EP4271640A1

EP4271640A1 - Suspension device and use thereof in an elevator system, and method

Info

Publication number: EP4271640A1
Application number: EP21845046.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Romeo LO JACONO; Gilles Trottmann; Valerio Villa; Eric Wang
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2020-12-31
Filing date: 2021-12-24
Publication date: 2023-11-08
Also published as: CN116648419A; WO2022144322A1; US20240059523A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a suspension device (15) for securing a brake (17) and at least one support means (6) and for measuring a load. The suspension device (15) has at least one brake (17) for braking the elevator cab (3) relative to a stationary component (13) of the elevator system (1); a brake holding assembly (19) for holding the brake (17) on the elevator cab (3); and a support means holding assembly (23) for holding the support means (6) on the elevator cab (3). The support means (6) is designed to connect the elevator cab (3) to a counterweight (8) of the elevator system (1). The brake (17) and the brake holding assembly (19) are configured such that the brake (17) is to be held against the elevator cab (3) by means of the brake holding assembly (19) such that the brake (17) can be moved relative to the elevator cab (3) substantially in a force direction (38) produced by the brake (17), and the support means (6) and the support means holding assembly (23) are configured such that the support means (6) is to be held against the elevator cab (3) by means of the support means holding assembly (23) such that the support means (6) can be moved relative to the elevator cab (3) substantially in a force direction (39) produced by the support means (6). A load measuring device (21) is arranged such that an exerted force (38, 39), which is produced by the relative movement of the support means (6) and/or the brake (17), can be measured.

Description

Suspension device and its use in an elevator installation and method

The present invention relates to a suspension device for attaching a brake and at least one suspension element and for measuring a load. The invention also relates to an elevator system equipped with such a suspension device. The invention also relates to a method for measuring a load acting on an elevator car and a method for adjusting a force to be exerted by a drive device on an elevator car in response to a load change in the elevator car and a method for detecting a slack suspension element by measuring a load change using the suspension device described herein.

In an elevator installation, an elevator car is typically moved between different floors within a vertical elevator shaft. A movement of the elevator car is effected with a drive device which, for example, acts to support the elevator car, such as ropes or belts. The elevator car is usually guided by guide rails when it is moved. In order to bring the elevator car to a stop at a desired floor, the displacement movement is braked by appropriately controlling the drive device.

If people enter or leave the elevator car that is stopped at a floor, a change in load caused thereby can lead to the travel quality, in particular the starting of the elevator car, being impaired and thus the travel comfort of the passengers being reduced. The problem can arise here in particular that a change in the load in the cabin during the stop leads to a sudden change in the position of the cabin when the brake is subsequently released due to the changed cabin load. Approaches have been described to be able to measure the load acting on an elevator car. For example, EP 1 278 694 B1 describes a load handling device for rope elevators with an integrated load measuring device. An alternative load measuring device for an elevator car is described in EP 0 151 949 A2. A brake load measuring system is described in US Pat. No. 6,483,047 B1, in which load measuring cells interact with a brake.

Among other things, there may be a need for a suspension device which advantageously enables braking of an elevator car and is also designed to be able to measure the load change caused in the elevator car and to detect unexpected states of the suspension elements, in particular slack suspension elements. Furthermore, there may be a need for an elevator system equipped with such a suspension device. In addition, there may be a need for an advantageous method of measuring a load acting on an elevator car. Furthermore, there may be a need for an advantageous method for adjusting a force exerted by a drive device on an elevator car in response to a load change in the elevator car. Finally, there may be a need for an advantageous method for detecting a slack suspension element by measuring a load change.

This need is met by a suspension device, an elevator system, a method for measuring a load acting on an elevator car, a method for adjusting a force to be exerted by a drive device on an elevator car, and by a method for detecting a slack suspension element according to the independent claims.

