EP3924284B1 - Elevator system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an elevator system having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The EP 2219985 B1 describes an elevator system with two elevator cars that can be displaced in a vertical direction in an elevator shaft, a self-contained suspension element guided around a lower deflection roller and an upper deflection roller, a drive machine in the form of an electric motor assigned to the suspension element, and a controllable coupling device arranged on each elevator car. The support means has several coupling elements, which can be designed as holes or cams, for example. A coupling device of an elevator car can be coupled to and uncoupled from a coupling element, with which a drive connection between the respective elevator car and the suspension element can be established and released. An elevator car coupled to a suspension element can thus be displaced in the first elevator shaft by means of the suspension element that can be driven by the respective drive machine.

The elevator cars are only moved in one direction in the named elevator shaft, ie only upwards or only downwards. In order to be able to operate the elevator cabins in a circulating manner, the elevator system has an additional elevator shaft. The elevator cars can be moved horizontally between the two elevator shafts by means of a transfer device. During operation of the elevator system, an elevator car is coupled to a suspension element at a lower or an upper end position via its coupling device and a coupling element and is displaced upwards or downwards by the associated drive machine via the suspension element until it reaches the upper or lower end position has reached. There the elevator car is uncoupled from the suspension element and is horizontally shifted by a transfer device into the elevator shaft for the other direction of displacement into the other elevator shaft.

The U.S. 2016/152446 A1 also describes such an elevator system.

In the EP 1693331 A1 a similar elevator system is described, in which the coupling device can be secured in the coupled position by means of a safety device against leaving the coupled position.

In contrast, it is in particular the object of the invention to propose an elevator system which enables a particularly reliable and/or safe operation of the elevator system. According to the invention, this object is achieved with an elevator system having the features of claim 1.

The elevator system according to the invention has an elevator car that can be displaced in an elevator shaft, a suspension element running in the elevator shaft, a drive machine assigned to the suspension element, and a controllable coupling device arranged on the elevator cabin. The docking device can assume a docked position and an undocked position. The suspension element has a coupling element to which the coupling device can be coupled by assuming the coupled position and uncoupled by assuming the uncoupled position, with which a drive connection between the elevator car and the suspension element can be established and released. The coupled elevator car can be displaced in the elevator shaft by means of the suspension means that can be driven by the drive machine.

The elevator system has a safety device which can assume a safety position and a release position. In the secured position, the securing device secures the coupling device in the coupled position against leaving the coupled position. This effectively prevents the coupling device from being unintentionally moved from the coupled to the uncoupled position and thus the elevator car being unintentionally separated from the suspension element. An unintentional separation of the elevator car from the suspension means can result in the elevator car falling down in the elevator shaft due to gravity and being stopped by a so-called safety brake when a limit speed is reached. The stopping of an elevator car by a safety brake leads in particular to high accelerations, which are therefore unpleasant for passengers in the elevator car. This can also result in minor injuries to passengers. The use of Safety brake can also result in the passengers not being able to leave the elevator car easily, depending on the position of the elevator car in the elevator shaft. In addition, after a safety brake has been used, it is usually necessary for a service technician to be called in to put the elevator system back into operation. The elevator system is not available until the service technician is on site. In addition, the use of a service technician causes effort and thus costs.

The securing device secures the coupling device in the securing position, in particular by being coupled to the coupling element. However, it is also conceivable that the coupling device is coupled to the suspension element in the securing position. The safety device has in particular a controllable and therefore movable component on the coupling device and a passive and therefore immovable component on the coupling element. This enables the controllable component of the safety device to be wired and supplied from the elevator car in a simple and cost-effective manner.

According to the invention, the safety device has a sensor arrangement, by means of which it can be detected whether the safety device is in the safety position. This enables a particularly safe operation of the elevator system.

The sensor arrangement can be made, for example, from a combination of a permanent magnet and a Hall sensor. In this case, the permanent magnet is arranged in particular on the coupling device, specifically on a locking end of a lever pivotably mounted on the coupling device. In this case, the Hall sensor is arranged on the coupling element, in particular in the area of a safety cutout of the coupling element, such that it only detects said permanent magnet when said locking end of the lever is in the safety cutout and thus the safety device is in the safety position located. The Hall sensor is connected in particular to the elevator controller, which evaluates the measurement signals from the Hall sensor.

The sensor arrangement can also have other types of sensors, for example proximity sensors, by means of which it can be detected whether the safety device is in the safety position.

