ELEVATOR DEVICE

Abstract

 In an elevator apparatus, a first car chamber of a first car and a second car chamber of the first car are displaceable with respect to each other between a first position at which the first car chamber and the second car chamber are aligned with each other horizontally and a second position at which the first car chamber and the second car chamber are aligned with each other vertically. The first car can move past a second car when the first car chamber and the second car chamber are each located at the second position. The first car chamber is provided with a first front doorway and a first back doorway. The second car chamber is provided with a second front doorway and a second back doorway. A back surface of the second car is provided with a rescue doorway.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus having a structure in which a first car and a second car are raised/lowered independently of each other within a common hoistway.

Background Art

[0002] In a conventional double-deck elevator, a first elevator car and a second elevator car, which are disposed in vertical alignment with each other, are suspended from a suspension beam. The clearance between the first elevator car and the second elevator car is changed due to a driving force of a motor mounted on the suspension beam (e.g., see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1: JP 2000-309482 A

Disclosure of the Invention

Problem to be solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional double-deck elevator constructed as described above, although a car floor area about twice as large can be secured for the same hoistway area as usual, there are some restrictions that the upper car cannot be stopped at a lowermost floor, that the lower car cannot be stopped at an uppermost floor, and the like. In this sense, the conventional double-deck elevator is not sufficiently convenient.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an elevator apparatus that makes it possible to reduce a hoistway space while securing a sufficient car floor area and prevent a deterioration in traveling convenience.

Means for solving the Problems

[0006] An elevator apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first drive device and a second drive device; a first car that is raised/lowered within a hoistway by the first drive device; and a second car that is raised/lowered within the hoistway by the second drive device, in which the first car has a first car chamber capable of accommodating passengers and a second car chamber capable of accommodating passengers; the first car chamber and the second car chamber are displaceable with respect to each other between a first position at which the first car chamber and the second car chamber are horizontally aligned with each other, and a second position at which the first car chamber and the second car chamber are vertically aligned with each other; the first car is superposed on the second car on a vertical projection plane when the first car chamber and the second car chamber are each located at the first position; the first car can move past the second car when the first car chamber and the second car chamber are each located at the second position; the second car chamber is located adjacently behind the first car chamber at the first position; the first car chamber has a front surface provided with a first front doorway; and a back surface provided with a first back doorway; the second car chamber has a front surface provided with a second front doorway, and a back surface provided with a second back doorway, and the second car has a back surface provided with a rescue doorway that can face one of the first back doorway; and the second back doorway when the first car chamber and the second car chamber are each located at the second position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] 

Fig. 1 is a lateral view showing an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the elevator apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a first car of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the first car of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a lateral view showing the first car of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a lateral view showing a state in which a second car chamber of Fig. 4 has been moved to a second position.

Fig. 7 is a lateral view showing a state at the time of the rescue of passengers in a case where the first car is stopped between floors when a first car chamber thereof and the second car chamber thereof shown in Fig. 1 are each located at the second position.

Fig. 8 is a lateral view showing a state at the time of the rescue of passengers in a case where the first car is stopped between floors when the first car chamber thereof and the second car chamber thereof shown in Fig. 1 are each located at a first position.

Best Mode for carrying out the Invention

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

[0009] Fig. 1 is a lateral view showing an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the elevator apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a first car of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view showing the first car of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a lateral view showing the first car of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a lateral view showing a state in which a second car chamber of Fig. 4 has been moved to a second position.

[0010] Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, a first drive device 2 and a second drive device 3 are installed in an upper portion of a hoistway 1. The first drive device 2 has a first drive device body including a motor and a brake, and a first drive sheave that is rotated by the first drive device body. The second drive device 3 has a second drive device body including a motor and a brake, and a second drive sheave that is rotated by the second drive device body.

[0011] Employed as each of the first drive device 2 and the second drive device 3 is, for example, a low-profile hoisting machine that is smaller in dimension in an axial direction thereof than in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The drive devices 2 and 3 are disposed such that rotary shafts of the drive sheaves extend horizontally.

