Elevator systems are useful for carrying passengers and items between different levels of a building. Elevator systems in high rise buildings typically are traction-based and include roping that suspends the elevator car and a counterweight. A machine causes movement of a traction sheave that, in turn, causes movement of the roping for moving the elevator car as desired.
Elevator roping arrangements may experience sway or drift when the building in which the elevator system is installed sways or drifts. A variety of approaches have been proposed to address elevator roping sway including using dampers in the hoistway and controlling elevator car movement to mitigate sway. It is useful to avoid roping sway to maintain a desired level or quality of ride and to avoid damaging elevator system components.
An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator roping sway damping assembly includes a plurality of sway dampers having a width and a length. An actuator device selectively causes movement of the sway dampers in a direction transverse to the length between a first position where the sway dampers are spaced apart by a first distance and a second, sway-damping position where the sway dampers are spaced apart by a second, shorter distance. The actuator device provides an indication when the sway dampers are in the first position.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of the previous paragraph, the sway dampers comprise elongate cylindrical bumpers and the length is greater than the width.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the sway dampers comprise rollers supported to rotate about an axis along the length.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the actuator device causes linear movement of the sway dampers between the first and second positions.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the actuator device includes a plurality of sheaves and a band that wraps at least partially around the sheaves. At least one of the sheaves rotates to cause movement of the band. The sway dampers are supported for movement with the band between the first and second positions in response to rotation of the at least one of the sheaves.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the band has a length that is oriented perpendicular to the length of the sway dampers.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the actuator device includes a plurality of mounting brackets secured to the band and the sway dampers are supported on the mounting brackets.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the at least one of sheaves rotates in a first direction to move the sway dampers toward the first position and in a second, opposite direction to move the sway dampers toward the second position.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the biasing mechanism includes a weight associated with at least one of the sheaves and gravity urges the weight to cause rotation of the at least one of the sheaves in the first direction.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the actuator device includes a biasing mechanism that biases the sway dampers into the first position.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, the actuator device includes at least one detector that detects when the sway dampers are in the first position and provides an output indicating that the sway dampers are in the first position.
An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes the assembly of any of the previous paragraphs, an elevator car situated in a hoistway, a plurality of suspension members supporting the elevator car, and a controller that controls movement of the elevator car, the controller using the indication from the actuator device for controlling movement of the elevator car in a portion of the hoistway that includes the sway dampers.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of the previous paragraph, the controller prevents the elevator car from moving into the portion of the hoistway when the sway dampers are not in the first position.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of any of the previous paragraphs, the controller adjusts a motion profile of the elevator car for moving through the portion of the hoistway when the sway dampers are in the second position.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of any of the previous paragraphs, the elevator car includes an external surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to a direction of movement of the elevator car. The external surface is configured to engage the sway dampers and move the sway dampers toward the first position as the elevator car moves into the portion of the hoistway that includes the sway dampers.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of any of the previous paragraphs, the plurality of sway dampers includes a plurality of sets of sway dampers. Each set of sway dampers is in a different vertical location along the hoistway. The controller controls the sets of sway dampers to selectively move the sway dampers between the first and second positions based, in part, on a location of the elevator car in the hoistway.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of any of the previous paragraphs, the length of the sway dampers is transverse to a height of the hoistway. The sway dampers extend from one side of the hoistway toward a center of the hoistway. The actuator device moves the sway dampers in a direction parallel to the side of the hoistway when moving the sway dampers between the first and second positions.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of any of the previous paragraphs, the length of the sway dampers are horizontal and the actuator device moves the sway dampers linearly and horizontally between the first and second positions.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of any of the previous paragraphs, the elevator car has a depth, a width and a height. The first distance between the sway dampers in the first position is greater than the depth and greater than the width.
In an example embodiment having at least one feature of the elevator system of any of the previous paragraphs, the plurality of suspension members are situated near a center of the hoistway. A first one of the sway dampers and a second one of the sway dampers are situated on opposite sides of the suspension members to prevent sway in a first direction when the first and second sway dampers are in the second position. A third one of the sway dampers and a fourth one of the sway dampers are situated on opposite sides of the suspension members to prevent sway in a second direction when the third and fourth sway dampers are in the second position. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.
The various features and advantages of at least one disclosed example embodiment will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
The elevator system 20 includes a sway damping assembly 30 to reduce or prevent sway or drift of the roping 26 within the hoistway 24. As shown in
The sway dampers 32-38 are moveable between different positions. A first position where the sway dampers 32 and 34 of each set are spaced apart by a first distance and the sway dampers 36 and 38 of each set are spaced apart by a first distance is used to allow the elevator car 22 to pass through a portion of the hoistway 24 including that set of sway dampers 32-38. In
A second, sway-damping position places the sway dampers 32-38 much closer to the roping 26 where the sway dampers can reduce or minimize any sway or drift of the roping 26. In the second position the sway dampers 32 and 34 are spaced apart by a second distance that is smaller than the first distance and the sway dampers 36 and 38 are spaced apart by a second distance. The sets of sway dampers 32-36 shown near the top and bottom of the illustration in
As shown in
Mounting brackets 46 and 48 are secured to the band 44. The mounting bracket 46 supports the sway damper 36 and the mounting bracket 48 supports the sway damper 38. Another actuator device 40 with its own band and mounting brackets supports the sway dampers 32 and 34 in the same manner
The controller 28 controls operation of the actuator device 40 to selectively move the sway dampers 36, 38 between the first position and the second, sway-damping position. In some embodiments, the actuators 40 have a dedicated controller while in others the actuator device control is accomplished by a controller that performs other control functions in the elevator system 20. When sway damping is desired, the actuator device 40 moves the sway dampers 36, 38 into the second position as illustrated in
At least one of the sheaves 42 of the actuator device 40 is motorized and rotates in a first direction to move the sway dampers 36, 38 toward the first position and in a second, opposite direction to move the sway dampers 36, 38 toward the second position. In
The example actuator device includes detectors 50 that detect when the sway dampers 36, 38 are in the first position shown in broken lines at 36′, 38′. The detectors 50 provide an indication to the controller 28 when the sway dampers 36, 38 are in the first position. The controller 28 uses that indication to control movement of the elevator car. In some embodiments, the controller 28 prevents movement of the elevator car 22 whenever any of the detectors 50 does not indicate that its corresponding sway damper is in the first position similar to how elevator cars are prevented from moving when any of the elevator system doors is not closed. In other embodiments, the controller 28 allows some movement of the elevator car 22 even when one or more of the detectors does not provide an indication that the corresponding sway damper is in the first position.
In the example embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the controller 28 modifies the motion profile of the elevator car 22 while moving through a portion of the hoistway that includes a sway damper in the way of the elevator car 22. For example, the elevator car 22 may proceed more slowly as it approaches and eventually passes a sway damper outside of the first position so the exterior surface(s) 54 of the appropriate shield 52 will engage and move the sway damper without damaging it or the associated actuator device 40.
The actuator device 40 shown in
As can be appreciated from
As can be appreciated from
The length of the sway dampers 32-38 may correspond to a width or depth of the hoistway 24 as shown in
As shown in
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.