Catching device for a traveling body, elevator system having a catching device and method for unblocking a catching device

Abstract

A catching device for a traveling body in an elevator system and a method for unblocking the catching device include at least two retaining units that can be brought into a blocked state and into an unblocked state, the retaining units retaining the traveling body on a rail in the blocked state. The retaining units are connected to the traveling body such that each of the retaining units and the traveling body can be slid relative to each other within a limited sliding displacement. A first sliding displacement of a first of the retaining units is longer than a second sliding displacement of a second of the retaining units.

Claims

1. A catching device for a traveling body comprising: first and second retaining means, the first retaining means actuatable between a blocked state and an unblocked state and being adapted, in the blocked state, to clamp and retain the traveling body on a first rail; the second retaining means actuatable between a blocked state and an unblocked state and being adapted, in the blocked state, to clamp and retain the traveling body on a second rail; where the first retaining means and the traveling body are slidable relative to one another within a limited first sliding displacement in a direction of movement of the traveling body along the first rail when the first retaining means is mounted on the traveling body, and where the second retaining means and the traveling body are slidable relative to one another within a limited second sliding displacement in a direction of movement of the traveling body along the second rail when the second retaining means is mounted on the traveling body, and the limited first sliding displacement is longer than the limited second sliding displacement by an incremental distance, wherein, to actuate the first and second retaining means from the blocked state to the unblocked state, the traveling body is set in motion relative to the first and second retaining means, and when the traveling body traverses the limited second sliding displacement the second retaining means is released from the second rail into the unblocked state, and when the traveling body further traverses the incremental distance the first retaining means is released from the first rail into the unblocked state.

2. The catching device according to claim 1 including at least one of for the first retaining means an upper stop forming an upper limit of the first sliding displacement and a lower stop forming a lower limit of the first sliding displacement and for the second retaining means an upper stop forming an upper limit of the second sliding displacement and a lower stop forming a lower limit of the second sliding displacement, and wherein the upper and lower stops are firmly connected to the traveling body.

3. The catching device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining means are connected to the traveling body for sliding relative to the traveling body within the first and second sliding displacements respectively that are each delimited by an upper stop and a lower stop.

4. The catching device according to claim 1 wherein the first sliding displacement is up to 1.5 times as long as the second sliding displacement.

5. The catching device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining means are electromechanical retaining means that, in a deactivated state, release the first and second retaining means for braking into the blocked state.

6. The catching device according to claim 5 including electromagnetic holding devices that interact with the electromechanical retaining means to keep the electromagnetic holding devices open in an energized state of the electromagnetic holding devices and wherein the electromechanical retaining means are released for braking into the blocked state when electrical power to the electromagnetic holding devices is turned off.

7. The catching device according to claim 1 including a spring element arranged on each of the first and second retaining means and pressing the first and second retaining means against an upper stop that delimits the limited sliding displacement.

8. The catching device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining means are adapted for braking in two directions of movement of the traveling body.

9. An elevator system comprising: the catching device mounted on the traveling body according to claim 1; the first and second rails along which the traveling body moves; and the catching device being adapted to clamp and retain the traveling body on the first and second rails in a blocked state of the catching device.

10. The elevator system according to claim 9 wherein the first and second retaining means are mounted on the traveling body to clamp on the first and second rails respectively and wherein the first and second rails are arranged on opposite sides of the traveling body.

11. A method for unblocking a catching device of an elevator system comprising the steps of: mounting the catching device on the traveling body according to claim 1; and when the first and second retaining means of the catching device are in the blocked state, moving the traveling body in a second direction opposite a first direction of movement of the traveling body before the first and second retaining means assumed the blocked state to actuate the first retaining means into the unblocked state later than actuating the second retaining means into the unblocked state.

12. The method according to claim 11 including moving the traveling body relative to the first retaining means over the first sliding displacement that is longer than the second sliding displacement.

13. The method according to claim 11 including before moving the traveling body in the second direction moving the traveling body in the first direction to tension the first and second retaining means.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the first and second retaining means are electromechanical retaining means and including the steps of: activating electromagnetic holding means for holding the electromechanical retaining means in a ready position; moving the traveling body in the first direction of travel to tension or re-tension the electromechanical retaining means; and moving the traveling body in the second direction opposite to the first direction to unblock the electromechanical retaining means and bring the electromechanical retaining means into the ready position to be held by the activated electromagnetic holding devices.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the traveling body is connected to a counterweight via a suspension rope driven by a drive unit, and wherein after a downward travel of the traveling body and actuation of the first and second retaining means into the blocked state, lifting the counterweight and then moving the counterweight downward to actuate the first and second retaining means into the unblocked state.