[0012] A first deflector pulley 4 is installed in the vicinity of the first drive device 2. A plurality of first main ropes 5 are looped around the first drive sheave and the first deflector pulley 4. A second deflector pulley 6 is installed in the vicinity of the second drive device 3. A plurality of second main ropes 7 are looped around the second drive sheave and the second deflector pulley 6.

[0013] A first car 8 and a first counterweight 9, which are suspended within the hoistway 1 according to a 2:1 roping arrangement by means of the first main ropes 5, are raised/lowered within the hoistway 1 due to a driving force of the first drive device 2. A pair of first car suspending pulleys 41 are provided on a lower portion of the first car 8. A first counterweight suspending pulley 42 is provided on an upper portion of the first counterweight 9.

[0014] The first main ropes 5 are connected at first ends thereof to a first car-side cleat plate 43 which is fixed in the upper portion within the hoistway 1. The first main ropes 5 are connected at second ends thereof to a counterweight-side cleat plate 44 which is fixed in the upper portion within the hoistway 1. Each of the first main ropes 5 is looped, from the first end side thereof, around the first car suspending pulleys 41, the first drive sheave, the first deflector pulley 4, and the first counterweight suspending pulley 42 in the stated order.

[0015] A second car 10 and a second counterweight 11, which are suspended within the hoistway 1 according to the 2:1 roping arrangement by means of the second main ropes 7, are raised/lowered within the hoistway 1 due to a driving force of the second drive device 3. A pair of second car suspending pulleys 45 are provided on a lower portion of the second car 10. A second counterweight suspending pulley 46 is provided on an upper portion of the second counterweight 11. It should be noted that the suspending pulleys 41, 42, 45, and 46 are illustrated only in Fig. 1 and are omitted in the other figures.

[0016] The second main ropes 7 are connected at first ends thereof to a second car-side cleat plate 47 which is fixed in the upper portion within the hoistway 1. The second main ropes 7 are connected at second ends thereof to the counterweight-side cleat plate 44. Each of the second main ropes 7 is looped, from the first end side thereof, around the second car suspending pulleys 45, the second drive sheave, the second deflector pulley 6, and the second counterweight suspending pulley 46 in the stated order.

[0017] The first counterweight 9 is disposed beside the first car 8 so as to face a lateral surface of the first car 8 when being located at the same height as the first car 8. The second counterweight 11 is disposed beside the second car 10 so as to face a lateral surface of the second car 10 when being located at the same height as the second car 10.

[0018] A pair of first car guide rails 12 for guiding the raising/lowering of the first car 8, a pair of first counterweight guide rails 13 for guiding the raising/lowering of the first counterweight 9, a pair of second car guide rails 14 for guiding the raising/lowering of the second car 10, and a pair of second counterweight guide rails 15 for guiding the raising/lowering of the second counterweight 11 are installed within the hoistway 1.

[0019] A building in which this elevator apparatus is installed is provided with a plurality of first landings 16 for using the first car 8 and a plurality of second landings 17 for using the second car 10. A first landing doorway 16a is provided between each of the first landings 16 and the hoistway 1. A second landing doorway 17a is provided between each of the second landings 17 and the hoistway 1.

[0020] The first landing doorway 16a is disposed so as to face a front surface of the first car 8 and a back surface of the second car 10. The second landing doorway 17a is disposed so as to face a front surface of the second car 10 and a back surface of the first car 8.

[0021] The first car 8 has a car frame 18, a first car chamber (front car chamber) 19, and a second car chamber (back car chamber) 20. The first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20, which are supported by the car frame 18, can accommodate passengers, respectively. The first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are displaceable with respect to each other between a first position (Figs. 1 to 5) at which the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are horizontally aligned with each other and a second position (Fig. 6) at which the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are vertically aligned with each other.

[0022] Specifically, the second car chamber 20 is located adjacently behind the first car chamber 19 at the first position. The first car chamber 19 is vertically movable with respect to the second car chamber 20, whereas the second car chamber 20 is longitudinally movable. The second car chamber 20 is located adjacently above the first car chamber 19 at the second position.

