EP2219985B1 - Lift system with lift cars which can move vertically and horizontally - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an elevator system with an elevator car, which can perform vertical as well as horizontal movements.

Out EP1693331A1 is an elevator system formed by two vertical guide rails formed vertical vertical carriageways, in which the vertical lanes extend between a lowermost holding station and a topmost holding station and are equipped with at least one separately controllable drive system. Each drive system includes a flexible support means extending over the entire length of the vertical tracks. To this elevator system also includes a plurality of elevator cars, which are movable downwards and downwards by the drive systems along the first vertical track and along the second vertical track. In this case, each elevator car has a controllable coupling device with which it can be positively coupled to the suspension element of a drive system assigned to its current vertical track. An upper and a lower car transfer device have the task to take in the end areas of the vertical carriageways arrived elevator cars and to move horizontally to the other vertical carriageway, where the elevator cars are inserted into the guide rails of the other vertical carriageway.

At one after the in EP1693331A1 In the prior art disclosed elevator system, all elevator cars are equipped with four upper and four lower carousel rollers mounted on pivotable support structures to allow their horizontal displacement between two vertical tracks. When an elevator car has reached its uppermost position, its four upper carousel idlers are pivoted into a horizontal above the vertical carriageways rail for horizontal displacement, so that the elevator car is supported and guided by the rail and the Kabinentragrollen. After arrival of an elevator car in its lowest position, its lower carousel rollers are pivoted into a below the vertical carriageways horizontally arranged rail, so that the elevator car is horizontally displaceable on this lower rail. In addition, a drive device for generating the horizontal movement of the elevator cars is required in both end positions, which is not shown in the drawing. Also, to enable the horizontal movement of the elevator cars, in the disclosed elevator system with two vertical tracks, a total of eight end sections of car guide rails are pivotally mounted and provided with controllable rotary actuators. When pivoting back these end portions in their leadership positions, the end portions must be reintroduced into the low-play guide grooves of the guide shoes, which are present on the not very dimensionally stable elevator car. For an additional vertical track, the number of retractable car guide rails would increase by eight.

The present invention has for its object to provide an elevator system of the type described above, in which realizes the horizontal displacement of the elevator cars with a smaller number of components to be moved and controlled and without accuracy problems, ie with higher reliability and lower manufacturing and assembly costs can be.

To solve this problem, an elevator system according to the preamble of claim 1 is further developed by its characterizing features. Claim 23 is directed to a corresponding method for operating an elevator system according to the invention.

In the elevator system according to the invention or in the method according to the invention, an elevator car can carry out vertical and horizontal movements, whereby vertical travel takes place along a vertical carriageway comprising a vertical guide rail and horizontal travel is carried out by means of a car transfer device, the car transfer device comprising a horizontal shift unit in which a vertical guide rail piece is integrated which guides the elevator car in the horizontal displacement unit, and wherein the horizontal displacement unit is positionable so that the guide rail piece forms a portion of the vertical guide rail.

A significant advantage of the elevator system according to the invention or of the method according to the invention is that the horizontal displacement of the elevator car takes place without its guide shoes having to leave the vertical guide rails and be introduced into other vertical guide rails. This avoids accuracy problems. Further advantages of the inventive solution are that the horizontal displacement of the elevator car requires no equipment of the elevator cars with lower and upper support rollers, and that the horizontal displacement with a considerably lower Number of to be moved and controlled components can be realized, which has a higher reliability of the elevator system and lower manufacturing and assembly costs result.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the elevator system according to the invention or of the method according to the invention are evident from the dependent claims 2 to 22 .

Advantageously, the elevator car has a braking device with which it can be temporarily fixed to the guide rail piece integrated in the horizontal displacement unit of the car transfer device.

With this fixation of the elevator car in said horizontal displacement unit, an extremely simple transition of the elevator car from its vertical carriageway into the horizontal displacement unit and vice versa can be realized.

Advantageously, the braking device of the elevator car can be activated or deactivated by a control device, for example by the elevator control. Activation or deactivation may be controlled, for example, depending on the detected presence of the elevator car on the guide rail piece integrated in the horizontal displacement unit.

Advantageously, the braking device can also serve as a catch brake for the elevator car. Such a brake allows, for example, the deceleration of the elevator car in the case of detected exceeding an allowable speed or an allowable acceleration. By a combination the safety brake with the required for the fixation of the elevator car during its horizontal displacement braking device, the total cost of the elevator system are significantly reduced.

Advantageously, the controllable braking device can also serve as a holding brake for the elevator car. Such a holding brake fixes the elevator car during a floor stop on the vertical guide rail of the vertical carriageway in order to avoid vertical displacements as a result of load changes and vertical vibrations.

