SEPARATION PREVENTING DEVICE OF ELEVATOR DOOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for preventing the separation of doors, constructed to be opened and closed from side to side, of an elevator, and, more particularly, to a door separation preventing device for elevators that can be easily and simply installed at a small space where each door of an existing elevator or each door of a newly-constructed elevator is located in a simple structure for preventing the door from being pushed toward the hoistway and thus separated due to pressure or impact applied to the door, thereby maximally securing the safety.

Description of the Related Art

Generally, an elevator is constructed in a structure in which an elevation car is vertically moved upward and downward in a hoistway provided in a high-rise building by a traction machine to rapidly and smoothly move passengers between floors of the high-rise building. Consequently, the installation of a safety device for maximally securing the safety of the passengers is essential. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a conventional elevator

100, installed in a building, is constructed in a structure in which an elevation car 110, having elevation car doors 112 openable and closable such that passengers can get on and off the elevation car 110, is mounted in a hoistway 102 such that the elevation car can be moved upward or downward by a traction machine, and platform doors 122 are mounted at a platform 120 provided at each floor of a building such that the platform doors 122 can be opened, when the elevation car 110 reaches each platform 120, and the platform doors 122 can be closed, when the elevation car 110 leaves each platform 120.

As described above, the elevator includes the elevation car doors, provided at the elevation car, and the platform doors, provided at the respective platforms, such that the elevation car doors and the platform doors can be opened and closed to allow the passenger to get in the elevation car. As shown in the drawings, each elevation car door 112 and each platform door 122 are provided at the lower parts thereof with mounting brackets 132, which are connected to shoes 130, made of synthetic resin, via connection pieces 134, and guide grooves 115a and 125a are formed at rails 115 and 125 disposed below the elevation car and buried in the floor of each platform such that the shoes 130 are slidable along the corresponding guide grooves 115a and 125a, whereby the doors 112 and 122 are

opened and closed.

In the conventional elevator, however, the lower parts of the respective doors 112 and 122, especially the platform doors 122, are constructed such that the shoes are fitted and supported in the guide grooves of the respective rails. Consequently, the shoes may be separated from the corresponding guide grooves due to the wear of the shoes caused by the frequent opening and closing of the doors, or the shoes may be separated from the corresponding guide grooves due to pressure or impact applied to the doors from the outside, with the result that the doors may be pushed to the hoistway side, and therefore, passengers may fall along the hoistway, which is a great defect in safety.

To solve the above-mentioned problem, there have been proposed various kinds of safety devices for preventing the doors from being pushed to the hoistway side. However, it was difficult to install the safety devices due to a small space where the doors of the elevator, i.e., the elevation car doors and the platform doors, are installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a door separation preventing device for elevators that can be easily and simply

installed at a small space where each door of an existing elevator or each door of a newly-constructed elevator is located in a simple structure for preventing the door from being pushed toward the hoistway and thus separated due to pressure or impact applied to the door, thereby maximally securing the safety.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a door separation preventing device for elevators that is capable of allowing a passenger to be aurally informed that the door is pushed, when the door is pushed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a door separation preventing device for elevators that is capable of securing the safety by a simpler structure . It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door separation preventing device for elevators including stopper units formed in a simpler structure.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a door separation preventing device of an elevator constructed in a structure in which an elevation car, having elevation car doors movable along a rail such that the elevation car doors can be opened, and therefore, passengers can get in the elevation car, is mounted in a hoistway such that the elevation car can be moved upward or

downward by a traction machine, and platform doors are mounted at a platform provided at each floor of a building such that the platform doors are movable along a rail such that the platform doors can be opened, when the elevation car reaches each platform, and the platform doors can be closed, when the elevation car leaves each platform, wherein the door separation preventing device includes support brackets mounted at opposite outsides of each elevation car door and each platform door, respectively, the support brackets having a predetermined length extending downward without the interference between the support brackets and the corresponding rails, and stopper units located at the outsides of the corresponding support brackets below the respective doors for preventing the doors from being pushed outward and thus separated due to pressure or impact applied to the doors, the corresponding support brackets and the corresponding stopper units being located such that the support brackets and the stopper units are deviated from each other, and therefore, do not overlap with each other.

