04/848981

02/01/1972

08/11/1969

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Otis Elevator Company (New York, NY)

187/319

49/103, 187/330, 49/360

B66B13/12; B66B13/02

187/52,52C,52LC,61 49/360,118,120,103 200/61.64

Hornsby, Harvey C.

Maffei, Merle F.

What is claimed is

1. In an elevator installation having an elevator car with a sliding door for closing an opening to said car, a car door-operating device for moving said car door across said opening, a hoistway for said car with a sliding door for closing an opening to said hoistway, door-coupling apparatus including an interlock mechanism including a locking device mounted on said hoistway door and operable to lock said hoistway door when in a closed position across its associated opening, said coupling mechanism comprising a first coupling means operable to couple said hoistway door to said car door during movement of said car door across its associated opening in both the opening and closing directions so that said hoistway door moves across its associated opening in conjunction with the movement of said car door across its associated opening, said first coupling means releasing the coupling it provides during the closing operation of said doors when said hoistway door reaches a predetermined distance from said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises a second coupling means including a magnetized element producing a magnetic force for maintaining said hoistway door coupled to said car door after the release by said first coupling means until said hoistway door reaches said closed position provided an opposing restraining force which overcomes said magnetic force is not applied to said hoistway door after the release by said first coupling means, said second coupling means including a vane means composed of a magnetic material mounted on the car door and a magnetized means mounted on said locking device, said magnetized means including a support pin connected to said locking device and a magnetized roller journaled on said pin.

2. Door-coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in response to the car door-operating device initiating the opening of said car door said vane means bears against said magnetized roller causing the locking device to unlock said hoistway door and enabling said hoistway door thereafter to move in conjunction with said car door during its opening operation and wherein said first coupling means includes clamping means mounted on said hoistway door and operable in response to the hoistway door opening a predetermined amount to clamp said vane means to said magnetized roller, said clamping means thereafter maintaining said clamp during the opening and closing operations and enabling said hoistway door to move in conjunction with said car door during its closing operation until said hoistway door reaches said predetermined distance from said closed position whereupon in response thereto said clamping means operates to release the clamp it provides between said vane means and said magnetized roller and the magnetic attractive force therebetween is operable to maintain the hoistway door coupled to said car door.

3. Door-coupling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said magnetized roller includes a cylindrical permanent magnet core member and a pair of ring-shaped pole members disposed on opposite sides of said core member and wherein said pin has an eccentric portion, said eccentric portion being journaled in said magnetized roller said pin being adjustably connected to said locking device for adjustably positioning said magnetized roller.

4. In an elevator installation having an elevator car with a sliding door for closing an opening to said car, a car door-operating device for moving said car door across said opening, a hoistway for said car with a sliding door for closing an opening to said hoistway, door closer means, door-coupling apparatus including an interlock mechanism and a coupling mechanism, said interlock mechanism including a locking device mounted on said hoistway door including a locking lever pivotally mounted on said hoistway door, said locking device being operable to lock said hoistway door when in a closed position across its associated opening, said coupling mechanism including a first coupling means operable to couple said hoistway door to said car door during movement of said car door across its associated opening in both the opening and closing directions so that said hoistway door moves across its associated opening in conjunction with the movement of said car door across its associated opening, said first coupling means releasing the coupling it provides between said hoistway door and said car door during the closing operation of said doors when said hoistway door reaches a predetermined distance from said closed position, said door closer means being operable to apply a force to said hoistway door to move it said predetermined distance to said closed position after the release by said first coupling means in the absence of the application of an opposing restraining force to said hoistway door which overcomes the force applied by said door closer means after the release by said first coupling means, wherein the improvement comprises a second coupling means including a magnetized element producing a magnetic force in a direction substantially parallel to said closing direction for maintaining said hoistway door coupled to said car door after the release by said first coupling means for movement of said hoistway door in conjunction with the movement of said car door until said hoistway door reaches said closed position notwithstanding the application of an opposing restraining force which overcomes the force applied by said door closer means after the release by said first coupling means provided an opposing restraining force which overcomes the combined forces applied by said door closer means and said second coupling means is not applied to said hoistway door after the release by said first coupling means, said second coupling means including a vane means composed of a magnetic material mounted on said car door and a magnetized means mounted on said locking lever.

