US3856116A

US3856116A - Elevator system

Info

Publication number: US3856116A
Application number: US00410155A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Savage
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1973-10-26
Filing date: 1973-10-26
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: CA977295A

Abstract

An elevator system having an elevator car mounted for movement in the hoistway of a structure to serve the floors therein, and control mechanism for the elevator car which includes translating devices and tape mounted cams. Up to and including four lanes of cams are mounted on a single tape, and the required number of tapes are disposed in the hoistway and oriented in the travel direction of the elevator car. The translating devices, which are carried by the elevator car, are constructed and mounted to compensate for dimensional changes between the devices and tapes, to guide and exert centering forces on the tape, and to reduce operating noise between the tapes and its guides, and between the cams and the cam followers of the translating devices, by using guide and cam follower rollers biased against the edges of the tape.

Description

I Jun-9d t s Patent [191 Savagev [54]- ELEvAToR SYSTEM' [75] Inventor: Cunwellsavage, New York, NY.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh-Pa.

221 Filed':' Oct. 26,- 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 410,155

521u.s.-c1-. .j. 1s7/2s, is7/29R UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,938,603 5/1960 l oughridge 187 29 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-James L, Rowland Attorney, Agent, or Firm'D. R. Lackey .157] ABSTRACT An elevator system havingan elevator'car mounted for movement in'the hoistway of a structure to'serve the floors therein, and control mechanism for the ele vator car which includestranslating devices and tape mounted cams. Up to and including four lanes'of cams are mounted on a single tape, and the required number of tapes are disposed in the hoistway and oriented in. the travel direction of thevelevator car. Thetr'ansIating devices, which are carried by the elevatorcar, are constructed and mounted to compensate for dimensional changes between the devices and tapes, to guide and exert-centering forces on the tape, and to reduce operating noise between the tapes and its guides, and

between the cams and the cam followers of the translating devices, by using guide and cam follower rollers v biased against the edges of the tape.

'19 Claims, 7- Drawing Figures 1 1j3i,s56,116.; 14 1 Dec. 24, 1974.-

PATENTEBBECMSHU,

' SHEET 1 a; 3;

FIGZ

DRIVE relays, andtheir application to elevator systems, are deelevator system having an elevator car mounted for.

.ELEYATORSYSTEM. I

1 .LB ckoRou Do THE INVENTION 3; '1. Field ofthe Invention:

The invention relates in general to elevator systems,

and more specifically to elevator systems which utilize control mechanisms which include translating devices,

such as electrical switches, and tape mounted cams, whichcooperate to provide control signals-responsive .to the position of an elevator car inits hoistway.

r 2. Descriptionof the Prior Art:

It is commonin elevator systems .of all'types, includ- I ing hydraulic, and bothgeared and gearless' traction systems, to employ translating devicesresponsive to'the position of an elevator car in its hoistway. The type of I5 I translating device employed depends to'a large'extent on the maximum normal operatingspeed of theelevator car. Whenthe maximum car speedis about 350-feet in spaced relation from both major surfaces .or sides of the tape and adjacent both. the right and. left-hand Hedges thereof, to provide up to and including four lanes the switch. and the tape edge to vary within predetermined limits without adversely affecting the desired relationshipbet'ween the two elec'trical contacts. Movement of the cam follower roller without like movement of the guide-roller operates the electrical contact associated- :with thei cam follower roller to 'change the relationship betweenthe contacts.

per minute or-less, cooperative cams and cam operated switches are usually used for the translating means because of their; reliability and relatively low cost-when the normal car speed exceeds '350 feet per minute the noisecreated by thetapeyupon which the-cams are mounted, passing through. the guides whichproperly locate the tap'es'and'cams'for the cam follower arms of the switches, and the noise of the cam follower rollers striking the cams, becomes objectionable. Thus, for car speeds above about 350'feetper minute, the translating devices commonly used are inductor relays. Inductor scribed in my'U.S.. Pat. No.-, 2-,840',l88, which is as signed to the same assignee as the present application.