16. An elevator system comprising: first and second guide rails along which a traveling body moves in a direction of movement; first and second retaining means, the first retaining means actuatable between a blocked state and an unblocked state and being adapted, in the blocked state, to clamp and retain the traveling body on the first guide rail, the second retaining means actuatable between a blocked state and an unblocked state and being adapted, in the blocked state, to clamp and retain the traveling body on the second guide rail; first and second upper stops fixedly coupled to the traveling body; and first and second lower stops positioned relative to the traveling body by first and second positioning screws; where the first retaining means and the traveling body are slidable relative to one another within a limited first sliding displacement in the direction of movement of the traveling body along the first rail when the first retaining means is mounted on the traveling body, wherein the limited first sliding displacement is delimited by the first upper stop and the first lower stop, and where the second retaining means and the traveling body are slidable relative to one another within a limited second sliding displacement in the direction of movement of the traveling body along the second rail when the second retaining means is mounted on the traveling body, wherein the limited second sliding displacement is delimited by the second upper stop and the second lower stop, and the first and second lower stops have different positions in the direction of movement relative to the traveling body such that the limited first sliding displacement is longer than the limited second sliding displacement by an incremental distance, wherein, to actuate the first and second retaining means from the blocked state to the unblocked state, the traveling body is set in motion relative to the first and second retaining means, and when the traveling body traverses the limited second sliding displacement the second lower stop contacts and releases the second retaining means from the second rail into the unblocked state, and when the traveling body further traverses the incremental distance the first lower stop contacts and releases the first retaining means from the first rail into the unblocked state.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1: shows a schematic illustration of a first example of an elevator system with a catching device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2a: shows schematically a first example of a catching device according to the invention after a catching process in a downward movement of the traveling body;

(4) FIG. 2b: shows schematically the catching device of FIG. 2a in a first moment of the unblocking process;

(5) FIG. 2c: shows schematically the catching device of FIGS. 2a and 2b in a second moment of the unblocking process;

(6) FIG. 3: schematically shows a second example for a catching device according to the invention after a catching process in a downward movement of the traveling body; and

(7) FIG. 4: shows a schematic illustration of a second example for an elevator system with a catching device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 schematically shows a first example of an elevator system 100 equipped with a catching device 13 according to the invention. The elevator system 100 consists substantially of a traveling body 2 guided on rails 1a, 1b, a drive unit 3, a counterweight 4, a number of suspension ropes 5 and a speed limiter system 6.

(9) The traveling body 2 comprises a car 10, a car frame 11, upper guide shoes 12 and a catching device 13 according to the invention. Such a catching device 13 comprises two retaining means or units 14a, 14b, each of which is mounted on a catching bracket 16a, 16b connected to the traveling body 2. The latter additionally carry two lower guide shoes 17a, 17b.

(10) The travelling body 2 and the counterweight 4 are suspended from the suspension ropes 5 guided by a traction sheave 18 of the drive unit 3 and are moved up and down along rails 1a, 1b by the drive system formed by these components.

(11) If a speed limit is exceeded, a speed limiter rope 20, which is normally moved synchronously with the traveling body 2, is blocked by a speed limiter 21, whereby the retaining means or units 14a, 14b of the catching device 13 connected to one another via a coupling mechanism 22 are brought into the braking state via a trigger lever 15, thus are deactivated accordingly.

(12) Clamping mechanisms contained in the retaining means 14a, 14b thereby generate a clamping action between the first and second retaining means 14a, 14b and the first and second guide rails 1a, 1b, respectively, by utilizing the kinetic energy of the traveling body 2.

(13) FIGS. 2a to 2c illustrate the mode of operation of the catching device 13 according to the invention attached to a traveling body 2. The guide rails 1a, 1b, the retaining means 14a, 14b, the catching brackets 16a, 16b, lower guide shoes 17a, 17b and spring elements 41a, 41 b can be seen.

(14) The retaining means 14a, 14b are each attached to the catching brackets 16a, 16b by means of collar screws 43 guided in oblong holes 42a, 42b so as to be vertically displaceable.

(15) An upper stop 8a integrated in the catching bracket 16a and a lower stop 9a, which is designed as or integrated in a guide shoe 17a, delimit a sliding displacement 7a of the first retaining means 14a.

(16) An upper stop 8b integrated in the catching bracket 16b and a lower stop 9b, which is designed as or integrated in the guide shoe 17b, delimit the sliding displacement path 7b of the second retaining means 14b.

(17) The sliding displacement 7a of the first retaining means 14a is longer than the sliding displacement 7b of the second retaining means 14b.

(18) Screws 40 which can be loosened and positioning screws 45 allow to adjust optimum sliding displacements 7a, 7b. In normal operation, the spring elements 41a, 41b keep the retaining means 14a, 14b in contact with the respective upper stop 8a, 8b against their respective weight force.

(19) FIG. 2a illustrates the position of the retaining means 14a, 14b after a catching process in a downward movement of the traveling body 2, which also corresponds to the position in normal operation.

