The present specification generally relates to a counterweight governor assembly and, more specifically, to a counterweight governor assembly positioned within a counterweight frame in a hoistway.
It is known to use a counterweight governor assembly to actuate a braking assembly when an over speed of a counterweight frame is determined. Conventional systems mount the counterweight governor assembly in a control room or machine room above a hoistway of an elevator assembly. For elevators that have an occupied space below the counterweight frame in the hoistway, a counterweight braking device must be provided in order to protect any people that could be located in that space. Adding this counterweight braking device requires additional space to be added the hoistway dimensions due to the space required to fit the additional governor, tail weight, and safety.
An elevator counterweight governor assembly for an elevator assembly is provided. The elevator assembly has a counterweight frame, a plurality of weights, at least one counterweight suspension member, and a fixed member of a hoistway, the counterweight frame is defined by a pair of end beams and at least one inner beam positioned between the pair of end beams, the at least one counterweight suspension member moves the counterweight frame between a plurality of positions in the hoistway and the fixed member guides the counterweight frame within the hoistway between the plurality of positions. The elevator counterweight governor assembly includes a swing arm and a braking assembly. The swing arm is mounted within the counterweight frame and is pivotally coupled to the at least one inner beam at one end and includes a linkage assembly at an opposite end. The swing arm is configured to pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The braking assembly is configured to move between an unactivated state where the braking assembly is free from the fixed member and an activated state where the braking assembly engages with the fixed member to inhibit movement of the counterweight frame. When the swing arm is in the disengaged position, the braking assembly is in the unactivated state and when the swing arm is in the engaged position, the braking assembly is in the activated state.
In another embodiment, an elevator counterweight governor assembly for an elevator assembly is provided. The elevator assembly has a counterweight frame and a fixed member of a hoistway. The counterweight frame is defined by a pair of end beams and at least one inner beam positioned therebetween. The elevator counterweight governor assembly includes a swing arm, a sheave assembly, a flexible elongated member, and a braking assembly. The swing arm is pivotally coupled to the at least one inner beam at one end. The swing arm is configured to pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The sheave assembly rotatably coupled to the swing arm. The flexible elongated member is routed through the sheave assembly. The braking assembly is configured to move between an unactivated state where the braking assembly is free from the fixed member and an activated state where the braking assembly engages with the fixed member to inhibit movement of the counterweight frame. When the swing arm is in the disengaged position, the braking assembly is in the unactivated state and when the swing arm is moved into the engaged position based on a tension on the flexible elongated member, the braking assembly is in the activated state.
In yet another embodiment, an elevator assembly having a hoistway is provided. The elevator assembly includes a fixed member of the hoistway, a counterweight frame, and a counterweight governor assembly. The counterweight frame has a pair of end beams and at least one inner beam positioned therebetween. One of the pair of end beams having a notch portion. The counterweight frame configured to slidably move along the fixed member. The counterweight governor assembly including a swing arm, a sheave assembly, a flexible elongated member, and a braking assembly. The swing arm is pivotally coupled to the at least one inner beam at one end. The swing arm is configured to pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The sheave assembly is rotatably coupled to the swing arm. The sheave assembly has at least one sheave positioned to extend at least partially into the notch portion of the one of the pair of end beams. The flexible elongated member routed through the sheave assembly. The braking assembly configured to move between an unactivated state where the braking assembly is free from the fixed member and an activated state where the braking assembly engages with the fixed member to inhibit movement of the counterweight frame. When the swing arm is in the disengaged position, the braking assembly is in the unactivated state and when the swing arm is moved into the engaged position based on a tension on the flexible elongated member, the braking assembly is in the activated state.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Embodiments described herein are directed to an elevator assembly that includes a counterweight governor assembly mounted within a counterweight frame itself and uses a single cable to activate the governor. Such an arrangement of the embodiments described here provide many advantages over conventional governor assemblies. In elevator assemblies that include occupied space below the hoistway, a counterweight braking device is included to inhibit movement of the counterweight frame in order to protect any people that could be located in that space. However, adding the conventional counterweight governor assembly requires additional space to be added the hoistway dimensions due to the space required to fit the additional governor, tail weight, and braking assemblies. As such, the arrangement of the counterweight governor assembly described herein eliminates the need for additional space, permitting for more compact hoistway, and a reduction in the number of weights required in the counterweight frame as a result of the weight of the governor assembly.