' While inductor relays are adesirable and a highly reliable form offcontrol, their cost, as vl/ellfas the cost of their associated controlapparatus, is higher'than camswitchjcontrollarrangements, it would thereforebe desirable to be able to extend the usage .of the camswitch con'trol arrangement to higher car speeds, such as to about 500 feet per minute, but the noise limitation associated with the cam-switch arrangements of the prior a rt will have to be overcome. In both the camswitch and inductor relaya rrange'men ts, a separate tape withcams and magnetic plates; respectively, is

used for each function. U.S. Pat. No.'2,938,603 dis closes mounting'cams between, adjacent tapes. US. Pat. No. 1,360,420 illustrates an elevator system which uses cam-switchcontrol. It would be desirable to re duce the number of tapes required in a cam-switch arrangement without reducing the number of different control functions. 1

- SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present'inventionis a new and improved movement in the hoistway of a structure to serve the Noiseissubstantially reduced by rotating both the guide and cam follower rollers against .the tape edge when the elevatorcar is moving through the hoistway. i The cam follower'rolleris dimensioned such that it leaves the tape edge and rolls over the cams in its associated carn lane without interruption of its rotating .mode. Thus, there is little noise between the rotating guide wheel, which is grooved to locate the tape in the direction of its thickness, and the tape, and sincethe cam-follower roller does not'strike a cam and then accelerate from zeroRPM to an RPM dictated by car speed androlle' r diameter, but is already rotatingwhen it rides'up the inclined portion.- of a cam, noise due to cam-switch engagement isalso reduced.

Since a switch is required for eachcam lane, thebiasing forces of the guide and cam rollers are applied to both edges of the tapes, which provides a yieldable centering force on the tape in the direction of its width dimension. I v

\ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS "The invention may be better understood and further rangement'shown-in FIG. 3; I floors therein, and including control-mechanism'for FIG. 6'illustrates, the self compensating feature of one ,controlling'the elevator'car. The control mechanism includes translating. means inthe' form of electrical switchescarried by' the elevator car, and tape mounted vcams in; thefhoistway. which'coo'perate to-p'rovide controlisignals responsive to the position oftlie elevator car in the hoistway. The control signals are used for such functions as stopping and levelingthe elevator car at a landing.

Up to andincluding four different functions may be shown "in' FIG. 3;

' advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the following detailed descriptionof exemplary embodiments, taken with: the accompanying drawings, in which:

v FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view inlelevation of ,ar'ielevator'systern embodyingthe teachings'of the invention;

' FIG 2is a perspective view, with parts broken away,

the teachings oftheinvention; I

FIG. 3' is an elevational view illustrating switches'constructed according tothe teachings'of the invention, and also illustrating the mounting of a plurality of switches relative to a tape;

FIG. 4 isa side elevation of the switch arrangement illustrating four cam lanes per tape, in accordance with FIG. Sis a fragmentaryplan-view of the switch arswitches shownin FIG. ,3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now' to the drawing's,and FIG. lin partic'ular, there is shown'an elevator system 10 constructed according to the teachings" of the invention. While the controlled with a-single tape, as thecams'are mounted 3 elevatorsystem 10 is illustrated as being of the traction travel of the elevator car 12 to a type, the' invention is equally applicable to hydraulic elevator systems.

. lane, or types. of cam members may be used, as re- Morespecifically, elevato rsystem includes an elevator car 12 mounted for movement in a hoistway-14 of a building-or structure 16 having a plurality .of floors or landings,indicated generally at 18, which floors are '25. When the invention is applied to elevator systems having a maximum car speed of about 350 feet per minute or less, the drive motor 20 will conventionally drive the sheave .through a gear reducing mechanism (not 'shown)."

' Hoisting ropes orcables 26 interconnect the elevator quired by a specific application; For purposes of example, two cammembers SOand 52 are illustrated in FIG. 2 for providing thefour cam lanes, with each cam member having two cam profiles for the cam lanes on its side of the tape 30.

Each of the'carn members50 and'. 52- are formed to I provide the desired cam profiles, and the cam profiles are oriented to move a cooperative cam follower in a car '12 with a'counterweight 28, with the ropes 26 ex- 3 tending from the car 12,"about the traction sheave 24,

and then to the counterweight 28.

Signals responsive to the position of the elevatorcar 12in the hoistway 14, which signals are used to control the movementgdeceleration and landing of the car 12, are provided by a control mechanismwhich includes one or more elongated control elements, suchas

control elements

30, and 32,-which extend along the hoistway 14in the directionof movement of the car 12. The elongated control 'elements 30and 32 are each continuous from'a point belowthe lower end of the path of point above the upper end of its travel path.

