WO2013055308A1

WO2013055308A1 - Termination assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2013055308A1
Application number: PCT/US2011/055570
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jun Ma; James L. Hubbard; Brad Guilani; Mark Steven Thompson
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Company
Priority date: 2011-10-10
Filing date: 2011-10-10
Publication date: 2013-04-18

Abstract

A termination assembly for an elevator system, includes a spring, a rod extending through the spring, a termination attached to the rod for receiving a rope, a washer mountable to an opening in the hitch plate and having an opening through which the rod extends, and a ring disposed within the opening for damping motion and/or vibration of the rod.

Description

TERMINATION ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application relates to the field of termination assemblies, and more particularly, to a termination assembly for an elevator system.

BACKGROUND

[0002] An elevator system is a hoisting and lowering mechanism, typically equipped with an elevator car and counterweight that is moved and guided in a vertical direction along guide rails. The elevator car and counterweight may be suspended by one or more ropes and moved by interaction with a series of sheaves. In a typical arrangement, the ropes can terminate, for example in a 1 : 1 roping arrangement, at a termination assembly on the car and counterweight or, for example in a 2: 1 roping arrangement, at termination assemblies secured to the hoistway (e.g. mounted to the hoistway ceiling) and/or to structure within the hoistway (e.g. the traction machine bedplate).

SUMMARY

[0003] According to one example arrangement, a termination assembly for an elevator system, includes a spring, a rod extending through the spring, a termination attached to the rod for receiving a rope, a washer mountable to an opening in the hitch plate and having an opening through which the rod extends, and a ring disposed within the opening for damping motion and/or vibration of the rod. [0004] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, there is a gap between the rod and the ring.

[0005] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the ring is attached to the rod.

[0006] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, there is a gap disposed between the ring and the washer.

[0007] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the washer has a plurality of flexible fingers extending downwardly from the bottom, each finger having a surface in alignment with the opening.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the washer further has a cylinder extending from the top wherein the cylinder and the top are for receiving a spring, wherein the cylinder extends upwardly into the spring, the top receives an end of the spring.

[0009] According to another example arrangement, a washer assembly for reducing noise in a hitch termination comprises a washer having a top, a bottom and a central opening for extending the rod therethrough, and a material disposed within the central opening for damping vibration and/or motion of the rod in the opening.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, there is a gap for providing space between the rod and the material, the gap having a dimension that allows the material to damp vibration and/or motion of the rod above a frequency corresponding to the dimension. [0011] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the washer assembly has a plurality of flexible fingers extending downwardly from the bottom, each finger having a surface in alignment with the opening.

[0012] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the fingers further comprise tabs for securing the fingers to a plate.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the material is an elastomer.

[0014] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the material is urethane.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the washer assembly further has a cylinder extending from the top wherein the cylinder and the top are for receiving a spring, wherein the cylinder extends upwardly into the spring, the top receives an end of the spring.

[0016] According to a still further example, a method for making a termination assembly for an elevator system includes disposing a rod through an opening in a washer, creating a gap between the rod and the opening, the gap having a width, and providing a ring in the gap.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the method further comprises the step of forming a gap between the ring and the rod.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the method further comprises the step of attaching the ring to the rod.

[0019] Additionally or alternatively in this or other arrangements, the method further comprises the step of forming a gap between the ring and the opening. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 shows one possible roping arrangement for an elevator system with at least one termination assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0021] Figure 2 shows a detailed view of one of the termination assemblies of

Figure 1.

[0022] Figure 3 shows several components of a washer of Figure 2 shown in another possible environment.

[0023] Figure 4 shows a detailed view of an alternative embodiment the termination shown in Figure 3 assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring to Figure 1 , an illustrative embodiment of selected components of an elevator system that uses a termination assembly 40 to secure the one or more ropes 20 in order to support the car and/or counterweight of the elevator system. As used herein, the word "rope" may mean a rope, such as a metallic wire rope or a synthetic, non-metallic rope, or a belt, such as a coated steel belt, as is known in the art. As will be described in greater detail below, the termination assembly 40 can include a rod 42, termination 44 and spring 54.

[0025] In the roping arrangement shown in Figure 1, which is merely one of many possible roping arrangements, one end of the rope 20 can reside in a termination assembly 40 that secures to structure (such as a hitch plate 50). The rope can then extend downwardly in the hoistway to a first car sheave 22 located for example on the top (i. e. an overslung arrangement) or bottom (i. e. an underslung arrangement) of an elevator car (not shown). The rope 20 can then extend across the elevator car to a second car sheave 24. The rope 20 can extend upwardly in the hoistway to engage a drive, which can include a machine (not shown) having a traction sheave 26. The rope 20 can then extend downwardly to one or more sheaves 25 on a counterweight 27. Finally, the rope 20 can extend upwardly in the hoistway so that the other end of the rope 20 can reside in a termination assembly 39, which could be similar to the aforementioned termination assembly 40.

