Patent Application
20190322488
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to elevator systems, and more particularly to load bearing members to suspend and/or drive elevator cars of an elevator system.
Elevator systems are useful for carrying passengers, cargo, or both, between various levels in a building. Some elevators are traction based and utilize load bearing members such as belts or ropes for supporting the elevator car and achieving the desired movement and positioning of the elevator car.
Where a belt is used as a load bearing member, a plurality of tension members are embedded in a common jacket. The jacket retains the tension members in desired positions and provides a frictional load path. Belts typically utilize tension members formed from steel elements and are referred to as coated steel belts, but alternatively may utilize tension members formed from synthetic or natural fibers or other materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced composites, which are referred to as carbon fiber belts. In other elevator systems, tension members are formed into ropes, which in some case may be coated.
Advanced elevator load bearing members, such as coated steel belts, carbon fiber belts, or coated high performance ropes have a wear mechanism in which the protective jacket or coating is abraded away, exposing the tension members and thus requiring replacement of the load bearing members. Further, some code bodies require that elevator systems utilizing non-metallic fiber belts, such as carbon fiber belts, have a health monitoring system in place to monitor the condition of the belt.
In one embodiment, a suspension member for an elevator system includes at least one tension member arranged along a suspension member width and extending longitudinally along a length of the suspension member, each tension member including a plurality of fibers. A jacket material at least partially encapsulates the at least one tension member. One or more conductive elements are enclosed in the jacket material.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive members are located and configured such that as the jacket material wears due to operation of the elevator system. The one or more conductive elements are exposed prior to the at least one tension member being exposed.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the at least one tension member is formed from the plurality of fibers suspended in a matrix material.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the plurality of fibers are formed from one or more of carbon fibers, glass fibers or aramid fibers.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements are located in the jacket material, separated from the at least one tension member by a selected distance.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements are wrapped around the at least one tension member.
In another embodiment, a method of health monitoring of a suspension member of an elevator system includes connecting a detection circuit to a suspension member of an elevator system. The suspension member includes at least one tension member arranged along a suspension member width and extending longitudinally along a length of the suspension member, each tension member including a plurality of fibers, a jacket material at least partially encapsulating the at least one tension member, and one or more conductive elements enclosed in the jacket material. The detection circuit is monitored for one of an open circuit condition or a short condition, indicative of a health condition of the suspension member.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the health condition is wear of the jacket material.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements contact a sheave of the elevator system resulting in detection of the one of the open circuit condition or the short condition.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one of the open circuit condition or the short condition is communicated to an elevator control system.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements are located in the jacket material, separated from the at least one tension member by a selected distance.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements are wrapped around the at least one tension member.
In yet another embodiment, an elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car located in and movable along the hoistway, and a suspension member operably connected to the elevator car to move the elevator car along the hoistway. The suspension member includes at least one tension member arranged along a suspension member width and extending longitudinally along a length of the suspension member, each tension member including a plurality of fibers. A jacket material at least partially encapsulates the at least one tension member. One or more conductive elements are enclosed in the jacket material. A detection circuit is operably connected to the one or more conductive elements. The detection circuit is configured to detect one of an open circuit condition or a short condition, indicative of a health condition of the suspension member.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the health condition is wear of the jacket material.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements contact a sheave of the elevator system resulting in detection of the one of the open circuit condition or the short condition.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements are located in the jacket material, separated from the at least one tension member by a selected distance.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more conductive elements are wrapped around the at least one tension member.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Shown in
In some embodiments, the elevator system 10 could use two or more belts 16 for suspending and/or driving the elevator car 14 In addition, the elevator system 10 could have various configurations such that either both sides of the one or more belts 16 engage the sheaves 18, 52 or only one side of the one or more belts 16 engages the sheaves 18, 52. The embodiment of
The belts 16 are constructed to meet belt life requirements and have smooth operation, while being sufficiently strong to be capable of meeting strength requirements for suspending and/or driving the elevator car 14 and counterweight 22.
The belt 16 has a belt width 26 and a belt thickness 32, with an aspect ratio of belt width 26 to belt thickness 32 greater than one. The belt 16 further includes a back side 34 opposite the traction side 30 and belt edges 36 extending between the traction side 30 and the back side 34. While five tension members 24 are illustrated in the embodiment of
Referring now to
To reliably monitor wear of the belt 16, the belt 16 includes one or more conductive members 46. In some embodiments, such as in
In other embodiments, such as shown in
A detection circuit 60 is operably connected to the conductive members 46, with an example configuration shown in
Other embodiments of detection circuits 60 are illustrated in
In the embodiment of
The belts 16 including conductive members 46 connected to the detection circuit 60 allow for health monitoring of belts 16, especially those with non-metallic tension members 24. Further, it may be shown trough testing and analysis that for such belts 16, jacket material 28 wear is indicative of overall belt 16 life, in that in such belts 16 the jacket material 28 will wear prior to any loss of strength in the tension member 24.
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
