WO2011037557A1

WO2011037557A1 - Elevator governor tension device

Info

Publication number: WO2011037557A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/057747
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kewei Peter Xu
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Company
Priority date: 2009-09-22
Filing date: 2009-09-22
Publication date: 2011-03-31

Abstract

An exemplary device for providing tension in an elevator governor assembly includes an anchor configured to be secured in a fixed position in a hoistway. A biasing member disposed between the anchor and a governor tension sheave mount biases the governor tension sheave mount in a selected direction relative to the anchor.

Description

60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO

ELEVATOR GOVERNOR TENSION DEVICE

BACKGROUND

[oooi] Elevator systems include various components to control the speed of movement of the elevator car and any associated counterweight. One such device is known as a governor. Conventional arrangements include a governor sheave located near a top of a hoistway, a tension sheave located near a bottom of a hoistway and a governor rope that follows a loop around the governor sheave and tension sheave. The rope moves with the car to cause the governor sheave to rotate. When the governor sheave rotates at a speed beyond a desired limit, a stopping mechanism known as an elevator safety is activated to stop the elevator car by engaging the guide rails, for example.

[0002] One feature of conventional governor arrangements is that the tension sheave has cast iron weights associated with it to maintain a desired tension on the governor rope. While these arrangements have proven useful, they are not without drawbacks. One issue presented by the conventional arrangement is that the cost of cast iron blocks or weights can often equal or exceed the cost of the other governor components. Additionally, casting processes often involve relatively high amounts of energy consumption.

SUMMARY

[0003] An exemplary device for providing tension in an elevator governor assembly includes an anchor configured to be secured in a fixed position in a hoistway. A biasing member is between the anchor and a governor tension sheave mount. The biasing member biases the governor tension sheave mount in a selected direction relative to the anchor.

[000 ] An exemplary elevator governor assembly includes a governor sheave, a tension sheave and a governor rope looped around the sheaves. A tension sheave mount supports the tension sheave for rotation responsive to movement of the governor rope. An anchor is configured to be in a fixed position in a hoistway. A biasing member biases the tension sheave mount in a selected direction relative to the anchor to maintain a desired amount of tension on the governor rope. 60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO

[0005] The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system including a governor assembly designed according to an embodiment of this invention.

[0007] Figure 2 diagrammatically illustrates selected portions of an example governor tension device.

[0008] Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates another example governor tension device.

[0009] Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates another example governor tension device arrangement.

[oooio] Figure 5 diagrammatically illustrates another example governor tensioning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[oooii] Figure 1 illustrates selected portions of an elevator system 20. An elevator car 22 is supported in a known manner for movement along guiderails 24.

[00012] An elevator governor assembly 30 is provided to control the speed at which the elevator car 22 is allowed to move. The governor assembly 30 includes a governor sheave 32 and a tension sheave 34. A governor rope 36 follows a loop around the governor sheave 32 and tension sheave 34.

[00013] The governor sheave 32 is supported by a governor housing 38 that can also support other components (not illustrated) associated with operation of the governor assembly 30. The tension sheave 34 is supported by a tension sheave mount 40 that allows the tension sheave 34 to rotate responsive to movement of the governor rope 36 as the rope 36 moves with the elevator car 22.

[0001 ] The example tension sheave mount 40 includes a bracket 42 for securing the tension sheave mount 40 in a desired location in the hoistway. In this example, a portion of the bracket 42 is configured to be secured to one of the 60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO guiderails 24 and the tension sheave mount is at least partially moveable relative to the guiderail.

[00015] A biasing member 44 ensures a desired amount of tension on the governor rope 36. In this example, the biasing member 44 biases the tension sheave mount 40 in a selected direction relative to an anchor 46 that is configured to remain in a fixed position in the hoistway of the elevator system 20. In the example of Figure 1, the anchor 46 is configured to be secured to the guiderail 24 in a fixed position. The biasing member 44 in this example extends between the anchor 46 and the tension sheave mount 40. The illustrated biasing member 44 urges the tension sheave mount 40 toward the anchor 46.

[00016] Figure 2 shows selected portions of the example of Figure 1 in somewhat more detail. In this example, the biasing member 44 comprises a spring. The illustrated spring is a mechanical, coil spring in this example. The biasing member 44 (e.g., spring) in the example of Figure 2 has one end connected to the anchor 46 and another end connected to the tension sheave mount 40. The bias of the biasing member in this example urges the tension sheave mount 40 toward the anchor 46, as shown by arrow A.

[00017] The example of Figure 3 includes an anchor 46 secured to a hoistway floor 50, which would be located in a pit, for example. In this example, the anchor 46 is not on the guiderail 24. Conventional fasteners can be used to secure the anchor 46 to the hoistway floor 50.

