WO2012052583A1 - Elevator for wind towers and similar - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator for moving people and goods vertically inside wind towers and similar, in which the assembly formed by the cab and the mechanisms is moved vertically along a flexible, plastic rack-belt including a core formed by multiple steel cables, said rack-belt being secured at the upper end thereof to an upper structure such that it hangs vertically from same and extends down to a lower structure.

Description

ELEVATOR FOR WIND TOWERS AND SIMILAR TOWERS

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is an elevator for the vertical movement of people and materials inside towers wind and similar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the wind industry develops, the designed elevators

especially to service wind turbines are a virtually essential element for machines that are increasingly install higher.

The enormous height reached by the towers of the new equipment is a serious inconvenience, since to access the areas where maintenance has to be done, this unevenness must be overcome, which makes of the task a difficult practice.

Currently, the tower of a wind turbine can measure over 100 meters high from the ground to the gondola. The tower is a tubular structure that has a vertical interior staircase. In most of the cases, it is attached to the wall and has security floors arranged Every few meters. In other cases the stairs are zigzag. Who they work within these structures need some lifting mechanism that allow access to the top of them.

All the solutions that are being applied to provide the towers with a lifting mechanism they have in common that they are different specific solutions to the problem of lifting people and cargo, up to a usual maximum of 200 kg, inside or next to a ladder structure, all of which is located inside a narrow tubular structure, which makes those solutions must be simple and of little bulky components, that at the same time guarantee the reliability of the lifting mechanism.

Virtually in all cases of the technique previous, the inner staircase of the tower plays a fundamental role in as for the support of rigid guides and, in some cases, of a zipper metal vertical on which a pinion driven by a lifting motor acts. The strength and stiffness of said ladder are therefore critical factors to take into account the installation of these elevators. In addition, possible deformations of the ladder structure can have a negative impact in the correct operation of the interior lift. On the other hand, the space limitations within the tower's tubular structure impose additional difficulties for maintenance and repair of components of the lifting system.

It is therefore necessary to provide a system of elevation inside wind towers and the like whose installation, operation and maintenance are simple and are minimally affected by the rigidity of other structural elements. Such a lifting system is claimed in claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The lifting system of the invention is located inside the tubular structure of the wind tower and essentially understands:

-a cabin assembly, formed by a structure of cabin and a personnel and cargo receptacle or cabin;

-a top structure fixed to the top or roof of the tower;

-a bottom structure fixed to the concrete floor from the pit of the tower;

-two steel cables fixed to said two structures and at fixed points inside the tower, which guide the movement of the cabin assembly, as well as safety cables;

 -a flexible zipper tape attached to the upper and lower structures;

- traction machinery located on the roof of the cabin set;

-electric module located on the roof of the assembly of cabin;

- push button control system located inside the cabin;

-Additional command system for keypads located in the lower and upper parts of the tower;

-parachute safety system located in the part upper cabin structure (minting system), in two stringers sides of the cabin structure (parachute boxes), and on the roof of the cabin assembly (action levers of over-speed coining and broken tape-zipper).

In two symmetrical lateral positions of the upper structure of the lifting system fixed to the top or roof of the tower (hereinafter 'the upper structure') and the lower structure fixed to the concrete floor of the tower pit (hereinafter 'the structure lower '), respectively, the upper and lower ends of two guide and safety cables in steel. The junctions of the lower ends of both cables with the lower structure are provided with tensioners for provide the cables with the appropriate tension.

These guide and safety cables are also fixed to fixed platforms rigidly attached to the tubular structure of the multi-point tower at intermediate heights of the lift path by means of special flanges that embrace the cables (guide cables) that at the same time that hold the cable, its design allows the passage of the guiding parts of the cabin along the elevator shaft.

A flexible zipper tape made of material plastic with multi-wire thin steel core is fixed at its end superior to the upper structure in a central position and hangs vertically from it to the lower structure. The lower end of the Flexible zipper tape also joins the lower structure. In the zone binding to said lower structure, the zipper tape is fixed to a counterweight, usually metallic, which joins the lower structure by an articulated joint, so that the elastic zipper tape is operatively under tension by the action of said mobile counterweights.

