WO2003072480A1

WO2003072480A1 - Vertical lift system with an automatically travelling chain drive

Info

Publication number: WO2003072480A1
Application number: PCT/CH2002/000122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernst Saxer
Original assignee: System Schultheis Ag
Priority date: 2002-02-28
Filing date: 2002-02-28
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: AU2002231565A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vertical lift system characterised in that the lift is driven by two terminal static lift chains (2', 2'') which are arranged laterally. Said chains are engaged with the chain pinions (6', 6'') of the drive motor (4) which automatically travels with the lift (1). Each lift chain (2', 2'') is guided in a downward direction around part of the chain pinion (6', 6'') and part of the attached guide pinions (7, 7''). The lower chain ends are guided by means of a spring (8) to a lower coupling point. In order to reduce horizontal forces, the lift chains (2', 2'') are arranged on a plane which coincides as closely as possible with a vertical plane leading through the centre of gravity of the lift (G). The lift system is particularly suitable for high-rise warehouse lifts.

Description

VERTIKA LIFTSYSTEM WITH DRIVING CHAIN DRIVE

The present invention relates to a vertical lift system with a drive by means of a lifting chain and chain sprocket acting thereon with an associated drive motor.

Today's lift systems are all relatively complex in terms of function and safety. In lift systems with lifting chains, these are usually attached to the lift head and are driven by motors at the upper end of the lift shaft. Large forces can occur, particularly in the case of emergency stops, which put the chain drive itself into question (risk of damage to the drive).

The object of the present invention was to create a lift system with a lifting chain drive in which the known problems do not occur and which manages with a simple construction.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a vertical lift system of the type defined at the outset by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1 shows the vertical lift system according to the invention in a basic representation and Fig. 2 is a purely schematic representation of the lift system of FIG. 1 on a vertical lift.

The novel type of suspension according to the invention in vertical lift systems is based on the idea of a traveling lifting motor which, via a special arrangement of the drive pinion and subsequent deflection pinion, guides the lifting chain in such a way that it is possible to pull up the lift on the lifting chain in the form of a finite static chain. As the drawing shows, a lifting chain 2 ', 2 "is provided on the side of the lift 1 (on opposite sides), each of which is firmly suspended with its upper end (suspension points 3', 3").

On Lift 1 itself is a drive motor 4 mounted with a across the width of the lift 1 extending drive shaft 5 '' are arranged. Immediately thereafter, the ^• sprocket 6, 6 ', 6 "at the ends of sprocket 6 are return sprocket 7', 7 "is provided.

The lifting chains 2 ″, 2 ″ run down part of the circumference of the chain sprockets 6 ′, 6 ″ and then directly over a circumferential part of the deflection sprockets 7 ′, 7 ″.

The lower ends of the lifting chains 2 ', 2 "are tensioned downwards by means of springs 8.

It can be clearly seen from the drawing that the lifting chain sections hanging under the deflection sprockets 7 ', 7 "are not subjected to tensile forces and are only pretensioned downward for safety via the springs 8. This type of chain guide allows the chain to pass through the Geometry of the pinion arrangement itself holds and does not jump out of the pinion even under heavy loads, such as an emergency stop.

Since the lower section of each lifting chain is practically draft-free, no moment acts on the lift despite the displacement of the two chain sections (before and after deflection) (which would result in the lift rotating around the drive shaft = jamming). This is exactly the same when accelerating or braking the lift. Thanks to the construction according to the invention, if the lifting chains are arranged correctly, the result is that the lift can hang freely and can only be suspended with one chain on two opposite lift sides. Guide rollers 9 as shown schematically in Fig. 2 only serve for stabilization, e.g. with horizontal forces acting on the lift (generated by acceleration, by the load etc.).

The lifting chains and the drive sprockets are arranged so that the vertical plane leading through the chains coincides with a vertical plane leading through the center of gravity (unloaded) of the lift.

Claims

claims:

1. Vertical lift system with a drive by means of a lifting chain and a chain pinion engaging there with an associated drive motor, characterized in that a lifting chain fixed at the upper end is arranged on two opposite lift sides and that the drive motor is arranged to travel on the lift and drives a drive shaft the opposite ends of which each have a chain sprocket, each of which interacts with one of the lifting chains arranged on the side of the lift, each of the lifting chains being guided downwards by part of the chain sprocket and then by part of a deflection sprocket and the lower end of each chain by means of a Spring is tensioned to a lower pivot point.

2. Lift system according to claim 1, characterized in that guide rollers for stabilization, in particular with essentially horizontally acting forces, are provided on the lift itself.

3. Lift system according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive shaft with the chain sprockets is arranged on the lift and the lifting chains are fixed at their upper end so that the lifting chain level coincides with a vertical plane leading through the center of gravity of the lift.