KR20080066754A - Elevator load bearing assembly including different sized load bearing members - Google Patents

Abstract

An elevator system (20) load bearing assembly (30) includes a plurality of load bearing members (32-38). At least one of the load bearing members (32-38) has a load carrying capacity that is different than at least one other of the load bearing members (32-38). A disclosed example includes equal numbers of load bearing members (32, 38) having a first load carrying capacity and equal numbers of load bearing members (34, 36) having a second, different load carrying capacities. Another example includes at least three different load carrying capacities. With the disclosed examples, the aggregate load carrying capacity of an elevator load bearing assembly (30) can more closely meet the load carrying requirements for a given elevator system without over-roping the system.

Description

ELEVATOR LOAD BEARING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING DIFFERENT SIZED LOAD BEARING MEMBERS}

The present invention relates generally to elevator systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to load bearing assemblies for elevator systems.

Elevator systems are widely used and take various forms. Many elevator systems include elevator cars and counterweights that are coupled together by a load bearing assembly. Typically, steel ropes have been used to support each load to couple the car and counterweight and provide the desired movement of the elevator car. More recently, alternative load bearing members have been proposed. One example includes a flat belt comprising a plurality of tension members encased in a jacket. One example includes steel cords as tension members and polyurethane material as a jacket.

Regardless of the type of load bearing assembly, elevator systems are designed with multiple load bearing members to provide adequate load bearing capability and to meet appropriate safety codes. Typical configurations include over-roping the system such that the overall capability of the load bearing assembly exceeds the capability required to meet appropriate criteria. Over-ropping with steel ropes was not usually of major concern. New alternative load bearing members tend to be much more expensive than steel ropes, thus becoming a new concern in the situation of over-ropping the elevator system. More expensive load bearing members add cost to elevator systems when the systems are over-ropped.

There is a need to strategically rove the elevator system to more closely match the actual load bearing capacity of the load bearing assembly to the requirements of a particular system.

The above needs of the present invention are addressed.

An exemplary disclosed load bearing assembly for use in an elevator system includes a plurality of load bearing members, wherein at least one of the load bearing members has a different load bearing capability than the remaining load bearing members.

One example system includes a plurality of flat belt load bearing members. At least one of the flat belts has a different load bearing capacity than the other flat belts.

In the disclosed example, flat belts include a plurality of tension members encased in a jacket. At least one of the flat belts has a different number of tension members compared to the remaining flat belts.

According to the disclosed examples, it is possible to more accurately rope the elevator system, thereby avoiding over-ropping. Reduction of the roping material costs associated with it provides significant cost savings with respect to installing and maintaining elevator systems.

Those skilled in the art will clearly understand the various features and advantages of the present invention from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

1 schematically depicts selected portions of an exemplary elevator system employing a load support assembly designed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

2 schematically illustrates selected features of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

3 schematically illustrates an exemplary plurality of load bearing members useful within an embodiment of the present invention;

4A and 4B illustrate exemplary terminations useful in one embodiment of the present invention.

1 schematically shows selected portions of an elevator system 20. The elevator car 22 and counterweight 24 are coupled together and supported by the load support assembly 30. The example shown includes a plurality of load bearing members 32, 34, 36, and 38. In one particular example, each load bearing member comprises a generally flat belt.

The load support assembly 30 supports their weights, for example, when the car 22 and counterweight 24 move in the hoistway. The example shown is one or more drive sheaves 42 (often referred to as traction sibras) for moving the load bearing assembly 30 to allow for the desired movement of the car 22 and the corresponding movement of the counterweight 24. And a drive mechanism 40 comprising a).

One feature of the example shown is that not all of the individual load bearing members 32-38 are the same. In this example, at least one of the load bearing members 32-38 has a different load bearing capability than the rest of the load bearing members 32-38. Typically, load bearing assemblies used load bearing members of the same size throughout the entire assembly. In this example, one or more different sized load bearing members are used to be able to customize the total load bearing capacity of the entire load bearing assembly 30 to more closely meet the requirements for a particular elevator system. do.

2 schematically shows an exemplary configuration in which each of the load bearing members 32 and 38 has a first load bearing capability. Each of the load bearing members 34 and 36 has a relatively low second load bearing capability compared to the first load bearing members 32 and 38. In one example, the load bearing members have load bearing capabilities that are integral multiples of each other. In another example, various increments of load bearing capacities are used for more specific changes in total load bearing assembly capability. In one example, the load bearing members 32 and 38 have a capacity of 64 KN, while the load bearing members 34 and 36 have a capacity of 32 KN, respectively. In another example, there is a ratio of approximately 1: 1.6 between the capabilities of different size load bearing members.

The use of a ratio of approximately 1: 1.6 between different load carrying capacities provides the advantage of more precise matching of the strength of the overall load bearing member applied with the overall strength required for a given elevator system. Table 1 shows an exemplary range of possible overall application strengths in the range from 300 kN to 800 kN.