The control-elements 30 and-32 are guided with respect to a control 'unit34 which is mounted on the elevato'r car 12'. The upper ends of the

control elements

30 and 32 are secured to the. building or structure 16 as indicated at 36, and its lower ends pass through a fixed guide 36 andare then tensioned byany suitable means, such as by weights 3 8,"or by springs. Each of the

control elements

30 and 32 are constructed of inextensible magnetic, or non-magnetic metallic'material, or non-metallic material, as desired. Steel, for example, isexcellent, but other materials may beused. v n

As shown more'iclearly in FIG. 2,'which is a perspecdirection which is substantially parallel to the major

opposed surfaces

40 and 42 of the tapes30, and thus the direction which the cam followersare moved is substantially perpendicular to the edges of the tape.

For purposes of example, cam meinbers'SO and 52 are illustrated as being constructed from a relatively thin, elongated metallic plate member, such as steel.

Cam member 52 has first and second major opposed surfaces 54-and-56, respectively, and first and

second edges

58 and 60, respectively. The cam profiles are formed .on'the edges 58 and 60. Cam member 50 has firstand second major .opposed surfaces 62 and 64, re-

spectively, and first and secondedges 66 and! 68, re-

spectively. The cam profiles are formed on the

edges

66 and 68. Thus, edges 58 and60 provide cams in the left and right front cam lanes, respectively, and edges 66 and 68 provide cams in the leftand right-rear cam lanes, respectively. s H

The cam members 52. and 50-are mounted in predetermined spaced-relation from themajor opposed surfaces 40 and 42,;respectively, of tape 30, such as by inserting tubular spacer members 70 and 72 between the cam member 52 and the major'surface of the tape 30, which tubular spacer members have their openings tional view of tape 30 and cam member 52, each. of the tiveview' of control element 30, each control element is'pr'eferably in the form of a metallic ribbon or tape having first and secondflat, major opposed surfaces or sides '40 and 42," respectively, and first and

second edges

44 and 46, respectively. Each control element or tape, such as tape 30, preferably has a plurality of vertically spaced, elongated slots 48 formed therein to facilitate attaching cam members thereto, which will be hereinafter described. The length of the slots is greater than the spacing between slots, to permit unlimited ad-- justment of the cam devicesconnectedthereto. I Each tape or control element may have up-to and including four cam lanes associated with it, for providing signals responsiveup to' and including four different functions. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the cams are mountedadjacent both

major surfaces

40 and 42, and the cams on each side of the, tape are disposed'adjacent to both the first and

second edges

44 and 46, thus providing right and left front cam lanes, andright and left rear cam lanes.

' A single cam'member having two cam profiles may be used to provide cams in the two lanes adjacent one major surface of the tape, when two cams are to be located in side by side relationship, a'cam member may have a single cam profile when used for a single cam aligned'with' openings disposed through the cam members and with a slot'48. Nut; and bolt combinations shown generally/"at 74 and 76 may/then be used to firmly secure the cam members 52 and-54 in spaced relation with the' major-opposed

surfaces

40 and 42, re spectively, of the tape- 30.

As best'illustrated in FIG; 7, which is a front elevacamprofiles start in alignment with an edge of the tape 30, they taper outwardly tothe maximum dimension of the cam profile, the maximum dimension is retained for a predetermined dimension, and then the profile tapers inwardly until it isagain in alignment with the same edge of thetape 30. For example, the cam profile in the right front cam lane starts at point 78, which point is.in

, the same-plane as edge '46. of tape 30, it tapers outwardly along portion 80 and flows. smoothly into'the surface 82 which is the maximum dimension of the cam profile measuredoutwardly from point 78. This maximum dimension, as defined by surface -80, is retained for a predetermined'dimensionand then the cam profile flows smoothly into tapered portion 84, with the taper ending at point .86, which point is again in the same plane as edge of the tape 30. I

Each cam lane requires a translating device which is, responsive to the position of the cams in its lane. Since a each tape supports four cam lanes, four translating devices may be associated with eachtape, if all four lanes are utilized. Thus, since two

tapes

30 and 32 are illustrated in FIG. 1, which providesup to and including eight cam lanes, as many as eight translating devices would be mounted in the control unit 34 shown in FIG. 1.

'devic'esfor switches 100 and 1102, respectively, for cooperating with two of the cam lanes-Since the translating' devices are of like construction, withonly their orientation being different for the various cam lanes,.only translating device or switch 100 will be described in detail. FIGS. 4'anufs', which are side and plan views of the -s\ vitch-1 00, respectively, will alsobe'referred to when describing. the construction of the switch 100.

