EP1554428A1

EP1554428A1 - Belt with an integrated monitoring mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP1554428A1
Application number: EP03808834A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roland Eichhorn; Claudio De Angelis; Karl Weinberger
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2002-10-17
Filing date: 2003-10-10
Publication date: 2005-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-10
Also published as: AU2003264823A1; BR0315360B1; CN100580176C; WO2004035913A1; MY134592A; CN1705789A; US20050245338A1; DE50306867D1; DK1554428T3; PT1554428E; US7326139B2; NO20052371L; BR0315360A; NO325262B1; EP1554428B1; ES2285258T3; HK1080914A1; KR20050055768A; KR101128313B1; JP2006508004A

Abstract

A belt has at least two fiber strands which have synthetic fiber threads twisted in themselves and are designed for acceptance of force in longitudinal direction. The strands are arranged at a spacing relative to one another along the longitudinal direction of the belt and are embedded in a belt casing. At least one of the strands comprises an electrically conductive indicator thread which is twisted together with the synthetic fiber threads of the strand, wherein the indicator thread is arranged outside the center of the fiber bundle. The indicator thread has a breaking elongation (epsilon<SUB>ult,Ind</SUB>) which is smaller than the breaking elongation (epsilon<SUB>ult,Trag</SUB>) of individual synthetic fiber threads of the strand. It can be electrically contacted so that an electrical monitoring of the integrity thereof is made possible.

Description

Belt with integrated monitoring

The invention relates to a belt with a plurality of synthetic fiber strands running at a distance and which are embedded in a belt casing. Such belts are particularly suitable for use as suspension means or propellants in an elevator installation.

Running ropes are an important, highly stressed machine element in conveyor technology, especially in elevators, in crane construction and in mining. The stress on driven ropes, such as those used in elevator construction, is particularly complex.

In conventional elevator systems, the cabin frame of a cabin guided in an elevator shaft and a counterweight are connected to one another by means of several steel strand cables. In order to raise and lower the cabin and the counterweight, the ropes run over a traction sheave which is driven by a drive motor. The drive torque is applied to the rope section resting on the traction sheave via the wrap angle under frictional engagement. The ropes experience tensile, bending, compressive and torsional stresses. Depending on the situation, the resulting tensions have a negative impact on the rope condition. Due to the usually round cross-section of a steel strand rope, the rope can twist around the sheaves and is thus subjected to bending in the most varied of directions.

In addition to the strength requirements for elevator systems, there is also a requirement for the smallest possible masses for energy reasons. High-strength synthetic fiber ropes, for example made from aromatic ones Polyamides, especially aramids, with highly oriented molecular chains meet these requirements better than steel cables.

Ropes made of aramid fibers have the same cross-section and the same load-bearing capacity compared to conventional steel ropes and only a quarter to a fifth of the specific rope weight. In contrast to steel, however, the aramid fiber has a much lower transverse strength in relation to the longitudinal load capacity due to the rectification of the molecular chains.

These ropes, which are made of aramid fibers, are also subject to twisting and bending stresses, which can lead to fatigue or breakage of the rope.

In addition to a wide variety of ropes, there are also belts that are used industrially. Belts are mainly used by the automotive industry, for example as V-belts, or by the machine industry. Depending on

Such a degree of stress is strengthened by such steel belts. These are usually endless belts. Monitoring an endless belt is relatively complex and is not used in the automotive sector for cost reasons. The automotive industry has therefore taken the path of enduring the belts used to ensure that a belt is replaced before it runs the risk of failure. Such a lifetime limitation is only suitable for large quantities, since the necessary preliminary examinations can be carried out here and for belts that are easy to replace. There are also elevator systems in which toothed belts are used, as described, for example, in the patent application entitled “Elevator with belt-like transmission means, in particular with V-ribbed belts, as suspension means and / or propellant”, by the same applicant as the present invention A toothed belt is a form-fitting, slip-free transmission medium that rotates synchronously with a drive pulley, for example. The load capacity of the teeth of the toothed belt and the number of teeth in engagement determine the transmission capacity.

