KR100830259B1 - Guide rail for an elevator system - Google Patents

Abstract

The guide rail 24 for an elevator system includes an aluminum body having a base portion 30 and a nose portion 32. The covering 40, made of steel sheet as an example, covers the distal end 36 of the nose portion 32 to provide a braking surface for a conventional braking device for selectively preventing movement of the elevator car 22. do. In one example, the high temperature bonding material 42 secures the covering to the nose portion of the guide rail. In one example, the guide rail body is made of extruded aluminum and the covering comprises steel.

Guide rail, base portion, nose section, elevator car, covering, braking surface

Description

Guide Rail for Elevator System {GUIDE RAIL FOR AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a guide rail for an elevator system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an elevator rail having a wear resistant material on at least a portion of the rail and made of a lightweight material.

The elevator system generally includes a guide rail for guiding the movement of the car at the hatch. Conventional guide rails are made of steel. Steel guide rails provide a stable structure that can provide the necessary guiding function and provide a braking surface, but these are not without drawbacks. Steel guide rails are heavy and relatively expensive. With regard to the process of installing an elevator system, most of the installation time is spent installing guide rails. If steel guide rails are used, their properties that are hard to differ from their weights incur additional labor costs. In addition, as the elevator car moves, the guide rollers move along the slide surface, which must be machined into steel using a separate mechanical process.

One attempt to circumvent the use of steel guide rails has been to use aluminum guide rails. A significant drawback with aluminum guide rails is that aluminum materials do not have sufficient durability to withstand the surface forces associated with elevator braking operations. This is particularly important for stable braking if the elevator car moves at high speed before stopping. The heat associated with the braking operation can reach the melting point of aluminum, which significantly reduces the function of the rail. In addition, conventional braking materials used in elevator systems are hard and leave marks on the surface of the aluminum rail. Thus, although aluminum rails provide cost savings and improved sliding surfaces in terms of materials and installation, they typically do not provide the proper properties required for elevator system operation.

The present invention provides the possibility of using an aluminum guide rail structure that can withstand the conditions associated with braking applications in an elevator system.

In general, the present invention relates to dissimilar material guide rails that are more economical and durable as conventional steel rails.

An example guide rail designed in accordance with the present invention comprises a body made of a first material. The body includes a nose portion that provides a guiding surface, and the guide roller moves along the guiding surface while the elevator car is moving. The second material covering extends to at least a portion of the nose portion to provide a braking surface, and the elevator braking component operates against the braking surface during braking use.

In one example, the guide rail body is made of aluminum and the cover is made of steel.

In one example, the binder secures the steel covering to the appropriate portion of the aluminum guide rail. In one example, the binder is thermally conductive and assists in the dissipation of heat that may accumulate in the braking member during braking applications.

In one example, the covering is a long curved clip made of a steel sheet, which closely surrounds the braking zone of the nose portion of the aluminum guide rail. The covering provides a durable steel surface in direct contact with the brake pads. In one example, the shaped steel sheet extends continuously along the entire length of the guide rail.

The guide rail designed in accordance with the present invention provides all the advantages of using a lightweight material such as aluminum to provide a guide rail body and also provide the durability associated with steel guide rails in braking applications.

Various features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the preferred embodiments of the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described below.

1 schematically and schematically illustrates selected components of an elevator system designed according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary guide rail embodiment seen along line 2-2 of FIG.

3 shows selected portions in the embodiment of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a guide rail designed according to the present invention, similar to the figure of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment, similar to the diagram of FIG.

Figure 6 schematically shows a perspective view of another exemplary cover useful for an embodiment of a guide rail designed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment incorporating the cover shown in FIG. 6, similar to that of FIG.

8 schematically illustrates part of an exemplary installation process.

1 schematically shows an elevator system 20 in which a car 22 is guided by a guide rail 24 and supported for vertical movement. The plurality of mounting brackets 26 secure the guide rails 24 in a predetermined position in the hatch (not shown) in a known manner.

As best understood from FIGS. 2 and 4, the guide rail 24 is made of two different materials. The body of the guide rail comprises a base portion 30 adapted to be secured against the stop surface 28 of the hatch, for example using a conventional mounting bracket. The nose portion 32 extends in a direction away from the base portion. In the example of Figure 2, the guide rail has a T-shaped cross section.

The nose portion 32 provides a guide surface 34 on the opposite side of the nose portion 32. The guide surface is configured to receive, for example, a conventional guide roller that travels along the guide surface 34 to achieve a desired movement of the elevator car 22.

