ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Abstract

An elevator system includes a suspension apparatus that has a plurality of tension members in a common jacket. The tension members of the suspension apparatus are electrically interconnected in an electric circuit which includes a current source or a voltage source and a measuring device. The measuring device is connected between a first group of the tension members and a second group of the tension members.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An elevator system including a suspension apparatus having a plurality of electrically conductive tension members arranged parallel to and next to each other in a common plane, the tension members being electrically insulated from each other and surrounded by a common jacket, all of the tension members being interconnected forming a circuit comprising; a current source or a voltage source connected to the tension members; and a measuring device connected between a first group of the tension members and a second group of the tension members wherein electrical current from the current source or the voltage source flows first through the tension members of the first group, then through the measuring device and finally through the tension members of the second group back to the current source or the voltage source, and wherein the tension members of at least one of the first group and the second group are interconnected.

16. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein each of the tension members of the first group is directly adjacent only to the tension members of the second group, and wherein each of the tension members of the second group is directly adjacent only to the tension members of the first group.

17. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein a number of the tension members in the first group is equal to a number of the tension members in the second group.

18. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein the measuring device is configured as an ammeter or as a voltmeter.

19. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein the current or the voltage source generates an alternating current or a direct current.

20. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein the circuit further includes a line isolation monitor.

21. The elevator system according to claim 15 wherein a first two of the tension members are electrically interconnected at a first end of the suspension apparatus, a second two of the tension members are electrically connected to the current source or the voltage source at a second end of the suspension apparatus, a third two of the tension members are electrically connected to the measuring device, and any remaining of the tension members are interconnected as pairs.

22. A method for monitoring a suspension apparatus in an elevator system, wherein the suspension apparatus includes a plurality of electrically conductive tension members arranged parallel to and next to each other in a common plane, the tension members being electrically insulated from each other and surrounded by a common jacket, the method comprising the steps of: conducting a test current through a first group of the tension members; conducting the test current through a second group of tension members; and determining a characteristic of the test current using a measuring device, wherein the test current is conducted through the measuring device after it is conducted through the first group of tension members and before it is conducted through the second group of tension members.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein, as the test current is conducted through the first group of tension members, the tension members of the first group are each spaced apart from each other by one of the tension members of a second group, and wherein, as the test current is conducted through the second group of tension members, the tension members of the second group are each spaced apart from each other by one of the tension members of the first group.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein the test current is conducted through all of the tension members of the suspension apparatus.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the test current is one of an alternating current, a direct current and an electrical signal.

26. The method according to claim 22 wherein the characteristic of the test current is one of a voltage, an amperage, a resistance and a signal property.

27. The method according to claim 22 wherein, in the determination of the characteristic of the test current, it is determined whether the characteristic is above or below a predefined threshold value.

28. The method according to claim 22 including the step of: checking the circuit including the first group of tension members and the second group of tension members for a ground fault.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is explained in detail symbolically and by way of example in reference to figures. Shown are:

[0029] FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of an elevator system;

[0030] FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a suspension means; and

[0031] FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of a suspension means having a monitoring device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The elevator system 40 depicted schematically and by way of example in FIG. 1 includes an elevator car 41, a counterweight 42 and a suspension means or apparatus 1, as well as a traction sheave 43 along with associated drive motor 44. Traction sheave 43 drives suspension means 1 and thereby moves elevator car 41 and, in mirror-inverted motion, counterweight 42. Drive motor 44 is controlled by an elevator control 45. Car 41 is designed to hold people or freight and transport them between floors of a building. Car 41 and counterweight 42 are guided along by guides (not depicted). In the example, car 41 and counterweight 42 are each suspended on support rollers 46. In this arrangement, suspension means 1 is secured to a first suspension means mounting fixture 47 and then first guided around support roller 46 of counterweight 42. Then, suspension means 1 is placed over traction sheave 43, guided around support roller 46 of car 41 and finally connected to a fixed point by a second suspension means mounting fixture 47. This means that suspension means 1 runs through drive 43, 44 at a higher speed than car 41 or counterweight 42 corresponding to a reeving factor. In the example the reeving factor is 2 to 1.

[0033] A loose end 1.1 of suspension means 1 is provided with contacting device 2 for the temporary or permanent electrical contacting of the tension members and, thus, for monitoring suspension means 1. In the depicted example, a contacting device 2 of this type is arranged at both ends 1.1 of suspension means 1. Suspension means ends 1.1 are no longer loaded by the tensile force in suspension means 1 because this tensile force is already conducted beforehand through the suspension means mounting fixtures 47 into the building. The contacting devices 2 are therefore arranged in an area of suspension means 1 that is not rolled over and are outside the loaded area of suspension means 1.

[0034] In the example, contacting device 2 is connected at one end of suspension means 1.1 to a monitoring device 3. Monitoring device 3 includes a current or voltage source and a measuring device. Moreover, monitoring device 3 is connected to elevator control 45. This connection can be designed, for example, as a parallel relay or as a bus system. As a result, a signal or a measured value can be transmitted by monitoring device 3 to elevator control 45 in order to consider the condition of suspension means 1, as determined by monitoring device 3, in a controller of elevator 40.

[0035] Elevator system 40 shown in FIG. 1 is an example. Other reeving factors and arrangements, such as elevator systems without a counterweight, are possible. Contacting device 2 for contacting suspensions means 1 is then arranged corresponding to the placement of suspension means mounting fixtures 47.

[0036] Depicted in FIG. 2 is a section of an exemplary embodiment of a suspension means 1. Suspension means 1 includes a plurality of electrically conductive tension members 5 arranged parallel to and next to each other in a common plane and surrounded by a common electrically insulated jacket 6. For the electrical contacting of tension members 5, jacket 6 can, for example, be pierced or removed, or tension members 5 can also be electrically contacted on the end face by a contacting device 2. Furthermore, contact elements can also be attached to tension member 5, which can then be connected in a simple manner to contacting device 2. In this example, suspension means 1 is equipped with longitudinal ribs on a traction side. Such longitudinal ribs improve the traction behavior of suspension means 1 on traction sheave 43 and also facilitate a lateral guidance of suspension means 1 on traction sheave 43. However, suspension means 1 can also be designed differently, for example, without longitudinal ribs or with a different number or a different arrangement of tension members 5. It is essential for the invention for tension members 5 to be designed as electrically conductive.

[0037] An exemplary embodiment of a suspension means 1 is depicted in FIG. 3 with contacting devices 2 and a monitoring device 3. At a first end of suspension means 1, the tension members are each contacted by contacting device 2 and each two tension members 5 are electrically connected to each other. At a second end of suspension members 1, two tension members are electrically connected to a voltage source 12, two further tension members 5 are connected to a measuring device 13, and the remaining tension members 5 are each electrically connected in pairs. Also at these two ends of the suspension 1, all tension members 5 of suspension means 1 are electrically contacted by contacting device 2.

[0038] Voltage source 12 and measurement device 13 thus form monitoring device 3. Various states of suspension means 1 can be detected in a simple manner via the depicted circuit configuration of tension members 5 in a single circuit and via the specific arrangement of measuring device 13 and voltage source 12. In particular, an electrical contact between two adjacent tension members 5 can be detected via this arrangement.

[0039] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.