JP3896764B2 - Rope degradation state determination method and elevator using the same - Google Patents

Rope degradation state determination method and elevator using the same Download PDF

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JP3896764B2
JP3896764B2 JP2000128947A JP2000128947A JP3896764B2 JP 3896764 B2 JP3896764 B2 JP 3896764B2 JP 2000128947 A JP2000128947 A JP 2000128947A JP 2000128947 A JP2000128947 A JP 2000128947A JP 3896764 B2 JP3896764 B2 JP 3896764B2
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rope
light amount
transmitted light
elevator
optical fiber
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JP2001302135A (en
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謙介 加藤
長瀬　　博
一朗 中村
雄二 吉冨
喜重 遠藤
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Hitachi Ltd
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B7/00—Other common features of elevators
    • B66B7/12—Checking, lubricating, or cleaning means for ropes, cables or guides
    • B66B7/1207—Checking means
    • B66B7/1215—Checking means specially adapted for ropes or cables
    • B66B7/1238—Checking means specially adapted for ropes or cables by optical techniques
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B1/00—Constructional features of ropes or cables
    • D07B1/14—Ropes or cables with incorporated auxiliary elements, e.g. for marking, extending throughout the length of the rope or cable
    • D07B1/145—Ropes or cables with incorporated auxiliary elements, e.g. for marking, extending throughout the length of the rope or cable comprising elements for indicating or detecting the rope or cable status
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B1/00—Constructional features of ropes or cables
    • D07B1/16—Ropes or cables with an enveloping sheathing or inlays of rubber or plastics
    • D07B1/162—Ropes or cables with an enveloping sheathing or inlays of rubber or plastics characterised by a plastic or rubber enveloping sheathing
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
    • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
    • D07B2201/2083—Jackets or coverings
    • D07B2201/2087—Jackets or coverings being of the coated type
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
    • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
    • D07B2201/2083—Jackets or coverings
    • D07B2201/2088—Jackets or coverings having multiple layers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B2501/00—Application field
    • D07B2501/20—Application field related to ropes or cables
    • D07B2501/2007—Elevators

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  • Lift-Guide Devices, And Elevator Ropes And Cables (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Electric Means (AREA)
  • Testing Of Optical Devices Or Fibers (AREA)
  • Ropes Or Cables (AREA)
  • Maintenance And Inspection Apparatuses For Elevators (AREA)

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明はエレベータ等に用いられるロープに係り、特にその劣化状態判別法、とそれを用いたロープ式エレベータに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