(20) The self-locking clamping mechanisms of the retaining means 14a, 14b, which are stuck on the guide rails 1a, 1b, are unblocked by moving the traveling body 2 upwards by means of the drive unit 3 of the elevator system 100 and with the greatest possible acceleration (see FIG. 1). In order to achieve the greatest possible acceleration, the counterweight 4 can first be lifted slightly so that the kinetic energy of the falling or backwards moving counterweight contributes to the acceleration. Lifting can be carried out as described in EP 2 352 689 B1.

(21) FIG. 2b shows the arrangement of the catching device 13 after a travel path of the traveling body 2, which corresponds to the shorter sliding displacement 7b.

(22) The lower guide shoe 17b, which serves as the lower stop 9b, moves together with the traveling body 2 and hits against the retaining means 14b, which is still firmly clamped. Using the kinetic energy of the entire traveling body 2, the clamping mechanism is unlocked or released from the clamping end point. The lower stop 9a of the other catching bracket 16a has not yet reached the retaining means 14a.

(23) Continuing the movement process of the traveling body 2, after the retaining means 14b has been at least partially unblocked or released, the traveling body 2 continues to move.

(24) FIG. 2c shows the arrangement of the catching device 13 after a travel that corresponds to the longer sliding displacement 7a. The retaining means 14b with the shorter sliding displacement is already unblocked. Since the complete resetting of the retaining device after its release from the clamping end point requires a greater distance, the retaining means 14b still rests against the lower stop 9b. Only after being completely released, it will be pressed against the upper stop 8b by the spring element 41b.

(25) After covering the longer sliding displacement distance 7a, the lower stop 9a also hits against the still firmly clamped retaining means 14a and unblocks it.

(26) Thereafter, the retaining means 14b that has been released first then returns to its normal position with respect to the catching bracket 16b and subsequently the next retaining means 14a also returns to its normal position with respect to the catching bracket 16a and the catching device 13 is again in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2a.

(27) The unblocking effect of the catching device 13 according to the invention is also given in the case of catching processes in an upward movement of the traveling body 2. Either double-acting retaining means 14a, 14b, which are not shown in detail, or two single-acting retaining means 14a, 14b which are each associated with one direction of movement and are also not shown in detail, are used.

(28) After the catching device 13 has been triggered as a result of overspeed of the traveling body 2 in the upward direction, the retaining means 14a, 14b are clamped to the guide rails 1a, 1b in a frictionally engaged manner and thereby move relative to the catching brackets 16a, 16b against the force of the spring elements 41a, 41b up to the stop at the lower guide shoes 17a, 17b.

(29) The retaining means 14a, 14b usually remains in this position even after the traveling body 2 has come to a standstill. In order to unblock the clamping mechanisms of the retaining means 14a, 14b, which are fixed to the guide rails 1a, 1b, the traveling body 2 with the catching brackets 16a, 16b is lowered with the greatest possible acceleration, which is usually done with the aid of the drive unit 3. After a lowering movement of the traveling body 2 corresponding to the shorter limited sliding displacement 7b, the upper stop 8b hits against the corresponding retaining means 14b and unblocks it. When, after a further lowering movement, the longer sliding displacement 7a has also been covered, the other upper stop 8a also hits against the corresponding retaining means 14a, thereby unblocking this one as well.

(30) FIG. 3 schematically shows a second example of a catching device 13′ according to the invention after a catching process in a downward movement of the traveling body 2. The position shown in FIG. 3 also corresponds to the position in normal operation.

(31) The catching device corresponds largely to the catching device 13 shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c. Here too, the retaining means 14a, 14b are each attached to the catching brackets 16a, 16b by means of two collar bolts 43 guided in oblong holes 42a, 42b to be vertically displaceable. The upper stops 8a, 8b are still integrated in the catching brackets 16a, 16b.

(32) However, the lower stops 9a′, 9b′ are not fixed to the guide shoes 17a, 17b. The lower stops 9a′, 9b′ and thus the lower limits of the sliding displacements 7a′, 7b′ are given by the oblong holes 42a, 42b. Thus, the lower stops 9a′, 9b′ are not adjustable. In an adapted embodiment, the upper stops can also be given by the upper ends of the oblong holes 42a, 42b.

(33) FIG. 4 schematically shows another example of an elevator system 100′. The latter corresponds in large parts to the elevator system 100 in FIG. 1 and also comprises a traveling body 2 guided on rails 1a, 1b, a drive unit 3, a counterweight 4, a number of suspension ropes 5 and a speed limiter system 6′.

(34) However, in this example, the speed limiter system 6′ comprises an electronic speed limiter 6.1, which activates electromagnetic holding devices 23a, 23b of the retaining means 14a, 14b by means of signal lines 6.2. The retaining means 14a, 14b are kept open by the electromagnetic retaining devices 23a, 23b in the energized state and are released for braking when the power is turned off.

(35) 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.