LOAD BEARING TRACTION MEMBERS AND METHOD

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of making a load-bearing traction member. According to the method, a composition including a thermoplastic polyurethane and a compound with a plurality of epoxide groups or a compound with a plurality of groups having the formula

Description

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments pertain to the field of load-bearing traction members such as for elevator systems.

Load-bearing members can be used in a wide variety of mechanical equipment and processes. One example of a use for load-bearing members is in transportation such as for elevator or escalator systems. Elevator systems typically include a cab and a counterweight that move within a hoistway to transport passengers or cargo to different landings within a building. A load-bearing member such as a cable or belt connects the cab and counterweight, and during operation the load-bearing moves over one or more sheaves mounted to the building structure as the cab and counterweight move to different positions.

A common configuration for load-bearing members includes a tension member core such as one or more steel cords and a polymer jacket disposed around the core. The cords act as the load supporting tension member, while the jacket holds the cords in a stable position relative to each other, and provides a frictional load path to provide traction for driving the belt. During operation of systems with load-bearing members, a surface of the load-bearing member may be in contact with another system component such as a sheave in an elevator system, and the friction characteristics between the load-bearing member surface and other system components can affect the load-bearing system performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a method of making a load-bearing traction member. According to the method, a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups or a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

wherein R₁ and R₂ are each groups in a polymer backbone or together form a group having the formula ═NR₄, wherein R₃ and R₄ each independently represents an organic group, is heated to a fluid state and applied to at least one tension member, and solidified to form a polymer jacket around at least one tension member.

Also disclosed is a load bearing traction member, comprising one or more tension members, and a polymer jacket. The polymer jacket comprises the reaction product of a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups or a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

wherein R₁ and R₂ are each groups in a polymer backbone or together form a group having the formula ═NR₄, wherein R₃ and R₄ each independently represents an organic group.

Also disclosed is an elevator system comprising the above-described load bearing traction member.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

In some embodiments, R₁ and R₂ are each polymer backbone groups.

In some embodiments, R₁ and R₂ together form a group having the formula ═NR₄.

In any one or combination of the foregoing embodiments, the composition comprises 0.1-5.0 wt. % of the compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

In any one or combination of the foregoing embodiments, the composition comprises a compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups.

In any one or combination of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the composition comprises 0.05-10.00 wt. % of the compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups.

In any one or combination of the foregoing embodiments, the composition further comprises a catalyst.

In any one or combination of the foregoing embodiments, the composition is heated to a temperature of at least 150° C.

In any one or combination of the foregoing embodiments, the composition is heated to a temperature of less than 250° C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a traction elevator system;

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of another example embodiment of a traction elevator system;

FIG. 1C is a schematic view of yet another example embodiment of a traction elevator system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a belt for a traction elevator system before surface treatment; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a system for making a traction member as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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 FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are schematics of exemplary traction elevator systems 10. Features of the elevator system 10 that are not required for an understanding of the present invention (such as the guide rails, safeties, etc.) are not discussed herein. The elevator system 10 includes an elevator car 12 operatively suspended or supported in a hoistway 14 with one or more belts 16. The one or more belts 16 interact with one or more sheaves 18 to be routed around various components of the elevator system 10. The one or more belts 16 could also be connected to a counterweight 22, which is used to help balance the elevator system 10 and reduce the difference in belt tension on both sides of the traction sheave during operation.

The sheaves 18 each have a diameter 20, which may be the same or different than the diameters of the other sheaves 18 in the elevator system 10. At least one of the sheaves could be a drive sheave 26. The drive sheave 26 is driven by a machine 24. Movement of the drive sheave 26 by the machine 24 drives, moves and/or propels (through traction) the one or more belts 16 that are routed around the drive sheave 26. At least one of the sheaves 18 could be a diverter, deflector or idler sheave 18. Diverter, deflector or idler sheaves 18 are not driven by the machine 24, but help guide the one or more belts 16 around the various components of the elevator system 10.

In some embodiments, the elevator system 10 could use two or more belts 16 for suspending and/or driving the elevator car 12. In addition, the elevator system 10 could have various configurations such that either both sides of the one or more belts 16 engage the one or more sheaves 18 (such as shown in the exemplary elevator systems in FIG. 1A, 1B or 1C) or only one side of the one or more belts 16 engages the one or more sheaves 18.