ロープの寿命判定の方法として、特開平１０−１８２０３６号公報では、エレベータの巻き上げに使用されるロープにおいて、ストランド内に負荷を保持しないチューブを設けて、そのチューブ内に不連続の透磁性のターゲットを設け、ロープが検出器を通過する際の磁場の変化から各ターゲット間の距離の変化を検出し、ロープの廃棄時期を判定する方法が記載されている。この磁場の変化を、高周波のレーダ光又はレーザ光を発生するモニタ装置をロープの長さ方向に対して垂直方向にビームを発生するように設置し、ターゲットからの反射を計測することが記載されている。
【０００３】
又、特開平８−２６１９７２号公報には、合成繊維ケーブルを構成するストランド内にカーボン繊維からなる導電性インジケータ繊維を撚りこみ、電圧を印加することで破断する状態をモニタすることが開示されている。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
安全確保のため、ロープの劣化状態は適切に検出されなければならない。ロープが使用に耐えられなくなる前に、ロープの管理者はこれを把握しなければならない。特に、突然のロープ破断、あるいはロープを用いる機械システムの突然の停止を防止するため、ロープの劣化進行状態は、連続的にオンラインでモニタリングされ、変化する状態を把握しなければならない。これにより、消耗品としてのロープを計画的に交換し、機械システムとしての安全性、信頼性を向上させることができる。
【０００５】
本発明の目的は、屈曲を繰り返したロープの劣化進行状態を経時的に把握し、ロープの廃棄時期を判定する方法及びそれを通報する装置を提供することにある。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するために、本発明は、荷重支持部材として屈曲が繰り返し作用する箇所に使用されるロープの劣化状態を判別する方法において、前記ロープは各ストランド内に樹脂材料をコア材とした光ファイバが配設され、前記ロープの一端に発光手段を、他端に受光手段とを備え、前記ロープの屈曲を与える前の前記光ファイバ内を通過する透過光量に対する屈曲を繰り返した後の透過光量の比を透過光量保持率とし、予め測定した前記ロープの前記シーブ通過による屈曲回数に伴う前記ロープの破断強度と前記透過光量保持率とより前記ロープの破断強度の低下を検出するものである。
【０００７】
また、上記において、前記ロープは、合成繊維の前記ストランドが複数本撚り合わされ、前記光ファイバの撚りピッチは、合成繊維の撚りピッチよりも短くされたことが望ましい。
【０００８】
さらに、本発明は、乗りかごとカウンターウェイトが、複数のロープにより連結され、該ロープをシーブに巻きかけて摩擦駆動するエレベータにおいて、前記ロープを構成する各ストランドに樹脂材料をコア材とした光ファイバが配設され、前記ロープの一端に発光手段を、他端に受光手段とを備え、前記ロープの屈曲を与える前の前記光ファイバ内を通過する透過光量に対する屈曲を繰り返した後の透過光量の比を透過光量保持率とし、予め測定した前記ロープの前記シーブ通過による屈曲回数に伴う前記ロープの破断強度と前記透過光量保持率とより前記ロープの破断強度の低下を検出し、前記透過光量保持率の低下が許容値以内であれば運転を継続し、許容値を超えた場合は、前記乗りかごを最寄り階に停止させ、運転を終了するものである。
【０００９】
また、上記のものにおいて、前記ロープは、外層に導電性材料の被覆と、最外層に非導電性の樹脂材料からなる被覆を施し、前記ロープの導電性材料からなる被覆と前記金属製シーブとの間に電源装置を備え、前記導電性材料からなる被覆と、前記金属製のシーブとの接触による導通を検出する手段と、導通したロープ箇所を記録する手段と、前記最外層樹脂被覆の摩耗、劣化と前記光ファイバの光量検出結果とから廃棄時期を判定する手段と、前記導通記録、及びロープが廃棄時期に至ったことをエレベータの管理者に伝える手段とを備えたことが望ましい。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の一実施例を図１から図８を用いて説明する。
ロープの劣化は、破断強度の低下として表すことができる。特に動索として使用する合成繊維製ロープの場合、ロープのシーブ通過に伴う屈曲による繊維相互の相対的なすべりなどにより、繊維の部分的な破断が生じ、ロープ全体の破断強度が低下する。このとき、繊維相互のすべり量最大値は、ロープ径ｄと共に増加し、シーブ径Ｄの増加に伴い減少する。これより、ロープ径ｄ、シーブ径Ｄの組合せ毎に、ロープのシーブ通過に伴う劣化進行のデータベースを作成し、ロープのある箇所での繰り返し曲げ回数の履歴を検出することにより、その箇所でのロープの劣化状態を判別することができる。
【００１１】
このため、まず、ロープ屈曲回数の増加に伴う、ロープ破断強度の保持率の低下を測定した。図１にその実験結果を示す。図１において、横軸は屈曲回数で有り縦軸は破断強度の保持率を示したものである。本実験では、ロープをシーブに１８０度巻き掛け、張力はそのロープが持つ破断強度の１０％として、繰り返しシーブを通過させた。使用したロープは径１０ｍｍ、シーブは径２００ｍｍ、および、３００ｍｍであり、ロープ寿命と関連が高いとされるシーブ径Ｄとロープ径ｄの比Ｄ／ｄは、それぞれ、２０、３０となる。屈曲回数が１０3回、１０4回、１０5回、１０6回に達した時点で、そのロープの破断強度を引張り試験機で測定し、屈曲させていない状態での破断強度と比較し、強度保持率を得た。実験結果から、屈曲回数の増加に伴い、強度保持率は低下し、その低下率は、Ｄ／ｄが２０の方が、Ｄ／ｄが３０のときよりも大きいことがわかる。
【００１２】
次に、繰り返し曲げ伸ばしを受ける動索としてロープが使用された際、ロープのある箇所が受けた屈曲回数の履歴を検出する手段として、光ファイバに着目し、その妥当性を検証した。ポリメチルメタクリレート（ＰＭＭＡ）などの樹脂材料をコア材としたプラスチック系光ファイバ（ＰＯＦ）は、屈曲が繰り返し作用すると、コア材料に「白化」が生じ、透過光量が低下する。このため、ＰＯＦをロープ内に配置し、ＰＯＦ自体に屈曲を作用させ、白化させることにより、透過光量の低下を検出し、ロープの屈曲履歴を検出することができる。
【００１３】
図２に、屈曲回数の増加に伴う透過光量保持率の低下を示す。本実験では、直径０．７５ｍｍ、および１．０ｍｍのＰＯＦを用い、曲率半径２００ｍｍの円筒に１８０度巻き掛ける屈曲を繰り返した。屈曲回数が１０3回、１０4回、１０5回、１０6回に達した時点で、ＰＯＦの透過光量を測定し、屈曲を与える前の透過光量と比較して、透過光量保持率を得た。直径２ｍｍ、および３ｍｍのＰＯＦは共に、屈曲回数の増加に伴い、透過光量保持率は低下した。ＰＯＦの直径増加に伴い、最大発生曲げ応力も増加することから、直径３ｍｍのＰＯＦでは、直径２ｍｍのＰＯＦよりも白化が進み、透過光量保持率の低下が大きい。このため、使用するシーブ径から、適切にＰＯＦの直径を選定すれば、予め測定したロープの屈曲回数に伴うロープ破断強度のデータと、ロープ内に配設されたＰＯＦの透過光量保持率のデータとを照らし合わせることで、ロープの破断強度の低下を検出することができる。
【００１４】
