Elevator having a limit switch for controlling power to the drive system as an elevator car approaches a shallow pit or a low overhead

An elevator comprising:

• a car movable vertically within an elevator shaft between lower and upper end positions;
• a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car;
• and
• at least one limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions, the limit switch forming part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards said one of the end positions in an inspection operation such that movement of the car is prevented only in said direction when the car is in said distance range in an inspection operation;
• a foldable handrail mounted on top of the car;
• a plurality of safety switches associated with the foldable handrail, the safety switches comprising a first safety switch closed only when the handrail is folded in a fully retracted position and at least one second safety switch closed when the handrail is unfolded in a fully deployed position;
• and
• a safety chain comprising a normal operation branch including said first safety switch for supplying power to the drive system in a normal operation of the elevator and an inspection operation branch including said at least one second safety switch for supplying power to the drive system in an inspection operation of the elevator.

An elevator comprising:

• a car movable vertically within an elevator shaft between lower and upper end positions;
• a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car;
• and
• at least one limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions, the limit switch forming part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards said one of the end positions in an inspection operation such that movement of the car is prevented only in said direction when the car is in said distance range in an inspection operation;
• a shaft bottom switch which is closed when the car is within a selected distance from the lower end position and open when the car is beyond the selected distance from the lower end position;
• a retractable toe guard mounted at the bottom of the car;
• a safety switch which is closed only when the toe guard is in a fully deployed position;
• and
• a power line for supplying power to the drive system in a normal operation of the elevator, said power line including a parallel arrangement of the shaft bottom switch and of the safety switch.

An elevator comprising:

• a car movable vertically within an elevator shaft between lower and upper end positions;
• a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car;
• and
• at least one limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions, the limit switch forming part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards said one of the end positions in an inspection operation such that movement of the car is prevented only in said direction when the car is in said distance range in an inspection operation;
• a plurality of landing doors providing access to the shaft;
• a plurality of door safety devices each coupled to a latch mechanism of a respective landing door, each door safety device having a door release input for releasing the latch mechanism of the respective landing door in response to a first user action performed outside the shaft, and a bi-stable switch which is opened in response to said first user action and closed in response to a second user action performed outside the shaft, the second user action being enabled only when the respective landing door is completely closed;
• an inspection control interface located, inside the shaft, comprising a mode switch closed by a user to select the inspection operation of the elevator;
• and
• a safety chain comprising a plurality of series-connected switches for supplying power to the drive system, the plurality of series-connected switches comprising at least one of the bi-stable lock switches bypassed by a branch including said mode switch.