Elevator system

Abstract

An elevator system includes an elevator car movable in an elevator shaft, a suspension means extending in the elevator shaft, a drive machine associated with the suspension means and a controllable coupling device arranged on the elevator car. The suspension means has a coupling element that the coupling device can be coupled to and uncoupled from, as a result of which a drive connection between the elevator car and the suspension means can be established and released. The elevator system has a guide system guiding the coupling element during a movement in the elevator shaft. The guide system has a guide that is stationary relative to the elevator shaft and a runner that is connected to the coupling element via a connection and is guided along the guide. The connection between the coupling element and the runner enables a relative movement between the runner and coupling element.

Claims

1. An elevator system comprising: an elevator car movable in an elevator shaft; a suspension means extending in the elevator shaft; a drive machine associated with the suspension means; a controllable coupling device arranged on the elevator car; wherein the suspension means is attached to a coupling element adapted to couple to and uncouple from the controllable coupling device to respectively establish and release a drive connection between the elevator car and the suspension means, and when the drive connection is established the coupled elevator car is movable in the elevator shaft by the suspension means driven by the drive machine; and a guide system guiding the coupling element during movement of the elevator car, the guide system having a guide that is stationary relative to the elevator shaft and a runner connected to the coupling element via a connection, the runner being guided along the guide by the guide, and wherein the connection between the coupling element and the runner enables relative movement between the runner and the coupling element.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the guide extends along a shaft wall of the elevator shaft and the relative movement between the runner and the coupling element includes a first relative movement in a first direction toward and away from the shaft wall.

3. The elevator system according to claim 2 wherein the connection between the coupling element and the runner includes a pin coupled to the runner and arranged in a recess in the coupling element, the pin being movable in the first direction toward and away from the shaft wall.

4. The elevator system according to claim 2 wherein the connection has a first spring arrangement adapted and arranged to apply a force to the runner in the first direction.

5. The elevator system according to claim 2 wherein the relative movement between the runner and the coupling element includes a second relative movement in a second direction along the shaft wall and having at least one horizontal component.

6. The elevator system according to claim 5 wherein the guide guides the runner in the first direction and in the second direction.

7. The elevator system according to claim 5 wherein the connection has a spring arrangement adapted and arranged to apply a force to the runner in the second direction.

8. The elevator system according to claim 2 wherein the connection between the coupling element and the runner includes a pin coupled to the runner and arranged in a recess in the coupling element, the pin being movable in the first direction toward the shaft wall and away from the shaft wall, and wherein the recess is arranged on a pivot arm of the coupling element, the pivot arm being pivotable along the shaft wall.

9. The elevator system according to claim 1 wherein the guide has a side cheek and the runner has a guide roller, the guide roller being guided on an inner face of the side cheek of the guide.

10. The elevator system according to claim 9 wherein the side cheek is a first side cheek and the guide has an opposite second side cheek, wherein the guide roller is a first guide roller and the runner has a second guide roller, the first guide roller being guided on the inner face of the first side cheek and the second guide roller being guided on an inner face of the second side cheek.

11. The elevator system according to claim 10 wherein the first guide roller is mounted on a first roller axle and the second guide roller is mounted on a second roller axle, the first and second roller axles being arranged on a lever of the runner that is pivotable about a lever axle of the runner.

12. The elevator system according to claim 11 wherein the lever axle of the runner is at least partially formed by a pin of the connection between the coupling element and the runner.

13. The elevator system according to claim 11 wherein the runner has a spring arrangement adapted and arranged to press the first and second guide rollers against the inner faces of the first and second side cheeks of the guide.

14. The elevator system according to claim 10 wherein the inner faces of the first and second side cheeks of the guide each have a concave contour and the first and second guide rollers of the runner have a corresponding convex profile.