Advantageously, the elevator system comprises two or more vertical tracks, the elevator car being displaceable between these vertical tracks by means of the car transfer device.

In such an elevator system, the elevator car or a plurality of elevator cars may travel along a plurality of vertical tracks, preferably using certain vertical tracks for uphill travel and certain vertical tracks for downhill driving.

Advantageously, the vertical carriageways are arranged offset from one another parallel to a cabin wall having a car door of the at least one elevator car. This solution enables elevator systems in which at least one elevator car can run in a plurality of vertical carriageways arranged side by side, the passengers getting in and out of each floor on the same side of the elevator cars. This has the advantage that in each case only a single shaft door per vertical carriageway and floor is required.

Advantageously, the horizontal displacement unit of the car transfer device is displaceable along horizontal guides, which are arranged parallel to the car door having a car door in a region of the elevator shaft which is not stressed by the vertically and horizontally moved elevator car. In particular, in elevator configurations with a plurality of vertical tracks and / or long horizontal displacement paths, such an embodiment is particularly expedient.

Advantageously, the at least one elevator car has two cabin walls opposite each other, each with a car door, and the vertical carriageways are offset at right angles to these cabin walls against each other.

In hese d r in particular for elevator systems with only two vertical lanes n suitable embodiment of a first vertical track for upward movements and a second vertical track for downward rides is conveniently used. It follows that on each floor there is a boarding vestibule for uphill rides and a boarding vestibule for downwards rides, these boarding antechambers being separated from one another by the elevator shaft. The advantage of this embodiment is that a better ordered traffic flow can be achieved by separating the waiting rooms for ascents from the waiting rooms for descending.

Advantageously, a plurality of car transfer devices are present in an elevator system, which are arranged at different levels such that the guide rail pieces integrated in their horizontal displacement units have displaceable end sections or intermediate sections of vertical guide rails two or more vertical lanes can form. With such an elevator system, particularly high transport capacities can be achieved.

Advantageously, at least one vertical carriageway is equipped with a car drive system comprising a flexible suspension means that can be moved and stopped along the vertical carriageway, wherein the elevator car has a controllable coupling device with which the elevator car can be coupled to or decoupled from the suspension element. Such a coupling or decoupling takes place in each case after the elevator car is inserted by means of a car transfer device in the vertical lane or before it is horizontally displaced by a car transfer device from the vertical lane.

Advantageously, the support means and the coupling device are designed so that a coupling between the elevator car and the suspension element takes place by positive engagement. A coupling by positive locking ensures a particularly secure connection, but requires a support means which is equipped with certain form-fitting elements such as holes or cams.

Advantageously, the support means and the coupling device are formed so that a coupling between the elevator car and the support means is effected by frictional engagement. This ensures that each point of the suspension element can be used as a coupling point, and that it is not necessary to align the position of the suspension element to the cabin position before a coupling process.

Advantageously, the drive system comprises a drive unit with a variable-speed electric motor, wherein the electric motor drives a drive pulley or drive shaft acting on the suspension element, which has an effective diameter of less than 100 mm, preferably less than 80 mm. Such a small effective diameter of the traction sheave enable a gearless drive of the suspension element with electric motors which require little installation space.

Advantageously, each drive system comprises two parallel flexible support means. By the use of two redundant acting on an elevator car suspension means the reliability of the elevator system is increased.

Advantageously, each drive system comprises an upper and a lower drive unit, which are synchronously controllable and controllable and act together on the at least one support means of the drive system. With this measure, the traction as well as the reliability of the elevator system is increased.

Advantageously, the at least one support means of the drive system is designed as a flat belt, V-ribbed belt or toothed belt. Such suspension means have excellent traction properties and are particularly well suited to interact with controllable coupling devices.

Advantageously, the coupling device acting through frictional engagement comprises a clamping device which can be moved out of the area of the drive belts in order to enable a horizontal transfer of the elevator car.

Advantageously, this works without counterweight. This ensures that the elevator cars, which are always moved in the same direction of travel in a vertical carriageway, can be coupled to the drive system without having to first bring a counterweight into a specific starting position.

Advantageously, the drive system comprises a drive controller, which feeds the energy generated into the power grid during a downward travel of an elevator car or temporarily stores it in capacitors or in an accumulator for reuse. This measure can prevent the lack of a counterweight from resulting in increased energy consumption.

Advantageously, a vertical carriageway is equipped with two or more drive systems arranged parallel to one another in order to be able to simultaneously accommodate two or more elevator cars, the elevator cars having two or more controllable coupling devices with which the elevator cars can be coupled to a currently assigned, separately controllable drive system. Such an embodiment of the elevator system makes it possible to simultaneously move two or more elevator cars on the at least one vertical carriageway without a landing stop of an elevator cage enforcing the synchronous stop of the other elevator car (s).