As can be understood from Table 1, the strength ratio between the load supporting members LBM in the second row and the load supporting members in the third row is 1: 1.6. Using this ratio between load bearing capacities, a total of 17 strengths shown in Table 1 can be selectively obtained respectively. If you design an elevator that includes only one strength belt and only 100 kN or 160 kN belts are the only options available, only eight options are possible in Table 1. If a difference in integer multiples between belt intensities (eg 100 kN belts and 200 kN belts) is chosen, then only six of the options shown in Table 1 are possible. Thus, using the ratio between the load bearing capacities of different sized load bearing members such as 1: 1.6, the load bearing capacity of the load bearing member assembly 30 and the actual requirements for the elevator system are more precisely matched. Provide greater degrees of freedom.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, there are even load bearing members each having different capabilities. Some examples include only one load bearing member having a different load bearing capability compared to others. Another example includes three or more different load bearing capabilities between load bearing members. In one example, each load bearing member has a different load bearing capability. Given this description, those skilled in the art will be able to select an appropriate combination of load bearing members to meet the needs of their particular circumstances.

3 schematically shows an example configuration of the load bearing members 36 and 38. In this example, the load bearing member 36 has a load bearing capacity of approximately one half of the load bearing member 38. Each load bearing member in this example has a plurality of tension members 50 encased within the jacket 52. One example includes steel cords and polyurethane jacket 52 as tension members 50. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the load bearing member 38 has twice as much tension members 50 as the load bearing member 36. The illustrated load bearing member 38 has twice the load bearing capacity of the load bearing member 36.

One advantage of the disclosed example is that by using a flat belt load bearing member, no modification to the drive sheave is required even when load bearing members of different sizes are used. In other words, the width of the belt does not affect the diameter of the sheave required to drive the elevator system. Similarly, belts of different widths may follow the same sheave surface geometry so that no special sheave design or modification is needed to accommodate belts of different sizes.

This is not suitable for load bearing members which are not generally flat. For example, if mixing steel ropes of different sizes in an elevator system, different sizes of sheaves are required for each different size of rope, which is impractical. Sheaves require different diameters and different groove structures, for example, to accommodate ropes of different sizes. Even "V" shaped grooves will not function well because the effective sheave diameter changes when the rope diameter changes between mixed ropes. One advantage of the example shown is that no modification is required to the drive sheave to accommodate load bearing members of different sizes.

One embodiment of load bearing members of different sizes comprises maintaining the same stress level on each load bearing member. In typical elevator systems, the terminations typically include springs for adjusting the tension on each load bearing member. If all load bearing members are the same, the same tension can be applied across the load bearing members to obtain a uniform stress distribution. The conventional technique for obtaining the same tension is to configure the terminations so that when installed they can adjust the springs to the same length or the same height to obtain the same desired tension. This allows the installer to visually observe the position of the termination components to achieve the same length required. In many cases, the top of the spring of each termination is aligned with the top of all other springs.

In the case of introducing load bearing members of different sizes with different load bearing capabilities, this technique is not naturally available. For example, load bearing members of different sizes will require different tensions. In order to facilitate the installation of a system incorporating embodiments of the present invention, one example includes a modified termination device that accommodates load bearing members of different sizes while maintaining convenience for system installers or maintenance managers.

4A and 4B show example terminations 60a and 60b, respectively. In this example, termination 60a is useful, and load bearing member 36 has a capacity of 100 kN in one example. Termination 60b is useful, and load bearing member 38 has a load bearing capability of 160 kN in the same example. Terminations 60a and 60b function in a known manner to secure the end of the corresponding load bearing member to the structure selected in the elevator system. Each termination includes a spring for adjusting the tension on the corresponding load bearing member. The spring rates of the spring 62a and the spring 62b are different and proportional to the load bearing capacity of the corresponding load bearing members. The adjustment of the springs 62a and 62b will not naturally provide the same length if they are properly adjusted to obtain the desired tension on the load bearing members.

In the examples shown, each spring is included between bushings 64 and 66. The tension is adjusted by manually manipulating the nuts 68 in a known manner to adjust the position of the bushing 66 relative to the bushing 64.