In order to create a belt that can be used as a fully-fledged and above all reliable suspension element or propellant, it must be possible to ensure that the belt shows signs of fatigue and, above all, the risk of breakage.

A lifespan limitation, such as that specified by the automotive industry, is less suitable for a belt that is to be used as a carrying belt or propellant for an elevator.

Other monitoring means, such as the optical one

Monitoring - have proven themselves with steel cables, cannot be used with belts because the strands of a belt are embedded in a belt sheath and are therefore invisible. Other monitoring methods such as X-ray monitoring or ultrasound monitoring are uneconomical when using a belt in the elevator system. The aim of the invention is to provide a belt whose condition can be monitored. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a belt which has monitoring means and which can be used as a suspension or propellant, inter alia, for elevator systems.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a belt with the features specified in claim 1. The dependent claims contain expedient and advantageous developments and / or implementations of the invention given by the features of claim 1.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. It shows :

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an elevator installation with a car connected to a counterweight by means of a carrying strap according to the invention;

Figure 2A is a side view of a traction sheave with a portion of a belt according to the invention;

FIG. 2B, a cross-sectional view of a carrying strap, according to the invention;

Figure 2C, an enlarged section of a

Cross-sectional view of a strap, according to the invention; Figure 3A, an enlarged section of a

Cross-sectional view of another strap, according to the invention;

FIG. 3B, an enlarged section of a cross-sectional view of a further carrying belt, according to the invention;

Figure 4, an enlarged section of a

Cross-sectional view of another strap, according to the invention; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a V-ribbed belt according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a toothed belt according to the invention.

The same, or the same, constructive

Elements are provided with the same reference symbols in all the figures, even if they are not designed in the same way in details. The figures are not to scale.

According to FIG. 1, a cabin guided in a shaft 1 hangs on a load-bearing belt 3 (support belt) according to the invention, which preferably comprises fiber bundles made of aramid fibers and which runs over a drive pulley 5 connected to a drive motor 4. On the cabin 2 there is a belt end connection 6 to which the carrying belt 3 is fastened at one end. The other end of the carrying belt 3 is fastened in the same way to a counterweight 7, which is also guided in the shaft 1. The arrangement shown is a so-called 1: 1 suspension, which is characterized in that the carrying strap 3 according to the invention only in one Direction is curved, since it only rotates around a single traction sheave 5 without being deflected over other sheaves, as would be the case, for example, with a 2: 1 suspension.

The relatively low weight of carrying straps with plastic strands offers the advantage that the usual compensating belts can be partially or completely dispensed with in elevator systems.

Under certain circumstances, a compensating belt can also be provided despite the use of belts with light plastic strands. Such a compensating belt is then connected in a similar manner with its first end to the lower end of the cabin 2, from where the compensating belt leads to the counterweight 7, for example, via deflection rollers placed on the shaft floor 10.

A monitoring system should be provided to increase the security of systems using belts. Studies have shown that monitoring the belt jacket does not provide reliable results. Cracks or fatigue in the strands, which can give the belt its longitudinal strength, may go unnoticed when monitoring the belt sheath alone and lead to a sudden failure of a belt.

Direct monitoring of the strands therefore seems to be more suitable. However, the problem with such direct monitoring is that the bending expansions occurring in the belt when rotating around a traction sheave are relative are small. The latter is justified by the fact that the belt thickness is usually chosen to be a relatively low value with regard to typical applications in elevator systems, compared, for example, with the thickness of a corresponding suspension cable with a round cross section suitable for the same application. For purely geometrical reasons, a strand running in the belt experiences a much smaller bending stretch when circulating around a traction sheave under load than a strand in a correspondingly designed rope under the same load. Another special feature of belts reinforced with strands compared to a rope made of strands results from the internal structure of the belt or the rope. While the strands in the belt run isolated from each other in a belt sheath and therefore do not touch, strands in a rope are usually stranded in such a way that a large number of adjacent strands touch. When the rope is loaded, jamming can occur in particular at points of contact between adjacent strands, which is associated with a particularly high bending elongation of the strands at the points of contact. Corresponding jamming does not occur for the strands arranged in isolation from one another in a belt under a corresponding load on the belt. Compared to the characteristic conditions for ropes, monitoring a belt must be correspondingly sensitive and precise. A solution for monitoring belts is not yet known.

