SE1750344A1 - Elevator cabin assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Cabin assembly (10) for an elevator system, the cabin assembly (10) comprising a cabin (12), a chassis (14) configured to rotationally support the cabin (12) about a cabin axis (16) extending through the cabin (12), a circular thrust profile (18) arranged on the cabin (12) substantially concentric to the cabin axis (16), and a drive member (68) configured to engage the thrust profile (18) to rotate the cabin (12) about the cabin axis (16), wherein the cabin assembly (10) comprises two cabins (12) and the chassis (14) is at least partly arranged between the two cabins (12). An elevator system comprising the cabin assembly (10) is also provided.(Fig. 4)

Description

ELEVATOR CABIN ASSEMBLYTechnical Field The present disclosure generally relates to a cabin assembly for anelevator system. In particular, a cabin assembly for an elevator system and an elevator system comprising the cabin assembly are provided.Background Various types of elevator systems for vertically transporting peopleand/or goods are known. Some elevator systems include a rotatablysupported cabin such that the cabin can be maintained in a horizontalorientation as the cabin transitions between horizontal and vertical trackportions.

WO 2009125253 A1 discloses a transportation system for high-risebuildings with self-propelled cabins. A big gear is firmly attached to asupporting element while smaller gears are arranged on the top of thecabin. Interlocking of the gears makes it possible to control the tilt of thecabin.

The Articulated Funiculator (R) is a new concept of vertical transportationwhich is described in WO 2013159800 A1. This transportation systemmay be used in tall buildings, deep underground subway stations and deep mines.

The concept of the Articulated Funiculator (R) opens up for the use of awide range of track configurations. For example, practically endlesscombinations of straight, curved, inclined and helical track sections maybe used. For these track configurations, the tilt control according to WO 2009125253 A1 is not appropriate.

Summary Accordingly, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a cabinassembly with a simple, reliable, fast and accurate rotation of a cabin.

According to one aspect, a cabin assembly for an elevator system isprovided, where the cabin assembly comprises a cabin, a chassisconfigured to rotationally support the cabin about a cabin axis extendingthrough the cabin, a circular thrust profile arranged on the cabinsubstantially concentric to the cabin axis and a drive member configuredto engage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis.

The cabin assembly may be configured such that the cabin axis issubstantially perpendicular to a yaw axis of the cabin when the cabinassembly is in an operational state on a track of an elevator system. Thecabin may have an outer profile that is substantially rotation symmetricwith respect to the cabin axis. Alternatively, the cabin may have apolygonal outer profile. For example, the cabin may have a substantiallycuboid appearance. The cabin, the thrust profile and/or the chassis maybe injection moulded.

The cabin assembly may comprise one or several circular thrust profilesarranged on the cabin. For example, the cabin assembly may comprisetwo circular thrust profiles arranged substantially concentric to the cabinaxis. One or several drive members may be provided and configured toengage a respective thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabinaxis. Each thrust profile may be integrally formed with the cabin or attached to the cabin.

Throughout the present disclosure, the cabin may alternatively bereferred to as a carriage, pod or car and the chassis may alternatively be referred to as a support structure or support member.

A substantially concentric arrangement of the circular thrust profile withrespect to the cabin axis is intended to include designs where the cabin axis is displaced up to 0.5 times, such as up to 0.2 times, such as up to 0.1 times, such as up to 0.05 times the length of an imaginary radius ofthe thrust profile measured from an imaginary centre point of animaginary circle coinciding with the thrust profile. A correspondingdefinition is applicable to define the location of a cabin axis extending substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin, see below.

The circular thrust profile may or may not be continuous. According toone variant, the thrust profile fully encircles the cabin axis, i.e. the thrustprofile is continuous and has an angular extension about the pitch axis of360°. According to alternative variants, the thrust profile has a circularappearance concentric with the cabin axis but does not fully encircle thecabin axis (i.e. a discontinuous thrust profile). For example, the thrustprofile may have an angular extension about the pitch axis of 10°, 15°,30°, 45°, 90°, 180° or 270°.

