Elevator system and counterweight screen

Abstract

An elevator system comprising a shaft having a pit, a car guided by a pair of first guide rails to be vertically movable in the shaft, a counterweight connected to the car by a suspension rope, the counterweight being guided by a pair of second guide rails to be vertically movable in the shaft, and a counterweight screen in a space between the counterweight and the car, the counterweight screen being attached to the second guide rails at the pit. The counterweight screen is a sandwich-structured composite panel.

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising: a shaft having a pit; a car guided by a pair of first guide rails to be vertically movable in the shaft; a counterweight connected to the car by a suspension rope, the counterweight being guided by a pair of second guide rails to be vertically movable in the shaft; and a counterweight screen in a space between the counterweight and the car, the counterweight screen being a sandwich-structured composite planar panel attached to the pair of second guide rails at the pit, wherein a height of the counterweight screen is greater than or equal to that of the counterweight.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight screen comprises: a first face skin; a second face skin; and a core arranged between the first face skin and the second face skin with the first face skin and the second face skin attached to the core.

3. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first face skin or the second face skin is sheet metal.

4. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first face skin or the second face skin is steel sheet metal.

5. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first face skin or the second face skin is aluminum sheet metal.

6. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first face skin or the second face skin is a polymer sheet.

7. The elevator system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first face skin or the second face skin is a non-metallic fibre reinforced polymer matrix sheet.

8. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the core is a honeycomb structure.

9. The elevator system according to claim 8, wherein the honeycomb structure of the core is made of metal.

10. The elevator system according to claim 8, wherein the honeycomb structure of the core is made of polymer.

11. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the core is a micro lattice structure.

12. The elevator system according to claim 11, wherein the micro lattice structure of the core is made of metal.

13. The elevator system according to claim 11, wherein the micro lattice structure of the core is made of polymer.

14. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the core is a solid or foam sheet of polymer or polyurethane.

15. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the core is a metallic foam structure.

16. The elevator system according to claim 15, wherein the metallic foam structure of the core is made of aluminum.

17. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight screen is configured to withstand a force of 300 N over an area of 5 cm.sup.2 without deflecting into a path of the counterweight.

18. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight screen has a thickness less than 6 mm.

19. A counterweight screen in a space between a counterweight and a car and attached to a pair of guide rails at a pit, the counterweight screen, comprising: a first face skin; a second face skin; and a core between the first face skin and the second face skin with the first face skin and second face skin attached to the core to form a sandwich-structured composite planar panel, wherein a height of the counterweight screen is greater than or equal to that of the counterweight.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows an elevator system according to one embodiment of the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of the pit of the shaft of the elevator system according to one embodiment of the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the counterweight screen according to first embodiment of the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the counterweight screen according to second embodiment of the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the counterweight screen according to third embodiment of the invention, and

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the counterweight screen according to fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the elevator system comprises a shaft 1. Part of the shaft 1 situated below the lowest landing served by a car 2 is a pit 2. The car 3 is guided by a pair of first guide rails 4 to be vertically movable in the shaft. A counterweight 5 is connected to the car 3 by a suspension rope 6. The suspension rope 6 runs over a traction wheel 12 driven by a hoisting machine 13. The counterweight 5 is guided by a pair of second guide rails 7 to be vertically movable in the shaft 1. A counterweight screen 8 is arranged at the pit 2 in a space between the counterweight 5 and the car 3. The counterweight screen 8 is attached to the second guide rails 7. The counterweight screen 8 is a sandwich-structured composite panel. As can be seen in FIG. 2, some equipment which may require maintenance is located in the pit 2. Therefore, a maintenance person may be required to enter the pit 2. The counterweight screen 8 is designed to withstand a force of 300 N over the area of 5 cm.sup.2 without deflecting into the path of the counterweight 5. The force of 300 N is a force which a person may be expected to exert to the counterweight screen in accordance with standard EN-81-20. Preferably the counterweight screen 8 has a thickness less than 6 mm.

(9) FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate the sandwich-structured composite panel of the counterweight screen 8. The sandwich-structured composite panel comprises a first face skin 9, a second face skin 10, and a core 11 arranged between the first face skin 9 and the second face skin, 10 the first and second face skins 9, 10 being attached to the core 11. The first face skin 9 may be sheet metal and/or the second face skin 10 may be sheet metal. For example, the first face skin 9 may be steel sheet metal and/or the second face skin 10 may be steel sheet metal. In another example the first face skin 9 may be aluminum sheet metal and/or the second face skin 10 may be aluminum sheet metal. Alternatively, the first face skin 9 may be a polymer sheet and/or the second face skin 10 may be a polymer sheet. For example, the first face skin 9 may be a non-metallic fibre reinforced polymer matrix sheet and/or the second face skin 10 may be a non-metallic fibre reinforced polymer matrix sheet. Non-metallic fibre may be e.g. glass, carbon or aramid fibre. Fibre reinforcement may be a mat, weave, short fiber or continuous fiber unidirectional type of reinforcement.

(10) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the counterweight screen 8 wherein the core 11 between the first face skin 9 and the second face skin 10 is a honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure of the core 11 may be made of metal or polymer.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the counterweight screen 8 wherein the core 11 between the first face skin 9 and the second face skin 10 is a micro lattice structure. The micro lattice structure of the core 11 may be made of metal or polymer.

(12) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the counterweight screen 8 wherein the core 11 between the first face skin 9 and the second face skin 10 is a solid sheet made of polymer. In an embodiment the core 11 may be a sheet of polymer foam or polyurethane foam.

(13) FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of the counterweight screen 8 wherein the core 11 between the first face skin 9 and the second face skin 10 is a metallic foam structure. The metallic foam structure of the core 11 may be made of aluminum.

(14) Although the invention has been the described in conjunction with a certain type of elevator system, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any certain type of elevator system. While the present inventions have been described in connection with a number of exemplary embodiments, and implementations, the present inventions are not so limited, but rather cover various modifications, and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of prospective claims.