ELEVATOR

Abstract

 In an elevator apparatus, a cab has a cab main body in which a car entrance is disposed, and a ceiling portion disposed at an upper end portion of the cab main body. The ceiling portion is raisable and lowerable between a normal operating position positioned at the upper end portion of the cab main body and a maintenance work position positioned below the normal operating position inside the cab main body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus in which maintenance inspection work on equipment installed inside a hoistway is performed from on top of a car.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, in elevator apparatuses in which equipment is installed in an upper portion inside a hoistway, maintenance personnel ride on top of a car to perform maintenance inspection work. Consequently, space for performing maintenance inspection work is reserved in an upper portion inside the hoistway, increasing upper portion clearance dimensions (overhead dimensions) of the hoistway by an amount proportionate to that space. In other words, space for car-top work is an obstacle to overall space saving in elevator apparatuses.

[0003] In a conventional elevator apparatus such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-106459 (Gazette), an inspection panel is disposed on a car wall, and equipment inside the hoistway is inspected and maintained from inside the car by opening this inspection panel.

[0004] However, in an elevator apparatus of this kind, since the inspection panel is disposed in the car wall, the interior design of the car deteriorates. Furthermore, work is only possible on equipment facing the inspection panel, making the operating range limited. In addition, in order to work on a plurality of items of equipment disposed in different positions, it is necessary to dispose a plurality of inspection panels, further detracting from the design. Still furthermore, if equipment is installed in a vicinity of an uppermost portion inside the hoistway, it is necessary to dispose the inspection panel in an upper portion of the car wall, requiring separate footing such as stepladders, etc.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above problems and an object of the present invention is to provide an elevator apparatus enabling maintenance inspection work to be performed easily on equipment inside a hoistway from on top of a car, and also enabling overhead dimensions of the hoistway to be reduced while preventing deterioration of design inside a cab.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator apparatus comprising a cab that is raised and lowered inside a hoistway, the cab having a cab main body in which a car entrance is disposed, and a ceiling portion disposed at an upper end portion of the cab main body, wherein the ceiling portion is raisable and lowerable between a normal operating position positioned at the upper end portion of the cab main body and a maintenance work position positioned below the normal operating position inside the cab main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] 

Figure 1 is a perspective showing an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective showing a state of the elevator apparatus in Figure 1 during maintenance inspection work;

Figure 3 is a partial cross section of the elevator apparatus in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section showing a state of the elevator apparatus in Figure 3 during a loading operation;

Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for a ceiling portion in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for a ceiling portion of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for a ceiling portion of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; and

Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for a ceiling portion of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective showing an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective showing a state of the elevator apparatus in Figure 1 during maintenance inspection work.

[0010] In the figures, a pair of car guide rails 2 and a pair of counterweight guide rails 3 are installed inside a hoistway 1. A car 4 is guided by the car guide rails 2 so as to be raised and lowered inside the hoistway 1. A counterweight 5 is guided by the counterweight guide rails 3 so as to be raised and lowered inside the hoistway 1.

[0011] A supporting member 6 is fixed to an upper end portion of the counterweight guide rails 3. A driving machine (a hoisting machine) 7 for hoisting the car 4 and the counterweight 5 are supported on the supporting member 6. The driving machine 7 has: a driving machine main body 8 including a motor; and a drive sheave 9 rotated by the driving machine main body 8.

[0012] A plurality of main ropes 10 are wound around the drive sheave 9. The car 4 and the counterweight 5 are suspended inside the hoistway 1 by the main ropes 10. A pair of car suspension sheaves 11 around which the main ropes 10 are wound are disposed on a lower end portion of the car 4. A counterweight suspension sheave 12 around which the main ropes 10 are wound is disposed on an upper end portion of the counterweight 5.

[0013] A first rope fastening portion 13 is secured to an upper end portion of one of the car guide rails 2. A second rope fastening portion 14 is secured in a vicinity of an upper end portion of the counterweight guide rails 3. The main ropes 10 have: a first end portion 10a connected to the first rope fastening portion 13; and a second end portion 10b connected to the second rope fastening portion 14. The main ropes 10 are wound in sequence from the first end portion 10a, around the car suspension sheaves 11, the drive sheave 9, and the counterweight suspension sheave 12 to the second end portion 10b.

[0014] A control board 15 for controlling operation of the driving machine 7 is secured to an upper end portion of the other car guide rail 2.