図３に本発明の、ロープの劣化状態検出方法の一実施例であるロープ１の断面図を示す。ロープ１は、アラミド繊維などの合成繊維２から構成されるストランド３を、複数本撚り合わせて構成される。各ストランド３には、それぞれ光ファイバ４が配設されている。本実施例では、各ストランド３の最外層には、ポリエチレン、ポリアミド、４フッ化エチレン、ポリウレタンなどの樹脂材料からなるストランド被覆５が施してある。ロープ１の最外層は、ポリウレタン、ポリアミド、ポリエチレンなどの樹脂材料からなるロープ被覆６が施してある。光ファイバ４は、ＰＭＭＡをコア材としたＰＯＦが望ましい。なお、ロープ１での荷重支持部材となる合成繊維２の弾性率と光ファイバ４の弾性率の差から、光ファイバ４の撚りピッチは、合成繊維２の撚りピッチよりも短くし、光ファイバ４の軸方向荷重を低減させることが望ましい。また、光ファイバ４による情報通信を行うことも可能である。また、ストランド３を構成する材料は、合成繊維２に変えて鋼製の素線であっても良い。
【００１５】
図４は本発明のロープ１の劣化状態を検出する方法の一実施例を示した図である。ロープ１中に配設された光ファイバ４の透過光量保持率を検出するシステムを示す。発光素子７は、半導体レーザ、発光ダイオード、固体レーザなどの光源からなり、コネクタ８を通じて、光ファイバ４の一端側に接続される。光ファイバ４内を伝送された光は、ロープ１中に生じた白化により減衰し、光ファイバ４の他端に設けたフォトトランジスタ、ピン型フォトダイオード、アバラシン・フォトダイオードなどの受光素子９によってその光量が検出される。検出された光量を図２に示した透過光量保持率、及び、図１に示した強度保持率とを照らし合わせ、ロープ１の劣化状態を判別する。すなわち、ロープ長が変化しても使用する光ファイバが同じであれば、白化前と白化後の変化量も略等価になるため図２の透過光量保持率を用いることができる。
【００１６】
また、図４に示すように、発光素子７側に、カプラ１０を介在して、受光素子９を設けた構成としても良い。本構成で受光素子９は、ロープ１中のある箇所に集中的に白化が生じた場合、その散乱反射波を検出しするものである。この場合、発光素子７が発光してから、受光素子９が受光するまでの時間差から、集中的に白化が生じた位置の特定が可能となる。
【００１７】
図５は、本発明のロープ１の劣化状態検出方法を用いた、エレベータのロープ劣化状態判別演算装置の処理手順を示す。まず、図４に示したシステムを用いて、光ファイバ４の透過光量保持率を検出する。検出結果は、測定したロープ走行距離、延べ走行時間などと共に記録を行い、連続的な測定から得られるロープの劣化進行の経時的把握に活用される。また、この結果は、ロープの屈曲に伴う破断強度の低下、及び、ＰＯＦの屈曲に伴う透過光量保持率の低下のデータベースに基づいて、予め設定、記録された透過光量保持率の許容値と比較を行う。透過光量保持率の低下が許容値以内であれば、通常運転を継続する。許容値を超えた場合は、乗りかごを最寄り階に停止させ、運転を終了する。また、この結果は、エレベータの管理者に通報される。以上示したように、検出結果を随時記録し、データベースとの比較を行うことにより、ロープ１の劣化進行状態を、経時的に把握することができる。このため、予め、ロープ１の寿命を予測し、余裕を持った交換時期を決定することができ、製品の安全、信頼性を向上させることができる。
【００１８】
図６は、本発明の実施例であるロープ１を用いたエレベータの概略図である。ロープ式エレベータは電動機１１、シーブ１２、そらせ車１３からなる駆動装置を備え、シーブ１２に巻き掛けたロープ１の一方に乗りかご１４の荷重を、シーブ１２を介して他方にカウンタウェイト１５の荷重を作用させ、ロープ１とシーブ１２との間の摩擦により、乗りかご１４、カウンタウェイト１５を昇降させる機構を有している。ここで使用されるロープ１は、内部に光ファイバ４が配設されている。ロープ１の端部には、発光素子および受光素子ボックス１６が設置され、ロープ１の内部に配設された光ファイバ４の白化状態を検出する。また、図中省略したロープ劣化状態判別演算装置がエレベータに備えられている。なお、乗りかご１４にはかご位置検出器１７が設置され、光ファイバ４による白化状態の検出、すなわちロープ屈曲回数のモニタリングに併せて、乗りかご２の移動量から、ロープ１の各箇所ごとのシーブ通過回数、すなわち屈曲回数もモニタリングされても良い。
【００１９】
図７は本発明に係わるロープの劣化状態を検出する方法の一実施例であるロープ１８の断面図を示す。ロープ１８は、図３で示したロープ１の外層（ロープ被覆６の外側）に導電性材料から構成される導電性被覆１９と非導電性被覆２０を施したものである。導電性被覆１９は、導電性樹脂、金属網、金属線などから構成される。また、非導電性樹脂被覆２０は、ポリウレタン、ポリアミド、ポリエチレンなどの樹脂材料から構成される。また、ロープ１の寿命と比較して、非導電性樹脂被覆２０の摩耗が早く進むよう、すなわち、導電性被覆１９の露出が早くなるよう、最外層樹脂２０の材質、厚さは決定される。
【００２０】
図８は本発明に係わるロープ１８の劣化状態を検出する方法の一実施例である、ロープ１８中に配設された導電性被覆１９と、金属製シーブ２１との導通を検出するシステムを示す。ロープ１８の非導電性樹脂被覆２０が、金属シーブ２１との接触を繰り返し、摩耗が進むと、導電性被覆１９が露出し、金属シーブ２１と接触する。電源２２からの電流が、導電性被覆１９と金属シーブ２１との間で流れると、導通検出器２３が検出する。この検出結果を、図中省略した劣化状態判別演算装置が受け取り、先に述べた光ファイバの検出結果と合わせて、ロープ１８の廃棄時期を判別する。また、かご位置検出器１７からのロープ位置情報をもとに、ロープ１８の導電性被覆１９が露出した箇所を特定することができる。これらの検出結果は、図中省略した劣化状態判別演算装置から、エレベータ管理者に通報される。このように、最外層の被覆が破損した状況まで加味してロープの寿命を判断でき、寿命の判断精度が向上する。
【００２１】
本発明によるロープの劣化状態判別方法は、エレベータ以外の装置、例えば、クレーン、ダムウェータ、巻き上げ機など、動索としてのロープを使用する機械システムにも適用することができる。
【００２２】
【発明の効果】
本発明は、以上説明したように構成されているため、ロープの劣化進行状態をオンラインで連続的に把握することができ、ロープ交換、廃棄の時期を迅速に決定することができる。このため、エレベータなどの機械システムの安全性、信頼性を向上させることができる。また、ロープの劣化進行状態の記録、通報の自動化により、メンテナンスの省力化に効果がある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施例であるロープの劣化状態判別方法の、ロープ破断保持率と、屈曲回数の関係を示す概略図である。
【図２】本発明の一実施例であるロープの劣化状態判別方法の、光ファイバの透過光量保持率と屈曲回数の関係を示す概略図である。
【図３】本発明の一実施例であるロープの劣化状態判別方法の、ロープの断面図を示す概略図である。
【図４】本発明の一実施例であるロープの劣化状態を検出する方法の、ロープ中に配設された光ファイバの透過光量保持率を検出するシステムを示す概略図である。
【図５】本発明の一実施例であるロープの劣化状態を検出する方法を用いたエレベータの、ロープ劣化状態判別演算装置の処理手順を示す概略図である。
【図６】本発明の一実施例であるエレベータの概略図である。
