HK1237754B - Counterweight for elevator system - Google Patents

Description

Counterweights for elevator systems

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/043,133, filed August 28, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Background of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to elevator systems, and more particularly, to an elevator system with an asymmetric counterweight.

The vertical travel of an elevator car is typically powered by a drive assembly, which may be supported by a support structure, such as a floor, within the upper portion of the elevator hoistway. The drive assembly typically includes a traction machine, which consists of a gearless electric motor and a traction sheave, both of which can be mounted on the surface of the floor. The rotational torque generated by the motor is used to drive the traction sheave. Depending on the direction of the motor's rotation, the traction sheave causes a tensioning member to raise or lower the elevator car and counterweight vertically through the hoistway.

In traditional elevator systems, the counterweight is typically placed directly behind the elevator car, either centered on the car or to one side. However, older elevator systems may have asymmetrical layouts, where the counterweight is typically not centered relative to the car. Retrofitting these older elevator systems is time-consuming and requires relocating the counterweight, which is costly.

Brief description of the invention

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a counterweight is provided, comprising a counterweight frame including a crosshead. A counterweight hitch is operably coupled to the counterweight frame. The counterweight hitch includes a first pulley channel and a second pulley channel stacked vertically. Each of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel includes an internal cavity within which at least one individual pulley assembly is mounted. The individual pulley assemblies are substantially identical and arranged at an angle relative to a center plane of the counterweight frame.

Additionally or alternatively, the present invention may incorporate one or more of the following features alone or in various combinations:

- each of the plurality of individual pulley assemblies is connected to one of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel by a fastener;

- adjacent individual pulley assemblies are inserted between the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel;

- At least one spring pin is configured to limit rotation of each individual pulley assembly relative to a center plane of the counterweight frame.

-The counterweight hitch is connected to the crosshead of the counterweight frame.

- The counterweight hitch extends through an opening at the top of the counterweight frame;

- the counterweight hitch extends around the outside of the top of the counterweight frame; and

The first pulley channel and the second pulley channel are coupled to at least one vertical upright.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an elevator system is provided, comprising a hoistway and a car coupled to at least one car guide rail for movement within the hoistway. A counterweight coupled to the at least one counterweight guide rail for movement within the hoistway. The counterweight and the at least one counterweight guide rail are offset from the center of the car. The counterweight includes a counterweight frame having a crosshead. A counterweight hitch is operably coupled to the counterweight frame. The counterweight hitch includes a first pulley channel and a second pulley channel vertically stacked. Each of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel includes an internal cavity within which at least one individual pulley assembly is mounted. The individual pulley assemblies are substantially identical and are arranged at an angle relative to a center plane of the counterweight frame. A plurality of tensioning members operably couple the car and the counterweight. Each tensioning member is arranged around one of the plurality of individual pulleys of the counterweight hitch. A drive motor is configured to engage the plurality of tensioning members to move the car and the counterweight within the hoistway.

Additionally or alternatively, the present invention may incorporate one or more of the following features alone or in various combinations:

- each of the plurality of individual pulley assemblies is connected to one of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel by a fastener;

- adjacent individual pulley assemblies are inserted between the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel;

- at least one spring pin configured to limit rotation of each individual pulley assembly relative to a center plane of the counterweight frame;

- The crosshead of the counterweight hitch connected to the counterweight frame;

- the counterweight hitch extends through an opening at the top of the counterweight frame; and

- The counterweight hitch extends around the outside of the top of the counterweight frame.

Brief description of the attached figure

The technical solutions in the concluding section of this specification point out and clearly claim the present invention in detail. The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG1 is a perspective view of an example of an elevator system;

FIG2 is a front view of an example of a counterweight assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a perspective view of a counterweight hitch of a counterweight assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG3 a is a side view of the counterweight assembly of FIG3 ;

4 is a perspective view of another counterweight hitch device of a counterweight assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a perspective view of another counterweight hitch device of a counterweight assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a perspective view of a separate pulley assembly configured for use with a counterweight hitch, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 a is a side view of the individual pulley assemblies of FIG. 6 .

The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

Detailed description of the invention

1 , there is shown an exemplary elevator system 20. The elevator system 20 includes an elevator car 24 that is configured to move vertically upward and downward within a hoistway 22 along a plurality of car guide rails 26. Guide assemblies mounted to the top and bottom of the elevator car 24 are configured to engage the car guide rails 26 to maintain proper alignment of the elevator car 24 as it moves within the hoistway 22.