5. Door-coupling apparatus in an elevator installation according to claim 4, wherein said magnetized means includes a support pin connected to said locking lever and a magnetized roller journaled on said pin.

6. Door-coupling apparatus in an elevator installation according to claim 5, wherein in response to the car door operating device opening said car door a predetermined amount said vane means bears against said magnetized roller causing said locking lever to pivot and unlock said hoistway door and enabling said hoistway door thereafter to move in conjunction with said car door during its opening operation and wherein said first coupling means includes clamping means mounted on said hoistway door and operable in response to the hoistway door opening a predetermined amount to clamp said vane means to said magnetized roller, said clamping means thereafter maintaining said clamp during the opening and closing operations and enabling said hoistway door to move in conjunction with said car door during its closing operation until said hoistway door reaches said predetermined distance from said closed position whereupon in response thereto said clamping means operates to release the clamp it provides between said vane means and said magnetized roller and the magnetic force therebetween is operable to maintain the hoistway door coupled to said car door, said magnetic force being of less magnitude than that applied to the car door by said car door operating device after said hoistway door reaches said closed position and said car door being movable by said car door operating device in said closing direction relative to said hoistway door after said hoistway door reaches said closed position whereby said car door operating device in so moving said car door separates said vane means from said magnetized roller.

7. Door-coupling apparatus in an elevator installation according to claim 6, wherein said pin has an eccentric portion, said eccentric portion being journaled in said magnetized roller, said pin being adjustably connected to said locking lever for adjustably positioning said magnetized roller.

8. Door-coupling apparatus in an elevator installation according to claim 7, wherein said magnetized roller includes a ring-shaped permanent magnet core member journaled on the eccentric portion of said pin and a pair of ring-shaped pole members journaled on the eccentric portion of said pin and disposed on opposite sides of said core member and wherein said pin has a spacer member disposed between said magnetized roller and said locking lever, said pin and said spacer member being composed of nonmagnetic material.

The present invention relates to a door interlock and coupling apparatus for an elevator installation and particularly to a door interlock and coupling apparatus for an elevator installation having a magnetic door coupling mechanism.

A conventional elevator installation includes an elevator car serving a plurality of floor landings, a car door mounted on said elevator car for horizontal sliding movement between open and closed positions, a hoistway door at each of said landings mounted for horizontal sliding movement parallel to the movement of said car door, and a door operating device supported by said car and operatively connected to said car door. Said conventional elevator installation also has a door interlock and coupling apparatus. Said apparatus includes an interlock mechanism operative to lock said hoistway door in its closed position, and includes a coupling mechanism operative to couple said doors for simultaneous opening and closing thereof.

A conventional door interlock and coupling apparatus of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,268,679, issued Aug. 23, 1966, which is assigned to the same assignee as in this application. Said apparatus has an interlock mechanism and a coupling mechanism. The conventional interlock mechanism has a locking lever which locks the hoistway door in its closed position. The conventional coupling mechanism has a vane, which is mounted on the car door, and has a pair of rollers, which are supported by the hoistway door and which are disposed on opposite sides of the vane for clamping the vane therebetween. The leading roller, which is on the leading side of the vane, is mounted on a latching device which clamps the vane between the leading roller and the trailing roller for coupling the doors when the doors move to and from the open position. The latching device has a latch member, which is pivotally mounted on the hoistway door and which supports the leading roller.

