The present invention relates to a car rescue device of an elevator which serves to rescue passengers within a car chamber from a rescue hatch provided through a ceiling wall of the car chamber.

Conventionally, there is proposed a passenger car for an elevator having a structure in which foot-hold hooks are mounted on a lighting cover provided on a ceiling of the car and the lighting cover can be turned from the ceiling of the car to be lowered into the car. The foot-hold hooks are fixed to one surface of the lighting cover at intervals of a predetermined distance. Passengers within the car can climb on the foot-hold hooks to escape from a rescue hatch provided through the ceiling of the car to a space above the car (see Patent Document 1).

Conventionally, there is also proposed a rescue device of an elevator having a structure in which a rescue hatch provided through a ceiling of a car is provided with a door body for accommodating a foldable ladder. The foldable ladder is drooped into the car from the rescue hatch through an operation performed on the car (see Patent Document 2).

• Patent Document 1: JP 07-9876 A
• Patent Document 2: JP 2001-171932 A

However, in the passenger car for the elevator disclosed in Patent Document 1, the foot-hold hooks for the passengers to climb on are fixed to the lighting cover, so the lighting cover needs to be ensured of a great strength. As a result, severe restrictions are imposed on the design within the car.

In the rescue device for the elevator disclosed in Patent Document 2, the foldable ladder is provided on the car, so the car has a large vertical dimension as a whole. A mechanism for lowering the ladder from the rescue hatch into the car is also complicated. As a result, a rise in cost is induced, and the operation of rescuing the passengers is troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a car rescue device of an elevator which makes it possible to prevent a structural complication and a deterioration of the design within a car chamber.

A car rescue device of an elevator according to the present invention includes: a turning cover disposed below a rescue hatch provided through a ceiling wall of a car chamber and designed to be turnable between a facing position facing the rescue hatch and an open position located below the facing position to open the rescue hatch to an interior of the car chamber; a rescue ladder designed as a member separate from the turning cover, disposed between the turning cover and the ceiling wall, and turnably supported by the ceiling wall; and a removable mounting device for removably mounting the rescue ladder on the turning cover, wherein the rescue ladder is turned together with the turning cover when mounted on the turning cover by the removable mounting device.

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a car rescue device of an elevator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the car rescue device for the elevator shown in Fig. 1 is operated.
• Fig. 3 is a plan view of the car rescue device for the elevator shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from within the car chamber.
• Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the car rescue device for the elevator at the time when the central lighting cover of Fig. 5 is located at the open position.
• Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the holding device of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.
• Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing a state in which the holding device of Fig. 7 stops holding the central lighting cover.
• Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line X-X of Fig. 9.
• Fig. 11 is a partially sectional view showing the car rescue device for the elevator at the time when the rescue ladder of Fig. 6 is removed from the central lighting cover and extended.
• Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the car rescue device for the elevator shown in Fig. 11.
• Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing a car rescue device of an elevator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
• Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing a state in which the rescue ladder of Fig. 13 is removed from the ceiling wall.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a car rescue device of an elevator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the car rescue device for the elevator shown in Fig. 1 is operated. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a hoistway is provided with a car having a car chamber 1 such that the car can be raised/lowered. The car chamber 1 has a car floor (not shown), a car ceiling 2 disposed above the car floor, and lateral walls 3 provided between edges of the car floor and edges of the car ceiling 2.

The car ceiling 2 has a ceiling wall 4 and a ceiling frame 5 provided on a peripheral edge portion of a lower surface of the ceiling wall 4. The ceiling wall 4 is provided with a rescue hatch 6 for rescuing passengers from within the car chamber 1 to a space outside the car chamber 1 in an emergency. A central lighting cover (turning cover) 7 disposed below the rescue hatch 6 and a pair of lateral lighting covers 8 disposed on both sides of the central lighting cover 7 respectively are mounted on the ceiling frame 5.

The central lighting cover 7 is turnable between a facing position (Fig. 1) facing the rescue hatch 6 and an open position (Fig. 2) located below the facing position to open the rescue hatch 6 to the interior of the car chamber 1. The lateral lighting covers 8 each face the ceiling wall 4 and are removably mounted on the ceiling frame 5.