In operation, the system cabin assembly lift travels vertically, guided by plastic skates that slide sliding over the two guide wires and safety, through the action of a traction machinery located on the roof of the cabin assembly. This machinery, powered at 220V and 50-60 Hz, It has a motor-traction reducer, governed with variable frequency, with special toothed motor pulley that meshes with flexible belt-rack for move the cab assembly vertically in operation. So, the zipper tape hangs from the upper structure, is received by the traction machinery and goes through it by engaging with the traction sheave and deviating in a deflection pulleys, and leaves them downwards to the lower structure, to which the lower end of said zipper tape which, as indicated above, is permanently tensioned by the action of mobile counterweights.

The performance of the toothed motor pulley on the Zipper tape, which is in static position, makes said pulley motor ascends ('scale') or descends through said zipper belt, which the cab assembly to whose roof the traction machinery is fixed ascend or descend. The effect of the cabin climbing on an elastic band central floor to ceiling is similar to that of a spider climbing its thread vertical elastic Since, in operation, the cabin assembly together with the Traction machinery is supported only by the zipper belt, this It is designed with a large safety coefficient.

The lifting movement of the cabin assembly is operated by a manual control system by push buttons inside the cabin, with automatic stop when reaching its ends. It also has controls alternative by keypads located in the lower and upper part of the travel of the cabin assembly. The speed of the movement is variable according to the speed programmed in the frequency inverter. The system Electric positioning and stopping is integrated into the cabin itself. Be It has luminous signals of march.

The metal cabin is fully enclosed with doors Telescopic output to the front and another side (two accesses at 90º) and has also a lower rescue outlet on the cabin floor.

In operation, the vertical displacement of the set cabin is guided by the two lateral steel cables, fixed to fixed upper, intermediate and lower points of the tower, and serving also as safety cables to the possible free fall of the cabin, which in that event, it will be stopped by the effect of a security system parachute. The parachute safety system is incorporated in the part upper and upper side of the cabin assembly structure, and essentially it is a coining system between the cabin structure and the guidance and safety cables. Two metal clamps or parachute blocks are rigidly and permanently fixed in opposite positions on either side of the external part of the cabin structure, in such an operational position that each guide and safety cable slides in a channel longitudinal section in circle arc of a parachute block. The block parachute is also provided with a roller with a concave groove semicircunferential in its perimeter whose axis is articulated to a first end of a plate whose second end joins so permanent to an external drive mechanism of the safety system. He Corrugated roller shaft can move along a groove arranged in the parachute block, slot whose longitudinal axis forms a small angle, according to a vertical plane, with the axis of the longitudinal channel of arc section circle of the parachute block, such that the displacement in vertical upward direction of said plate moves to the axis of the roller along said groove and thereby brings the roller closer to the channel length of the parachute block where it is continuously housed in operation of the guide and safety cable, thereby clamping the cable guide and safety between said roller and said longitudinal channel.

In normal operation of the lifting system, the parachute blocks rigidly attached to the cabin assembly slide to along the guide and safety cables hugging them but without the force of tighten some, so that the cabin ascends and descends normally.

In cases where the security system parachute must act to stop the movement of the cabin, the clamps Special or parachute blocks imprison the guide and safety cables due to the coining action exerted between the longitudinal channel of circle arc section of each parachute block and grooved roller corresponding on the cited cables, so the relative movement between cab and cables is blocked avoiding the fall and being the cables in that mass support moment in free fall. In this action, the roller shaft grooved is moved along the groove by a manual action or automatic that is exercised simultaneously on both parachute blocks.

The simultaneous displacement of the two rollers fluted, due to the upward vertical displacement of the two plates, can be achieved by any simple articulated mechanism known in The technique.

1. por rotura de la cremallera flexible de la que cuelga el conjunto de cabina;
2. por exceso de velocidad o embalamiento de la cabina; y
3. por la actuación manual desde la cabina por el propio usuario.

