Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B7/00—Other common features of elevators
  • B66B7/02—Guideways; Guides
  • B66B7/04—Riding means, e.g. Shoes, Rollers, between car and guiding means, e.g. rails, ropes
  • B66B7/046—Rollers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B5/00—Applications of checking, fault-correcting, or safety devices in elevators
  • B66B5/02—Applications of checking, fault-correcting, or safety devices in elevators responsive to abnormal operating conditions
  • B66B5/16—Braking or catch devices operating between cars, cages, or skips and fixed guide elements or surfaces in hoistway or well
  • B66B5/18—Braking or catch devices operating between cars, cages, or skips and fixed guide elements or surfaces in hoistway or well and applying frictional retarding forces

Definitions

• This invention generally relates to elevator systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a combined guiding and braking device for use in an elevator system.
• the Prior Art Elevator systems typically include a car that moves within a hoistway between different levels in a building.
• Guide rails within the hoistway provide structure for guiding movement of the car as needed.
• Typical systems include guide rollers or guide shoes that ride along surfaces on the guide rails to facilitate movement of the car.
• Typical elevator systems also include a safety braking device for stopping device for stopping movement of the car under certain conditions.
• Typical safety devices include brakes that engage one or more surfaces on a guide rail to prevent movement of the car along the guide rail.
• Another difficulty associated with conventional arrangements is that the combination of the rail clearance and the guide shoe stiffness may not allow proper safety device operation. This typically occurs for safety devices that do not have symmetrical operation but can also be problematic with symmetrical arrangements. If this is the case, the performance of the safety device may be compromised.
• One attempt at addressing this problem is to utilize non-symmetrical safety devices with a flexible mounting for the safety gear, allowing it to move horizontally relative to the guide rail. Such arrangements, however, typically require a relatively large and expensive interface between the safety gear and the elevator car frame. It is desirable to reduce the size and complexity of elevator safety devices.
• the guide shoe contact surface cannot be used as a braking surface for the safety device function. Normal wear on the guiding surface may degrade the performance of the safety device in the event that the safety device were activated. Some elevator codes do not allow such double use of a guide shoe surface.
• this invention is a combined elevator car guiding and safety braking device. Both functions are integrated into a single device that operates in two different modes; one for guiding the elevator car during movement and a second for stopping the elevator car when the safety device is engaged.
• An example elevator car guiding and braking device designed according to this invention includes a base member adapted to be supported for movement with the elevator car.
• a movable member is supported on the base member to be selectively movable relative to the base member.
• a guiding member is supported on the movable member such that the guiding member is movable along a guide rail when the movable member is in a first operating position.
• a braking member also is supported on the movable member such that the braking member can engage the guide rail when the movable member moves into a second operating position.
• the movable member is a lever that is pivotally supported to pivot relative to the base member between the first and second positions.
• the guiding member guides movement of the elevator car along the guide rail when the movable member is in the first position.
• the movable member pivots relative to the base member so that the braking member engages the appropriate guide rail surface.
• the currently preferred arrangement is symmetrical and includes two movable members, one on each side of a guide rail so that two guiding members contact the guide rail during normal elevator movement and two braking members contact the guide rail when the safety device is activated.
• Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system including a guiding and safety braking device designed according to this invention.
• Figure 2 schematically illustrates a first example guiding and safety braking device designed according to this invention.
• Figure 3 schematically illustrates the embodiment of Figure 2 in a second operation position.
• Figure 4 schematically illustrates another example guiding and safety braking device designed according to this invention.
• Figure 5 schematically illustrates another example guiding and braking device designed according to this invention in a first operating position.
• Figure 6 schematically illustrates the embodiment of Figure 5 in a second operating position.
• Figure 7 is a view taken along the lines 7-7 in Figure 5.
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system 20 that is designed according to this invention.
• An elevator car 22 moves along guide rails 24 in a conventional manner to move within a hoistway between different levels within a building, for example.
• the inventive system includes a combined guiding and safety braking device 30 that is supported for movement with the elevator car 22 in the hoistway.
• the illustrated example schematically shows one combined guiding and braking device 30 supported on the elevator car 22.
• a similar device preferably is supported on an opposite side of the elevator car 22 so that a guiding and braking device 30 is associated with each of the guide rails 24.
• FIG. 2 schematically illustrates one example combined guiding and braking device 30 designed according to this invention.
• a base member 32 supports two movable members 34 that are pivotally supported on posts 36 that are secured to the base 32 in a conventional manner.
• the movable members 34 comprise levers that are biased into a first operating position shown in Figure 2 by biasing members 38.
• the illustrated example includes coil springs as the biasing members 38.
• guide members 40 are positioned to engage appropriate surfaces on the guide rail 24.