The rotation of the cabin may be used to maintain a cabin floor in asubstantially horizontal orientation. However, the rotation may also beused to pitch the cabin in order to reduce horizontal forces on thepassengers during horizontal accelerations and decelerations, i.e. toreduce the horizontal inertia forces on the passengers (or loads) duringstops and starts.

The cabin axis may or may not be constituted by a pitch axis, i.e. an axisperpendicular to a roll axis and a yaw axis when the cabin assembly is inan operational state on a track of an elevator system. That is, in case thechassis is also configured to rotationally support the cabin about a yaw axis, the cabin axis may not always constitute the pitch axis.

Each cabin assembly according to the present disclosure may furthercomprise a yaw support member configured to be coupled to the track ofan elevator system for movement along the track and configured torotatably support the chassis for rotation about the yaw axis.

The cabin assembly may further comprise a track coupling arrangement for movement along an elevator track. The track may include a single rail or several rails. One suitable track is constituted by a pair of rails. Thetrack may contain a wide range of combinations of straight, curved andinclined sections. The track may also contain he|ica| or twisted sectionssuch that the cabin assembly can roll in space as its moves along thetrack. The track coupling arrangement may comprise at least one wheelassembly for engaging a rail portion of the track to move along the track.

The cabin assembly according to the present disclosure is not limited toany particular type of propulsion system. For example, all cabinassemblies in the elevator system may be driven by a cable or set ofcables or each carriage may have an individual propulsion system. Two ormore different types of propulsion systems may also be combined in the elevator system.

According to one variant, the cabin axis may extend substantially througha geometrical centre of the cabin. For example, in case the cabin has asubstantially cylindrical appearance (e.g. barrel shape), the cabin axis may be constituted by the axis of the cylinder.

The thrust profile and the drive member may be spaced along the cabinaxis. The thrust profile may be a circular disc substantially concentricwith the cabin axis. The circular disc may thus be referred to as a thrust disc.

The cabin assembly may further comprise at least one bearing memberto allow a relative rotation of the cabin and the chassis about the cabinaxis. The bearing member may be constituted by a roller bearing, africtional bearing (by providing a low frictional material such as plastics toone or both of the bearing surfaces), a fluid bearing or anelectromagnetic bearing.

According to one variant, the cabin assembly comprises two cabins andthe chassis is at least partly arranged between the two cabins. In otherwords, the chassis is connected to the cabins between the cabins. Forexample, the chassis may comprise a support member constituting a hub. A rod member, interconnecting the two cabins, may be rotationallyheld by the support member to allow the cabins to jointly rotate aboutthe cabin axis. The chassis is thereby configured to rotationally support both cabins for rotation about the cabin axis.

The thrust profile and the drive member may constitute a stator and arotor of an electric motor. The drive member may be a stator providedwith coils for producing a magnetic field and the thrust profile may be arotor provided with magnets for being driven by the magnetic field.

The drive member may comprise at least one toothed gear configured toengage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. Thethrust profile may comprise teeth configured to be engaged by thetoothed gear of the drive member. The drive member may furthercomprise an elongated rotatable drive shaft on which the toothed gear isprovided. In an operational state of the cabin assembly, the drive shaftmay be oriented substantially parallel with, or concentric with, the yaw axis.

The thrust profile and the drive member may comprise bevel gears.Alternatively, the thrust profile may comprise a larger gear wheel havingteeth facing substantially radially outwards with respect to the cabin axisand the drive member may comprise a smaller gear wheel with a rotationaxis substantially parallel to the cabin axis and having teeth facing substantially radially inwards with respect to the cabin axis.

The drive member may comprise at least one friction wheel configured toengage the thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. In thisvariant, the thrust profile may be constituted by a surface facing radiallyoutwards, for example by a surface substantially flush with the exteriorprofile of the cabin. Any means for increasing the friction of the thrustprofile may be provided, such as the provision of a high friction rubbermaterial on the thrust profile. The at least one friction wheel may berotatably arranged about a friction wheel axis substantially parallel to the cabin axis.

