The present disclosure relates to a passenger conveyance system and, more particularly, to a modular transfer station therefor.
Ropeless elevator systems typically have new build requirements where all connected lanes must have the same dimensions to allow elevator cars to move from one lane to another. The lateral movement mechanism for movement of the elevator cars between lanes typically includes a horizontally disposed transfer station that supports elevator car carriages that, in turn, support the elevator cars.
Installation of the transfer station typically requires precise reference across lane groups.
A modular transfer station for a passenger conveyance system, according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can include a first modular transfer station lane alignment module operable to translate an car in a first direction and second direction therethrough and a second modular transfer station lane alignment module operable to translate the car in a first direction and second direction therethrough, the second modular transfer station lane alignment module attached to the first modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein the first direction is a horizontal direction and the second direction is a vertical direction, and the passenger conveyance system is an elevator.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include a modular transfer station parking module coupled to at least one of the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include a static structure coupled to at least one of the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include an elevator car carriage configured to transport the elevator car from the first modular transfer station lane alignment module to the second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include the first modular transfer station lane alignment module, second modular transfer station lane alignment module, modular transfer station parking module, and basic module each include an elevator car carriage guide that supports the elevator car carriage; and the elevator car carriage includes a propuslor operable to move the elevator car between the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein the wherein the modular transfer station parking module provides for parking of the elevator car carriage with or without the elevator car.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein the elevator travels in the vertical direction without the elevator car carriage.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one modular transfer station parking module coupled to at least one of the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include a static structure coupled to at least one of the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include an car carriage configured to transport the car from the first modular transfer station lane alignment module to the second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include the first modular transfer station lane alignment module, second modular transfer station lane alignment module, and modular transfer station parking module each include a car carriage guide that supports the car carriage; and the car carriage includes a propuslor operable to move the car between the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A modular transfer station for a passenger conveyance system, according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can include a first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module operable to translate an elevator car horizontally and vertically therethrough; and a modular transfer station parking module operable to translate the elevator car carriage horizontally there through, the modular transfer station parking module coupled to at least one of the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include a modular transfer station static structure attached between at least one of the modular transfer station parking module, first modular transfer station lane alignment module, and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein the first modular transfer station lane alignment module each includes an elevator car carriage guide that supports an elevator car carriage.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein the elevator car carriage includes a propuslor operable to horizontally move the elevator car between the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module have a generally identical static frame.
A method of assembling a modular transfer station for a passenger conveyance according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can include assembling a first modular transfer station lane alignment module, operable to translate an elevator car horizontally vertically therethrough, to a second modular transfer station lane alignment module operable to translate an elevator car horizontally and vertically therethrough, wherein each of the modular transfer station lane alignment modules includes are the same.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include attaching a modular transfer station parking module operable to translate the elevator car horizontally there through, the modular transfer station parking module attached to at least one of the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module by a basic module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include movably attaching an elevator car carriage to the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module, wherein the elevator car carriage is configured to move between the first modular transfer station lane alignment module and second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include receiving an elevator car within the elevator car carriage and transporting the elevator car from the first modular transfer station lane alignment module to the second modular transfer station lane alignment module.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated; however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.
Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
A modular transfer station 160a, 160b, 160c, may be located at each floor. In one embodiment, there may be a single modular transfer station 160 or two or more modular transfer stations 160. Each modular transfer station 160 provides for the elevator cars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d to be transferred from one vertical hoistway lane 140a, 140b, 140c to another vertical hoistway lane 140a, 140b, 140c. In one embodiment, this permits the direction of travel to be reversed from upward to downward or vice-versa, and the plurality of elevator cars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d to travel in a circulation pattern between the plurality of hoistway lanes 140a, 140b, 140c.
With reference to
The basic modules 180a, 180b operate as optional spacers between other modules such as modular transfer station parking modules 164a, 164b and modular transfer station lane alignment modules 166a, 166b, 166c. The basic modules 180a, 180b may be located between adjoining modular transfer station lane alignment modules, adjoining modular transfer station parking modules, or between adjoining modular transfer station lane alignment modules and adjoining modular transfer station parking modules. The basic modules 180a, 180b are configured of a dimension so as to cause the modular transfer station lane alignment modules to align properly with the vertical hoistway lanes 140a, 140b, 140c. The precise dimensions of the basic modules 180a, 180b may be tailored to the particular passenger conveyance system 100 in which they are installed. Moreover, any number and configuration of basic modules 180a, 180b may be used.
The modular transfer station parking modules 164a, 164b are configured to store an elevator car 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d when such elevator car is not in use, thereby allowing the elevator car to be removed from service without interfering with the travel of other elevator cars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d traveling throughout the passenger conveyance system. In one embodiment, there may be a modular transfer station parking module 164a or 164b only on one end of the modular transfer station 160. In one embodiment, there may be any number of modular transfer station parking modules 164a, 164b, . . . 164n and they may be arranged in any desired configuration within the modular transfer station 160, provided that the modular transfer station parking modules 164a, 164b, . . . 164n are not located in one of the hoistway lanes 140a, 140b, 140c.
