WO2002006148A2

WO2002006148A2 - Supporting framework for an elevator car

Info

Publication number: WO2002006148A2
Application number: PCT/FI2001/000661
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jyrki Keto
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2000-07-14
Filing date: 2001-07-11
Publication date: 2002-01-24
Also published as: WO2002006148A3; AU2001279837A1

Abstract

A supporting car framework (1, 2, 3) comprising at least one vertical supporting element (17) placed outside an interior wall (23) of the car and a horizontal supporting structure, said car framework comprising a horizontal supporting element (20) placed below the floor level of the car and consisting of a grating structure (10, 11).

Description

SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK FOR AN ELEVATOR CAR

The present invention relates to a supporting framework for an elevator car as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

Generally, an elevator car is secured to a structure support- ing it, i.e. to a car sling or car framework, to support the car in the hoistway. The car framework of the elevator car may be so constructed that the hoisting point is located e.g. at the back or at the side of the car. As is well known, so- called knapsack-type elevators, in which the hoisting point of the car is located at the back of the car, are supported by a beam structure placed under the floor of the car, requiring a larger space below the elevator.

In general, elevator structures should be designed with an aim at minimizing the space required below the car to reduce the costs. For example, when elevators are to be installed in buildings which have not had any elevators before and which have been originally designed without a provision for elevators, it is important to design the elevator construction so that no large space is required below the elevator car.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problems and to disclose a new type of supporting structure for a elevator car that will require as little space as possible in the vertical direction of the elevator shaft especially below the passenger cabin. "Passen- ger cabin' means the space delimited by the walls and floor of the elevator car. The supporting car framework of the invention is applicable for use in so-called knapsack-type elevators, in which the hoisting point is located at the back of the car. Alternatively, it is possible to use the supporting car framework of the invention in elevators hoisted by a point located at the side of the car.

As for the features characteristic of the invention, reference is made to the claims. The supporting car framework of the invention comprises at least one vertical supporting element placed outside an inside wall of the car and a horizontal supporting structure. The above-mentioned supporting framework for an elevator car comprises a horizontal supporting element consisting of a grating structure, placed below the floor level of the car. The horizontal supporting structure comprises at least two horizontal supporting beams. The vertical supporting element and the horizontal supporting beams are connected to each other. According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting car framework is a car sling. According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting framework of the car is at least partially integrated with the structure of the passenger cabin. According to an embodiment of the invention, the horizontal supporting beam is an L-shaped iron bar. The horizontal supporting element can be placed upon the supporting beams. By placing the grating structure upon L-shaped bars, a sturdy structure forming a load-bearing structure under the floor surfacing is achieved. When the floor of the elevator car is constructed using a supporting structure according to the invention, no other supporting elements are needed under the car, and therefore space is saved in the vertical direction of the elevator shaft.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grating structure consists of cross bars and supporting bars laid crosswise with respect to each other and of an edging surrounding them. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross bars and the supporting bars are substantially perpendicular to each other. The cross bars and supporting bars as well as the edging are made of a durable material, e.g. steel. According to the invention, the grating structure can be so constructed that the cross bars and supporting bars forming the grating structure are of identical design, i.e. of an equally strong construction. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross bars are thinner than the supporting bars . According to an embodiment of the invention, the cross bars of the grating structure are sunk in the supporting bars. The cross bars of the structure of the invention can be so laid on the supporting bars that the required strength is achieved and the cross bars lie parallel to the door sill. The spacing both between the cross bars and between the supporting bars as well as their number in the grating structure can be varied so that they give the structure the required strength.

According to an embodiment advantageous to the invention, the vertical supporting element and the horizontal supporting beams of the car framework are connected to each other by a diagonal bracing member. According to another embodiment advantageous to the invention, the vertical supporting element and the horizontal supporting beam are connected to each other by a vertical front member and a horizontal overhead member placed above the car. According to a further embodiment advantageous to the invention, the vertical supporting element of the supporting framework of the car and the horizontal supporting beam under the car are connected to each other by providing the structure with diagonal members. Ac- cording to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the structure allows the placement of an intermediate plate of e.g. plywood or sheet metal directly upon the grating structure acting as a horizontal supporting element under the floor, and the intermediate plate can be covered with a floor surfacing. The intermediate plate and the grating structure can be easily secured to each other with fastening elements, such as screws going through the grating structure. The grating structure preferably extends over the entire area of the floor. The floor structure of the invention can be used in an elevator in which the clearance between the bottom of the shaft and the floor of the elevator car is small when the car is at the lowest floor.