Advantageously, a code measuring bar with absolute coding is arranged along a vertical carriageway, wherein each elevator car is associated with a code reading device which continuously informs about the position of the elevator car from the detectors by means of contactlessly functioning detectors Read the code scale. This device provides the elevator control with the necessary information in order to have the current positions and movement data of all elevator cars of the elevator system available in every operating situation.

Advantageously, a rotary encoder is mounted on the elevator car, which is driven by a rolling on the vertical guide rail or on a guide rail portion of a horizontal displacement unit friction wheel, wherein the rotary encoder provides information about the current driving speed to a monitoring device. This redundant information about the current driving speed of the elevator car serves to generally increase the functional reliability of the elevator system.

Advantageously, the monitoring device monitors the driving speed and / or the instantaneous acceleration of the elevator car on the basis of information transmitted by the encoder as well as by continuous differentiation of the determined from the position information travel path and activated detects exceeded exceeding a speed limit or an acceleration limit the controllable braking device as a safety brake. In particular, if the monitoring device is installed on the elevator car, this can activate the safety brake in the emergency with the greatest possible reaction speed and reliability, with a redundant activation by evaluating the information of the code scale to a further increase the reliability of the safety brake contributes.

Fig. 1A

zeigt eine Frontansicht eines erfindungsgemässen Aufzugssystems mit zwei Vertikalfahrbahnen, zwei Aufzugskabinen und zwei Kabinentransfereinrichtungen, wobei die Vertikalfahrbahnen parallel zu den die Kabinentüren aufweisenden Kabinenwänden gegeneinander versetzt angeordnet sind.

Fig. 1B

zeigt eine Seitenansicht des Aufzugssystems gemäss Fig. 1.

Fig. 2A

zeigt vergrössert eine Horizontalverschiebeeinheit der genannten Kabinentransfereinrichtungen in Seitenansicht.

Fig. 2B

zeigt eine Frontansicht der Horizontalverschiebeeinheit gemäss Fig. 2A .

Fig. 3A

zeigt eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemässen Aufzugssystems mit drei Vertikalfahrbahnen, zwei Aufzugskabinen und zwei Kabinentransfereinrichtungen, wobei die Vertikalfahrbahnen rechtwinklig zu den die Kabinentüren aufweisenden Kabinenwänden gegeneinander versetzt angeordnet sind.

Fig. 3B

zeigt eine Frontansicht des Aufzugssystems gemäss Fig. 3A .

Fig. 4-7

zeigen eine Seitenansicht, eine Draufsicht sowie zwei Querschnitte einer Kopplungseinrichtung, die eine Aufzugkabine reibschlüssig mit den Tragmitteln verbindet.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1A

shows a front view of an inventive elevator system with two vertical lanes, two elevator cars and two car transfer facilities, the vertical lanes are arranged offset from one another parallel to the cabin walls having the car doors.

Fig. 1B

shows a side view of the elevator system according to Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 2A

shows enlarged a horizontal displacement unit of said car transfer devices in side view.

Fig. 2B

shows a front view of the horizontal displacement unit according to Fig. 2A ,

Fig. 3A

shows a side view of an inventive elevator system with three vertical lanes, two elevator cars and two car transfer facilities, the vertical lanes are arranged offset from one another at right angles to the cabin walls having the car doors.

Fig. 3B

shows a front view of the elevator system according to Fig. 3A ,

Fig. 4-7

show a side view, a plan view and two cross-sections of a coupling device which connects an elevator car frictionally with the support means.

Fig. 1A and 1B show a front view and a side view of a first embodiment of the elevator system according to the invention, comprising two arranged in an elevator shaft 2 vertical carriageways 3 and two running along these vertical lanes elevator cars 4. The vertical carriageways 3 are formed by two strands of vertical guide rails 5 fastened in the elevator shaft, and the elevator cars 4 are guided by means of guide shoes 6 on these vertical guide rails, wherein two guide shoes are present on each side of the elevator cars. Each vertical carriageway 3 is equipped with three car drive systems 7 with circulating support means 8. Each of the elevator cars 4 can be coupled to the support means 8 of each of a car drive system to convey the elevator car along a vertical lane, and also decoupled from these suspension means to move the elevator car from one vertical lane to another. For this purpose, each elevator car is equipped with three controllable coupling devices 40, each associated with one of the three car drive systems 7. As a variant, each elevator car may also have only a single coupling device, which is brought before each coupling by a controlled positioning device in a position corresponding to the currently assigned cabin drive system position. The cab drive systems as well as the required coupling devices are described later in this document.