I Translating device 100 is an electrical switch oriented to be responsive to the cams in the left front cam lanezSwitch 100 includes amounting base 104, which may have a-configuration in the form of an elongated rectangle, as illustrated, having first and second major shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, such as' by

screws

108 and 110.

. Fir'stand second bearing .members 112- and ll4,"respectively, are fixed in spaced-relation through openings disposed through the mounting-plate-104 and mounting bracket-106;'

Shaftmembers

116 and 118 are FIG. 3 is a front elevational ,view ofone of the tapes, such as tape30, illustrating first and second translating through suitable openings therein, and-a compression I spring member 156 is disposedbetweenthe spring seats and pins' 124-, 152 and 126, 154. Compression'spring opposed surfaces-or] sides .105'a nd l07, respectively.

Base 104 issecured to a suitable mounting bracket 106,

- ing portions of

finger board members

160 and 162, re-

journaled for rotationin" bearings 112 and 11-4, respectively, with the

shaft members

116 and 118 extending outwardly from both ends of their associated bearings. The longitudinal axes of

shaft'members

116 and 118 are parallel with one another, and substantially perpendicular-to the major opposed surfaces-'of the mounting plate member 104.

Cam and guide arm :

members

120 and 122 are fixed which ends extend outwardly'from bearings 112 and to the ends of shaft members116 and 118, respectively,

114, respectively, adjacent to the side 107 of the mounting plate member 1045Cam andguide arm members 120 and 122'are of likeconfigu rationand con-- structionfbut are oriented differently, with one being rotatedl with respect to-the other, and then flipped over. Cam and guide arm members and 122 include firstprojections '124 and 126, respectively, which function as spring seats, second projections 128 and 130, respectively, 'whichf cooperate tofunctiojn as a stop, and

third projections

132 and 134, respectively. The third projections .132and 134

support shaft members

136 and 138, respectively, which extend outwardly in a common direction away from the mounting plate 104. Shaft members 142 and144 are attached rigidly to shaft members I36 and 138, respectively. Shaft members 142 and 144 extend outwardly from

members

136 and 138, and journal the rollers 146 and l48for rotation.

As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 4, the outer periphery of the guide roller 148 has a veegroove 150 disposed therein, with the width'dimension of groove 150 being selected toaccommodat'e' thewidth dimension of the tape 30. The widthdimension of 'groove -.15 0 in the -.g'uide wheel is selected to accurately locate and guide the tape 30 in the direction of its thickness. Also, as il-.

lustrated most clearly in-FIG. 4, the camfollower roller 146Thas a smooth, relatively wide outer surface. a por-- :tiontof which is aligned with the :groove 150 in the guide roller, .astindicatjed by-broken line .155. A portion of thi's outer surfaceextends from the'broken line :towardsthe cam arm 120, fo rengaging the cams inits associated cam lane. L

The projections 124 and 1260f the cam and guide

arms

120 and 122, respectively, which .functionas spring seats, may havexpins 1"52 and 154 disposed 156 rotates cam arm 120 clockwise about shaft 116,

and guide arm 122 counterclockwise about shaft -1 18,

until. projections 128 and l30-contact one another to provide a stop. 1

First and second, contact finger members 160 an'd162, which are of like construction, are fixed'to the. ends of

shaft members

116 and 118 which ends extend outwardly from side 105'of the mounting plate member 104. The

contact finger boards

160 and 162 each have a curved portion which has the same radius as its associated shaft, and a screw disposed through the curved portion threadably engages a tapped opening in the shaft torsecure each'contact fingerboard member to the side of its associated shaft member. For example,

screws

164 and 166 extend through the curved mountspectively, to mount the fingerboard members to shaft members 116-and 118. Thus, pivotal movement of cam follower roller 146 on itsguide arm'120 about the longitudinal axis of shaft 116 rotates shaft- 116 and also the finger board member- 160. In like manner, pivotal movement of guide'roller 148 on itsguide arm 122 rotates shaft member 118 and the finger board member 162. I

Inaddition toxthe curved mounting portions, each finger board member has first,'secondand third projecelectrical contact member 180, having ajcontact button 182 fixed to one endthereof, is, disposed to lieflat in these two U-shaped channels, oriented with its contact button 182 on its lower-end facing to the left when viewing switch 100 in FIG. 3. Projection has a raised spring seatbut ton 184 facing the contact member 180, and a compression spring member 186 is disposed from the spring seat button 184 to the electrical contact, to bias the contact member outwardly to snugly hold the contact member in the channels defined bythe

projections

168 and 172 on the finger board member 160.

