The invention relates to a drive machine of elevator and an elevator. The elevator is in particular of the type meant for transporting passengers and/or goods.
An elevator typically comprises a counterweight and an elevator car connected to each other with hoisting ropes. Typically, the elevator further comprises a drive machine having a motor-driven traction wheel around which the ropes pass. The drive machine is usually positioned in a machine room located close to the hoistway in which the elevator car and the counterweight travel.
In cases where a new elevator is installed in a new building, the building cannot always be designed in every way optimal for the elevator. For instance, the size and shape of the spaces available for the elevator are often limited. Nevertheless, the elevator needs to fulfill numerous requirements related to its performance and features. This makes it challenging to design one type of elevator suitable to function efficiently in many different elevator environments. The specific design of the hoisting function, including the drive machine and the rope arrangement, is dependent on the size and shape of the space where the elevator is to be installed, for instance. The drive machine, as well as the ropes, must be fitted in the available space with adequate operating clearances and such that they can be serviced and used safely. The hoisting function must also have capacity to provide an adequately great rated load for the elevator, i.e. an adequate maximal weight that is allowed to be transported. For ensuring the desired capacity, the size of the motor, as well as the power-transmitting components need to be dimensioned accordingly. Adaptability of the hoisting function size, maximum load and dimensioning are important for making the elevator suitable for various installation sites. Especially, modernization of old elevators requires often tailored elevator design, because the modernized elevator design is often very limited by the existing space and structures. Improvements in performance are normally also required for the elevator being modernized. For instance, it is common that the new elevator needs to fulfill numerous modern requirements related to energy-efficiency, space-efficiency, noise, maintenance, safety and economical aspects of manufacturing the elevator.
A drawback with the known drive machines has been that they have not fulfilled the above mentioned various requirements adequately well. Especially, they have not been adequately well adaptable to many different elevator environments in a compact manner with good capacity for load transport. This has lead to need for compromises. For example, in many cases the size of the drive machine has required a spacious machine room or tailoring the structures of the drive machine, the roping arrangement or the machine room in a special and sometimes complicated way. This has been problematic especially in modernization where the machine room of the existing elevator is very low or otherwise tight.
An object of the invention is, in particular, to provide an improved drive machine for an elevator and an elevator. An object of the invention is, inter alia, to provide a drive machine for an elevator and an elevator, which are easily adapted to fit in various installation environments. It is brought forward embodiments, which provide installation of the hoisting function in a very space-efficient manner. Also, it is brought forward embodiments, which facilitate easy and safe maintenance of the elevator. Also, it is brought forward embodiments, which facilitate efficient modernization of an elevator. In particular, it is brought forward embodiments, which facilitate efficient modernization of an elevator with a machine room.
It is brought forward a new drive machine for an elevator, comprising a motor module comprising at least a motor, a drive shaft, and a first transmission wheel all provided with a common rotational axis (X1) and connected coaxially to each other, the drive shaft particularly having the motor on one end and the transmission wheel on the other end. The drive machine further comprises a traction module comprising at least a traction wheel engageable with elevator hoisting ropes, and a second transmission wheel, all provided with a common rotational axis (X2) and connected coaxially to each other. The motor module and the traction module are positioned side by side with their rotational axes (X1, X2) parallel, such that the traction wheel and the drive shaft are side by side, and the first and second transmission wheels are side by side. The drive machine further comprises an endless drive member passing around the first and second transmission wheels. This configuration where the drive shaft and the traction wheel are side by side provides a compact structure for the drive machine in all directions. Particularly considerable savings in space can be achieved, because this makes is possible to set the roping and the motor module in an overlapped configuration. In particular, it is possible to position the drive shaft within the loop formed by the hoisting ropes connected to the car and counterweight and passing around the traction wheel. The endless drive member together with the transmission wheels, positioned in the defined manner, provides for good adaptability of the drive machine by selecting the diameters of the transmission wheels so that the desired capacity for lifting is achieved. The drive machine is also well suitable for being used with various hoisting ratios, for example 1:1 or 2:1.
The motor is preferably an electric motor, as an electric motor is generally found to be well suitable for being used as a power source in elevator. In a preferred embodiment the motor comprises a motor body, a stator mounted stationary on the motor body, and a rotor mounted rotatingly on the motor body, and the drive shaft has the rotor coaxially on its first end and the transmission wheel coaxially on its second end. The motor body is preferably mounted on the frame of the drive machine.
