Patent Application
20230002197
The invention relates to a door frame having a chamber for accommodating a control unit of an elevator system.
Elevator systems comprise an elevator car which can usually be moved vertically along an elevator shaft. The elevator car can thus be moved in such a way that it can be positioned at individual shaft doors such that access from the elevator car to the floor associated with the individual shaft door is provided. The control of the elevator system, in particular for the mobility of the elevator car is required. In addition, such a control unit can contain interfaces and input modules which are necessary for servicing the elevator system and for diagnostics.
This control unit can advantageously be arranged such that servicing of the elevator system or the control unit can be carried out easily. Therefore, it is advantageous to arrange the control unit in a door frame of such a shaft door. Such a door frame is usually formed by a door lintel and a door post formed on each side of the door opening. To accommodate the control unit, the interior of one of these two door posts can form a chamber which is delimited by side walls of the door post.
EP1518815 discloses such a door post which is formed having a chamber. A control unit is arranged in this chamber. The control unit itself is not visible when the elevator system is in normal operation. Access to the control unit is required for service or maintenance work. On the one hand, the control unit must be accessible for service work on the elevator system. The control unit must be visible in this state and it must be possible to carry out the activities required to service the elevator system, such as initializing travel commands, requesting status information or actuating switches. On the other hand, if more extensive maintenance work is required, such as the replacement of components of the control unit, an appropriately extended degree of accessibility must be ensured. The difference between service and maintenance work is that servicing requires limited access to the control unit and does not require a large amount of space. In contrast, parts may have to be replaced as part of the maintenance of the control unit, for which a correspondingly large access space is necessary.
The interior of the chamber and thus the control unit for carrying out service work can be accessed from the floor. A further opening in the door post is arranged such that maintenance can be carried out on the control unit from inside the elevator shaft. It is therefore necessary for the service technician to be in front of this opening to carry out maintenance of the control unit. This can be achieved by placing the roof of the elevator car directly below this opening so that the service technician can carry out this maintenance from the roof of the elevator car.
Thus, the disadvantage is that the elevator car has to be arranged in the elevator shaft in such a way that the roof of the elevator car can be used as a work platform for maintenance of the control unit.
The problem addressed by the invention is therefore that of providing a door frame which allows improved access to a control unit which can be arranged in the door frame.
The problem is solved by means of a door frame of an elevator system having an elevator shaft, the door frame forming a chamber for accommodating a control unit and forming a side surface facing the elevator shaft, the door frame having a first door frame element delimiting the chamber and a second door frame element delimiting the chamber, wherein the first door frame element can be detached from the second door frame element substantially by a movement of the first door frame element, from its closed position, in parallel with the side surface, and the chamber can thus be opened. The problem is also solved by means of an elevator system comprising such a door frame.
The elevator system preferably has a building wall, in which building wall a shaft door of the elevator system is formed. The side surface facing the elevator shaft is preferably formed in parallel with this building wall.
Such a door frame usually comprises a door lintel and two door posts, the door lintel being arranged above a door opening which is usually delimited laterally and at the top by the door frame. A first of these door posts is arranged to the side of the door opening, and a second of the two door posts is arranged on the other side of the door opening. Such a door post or door lintel usually has two walls which are arranged at an angle to one another and which face the floor, with one of these walls usually forming a direct closure of the door opening. In addition, the door lintel or door post has the side surface mentioned, which is arranged in parallel with the door opening, i.e. substantially in parallel with at least one door leaf closing the door opening.
The parallel of the side surface of the door frame that is in the closed state forms a part of the door frame that cannot be accessed from the floor when the shaft door is closed, since this side surface directly faces the elevator shaft. The side surface is not necessarily designed as a closed wall of the door frame, but optionally comprises only webs, profile elements or the like that stabilize the door frame or the corresponding door frame element. Optionally, the side surface can include a part of the second door frame element and a part of the first door frame element.
The invention is based on the knowledge that access to the mechanism for fixing the door frame elements which delimit the chamber is crucial in order to allow maintenance to be carried out on the control unit quickly and easily. Accordingly, if the control unit is arranged in a door post or door lintel of the car door, positioning the elevator car at the floor so that an interior of the elevator car can be accessed from this floor is a way of significantly simplifying maintenance. If, on the other hand, the control unit is arranged in the door post of the shaft door, it is preferably possible to carry out the maintenance of the control unit with the shaft door closed, irrespective of the position of the elevator car.
A prerequisite for this is, on the one hand, that the first door frame element to be removed for maintenance can be removed independently of the position of the elevator car that is movably arranged in the elevator shaft. On the other hand, it is necessary that this first door frame element to be removed or the opening in the door frame resulting from the removal of the first door frame element is designed to be sufficiently large for carrying out maintenance of the control unit.
In order to achieve removability of the first door frame element when the elevator car is present at the floor, for example, the removable first door frame element is thus proposed, which first door frame element can preferably be moved out of its closed position, i.e. its position closing the chamber, solely by a movement of the first door frame element directed in parallel with the above-mentioned side wall.
