The present invention generally belongs to the field of elevators, specifically to the field of construction of elevator doors and cars and more specifically relates to the field of guide assembly used in elevator doors and cars. The present invention relates to a design improvement and reduction of components in guide assembly for use in elevator doors without affecting the function of the elevator landing mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a guide assembly for use in elevator doors, which integrates guide and support function with use of one hollow guide rail component.

Background art

In the elevator industry, landing mechanism requires two basic functions, one with base profile and support plate housing all sub-components and another with railing guide to move truck or carriage plates horizontally to open landing doors.

Conventionally, referring to Figure 1 and 3, guide assembly for use in center opening type elevator doors comprises a base panel with two end brackets fixed at end of said base panel respectively; a solid railing guide positioned below along the base panel with support of end brackets respectively; two truck plates spaced apart positioned on the solid railing guide for horizontal sliding movement along said solid railing guide; two stoppers positioned below the end brackets respectively to limit the movement of the truck plates; a lock beak positioned on the edge of the second truck plate; a lock hook positioned on the edge of the first truck plate in same axis of the lock beak to engage/disengage with said lock beak for mechanically lock the first truck plate with said second truck plate; a bracket fixed at the centre of the solid guide rail, said bracket houses multiple sub-components such as contact switches, and emergency device lever; and two pulleys positioned below the stoppers respectively to support the truck plates respectively drivingly connected through a synchronisation rope by crimping terminals.

Conventionally, referring to Figure 7 and 9, guide assembly for use in telescopic opening type elevator doors comprising: a base panel with one end bracket fixed at one end of said base panel respectively; a two solid railing guides positioned parallel below along the base panel with support of end bracket at on one side; first truck plate spaced apart positioned on the first solid railing guide for horizontal sliding movement along said first solid railing guide; second truck plate spaced apart positioned on the second solid railing guide for horizontal sliding movement along said second solid railing guide; a stopper positioned below the end brackets to limit the movement of the first and second truck plates; a lock beak positioned on free end of the first solid railing guide; a lock hook positioned on the edge of the first truck plate in same axis of the lock beak to engage/disengage with said lock beak for mechanically lock the first truck plate with the first solid railing guide; a bracket fixed at the free end of the first solid railing guide adjacent to the lock beak, said bracket houses multiple sub-components such as contact switch, and emergency device lever; and two pulleys positioned below the second truck plate respectively drivingly connected through a synchronisation rope by crimping terminals. However, with rise in metal prices, there is a need to provide design improvement and reduction of components in guide assembly for use in elevator doors without affecting the function of the elevator landing mechanism

Chinese Patent CN209922685U discloses a elevator landing door combined mechanism comprises a door body, the landing door comprises a landing door assembly, the landing door assembly comprises two symmetrical landing doors, a supporting mechanism is arranged at the bottoms of the two landing doors together, landing door hanging plates are fixedly connected to the tops of the two landing doors, rail wheels are rotationally installed at the four corners of each landing door hanging plate, a guide rail is inserted between the eight rail wheels together in a sliding mode and a supporting mechanism is arranged at the top of the guide rail. Through the arrangement of the supporting mechanism and the supporting mechanism, the landing door assembly can be stably supported, and meanwhile the landing door assembly can be conveniently opened and closed; by arranging the self-closing device, the landing door assembly can be automatically closed after being manually opened, the use safety of the product is effectively enhanced, and meanwhile, by arranging the landing door lock, the landing door assembly can be locked and fixed; and the pulling mechanism is arranged, so that maintenance personnel can conveniently pull the landing door assembly, and the manual opening difficulty is greatly reduced.

However, the above said inventions do not completely address the problems in the prior art, particularly, they do not provide a design improvement and reduction of components in guide assembly for use in elevator doors without affecting the function of the elevator landing mechanism. The patents disclosed in the prior art documents requires variable size truck plates for different landing door mechanism. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a design improvement and reduction of components in guide assembly for use in elevator doors without affecting the function of the elevator landing mechanism.

The information disclosed in this background of disclosure section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Further it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providing a guide assembly for use in elevator doors, which is unique in nature unlike existing systems or the ones described in the above prior art in the field known to the inventors. Various changes may be made in and without departing from the concept of the invention. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing and modifying other methods and structures for carrying out the same purpose of the present invention. Further, features of some stages disclosed in this application may be employed with features of other stages. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

Disclosure of the invention

One or more problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiments of the present invention.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a design improvement and reduction of components in guide assembly for use in elevator doors without affecting the function of the elevator landing mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to integrate two functions (guide & support) with use of just one hollow guide rail component.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a split type truck plate, which eliminates the need of variable sizes for different landing door mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated cover for guide assembly for use in elevator doors, which helps in protection of debris at job site during installation and running of the landing door mechanism and holds the function of reclosing spring retainer mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a guide assembly for use in center-division elevator doors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a guide assembly for use in telescopic type elevator doors.

