EP4701971A1

EP4701971A1 - Pulley assembly for an elevator

Info

Publication number: EP4701971A1
Application number: EP23793483.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lukas SCHWAIGERLEHNER; Christoph RUSSWURM; René HOLZER
Original assignee: Wittur Holding GmbH
Current assignee: Wittur Holding GmbH
Priority date: 2023-10-16
Filing date: 2023-10-16
Publication date: 2026-03-04
Also published as: WO2025083446A1; CN121586685A

Abstract

A pulley assembly (1) for an elevator, comprising: - a pulley (2) with one or more pulley grooves (3) and rotatable around a central rotation axis (X); - at least one rope guard (5) arranged so as to develop above the one or more pulley grooves (3); - a support (6) comprising one or more slots (7) developing in a curvilinear manner around said central rotation axis (X). The rope guard (5) is associated with the support (6) so that the one or more slots (7) define a plurality of positions that the rope guard (5) can assume around the central rotation axis (X).

Description

DESCRIPTION

PULLEY ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELEVATOR

Technical field

The present invention relates to a pulley assembly for an elevator, as well as an elevator comprising such a pulley assembly. In particular, the present invention deals with the flexibility of pulley assembly design.

Background art

According to standard EN 81-20, chapter 5.5.7, for sheaves, pulleys and sprockets, overspeed governors, tension weight pulleys, provisions shall be made to avoid: bodily injury; the ropes/chains leaving the pulleys/sprockets, if slack; the introduction of objects between ropes/chains and pulleys/sprockets.

The devices for preventing the ropes from leaving the grooves of pulleys shall include one retainer near the points where the ropes enter and leave the pulleys and at least one intermediate retainer if more than 60° of the angle of wrap is arranged below the horizontal axis of the pulley and the total angle of wrap is more than 120°.

However, the known solutions fail to provide an arrangement which is able to easily and quickly adapt to flexibly adjustable design, in which the course of the ropes is not predefined, and the number of required rope guards is not certain. Therefore, it is felt the need for such a solution.

In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose a pulley assembly for an elevator which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art cited above.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pulley assembly for an elevator able to be quickly and easily adapted to a change in rope course.

Another object of the present invention is to make available a pulley assembly for an elevator, which is compact yet flexibly adjustable to a change in rope course.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pulley assembly for an elevator, which is highly customizable.

Disclosure of the invention

The stated technical task and specified aims are substantially achieved by a pulley assembly for an elevator, comprising: a pulley having one or more pulley grooves, said pulley being rotatable around a central rotation axis; at least one rope guard arranged so as to develop above the one or more pulley grooves; a support comprising one or more slots developing in a curvilinear manner around said central rotation axis; said at least one rope guard being associated with the support so that the one or more slots define a plurality of positions that the rope guard can assume around the central rotation axis.

According to one embodiment, the pulley assembly comprises an axle defining the central rotation axis. The pulley is coupled with the axle so as to rotate with it. The support is shaped so that the one or more slots develop around the axle.

Preferably, the pulley assembly comprises a frame.

According to a first embodiment, the support is removably mounted on the frame by means of one or more anchoring elements engaged in said one or more slots. Preferably, the rope guard is integral with the support. In alternative, the rope guard is removably mounted on the support.

According to one embodiment, the rope guard is removably mounted on the one or more slots of the support.

According to a second embodiment, the support is part of the frame so that the one or more slots are directly obtained on the frame. Preferably, the rope guard is removably mounted on the one or more slots.

According to one embodiment, the one or more slots have a curvilinear continuous development. Preferably, the slots are two and define a circlelike path.

According to an alternative embodiment, the support comprises a plurality of slots subsequently arranged so as to define a curvilinear intermittent pattern. Preferably, the subsequently arranged slots defines a curvilinear row of slots. The support comprises more than one curvilinear row of slots having different radial distances from the central rotation axis.

Preferably, the support has a ring-like shape.

According to one embodiment, the rope guard comprises a connection portion facing one of the pulley lateral sides and a guard portion which originates from an end of the connection portion developing away from it and above the one or more pulley grooves.

According to one aspect of the invention, the connection portion and/or the guard portion are telescopic.

Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a pulley assembly for an elevator, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

- figure 1 illustrates a pulley assembly for an elevator, according to the present invention, in a perspective view;

- figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the pulley assembly;

- figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of the pulley assembly with nip guards;

- figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of the pulley assembly of figure 3;

- figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a detail (rope guard with ring-like support) of the pulley assembly of figures 1 -4;

- figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the rope guard with ringlike support of figure 5;

- figure 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the pulley assembly for an elevator, according to the present invention, in a partially exploded view.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention With reference to the figures, number 1 indicates a pulley assembly for an elevator.

The pulley assembly 1 comprises a pulley 2 having one or more pulley grooves 3. The pulley 2 is rotatable around a central rotation axis X.

As is well known in the art, a pulley has the shape of a ring or an annulus with two circular and holed bases that are connected by a lateral surface following the circumferential development of the bases. In particular, the lateral surface has a circumferential development around the central rotation axis.

On the lateral surface is obtained at least one groove that follows its circumferential development, for housing a rope. In particular, the groove usually develops along a circumferential line. In one embodiment, the grooves are more than one and are flanked one to another in sequence.

Preferably, the pulley 2 is coupled with an axle 4 defining the central rotation axis X and rotates with it.

In particular, with “pulley” here it is referred to a rotating wheel with at least one groove, in particular a sheave. For example, the pulley 2 is a traction sheave.

The pulley assembly 1 comprises at least one rope guard 5. The rope guard 5 is arranged so as to develop above the one or more pulley grooves 3. In particular, the rope guard 5 develops according to a crossing direction of the lateral surface of the pulley 2. In other words, the rope guard 5 develops above the pulley 2 from side to side.

Preferably, the rope guard 5 develops according to a direction which is substantially parallel to the central rotation axis X.

The position that the rope guard has to take to work properly is well known in the art.

Preferably, more than one rope guard 5 is used in the pulley assembly 1 , as illustrated.

The pulley assembly 1 comprises a support 6. The support 6 comprises one or more slots 7 developing in a curvilinear manner around the central rotation axis X. According to a preferred embodiment, the slots 7 are arranged according to a circular direction (i.e. substantially same radial distance from a centre). Preferably, the centre is the central rotation axis X.

The rope guard 5 is associated with the support 6 so that the one or more slots 7 define a plurality of positions that the rope guard 5 can assume around the central rotation axis X.

It is to be noted that the extent of the curvilinear development of the one or more slots 7 can be designed at will: the closer the angular extension is to 360°, the greater flexibility and design possibilities can be achieved.

In particular, the support 6 is shaped so that the one or more slots 7 develop around the axle 4. The support 6 comprises a hole 6a through which the axle 4 passes. The slots 7 develops around the hole 6a.

The support 6 is distinct from the axle 4. In other words, the rope guard 5 is not mounted on the axle 4 (otherwise it would not be possible to adjust its position around the central rotation axis X).

According to one embodiment, the rope guard 5 comprises a connection portion 5a facing one of the pulley sides and which used as a connection with other components. In particular, the rope guard 5 is in contact with other components only by means of the connection portion 5a. The rope guard 5 comprises also a guard portion 5b which originates from an end of the connection portion 5a developing away from it and above the pulley grooves 3.

Preferably, the pulley assembly 1 comprises a frame 8. In particular, the pulley 2 is mounted on the frame 8. Preferably, the axle 4 is rotatably mounted on the frame 8.

According to a first embodiment of the support, shown in figures 1-4, the support 6 is removably mounted on the frame 8. One or more anchoring elements 9 engage the one or more slots 7 securing the support 6 to the frame 8. Appropriately, the frame 8 has a plurality of holes 8a for the anchoring elements 9. To adjust the position of the rope guard 5, it is sufficient to remove the anchoring elements 9 and modify the position of the support 6 with respect to the frame 8. Since the rope guard 5 is associated with the support 6, this causes the position of the rope guard 6 around the pulley 2 to be adjusted.

In particular, since the one or more slots 7 follow a curvilinear development, the positions that the rope guard 5 can assume are distributed around the central rotation axis X. This means that the rope guard 5 can be adjusted in position around the pulley 2 while maintaining its correct working position above the pulley grooves 3.

Preferably, the one or more slots 7 develops according to a circular direction around the central rotation axis X. In particular, the one or more slots 7 are concentrical with the central rotation axis X. This means that the position of the rope guard 5 can be adjusted by rotating the support 6 around the central rotation axis X.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the rope guard 5 is directly associated with the support 6. In other words, no intermediate components are present.