[0023] The second car chamber 20 is superposed on the second car 10 on a vertical projection plane when the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are each located at the first position. By moving each of the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 to the second position, the vertically projected area of the first car 8 is reduced to about a half of that of the first car 8 at the time when the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are each located at the first position.

[0024] In the same manner as the first car 8, the second car 10 has a first car chamber 19 and a second car chamber 20, which are each displaceable between the first position and the second position. That is, the second car 10, which has a structure similar to the first car 8, is disposed back to back with the first car 8 within the hoistway 1.

[0025] The first car 8 and the second car 10 are superposed on each other on the vertical projection plane when the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 in each of the first car 8 and the second car 10 are both located at the first position. On the other hand, the first car 8 and the second car 10 can move past each other when the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 in each of the first car 8 and the second car 10 are both located at the second position.

[0026] Each of the first car 8 and the second car 10 is provided with a plurality of car chamber position sensors (not shown) for detecting the completion of displacement of the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20.

[0027] A pair of guide rods 21 extending parallel to each other to guide vertical movements of the first car chamber 19 are fixed to the car frame 18. The guide rods 21 are provided with threaded portions 21a, respectively. The first car chamber 19 is mounted with a pair of screw-type raising/lowering devices 22 screwed on the threaded portions 21a, respectively, to move the first car chamber 19 vertically along the guide rods 21. Each of the screw-type raising/lowering devices 22 maybe designed to rotate a corresponding one of the guide rods 21 or to rotate a nut portion (not shown) screwed on a corresponding one of the threaded portions 21a.

[0028] A pair of support beams 23 for supporting the second car chamber 20 and guiding longitudinal movements of the second car chamber 20 are horizontally fixed to the car frame 18. A pair of racks 24 are fixed on an upper portion of the second car chamber 20. The car frame 18 is mounted with a pair of gear-type feed devices 25 for moving the second car chamber 20 longitudinally. Each of the gear-type feed devices 25 has a pinion 26 for engaging a corresponding one of the racks 24, and a motor 27 for rotating the pinion 26.

[0029] The support frames 23 are not provided in an entire moving range of the second car chamber 20 so as to ensure that the first car 8 does not interfere with the second car 10 while moving therepast.
Accordingly, when the second car chamber 20 is located at the first position, only a front end of the second car chamber 20 is on the support beams 23, and the rest of the second car chamber 20 protrudes backward from the support beams 23. Thus, a pair of coupling members 28 for holding the second car chamber 20 horizontally are coupled between the second car chamber 20 and the car frame 18 when the second car chamber 20 is located at the first position.

[0030] The coupling members 28 are disposed on both sides of the second car chamber 20. The respective coupling members 28 are turnably coupled to the second car chamber 20. Further, the respective coupling members 28 are turnably and slidably coupled to the car frame 18. Still further, the coupling members 28 are provided with stoppers 28a respectively. Each of the stoppers 28a prevents a corresponding one of the coupling members 28 from coming off from a coupling portion thereof that is coupled to the car frame 18.

[0031] A front surface of the first car chamber 19 is provided with a first front doorway. A back surface of the first car chamber 19 is provided with a first back doorway. The first car chamber 19 is provided with a first car chamber front door 31 for opening/closing the first front doorway, and a first car chamber back door 32 for opening/closing the first back doorway.

[0032] A front surface of the second car chamber 20 is provided with a second front doorway. A back surface of the second car chamber 20 is provided with a second back doorway. The second car chamber 20 is provided with a second car chamber front door 33 for opening/closing the second front doorway, and a second car chamber back door 34 for opening/closing the second back doorway.

[0033] The first back doorway of the first car 8 and the second back doorway of the first car 8 can face the first back doorway of the second car 10 and the second back doorway of the second car 10, respectively, when the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 in each of the first car 8 and the second car 10 are each located at the second position. That is, the first back doorway of the second car 10 and the second back doorway of the second car 10 function as rescue doorways when the first car 8 is stopped due to a malfunction.
The first back doorway of the first car 8 and the second back doorway of the first car 8 function as rescue doorways when the second car 10 is stopped due to a malfunction.

