Device for sealing a gap between car door and car wall in an elevator car

Abstract

An apparatus for sealing a gap between an elevator car door and the associated car wall during car travel includes a sealing strip of resilient material with wall portions that can be reversibly stretched to bridge and seal the gap.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for sealing a gap between an elevator car door and an adjacent car wall of an elevator car during travel comprising: 
 a sealing strip adapted to be mounted on one of the car door and the car wall, said sealing strip having a movable wall portion for sealing the gap; and    actuator means for selectively moving said wall portion across the gap and into contact with another one of the car door and the car wall whereby the gap is sealed.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said sealing strip has a resilient hollow body including said wall portion.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein said actuator means supplies compressed air to an interior of said hollow body for moving said wall portion.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator means includes a source of compressed air connected to an interior of said hollow body through a pressure reservoir.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said sealing strip includes at least one iron strip and said actuator means includes at least one electromagnet adapted to be mounted on the another one of the car door and the car body and being selectively actuatable for magnetically attracting said at least one iron strip.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein said at least one iron strip is embedded in said sealing strip and said at least one electromagnetic is mounted in a car door frame of the car wall.  
     
     
         7 . A method of sealing a gap between an elevator car door and an adjacent car wall of an elevator car during travel comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a sealing strip having a hollow interior and at least one movable wall;    b) mounting the sealing strip on one of the car door and the car wall, the car door and the car wall being separated by a gap;    c) providing an actuator for moving the movable wall; and    d) operating the actuator to move the at least one movable wall to seal the gap.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the sealing strip has a hollow interior and said step d) is performed by generating compressed air from the actuator to the interior of the sealing strip.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein said step d) is performed by magnetically attracting the at least one movable wall.  
     
     
         10 . An elevator car comprising: 
 a car wall having a door opening formed therein;    a car door spaced from said car wall by a gap and being movably attached to the car for opening and closing said door opening;    a sealing strip mounted on one of said car door and said car wall, said sealing strip having a movable wall portion facing said gap; and    actuator means for selectively moving said movable wall to seal said gap.    
     
     
         11 . The elevator car according to  claim 10  wherein said sealing strip has a resilient hollow body including said wall portion.  
     
     
         12 . The elevator car according to  claim 11  wherein said actuator means supplies compressed air to an interior of said hollow body for moving said wall portion.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 10  wherein said actuator means includes a source of compressed air connected to an interior of said hollow body through a pressure reservoir.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10  wherein said sealing strip includes at least one iron strip and said actuator means includes at least one electromagnet adapted to be mounted on the another one of said car door and said car body and being selectively actuatable for magnetically attracting said at least one iron strip.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein said at least one iron strip is embedded in said sealing strip and said at least one electromagnetic is mounted in a car door frame of said car wall.