Patent Application
20070173104
This invention generally relates to a combined restraint and electrical connector for supporting a load on an elevator belt under certain circumstances and for making a conductive connection with at least one tension member in the elevator belt.
Elevator systems typically include a load bearing member such as a rope or belt that bears the weight of the car and counterweight and allows the car to be moved as desired within the hoistway. For many years, steel ropes were used. More recently, coated steel belts have been introduced that include a plurality of tension members encased within a jacket. In one example, the tension members are steel cords and the jacket comprises a polyurethane material.
The introduction of such belts provides significant weight and strength advantages compared to traditional steel ropes.
Regardless of the type of load bearing member used, terminations typically secure ends of the rope or belt relative to the building structure, the elevator car or counterweight. Such terminations are well known and adequately secure the ends of the rope or belt under most circumstances. There are situations, however, where supplemental restraints may be required. For example, fire clips are known. Supplemental restraints that are capable of withstanding high temperatures would be useful for such situations.
New belt technologies introduce the need for new supplemental securing techniques. The new belt arrangements also present new challenges for monitoring the load bearing capabilities of the belt assembly over the life of the elevator system. This invention provides the ability to readily and accurately establish an electrically conductive connection with at least one of the tension members to facilitate an electricity-based monitoring technique combined with the ability to secure an end of the belt in a desired position.
In general terms, this invention is for making an electrical connection with at least one tension member of an elevator load bearing member and providing restraint of an end of the load bearing member.
One example device includes a connector portion having at least one electrical connector member and at least one load transferring member that are each adapted to penetrate through a coating over tension members. The connector portion has an outside dimension that is greater than that of the load bearing member. A restraining portion is adapted to be fixed relative to a structure such as part of the hoistway or the car frame, for example. The restraining portion includes an opening that has an inside dimension larger than the load bearing member but smaller than the outside dimension of the connector portion. The restraining portion allows the load bearing member to pass through but prevents the connector portion from passing through the opening to secure the end of the load bearing member associated with the device.
In one example, the connector portion and the restraining portion are made from heat resistant materials. Steel is used in one example. A ceramic material is used in another example.
In one example, the electrically conductive connector member is a pin that makes electrically conductive contact with a single tension member. In one example, a plurality of such pins are provided to establish individualized electrical contact with each of the tension members. The load transferring member comprises an individual peg that transfers a load from an individual tension member to the clamping member. In one example, at least one load transferring peg is associated with each tension member within the belt.
The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
The restraining end connecting device 30 includes a first connector portion 32 that is received on the belt 22 and a second restraining portion 34 that is adapted to be fixed in a secured position relative to another structure 36 within a hoistway, for example. In one example, the restraining portion 34 comprises a plate having an opening 38 extending through the plate. The opening 38 preferably has an inside dimension that is greater than an outside dimension of the belt 22 so that the belt can freely move through the opening 38. The size of the opening 38, however, is too small to allow the first portion 32 of the connecting and securing device 30 to pass by the restraining portion 34. In other words, the outside dimension of the first portion 32 is greater than the size of the opening 38. Accordingly, if a load were placed on the belt 22 forcing it toward the left (according to the drawing), the first portion 32 would be received against the restraining portion 34 and the load on the belt 22 would effectively be transferred through the first portion 32 and held by the restraining portion 34 and the associated structure 36.
Under normal conditions, the connector portion 32 is not forced into contact with the restraining portion 34. In one example, a conventional hitch device (not illustrated) is secured to the belt 22 in a known manner so that the portion of the belt shown in
In one example, the restraining portion 34 is secured to a structural portion of the hoistway. In another example, the restraining portion 34 is secured to an appropriate portion of the elevator car frame assembly. In still another example, the restraining portion 34 is secured to a selected portion of a counterweight. The structure 36 schematically shown in
The first portion 32 establishes an electrical connection and a mechanically secure connection that allows for transferring loads from the belt 22 to the second portion 34. In the illustrated example, the first portion 32 has a first clamping member 40 received on one side of the belt 22 and a second clamping member 42 received on another side of the belt. Securing members 44 secure the first and second clamping members 40, 42 together.
As best appreciated from
The illustrated example includes resilient locking members 50 that maintain the desired amount of pressure forcing the clamping members 40 and 42 toward each other. In the illustrated example, the locking members 50 comprise spring washers. In the event that the exterior of the belt 22 becomes deformed, the resilient locking members 50 urge the clamping members 40 and 42 toward each other to accommodate any reduced thickness in the exterior 26 of the belt 22. Such an arrangement allows for more continuous and automatically adjustable pressure on the belt by the clamping members 40 and 42. In one example, the locking members ensure a connection with the tension members 24 even if the jacket 26 melted away in the vicinity of the connector portion 32.
As best appreciated from
In the example of
The illustrated example also includes a printed circuit board 60 having a plurality of circuit traces 62 that establish desired electrical connections between the conductive connector members 52. It is possible with a device designed according to this invention to electrically isolate any one of the tension members 24 or to establish a circuit through any combination of them. The individual connectors 52 facilitate selectively making an isolated connection with each tension member on an individual basis.
In the illustrated example, a housing 64 is supported by the first clamping member 40 to encase the printed circuit board 60 and any electronics supported by that board.
The connector portion 32 also supports a plurality of load transferring members 66, which in this example comprise metallic pegs. Like the electrical connectors 52, the load transferring members 66 are adapted to penetrate through the jacket coating 26 on the belt 22 and make physical contact with the tension members 24. Although not specifically illustrated, in one example, every tension member 24 has at least one load transferring member 66 associated with it.
Because the illustrated example includes electrically conductive load transferring members 66, insulation 56 preferably surrounds them to isolate them from the clamping member 42, which is metallic in this example. The load transferring members 66 preferably do not affect the electrical properties of the tension members 24 in a manner that would interfere with the desired use of the electrical connector members 52 and any electronics or circuitry associated with them.
In the illustrated example, the combination of the electrically conductive connector members 52 and the load transferring members 66 establishes an electrically conductive connection with the tension members 24 while also providing a mechanically secure connection that allows for transferring loads from the tension members to the connector device 32. Accordingly, the inventive arrangement provides a device that serves both functions of establishing an electrical connection with the tension members and a mechanically secure connection that is capable of transferring loads from the tension members to another structure so that the belt 22 can be supported by the same device used to make electrical connections for belt monitoring purposes, for example.
In the illustrated example, bent legs of the connector members 52 and the load transferring members 66 facilitate forcing the pins in if the insulation 56 melted, for example. Having at least a portion of at least some of the members 52 or 66 perpendicular to a direction of insertion into the load bearing member provides a surface against which the clamping member material can act to ensure a proper connection.
In the example of
The materials selected for the connector portion 32 and the restraining portion 34 preferably are capable of withstanding high temperatures to provide a supplemental restraint in the event that a primary termination (i.e., a hitch) associated with the belt 22 becomes incapable of appropriately supporting the load on the belt. In one example steel is used for the clamping members of the connector portion 32. In another example a ceramic material is used. Some example restraining portions are made from steel or another metal while others are made from ceramic materials. Given this description, those skilled in the art will be able to select from among commercially available materials to best meet the needs of their particular situation.
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 scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US04/08205 | 3/16/2004 | WO | 8/28/2006 |