The drive member may comprise a belt member configured to engagethe thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis. The beltmember may be continuous and may form a closed loop around thethrust profile. The belt member may be of any type suitable to engagethe thrust profile to rotate the cabin about the cabin axis, such as a belt comprising a rubber material.

In addition to the belt member, the drive member may comprise at leastone friction wheel configured to drive the belt member. The at least onefriction wheel may be rotatably arranged about friction wheel axissubstantially parallel to the cabin axis. The thrust profile may beconstituted by a surface facing radially outwards, for example by asurface substantially flush with the exterior profile of the cabin. Similar tothe thrust profile drivable by the friction wheel, the thrust profile drivableby the belt member may be provided with any means for increasing friction.

According to a further aspect, there is provided an elevator systemcomprising a cabin assembly according to the present disclosure. Theelevator system may for example be used in a tall building orunderground to access a deep underground subway station or a deepmine. In the elevator system, the cabin axis may be arrangedsubstantially perpendicular to a yaw axis of the cabin when the cabin assembly is in an operational state on a track of an elevator system.

The elevator system may comprise a series of separated trains, eachtrain having a plurality of cabin assemblies according to the presentdisclosure, tracks on which the trains are configured to ascend anddescend, the tracks constituting at least one loop configuration and atleast one up-bound station and at least one down-bound station verticallyseparated from the up-bound station, wherein the system is configuredto stop trains at each up-bound and down-bound station simultaneouslyfor unloading and loading passengers from the cabin assemblies. Thistype of elevator system, the Articulated Funiculator (R), is described inWO 2013159800 A1.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure willbecome apparent from the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: Fig. la: schematically represents a perspective view of a cabinassembly;Fig. lb: schematically represents a side view of the cabin assembly in Fig. la; Fig. 2: schematically represents a side view of a further cabinassembly; Fig. 3: schematically represents a side view of a further cabinassembly; Fig. 4: schematically represents a side view of a further cabinassembly; Fig. 5a: schematically represents a partial cross-sectional side view of acabin assembly comprising an electric motor; Fig. 5b: schematically represents a partial cross-sectional side view of afurther cabin assembly comprising an electric motor; Fig. 5c: schematically represents a partial cross-sectional side view of afurther cabin assembly comprising bevel gears; Fig. 5d: schematically represents a partial cross-sectional side view of afurther cabin assembly comprising a friction wheel; and Fig. 5e: schematically represents a partial cross-sectional side view of a further cabin assembly comprising a belt member.Detailed Description In the following, a cabin assembly for an elevator system and an elevatorsystem comprising the cabin assembly will be described. The samereference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

Fig. la schematically represents a perspective view of a cabin assembly10 and Fig. lb schematically represents a side view of the cabinassembly 10 in Fig. la. The cabin assembly 10 comprises a cabin 12 anda chassis 14. The chassis 14 is configured to rotationally support thecabin 12 about a cabin axis 16 extending through the cabin 12. In Figs.la and lb, the cabin assembly 10 is configured such that the cabin 12 can rotate 360° about the cabin axis 16.

The cabin assembly 10 further comprises two circular thrust profiles 18.Each thrust profile 18 is arranged on the cabin 12 substantially concentric to the cabin axis 16.

The thrust profiles 18 are configured to be engaged to rotate the cabin12. In Figs. la and lb, the thrust profiles 18 are implemented as thrustdiscs having a flat circular appearance. The circular discs are substantiallyconcentric with the cabin axis 16. The cabin assembly 10 also comprisestwo drive members (not shown) configured to engage a respective thrust profile 18 to rotate the cabin 12 about the cabin axis 16.

The cabin 12 may be configured to carry one or several passengersand/or loads. In Figs. la and lb, the cabin 12 has a substantially cuboidappearance. However, a wide range of alternative designs of the cabin12, for example with a cylindrical appearance, are conceivable. Windows20 (only two visible in Fig. la and only one visible in Fig. lb) can beprovided on three of four longitudinal sides of the cabin 12. An openingmember (e.g. one or two doors) may be provided at one or both endfaces 22 of the cabin 12.