The thin grating structure of the invention is preferably used as a load-bearing structure in the floor of the elevator car. When a thin floor structure as provided by the invention is used, only a narrow space will be needed below the elevator car in the building because no supports requiring more space in the vertical direction are needed under the floor structure. By using a grating structure according to the invention in the floor structure of the elevator car, savings will be achieved in construction costs.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. la presents a car framework according to the invention.

Fig. lb presents another implementation of the invention,

Fig. lc presents yet another implementation of the invention.

Fig. 2 presents a grating structure according to the invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates the grating structure and its surfacing.

Fig. 4 presents a sectional view of the supporting framework.

The supporting framework 1 for an elevator car, presented in lateral view in Fig. la, comprises a vertical supporting element 17 placed outside the car 5 to support the car 5 from behind and a horizontal supporting beam 21, which are connected to each other by a diagonal bracing element 6 placed at the side of the car. The structure comprises e.g. two vertical supporting elements 17 behind the car and two diagonal bracing elements 6, one on either side of the car. The diagonal bracing elements 6 are fixed by their lower edges to a point close to the door sill and by their upper edges to the vertical supporting element 17. The horizontal supporting beam consists of e.g. an L-shaped bar. The supporting structure is provided with as many horizontal supporting beams as necessary to maintain a sufficient bearing capacity, with e.g. one beam on each side except the front side of the car. The L-shaped bars form a support delimiting the entire area of the floor for the horizontal supporting element 20, i.e. grating structure, which is placed upon the L-shaped bars. At the rear corners of the car, the L-shaped bars are secured to each other by welding, and on the front side they are secured to the horizontal supporting beam, which is not an L-shaped bar. An L-shaped supporting beam is not necessarily applica- ble for use on the front side of the car as it would extend in front of the door opening. The vertical supporting elements 17 are connected to each other behind the car. The walls of the car 5 are placed upon the horizontal supporting element 20. The door sill 7 is attached to the horizontal supporting element 20. When a car framework 1 like this is used, the hoisting point of the car is located at its back, and the elevator type in this case is called a knapsack elevator.

Fig. lb presents a lateral view of a car framework 2 accord- ing to the invention which comprises vertical supporting elements 17 placed at the rear corners of the car 5 and, to connect them to the horizontal supporting beams 21, horizontal overhead members 9 above the car and vertical front members 8 at the sides of the car. The front member and the overhead member are also fastened to each other. The supporting structure is provided with as many horizontal supporting beams 21 as necessary to maintain a sufficient bearing capacity. The L-shaped bars form a support upon which a grating structure acting as a horizontal supporting element 20 is placed. The horizontal overhead members 9 and the vertical front members 8 are fastened to each other as well as to the vertical supporting elements 17 and the horizontal supporting beams e.g. by means of bolts. The vertical supporting elements 17 are connected to each other behind the car. In the case of the structure presented in this figure, the hoisting point of the car is located at its side.

Fig. lc presents a lateral view of a car framework 3 according to the invention which comprises vertical supporting elements 17 on either side of the car 5, and horizontal support- ing beams 21, which are connected to each other by diagonal struts 16 at the side of the car. The vertical supporting elements 17 are connected to each other above the car 5. The supporting structure is provided with as many horizontal supporting beams as necessary to maintain a sufficient bearing capacity. The L-shaped bars form a framework delimiting the entire floor area, upon which a grating structure is placed.