In a preferred embodiment the motor, in particular the body, rotor and the stator thereof, is on one side of the radial projection of the traction wheel and the first transmission wheel is on the other, opposite, side of the radial projection of the traction wheel. This makes it possible to position the drive shaft within the loop formed by the hoisting ropes connected to the car and counterweight and passing around the traction wheel, and to guide the ropes close to the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment the drive shaft has a length radially free of motor module components between the motor, in particular the rotor thereof, and the transmission wheel, which radially free length is side by side with the traction surface of the traction wheel. The radially free length of the drive shaft has no motor module components radially around it. In particular, the whole length of the traction surface as measured in the axial direction of the traction wheel is within the radial projection of the radially free length of the drive shaft. In fact, it is preferable that the whole traction wheel is within the radial projection of the radially free length of the shaft, which provides that adequate clearances between these moving parts as well as the moving ropes.
In a preferred embodiment the drive shaft has a space free of motor module components radially around it, and the radial projection of the whole traction surface of the traction wheel is within the free space. Hereby, passage of the ropes close to the drive shaft can be facilitated.
In a preferred embodiment the drive shaft forms an extension of the rotor, the shaft being either fixed coaxially on the rotor or the shaft being integral with the rotor, on which extension the first transmission wheel is mounted at an axial distance from the motor, in particular from the rotor, the stator and the body thereof.
In a preferred embodiment the first transmission wheel is at an (axial) distance from the motor, in particular the rotor, the stator and the body thereof, and in that the radial projection of the whole traction surface is within said distance. This leaves more space between the motor and the first transmission wheel thereby providing clearance between the traction wheel and the drive shaft, as well as facilitating passage of the ropes close to the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine comprises a brake for braking the traction wheel via a brake part connected to the traction wheel to rotate with it. The brake part is preferably connected fixedly to the to the traction wheel, which makes it possible to brake the traction wheel safely, reliably and simply, as the braking is not be performed via a complicated transmission.
In a preferred embodiment the brake is a floating caliper brake having a first brake part on opposite sides of said brake part connected to the traction wheel to rotate with it.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine comprises a frame on which the motor module and the traction module are mounted. Preferably, the frame comprises a main frame and one or more sub-frames mounted stationary on the main frame. The frame forms a structure which can be used for mounting the drive machine. It also positions and supports the components mounted thereon.
In a preferred embodiment the first brake parts of the brake are mounted at least substantially non-rotatingly on the frame of the drive machine via at least one force sensor blocking the first brake parts from rotating. Based on the measurement of the sensor characteristics of the elevator state can be deduced, for example current load inside the elevator car. In particular, the brake is mounted via the force sensor, which is positioned between the brake, in particular the first brake part thereof, and the frame of the drive machine. The torque produced on the traction wheel by the car suspended by the hoisting roping causes the brake to lean on the sensor with a force depending on the weight of the load inside the car. The weight of the load inside the car can be deduced from the force thus directed on the sensor.
In a preferred embodiment it comprises a means for receiving the measurement from the sensor, which means is configured to deduce car load based on the measurement.
In a preferred embodiment the a traction module comprises said traction wheel engageable with elevator hoisting ropes, said second transmission wheel, and further a brake part all provided with a common rotational axis (x2) and connected fixedly and coaxially to each other.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine comprises a brake for braking the traction wheel, and in that the brake comprises at least one first brake part mounted at least substantially non-rotatingly on the frame of the drive machine, and a second brake part connected to the traction wheel to rotate with it, and in that the brake is arranged to brake the traction wheel with the first brake part acting on the second brake part, preferably by engaging it with frictional contact.
In a preferred embodiment the second brake part and the second transmission wheel are positioned in axial direction on opposite sides of the traction wheel.
In a preferred embodiment the second brake part is a brake disc.
In a preferred embodiment the traction module comprises a shaft on which the traction wheel, the second transmission wheel and the second brake part rotate, the second brake part and the second transmission wheel on opposite sides of the traction wheel. The traction wheel and the second transmission wheel as well as the second brake part are preferably fixedly mounted on the shaft.
In a preferred embodiment the traction module comprises a shaft on which the traction wheel and the second transmission wheel are fixedly coaxially mounted.
In a preferred embodiment the brake, in particular the first brake part and/or the second brake part thereof, and the motor, in particular the rotor and/or the stator thereof, are side by side.
It is also brought forward a new elevator comprising an elevator car, a counterweight, a drive machine, and hoisting ropes connecting the car and counterweight and passing around a traction wheel of the drive machine. The drive machine is as defined above or anywhere else in the application.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine is in a machine room above the hoistway in which the elevator car is arranged to travel.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine is mounted such that the rotational axes (X1, X2) are horizontal.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine is positioned such that the drive shaft is within the loop formed by the hoisting ropes connected to the car and counterweight and passing around the traction wheel.
