Patent Application
20170008733
The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to elevator systems. More specifically, the subject disclosure relates to guide rails used in elevator systems for elevator cars and counterweights.
Elevator systems typically include an elevator car suspended in a hoistway by a number of suspension ropes or belts, and a counterweight suspended by the ropes or belts to balance the elevator system. The counterweight and elevator car each are guided by guide rails fixed in the hoistway.
The elevator car is connected to the car guide rails via one or more car guide shoes such that the elevator car follows a path defined by the car guide rails as it moves through the hoistway. Further, in some elevator systems, an emergency braking mechanism connected to the elevator car acts on the car guide rails to slow and/or stop the elevator car in the hoistway. Similarly, the counterweight includes one or more counterweight guide shoes to guide the counterweight along a path defined by the counterweight guide rails.
The typical car guide rail is a solid steel T-shaped rail. Such rail configurations are typically utilized because of their ability to withstand buckling and deflection during normal elevator operations and to withstand and loads applied during emergency braking. The typical car guide rails, however, are heavy and bulky, with each rail typically weighing 8 kilograms or more per meter and are typically installed in sections of 5 meters in length. Further, the amount of material used to form the rail drives the rail cost upward.
Sheet metal rails require less material and thus are less costly and lighter weight than traditional solid steel rail. Such rails have been utilized as counterweight guide rails, but not as elevator car guide rails because of the failure of such rail configurations to have the required torsional stiffness and crush resistance during operation of the elevator system and during emergency braking of the elevator car.
In one embodiment, a combined guide rail for an elevator system includes a car guide rail portion to guide an elevator car along an elevator car travel path and a counterweight guide rail portion to guide a counterweight of the elevator system along a counterweight travel path. A connecting portion extends from the car guide rail portion to the counterweight guide rail portion. The car guide rail portion, the counterweight guide rail portion and the connecting portion are formed together as a single unitary structure from a single piece of material.
Additionally or alternatively, the material is a sheet metal material.
Additionally or alternatively, the car guide rail portion includes a car guide portion extending from a car base portion.
Additionally or alternatively, the car base portion has a triangular cross-section.
Additionally or alternatively, the counterweight guide rail portion includes a counterweight guide portion extending from a counterweight base portion.
Additionally or alternatively, the counterweight base portion has a triangular cross-section.
Additionally or alternatively, a plurality of combined guide rail segments are arranged end to end, each guide rail segment formed from a single piece of material.
In another embodiment, an elevator system includes an elevator car positioned in a hoistway, and a counterweight positioned in the hoistway and operably connected to the elevator car. A combined guide rail is located in the hoistway and includes a car guide rail portion interactive with the elevator car to guide the elevator car along an elevator car travel path, and a counterweight guide rail portion interactive with the counterweight to guide the counterweight along a counterweight travel path. A connecting portion extends from the car guide rail portion to the counterweight guide rail portion. The car guide rail portion, the counterweight guide rail portion and the connecting portion are formed together as a single unitary structure from a single piece of material.
Additionally or alternatively, the material is a sheet metal material.
Additionally or alternatively, the car guide rail portion includes a car guide portion extending from a car base portion.
Additionally or alternatively, the car base portion has a triangular cross-section.
Additionally or alternatively, the counterweight guide rail portion includes a counterweight guide portion extending from a counterweight base portion.
Additionally or alternatively, the counterweight base portion has a triangular cross-section.
Additionally or alternatively, a plurality of combined guide rail segments are arranged end to end, each guide rail segment formed from a single piece of material.
Additionally or alternatively, the guide rail segments are aligned with each other via one or more guide brackets at least partially inserted into adjacent car guide rail portions and/or counterweight guide rail portions of the adjacent guide rail segments.
Additionally or alternatively, the one or more guide brackets are positioned in a base portion of the car guide rail portion and/or the counterweight guide rail portion.
Additionally or alternatively, one or more a rail plates span adjacent car guide rail portions and secure a first car guide rail portion of a first guide rail segment to a second car guide rail portion of a second guide rail segment.
Additionally or alternatively, the combined guide rail is secured to a wall of the hoistway.
Additionally or alternatively, the combined guide rail is secured to the wall of the hoistway via one of more fishplates.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Shown in
To guide movement of the elevator car 12 along the hoistway 14, one or more car guide rails 28 are fixed in the hoistway 14. The car guide rails 28 define a travel path for the elevator car 12 in the hoistway 14 and may be utilized in conjunction with other components, such as elevator safety brakes (not shown) to stop movement of the elevator car 12. The elevator car 12 includes one or more car guide shoes 30, in some embodiments two car guide shoes 30 at each car guide rail 28, which interface with the car guide rail 28.
Similarly, one or more counterweight guide rails 32 are fixed in the hoistway 14, to define a travel path of the counterweight 22 along the hoistway 14. The counterweight 22 includes one or more counterweight guide shoes 34, in some embodiments two counterweight guide shoes 34 at each counterweight guide rail 32, which interface with the counterweight guide rail 32.
Referring to
The combined guide rail 36 is secured in the hoistway 14, either directly or via a bracket assembly 48 such as that shown in
As shown in
Similarly, a counterweight guide bracket 72 is inserted into counterweight base portions 42 of the first rail section 60 and of the adjacent second rail section 60 to align the counterweight guide portions 44 of the rail sections 60. The counterweight guide bracket 72 includes counterweight guide bolts 74 extending from the counterweight guide bracket 72, through the counterweight base portion 42 and further through the fishplate 52 where a nut 66 is installed on each counterweight guide bolt 74. In some embodiments, the counterweight guide bolts 74 are secured to the counterweight guide bracket 72 by, for example, welding, and installed into the rail sections 60 by guiding the counterweight guide bolts 74 into slots 76 in the counterweight base portion 42.
The combined guide rail 36 disclosed herein combines the car guide rail 26 with the counterweight guide rail 32 into a unitary element thus reducing the number of parts to be installed in the hoistway 14. Further, the sheet metal construction of the combined guide rail 36 reduces cost and weight of the guide rail system, thus reducing installation time and cost.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/ES2014/070081 | 2/4/2014 | WO | 00 |
