Abstract: An access protection system for safeguarding an access point to a machine or installation includes a sensor device and an interlocking device. The sensor device includes an optical transmitter and receiver. The interlocking device includes a base body and a blocking element. The optical transmitter is configured to transmit a light pulse to the optical receiver. The sensor device is configured to generate a sensor signal based on reception of the light pulse. The sensor signal is used to control the machine or installation. The blocking element is movable relative to the base body from a release position into a blocking position. The blocking element is configured to be located, while in the blocking position, in a beam path of the light pulse between the optical transmitter and receiver to block the reception of the light pulse. The interlocking device is lockable in the blocking position by a securing element.

Abstract: An automated gate system (AGS) for processing vehicles entering and exiting a controlled access facility via a single common traffic flow. The AGS provides a single portal receiving both ingress and egress vehicle traffic as a common traffic flow sharing a same access road. The access road feeds a multi-lane gated sub-system having associated kiosks providing an interface for obtaining vehicle and driver related information and which have a combined inbound/outbound gate for controlling ingress and egress movement of vehicles of the common traffic flow in and out from the controlled access facility. A computer system receives signals from the portal and the kiosks representing a status of the vehicles alone or in combination with driver information for controlling gate operation of each of the gates. Thereby, both ingress and egress routes are controlled, and both ingress and egress movement of the vehicles regarding the access facility is controlled.

Abstract: Landings or car doors for lifts are provided which include a frame which defines the perimeter of an access aperture of the door, the frame comprising a pair of uprights and a pair of crossbeams, the crossbeams respectively comprising an upper horizontal sliding guide and a lower horizontal sliding guide, at least two reciprocally sliding panels to open and close the access aperture of the door. Advantageously, sliding devices and closure devices may be directly attached to each panel so that the panels are self-supporting, wherein the sliding devices couple with the sliding guides of the crossbeams to permit and guide the opening and closing movements of the panels and the closure devices are suitable to block and release the panels. Methods for mounting doors are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an elevator car is operable to selectively lock an elevator car door. The apparatus verifies that the elevator car door is closed, locks the elevator car door, and verifies that a lock is engaged. Once conditions are met, the apparatus signals an elevator controller that the elevator car can move through a hoistway. The apparatus further ensures that passengers can safely disembark from the elevator car by detecting the position of the elevator car relative to a designated landing zone within the hoistway, and confirming the elevator car is stopped at a landing zone prior to disengaging the lock. The apparatus thus ensures that the elevator car door remains closed while the elevator car is in motion or between landing zones.

Abstract: An elevator includes an elevator car that has a horizontally movable car door leaf, a horizontally movable shaft door leaf, a car door locking mechanism encompassing a car door bolt and a bolt stop, and a coupling device that is connected to the car door leaf in order to transmit an opening movement or a closing movement from the car door leaf to the shaft door leaf. The coupling device has at least one movable entraining element which is brought in contact with an opposite element located on the shaft door leaf. A locking action of the car door locking mechanism depends on the cooperation of the coupling device with the opposite element. In each situation, the position of the car door bolt relative to the bolt stop exclusively depends on the position of the entraining element.

Abstract: An electromagnetic door lock assembly (30) includes a first portion (32) supported relative to hoistway doors (22) and a second portion (34) supported for movement with an elevator car (24). The first and second portions cooperate so that electromagnetic interaction between them unlocks a set of hoistway doors (22) for access to the car (24), for example. In disclosed embodiments, a first portion (32) of the actuator has at least one stationary electromagnetic portion (36A, 36B) and at least one moveable portion (38). The second portion (34) that moves with the car (24) includes at least one stationary electromagnetic portion (44). Magnetic interaction between the first and second portions (32, 34) causes selected movement of the moveable portion (38) for selectively locking or unlocking the doors (22).

Abstract: In an elevator system that has an elevator hoistway, a plurality of hoistway doors arranged above each other each with at least one horizontally moveable hoistway door panel, and an elevator car with a car door that has at least one horizontally movable car door panel, fastened to the car door panel is a vertically extending barrier rail. In each of the areas lying in the vertical direction between the hoistway door panels of adjacent hoistway doors two locationally fixed stopping dogs that are vertically spaced from each other are arranged so that in each case one of the stopping dogs limits the opening movement of the barrier rail, and thereby of the car door panel, when the position of the elevator car deviates in the upward direction or in the downward direction by a certain minimum distance from the intended stopping position.

