Patent Grant
11603289
This application is a U.S. National Stage Entry of International Patent Application Ser. Number PCT/EP2018/066189, filed Jun. 19, 2018, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2017 005 850.4, filed Jun. 21, 2017, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure generally relates to a support device for supporting a platform of an elevator installation.
The invention applies to elevator installations with at least one elevator car, in particular a plurality of elevator cars, which can be moved in a shaft by means of guide rails. At least one fixed first guide rail is arranged fixedly in a shaft and is aligned in a first, in particular vertical direction; at least one fixed second guide rail is fixedly aligned in a second, in particular horizontal direction; at least one third guide rail rotatable with respect to the shaft is fastened to the mobile, here rotatable, platform and can be transferred with the latter between an alignment in the first direction and an alignment in the second direction. Such installations are described fundamentally in WO 2015/144781 A1 and also in German patent applications 10 2016 211 997.4 and 10 2015 218 025.5.
An elevator car of such elevator installations is fastened by a swivel joint to a chassis, which can be moved along the guide rails by means of guide rollers rolling along the guide rails. On account of the central suspension of the elevator car on the chassis and the long levers connected to the latter between the suspension and the guide rollers, high forces engage via the guide rollers close to the maximum turning circle radius of the swivel joint. Especially in the case of high loads, elastic deformations occur due to the distance of the guide rollers from the bearing centre and the high leverage forces associated therewith, which deformations can lead to a deflection of the platform and therefore to a misalignment on the guide rails and in particular between their guide surfaces.
Both the fixed guide rails running in the vertical and horizontal direction and also the suspension of the platform, which carries the rotatable third guide rail, are fastened in the elevator shaft. In the cross-over region at the junction of ends of the guide rails adjacent to one another, a certain distance between the guide rails is provided in each case in order to enable the rotation function of the platform. The elastic deformations to the guide rails and the platform or its suspension occurring in particular in the case of the high loads lead to a deflection of the platform or the guide rails arranged thereon and therefore to a misalignment between mutually adjoining guide rails, which adversely affects the travel comfort when the chassis crosses over and in addition leads to increased wear or in the extreme case to destruction of the rollers and brakes.
In order to avoid the aforementioned effects with the forces occurring in the normal travel operation, the platform, guide rails and the fastening thereof are designed sufficiently rigid. In cases of special loads, for example when the safety gear is deployed, high forces act on the guide rails due to the applied brake, which can lead to much more severe elastic deformations of the guide rails and of the platform or its suspension. Dynamic loads of the elevator car during motion, which are caused for example by slipping loads or by jerky movements of the passengers, can also lead to greater elastic deformations and therefore to misalignments between two guide rails adjoining one another, as a result of which equipment of a chassis crossing over the misalignment could be damaged and therefore the function of the chassis or even of the brake of the safety gear could be restricted.
In order to reduce such elastic deformations, the rigidity of the guide rails and their fastening, for example, can be increased by design changes. Possible measures are an increase in the installation space, an addition of material or changes to material, which is difficult with the underlying problem on account of design constraints.
Thus a need exists to create a device for an elevator installation which reduces the danger due to misalignments between the guide rails on account of elastic deformations.
Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that reciting “a” element or “an” element in the appended claims does not restrict those claims to articles, apparatuses, systems, methods, or the like having only one of that element, even where other elements in the same claim or different claims are preceded by “at least one” or similar language. Similarly, it should be understood that the steps of any method claims need not necessarily be performed in the order in which they are recited, unless so required by the context of the claims. In addition, all references to one skilled in the art shall be understood to refer to one having ordinary skill in the art.
The invention relates to a support device for supporting a platform of an elevator installation.
The support device according to the invention serves to support a platform, in particular a rotary platform, of an elevator installation. The elevator installation comprises at least one elevator car, which can be moved in a shaft by means of guide rails, at least one fixed first guide rail, which is arranged fixedly in a shaft and is aligned in a first, in particular vertical direction and at least one fixed second guide rail, which is arranged fixedly in a shaft and is aligned in particular in a second, in particular horizontal direction. Furthermore, the elevator installation comprises at least one, in particular rotatable, third guide rail mobile with respect to the shaft, which is fastened to the platform and can be transferred between a first position, in particular an alignment in the first direction, and a second position, in particular an alignment in the second direction.
The support device arranged in the elevator installation comprises at least one first form-fit engagement means at one end of the at least one fixed first guide rail, said end facing the platform, and at least one third form-fit engagement means at at least one end of the third guide rail fastened to the platform and rotatable with the latter. In a first platform position, the at least one first form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means are arranged with respect to one another such that, in the case of a deflection of the platform, in particular around an axis arranged in the second direction, the at least one third form-fit engagement means can be supported on the at least one first form-fit engagement means.
