GB2263097A - Elevator car construction. - Google Patents

Abstract

To form a panoramic elevator car, pairs of elongate extrusions (10, 11) pivotally connected along their lengths are attached to corner joints (30) to form a mullion and transom framework, and glass panels (4) are mounted on the extrusions (10, 11) by clamping plates (16). Each extrusion pair (10, 11) is set at a desired angle and cut to a desired length to produce a desired shape and size of car (1). After the framework is formed and panels (4) mounted, inner and outer trim (20, 21) are clipped to the extrusions (10, 11) to provide a desired car finish. The extrusions have a slotted (14) hemispherical hollow head (12) engaged in a channel section (13) so as to be relatively pivotable to set the desired angle. <IMAGE>

Description

Elevator Car Construction The present invention relates to the construction of elevator cars, and particularly but not exclusively to panoramic elevator cars.

Up until now, the construction of panoramic cars has required the production of a number of complicated welded components which were liable to distortion during manufacture. This created problems during the final assembly of the cars, and joints had to be hand finished, which increased costs and affected the quality of the finish. Furthermore, "throwaway" jigs and fixtures were required during manufacture, and this also added to the costs.

The present invention aims to provide an elevator car and method of making which is simpler and more costeffective than prior art constructions, and enables cars of many different shapes and sizes to be built in the same manner.

Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides an elevator car including a framework of mullions for supporting wall panels of the car, each.

mullion comprising a first and a second elongate extrusion, the extrusions being pivotally joined together to be rotatable relative to each other about an axis along their lengths to assume a requisite angle dependent on car shape.

The term "mullion" should be taken to mean both the uprights and cross-members which hold the panels in situ.

The elevator car will normally of course comprise further elements well known in the art, such as a platform which constitutes the car floor and on which the framework may be mounted, as well as a door and a door frame constituting a wall of the car. Further, the framework will preferably support a roof panel of the car, and, in a panoramic elevator, these panels will be made of glass or other transparent material. The extrusions may be of aluminium, such as of the type HE9 TF.

By the present invention, a car of a desired shape and size may be constructed simply and efficiently by cutting the extrusions to the required lengths, by setting the requisite angles (dependent on car shape) between the first and second extrusions, by forming a framework from the extrusion pairs and by mounting the panels therein. Thus, for example, a square car with a flat roof, a square car with an angled roof, or a multi-sided car (eg hexagonal, octagonal, etc) with a roof to suit may be constructed using the same extrusions. This cuts down on production costs and also allows the same simple operational procedure to be followed for many different shapes and sizes of car.

There is no need to produce "throwaway" jigs and fixtures, and no hand finishing of joints is required.

By using pivoting extrusions, the assembly is simple and uncomplicated, requiring accuracy only in length and squareness of cuts, and provides car constructions of a consistent quality. Overall, the construction is costeffective in both material and labour.

The pivotal joint between the first and second extrusions could take many different forms, but preferably the first extrusion is provided with a rodlike portion along its length which engages a corresponding channel portion in the second extrusion.

These portions could be interengaged by a relative sliding movement of the extrusions, but preferably are snap-fitted together. To facilitate the snap-fitting, the channel portion may have an arcuate cross-section of slightly greater extent than a semi-circle and the rod portion may be hollow and have a slot along its length to allow the two resulting arcuate portions to squeeze together during the snap-fit and then spring back to their normal position once within the channel portion.

The panels could be fitted to the framework in many different ways, for example by being screwed, bonded, or push-fitted into the extrusions. Preferably however, and especially when glass panels are being used, the panels are clamped to the extrusions. This may be realised by providing a stepped portion in each of the extrusions against which the panel edges may abut, and by clamping the panels in place with clamp plates.

The clamp plates may be fitted to the extrusions in a number of ways, but, preferably, the extrusions are provided with fixing strips of, for example, stainless steel, which are inserted into slots in the extrusions and to which the clamp plates are fixed by, for example, countersunk screws or the like. Such a system is preferable where the extrusion material is not suitable for receiving screws.