Preferably, each stopper unit, disposed below the corresponding elevation car door, includes a fixing bracket mounted at a fixing frame mounted to the bottom of the elevation car in such a manner that the corresponding support bracket is prevented from being pushed outward.

Preferably, each stopper unit, disposed below the corresponding platform door, includes a fixing bracket mounted at a fixing frame mounted to a wall below the rail in such a manner that the corresponding support bracket is prevented from being pushed outward.

Preferably, the fixing brackets of the respective stopper units are provided with sensors for sensing the contact between the support brackets and the fixing brackets caused by the movement of the support brackets, and a sound output unit for outputting a signal sound according to the signal of the corresponding sensor is connected to each sensor.

Preferably, the respective support brackets are provided at the lower ends thereof with catching parts, which are bent inward in the shape of a hook, and the respective stopper units, disposed below the corresponding support brackets, include extension frame parts extending from one end of the respective rails such that the catching parts are caught and thus supported by the corresponding extension frame parts.

Preferably, the respective stopper units include mounting brackets extending from base frames, on which the corresponding rails are installed, and located at the outsides of the support brackets for preventing the support brackets from being pushed.

Preferably, the stopper units include mounting parts and blocking brackets bent from opposite sides of the mounting parts in a symmetrical fashion such that the blocking brackets are located at the outsides of the respective support brackets, the mounting parts and blocking brackets being integrally formed with each other.

Preferably, the mounting parts are provided at predetermined sides thereof with long holes, in which mounting faces formed at the blocking brackets are fixedly coupled such that the blocking brackets can be separated from the sides of the corresponding mounting parts and the positions of the blocking brackets can be adjusted in the forward-and-rearward direction of the mounting parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is installed at platform doors of an elevator;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of the door separation preventing device for elevators shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of the door separation preventing device for elevators shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating a modification of the door separation preventing device for elevators shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view schematically illustrating the structure of a conventional elevator; and

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of the elevator shown in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is installed at platform doors of an elevator, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of the door separation preventing device for elevators shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of the door separation preventing device for elevators shown in FIG. 2. As shown in the drawings, the present invention

provides a door separation preventing device of an elevator 100 constructed in a structure in which an elevation car 110, having elevation car doors 112 movable along a rail 115 such that the elevation car doors 112 can be opened and closed, and therefore, passengers can get on and off the elevation car 110, is mounted in a hoistway 102 such that the elevation car 110 can be moved upward or downward by a traction machine, and platform doors 122 are mounted at a platform 120 provided at each floor of a building such that the platform doors 122 are movable along a rail 125 such that the platform doors 122 can be opened, when the elevation car 110 reaches each platform 120, and the platform doors 122 can be closed, when the elevation car 110 leaves each platform 120. The door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention is easily and simply installed at a small space where each door of an existing elevator or each door of a newly-constructed elevator is located in a simple structure for preventing the door from being pushed toward the hoistway and thus separated due to pressure or impact applied to the door such that the door is moved outward, thereby maximally securing the safety.

To this end, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention includes support brackets 10 and 1OA mounted at opposite outsides of

each elevation car door 112 and each platform door 122, respectively, the support brackets 10 and 1OA being bent once or more such that the support brackets 10 and 1OA have a predetermined length extending downward without the interference between the support brackets 10 and 1OA and the corresponding rails 115 and 125, and stopper units 20 and 2OA located at the outsides of the corresponding support brackets 10 and 1OA below the respective doors 112 and 122 for preventing the doors 112 and 122 from being pushed outward and thus separated due to pressure or impact applied to the doors 112 and 122. The corresponding support brackets 10 and 1OA and the corresponding stopper units 20 and 2OA are located such that the support brackets 10 and 1OA and the stopper units 20 and 2OA are deviated from each other, and therefore, do not overlap with each other. Consequently, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention is easily installed in a small space between the elevation car door and the platform door without interference, and therefore, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention does not cause any inconvenience in opening and closing the respective doors.