In a development of the door frame, the first door frame element has a fixing region parallel to the side surface and the second door frame element has a fixing region parallel to the side surface, and the fixing regions of the first door frame element and the second door frame element can be fixed directly to one another by means of a detachable fixing. By means of such a fixing, the first and the second door frame element can be fixed to one another directly adjacent to the interior of the elevator shaft. By detaching this fixing and removing the first door frame element in such a way that part of the side surface of the first door frame element that adjoins an interior of the elevator shaft can also be removed, the chamber containing or capable of containing the control unit can be accessed for the purpose of maintenance of the control unit.
A development of the fixing is formed by a screw connection. By means of such a screw connection, which interconnects the fixing regions of the first and the second door frame element in the closed position of the first door frame element, a connection which can be easily detached by the service or maintenance technician from inside the chamber is made possible.
In a development of the door frame, a slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle is or can be arranged on a first of the first and second door frame elements and a threaded pin is or can be arranged on the second of the two door frame elements in such a way that the first element can be fixed to the second door frame element by means of a screw nut. Such a threaded pin can be fixed to the first or second door frame element or formed by a screw so that detachment of such a screw connection can take place preferably manually from the interior of the chamber containing the control unit. When the screw connection is loosened, the slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle allows the first door frame element to be moved from its closed position without requiring a relative movement of the first and second door frame elements in the main orientation of the threaded pin.
The screw nut can be formed by a wing nut. The connection which can be detached in the interior of the chamber by means of a screw nut allows the first door frame element to be removed easily, since no tools are required to detach this fixing if the chamber can be accessed beforehand.
A main extension direction of the threaded pin preferably extends substantially perpendicularly to the side surface. This allows good access for detaching the screw nut in the interior of the chamber.
In a development of the door frame, the detachable fixing of the first door frame element to the second door frame element can be detached by reaching into an interior of the chamber. This detachability of the fixing makes it possible for the elevator car to be arranged directly at the door post of the shaft door or for the shaft door to be closed when the first door frame element is removed.
The door frame preferably comprises a further fixing option for fixing the first door frame element in its closed position. Alternatively, in addition to the detachable fixing of the first door frame element, a device for supporting the first door frame element on the second door frame element may be provided to ensure a secure hold of the first door frame element in its closed position.
A development of the door frame comprises a third door frame element which delimits the chamber and is designed in such a way that the chamber can be accessed when the third door frame element is in an open position for detaching the first door frame element from the second door frame element, with the chamber preferably being accessible for servicing the control unit when the third door frame element is in the open position. On the one hand, removing the third door frame element makes it possible to carry out service work on the control unit. On the other hand, the ability to reach into the interior of the chamber ensured in this way makes it possible to move the first door frame element out of the closed position for the purpose of maintenance of the control unit or to be able to detach the detachable fixing of the first door frame element from the second door frame element on the side surface. For this purpose, there is an opening behind the third door frame element so that, when the third door frame element is open, the chamber for accommodating the control unit can be accessed for a service or for detaching the first door frame element.
A development of the door frame comprises a door post, which door post is intended to be arranged on the side of the door opening enclosed by the door frame, and the door post comprises the door frame elements. As a result, it is possible for the control unit which can be placed in the chamber to be arranged in its vertical height in such a way that maintenance can be carried out in a simple manner for the service technician, for example without necessarily having to carry out maintenance from a ladder.
In a development of the door frame, the second door frame element is an integral part of the door post. Accordingly, the second door frame element is firmly fixed and cannot be removed for maintenance or servicing of the control unit.
In a development of the door frame, the first door frame element is formed by a corner element of the door frame. This means that the first door frame element preferably has an angled portion which is aligned in parallel with the side closure of the element and is preferably formed by an angle of 70° to 110°, preferably 90°, to form the corner element. Such an angled portion causes increased stability of the door frame element formed in this way such that the first door frame element does not have to have any additional reinforcements or reinforcement elements.
A development of the door frame is designed as a shaft door frame. In this way, maintenance of the control unit is made possible without there being a compelling need for the elevator system to be functional, i.e. for the elevator car to be in the movable state. Furthermore, it is advantageous that maintenance can be carried out entirely from the floor by means of such a door frame, preferably with the shaft door completely closed, i.e. independently of the position of the elevator car within the elevator shaft.
In a development of the door frame, the side surface facing the elevator shaft comprises a part of the first door frame element and a part of the second door frame element. This ensures that the accessibility of the control unit for maintenance purposes is as great as possible. The reason for this is that the gap between the open door post or open door lintel that can be provided with the control unit and the component arranged directly thereon, for example between the shaft door post that can be provided with the control unit and the car door post that can be arranged next to this shaft door post, can be used as a space for maintenance.
In a development of the door frame, the third door frame element is fixed in its closed position to the first door frame element. This allows for a simple design of the devices for fixing the first or the third door frame element in their closed position.
The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to drawings, in which:
The elevator shaft 4 has a plurality of shaft door openings which are usually arranged vertically one above the other, with the shaft door openings allowing access to the interior of the elevator shaft at floors 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. The shaft door openings are formed in a building wall 24.