The latch member is spring-biased to urge the leading roller toward the vane in order to clamp the vane between the rollers as the doors leave the closed position. The latch member is rotated by a fixed releasing stop to unclamp the vane as the doors return and approach the closed position. The fixed stop applies a horizontal force against the latch member when rotating the latch member. The fixed stop requires a certain distance of movement of the hoistway door relative to the fixed stop in order to rotate the latch member. In one model of the conventional coupling mechanism, this distance was about three inches. With this conventional construction, the latching device uncouples the car door from the hoistway door while the hoistway door is still slightly open during the closing movement of the doors. Further closing of the hoistway door is effected by a closing weight or spring.

In some elevator installations, the hoistway door is subject to a relatively large friction force. A hoistway door facing an air-conditioned corridor or a hoistway door forming an exterior building door can be exposed to a relatively high-wind pressure, which acts on one side of the door and which causes the door sill to apply a relatively high-friction force on the hoistway door. Such friction force can exceed the door-closing force normally applied to the hoistway door by its door-closing weight or spring and can prevent the hoistway door from closing fully and locking. If the hoistway door is held in a slightly open position by the friction force in this way, the interlock mechanism cannot lock the hoistway door whereby the operation of the elevator installation is interrupted.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, by using a magnetized trailing roller assembly supported on the locking lever, the vane can apply a pulling force on the locking lever to pull the hoistway door to its closed and locked position. This assures that the car door does not release the hoistway door until the hoistway door is in its closed and locked position. In this way, interruptions in the operation of the elevator system by the failure of the hoistway doors to close fully and lock owing to the application of a relatively high friction force is substantially minimized.

Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to minimize interruptions in the operation of an elevator installation caused by friction forces acting on the hoistway doors.

It is another object of the invention to provide an elevator installation having an elevator car door and hoistway door interlock and coupling apparatus, which does not uncouple the hoistway door from the car door until the hoistway door is in its fully closed position.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an elevator car door and hoistway door interlock and coupling apparatus according to the aforementioned objects, which has an interlock mechanism and a coupling mechanism which coact to uncouple the hoistway door after it attains its closed and locked position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator car door and hoistway door interlock and coupling apparatus having a coupling mechanism according to the aforementioned objects, which is a mechanical type of coupling mechanism and which has a magnetic type of coupling action.

According to the present invention and in fulfillment of these objects, there is provided a door-coupling apparatus for an elevator installation having an elevator car sliding door, a car door-operating device and a hoistway sliding door, said apparatus including an interlock mechanism and a coupling mechanism, wherein said interlock mechanism has a locking lever pivotally mounted on said hoistway door, and wherein said coupling mechanism comprises a vane member and magnetized means, said vane member being composed of a magnetic material and being mounted on said car door, said magnetized means being mounted on said locking lever for cooperation with said vane member, said magnetized means being operative to apply a magnetic force on said vane member for coupling said hoistway door to said car door for movement of said coupled doors between an open position and a closed position until said locking lever operates to lock said hoistway door in its closed position.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of an elevator installation embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to the sectional view of FIG. 2 and showing the parts in a different position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged isometric view of the same portion of FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention is an elevator installation 10. Elevator installation 10 includes an elevator car 11, a car door 12, which is movable in a horizontal direction relative to elevator car 11, and includes a hoistway door 13, which is also movable in a horizontal direction parallel to the movement of the elevator car door 12.

Elevator installation 10 also includes a door-operating device 14, which is supported by elevator car 11 and which is pivotally connected to car door 12. Installation 10 also includes an interlock mechanism 15 (FIG. 2), which is operative to lock hoistway door 13 in a fully closed position. Installation 10 also includes a coupling mechanism 16 (FIG. 2), which couples car door 12 to hoistway door 13 for simultaneous movement of car door 12 and hoistway door 13. Elevator car 11 is disposed in a hoistway 17 and serves a floor landing 18, which is one of a plurality of similar floor landings. Hoistway 17 has a door opening 19 at floor landing 18.