The elevator system according to the invention also has a control device. The control device is in communication with the named sensor arrangement and only allows a displacement of the elevator car when the sensor arrangement recognizes that the safety device is in the safety position. This enables a particularly safe operation of the elevator system.

Said control device can in particular be designed as part of the elevator control. However, it is also possible for the control device to be designed independently of the elevator control, but to be in communication with it. A displacement of the elevator car is only permitted if the said control device outputs a corresponding release signal. This release signal is only output when the sensor arrangement detects that the safety device is in the safety position. If the elevator car is relocated and the release signal is no longer output by the control device, then the relocation of the elevator car is terminated immediately.

In particular, the elevator system has more than one elevator car, ie, for example, two to eight elevator cars, which are basically identical in structure and all have a coupling device. In particular, the elevator system has more than one elevator shaft, specifically two elevator shafts, between which the elevator cars can be moved by means of transfer devices. In particular, a transfer station is arranged at both ends of the elevator shafts, so that a circulating operation of the elevator cars is possible. For this purpose, the elevator cars are shifted only from bottom to top in a first elevator shaft and only from top to bottom in a second elevator shaft. When the upper or lower end of the respective elevator shaft is reached, the elevator cars are moved to the other elevator shaft by means of a transfer station.

The elevator shaft or elevator shafts are arranged in or on a building and run mainly in the vertical direction, so that the elevator cars are mainly displaced vertically when they are moved in the elevator shaft.

The suspension element is in particular self-contained, that is, for example, designed in the shape of a ring. It can thus also be described as endless. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is designed as a homogeneous ring or consists of only one piece. The suspension element is in particular guided around a lower and an upper deflection roller, with at least one deflection roller serving as a drive roller or traction sheave, via which the suspension element can be driven by the drive machine assigned to it. In particular, the deflection rollers have an effective diameter of less than 100 mm. Such small effective diameters of a deflection pulley serving as a traction sheave enable a gearless drive of the suspension element, which requires little installation space. In particular, a tensioning device can be arranged on the suspension element, with which on the one hand the required suspension element pretension is generated and on the other hand deviations in the original length of the self-contained suspension element and operational plastic length changes of the suspension element are compensated for. The required tensioning forces can be generated, for example, with tensioning weights, gas springs or metal springs.

The drive machine is designed in particular as an electric motor that is controlled by an elevator controller. The elevator control controls the entire operation of the elevator system, so it controls all controllable components of the elevator system and is connected to switches and sensors of the elevator system. The elevator control can be designed as a single central elevator control or consist of several decentralized controls that are responsible for subtasks. For example, it can have a safety controller that ensures the safe operation of the elevator system.

The coupling devices arranged on the elevator car(s) are arranged in particular on a floor or a roof of the elevator car and are controlled by the elevator control mentioned above. The coupling to a coupling element of the suspension element in the coupled position of the coupling device takes place in particular in a form-fitting manner, with a friction-fitting coupling also being conceivable. The coupling element has, in particular, a mainly horizontally oriented recess into which, for example, an extendable and retractable bolt of the coupling device can enter in an actuation direction. In this case, the coupling device is in its coupled position Position when the bolt of the coupling device dips into the recess of the coupling element and in its uncoupled position when the bolt does not dip into the recess or the recess remains free.

A positive or frictional connection between the elevator car and the suspension element can thus be produced via the coupling device and the coupling element, so that the elevator car is also displaced when the propellant is displaced or moved. A drive connection between the elevator car and the suspension element, and thus ultimately between the elevator car and the drive machine assigned to the suspension element, can thus be established and also released again. The coupling devices are controlled in particular in such a way that, at least during the displacement of an elevator car, only one elevator car is coupled to a (single) suspension element. In particular, only one (single) elevator car is ever shifted in the shaft by a (single) suspension element.

A coupling element of a suspension element is designed in particular as a connecting element which connects two free ends of the suspension element to one another. The use of a self-contained suspension means makes it possible to dispense with a counterweight that has to be guided past the elevator car, which allows for a small cross-section of the elevator shaft. In addition, the coupling element designed in this way fulfills a dual function. On the one hand, it serves to couple the elevator car to the suspension element and, on the other hand, to realize the closed suspension element in a simple and cost-effective manner.

In particular, the coupling element fulfills the function of a so-called belt lock or a cable connector. In this way, a self-contained suspension element can be produced very simply, inexpensively and safely from an originally open, elongated suspension element by connecting the two free ends with the coupling element. The coupling element can, for example, have two suspension element end connections connected to one another, which, for example, correspond to EP 1634842 A2 can be executed. The two suspension element end connections can be connected, for example, via an intermediate piece to which they can be screwed or welded, for example. The coupling element can also have a one-piece housing.