A plurality of lighting fixtures 9 for lighting the interior of the car chamber 1 are disposed between each of the lateral lighting covers 8 and the ceiling wall 4. The lighting fixtures 9 are each supported by the ceiling wall 4. Light from each of the lighting fixtures 9 is radiated into the car chamber 1 through the central lighting cover 7 and each of the lateral lighting covers 8.

A rescue ladder 10 designed as a member separate from the central lighting cover 7 is disposed between the central lighting cover 7 and the ceiling wall 4. The rescue ladder 10 is retractable. In this example, the rescue ladder 10 is constituted by combining a plurality of separate ladders slidably with respect to one another. When the separate ladders are each slid with respect to one another, the rescue ladder 10 is thereby retractable. The rescue ladder 10 is turnably supported by the ceiling wall 4.

A removable mounting device 11 for removably mounting the rescue ladder 10 on the central lighting cover 7 is provided between a turning end (free end) of the rescue ladder 10 and the central lighting cover 7 (Fig. 2). When the turning end of the rescue ladder 10 is mounted on the central lighting cover 7 by the removable mounting device 11, the rescue ladder 10 is turned in a retracted state together with the central lighting cover 7.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the car rescue device for the elevator shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from within the car chamber. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the ceiling wall 4 has a ceiling wall central panel 12 provided with the rescue hatch 6, and a pair of ceiling wall lateral panels 13 coupled to both lateral portions of the ceiling wall central panel 12, respectively. The ceiling wall central panel 12 is provided with a canopy 35 for opening/closing the rescue hatch 6. The central lighting cover 7 is disposed below the ceiling wall central panel 12, and the lateral lighting covers 8 are disposed below the ceiling wall lateral panels 13, respectively. The lighting fixtures 9 are provided on the ceiling wall lateral panels 13, respectively.

A lighting cover turning shaft 15, which is mounted horizontally between a pair of protrusion portions 14 protruding from an inner surface of the ceiling frame 5, is disposed below one end of the ceiling wall central panel 12. One end of the central lighting cover 7 is turnably provided on the lighting cover turning shaft 15. Thus, the central lighting cover 7 is turned between the facing position (Fig. 1) and the open position (Fig. 2).

A holding device 16 for holding the central lighting cover 7 at the facing position is provided on the inner surface of the ceiling frame 5 and at the other end (turning end) of the central lighting cover 7. The holding device 16 engages the central lighting cover 7 on the other end side thereof to hold the central lighting cover 7 at the facing position. The holding device 16 can be stopped from holding the central lighting cover 7 at the facing position through an operation from within the car chamber 1. That is, the central lighting cover 7 is held at the facing position by the holding device 16, and stopped from being held at the facing position through an operation of the holding device 16 from within the car 1 to be turned from the facing position to the open position.

A plurality of mounting fittings 17 are fixed to coupling portions between the ceiling wall central panel 12 and each of the ceiling wall lateral panels 13. The mounting fittings 17 are each disposed at intervals of a certain distance in a direction perpendicular to the lighting cover turning shaft 15. The lateral lighting covers 8 are each supported by each of the mounting fittings 17 and the ceiling frame 5.

A ladder turning shaft 18, which is disposed parallel to the lighting cover turning shaft 15, is mounted between each of the coupling portions between the ceiling wall central panel 12 and each of the ceiling wall lateral panels 13. One end of the rescue ladder 10 is turnably provided on the ladder turning shaft 18. Thus, the rescue ladder 10 and the central lighting cover 7 are turned on the same plane. The rescue ladder 10 is disposed so as to overlap a part thereof with the rescue hatch 6 when vertically projected on the ceiling wall 4.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the car rescue device for the elevator at the time when the central lighting cover 7 of Fig. 5 is located at the open position. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a pair of turning hooks 19, which are removably hung on the ladder turning shaft 18, are provided at one end of the rescue ladder 10. The rescue ladder 10 is turned around the ladder turning shaft 18 with each of the turning hooks 19 hung on the ladder turning shaft 18. In this manner, the rescue ladder 10 can be removably mounted on the ladder turning shaft 18.

