to the working platform ( 25 ), wherein the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) is foldable between a storage configuration and a working configuration, in which the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) extends transversely from the working platform ( 25 ) for supporting the working platform ( 25 ) on the car floor ( 20 );
at least one mechanical link ( 34 ) linking the working platform ( 25 ) with the movable ceiling ( 24 ) and allowing the working platform ( 25 ) to pivot with respect to the movable ceiling ( 24 ), wherein the at least one mechanical link ( 34 ) allows the working platform ( 25 ) to move linearly with respect to the movable ceiling ( 24 ).

2. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the movable ceiling ( 24 ), when arranged in the maintenance position, extends vertically within the elevator car ( 6 ), and/or wherein the working platform ( 25 ), when arranged in the working position, extends orthogonally from the movable ceiling ( 24 ).

3. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) comprises at least two leg portions ( 26 a , 26 b , 28 a , 28 b ) pivotably linked with each other.

4. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) is lockable in at least one of the storage configuration and the working configuration; and/or wherein the movable ceiling ( 24 ) is lockable in at least one of the normal operating position and the maintenance position.

5. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) comprises at least one step ( 38 ).

6. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , comprising at least two foldable legs ( 26 , 28 ).

7. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the at least two foldable legs ( 26 , 28 ) are mounted towards opposing ends of the working platform ( 25 ).

8. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 7 further comprising an elevator car door ( 12 ), wherein at least one of the two foldable legs ( 26 , 28 ), which is mounted towards an end of the working platform ( 25 ) facing the elevator car door ( 12 ), comprises at least one step ( 38 ).

9. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical link ( 34 ) comprises a support bar ( 40 ) attached to and/or formed integrally with the working platform ( 25 ), and at least one concave support surface ( 42 ) attached to and/or formed integrally with the movable ceiling ( 24 ) and supporting the support bar ( 40 ).

10. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the support bar ( 40 ) has a round cross-section.

11. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical link ( 34 ) further comprises a mechanical barrier ( 46 ) preventing the working platform ( 25 ) from being separated from the movable ceiling ( 24 ).

12. The elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor ( 48 ) configured for detecting whether the movable ceiling ( 24 ) is arranged in its normal operating position.

13. The elevator system ( 2 ) comprising an elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elevator system ( 2 ) further comprises an elevator controller ( 9 ) which is configured for preventing any movement of the elevator car ( 6 ) if the sensor ( 48 ) does not indicate that the movable ceiling ( 24 ) is arranged in its normal operating position.

14. A method of deploying the working platform ( 25 ) of an elevator car ( 6 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the method includes:
unlocking the movable ceiling ( 24 );
moving the movable ceiling ( 24 ) from its normal operating position into its maintenance position;
moving the working platform ( 25 ) from its storage position into its working position;
extending the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) from its storage configuration into its working configuration before, while and/or after the working platform ( 25 ) is moved;
locking the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) in its working configuration; and
supporting the at least one foldable leg ( 26 , 28 ) on the car floor ( 20 ) of the elevator car ( 6 ).

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Fever Michael
• Bettaieb Nawel
• Caliskan Alper
• Senejoux Herve

Classifications

• B66B11/0246 Primary

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

• B66B11/0226 Primary

  Constructional features, e.g. walls assembly, decorative panels, comfort equipment, thermal or sound insulation · CPC title

• E06C1/393

  Ladders having platforms foldable with the ladder · CPC title

• E06C7/50

  Joints or other connecting parts · CPC title

• B66B5/005

  Safety of maintenance personnel · CPC title