ELEVATOR RAIL

Abstract

An elevator rail guides moving bodies of an elevator system. The moving bodies serve in particular as a car for the transport of people or goods or as a counterweight. The elevator rail has more than one guide contour including a guide contour 6 that interacts with a guide shoe such that in a first horizontal direction, a relative horizontal movement between the guide contour and the guide shoe is delimited at least on one side, and such that in a second horizontal direction, perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a relative horizontal movement between guide contour and the guide shoe is delimited on both sides. The elevator rail has a hollow cross section bordered in a closed manner. The elevator rail has at least three of the guide contours that are formed on the outer surface of the elevator rail.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An elevator rail for guiding moving bodies of an elevator system, wherein the moving bodies serve as a car for the transport of people or goods or as a counterweight, the elevator rail comprising: a rail having a hollow cross section bordered in a closed manner by an outer surface; at least three guide contours formed on the outer surface of the rail; wherein a first of the at least three guide contours is formed as a groove and is adapted to interact with a guide shoe associated with the moving bodies such that in a first horizontal direction, a relative horizontal movement between the groove and the guide shoe is delimited at least on one side of the guide shoe, and that in a second horizontal direction, perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a relative horizontal movement between groove and the guide shoe is delimited on two other sides of the guide shoe; and wherein a second of the at least three guide contours is formed as a tongue.

16. The elevator rail according to claim 15 wherein the groove is rectangular in cross section.

17. The elevator rail according to claim 15 wherein the rail is triangular in cross section.

18. The elevator rail according to claim 17 wherein the rail is right-angled triangular in cross section.

19. The elevator rail according to claim 17 including a third of the at least three guide contours being formed as a tongue, and wherein the second guide contour and the third guide contour lie at corner points of the triangular rail that are furthest apart from one another.

20. The elevator rail according to claim 15 including a braking contour formed on the outer surface of the rail separate from the at least three guide contours, the braking contour providing a braking surface for a safety brake associated with the moving bodies.

21. The elevator rail according to claim 15 wherein the rail includes a bracket fastening contour adapted for attaching a bracket for relative vertical movement between the rail and the bracket.

22. The elevator rail according to claim 15 wherein the rail is formed from at least one shaped sheet metal.

23. A guide system comprising two of the elevator rail according to claim 15 adapted to guide at least two moving bodies in an elevator system.

24. The guide system according to claim 23 including a plurality of brackets, each of the brackets being fastened to at least one of the elevator rails and being adapted to connect the elevator rails directly or indirectly to a shaft wall of the elevator system.

25. The guide system according to claim 24 wherein the brackets are adapted to be connected to the shaft wall that is a front wall in which floor openings are integrated.

26. The guide system according to claim 24 wherein the elevator rails are connected at least at one height on the shaft wall by a clamp bracket, the clamp bracket including a first one of the brackets fastened to one of elevator rails, a second one of the brackets fastened to another of the elevator rails, and a connecting part connecting the first bracket to the second bracket.

27. The guide system according to claim 26 wherein the clamp bracket is attached to a single shaft wall of the elevator system.

28. The guide system according to claim 27 wherein the single shaft wall is a front wall of the elevator system.

29. An elevator system comprising: a guide system according to claim 23; two counterweights; a car; and wherein each of the elevator rails guides an associated one of the counterweights.

30. The elevator system according to claim 29 wherein the two elevator rails each guide the associated counterweight by the second guide contour and a third guide contour of the at least three guide contours, and wherein the two elevator rails jointly guide the car by the first guide contours.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] In the drawings:

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of an elevator system with an embodiment of the elevator rail.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a cross section of an alternative elevator rail in an elevator system.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a further alternative embodiment of the elevator rail in the elevator system.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a cross section of the further alternative elevator rail according to FIG. 3 in isolation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] FIG. 1 shows an elevator shaft of an elevator system 1. The elevator system 1 comprises three moving bodies 3, i.e., a car 4 and two counterweights 5, and two elevator rails 2. Each of the elevator rails 2 has at least three guide contours 6. The car 4 is guided by a respective guide contour 6, in this case a groove 9, of the two elevator rails 2. The car 4 has guide shoes 11 which engage in the groove 9 of the elevator rail 2. Each single elevator rail 2 is held in the elevator shaft in that it is connected to the front wall 15 of the elevator shaft via brackets 14. The front wall 15 is characterized in that the landing doors are located in this wall. As a result, the door sills 16 are also attached to this front wall 15.