In a preferred embodiment the hoisting ropes pass from the traction wheel on the first side of it to the counterweight and on the second side of it to the elevator car and in that the drive shaft is between the portion of the hoisting ropes passing from the traction wheel to the counterweight and the portion of the hoisting ropes passing from the traction wheel to the elevator car.
In a preferred embodiment the hoisting ropes pass from the traction wheel on the first side of it to a first diverting wheel and further to the counterweight and on the second side of it to a second diverting wheel and further to the elevator car and in that the drive shaft is between the portion of the hoisting ropes passing from the traction wheel to the first diverting wheel and the portion of the hoisting ropes passing from the traction wheel to the second diverting wheel.
In a preferred embodiment the first and second diverting wheels as well as the drive shaft are both all horizontally on the same side of the traction wheel at different horizontal distances thereof. Thus, a wide contact angle can be provided for the ropes with a low drive machine structure. The hoisting ropes pass from the traction wheel to the counterweight via the first diverting wheel, the ropes turning on first diverting wheel, and the hoisting ropes pass from the traction wheel to the elevator car via the second diverting wheel, the ropes turning on second diverting wheel in the same direction (in terms of clockwise/counterclockwise) as on the first diverting wheel.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine is positioned such that the drive shaft is within the vertical height of the traction wheel, which facilitates space-efficiency of the drive machine in vertical direction.
In a preferred embodiment the ropes, in particular the ropes passing from the traction wheel to a first diverting wheel, pass close to the drive shaft via the axial projection of the motor body. Alternatively or in addition to the the latter, the ropes, in particular the ropes passing from the traction wheel to a first diverting wheel, pass close to the drive shaft via the space free of motor module components radially around the drive shaft. Hereby, the overall configuration of the drive machine and the ropes is space-efficient in vertical direction.
In a preferred embodiment the drive machine is located at the side of the vertical projection of the hoistway. The elevator can thus utilize free space of the landing for instance. Hereby, the elevator can be formed very space-efficient in vertical direction. In particular, the elevator can thus be formed without a machine room above the hoistway and the car can be arranged to travel close to the hoistway ceiling.
The elevator as described anywhere above is preferably, but not necessarily, installed inside a building. The elevator is preferably of the type where the car is arranged to serve two or more landings. Then, the car preferably responds to calls from landing and/or destination commands from inside the car so as to serve persons on the landing(s) and/or inside the elevator car. Preferably, the car has an interior space suitable for receiving a passenger or passengers.
In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which
b illustrates the drive machine of
a illustrates the drive machine of
b illustrates the drive machine of
a and 1b illustrate a drive machine 1 for an elevator according to a preferred embodiment.
The drive machine 1 further comprises an endless drive member 30 passing around the first and second transmission wheels 13, 22, thus connecting the modules 10 and 20 to each other in a force transmitting manner. Thereby, rotation produced by the motor 11 of the motor module 10 is transmitted by the drive shaft 12 to the first transmission wheel 13, and therefrom further to the second transmission wheel 22 by the endless drive member 30, and therefrom further to the traction wheel 21 via the fixed connection between the second transmission wheel 22 and the traction wheel 21. The endless drive member 30 is in the preferred embodiment in the form of a cogged transmission belt, the transmission wheels 13 and 22 being cogged as well. Alternatively, the endless drive member may be in the form of a transmission chain or a belt with polyvee-shape in which case the transmission wheels 13 and 22 would be provided polyvee-shape as well.
The configuration where the drive shaft 12 and the traction wheel 21 are side by side provides a compact structure for the drive machine 1 in all directions.
Particular savings in space are achieved because this makes is possible to set the roping 40 and the motor module in an overlapped configuration. In particular, it is possible to position the motor module inside between the portion of the roping 40 passing to the traction wheel 21 and the portion of the roping 40 passing from the traction wheel 21. The dimensions of the motor module can with this configuration be very small so the roping 40 passing to the traction wheel 21 and the portion of the roping 40 passing from the traction wheel 21 can be guided very close to each other. Thus, the combinatory space consumption of the drive machine 1 and the roping 40 is reduced, and the overall structure very compact.
The motor 11 may be of any known type motor for producing rotation movement. It is preferable that the motor 11 is an electric motor, for example a permanent magnet motor. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in
For making it possible to guide the ropes 40 of the elevator close to the motor module 10 and/or for making it possible to guide the ropes 40 of the elevator to and from the traction wheel 21 close to each other the motor 11 (in particular the body 14, rotor 15 and the stator 16 thereof) is (are) on one side of the radial projection of the traction wheel 21, and the first transmission wheel 13 is on the other, opposite, side of the radial projection of the traction wheel 21. The drive shaft 12 forms an extension of the rotor 16, the drive shaft 12 being either fixed coaxially on the rotor 16 or the drive shaft 12 being integral with the rotor 16, on which extension the first transmission wheel 13 is mounted at a distance L from the motor 11, in particular from the rotor 15, the stator 16 and the body 14 thereof. The modules 10,20 are positioned such that the radial projection of the whole traction surface 23 is within said distance L.