According to the invention, a suspension device is made available which allows both at least one brake and at least one suspension element to be attached to the elevator car. In this way, the at least one brake and the at least one suspension element can be attached to the cabin in a simple manner and with reduced assembly effort compared to two independent suspension devices. According to the invention, the suspension device has at least one brake for braking the elevator car relative to a stationary component of the elevator installation for fastening a brake and at least one suspension element and for measuring a load. Furthermore, the suspension device has a brake holding arrangement for holding the at least one brake on the elevator car. The suspension device also has a suspension element holding arrangement for holding the suspension element on the elevator car. The suspension element is designed to connect the elevator car to a counterweight of the elevator system. The brake holding arrangement is configured in such a way that the brake can be held on the elevator car by means of the brake holding arrangement in such a way that the brake holding arrangement can be deformed relative to the elevator car essentially in a direction of force caused by the brake. The suspension element holding arrangement is configured in such a way that the suspension element is to be held on the elevator car by means of the suspension element holding arrangement in such a way that the suspension element holding arrangement can be deformed relative to the elevator car essentially in a force effect caused by the suspension element.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device, the suspension device also has a load measuring device. The load-measuring device is arranged in such a way that the load-measuring device can be used to measure a force effect which is caused by the deformation of the suspension element and/or the brake.

In summary, a basic concept of the suspension device proposed here can be seen as enabling four functionalities with a single device, namely fastening brakes of the elevator car, fastening the suspension means to the elevator car, measuring a load change acting in the elevator car and determining a slack suspension means. For this purpose, the suspension device is essentially constructed in two parts. A first part includes the brake and the brake holding arrangement. The brake is designed to forces between the elevator car and a to produce stationary components of the elevator system, such as a guide rail. These forces counteract a movement of the elevator car or its weight, in order to decelerate the movement of the elevator car provided with the brake and/or to keep it stationary on the stationary component. The brake mounting assembly is designed to attach the brake to the elevator car.

A second part of the suspension device comprises the support means holding arrangement. The support means holding arrangement is designed to attach the support means to the elevator car.

The two parts of the suspension device are designed in such a way that they enable deformation in the direction of force caused by the respective element (brake, suspension element). This makes it possible to measure this deformation relative to a fixed point on the cabin. Alternatively, the deformations can be measured relative to each other. In this way, the effects of force caused by the suspension means and/or the brake can be made measurable.

In one embodiment, the suspension device is designed in such a way that the load measuring device is arranged in such a way that it can be used to measure a force which arises from the relative displacement of the suspension element and the brake acting forces are measured. This makes it possible to measure the force effects relevant to the control of the elevator system with a single load measuring device. This enables a comparatively simple and inexpensive, multifunctional suspension device to be implemented. A corresponding evaluation of the measurement of the superimposed deformation and information from the controller as to the operating point at which the elevator system should be can be used to draw conclusions about the individual deformations. A force effect of the suspension element can therefore be calculated from the superimposed measurement signal, which contains both the force effect of the suspension element and the force effect of the brake a force effect of the brake can be calculated.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the load measuring device is arranged between the brake holding arrangement and the suspension element holding arrangement.

In this way, a suspension device can be made available in a simple manner, which makes it possible to measure both the force effect of the suspension element and the force effect of the brake with a load measuring device.

Both the brake holding arrangement and the suspension means holding arrangement are designed in such a way that they are not specifically fixed in an absolutely stationary manner on the elevator car, but can be displaced at least slightly relative to the elevator car, in particular in one direction of the forces caused, i.e typically a direction in which the elevator car moves during its journey or the opposite direction thereto.