Preferably, each stopper unit 20, disposed below the corresponding elevation car door 112, includes a fixing bracket 14 mounted at a fixing frame 12 mounted to the

bottom of the elevation car 110 in such a manner that the fixing bracket 14 is bent upward to prevent the corresponding support bracket 10 from being pushed outward.

Preferably, each stopper unit 2OA, disposed below the corresponding platform door 122, includes a fixing bracket 14a mounted at a fixing frame 12a mounted to a wall below the rail 125 in such a manner that the fixing bracket 14a is bent upward to prevent the corresponding support bracket 1OA from being pushed outward. The door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention is operated as follows in the relationship between the door separation preventing device and a platform door. When pressure or impact is applied to a platform door at a certain platform, the support bracket mounted to the platform door at the lower hoistway side is supported by the stopper unit disposed below the support bracket, i.e., the fixing bracket mounted at the fixing frame mounted to the wall below the rail, along which the platform door is moved such that the platform door can be opened and closed, in such a manner that the fixing bracket is bent upward to prevent the support bracket from being pushed to the hoistway side and thus separated, whereby the platform door is prevented from being pushed to the hoistway side. Consequently, the platform door is prevented from

being pushed to the hoistway side and thus separated, when pressure or impact is applied to the platform door, whereby it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a falling accident caused as the platform door is pushed to the hoistway side and thus separated, and therefore, the safety is maximally secured.

In the same manner as the platform door, each elevation car door is prevented from being separated by the support bracket and the stopper unit disposed below the support bracket, when pressure or impact is applied to the elevation car door in the elevation car toward the hoistway side, whereby the safety is secured.

Meanwhile, the support brackets and the stopper units, disposed at the corresponding positions of the elevation car doors and the platform doors, are located such that the support brackets and the stopper units are deviated from each other, and therefore, do not overlap with each other, as shown in FIG. 1. Consequently, the elevation car doors and the platform doors can be smoothly opened and closed in a small space without interference.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the door separation preventing

device is constructed to aurally confirm, with ease, whether the respective doors are pushed to the hoistway side .

To this end, the fixing brackets 14 and 14a of the respective stopper units 20 and 2OA are provided with sensors 30, e.g. common limit switches, for sensing the contact between the support brackets 10 and 1OA and the fixing brackets 14 and 14a caused by the movement of the support brackets 10 and 1OA due to pressure or impact applied to the support brackets 10 and 1OA. To each sensor 30 is connected a sound output unit (not shown) , such as a speaker, for outputting a signal sound, such as a warning sound, by a control unit (not shown) according to the signal of the corresponding sensor 30. Consequently, when the doors are pushed due to pressure or impact generated at a certain platform or in the elevation car, with the result that the support brackets mounted to the respective doors come into contact with the corresponding sensors provided at the fixing brackets of the respective stopper units, signal sounds, such as warning sounds, are outputted from the sound output units, connected to the respective sensors. As a result, passengers are aurally informed that the doors have been pushed, and therefore, the doors may be separated, whereby the safety is further improved.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the support brackets and the stopper units for preventing the support brackets from being pushed, and therefore, preventing the corresponding doors from being separated, are constructed in a simpler structure in which each stopper unit does not include a fixing frame and a fixing bracket.

To this end, the respective support brackets 10 and 1OA are provided at the lower ends thereof with catching parts 42, which are bent inward in the shape of a hook, and the respective stopper units 20 and 2OA, disposed below the corresponding support brackets 10 and 1OA, include extension frame parts 40 extending from one end of the respective rails 115 and 125 such that the catching parts 42 are caught and thus supported by the corresponding extension frame parts 40. Here, the extension frame parts may be fixed to the corresponding rails by welding or screw coupling. Alternatively, the extension frame parts may be integrally formed with the corresponding rails during the manufacture of the rails. As described above, each stopper unit does not