In one embodiment, illustrated in figure 1 , the rope guard 5, in particular the connection portion 5a, is removably mounted on the support 6. In particular, it is removably mounted on the one or more slots 7 of the support 6. With this arrangement, it is even easier to adjust the position of the rope guard 5 by unmounting only the rope guard 5 from one position and mounting it back in another one. The support 6 stays mounted on the frame 8.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in figures 2-6, the rope guard 5, in particular the connection portion 5a, is integral with the support 6. This means that the rope guard 5 cannot be removed from the support 6 without compromising the functioning of one or both components. According to the illustrated embodiment, the rope guard 5 is made in a single piece with the support 6. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the rope guard 5 may be welded to the support 6.

According to a second embodiment, shown in figure 7, the support 6 is part of the frame 8. In other words, the one or more slots 7 are directly obtained on the frame 8, being a support.

The rope guard 5, in particular the connection portion 5a, is removably mounted on the support 6. In particular, the rope guard 5, in particular the connection portion 5a, is removably mounted on the one or more slots 7 of the support 6.

As preferred, the rope guard 5 is directly mounted on the one or more slots 7 of the support 6. Please note that the direct mounting is just an advantageous feature which allows to reduce the number of components involved, but there is no impediment in interspersing one or more connection components between the rope guard 5 and the support 6. The latter solution is equivalent in function and result to the direct mounting.

According to one embodiment, the slot 7 has a curvilinear continuous development so as to define itself a plurality of positions for the rope guard 5. In particular, for continuous development is intended that the slot has a curvilinear extension which is far greater (for example, at least 3 times or 4 times) than the width. For width is intended the dimension according to a radial direction, while the curvilinear extension is the dimension according to a circumferential direction.

In the preferred embodiment, the slots 7 are two and define a circle-like path. The two slots 7 are divided by two portions of support 6 located at corresponding opposite ends of the slots 7.

According to an alternative embodiment, illustrated in figure 7, the support 6 comprises a plurality of slots 7 subsequently arranged so as to define a curvilinear intermittent pattern. For example, this define a curvilinear row of slots 7. Each slot 7 defines a discrete position that the rope guard 5 can assume.

In particular, in this case the slots are similar to a plurality of dots, i.e. the curvilinear extension is similar to the their width. For width is intended the dimension according to a radial direction, while the curvilinear extension is the dimension according to a circumferential direction.

Preferably, the support 6 comprises more than one curvilinear row of slots 7. The curvilinear rows are at different radial distances from the central rotation axis X.

The presence of the multiple rows is applicable not only for the pattern of slots but also when the slots are fewer but greater in angular extension. Different rows at different radial distances allows to adapt the rope guard 5 to pulleys of different diameters, assuring a correct working position in these different situations.

As illustrated in figures 1-4 and in details in figures 5 and 6, the support 6 has a ring-like shape. In this case the ring-like shape allows the support 6 to be easily arranged so as to develop around the central rotation axis X, in particular the axle 4. Preferably, the curvilinear slot 7 and the ring-like support 6 are concentrical. Preferably, the centre is the central rotation axis.

According to an alternative embodiment, illustrated in figures 2 and 4, the rope guard 5 is associated with an additional support 10 (which means removably mounted or integral with it), preferably a ring-like support, which is in turn mounted on the support 6 with the one or more slots 7. This is applicable in both the first and second embodiments wherein the support 6 is removably mounted on the frame 8 or integral with it, respectively.

In particular, the additional support 10 comprises a plurality of holes 10a for the anchoring elements 9 engaging the one or more slots 7 of the support 6.

In particular, the embodiment above described can be advantageously used when two or more rope guards 5 are present. In particular, one rope guard 5 is associated with the support 6 with the one or more slots 7, while the other rope guard 5 is associated with the additional support 10 which is in turn mounted on the support 6. In this way, at least two rope guards 5 share the same curvilinear path for adjustment. According to one embodiment, illustrated in figure 6, the connection portion 6a and/or the guard portion 6b are telescopic. In other words, they are adjustable in length.