15. A guide system for an elevator system, the elevator system having an elevator car movable in an elevator shaft, a suspension means extending in the elevator shaft, a drive machine associated with the suspension means, a controllable coupling device arranged on the elevator car, wherein the suspension means is attached to a coupling element adapted to couple to and uncouple from the controllable coupling device to respectively establish and release a drive connection between the elevator car and the suspension means, and when the drive connection is established, the coupled elevator car is movable in the elevator shaft by the suspension means driven by the drive machine, the guide system comprising: a guide that is stationary relative to the elevator shaft; a runner connected to the coupling element via a connection, the runner being guided along the guide, and wherein the connection between the coupling element and the runner enables relative movement between the runner and the coupling element; and wherein the guide system guides the coupling element during movement of the elevator car.

16. The guide system according to claim 15 wherein the guide extends along a shaft wall of the elevator shaft, wherein the relative movement between the runner and the coupling element includes a first relative movement in a first direction toward and away from the shaft wall, wherein the relative movement between the runner and the coupling element includes a second relative movement in a second direction along the shaft wall and having at least one horizontal component, and wherein the guide guides the runner in the first direction and in the second direction.

17. The guide system according to claim 16 wherein the connection between the coupling element and the runner includes a pin coupled to the runner and arranged in a recess in the coupling element, the pin being movable in the first direction toward and away from the shaft wall.

18. The guide system according to claim 16 wherein the connection has a first spring arrangement adapted and arranged to apply a force to the runner in the first direction.

19. The guide system according to claim 18 wherein the connection has a second spring arrangement adapted and arranged to apply a force to the runner in the second direction.

20. The guide system according to claim 15 wherein the guide has a first side cheek and an opposite second side cheek, wherein the runner has a first guide roller and a second guide roller, the first guide roller being guided on an inner face of the first side cheek and the second guide roller being guided on an inner face of the second side cheek.

21. The guide system according to claim 20 wherein the first guide roller is mounted on a first roller axle and the second guide roller is mounted on a second roller axle, the first and second roller axles being arranged on a lever of the runner that is pivotable about a lever axle of the runner.

22. The guide system according to claim 21 wherein the lever axle of the runner is at least partially formed by a pin of the connection between the coupling element and the runner.

23. The guide system according to claim 21 wherein the runner has a spring arrangement adapted and arranged to press the first and second guide rollers against the inner faces of the first and second side cheeks of the guide.

24. The guide system according to claim 20 wherein the inner faces of the first and second side cheeks of the guide each have a concave contour and the first and second guide rollers of the runner have a corresponding convex profile.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first elevator shaft of an elevator system comprising a first elevator car and a second elevator car;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a coupling element of a suspension means from FIG. 1 together with a runner of a guide system;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view from above of the first elevator shaft having a total of eight drive machines;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view from below of an elevator car having two coupling devices for coupling to coupling elements of the suspension means;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a section through a coupling element including a guide system;

(7) FIG. 6 is a view from above of the coupling element including the guide system from FIG. 5; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a view of a runner in a guide of the guide system from the direction of the coupling element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) According to FIG. 1, an elevator system 10 has a first elevator shaft 12 in which a first elevator car 14 and a second elevator car 16 are arranged. The first elevator car 14 is located at a lower end position 18 which corresponds to a position of the elevator car 14 at a lowermost floor of the building 20 having the elevator system 10. The second elevator car 16 is located at an upper end position 22 which corresponds to a position of the elevator car 16 at an uppermost floor of the building 20. Between the lower end position 18 and the upper end position 22 there are a plurality of floors which are not shown in FIG. 1.

(10) The elevator system 10 has a car guide rail 24 extending in the vertical direction, on which the elevator cars 14, 16 are guided during a movement in the elevator shaft 12. In order to move the elevator cars 14, 16 in the elevator shaft 12, the elevator system 10 has a total of eight self-contained suspension means 26, of which four suspension means 26 are shown in FIG. 1. The suspension means 26 are designed as belts and are each guided around a lower deflection roller 28 and an upper deflection roller 30.