In order to provide the framework with a desired appearance, the mullions may comprise inner and outer trims. These trims may take many different shapes, colours, etc., according to the customer's taste, and may be of any suitable material such as stainless steel.

They are preferably clip-fitted to the extrusions and also, if applicable, to the clamp plates. The trims are preferably fitted after the main framework construction has been completed and the panels mounted therein, as the late fitting of the trims allows the customer to delay their choice of elevator appearance somewhat with little effect on car production.

A gap may be provided between the outer trim and the extrusions, and may be utilised as a wiring through passage should illumination of the car be desired. This allows the wiring to be laid in a simple manner before the outer trim is put on, and enables the wiring to remain easily accessible.

The floor mullion inner and outer trims may be shaped, for example, to have flange portions, to allow the framework to be secured to the platform by, for example, a number of screws.

To ensure that the inner trim is securely fixed to the framework, each pair of extrusions may be provided with a further fixing strip which is mounted between substantially opposed slots in the first and second extrusions and to which the trim may be attached by, for example, clamping pins mounted within key-hole slots in the strip.

Where a hand-rail is provided then this too may be mounted between the vertical mullions via the fixing strip.

To form the framework, the mullions may be fitted to one another by corner joints. They may be attached to the corner joints in any suitable manner, such as by push-fitting or by screws, and when screws are used, it is preferred to have cored holes extending through the extrusions, which may be tapped prior to attachment of the extrusions to the corner joints (or, of course, self-tapping screws could be used). One of these cored holes may be the hollow of the rod portion of the first extrusion.

Instead of screws, the cored holes may receive rods, such as stainless steel rods, threaded at each end to receive nuts and washers for connection to the corner pieces. This arrangement provides for additional strength and may advantageously be used with car panels of extra weight, width and/or height.

The shape of the corner joint may take many different forms dependent upon the shape and the desired appearance of the elevator car.

Viewed from a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of constructing an elevator car by supporting a number of wall panels in a framework of mullions, each said mullion being formed by joining a pair of elongate extrusions together in a pivotal-manner along their lengths and setting the extrusions of each mullion at requisite angles to one another to provide a desired car shape.

The roof may also be constructed in the same manner as the walls of the elevator, and the panels may be connected to the extrusions by a clamping action. Inner and outer trims may be provided on the extrusions, by, for example, a clipping action, preferably after the panels have been attached to the extrusions. The mullions may be connected to one another to form the framework by the use of corner joints, and may be attached to the corner joints by, for example, screws, in which case cored holes may be provided in the extrusions and be tapped prior to connection to the corner joints.

The present invention also extends to extrusions for use in the above car construction and method.

Viewed from a third aspect therefore, the present invention provides a pair of complementary elongate extrusions for use in the construction of an elevator car, the extrusions being adapted, in association with further pairs of similar extrusions, to support a number of elevator car wall panels, the two extrusions having cooperating means for pivotally connecting the pair to one another along their lengths.

Preferably, the cooperating means comprises a rodlike (preferably hollow) portion along the length of one extrusion and a corresponding channel portion along the length of the other extrusion. Each extrusion may include stepped portions against which the panels may abut, and may have means for mounting a clamp plate to hold the panels in place, such as slots in the extrusions for housing, for example, stainless steel screw mounting strips. Two further slots may be respectively provided in each extrusion, which, in use, generally oppose one another to house therebetween a further mounting strip having, for example, key-hole shaped slots to hold an inner trim or hand-rail of the elevator car in place. Cored holes may be provided in the extrusions for enabling the mounting of the extrusions to, for example, corner pieces of a car framework.One of the cored holes may be the hollow of the rod-like cooperating portion, and further cored holes may run into the opposed slots of the inner trim mounting plate.