[0015] The car 4 has: a car frame (not shown); and a cab 16 supported by the car frame. The cab 16 has: a cab main body 17 in which a car entrance 17a is disposed; a ceiling portion 18 disposed at an upper end portion of the cab main body 17; car doors 19 for opening and closing the car entrance 17a; and a door apparatus 20 for supporting and driving the opening and closing of the car doors 19.

[0016] The cab main body 17 has : a car floor (a bottom surface); a front surface; a rear surface; a left side surface; and a right side surface. The car entrance 17a is disposed in the front surface of the cab main body 17.

[0017] The ceiling portion 18 is raisable and lowerable between a normal operating position (Figure 1) positioned at an upper end portion of the cab main body 17, and a maintenance work position (Figure 2) positioned below the normal operating position inside the cab main body 17. In other words, the ceiling portion 18 also serves as a work platform. A height of the maintenance work position is adjustable to account for height of the maintenance personnel, height of the equipment being worked on (the driving machine 7, the control board 15, etc.), and the like.

[0018] Figure 3 is a partial cross section of the elevator apparatus in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a cross section showing a state of the elevator apparatus in Figure 3 during a loading operation. As shown in Figure 4, the ceiling portion 18 is lowerable to a loading position positioned below the maintenance work position inside the cab main body 17. Movement between a landing and the ceiling portion 18 is made possible by lowering the ceiling portion 18 to the loading position. Furthermore, a height of the loading position is also adjustable to a height facilitating movement of the maintenance personnel, loading and unloading of tools, etc.

[0019] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for the ceiling portion 18 in Figure 1. Rotatable first to fourth cab main body pulleys 21 to 24 are disposed in each of four corners of an upper end portion of the cab main body 17. Rotatable first to fourth ceiling portion pulleys 25 to 28 are disposed in each of four corners above the ceiling portion 18.

[0020] A wire rope 29 is wound around the first to fourth cab main body pulleys 21 to 24 and the first to fourth ceiling portion pulleys 25 to 28. A winding apparatus 30 for winding the wire rope 29 is mounted on the ceiling portion 18. A handle 31 for manually winding up and paying out the wire rope 29 is disposed on the winding apparatus 30. First and second direction-changing pulleys 32a and 32b for leading the wire rope 29 to the winding apparatus 30 also are disposed on the ceiling portion 18.

[0021] The wire rope 29 is wound in sequence from one end portion, around the first direction-changing pulley 32a, the first ceiling portion pulley 25, the first cab main body pulley 21, the second cab main body pulley 22, the second ceiling portion pulley 26, the third ceiling portion pulley 27, the third cab main body pulley 23, the fourth cab main body pulley 24, the fourth ceiling portion pulley 28, and the second direction-changing pulley 32b, and both end portions are wound onto the winding apparatus 30. Theceiling portion 18 is lowered by paying the wire rope 29 out from the winding apparatus 30, and is raised by winding the wire rope 29 onto the winding apparatus 30.

[0022] Protective members 33 for preventing inner wall surfaces of the cab main body 17 from being damaged by the raising and lowering of the ceiling portion 18 are disposed on edge surfaces of the ceiling portion 18 facing the inner wall surfaces. A cloth such as a felt, etc., or rollers that are rolled along the inner wall surfaces of the cab main body 17, etc., can be used for the protective members 33, for example.

[0023] A plurality of items of electrical equipment (not shown) such as lighting equipment, ventilation apparatuses, etc., are supported by the ceiling portion 18. Electrical wiring for power supply and control (not shown) is connected to these items of electrical equipment. A connector portion (not shown) that is connected when the ceiling portion 18 is positioned in the normal operating position, and disconnected when the ceiling portion 18 is positioned in the maintenance work position is disposed on the electrical wiring. The connector portion may also be a combination of a plug and a socket, etc.

[0024] Next, operation will be explained. During normal operation, the ceiling portion 18 is positioned in the normal operating position. During maintenance inspections, maintenance personnel board the ceiling portion 18, and the ceiling portion 18 is lowered to the maintenance work position by operating the winding apparatus 30 manually. Then, the car 4 is moved to the uppermost floor.

[0025] At this time, if it is necessary to load equipment or tools, the ceiling portion 18 is lowered to the loading position, and the loading operation is performed from the landing, then the ceiling portion 18 is raised to the maintenance work position. This kind of loading operation may be performed at the landing of the uppermost floor, or it may also be performed at the landing of any other floor.