These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the present subject matter are illustrated.

The following disclosure presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a guide assembly for use in center opening type elevator doors, the said guide assembly comprising: a base panel with two end brackets fixed at end of said base panel respectively; a hollow railing guide positioned below along the base panel with support of end brackets respectively; at least four truck plates spaced apart positioned on the hollow railing guide for horizontal sliding movement along said hollow railing guide; two stoppers positioned below the end brackets respectively to limit the movement of the truck plates; a lock beak positioned on the edge of the second truck plate; a lock hook positioned on the edge of the third truck plate in same axis of the lock beak to engage/disengage with said lock beak for mechanically lock the second truck plate with said third truck plate; a bracket fixed at the centre of the guide rail, said bracket houses multiple sub-components such as contact switches, and emergency device lever; two pulleys positioned below the stoppers respectively to support the truck plates respectively drivingly connected through a synchronisation rope by crimping terminals, wherein rear side of the truck plate comprises a upper roller positioned on top of the hollow railing guide and a counter roller positioned on bottom of the hollow railing guide, wherein the first truck plate is connected to edge of an integrated cover mounted on top of the base panel through a reclosing spring, and wherein the truck plate is supported at the bottom through the synchronisation rope connected between the pulleys.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the emergency device lever is used for rescue and lock open/close the lock hook.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact switches is an electrical safety for not allowing the door from opening while the elevator is in movement.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the integrated cover helps in protection of debris at job site during installation and running of the landing door mechanism and fixation of reclosing spring.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material of the said guide assembly is steel.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a guide assembly for use in telescopic opening type elevator doors, the said guide assembly comprising: a base panel with one end bracket fixed at one end of said base panel respectively; a two hollow railing guides positioned parallel below along the base panel with support of end bracket at on one side; at least two truck plates spaced apart positioned on the first hollow railing guide for horizontal sliding movement along said first hollow railing guide; at least two truck plates spaced apart positioned on the second hollow railing guide for horizontal sliding movement along said second hollow railing guide; a stopper positioned below the end bracket to limit the movement of the truck plates; a lock beak positioned on free end of the first hollow railing guide; a lock hook positioned on the edge of the first truck plate in same axis of the lock beak to engage/disengage with said lock beak for mechanically lock the first truck plate with the first hollow railing guide; a bracket fixed at the free end of the first hollow railing guide adjacent to the lock beak, said bracket houses multiple subcomponents such as contact switch, and emergency device lever; and two pulleys positioned below the second truck plate and fourth truck plate respectively drivingly connected through a synchronisation rope by crimping terminals, wherein rear side of the truck plate comprises two upper rollers and two counter rollers positioned on top and bottom of the first hollow railing guide and second hollow railing guide respectively, wherein the fourth truck plate is connected to edge of an integrated cover mounted on top of the base panel through a reclosing spring, and wherein the truck plate is supported at the bottom through the synchronisation rope connected between the pulleys.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the emergency device lever is used for rescue and lock open/close the lock hook.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact switches is an electrical safety for not allowing the door from opening while the elevator is in movement.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the integrated cover helps in protection of debris at job site during installation and running of the landing door mechanism and fixation of reclosing spring.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material of the said guide assembly is steel.

Brief description of drawings

The advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily apparent by persons skilled in the art when considered in reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings listed below.

Figure 1 is the front view of the centre opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the prior art.

Figure 2 is the front view of an embodiment of the centre opening type guide assembly in closed position for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 3 is the enlarged cross sectional view of the centre opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the prior art.

Figure 4 is the enlarged cross sectional view of the centre opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 5 is the front view of the centre opening type guide assembly in open position for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 6 is the front view of the landing doors connected with centre opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 7 is the front view of the telescope opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the prior art.

Figure 8 is the front view of an embodiment of the telescopic opening type guide assembly in closed position for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 9 is the enlarged cross sectional view of the telescopic opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the prior art.

Figure 10 is the enlarged cross sectional view of the telescopic opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 11 is the front view of the telescopic opening type guide assembly in open position for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 12 is the front view of the landing doors connected with telescopic opening type guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 13 is the enlarged cross sectional view of the hollow railing guide used in the guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Figure 14 is the enlarged views of the truck plate used in the guide assembly for use in elevator doors disclosed by the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The present invention as embodied by an "A Guide Assembly for Use in Elevator Doors" succinctly fulfills the above-mentioned need[s] in the art. The present invention has objective[s] arising as a result of the above- mentioned need[s], said objective[s] being enumerated below. In as much as the objective[s] of the present invention are enumerated, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, the enumerated objective[s] are not exhaustive of the present invention in its entirety and are enclosed solely for the purpose of illustration. Further, the present invention encloses within its scope and purview, any structural alternative^] and/or any functional equivalents] even though, such structural alternative^] and/or any functional equivalents] are not mentioned explicitly herein or elsewhere, in the present disclosure. The present invention therefore encompasses also, any improvisation[s]/modification[s] applied to the structural alternative[s]/functional alternative^] within its scope and purview. The present invention may be embodied in other specific form[s] without departing from the essential attributes thereof.