The present invention provides a basic car construction which is simple, cost-effective, and allows flexibility in design with regard to the shape and size of the car. All major constructional work can be completed prior to the car trim finish being fitted, and this late fitting of the trim allows the customer to delay their choice of material and car appearance with minimal effect on car production.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a panoramic elevator car; Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-section through a vertical mullion of the car of Figure 1; Figures 3a, 3b, and 3c are cross-sections through first and second extrusions according to the present invention, and through the two extrusions joined together, respectively; Figure 4 is an exploded view of a corner joint between two roof mullions and a vertical mullion; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section through a horizontal floor mullion of the car of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-section through a vertical mullion of a hexagonal elevator car.

Referring to Figure 1, a panoramic elevator car 1 travels up and down a hoistway channel 2 on the outside of a building 3. The outwardly facing walls and the roof of the car 1 comprise-glass.panels 4 which are held in place by a framework of horizontal and vertical mullions 5 and 6 respectively. A hand-rail 7 runs between the vertical mullions 6, and the framework is mounted on a platform 8 which constitutes the car floor.

Also mounted on the platform 8 is a car door and door frame (not shown), which are known in the art and face towards the building 3.

A stainless steel stepped apron 9, also known in the art, extends downwardly from the platform 8.

A cross-section through a vertical mullion 6 is shown in Figure 2. Each mullion 6 comprises first and second extrusions, 10 and 11 respectively, made from aluminium of the type HE9-TF. In order to clearly see the shape of these extrusions 10,11, cross-sections through the extrusions by themselves are shown individually in Figures 3a, 3b and joined together in Fig. 3c.

The extrusions 10, 11 are pivotally joined together along their lengths by snap-fitting a hollow rod portion 12 of the second extrusion 11 into a channel portion 13 of the first extrusion 10. The inner surface of the cross-section of the channel portion 13 corresponds to the outer surface of the rod portion 12, and is an arc of a circle of slightly greater extent than a semicircle, so that the rod portion 12 may be held firmly within the channel portion 13, whilst still allowing for a snap-fit therebetween. The rod-portion 12 has a slot 14 along its length to allow the two resulting arcuate arms to move together during the snap action to facilitate insertion of the rod portion 12 into the channel portion 13. The pivotal joint so formed allows the extrusions 10, 11 to assume any angle in accordance with the desired car shape.In this case, the angle is a right-angle because the car is rectangular.

Each extrusion 10, 11 has a stepped portion 15, against which a glass panel 4 abuts, and each is provided with a clamp plate 16 to hold the panel 4 in place. The clamp plates 16 are mounted on the extrusions 10, 11 using countersunk screws 17 which anchor into stainless steel fixing strips 18. The strips 18 are inserted into slots 19 of the extrusions 10, 11 adjacent the stepped portions 15.

In order to provide the mullions 6 with a pleasing appearance, stainless steel inner and outer trims, 20 and 21 respectively, are clip-fitted to the extrusion/clamp plate assemblies.

The outer trim 21 is substantially right-angular in cross-section, and has a pair of inwardly extending lip portions 22 along its longitudinal edges, which clip over side-edges 23 of the clamp plate 16. To provide a firm clipping action, the side edges 23 and the lip portions 22 are angled inwardly, in use, to form an acute angle with the glass panels 4.

The gap 24 between the outer trim 21 and the extrusions 10, 11 may provide a wiring through passage, should for example illumination of the car be required.

The inner trim 20 is generally channel shaped, and has a pair of lip portions 25 along its longitudinal edges also. In this case, the lip portions 25 clip over the end portions 26 of the extrusions 10, 11. The end portions 26 and lip portions 25 are angled as above to provide a firm clipping action.

The inner trim 20 is further fixed to the extrusions 10, 11 by a number of clamping pins 27, which fit into key-hole slots (not shown) provided in stainless steel fixing strips 28 mounted between opposed slots 29 of the extrusions 10, 11.

The hand-rail 7 is also provided with clamping pins 27, so that it may be similarly affixed to the vertical mullions 6 through the fixing strips 28.

The horizontal mullions 5 at the roof of the car 1 have the same construction as the vertical mullions 6, and a corner joint between two horizontal roof mullions 5 and a vertical mullion 6 is shown in Figure 4.