Elevator system 20 also includes a counterweight 28 configured to move vertically upward and downward within hoistway 22. Counterweight 28 moves in a direction generally opposite to the movement of elevator car 24, as is known in conventional elevator systems. The movement of counterweight 28 is guided by counterweight guide rails 30 mounted within hoistway 22. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, elevator car 24 and counterweight 28 include pulley assemblies 32, 34 that cooperate with at least one tensioning member 36 and a traction sheave 38 mounted to a drive motor 40 to raise and lower elevator car 24. The drive motor 40 in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is adapted and sized for use with flat tensioning members 36. The pulley assembly 32 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted to the top of elevator car 24. However, the pulley assembly 32 may be mounted at another location on elevator car 24, such as, for example, the bottom of elevator car 24, or elsewhere in system 20 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The drive machine 40 of the elevator system 20 is positioned and supported in a mounting location atop a support structure 42, such as a floor, for example, within a portion of the hoistway 22 or a machine room. Although the elevator system 20 shown and described herein has an overhung 2:1 roping configuration, elevator systems 20 having other roping configurations and hoistway layouts are within the scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments, the counterweight 28 of the elevator system 10 is asymmetric, meaning that the counterweight guide rails 30 and the counterweight 28 movable within the guide rails 30 are arranged substantially offset from the center of the elevator car 24 and car guide rails 26 within the hoistway 22 .

Referring now to FIG2 , an example of a counterweight 28 is shown in greater detail. As shown, the counterweight 28 is an assembly including a generally rectangular frame 50, such as, for example, comprised of a plurality of connected metal components. A plurality of weights 52 are positioned within the frame 50, the plurality of weights being arranged in a stacked configuration. Guide assemblies 54 configured to cooperate with the counterweight guide rails 30 are secured adjacent opposite sides of the counterweight frame 50. A counterweight hitch 60 is connected to an upper portion 56 of the counterweight frame 50, the upper portion also being referred to as a crosshead. A plurality of tensioning members 36 are operably coupled to the counterweight hitch 60 such that movement of the tensioning members 36 via the drive motor 40 causes the counterweight 28 to move along the counterweight guide rails 30 within the hoistway 22.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, the counterweight hitch assembly 60 is provided in greater detail. The counterweight hitch assembly 60 includes a first pulley channel 62a and a second pulley channel 62b vertically disposed below the first pulley channel 62a. The first pulley channel 62a and the second pulley channel 62b are substantially the same in shape and size and can be formed from bent or welded metal. The adjacent end surfaces 64a, 64b of the first pulley channel 62a and the second pulley channel 62b are connected by first and second posts 66, respectively. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the posts 66 are C-shaped or U-shaped channels that are fastened to (such as, for example, fastened by bolts) each pulley channel 62.

A connection assembly 70 extending from each upright 66 is configured to couple the counterweight hitch 60 to the counterweight frame 50. The configuration of the connection assembly 70 can vary depending on the configuration of the counterweight frame 50, and more specifically, the configuration of the counterweight crosshead 56. In the embodiment shown in FIG3 , the connection assembly 70 includes a first connection member 72 mounted to a first side 68 of the upright 66 and a second connection member 74 mounted to a second, opposing side 69 of the upright 66 (see FIG3 a). In one embodiment, the first and second connection members 72, 74 can be integrally formed. The first and second connection members 72, 74 generally extend outward from the upright 66 to increase the depth of the counterweight hitch 60 beyond the depth of the counterweight frame 50. The counterweight hitch 60 generally extends through the central opening 58 in the top of the frame 50, such that upper surfaces 76 of the first and second connection members 72, 74 contact and engage adjacent surfaces of the crosshead 56.

4 , the connection assembly 70 includes a support frame 80 that extends vertically downward from a first crosspiece 82 and a second crosspiece (not shown) mounted to the first and second uprights 66. The support frame 80 is configured to extend through the central opening 58 in the top of the counterweight frame 50 such that a base 84 of the support frame 80 is directly below the crosshead 56. The base 84 of the support frame 80 includes a first connection member 72 and a second connection member (not shown) that are configured to contact the support frame 80 and operably couple it to the counterweight crosshead 56, thereby coupling the counterweight hitch 60 to the counterweight crosshead 56. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the first connection member 72 and the second connection member 74 are integrally formed as a curved channel.

The connection assembly 70 shown in Figure 5 is intended for use with a counterweight 28 having a solid and/or narrow counterweight frame 50. A thin first connecting member 72 is mounted to a first side 68 of the column 66, and a substantially identical second connecting member 74 is mounted to a second, opposite side 69 of the column 66. In one embodiment, the first connecting member 72 and the second connecting member 74 are formed from sheet metal. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the connecting members 72, 74 are T-shaped and have an elongated center portion extending vertically downward around the exterior of the counterweight frame 50. One or more fasteners 88 couple the free ends 86 of the center portions of the first connecting member 72 and the second connecting member 74. Because the free end 86 is located just below the crosshead 56, at least one fastener 88 is configured to contact and engage the crosshead 56 so that the counterweight frame 50 and the hitch 60 move together through the hoistway 22.