In the case of a deflection of the platform especially around an axis arranged in the second direction, the at least one third form-fit engagement means can be supported on the at least one first form-fit engagement means. A suitable form-fit engagement means is thereby arranged on the end and there, in particular in the region of the end face of the respective guide rail. Such a form-fit engagement means usually comprises a shaped element such as a projection, a groove or a recess, which in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail has a certain overlap with a form-fit engagement means at the end of the guide rail lying opposite. The two engagement means lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the rails are in particular also thus spaced apart from one another perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rails, in order to enable a movement of the platform, in particular a rotation of the rotary platform. The respective first, second and third guide rail of an elevator installation according to the invention can in each case comprise a plurality of rail elements arranged parallel to one another. In the same way, however, a design of elevator installations according to the invention is also possible, wherein the first, second and third guide rails comprise only one rail element.
In the case of a deflection of the platform in the context of the usual loading during operation of the elevator installation, the engagement means spaced apart from one another do not make contact with one another, in the case of a more marked deflection of the platform in particular accompanying a special event, the form-fit engagement means lying opposite one another come into contact and lie against one another. With the provided support device, the third form-fit engagement means is supported on the opposite first engagement means and further deflection especially of the third guide rail is limited. The term “form-fit” or “form-fitting” is to be understood in the present case such that the corresponding surfaces of the engagement means cooperating in a form-fit manner and thus supported on one another are essentially perpendicular to the direction of the force to be supported and therefore a direct force flux occurs from one form-fit engagement means to the supported form-fit engagement means, so that the support effect results.
In the main claim, a deflection of the platform around an axis arranged in particular in the second direction is specified. In the case of a deflection around such an axis, which represents the most probable case of a deflection with a special event, the weight of the elevator car in particular also acts, so that the upper end of the third guide rail is displaced with respect to the (lower) end of the first guide rail, arranged above the rotary chassis, in the direction towards the elevator car and therefore away from the shaft wall. The opposite lower end region of the third guide rail is displaced with respect to the (upper) end of the first guide rail, arranged below the platform, in the direction away from the elevator car and are therefore towards the shaft wall. Other deflections such as in another direction around an axis arranged in the second direction or deflections around axes arranged differently or translational deflections are conceivable and also included in the main claim, wherein the entire platform is displaced for example perpendicular to the second axis away from the shaft wall or towards the shaft wall or also at an angle.
As a result of the fact that a third form-fit engagement means is arranged at one end, in particular in the region of the end face, of a third guide rail, its support on a first guide rail can be used for a maximum leverage length for the support, which has a favourable effect on the force ratios transmitted via the engagement means.
In an embodiment of the support device, a gap arranged in a third, in particular horizontal, direction essentially perpendicular to the first and second direction is formed between the at least one first form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means, the extension of which gap, when the platform is not deflected, corresponds to a predetermined maximum misalignment of the third guide rail with respect to the first guide rail in the third direction.
The predetermined maximum misalignment is in particular the misalignment which can just still be tolerated in order to prevent damage to the guide rollers and chassis and, in particular when the safety gear is deployed, damage to an in particular applied brake. The gap basically enables mobility, in particular rotational mobility, of the platform for the transfer of the third guide rail from the first position into the second position or vice versa. The maximum misalignment determines the maximum extension of a gap between the first and the third engagement means. If this gap is closed by the deflection of an in particular third guide rail, the end of the one guide rail projects outwards in the direction of the deflection correspondingly beyond the end of the guide rail adjoining the latter. The resultant maximum misalignment thus corresponds to the gap provided between the form-fit engagement means, which gap predetermines the deflection at which the two form-fit engagement means come into contact and one guide rail is supported on the other guide rail.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one first form-fit engagement means is arranged in each case at at least one end, facing the platform, of at least one fixed first guide rail arranged above the platform and at least one arranged below the platform. At least one third form-fit engagement means is arranged at the respective corresponding ends of the rotatable third guide rail. In this way, the platform, in the case of a deflection of the platform in particular around an axis arranged in the second direction, can be supported on the third form-fit engagement means arranged at the two ends, on at least one form-fit engagement means arranged above the platform and at least one arranged below the platform.