The three mullions 5, 6 are each affixed to a respective face of a corner joint element 30 by three screws 31, which screw into cored holes 32 in the extrusions 10, 11 (one of the cored holes is the hollow of rod portion 12 and the other two cored holes each run into one of the opposed slots 29 of the respective extrusions). The corner joint element 30 is effectively a hollow cube with three sides removed to allow access to the screws 31, and also has cut-out portions 33 to accommodate edges of the glass panels 4. In order to provide a more attractive appearance, a corner trim (not shown) may be provided on the corner element 30, once the mullions 10, 11 have been attached to it.

The horizontal mullions 5 of the floor of car 1 are of the same basic construction as the vertical mullions 6 and the horizontal mullions 5 of the roof. There are, however, a few differences which take into account the position of the floor mullions, and a cross-section through such a mullion is shown in Figure 5.

One difference is that, as no glass panel 4 is required for the floor, then only one of the extrusions, in this case the first extrusion 10, is used to mount a panel 4. Also, the inner and outer trims 34, 35, are shaped somewhat differently to allow the floor mullions (and so the framework) to be mounted to the platform 8.

The floor outer trim 35 is, as before, substantially right-angular in cross-section, but only one of its sides has a lip portion 22 clippable onto a clamp plate 16. The other side of trim 35 is of greater width than the first, and extends past the end of the second extrusion 11 to form a flange portion 36 through which screws 37 fix the outer trim 35 to the platform 8.

The inner trim 34 is also substantially rightangular in cross-section and has a flange portion 38 along one longitudinal side edge, through which it is fixed to the platform 8 again by the screws 37.

There is no fixing strip 28 between extrusion slots 29 because there is no need to hang a hand-rail from the extrusions and because the screws 37 adequately hold the inner trim 34 in place.

Corner joints between the horizontal mullions 5 of the floor and the vertical mullions 6 may be similar to those for the horizontal roof mullions.

To assemble a car of the above construction, the corner joints 30 are firstly produced in accordance with the design of the car. The required number of first and second extrusions 10, 11 are then cut to length, and the cored holes 32 tapped at both ends. The first and second extrusions 10, 11 are next joined along their lengths and set at the appropriate angles. The stainless steel strips 18 and 28 are slid into the slots 19 and 29, and the extrusions 10, 11 are fixed to the corner joint elements 30 to construct the basic framework for holding the glass panels 4 in situ. The clamp plates 16 are then drilled and countersunk as appropriate, and positioned on the extrusions 10, 11 as a template, whilst holes are drilled into the strips 18.

The drilled holes in the clamp plates 16 and strips 18 are then tapped, the clamp plates removed, the glass panels 4 put into position, and the clamp plates 16 fixed to extrusions 10, 11 via the strips 18 using countersunk screws 17.

Next, the floor mullion inner and outer trims 34, 35 are attached, and the framework is fixed to the platform 8 through these trims 34, 35 by screws 37.

Finally, the rest of the inner trim 20 and outer trim 21, including the corner trim, are clipped on.

As will be appreciated from the above discussion, the construction of the car 1 is simple, labour- and cost-effective, and may provide a car of pleasing appearance and consistent quality.

The above example has been based on a rectangular car 1. However, a feature of the present invention is that the pivotally joined extrusions 10, 11 may take up any angle to allow elevator cars of many different shapes to be easily constructed in a similar manner and using the same extrusions. For example, if a car of hexagonal shape were desired, then the angles between the side walls would be 60 , and the extrusions 10, 11 would accordingly take up such an angle, as shown in Figure 6. It should be noted that the shapes of the inner trim 20, outer trim 21 and fixing strip 28 would be modified to take account of the 60 angle. The shape of the corner joint elements 30 of Figure 3 may also change accordingly.

By the above construction, elevator cars of many shapes and sizes may be built simply and inexpensively using the same basic extrusions 10, 11, clamping plates 16, and constructional procedures.