Abstract: An elevator door interlock incorporates cast parts thereby drastically reducing the number of parts required for assembly. Other elements are also incorporated to further reduce complexity in manufacturing, servicing, and configuration.

Abstract: This invention claims a steel elevator door guide, which contains a reinforcement beam, an attachment beam, a guide carrier and a glide. The attachment beam connects at the bottom end of a elevator cab or corridor door. The invention is held securely clamped together by fasteners, welding or glue. To further protect against any lateral movement imposed onto an elevator door, one or more frictional surfaces is engraved at contact points between individual components and safety rail (s) are provided. A noise reducing, nylon glide is attached to the guide carrier using the same fasteners as those supporting the reinforcement beam. These components are intended to prevent lateral motion of an elevator cab or corridor door even if a severe lateral pressure on the elevator doors has caused the glide to severely flex or fail.

Abstract: An elevator installation has a sealing element that is movable by an electromagnetic actuator from a first position to a second position. The sealing element includes a seal carrier that is movably arranged at a door leaf of a door of the elevator installation. An electromagnetic actuator is fastened in the region of the door and upon actuation acts on the seal carrier to move it from the first position to the second position. An electrical circuit triggers the actuation before the door leaf executes an opening movement.

Abstract: A door locking system for a freight or passenger elevator or goods lift installation having vertically spaced landings served by a vertically movable car, the landings and car each being protected by associated horizontal slide doors, a mechanical interlock device at each landing that prevents a landing door from opening without the presence of the car in registration with the landing, a door lock on the car for normally preventing the car door from opening when the car is out of registration with any landing, the interlock device being arranged to mechanically enable the door lock to release the car door to open when the car is in registration with a landing.

Abstract: A device for connecting a car door with a shaft door and for emergency unlocking of a car door consists of an entrainer arranged at the car door, which entrainer detachably connects, together with a roller pair arranged at the shaft door, the car door with the shaft door, and of a first locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the car door and of a second locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the shaft door. When the doors are closed and locked the entrainer is closed and can freely move between the two rollers of the roller pair when the elevator car is traveling between two floors or past a floor not to be served. The first locking mechanism is controlled directly.

Abstract: A device moves a door seal for a displaceable door panel of an elevator car in an elevator installation with an elevator shaft having shaft doors. The movable door seal is arranged so that the door panel in a closed state is sealed off. The device includes an entrainer unit connected with the door panel and upon stopping of the elevator car at a floor executes a part movement. The device also includes a coupling mechanism mechanically connecting the entrainer unit with the door seal to bring the door seal out of a sealing position into an open position when the entrainer unit executes the part movement.

Abstract: A system and method for installing an elevator door hatchway opening. The system comprises a steel square comprising a top piece, a bottom piece and left and right jambs, a door buck that is bolted to the steel square and at least one exterior hatchway door that is installed on a center portion of the steel square. The steel square is attached by at least one swing lock hinge to at least one elevator shaft way bracket while the steel square is angled outside of an elevator shaft way.

Abstract: Elevator doors have operating bars that are pivoted on a car door and that serve to actuate shaft-door actuating rollers that operate shaft doors. These doors are operated by an apparatus having an actuating device that changes a spacing between the operating bars and that has an actuating lever coupled with a door actuator. This actuating lever is coupled with a first link pivoted on the operating bars. The actuating lever and the first link are pivotal through a predetermined angle. A latch for the car doors is provided with a tension element connected between one operating bar and the actuating lever.

Abstract: A car door apparatus of an elevator includes a pair of door panels, a door drive device, and a door-opening mechanism. The pair of door panels open and close a doorway of the car of the elevator. The door drive device drives the door panels to open and close the doorway using electric power. When the car is stopped in an emergency in which a power source for driving the elevator is shut off, the door-opening mechanism starts up the door drive device using a secondary battery to move the door panels in the opening direction by a predetermined distance respectively to make a predetermined clearance between the door panels.