In this example, spring 62b is longer than spring 62a when the desired tension is set on that spring. Given that terminations 60a and 60b have the same overall length (eg OAL = OLB), the tops (according to the drawing) of springs 62a and 62b would have assumed that the terminations were aligned in a known manner. When they are not aligned with each other. The example shown includes a spacer 70 provided with a termination 60a to change the position of the nuts 68 relative to the bushing 66. When both terminations are adjusted to the desired tension, the spacer 70 is spring-loaded so that the nuts 68 on the termination 60a are in the same position (vertical in the drawing) as the positions of the nuts 68 on the termination 60b. Configure the length difference between 62a and 62b. This example allows the installer or maintenance technician to visually confirm that the position of the nuts 68 are aligned on the terminations 60a, 60b so that the tensions on the respective load bearing members can be set to the desired level. Make sure

Given different load bearing members of different sizes, different sizes and spring ratios of different springs, and the desired tension on each load bearing member, the size of the spacer 70 necessary to achieve the desired alignment of the nuts 68 is pre-set. Can be determined. For example, spacers 70 of appropriate size may be included on appropriate terminations during manufacture or installation. The illustrated example makes it possible to conveniently obtain the tensions needed to accommodate different sized load bearing members, while at the same time providing convenience for elevator system installers and maintenance managers to adjust the terminations.

The above description is basically illustrative rather than limiting. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that variations and modifications to the examples shown do not depart from the spirit of the invention. The scope of legal protection given for this invention can only be determined by analyzing subsequent claims.

Claims (26)

In a load support assembly for use in an elevator system, And a plurality of load bearing members, wherein at least one of the load bearing members has a load bearing ability different from that of the remaining load bearing members of at least one of the load bearing members. The method of claim 1, And the load bearing members comprise flat belts. The method of claim 2, And the load bearing members comprise a plurality of tension members encased in the jacket. The method of claim 1, And a different number of tension members of said one load support member relative to said at least one remaining load support member. The method of claim 1, And the load bearing capacity of the one load supporting member is an integral multiple of the at least one remaining load supporting member load bearing capacity. The method of claim 1, And a ratio of 1: 1.6 exists between the load bearing capacity of the one load supporting member and the load bearing capacity of the one or more remaining load supporting members. The method of claim 1, Each of the load bearing members having a different load bearing capability for the remaining load bearing members. The method of claim 1, And a load bearing member having a same number of first load bearing capacities and second different load bearing capacities. The method of claim 1, A first termination associated with the work load support member and having a spring for establishing a first tension on the work load support member; And And a second termination associated with said at least one remaining load bearing member and having a spring for creating a second different tension on said at least one remaining load bearing member. The method of claim 9, And the difference between the first tension and the second tension corresponds to a difference in load bearing capacity of the associated load bearing members. The method of claim 9, The spring of the first termination has a first length at which the first tension is established, The spring of the second termination has a second shorter length in which the second tension is established; And the second termination comprises a spacer member having a length corresponding to the difference between the first length and the second length. The method of claim 11, Each termination includes an adjustment member near one end of the termination to adjust a corresponding tension on the associated load bearing member, wherein the adjustment member of the first termination is such that the first tension and the second tension are established. And align with the adjustment member of the second termination. In an elevator system, Elevator car; Counterweight; And A load support assembly coupling the elevator car and the counterweight; The load bearing assembly comprises a plurality of load bearing members comprising at least one load bearing member, wherein the at least one load bearing member has a different load bearing capacity than at least one remaining load bearing member of the load bearing members. Elevator system. The method of claim 13, And said load bearing members comprise flat belts. The method of claim 14, And said load bearing members comprise a plurality of tension members encased in a jacket. The method of claim 13, An elevator system, characterized in that there are different numbers of tension members of said one load bearing member relative to said at least one remaining load bearing members. The method of claim 16, And the load bearing capacity of the one load supporting member is an integer multiple of the load bearing capacity of the one or more remaining load supporting members. The method of claim 13, And a ratio of 1: 1.6 exists between the load bearing capacity of the one load supporting member and the load bearing capacity of the one or more remaining load supporting members. The method of claim 13, A first termination associated with the work load support member and having a spring for establishing a first tension on the work load support member; And And a second termination associated with said at least one remaining load bearing member and having a spring for creating a second different tension on said at least one remaining load bearing member. The method of claim 19, And the difference between the first tension and the second tension corresponds to the difference in load bearing capacity of the associated load bearing members. The method of claim 19, The spring of the first termination has a first length at which the first tension is established, The spring of the second termination has a second shorter length in which the second tension is established; And said second termination comprises a spacer member having a length corresponding to a difference between said first length and said second length. The method of claim 21, Each termination includes an adjustment member near one end of the termination to adjust a corresponding tension on the associated load bearing member, wherein the adjustment member of the first termination is such that the first tension and the second tension are established. And an alignment member of the second termination. In the elevator system configuration method, Determining load bearing capacity required for the elevator system; And Selecting a plurality of load bearing members to provide the required load bearing capability, wherein at least one of the load bearing members has a different load bearing capability than the remaining load bearing members of at least one of the load bearing members. Characterized in that the method. The method of claim 23, Selecting at least three different load bearing capacities. The method of claim 23, Wherein a ratio of 1: 1.6 exists between the different load bearing capacities. The method of claim 23, Wherein said different load bearing capacities are integer multiples of each other.

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