It will of course be appreciated that the above description is for illustration only, and many variations of the features of the above embodiments can be envisaged and are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the extrusions need not clip together, but could be slid relatively to one another, and, instead of having clamp plates, the glass panels 4 could be push-fitted into channels in the extrusions.

Also, the cored holes 32 may accept self-tapping screws, or may accept rods, such as stainless steel rods, threaded at each end to receive nuts/washers for connection with the corner pieces. This latter arrangement provides additional strength, if required, and may advantageously be used for car panels 4 of extra weight, width or height.

Claims (24)

Claims

1. An elevator car including a framework of mullions for supporting wall panels of the car, each mullion comprising a first and a second elongate extrusion, the extrusions being pivotally joined together to be rotatable relative to each other about an axis along their lengths to assume a requisite angle dependent on car shape.

2. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the first extrusion is provided with a rod-like portion along its length which engages a corresponding channel portion provided in the second extrusion.

3. An elevator car according to claim 2, wherein the channel portion has an arcuate cross-section of slightly greater extent than a semi-circle and the rod portion is hollow and has a slot along its length to produce two arcuate portions which snap-fit into the channel portion.

4. An elevator car according to any preceding claim, wherein the panels are clamped to the extrusions.

5. An elevator car according to claim 4, wherein each of the extrusions is provided with a stepped portion, against which a panel edge may abut, and with a clamp plate to clamp a panel in place.

6. An elevator car according to claim 5, wherein the extrusions are provided with fixing strips, which are inserted into slots in the extrusions and to which the clamp plates are fixed.

7. An elevator car according to any preceding claim, wherein inner and outer trims are provided on the mullions.

8. An elevator car according to claim 7, wherein the inner and outer trims are adapted to be attached to the mullions after construction of the framework and mounting of the panels thereon.

9. An elevator car according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each pair of extrusions is provided with an inner fixing strip which is mounted between substantially opposed slots in the first and second extrusions and to which the inner trim is attached.

10. An elevator car according to any preceding claim, wherein the extrusions are provided with holes extending therethrough able to receive means for fixing the extrusions to corner joints.

11. An elevator car according to claim 10, wherein the holes house strengthening rods.

12. A method of constructing an elevator car by supporting a number of wall panels in a framework of mullions, each said mullion being formed by joining a pair of elongate extrusions together in a pivotal manner along their lengths and setting the extrusions of each mullion at requisite angles to one another to provide a desired car shape.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the panels are connected to the extrusions by a clamping action.

14. A method according to claims 12 or 13, wherein inner and outer trims are mounted on the mullions after the panels have been attached to the extrusions

15. A pair of complementary elongate extrusions for use in the construction of an elevator car, the extrusions being adapted, in association with further pairs of similar extrusions, to support a number of elevator car wall panels, the two extrusions having cooperating means for pivotally connecting the extrusion pair to one another along their lengths.

16. A pair of extrusions according to claim 15, wherein the cooperating means comprises a rod-like portion along the length of one extrusion and a corresponding channel portion along the length of the other extrusion.

17. A pair of extrusions according to claim 16, wherein the channel portion has an arcuate cross-section of slightly greater extent than a semi-circle and the rod portion is hollow and has a slot along its length to produce two arcuate portions which snap-fit into the channel portion.

18. A pair of extrusions according to claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein each extrusion includes a stepped portion against which a panel edge may abut, and a clamp plate to hold the panel in place.

19. A pair of extrusions according to claim 18, wherein the extrusions are each provided with slots for housing clamp plate mounting strips.

20. A pair of extrusions according to any of claims 15 or 19, wherein slots are respectively provided in each extrusion, which, in use, generally oppose one another to house therebetween a mounting strip to hold an inner trim or hand-rail of the elevator car in place.

21. A pair of extrusions according to any of claims 15 to 20, wherein holes run through the extrusions for enabling the mounting of the extrusions to cornertpieces of a car framework.

22. An elevator car substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of constructing an elevator car substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A pair of complementary elongate extrusions substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.