Car door 12 is supported by an overhead track system (not shown) of conventional construction which is mounted on elevator car 11. Car door 12 is also guided by a sill plate 20 of conventional construction which is disposed at the bottom thereof.

Hoistway door 13 is similarly supported by an overhead track system (not shown) of conventional construction which is mounted above opening 19. Hoistway door 13 also is similarly guided by a conventional sill plate 21 which is disposed at the bottom thereof. Hoistway door 13 also may have a door closer system (not shown) of conventional construction, such as a system having a dead weight, a chain and a pulley, which applies a substantially constant door-closing force. Such door-closing force is applied in a substantially horizontal direction on hoistway door 13. The magnitude of such door-closing force is limited in magnitude by conventional elevator codes for passenger safety.

Door-operating device 14 applies an operating force 22 in a substantially horizontal direction on car door 12 for driving doors 12, 13 between the open and closed positions thereof. Hoistway door 13 has a leading edge 23, which faces one side of opening 19, and has a trailing edge 24 at the opposite side thereof.

Interlock mechanism 15 (FIG. 2), which is a switching and locking mechanism, includes a switch housing 30, which is fixedly mounted on a wall header 31, and includes a locking lever 32, which is rotatably mounted on hoistway door 34 and which is received by housing 30. When hoistway door 13 is closed, interlock mechanism 15 is operative to lock hoistway door 13, and is also operative for enabling power to be supplied through a switch to elevator car 11 as explained hereafter. In FIGS. 2 and 3, housing 30 is illustrated with its front cover removed. The cooperation of door operating device 14, interlock mechanism 15 and coupling mechanism 16 is more fully described hereafter. Switch housing 30 (FIG. 3) has a catch surface 33 for locking lever 32 in place. Housing 30 also has a contact block 34, (FIG. 2), which has a pair of spaced interlock switch contacts 35, 36, which are bridged by contact 40 of lever 32 when lever 32 is in its locking position.

Lever 32, which is L-shaped, has a vertical leg 38 and a horizontal leg 39. Lever 32 has a latch surface 37 (FIG. 3), which cooperates with catch surface 33 and locks lever 32 to housing 30. Lever 32 also has a bridging contact 40 on the horizontal leg 39 thereof which cooperates with switch contacts 35, 36 to form a safety switch in a circuit supplying power to elevator car 11. FIG. 2 shows doors 12, 13 disposed in their closed position. In such condition, lever 32 is locked in place by housing 30, and latch surface 37 is separated from catch surface 33 by a lock clearance 41.

Lever 32 is rotatably mounted on a support pin 42, which is fixedly supported by a bracket 43 that is fixedly attached to hoistway door 13 by bolts 51. Lever 32 is displaceable through an angle of travel 44 (FIG. 3) about pin 42. Lever 32 is spring-biased by a compression coil spring 45 which urges lever 32 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. Spring 45 is supported by a stud 46, which is mounted on bracket 43. Stud 46 has a bearing washer 47 at an end thereof which bears against and positions spring 45. Bracket 43 also has a first bumper member 48 for limiting the clockwise travel of lever 32 and has a second bumper member 49 for limiting the counterclockwise travel of lever 32.

Lever 32 also has a shoulder portion 50, which is disposed between bumper 48 and spring 45. Spring 45 bears against one face of shoulder 50 and urges lever 32 in a clockwise direction. Bumper 48 is disposed in the path of travel of shoulder 50 for limiting the clockwise travel of lever 32.

Coupling mechanism 16 (FIG. 2) includes a vane member 60, which is mounted on car door 12 and composed of a magnetic material. Coupling mechanism 16 also includes a magnetized roller unit 61, which is mounted on locking lever 32. Magnetized unit 61 is operative to apply a magnetic force 62 in a substantially horizontal direction on vane member 60 when engaged thereto. Roller unit 61 is mounted on vertical leg 38 near the bottom end thereof. Magnetic force 62 of roller unit 61 is directed in a horizontal direction and is applied on vane 60 so as to couple hoistway door 13 to car door 12 during movement of doors 12, 13 to and from their open position until hoistway door 13 attains its closed position and locking lever 32 operates to lock hoistway door 13 in its closed position. The operation of coupling mechanism 16 is explained more fully hereafter.