The chassis 14 is constituted by a frame with a substantially cylindricalappearance. The cylindrical frame comprises two parallel rings 24 andfour interconnecting struts 26. The struts 26 are substantially evenlydistributed around the cabin axis 16. More or less than four struts 26 may be used to interconnect the rings 24.

Figs. la and lb further show that the cabin axis 16 is substantiallycoincident with the extension axis (longitudinal axis) of the cuboid shapeof the cabin 12. The cabin axis 16 extends substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin 12.

Although two circular thrust profiles 18 are illustrated in Fig. la, thecabin 12 may comprise only one thrust profile 18 or more than two thrustprofiles 18. In case only one thrust profile 18 is provided, the thrustprofile 18 may be positioned anywhere along the cabin axis 16, forexample substantially flush with an end face 22 of the cabin 12 orsubstantially at a centre position along the longitudinal axis. In case twoor more thrust profiles 18 are provided, these may be substantiallyevenly distributed along the longitudinal axis of the cabin 12.

This type of cabin assembly 10 comprising a cabin 12 with a cuboidappearance rotationally supported to (e.g. inside) a chassis 14 with a cylindrical appearance may be referred to as a circular pod.

Fig. 2 schematically represents a side view of a further cabin assembly10. The cabin assembly 10 is illustrated in an operational state on a track28 of an elevator system. The cabin assembly 10 comprises asubstantially barrel shaped cabin 12.

A circular thrust profile 18 is provided at each end face of the cabin 12.The thrust profiles 18 are constituted by circular discs substantially concentric with the cabin axis 16.

In addition to the thrust profiles 18, the cabin 12 comprises a central ring30 and eight struts 32 (only six are visible in Fig. 2) interconnecting thethrust profiles 18 and the central ring 30. The central ring 30 mayhowever be omitted such that the cabin 12 comprises only four struts 32 interconnecting the thrust profiles 18.

Four of totally eight windows 20 on the cabin 12 can also be seen in theside view of Fig. 2. Since the cabin 12 has a barrel shaped appearance, this cabin assembly 10 may be referred to as a barrel pod.

The cabin 12 has an outer profile that is substantially rotation symmetricwith respect to the cabin axis 16. Fig. 2 further shows that the cabin axis16 extends substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin 12.

The chassis 14 comprises two arms 34 and a support member 36associated with each arm 34. The arms 34 extend along the exteriorprofile of the cabin 12. The support members 36 are in the form ofcircular plates and are provided at the outer ends of the arms 34. Thechassis 14 in Fig. 2 is configured to rotationally support the cabin 12about the cabin axis 16.

Although Fig. 2 shows two arms 34, these arms 34 may replaced by onesingle arm. The support members 36 are arranged substantiallyperpendicular to the cabin axis 16.

The cabin assembly 10 in Fig. 2 further comprises a track couplingarrangement 38 and a yaw bearing member 40. The arms 34 arerotationally supported by the yaw bearing member 40 for rotation abouta yaw axis 42. The yaw axis 42 is substantially perpendicular to the cabinaxis 16 and to the track 28. The track coupling arrangement 38comprises at least one wheel assembly (not shown) for engaging a railportion of the track 28 to move along the track 28.

With the cabin assembly 10 of Fig. 2, the cabin 12 may be allowed torotate about the yaw axis 42 and about the cabin axis 16 which isperpendicular to the yaw axis 42 (the cabin axis 16 may not alwaysconstitute the pitch axis). A drive member (not shown) is provided ateach support member 36 of the chassis 14. The drive members areconfigured to engage the thrust profiles 18 on the cabin 12 to rotate thecabin 12 about the cabin axis 16.

Fig. 3 schematically represents a side view of a further cabin assembly10. The cabin 12 in Fig. 3 has a vertically elongated cuboid appearance and comprises a circular thrust profile 18 in the form of a circular disc 11 provided at one of its vertical sides. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the thrust profile 18 is arranged concentric to the cabin axis 16.