[00018] In the example of Figure 3, the biasing member 44 comprises a mechanical spring. Figure 3 also illustrates an adjuster 52 that facilitates adjusting a biasing force of the biasing member 44 to adjust tension on the governor rope 36. In the illustrated example, a threaded hook member 54 receives a nut that operates as the adjuster 52. Adjusting the position of an end of the hook 54 relative to the anchor 46 changes the tension on the biasing member 44 to adjust the tension on the governor rope 36. While not specifically shown in the other drawings, an adjuster can be included in each example embodiment. In the example of FIG. 3, the biasing member 44 urges the tension sheave mount 40 in a downward direction, toward the anchor 46 secured to the hoistway floor, as shown by arrow B.

[00019] Figure 4 differs from the arrangement in Figure 3 in that the biasing member 44 is a fluid-based damper. One example includes a hydraulic damper. Another example includes a pneumatic damper. Another example includes a gas 60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO spring as the biasing member 44. In the example of Figure 4, the biasing member 44 urges the tension sheave mount 40 in a downward direction toward the anchor 46, which is secured to the hoistway floor 50, as shown by arrow C.

[00020] Figure 5 schematically illustrates another example in which the biasing member 44 urges the tension sheave mount 40 away from the anchor 46. In this example, the anchor 46 is secured to a hoistway wall 56. Conventional fasteners or mounting techniques may be used to secure the anchor 46 in an appropriate location to allow the biasing member 44 to bias the tension sheave mount 40 in the appropriate direction, as shown in FIG. 5 by arrow D. In the example of Figure 5, the biasing member 44 comprises a fluid-based damper.

[00021] Given this description, those skilled in the art will be able to select an appropriate biasing member to meet the needs of their particular situation. For example, a mechanical spring may provide additional cost savings compared to a fluid-based damper for situations in which cost savings are a high priority. One example mechanical spring comprises the commercially available material 60Si₂Mn, has a wire diameter of 5 mm, a diameter of the coil portion of the spring of 25 mm and a spring stiffness, K, of 50 N/mm.

[00022] One feature of using a tension device as shown in the illustrated examples is that it allows for a single device configuration to be useful within a variety of elevator system configurations. There is no need to arrange for different sized weights to accommodate different elevator rises. Instead, one particular biasing member may be adjusted to provide the desired amount of tension on the governor rope 36 depending on the required tension for a given elevator rise. This provides additional cost savings and reduces complexity associated with arranging for the appropriate components to be delivered to a job site for elevator system installation.

[00023] Another feature associated with the illustrated examples is that the adjustability of the biasing force of the biasing member allows for accommodating any lengthening of the governor rope 36 in an easier manner that does not require additional parts or replacing parts, which may have been the case in many conventional arrangements using tension weights.

[0002 ] The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The 60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO CLAIMS

I claim: 1. A device for providing tension in an elevator governor assembly, comprising: an anchor configured to be secured in a fixed position in a hoistway;

a governor tension sheave mount; and

a biasing member between the anchor and the governor tension sheave mount, the biasing member biasing the governor tension sheave mount in a selected direction relative to the anchor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the spring has one end connected to the anchor and an opposite end connected to the governor tension sheave mount.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a securing member for securing the anchor to at least one of a floor or a wall of the hoistway.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a bracket that is configured to be secured to a guide rail.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising an adjuster that allows for adjusting a biasing force of the biasing member.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing member biases the governor tension sheave mount in a direction toward the anchor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing member biases the governor tension sheave mount in a direction away from the anchor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing member comprises a fluid-based damper. 60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the biasing member comprises at least one of a gas spring, a hydraulic damper or a pneumatic damper.

11. An elevator governor assembly, comprising:

a governor sheave;

a tension sheave;

a governor rope looped around the governor sheave and the tension sheave; a tension sheave mount that supports the tension sheave and allows the tension sheave to rotate responsive to movement of the governor rope;

an anchor that is configured to be in a fixed position in a hoistway; and a biasing member that biases the tension sheave mount in a selected direction relative to the anchor to maintain a desired amount of tension on the governor rope.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the spring has one end connected to the anchor and an opposite end connected to the tension sheave mount.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the anchor comprises a securing member for securing the anchor to at least one of a floor or a wall of the hoistway.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the anchor comprises a bracket that is configured to be secured to a guide rail.

16. The assembly of claim 11, comprising an adjuster that allows for adjusting tension on the governor rope.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the biasing member biases the tension sheave mount in a direction toward the anchor.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the biasing member biases the tension sheave mount in a direction away from the anchor. 60,469-476 PCT; PA-0009958-WO

19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the biasing member comprises a fluid- based damper.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the biasing member comprises at least one of a gas spring, a hydraulic damper or a pneumatic damper.