Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B9/00—Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures
  • B66B9/02—Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures actuated mechanically otherwise than by rope or cable
  • B66B9/025—Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures actuated mechanically otherwise than by rope or cable by screw-nut drives

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for inducing controlled and variable relative movement between two threaded members.
• the invention further relates to a particular usage for such an apparatus, namely in an apparatus to be employed in the transfer of loads between vertically spaced-apart levels (floors or storeys) of a building or the like structure.
• elevators for the transfer of loads (passengers and/or freight) between different levels (storeys) in a building, warehouse or the like.
• loads passingengers and/or freight
• levels stores
• Such elevators in general may be seen to comprise a power-operated device for lifting and lowering loads and are made up of a so-called car or cage which is arranged so as to run between guide rails extending between the levels under consideration.
• the car or cage itself is by convention suspended from steel hoisting ropes or cables.
• the weight of the car and its load is, in practice, approxinately counter-balanced by a so-called counterweight.
• the actual weight to be hoisted or transferred between levels may therefore be seen never to equal the total weight of the car and passengers (or load) but rather is equal to merely the relatively small difference which exists between the counterweight and the weight of the loaded car.
• an elevator is specifically required, for example, for use and installation in a two-storey building, be that building a private house, flats, offices or perhaps even storage facilities.
• I-Iodern elevators are particularly designed for usage in multi (more than two)-storey buildings and, in the result, it is generally extremely difficult and accordingly expensive to obtain a smaller unit for usage in a two-storey situation, or alternatively for use between any two vertically adjacent storeys.
• such smaller units may be required, for example, by smaller firms for the purposes of transporting loads, in the form of personnel, stationery and/or other material between adjacent floors.
• the present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for inducing controlled and variable relative movement between two threaded members, with such apparatus being particularly suited for use in or as part of a drive means for an elevator of the aforementioned type (for movement of loads between spaced apart levels of a building or the like structure).
• the present invention further seeks to provide an elevator or load transfer means which is particularly suited for usage between adjacent levels in a structure.
• the invention further seeks to provide such a load transfer means or elevator which achieves the desired result in an efficient manner and by the utilisation of apparatus the cost of which brings it within reach of both the business and domestic sections of our community.
• the present applicant's arrangement seeks to avoid the need for the use of ropes, cables and the like in elevator or load transfer equipment, and also to eliminate the need for the use of belts, drive sprockets etc. in the power source thereof.
• the present arrangement by eliminating the need for these elements, results in an increase in both the efficiency of the overall system and the degree of safety afforded thereby.
• the present applicant's arrangement has nevertheless been found to comply fully with the requirements of the relevant government authority or instrumentality as regards structural and operational safety.
• the present invention further seeks to provide an elevator which will not drop in the event of power failure, but will rather automatically stop at the level reached or attained at that particular point of time.
• the present invention furthermore seeks to provide an elevator or load transfer means which is adaptable for ready installation into an existing building, or alternatively may be readily fitted to an outer wall of an existing building.
• an elevator or load transfer means in accordance with the present invention is adapted for assembly prior to transport to the site where installation is required.
• apparatus for inducing controlled and variable relative movement between two threaded members said apparatus including drive means and associated connected power transmission means, an output shaft of said drive means being co-incident with the input shaft of said power transmission means, wherein an output shaft of and extending through said power transmission means is hollow and is adapted to have disposed therethrough and spaced therefrom a first of said threaded members, the other said threaded member being rigidly connected to said hollow shaft such that rotation of said output shaft induces relative movement between said two threaded members.
• a self-supporting and self-contained apparatus capable of being preassembled and locate in an existing well or space provided in a building or the like structure, said apparatus being for the transfer of loads between vertically spaced-apart levels of said structure, said apparatus including:
• carriage means adapted for movement between said spaced-apart levels of said structure, said carriage means being disposed in cantilevered relationship to said support frame means;
• platform means for supporting a load said platform means being suspended from said carriage means;
• an elongated, stationary screw extending longitudinally of said support frame means and rigidly affixed thereto at or in the vicinity of both ends thereof, said screw being threaded within a revolving, circulating ball nut; and
• apparatus of the type as set out in the preceding paragraph
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a load transfer apparatus in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a drive assembly for the apparatus of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1, with the load transfer apparatus in its uppermost position.