• the guide members 40 comprise rollers that rotate about axes 42 relative to the movable members 34.
• the guide members 40 comprise guide shoes. During normal elevator operation, the guide members 40 follow along the guide rail 24 surfaces to facilitate movement of the car 22 within the hoistway.
• FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the first example device in a second operating condition where the movable members 34 have moved to a second position.
• the illustrated example includes a governor rope 46 and linkage 47 (shown in Figure 3 only) for triggering the safety function of the device 30. Responsive to a force schematically shown at 48 on the governor rope 46 and the linkage 47, the movable members 34 are pivoted about the posts 36 as shown by the arrows 49.
• the movable members 34 preferably are operated associated with each other with an appropriate linking mechanism (47) so that simultaneous activation of the braking members 44 occurs.
• Known techniques for triggering a safety braking device using a governor rope are useable with the illustrated examples.
• the two moving members 34 preferably are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the guide rail 24.
• the inventive arrangement allows for the guide members 40 to be in contact with the rail 24 during normal elevator system operation. In this same position, the braking members 44 are sufficiently clear of the guide rail 24 surfaces 50 that there is no interference from them until needed.
• the movement of the movable members 34 removes the guide members 40 from contact with the guide rails 24 and moves the braking members 44 into contact with the guide rails 24.
• the inventive arrangement ensures that there is no interference between the functions of the guide members 40 and the braking members 44.
• Another advantage of the inventive arrangement is that it guarantees proper alignment of the safety braking components with the guide rail 24 because the guide members 40 and the braking members 44 are supported on a common rigid structure.
• Figures 2 and 3 includes a cam type braking member 44.
• FIG 4 shows another combined guiding and safety device 30' designed according to this invention.
• the braking members 44' are of the so- called progressive type.
• Biasing members 50 which in the illustrated example are coiled springs, urge the braking members 44' away from the moving members 34 in a manner understood in the art to achieve the desired braking function.
• the biasing members 50 do not urge the braking members 44' away from the movable members 34' in a manner that would cause the braking members 44' to engage the guide rail 24 while the guide members 40 are supposed to be guiding the elevator car 22 during normal system operation.
• a variety of known guide members and known braking members may be used in a system designed according to this invention.
• Figure 5 illustrates another example combined guiding and safety braking device 30" designed according to this invention.
• This example includes a unique braking member 44" that operates in a manner that is different than conventional braking members.
• the movable members 34" comprise two arms 34a" and 34b" that are positioned on opposite sides of the roller braking member 44".
• the braking members 44" are supported so that they are capable of rotating relative to the movable members 34" and rolling along the guide rail surfaces.
• a guide rail contacting surface 60 on the rollers 44" in this example is made from a hardened metal and has a knurled surface.
• the braking members 44" are adapted to engage the appropriate surface on the guide rail 24 when the governor rope 46 (or other safety brake triggering mechanism) causes movement of the movable members 34" into the second operating position where the braking members 44" engage the guide rail surfaces. Stops, such as posts 61, are supported on the illustrated base 32 to limit movement of the members 34 beyond a desired second position.
• the example arrangement of Figures 5-7 includes braking members supported by the movable members 34" for engaging side surfaces 62 on the rollers 44" to apply a braking force against the rollers but not directly against the guide rail.
• Brake pads 64 in the illustrated example are supported on the arms 34a" and 34b".
• the brake pads 64 engage the side surfaces 62 of the rollers 44" to resist rotation of the rollers and to provide the safety braking function.
• This example arrangement has advantages because the potential for deforming or otherwise damaging the surfaces on the guide rail 24 along which the guide members 40 ride, is minimized or eliminated. Applying a braking force parallel to an axis of rotation (i.e., along a support 66) facilitates heat energy dissipation between the brake pads 64 and the roller 44" without requiring energy dissipation on the rails 24 themselves.
• a biasing member 68 such as a Belleville washer that biases the arms 34a" and 34b" toward each other to maintain appropriate contact between the brake pads 64 and the side surfaces 62 of the rollers 44".
• the inventive arrangement provides cost savings because it reduces the size, complexity and amount of components necessary to achieve the desired elevator car guidance and safety braking functions.
• the inventive arrangement facilitates easier system assembly and maintenance in addition to the cost-savings advantages just mentioned.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Maintenance And Inspection Apparatuses For Elevators (AREA)
• Lift-Guide Devices, And Elevator Ropes And Cables (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=32092092

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (10)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2002
  • 2002-10-09 JP JP2004542989A patent/JP4152952B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-10-09 ES ES02778488T patent/ES2395817T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-10-09 WO PCT/US2002/032250 patent/WO2004033353A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2002-10-09 CN CNB028297334A patent/CN100457593C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-10-09 AU AU2002340144A patent/AU2002340144A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-10-09 EP EP02778488A patent/EP1549582B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

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