Coupling mechanism 16 also includes a latching means 63 (FIG. 3), which is a spring-biased clamp assembly that is operative to apply a clamping force 64 on vane 60 which in addition to magnetic force 62 also couples vane 60 and car door 12 to hoistway door 13. Coupling mechanism 16 also includes a releasing member 65 for actuating clamp assembly 63 and for releasing clamping force 64 from vane 60 as doors 12, 13 approach their closed position.

Clamping force 64 and magnetic force 62 act together for coupling hoistway door 13 to car door 12. After clamp assembly 63 is released, magnetic force 62 alone is operative to couple hoistway door 13 to car door 12. In operation, magnetic force 62 of magnetic roller unit 61 assures that vane member 60 remains coupled to locking lever 32, after the release of clamp assembly 63 and during the movement of doors 12, 13 toward the closed position, until hoistway door 13 reaches its closed position and is locked in place. In addition, if clamp assembly 63 is omitted or rendered inoperative, magnetized roller unit 61 alone may provide the necessary coupling action between doors 12, 13 for operation thereof.

Vane member 60, which is preferably a single-flange type of vane member, is an elongate, vertical bar of rectangular cross section, that has an integral support member 66 (FIG. 1). Support member 66, which has an L-shaped cross section, is fixedly connected to car door 12. Vane member 60 is composed of a magnetic material, such as a ferrous material, so that an attractive force is developed between it and roller unit 61. Vane member 60 is disposed between clamp assembly 63 and the magnetic roller unit 61 associated with a landing when elevator car 11 is located at that landing.

Magnetized roller unit 61 (FIGS. 4 and 5), which is a coupling and interlock roller unit, is supported by a support pin 70, which has an eccentric portion 71. Roller unit 61 comprises a permanent magnet core member or ring 72, and a pair of pole members or washer rings 73, 74. Roller unit 61 also includes a spacer ring 75. Rings 72, 73, 74, 75 are journaled on eccentric portion 71. Roller unit 61, which is the trailing roller unit, is positioned on the trailing side of vane 60, on the side nearer to door trailing edge 24. Roller unit 61 is adjustably connected to vertical leg 38 at the bottom end thereof.

Pin 70, which is composed of a nonmagnetic metal, such as brass or the like, is fixedly connected at one end thereof to vertical leg 38 for support therefrom. Pin 70 has a longitudinal axis 76, which is disposed substantially at right angles to the faces of doors 12, 13 and which is disposed substantially parallel to the adjacent face of vane 60. Eccentric portion 71 has an eccentric axis 77, which is substantially parallel to pin axis 76. Magnet ring 72, washer rings 73, 74 and spacer ring 75 are coaxial with eccentric portion 71 along eccentric axis 77. If axis 77 is adjustably moved about axis 76, rings 72, 73, 74 can be moved toward and away from vane 60.

Vertical leg 38 has a groove 78 which receives pin 70. Leg 38 also has an adjustable bolt 79 for clamping pin 70 in groove 78. When doors 12, 13 are in their closed and locked position (FIG. 2), vane 60 is separated from magnet roller 61 by an adjustable clearance 80. Clearance 80 can be adjusted in size by loosening bolt 79, by rotatably displacing eccentric portion 71 about pin axis 76, and then by retightening bolt 79. In such position of doors 12, 13, vane 60 is also separated from clamp assembly 63 by an adjustable clearance 81, as explained hereafter. Clearances 80, 81 are adjusted in order to assure proper running clearances for vane 60. The corresponding magnet device and clamp assembly at each hoistway door in hoistway 17 are vertically aligned and are adjusted to provide similar clearances at each hoistway door. In one model of embodiment 10, each of the clearances 80, 81 after adjustment was set at about one-half of an inch (0.500 inches) in size. In addition, lock clearance 41 was set at about one-sixteenth of an inch (0.062 inches) in size.