Moreover, the thrust profile 18 is configured to be engaged to rotate thecabin 12 about the cabin axis 16. An opening member (e.g. one or twodoors) may be provided at an opening of the cuboid cabin 12 at a sideopposite to the side of the thrust profile 18. The cabin axis 16 in Fig. 3 extends substantially through a geometrical centre of the cabin 12.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cabin 12 is rotationally supported by a chassis 14connected at one of the sides of the cabin 12, e.g. by a swivel mount.The cabin 12 can rotate relative to the chassis 14 about the cabin axis 16. This type of cabin assembly 10 may be referred to as a box pod.

The chassis 14 in Fig. 3 is composed of two interconnecting supportmembers in the form of linkages 44, 46. The upper linkage 44 comprisesa support member 48 in the form of a plate rotatably coupled to theswivel mount of the cabin 12 for rotation about the cabin axis 16. Thelower linkage 46 comprises a support member 50 in the form of a platerotatably coupled to the swivel mount of the cabin 12 (or to the support member 48) for rotation about the cabin axis 16.

The linkages 44, 46 are further rotationally coupled to a respective wheelassembly 52 for rotation about a pivot axis 54 substantially parallel to thecabin axis 16. Each wheel assembly 52 comprises a wheel support 56 holding a plurality of wheels (e.g. six) for engaging rails of the track 28.

The chassis 14 can thereby move between an expanded state and acollapsed state. In the expanded state, the wheel assemblies 52 arebrought closer to each other along the track 28 in the travel direction 58.The cabin 12 is thereby moved away from the track 28 in a direction 60perpendicular to the travel direction 58 and is free to rotate about thecabin axis 16 without interfering with the track 28.

In the collapsed state, the wheel assemblies 52 are distanced from eachother along the track 28 in the travel direction 58 such that the cabin 12 12 can be brought close to the track 28 (e.g. with one of the longitudinalsides of the cabin 12) to adopt a compact configuration requiring reducede|evator shaft areas. The cabin 12 can be brought to a state between the wheel assemblies 52, as seen in the travel direction 58.

With the cabin assembly 10 of Fig. 3, the cabin axis 16 coincides with thepitch axis. Although a chassis 14 comprising two linkages 44, 46 isshown, the chassis 14 may alternatively be constituted by a single rigidsupport member.

Fig. 4 schematically represents a side view of a further cabin assembly10. This cabin assembly 10, which may be referred to as a split cabin,comprises two cabins 12 and a chassis 14 at least partly arrangedbetween the two cabins 12.

Each cabin 12 has a substantially cuboid appearance. However, each orone of the cabins 12 may alternatively be, for example, circular or barrelshaped. The chassis 14 comprises an arm 62 arranged to rotate aboutthe yaw axis 42. The rotation about the yaw axis 42 may however beomitted. The chassis 14 further comprises a support member 64constituting a hub. A rod member 66, interconnecting the two cabins 12,is rotationally held by the support member 64 to allow the cabins 12 tojointly rotate about the cabin axis 16. The chassis 14 is therebyconfigured to rotationally support both cabins 12 for rotation about thecabin axis 16. The cabin axis 16 extends substantially through ageometrical centre of each cabin 12.

As shown in Fig. 4, only one of the cabins 12 is provided with a thrustprofile 18 (both cabins 12 may however be provided with thrust profiles18). The thrust profile 18 in Fig. 4 comprises a rotor for being engagedby a drive member 68 in the form of a stator on the chassis 14. Thethrust profile 18 on one of the cabins 12 has a continuous circular shapeenclosing and being concentric to the cabin axis 16 while the drive member 68 has a compact appearance that does not encircle the cabin 13 axis 16. The thrust profile 18 and the drive member 68 are spaced alongthe cabin axis 16.

Although a stator and a rotor is shown in Fig. 4, this cabin assembly 10may comprise any type of thrust profile 18 and drive member 68according to the present disclosure to rotate the cabins 12 about thecabin axis 16.

In the following, various alternative drive members 68 and thrust profiles18 will be described with reference to Figs. 5a to 5e. It is emphasizedthat Figs. 5a to 5e merely constitute schematic representations which arenot drawn to scale. For example, the distance between an upper side ofthe cabin 12 to the cabin axis 16 has been decreased. Moreover,hatchings have been deliberately left out in order to improve visibility.