• a load transfer apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a tower or support frame 1 adapted to extend between levels of a building or the like.
• the tower 1 in effect defines the total spatial requirements for the overall apparatus, with all other components of and for the apparatus being in fact confined within the interior of that tower 1.
• the transfer means thus arranged may be of a modular construction, whereby to allow for transport in its assembled condition to a site for installation in the interior of a building, or alternatively for ready attachment to the side of a building.
• the apparatus as illustrated further includes a carriage and drive base assembly 2, preferably of a cantilevered form.
• a load-carrying platform preferably in the form of a car or cage 3.
• the car or cage 3 is supported by means of a support sling 4 adapted to extend downwardly from and to be affixed (in any known manner) to the cantilevered carriage and drive base assembly 2.
• a support sling 4 adapted to extend downwardly from and to be affixed (in any known manner) to the cantilevered carriage and drive base assembly 2.
• other means are possible for suspending the car or cage 3 in the desired position.
• the car or cage 3 has associated therewith means allowing for ready access thereto, with such means taking the form of at least one door sill and frame assembly 5 and an associated sliding door arrangement 6.
• such means taking the form of at least one door sill and frame assembly 5 and an associated sliding door arrangement 6.
• two such door sills and frames 5 and associated doors 6 disposed on opposite sides of the car or cage 3.
• the apparatus in accordance with the present invention could include only one such sill and door assembly, or alternatively be provided with equivalent door and sill assemblies on at least three sides thereof.
• the car or cage 3 may be provided as a so-called comeback model having doors to one side only, as a so-called walk-through unit having doors on two opposed sides thereof, or alternatively having doors on three sides thereof.
• the or each door 6 may be either on a hand-operated or self-opening type, as is the wont of the purchaser of the overall assembly.
• the apparatus includes what may be termed two-speed, self-opening sliding doors 6 for the car or cage 3.
• the or each door 6 of the car or cage 3 is fabricated from aluminium and mild steel sections as a separate unit to be bolted or otherwise affixed to the car or cage 3. If a hand-operated door is desired, this may be achieved by the provision of an appropriately fire-rated door arranged on a so-called Bangor type track and counter-weighted with a dash-pot arrangement. However, if self-opening type doors are desired this may be achieved by fitting the or each door with a torque limited drive.
• an outer or landing door assembly 7 associated with the tower 1.
• This landing door assembly 7 may be of a somewhat similar construction to the various doors of the actual car or cage 3, although preferably the landing door assembly 7 is adapted to be bolted or otherwise affixed to the tower 1 and to be fitted with a lock of the so-called electro-mechanical type whereby to prevent unauthorised or undesirable opening thereof at any time when the car or cage 3 is not in itself present at the particular level or landing concerned. Such an arrangement in fact constitutes a further safety precaution.
• the landing door assembly 7 may also be provided with a technician's lock release assembly whereby to allow ready access thereto as for purposes of service and/or maintenance.
• the carriage and drive base assembly 2 as illustrated furthermore has associated therewith means allowing for guidance of the car or cage 3 along a predetermined path in the tower 1.
• such guidance is achieved through the interaction of travers ing gibs 8 and complementary-shaped channel guides 9 extending in the vertical direction of the tower 1, with at least one of said traversing gibs 8 being located on opposite upper corners of the drive base assembly 2 and associated guides 9 being located on opposite sides of the tower 1.
• this same result may be achieved by means of at least one, and preferably two, guide wheels or rollers located on opposed sides of the cantilevered carriage and drive base assembly 2, with each guide wheel or roller being adapted to co-operate with a complementary-shaped guide rail, in the form of a channel member, extending in the vertical direction of the tower 1.
• Such a recirculating ball screw and nut assembly will include a recirculating ball screw 10, of the so-called Saginaw type, having a revolving circulating ball nut associated therewith.
• the recirculating ball screw 10 is attached or affixed to the carriage and drive base assembly 2 by means of a carrier bracket 11.