Magnet or core ring 72 and washer or pole rings 73, 74, together provided a magnetic field, which is arranged so that magnetic force 62 is positioned approximately at right angles to the face of vane 60, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Washer or pole rings 73, 74 form the opposite sides, or north and south poles, of magnetized unit 61. Magnet or core ring 72 forms the permanent magnet core of the magnetic unit 61. Rings 72, 73, 74 are also adjustably positioned in an axial direction on pin 70. By adjusting the axial thickness of spacer 75, rings 72, 73, 74 can be adjustably positioned relative to vane 60 in an axial direction. In this way, the position in an axial direction of magnetic force 62 can be adjusted. Rings 72, 73, 74 each are composed of a magnetizable material, such as a ferrous material. Ring 72 may be composed of a moldable material containing particles of a metallic, magnetizable material in order to provide a relatively high magnitude of magnetic force 62.

Rings 73, 74 (FIGS. 4 and 5), are disposed on the axially opposite sides of ring 72. Rings 72, 73, 74 may be covered by a thin cylindrical covering (not shown), such as a cylinder of relatively hard, nonmetallic material, which covers the radially outer surfaces thereof in order to minimize noise caused by the engagement of rings 72, 73, 74 with vane 60. The outer diameters of rings 73, 74 preferably are about equal in size and are slightly larger than the outer diameter of ring 72. The magnitude of magnetic force 62 can be adjusted by adjustably changing the thicknesses of rings 73, 74 or by changing the thickness of the covering. Spacer 75 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is disposed on the axially inner side of ring 74, and is preferably composed of a nonmagnetic material.

Magnetic force 62 preferably is substantially larger in magnitude than the net restraining force on hoistway door 13, and magnetic force 62 is substantially smaller than the net closing force on car door 12. In one model of embodiment 10, such magnetic force is about twelve (12) pounds in magnitude. The net restraining force on hoistway door 13 is approximately equal to the total friction force on hoistway door 13 less the door closer pulling force on hoistway door 13 produced by the previously mentioned door closer system. The net closing force on car door 12 is approximately equal to the horizontal operating force 22. Magnetic force 62 is preferably larger than the net restraining force on hoistway door 13 to assure that hoistway door 13 can be moved to its closed position, and locked in said closed position, after clamping force 64 is released from vane 60 notwithstanding hoistway door 13 is subject to a relatively large friction force. Magnetic force 62 is preferably smaller than the net closing force on car door 12 to assure that vane 60 can be separated from magnetic roller 61 to provide clearance 80 after hoistway door 13 is located in its closed position. As indicated heretofore, hoistway door 13 can be subject to a relatively large friction force, and car door 12 can be subject to relatively no friction force in this way, when there is a substantial pressure drop between the air pressures on opposite sides of hoistway door 13. With this construction of roller unit 61, hoistway door 13 can be pulled to its closed position, and locked in said closed position, when subject to such relatively high-friction force.

Clamp assembly 63, which is a latching means, includes a bell crank latch plate 82, which has a stud 83 for pivotally supporting latch plate 82. Clamp assembly 63 also includes a spring 84 for causing counterclockwise rotation of latch plate 82 (FIG. 3), a leading roller 85, which is disposed on the leading side of vane 60, and a crank roller 86 for causing clockwise rotation of latch plate 82.

Latch plate 82 is journaled on stud 83. Latch plate 82 has a groove 87 (FIG. 1), which receives a leading roller 85, and has a bolt 88 for adjustably clamping roller 85 in place. Stud 83 is fixedly connected to bracket 43 at the inner end thereof for supporting latch plate 82. Spring 84, which is a torsion spring, is connected at one end to bracket 43 and is connected at the other end to latch plate 82 for urging latch plate 82 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) for positioning roller 85 in bearing against vane member 60.