The load measuring device is thus effectively connected to the brake or the suspension means via the brake holding arrangement or the suspension element holding arrangement. The movement of one of these elements relative to the elevator car can thus be measured by the load measuring device. In particular, the sum of the relative movement of these elements to one another can be measured. Accordingly, forces that act on the elevator car, in particular in the direction of movement, that is to say typically in the vertical direction, can be measured by the load measuring device. In particular, load changes and changes in the tension of the suspension means can be determined using the load measuring device.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the support means holding arrangement and the brake holding arrangement are each arranged in an elastically deformable manner on a web arrangement which is fixedly attached to the elevator car. In this embodiment, the suspension element holding arrangement and the brake holding arrangement are not only effectively connected to one another via the load measuring device connecting them, but are additionally connected to a web arrangement. The web arrangement is fixed in place on the elevator car. This web arrangement should be configured in such a way that a predominant proportion of the forces acting between the brake holding arrangement and the suspension element holding arrangement do not act on the load measuring device but on the web arrangement. In particular, the bar arrangement should be configured in such a way that, for example, in the event of a failure of the load measuring device, all of the forces acting between the brake holding arrangement and the elevator car and between the suspension element holding arrangement and the elevator car can be transmitted solely via the bar arrangement without the bar arrangement breaking.

Thus, with the help of the load measuring device, the forces acting on the elevator car can be measured very precisely and reproducibly, despite a mechanically relatively weak design of the same.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the brake holding arrangement and the suspension element holding arrangement are arranged, dimensioned and configured in such a way that these forces almost exclusively transmitted to the brake holding arrangement and suspension element holding arrangement in normal operation deform essentially exclusively elastically .

In other words, the brake holding arrangement and the suspension element holding arrangement can be arranged, dimensioned and configured in such a way that they only experience elastic deformation under forces that typically occur during normal operation of the elevator system, for example when the elevator car is to be held on a floor. To this end, several different influencing variables can be suitably selected. For example, the spatial arrangement of the suspension element holding arrangement and/or the brake holding arrangement, i.e. in particular their position, orientation and/or direction of extent, can affect their mechanical load-bearing capacity and/or their elastic deformability. In addition, the dimensions of the corresponding holding arrangements, that is to say in particular their cross section, width, length, height, etc., can affect the load-bearing capacity and/or elastic deformability of the holding arrangements. Furthermore, other configuration parameters, such as a material used, processing carried out during production, etc., can influence the load-bearing capacity and/or elastic deformability of the holding arrangements. All of these parameters can be suitably selected, so that the holding arrangements are configured, for example depending on properties of the elevator car (e.g. its weight and payload) and/or depending on requirements for the entire elevator system (e.g. safety requirements relating to braking operations), on normal operation to react to the forces acting on them in the elevator system only with an elastic deformation, but without plastic deformation.

Due to the fact that the suspension element holding arrangement and the brake holding arrangement only deform elastically relative to the web arrangement in normal operation, the proportionate forces transmitted to the load measuring device can always be essentially proportional to the total forces acting between the brake holding arrangement and suspension element holding arrangement and the elevator car be powers.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the brake holding arrangement and the suspension element holding arrangement are arranged, dimensioned and configured in such a way that they deform when forces are transmitted to the brake holding arrangement and suspension element holding arrangement in normal operation in such a way that that they move towards and/or away from each other by less than 2 mm, particularly preferably by less than 1 mm. In other words, the suspension element holding arrangement and the brake holding arrangement should be able to move slightly relative to the elevator car during a braking process or an acceleration process. However, the extent of this relative movement should be limited by the specifically selected configuration of the corresponding holding arrangement to such an extent that no relative movement of more than 1 mm, for example, occurs in the normal case. This results in a relative movement of less than 2 mm for the movement of the two holding arrangements relative to one another. For many applications, it can even be advantageous if the holding arrangements normally only allow relative movements in relation to the cabin of less than 0.5 mm. This means that a maximum movement of 1 mm occurs for the relative movement of the holding arrangements to one another.

In one embodiment, the web arrangement is arranged essentially parallel to the force effect of the suspension means or the brakes. In this embodiment, at least some of the holding arrangements are preferably arranged essentially perpendicular to the direction in which the force acts on the suspension means or the brakes, ie the part of the holding arrangements is arranged essentially perpendicular to the web arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the brake holding arrangement, the suspension element holding arrangement and the web arrangement are formed in one piece by a common component.