• the recirculating ball screw 10 is secured relative to the tower 1 by means of an upper carrier bracket 12 (in any known manner). It should be understood, however, that alternative arrangements are possible for achieving such fixing or securing relative to the tower 1.
• the tower 1 may be provided with lateral ties and bracing members 13 and 14 at appropriate positions thereon.
• the carriage and drive base assembly 2 has associated therewith a drive sub-base 15, with that sub-base 15 having located thereon a drive motor 16, a solenoid braking means and drum coupling 17 and a reducing gearbox 18.
• the drive motor 16 will be in the form of a single phase motor connected, via a suitable power coupling, to a 90-degree reducing gearbox 18.
• the solenoid braking means and drum coupling 17 will ensure that a short period of dwell will exist before the onset of what may be termed full torque to the reducing gearbox 18, thereby allowing for what may be termed, in layman's language, a "soft" start-stop effect.
• the gearbox 18 includes a hollow output shaft 19.
• the recirculating ball screw 10 is adapted to pass through that shaft 19 and to be affixed (in any known manner) to suitable mounting brackets located on the tower or support frame 1 at or in the vicinity of the top and bottom thereof.
• the nut 10a associated with, and adapted to move relative to, the recirculating ball screw 10 may then be operably connected to the hollow shaft of gearbox 18 in any known way, as for example by being threadably connected thereto.
• the arrangement is such that movement of the hollow output shaft 19 of gearbox 18 gives rise to equivalent movement (rotation) of the recirculating ball nut 10a relative to the fixed screw 10, thereby causing the nut 10a (and associated sub-base 15) to move upwardly and downwardly along the screw 10 as desired.
• Such a configuration allows for effectively direct coupling between the recirculating ball screw and nut assembly 10, 10a and the gearbox 18 and associated drive motor 16, thereby eliminating the need for equipment such as, for example, chains, belts and sprockets.
• equipment such as, for example, chains, belts and sprockets.
• the elimination of such equipment will, of course, simultaneously eliminate a possible mode of breakdown of the load transfer apparatus, that is the occurrence of damage and/or breakage to the chains and/or sprockets.
• a single-phase electric motor may be employed as the drive motor 16.
• three-phase current may be employed, with the result that a three-phase motor may be appropriate in certain circumstances.
• the drive motor 16, solenoid braking means and drum coupling 17 and reduction gearbox 18 are mounted on the drive sub-base 15 of the carriage and drive base assembly 2.
• such items of equipment may alternatively be mounted on the top of the car or cage 3 itself.
• additional braking means in the form of a so-called fail-safe disc brake may be associated with the recirculating ball screw and nut assembly 10, 10a.
• control means may include a demand button at each level of the building structure and a start-stop button in the car or cage 3 itself.
• the tower 1 may be provided with so-called limit switches at each level or landing thereof, with such limit switches being operable to effectively de-energize the drive motor 16 upon arrival of the car or cage 3 at a respective or desired level or landing of the overall structure.
• an appropriate communication system as for example a telephone or the like, may be installed in the car or cage 3 whereby to allow for communication with persons outside the car or cage 3, as for example in times of emergency.
• the car or cage 3 may be equipped with lighting of any known type. Preferably, however, all lighting and controls are of the low-voltage type.
• the car or cage 3 may also be equipped with a battery to operate as a stand-by to provide emergency lighting, as for example in the instance of power failure.
• each entry door of the subject arrangement may be fitted with solenoid locks which are adapted to lock when de-energized such that, in the instance of power failure, entry cannot be gained unless the car or cage 3 is actually present at a level or landing.
• buffers are fitted at the base of the tower 2 in order to protect against the possibility of over-run of the car 3.
• suitable anti-vibration mounts may be provided.
• the fail-safe disc brake associated with the recirculating ball screw and nut assembly 10, 10a may be in the form of a caliper-type disc brake. In the instance of power failure this disc brake will hold against release until actually released by a service man, or alternatively upon resumption of the power supply.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Types And Forms Of Lifts (AREA)

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Citations (3)

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• 1981
  • 1981-08-07 EP EP19810902257 patent/EP0057701A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-08-07 WO PCT/AU1981/000105 patent/WO1982000453A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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