The vertical carriageways 3 are arranged offset from each other in this embodiment of the elevator system parallel to the cabin walls 11 having the car doors 10. In normal operation, one of the vertical lanes 3 serves as a roadway for the upward drive and the other as a lane for the downward travel of the elevator cars, each of the elevator cars after reaching a floor level in the end of a vertical lane performs a horizontal transfer to the other vertical lane on which the elevator car in reverse Moving direction can continue.

In each case in areas of floor stops 12, three car transfer devices 13 are shown, with the aid of which the elevator cars are displaceable between the vertical carriageways 3. Each of the car transfer devices comprises two horizontal guides 14, 15 fixed on the door-side wall of the elevator shaft 2 and a horizontal sliding unit 16 displaceable along these horizontal guides. Such a horizontal displacement unit comprises a frame construction 17 in which two vertical guide rail pieces 18 are fixed, which end sections or intermediate sections of the vertical guide rails 5 form the vertical carriageways 3, when the horizontal displacement unit is positioned in a corresponding passage position. The frame structure 17 is designed such that the elevator cars 4 can travel or stop in the vertical direction through the horizontal displacement unit 16 in the correct drive-through position, the elevator cars being guided on said guide rail pieces 18.

The car transfer devices 13 are each equipped with a shift drive not shown here, which, controlled by an elevator control, shifts the horizontal displacement units between the vertical lanes 3 and positions in defined drive-through positions, in which the integrated guide rail pieces 18 are precisely aligned with the vertical guide rails 5 of the vertical lanes. The horizontal displacement units may be empty or loaded with an elevator car during the shifting operation. The displacement drive may include, for example, a drive chain, a toothed belt or a rack device, via which a preferably speed-controllable electric motor Move horizontal displacement units and positioned in a currently required passage position. Expediently, 16 centering devices may be present on the horizontal displacement units, which precisely and rigidly fix the horizontal displacement units, for example by means of a centering wedge engaging in a stationary counterpart, even when horizontal forces act, in one of the drive-through positions.

On both sides of the elevator cars 4 controllable braking devices 20 are mounted, which cooperate with the vertical guide rails 5 and the guide rail pieces 18 of horizontal displacement units 16 so that the braking devices decelerate the elevator cars when they are activated by a control device. With these braking devices 20, the elevator cars 4 are held on the guide rail pieces 18 integrated in the horizontal displacement units 16, while they are displaced between two vertical tracks 3. Advantageously, the same braking devices 20 can also be used as safety gears, which act in the case of exceeding the permissible cabin speed or the acceleration as between elevator cars 4 and vertical guide rails 5 acting safety brakes. The same braking devices can also serve as holding brakes, which prevent vertical vibrations as well as level changes of the elevator cars due to load changes during floor stops. The braking devices 20 usually include brake plates which are pressed by controllable actuators against the vertical guide rails. For the realization of such actuators, various principles come into question, for example, lifting spindles with torque-controllable drive motors, hydraulic cylinders with pressure control, or electromagnets that attach to the guide rails when activated. The generated braking force is preferably regulated as a function of the delay of the elevator car measured by a deceleration sensor.

For reasons of safety, controllable locking devices can be attached to the horizontal displacement units 16 which block the passage of an elevator car through the horizontal displacement units in the downward direction and eliminate the risk of an elevator car dropping out of a horizontal displacement unit.

It is easy to see that at the in Fig. 1A, 1B illustrated embodiment of the elevator system, in which the vertical lanes parallel to the car doors 10 having cabin walls 11 are arranged offset from each other, even more vertical lanes 3 can be arranged side by side. The boarding and disembarking takes place in this embodiment at floor stops 12, which can be on each floor and each of the vertical lanes can be assigned. Advantageously, the horizontal guides 14, 15 of the car transfer devices 13 extend over the entire width of all vertical carriageways, so that each elevator car can use each of the vertical carriageways 3. In elevator systems having a relatively large number of parallel vertical tracks, it may be useful to have more than one horizontal shift unit 16 operate on the same horizontal guides 14, 15 of a car transfer device 13 or to arrange two or more car transfer devices directly one above the other. Car transfer facilities may also be present at some intermediate level of the elevator system, but this intermediate level is not mandatory must be in the range of a floor station. In combination with a suitably designed elevator control, in such an elevator system elevator cars can change their vertical carriageway and possibly their direction of travel via such intermediate transfer car transfer facilities without having to make a turn over the end areas of the vertical carriageways, or empty elevator cars can be called from parallel vertical carriageways, without much detours and waiting times to accept. Advantageously, one of the vertical carriageways can be provided as storage or as parking space for empty elevator cars. Above the lowermost floor stop, a car transfer device 13 with an empty horizontal shift unit 16, which is not arranged in an end region of the vertical carriageways, is shown. Such a car transfer device may be arranged at some intermediate level of the elevator system. Thanks to roller-mounted horizontal displacement units 16 and adjustable displacement drives, the car transfer devices 13 are also suitable for horizontal displacement of passenger cars occupied elevator cars.