In an embodiment of the invention, the safety device has an energy storage device, which is designed and arranged in such a way that the safety device can be brought into the safety position with the energy storage device. The energy store wants to bring the safety device into the safety position. This enables a particularly safe operation of the elevator system, since the safety device assumes the safety position by default, ie without any other activation of an actuator.

An elevator system with

• einer Aufzugkabine, die in einem Aufzugschacht verlagerbar ist,
• einem im Aufzugschacht verlaufendem Tragmittel,
• einer dem Tragmittel zugeordneten Antriebsmaschine,
• einer an der Aufzugkabine angeordneten ansteuerbaren Kopplungseinrichtung und
• einer Sicherungsvorrichtung,

wobei

• die Kopplungseinrichtung eine angekoppelte Position und eine abgekoppelte Position einnehmen kann,
• das Tragmittel ein Ankoppelelement aufweist, an welche sich die Kopplungseinrichtung durch Einnehmen der angekoppelten Position ankoppeln und durch Einnehmen der abgekoppelten Position abkoppeln kann, womit eine Antriebsverbindung zwischen der Aufzugkabine und dem Tragmittel herstellbar und lösbar ist und die angekoppelte Aufzugkabine mittels des von der Antriebsmaschine antreibbaren Tragmittels im Aufzugschacht verlagert werden kann, und
• die Sicherungsvorrichtung, eine Sicherungsposition und eine Freigabeposition einnehmen kann und in der Sicherungsposition die Kopplungseinrichtung in der

angekoppelten Position gegen ein Verlassen der angekoppelten Position sichert, und einem derartigen Energiespeicher kann als eine eigenständige Erfindung angesehen werden.

• an elevator car that can be moved in an elevator shaft,
• a suspension means running in the elevator shaft,
• a drive machine assigned to the suspension element,
• a controllable coupling device arranged on the elevator car and
• a security device,

whereby

• the coupling device can assume a coupled position and an uncoupled position,
• the suspension means has a coupling element to which the coupling device can be coupled by assuming the coupled position and uncoupled by assuming the uncoupled position, with which a drive connection between the elevator car and the suspension means can be established and released and the coupled elevator car by means of the suspension means that can be driven by the drive machine can be relocated in the elevator shaft, and
• the safety device, a backup position and a release position can take and in the backup position the coupling device in the

coupled position against leaving the coupled position secures, and such an energy storage device can be regarded as an independent invention.

The energy store, which is designed in particular as a spring, is designed and arranged in such a way that it acts on a component of the safety device Restoring force exerts, which pushes the component into a position that it occupies in the safety position. If the coupling device is in the coupled position and an actuating force of an actuator opposing the restoring force of the energy store does not act on said component, the restoring force exerted by the energy store brings said component into the position that it occupies in the safety position

As an alternative to providing an energy store, a movable component of the safety device can be designed and arranged in such a way that gravity wants to bring it into the position that it assumes in the safety position of the safety device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the safety device has an actuator which is designed and arranged such that the safety device can be brought into the release position with the actuator in an activated state. In the activated state, the actuator therefore wants to bring the safety device into the release position. This advantageously enables the release position of the safety device to be set actively.

The actuator is designed and arranged in such a way that, in the activated state, it exerts an actuating force on a component of the safety device, which pushes the component into a position that it assumes in the release position. Said actuator can be designed, for example, as an electromagnet or an electric motor, which is controlled in particular by the elevator control system of the elevator system and can thus be activated and deactivated.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the safety device is in the safety position, a form-fitting connection is established between the coupling device and the coupling element by means of the safety device, in particular by means of a component of the safety device. The coupling device is thus secured particularly reliably in the coupled position.

The said form-fitting connection exists at the latest when the coupling device is in the coupled position in the direction of the uncoupled position wants to leave.

In an embodiment of the invention, the safety device has a lever which is pivotably mounted on the coupling device and has a locking end. The lever is designed and arranged in such a way that when the safety device is in the safety position, the locking end of the lever dips into a safety recess of the coupling element in such a way that if there is an attempt to leave the coupled position of the coupling device, the locking end rests against a stop of the safety recess of the coupling element and thus preventing the docking device from leaving the docked position. This enables a particularly effective and at the same time cost-effective safety device.