【図７】本発明の一実施例であるロープの劣化状態判別方法の、ロープの断面図を示す概略図である。
【図８】本発明の一実施例であるロープ中に配設された導電性被覆と、金属製シーブとの導通を検出するシステムの概略図である。
【符号の説明】
１…ロープ、２…合成繊維、３…ストランド、４…光ファイバ、５…ストランド被覆、６…ロープ被覆、７…発光素子、８…コネクタ、９…受光素子、１０…カプラー、１１…電動機、１２…シーブ、１３…そらせ車、１４…乗りかご、１５…カウンタウェイト、１６…発光素子および受光素子ボックス、１７…かご位置検出器、１８…ロープ、１９…導電性被覆、２０…非導電性樹脂被覆、２１…金属製シーブ、２２…電源、２３…導通検出器。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rope used for an elevator or the like, and more particularly to a deterioration state determination method thereof and a rope type elevator using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a method for determining the life of a rope, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-182036, in a rope used for hoisting an elevator, a tube that does not hold a load is provided in the strand, and a discontinuous magnetic target is provided in the tube. , And a method of determining a discarding time of the rope by detecting a change in the distance between each target from a change in the magnetic field when the rope passes the detector. It is described that a monitor device that generates high-frequency radar light or laser light is installed to generate a beam in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the rope and the reflection from the target is measured. ing.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-261972 discloses that a conductive indicator fiber made of carbon fiber is twisted into a strand constituting a synthetic fiber cable, and a state of breaking is monitored by applying a voltage. Yes.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
To ensure safety, the deterioration of the rope must be detected properly. The rope administrator must know this before the rope can no longer be used. In particular, in order to prevent a sudden rope break or a sudden stoppage of the mechanical system using the rope, the progress of the rope deterioration must be continuously monitored online to grasp the changing state. Thereby, the rope as a consumable can be replaced systematically, and the safety and reliability as a mechanical system can be improved.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of determining the time of rope disposal and a device for reporting the same, by grasping the deterioration progress state of a rope that has repeatedly bent over time.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of determining a deterioration state of a rope used as a load supporting member in a location where bending repeatedly acts, wherein the rope uses a resin material as a core material in each strand. An optical fiber is provided, and includes a light emitting means at one end of the rope and a light receiving means at the other end, and transmission after repeating bending with respect to the transmitted light amount passing through the optical fiber before bending the rope. The ratio of the amount of light is used as a transmitted light amount retention rate, and a decrease in the breaking strength of the rope is detected based on the rope breakage strength and the transmitted light amount retention rate that are associated with the number of times of bending of the rope measured in advance through the sheave. .