With this design, the platform is supported at both ends of at least one third guide rail arranged on the platform. Since the leverage ratios of the support of the third guide rail via the third form-fit engagement means at its ends are favourable, a particularly rigid arrangement is possible for limiting the misalignments.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one second form-fit engagement means is arranged at an end of the at least one fixed second guide rail, said end facing the platform. In the event of an alignment of the platform in the second direction, the at least one second form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means are arranged with respect to one another such that, in the case of a deflection of the platform in particular around an axis arranged in the first direction, the at least one third form-fit engagement means can be supported on the at least one second form-fit engagement means.
Corresponding to the design at at least one end of a fixed first guide rail, said end facing the platform, a suitable form-fit second engagement means is also arranged at at least one end of a fixed second guide rail, said end facing the platform, and there also in particular in the region of the end face. Accordingly, such a form-fit engagement means usually comprises a shaped element with a projection, a groove or a recess, which in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails has a certain overlap with a form-fit engagement means at the end of the third guide rail lying opposite. The two engagement means lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails are spaced apart from one another in order to enable rotation of the platform.
In this embodiment of the support device, the at least one second form-fit engagement means can be supported on the at least one third form-fit engagement means in the case of a deflection of the platform in particular around an axis arranged in the first direction. Since a deflection of the platform around an axis arranged in the first direction possibly differs, with respect to a possible misalignment of the guide rails, from a deflection around an axis arranged in the second direction, or the platform can be elastically deformed or displaced differently with respect to the intended position in the horizontal and vertical direction on account of different designs, a different design of the second form-fit engagement means on the second fixed guide rail with respect to the first form-fit engagement means on the first fixed guide rail may also be expedient. Due to the arrangement of the second form-fit engagement means corresponding to the first form-fit engagement means at the end of the second fixed guide rail, a maximum leverage length can also be used for supporting the third guide rail on the second guide rail.
In an embodiment of the support device, a gap arranged in a third, in particular horizontal, direction essentially perpendicular to the first and second direction, is formed between the at least one second form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means, the extension of which gap, when the platform is not deflected, corresponds to a predetermined maximum misalignment of the third guide rail with respect to the second guide rail in the third direction.
In the same way as with the design of the support device between the first and third guide rail, the predetermined maximum misalignment between the second and third guide rail is in particular the misalignment that can just still be tolerated, at which damage to the guide rollers and the chassis can be avoided. Similarly, the gap enables mobility of the platform. The maximum extension of a gap between the second and third form-fit engagement means is determined from the maximum possible misalignment. If this gap is closed, in particular due to a deflection of the platform or a deformation of the fixed guide rail, the end of a guide rail projects outwards in the direction of the deflection or deformation correspondingly beyond the end of the guide rail adjoining the latter. The resultant maximum misalignment thus corresponds to the provided gap, which predetermines what deflection is required until the form-fit engagement means make contact and therefore one guide rail is supported on the other guide rail. The gap which is provided between the second and third form-fit engagement means can differ from the gap and therefore from the maximum misalignment which can be tolerated between the first and third form-fit engagement means.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one second form-fit engagement means is arranged in each case on at least one end, facing the platform, of at least one fixed second guide rail arranged in the second, in particular horizontal, direction to the left of the platform and at least one arranged to the right of the platform. Furthermore, at least one third form-fit engagement means is arranged on the respectively corresponding ends of the rotatable third guide rail, so that the platform, in the case of a deflection of the platform in particular around an axis arranged in the first direction, can be supported on the third form-fit engagement means arranged at the two ends, on at least one second form-fit engagement means arranged to the left of the platform and at least one arranged to the right of the platform.
In this design, the platform in the horizontal alignment is supported on both ends of at least one third guide rail arranged on the platform, as a result of which a particularly rigid arrangement for limiting misalignments is possible.
In an embodiment of the support device, the at least one third form-fit engagement means arranged on the third guide rail is designed such that, in a first position, the platform can be supported on at least one first form-fit engagement means arranged on a first guide rail and, in a second position, the platform can be supported on at least one second form-fit engagement means arranged on a second guide rail. In this way, a simple design of a support device is possible, with which both deflections at the junction between the first and third guide rail and also at the junction between the second and third guide rail can be supported.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one first and/or at least one second and at least one third engagement means is designed such that a misalignment of the respective end of the at least one third guide rail with respect to the corresponding end of at least one first and/or second guide rail can be supported in a direction of an axis which is essentially arranged in the third direction. Such a support device is expedient at such junctions between guide rails in the elevator installation, with which the risk of a deflection of a third guide rail with respect to a fixed guide rail exists in only one direction along the third direction.