Leading roller 85 has a pin 89, which is received by latch plate groove 87 and which is clamped in place by bolt 88. Leading roller 85 also has a plurality of washers 90 for axially positioning leading roller 85. The thickness of washers 90 can be varied for adjusting the axial position of leading roller 85. Crank roller 86, which is pivotally mounted on latch plate 82, projects axially inwardly for engaging releasing member 65 (FIG. 2). Bracket 43 has a bumper member 91 (FIG. 2) for limiting the travel of crank roller 86 and latch plate 82. Bumper 91 is also located so that the torque applied to latch plate 82 by the reaction to clamping force 64 is minimized.

Releasing member 65, which is a fixed stop member, is fixedly connected to housing 30 for support therefrom. Releasing member 65 is positioned in the path of travel of crank roller 86 in order to rotate latch plate 82 and to fully disengage and separate leading roller 85 from vane 60 as the coupled doors 12, 13 approach their closed position.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show doors 12, 13 in their closed, stationary position. In this position, vane 60 is separated from roller unit 61 and roller 85 by clearances 80, 81, and elevator car 11 is in condition either to move to another floor landing or to stay at floor landing 18 and to open doors 12, 13. The operation of opening and closing doors 12, 13 at floor landing 18 is described hereafter.

In operation, the door operating sequence is as indicated hereafter.

1. Operating device 14 applies an operating force 22 to car door 12 for opening and closing car door 12. When car door 12 first opens, car door 12 moves a slight distance to the right (FIG. 1) through the clearance 80 toward its open position so that vane 60 engages roller unit 61. Continued movement of car door 12 toward its open position rotates locking lever 32 through an angle of travel 44 thereby displacing latch surface 37 from catch surface 33 and thereby causing bridge contact 40 to separate from switch contacts 35, 36 (FIG. 3). In this way, lever 32 is unlocked from housing 30 for unlocking doors 12, 13. Moreover, power is cut off from elevator car 11 so that elevator car 11 cannot move from landing 18 while doors 12, 13 are not locked in the closed position. Continued movement of car door 12 toward its open position causes vane 60 to urge hoistway door 13 to move to the open position. Operating force 22 transmits a driving force to the right along the same line as magnetic force 62 (FIG. 3) from vane 60 to trailing roller 61 for transmission through bracket 43 to door 13. In this way, car door 12 is operative to open hoistway door 13.

2. As hoistway door 13 moves away from its closed position toward its open position and latch plate 82 moves relative to fixed releasing member 65, latch spring 84 slightly rotates latch plate 82 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 3). After the completion of the rotation of latch plate 82, the leading roller 85 is positioned so as to bear against vane 60 for providing a clamping force 64 on vane 60. Clamping force 64 and magnetic force 62 act in the same direction for coupling vane 60 to locking lever 32. In addition, because locking lever 32 engages bumper 49, clamping force 64 minimizes slight relative movement, or shaking, of hoistway door 13 relative to car door 12 during the movement of doors 12, 13 to and from the open position. Latch bar 82 and spring 84 (FIG. 3) cause crank roller 86 to rest on bumper 91 so that leasing roller 85 is exactly positioned for bearing against vane 60. In this way, clamping force 64 acts together with magnetic force 62 for coupling hoistway door 13 to car door 12 during movement of doors 12, 13 to and from the open position.

3. When car door 12 returns from its open position to its closed position as viewed in FIG. 1, operating force 22 transmits a driving force, which is directed along the same line as clamping force 64, from vane 60 to leading roller 85. Because crank roller 86 bears on bumper 91, latch plate 82 cannot rotate and the driving force from car door 12 is transmitted through latch plate 82 to hoistway door 13 urging hoistway door 13 toward its closed position.