Abstract: Equipment for temporarily coupling an elevator car door leaf with a shaft door leaf and for actuating a car door lock includes a coupling mechanism arranged at the car door leaf with two entraining runners mounted on two pivotable adjusting elements. The spacing between the entraining runners can be adjusted by pivoting of the adjusting elements between an uncoupling setting and a coupling setting, wherein the entraining runners in the coupling setting co-operate with at least one coupling element mounted at the shaft door leaf. One of the entraining runners is coupled by way of a respective articulation member with one arm of each of the two adjusting elements, wherein a contact force arising between the entraining runner and the corresponding coupling element in the coupling setting causes the entraining runner to execute an additional movement which is guided by the articulation members to unlock the car door lock.

Abstract: An elevator door drive device, which opens and closes at least one car door leaf and a corresponding shaft door leaf, includes a coupling mechanism mounted at the car door leaf for transmitting the car door leaf movement to the shaft door leaf with two parallel entraining runners mounted on pivotable adjusting elements. The spacing between the runners is adjustable and a drive unit transmits closing and opening movements to the car door leaf by way of a drive apparatus that leads the entraining runners to a coupling element at the shaft door leaf before the start of the opening movement and moves them away from the coupling element after the end of the closing movement. The pivotable adjusting elements, during opening or closing the door leaf are blocked by means of a catch acting in both pivot directions.

Abstract: An emergency unlocking device includes an unlocking lever actuated by an unlocking slide that is guided in a guide fastened to the inner side of the shaft door. The guide covers a passage that is formed in the shaft door for insertion of a tool for actuation of the unlocking slide so that in the case of a fire the flame cannot pass through the passage to the elevator shaft.

Abstract: An electromechanical interlock for a swinging elevator door is disclosed. The interlock comprises a pivotal hook member that may be attached to a swinging elevator door. The hook has a beak end and may pivot between a locked and an unlocked position. Disposed on the beak end is an electrical conductor. When the interlock is in the locked position, the beak end engages a lug and the conductor contacts electrical contacts to complete an electrical circuit. A solenoid pivots the hook from a locked position to an unlocked position. The electromechanical interlock may be adapted for use with sliding elevator doors as well as swinging doors.

Abstract: A door locking system for retrofit installation on an automatic sliding two-panel door of an elevator car prohibits opening and closing of the door from the interior of the car when between two floors. The door locking system includes a hook retainer mounted on one side of the door opening. A locking pawl is mounted to a panel of the door on the opposite side of the opening for selectably engaging the hook retainer. A cable is coupled to a drive mechanism and to the locking pawl for disengaging the locking pawl from the hook retainer when at a floor stop. A flexible cable housing slidably retains the cable and defines a path length between the drive mechanism and the locking pawl. A path length adjuster mechanism is connected between two sections of the cable housing for manually adjusting the path length. A hold-down is mounted to the door to retain the cable housing in close proximity to the door while permitting movement parallel with the door in response to adjustment of the path length.

Abstract: A door locking system for retrofit installation on an automatic sliding two-panel door of an elevator car prohibits opening and closing of the door from the interior of the car when between two floors. The door locking system includes a hook retainer mounted on one side of the door opening. A locking pawl is mounted to a panel of the door on the opposite side of the opening for selectably engaging the hook retainer. A cable is coupled to a drive mechanism and to the locking pawl for disengaging the locking pawl from the hook retainer when at a floor stop. A flexible cable housing slidably retains the cable and defines a path length between the drive mechanism and the locking pawl. A path length adjuster mechanism is connected between two sections of the cable housing for manually adjusting the path length. A hold-down is mounted to the door to retain the cable housing in close proximity to the door while permitting movement parallel with the door in response to adjustment of the path length.

Abstract: A coupling (8) for engaging an elevator car door (16) and a landing door (20) includes a fixed vane (36) and a movable vane (38). The movable vane is positioned by an engagement link (42) in response to movement of the car door (16) and the presence or absence of a corresponding landing door roller (28).

Abstract: A system for monitoring an elevator door in a hoistway. The elevator door is movable between a closed position and an open position. The system includes a transmitter for emitting an optical signal and an interlock device for latching the elevator door. The interlock device includes an optical nosepiece so positioned for receiving, guiding, and outputting the optical signal from the transmitter when the elevator door is closed and the interlock device is in the latched state. A receiver receives the optical signal via the nosepiece only when the elevator door is closed and the interlock is latched to thereby indicate the elevator door is in its latched state.