[0007]
In the above, it is preferable that the rope is formed by twisting a plurality of strands of synthetic fiber, and the twist pitch of the optical fiber is shorter than the twist pitch of the synthetic fiber.
[0008]
Furthermore, the present invention provides an elevator in which a ride car and a counterweight are connected by a plurality of ropes, and the ropes are wound around a sheave and are frictionally driven. Transmitted light amount after repeated bending with respect to the transmitted light amount passing through the optical fiber before being provided with a light emitting means at one end of the rope and a light receiving means at the other end, and bending the rope The ratio of the transmitted light amount is determined, and a decrease in the breaking strength of the rope is detected from the breaking strength of the rope and the transmitted light amount retention rate according to the number of times of bending of the rope measured in advance through the sheave , and the transmitted light amount If the retention rate falls within the allowable value, the operation is continued, and if the allowable value is exceeded, the car is stopped on the nearest floor and the operation is terminated. A.
[0009]
Further, in the above, the rope includes a coating made of a conductive material on an outer layer and a coating made of a non-conductive resin material on an outermost layer, and the coating made of the conductive material of the rope and the metal sheave A power supply device, and a means for detecting conduction by contact with the coating made of the conductive material, contact with the metal sheave, means for recording the location of the conductive rope, and wear of the outermost resin coating Desirably, there is provided means for determining the disposal time from the deterioration and the light amount detection result of the optical fiber, and means for notifying the manager of the elevator that the continuity recording and the rope have reached the disposal time.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The deterioration of the rope can be expressed as a decrease in breaking strength. In particular, in the case of a synthetic fiber rope used as a moving cord, the fiber partially breaks due to the relative slip of the fibers due to bending as the rope passes through the sheave, and the breaking strength of the entire rope decreases. At this time, the maximum slip amount between the fibers increases with the rope diameter d, and decreases as the sheave diameter D increases. From this, for each combination of the rope diameter d and the sheave diameter D, a database of deterioration progression accompanying the passage of the rope sheave is created, and by detecting the history of the number of repeated bendings at the location where the rope is located, The deterioration state of the rope can be determined.
[0011]
For this reason, first, a decrease in the retention rate of the rope breaking strength with an increase in the number of times of rope bending was measured. FIG. 1 shows the experimental results. In FIG. 1, the horizontal axis represents the number of bendings, and the vertical axis represents the retention rate of the breaking strength. In this experiment, the rope was wound around the sheave 180 degrees, and the tension was 10% of the breaking strength of the rope, and the sheave was repeatedly passed. The rope used has a diameter of 10 mm, the sheaves have a diameter of 200 mm, and 300 mm, and the ratio D / d between the sheave diameter D and the rope diameter d, which is highly related to the rope life, is 20 and 30, respectively. When the number of times of bending reaches 10 3 times, 10 4 times, 10 5 times, 10 6 times, the breaking strength of the rope is measured with a tensile tester, and compared with the breaking strength in a state where it is not bent, Strength retention was obtained. From the experimental results, it can be seen that the strength retention rate decreases with an increase in the number of bendings, and the decrease rate is greater when D / d is 20 than when D / d is 30.