(11) The two deflection rollers 28, 30 of a suspension means 26 are arranged vertically above one another such that the suspension means 26 extend vertically between the deflection rollers 28, 30. The deflection rollers 28, 30 in particular have an effective diameter of less than 100 mm. The lower deflection rollers 28 are arranged below the first elevator car 14 and are each connected to a tension weight 32. The tension weight 32 acts as a tensioning device, by means of which the necessary suspension means pretension is generated and deviations in the original length of the self-contained suspension means 26 and operational plastic length changes in the suspension means 26 are compensated.

(12) The upper deflection rollers 30 are arranged above the second elevator car 16 and each acts as a traction sheave for a drive machine 34 designed as an electric motor. Each suspension means 26 is associated with a drive machine 34, by means of which the suspension means 26 can be driven and moved. The drive machines 34 are controlled by a control device in the form of an elevator controller 36, which controls all of the actuators of the elevator system 10.

(13) Each suspension means 26 consists of two suspension means parts 38, 40, the free ends 42 of which are connected by means of two coupling elements 44 which are shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2. The coupling element 44 consists of two suspension means end connections 46 which are oriented in opposite directions and are connected to a connecting element 50 having a recess 48. The suspension means end connections 46 can be designed, for example, in accordance with the suspension means end connections described in EP 1634842 A2. An extendable bolt 60 (FIG. 4) of a coupling device 58 arranged on an elevator car 14, 16 can enter the recess 48, as a result of which the coupling device 58 couples to the coupling element 44. The coupling device 58 can be uncoupled from the coupling element 44 by pulling the bolt 60 out of the recess 48. The coupling devices 58 are arranged on a floor 51 of the elevator cars 14, 16 and are described in more detail in connection with FIG. 4. A coupling element 44 to which a coupling device 58 has been coupled has a filled square in the drawings. In FIG. 1, the second elevator car 16 is thus connected via a coupling element 44 to the suspension means 26 arranged on the far left in FIG. 1.

(14) It is also possible for the coupling devices to be arranged on the roof of an elevator car. The positions of the coupling elements on the suspension means then have to be adapted accordingly.

(15) As soon as an elevator car 14, 16 is coupled to a coupling element 44 via a coupling device 58 associated with the elevator car, a drive connection is established between the elevator car 14, 16 and the suspension means 26. In this coupled state, the elevator car 14, 16 is entrained by the suspension means 26 and is thus moved in the elevator shaft 12 when the suspension means 26 is driven or moved by the drive machine 34 associated therewith. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the second elevator car 16 can thus be moved in the elevator shaft 12. Since the first elevator car 14 in FIG. 1 is not coupled to any suspension means 26, a movement of the first elevator car 14 in the elevator shaft 12 is not possible in the state of FIG. 1.

(16) The elevator cars 14, 16 each have a braking device 74, by means of which the elevator cars can be fixed to the car guide rail 24 and thus within the elevator shaft 12.

(17) FIG. 3 is a view from above of the first elevator shaft 12 having a total of eight drive machines 34. The drive machines 34 are each drive-connected to a traction sheave in the form of a deflection roller 30, over which a suspension means 26 extends. For reasons of clarity, the reference signs are shown only once in FIG. 3. Four drive machines 34 are arranged on opposite sides of the elevator car 16 in each case, two drive machines 34 being arranged on each of the opposite sides of the elevator car 16 on different sides of the extending car guide rail 24. Drive axles 52 of the drive machines 34 extend in parallel with one another, a drive machine 34 in each case being arranged coaxially on one side of the elevator car 16 with respect to a drive machine 34 on the other side of the elevator car 16. A car door (not shown) of the elevator car 16 is located on one or both free sides 54 of the elevator car 16, on which no drive machines 34 are arranged.

(18) The elevator controller 36 (see FIG. 1) always controls two drive machines 34 on opposite sides in the same manner or synchronously, such that the suspension means 26 associated with the drive machines also move or are displaced synchronously. Two drive machines 34 which are arranged diagonally with respect to a center of gravity 56 of the elevator car, i.e. the upper drive machine 34 on the far left-hand side and the lower drive machine 34 on the far right-hand side in FIG. 3, for example, are always controlled in the same manner. Thus, by means of the eight drive machines 34, a total of four elevator cars 14, 16 can be moved simultaneously and independently of one another in the first elevator shaft 12.