The distal end 36 of the nose portion 32 provides a braking surface that acts against the braking surface such that the braking device 38 stops the movement of the elevator car 22 in a conventional manner. As best understood from FIG. 3, the covering 40 made of a material different from the body of the guide rail covers at least a portion of the distal end 36 of the nose portion 32. In this example, the covering 40 comprises a steel sheet formed as a clip fitted to the distal end 36 of the nose portion 32.

In one example, the covering 40 comprises steel, while the guide rail body comprises aluminum.

In this embodiment, the bonding agent 42 is positioned between the covering 40 and the nose portion 32 to secure the covering 40 in place. The bonding agent is preferably selected to provide sufficient shear strength to avoid any relative longitudinal movement between the distal end 36 of the nose portion 32 and the covering 40. In one example, thermally conductive binders are used to dissipate heat associated with braking applications. Examples of binders useful for guide rails designed in accordance with the present invention include adhesives (eg, polymeric adhesives), concrete and concrete adhesives.

In one example, the hot joining material is evenly distributed throughout the contact area between the steel covering 40 and the aluminum nose portion 32. The bonding material preferably has a high compressive strength to prevent any breakdown that may occur in response to the compaction forces associated with braking acting on the covering 40 on the rail 24. Covering 40 provides a durable surface for direct contact with conventional elevator system braking pads.

In one example, the covering 40 is basically a clip formed from a continuously curved roll of sheet metal, providing a continuous braking surface along the entire longitudinal length of the rail 24. In one example, a clip of sheet steel is formed at an elevator system installation location from a roll of sheet metal, for example using conventional forming tools.

During operation of the braking device 38, the braking pads 44 engage the outer surface of the covering. Heat generated at the interface between the pad 44 and the covering 40 is distributed along the length of the rail on which braking is performed. However, when the elevator car 22 stops, a significant amount of concentrated heat typically accumulates in the control pad 44. The so-called "soak-back" effect quickly transfers heat to the part of the rail 24 and the brake pad 44 is located therein. In one example, covering 40 and bonding material 42 provide thermal resistance between the nose portion 32 of the aluminum rail and the braking pad surface. Since the rail body has good thermal conductivity, the thickness of the insulation provided by the covering 40 and the bonding material 42 can be relatively small. As is known, high speed elevators will generate more heat in braking applications. Thus, the thickness of the covering 40 can be selected based on the predetermined operating parameters of the elevator system. One of ordinary skill in the art having a broad knowledge of the present description, to some extent, the thickness of the covering 40 and the joining material 42 to prevent any softening of aluminum and the rails to dissipate thermal energy at a predetermined rate. May determine that it will fully mitigate the maximum heat transfer associated with the soak back effect.

The bonding material 42 may be softened by the soak back but is reclaimed after this heat cycle. Such material may be mechanically trapped in the steel clip 40 on the aluminum extrudate upon installation. In this embodiment and as schematically shown in Figure 8, after everything is in place (i.e. after the rail body is installed in the hatch), the robotic tool 100 proceeds along the rail, thus The interface is heated and the joint between steel and aluminum is cast to form the correct tolerance.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, an exemplary rail nose portion 32 includes a plurality of recesses 50 spaced longitudinally along the rail. The covering 40 includes a protrusion 52 that extends at least partially towards the recess to secure the covering 40 to the end 36 of the nose portion 32. The protrusion 52 can be formed by modifying or crimping the appropriate portion of the covering to establish the desired engagement.

4 shows another exemplary embodiment in which the nose portion 32 extends away from the base portion 30 at an oblique angle. The use of aluminum as the material for forming the body of the rails enables the customization of the final shape of the rails without any machining work, which increases design flexibility and improves the economics of the system. Possible structures include ka and single rail extrudates having counterweight guides integrated into the single rail extrudate. The apparatus of FIG. 4 provides two guide surfaces 34 having different lengths, and a braking surface provided by a covering 40 over the distal end 36 of the nose portion 32 and misaligned guide rollers 46. ) Moves along the two guide surfaces 34.

5 shows another exemplary embodiment in which the nose portion 32 comprises a plurality of recesses 50 longitudinally spaced along the rail, similar to the recess shown in FIG. In this embodiment, no adhesive is present between the steel cover 40 and the distal end 36 of the nose portion 32. An insulating layer 60 composed of a fabric layer comprising a fiber mesh provides a high temperature insulation on the inner side between the covering 40 and the nose portion 32. The fiber mesh comprises a glass fiber fabric. The insulating layer 60 prevents excessive heat transfer of the exemplary nose portion 32 to the aluminum material.

In this embodiment, the steel covering 40 is swaged or otherwise at least partially deformed in the recess 50 so that the covering 40 is fixed in a predetermined position.