If, for example, there is the risk of a deflection of the third guide rail with respect to a first or second, or both fixed guide rails in both directions along an axis arranged in the third direction, the support device is advantageously designed according to an embodiment, in which at least one first and/or at least one second and at least one third engagement means is designed such that a misalignment of the respective end of the at least one third guide rail with respect to the corresponding end of at least one first and/or second guide rail can be supported in both directions of an axis which is arranged essentially in the third direction.
Accordingly, the mutually opposite engagement means of the third and first and/or the third and second guide rails are designed such that, in the case of a support required in only one direction, two projections formed at the ends of the guide rails for example lie opposite one another. If a support in both directions along an axis arranged in the third direction is required, a support device, which is suitable for supporting a guide rail in both directions, thus comprises for example at one end of a guide rail a groove and at the end of the guide rail lying opposite the groove a projection arranged in the groove. Due to the overlapping of the groove and the recess in the longitudinal direction of the rails, the projection is designed so that it can be supported in both directions in the groove.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one third form-fit engagement means is designed at one end of the rotatable third guide rail differently from the at least one third form-fit engagement means at the other end of the third guide rail. Such an embodiment can be expedient especially when, in the case of a deflection of the platform, the two ends of a third guide rail arranged thereon move in each case in another direction with respect to the first or second guide rails adjoining the latter and are designed so that they can correspondingly be supported thereon in a different direction. Another expedient use of this application is present for example when, especially in design terms, a different deflection of the two ends of a third guide rail is to be expected, so that for example different misalignments occur at the ends and also different deflection forces act on account of the different leverage ratios.
In an embodiment of the support device, the at least one form-fit engagement means comprises a shaped element such as a projection, a groove or a recess, which in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail has a certain overlap with a form-fit engagement means at the end of the guide rail lying opposite. In particular, the stated variants enable a reliable, simple and cost-effective design of the support device.
Depending on the embodiment and the intended use, it is possible to design a form-fit engagement means in one piece (integral) with a guide rail or also in several pieces with a guide rail. An engagement means designed in several pieces with the guide rail can be arranged, for example by means of screwing or another suitable fixing such as riveting or suchlike, also cooperating for example with a form-fit at in particular one end of a guide rail. It is essential that forces can be transferred to the guide rail via the form-fit engagement means.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one bevel is arranged at at least one end of the at least one fixed first guide rail, which bevel is aligned in the second, in particular horizontal direction. Such a bevel, which in particular is arranged in the running surface of the guide rollers, reduces a gap between two guide rail sections arising due to elastic deformations, so that the crossing-over of the chassis at such a point, at which for example a first guide rail goes over into a third guide rail, has a lesser effect on the travel comfort and reduces wear or damage to the rollers and brakes.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one bevel is arranged at at least one end of the at least one fixed second guide rail, which bevel is aligned in the first, in particular vertical direction. In the same way as the aforementioned bevel, this bevel, which is also arranged in particular in the running surface of guide rollers, also serves reduce a possible gap between two guide rail sections, so that crossing-over of such a point by the chassis has a lesser effect for the travel comfort and reduces the wear or damage to rollers and brakes.
In an embodiment of the support device, at least one bevel is arranged at at least one end of the third guide rail fastened to the platform and rotatable with the latter, which bevel in an alignment of the guide rail in the first, in particular vertical direction is aligned in the second direction (y), and in an alignment of the guide rail in the second, in particular horizontal direction is aligned in the first direction. This embodiment also enables the advantages of the two aforementioned embodiments. Especially in a combination with at least one of the aforementioned embodiments, bevels are arranged at both mutually opposite ends of the guide rails, so that the advantages during crossing over of the junction between the guide rails are added.
In particular, as will become clear in the example of embodiment, the term “rail” is to be understood in a broad sense and comprises, apart from the regions bearing the running surfaces, also rear regions of the rail which serve for the stability of the rail. The engagement means do not therefore have to be arranged directly on the regions of the rails which provide the running surface, but can if appropriate also be arranged on separate support structures of the rails fastened thereto.
To solve the problem, an elevator installation is also proposed which comprises a support device designed corresponding to the preceding description and in particular a platform by means of which the support device can be supported.
Elevator installation 50 further comprises fixed second guide rails 57, along which elevator car 51 can be guided with the aid of the rucksack bearing. Second guide rails 57 are aligned horizontally in a second direction y, and make it possible for elevator car 51 to be able to move within a storey. Furthermore, two guide rails 57 connect first guide rails 56 of two shafts 52′, 52″ to one another. Second guide rails 58 thus also serve for the transfer of elevator car 51 between the two shafts 52′, 52″, in order for example to implement a modern paternoster operation.