Said parachute safety system acts in three possible situations:

1. by breaking the flexible zipper from which the cabin assembly hangs;
2. for speeding or packing the cabin; Y
3. by manual operation from the cabin by the user himself.

The lifting system of the invention is also provided with other conventional detection and security systems known in the technique, such as:

-speed detector system for braking cabin, governed by the movement between cabin and belt by action centrifuge operated by the rack itself, which acts on the parachute when speeding is detected;

- limit offset detection of the set of cab for electrical contacts;

-electric safety system: emergency STOP, in pit, lower stop, upper stop, cabin roof, cabin interior;

- charge control: an electrical contact in the suspension system controls the overload limit by the voltage of the belt on a movable roller depending on the weight, governed by a spring, the lifting system not working in this position.

-end of the race: a contact is available in cabin, which acts to exceed the route, stopping the cabin.

The elevator of the invention is designed according to the applicable regulations and their characteristics make it work Soft, comfortable and safe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment and of the drawings that the accompany, of which:

- Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the lifting system of the invention;

-Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the system elevation of Fig. 1;

-Fig. 3 is a profile view of the system elevation of Fig. 1;

-Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper structure of the lifting system of Fig. 1, fixed to the part top or roof of the tower;

- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lower structure of the lifting system of Fig. 1, fixed to the floor of concrete pit tower;

-Fig. 6 is an elevation view of the upper part of the cab structure of the lifting system of Fig. 1, in which an articulated parachute drive mechanism is also shown;

- Fig. 7a is a perspective view of the lifting machinery located on the roof of the cabin;

- Fig. 7b is a perspective view of the lifting machinery of Fig. 7a showing in more detail the system of lifting and deflection pulleys;

- Fig. 7c is a sectioned elevation view of the lifting machinery of Fig. 8a;

- Fig. 8a is a perspective view of one of the two blocks or parachute clamps fixed to one side of the cabin;

-Fig. 8b is a perspective view of the block parachute of Fig 8a showing its relative position with respect to one of the two guide wires and lifting system safety;

-Fig. 8c is a top plan view of the block parachute of Fig 8b showing its relative position with respect to one of the two guide wires and lifting system safety; Y

-Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a flange special to fix a guide and safety cable to the tower structure wind.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT PREFERENTIAL

Figs. 1-9 show a preferred embodiment of lifting system of the invention comprising a cabin assembly 1, formed by a cabin structure and a personnel and cargo receptacle or cabin, an upper structure 2 fixed to the top or roof of the tower, a lower structure 3 fixed to the concrete floor of the pit of the tower, two steel cables 4 fixed to the upper 2 and lower 3 structures as well as various fixed points inside the tower, which serve as a guide of the movement of the cabin assembly 1, as well as of safety cables, a flexible zipper tape 5 fixed to the upper 2 and lower 3 structures, two parachute safety blocks 13 fixed to two lateral surfaces opposite of the structure of the cabin assembly 1, a traction machinery 6 located on the roof of the cabin assembly 1, and a safety system parachute located in the upper and upper lateral part of the structure of the cabin assembly 1, as well as on the roof of cabin assembly 1.

In two symmetrical lateral positions of the upper structure 2 and lower structure 3 are fixed, respectively, the upper and lower ends of two guide and safety cables 4 in steel. The junctions of the lower ends of both cables 4 with the bottom structure 3 are provided with tensioners to provide the 4 wires the appropriate tension. Said guide and safety cables 4 are also fixed to fixed platforms rigidly attached to the tubular structure of the tower at several points at intermediate heights of the lift path by means of cable-guide or flanges 7 that embrace the cables 4 at the same time allow the passage of the guide skates of the cabin along the hole.

A flexible zipper tape 5 made of material plastic with multi-wire thin steel core is fixed at its end superior to the upper structure 2 in a central position of the latter and hangs vertically from said upper structure 2 to the lower structure 3 a which also joins. In the area of attachment to said lower structure 3, the Zipper tape 5 is fixed to a metal counterweight 8, which joins the lower structure 3 by means of an articulated joint 9, so that the elastic zipper tape 5 is operatively under tension by the action of said mobile weights 8.