In like manner, a contact member 188 having .a contact button 190 on one end thereof is secured to finger board member 162 by a compression spring 192. .Contact member 188 is oriented such that its contact tape 30. It will alsobe noted in FIG. 5, which illustrates button is on its upper end, on the side thereof facing to the right, when viewing switch 100 in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 3,switch,100'is-mountedsuch that spring 156

biases rollers

1,46 and 148 snugly against edge 44 of-tape 30. Biasing-the rollers against the tape edge 44 compresses the spring 156. and provides a gap '194 between the projections 128 and 130, which projections cooperate to provide a stop. Thecorrect amount of initial bias, when'tape 30, is properly centered in the direction of its width, is when the longitudinal axes of

electrical contact members

180 and 188 are both substantially parallel with one'another. It will be noted thatboth the cam follower and guide rollers 146 and -1'48 are biased against the same edge'44 of the

thecam members

50 and 52 mounted on the tape 30 below the present location of

switches

100 and 102,

that the width of the cam follower roller 146 is suffi- .cient to Contact the edge 44 of tape 30, and alsoto contact the. cam profile located in the left front camlane. It will be noted that theroller will not contact the cam profile in the left rear cam lane.

into .position on shaft 142. The construction of the cam' follower roller 146 which provides this result is best Shown'in FIG. 5.- r

1 Since the

switches

100 and 102 are biased against opposite edges'44 and 46 of the tape 30, they exert a yieldable centering force on the tape 30. When locating the switches in pairs on the tape, if they are centered on the tape they will exert'the same force on the tape. If they are not centered on the tape, one switch will exert more forceflon' one side of the tape, the other switch less forceon the other side of the tape. The switches exert a gentle pressure to center the tape while still adapting to the off-center tape. The further off center, the higher the centering pressure on the tape.

cam member 52 which is locatedin the left front cam ,lane; The rotating guide roller 148-r emains on the-edge "44 of the tape'30, while the rotating cam follower roller 146 continues'to rotate as it is lifted off of the edge 44 of the tape 30 by the cam profile-The cam, profile causes the cam roller 146 to pivot the cam arm 120 counterclockwise about shaft 1l6, moving electrical contact member180 counterclockwise and out of engagement with electrical contact 188. When the cam I with tape mounted cams disposed-in the hoistway. For

While the grooved guide rollers 148 locate the tape accurately in the direction of its thickness, the tape may move slightly in the direction of its width, even though under the influence of the centering forces provided by the biased rollers against opposite edges of the tape. The'pivotal arrangement of the cam follower and guide rollers l46'and 148, respectively, with each roller controlling the position of an electrical contact, automatically compensates for changes in thelocajtionof tape 30 in the direction of its width. This automatic compensating feature for'an off-center tape is illus trated more clearly in FIG. 6, which illustrates switch I 100 in solid lines when the tape'30 iscorrectly centered in the direction of its width, and the switch 100is' clockwise, maintaining the predetermined relationship of the contacts, which, as illustrated in the example of switch 100 shown in FIG. 3, is the closed condition. If

edge 44 were to move from the solid line location to the v right, instead of tothe left as shown in FIG. 6,spring 156 would be subjected to less compression, reducing the magnitude of the centering force on edge44 of the tape.

Cam'arms

120 and 122 would rotateielectrical contacts 180 and l88 clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, by the same increment, to maintain the same relative positions of the contacts as when the tape 30 is correctly centered in the direction of its width .di-

example, in the disclosed elevator systemthere is no sliding contact between guides and their tapes, with all of the guiding contacts being rotational, the switching devices responsive to the cams are disposed and constructed to provide yieldable centering forces on the tapes in the direction of its width, the disclosed switches automatically compensate for an off-center. tape, maintaining the same relative position for the contacts when the tape is off center, as well as when the tape is on center, the cam follower roller is already rotating at the correct speed when it encounters a cam profile to reduce the cam follower roller-cam contact noise level, and the number of tapes required to be mounted in the hoistway is substantially reduced, since each tape is capable of handling upv to and including four cam lanes. i f f lclaim as my invention; 7