(19) FIG. 4 is a view from below of the elevator car 16 having two coupling devices 58 for coupling to coupling elements 44 of the suspension means 26. The coupling devices 58 are each arranged opposite the drive machines 34 (not shown in FIG. 4) and thus opposite the coupling elements 44 of the suspension means 26. Each coupling device 58 has a bolt 60 which can be extended and retracted in an actuation direction 62 which is oriented in the direction of the coupling elements 44. In order to extend and retract the bolt 60, the coupling device 58 has an operating actuator 64, which can be designed, for example, as an electric motor. In order to position the bolt 60 relative to the coupling elements 44, the bolt 60, together with the operating actuator 64, can be moved horizontally and perpendicularly relative to the actuation direction 62 along a rail 66 by means of a positioning actuator 68 which is also designed as an electric motor, for example.

(20) In order to couple a coupling device 58 and thus the elevator car 16 to a coupling element 44 and thus to a suspension means 26, the bolt 60 is first correctly positioned with respect to the corresponding coupling element 44. The bolt 60 is then extended, as a result of which the bolt 60 enters the recess 48 of the coupling element 44. A form-fitting connection is thus established between the coupling device 58 and the coupling element 44, and thus between the elevator car 16 and the suspension means 26. When this form-fitting connection is established, the elevator car 16 can be moved in the elevator shaft 12.

(21) As already described in connection with FIG. 3, the elevator car 16 is always coupled to two suspension means 26 which are arranged diagonally with respect to the center of gravity 56 of the elevator car. This is achieved by the elevator car 16 always being coupled to coupling elements 44 which are arranged diagonally with respect to the center of gravity 56 of the elevator car 16.

(22) It is also possible for the bolts of the coupling devices to not be movable. In this case, the coupling devices have separate bolts for each coupling element, or a coupling device is associated with exactly one coupling element and thus exactly one suspension means.

(23) The drive machines and thus the suspension means can also be arranged on a side of the elevator cars that is opposite the car door and thus the shaft doors. In this case, an elevator car in particular has only one coupling device, such that an elevator car is only coupled to one suspension means for movement in the elevator shaft.

(24) In addition to a first elevator shaft 12, the elevator system 10 has a second elevator shaft (not shown) which is arranged parallel to the first elevator shaft 12. The second elevator shaft is designed analogously to the first elevator shaft 12. The movement of the elevator cars 14, 16 in the second elevator shaft is implemented analogously to the movement in the first elevator shaft 12. In the first elevator shaft 12, the elevator cars 14, 16 are only moved upward and in the second elevator shaft only downward.

(25) In order to be able to implement a revolving operation of the elevator cars in the two elevator shafts, the elevator system 10 has two transfer devices (not shown), by means of which the elevator cars 14, 16 can be moved from the first elevator shaft to the second elevator shaft or from the second elevator shaft to the first elevator shaft. The transfer devices can in particular be designed in accordance with the transfer devices in the form of horizontal displacement units from EP 2219985 B1.

(26) During the movement in the elevator shaft 12, a coupling element 44 is guided by a guide system 80, which is explained in connection with FIGS. 5-7.

(27) According to FIGS. 5 and 6, a coupling element 44 is connected to a runner 82 of the guide 80 via a connection 81. The runner 82 is guided in a guide in the form of what is referred to as a C-rail 83. The C-rail 83 is screwed and is thus fixed to a shaft wall 84 of the elevator shaft 12 (not shown in FIG. 5). The C-rail thus extends along the shaft wall 84 and is stationary relative to the elevator shaft 12. The runner 82 has a first, upper guide roller 85 and a second, lower guide roller 86 which are arranged on a lever 87 which is pivotable about a lever axle 88. For this purpose, the first guide roller 85 is mounted on a first roller axle 89 and the second guide roller 86 is mounted on a second roller axle 90. The two roller axles 89, 90 are in this case arranged on opposite sides of the lever 87 with respect to the lever axle 88.