A strap 13 according to the invention for use in an elevator installation is shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. The belt 13 comprises at least two strands 12 with twisted synthetic fiber yarns that are used to absorb the force Are designed in the longitudinal direction. The strands 12 run parallel to one another and are arranged at a distance X from one another. The strands 12 are embedded in a common belt casing 15. At least one of the strands 12 comprises an electrically conductive indicator yarn 14, which is twisted together with the synthetic fiber yarns of the strand 12 and contains fibers (filaments) made of an electrically conductive material, for example made of carbon, hard metals such as tungsten carbide, boron or electrically conductive plastics. The indicator indicator yarn 14 is arranged outside the center of the strand 12, as can be seen in FIG. 2C. In order to ensure that the indicator yarn 14 breaks earlier or shows signs of fatigue than the synthetic fiber strands of the strand 12, the elongation at break (ε _u ι _t , m _d ) of the indicator yarn 14 must be less than the elongation at break (ε _u ι _{t (support)} of the individual synthetic fiber threads of the strand 12. the breaking elongation ε _u ιt, ind ^{un <3} the elongation at break ε _u χt, τrag are material sizes. Furthermore, should the indicator thread 14 to be contactable to an electrical monitoring of the integrity of the indicator - Allow yarn 14.

There are other conditions to be observed to enable the belt 13 to be monitored safely.

It is important that the position of the indicator thread 24 within the strand 21 is selected such that the filaments of the indicator thread 24 tire or break earlier than a synthetic fiber strand of the strand 21. In extreme cases, the indicator thread 24 lies on the outer circumference of the strand 21, specifically on the side of the belt 23 which is subjected to the greatest bending stress, as shown in FIG Hatching shown. This ensures that the indicator thread 24 is always subjected to a bending load that is at least as great as the greatest bending load of a synthetic fiber yarn of the strand 21. The synthetic fiber yarns are schematically indicated in FIG. 3A as circles with a white circumference. In the case of an arrangement according to FIG. 3A, it is sufficient to specify that the elongation at break ε _u ι _t , in _{d of} the indicator yarn 24, is smaller than the elongation at break ε _u ι _t 25 embedded.

Another belt 33 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3B. There, the indicator yarn 34 is located inside the strand 31 on one side from the strand center, which is in the direction of the side of the belt 33 which is subjected to the greatest bending stress, as shown in FIG. 3B with the hatching. In such an arrangement, the five hatched synthetic fiber strands experience a bending load that is greater than or equal to the bending load experienced by the indicator yarn 34. The

Strands 31 are embedded in a belt jacket 35. In order to ensure in such an arrangement that the indicator yarn 34 shows signs of fatigue or breaks before one of the synthetic fiber strands of the strand 31 fatigues or breaks, the following condition should be fulfilled: the elongation at break ε _u ι _t , md of the indicator thread 34 must be smaller by a factor A than the elongation at break ε _u ι _t , τrag of the individual synthetic fiber yarns of the strand 31, the factor A depending inter alia on the position of the indicator yarn 34 within the strand 31. The following condition typically applies to A: 0.2 <A <0.9 and preferably 0.3 <A <0.85. Such arrangements are, however, complex to manufacture, since it must be ensured that the strands are embedded in the belt casing in such a way that the indicator thread is always directed “upwards” (position between 9:00 and 15:00) and is parallel to and in a straight line Experiments have shown that this cannot be achieved with reasonable effort, among other things because the individual synthetic yarns of the strands are twisted in order to give the belt the desired longitudinal load-bearing capacity.