For example, the brake holding arrangement, the suspension element holding arrangement and the web arrangement can be designed in one piece with a common stamped sheet metal part.

In other words, a single component can form both the brake holding arrangement, the suspension element holding arrangement and the web arrangement. The entire component can be easy to produce and can be adapted to the forces to be absorbed and transmitted, for example by a suitable choice of a sheet metal used, in particular with regard to a thickness of the sheet metal and a material of the sheet metal.

The one-piece design of all areas of such a component makes it possible, for example, to avoid increased wear at weak points that would otherwise occur in a multi-part component at transitions between the individual components. The one-piece component can thus also withstand repeated mechanical loads over the long term.

Possibilities can be created in the one-piece component for arranging it firmly on the elevator car. In particular, for example, holes can be provided on the web arrangement, with which the component can be attached to the elevator car with screws. In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the load measuring device comprises a force transmission element. The load measuring device is fixed to the brake support assembly. The power transmission element is connected to the suspension element holding arrangement. The force transmission element acts on a strain gauge of the load measuring device.

Using a strain gauge for this task enables a very robust design of the load measuring device. Furthermore, the strain gauge makes it possible to measure the acting forces very precisely and reproducibly.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the load measuring device is configured to generate an electrical signal which reflects the force acting on the force transmission element. For example, the load measuring device can have a sensor system that can monitor physical parameters that enable conclusions to be drawn about the forces acting on the force transmission element. Depending on the monitored physical parameters, the sensors can generate electrical signals. Such electrical signals can be forwarded in a simple manner and, for example, transferred to a controller of the elevator system or an external monitoring device. For example, the electrical signal can be processed in such a way that the different force effects, ie the force effect of the suspension element and the force effect of the brake, are separated from one another and assigned to the respective force effects. Based on the signals, conclusions can then be drawn about the forces acting on the elevator car. For example, the controller of the elevator installation can be informed as a result of which payload is currently located in the elevator car. Furthermore, in particular, the elevator control can also be informed if the force changes in such a way that it can be concluded that the suspension element is slack.

In a preferred embodiment of the suspension device described above and below, the brake is configured as a holding brake to hold the elevator car stationary against its weight during a stop. The brake is preferably additionally configured as a safety brake to brake the elevator car in an emergency, in particular in the event of a free fall. The suspension device can have two brakes, in particular in the brake holding arrangement. In other words, the brake should at least be designed in such a way that it can be used to keep the elevator car stationary on the stationary component of the elevator system that interacts with the brake, i.e. on a guide rail for example, while the elevator car is stopped at a floor, for example. As such a holding brake, the brake can avoid the elevator car from moving due to load changes.

It can also be advantageous to design the brake to be even more resilient, so that it can also act as a safety brake. In this case, the brake should be configured to be able to bring about very high forces between the elevator car and the stationary component in order to be able to brake the elevator car to a standstill over a short distance, for example even if all the suspension elements holding it should tear. In order to be able to reliably transmit the very high forces that occur briefly during such a safety brake application from the brake to the elevator car, the suspension device must be designed accordingly. In particular, the suspension device must be configured sufficiently stable so as not to break at the high forces, whereby plastic deformations can be permissible.

In a preferred embodiment, the brake support assembly has space for two brakes, so that the hanger can be equipped with two brakes. The second brake makes it possible to quickly provide the high forces required for catching.

Using a suspension device according to an embodiment as described above, in an elevator system according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, an elevator car on which the suspension device is held can reliably interact with its brake, for example with the guide rail, in order to brake the elevator car be able.

In a preferred embodiment, the elevator installation, as described above and below, has an elevator car, a guide rail and a suspension device, as described above and below. The elevator car can be displaced along the guide rails. The suspension device is held on the elevator car. The brake is configured to cooperate with the guide rail to brake the elevator car.

In a preferred embodiment of the elevator system, as described above and below, the suspension device is in a lower half arranged in the elevator car.