(28) As can be seen in FIG. 6, the C-rail 83 has two opposite side cheeks 91 which protrude from the shaft wall 84 into the elevator shaft 12. The inner faces 92 of the side cheeks 91 have a concave contour. The two guide rollers 85, 86 of the runner 82 have a corresponding convex profile on their outer circumference, such that the guide rollers 85, 86 are guided by the C-rail 83 in a first direction 93 toward and away from the shaft wall 84, and in a second direction 94 horizontally transversely to or along the shaft wall 84.

(29) The runner 82 has a third spring arrangement 95 having an upper, fifth spring 96 (only visible in FIG. 6) and a lower, sixth spring 79 (only visible in FIG. 5). The springs 96, 79 are tensioned between the lever 87 and the coupling element 44 such that the guide rollers 85, 86 are pressed against the inner faces 92 of the side cheeks 91 of the C-rail 83. The spring arrangement 95 is shown more clearly in FIG. 7.

(30) The connection 81, via which the runner 82 is connected to the coupling element 44, has a pin 97 which also forms the lever axle 88 of the pivotable lever 87 of the runner 82. A part of the pin 97 that is opposite the runner 82 projects through a recess in the form of a through-opening 98 through a pivot arm 99 of the coupling element 44. The pin 97 is in this case secured by a cap 100 screwed onto the end of the pin 97 that is opposite the runner 82. The pin 97 can be moved to a limited extent in the recess 98 in the direction of the shaft wall 84 and away from the shaft wall 84. The pin can therefore be moved in the first direction 93 mentioned above. This makes a first relative movement between the runner 82 and the coupling element 44 in the first direction 93 possible.

(31) A first spring 101 in the form of a helical spring is arranged around the pin 97 between the lever 87 of the runner 82 and the pivot arm 99. The first spring 101 presses the lever 87 and thus the runner 82 in the direction of the shaft wall 84. In addition, a second spring 102 in the form of a helical spring is arranged around the pin 97 between the pivot arm 99 and the cap 100 of the pin 97. The second spring 102 presses the cap 100 of the pin 97 and thus the lever 87 and the runner 82 away from the shaft wall 84. The first spring 101 and the second spring 102 thus form a first spring arrangement 103 of the connection 81.

(32) The pivot arm 99 having the through-opening 98 is pivotable about a pivot axle 104 which extends in parallel with the through opening 98 and thus with the pin 97. The pivot arm 99 can thus, to a limited extent, execute a pivot movement along a circular path about the aforementioned pivot axle 104 and thus along the shaft wall 84. The possible movement of the pivot arm 99 thus has a horizontal component in addition to a vertical component. When the pivot arm 99 is pivoted, the through-opening 98 and thus the pin 97 are also pivoted. The lever 87 of the runner 82 is also pivoted relative to the pivot axle 104 and thus relative to the coupling element 44 by means of the pin 97. When the pivot arm 99 is pivoted about the pivot axle 104, the runner 82 thus executes a second relative movement with respect to the coupling element 44, which second relative movement, as described, has a horizontal component.

(33) A second spring arrangement 106, which is only shown in FIG. 7, acts on the pivot arm 99. The spring arrangement 106 has a third spring 107 which is arranged between the pivot arm 99 and a vertically extending component 108 of the coupling element 44 such that the spring presses the pivot arm 99 to the left in FIG. 7. The spring arrangement 106 also has a fourth spring 109 which is arranged on the side of the component 108 of the coupling element 44 facing away from the pivot arm 99 such that the spring presses the pivot arm 99 to the right in FIG. 7.

(34) The third spring arrangement 95 is also clearly visible in FIG. 7. The upper, fifth spring 96 and the lower, sixth spring 79 are tensioned between an outwardly projecting hook 110 of the lever 87 and the perpendicular component 108 of the coupling element 44 such that the guide rollers 85, 86 are pressed against the inner faces 92 of the side cheeks 91 of the C-rail 83.

(35) Finally, it must be noted that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. It must further be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

(36) 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.