Fig. 5a schematically represents a partial cross-sectional side view of acabin assembly comprising an electric motor 70. In Fig. 5a, the thrustprofile 18 and the drive member 68 constitute the stator 72 and the rotor74 of an electric motor 70.

A bearing member 76 provides a rotational support for the cabin 12 for arelative rotation to the chassis 14 about the cabin axis 16. The bearingmember 76 is a frictional bearing comprising two bearing surfaces.

As can be seen in Fig. 5a, the cabin 12 comprises a radially outwardlyprotruding flange 78 (i.e. protruding away from the cabin axis 16). Thechassis 14 comprises a radially inwardly protruding collar 80. The radiallyoutwardly protruding flange 78 (inner bearing surface) is received in arecess 82 (outer bearing surface) in the collar 80. A low frictional plasticmaterial is provided to the bearing surfaces. Although a frictional bearingis illustrated in Fig. 5a, the bearing member 76 may alternatively beconstituted by a roller bearing, a fluid bearing or an electromagneticbeanng.

A drive member 68 in the form of a stator 72 is attached to the chassis14. More specifically, the stator 72 is attached to an axially outer side of 14 the collar 80 of the chassis 14. The stator 72 in Fig. 5a is circular andfully encloses the cabin axis 16. However, the stator 72 does not need toenclose the cabin axis 16. The stator 72 comprises coils for producing amagnetic field.

In Fig. 5a, the thrust profile 18 is formed by a radially outwardly (withrespect to the cabin axis 16) protruding collar flange 84. The thrustprofile 18 is a circular disc concentric with the cabin axis 16. The thrustprofile 18 is integrally formed with the cabin 12.

The thrust profile 18 comprises a rotor 74 with magnets on an axial sideof the thrust profile 18 facing the stator 72. Thus, the thrust profile 18and the drive member 68 are spaced along the cabin axis 16. The thrustprofile 18 and the rotor 74 are circular and fully encloses the cabin axis16.

By activating (i.e. electrically powering) the stator 72 provided with coilsto produce a magnetic field, the rotor 74, the thrust profile 18 andconsequently also the cabin 12 can be driven to rotate about the cabinaxis 16. The stator 72 thus constitutes one example of a drive member68.

Fig. 5b schematically represents a partial side cross-sectional view of afurther cabin assembly 10 comprising an electric motor 70. Similar to Fig.5a, the cabin assembly 10 in Fig. 5b comprises a drive member 68 in theform of a circular stator 72 provided on the chassis 14, a circular rotor 74provided on the cabin 12 and a frictional bearing member 76 configuredto rotationally support the cabin 12 for rotation about the cabin axis 16relative to the chassis 14. However, instead of a thrust profile 18provided on a radially outwardly protruding collar flange 84, the thrustprofile 18 is provided on an end side of the cabin 12.

Fig. 5c schematically represents a partial side view of a further cabinassembly 10 comprising bevel gears 86, 88. Similar to Fig. 5a, the cabinassembly 10 in Fig. 5c comprises a frictional bearing member 76 configured to rotationally support the cabin 12 for rotation about the cabin axis 16 relative to the chassis 14.

However, in Fig. 5c, the drive member 68 comprises a toothed gear 86configured to engage the thrust profile 18 to rotate the cabin 12 aboutthe cabin axis 16. The thrust profile 18 comprises a bevel gear 88 havinga rotation axis concentric with the cabin axis 16. The toothed gear 86 ofthe drive member 68 is also a bevel gear configured to mesh with thebevel gear 88. The bevel gear 86 is rotationally supported to the chassis14 for rotation about a gear axis 90 substantially perpendicular to thecabin axis 16.

Thus, by rotating the bevel gear 86 about the gear axis 90, the bevelgear 88, the thrust profile 18 and consequently the cabin 12 are driven torotate about the cabin axis 16. An electric motor may be used to drivethe toothed gear 86. As can be seen in Fig. 5c, the bevel gear 88 on thethrust profile 18 may have an outer diameter substantially conforming to, or being slightly smaller than, the outer diameter of the thrust profile 18.