It has proven to be advantageous with regard to the forces that act on the elevator car, in particular the forces that are guided to the elevator car via the suspension means, to arrange the suspension device in the lower half of the elevator car.

In addition, the suspension device can be used within the scope of a method according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the invention in order to be able to measure the current load acting on the elevator car. In particular, temporary load changes can be measured.

In a preferred embodiment of the method for measuring a load acting on an elevator car, the method has:

activating at least one of the brakes of a suspension device supported on the elevator car as described above and below while the elevator car is stationary;

Measuring the load acting on the elevator car using the load measuring device of the suspension device.

For example, the brake of the suspension device can be activated for this purpose while the elevator car is approaching a standstill on a floor. The brake can, for example, only be activated after the elevator car has been stopped at the floor by suitable activation of the drive device. Alternatively, the brake can be used to actively brake a movement of the elevator car to a standstill, in which case the brake can then remain activated during the standstill.

The activated brake can prevent the elevator car from moving during a stop at a floor, for example when passengers are getting on or off. However, the loading or disembarking of the passengers causes a change in the load in the elevator car. When using the suspension device described herein, its load measuring device can be used to determine such load changes. This can be used, among other things, to be able to detect an overloading of the elevator car and thus an overload.

Alternatively or additionally, according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention, a load change in the car can be measured using the method described and the information obtained can be used to adjust the force exerted by the drive device on the elevator car in such a way that the measured load change is compensated becomes.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method for adjusting a force to be exerted by a drive device on an elevator car in response to a load change in the elevator car, as described above and below, the method having:

measuring the load change using a method according to the third aspect of the invention as described above and below; Adjusting the force exerted by the drive device on the elevator car in such a way that the measured load change is compensated.

In other words, the load measuring device can first be used to measure how much the elevator car has become heavier or lighter as a result of passengers getting in or out. Without appropriate countermeasures, the change in load would cause the elevator car to suddenly drop down or slide up when the holding brake is then released, since the elastic suspension means holding the elevator car lengthen or shorten as a result of the load change. The load change in the elevator car can be measured with the method, so that the drive device can be controlled accordingly in order to be able to suitably adapt the force acting on the suspension means even before the holding brake is released. This prevents the elevator car from lowering or sliding up after the holding brake has been released. The process described is also below known by the English term "pretorquing".

In a preferred embodiment of the method, before the load change occurs, a force measured by the load measuring device is measured as a reference force. The force exerted on the elevator car is adjusted after the activation of the brake and after the load change in the elevator car has taken place in such a way that a force corresponding to the reference force is measured by the load measuring device.

It does not necessarily require an absolute measurement of the forces caused by the load change. A control signal can be determined which is used to adjust the torque, which is instead only adjusted by successively increasing the torque or changing the torque. At the same time, it can be monitored how the current force measured by the load measuring device is changing. If this corresponds to the initially determined reference value, this means that the torque produced by the drive device is suitably set.

According to an embodiment of the fifth aspect of the invention, a slack suspension element can be detected, the method having:

measuring the load change using the method according to the second aspect of the invention as described above and below;

Detection of a load change that is greater than a specified limit.

If a suspension element is slack, the suspension device is no longer pretensioned in the direction of the suspension element. The load measured by the suspension device therefore changes abruptly and very strongly. In the event of a load change that exceeds a certain limit value or occurs at a certain point in time during the operation of the elevator system, it can be concluded that this load change is caused by a change in the suspension element tension, in the extreme case by a complete relaxation of the suspension element and not by a Boarding or disembarking of passengers is conditional. It is also possible to change over time to detect slow slackening in the support means.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the load change is measured after stopping at a floor and substantially immediately before departure. In the event of a load change that exceeds a predetermined limit value, the at least one brake is operated in a catch mode.

It can thus be ensured that the elevator system is transferred to a safe operating mode even if the rope is slack before the next floor is approached. After the slack suspension element has been detected, the elevator system is immediately switched to catch mode by activating the brake.