The counterweight governor assembly described includes a governor pulley rotatably coupled to a swing arm, which is pivotally coupled to the frame of the counterweight frame. When the governor pulley of the governor assembly locks, the swing arm moves or pivots that activates a gear to activate a braking assembly, thus inhibiting movement of the counterweight frame within the hoistway. Since the governor assembly is completely contained within the counterweight frame, the governor assembly does not require any additional space in the hoistway. The single cable is stationary, and therefore it does not require running clearance to the other stationary components in the hoistway. Each of the pulleys of the governor assembly are arranged in such a way as to minimize the vertical height of the total assembly and allow the assembly to fit inside the counterweight frame and to move with the counterweight frame.
As used herein, the term “longitudinal direction” refers to the forward-rearward direction of the elevator assembly (i.e., in a +/−Y direction of the coordinate axes depicted in
Referring now to
Further, in this aspect, as illustrated and without limitation, the example frame 20 includes two sheaves of the plurality of sheaves 18. For example, one sheave is fixedly mounted to an upper portion the example frame 20 positioned in an upper portion of the hoistway 16 above the elevator cab 12 in a vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction) and another sheave moves with the counterweight frame assembly 22 and the split weights 24 housed therein as the elevator cab 12 moves between various landings. This is non-limiting, and any number of the plurality of sheaves 18 may be mounted anywhere within the hoistway 16 and there may be more than or less than the two sheaves illustrated as being in the example frame 20.
At least one of the plurality of sheaves 18 within the hoistway 16 may include a motor such that the sheave is a traction sheave capable of driving the plurality of suspension members 14 through a plurality of lengths between the elevator cab 12 and the traction sheave. Further, the plurality of sheaves 18 may further include a plurality of idler sheaves that may also be mounted at various positions in the hoistway 16, and, in this aspect, are also coupled to the elevator cab 12. Idler sheaves are passive (they do not drive the plurality of suspension members 14 but rather guide or route the plurality of suspension members 14) and form a contact point, or engagement point, with the elevator cab 12. The plurality of suspension members 14 and the plurality of sheaves 18 move the elevator cab 12 between a plurality of positions within the hoistway 16 including to a plurality of landings. The plurality of sheaves 18 may include any combination of traction type sheaves and idler type sheaves.
As illustrated in
Further, as illustrated and without limitation, the counterweight frame assembly 22 may further include a counterweight governor assembly 30 and a braking assembly 32. The counterweight governor assembly 30 may include a flexible elongated member 34, such as a cable or rope, that includes a proximate end 36a fixedly coupled to a mounting position with the hoistway 16, such as, without limitation, the rail cap 23, or another mounting position above the counterweight frame assembly 22 in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction). A distal end 36b of the flexible elongated member 34, opposite to the proximate end 36a, coupled to a mass 38 or biasing member that may be coupled to a floor 40 of the hoistway 16 to create a predetermined tension in the flexible elongated member 34, as discussed in greater detail herein.
Referring now to
In this aspect, the plurality of suspension members 14′ extend a length between the counterweight frame assembly 22′ and the elevator cab 12′. Further, in this aspect, at least one of the plurality of sheaves 18′ is a traction sheave, which, for example, may be mounted to a lower surface of the hoistway 16′. This is non-limiting, and the traction sheave of the plurality of sheaves 18′ may be mounted anywhere within the hoistway 16′ and the plurality of sheaves 18′ may include a plurality of idler sheaves and at least one traction sheave. It should be appreciated that the traction sheave may include a motor such that at least one of the plurality of sheaves 18′ is a device to drive the plurality of suspension members 14′ through a plurality of lengths with respect to the length between the traction sheave and the contact point of the elevator cab 12′. The idler sheaves may also be mounted at various positions in the hoistway 16′ including within the example frame 20′. The idler sheaves are passive (they do not drive the plurality of suspension members 14′ but rather guide or route the plurality of suspension members 14′). The plurality of suspension members 14′ are coupled to the elevator cab 12′ to form the contact point.