[0034] Distance sensors 35 for detecting a distance between the first car 8 and the second car 10 are provided respectively on an upper portion of the first car 8, a lower portion of the first car 8, an upper portion of the second car 10, and a lower portion of the second car 10. Employed as each of the distance sensors 35 is, for example, a sensor designed to utilize infrared rays or ultrasonic waves.

[0035] A ceiling portion of the second car chamber 20 is provided with a ceiling rescue hatch. An upper lid 36 for opening/closing the ceiling rescue hatch is provided on the upper portion of the second car chamber 20. A floor portion of the second car chamber 20 is provided with a floor rescue hatch. A lower lid 37 for opening/closing the floor rescue hatch is provided on the lower portion of the second car chamber 20.

[0036] Next, an operation will be described. The first car 8 and the second car 10 are raised/lowered independently of each other within the hoistway 1 due to driving forces of the drive devices 2 and 3. In each of the first car 8 and the second car 10, the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are usually each located at the first position and hence are longitudinally aligned with each other. In each of the first car 8 and the second car 10, on the other hand, the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are each moved to the second position and hence become vertically adjacent to each other when the first car 8 and the second car 10 move past each other.

[0037] For example, in a case where shuttle operation is performed in a high-rise building, the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 can be displaced relatively gently, so a deterioration in riding comfort can be prevented.

[0038] In a case of moving each of the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 from the first position to the second position, the first car chamber 19 is first moved downward by means of the screw-type raising/lowering devices 22. After that, the second car chamber 20 is moved forward by means of the gear-type feed devices 25. On the contrary, in a case of moving each of the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 from the second position to the first position, the second car chamber 20 is first moved backward by means of the gear-type feed devices 25. After that, the first car chamber 19 is moved upward by means of the screw-type raising/lowering devices 22.

[0039] As a matter of course, all the doors 31 to 34 are closed while the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are operated as described above. On the contrary, the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are prohibited from being moved until the closure of all the doors 31 to 34 is confirmed by door sensors or the like. The first car chamber back door 32 and the second car chamber front door 33 may be closed as a rule except during a stop at a landing floor, or may be open when the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are each located at the first position.

[0040] In a case where the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 each have not been moved to the second position when the distance between the first car 8 and the second car 10, which has been detected by the distance sensors 35, is within a predetermined range, the first car 8 and the second car 10 are stopped as an emergency measure (or stopped at the nearest floor if possible).
In addition, when the first car 8 and the second car 10 are stopped at different floors, the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 may each be moved to the first position regardless of the distance between the first car 8 and the second car 10. However, when the distance between the first car 8 and the second car 10 is within the predetermined range, the first car 8 and the second car 10 are prohibited from running until the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 are each moved to the second position.

[0041] In the elevator apparatus constructed as described above, the first car 8 can be disposed so as to be superposed on the second car 10 on the vertical projection plane by locating each of the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 at the first position, and the first car 8 is allowed to move past the second car 10 by displacing each of the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 to the second position. Accordingly, a reduction in hoistway space can be achieved while securing a sufficient car floor area. Besides, the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 can be stopped at both the uppermost floor and the lowermost floor by being located each at the first position. As a result, a deterioration in traveling convenience can be prevented.

[0042] If the first car chamber back door 32 and the second car chamber front door 33 can be controlled to be opened/closed independently of each other, the elevator apparatus can also be operated as a double-deck elevator with a state in which the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 are located each at the second position. That is, passengers are allowed to get on and off regardless of whether the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 are each located at the first position or the second position, so the degree of freedom in traveling method can be enhanced.
In a case where each of the first car 8 and the second car 10 lands at a floor with a state in which the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are located each at the second position, the clearance between the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 can also be adjusted in accordance with an interfloor dimension.

[0043] When the first car 8 is stopped between floors due to some malfunction with a state in which the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are located each at the second position, the second car 10 is moved as shown in Fig. 7 to ensure that the first car chamber back doors 32 face each other and that the second car chamber back doors 34 face each other, and the back doors 32 and 34 are opened. Thus, passengers within the first car 8 can be transferred to the second car 10 and rescued therethrough. Similarly, when the second car 10 is stopped between floors, passengers within the second car 10 can also be rescued through the first car 8.