The removable mounting device 11 has a turning member 21 turnable around a mounting shaft 20 provided on the central lighting cover 7, and a joint body 22 for joining a turning end of the turning member 21 to the turning end of the rescue ladder 10 to each other. The mounting shaft 20 is disposed parallel to the lighting cover turning shaft 15.

The turning member 21 is constituted by combining a plurality of slide members 23 that are slidable with respect to one another. Thus, the turning member 21 is retractable. The central lighting cover 7 and the rescue ladder 10 are respectively turned around the turning shafts 15 and 18 that are different from each other, so the distance between the other end (turning end) of the rescue ladder 10 and the mounting shaft 20 differs depending on whether the central lighting cover 7 is located at the facing position (Fig. 5) or at the open position (Fig. 6). The turning member 21 is retractable during the turning of the central lighting cover 7 and the rescue ladder 10, thereby absorbing a change in the distance between the turning end of the rescue ladder 10 and the mounting shaft 20.

The rescue ladder 10 can be removed from the turning member 21 through an operation of the joint body 22 within the car chamber 1. In this example, the joint body 22 is a rope. The rescue ladder 10 is removed from the turning member 21 by undoing the rope within the car chamber 1. Mentionable as the joint body 22 are, for example, a wire and a pin as well as the rope. In the case where the pin is used as the joint body 22, the rescue ladder 10 and the turning member 21 are joined to each other by inserting the common pin into the rescue ladder 10 and the turning member 21, and the rescue ladder 10 is removed from the turning member 21 by pulling the pin out.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the holding device 16 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing a state in which the holding device 16 of Fig. 7 stops holding the central lighting cover 7. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line X-X of Fig. 9. Referring to Figs. 7 to 10, the holding device 16 has a cover fixation body 24 fixed to the turning end of the central lighting cover 7, a displacement body 25 displaceable between an engagement position (Figs. 7 and 8) for engaging the cover fixation body 24 and a release position (Figs. 9 and 10) for releasing the engagement of the cover fixation body 24, and a guide device 26 fixed to the ceiling frame 5 to guide the displacement body 25 between the engagement position and the release position.

The displacement body 25 has a displacement body main unit 27, and a stopper 28 protruding from the displacement body main unit 27 inwardly of the ceiling frame 5. When the displacement body 25 is located at the engagement position, only the stopper 28 is engaged with the cover fixation body 24.

The cover fixation body 24 is provided with a deficient portion 29 through which the stopper 28 is passed when the engagement of the cover fixation body 24 by the displacement body 25 is released. The stopper 28 is displaced below the deficient portion 29 through displacement of the displacement body 25 to the release position. Thus, the engagement of the cover fixation body 24 by the displacement body 25 is released. The central lighting cover 7 can be turned from the facing position to the open position by passing the stopper 28 within the deficient portion 29.

The guide device 26 has a rail 30 for sliding the displacement body main unit 27 horizontally, and a plurality of studs 31 fixed within the rail 30 to guide the displacement body main unit 27. The displacement body main unit 27 is provided with a plurality of long holes 32 through which the studs 31 are passed, respectively. The displacement body 25 is displaced between the engagement position and the release position through displacement of the long holes 32 along the studs 31.

The guide device 26 is provided with a spring (urging body) 33 for urging the displacement body 25 to the engagement position. A plate-shaped release tool (e.g., steel measure) 34 for displacing the stopper 28 against the urging by the spring 33 is inserted from within the car chamber 1 into a gap Q between the ceiling frame 5 and the central lighting cover 7. The displacement body 25 is displaced from the engagement position to the release position by pressing the stopper 28 with the aid of the release tool 34 to displace the stopper 28 against the urging by the spring 33.

