Background of the invention

The present invention relates to an access door arrangement of an elevator shaft in which elevator shaft at least one elevator car is moving. Each access door to the elevator shaft comprises a particularly manual door lock. In case of a normal landing door the locking of the landing door is coupled to the elevator operation, whereby opening and locking of the landing door is correlated to the stop of the elevator car at the respective floor. Hereby the landing door is coupled to the car door and driven by a door drive of the elevator car. Anyway, usually each landing door has an emergency unlocking device, i.e. a manually openable door lock, which is usually operated by a service technician, particularly via a triangle key, e.g. to set trapped passengers free. Another kind of access door is an inspection hatch which has normally a simple door lock which only can be operated by a service technician, preferably via a triangle key.

Generally, service technicians are able to drive an elevator car manually from inside the elevator shaft with inspection drive buttons while standing on a top platform or in the pit. On this behalf he has to operate an inspection switch into inspection position. This turns the elevator into inspection mode. After finishing his work, the service technician turns the inspection switch back to its normal position and then leaves the elevator shaft, whereafter the elevator has to be reset from the inspection mode into nor- mal operation mode. This is usually done via a reset device inside a locked cabinet as e.g. described in EN81 -1 : 1 998 A2: 2004 in clause 6.4.4.1 H.

Summary of the invention

It is object of the present invention to provide an access door arrangement which allows an easy and safe reset of the elevator from inspection mode into normal operation mode. „

The object is solved with an arrangement according to claim 1 . Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject-matter of the dependent claims. Some inventive embodiments are also presented in the descriptive section and in the drawings of the present application. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of expressions or implicit subtasks or from the point of view of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. The features of the various embodiments of the present application can be applied within the framework of the basic inventive concept in conjunction with other embodiments.

According to the invention, the inventive access door arrangement comprises an access door with a door lock, which e.g. is either an emergency unlocking device of a landing door or the door lock of a special shaft access door, e.g. inspection hatch. In connection with the door lock of the access door, a reset switch of an inspection mode resetting device is located, which resets the elevator into normal operation mode after the reset switch is operated. The door lock has a movable lock part, for example a lock latch or a lock bolt, movable between a lock position and an open position and the reset switch is integrated in said door lock to be operated by the movement of the movable lock part or a part connected thereto between the open and lock position. The advantage of the present invention is that with the closing of the pit access door and with the moving of the movable lock part into the lock position, the reset switch of the inspection mode resetting device is operated, so that the elevator is switched from elevator inspection mode in normal operation mode as to be available for public use again.

An essential advantage of the invention is that this resetting of the inspection mode is done via the simple movement of the movable part of the door lock form the open to the lock position so that no additional steps are necessary to reinstate the elevator into normal operation mode. „

Another advantage of the invention is that, because the resetting means are included in the pit access door lock, there is no need to locate the locked cabined next to the pit access door but its location can be selected freely. Still one essential advantage of the invention is that it is possible to use implement the reset function with same emergency unlocking devices as used earlier, which devices can be turned from initial position only to one (clock-wise) direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the door lock of the emergency unlocking device includes a triangle key connected to the movable lock part. The advantage of a triangle key is that it is available by service technicians but not by normal passengers. Thus, the obligatory use of a triangle key for the emergency unlocking device of a landing door or for the door lock of an inspection door/hatch ensures that the resetting of the inspection mode into normal operation mode can only performed by service tech- nicians.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable lock part counter-acts with a sliding surface located in connection with a fixed structure surrounding the access door or being adjacent to the access door or with another access door (e.g. in case of a cen- trally opening landing door), which sliding surface extends at least partly along the way of the movable lock part between its open position and lock position, whereby the reset switch is located in connection with the sliding surface. Via this means it is ensured that the reset switch is only triggered when the movable lock latch of the access door counter-acts with the sliding surface which automatically means that the access door is closed, because counter-action of the movable lock part with the sliding surface is only possible when the access door is closed.

In this case, preferably the sliding surface is covered by a cover element to prevent the operation of the reset switch by accidental manual contact.

Of course, it is not necessary that the reset switch is operated by the movable lock part itself but it can also be operated by any operating part which is connected with the movable lock part and therefore moves along with the lock part or triggered by it. This can even be a part of the key of the door lock. Such an embodiment is easy to accom- plish and works reliably. Furthermore, the operating part connected to the lock part can be made to optimally counteract with the switch element of the reset switch.