Throughout this specification, the use of the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising" may imply the inclusion of an element or elements not specifically recited.

The present invention is thus directed to a design improvement and reduction of components in guide assembly for use in elevator doors without affecting the function of the elevator landing mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a guide assembly for use in elevator doors, which integrates guide and support function with use of one hollow guide rail component.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4 to 6, in an embodiment of the present invention, the guide assembly for use in centre opening type elevator doors, the said guide assembly comprising: a base panel with two end brackets 6a, 6b fixed at end of said base panel respectively; a hollow railing guide 1 positioned below along the base panel with support of end brackets 6a, 6b respectively; at least four truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d spaced apart positioned on the hollow railing guide 1 for horizontal sliding movement along said hollow railing guide 1 ; two stoppers 8a, 8b positioned below the end brackets 6a, 6b respectively to limit the movement of the truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d; a lock beak 4 positioned on the edge of the second truck plate 2b; a lock hook 3 positioned on the edge of the third truck plate 2c in same axis of the lock beak 4 to engage/disengage with said lock beak 4 for mechanically lock the second truck plate 2b with said third truck plate 2c; a bracket fixed at the centre of the guide rail, said bracket 6a, 6b houses multiple sub-components such as contact switches 10a, 10b, and emergency device lever 9; and two pulleys 7a, 7b positioned below the stoppers 8a, 8b respectively to support the truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d respectively drivingly connected through a synchronisation rope 12 by crimping terminals.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, rear side of the truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d comprises a upper roller 14 positioned on top of the hollow railing guide 1 and a counter roller 15 positioned on bottom of the hollow railing guide 1 as shown in Figure 4. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hollow rail guide 1 is formed from round hollow tube pressed and rolled into required shape using roll-forming process using special tooling.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first truck plate 2a is connected to edge of an integrated cover 5 mounted on top of the base panel through a reclosing spring 11 .

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is supported at the bottom through the synchronisation rope 12 connected between the pulleys 7a, 7b.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the emergency device lever 9 is used for rescue and lock open/close the lock hook 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact switches 10a, 10b is an electrical safety for not allowing the door from opening while the elevator is in movement.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the integrated cover 5 helps in protection of debris at job site during installation and running of the landing door mechanism and fixation of reclosing spring 11 .

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material of the said guide assembly is steel.

Referring to Figures 8 and 10 to 12, in another embodiment of the present invention, the guide assembly for use in telescopic opening type elevator doors, the said guide assembly comprising of: a base panel with one end bracket 6 fixed at one end of said base panel respectively; a two hollow railing guides 1a, 1 b positioned parallel below along the base panel with support of end bracket 6 at on one side; at least two truck plates 2a, 2b spaced apart positioned on the first hollow railing guide 1 a for horizontal sliding movement along said first hollow railing guide 1 a; at least two truck plates 2c, 2d spaced apart positioned on the second hollow railing guide 1 b for horizontal sliding movement along said second hollow railing guide 1 b; a stopper 8 positioned below the end brackets 6 to limit the movement of the truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d; a lock beak 4 positioned on free end of the first hollow railing guide 1 a; a lock hook 3 positioned on the edge of the first truck plate 2a in same axis of the lock beak 4 to engage/disengage with said lock beak 4 for mechanically lock the first truck plate 2a with the first hollow railing guide 1 a; a bracket fixed at the free end of the first hollow railing guide 1 a adjacent to the lock beak 4, said bracket houses multiple sub-components such as contact switch 10, and emergency device lever 9; and two pulleys 7a, 7b positioned below the second truck plate 2b and fourth truck plate 2d respectively drivingly connected through a synchronisation rope 12 by crimping terminals.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, rear side of the truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d comprises two upper rollers 14a, 14b and two counter rollers 15a, 15b positioned on top and bottom of the first hollow railing guide 1 a and second hollow railing guide 1 b respectively as shown in Figure 10.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hollow rail guide 1 is formed from round hollow tube pressed and rolled into required shape using roll-forming process using special tooling.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fourth truck plate 2d is connected to edge of an integrated cover 5 mounted on top of the base panel through a reclosing spring 11 .