The bevel gear 86 may be provided on an elongated rotatable drive shaft.In case a drive member 68 comprising a bevel gear 86 provided on adrive shaft is implemented in connection with the split cabin assembly 10in Fig. 4, the drive shaft may extend substantially parallel with, or coaxialwith, the yaw axis 42. By rotating the drive shaft, the bevel gear 86engages a bevel gear 88 on the thrust profile 18 on one of the cabins 12to rotate both cabins 12 (the second cabin 12 can be rotated due to its rotational coupling with the first cabin 12) about the cabin axis 16.

Fig. 5d schematically represents a partial side view of a further cabinassembly 10 comprising a friction wheel 92. The thrust profile 18 in Fig.5d is constituted by a surface facing radially outwards (with respect tothe cabin axis 16). In Fig. 5d, this surface is substantially flush with theexterior profile of the cabin 12. However, the radially outwardly facingsurface does not need to be flush with the exterior profile of the cabin 12.

For example, in case the friction wheel 92 is used with a box pod 16 according to Fig. 3, the friction wheel 92 may engage the radially outersurface of the circular disc (constituting the thrust profile 18) at one ofthe vertical sides of the cabin 12.

The surface of the thrust profile 18 is also provided with a high frictionrubber material for increasing the frictional contact between the frictionwheel 92 and the thrust profile 18. Also the friction wheel 92 is provided with this rubber material.

The friction wheel 92 is rotationally arranged about a friction wheel axis94 substantially parallel with the cabin axis 16. The friction wheel 92 thusconfigured to engage the thrust profile 18 to rotate the cabin 12 aboutthe cabin axis 16. Moreover, in Fig. 5d, the thrust profile 18 and the drivemember 68 are spaced along an axis perpendicular to the cabin axis 16.

As an alternative design, the friction wheel 92 may be replaced by a gearwheel rotatably supported about the wheel axis 94 and the high frictionrubber material on the thrust profile 18 may be replaced by radiallyoutwardly facing teeth. By driving the gear wheel about the wheel axis94, the radially outwardly facing teeth on the thrust profile 18 can be engaged to rotate the cabin 12 about the cabin axis 16.

Fig. 5e schematically represents a partial side view of a further cabinassembly 10 comprising a belt member 96. As can be seen, the beltmember 96 is continuous and forms a closed loop around the thrustprofile 18 on the cabin 12. In addition to the belt member 96, the drivemember 68 also comprises a friction wheel 92 configured to drive the beltmember 96. The friction wheel 92 is arranged substantially in the samemanner as in Fig. 5d, i.e. rotatably arranged about a friction wheel axis94 substantially parallel with the cabin axis 16.

The belt member 96 may be of any type suitable to engage the thrustprofile 18 to rotate the cabin 12 about the cabin axis 16, such as a beltcomprising rubber material. Also the thrust profile 18 may besubstantially the same as in Fig. 5d, i.e. constituted by a surface facing 17 radially outwards, for example by a surface substantially flush with theexterior profile of the cabin 12. Similar to the thrust profile 18 drivable bythe friction wheel 92 in Fig. 5d, the thrust profile 18 in Fig. 5e drivable by the belt member 96 is provided with means for increasing friction.

Thus, the drive member 68 in Fig. 5e comprises a belt member 96configured to engage the thrust profile 18 to rotate the cabin 12 about the cabin axis 16.

Although Figs. 5a, 5c and 5d are illustrated based on the cabin assembly10 in Figs. 1a and 1b, any bearing member 76, drive member 68 and/orthrust profile 18 as described in connection with Fig. 5a, 5c and 5d mayalso be used in each of the cabin assemblies 10 in Figs. 2 to 4. Moreover,although Figs. 5b and 5e are illustrated based on the cabin assembly 10in Fig. 2, any bearing member 76, drive member 68 and/or thrust profile18 as described in connection with Fig. 5b and 5e may also be used ineach of the cabin assemblies 10 in Figs. 1a, 1b, 3 and 4. Thearrangements shown in Figs. 5a, 5c, 5d and 5e may be provided at anyposition on the cabin 12 along the cabin axis 16, in particular at a centre position.