4. As hoistway door 13 approaches its closed position, crank roller 86 engages releasing member 65 causing latch plate 82 to rotate in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2). In this way, leading clamp roller 85 is separated from vane 60 and clamping force 64 is released. However, as hoistway door 13 approaches its closed position and clamping force 64 is released from vane 60, locking lever 32 continues to be coupled to vane 60 by magnetic force 62. In this way, hoistway door 13 remains coupled to car door 12 until car door 12 pulls hoistway door 13 to its closed position. In one model of embodiment 10, crank roller 86 first engages releasing member 65 and releases clamping force 64 as doors 12, 13 approach the closed position when hoistway door 13 is about three (3) inches from its closed position. In this way, as car door 12 approaches its closed position, the magnetic force 62 causes vane 60 to be coupled to roller 61. Also, operating force 22 causes lever 32 to rotate in a clockwise direction through angle 44 after clamp roller 85 is released. Thereafter, shoulder 50 bears against bumper 48 so that operating force 22 is then transmitted through pin 42 to bracket 43. Thus, the operating force 22 can be transmitted through bracket 43 to hoistway door 13 for urging the coupled doors 12, 13 to their closed position because magnetic force 62 couples hoistway door 13 to car door 12 after latching means 16 is released.

5. As locking lever 32 is received by housing 30, vane 60 continues to apply a pulling force on vertical arm 38 urging locking lever 32 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2), which urges bridging contact 40 into engagement with switch contacts 35, 36. Spring 45 also applies a spring force which cooperates with vane 60 for urging bridging contact 40 into engagement with switch contacts 35, 36. As latch surface 37 overlaps catch surface 33, locking lever 32 is locked to housing 30 and hoistway door 13 is locked in place in its closed position. Thereafter, hoistway door 13 is prevented from further closing movement by a stop while car door 12 continues to move through a slight distance until vane 60 is separated from roller 61 by clearance 81. Car door 12 is urged to its fully closed position and is held in said position by operating force 22 of door-operating device 14. In this way, hoistway door 13 and car door 12 are positioned in their closed and locked positions. Thus, interruptions in the operation of the elevator car 11 by the application of a friction force on the hoistway door 13 is avoided.

While the present invention has been described in a preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein within the scope of the invention. For example, a second embodiment of an elevator installation can be provided, which has a pair of center-opening car doors and a pair of center-opening hoistway doors, in place of the single car door 12 and the single hoistway door 13. Each pair of such center-opening doors can also be provided with a wire cord and pulley assembly of conventional construction to assure that a cooperating motion and force is transmitted between the pair of doors. In such an installation, interlock mechanism 15 and coupling mechanism 16 according to this invention can be used in combination with said center-opening car and hoistway doors. Such center-opening doors can operate in substantially the same improved manner as car door 12 and hoistway door 13.

As another example, a third embodiment of an elevator installation can be provided having an interlock and coupling apparatus, wherein the coupling mechanism thereof has a U-shaped, channel-type, dual-flange, vane member instead of a bar-type, single-flange vane member 60, and wherein the coupling mechanism has a gravity-biased locking lever instead of a spring-biased locking lever 32. Moreover, the coupling mechanism of such third embodiment has a latching device, which is similar to latching device 63, and which is arranged to engage the trailing flange of the dual-flange vane member, instead of engaging the leading edge of the single-flange vane member 60. Further, the coupling mechanism also has a magnetic roller unit, which is identical to roller unit 61, and which is mounted on the vertical leg of the gravity-type locking lever. In such third embodiment, magnetic roller unit, which is similar to magnetic roller unit 61, is operative to apply a magnetic force that is similar to magnetic force 62. Such magnetic force of the third embodiment is applied to the leading flange of the channel-type vane member and is operative, like the first embodiment 10, to couple together the car and hoistway doors for movement of the coupled doors from the open position to the closed position until the locking lever operates to lock said hoistway door when the coupled doors approach the closed position.