Since in the areas of the car transfer devices 13, the vertical guide rails 5 of the vertical carriageways 3 are interrupted, the elevator control ensures that before each entry of an elevator car in such an area a horizontal displacement unit 16 with its guide rail pieces 18 bridges the interruptions. If no horizontal displacement unit is available in due time for a required bridging, the elevator car is stopped before reaching the interrupted area.

Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show a side view and a front view of a car transfer device 13 described above with its horizontal displacement unit 16 in an enlarged view. To clarify the interaction of the horizontal displacement unit with the elevator cars 4, such an elevator car is indicated by means of phantom lines in a holding position in the horizontal displacement unit. 14 is an upper and 15 denotes a lower horizontal guide, on which the horizontal displacement unit 16 is displaceable by a displacement drive 24 between the vertical tracks of the elevator system. The horizontal guides 14, 15 are attached to the door-side wall 25 of the hoistway. The horizontal displacement unit 16 comprises a frame construction 17 with two vertically arranged side frames 26 and an upper side member 27 and a lower side member 28, which connect the two side frames 26 together. At the upper longitudinal member 27 four profiled upper guide rollers 29 are fixed, with which the upper longitudinal member 27 is guided in vertical and horizontal directions on the upper horizontal guide 14.1. The lower side member 28 has four lower guide rollers 30, which guide the lower side member 28 in the horizontal direction at the lower horizontal guide 15. On the inner sides of the two side frames 26, the above-mentioned, vertically aligned guide rail pieces 18 are fixed. The two side frames 26, together with the upper and lower side members 27, 28, form a U-shaped frame allowing the passage of elevator cars 4 between the two side frames 26, the two guide rail pieces 18 forming end portions or intermediate portions of the vertical guide rails of the vertical tracks of the elevator system when the horizontal displacement unit is positioned in a correct passage position. As already mentioned, the elevator cars are equipped with controllable braking devices 20, with which the elevator cars 4 can be held on said guide rail pieces 18 during a horizontal transfer between two vertical tracks.

The displacement drive 24 is arranged above the horizontal displacement unit 16 and comprises a mounted on the upper horizontal guide, extending over the entire displacement distance belt drive with a drive unit 32, a rotating displacement belt 33 and a Umlenkriemenscheibe 34, wherein the lower run of the Verleihiemens with the upper side rail 27th the horizontal displacement unit is connected.

The control of the drive units 32 of the horizontal displacement units 16 is preferably carried out by the central elevator control, which controls and monitors the entire elevator traffic.

The illustrated horizontal displacement unit 16 is equipped with a centering device, which is shown schematically by the reference numeral 35. The centering device 35 can for example fix the horizontal displacement unit precisely and resiliently in one of the drive-through positions, by an electromagnetically controlled centering wedge engaging in a notch on the upper horizontal guide 14 after the coarse positioning by the displacement drive 31.

36 is a controllable locking device which blocks the passage of an elevator car 4 through the horizontal displacement unit 16 in the downward direction and the risk of falling out of an elevator car from a horizontal displacement unit, for example, failure of a braking device eliminated. Such a locking device 36 may comprise, for example, an electromagnetically controllable locking bar, which, controlled by the elevator control, engages from at least one of the side frames 26 of the horizontal displacement unit 16 under an elevator car fixed in the horizontal displacement unit, as long as it is not allowed to leave the horizontal displacement unit in the downward direction.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a side view and a front view of a second embodiment of the elevator system according to the invention, wherein the same effect components with the in Fig. 1A and 1B used reference numerals are designated. Where necessary, the reference numerals for elements of the second embodiment are indicated by the index ".2".

The illustrated embodiment comprises two vertical lanes 3, each with two vertical guide rails 5 and three elevator cars 4 running along these vertical lanes. In contrast to the first embodiment described above, the vertical lanes 3 are offset at right angles to the car doors 10 having cabin walls 11 offset from each other. The elevator cabins each have two opposite car doors 10, which correspond in each case to shaft doors 9 mounted on opposite walls of the elevator shaft. The horizontal displacement units 16 of the car transfer devices 13 are moved in this second embodiment along horizontal guides 14, 15, which are below the lower ends or above the upper ends of the vertical carriageways 3, for example on the floor or on the ceiling of the elevator shaft 2, are arranged. In the case of these horizontal displacement units 16, the guide rail pieces 18 which are integrated with them also enable the reception of an elevator car 4 in order to shift it between two vertical carriageways 3. Horizontal displacement units, which are installed at intermediate levels and allow passage of the elevator cars are not provided in this embodiment. An advantage of this embodiment is that the landing stops 12 and the boarding antechambers for uprights and downruns are separated from each other on opposite sides of the hoistway, whereby a more orderly flow of traffic is achievable. A disadvantage of this embodiment is that only two vertical lanes can be arranged so that the elevator cars traveling on them can be entered or left from the landing stops. However, it is also possible and useful here to arrange at least one additional vertical carriageway between the two vertical carriageways adjacent to the shaft doors 9, wherein the additional vertical carriageway serves as storage for currently non-deployed elevator cars and / or as second carriageway for the currently more traffic-bearing travel direction can serve.