In this case, the named energy store is designed in particular as a spring, which is designed and arranged in such a way that it exerts a restoring force on the lever, by means of which the locking end of the lever can be brought in the direction of the named securing recess of the coupling element. The energy store has, in particular, two springs connected in parallel, for example two coaxially arranged spiral springs, with an inner spiral spring being arranged in an outer spiral spring. So that the energy store can still apply a restoring force if one of the two springs is broken.

In this case, the named actuator is designed in particular as an electromagnet, which is designed and arranged in such a way that in the activated state it exerts an actuating force on the lever, by means of which the locking end of the lever can be brought out of the named securing recess of the coupling element.

In an embodiment of the invention, a braking device is arranged on the elevator car, by means of which the elevator car can be fixed independently of the suspension element within the elevator shaft. This enables a particularly safe operation of the elevator system.

The elevator car is fixed with the braking device, in particular relative to a guide rail permanently installed in the elevator shaft. The guide rail can also be referred to as a vertical guide rail. For this purpose, the braking device can have, for example, one or more brake shoes which, when the braking device is in an activated state, press against the guide rail in such a way that displacement of the elevator car in the elevator shaft is prevented. The braking device is in particular also controlled by the elevator control. In particular, it is always activated when the coupling device of the corresponding elevator car is in the uncoupled position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the control device only allows the braking device to be released if the sensor device detects that the safety device is in the safety position. In particular, the control device also causes the braking device to be activated, ie the elevator car to be fixed in the elevator shaft, as soon as the sensor arrangement detects that the safety device is not in the safety position. This enables a particularly safe operation of the elevator system.

A release of the braking device of the elevator car is only permitted if the named control device outputs a corresponding release signal. This release signal is only output when the sensor arrangement detects that the safety device is in the safety position. If the braking device is released, for example, during a displacement of the elevator car and the release signal is no longer output by the control device, then the braking device is activated immediately and the elevator car is thus fixed in the elevator shaft.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings, in which identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference symbols. The drawings are merely schematic and not true to scale.

Fig. 1

einen ersten Aufzugschacht eines Aufzugssystems mit einer ersten und einer zweiten Aufzugkabine,

Fig. 2

ein Ankoppelelement eines Tragmittels aus Fig. 1 in einer vergrösserten Darstellung,

Fig. 3

eine Sicht von oben auf den ersten Aufzugschacht mit insgesamt acht Antriebmaschinen,

Fig. 4

eine Sicht von unten auf eine Aufzugkabine mit zwei Kopplungseinrichtungen zur Ankopplung an Ankoppelelemente der Tragmittel,

Fig. 5

eine vergrösserte Darstellung eines Ankoppelelements, einer Kopplungseinrichtung in einer abgekoppelten Position und einer Sicherungsvorrichtung in einer Freigabeposition,

Fig. 6

eine zur Fig. 5 analoge Darstellung mit der Kopplungseinrichtung in einer angekoppelten Position und der Sicherungsvorrichtung weiterhin in der Freigabeposition und

Fig. 7

eine zu Fig. 5 und 6 analoge Darstellung mit der Kopplungseinrichtung in der angekoppelten Position und der Sicherungsvorrichtung in einer Sicherungsposition.

show:

1

a first elevator shaft of an elevator system with a first and a second elevator car,

2

a coupling element of a suspension element 1 in an enlarged one Depiction,

3

a view from above of the first elevator shaft with a total of eight drive machines,

4

a view from below of an elevator car with two coupling devices for coupling to coupling elements of the suspension means,

figure 5

an enlarged view of a coupling element, a coupling device in a decoupled position and a safety device in a release position,

6

one to figure 5 analog representation with the coupling device in a coupled position and the safety device still in the release position and

7

one to Figures 5 and 6 analog representation with the coupling device in the coupled position and the safety device in a safety position.

According to 1 an elevator system 10 has a first elevator shaft 12 in which a first elevator car 14 and a second elevator car 16 are arranged. The first elevator car 14 is located at a lower end position 18 which corresponds to a position of the elevator car 14 on a bottom floor of the building 20 having the elevator system 10 . The second elevator car 16 is located at an upper end position 22, which corresponds to a position of the elevator car 16 on a top floor of the building 20. Between the lower end position 18 and the upper end position 22 there are a large number of floors, which are 1 are not shown.

