Patent Application
20180237269
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of elevators, and more particularly to modular installation 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 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.
Installation of conventional elevators including both elevator systems with machine rooms and machine room-less systems entail lifting equipment, including the drive machine, into a position at the top of the hoistway. Similarly, installation of the tension members associated with a conventional elevator system requires lifting and aligning ropes or belts. As a result, installation of conventional elevator systems may be time consuming and prevent the elevator from being used until the structure surrounding the hoistway is completed.
According to embodiment, an elevator system for a building having a plurality of floors includes a hoistway having one or more lanes. The one or more lanes are defined by a plurality of modules. Each of the plurality of modules is associated with at least one of the plurality of floors. The plurality of modules are stacked relative to one another. Each of the plurality of modules is installable within the building prior to construction of the at least one floor associated therewith, at the same time as construction of the at least one floor associated therewith, or after construction of the at least one floor associated therewith.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments each of said plurality of modules is associated with a single floor of said plurality of floors.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments each of said plurality of modules is associated with two or more floors of said plurality of floors.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include at least one elevator car moveable within said one or more lanes.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said at least one elevator car is moveable in a single vertical direction within at least one of said one or more lanes.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include a propulsion system for moving said at least one elevator car within said at least one lane. The propulsion system includes a primary portion mounted within said hoistway and a secondary portion coupled to said at least one elevator car, wherein said primary portion is positioned within the hoistway via said plurality of substantially aligned modules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said at least one elevator car is movable within an installed portion of said plurality of modules during construction of the elevator system, said installed portion including less than said entire plurality of modules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said plurality of modules includes at least one transfer station module and at least one lane module.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments each of said plurality of modules includes a structural frame, a portion of said structural frame being a temporary structure.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments each of said plurality of modules includes a structural frame, a portion of said structural frame being a permanent structure affixed directly to a structure of the building.
According to another embodiment, a module for constructing a lane of an elevator system in a building includes a plurality of vertically and horizontally extending members connected to form a structural frame of a predetermined size. At least one alignment feature is associated with said structural frame. The at least one alignment feature is configured to align the module within a hoistway of the elevator system. At least one feature is associated with a propulsion system, a control system, a guidance system, and a power system of the elevator system.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said at least one feature of the module is shared with an adjacent module.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said at least one feature includes a component arranged at a predetermined position relative to said structural frame.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said at least one feature indicates a position for installing one or more components associated with the elevator system relative to the structural frame.
A method of installing an elevator system having a lane defined by a plurality of modules within a building includes installing a portion of the plurality of modules within the building. The portion of the plurality of modules includes at least one lane module and at least one transfer station module. The portion of the plurality of modules is substantially aligned. At least one elevator car is installed within the installed portion of the plurality of modules. The at least one elevator car is moved through the installed portion of the plurality of modules.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments moving said at least one elevator car from within the installed portion of the plurality of modules into a parking area arranged adjacent the lane.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter of this disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Referring to
Located generally above the top floor is an upper transfer station 32 configured to impart horizontal motion to elevator cars 30 to move elevator cars 30 between 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. Alternatively, or in addition, a lower transfer station 34 configured to impart horizontal motion to elevator cars 30 to move elevator cars 30 between lanes 24, 26, and 28 is located below the first floor of the building. 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
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In an embodiment, one or more pieces of the structural frame 56 may be temporary. These temporary pieces are included in the prefabricated structure frame 56 when the module 50 is positioned within the hoistway 22. However, after one or more components associated with the module 50 have been installed, for example the guide rail or the stationary portion of the linear propulsion system 35, the one or more pieces are then removed from the hoistway 22 and/or the building 40. In an embodiment, the entire structural frame 56 may be temporary. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more pieces of the structural frame 56 may be permanent, meaning that they remain within the hoistway during completion and operation of the elevator system. In such embodiments, the permanent pieces of the structural frame 56 may be configured to attach to a part of the building structure, such as via fasteners for example. This connection between the structural frame 56 and the building 40 is intended to share the loads acting on the structural frames 56 with the structure of the building 40. In another embodiment, the entire structural frame 56 may be permanent.
Each module 50 additionally includes one or more module alignment features 58. To ensure proper alignment between adjacent modules 50, the module alignment features 58 are configured to interact with the module alignment features 58 of an adjacent module 50. In some embodiments, the module alignment features 58 of adjacent modules 50 are configured to engage and interlock, thereby connecting and locking modules 50 together in proper vertical and/or horizontal alignment.
One or more systems critical to operation of the elevator system 20 extend over a portion or the entire length of the hoistway 22. These systems include, but are not limited to, a guidance system, a control system, a propulsion system, and a power system. In an embodiment, each module 50 includes at least one component or feature 60 associated with one or more of these systems. For example, a guiding structure 39 and/or stationary portion of the linear propulsion system 35, may be integrated with the module 50. Alternatively, or in addition, conduits for receiving wires associated with the control and power systems, or part of the fixed portion of the propulsion system may be integrated with the module 50. As a result, when adjacent modules 50 are stacked in vertical alignment, the components 60 connected thereto will be arranged at a desired location within the hoistway 22. Further, in embodiment where adjacent components 60, such as portions of the guide rail for example, are configured to couple to one another, the components 60 are pre-aligned to facilitate installation over a length of the hoistway 22.
In place of the actual components 60 associated with the guidance system, control system, propulsion system, and power system, the module 50 may include one or more component alignment features 62 configured to clearly identify the correct position of such components 60 when mounted within the hoistway 22. Inclusion of these component alignment features 62 may ensure not only proper positioning within the lane or hoistway 22, but also the alignment between adjacent components 60.
Through the use of stackable modules, positionable via a crane or other lifting mechanism, one or more lanes 24, 26, 28 within a hoistway 22 can be built as the structure of the building 40 is constructed. Further, because multi-car, ropeless elevator systems 20 do not require a machine room arranged at the top of the hoistway 22 or a plurality of tension members for moving the elevator car 30 through the hoistway 22, the elevator cars 30 may be selectively operable to move within the stacked and assembled modules of the hoistway 22 during the construction of the elevator system 20. As a result, the elevator car 30 may be used to move at least a portion of the components associated with the installation of the elevator system or the construction of the building. The elevator cars 30 may be moved between the lanes 24, 26, 28 via a transfer station, or alternatively, may be inserted into a lane 24, 26, 28 from an external source, such as via a crane or forklift for example. In addition, the transfer modules 52 may be used to transfer an elevator car 30 from a lane 24, 26, 28 to an adjacent parking area where construction equipment can be unloaded from or loaded into the car 30. As a result, multiple cars 30 can travel into and out of the transfer module 52 during construction of the elevator system 10 and building 40.
While the disclosure has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the disclosure 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 disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