The elevator cabs 4 are driven in this embodiment of the elevator system by two each arranged on opposite sides of the elevator cars, synchronously operating subsystems 7.2 each of a cabin drive system, each subsystem 7.2 each having two circumferential support means 8. A total of six subsystems 7.2 are present, which together form three independently operating cabin drive systems, and each elevator car 4 is provided with a total of six coupling devices 40, of which three interact with the left side and three with the right side subsystems 7.2 of the cabin drive systems. The two-sided arrangement of two partial systems 7.2 has the advantage that the two each an elevator car driving, synchronously controlled and regulated subsystems do not produce acting on the elevator car overturning moment. However, the cab drive systems could also be arranged on only one side of the elevator cars. The tilting moment generated by the cabin drive systems arranged on one side and acting on the elevator cars is to be compensated by the guiding forces between the vertical guide rails and the guide shoes of the elevator cars.

In both embodiments, for controlling and positioning the elevator cars along their vertical lanes each vertical lane independently associated controllable cabin drive systems. These cab drive systems allow asynchronous, d. H. non-coupled movement of multiple elevator cars on the same vertical lane, which provides significant advantages in terms of transport capacity and travel times over elevator systems with multiple lift cabins driven by a single cabin drive system. For this purpose, the elevator cars with the aid of controllable coupling devices described below can be coupled to flexible support means of a car drive system, which are temporarily assigned to the elevator cars by the elevator control. Of course, an elevator system according to the invention can also be equipped with more or less than three independent cabin drive systems.

Each of the illustrated cabin drive systems 7 or 7.2 comprises at least two parallel, along the associated vertical carriageways movable, flexible support means 8, preferably in the upper elevator area a traction sheave 41 and in the lower region a deflection pulley 42 or a second traction sheave entwine. Each traction sheave 41 is driven by a drive unit 43, which preferably comprises a variable-speed electric motor. The respective drive units 43 or their electric motors assigned to one of the car drive systems 7 or 7.2 are controllable and controllable independently of the other drive units belonging to the same vertical carriageway. The traction sheaves 41 have a small effective diameter of less than 100 mm, preferably an effective diameter of less than 80 mm, which ensures that the required lifting forces can be generated in the support means 8 by electric motors with small dimensions, preferably directly without intermediate gear drive the traction sheaves. The motor shafts of the electric motors and the associated traction sheaves can form an integral unit. The allowable load of a cab drive system can be increased by assigning a respective upper and lower drive unit, each with a traction sheave, to a cabin drive system. Such an embodiment is in the Fig. 1A, 1B shown. The electric motors of such drive units are synchronously controlled and synchronously speed-controlled.

The driving or deflecting discs in the lower area of the elevator are here equipped with clamping devices symbolically represented by arrows P, with which on the one hand generates the required Tragmittelvorspannung and on the other hand deviations in the original lengths of self-contained suspension means and operational plastic changes in length in the support means are compensated. The required clamping forces can preferably be produced with tension weights, gas springs or metal springs.

The in the elevator systems according to Fig. 1A, 1B . 3A, 3B shown support means 8 have the form of belts. Preferably, these are designed as a toothed belt or V-ribbed belt and reinforced with tensile reinforcements in the form of wire ropes, synthetic fiber ropes or synthetic fiber fabrics so that they can carry an associated elevator car 4 over a large number of floors without undue vertical oscillations occur.

As already mentioned above, each elevator car 4 of the illustrated elevator system is equipped with controllable coupling devices 40, which enable the coupling of in each case one elevator car 5 to a temporarily assigned car drive system 7 or to one subsystem 7.2 and of course also the uncoupling thereof. Such a coupling device may comprise at least one controllably movable coupling element which cooperates with a form-fitting manner with openings or cams present on the at least one suspension element of the associated cabin drive system in order to create a temporary connection between an elevator cage and the suspension element. Although such coupling devices can ensure secure connections, but have the disadvantage that the support means must be brought before each coupling operation in a position in which one of the openings or one of the cams occupies a corresponding with the movable coupling element of the cab-side coupling device position. Before uncoupling, it is also expedient to relax the support means by appropriately driving the drive unit, after the elevator car in a horizontal displacement unit is locked, on the one hand to enable a load-free decoupling of the positive connection and on the other hand to avoid a sudden relief of the relatively elastic support means.