According to the invention, the following conditions can be formulated, which must be fulfilled in order to enable reliable monitoring of the belt:

1. The material of the indicator yarns and the material of the synthetic fiber yarns of the strand must be selected such that the elongation at break ε _u ι, i _n d of the indicator yarns is less than the elongation at break ε _u ι, τrag of the individual synthetic fiber yarns of the strand;

2. For reasons of production technology, the indicator thread must be twisted together with the synthetic fiber threads of the strand; the indicator yarn thus forms an intimate connection with the surrounding synthetic fiber yarns and is always subjected to a bending stress that is comparable to the bending stress of the surrounding synthetic fiber strands. The indicator yarn thus runs in a spiral along the longitudinal direction of the belt. If the indicator yarn is not on the outer circumference of the fiber bundle, the following additional condition applies:

3. The further the indicator yarn lies inside the strand, the smaller the elongation at break ε _u ι _t , i _n d of the indicator yarn;

Optimization considerations and simulations have shown that the following condition must preferably be fulfilled in order to ensure reliable monitoring taking into account the

To be able to ensure bending stretch of the belt or the yarn:

^g eff.Trag * ^g ult, Ind _<c . gg ^ eff.Ind * ^{£ '} uIt, Trag

the following applies to the elongation at the indicator yarn radius Rι _n (measured from the center of the strand as defined in FIG. 2C):

2R Ind

-'eff.Ind D + d

where for the stretch at the maximum synthetic fiber yarn _radius R- _Trag (measured from the center of the strand as defined in Fig. 2C):

_ ^ 2RyTrag_

^{£ eS} - ^{τme ~} D + d with ε _u ι _t, m _d : elongation at break of the indicator yarn or the fibers of the indicator yarn ^ε i _t , τ _ra g = elongation at break of the synthetic fiber yarn or synthetic fibers:

D: traction sheave diameter d: belt thickness (if the strand is half the belt thickness)

R _{ιn (} j: radial distance of the indicator yarn, measured from the center of the strand (see FIG. 2C)

R _Trag : radial distance of the outermost synthetic fiber yarn, measured from the center of the strand (see Fig. 2C)

According to the above inequality, it can be determined how the elongation at break ε _u ι _t , ι _n d for the indicator yarn as a function of the (characterized by Rm) position of the indicator yarn inside the strand must be selected so that the filaments of the Indicator yarns break earlier when the belt is loaded than the synthetic fiber yarns surrounding the indicator yarn of the corresponding strand. The factor 0.88 in the inequality is an empirical value, which is determined in such a way that the behavior of the indicator yarn can be concluded with sufficient certainty

Breakage behavior of the synthetic fiber yarns. However, the above inequality is only valid if the indicator yarn is not in the center of the strand and the effect of the bending strains is therefore dominant for the breaking behavior of the indicator yarn. If the indicator yarn is located in the center or in the vicinity of the center of the strand, the breaking behavior of the indicator yarn is determined less by the bending elongations of the belt than by the tensile load. In the latter case, there are only conditions for the indicator yarn when the belt is loaded, that of loading a yarn in a straight line belt that is under tension or in a straight rope that is only under tension. In this limit case there is sufficient sensitivity of the indicator yarn if the inequality

⁵ ult, carrying is fulfilled. The limit value 0.88 is determined empirically to enable reliable conclusions to be drawn about damage to the synthetic fiber yarns.

According to the invention, for example, aramid synthetic fiber yarns can be used. Aramid has a high alternating bending strength and a high specific elongation at break ε _u ι _{t / load} . The strands of the belt can have opposite directions of rotation.

For example, carbon fibers have proven to be particularly suitable as filaments for the indicator yarn because they are brittle (ie small elongation at break ε _u ι _t , in) as aramid and because they are electrically conductive and can also be produced inexpensively.

The belt jacket comprises a plastic material. The following plastic materials are particularly suitable as belt straps: rubber, neoprene rubber, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride or polyamide.