Referring again to FIG2 , each of the pulley channels 62 a, 62 b is configured to define an interior cavity 90 within which at least one individual pulley assembly 100 is disposed (best shown in FIG6 ). The number of individual pulley assemblies 100 mounted to each pulley channel 62 a, 62 b depends on the total number of tension members 36 within the elevator system 20. Adjacent tension members 36 are received by individual pulley assemblies 100 alternating between the first pulley channel 62 a and the second pulley channel 62 b. For example, in an elevator system 20 having five tension members 36, the end and center tension members 36 are received around the individual pulley assemblies 100 mounted to the first pulley channel 62 a, and the second and fourth tension members 36 are received by the pulley assemblies 100 mounted to the second pulley channel 62 b.

The individual pulley assemblies 100 are substantially identical and are each configured to receive a single tensioning member 36 of the elevator system 20. Examples of individual pulley assemblies 100 are shown in Figures 6 and 6a. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the individual pulley assemblies 100 include a pulley 102 mounted to an adjacent support 104 such that the pulley 102 is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation X. A bracket 106 connected to the support 104 is configured to operably couple the pulley assembly 100 within the interior cavity 90 of the pulley channels 62a, 62b with a fastener 108 such that the pulley assembly 100 is generally rotatable about an axis Y defined by the fastener 108.

Each of the individual pulley assemblies 100 is mounted to the pulley channel 62a, 62b of the counterweight hitch 60 at an angle relative to the center plane C (see FIG. 3a ) of the counterweight frame 50. The angle of each individual pulley assembly 100 is substantially the same and is determined based on the asymmetry of the counterweight 28 within the hoistway 22. At least one spring pin 110 is used to bias each individual pulley assembly 100 to a desired angle to prevent the pulley assembly 100 from rotating during operation of the elevator system 20. In addition, a complementary angled slot 112 is formed in each of the pulley channels 62a, 62b to receive the tensioning member 36 around the pulley assembly 100.

By mounting the individual pulley assemblies 100 at an angle relative to the center plane C of the counterweight frame 50, the tension members 36 can connect the asymmetrical counterweight 28 and elevator car 24 without requiring one or more twists. This results in improved tracking and extends the life of the tension members 36.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the present invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the present invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, modifications, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described but consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various aspects of the present invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the foregoing description, but only to the scope of the accompanying technical solutions.

Claims (12)

1. A counterweight comprising: The counterweight frame includes a crosshead; and A counterweight mounting device, which is operably connected to the counterweight frame. The counterweight mounting device includes a first pulley channel and a second pulley channel, which are vertically connected to each other and connected to the counterweight mounting device by a first column and a second column. Each of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel includes an internal cavity, within which at least one individual pulley assembly is mounted. Each individual pulley assembly includes a pulley having a rotation axis extending between a first end and a second end of the pulley, and The plurality of individual pulley assemblies are substantially identical and arranged at an angle relative to the central plane of the counterweight frame, such that the axis of rotation is angled relative to the counterweight frame, wherein the angles of the plurality of individual pulley assemblies are substantially identical and are determined based on the asymmetry of the counterweight within the shaft. 2. The counterweight according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of individual pulley assemblies is connected to one of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel by fasteners. 3. The counterweight according to claim 1, wherein at least one spring pin is configured to limit the rotation of each individual pulley assembly relative to the central plane of the counterweight frame. 4. The counterweight according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight mounting device is connected to the crosshead of the counterweight frame. 5. The counterweight according to claim 4, wherein the counterweight mounting device extends through an opening at the top of the counterweight frame. 6. The counterweight according to claim 4, wherein the counterweight mounting device extends around the outside of the top of the counterweight frame. 7. An elevator system comprising: The shaft has an engine room located at its first end; A car, which is connected to at least one car guide rail for movement within the hoistway; A counterweight, connected to at least one counterweight guide rail for movement within the hoistway, the counterweight and the at least one counterweight guide rail being offset from the center of the car, the counterweight comprising: The counterweight frame includes a crosshead; and A counterweight mounting device, which is operably connected to the counterweight frame. The counterweight mounting device includes a first pulley channel and a second pulley channel, which are vertically connected to each other and connected to the counterweight mounting device by a first column and a second column. Each of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel includes an internal cavity, and at least one individual pulley assembly is installed within the internal cavity. The plurality of individual pulley assemblies are substantially identical and arranged at an angle relative to the central plane of the counterweight frame; A plurality of tensioning members operably connecting the car and the counterweight, each of the plurality of tensioning members being arranged around one of the plurality of individual pulleys of the counterweight coupling device; and A drive unit configured to engage the plurality of tensioning members to move the car and the counterweight within the hoistway. 8. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of individual pulley assemblies is connected to one of the first pulley channel and the second pulley channel by fasteners. 9. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein at least one spring pin is configured to limit the rotation of each individual pulley assembly relative to the central plane of the counterweight frame. 10. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein the counterweight mounting device is connected to the crosshead of the counterweight frame. 11. The elevator system of claim 10, wherein the counterweight attachment device extends through an opening at the top of the counterweight frame. 12. The elevator system of claim 10, wherein the counterweight attachment device extends around the outside of the top of the counterweight frame.