So as to make it possible to guide the ropes 40 very close to the drive shaft 12, drive shaft 12 has a length I radially free of motor module-components (thereby it has no motor module -components immediately around it) between the motor 11, in particular the rotor 15 thereof, and the transmission wheel 13, which radially free length I is side by side with the a traction surface 23 of the traction wheel 21. In particular, the whole length of the traction surface 23 as measured in the axial direction of the traction wheel 21 is within the radial projection of the radially free length of the drive shaft 12. In fact, it is preferable that the whole traction wheel 21 is within the radial projection of the radially free length I of the drive shaft 12, as illustrated, so the traction wheel 21 can be placed close to the motor module 10 and still a safe clearance between the traction wheel 21 and the motor module 10 can be ensured. The drive shaft 12 has a space 17 free of motor module components radially around it, and the radial projection of the whole traction surface 23 of the traction wheel 21 is within the free space 17. The hoisting ropes are guided to pass via this free space 17. The traction surface preferably comprises grooves for receiving ropes 40, which ropes 40 may be in the form of belts or are round in cross section.
As mentioned above, the drive machine 1 comprises a brake 24 suitable for braking the rotation of the traction wheel 21.
In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in
The second brake part 26 and the second transmission wheel 22 are positioned in axial direction on opposite sides of the traction wheel 21. This facilitates compactness of the traction module as well as that of the drive machine. In particular, the brake 24, such as the first brake part 25 and/or second brake part 26 thereof, and the motor 11, in particular the rotor 15 and/or the stator 16 thereof, can in this way be positioned side by side. This facilitates further the compactness of the drive machine. These components 24 and 11 of the elevator have mutually substantially same low need for maintenance. On the other hand, the endless drive member 30, as well as the transmission wheels 13, 22 all have a higher need for maintenance. Having them on the same side facilitates efficiency of maintenance, as they can be accessed simultaneously, and the drive machine can be positioned so that these components requiring frequent maintenance are easily accessible in terms of free space of the machine room.
The first brake parts 25 can be mounted completely non-rotatingly with respect to the frame F of the drive machine, i.e. not to rotate with the drive wheel 21. However, the first brake parts 25 can be mounted at least substantially non-rotatingly, which means that the first brake parts 25 are mounted such that they can be rotated within a slight margin, preferably within a margin which does not exceed 5 degrees. The ability of the first brake parts 25 to rotate slightly may be needed particularly in the preferred embodiment as illustrated in
As the brake 24 is always applied when the loading or unloading of the car occurs, the change in weight of the car is translated directly to torque applying on the brake 24 via the ropes 40 and traction wheel 21. The floating nature of the brake 24 allows this torque to be measured by the sensor 36 and hence translated to a current signal to be used in deducing the load. In addition or as an alternative to acting as a load weighing device, the sensor can be used to improve ride comfort. As the sensor 36 measures the actual torque present in the system, the drive machine can adjust its current-levels to provide a smoother acceleration ramp. If the sensor measures both the tension and compression directed on it, it can further provide the drive machine with the directional information of the torque affecting the traction wheel.
It is possible to mount the traction module 20 and the motor module 10 without a common frame. However, to facilitate their positioning, the drive machine 1 preferably comprises a frame F on which the motor module 10 and the traction module 20 are mounted, and via which the modules 10, 20 can be mounted in the desired position.
The elevators as presented in
In
As described above the motor module 10 and the traction module 20 are positioned side by side. Also, the traction wheel 21 and the drive shaft 12 are positioned side by side. Also, the first and second transmission wheels 13,22 are positioned side by side. With the term side by side it is meant that the components positioned side by side are positioned in the axial direction of the modules such that the radial projections of the components positioned side by side overlap. In most cases it is preferable to position the drive machine 1 in such an angle that the axes of the modules are at least substantially on the same vertical level, as illustrated in the Figures. However, the drive machine 1 could of course be positioned in any desired angle, for example in such an angle that the axes of the modules are at least substantially superimposed. By this kind of mounting angle the drive machine 1 provides space savings in horizontal direction.
It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying Figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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13170638.4 | Jun 2013 | EP | regional |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/FI2014/050433 | May 2014 | US |
Child | 14951020 | US |