The elevator system 10 has a vertical guide rail 24 running in the vertical direction, on which the elevator cars 14, 16 are guided during displacement in the elevator shaft 12. To move the elevator cars 14, 16 in the elevator shaft 12, the elevator system 10 has a total of eight self-contained suspension means 26, of which in FIG 1 four support means 26 are shown. The support means 26 are designed as belts and are each guided around a lower deflection roller 28 and an upper deflection roller 30 .

The two deflection rollers 28, 30 of a support means 26 are arranged vertically one above the other, so that the support means 26 run vertically between the deflection rollers 28, 30. The deflection rollers 28, 30 have in particular an effective diameter of less than 100 mm. The lower deflection rollers 28 are arranged below the first elevator car 14 and are each connected to a tension weight 32 . The tensioning weight 32 acts as a tensioning device with which, on the one hand, the required suspension element pretension is generated and, on the other hand, deviations in the original length of the self-contained suspension element 26 as well as operational plastic length changes of the suspension element 26 are compensated.

The upper deflection rollers 30 are arranged above the second elevator car 16 and each serve as a traction sheave for a drive machine 34 designed as an electric motor. A drive machine 34 is assigned to each suspension element 26, by means of which the suspension element 26 can be driven and displaced. The drive machines 34 are controlled by a control device in the form of an elevator control 36 which controls all actuators of the elevator system 10 .

Each suspension element 26 consists of two suspension element parts 38, 40, the free ends 42 of which are connected by two, in 2 Coupling elements 44 shown enlarged are connected. The coupling element 44 consists of two suspension element end connections 46 aligned in opposite directions, which are connected to a connection element 50 having a recess 48 . The Tragmittelendverbindungen 46 can, for example, according to in the EP 1634842 A2 described suspension element end connections. An extendable bolt 60 (see Figures 4 - 7 ) of a coupling device 58 arranged on an elevator car 14, 16 (see Figures 4 - 7 ) immerse, whereby the coupling device 58 is coupled to the coupling element 44. The coupling device 58 is then in a coupled position (see also 6 and 7 ). The bolt 60 can be in the coupled position of the coupling device 58 by a in the 1 non-illustrated securing device (80 in Figures 5 - 7 ) to be secured. The coupling device 58 can be uncoupled from the coupling element 44 by pulling the bolt 60 out of the recess 48 . The coupling device 58 is then in an uncoupled position (see also figure 5 ). The couplers 58 are on a floor 51 of the elevator cars 14, 16 and are associated with the 4 described in more detail. A coupling element 44 to which a coupling device 58 has coupled has a filled-in square in the figures. In the 1 is thus the second elevator car 16 via a coupling element 44 with the in the 1 connected to the far left suspension means 26.

It is also possible for the coupling devices to be arranged on the roof of an elevator car. The positions of the coupling elements on the support means must then be adjusted accordingly.

As soon as an elevator car 14, 16 is coupled to a coupling element 44 via a coupling device 58 assigned to it, a drive connection between the elevator car 14, 16 and the suspension element 26 is established. In this coupled state, the elevator car 14, 16 is carried along by the suspension element 26 and is thus displaced in the elevator shaft 12 when the suspension element 26 is driven or displaced by the drive machine 34 assigned to it. in 1 The state shown can thus be shifted 16 in the elevator shaft 12, the second elevator car. Since the first elevator car is 14 in 1 is coupled to no support means 26 is in the state of 1 a displacement of the first elevator car 14 in the elevator shaft 12 is not possible.

The elevator cars 14, 16 each have a braking device 74, by means of which they can be fixed to the vertical guide rail 24 and thus within the elevator shaft 12.

In 3 a view from above of the first elevator shaft 12 with a total of eight drive machines 34 is shown. The drive machines 34 are each drive-connected to a traction sheave in the form of a deflection pulley 30 over which a suspension element 26 runs. For reasons of clarity, in the 3 the reference numbers shown only once. In each case four drive machines 34 are arranged on opposite sides of the elevator car 16 , with two drive machines 34 being arranged on different sides of the vertical guide rail 24 on each of the opposite sides of the elevator car 16 . Drive axles 52 of the drive machines 34 run parallel to one another, with a drive machine 34 on one side of the elevator car 16 being coaxial with a drive machine 34 on the other side of the Elevator car 16 is arranged. A car door, not shown, of the elevator car 16 is located on one or both free sides 54 of the elevator car 16, on which no drive machines 34 are arranged.