.1. elevator system, comprising; u

a structure having a plurality of floors and a hoistway,

an elevator car, I 7

means mounting said elevator carjfor movement in said hoistway to serve at least certain of said floors,

control means for said elevator carincluding an elongated member having first and second substantially v opposed surfaces and firstand second edges, a first cam member having a first cam profile thereon,

and means mounting said first cam member on said elongated member in spaced relation relative to the first opposed surface and with, the first cam profile vator car,

translating means including a first switch device having a cam follower and guide means, and 'meansmounting said translating means on said elevator car, I said guide means being disposed to guide said control 1 meansadjacent to said first switch device such that .the cam follower of saidfirst switch .deviceiis responsive to the first cam profile of said first cam member.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 whereinthe first I cam profile of the first cam member extends outwardly. past the first edge of the elongated member.

structure in thedirectionof movement of said ele-' I follower rollers.

. ber.

1,9 3; The elevator system of claim 2 including a'second cam-member having a firstcam profilethereon, means member in spaced relation relative to the first opposed surface thereof, with-the first cam profile of said second means includes a second switchdevice having a cam follower and guide meansmounted such that the cam follower of the second switch device is responsive to the first cam profile of the second cam member.

I 4. The elevator system of-claimZ wherein the first switch device includes first and second electrical mounting .said second cam member on the elongated cam member extending outwardly past the second edge of the elongated. member, and wherein the translating member inspaced relation relative to the second opposed surfacethereof, withthe first, cam profile of said second cam member oriented to move a cooperative cam follower in a'direction substantially parallel with v the second opposed surface, and wherein the translatingmeans includes a second switch device having a cam follower and guide means mounted such that the cam follower of the second switch device is responsive to'the firstcam profile of the second cam memberl l1. The elevator-system of claim 10 wherein the first v and second cam members each have first and second a change in the dimension between the switch and the edge of the tape, and prevent relative movement betweenthe first and second electrical contacts while both the guide and cam follower rollers are in contact with said common edge-of the elongated-member.

5.'The elevator system of claim 4 wherein the cam follower roller has awidth dimension selected to enable it to rotate on the first edge of the elongated member until coming to the first cam profile,iat which point the cam follo'wer' roller leaves the first edge of the elongated member and follows the cam profile while continuing torotate. v I v M I 6; The elevator system of claim4 wherein theaxes of the guide an d' cam follower rollers aredisposed in spacedparallel relation, andthe first and second pivot axes are located between the'axes of the guide and cam 7. The elevator system of claim 4 including a second cam member having a first cam profile thereon mounted in'spaced relation relativeto an opposed surface of the elongated member, with the cam profile ex tending outwardly past the second edge of the elon gated member, and includinga second switch device constructed similarly to the first switch device, and in cluding means biasing the second switch device against the second edge of the elongated member, to locate the elongated member between the first and second switch devices in the direction perpendicular to its first and second edges, with yieldablecentering forces.

' 8. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the first cam member includes a second cam profile which extends outwardly in a direction opposite to the first cam profile to establish first and second different cam lanes on one side of the elongated member, and wherein the translating means includes a second switch device having a cam followerand guide means mounted such that 1 the cam follower ofthe second switch device'is respon- 1 'sive tothe second cam profileofthefirst cam member.-

9.-The elevator system of claim 8/ wherein the first and second cam profiles extendoutwardly pastthe first and second edges, respectively, of the elongated memmounting said second cammember on the elongated oppositely extending cam profiles thereon, which extend outwardly past the first and second edges, respectively, of the elongated member toestablish four different lanes of cams, and wherein the translatingmeans includes third and fourth switch devices each-having cam follower and guide means mounted such that the cam follower'of the third and fourth switch devices are responsive to the second cam profiles of the first and secondcam members, respectively. r

12. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the guide I means is a guide roller adapted to ride .on an elongated member. r

13. The elevator system of claim-12 wherein the edge of the guide roller is groovedto accommodate anedge of the elongated member and provide a. guide for the-elongated member in the direction between its first and second opposed surfaces; Y v

14. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the cam follower is a roller and the first camprofile extendsoutwardly past the first edge of the elongated member, and

wherein the cam follower roller has, a width dimension selected to ride againstthe first edge of the elongated member until coming to a cam profile at which point it leaves the edge of the elongated member and follows the cam profile. I Y