Furthermore, the device and the methods as described above and below can be used to ensure that there is no longer a maintenance technician in the cabin. For example, before switching from normal operation to maintenance operation, the cabin weight can be measured and this value can then be compared with a value measured after the maintenance work before switching back to normal operation. If there is a deviation, switching back to normal operation can be prevented. This is particularly advantageous in elevator systems that have no headroom. In contrast to a conventional load measurement in the floor of the cabin, in which a person is only detected if their weight is on the cabin floor, the load measurement on the brake of the cabin, as described above and below, allows such an application.

It is pointed out that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments, on the one hand, of the suspension device itself and, on the other hand, of the elevator system configured therewith and the associated uses of this suspension device in the methods described above and below are. A person skilled in the art recognizes that the features can be combined, adapted or exchanged in a suitable manner in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached figures, whereby neither the figures nor the description are to be interpreted as limiting the invention.

1 shows a roughly schematic view of an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 shows a roughly schematic view of an elevator system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

3 shows a perspective view of a suspension device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 shows a perspective view of a suspension device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

The figures are merely schematic and not true to scale. In the various figures, the same reference symbols denote the same features or features that have the same effect.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show differently configured elevator installations 1 with a suspension device 15 according to two exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In both exemplary embodiments, the elevator installation 1 is designed with a dual drive, that is to say with two drives 7 which are arranged in the shaft head, for example. In both exemplary embodiments, the elevator systems 1 have two counterweights 8 that can be moved in opposite directions to an elevator car 3 . In Fig. 3 a specific embodiment of such a suspension device 15 is shown in detail. In Fig. 4 is another embodiment the suspension device 15 shown.

The elevator system 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an elevator car 3 which can be held by belt-like or cable-like suspension means 6 and moved in an elevator shaft 11 . For this purpose, the support means 6 can be moved by a drive device 7, for example in the form of a drive pulley drive. The drive device 7 is mounted in the shaft head of the elevator system; however, the drive device 7 could also be attached in the area of the shaft pit floor of the elevator system. The drive device 7 is controlled by a controller 9, which is located on the cab roof in this embodiment. During its movement, the elevator car 3 is guided on both sides on at least one stationary component, which is designed as a guide rail 13 . In this exemplary embodiment, the elevator system 1 also has two suspension elements 6 below the elevator car 3 . These support means 6 each lead from a lower end of the elevator car 3 via a deflection roller on the bottom of the shaft pit to a lower part of the respective counterweight 8.

In particular, in order to be able to keep the elevator car 3 stationary during a stop at a desired position, such as on a floor, the elevator car 3 can, after it has been moved to the desired position with the drive device 7, using brakes provided on its suspension devices 15 (Not shown; but cf. the following FIGS. 3 and 4) are temporarily fixed to the guide rails 13 . The suspension device 15 can have two brakes (not shown) per suspension device, ie each of the two suspension devices 15 . Each of the brakes 17 is attached to the elevator car 3 with the aid of a brake holding arrangement 19 (not shown). In this exemplary embodiment, the suspension device is arranged in the lower half of the elevator car 3 .

2 shows a further embodiment of an elevator installation 1 according to the invention. As can be seen from this embodiment, the lower suspension means are the embodiment according to FIG. 1 is not absolutely necessary. The suspension device 15 is again shown only schematically and can be configured in detail similar to the suspension device 15 in FIG. The elevator installation 1 includes two drive devices 7, which are arranged in the head of the elevator shaft 11. In this exemplary embodiment, the suspension device 15 is arranged in the upper half of the elevator car 3, as can be seen.