Further, as illustrated and without limitation, the counterweight frame assembly 22′ may further include a counterweight governor assembly 30′ and a braking assembly 32′. The counterweight governor assembly 30′ may include a flexible elongated member 34′, such as a cable or rope, that includes a proximate end 36a′ fixedly coupled to a mounted position with the hoistway 16′, such as, without limitation, the rail cap 23′, and a distal end 36b′, opposite to the proximate end 36a′, coupled to a mass 38′ or biasing member that may be coupled to a floor 40′ of the hoistway 16, as discussed in greater detail herein.
It should be appreciated that the illustrated schematics of
Still referring to
The end beam 40a further includes a notch 46 or cutout to provide the space or clearance need for the counterweight governor assembly 30, as discussed in greater detail herein. A counterweight buffer 48 extends from an exterior surface 49 of the base member 44a. A support bracket 47 extends from the end beam 40a and may generally be a “C” shape to surround the notch 46 and to provide additional support for the counterweight governor assembly 30, as discussed in greater detail herein.
Still referring to
The brake shoe assembly 50a may be coupled to an actuation device 60, which is operably coupled to a linkage 80. The actuation device 60 may be operably coupled or mounted to a pair of plungers 62a, 62b, extending from a housing 59 of the brake shoe assembly 50a, or to another activation or trigger such as a gear, lever, and/or the like. In some embodiments, each of the plungers 62a, 62b may be operably coupled to a respective pair of cylinders 64a, 64b that are configured to fluidly move or displace at least one brake pad 66 against the rail 25, as best illustrated in
Referring back to
The counterweight governor assembly 30 may include a swing arm 85, a sheave assembly 83 mounted to the swing arm 85, a lower bracket assembly 90, an upper bracket assembly 106, a housing 108, the linkage 80 and the flexible elongated member 34 routed through sheave assembly 83, as discussed in greater detail herein.
The swing arm 85 includes a collar end 86, an opposite linkage end 87, a pair of spaced apart side surfaces 88a, 88b extending between the collar end 86 and the linkage end 87 and defining an upper surface 88c and an opposite lower surface 88d between the collar end 86 and the linkage end 87. A support bracket portion 70 extends from the upper surface 88c between the collar end 86 and the linkage end 87. The support bracket portion 70 may include a planar surface 89 extending opposite from and/or spaced apart from the upper surface 88c. In some embodiments, the swing arm 85 may be a monolithic single structure that is integrally formed. In other embodiments, components of the swing arm 85 may be coupled or otherwise attached via fasteners. In a non-limiting example, the support bracket portion 70 may be coupled or otherwise attached to the upper surface 88c of the swing arm 85 via fasteners, such as, without limitation, bolt and nut, screw, rivet, weld, epoxy, adhesive, and/or the like.
The collar end 86 of the swing arm 85 may be flared to have a width greater than the upper surface 88c and the lower surface 88d. The collar end 86 may include a bore 98 extending therethrough and configured to receive an elongated member 109 that extends between and through corresponding bores in the inner beam 42a to pivotally couple the collar end 86 of the swing arm 85 to the channel of the inner beam 42a. The elongated member 109 may be a bolt, screw, rivet, and the like, with a diameter large enough to support the swing arm 85 and to allow or permit the collar end 86 of the swing arm to pivot or move with respect to the inner beam 42a, illustrated by arrow A1 in
The lower bracket assembly 90, the upper bracket assembly 106, and the housing 108 may each extend from the upper surface 88c of the swing arm 85. The lower bracket assembly 90 may include a pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b, and an end wall 91c to define a channel 116. Each of the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b include an interior surface 92a and an opposite exterior surface 92b. The end wall 91c includes an inner surface 93a and an opposite outer surface 93b. The interior surface 92a of the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b and the inner surface 93a of the end wall 91c may define the channel 116. The outer surface 93b of the end wall 91c of the lower bracket assembly 90 abuts and may be coupled to the planar surface 89 of the support bracket portion 70. The lower bracket assembly 90 may be a monolithic single structure that is integrally formed (e.g., the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b and the end wall 91c are formed together from a single piece). In other embodiments, components of the lower bracket assembly 90 may be coupled or otherwise attached via fasteners.
In a non-limiting example, the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b, or the end wall 91c may be coupled or otherwise attached to one another via fasteners, such as, without limitation, bolt and nut, screw, rivet, weld, epoxy, adhesive, and/or the like. In a non-limiting example, the end wall 91c may be coupled or otherwise attached to the planar surface 89 of the support bracket portion 70 via fasteners, such as, without limitation, bolt and nut, screw, rivet, weld, epoxy, adhesive, and/or the like. The lower bracket assembly 90 may be formed from any material, including, but not limited to, a metal, such as steel, aluminum, copper, and/or the like, a polymer, a composite, a plastic, a resin, and/or the like.