[0026] A rope portion 20A makes a rope angle alpha with a rope portion 20C and a rope portion 20B makes a rope angle beta with a rope portion 20C. As the elevator car moves upwardly and downwardly within the hoistway, the rope angles alpha and beta can change. The change in angle can deflect the rod 42, which could impact its position in the hole 48 of the hitch plate and affect a gap 74 that may exist in the termination assembly 40 as will be discussed below (see Figs. 2 and 4). The rod 42 has at one end a termination 44 secured thereto, as is known in the art, to receive one end of the rope 20.

[0027] Referring to Figure 2, the rod 42 can extend from termination 44, through a hole 48 in hitch plate 50 and a pair of washers 52. The end of the rod 42 can be threaded to engage a pair of lock nuts 53. As one example, the hitch plate 50 could be part of a bedplate to which the machine (not shown) mounts or to other parts of the hoistway or elevator cab (not shown). A spring 54 can encircle the rod 42 and is seated on the washers 52 and a seat 56, which also acts as a washer between the spring 54 and the plate 50. The spring 54 can act to maintain a state of tension on the rope 20, which helps cushion the elevator car (not shown) and its occupants (not shown). [0028] The seat 56 can have a top 58 and a concentrically placed cylinder 60 extending upwardly therefrom. The cylinder 60 closely receives an end interior of the spring 54 thereabout. The cylinder 60 and the seat 56 have a concentric opening 62 passing therethrough. A ring 64, having an opening 66 concentric with, but narrower than, opening 62 is seated in the opening 62 of the seat 56. The ring may have a lip 65 extending radially outwardly therefrom to help seat the ring in the opening 62. The seat/washer 56 and the ring 64 form a washer assembly.

[0029] The seat 56 can be an impact load-resistant, non-metallic plastic or the like that minimizes the probability that there would be metal-to-metal contact between the rod 42 and the hitch plate 50. Opening 66 receives rod 42 therein but is not in contact with the rod 42. The ring 64 can also be applied to rod 42, as will be discussed hereinbelow, by use of additives, a bonding agent and/or other suitable techniques. The ring 64 may be directly cast, press-fit, adhesively bonded or the like to the seat 56.

[0030] The ring 64 can be made of a material with suitable damping properties. The material could also have low wear and/or low friction properties. As an example, the ring 64 could be made from an elastomer, such as a urethane, rubber or the like, and is seated in the opening 62 of the seat 56. Opening 66 receives rod 42 therein. A gap 74 may exist between the ring 64 and the rod 42 under certain conditions (i.e. the ring 64 is not necessarily always in contact with the rod 42) or there could be no gap (i.e. the ring 64 contacts the rod 42 in all situations). The presence of the gap 74 allows the ring 64 to provide damping only when sufficient vibration and/or movement of rod 42 occurs (i.e. such that rod 42 contacts the ring 64 on the seat 56. If no gap exists, the ring 64 would provide damping to all vibration and/or movement of rod 42. The ring 64 may also be applied to rod 42 by use of additives, a bonding agent and/or other suitable techniques as will be discussed below.

[0031] The ring 64 may be, as noted above, made of urethane sleeve that has a density of between about 1.0 to about 1.5 grams per cubic centimeter. The urethane may be inserted and glued or press-fit in the opening 62, or may be over-molded therein. The urethane, in one exemplary arrangement with a rod 42 having a diameter of approximately 18mm, can be 5mm thick.

[0032] Referring to Figures 2-4, the seat 56 can have a plurality of fingers 68 extending downwardly from a bottom therefrom. The fingers 68 can be flexible and arrayed around a periphery of the opening 62. The fingers 68 could also each have a tab 70 extending from a bottom end 72 thereof. The fingers 68 can extend into the hole 48 and, if the fingers 68 are longer than the thickness of the hitch plate 50 (such as shown in Figures 2 and 4), can snap onto the bottom 72 of the hitch plate 50 to hold the seat 56 in contact with the hitch plate 50. Retention of the seat 56 on the hitch plate 50 can facilitate the installation of the termination assembly during construction of the elevator system and/or prevent misalignment of the seat 56 and the rod 42 in elevator dynamic events, such an emergency stop or safety application, which can cause displacement of the seat 56 from the plate 50.