[0044] The back doors 32 and 34 may be opened to allow the passengers to move between the cars 8 and 10 or between the landings 16 and 17 when the first car 8 and the second car 10 are normally stopped at the same landing floor. In order to transfer the passengers between the back doorways as described above, it is preferable to minimize the distance between the back doorways.

[0045] When the first car 8 is stopped between floors due to some malfunction with a state in which the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are located each at the first position, the second car 10 is moved in close proximity to the first car 8 with a state in which the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 are located each at the second position as shown in Fig. 8, and the lower lid 37 of the first car 8 and the upper lid 36 of the second car 10 are opened. Thus, the passengers within the first car 8 can be transferred to the second car 10 and rescued therethrough. Similarly, when the second car 10 is stopped between floors, the passengers within the second car 10 can also be rescued through the first car 8. It should be noted that the drive devices 2 and 3, the main ropes 5 and 7, the deflector pulleys 4 and 6, the counterweights 9 and 11, and the like are not illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

[0046] In a case where a normal one of the cars 8 and 10 is moved close to a stopped one of the cars 8 and 10 as described above, it is preferable to perform an automatic operation for making the cars 8 and 10 as close as possible to each other at an extremely low speed while monitoring information from the distance sensors 35.

[0047] In the foregoing example, the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 in each of the first car 8 and the second car 10 are displaced independently of each other. However, the first car chamber 19 and the second car chamber 20 in each of the first car 8 and the second car 10 may be displaced in an interlocking manner.
Displacement of the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 may be controlled to be completed before the first car 8 and the second car 10 start running, or to be performed while the first car 8 and the second car 10 are running.
Further, the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 may be displaced in accordance with registrations of calls at the landings 16 and 17 or calls within the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20.
Still further, although the elevator apparatus according to the 2:1 roping arrangement is illustrated in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, no particular limit should be imposed on the arrangement of roping. For example, the elevator apparatus may be constructed according to a 1:1 roping arrangement.
The second car 10 may be structured to have a single car chamber.
Yet further, the drive devices for displacing the first car chambers 19 and the second car chambers 20 should not be limited to the screw-type raising/lowering devices 22 or the gear-type feed devices 25. For example, various types of drive devices such as rope-type drive devices, pantograph-type drive devices, and hydraulically operated drive drives can be adopted.

Claims

1. An elevator apparatus comprising:

a first drive device and a second drive device;

a first car that is raised/lowered within a hoistway by the first drive device; and

a second car that is raised/lowered within the hoistway by the second drive device, wherein:

the first car has a first car chamber capable of accommodating passengers and a second car chamber capable of accommodating passengers,

the first car chamber and the second car chamber are displaceable with respect to each other between a first position at which the first car chamber and the second car chamber are horizontally aligned with each other, and a second position at which the first car chamber and the second car chamber are vertically aligned with each other;

the first car is superposed on the second car on a vertical projection plane when the first car chamber and the second car chamber are each located at the first position;

the first car can move past the second car when the first car chamber and the second car chamber are each located at the second position;

the second car chamber is located adjacently behind the first car chamber at the first position;

the first car chamber has a front surface provided with a first front doorway, and a back surface provided with a first back doorway;

the second car chamber has a front surface provided with a second front doorway, and a back surface provided with a second back doorway; and

the second car has a back surface provided with a rescue doorway that can face one of the first back doorway and the second back doorway when the first car chamber and the second car chamber are each located at the second position.

2. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first car chamber is vertically movable with respect to the second car chamber; and

the second car chamber is longitudinally movable.

3. An elevator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second car chamber is located adjacently above the first car chamber at the second position.

4. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second car has, in a same manner as the first car, the first car chamber and the second car chamber that are each displaceable between the first position and the second position.

5. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first car has a ceiling portion provided with a ceiling rescue hatch; and

the second car has a floor portion provided with a floor rescue hatch.

6. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first car has a floor portion provided with a floor rescue hatch; and

the second car has a ceiling portion provided with a ceiling rescue hatch.

Drawing