Conveniently, therefore, so many frictionally acting coupling devices are present at each elevator car, as per vertical carriageway cabin drive systems 7 and 7.2 subsystems are available. As a variant, each elevator car may also have only a single coupling device, which is brought before each coupling by a controlled positioning device in a position corresponding to the currently assigned cabin drive system position.

Preferably, the coupling devices 40 are equipped with controllable clamping devices 45, with which one of the coupling devices of an elevator car can be connected in a frictionally engaged manner to at least one suspension element 8 of a temporarily assigned cabin drive system 7 or a subsystem 7.2. In order for an elevator car 4 to be displaced horizontally when it is fixed to the guide rail pieces 18 of a horizontal displacement unit 16, the clamping devices 45 of their coupling devices 40 can be withdrawn from the area of the suspension elements 8. Frictionally acting coupling devices have the advantage that the elevator cars can be coupled in any vertical position with the support means of a car drive system, without having to be previously brought any coupling elements of the support means in a relation to the elevator car defined position. In addition, a relaxation of the support means prior to decoupling in frictionally acting coupling devices is not required.

An embodiment of a friction acting coupling device 40 is hereinafter in connection with the Fig. 4-7 described.

Fig. 4 shows a side view and Fig. 5 a top view of a coupling device 40. As in the Fig. 1A, 1B and 3A, 3B schematically illustrated, several such coupling devices are mounted on the tops of the elevator cars. 6 and 7 show cross sections through a clamping device 45 of the coupling device or by a portion of the coupling device, which is provided with a longitudinal guide, which allows the retraction of the coupling device.

The coupling device 40 comprises a base plate 46 connected to the elevator car and a coupling part 47 displaceable on the base plate. The coupling part 47 has in the area of its front end a clamping device 45 which comprises a slot 49 through which the two support means 8 designed as a belt pass are when the coupling member 47 assumes its extended position. In the slot 49 of the clamping device 45, two brake plates 50 are arranged, each of which is guided by means of a pressing piston 51 and can be pressed by this against the associated support means 8. As in Fig. 6 shown, the two plunger 51 are each arranged in a cylinder bore 52 which are drilled in one of the arms of the clamping device 45 and sealed with a sealing plug 53 on one side. The existing in both cylinder bores 52 between the plunger and the sealing plug 53 pressure chambers are connected by a connecting bore 55 with an oil-filled pressure cylinder bore 56. From this pressure cylinder bore can by moving a pressure generating piston 57 oil in said pressure chambers be pressed to press the brake plates 50 by means of the plunger 51 against the support means 8 and thus frictionally coupled with the coupling member 47 and thus with the elevator car. For moving the pressure generating piston 57, an electromotively operated lifting spindle 58 is mounted on the side of the coupling part 47, which generates the oil pressure required for the coupling via a spring element 59 and the pressure generating piston 57. For decoupling the spring element is relieved by the lifting spindle 58, so that the plunger 51 is retracted by return springs 60 and thus the brake plates 50 are lifted from the support means 8. So that an elevator car can be moved horizontally when it is fixed to the guide rail pieces of the horizontal displacement unit, the clamping device 45 of the coupling part 47 is retractable from the region of the support means 8. For this purpose, the coupling member 47 is slidably connected to its base plate 46 via a T-shaped longitudinal guide 62 in the longitudinal direction. The retraction and the forward movement of the coupling member 47 and thus the clamping device 47 happens at the in the Fig. 4 to 7 Coupling device 40 shown by a further electric motor driven Verschiebehubspindel 61st

Claims (23)