In operation, the cabin assembly 1 of the system lift moves vertically guided by four material skates plastic that slide sliding over the two guide wires and safety 4, by the action of the traction machinery 6 located on the roof of the cabin assembly 1. This machinery 6, powered at 220V and 50-60 Hz, it has a motor-traction reducer, governed with variable frequency, with 10 toothed motor pulley that meshes with flexible belt-rack 5 for move the cab assembly 1 vertically during operation. By therefore, the zipper tape 5 hangs from the upper structure 2, is received by traction machinery 6 and through it by engaging with the pulley of traction 10 and deflecting on deflection pulleys 11-12, and leaves them in descending direction to the bottom structure 3, the zipper tape being 5 permanently tensioned by the action of the mobile counterweights 8.

In this preferred embodiment, the zipper tape It has an outer width of 60 mm and has 30 inner reinforcement cables of a diameter of 1 mm; in section, the thickness of it is 10 mm, the 'omega' shaped teeth with a height of 8 mm. Since, in operation, the Cab assembly 1 together with traction machinery 6 are supported only by the zipper belt 5, the safety coefficient of the 5-zip belt in this preferred embodiment, designed to raise a maximum load of 200 kg, is greater than 20. The characteristics of the zipper belt can be varied depending on the load to be lifted and the lifting speed

The lifting movement of the cabin assembly 1 is operated by manual control by push buttons inside the cab, with stop Automatic when reaching its extremes. There are also alternative controls by keypads located in the lower and upper part of the route of the cabin set. The speed of the movement is variable according to the speed programmed in the frequency inverter. The electrical system of Positioning and stopping is integrated into the cabin itself. Signals available luminous gait. The metal cabin is fully enclosed with doors telescopic exit to the front and another side (two accesses at 90º) and also has a lower rescue outlet on the cabin floor.

In operation, the vertical displacement of the set of cabin 1 is guided by the two lateral steel cables 4, which serve also as safety cables to the possible free fall of the cabin. He parachute safety system is incorporated in the upper outer part of the cabin assembly 1, where two metal clamps or parachute blocks 13 they are fixed rigidly and permanently in opposite positions to each other side of the outer part of the cabin structure, in an operational position such that each guide and safety cable 4 is slidably housed in a longitudinal channel 14 of circle arc section of a parachute block 13. The parachute block 13 is also provided with a roller 15 with a semi-circumferential concave groove whose axis is articulated to a first end of a plate 16 whose second end joins so permanent to an external mechanism 18a-18b-18c for operating the system security. The axis of the grooved roller 15 can move along a slot 17 arranged in parachute block 13, slot whose longitudinal axis it forms a small angle, according to a vertical plane, with the axis of the channel longitudinal 14 of circle arc section of parachute block 13, such such that the upward vertical displacement of said plate 16 causes the roller axis 15 to move along said groove 17 and, with this brings the roller 15 closer to the longitudinal channel 14 of the parachute block 13 in the one that continuously stays in operation the guide and safety cable 4, with what the guide and safety cable 4 is imprisoned between said roller 15 and said longitudinal channel 14.

In normal operation of the lifting system, the two parachute blocks 13 rigidly attached to the cabin assembly 1 are slide along the guide and safety cables 4 hugging them but without any tightening force, so that the cabin ascends and descends usually.

In cases where the parachute safety system must act to stop the movement of the cabin, the special clamps or parachute blocks 13 pinch the guide and safety wires 4 due to the coining action exerted between the longitudinal channel 14 of section in circle arc of each parachute block and grooved roller 15 corresponding on the cited cables 4, so that the relative movement between cab and cables 4 is blocked avoiding the fall and cables 4 being in that moment support the masses in free fall. In this action, the axis of grooved roller 15 is moved along the groove 17 by a manual or automatic action that is exercised simultaneously on both blocks parachute 13.

