Elevator car with mechanical assistance for working platform
An elevator car ( 1 ) defining an interior space ( 2 ) for accommodating passengers and/or cargo. The elevator car ( 1 ) includes a working platform ( 12 ) moveable between a stowed position, above the interior space ( 2 ), and an operational position, suspended within the interior space ( 2 ), a hoisting device ( 18 ) located at the working platform ( 12 ) and a tension member ( 16 a, 16 b ) connected to the hoisting device ( 18 ) and connected to the working platform ( 12 ) such that a suspending portion ( 17 a, 17 b ) of the tension member ( 16 a, 16 b ) suspends the working platform ( 12 ). The hoisting device ( 18 ) is configured, when actuated, to alter the length of the suspending portion ( 17 a, 17 b ), so as to hoist the working platform ( 12 ) between the stowed position and the operational position.
1. An elevator car ( 1 ) defining an interior space ( 2 ) for accommodating passengers and/or cargo, the elevator car ( 1 ) comprising:
a working platform ( 12 ) moveable between a stowed position, above the interior space ( 2 ), and an operational position, suspended within the interior space ( 2 );
a hoisting device ( 18 ) mounted to the working platform ( 12 );
a tension member ( 16 a , 16 b ) connected to the hoisting device ( 18 ) and connected to the working platform ( 12 ) such that a suspending portion ( 17 a , 17 b ) of the tension member ( 16 a , 16 b ) suspends the working platform ( 12 ), wherein the hoisting device ( 18 ) is configured, when actuated, to alter the length of the suspending portion ( 17 a , 17 b ), so as to hoist the working platform ( 12 ) between the stowed position and the operational position;
wherein the hoisting device ( 18 ) is attached to an underside ( 14 ) of the working platform ( 12 ), the underside of the working platform facing the interior space.
2. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the hoisting device ( 18 ) maintains said suspending portion at a given length, unless actuated by the application of a force.
3. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the hoisting device ( 18 ) is rotationally driven, configured to alter the length of the suspending portion ( 17 a , 17 b ).
4. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the hoisting device ( 18 ) comprises a worm screw ( 20 ) and a sliding member ( 22 ) configured to slide along the worm screw ( 20 ) when the worm screw ( 20 ) is rotationally driven, wherein the tension member ( 16 a , 16 b ) is connected to the sliding member ( 22 ), such that when the sliding member ( 22 ) moves the length of the suspending portion ( 17 a , 17 b ) is altered.
5. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the hoisting device ( 18 ) is manually actuatable.
6. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the hoisting device ( 18 ) comprises at least one deflector ( 24 a , 24 b ), and wherein the tension member ( 16 a , 16 b ) is arranged to pass over the at least one deflector ( 24 a , 24 b ) in a 3:1 roping arrangement.
7. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a support frame ( 8 ) located at an upper part of the elevator car ( 1 ) and a connection mechanism ( 11 ), the connection mechanism ( 11 ) connected to the support frame ( 8 ) and connected to the working platform ( 12 ).
8. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 7 , wherein the connection mechanism ( 11 ) is arranged to exclusively support the weight of the working platform ( 12 ) in the operational position.
9. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 7 , wherein the connection mechanism ( 11 ) is a scissor mechanism.
10. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 9 , wherein the tension member ( 16 a , 16 b ) passes through an intersection point ( 15 a , 15 b ) of the scissor mechanism and connects to the support frame ( 8 ).
11. The elevator car ( 1 ) of claim 9 , wherein the tension member ( 16 a , 16 b ) is connected to an intersection point ( 15 a , 15 b ) of the scissor mechanism.
12. An elevator system comprising an elevator car ( 1 ) according to claim 1 .