Fig. 2 presents an example showing the various parts of the grating structure acting as a horizontal supporting element 20 as seen from above the supporting car framework 1, 2 or 3 according to the invention as well as the interconnections between them. The structure comprises a required number of supporting bars 11 and cross bars 10 laid at a given angle, e.g. at a straight angle with respect to the former, and an edging 12 surrounding them. The cross bars 10 are sunk in the upper edge of the supporting bars. The cross bars 10 are laid in the grating structure in a direction parallel to the door sill 7 to provide a sufficient structural strength. The spacing between the cross bars and between the supporting bars as well as the thickness of the bars can be varied as required in each case.

Fig. 3 shows how an intermediate plate 13 and a floor surfac- ing 14 can be mounted upon the grating structure 20 to form the floor of the car. The grating structure 20 and the intermediate plate 13, which is made of a material such as e.g. plywood or sheet metal, are connected to each other with fastening elements 15 such as screws. The fastening elements 15 can be countersunk in the grating structure as well to minimize the total thickness of the structure. The door sill 7 is secured to the grating structure 20.

Fig. 4 shows in side view how a part of the horizontal supporting beam 21 is placed between a car wall 23 and the hori- zontal supporting element 17. The horizontal supporting element 20 is placed upon the supporting beams 21, and the required floor surfacing 14 is placed upon it. The walls 23 of the car press the horizontal supporting element 20 against the supporting beams 21. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not limited to the examples described above, but that they may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.

Claims

1. Supporting car framework (1, 2, 3) comprising at least one vertical supporting element (17) placed outside an interior wall (23) of the car and a horizontal supporting structure, characterized in that the supporting car framework comprises a horizontal supporting element (20) placed below the floor level of the car and consisting of a grating structure (10, 11) .

2. Supporting car framework as defined in claim 1, charac- terized in that the horizontal supporting structure comprises at least two horizontal supporting beams (21) and that the vertical supporting element (17) and the horizontal supporting beams (21) are connected to each other.

3. Supporting car framework as defined in claim 1, charac- terized in that the supporting framework is a car sling.

4. Supporting car framework as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the supporting car framework is at least partially integrated with the structure of the passenger cabin.

5. Supporting car framework as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the horizontal supporting beam (21) is an L-shaped bar.

6. Supporting car framework as defined in claim 1 or 5 , characterized in that the horizontal supporting element (20) can be disposed upon the L-shaped bars.

7. Supporting car framework (1, 2, 3) as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal supporting element

(20) consists of cross bars (10) and supporting bars (11) laid crosswise with respect to each other, with an edging (12) surrounding them.

8. Supporting car framework (1, 2, 3) as defined in claim 7, characterized in that the cross bars (10) and the sup- porting bars (11) are substantially perpendicular to each other.

9. Supporting car framework as defined in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the cross bars (10) and the sup- porting bars (11) are substantially identical.

10. Supporting car framework as defined in claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the cross bars (10) are thinner than the supporting bars (11) .

11. Supporting car framework (1, 2, 3) as defined in claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the cross bars (10) are sunk in the supporting bars (11) .

12. Supporting car framework (1) as defined in claim 1, characterized in that at least one horizontal supporting element (17) placed behind the car (5) and the horizontal supporting beams (21) placed under the car (5) are connected to each other by a diagonal bracing element (6) .

13. Supporting car framework (2) as defined in claim 1, characterized in that at least one horizontal supporting element (17) placed behind the car (5) and a horizontal sup- porting beam (21) placed under the car (5) are connected to each other by at least one vertical front member (8) and a horizontal overhead member (9) placed above the car (5) .

14. Supporting car framework (3) as defined in claim 1, char- acterized in that at least one horizontal supporting element (17) placed behind the car (5) and a horizontal supporting beam (21) placed under the car (5) are connected to each other by at least two diagonal bracing members (16) .

15. Supporting car framework (1, 2, 3) as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it allows an intermediate plate (13) to be placed upon the horizon- tal supporting element (20) and a floor surfacing (14) to be placed upon the intermediate plate.

16. Supporting car framework (1, 2, 3) as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hori- zontal supporting element (20) extends over the entire area of the bottom of the car (5) .

17. Use of a supporting car framework as defined in any one of the preceding claims in an elevator in which the clearance between the shaft bottom and the car floor is small when the car is at the lowest floor.