15. An elevator system, comprising: I

t a structure having a plurality of floors and a hoistway,

an elevator-car', 1 means mounting said elevator car for movementin said hoistway to serve at least certain of the floors,

means mounting the tape member to extend along the hoistway of said structure in the direction of movement of said elevator car,

translating means including four switch devices, one

for each of said four cam lanes,

each of said switch devices including a guide roller and a cam followerroller, and means biasing said guide and cam follower rollers for rotation against a common. edge of said tape member, with two of I said switch devices having their guide and cam follower rollers biased against the first edge and two means-mounting said translating means on said elevathe direction between its first and second major opposed surfaces, and the switch devices, being biased against the first and second edges, provide yieldable centering forces to locate the tape member in the direction between its first and second edges.

17. The elevator system of claim wherein the width dimension of the cam follower rollers of the switch devices is selected to enable each roller to rotate against an edge of the tape member .lower rollers of each switch device in 'ferential directions about first and second pivot axes until reaching a cam member in its associated lane of cam members, at which point the cam follower roller rides up the profile of the cam member while continuing to. rotate.

18. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the means biasing each'of the switch devices against an edge of the tape member biases the guide and cam folopposite circum- 12 v disposed between the axes of the guide and cam follower rollers, and including first and second electrical contacts responsive to the pivoting of the 'guideand cam follower rollers, respectively, with pivoting of both rollers due to changing spacing of the switch device and the adjacent edge of the tape member maintaining the first and second electrical contacts in the same relative position to one another, and the pivoting of only the cam follower roller when the cam follower roller follows the cam profile changes the position of its associated electrical contact relative to the other electrical contact. 7 v I 19. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the cam follower rollersare constructed such that a first orientation thereof relative to its associated switch device will accommodate the cam lanes adjacent one major surface of the tape member, and a second orientation, which is opposite the first orientation, will accommodate the cam lanes adjacent the opposite major surface of the tape member.

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising: a structure having a plurality of floors and a hoistway, an elevator car, means mounting said elevator car for movement in said hoistway to serve at least certain of said floors, control means for said elevator car including an elongated member having first and second substantially opposed surfaces and first and second edges, a first cam member having a first cam profile thereon, and means mounting said first cam member on said elongated member in spaced relation relative to the first opposed surface and with the first cam profile oriented to move a cooperative cam follower in a direction substantially parallel with the first opposed surface, means mounting the elongated member of said control means to extend along the hoistway of said structure in the direction of movement of said elevator car, translating means including a first switch device having a cam follower and guide means, and means mounting said translating means on said elevator car, said guide means being disposed to guide said control means adjacent to said first switch device such that the cam follower of said first switch device is responsive to the first cam profile of said first cam member.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the fiRst cam profile of the first cam member extends outwardly past the first edge of the elongated member.

3. The elevator system of claim 2 including a second cam member having a first cam profile thereon, means mounting said second cam member on the elongated member in spaced relation relative to the first opposed surface thereof, with the first cam profile of said second cam member extending outwardly past the second edge of the elongated member, and wherein the translating means includes a second switch device having a cam follower and guide means mounted such that the cam follower of the second switch device is responsive to the first cam profile of the second cam member.

4. The elevator system of claim 2 wherein the first switch device includes first and second electrical contacts, the guide means includes a guide roller, and the cam follower includes a cam follower roller, and including means interconnecting said guide and cam follower rollers with said first and second electrical contacts, respectively, and means biasing said guide and cam follower rollers in opposite circumferential directions about first and second pivot axes against the first edge of the elongated member, to compensate for a change in the dimension between the switch and the edge of the tape, and prevent relative movement between the first and second electrical contacts while both the guide and cam follower rollers are in contact with said common edge of the elongated member.

5. The elevator system of claim 4 wherein the cam follower roller has a width dimension selected to enable it to rotate on the first edge of the elongated member until coming to the first cam profile, at which point the cam follower roller leaves the first edge of the elongated member and follows the cam profile while continuing to rotate.

6. The elevator system of claim 4 wherein the axes of the guide and cam follower rollers are disposed in spaced parallel relation, and the first and second pivot axes are located between the axes of the guide and cam follower rollers.

