Elevator car door control system

An elevator car door control system for an elevator car comprising:

• a clutch comprising:
• a stationary base;
• a close vane attached to the stationary base;
• and
• a slidable base movably attached to the stationary base, the slidable base being moveable from a first position remote from the close vane to a second position proximate the close vane,
• wherein the slidable base is configured to move from the first position to the second position when operation of a door operating mechanism of the elevator car is initiated;
• a sensing vane movably attached to the slidable base, the sensing vane being movable from an expanded position to a contracted position, the contracted position being closer to the slidable base than the expanded position,
• wherein the sensing vane is configured to move from the expanded position to the contracted position when a physical object applies force against a surface of the sensing vane, and
• an interlock assembly operatively connected to the sensing vane of the clutch,
• wherein the interlock assembly is in a locked position preventing a car door of the elevator car from opening when slidable base is in the first position,
• wherein the interlock assembly is in the locked position when the slidable base is in the second position and the sensing vane is in the expanded position, and
• wherein the interlock assembly is in an unlocked position when the slidable base is in the second position and the sensing vane is in the contracted position.

A method of controlling movement of an elevator car door with a locking control system, the locking control system comprising:

• a clutch and an interlock mechanism operatively connected to the clutch, the clutch including a stationary base attached to the elevator car door and a slidable base slidably attached to the stationary base, the method comprising:
• in response to rotation of a lever operatively connected to the slidable base and controlled by operation of a door operating mechanism, the lever being operatively connected to the door operating mechanism, sliding the slidable base of the clutch relative to the stationary base from a first position at a first distance from a close vane of the clutch to a second position at a second distance from the close vane, the second distance being less than the first distance,
• wherein when the slidable base approaches the second position and a physical object is located in between the slidable base and the close vane, a sensing vane operatively connected to the slidable base presses against the physical object and the sensing vane moves relative to the slidable base causing the interlock mechanism of the locking control system to release the elevator car door from a locked state to an unlocked state, and
• wherein when the slidable base approaches the second position and there is no physical object in between the slidable base and the close vane such that the sensing vane does not make contact with a physical object, the sensing vane does not move relative to the slidable base and the interlock mechanism remains in the locked state.