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is supported at the bottom through the synchronisation rope 12 connected between the pulleys 7a, 7b.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the emergency device lever 9 is used for rescue and lock open/close the lock hook 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact switches 10a, 10b is an electrical safety for not allowing the door from opening while the elevator is in movement.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the integrated cover 5 helps in protection of debris at job site during installation and running of the landing door mechanism and fixation of reclosing spring 11 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material of the said guide assembly is steel.

Working

Method of opening operation of the guide assembly for use in centre opening type elevator doors according to the present invention as shown in Figures 2, 4 and Figure 5 are given below:

Step-1 : The lock hook 3 positioned on the edge of the third truck plate 2c disengage with said lock beak 4 for mechanically unlock the second truck plate 2b with said third truck plate 2c and the pulleys 7a, 7b will rotate clockwise.

Step- 2: The truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d slides horizontally away from the centre on a surface of the hollow railing guides 1a, 1 b with help of the two upper rollers 14a, 14b and two counter rollers 15a, 15b positioned on top and bottom of the first hollow railing guide 1 a and second hollow railing guide 1 b respectively.

Step- 3: The stoppers 8a, 8b positioned below the end brackets 6a, 6b respectively limits the movement of the truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d.

Step- 4: The reclosing spring 11 elongates due to sliding movement of the truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d.

Step- 5: The pulleys 7a, 7b and the synchronisation rope 12 connected between the pulleys 7a, 7b will ensure sliding movement of the truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d in left hand side and right hand side in a synchronised manner at an equal distance away from the centre.

Method of closing operation of the guide assembly for use in centre opening type elevator doors according to the present invention as shown in Figures 2 to 6 are given below:

Step-1 : The pulleys 7a, 7b and the synchronisation rope 12 connected between the pulleys 7a, 7b will ensure sliding movement of the truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d in left hand side and right hand side in a synchronised manner at an equal distance towards the centre.

Step- 2: The truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d slides horizontally towards the centre on a surface of the hollow railing guides 1a, 1 b with help of the two upper rollers 14a, 14b and two counter rollers 15a, 15b positioned on top and bottom of the first hollow railing guide 1 a and second hollow railing guide 1 b respectively.

Step- 3: The reclosing spring 11 compresses due to sliding movement of the truck plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d towards the centre.

Step- 4: The lock hook 3 positioned on the edge of the third truck plate 2c engage with said lock beak 4 for mechanically lock the second truck plate 2b with said third truck plate 2c and the pulleys 7a, 7b will rotate counter clockwise.

As illustrated in Figure 12 and Figure 9 and 10, the hollow railing guides 1 , 1 a, 1 b used in both guide assembly for centre opening type and telescopic opening type elevator doors are having the following dimensions: The hollow rail guide 1 is one of the key features of the present invention. It is a defining component which comprises a single tubular component which has parallel central tubular part 20 which expands into a circular contour or annular structure towards the edges, and which appears like a dumbbell. The annular structure having a first end 21 , and second end 22 is of the same configuration in both the ends 21 , 22 is of length 40 mm. The annular structure has an internal radius R5 and the tubular parallel structures 20 in the center is approximately 1-3mm in width.

For exemplary purposes only the tubular parallel part of the hollow rail guide is of 30mm, the length of the hollow rail guide from end to end is 40mm. The hollow rail guide is a structural member which is both engaged to the truck plate and also acts as a rail guide., it is the key difference in comparison to the background art.

Example of a hollow rail guide 1 :

Width of 1 to 3 mm

Height / length of 40 mm

Top and bottom ring having radius of R5

As illustrated in Figure 13, the truck plate (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) used in both guide assembly for centre opening type and telescopic opening type elevator doors are having the following dimensions:

Breath of 120 mm

Length of 139 mm

Advantages of the present invention:

• Since multiple truck plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are used in both guide assembly for centre opening type and telescopic opening type elevator doors, said guide assembly eliminates the need of variable sizes for different landing door mechanism.

• The truck plate is not a single piece in the present invention it is multiple pieces preferably two piece. It has the advantage of being customized for any size doors.

• Hollow railing guides 1 a, 1 b used in both guide assembly for centre opening type and telescopic opening type elevator doors integrates two functions such as guide and support with use of just one component.

• Integrated cover 5 for guide assembly for use in elevator doors, helps in protection of debris at job site during installation and running of the landing door mechanism and holds the function of reclosing spring retainer mechanism.

Thus, the present invention achieves a design improvement and reduction of components in guide assembly for use in elevator doors without affecting the function of the elevator landing mechanism and also integrates guide and support function with use of one hollow guide rail component.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims. Further embodiments may be also obtained by combining two or more dependent claims.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providing the above invention. However various changes may be made in the structure of the invention without departing from the concept of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.