The elevator control 36 (see 1 ) always actuates two drive machines 34 on opposite sides in the same way or synchronously, so that the support means 26 assigned to them also move or are displaced synchronously. Two drive machines 34 are always controlled in the same way, which are arranged diagonally with respect to a center of gravity 56 of the elevator car, for example in 3 the upper, far left drive machine 34 and the lower, far right drive machine 34. With the eight drive machines 34, a total of four elevator cars 14, 16 can be displaced in the first elevator shaft 12 simultaneously and independently of one another.

In 4 a view from below of the elevator car 16 with two coupling devices 58 for coupling to coupling elements 44 of the suspension means 26 is shown. The coupling devices 58 are each opposite the in the 4 Not shown drive machines 34 and thus arranged opposite the coupling elements 44 of the support means 26. Each coupling device 58 has a bolt 60 which can be extended and retracted in an actuation direction 62 which is oriented in the direction of the coupling elements 44 . For extending and retracting the bolt 60, the coupling device 58 has an actuating actuator 64, which can be embodied as an electric motor, for example. To position the bolt 60 relative to the coupling elements 44, the bolt 60 together with the actuating actuator 64 can be displaced horizontally and perpendicularly to the actuating direction 62 along a rail 66 by means of a positioning actuator 68, which is also designed as an electric motor, for example.

In order to couple a coupling device 58 and thus the elevator car 16 to a coupling element 44 and thus to a suspension element 26 , the bolt 60 is first correctly positioned with respect to the corresponding coupling element 44 . Then the bolt 60 is extended, whereby the bolt 60 dips into the recess 48 of the coupling element 44 . A form-fitting connection is thus produced between the coupling device 58 and the coupling element 44 and thus between the elevator car 16 and the suspension element 26 . If this form-fitting Connection is made, the elevator car 16 can be relocated in the elevator shaft 12.

As already in connection with 3 described, the elevator car 16 is always coupled to two support means 26 which are arranged diagonally with respect to the center of gravity 56 of the elevator car. This takes place in that the elevator car 16 is always coupled to coupling elements 44 which are arranged diagonally with respect to the center of gravity 56 of the elevator car 16 .

It is also possible that the bolts of the coupling devices cannot be moved. In this case, the coupling devices have separate bolts for each coupling element, or a coupling device is assigned to precisely one coupling element and thus precisely to one suspension element.

The drive machines and thus the suspension means can also be arranged on a side of the elevator car opposite the car door and thus the shaft door. In this case, an elevator car has, in particular, only one coupling device, so that an elevator car is coupled to only one suspension element for displacement in the elevator shaft.

In addition to a first elevator shaft 12 , the elevator system 10 has a second elevator shaft (not shown) that is arranged parallel to the first elevator shaft 12 . The second elevator shaft is designed analogously to the first elevator shaft 12 . The relocation of the elevator cars 14, 16 in the second elevator shaft is implemented analogously to the relocation in the first elevator shaft 12. In the first elevator shaft 12, the elevator cars 14, 16 are only shifted upwards and in the second elevator shaft only downwards.

In order to be able to implement a circulating operation of the elevator cars in the two elevator shafts, the elevator system 10 has two transfer devices, not shown, by means of which the elevator cars 14, 16 can be moved from the first to the second or from the second to the first elevator shaft. The transfer facilities can in particular according to the transfer facilities in the form of horizontal displacement units EP2219985 B 1 be executed.

With the Figures 5 - 7 the safety device 80 and its mode of operation will be described in more detail. The coupling device 58 has a carrier 82 which is firmly fixed to an elevator car, not shown. It has the bolt 60 with a cuboid basic shape, which can be displaced in the horizontal direction relative to the carrier 82 by the actuating actuator 64 and can therefore be moved in and out relative to the coupling element 44 . For this purpose, the actuating actuator 64 is activated by the elevator control 36 . The coupling device 58 is positioned relative to the coupling element 44 in such a way that the bolt 60 can enter the recess 48 of the coupling element 44 when it is extended in the direction of the coupling element 44 . The recess 48 has a funnel-shaped section in the direction of the coupling device 58, which guides the bolt 60 when it enters the recess 48.

