The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of elevators, and more particularly to a multicar, ropeless 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 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 with at least two transfer stations in the hoistway used to move cars horizontally between the first lane and second lane.
Transfer stations do not typically provide redundancy for transfer station operation. Therefore, the numbers of structures capable of moving elevator cars is equal to or lower than the number of lanes of the hoistway. The assumption is that in a worst case scenario, independent working carriages in the transfer station may work with a reduced number of carriages. Working with a reduced number of carriages decreases overall elevator system efficiency and may cause operation delays, as well as logistical challenges.
According to one aspect of the invention, a transfer station for a ropeless elevator system hoistway is provided. The transfer station includes a first lane, a second lane, and a parking area located proximate one of the first lane and the second lane. The transfer station also includes a plurality of carriages moveable within the first lane, the second lane, and the parking area, the plurality of carriages configured to support and move an elevator car. The transfer station further includes a cassette configured to support and move the plurality of carriages. The transfer station yet further includes a guiding member engaged with the cassette, wherein the position of each of the plurality of carriages relative to the first lane, the second lane and the parking area is modified by horizontal or vertical movement of the cassette.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the guiding member comprises a guide rail.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include a linear motor operatively coupled to the cassette for imparting movement of the cassette along the guiding member.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the number of the plurality of carriages is equal to the number of hoistway lanes.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the number of the plurality of carriages of the transfer station cassette is less than the number of hoistway lanes.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that at least a portion of the cassette is always located in the parking area.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include an additional cassette comprising a plurality of additional carriages positioned therein, the additional cassette moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position defined by all of the plurality of additional carriages being located within the parking area, the second position defined by at least one of the plurality of additional carriages being located within at least one of the first lane and the second lane.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the cassette and the additional cassette are interchangeable within the hoistway.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that each of the plurality of carriages are replaceable while positioned in the parking area.
According to another aspect of the invention, a transfer station for a ropeless elevator system hoistway is provided. The transfer station includes a first lane, a second lane, and a parking area located proximate one of the first lane and the second lane. The transfer station also includes a transfer station carriage comprising a frame to support and move an elevator car between the first lane, the second lane and the parking area. The transfer station further includes a guiding member engaged with the transfer station carriage.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the guiding member comprises a guide rail.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include a linear motor operatively coupled to the transfer station carriage for imparting movement of the transfer station carriage along the guiding member.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the transfer station carriage includes a fixed power source.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the elevator car is configured to vertically pass through at least one of the transfer station cassette and the transfer station carriage.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the transfer station carriage is moveable in a horizontal direction between the first lane, the second lane and the parking area.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the carriages located in the cassette may move in up to three directions if engaged with the transfer station cassette.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the carriage is used as a temporary parking station for the elevator car.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the carriage is used as a long-term parking station for the elevator car.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the elevator car is removed from the lanes within the transfer station carriage.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
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.
Referring to
Above the top floor is an upper transfer station 30 to impart horizontal motion to elevator cars 14 to move elevator cars 14 between lanes 13, 15 and 17. It is understood that upper transfer station 30 may be located at the top floor, rather than above the top floor. Below the first floor is a lower transfer station 32 to impart horizontal motion to elevator cars 14 to move elevator cars 14 between lanes 13, 15 and 17. It is understood that lower transfer station 32 may be located at the first floor, rather than below the first floor. Although not shown in
Cars 14 are self-propelled using, for example, a linear motor system having a fixed portion 16 and a moving portion 18. One or more fixed portions 16 are mounted in lanes 13, 15 and 17. One or more moving portions 18 are mounted on cars 14. One of the motor portions is supplied with drive signals to control movement of cars 14 in their respective lanes.
Referring to
Referring now to
As described above, the transfer station 40 is a location where the elevator cars 14 may be moved (horizontally and/or vertically) to transfer the cars 14 between the lanes 13, 15, 17 and between a parking and/or storage area 42. Each transfer station may have adjacent storage or parking areas for carriages. Transport of the cars is made with a frame-like structure referred to as a carriage 46. Structures moving relative to the hoistway having their own propulsion system and that allow carriages 46 to be stored therein will be referred to herein as a cassette 44. Additionally, the cassette 44 allows the carriages 46 to move relative to the cassette structure itself. When cassettes are a duplication of a working transfer station beneath the lanes they may become redundant transfer stations, as shown in
The carriages 46 placed in the cassette 44 may be used to park or store elevator cars 14 in a manner that allows disengagement of the cars from the guiding structures within the hoistway. The carriages are moved out of the lanes 13, 15, 17. Parking of the cars 14 may be done for varied amounts of time. Additionally, the carriages 46 and/or cars 14 parked in the cassette 44 are located where maintenance of the cars 14 and/or carriages 46 may be conducted. It is to be understood that although a single parking area 42 is discussed, multiple parking areas 42 may be included at each transfer station 40. For example, a parking area 42 may be located adjacent more than one of the lanes 13, 15, 17. Furthermore, the position of the cassette 44 may vary, such that one embodiment has the cassette 44 located to the side of the lanes (
In one embodiment, the carriages 46 are moved, with or without an elevator car 14 therein, to a cassette 44 located completely out of vertical alignment with the lanes, as shown in
In another embodiment, the cassette 44 itself is vertically aligned with the lanes and is configured to move relative to the hoistway to maneuver the carriages 46 stored therein, as shown in
In the embodiment of
As described above, the number of carriages 46 that may be held in cassette 44 may vary, with the number of carriages 46 less than or equal to the number of lanes served in the hoistway.
In any of the above-described embodiments of the transfer station 40, an enhanced level of redundancy and ease of maintenance is obtained. This is attributed to the possibility to include additional carriages that may quickly be deployed to a position aligned with one of the lanes of the hoistway 11. Therefore, if one of the carriages requires maintenance or replacement, the cassette 44 may simply be maneuvered to reposition the carriages 46. This allows the carriage requiring maintenance or replacement to be either moved to the cassette 44 (
The embodiments described above not only provide the ability to perform maintenance and replace single carriages while in the parking area. In some embodiments, an additional transfer station cassette having an additional plurality of carriages is included to provide redundancy of an entire transfer station. In such embodiments, the additional cassette stands by in a stand by zone and is interchangeable with the cassette 44, thereby providing an additional layer of redundancy for the system 10 (
The single carriage embodiment illustrated in
In any of the above-described embodiments, the carriages may be configured to allow the elevator cars 14 to pass through the frame-like structures, such that the carriages may be positioned in the middle lanes during normal operation of the elevator system 10. This alleviates the need to maintain the carriages out of the lanes until they are needed.
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. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
This patent application is a National Stage Application of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2015/067377, filed Dec. 22, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/098,028, filed Dec. 30, 2014, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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20180009636 A1 | Jan 2018 | US |
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