[0062] One counterweight 5 each is guided on a respective elevator rail 2. In order to ensure that the counterweight 5 moves neither horizontally nor rotates about the vertical axis, each individual counterweight 5 is guided on two guide contours 6 of the elevator rail 2. The further these two guide contours 6 are spaced apart from one another, the more effectively a twisting of the counterweight 5 can be prevented. In this example, the two guide contours 6 which each hold a counterweight 5 are designed as tongues 10. As a result, a distance between the two guide contours 6 of a counterweight is additionally increased.

[0063] The elevator rail 2 itself is formed, for example, from sheet metal. The counterweights 5 are optimally shaped such that they optimally fill the remaining space next to the car.

[0064] FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of an elevator rail 2 which could be used in an elevator system 1 similar to that of FIG. 1.

[0065] The elevator rail 2 or at least parts of the elevator rail consist of sheet metal 13 which is preferably brought into the shape of the elevator rail 2 or the parts thereof by a rolling process. In FIG. 2, the elevator rail 2 is designed to be essentially rectangular. In this view, the elevator rail 2 on the upper flank of the rectangle is designed such that it can be connected to the bracket 14. The contour shown in FIG. 2 allows the bracket 14 to be moved along its longitudinal direction relative to the elevator rail 2. If the building still subsides in the first few months after construction, the brackets 14 can slide along the elevator rail 2 without the elevator rail 2 being damaged or deformed in the process.

[0066] In this view, the elevator rail 2 on the right-hand flank of the rectangle is designed such that it serves as a guide for the car 4. The guide contour 6 is essentially designed as a rectangular groove 9a. The two sliding linings 12 of the guide shoe 11a are guided in the corners of the groove 9a. In addition to the groove 9a, a braking contour 17 is also arranged inside the guide contour 6. In this case, the term “groove” is supposed to refer to the U-shaped groove 9a which actually has a continuous bottom and is supplemented by the braking contour 17 which protrudes from said continuous bottom. Since the safety brake 19 is pressed against the braking contour 17 during safety braking, the surface of the braking contour 17 can be damaged in the process. The sliding linings 12 do not touch the braking contour 17 when sliding. Therefore, the damage that occurs to the braking contour 17 during safety braking does not have any influence on the quality of the ride.

[0067] In this view, the elevator rail 2 on the left and lower flank of the rectangle is designed such that it forms one guide contour 6 each. These two guide contours 6 are used to guide a counterweight 5. In this case, the guide contour on the left flank is designed as a groove 9b. Since this groove 9b has an undercut, the groove 9b can guide the guide shoe 11b not only in a second horizontal direction 8 on both sides, but also in the first horizontal direction 7. This has the advantage that the counterweight 5 is thus guided more securely. However, the introduction of the guide shoe 11b into the elevator rail requires specific measures. For this purpose, a guide shoe 11b is designed, for example, such that it only reaches its full width in the groove 9b. For example, a two-part guide shoe 11b can be inserted in individual parts and is then assembled in the groove 9b, so that its shape adapts to the shape of the rail. Alternatively, the guide shoe 11b can be designed such that it has a flattened shape that fits through the narrow passage of the groove 9b and by twisting it, the guide shoe 11b reaches the full width of the rail. However, alternatively, it is also possible to design the elevator rail 2 at specific installation and removal points for the counterweights 5 such that the guide shoe 11b can be extended and retracted at such a point.

[0068] The lower flank of the rectangle contains the second guide contour 6 which guides the counterweight 5 on this side of the car 4. In this example, said guide contour is designed as a tongue 10c. The guide shoe 11c is designed as a sliding guide shoe.