The upper bracket assembly 106 may cover the channel 116 and be coupled to the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b of the lower bracket assembly 90. The upper bracket assembly 106 may include a pair of sidewalls 107a and an end wall 107b. Each of the pair of sidewalls 107a and the end wall 107b of the upper bracket assembly 106 include an inner surface and an opposite outer surface similar to the lower bracket assembly 90, but inverted such that the end wall is at the most vertical position of the upper bracket assembly 106 in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction). The sidewalls 107a and the end wall 107b of the upper bracket assembly 106 extend the channel 116 in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction).
The upper bracket assembly 106 may be a monolithic single structure that is integrally formed (e.g., the pair of sidewalls 107a and the end wall 107b are formed together from a single piece). In other embodiments, components of the upper bracket assembly 106 may be coupled or otherwise attached via fasteners. In a non-limiting example, the pair of sidewalls 107a or the end wall 107b may be coupled or otherwise attached to one another via fasteners, such as, without limitation, bolt and nut, screw, rivet, weld, epoxy, adhesive, and/or the like. In a non-limiting example, each of the sidewalls 107a may have a portion that overlaps with and is coupled to the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b of the lower bracket assembly 90 via fasteners, such as, without limitation, bolt and nut, screw, rivet, weld, epoxy, adhesive, and/or the like. The upper bracket assembly 106 may be formed from any material, including, but not limited to, a metal, such as steel, aluminum, copper, and/or the like, a polymer, a composite, a plastic, a resin, and/or the like.
The housing 108 is configured to cover the cover the channel 116 such that the lower bracket assembly 90 and the upper bracket assembly 106 retain the housing 108 and be coupled to the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b of the lower bracket assembly 90. In some embodiments, the housing 108 may be coupled to the coupled to the planar surface 89 of the support bracket portion 70 of the swing arm 85 via fasteners, such as, without limitation, bolt and nut, screw, rivet, weld, epoxy, adhesive, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the housing 108 may be coupled to other part of the swing arm 85. In some embodiments, the housing 108 may be a two-piece housing with a seam positioned such that the lower bracket assembly 90 and the upper bracket assembly 106 retain each half of the housing 108. In other embodiments, the housing 108 may be a monolithic single structure that is integrally formed from a single piece. The housing 108 may be formed from any material, including, but not limited to, a metal, such as steel, aluminum, copper, and/or the like, a polymer, a composite, a plastic, a resin, and/or the like.
The sheave assembly 83 includes a first pulley assembly 99 which includes a pulley 112 rotatably coupled to the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b of the lower bracket assembly 90 within the channel 116 via fastener 104, a second pulley assembly 100 including a pulley 114 rotatably coupled to the side surface 88a of the swing arm 85 via fastener 102, and a third pulley assembly 101 rotatably coupled to the side surface 88a of the swing arm 85 via fastener 103 such that a portion of the third pulley assembly 101 is positioned with the notch 46 of the end beam 40a and/or extending within the support bracket 47. The pulley 112 is positioned with the channel 116 of lower bracket assembly 90 and is positioned and coupled to the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b to be suspended above the inner surface 93a of the end wall 91c. As such, the pulley 112 rotates within the channel 116
The third pulley assembly 101 may include a pair of pulleys 102a, 102b, or sheaves. Each of the pair of pulleys 102a, 102b may be concentric with one another and configured to independently rotate. In some embodiments, each of the pair of pulleys 102a, 102b may be identically sized and shaped. In other embodiments, one of the pair of pulleys 102a, 102b may be sized and/or shaped differently as required by factors appreciated by those skilled in the art, such as, without limitation, type, size and/or length of flexible elongated member 34, size and weight of the mass 38 or spring, the number of pulleys in the sheave assembly 83, and/or the like, to generate the amount of predetermined tension to maintain the swing arm 85 in the perpendicular position (e.g., 0 degrees of pivot with respect to or from a pivot line P1 as best shown in
The pulley 112 and the pulley 114 may be arranged such that a center portion of each axially align in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction). That is, the pulley 112 and the pulley 114 may be vertically aligned such that the pulley 112 is positioned directly above the pulley 114 in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction). Each of the pulleys 102a, 102b of the third pulley assembly 101 may be positioned towards the notch 46 such that at least a portion of the pulleys 102a, 102b of the third pulley assembly 101 are positioned within the notch 46. As such, both of the pulleys 102a, 102b of the third pulley assembly 101 are positioned closer to the end beam 40a compared to both the pulley 112 and the pulley 114 in the lateral direction (i.e., in the +/−X direction). Further, both of the pulleys 102a, 102b of the third pulley assembly 101 are offset from the pulley 114 in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction) such that a portion of the of the pulleys 102a, 102b of the third pulley assembly 101 are positioned above the pulley 114 in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction) and each of the pulleys 102a, 102b of the third pulley assembly 101 are positioned entirely below the pulley 112 in the vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction).