A shaft door 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d which can be associated with the floor 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d is positioned at each of these shaft door openings. The elevator car 6 has a car door 16. This car door 16 or the elevator car 6 can be positioned at one of the shaft doors 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d by moving the elevator car 6 in the elevator shaft 4.
One of the two door posts 22.1, 22.2 or the door lintel 22.3 has a chamber for accommodating a control unit. As an example,
The door post 22.1 has a first and a second door frame element 28.0, 28.1 which delimits the chamber 26, and the second door frame element 28.1 can be formed by a plurality of door frame elements. The second door frame element 28.1 is formed across a corner, according to which
In addition, the door post 22.1 can comprise a third door frame element 28.2 delimiting the chamber 26. The third door frame element 28.2 is designed as a service opening, so that the control unit 32 (see
The door frame elements 28.0, 28.2 shown in
The first door frame element 28.0 has a fixing region 60′ parallel to the side surface 60. The second door frame element 28.1 has a fixing region 60″ parallel to the side surface 60. The first door frame element 28.0 and the second door frame element 28.1 can be fixed directly to one another, preferably by means of at least one screw connection 62.
The screw connection 62 has a threaded pin 66 and a nut 68, with the main extension direction of the threaded pin 66 preferably being aligned substantially perpendicularly to the side surface 60. According to
Alternatively, the threaded pin 66 can be fixed to the fixing region 60′ of the first door frame element 28.0 and the second door frame element 28.1 can correspondingly have the slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle.
In addition, the first door frame element 28.0 can be fixed to the second door frame element 28.1 by means of a further fixing option 70, preferably a second screw connection, which is shown only schematically here and can be accessed directly from the floor. The fixing option 70 allows the first door frame element 28.0 to be fixed to the second door frame element 28.1 in the region of the wall 26.1 which delimits the chamber 26 and faces the floor or the wall 26.3 which delimits the chamber 26 and faces the floor.
The decisive factor here is that the fixing option 70 is designed so as to allow the movement B, B′ when the fixing of the first door frame element 28.0 is detached from the second door frame element 28.1 for removal of the first door frame element 28.1. Consequently, the fixing option 70 can be designed in the same way as the detachable fixing designed as a screw connection 62, for example, with it being possible for a pin, preferably a threaded pin, of the fixing option 70 to be aligned perpendicularly to the threaded pin 66 of the screw connection 62. The pin of the fixing option 70 can be designed without a thread so that, in this way, the fixing option 70 can be designed simply as a stop for the first door frame element 28.0 on the second door frame element 28.1.
An opening 27 is formed behind the third door frame element 28.2 arranged in its closed position, which opening 27 allows access for the purpose of servicing the control unit 32 when the third door frame element 28.2 is arranged in its open position. For example, the third door frame element 28.2 is fixed exclusively to the first door frame element 28.0 and can be arranged on the first door frame element 28.0 such that it can be removed or pivoted by means of a hinge. Alternatively or additionally, the third door frame element 28.2 can be locked to further components of the door frame 22 by means of a triangular key.
When the opening 27 is cleared, in addition to service activities on the control unit 32, both the fixing option 70 and the screw connection 62 can be detached by reaching into the chamber 26. In this way, the first door frame element 28.0 can be removed from the second door frame element 28.1 for the purpose of maintenance of the control unit 32 when a door post 40 of the car door 16 belonging to the elevator car 6 is arranged directly at the door post 22.1 having the chamber 26, i.e. the elevator car 6 is positioned at this floor 18a.
The removable first door frame element 28.0 is preferably designed as a corner element. The angled portion 29 shown in
By detaching or loosening the previously fixed pin 66 and nut 68, a movement B, B′ of the first door frame element 28.0 in parallel with the side surface 60 is made possible in such a way that the threaded pin 66 can be displaced along the slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle 64, 64′ according to exemplary movements B, B′. The slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle 64, 64′ can be designed in different ways. The slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle 64, 64′ has lateral guides 65, 65′ in order to guide the first door frame element 28.0 into its closed position by means of a movement B, B′.
In a first variant, the slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle 64 can be V-shaped so that the first door frame element 28.0 can be pushed in from the direction of the door opening enclosed by the door frame 22, in parallel with the side surface 60, both obliquely from above and obliquely from below by means of the movement B shown. Accordingly, the distance between the lateral guides 65 decreases in the direction in which the first door frame element 28.0 is pushed into its closed position. The slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle 64 designed in this way thus assumes the function of a catch for the first door frame element 28.0, which does not necessarily have to be placed precisely on the second door frame element 28.1.
In a second variant, the lateral guides 65′ of the slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle 64′, shown in dashed lines, extend in parallel with one another, but not horizontally, so that the first door frame element 28.0 can be pushed in exclusively obliquely downward for example in the direction of its closed position by means of the movement B′ shown, so that gravity facilitates the transfer of the first door frame element 28.0 into its closed position.
In a third variant (not shown) the lateral guides of the slot-shaped open threaded pin receptacle can extend in parallel with one another and horizontally. In this way, the first door frame element 28.0 can be displaced into its closed position by means of a horizontal movement extending in parallel with the side surface 60.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19218456.2 | Dec 2019 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/083684 | 11/27/2020 | WO |
