Rotationally stiff elevator car door coupling

US5538106A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Thomas M. McHugh · Farmington, US
• Thomas M. Kowalczyk · Farmington, US
• Richard E. Kulak · Bristol, US
• Thomas He · Unionville, US
• Edward E. Ahigian · Arlington Heights, US
• Jerome F. Jaminet · South Windsor, US
• Richard E. Peruggi · Glastonbury, US
• David W. Barrett · Hartland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 8, 1994
• Grant date: Jul 23, 1996
• Expiry date: Apr 8, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B66B13/12
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A coupling for causing an elevator car door to engage an elevator hoistway door includes a pair of vanes, each end of each vane pivoted on a link connecting it with the other vane, the links being disposed for rotation between said two vanes on an elevator car door thereby forming a parallelogram. The vanes extend vertically between four rollers which rotate about horizontal axles disposed at the top of the hoistway door, and which provide rotationally stiff coupling. A solenoid actuator can move one vane up to cause the parallelogram to shrink, into an uncoupled position. When the actuator is disenergized, a spring causes the parallelogram to spread so that the vanes are wedged between the rollers and the two doors are coupled together.