The first pulley assembly 99 further includes a tensioner assembly 94 extending with the channel 116 of the lower bracket assembly 90. The tensioner assembly 94 may include an arm 95 that includes a first end 96a coupled to one at least one of the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b within the channel 116 and an opposite second end 96b that may include an engaging member 96c rotatably coupled thereto and configured to engage with the flexible elongated member 34 at a predetermined tension. The engaging member 96c may generally be circular in shape with an annular groove to receive and retain the flexible elongated member 34 under the predetermined tension. A biasing member 97 extends between and coupled to one of the pair of sidewalls 91a, 91b and the arm 95 of the tensioner assembly 94 to assist in providing the predetermined tension to the flexible elongated member 34. As such, the biasing member 97 may have different potential or kinetic energy based on the desired predetermined tension of the flexible elongated member 34, as understood by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the biasing member 97 is coupled to the second end 96b via a fastener, such as, without limitation, bolt and nut, screw, rivet, weld, epoxy, adhesive, and/or the like, to rotatably couple the engaging member to the second end 96b of the arm 95 or components thereof.
As such, the flexible elongated member 34 is routed between and in communication with the engaging member 96c of the tensioner assembly 94, the pulley 112 of the first pulley assembly 99, the pulley 114 of the second pulley assembly 100, and both the pulleys 102a, 102b of the third pulley assembly 101.
In operation, the counterweight governor assembly 30 is configured to sense an over speed of the counterweight frame assembly 22 by a deviation or change in the tension of the flexible elongated member 34 greater than a predetermined threshold of the predetermined tension. When the tension of the flexible elongated member 34 increases to be greater than the predetermined threshold of the predetermined tension, whether gradually or immediately, the tensioner assembly 94 and the first pulley assembly 99 act as the governor to lock the first pulley assembly 99. Because the swing arm 85 is pivotally coupled to the inner beam 42a at the collar end 86 via the elongated member 109 extending through the inner beam 42a and the bore 98 such that the swing arm 85 pivots about the elongated member 109, illustrated by arrow A1 in
In the engaged position, the swing arm 85 is angled with respect to the end beam 40a which moves the linkage 80 to activate the braking assembly 32, as illustrated in
That is, the braking assembly 32 is configured to move between an unactivated state where the braking assembly is free from the rails 25 and an activated state where the braking assembly 32 engages with the rails 25 to inhibit movement of the counterweight frame assembly 22 dependent on the position of the swing arm 85. When the swing arm 85 is in the disengaged position, as best illustrated in
It should now be understood that described above is an elevator assembly that includes a counterweight governor assembly mounted within a counterweight frame itself and uses a single cable to activate the governor. The counterweight governor assembly described includes a governor pulley rotatably coupled to a swing arm, which is pivotally coupled to the frame of the counterweight frame. When the governor pulley of the governor assembly locks, a swing arm moves or pivots that activates an actuation device to activate a braking assembly, thus inhibiting movement of the counterweight frame within the hoistway. Since the governor assembly is completely contained within the counterweight frame, the governor assembly does not require any additional space in the hoistway. The single cable is stationary, and therefore it does not require running clearance to the other stationary components in the hoistway. Each of the pulleys of the governor assembly are arranged in such a way as to minimize the vertical height of the total assembly and allow the assembly to fit inside the counterweight frame and to move with the counterweight frame.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/380,792 filed Oct. 25, 2022, and entitled “Elevator Counterweight Mounted Governor”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63380792 | Oct 2022 | US |