In a preferred embodiment, the reset switch comprises a pivoted lever which is actuat- ed by an operating part connected to the movable lock part on its way between the open and lock position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the reset switch is fixed to the access door and is operated by the lock part or an operating part connected thereto. Via this advantageous solution, the reset switch of the inspection mode resetting device as well as the movable lock part are both located in connection with the access door which, is easy to manufacture.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in connection with the reset switch a sec- ond switch is located which issues a signal for a safety space arrangement for a reduced shaft pit or shaft top. This second switch is able to issue a signal which has an effect to safety measures in the elevator shaft to ensure the provision of a safety space when the height of the shaft top or shaft pit is smaller than required by international regulations. This advantageous embodiment therefore enables the simultaneous change of the modes of different devices in the elevator shaft which are provided for the safety of the service technicians working in the shaft.

Preferably, the movement of the movable lock part into its lock position is prevented by a blocking mechanism when the access door is not closed. Via this measure it is avoided that the door lock can be switched into the lock position when the access door is still not closed. Therefore, the blocking mechanism only allows the interaction with the reset switch when the access door is closed, which ensures that the elevator shaft is closed together with the reset of the elevator into normal operation mode. The movable lock part may be any part which enables the door lock to lock or to open the door lock of the access door. Thus, the lock part may be a pivoted lock latch or an axial ly or translatory movable lock bolt. The access door may be any landing door of the elevator shaft and/or the top and/or bottom access hatch of the elevator shaft.

Preferably the door lock comprises a door contact, and the elevator control is config- ured to consider the signal of the reset switch dependent on the status of the door contact. Via this measure it is ensured that the elevator control can reset the inspection mode only when the access door is closed. The door contact can e.g. be connected parallel to the reset switch. Preferably the arrangement comprises an elevator control which is configured to decode a moving sequence of the movable lock part into a reset signal for the inspection mode of the elevator. Via this measure only two positions of the door lock have to be provided, preferably open and closed, whereby the triggering of the reset can be performed via a defined moving sequence which is recognized by the elevator control or a logic connected thereto. The moving sequence can be chosen freely, and can thus defined as desired. One preferable moving sequence is closed/open/closed status. This sequence is easy to perform. The sequence has to be performed within a given time frame to be recognized as such or the moving sequence has to be different from the moving sequences during normal use of the door lock.

Of course, the invention also relates to an elevator comprising an arrangement of the aforementioned type. The invention further relates to a method for resetting elevator control from inspection mode to normal mode, which method comprising following sequence of steps:

- during inspection mode the inspection switch in the pit inspection station is turned from an inspection position to normal operation position,

- exiting the pit and closing a pit access door having a door lock connected with a reset switch for the inspection mode of the elevator,

- after closing the access door, operating manually the door lock according to a given moving sequence to cause the reset switch to change its status according to the moving sequence of the door lock,

- reading the switching state of the reset switch, - turning the elevator from inspection mode to normal operation mode when the status of the reset switch changes according to the moving sequence.

The moving sequence is preferably the movement of the door lock from lock position to open position within a given time period causing the reset switch to change from a first status to a second status. This moving sequence is easy to perform by any service technician.

The moving sequence is preferably the movement of the door lock from lock position to open position and back to lock position within a given time period causing the reset switch to change from a first status to a second status and further back to the first status. This moving sequence is quite unique as it differs from normal use of the door lock and it is easy to perform by any service technician. This inventive solution has the advantage that the door lock does not need a second turning range for the resetting of the inspection mode. The fact that the moving sequence of the movable lock part of the door lock is monitored and recognized by the elevator control or by a logic connected thereto as a trigger signal opens the possibility to use a normal door lock with only two positions (locked and open). No additional position of the door lock is necessary to perform the reset from elevator inspection mode into normal operation mode. This enables the issuing of a proper reset signal with simple hardware equipment.

Of course, the sequence has to be performed within a given time frame to be recog- nized as such, and on the other hand a logic in the elevator control or elsewhere is necessary to decode this sequence into a trigger signal for the inspection mode reset. This method provides easy and reliable reset of the inspection mode into normal operating mode. The reading of the reset switch status is preferably performed via the elevator control.