1. An elevator system with at least one elevator car (4) which can move vertically and horizontally, vertical movements taking place along a vertical track (3) comprising a vertical guide rail (5) and horizontal movements being carried out with the aid of a car transfer mechanism (13), wherein the vertical track (3) is equipped with a car drive system (7; 7.2) which comprises a flexible supporting means (8) which is movable and stoppable along the vertical track (3), the elevator car (4) having a controllable coupling mechanism (40) with which the elevator car can be coupled to or decoupled from the supporting means, characterized in that the car transfer mechanism (13) comprises a horizontal displacement unit (16) into which a vertical guide rail piece (18) is integrated, said guide rail piece guiding the elevator car (4) in the horizontal displacement unit (16), the horizontal displacement unit being able to be positioned in such a manner that the guide rail piece (18) forms a section of the vertical guide rail (5), and the elevator car (4) has a brake mechanism (20) with which the elevator car can be temporarily fixed to the guide rail piece (18) integrated in the horizontal displacement unit (16).
2. The elevator system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the brake mechanism (20) can be activated and can be deactivated by a control mechanism.
3. The elevator system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the brake mechanism (20) can also serve as a catch brake for the elevator car (4).
4. The elevator system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the brake mechanism (20) can also serve as a holding brake for the elevator car (4).
5. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elevator system comprises two or more vertical tracks (3) and the elevator car (4) is displaceable between said vertical tracks with the aid of the car transfer mechanism (13).
6. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical tracks (3) are arranged offset with respect to each other parallel to a car wall (11) of the elevator car (4), said car wall having a car door (10).
7. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the horizontal displacement unit (16) of the car transfer mechanism (13) is displaceable along horizontal guides (14, 15) which are arranged parallel to a car wall having a car door (10) in a part of an elevator shaft which is not taken up by the vertically and horizontally moved elevator car.
8. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator car has two mutually opposite car walls (11) each having a car door (10) and the vertical tracks (3) are arranged offset with respect to each other at right angles to said car walls.
9. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is a plurality of car transfer mechanisms (13) which are arranged on different levels in such a manner that the guide rail pieces (18) which are integrated in the horizontal displacement units (16) thereof can form displaceable end sections or intermediate sections of vertical guide rails (5) of two or more vertical tracks (3).
10. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting means (8) and the coupling mechanism are designed in such a manner that the elevator car (4) and the supporting means are coupled by means of interlocking engagement.
11. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting means and the coupling mechanism (40) are designed in such a manner that the elevator car (4) and the supporting means (8) are coupled by means of frictional engagement.
12. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive system (7; 7.2) comprises a drive unit (43) with a speed-controllable electric motor, the electric motor driving a driving pulley (41) acting on the supporting means or a driving shaft which has an effective diameter of less than 100 mm, preferably of less than 80 mm.
13. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive system (7; 7.2) comprises two flexible supporting means (8) arranged parallel.
14. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive system (7; 7.2) comprises an upper and a lower drive unit (43) which can be controlled and regulated synchronously and jointly act on the one or more supporting means (8) of the drive system.
15. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more supporting means (8) of the drive system (7; 7.2) is or are designed as a wire cable, flat belt, V-ribbed belt or toothed belt.
16. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling mechanism (40) acting by means of frictional engagement comprises a clamping device (45) which is movable out of the region of the supporting means (8) in order to permit a horizontal transfer of the elevator car (4).
17. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive system (7; 7.2) operates without a counterweight.
18. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive system (7; 7.2) comprises a drive regulator which, during a downward trip of an elevator car (4), feeds the energy generated into the mains or stores said energy in a capacitor or an accumulator.
19. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vertical track (3) is equipped with two or more drive systems (7; 7.2) arranged parallel to each other so that two or more elevator cars (4) can move simultaneously along said vertical track, the elevator cars having two or more controllable coupling mechanisms (40) with which the elevator cars can be coupled to a separately controllable drive system (7; 7.2) presently assigned thereto.
20. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a code scale with absolute encoding is arranged along a vertical track (3), each elevator car (4) being assigned a code reading mechanism which continuously reads information about the position of the elevator car from the code scale by means of detectors functioning in a contact-free manner.
21. The elevator system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rotary sensor is attached to the elevator car and is driven by a friction wheel rolling along the vertical guide rail (5) or along a guide rail section (18) of a horizontal displacement unit (16), the rotary sensor supplying information about the present travel speed to a monitor.
22. The elevator system as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the monitor redundantly monitors the travel speed and/or the present acceleration of the elevator car (4) with reference to the information transmitted by the rotary sensor and also by means of continuous differentiation of the travel path determined from the position information and, if it is detected that a speed limit or acceleration limit is being exceeded, activates the controllable brake mechanism (20) as a catch brake.
23. A method for operating an elevator system, in particular as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which at least one elevator car (4) is moved along a vertical track (3) comprising a vertical guide rail (5) and is displaced horizontally with the aid of a car transfer mechanism (13), wherein the elevator car (4) is coupled by means of a controllable coupling device (40) to a flexible supporting means (8), which is movable and stoppable along the vertical track (3), of a car drive system (7; 7.2) or is decoupled therefrom, characterized in that, for the horizontal displacement, the elevator car (4) is moved onto a guide rail piece (18) which is integrated in a horizontal displacement unit (16) of the car transfer mechanism (13) and, in a transfer position of the horizontal displacement unit (16), forms a horizontally displaceable section of the vertical guide rail (5) of the vertical track (3), wherein the elevator car (4) is fixed to the guide rail piece (18), which is integrated in the horizontal displacement unit (16), by means of a brake mechanism (20) mounted on the car.

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