7. The elevator system of claim 4 including a second cam member having a first cam profile thereon mounted in spaced relation relative to an opposed surface of the elongated member, with the cam profile extending outwardly past the second edge of the elongated member, and including a second switch device constructed similarly to the first switch device, and including means biasing the second switch device against the second edge of the elongated member, to locate the elongated member between the first and second switch devices in the direction perpendicular to its first and second edges, with yieldable centering forces.

8. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the first cam member includes a second cam profile which extends outwardly in a direction opposite to the first cam profile to establish first and second different cam lanes on one side of the elongated member, and wherein the translating means includes a second switch device having a cam follower and guide means mounted such that the cam follower of the second switch device is responsive to the second cam profile of the first cam member.

9. The elevator system of claim 8 wherein the first and second cam profiles extend outwardly past the first and second edges, respectively, of the elongated member.

10. The elevator system of claim 1 including a second cam member having a first cam profile thereon, means mounting said second cam member on the elongated member in spaced relation relative to the second opposed surface thereof, with the first cam profile of said second cam member oriented to move a cooperative cam follower in a direction substantially parallel with the second opposed surface, and wherein the translating means includes a second switch device having a cam follower and guide means mounted such that the cam follower of the second switch device is responsive to the first cam profile of the second cam member.

11. The elevator system of claim 10 wherein the first and second cam mEmbers each have first and second oppositely extending cam profiles thereon, which extend outwardly past the first and second edges, respectively, of the elongated member to establish four different lanes of cams, and wherein the translating means includes third and fourth switch devices each having cam follower and guide means mounted such that the cam follower of the third and fourth switch devices are responsive to the second cam profiles of the first and second cam members, respectively.

12. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the guide means is a guide roller adapted to ride on an edge of the elongated member.

13. The elevator system of claim 12 wherein the guide roller is grooved to accommodate an edge of the elongated member and provide a guide for the elongated member in the direction between its first and second opposed surfaces.

14. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the cam follower is a roller and the first cam profile extends outwardly past the first edge of the elongated member, and wherein the cam follower roller has a width dimension selected to ride against the first edge of the elongated member until coming to a cam profile at which point it leaves the edge of the elongated member and follows the cam profile.

15. An elevator system, comprising: a structure having a plurality of floors and a hoistway, an elevator car, means mounting said elevator car for movement in said hoistway to serve at least certain of the floors, control means for said elevator car including a tape member having first and second flat major opposed surfaces and first and second edges, and a plurality of cam members fixed in spaced relation to opposite major opposed surfaces of said tape member, certain of which extend past the first edge of the tape member, and certain of which extend past the second edge of the tape member, from both major opposed surfaces of the tape member, to define four lanes of cam members, means mounting the tape member to extend along the hoistway of said structure in the direction of movement of said elevator car, translating means including four switch devices, one for each of said four cam lanes, means mounting said translating means on said elevator car, each of said switch devices including a guide roller and a cam follower roller, and means biasing said guide and cam follower rollers for rotation against a common edge of said tape member, with two of said switch devices having their guide and cam follower rollers biased against the first edge and two of said switch devices having their guide and cam follower rollers biased against the second edge.

16. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the guide rollers are grooved to guide the tape member in the direction between its first and second major opposed surfaces, and the switch devices, being biased against the first and second edges, provide yieldable centering forces to locate the tape member in the direction between its first and second edges.

17. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the width dimension of the cam follower rollers of the switch devices is selected to enable each roller to rotate against an edge of the tape member until reaching a cam member in its associated lane of cam members, at which point the cam follower roller rides up the profile of the cam member while continuing to rotate.

18. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the means biasing each of the switch devices against an edge of the tape member biases the guide and cam follower rollers of each switch device in opposite circumferential directions about first and second pivot axes disposed between the axes of the guide and cam follower rollers, and including first and second electrical contacts responsive to the pivoting of the guide and cam follower rollers, respectively, with pivoting of both rollers due to changing spacing of the switch device and the adjacent edge of the tape member maintaining the first and second electrical contacts in the same Relative position to one another, and the pivoting of only the cam follower roller when the cam follower roller follows the cam profile changes the position of its associated electrical contact relative to the other electrical contact.

19. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the cam follower rollers are constructed such that a first orientation thereof relative to its associated switch device will accommodate the cam lanes adjacent one major surface of the tape member, and a second orientation, which is opposite the first orientation, will accommodate the cam lanes adjacent the opposite major surface of the tape member.