The safety device 80 has components which are arranged both on the coupling device 58 and on the coupling element 44 . A lever 84 is pivotably mounted on the bolt 60 of the coupling device 58 . Its pivot axis 86 runs horizontally and perpendicularly to the direction of actuation 62. A hook-shaped locking end 88 of the lever 84 oriented in the direction of the coupling element 44 can thus be pivoted up and down. To pivot the lever 84, it is connected to an extension 90 with an actuating rod 92. The extension 90 is opposite and below the locking end 88 with respect to the pivot axis 86. The locking end 88 is thus pivoted upwards when the extension 90 and the actuating rod 92 move in the direction of the coupling element 44 and downwards when the extension 90 and the Move actuating rod 92 away from coupling element 44 . The actuating rod 92 can be pulled away from the coupling element 44 by an actuator in the form of an electromagnet 94 . The force applied by the electromagnet 94 can be referred to as the actuation force. The electromagnet 94 is arranged on an end of the bolt 60 opposite the coupling element 44 and is also controlled by the elevator control 36 . A force from an energy store in the form of a helical spring 96 arranged around the actuating rod 92 acts on the actuating rod 92 in the direction of the coupling element 44. This force can be referred to as the restoring force. The coil spring 96 is designed in such a way that the force it exerts is smaller than the force that can be exerted by the electromagnet 94 . With it the electromagnet 94 can be controlled in such a way that it pulls the actuating rod 92 away from the coupling element 44 against the force of the coil spring 96 and thus moves the lever 84 into the Figures 5 and 6 shown position brings and holds. This position is referred to as the release position of the lever 84 and thus of the safety device 80. If the electromagnet 94 is not active and thus does not exert any force on the actuating rod 92, the actuating rod 92 is pressed by the coil spring 96 in the direction of the coupling element 44 and thus the lever 84 in the in FIG 7 Position shown and held. This position is referred to as the securing position of the lever 84 and thus of the securing device 80.

Instead of a helical spring, the energy store can also have two springs connected in parallel, for example two coaxially arranged spiral springs, with an inner spiral spring being arranged in an outer spiral spring.

The coupling element 44 has a securing recess 98 at the top of the funnel-shaped area of the recess 48 . The locking recess 98 is shaped to receive the locking end 88 of the lever 84 . A Hall sensor 100 is arranged in the area of the securing recess 98 in such a way that it detects a permanent magnet 102 arranged at the securing end 88 of the lever 84 when the locking end 88 dips completely into the securing recess 98 . Hall sensor 100 is in communication with elevator controller 36 . The Hall sensor 100 and the permanent magnet 102 together form a sensor arrangement 101.

In the following, the coupling of the coupling device 58 to the coupling element 44 with the illustrations in FIGS Figures 5 - 7 described in more detail. In the figure 5 the elevator car is fixed in the elevator shaft by means of the braking device. The bolt 60 is in a retracted position so that it is horizontally spaced from the coupling element 44 . The coupling device 58 is thus in the uncoupled position. The electromagnet 94 is activated or energized so that it holds the actuating rod 92 in a position that is pulled away from the coupling element 44 and the lever 84 is thus in the release position. This means that the safety device 80 is also in the release position.

In order to couple the coupling device 58 to the coupling element 44 , the bolt 60 is pushed into the recess 48 of the coupling element 44 by the actuating actuator 64 . This coupled position of the coupling device 58 is in 6 shown. The electromagnet 94 is in the 6 still energized, so that the safety device 80 as in FIG figure 5 is still in the release position. The Hall sensor 100 detects in the 6 thus not the permanent magnet 102 at the locking end 88 of the lever 84.

The docking device 58 could also be placed in the docked position when the securing device is in the securing position. In this case, the locking end 88 would be pressed down in the funnel-shaped area of the recess 48 of the coupling element 44 . It has a corresponding bevel for this purpose.

In order to secure the coupling device 58 in the coupled position against leaving this position, the electromagnet 94 is deactivated and is therefore no longer energized. Thus, as described above, the lever 84 is pivoted by the coil spring 96 into its secured position and held there. This also brings the safety device 80 into the safety position and holds it there. This state is in 7 shown. The securing end 88 thus dips completely into the securing recess 98, with which the securing device 80 is in the securing position. Should the bolt 60 now want to move away from the coupling element 44, i.e. the coupling device 58 want to leave the coupled position, then the locking end 88 of the lever 84 rests against a stop 104 of the securing recess 98, which prevents a further movement of the bolt 60 away from the coupling element 44 makes it impossible. There is thus a positive connection between the coupling device 58 and the coupling element 44 in the safety position of the safety device 80. This prevents the coupling device 58 from leaving the coupled position and the coupling device 58 is secured against leaving the coupled position.

in the in 7 shown position of the locking end 88 of the lever 84, the Hall sensor 100 detects the permanent magnet 102 at the locking end 88 of the lever 84 and forwards this information to the elevator controller 36 on. By means of the sensor arrangement 101 it is thus recognized that the safety device 80 is in the safety position. Only when the elevator controller 36 has received this information does it allow the braking device of the elevator car to be released and the elevator car to be displaced. The brake of the elevator car can therefore only be released and the elevator car can only be relocated if the safety device 80 in 7 shown backup position occupies. If the elevator control 36 recognizes that the safety device 80 is not in the safety position while the elevator car is being moved or when the elevator car is at a standstill, it immediately activates the braking device of the elevator car.