[0033] The fingers 68 can work within a wide range of hitch plate 50 thicknesses. As discussed above, the fingers 68 can clip on thinner hitch plates 50 or flex to create an interference fit within the hole 48 of a thicker hitch plate 50 (see Fig. 3). [0034] Referring to Figure 4, an alternative embodiment is shown in which the elastomeric ring 64 is disposed on the rod 42. A gap 74 can exist between the ring 64 and the seat 56 (i.e. the ring 64 is not necessarily always in contact with the seat 56) or there could be no gap (i.e. the ring 64 contacts the seat 56 in all situations). In other words, gap 74 may not exist. This embodiment works similarly to the embodiment shown in Figure 2 in that the ring 64 dampens the vibrations and/or movements in rod 42 that could create contact with the seat 56 and create noise. There could be a radial gap 74 between the ring 64 on rod 42 and the seat. If the radial gap 74 closes momentarily due to vibration or movement of the rod 42 (or if the gap never existed), the ring 64 contacts the seat 56 and damps unwanted vibration or contact and any potential noise associated with the unwanted vibration or noise.

[0035] The Applicants discovered that the ring 64 helps reduce movement and/or vibrations of the rope 20 during operation that may be transmitted to the rod 42 from creating noise by contacting either the seat 56 or the plate 50. In the arrangement of the present invention shown in Figure 2, the rod 42 can touch the ring 64 at least when the movement/vibrations in rod 42 exceed a certain threshold that might create noise if the rod 42 were allowed to contact the seat 56 or plate 50. In other words, there can be a radial gap 74 between the rod and the ring 64 under certain conditions such as when the rod 42 is not vibrating or moving. If the radial gap 74 closes momentarily due to vibration or the angle of the rope 20, the rod 42 comes in contact with the ring 64 and acts to damp vibrations/contact and potential unwanted noise. In the arrangement of the present invention shown in Figure 4, the ring 64 (which is located on rod 42 on this arrangement) can touch the seat 56 at least when the movement/ vibrations in rod 42 exceed a certain threshold that might create noise if the rod 42 were allowed to contact the seat 56 or plate 50.

[0036] To install the seat 56, the fingers 68 are inserted in hole 48 in a hitch plate 50 and the tabs snap fit thereunder (see Figs. 2 and 4) or flexed to create an interference fit in the hole 48 (see Fig. 3). The spring 54 is attached atop the seat that receives the spring 54 on cylinder 60. The rod is extended through the ring 64 and the spring 54 before passing through the pair of washers 52. The pair of lock nuts 53 is then secured to the rod 42.

[0037] While the present invention has been described with reference to a particular preferred embodiment and by accompanying drawings, it would be understood by those in the art that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment and that various modification and the like could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A termination assembly for an elevator system, the termination assembly mounted to a hitch plate and including:

a spring,

a rod extending through the spring,

a termination attached to the rod for receiving a rope,

a washer mountable to an opening in the hitch plate and having an opening through which said rod extends, and

a ring disposed within said opening for damping motion and/or vibration of said rod.

2. The termination assembly of claim 1 further comprising a gap between said rod and said ring.

3. The termination assembly of claim 1, wherein said ring is attached to said rod.

4. The termination assembly of claim 1 in which there is a gap disposed between said ring and said washer.

5. The termination assembly of claim 1 wherein said washer has a plurality of flexible fingers extending downwardly from said bottom, each finger having a surface in alignment with said opening.

6. The termination assembly of claim 1 wherein said washer further has a cylinder extending from said top wherein said cylinder and said top are for receiving a spring, wherein the cylinder extends upwardly into said spring, said top receives an end of said spring.

7. A washer assembly for reducing noise in a hitch termination, the washer assembly comprising:

a washer having a top, a bottom and a central opening for extending the rod therethrough, and

a material disposed within said central opening for damping vibration and/or motion of said rod in said opening.

8. The washer assembly of claim 7 further comprising a gap providing space between said rod and said material, said gap having a dimension that allows said material to damp vibration and/or motion of said rod above a frequency corresponding to said dimension.

9. The washer assembly of claim 7 wherein said washer has a plurality of flexible fingers extending downwardly from said bottom, each finger having a surface in alignment with said opening.

10. The washer assembly of claim 9 wherein said fingers further comprise tabs for securing said fingers to a plate.

11. The washer assembly of claim 7 wherein said material is an elastomer.

12. The washer assembly of claim 7 wherein said material is urethane.

13. The washer assembly of claim 7 wherein said washer assembly further has a cylinder extending from said top wherein said cylinder and said top are for receiving a spring, wherein the cylinder extends upwardly into said spring, said top receives an end of said spring.

14. A method for making a termination assembly for an elevator system, said method comprising:

disposing a rod through an opening in a washer,

creating a gap between said rod and said opening, said gap having a width and providing a ring in said gap.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of forming a gap between the ring and the rod.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of attaching the ring to the rod.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of forming a gap between the ring and the opening.