The present disclosure contains the following variants, presented as items.

Item 1. Cabin assembly 10 for an elevator system, the cabin assembly10 comprising: - a cabin 12, - a chassis 14 configured to rotationally support the cabin 12about a cabin axis 16 extending through the cabin 12, - a circular thrust profile 18 arranged on the cabin 12substantially concentric to the cabin axis 16, and - a drive member 68 configured to engage the thrust profile 18 to rotate the cabin 12 about the cabin axis 16.

Item 2.

Item 3.

Item 4.

Item 5.

Item 6.

Item 7.

Item 8.

Item 9.

Item 10. 18 The cabin assembly 10 according to Item 1, wherein the cabinaxis 16 extends substantially through a geometrical centre ofthe cabin 12.

The cabin assembly 10 according to Item 1 or 2, wherein thethrust profile 18 and the drive member 68 are spaced alongthe cabin axis 16.

The cabin assembly 10 according to any of the precedingItems, wherein the thrust profile 18 is a circular disc substantially concentric with the cabin axis 16.

The cabin assembly 10 according to any of the precedingItems, wherein the cabin assembly 10 comprises two cabins 12and the chassis 14 is at least partly arranged between the two cabins 12.

The cabin assembly 10 according to any of the precedingItems, wherein the thrust profile 18 and the drive member 68 constitute a stator 72 and a rotor 74 of an electric motor 70.

The cabin assembly 10 according to any of Items 1 to 5,wherein the drive member 68 comprises at least one toothedgear 86 configured to engage the thrust profile 18 to rotate the cabin 12 about the cabin axis 16.

The cabin assembly 10 according to Item 7, wherein the thrust profile 18 and the drive member 68 comprise bevel gears 88.

The cabin assembly 10 according to any of Items 1 to 5,wherein the drive member 68 comprises at least one frictionwheel 92 configured to engage the thrust profile 18 to rotatethe cabin 12 about the cabin axis 16.

The cabin assembly 10 according to any of Items 1 to 5,wherein the drive member 68 comprises a belt member 96 19 configured to engage the thrust profile 18 to rotate the cabin12 about the cabin axis 16.

Item 11. Elevator system comprising a cabin assembly 10 according to any of the preceding Items.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present inventionis not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will beappreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed.Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited onlyby the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims (1)

1. Cabin assembly (10) for an elevator system, the cabin assembly(10) comprising: - a cabin (12), - a chassis (14) configured to rotationally support the cabin (12)about a cabin axis (16) extending through the cabin (12), - a circular thrust profile (18) arranged on the cabin (12)substantially concentric to the cabin axis (16), and - a drive member (68) configured to engage the thrust profile (18)to rotate the cabin (12) about the cabin axis (16), wherein the cabin assembly (10) comprises two cabins (12) and thechassis (14) is at least partly arranged between the two cabins (12). The cabin assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cabinaxis (16) extends substantially through a geometrical centre of thecabin (12). The cabin assembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein thethrust profile (18) and the drive member (68) are spaced along the cabin axis (16). The cabin assembly (10) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the thrust profile (18) is a circular disc substantiallyconcentric with the cabin axis (16). The cabin assembly (10) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the thrust profile (18) and the drive member (68) constitute a stator (72) and a rotor (74) of an electric motor (70). The cabin assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 4, whereinthe drive member (68) comprises at least one toothed gear (86)configured to engage the thrust profile (18) to rotate the cabin (12)about the cabin axis (16). 10. 21 The cabin assembly (10) according to claim 6, wherein the thrust profile (18) and the drive member (68) comprise bevel gears (88). The cabin assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 4, whereinthe drive member (68) comprises at least one friction wheel (92)configured to engage the thrust profile (18) to rotate the cabin (12)about the cabin axis (16). The cabin assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 4, whereinthe drive member (68) comprises a belt member (96) configured toengage the thrust profile (18) to rotate the cabin (12) about thecabin axis (16). Elevator system comprising a cabin assembly (10) according to anyof the preceding claims.