[0026] Then, maintenance inspection work on equipment such as the driving machine 7, the control board 15, etc., is carried out by the maintenance personnel on the ceiling portion 18. After completion of the work, the ceiling portion 18 is returned to the normal operating position by reversing the above procedure.

[0027] In an elevator apparatus of this kind, because the ceiling portion 18 is raisable and lowerable between the normal operating position and the maintenance work position, maintenance inspection work can be performed easily on equipment inside the hoistway 1 from on top of the car 4, and overhead dimensions of the hoistway 1 can be reduced while preventing deterioration of design inside the cab 16. It is also no longer necessary to provide a work platform inside the cab 16 separately.

[0028] In addition, if the ceiling portion 18 as a whole is made to be raised and lowered, there are no limits to the design of the ceiling portion 18 seen from inside the cab 16.

[0029] Because the ceiling portion 18 is lowerable to a loading position positioned below the maintenance work position inside the cab main body 17, the movement of maintenance personnel and the loading and unloading of tools between the landing and the top of the ceiling portion 18 can be performed easily, enabling workability to be improved.

[0030] In addition, because the ceiling portion 18 is suspended by a wire rope 29, and is raised and lowered by a winding apparatus 30 that winds the wire rope 29, there is no influence on the design inside the cab 16, enabling the ceiling portion 18 to be raised and lowered by a simple construction, and also enabling it to be stopped and held in predetermined positions. The height of the ceiling portion 18 can also be adjusted continuously to stop the ceiling portion 18 at a position suited to the work, enabling workability to be improved.

[0031] Furthermore, because protective members 33 are disposed on the edge surfaces of the ceiling portion 18 facing the inner wall surfaces of the cab main body 17, the ceiling portion 18 can be raised and lowered smoothly, and the inner wall surfaces of main body of the chamber 17 can be prevented from being damaged by contact with the ceiling portion 18.

[0032] Because the connector portion is disposed on the electrical wiring connected to the items of electrical equipment disposed on the ceiling portion 18, raising and lowering of the ceiling portion 18 is made possible without lengthening the electrical wiring, enabling the construction to be simplified. Moreover, because items of electrical equipment mounted to the ceiling portion 18 are not normally used while inspecting and maintaining equipment inside the hoistway 1 on top of the car 4, there is no problem if the connector portion is disconnected during the maintenance inspection work.

[0033] In addition, because the first to fourth cab main body pulleys 21 to 24 are disposed in the four corners of the upper end portion of the cab main body 17 and the first to fourth ceiling portion pulleys 25 to 28 are disposed in the four corners above the ceiling portion 18, the ceiling portion 18 can be raised and lowered stably.

[0034] Furthermore, because a manually-operated winding apparatus 30 is used, it is not necessary to connect the electrical wiring to the winding apparatus 30, enabling the winding apparatus 30 to be easily mounted to the raised and lowered ceiling portion 18.

Embodiment 2

[0035] Next, Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for a ceiling portion of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this example, an electric winding apparatus 34 for winding a wire rope 29 is mounted above a door apparatus 20. The winding apparatus 34 has an electric motor (not shown), and winding up and paying out of the wire rope 29 is performed by a driving force from the electric motor.

[0036] The wire rope 29 is wound in sequence from one end portion, around a second cab main body pulley 23, a third ceiling portion pulley 27, a second ceiling portion pulley 26, a second cab main body pulley 22, a first cab main body pulley 21, a first ceiling portion pulley 25, a fourth ceiling portion pulley 28, and a fourth cab main body pulley 24, and both end portions are wound onto the winding apparatus 34. The rest of the construction is similar to that of Embodiment 1.

[0037] In an elevator apparatus of this kind, because the winding apparatus 34 is mounted above the door apparatus 20 which is fixed relative to the cab main body 17 rather than on the ceiling portion 18, feeding of an electric power supply is facilitated, enabling the ceiling portion 18 to be raised and lowered by electric power, thereby enabling workability to be improved.

Embodiment 3

[0038] Next, Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for a ceiling portion of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the figure, a car 4 has: a cab 16; and a car frame 35 for supporting the cab 16. The car frame 35 has: an upper beam 36 disposed horizontally above the cab 16; a lower beam (not shown) disposed below the cab 16 to carry the cab 16; and a pair of vertical frames (not shown) disposed between the upper beam 36 and the lower beam on both sides of the cab 16.

[0039] First and fourth upper beam pulleys 37 and 40 are mounted to one end portion of the upper beam 36. Second and third upper beam pulleys 38 and 39 are mounted to the other end portion of the upper beam 36.