The modular transfer station lane alignment modules 166a, 166b, 166c and are operable to move each elevator car 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d vertically and horizontally while the modular transfer station parking modules 164a, 164b and basic modules 180a, 180b are operable to move the elevator car 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d horizontally. In the example of
With reference to
The elevator car carriage 174 receives the elevator car 120 and laterally moves the elevator car 120 across the modular transfer station 160 to from one modular transfer station module (e.g., lane alignment module, basic module, parking module) to another. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the elevator car carriage 174 may not be required as the elevator car 120 may be self-powered or otherwise obviate the usage of an elevator car carriage 174. For example, in some embodiments, the elevator car carriage 174 is configured to transport the elevator cars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d throughout the passenger conveyance system 100. In one embodiment, the elevator cars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d may be transported by the elevator car carriage 174 when moving vertically through a hoistway 140 and may travel horizontally through the modular transfer station 160 on their own, unassisted by the elevator car carriage 174. In one embodiment, the elevator cars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d may travel vertically through the hoistway 140 on their own, unassisted by the elevator car carriage 174, and horizontally through the modular transfer station 160 with the assistance of the elevator car carriage 174. In one embodiment, the elevator cars 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d may travel vertically through the hoistway 140 and horizontally through the modular transfer station 160 on their own, unassisted by the elevator car carriage 174.
The elevator car carriage guide 172 may include, for example, a guide rail 176 and a lateral propulsion system 178 such as a rack and pinion system to laterally move the elevator car carriage 174 and/or elevator car 120 between the modular transfer station modules. The elevator car carriage guide 172 may be moved between the modular transfer station modules with or without the elevator car 120. It should also be appreciated that the guide rail 176 and the lateral propulsion system 178 may be mounted across multiple modules 162 in a prefabricated manner to support the necessary mounting points, wiring, and other subcomponents to reduce labor time in the field. This facilitates alignment on the shop floor, thereby simplifying installation into the building.
Each modular transfer station lane alignment module 166 also includes a guide rail 180 and a vertical propulsion system 182 such as a linear motor that is operable to move the elevator car 120 vertically within the hoistway lane 140. It should be appreciated that various vertical propulsion systems 182 that may or may not provide for a self-propelled elevator car 120 may be utilized herewith.
The modular transfer station parking module 164, which does not interface with a hoistway lane 140 (
With reference to
With reference to
A modular transfer station spacer 190 may also be provided to accommodate a hoistway lane module 200 that contains all elements of normal elevator car/lane operation such as vertical elevator car propulsion, guidance, communication, wiring, etc. That is, the lane to modular transfer station spacer 190 provides for vertical spacing.
The modular transfer station 160 at each floor may include various combinations of modular transfer station modules 162 to provide various features for each floor, e.g., VIP elevator car storage, etc. Depending on specific job conditions, the entire modular transfer station 160 may be assembled outside of the hoistway and placed within a building in the early stages of building construction.
The modular transfer station 160 provides a cost saving due to the more automated assembly at the factory, shorter assembly on site, etc.; provides increased safety as there is less employee time in hazardous spaces such as hoistway/pits; higher tolerances for a precise reference system; provides parking in which a horizontal “lane” provides elevator car storage; and includes essentially infinite combinations of modules that are readily adapted to each floor.
The modular transfer station 160 is essentially factory fabricated to improve alignment of related parts via a factory jig or fixture that ensures alignment of guidance members, such as tracks and rail sections, ensuring reliable operation. The factory pre-assembled and fabricated sections may alternatively or additionally be designed to interlock with each other thus minimizing on site construction time and costs. This also has an additional benefit of reducing building construction time and facilitates an in-service elevator that grows upward as the building grows upward. That is the need to wait for the entire building to be completed in order to have a functional elevator that can be used to lift goods and materials to a partially completed building in a single hoist way mode as there is no need to wait until the upper modular transfer station to be completed, as single hoist way operation is possible with only the lower modular transfer station operational.
While the modular transfer station 160 herein was primarily described with respect to an elevator system, the modular transfer system 160 may be used in any type of conveyance system in which lane switching is necessary, such as subways, trams, trolleys, trains, etc. (generally referred to as a “car”), and is not limited exclusively to elevator operations. In addition, while the modular transfer station 160 herein was primarily described with respect to vertical and horizontal movement, the movement may be solely in two directions in the horizontal plane (e.g., x and y planes), or in any combination of directions in the x, y, z planes.
The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar references in the context of description (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or specifically contradicted by context. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other.
Although the different non-limiting embodiments have specific illustrated components, the embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.
It should be appreciated that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be appreciated that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.
Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure.
The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/418,467, filed Nov. 7, 2016.
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