In order to move the coupling device 58 from the coupled position to the uncoupled position, the braking device is first activated and then the safety device is brought into the release position by activating the electromagnet 94 (corresponding to 6 ). Then the bolt 60 of the coupling device 58 can be pulled out of the recess 48 of the coupling element 44 and the coupling device 58 can thus be brought into the uncoupled position.

Claims (10)

1. Elevator system comprising

   - an elevator car (14, 16) which can be moved in an elevator shaft (12),

   - a suspension means (26) extending in the elevator shaft (12),

   - a drive machine (34) associated with the suspension means (26),

   - a controllable coupling apparatus (58) arranged on the elevator car (14, 16),

   - a securing device (80),

   - it being possible for the coupling apparatus (58) to assume a coupled position and an uncoupled position,

   - the suspension means (26) having a coupling element (44) to which the coupling apparatus (58) can be coupled by assuming the coupled position and from which said apparatus can be uncoupled by assuming the uncoupled position, as a result of which a drive connection between the elevator car (14, 16) and the suspension means (26) can be established and released, and the coupled elevator car (14, 16) can be moved in the elevator shaft (12) by means of the suspension means (26), which can be driven by the drive machine (34), and

   - it being possible for the securing device (80) to assume a securing position and a release position and, in the securing position, said securing device securing the coupling apparatus (58) in the coupled position against leaving the coupled position,

   characterized in that
   the securing device (80) has a sensor assembly (101) by means of which it is possible to detect whether the securing device (80) is located in the securing position, and the elevator system (10) has a control apparatus (36) which is in communication with said sensor assembly (101) and allows the elevator car (14, 16) to be moved only if the sensor assembly (101) detects that the securing device (80) is located in the securing position.
2. Elevator system according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the securing device (80) has an energy store (96) which is designed and arranged such that the securing device (80) can be brought into the securing position by means of the energy store (96).
3. Elevator system according to either claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the securing device (80) has an actuator (94) which is designed and arranged such that the securing device (80) can be brought into the release position by means of the actuator (94) in an activated state.
4. Elevator system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
   characterized in that
   in the securing position of the securing device (80), an interlocking connection is established between the coupling apparatus (58) and the coupling element (44) by means of the securing device (80).
5. Elevator system according to claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the securing device (80) has a lever (84) which is pivotably mounted on the coupling apparatus (58) and has a locking end (88) that is designed and arranged such that, in the securing position of the securing device (80), the locking end (88) of the lever (84) enters a securing recess (98) in the coupling element (44) in such a way that if the coupling device (58) attempts to leave the coupled position, the locking end (88) rests on a stop (104) of the securing recess (98) in the coupling element (44), thus preventing the coupling device (58) leaving the coupled position.
6. Elevator system according to claims 2 and 5,
   characterized in that
   the energy store (96) is in the form of a spring (96) which is designed and arranged such that it exerts a restoring force on the lever (84), by means of which force the locking end (88) of the lever (84) can be brought toward said securing recess (98) in the coupling element (44).
7. Elevator system according to claims 3 and 6,
   characterized in that
   the actuator (94) is in the form of an electromagnet (94) which is designed and arranged such that, in the activated state, it exerts an actuating force on the lever (84), by means of which force the locking end (88) of the lever (84) can be brought out of said securing recess (98) in the coupling element (44).
8. Elevator system according to any of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that
   a braking apparatus (74) is arranged on the elevator car (14, 16), by means of which apparatus the elevator car (14, 16) can be fixed within the elevator shaft (12) independently of the suspension means (26).
9. Elevator system according to claims 1 and 8,
   characterized in that
   the control apparatus (36) allows the braking apparatus (74) to be released only if the sensor assembly (101) detects that the securing device (80) is located in the securing position.
10. Elevator system according to claim 9,
    characterized in that
    the control apparatus (36) causes the braking apparatus (74) to be activated as soon as the sensor assembly (101) detects that the securing device (80) is not located in the securing position.

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