[0040] A wire rope 29 is wound in sequence from one end portion, around a first direction-changing pulley 32a, a first ceiling portion pulley 25, the first upper beam pulley 37, the second upper beam pulley 38, a second ceiling portion pulley 26, a third ceiling portion pulley 27, the third upper beam pulley 39, the fourth upper beam pulley 40, a fourth ceiling portion pulley 28, and a second direction-changing pulley 32b, and both end portions are wound onto a winding apparatus 30. The rest of the construction is similar to that of Embodiment 1.

[0041] In an elevator apparatus of this kind, because the first to fourth upper beam pulleys 37 to 40 are mounted to the upper beam 36, ample supporting strength can be ensured compared to when pulleys are mounted to the cab main body 17.

Embodiment 4

[0042] Next, Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a hoisting mechanism for a ceiling portion of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In this example, a winding apparatus 30 is mounted to an upper beam 36. A ceiling portion 18 is suspended by first and second wire ropes 41 and 42.

[0043] The first wire rope 41 is wound in sequence from one end portion, around a second upper beam pulley 38, a second ceiling portion pulley 26, a third ceiling portion pulley 27, and a third upper beam pulley 39, and both end portions are wound onto a winding apparatus 30.

[0044] Similarly, the second wire rope 42 is wound in sequence from one end portion, around a first upper beam pulley 37, a first ceiling portion pulley 25, a fourth ceiling portion pulley 28, and a fourth upper beam pulley 40, and both end portions are wound onto the winding apparatus 30.

[0045] The ceiling portion 18 is lowered by simultaneously paying out the first and second wire ropes 41 and 42 from the winding apparatus 30, and is raised by simultaneously winding the first and second wire ropes 41 and 42 onto the winding apparatus 30. The rest of the construction is similar to that of Embodiment 1.

[0046] In an elevator apparatus of this kind, because the winding apparatus 30 is mounted to the upper beam 36, ample supporting strength can be ensured.

[0047] Moreover, in the above examples, the ceiling portion is suspended by a wire rope, but the ceiling portion may also be suspended by a belt or chain, for example.

[0048] In the above examples, the ceiling portion is raised and lowered manually or electrically, but the ceiling portion may also be raised and lowered by a hydraulic actuator, for example.

[0049] In addition, a locking means may also be disposed between the cab main body and the ceiling portion to engage the ceiling portion mechanically and prevent the ceiling portion from dropping when the ceiling portion is in the normal operating position.

[0050] Furthermore, if a drive source for the ceiling portion such as a winding apparatus, etc., is disposed on the ceiling portion, the electric drive source can be easily used by disposing a rechargeable battery on the ceiling portion. In that case, the battery is charged when the ceiling portion is in the normal operating position, and the ceiling portion is raised and lowered using electric power from the charged battery.

[0051] In the above examples, the ceiling portion as a whole is raised and lowered, but a portion only of the ceiling portion may also be made raisable and lowerable.

Claims

1. An elevator apparatus comprising:

a cab that is raised and lowered inside a hoistway, the cab having a cab main body in which a car entrance is disposed, and a ceiling portion disposed at an upper end portion of the cab main body,

   wherein the ceiling portion is raisable and lowerable between a normal operating position positioned at the upper end portion of the cab main body and a maintenance work position positioned below the normal operating position inside the cab main body.

2. The elevator apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the ceiling portion is lowerable to a loading position positioned below the maintenance work position inside the cab main body.

3. The elevator apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the ceiling portion is suspended by a wire rope, and is raised and lowered by a winding apparatus for winding the wire rope.

4. The elevator apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the cab further has a car door for opening and closing the car entrance, and a door apparatus for driving opening and closing of the car door, and the winding apparatus is mounted above the door apparatus.

5. The elevator apparatus according to Claim 3, further comprising:

a car frame for supporting the cab, the car frame having an upper beam disposed horizontally above the cab, the winding apparatus being mounted to the upper beam.

6. The elevator apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a protective member preventing an inner wall surface of the cab main body from being damaged by raising and lowering of the ceiling portion is disposed on an edge surface of the ceiling portion facing the inner wall surface.

7. The elevator apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein electrical equipment is supported by the ceiling portion, and a connector portion that is connected when the ceiling portion is positioned in the normal operating position and disconnected when the ceiling portion is positioned in the maintenance work position is disposed on electrical wiring connected to the electrical equipment.

Drawing