By means of third, rotatable rails 58, elevator car 51 can be transferred from first guide rails 56 to second guide rails 57 and vice versa. Third guide rails 58 are rotatable with respect to a rotation axis A, which lies perpendicular to a y-z plane, which extends through first and second guide rails 56, 57.
All guide rails 56, 57, 58 are fastened at least indirectly to at least one shaft wall 52a of shaft 52. The shaft wall defines a fixed reference system of the shaft. The term shaft wall alternatively also includes a fixed frame structure of the shaft, which carries the guide rails. Rotatable third guide rails 58 are fastened to a rotary platform 53.
Such installations are described fundamentally according to WO 2015/144781 A1 and also in German patent applications 10 2016 211 997.4 and 10 2015 218 025.5. In patent application 10 2016 205 794.4, an arrangement with an integrated platform swivel bearing and a drive unit for rotating the rotary platform is described in detail in this connection, which can also be used within the scope of the present invention for the bearing of and as a rotary drive for the rotary platform.
During the vertical movement, elevator car 51 is guided by means of fixed first guide rails 56. A first guide rail 56 is rigidly fastened to a shaft wall 52a of elevator shaft 52. Furthermore, the elevator installation comprises rotatable third guide rails 58. The latter are shown in
Rotatable third guide rails 58 are rotatable between the represented vertical alignment and a horizontal alignment. Elevator car 51 is guided by means of a rucksack suspension on guide rails 56, 57, 58. This means that guide rails 56, 57, 58 are all arranged on a common side of the elevator car. This is necessary in order that first guide rails 56, during the horizontal transfer of the elevator car, do not block its horizontal travel path.
Apart from rotatable third guide rail 58, fixed first guide rails 56 arranged above the rotary platform S3 and below the rotary platform 53 are also represented. The positions of the elements of the exemplary embodiment of support device 70 are marked in
As is also shown in
As can clearly be seen, form-fit engagement means 71, 73 are designed such that a rotation of rotary platform 53 around rotation axis A is possible. In the event of an alignment of rotary platform 53 in the first direction z shown in
In the detail of exemplary support device 70 represented in
As can be seen in
It can clearly be seen in
At least one bevel 83 is provided at the respective ends of first 56 or second 57 guide rail and of third guide rail 58, which bevel is arranged perpendicular to the x-direction. The bevel is arranged in particular on the running surface of guide rollers and improves the crossing-over of junctions between the guide rails. Arrow 84 points to a dashed line, which indicates the transfer between misaligned guide rails that is improved by bevel 83.
In the present example of embodiment, the invention has been described with the aid of a rotatable rotary platform; the invention can for example also be used with a displaceable platform.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2017 005 850.4 | Jun 2017 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/066189 | 6/19/2018 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018/234273 | 12/27/2018 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080078626 | Kocher | Apr 2008 | A1 |
| 20110042168 | Grundmann | Feb 2011 | A1 |
| 20170107080 | Steinhauer | Apr 2017 | A1 |
| 20180009633 | Fargo | Jan 2018 | A1 |
| 20180257911 | Gainche | Sep 2018 | A1 |
| 20190077635 | King | Mar 2019 | A1 |
| 20190177125 | Gainche | Jun 2019 | A1 |
| 20200087113 | Hakala | Mar 2020 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 101152947 | Apr 2008 | CN |
| 101875465 | Nov 2010 | CN |
| 103130069 | Jun 2013 | CN |
| 106115433 | Nov 2016 | CN |
| 106163963 | Nov 2016 | CN |
| 10 2015 218 025 | Mar 2017 | DE |
| 10 2016 205 794.4 | Oct 2017 | DE |
| 10 2016 211 997 | Jan 2018 | DE |
| 2070860 | Jun 2009 | EP |
| H04 191278 | Jul 1992 | JP |
| H05 310384 | Nov 1993 | JP |
| H09194169 | Jul 1997 | JP |
| 2016121021 | Jul 2016 | JP |
| 2013139616 | Sep 2013 | WO |
| 2015144781 | Oct 2015 | WO |
| 2017010928 | Jan 2017 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| English Translation of International Search Report issued in PCT/EP2018/066189, dated Oct. 4, 2018. |
| First Office Action in foreign Chinese counterpart patent application No. 201880042118.7, dated Nov. 17, 2020. |
| Notice of Allowance, dated Jan. 6, 2022, in Chinese counterpart application No. CN 201880042118.7. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200131001 A1 | Apr 2020 | US |