[0012]
Next, when a rope was used as a moving cord subjected to repeated bending and stretching, attention was paid to an optical fiber as a means for detecting a history of the number of bendings that a portion of the rope received, and its validity was verified. When a plastic optical fiber (POF) having a resin material such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as a core material is repeatedly bent, the core material is “whitened” and the amount of transmitted light is reduced. For this reason, it is possible to detect a decrease in the amount of transmitted light and to detect the bending history of the rope by arranging the POF in the rope, causing the bending of the POF itself and whitening.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows a decrease in the transmitted light amount retention rate as the number of bendings increases. In this experiment, POF having a diameter of 0.75 mm and a diameter of 1.0 mm was used, and the bending of 180 degrees around a cylinder with a curvature radius of 200 mm was repeated. When the number of bendings reaches 10 3 , 10 4 , 10 5 , 10 6 times, the transmitted light amount of POF is measured, and the transmitted light amount retention rate is obtained compared with the transmitted light amount before bending. It was. In both POFs with diameters of 2 mm and 3 mm, the transmitted light amount retention rate decreased as the number of bendings increased. As the diameter of the POF increases, the maximum generated bending stress also increases. Therefore, in the POF with a diameter of 3 mm, whitening proceeds more than with the POF with a diameter of 2 mm, and the decrease in the transmitted light amount retention rate is large. For this reason, if the diameter of the POF is appropriately selected from the sheave diameter to be used, the data of the rope breaking strength according to the number of times of bending of the rope measured in advance, and the data of the transmitted light amount retention rate of the POF disposed in the rope. , It is possible to detect a decrease in the breaking strength of the rope.
[0014]
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a rope 1 which is an embodiment of a method for detecting a deterioration state of a rope according to the present invention. The rope 1 is formed by twisting a plurality of strands 3 composed of synthetic fibers 2 such as aramid fibers. Each strand 3 is provided with an optical fiber 4. In this embodiment, a strand coating 5 made of a resin material such as polyethylene, polyamide, tetrafluoroethylene, or polyurethane is applied to the outermost layer of each strand 3. The outermost layer of the rope 1 is provided with a rope coating 6 made of a resin material such as polyurethane, polyamide, or polyethylene. The optical fiber 4 is preferably POF using PMMA as a core material. In addition, the twist pitch of the optical fiber 4 is made shorter than the twist pitch of the synthetic fiber 2 from the difference between the elastic modulus of the synthetic fiber 2 and the elastic modulus of the optical fiber 4 serving as a load supporting member in the rope 1. It is desirable to reduce the axial load. It is also possible to perform information communication using the optical fiber 4. The material constituting the strand 3 may be a steel wire instead of the synthetic fiber 2.
[0015]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for detecting the deterioration state of the rope 1 of the present invention. 1 shows a system for detecting a transmitted light amount retention rate of an optical fiber 4 disposed in a rope 1. The light emitting element 7 includes a light source such as a semiconductor laser, a light emitting diode, or a solid state laser, and is connected to one end side of the optical fiber 4 through the connector 8. The light transmitted through the optical fiber 4 is attenuated by whitening generated in the rope 1, and is attenuated by a light receiving element 9 such as a phototransistor, a pin-type photodiode, or an abalacin photodiode provided at the other end of the optical fiber 4. The amount of light is detected. The detected light amount is compared with the transmitted light amount retention rate shown in FIG. 2 and the intensity retention rate shown in FIG. 1 to determine the deterioration state of the rope 1. That is, if the optical fiber to be used is the same even if the rope length is changed, the amount of change before whitening and after whitening are substantially equivalent, so that the transmitted light amount retention rate of FIG. 2 can be used.
[0016]
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, it is good also as a structure which provided the light receiving element 9 via the coupler 10 in the light emitting element 7 side. In this configuration, the light receiving element 9 detects the scattered reflected wave when whitening occurs intensively at a certain location in the rope 1. In this case, it is possible to specify the position where whitening occurs intensively from the time difference from when the light emitting element 7 emits light until the light receiving element 9 receives light.
[0017]
FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure of an elevator rope deterioration state determination calculation device using the rope 1 deterioration state detection method of the present invention. First, the transmitted light amount retention rate of the optical fiber 4 is detected using the system shown in FIG. The detection result is recorded together with the measured rope travel distance, total travel time, etc., and is used for grasping the progress of the deterioration of the rope obtained from continuous measurement over time. In addition, this result is compared with the permissible value of the transmitted light amount retention ratio set and recorded in advance based on the database of the decrease in the breaking strength accompanying the bending of the rope and the decrease in the transmitted light amount retention ratio due to the bending of the POF. I do. If the decrease in the transmitted light amount retention rate is within the allowable value, the normal operation is continued. If the allowable value is exceeded, stop the car on the nearest floor and stop driving. This result is reported to the elevator administrator. As described above, it is possible to grasp the deterioration progress state of the rope 1 over time by recording the detection result as needed and comparing it with the database. For this reason, the lifetime of the rope 1 can be predicted in advance, and a replacement time with a margin can be determined, and the safety and reliability of the product can be improved.