Abstract: A car cam and locking roller locking structure that opens and closes elevator doors so that the lateral sliding of the car will not affect the opening of the doors. The invention is a mechanism to open and close elevator doors that is used to start the opening and closing operation of car door (1) and boarding entrance door (13) by moving forward end (4a) of car cam (4) furnished for car door (1) forward between a pair of locking rollers (14a) and (14b) furnished for boarding entrance door (13) so that it nearly touches locking roller (14a), while at the same time moving the other locking roller (14b) to grip car cam (4). Step-shaped part (40) is formed in locking roller (14b), and at the same time, catch (50), which catches the step-shaped part (40) to prevent its coming loose, is formed in car cam (4).

Abstract: A car cam and locking roller locking structure that opens and closes elevator doors so that the lateral sliding of the car will not affect the opening of the doors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a door restrictor apparatus for locking and preventing a sliding door on an elevator car from unauthorized opening. The door restrictor apparatus includes a locking lug mounted on the elevator car, an actuating mechanism having an actuating surface that moves toward and away from a surface on the car door, and a pivotable hook, having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of the door movement is mounted on the door. The hook has a beak end that alternatively passes by or engages the locking lug. The movement of the actuating surface is coupled to the rotation of the pivotable hook by a crank and push rod assembly so that the motion of the actuating surface toward or away from the surface of the car door causes the hook to rotate and vice-versa. A means for biasing the restrictor apparatus is provided to urge the actuating surface to move away from the surface of the door and to urge the pivotable hook to rotate in a first direction.

Abstract: Door system with a locking device which has top and bottom locking elements which can be displaced by a drive unit to realize a door system which is simple and easy to install, whereby the functional and operational reliability of the system are increased. For this purpose, associated with each of the top and bottom locking elements is an actuator element whereby the actuator elements are fastened to a single slide which is held on a beam so that it can move perpendicular to the sliding direction of the leaf and which can be moved indirectly by the drive unit.

Abstract: In the procedure for closing an elevator landing door (3,4), the landing door is coupled with the car door (1,2) by a door coupler, and the car door is moved by an actuator provided in conjunction with the elevator car. During the initial phase of the closing movement, the car door and landing door are moved at the same speed, but towards the end of the closing movement the landing door (3,4) is caused to move faster than the car door (1,2). Based on control by the car door movement, the coupling elements (5,6) of the door coupler are moved in the direction of the car door movement.

Abstract: An operating system placed on the cabin door is shown with a continuous line in rest position and with a dotted line in working position. An arrow marked with a (Y) indicates a horizontal movement undertaken by the operating system in the Y-direction and an arrow marked by (X) indicates a horizontal movement undertaken by the operating system in the X-direction. The X/Y movement of the operating system is produced by an actuator and motive mechanics. On a shaft door is placed an operating cam upon which the operating system rests. Operating system sensors measure the distance to the shaft door and the operating cam. An electromagnet of the operating system produces the necessary force for coupling of cabin door to shaft door.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a car door and a shaft door of an elevator installation includes an entraining system (E) arranged at the car door and a cooperating locking mechanism (L). The entraining system (E) has a pair of spreadable entraining cams (1, 2) connected to first and second levers (3.1, 3.2) forming a parallelogram. A stationary guide rail (4.1) on the car has an entry cam (4) which receives a roller (5) on the entraining cam (1) to spread the parallelogram against a tension spring (6) and into engagement with first and second shaft lock rollers (7a, 7b) on the floor door to couple the doors together. The locking mechanism (L) has a transmission lever (8) attached to one entraining cam (2) and pivotally connected to a locking rocker (9) carrying a support roller (10). The locking rocker (9) also is pivotally connected with a catch (11) having a lug (11.2) that detents with a stationary lock plate (13) on the car to prevent opening of the car door.

Abstract: A safety chain of an elevator system utilizes optical fiber to verify mechanical locking of elevator doors. The elevator doors have locks which incorporate the optical fiber to determine if each of the doors has been locked. The optical safety chain provides the necessary feedback to the elevator controller for safe operation of the elevator system.