[0069] In this view, the elevator rail 2 on the upper flank of the rectangle is designed such that it forms a bracket fastening contour 20. The bracket fastening contour 20 shown in FIG. 2 allows the bracket 14 to jam in this bracket fastening contour 20. By optimally selecting the clamping force, a movement within the bracket fastening contour 20 is possible if this were to become necessary due to a subsiding of the building.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a further possible embodiment of an elevator system 1 and a guide system. In this case, the elevator rail 2 is shown as being essentially triangular. The elevator rail is connected to the front wall 15 of the building via brackets 14. In this case, it is a clamp bracket 22 in which the two brackets 14 are connected along the front wall 15 to a connecting part 21.

[0071] The counterweight 5, which is held by this one elevator rail 2, is guided via two tongues 10. In order to keep the friction low, sliding linings 12 are attached to the counterweight 5.

[0072] The car 4 is guided via one guide shoe 11 each. The guide shoe can be designed as a sliding guide shoe or as a roller guide shoe. When designed as a roller guide shoe, the rollers can be arranged such that one roller assumes the function of the one-sided stop at the bottom of the groove 9, and a second roller assumes the function of the two-sided stop at the side surfaces of the groove 9. As a result, the roller that realizes the two-sided stop rotates in one or the other direction, depending on where a load is located in the car 4. Even during a ride, a movement of the load in the car 4 can lead to the roller losing contact with one side surface and touching the other side surface, thereby changing the direction of rotation. However, three or more rollers can also be used, so that a separate roller is available for both side surfaces of the groove 9 and at least one roller is available for rolling on the bottom of the groove 9.

[0073] The car 4 has safety brakes 19. The safety brakes 19 are optimally attached next to the car 4. This embodiment is also advantageous because the car 4 is not braked on a surface used for guiding; instead, a braking contour 17 is used exclusively for the braking by the safety brake 19.

[0074] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the cross section of an elevator rail 2 as used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The elevator rail 2 is advantageously rolled from sheet metal and joint-welded at a suitable point. The guide contour 6 for the car is located on the left-hand side. It is designed as a groove 9a. A guide shoe attached to the car can engage in this groove 9a. In this case, a one-sided delimitation of the movement is ensured in the first horizontal direction 7a. The guide shoe of the car 4 can only be moved to the right in the first horizontal direction 7a until it bears against the bottom of the groove 9a. In the second horizontal direction 8a, a two-sided delimitation of the movement is ensured. The guide shoe of the car can only be moved in the second horizontal direction 8a until it bears against the side surfaces of the groove 9a. Of course, there can be some play but the movement is nevertheless delimited.

[0075] One of the two guide contours 6 of the counterweight is located at the bottom of FIG. 4. This guide contour 6 is designed as a tongue 10b. A guide shoe attached to the counterweight can encompass this tongue 10b. In this case, a one-sided delimitation of the movement is ensured in a first horizontal direction 7b. The guide shoe of the car can only be moved in the first horizontal direction 7b until the tongue 10b bears against the bottom of the guide shoe. In a second horizontal direction 8b, a two-sided delimitation of the movement is ensured. The guide shoe of the car can only be moved in the second horizontal direction 8b until it bears against the side surfaces of the tongue 10b. Of course, there can be some play, but the movement is nevertheless delimited.

[0076] The tongue 10c for the second guide shoe of the counterweight is located at the top right of the figure. As for 10b, it is also a tongue. With regard to the first horizontal direction 7c and the second horizontal direction 8c, the same applies as for 7b and 8b.

[0077] The braking contour 17 is located at the top left. In this case, it is aligned parallel to the side wall of the car, so that the safety brake can be better accommodated in the tight spaces between the car and the bracket 14.

[0078] The bracket 14 is fastened to the elevator rail 2 between the braking contour 17 and the tongue 10c. In this case, the bracket 14 is fastened to the elevator rail 2 by means of a screw connection 23.

[0079] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “having,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0080] 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.