Fig. 11 is a partially sectional view showing the car rescue device for the elevator at the time when the rescue ladder 10 of Fig. 6 is removed from the central lighting cover 7 and extended. Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the car rescue device for the elevator shown in Fig. 11. Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the rescue ladder 10 can be extended, when removed from the central lighting cover 7 located at the open position, downward from a retracted state. The rescue ladder 10 is extended to such a position that passengers within the car chamber 1 can easily climb thereon.

Next, a procedure in rescuing the passengers within the car chamber 1 from the rescue hatch 6 will be described. First of all, the release tool 34 such as the steel measure is inserted into the gap Q between the ceiling frame 5 and the central lighting cover 7 to release the engagement of the central lighting cover 7 by the holding device 16. Thus, the central lighting cover 7 is turned from the facing position to the open position due to the weight thereof. At this moment, the rescue ladder 10 is also turned downward together with the central lighting cover 7.

After that, the rope as the joint body 22 is undone to remove the rescue ladder 10 from the removal mounting device 11. After that, the rescue ladder 10 is extended downward to ensure that the passengers within the car chamber 1 can climb thereon. After that, the canopy 35 is turned from within the car chamber 1 to open the rescue hatch 6.

In the car rescue device for the elevator constructed as described above, when the central lighting cover 7 is turned from the facing position to the open position located below, the rescue ladder 10 is turned together with the central lighting cover 7, so the structure for lowering the rescue ladder 10 from the rescue hatch 6 into the car chamber 1 can be prevented from becoming complicated. The structure for lowering the rescue ladder 10 into the car chamber 1 simply through an operation from within the car chamber 1 can be realized, so the amount of labor during the operation of rescuing the passengers can be reduced. In addition, the load imposed at the time when the passengers climb on the rescue ladder 10 is not applied to the central lighting cover 7, so there is no need to reinforce the central lighting cover 7. Accordingly, a deterioration of the design within the car chamber 1 can also be prevented.

The rescue ladder 10 is retractable. Therefore, the rescue ladder 10 can be made compact in an unused state, and can be extended in a used state to such a position that the passengers within the car chamber 1 can easily climb thereon.

The central lighting cover 7 for passing light from the lighting fixtures 9 into the car chamber 1 is turnable, so the brightness within the car chamber 1 can be prevented from dimming.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing a car rescue device of an elevator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing a state in which the rescue ladder 10 of Fig. 13 is removed from the ceiling wall 4. Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, a pair of groove portions 40 facing each other are provided horizontally in each of the coupling portions between the ceiling wall central panel 12 and each of the ceiling wall lateral panels 13. One end of the ladder turning shaft 18 is slidably inserted in one of the groove portions 40, and the other end of the ladder turning shaft 18 is slidably inserted in the other groove portion 40. That is, the ladder turning shaft 18 is provided between the groove portions 40 and can slide along the groove portions 40. The rescue ladder 10 is removably provided on the ladder turning shaft 18. Embodiment 2 of the present invention is identical to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in other constructional details.

In the car rescue device for the elevator constructed as described above, the ladder turning shaft 18 is horizontally movable with respect to the car chamber 1, so the position of the rescue ladder 10 can be adjusted in accordance with the position of the rescue hatch 6 in rescuing passengers. Accordingly, even in the case where the rescue hatch 6 is out of position due to, for example, restrictions such as the arrangement of components (e.g., an air-conditioner and a control panel for a door driving device) installed on the car chamber 1, the operation of rescuing the passengers can be performed efficiently by adjusting the position of the rescue ladder 10.

The rescue ladder 10 can be removed from the ladder turning shaft 18. Therefore, the rescue ladder 10 can be taken out from the rescue hatch 6 onto the car chamber 1 and then used as a ladder for moving out of the hoistway after the passengers have escaped from the rescue hatch 6 onto the car chamber 1. Accordingly, there is no need to prepare means for moving from on the car chamber 1 on a building side. As a result, flexible measures can be taken in an emergency.

In each of the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, the rescue ladder 10 has a retractable structure. However, the rescue ladder 10 may have a foldable structure. Further, instead of extending the rescue ladder 10, the length of the rescue ladder 10 may be fixed as long as the rescue ladder 10 can be lowered to a position at which the passengers within the car chamber 1 can climb thereon.