Abstract: An elevator car includes a hold closed feature for an elevator car door. The hold closed feature maintains the elevator car door in a hold closed position when the elevator car is not at a landing or is "parked" at a landing. The hold closed feature includes a profiled ramp disposed on the elevator car and a roller disposed on the elevator car door. The roller engages the profiled ramp during the hold closed position of the elevator car until a certain predetermined force is exerted for the roller to disengage from the profiled ramp.

Abstract: A car door lock for locking elevator car doors when the elevator car is in transit and/or outside the door zone includes a solenoid activated lever that pushes a lock arm to open. The solenoid is activated in two phases to reduce associated noise. The car door lock includes an operator switch which signals the door controller that the door lock is opened and the elevator car door is free to be opened. The car door also includes a safety switch which signals the door controller that the elevator car door lock is closed.

Abstract: Opening of an elevator door by occupants of a car which is stalled between building floors is prevented by a locking member which is movable by an electrical actuator between a door locking position and a door releasing position. Opening is permitted at unlocking zones at which the car is at or close to a landing site at a building floor. An infrared emitter and an infrared detector carried by the car pass along opposite sides of a series of opaque door zone vanes situated along the path of car travel. The actuator retracts the locking member in response to blocking of the infrared path between the emitter and detector by a door zone vane. A timer delays the retraction for a period at least equal to the time required for passage of the car through an unlocking zone when it is traveling at rated speed past a floor at which it is not to be stopped.

Abstract: An elevator door interlock includes a position indicator mounted at each landing, an elongate vane pivotally mounted in a fixed position with respect to the car door for movement between a first position, preferably several degrees rotated from perpendicular, and a second position, preferably generally perpendicular to the door surface, a swing latch including a latch arm secured at one end to the vane, preferably extending generally perpendicular to the vane, a contact plate secured to the end of the swing latch opposite the vane end, and a stop plate mounted in a fixed position with respect to the elevator car. The vane is preferably mounted on a spring-biased hinge, and is normally biased towards the first position such that the contact plate extends into the plane of the stop plate and contacts the stop plate to prevent further opening of the elevator door more than a limited distance when the door is opened unless the elevator car door is moved into a safe landing position within the hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator is provided with a car, an inner door mounted to the car and outer doors mounted to floor openings which define floor zones, the inner door registers with the outer doors when the car is disposed within one of the floor zones. The elevator includes a door restrictor having an electric solenoid mounted to the car so that the inner door cannot be opened more than four inches when the elevator is between floor zones. The electric solenoid has a plunger which is normally in an extended position to block the inner door from opening. Power will only be applied to the electric solenoid to lift the plunger from the extended position to a retracted position to allow the inner door to be fully opened when both the car is disposed within a floor zone and the inner doors are being opened by the main elevator controls. A floor zone sensor is mounted to the car for detecting when the elevator is disposed within one of the floor zones.

Abstract: Microprocessor-based car door locking system includes an electromechanical door lock for elevator car doors having a latch-type rotary solenoid to move a plunger into locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position, the plunger engages a bracket mounted on the elevator car door. The door lock also includes a controller that integrates the door lock into the elevator system and provides failure management for the door lock. The door lock of the present invention does not require power during either the locked or unlocked state.

Abstract: A simplified elevator car door lock assembly locks an elevator car door if the car is outside a landing zone and there is an attempt to open those doors. The car doors are connected to the hoistway doors by a pair of vanes mounted on the car door and a pair of rollers mounted on the hoistway door. A third vane is attached to the car door and follows a cam path on the car door to lock the car doors if the car is not in a landing zone. Conversely, the third vane senses if the car is in a landing zone and does not lock the car door if it is moved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for gates of lifts and elevators comprising a release device (4) which, when a door of the lift gate is closing and meets an obstruction, causing an excessive resistance to the movement thereof according to a prefixed resistance threshold value, releases the coasters (6) bearing the door from means for moving thereof such as to cause said coasters (6), and in consequence said door, to stop, while said means for moving said door remains activated. The release device (4) is a completely mechanical safety device.