FIG. 1A provides a 1:1 roping arrangement in which the one or more belts 16 terminate at the car 12 and counterweight 22. FIGS. 1B and 1C provide different roping arrangements. Specifically, FIGS. 1B and 1C show that the car 12 and/or the counterweight 22 can have one or more sheaves 18 thereon engaging the one or more belts 16 and the one or more belts 16 can terminate elsewhere, typically at a structure within the hoistway 14 (such as for a machine room-less elevator system) or within the machine room (for elevator systems utilizing a machine room. The number of sheaves 18 used in the arrangement determines the specific roping ratio (e.g. the 2:1 roping ratio shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C or a different ratio). One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the configurations of the present disclosure could be used on elevator systems other than the exemplary types shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of an exemplary belt 16 is shown. The belt 16 is constructed of one or more tension member cords 28 in a jacket 30. The cords 28 of the belt 16 may all be identical, or some or all of the cords 28 used in the belt 16 could be different than the other cords 28. For example, one or more of the cords 28 could have a different construction, formed from different materials, or size than the other cords 28. As seen in FIG. 2, the belt 16 has an aspect ratio greater than one (i.e. belt width is greater than belt thickness). In some embodiments, each cord 28 comprises a plurality of wires such as steel wires, which in some embodiments are formed into strands 34, which are then formed into the cord 28. The belt 16 can be constructed to have sufficient flexibility when passing over the one or more sheaves 18 to provide low bending stresses, 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 12. The jacket 30 can substantially retain the cords 28 therein. The phrase substantially retain means that the jacket 30 has sufficient engagement with the cords 28 such that the cords 28 do not pull out of, detach from, and/or cut through the jacket 30 during the application on the belt 16 of a load that can be encountered during use in an elevator system 10 with, potentially, an additional factor of safety. In other words, the cords 28 remain at their original positions relative to the jacket 30 during use in an elevator system 10. The jacket 30 can completely envelop the cords 28 (such as shown in FIG. 2), substantially envelop the cords 28, or at least partially envelop the cords 28.

As mentioned above, the jacket 30 can be formed from a polymer composition that is applied in a fluid state to the cords 28 and solidified. The polymer composition comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as a base polymer material. TPU can be prepared from a polyaddition reaction of diisocyanates and long-chain and short-chain polyols. Various commercially-available TPU compositions can provide targeted properties including but not limited to hardness, elasticity, tensile strength, torsion modulus, tear strength, creep performance, dependence of any of the above or other properties on temperature (e.g., heat-resistance). Blends of different TPU's can be used to achieve targeted performance parameters. In some embodiments, the TPU can be characterized by a hardness of at least 75 Shore A, according to according to DIN ISO 7619-1 (3s).

The polymer composition further comprises a compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups and/or a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

wherein R₁ and R₂ are each groups in a polymer backbone or together form a group having the formula ═NR₄, wherein R₃ and R₄ each independently represents an organic group. Regarding compounds with a plurality of epoxide groups (i.e., polyepoxides), in some embodiments, the compound includes an n-functional polyepoxide (i.e., average number of epoxide groups per molecule) in which n can be a number from 2 to 8000, more specifically from 20 to 6000, and even more specifically from 200 to 4000. Examples of compounds comprising a plurality of epoxide groups include, but are not limited to epoxide derivatives of diols, triols, and other polyols such as bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, epoxide-terminated polyether pre-polymers or polymers (which can be produced by a ring opening reaction of the aforementioned epoxide groups). In some embodiments, the a polyepoxide can have the formula

Other examples of polyepoxides include oligomers or polymers having a plurality of epoxide groups appended to an oligomer or polymer backbone such as acrylic oligomers or polymer including pendant epoxide groups, e.g., polyglycidyl methacrylate copolymers produced by an addition polymerization reaction of a monomer mixture comprising glycidyl methacrylate along with other (meth)acrylate monomers and optionally other addition polymerizable monomers.

Compounds having the formula

include carbodiimides and polymeric carbodiimides. Examples of carbodiimides (i.e., compounds in which R₁ and R₂ together represent the group ═NR₄, so that the compound has the formula R₄N═C═NR₃) include but are not limited to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), N,N′-isopropylcarbodiimide (DIC), or N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide.

Polymeric carbodiimides represent compounds in which R₁ and R₂ each represents a group on a polymer backbone adjacent to the imido carbon (“C” in the above formula) that is also on the backbone. Polymeric carbodiimides are characterized by repeat units having the formula

and can be prepared by catalyzed living polymerization of the carbodiimides using titanium (IV) catalysts or other catalysts such as copper, nickel, or zirconium catalysts.