In Fig. 3, the suspension device 15 is shown schematically. The suspension device 15 comprises a carrying means holding arrangement 23, at the end of which the carrying means 6 is fastened. The force 39 introduced from the suspension element 6 into the suspension element holding arrangement 23 acts at this fastening point. The suspension element holding arrangement 23 is connected to a web arrangement 22 . The web arrangement 22 runs essentially vertically and is fixed to the elevator car 3 . In this exemplary embodiment, the holding device 15 also has a web holding arrangement 36 . The web arrangement 22 is additionally fixed therein to the elevator car 3 . The brake holding arrangement 19 is formed on the lower end of the web arrangement 22, wherein this arrangement, like the web arrangement 22, runs essentially vertically. Two recesses are provided in the brake holding arrangement 19, in each of which a brake 17 is arranged. In this exemplary embodiment, the suspension device 15 shown thus comprises two brakes 17. The brakes 17 interact with the guide rail 13 and thus make it possible, if necessary, to fix the cabin 3 at least temporarily in a stationary manner in relation to the guide rail 13 via the suspension device 15. In such a fixed state, a force acts between the brakes 17 and the brake holding arrangement 19 in one of the directions of the arrow 38. The suspension device 15 further comprises a load measuring device 21, which is arranged between the suspension element holding arrangement 23 and the brake holding arrangement 19 . The load measuring device 21 comprises a strain gauge 27 and a force transmission element 25. The direction of the force 39 essentially corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car 3 and is therefore essentially vertical.

The web arrangement 22 of the suspension device 15 has a plurality of round holes 33. Fixing elements (e.g. screws) are accommodated in the round holes 33, via which the web arrangement 22 and thus the suspension device 15 are fastened to the elevator car 3 or its frame essentially without play. By appropriately designing the suspension element holding arrangement 23 or the brake holding arrangement 19, these elements can deform slightly along the force effect 39 relative to the web arrangement 22, in particular bend if, by activating the brake or by tensioning the suspension element, a force occurs in the force effect 38, 39 is effected.

Such a relative displacement causes, among other things, a deformation of the suspension element holding arrangement 23 or the brake holding arrangement 19. The suspension element holding arrangement 23 and the brake holding arrangement 19 are arranged, dimensioned and configured in such a way that this deformation usually takes place elastically, at least for as long only forces that arise during normal operation of the elevator installation 1 are caused by the brake 17 or the suspension element 6 .

The relative displacements caused between the brake holding arrangement 19 and the web arrangement 22 or between the suspension element holding arrangement 23 and the web arrangement 22 can be used in order to be able to use the load measuring device 21 to measure the loads or load changes currently acting on the elevator car 3.

For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the load measuring device 21 is firmly connected to the brake holding arrangement 19, for example screwed. On the other hand, the force transmission element 25 is coupled to a part of the suspension element holding arrangement 23, for example. Using an example in the The electronics (not shown) arranged in the load measuring device 21 can be used, for example, to measure mechanical stresses that occur between the force transmission element 25 and the fixed element of the load measuring device 21 and the strain gauge 27 contained therein due to the forces caused by the relative displacement. The electronics can then generate an electrical signal which can serve as a measure of the force experienced by the load measuring device 21 . The suspension device 15 can thus be used not only with its brakes 17 to brake the elevator car 3, but also with its load measuring device 21 to measure a load acting on the elevator car 3, as well as changing tensions in the suspension element 6 to detect.

FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a suspension device 15 according to the invention, the suspension device here being made in several parts. In this exemplary embodiment, the load measuring device 21 is arranged in a U-shaped suspension element holding arrangement 23, on which the suspension element 6 is arranged. The suspension element holding arrangement 23 is connected to the suspension element holding arrangement 19 which is arranged on the elevator car 3 (not shown).

Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising," "comprising," etc. do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limitations.