Abstract: An elevator car door restraint includes a position indicator mounted at the access points at each of the floors, a locking arm pivotally mounted between its ends on a first portion of the car for movement of the first end of the locking arm between an engaged and disengaged position, and for contact by the second end of the locking arm with one of the position indicators. A lock plate mounted on the second portion of the car which moves relative to the first portion of the car when the car door moves includes a contact face which is engageable with the first end of the locking arm when the first end is moved to the engaged position to mechanically restrain the elevator car door from opening. The locking arm is biased by a spring so that the first end of the arm is rotated into engagement position unless the first end is permitted from such rotation by contact of the second end with a position indicator. An integral hoistway interlock for center-parting the hoistway access doors is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for locking the door of an elevator car includes a lock (12) that locks the car door, a guide surface (9) in the elevator shaft at each landing and a linkage (6) operating the lock (12). The linkage includes an operating lever (17) which, when at a landing, presses against the guide surface (9) via a roller. The lever is pivotally attached to the linkage (6) by a movable pivot (20). When the door is reaching the closed position, a coupling element (2) transmits motion of the door to the linkage (6) to operate the lock (12) using the driving power of the door actuating mechanism.

Abstract: An elevator hoistway door lock assembly comprises first and second lock subassemblies. Each lock subassembly has a rotatable latch mounted on a respective door hanger, a first and second catches are mounted on the hoistway for engagement with each respective latch, a first and second cam followers are fastened to the respective latches and movable between a first position in which each latch engages the respective catch in a locked position and a second position in which each latch is disengaged from the respective catch in an unlocked position so that the hoistway doors may be moved to an open position and each pair of electrical contacts for indicating a locked condition of the respective door when the contacts are electrically connected.

Abstract: An elevator is provided with a car, an inner door mounted to the car and outer doors mounted to floor openings which define floor zones. The inner door registers with the outer doors when the car is disposed within one of the floor zones. The elevator includes a door restrictor having an electric solenoid mounted to the car so that the inner door cannot be opened more than four inches when the elevator is between floor zones. The electric solenoid has a plunger which is normally in an extended position to block the inner door from opening. Power will only be applied to the electric solenoid to lift the plunger from the extended position to a retracted position to allow the inner door to be fully opened when both the car is disposed within a floor zone and the inner doors are being initiated to move slightly by the main elevator controls. A floor zone sensor is mounted to the car for detecting when the elevator is disposed within one of the floor zones.

Abstract: A bi-parting elevator door actuator apparatus operably connected to a bi-parting door assembly having 1) a door interlock and power control assembly; 2) a bi-fold door actuator assembly; and 3) an electrical control circuit. The door interlock and power control assembly includes 1) a door latch assembly connected to the bi-parting door assembly to hold in a closed position; 2) a cam roller and linkage assembly engagable with the bi-parting door assembly to open and close a first power relay assembly; and 3) a door actuated power assembly having a second power relay assembly operable to be opened on opening of the bi-parting door assembly. An elevator drive motor is denied electrical power when a) the bi-parting door assembly is in an open position; and b) the traveling elevator car assembly reaches a predetermined position for stopping.

Abstract: A door lock mechanism for a sliding door is provided comprising a pivotly mounted first lock member, a second lock member, and a mechanism for selectively engaging the first lock member. The mechanism for selectively engaging the first lock member may be operated to pivot the first lock member away from the second lock member, thereby uncoupling the lock members and permitting the sliding door to be opened.

Abstract: A door closing system for subsequent installation on an automatic sliding door of an elevator car is coupled, at floor stops, via cams and couplings with the hoistway door and is opened and closed together therewith, wherein the closing system prohibits opening of the elevator door from the inside of the car when the car is between two floors, i.e., outside the door opening zone of a floor, wherein a rocker mechanism is affixed to a fixed or movable cam of the clutch and coupling mechanism of the door, the rocker mechanism being tilted by coupler brackets of the hoistway door during normal operation of the door within the door opening zone and, via a transfer means, removes a locking pawl from a hook retainer and thus mechanically frees the door for opening, with the rocker mechanism not being actuatable outside of the door opening zone and blocking the car door via the locking pawl that is kept in a mechanically interlocked position via a compression spring.