[0018]
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an elevator using the rope 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The rope type elevator includes a driving device including an electric motor 11, a sheave 12, and a deflecting wheel 13. A load of the car 14 is applied to one of the ropes 1 wound around the sheave 12, and a load of the counterweight 15 is applied to the other through the sheave 12. And a mechanism for raising and lowering the car 14 and the counterweight 15 by friction between the rope 1 and the sheave 12. The rope 1 used here has an optical fiber 4 disposed therein. At the end of the rope 1, a light emitting element and a light receiving element box 16 are installed to detect the whitening state of the optical fiber 4 disposed inside the rope 1. In addition, the elevator is provided with a rope deterioration state determination calculation device omitted in the drawing. A car position detector 17 is installed in the car 14, and in accordance with the detection of the whitening state by the optical fiber 4, that is, the monitoring of the number of times the rope is bent, the moving amount of the car 2 is used for each location of the rope 1. The number of sheave passages, that is, the number of bendings may also be monitored.
[0019]
FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a rope 18 which is an embodiment of a method for detecting a deterioration state of a rope according to the present invention. The rope 18 is obtained by applying a conductive coating 19 and a non-conductive coating 20 made of a conductive material on the outer layer of the rope 1 shown in FIG. 3 (outside of the rope coating 6). The conductive coating 19 is made of a conductive resin, a metal net, a metal wire, or the like. The nonconductive resin coating 20 is made of a resin material such as polyurethane, polyamide, or polyethylene. Further, the material and thickness of the outermost resin layer 20 are determined so that the wear of the non-conductive resin coating 20 proceeds faster than the life of the rope 1, that is, the exposure of the conductive coating 19 is accelerated. .
[0020]
FIG. 8 shows a system for detecting the conduction between the conductive sheath 19 disposed in the rope 18 and the metal sheave 21 as an embodiment of the method for detecting the deterioration state of the rope 18 according to the present invention. . When the non-conductive resin coating 20 of the rope 18 repeats contact with the metal sheave 21 and wear progresses, the conductive coating 19 is exposed and contacts the metal sheave 21. When the current from the power source 22 flows between the conductive coating 19 and the metal sheave 21, the continuity detector 23 detects. This detection result is received by the deterioration state determination arithmetic unit omitted in the drawing, and the discard time of the rope 18 is determined together with the detection result of the optical fiber described above. Further, based on the rope position information from the car position detector 17, it is possible to specify the location where the conductive coating 19 of the rope 18 is exposed. These detection results are reported to the elevator manager from the deterioration state determination arithmetic unit omitted in the figure. In this way, the life of the rope can be determined in consideration of the situation where the outermost layer coating is broken, and the life determination accuracy is improved.
[0021]
The method for determining the deterioration state of a rope according to the present invention can also be applied to a machine system that uses a rope as a moving cable, such as a device other than an elevator, for example, a crane, a damway, a hoisting machine, and the like.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the progress of rope deterioration can be continuously grasped online, and the time for rope replacement and disposal can be quickly determined. For this reason, the safety and reliability of a mechanical system such as an elevator can be improved. In addition, it is effective in saving maintenance by recording the progress of deterioration of the rope and automating the notification.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a rope breakage retention rate and the number of bendings in a method for determining a deterioration state of a rope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the transmitted light amount retention rate of an optical fiber and the number of bendings in a method for determining a deterioration state of a rope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a rope in a method for determining a deterioration state of a rope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a system for detecting a transmitted light amount retention rate of an optical fiber disposed in a rope in a method for detecting a deterioration state of a rope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a processing procedure of an elevator rope deterioration state determination calculation device for an elevator using a method for detecting a rope deterioration state according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a rope in a method for determining a deterioration state of a rope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a system for detecting conduction between a conductive sheath disposed in a rope and a metal sheave according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Rope, 2 ... Synthetic fiber, 3 ... Strand, 4 ... Optical fiber, 5 ... Strand coating, 6 ... Rope coating, 7 ... Light emitting element, 8 ... Connector, 9 ... Light receiving element, 10 ... Coupler, 11 ... Electric motor, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Sheave, 13 ... Baffle wheel, 14 ... Riding car, 15 ... Counterweight, 16 ... Light emitting element and light receiving element box, 17 ... Car position detector, 18 ... Rope, 19 ... Conductive coating, 20 ... Non-conductive Resin coating, 21 ... metal sheave, 22 ... power supply, 23 ... continuity detector.

