The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of elevators, and more particularly to a guide assembly of a multicar, ropeless, self-propelled elevator system.
Ropeless elevator systems, also referred to as self-propelled elevator systems, are useful in certain applications (e.g., high rise buildings) where the mass of the ropes for a roped system is prohibitive and there is a desire for multiple elevator cars to travel in a single hoistway or lane. There exist ropeless elevator systems in which a first lane is designated for upward traveling elevator cars and a second lane is designated for downward traveling elevator cars. A transfer station at each end of the lane is used to move cars horizontally between the first lane and second lane.
According to one embodiment, a guide assembly for guiding movement of an elevator car is provided including a first guide support and a second guide support coupled to a portion of the elevator car. The first guide support and the second guide support are separated from one another by a gap wider than an adjacent primary portion of a propulsion system of the elevator car. A pair of first guides is mounted to the first guide support and the second guide support, respectively. The first guides are substantially parallel and are configured to guide movement of the elevator car in a first direction to maintain a clearance between the primary portion and a secondary portion of the propulsion system of the elevator car. A second guide is mounted to one of the first guide support and the second guide support. The second guide is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first guides. The second guide is configured to guide movement of the elevator car in a second direction.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the first guide support and the second guide support are symmetrical about a plane extending parallel to the first and second guide support through a center of the gap.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support are connected directly to a portion of the elevator car.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support are integrally formed with a portion of the elevator car.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support are indirectly coupled to the elevator car via a support member such that the elevator car is isolated from noise and vibration.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support is a first structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system and the second guide support is a second structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support is connected to a first structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system and the second guide support is connected to the second structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support extend substantially parallel to the first structural member and the second structural member.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the guide assembly includes at least one actuator such that one or more of the first guides and the at least one second guide is active.
According to another embodiment of the invention, an elevator system is provided including an elevator car. A vertical structural guide member is arranged adjacent a primary portion of a propulsion system of the elevator car. A secondary portion of the propulsion system is coupled to the elevator car. The secondary portion is arranged parallel to the primary portion of the propulsion system. At least one guide assembly is configured to limit horizontal movement of the elevator car. The guide assembly includes a first guide support and a second guide support coupled to a portion of the elevator car. The first guide support and the second guide support are separated from one another by a gap wider than the primary portion of a propulsion system of the elevator car. A pair of first guides is mounted to the first guide support and the second guide support, respectively. The first guides are configured to contact one or more first wall of at least one structural guide member to limit movement of the elevator car in a first direction. The first guides maintain a clearance between the primary portion and the secondary portion of the propulsion system. At least one second guide is mounted to one of the first guide support and the second guide support. The second guide is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first guides. The second guide is configured to contact a second wall of the at least one structural guide member to guide movement of the elevator car in a second direction.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support are directly connected to a portion of the elevator car.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support are integrally formed with a portion of the elevator car.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support are indirectly coupled to the elevator car via a support member configured to isolate the elevator car from noise and vibration of the at least one guide assembly.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the elevator system also includes at least one of a safety device and a brake mounted to the elevator car. At least one of the safety device and the brake is configured to engage the support member to slow or stop movement of the elevator car.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support is a first structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system and the second guide support is a second structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support is connected to a first structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system and the second guide support is connected to a second structural member of the secondary portion of the propulsion system.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first guide support and the second guide support extend substantially parallel to the first structural member and the second structural member.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the elevator system includes at least one actuator such that one or more of the first guides and the at least one second guide is active.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the at least one structural guide member includes a plurality of first walls extending from opposing ends of the second wall, the plurality of first walls and second walls being integrally formed.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the at least one structural guide member is a C-channel.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the at least one structural guide member includes a first structural guide member and a second structural guide member arranged symmetrically on opposing sides of the primary portion of the propulsion system.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first structural guide member and the second structural guide member are angles.