Claims

patent claims

1. Suspension device (15) for an elevator system (1) for fastening a brake (17) and at least one suspension element (6), and for measuring a load, the suspension device (15) having: at least one brake (17) for braking the Elevator car (3) relative to a guide rail (13) of the elevator system (1); a brake holding arrangement (19) for holding the brake (17) on the elevator car (3); a suspension means holding arrangement (23) for holding the suspension means (6) on the elevator car (3), the suspension means (6) being designed to connect the elevator car (3) to a counterweight (8) of the elevator installation (1); wherein the brake holding arrangement (19) is configured such that the brake (17) is to be held on the elevator car (3) by means of the brake holding arrangement (19) such that the brake holding arrangement (17) is substantially in a the direction of force (38) caused by the brake (17) can be deformed relative to the elevator car (3); wherein the suspension means holding arrangement (23) is configured such that the suspension means (6) is to be held on the elevator car (3) by means of the suspension means holding arrangement (23) in such a way that the suspension means holding arrangement is essentially in one of the suspension means (6) effected direction of force (39) deform relative to the elevator car (3).

2. Suspension device (15) according to claim 1, wherein a load measuring device (21) is arranged in such a way that it can measure a force (38, 39) which is caused by the deformation of the suspension element holding arrangement (6) and/or the brake holding arrangement ( 17) arises, is measurable, the load measuring device (21) being arranged in particular between the brake holding arrangement (19) and the suspension element holding arrangement (23).

3. Suspension device (15) according to claim 2, wherein the suspension element holding arrangement (23) and the brake holding arrangement (19) are each arranged in an elastically deformable manner on a web arrangement (22) which is fixedly attached to the elevator car (3).

4. Suspension device (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake holding arrangement (19) and the suspension element holding arrangement (23) are arranged, dimensioned and configured in such a way that they are on the brake holding arrangement (19) and During normal operation, the force transmitted by the suspension element holding arrangement (23) essentially exclusively deforms elastically.

5. Suspension device (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake holding arrangement (19) and the suspension element holding arrangement (23) are arranged, dimensioned and configured in such a way that they are on the brake holding arrangement (19) and Suspension means holding arrangement (23) deform the brake holding arrangement (19) and the suspension means holding arrangement (23) force in normal operation such that they are less than 2mm, particularly preferably less than

1 mm towards and/or away from each other.

6. Suspension device (15) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake holding arrangement (19), the suspension element holding arrangement (23) and the web arrangement (22) are formed in one piece by a common component.

7. Suspension device (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake holding arrangement (19), the suspension element holding arrangement (23) and the web arrangement (22) are formed in one piece by a common stamped sheet metal part.

8. Suspension device (15) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the load measuring device (21) comprises a force transmission element (25), the load measuring device (21) being fixed to the brake holding arrangement (19), the force transmission element (25) being connected to the Suspension means holding arrangement (23) is connected, wherein the force transmission element (25) acts on a strain gauge (27) of the load measuring device (21).

9. Suspension device (15) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load measuring device (21) is configured to generate an electrical signal which reflects the force acting on the force transmission element (25).

10. Suspension device (15) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the The brake (17) is configured as a holding brake in order to hold the elevator car (3) stationary against its weight during a stop, and wherein the brake (17) is preferably additionally configured as a safety brake in order to brake the elevator car (3) in an emergency .

11. Elevator installation (1) comprising: an elevator car (3); a guide rail (13); and a suspension device (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 10; wherein the elevator car (3) can be moved along the guide rail (13); wherein the suspension device (15) is held on the elevator car (3); and wherein the brake (17) of the suspension device (15) is configured to cooperate with the guide rail (13) to brake the elevator car (3).

12. Elevator system (1) according to claim 11, wherein the suspension device (15) is arranged in a lower half of the elevator car (3).

13. A method for measuring a load acting on an elevator car (3), the method having:

activating at least one of the brakes (17) of a suspension device (15) held on the elevator car (3) according to one of claims 1 to 10 while the elevator car (3) is standing still; and

Measuring the load acting on the elevator car (3) using the load measuring device (21) of the suspension device (15).

14. A method for detecting a slack suspension element (6) by measuring a change in load, the method having:

measuring the load change using the method according to claim 13;

Detection of a load change that is greater than a specified limit value.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the load change is measured after stopping at a floor and essentially immediately before departure, with the at least one brake (17) being transferred to a catch mode if the load change is greater than the predetermined limit value .