Claims (4)

乗りかごとカウンターウェイトが、複数のロープにより連結され、該ロープをシーブに巻きかけて摩擦駆動するエレベータに使用されるロープの劣化状態を判別する方法において、
前記ロープは各ストランド内に樹脂材料をコア材とした光ファイバが配設され、前記ロープの一端に発光手段を、他端に受光手段とを備え、
前記ロープの屈曲を与える前の前記光ファイバ内を通過する透過光量に対する屈曲を繰り返した後の透過光量の比を透過光量保持率とし、予め測定した前記ロープの前記シーブ通過による屈曲回数に伴う前記ロープの破断強度と前記透過光量保持率とより前記ロープの破断強度の低下を検出することを特徴としたロープの劣化状態判別方法。 In a method for determining a deterioration state of a rope used in an elevator in which a ride weight and a counterweight are connected by a plurality of ropes, and the ropes are wound around a sheave and driven by friction ,
The rope is provided with an optical fiber having a resin material as a core material in each strand, and includes a light emitting means at one end of the rope and a light receiving means at the other end,
The ratio of the transmitted light amount after repeating the bending with respect to the transmitted light amount that passes through the optical fiber before bending the rope is defined as the transmitted light amount retention rate, and the rope is associated with the number of times the rope is bent by the sheave passage measured in advance. A method for determining a deterioration state of a rope, comprising detecting a decrease in the breaking strength of the rope based on a breaking strength of the rope and the transmitted light amount retention rate. 請求項１記載のロープの劣化状態判別方法において、前記ロープは、合成繊維の前記ストランドが複数本撚り合わされ、前記光ファイバの撚りピッチは、合成繊維の撚りピッチよりも短くされたことを特徴としたロープの劣化状態判別方法。  The rope deterioration state determining method according to claim 1, wherein the rope is formed by twisting a plurality of strands of synthetic fiber, and a twist pitch of the optical fiber is shorter than a twist pitch of the synthetic fiber. To determine the deterioration state of the rope. 乗りかごとカウンターウェイトが、複数のロープにより連結され、該ロープをシーブに巻きかけて摩擦駆動するエレベータにおいて、
前記ロープを構成する各ストランドに樹脂材料をコア材とした光ファイバが配設され、前記ロープの一端に発光手段を、他端に受光手段とを備え、
前記ロープの屈曲を与える前の前記光ファイバ内を通過する透過光量に対する屈曲を繰り返した後の透過光量の比を透過光量保持率とし、予め測定した前記ロープの前記シーブ通過による屈曲回数に伴う前記ロープの破断強度と前記透過光量保持率とより前記ロープの破断強度の低下を検出し、前記透過光量保持率の低下が許容値以内であれば運転を継続し、許容値を超えた場合は、前記乗りかごを最寄り階に停止させ、運転を終了することを特徴とするエレベータ。In an elevator in which a car and a counterweight are connected by a plurality of ropes and are frictionally driven by winding the ropes around a sheave,
Each strand constituting the rope is provided with an optical fiber having a resin material as a core material, and includes a light emitting means at one end of the rope and a light receiving means at the other end,
The ratio of the transmitted light amount after repeating the bending with respect to the transmitted light amount that passes through the optical fiber before bending the rope is defined as the transmitted light amount retention rate, and the rope is associated with the number of times the rope is bent by the sheave passage measured in advance. By detecting a decrease in the breaking strength of the rope from the breaking strength of the rope and the transmitted light amount retention rate, the operation is continued if the decrease in the transmitted light amount retention rate is within an allowable value, and when the allowable value is exceeded, An elevator characterized in that the car is stopped at the nearest floor and the operation is terminated. 請求項３記載のエレベータにおいて、前記ロープは、外層に導電性材料の被覆と、最外層に非導電性の樹脂材料からなる被覆を施し、前記ロープの導電性材料からなる被覆と前記金属製シーブとの間に電源装置を備え、前記導電性材料からなる被覆と、前記金属製のシーブとの接触による導通を検出する手段と、導通したロープ箇所を記録する手段と、前記最外層樹脂被覆の摩耗、劣化と前記光ファイバの光量検出結果とから廃棄時期を判定する手段と、前記導通記録、及びロープが廃棄時期に至ったことをエレベータの管理者に伝える手段とを備えたことを特徴としたエレベータ。  4. The elevator according to claim 3, wherein the rope includes a coating made of a conductive material on an outer layer and a coating made of a non-conductive resin material on an outermost layer, and the coating made of the conductive material of the rope and the metal sheave. Between the coating made of the conductive material, means for detecting conduction due to contact with the metal sheave, means for recording the conductive rope location, and the outermost resin coating A means for determining a disposal time from wear and deterioration and a light amount detection result of the optical fiber, and a means for notifying an elevator administrator that the conduction record and the rope have reached the disposal time. Elevator.
JP2000128947A 2000-04-25 2000-04-25 Rope degradation state determination method and elevator using the same Expired - Fee Related JP3896764B2 (en)

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