Technical features of the invention include providing a guide assembly system that limits movement of the primary and secondary portions of the propulsion system.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Located generally above the top floor of the building is an upper transfer station 32 configured to impart horizontal motion to the elevator cars 30 to move the elevator cars 30 between the plurality of lanes 24, 26, and 28. It is understood that upper transfer station 32 may be located at the top floor, rather than above the top floor. Similarly, below the first floor of the building is a lower transfer station 34 configured to impart horizontal motion to the elevator cars 30 to move the elevator cars 30 between the plurality of lanes 24, 26, and 28. It is understood that lower transfer station 34 may be located at the first floor, rather than below the first floor. Although not shown in
Cars 30 are propelled using a propulsion system 40 such as a linear, permanent magnet motor system having a primary, fixed portion 42 and a secondary, moving portion 44. One or more primary portion 42, such as including coils mounted on a structural member 46 for example, and may be positioned at one or both sides of the lanes 24, 26, and 28. The secondary portion 44 may include a plurality of permanent magnets 48 mounted to one or both sides of cars 30. Primary portion 42 is supplied with drive signals from one or more drive units (not shown) to control movement of the cars 30 in their respective lanes through the linear, permanent magnet motor system 40. The secondary portion 44 operatively connects with and electromagnetically operates with the primary portion 42 to be driven. The driven secondary portion 42 enables the car 30 to move along the primary portion 42 and thus move within a lane 24, 26, and 28.
Referring now to
The elevator car 30 includes at least one guide assembly 60 configured to guide horizontal movement of the elevator car 30 as the car 30 moves vertically within a lane 24, 26, 28. In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, the elevator car 30 includes a first guide assembly 60 adjacent a first side 62 of the elevator car 30 and a second guide assembly 60 mounted adjacent a second, opposite side 64 of the elevator car 30. However, embodiments where the elevator car 30 includes only a single guide assembly 60 or where multiple guide assemblies 60 are arranged on a single side of the car 30 are within the scope of the invention.
In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiments, the guide assemblies 60 illustrated in
A pair of first guides 70 is mounted to a portion of the first guide support 66 and the second guide support 68, respectively, such as at a distal end thereof, such that the first guides 70 are arranged within a plane substantially perpendicular to the guide supports 66, 68, and parallel to the adjacent surface of the elevator car 30. Together the first guides 70 are configured to guide “front to back” movement of the elevator car 30 to maintain the clearance between the primary and secondary portions 42, 44 of the propulsion system 40.
The guide assembly 60 additionally includes at least one second guide 72 mounted to either the first guide support 66 or the second guide support 68. Although the guide assembly 60 illustrated in
In one embodiment, the at least one guide assembly 60 is coupled to or integrally formed with a portion of the elevator car 30. As shown in the embodiment of
In another embodiment, the at least one guide assembly 60 may be connected to the elevator car 30 indirectly through the secondary portion 44 of the propulsion system 40. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS., the first and second guide supports 66, 68 of the guide assembly 60 are coupled to or integrally formed with the first and second structural members 50, 52 of the secondary portion 44.
The guides 70, 72 of the guide assembly 60 are configured to contact and cooperate with one or more structural guide members 80 arranged adjacent the primary portion 42 of the propulsion system 40. The at least one structural guide member includes 80 a first wall 82 and a second wall 84 arranged substantially perpendicular to one another. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
Each first guide 70 of the guide assembly 60 is configured to contact a first wall 82 of the at least one structural guide member 80 and the at least one second guide 72 is configured to contact a second wall 84 of the at least one structural guide member 80. The first guides 70 and the at least one second guide 72 may be spring biased into contact with the one or more structural guide members 80. In other embodiments, the guide assembly 60 may be an active guide assembly including a plurality of actuators connected to the first guides 70 and the second guides 72 to not only improve the positioning of the secondary portion 44 relative to the primary portion 42 of the propulsion system 40, but also to dampen vibration of the elevator car 30 as it moves within a lane 24, 26, 28.
Other components of the elevator system 20 may be configured to interact with the at least one structural guide member 80. For example, a brake (not shown) mounted to the elevator car 30 may engage a portion of at least one structural guide member 80 to slow or stop movement of an elevator car 30. Similarly, one or more safety devices (not shown) may be mounted to the guide assembly 60 or the elevator car 30. In one embodiment, the safety devices are also configured to engage a portion of the at least one structural guide member 80 to stop vertical movement of the elevator car 30, such as in the event of an emergency for example.
An elevator car having one or more guide assemblies 60 as described herein allow vertical movement of an elevator car 30 while retaining critical alignments between the primary and secondary portions 42, 44 of the propulsion system 40, as well as other stopping devices. By simplifying the complexity and limiting the size of the guide assembly 60, both a space and cost savings are achieved. In addition, by isolating the guide assembly 30 from the elevator car 30, the ride quality within the elevator car 30 is improved.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments and/or features.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2016/015564 | 1/29/2016 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62109090 | Jan 2015 | US |