Preferably, the pit access door has a door contact which is also observed on its open or closed status. The reset into normal operation mode is preferably possible only when at the end of the moving sequence the door contact is in closed status. This ensures the access door being closed when the reset is performed.

The first status of the reset switch is preferably related to a lock status and its second status is correlated to an open status of the door lock.

Preferably, in this method the elevator is reset from inspection mode to normal operation mode when observing that the status of the reset switch changes from a first to a second status and further back to the first status, and additionally the door contact changes from closed status to open status and back to closed status. With this measure the locked status of the access door is considered fur the reset of the inspection mode of the elevator, which meets required safety standards.

Before the reset of the inspection mode any mechanical stopping devices in the eleva- tor shaft have to be moved into their idle position for normal operation mode. The stopping devices may be moved manually or automatically. In this connection the elevator control may consider the monitored sequence of the door lock movements coded as a reset signal only after the stopping devices have assumed their idle position. The moving sequence may be considered by the elevator control also as a trigger signal for automatically moving the stopping devices from their active position - in which they ensure a safety room in the pit - into their idle or inactive position, e.g. via electric or hydraulic drives. On that behalf the position of the mechanical stopping devices is available for the elevator control via position contacts located in connection with the stopping devices.

Generally, an arrangement for resetting the inspection mode of the elevator comprises aside of the above mentioned door arrangement all necessary components as e.g. at least one of the following components, i.e. switches, contacts, wiring for providing status information about the switches and contacts to the elevator control, which is configured to perform the switching from inspection mode to normal operation mode. These components are, door contacts, reset switches, status switches of stopping devices, drives of stopping devices, the elevator control or related logic components, wiring and the related software, e.g. for the definition of the moving sequence. „

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is hereinafter described by the aid of the schematic drawings in connection with embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a view on an inspection hatch of an elevator,

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the door lock of the access hatch from Fig. 4, shows a side view III of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 shows a door lock with a lock latch being provided with a double switch.

Description of the preferred embodiments Fig. 1 shows an inspection hatch arrangement 10 wherein the access door to the elevator shaft is an inspection hatch 12, pivoted at an elevator shaft wall structure 14. The inspection hatch 12 has a door lock 1 6 which comprises a turnable lock latch 18 connected with a triangle key part 20 on the inspection hatch side and on the elevator shaft wall side a sliding surface 22 with a stopper 24 which defines the lock position 26 of the lock latch which is shown in Fig. 2 with dotted lines. The open position 25 of the lock latch is marked with a vertical dotted line.

Fig. 2 shows in continuous lines the open position of the lock latch 18 wherein it extends vertically from its pivot axis 28. In the sliding surface 22, a pivoted switch ele- ment 30 of a reset switch extends from the sliding surface 22 as a ramp. When the lock latch 18 turns from its open position 25 into its lock position 26, it pushes the switch element 30 down which triggers the reset switch of the inspection mode resetting device which turns the elevator back to normal operation mode. Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment 40 of a door lock arrangement which is in this case an emergency unlocking device of a landing door, having a basis part 42 mounted to the access door or access hatch of the elevator shaft which basis part 42 carries via a support element 43 a double switch 44 with a reset switch 46 being part of the inspection mode resetting device and a second switch 48 being part of a safety space device regarding the operation of components in the elevator shaft to ensure a safety space when the dimensions of the shaft top or shaft pit are not sufficient to meet the international regulations. The emergency unlocking device 40 has a pivoted lock latch 50 which comprises a lock portion 52 extending perpendicular to the pivot axis 54 of the lock latch 50. This lock portion52 grips behind a sliding surface as it is e.g. shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Connected to the movable lock latch 50 is an operating part 56 co-acting with pivoted operating levers 58 of both switches 46, 48. Via this means, both switches 46, 48 are operated when the lock latch 50 is moved via the triangle key (Fig. 1 ) from its open position into its lock position.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiments but may be varied within the scope of the appended patent claims.

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List of reference numbers

10 inspection hatch arrangement

12 inspection hatch

14 elevator shaft wall structure

1 6 door lock

18 lock latch

20 triangle key part

22 sliding surface

24 stopper

25 open position

26 lock position

28 pivot axis

30 pivoted switch element

40 door lock arrangement

42 basis part

43 support element

44 double switch

46 reset switch

48 second switch

50 lock latch

52 lock portion

54 pivot axis

56 operating part

58 operating levers of the switches