Preferably, the pulley assembly 1 comprises one or more nip guard 11. Each nip guard 11 is mounted on a respective rope guard 5. The nip guard 11 is a component well known in the art and will not be further described.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figures 1-4, the support 6 is removably mounted on the frame 8 (first embodiment of the support 6) and it comprises one or more curvilinear continuous slot 7, almost defining a circle. The rope guard 5 is associated with the support 6. In particular, it can be removably mounted on the support 6 or be integral with it (single piece or welding).

Preferably, the support 6 is ring-like.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figure 7, the support 6 is part of the frame 8. This means that the slots 7 are directly obtained on the frame 8. A plurality of slots 7 are subsequently arranged so as to define a curvilinear intermittent pattern. Each slot 7 defines a discrete position for the rope guard 5. In this case, the rope guard 5, in particular the connection portion 5a, is directly mounted on the slots 7 and therefore on the frame 8.

According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated in figures, the support 6 and the frame 8 are located at one side of the pulley 2.

An elevator is also object of the present invention. The elevator comprises a pulley assembly 1 as described above.

The characteristics of the pulley assembly for an elevator, according to the present invention, emerge clearly from the above description, as do the advantages.

In particular, the presence of the slots in a curvilinear manner on the support which the rope guard is associated with allows to adjust the position of the rope guard around the pulley, potentially along 360°. The degree of adjustment depends on the extent of the curvilinear path around the central rotation axis.

This feature enhances the flexibility of the pulley assembly to different design and a quick adaptation to different rope courses. Moreover, it is useable for all different kind of pulleys and sheaves. The solution proposed is easy to fix and adjust. Moreover, the fixation occurs only on one side of the pulley, limiting the complexity of the work. Moreover, this feature allows a space-saving solution.

Moreover, the first preferred embodiment of the invention (ring-like support with continuous slots) allows a compact yet highly customizable solution, since the ring-like elements can be easily and quickly rotated or substituted. Moreover, the large inner diameter allows easy roping. Moreover, it cannot fall down during disassembling and re-roping the assembly.

Moreover, the second preferred embodiment of the invention (intermittent patter of curvilinear slots directly obtained on the frame) reduces the number of components used and simplify the structure.

Moreover, the nip guard can be integrated directly on the rope guard, limiting the complexity of the assembly. In particular, rope guards and nip guards can be combined as required, depending on the application.

Claims

1 . A pulley assembly (1 ) for an elevator, comprising: a pulley (2) having one or more pulley grooves (3), said pulley (2) being rotatable around a central rotation axis (X); at least one rope guard (5) arranged so as to develop above the one or more pulley grooves (3); a support (6) comprising one or more slots (7) developing in a curvilinear manner around said central rotation axis (X); said at least one rope guard (5) being associated with the support (6) so that the one or more slots (7) define a plurality of positions that the rope guard (5) can assume around the central rotation axis (X).

2. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising an axle (4) defining said central rotation axis (X), the pulley (2) being coupled with the axle (4) so as to rotate with it, the support (6) being shaped so that the one or more slots (7) develop around the axle (4).

3. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a frame (8), the support (15) being removably mounted on said frame (8) by means of one or more anchoring elements (9) engaged in said one or more slots

(7).

4. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rope guard (5) is integral with the support (6).

5. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rope guard (5) is removably mounted on the support (6).

6. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the rope guard (5) is removably mounted on said one or more slots (7) of the support (6).

7. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a frame

(8), the support (6) being part of the frame (8) so that the one or more slots (7) are directly obtained on the frame (8).

8. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein the rope guard (5) is removably mounted on said one or more slots (7).

9. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more slots (7) have a curvilinear continuous development.

10. The pulley assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the slots (7) are two and define a circle-like path.

11 . The pulley assembly (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the support (6) comprises a plurality of slots (7) subsequently arranged so as to define a curvilinear intermittent pattern.

12. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the subsequently arranged slots (7) defines a curvilinear row of slots (7), the support (6) comprising more than one curvilinear row of slots (7) having different radial distances from the central rotation axis (X).

13. The pulley assembly (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (6) has a ring-like shape.

14. The pulley assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one rope guard (6) comprises a connection portion (6a) facing one of the pulley lateral sides and a guard portion (6b) which originates from an end of the connection portion (6a) developing away from it and above the one or more pulley grooves (3), wherein the connection portion (6a) and/or the guard portion (6b) are telescopic.

15. An elevator comprising a pulley assembly (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims.