METHODS OF TREATING A LOAD-BEARING PART IN A PASSENGER MOVING SYSTEM

Abstract

Methods are disclosed of treating a load-bearing part in a passenger moving system. The load-bearing part includes a plurality of tension members surrounded by a polymer material, wherein the load-bearing part includes a plurality of sections. At least one of the sections is configured to be inserted into an end termination. The methods include selecting at least one section of the load bearing part. At least a part of the polymer material at the at least one section is removed to expose the plurality of tension members. A conductive layer is applied to the exposed tension members to obtain a connection terminal. The connection terminal is connected to a monitor. The end termination is connected to the monitor.

Claims

1. A method of treating a load-bearing part in a passenger moving system, the load-bearing part comprising a plurality of tension members surrounded by a polymer material, wherein the load-bearing part comprises a plurality of sections at least one of which is configured to be inserted into an end termination, the method comprising: selecting at least one section of the load bearing part; applying a conductive layer to exposed tension members of the at least one section to obtain a connection terminal; connecting the connection terminal to a monitor; and connecting the end termination to the monitor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing at least a part of the polymer material at the at least one section to obtain the exposed tension members.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection terminal is obtained by: immersing the at least one section into a concentration of melted metal; and removing the immersed section to obtain the connection terminal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection terminal is obtained by: applying a conductive layer to the exposed tension members.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection terminal is located at a terminal end of the load-bearing part, and wherein the terminal end is a free end of the load bearing part that is disposed outside of the end termination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitor is configured to measure capacitance.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the tension members comprise an electrically conductive material.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer material is electrically insulative.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the load-bearing part is disposed within the end termination.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the load-bearing part is disposed within the end termination before treatment begins.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the load-bearing part is first treated and then introduced to the end termination.

12. A load-bearing part, comprising: a plurality of tension members; a polymer material surrounding the plurality of tension members; wherein the load-bearing part comprises a plurality of sections at least one of which is configured to be inserted into an end termination; the load-bearing part formed by a process comprising: selecting at least one section of the load bearing part; applying a conductive layer to exposed tension members of the at least one section to obtain a connection terminal; connecting the connection terminal to a monitor; and connecting the end termination to the monitor.

13. A passenger moving system comprising the load-bearing part of claim 12.

14. The passenger moving system of claim 13, comprising an elevator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic step diagram of a method according to the invention.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an end termination comprising a load-bearing part, wherein the load-bearing part has been treated according to a method of the invention.

[0036] FIGS. 3a to 3d are a load-bearing part treated according to a method of the invention and the stages involved when introducing it to an end termination.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic of how an electrical circuit is established between a load-bearing part and an end termination.

[0038] FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic views of a method according to the invention.

[0039] FIGS. 6a to 6c are schematic views of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 depicts a step diagram of a method 100 according to the invention. First a load-bearing part 10 comprising at least one section 1, 2, 3, is provided. The load bearing part 10 can be attached to an elevator cabin (not shown), counterweight, or hoistway wall, or hoistway ceiling at this stage, or it may be attached to an elevator cabin, counterweight, or hoistway wall, or hoistway ceiling at a later stage, e.g. after the method steps have been performed. The second step involves selecting at least one part of the load-bearing part to treat according to the inventive method. The at least one part may comprise a terminal end, wherein the terminal end is a free end of the load bearing part 10 that is disposed outside of an end termination 20 and does not bear the load of the elevator cabin or counterweight.

[0041] The third step involves the removal of the polymer material 101 surrounding the plurality of tension members 102. This can be carried out in one of two ways, i.e., via immersion in a melted metal, or via manual removal using e.g., wire strippers.

[0042] The next step is the application of a conductive layer to the exposed tension members. This step may be carried out either via the melted metal method, or the conductive strip method.

[0043] The conductive layer forms a connection terminal 11. When the conductive layer is applied via the melted metal method, it may not be possible to immediately connect the connection terminal 11 to a monitor 30. The metal layer may need time to solidify. When the conductive layer is applied via the conductive strip method, the connection terminal 11 is immediately ready for connection to a monitor 30. The monitor in this example monitors capacitance.

[0044] As a final step, the end termination 200 itself may be connected to the monitor 30. The end termination 200 is electrically connected to the monitor 30 in order to allow for condition monitoring of the load-bearing part 10 whilst comprised therein. This connection may be achieved by for example, drilling a hole into the housing 20 and introducing the electrical connector 320 thereto at the electrical connection point 21. Alternatively, the housing 20 may already be comprised of a material that permits electrical conductivity, in which case, all that is required is connection of the connector 320 to the electrical connection point 21. The connection can be in the form of a conductive glue or solder, for example.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a load-bearing part 10 having been treated according to a method of the invention. In this particular example, the load-bearing part 10 is treated according to a method of the invention when already in place in an elevator system, i.e., it is already comprised in the end termination 200 and the end represented by the arrow is connected to the elevator cabin.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows more clearly the different sections 1, 2, 3 of the load-bearing part. Section 1 refers to the load-bearing part 10 that comprises a terminal end, wherein this terminal end is not connected to a load, e.g., an elevator cabin. This terminal end undergoes a method of treatment according to the invention and comprises a connection terminal 11, wherein said connection terminal 11 is connected to a monitor 30 via an electrical connector 310. Section 1 starts at the connection terminal 11 and continues in the direction of the end termination 200 until point A, i.e., at the point when the load-bearing part 10 enters the end termination 200. The monitor in this example monitors capacitance.

[0047] Section 2 refers to the load-bearing part 10 that is comprised within the end termination 200. The end termination 200 comprises a housing 20, an electrical connection 21 comprised thereon, a first end termination rib 22, a second end termination rib 22, and a wedge 23. The electrical connection 21 ensures that the metal of the end termination is electrically connected with the monitor 30.

[0048] The load-bearing part 10 in section 2 is disposed between a first end termination rib 22 and a second end termination rib 22, having a wedge 23 located therebetween in order to hold the load-bearing part 10 in place.

[0049] Section 3 refers to the load-bearing part 10 that exits the end termination 200 and is attached to a load, e.g., an elevator cabin. The load is represented by an arrow.

[0050] FIGS. 3a to 3c depict a load-bearing member 10 after having been treated according to a method of the invention. The load-bearing part 10 is then introduced to an end termination 200, in particular, to the housing 20. The housing 20 is itself connected to the monitor 30. This establishes a circuit between the tension members 102 which are coated with the conductive layer and form the connection terminal 11 and the end termination 200 which means that the monitor 30 can monitor any changes in capacitance inside the end termination 200, in particular, inside the end termination housing 20. This is explained in more detail in FIG. 4.

[0051] In FIG. 3a, the load-bearing part 10 is only partially disposed in the end termination housing 20 and contacts a first end termination rib 22. In this example, the load-bearing part 10 is exposed to relatively little stress, therefore the monitor 30 measures a capacitance in the range of 50 to 200 picofarads (pF). This value is given purely for illustrative purposes since the capacitance will change depending on the number of tension members present. The fewer the tension members, the lesser the capacitance. All capacitance measurements should be taken with the passenger moving system in a stationary position due to the fact that there is a build-up of charge on the belt during movement. This can cause inaccurate and erroneous readings.

[0052] In FIG. 3b, the load-bearing part 10 forms a loop within the end termination housing 20 and contacts a first end termination rib 22 and a second end termination rib 22. This looped configuration increases the internal stress within the load-bearing part 10 causing the monitor 30 to measure a higher capacitance in the range of 200 to 450 pF. This value is given purely for illustrative purposes since the capacitance will change depending on the number of tension members present. The fewer the tension members, the lesser the capacitance.

[0053] In FIG. 3c, a wedge 23 is positioned between the looped section of the load-bearing part 10. This increases the internal stress within the load-bearing part 10 even more, causing the monitor 30 to measure an even higher capacitance in the range of 450 to 1000 pF. This value is given purely for illustrative purposes since the capacitance will change depending on the number of tension members present. The fewer the tension members, the lesser the capacitance.

[0054] In FIG. 3d, the load bearing part 10 has a load attached to the remaining terminal end, i.e., the terminal end which was not treated according to a method of the invention. The load is represented by the arrow and in this example is an elevator car. The addition of a load to the load-bearing part 10 causes the internal stress within the load-bearing part 10 to reach a maximum value. This is reflected in the measured capacitance which is in the range of 1000 pF to 3000 pF. This value is given purely for illustrative purposes since the capacitance will change depending on the number of tension members present. The fewer the tension members, the lesser the capacitance.

[0055] Knowing the maximum capacitance measured in the load-bearing part 10 allows for a control of any changes therein. In the event the monitor 30 measures a significant change in capacitance, it can be concluded that there is a problem with the load-bearing part and a maintenance operation is required.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows how an electrical circuit 400 can be established between an end termination 200 and a load-bearing part 10 having been treated according to a method of the invention. The end termination 200 is connected with the electrical connector 320 at the connection point 21. The end termination 200 is shown as a first plate having the charge (+Q).

[0057] The load-bearing part 10 comprises a plurality of tension members 102 in a polymer material 101. At least a section of the load-bearing part 10, wherein in this example the section comprises the terminal end of the load-bearing part 10, has been treated according to a method of the invention. Thus, the terminal end now comprises a connection terminal 11, wherein the connection terminal 11 comprises an exposed plurality of tension members 102 surrounded by a conductive layer. An electrical connector 310 is connected at the connection terminal 11. This is shown as a second plate having the charge (Q). By connecting the end termination 200 and the load-bearing part 10 at the connection terminal 11, and due to the dielectric nature of the polymer material 101 an electrical circuit is established, thereby allowing for characteristics of said circuit to be monitored, e.g., capacitance.

[0058] FIG. 5a shows how a load-bearing part 10 can be prepared according to a method of the invention, in particular according to the conductive strip approach. In this particular example, the load-bearing part 10 comprises a plurality of tension members 102 in a polymer material 101. The plurality of tension members 102 are directly exposed at the terminal end, i.e., the length of the polymer material 101 and the length of each tension member 102 is the same such that the exposed part of each tension member lies flush with the end surface A of the polymer material. In this particular example, no preparatory work of the load-bearing part is required. A strip of conductive material 11 is applied to surface A such that it contacts the exposed tension members and electrically interconnects them. This particular strip comprises silicon and is commercially known as a Zebra connector. Next, the load-bearing part 10 comprising the zebra connector 11 is contacted with a printed circuit board (PCB) 24 having an electrical connection 21.

[0059] FIG. 5b shows a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 5a when the load-bearing part 10 comprising the zebra connector 11, the PCB 24 and electrical connection 21 is comprised within a non-conductive housing 25.

[0060] FIGS. 6a to 6c show a load-bearing part 10 prepared according to a method of the invention, in particular according to the melted metal approach. In this particular example, the load-bearing part 10 comprises a plurality of tension members 102 in a polymer material 101. The load-bearing part 10 is introduced to an immersion bath 43 comprising a melted metal at the inlet 44. In this particular example, the metal used is bismuth. The immersion bath 43 is positioned on a hot plate 40 so that the metal is in the melted state throughout the immersion process. In FIG. 6b, the load-bearing part 10 has been stripped of the polymer material 101 at section B and the plurality of tension members 102 is now exposed. As a next step, shown in FIG. 6c, an electrical connection is made between the electrical connector 310 and the exposed tension members 102 by applying a conductive material theretoin this particular example, a solder is used, thereby forming a connection terminal 11. The connection terminal 11 can be any size, shape, depth, and/or length.

[0061] It should be understood that the appended figures are not necessarily to scale and present a simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention, for example, dimensions, orientations, locations and shapes; will be determined by the particular intended application and use environment. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The assembly of the present disclosure described hereinabove is defined by the claims, and all changes that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.