According to the invention, the belt casing can have a dumbbell-shaped, cylindrical, oval, concave, rectangular or wedge-shaped cross-sectional shape. Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 as a schematic cross section. The belt 43 comprises a total of four strands 41 running parallel. Each strand 41 comprises a plurality of synthetic fiber yarns and one indicator yarn 44 each, which are twisted together. The indicator yarns 44 run in a helical manner along the longitudinal direction of the belt 43 in each strand 41. In the example shown, the indicator yarns 44 are from approximately 12 o'clock, 1 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 4 o'clock viewed from left to right. If you cut the same belt 43 at a different location, a different picture would result as to the position of the indicator yarns 44.

The invention can be applied to all belts that have synthetic fiber strands for reinforcement. Examples are: flat belts, poly-V belts, V-ribbed belts 53 (as shown for example in FIG. 5), or (trapezoidal) toothed belts 63 (as shown for example in FIG. 6).

A V-ribbed belt 53 according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, has a large number of parallel strands 51 which are embedded in a belt casing 55.

A trapezoidal toothed belt 63 according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 6, has a whole number of strands 61 running in parallel, which are embedded in a belt casing 65. According to the invention, a synthetic fiber strand can have several indicator yarns. In a further embodiment, the belt has a plurality of parallel strands. A first strand comprises a first indicator yarn, which has a first elongation at break ε _u ι _t , ini. A second strand comprises a second indicator yarn, which has a second elongation at break _u ι _t , ind2. If the following condition now applies ε _u ι _t , md2> ε _u ι _{t (} mdi, the first carbon fiber responds first because this first carbon fiber is more sensitive. Depending on the elevator system, a predetermined reaction can be triggered in this case For example, a service call can be made or elevator operation can be restricted If the second carbon fiber fails, for example, elevator operation can be stopped entirely.

Several strands can also each contain an indicator yarn with the same elongation at break ε _u ι _t , ι _n and the increase in the number of failed strands serves as a trigger criterion for a suitable reaction.

According to the invention, an indicator circuit can be used which uses measurement technology to determine whether the properties of a carbon fiber have changed or whether a carbon fiber has been interrupted. You can go to

Example, the carbon fibers of two fiber bundles are conductively connected to one another at one end of the belt. At the other end of the belt you can, for example, take a resistance measurement to make changes recognizable. The indicator circuit can, for example, one or more comparators and one or more analog / digital Have converters that establish a connection to the usually digital elevator control.

The invention enables for the first time a reliable and early detection of fatigue and breaks in the fiber bundles, which give a belt the load-bearing capacity. Such a belt can be replaced in good time.

Claims

Patent claims

1.Belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) with at least two strands (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61), which have twisted synthetic fiber yarns and which are used to absorb force in the longitudinal direction (16 ) are designed, the yarns (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61) along the longitudinal direction (66) of the belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) at a distance (X) from one another arranged and embedded in a belt casing (15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65), characterized in that at least one of the strands (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61) has an electrically conductive indicator thread (14 ; 24; 34; 44), which is rotated together with the synthetic fiber yarns of the strand (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61), the indicator yarn (14; 24; 34; 44)

has an elongation at break (ε _u χ _t , nd) that is less than the elongation at break (ε _u ι _t , τrag) of individual synthetic fiber yarns of the strand (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61), and can be contacted by one to enable electrical monitoring of the integrity of the indicator yarn (14; 24; 34; 44).

2. Belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; .63) according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator yarn (14; 24; 34; 44) is brittle and less elastic than the synthetic fiber yarn of the strand (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61).

3. Belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the maximum effective elongation of the indicator yarn (14; 24; 34; 44) below The load is less than the elongation at break (ε _u ι _t , τr _a g) of the individual synthetic yarns of the strand (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61).

Belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) is designed at least partially by one To circulate disc (11), which has a radius <100mm, preferably <50mm.

5. belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the indicator yarn

(14; 24; 34; 44) can be electrically contacted by means of contact means which can be attached to one or both ends of the belt.

6. Belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a flat belt, poly-V belt, V-ribbed belt, or (trapezoidal) toothed belt.

7. belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) for use in an elevator system is designed as a suspension or propellant.

8. belt (3; 13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the indicator yarn (14; 24; 34; 44) outside the Center of the strand (12; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61) is arranged.