include the fixing frame and the fixing bracket but is integrally formed with the corresponding rail, along which each door is movable such that the door can be opened and closed. Consequently, it is possible for the stopper units to prevent the corresponding doors from being pushed and separated due to pressure or impact applied to the doors even though the stopper units are constructed in a simpler structure.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the respective stopper units for preventing the support brackets mounted to the respective doors from being pushed are constructed in a simpler structure in which the stopper units are integrally formed with components provided when the rails are installed, and therefore, each stopper unit does not include a fixing frame and a fixing bracket. To this end, the respective stopper units 20 and 2OA include mounting brackets 50 extending from base frames 115b and 125b, on which the corresponding rails 115 and 125 are installed, and located at the outsides of the support brackets 10 and 1OA for preventing the support brackets 10 and 1OA from being pushed.

Here, the mounting brackets may be fixed to the corresponding base frames by welding or screw coupling.

Alternatively, the mounting brackets may be integrally formed with the corresponding base frames during the manufacture of the base frames.

As described above, each stopper unit does not include the fixing frame and the fixing bracket but include the mounting bracket integrally formed with the base frame, provided when the corresponding rail is installed, for supporting the corresponding support bracket. Consequently, the stopper units are constructed in a simpler structure.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating principal components of a door separation preventing device for elevators according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the respective stopper units, disposed below the elevation car door and the platform door, are constructed in a simpler structure.

To this end, the stopper units 20 and 2OA include mounting parts 60 mounted to the fixing frame 12, which is mounted to the elevation car, and directly mounted to the fixing frame below the platform door or to the wall and blocking brackets 65 bent from opposite sides of the mounting parts 60 in a symmetrical fashion such that the blocking brackets 65 are located at the outsides of the

respective support brackets 10 and 1OA.

Consequently, the troublesomeness caused by separately preparing and installing the stopper units is eliminated, and therefore, it is possible to more simply and rapidly install the stopper units.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating a modification of the door separation preventing device for elevators shown in FIG. 7.

In this modification, the positions of the blocking brackets are adjusted in the forward-and-rearward direction depending upon the installation conditions in the structure shown in FIG. 7.

Specifically, long holes 63 are formed in predetermined sides 62 of the mounting parts 60, in which mounting faces 64 formed at the blocking brackets are fixedly coupled such that the blocking brackets 65 can be separated from the sides 62 of the corresponding mounting parts 60 and the positions of the blocking brackets 65 can be adjusted in the forward-and-rearward direction. Consequently, the blocking brackets are located and fixed at desired positions of the mounting parts depending upon conditions to install the stopper units, and therefore, it is possible to easily install the stopper units without installation limits. As apparent from the above description, the door

separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention is easily and simply installed at a small space where each door of an existing elevator or each door of a newly-constructed elevator is located in a simple structure for preventing the door from being pushed toward the hoistway and thus separated due to pressure or impact applied to the door, thereby maximally securing the safety. Since the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention is simply applied to the existing elevators, the compatibility of the present invention is very high. In addition, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention has the effect of allowing the passenger to safely use the elevator without a possibility of danger of a falling accident.

Also, when the door is pushed due to pressure or impact applied to the door, a signal sound is outputted to allow the passenger to be aurally informed that the doors have been pushed. Consequently, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention has the effect of allowing the passenger to rapidly and accurately confirm a possibility of danger of a falling accident, thereby securing greater safety.

Also, the stopper units are not provided as additional components but are integrally formed with the

rails or components necessary to install the rails. Consequently, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention has the effect of securing the safety through a simpler structure without the provision of additional components.

Also, the stopper units are not separately provided but integrally formed. Consequently, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention has the effect of more rapidly and simply being installed.

Also, the positions of the blocking brackets of the stopper units are adjusted in the forward-and-rearward direction and then the blocking brackets of the stopper units are fixedly coupled to each other. Consequently, the door separation preventing device for elevators according to the present invention has the effect of easily fixedly coupling the blocking brackets at desired positions depending upon the installation conditions.