The simultaneous displacement of the two rollers fluted 15, due to the upward vertical displacement of the two plates 16, can be achieved by any simple known articulated mechanism in the technique An example of an articulated mechanism is shown in Fig. 6, in which the set consisting essentially of the elements is observed articulated 18a, 18b and 18c, in which a movement of descent of the element 18a results in the rotation of the elements 18b and 18c around some axes of rotation, which causes the ends of said elements 18b and 18c to rise causing the upper ends of the plates 16 attached to said ends of said elements 18b and 18c also rise causing the displacement of the rollers 15 and their approach to the channels longitudinal 14 and, finally, the consequent blocking of the displacement of the cabin assembly 1 with respect to cables 4.

1. por rotura de la cremallera flexible 5 de la que cuelga el conjunto de cabina 1;
2. por exceso de velocidad o embalamiento de la cabina; y
3. por la actuación manual desde la cabina por el propio usuario.

Said parachute safety system acts in three possible situations:

1. by breaking the flexible zipper 5 from which the cabin assembly 1 hangs;
2. for speeding or packing the cabin; Y
3. by manual operation from the cabin by the user himself.

The lifting system of the invention is also provided with other conventional detection and security systems known in the technique, such as:

-speed detector system, by action centrifuge operated by the zipper belt 5 itself, which acts on the parachute when V = Vnominal x 1.30;

- limit offset detection of the set of Cab 1 for electrical contacts;

-electric safety system: emergency STOP, in pit, lower stop, upper stop, cabin roof, cabin interior;

- charge control: an electrical contact in the system of suspension controls the overload limit, not operating the system elevation in this position.

- limit switches: a cabin contact is available, which acts by exceeding the route stopping the cabin.

Once the scope of the invention has been described, as well as a preferred embodiment thereof, it only remains to add that it is possible make modifications to the elements that compose it and its materials, and the disposition thereof without departing from the essence of the invention whose features are claimed below.

Claims (1)

1. An elevator system for vertical displacement of people and materials inside wind towers and the like, which understands:

-a cabin assembly (1), formed by a structure of cabin and a personnel and cargo receptacle or cabin;

-a traction machinery (6) and electrical module located on the roof of the cabin assembly (1);

-a top structure (2) fixed to the top or roof of the tower;

-a lower structure (3) fixed to the concrete floor from the pit of the tower;

-two steel cables (4) fixed to said two structures (2, 3), and also fixed to fixed points inside the tower by flanges (7), said cables serving as a guide for the movement of the assembly of cabin (1), as well as safety cables;

-a flexible zipper tape (5) attached to the structures upper (2) and lower (3), which hangs from said upper structure (2), is received by the traction machinery (6) and passes through it by engaging with a traction sheave (10) and deflecting on deflection pulleys (11-12), and leaves said pulleys (11-12) downwards to the structure bottom (3), the zipper tape (5) being permanently tensioned by the action of mobile counterweights (8) linked in an articulated manner to said lower structure (3);

-a parachute safety system located in the part upper and upper side of the structure of the cabin assembly 1 as well as on the roof of the cabin assembly, which comprises an articulated mechanism of drive (18a-18b-18c) and two safety parachute blocks (13) fixed to two opposite side surfaces of the cabin structure (1) in a operating position such that each guide and safety cable (4) is housed sliding in a longitudinal channel (14) of a parachute block (13), said parachute block (13) being also provided with a roller (15) with a semi-circumferential concave groove whose axis is articulated to a first end of a plate (16) whose second end joins so permanent to said external mechanism (18a-18b-18c), said axis of said roller fluted (15) being able to move along a groove (17) arranged in the parachute block (13), slot whose longitudinal axis forms a small angle, according to a vertical plane, with said axis of the longitudinal channel (14) of the parachute block (13), such that vertical displacement rising of said plate (16) causes the cable to clamp (4) between said roller (15) and said longitudinal channel (14) blocking the movement of said cabin assembly (1);

-a centrifugal speed detector device for the cab braking governed by movement between cab and headband;

- cabin weight control device by means of tension of the zipper belt (5) on a movable roller movable in weight function governed by a spring.

-a push button control system located inside the cabin, and by keypads located in the lower and upper parts of the tower wind.

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