In some embodiments, the polymer composition can optionally include additional reactive components, including but not limited to polyols (e.g., diol chain extenders or higher functionality alcohol crosslinkers) or polyamines (e.g., diamine chain extenders or higher functionality amine crosslinkers) or blocked or unblocked polyisocyanates. Diols include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, butenediol, butynediol, xylylene glycols, amylene glycols, 1,4-phenylene-bis-beta-hydroxy ethyl ether, 1,3-phenylene-bis-beta-hydroxy ethyl ether, bis-(hydroxy-methyl-cyclohexane), hexanediol, and thiodiglycol; diamines including ethylene diamine, propylene diamine, butylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, cyclohexylene diamine, phenylene diamine, tolylene diamine, xylylene diamine, 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine, and 3,3′-dinitrobenzidine; alkanol amines including ethanol amine, aminopropyl alcohol, 2,2-dimethyl propanol amine, 3-aminocyclohexyl alcohol, and p-aminobenzyl alcohol; and combinations of any of the aforementioned chain extenders. Higher molecular weight reactive components such as polyester polyols or polyether polyols can also be included. Polyester polyols can be produced from a reaction of a dicarboxylic acid and a glycol having at least one primary hydroxyl group. Dicarboxylic acids include but are not limited to adipic acid, methyl adipic acid, succinic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, oxalic acid, glutaric acid, pimelic acid, azelaic acid, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, or isophthalic acid, and combinations thereof. Glycols for use in producing the polyester polyols include but are not limited to ethylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexanediol, bis(hydroxymethylcyclohexane), 1,4-butanediol, diethylene glycol, 2,2-dimethyl propylene glycol, or 1,3-propylene glycol. Polyether polyols include but are not limited to polytetramethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or polypropylene glycol.

In some example embodiments, technical effects can be achieved such as good mechanical properties and good hydrolytic stability. Unlike 2K systems that require special handling and continuous metering for iscosyanate crosslinkers, compositions disclosed herein can be used to produce load bearing traction members using conventional extrusion or molding equipment using large stable master batch materials.

The relative amounts of the compound with a plurality of epoxide groups and/or the carbodiimide or polymeric carbodiimide can be varied by the skilled person to achieve targeted properties or results. In some embodiments, the compound with a plurality of epoxide groups can be present in the heated TPU composition at a level of up to 10 wt. % (i.e., present in amount greater than zero and less than or equal to 10 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition). In some embodiments, the compound with a plurality of epoxide groups can be present at a level 0.05 wt. % to 10 wt. %. In some embodiments, the carbodiimide or polymeric carbodiimide can be present in the heated TPU composition at a level of up to 5 wt. % (i.e., present in amount greater than zero and less than or equal to 5 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition). In some embodiments, the compound with a plurality of epoxide groups can be present at a level 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %. The remainder of the composition is primarily the TPU, although other materials can be present, including but not limited to blend polymers, flame retardants, friction additives, adhesion promoters, mold release agents, antioxidants or other stabilizers.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a process 60 of making a load-bearing traction member such as an elevator load-bearing belt. A compound with a plurality of blocked isocyanate groups 62 (and other components such as diamine and/or diol) is mixed with a supply of base TPU resin 64 in a master batch mixer 66. Additional base TPU resin 64 (or a different TPU resin) is mixed with the master batch from master batch mixer 66 in a jacket composition mixer 70. The jacket is formed in a jacket forming station 72 such as an extruder or molding device to provide the desired geometry of the jacket. In the illustrated example, a plurality of spools 74 supply tension members 28 to the jacket forming station 72 where the jacket 30 is applied onto at least one exterior surface of the tension members 28 to form the load-bearing traction member 32 resulting in the desired assembly. In some embodiments, the jacket-forming mixer 70 can be integrated as one or more heating and mixing stages with the jacket forming station 72 such as with a screw extruder. The jacket composition comprising TPU and the epoxy functional compound and other optional components is heated to a temperature high enough to heat the TPU and functional additives to a fluid state. In some embodiments, the composition temperature can be in a range having a lower end of 150° C., 170° C., or 190° C., and an upper end of 200° C., 230° C., or 250° C. These range limits can be independently combined to produce a number of ranges, and each possible range is hereby expressly disclosed. After emergence from the jacket forming station 72, the load bearing traction member can be cooled (e.g., with water or air), cleaned, and processed for assembly into a traction apparatus.

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. Unless otherwise stated, the term “or” means “and/or”. 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.

Claims

1. A method of making a load-bearing traction member, comprising heating a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane, and a compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups or a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

3. The method of claim 2, wherein R1 and R2 are each polymer backbone groups.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein R1 and R2 together form a group having the formula ═NR4.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the composition comprises 0.1-5.0 wt. % of the compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the composition comprises 0.05-10.00 wt. % of the compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a catalyst.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is heated to a temperature of at least 150° C.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is heated to a temperature of less than 250° C.

11. A load bearing traction member, comprising one or more tension members; anda polymer jacket comprising the reaction product of a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

12. The load bearing traction member of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises a compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

13. The load bearing traction member of claim 12, wherein R1 and R2 are each polymer backbone groups.

14. The load bearing traction member of claim 12, wherein R1 and R2 together form a group having the formula ═NR4.

15. The load bearing traction member of claim 12, wherein the composition comprises 0.1-5.0 wt. % of the compound comprising a plurality of groups having the formula

16. The load bearing traction member of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises a compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups.

17. The load bearing traction member of claim 16, wherein the composition comprises 0.05-10.00 wt. % of the compound comprising a plurality of epoxide groups.

18. The load bearing traction member of claim 11, wherein the composition further comprises a catalyst.

19. An elevator system comprising the load bearing traction member of claim 11.