Another embodiment involves the use of concrete as a binder to secure the covering 40 to the nose portion 32. 6 shows an example covering 40 made of a curved steel sheet. In this embodiment, the plurality of openings 62 are formed in the covering 40. As clearly shown in FIG. 7, the binder 42 extends into the opening to effectively fill the opening 62. In the present embodiment, the binder 42 is concrete. Allowing the extension of the concrete to the opening 62 provides a compressive property upon loading to provide a firm bond that resists braking force.

In one example designed according to the teachings of FIGS. 6 and 7, any excess concrete extending from the hole 62 after the concrete 42 is supplied between the nose portion 32 and the inside of the covering 40 '. Is wiped off, thus ensuring an adequate continuity outer surface along the corresponding portion of the guide rail assembly.

In another embodiment, the inner surface of the covering 40 and the outer surface of the nose portion 32 are treated such that these surfaces are roughened. This rough surface enhances the function of the binder, such as concrete, to improve the compression loading to these surface defects, thus providing the best bonding between the covering and the rail nose portion.

An important advantage of the present invention is that it enables the use of aluminum to form a rail body while simultaneously resisting the forces associated with conventional braking applications in elevator systems. The extruded aluminum can, for example, produce the rail into the final shape without any machining required for the guide surface. The ability to mount the rails in the hatch is enhanced because of the lightweight aluminum, and the additional ease of installation reduces the costs associated with the labor required to install the elevator system. In addition, lightweight rails enable the use of long rails without, for example, increasing shipping costs. The long rail reduces the amount of seams along the rail in the building, which improves the economics of the system and improves the ride comfort of the elevator car.

  The above description is only an example, but is not limited thereto. Modifications and variations of the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can be determined by reviewing the following claims.

Claims (21)

Guide rail 24 for the elevator system, A first material body having a nose portion 32, A second material 40 fixed to at least a portion of the nose portion, An insulating layer 60 between the nose portion 32 and the second material 40, And a second material comprising steel. The guide rail of claim 1, wherein the second material extends along the entire longitudinal length of the guide rail to form a covering (40) covering at least a portion of the nose portion (32). The guide rail of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a steel sheet (40) shaped to coincide with the nose portion (32) and comprises a binder (42) between the steel sheet and the nose portion. The guide rail of claim 1, wherein the nose portion (32) comprises at least one recess (50) and the second material has a portion (52) extending at least partially into the recess. delete The guide rail of claim 1, wherein the insulation layer (60) comprises a fiber mesh. The guide rail of claim 6 wherein the fiber mesh comprises a glass fiber fabric. Guide rail 24 for the elevator system, A first material body having a nose portion 32, A second material 40 fixed to at least a portion of the nose portion, A binder 42 for fixing the second material to the nose portion; The guide rail 42 comprises at least one of adhesive or concrete. delete Guide rail 24 for the elevator system, A first material body having a nose portion 32, A second material 40 fixed to at least a portion of the nose portion 32, An insulating layer 60 between the nose portion 32 and the second material, The nose portion 32 has a braking zone adjacent the end portion 36 of the nose portion with a guide surface 34 on the opposite side of the nose portion, and the second material is present only in the braking region of the nose portion 32. Guide rail. A guide rail as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second material is a covering (40) comprising a steel sheet extending over a braking zone on each side of the nose portion (32). 12. A guide rail as claimed in claim 11, wherein the covering (40) extends along the entire longitudinal length of the nose portion (32). Guide rail 24 for the elevator system, A first material body having a nose portion 32, A second material 40 fixed to at least a portion of the nose portion 32, The body includes a base portion 30 configured to be secured to the stop structure, The nose portion 32 extends in a direction away from the base portion at an oblique angle, The nose portion 32 comprises a guide surface 34 having a different length, The guide surface 34 is configured to engage with misaligned guide rollers 46. It is a manufacturing method of the guide rail 24 for elevator systems, Forming a rail body using a first material comprising aluminum; Covering at least a portion of the rail with a second material comprising steel, Including an insulating layer (60) between the first material and the second material. The method of claim 14 comprising forming an elongated clip (40) comprising a second material and subsequently placing the clip over a corresponding portion of the rail body. The method of claim 14 including forming a portion of the second material to extend into at least one recess (50) on the rail body. 15. The method of claim 14 comprising installing a rail body in the hatch and subsequently moving the tool 100 along the rail body installed to secure the second material covering 40 in place. . 18. The method of claim 17 including using an automated robot (100) to climb along the rails. It is a manufacturing method of the guide rail 24 for elevator systems, Forming a rail body using a first material; Covering at least a portion of the rail body with a second material; Securing the second material to the rail body using the bonding agent 42, The binder (42) comprises at least one of an adhesive or concrete. delete The guide rail of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises aluminum.

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