APPARATUS FOR GUIDING AND BRAKING A TRAVELLING BODY OF AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM, WHICH BODY IS TO BE MOVED ALONG A GUIDE TRACK

Abstract

An apparatus for guiding and braking an elevator system traveling body movable along a guide track includes a holder fastened to the body, a guide device and a braking device. The holder transmits guiding forces between the guide device, guided on at least one track surface in the longitudinal direction, and the body. The guide device is held on and is elastically movable relative to the holder transverse to the longitudinal direction by at least a predetermined tolerance distance. The braking device includes a carrier and a braking element movable between a deactivated configuration, in which a braking surface of the braking element is laterally spaced apart from the guide track, and an activated configuration, in which the braking surface abuts the guide track, in a reversible manner by an activation distance transverse to the guide track. The carrier of the braking device is rigidly coupled to the guide device.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An apparatus for guiding and braking a traveling body movable along a guide track, the apparatus comprising: a holder adapted to be fastened to the traveling body; a guide device; a braking device; wherein when the holder is fastened to the traveling body and the guide device is guided on the guide track, guiding forces are transmitted by the holder between the guide device and the traveling body; wherein the guide device is movable along the guide track in a longitudinal direction of the guide track; wherein the guide device is held and mounted on the holder such that the guide device is elastically movable relative to the holder transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide track by at least a predetermined tolerance distance; wherein the braking device includes a carrier and a braking element and the braking device is adapted to move the braking element between a deactivated configuration, in which a braking surface of the braking element is laterally spaced apart from the guide track, and an activated configuration, in which the braking surface of the braking element is applied to the guide track, in a reversible manner by an activation distance transverse to the guide track; and wherein the carrier is rigidly coupled to the guide device such that the carrier follows lateral movements of the guide device relative to the holder.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the guide device includes a roller rotatable about an axle and arranged for rolling movement along a surface of the guide track with a lateral surface of the roller, and wherein the carrier is rigidly connected to the axle of the roller.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the guide device includes two rollers, each of the rollers being rotatable about an associated axle and being arranged for rolling movement along the guide track with lateral surfaces of the rollers, wherein the rollers are movable along opposite surfaces of the guide track, and wherein the carrier is rigidly coupled to the axle of at least one of the rollers.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the axles of the rollers are rigidly coupled to one another by a carrier frame of the carrier.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the guide device includes two rollers, each of the rollers being rotatable about an associated axle and being arranged for rolling movement along the guide track with lateral surfaces of the rollers, wherein the rollers are movable along surfaces of the guide track that are oriented transversely to one another, and wherein the carrier is rigidly coupled to the axle of at least one of the rollers.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the axles of the rollers are rigidly coupled to one another by a carrier frame of the carrier.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the guide device is elastically movable relative to the holder in two directions that extend transversely to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the guide track by at least a predetermined tolerance distance, and the guide device transmits the guiding forces in the two directions to the holder.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the guide device is held and mounted on the holder by elastic elements.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the elastic elements are springs.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the braking element is wedge-shaped and has a sliding surface extending obliquely to a surface of the guide track, and wherein the carrier has a counter-sliding surface extending obliquely to the surface of the guide track in a direction opposite to the sliding surface, such that the braking element can be reconfigured during a movement relative to the carrier by sliding the sliding surface along the counter-sliding surface between the deactivated configuration and the activated configuration.

24. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the braking device includes an electrical actuator adapted to move the braking element between the deactivated configuration and the activated configuration.

25. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the activation distance is smaller than the tolerance distance.

26. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the tolerance distance is greater than 3 mm.

27. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the activation distance is less than 3 mm.

28. An elevator system comprising: a traveling body; a guide track along which the traveling body is movable; the apparatus for guiding and braking according to claim 14; and wherein the holder of the apparatus is fastened to the traveling body and the guide device of the apparatus is arranged to be movable along the guide track in a guided manner.

Description

[0056] Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings; neither the drawings nor the description are intended to be interpreted as limiting the invention.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an elevator system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] The drawings are merely schematic and not true to scale. Like reference signs denote like or equivalent features in the various drawings.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows an elevator system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] The elevator system 1 comprises a traveling body 2 in the form of an elevator car 3 which can be moved vertically within an elevator shaft 5. For this purpose, the elevator car 3 is held by suspension means 17 which can be moved under the control of a controller 15 by a drive machine 13. In this case, the elevator car 3 can move along guide tracks 7 which extend vertically along walls of the elevator shaft 5.

[0063] The drive machine 13 can be configured as a winch. Alternatively, the drive machine 13 can be configured as a traction sheave drive having a drive roller. In this case, the elevator system 1 also comprises a counterweight and possibly a deflection roller in addition to the traction sheave drive. The suspension means is extended in order to also hold the counterweight. The suspension means is guided from the counterweight, via the drive roller and possibly via one or more deflection rollers to the elevator car 3. The drive roller, the counterweight, the deflection roller and the extension of the suspension means are not shown in FIG. 1. The counterweight can also have an apparatus 9.

[0064] For this purpose, apparatuses 9 for guiding and braking the elevator car 3 are attached to a floor of the elevator car 3 in the example shown. Alternatively, such apparatuses 9 can also be attached to the elevator car 3 at another location. The apparatuses 9 are designed, similar to guide shoes, to prevent the elevator car 3 from moving laterally, i.e.

[0065] horizontally, during the vertical travel thereof through the elevator shaft 5. The apparatuses 9 can optionally be supported in this task by additionally provided guide shoes 11. The apparatuses 9 are also intended to be able to brake the elevator car 3 in the vertical movement thereof In particular, it is to be possible to carry out quick and effective emergency braking of the elevator car 3 by means of the apparatuses 9.

[0066] Details of an embodiment according to the invention of such an apparatus 9 for guiding and braking the elevator car 3 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in a vertical and a horizontal sectional view. For reasons of clarity, some components, in particular components of a braking device 41, are only shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3.

[0067] The apparatus 9 has a holder 19 by means of which the entire apparatus 9 can be fastened to the elevator car 3. The holder 19 is in this case structurally designed such that it can transmit guiding forces, such as typically occur when the elevator car 3 is guided along the guide tracks 7.

[0068] The apparatus 9 also has a guide device 21. The guide device 21 can move along at least one of two opposite surfaces 31, 33 of the guide track 7 in the longitudinal direction 35 of the guide track 7.

[0069] The guide device 21 is held on the holder 19 in an elastically movable manner, such that the guide device 21 elastically movable relative to the holder 19 in a direction 37 transverse to the longitudinal direction 35 of the guide track 7 by at least a tolerance distance 39 of, for example, a plurality of millimeters, and thus transmits the guiding forces to the holder 19.

[0070] The apparatus 9 also has a braking device 41. The braking device 41 comprises a carrier 43 and a braking element 45.

[0071] In a deactivated configuration, the braking element 45 is in this case arranged such that a braking surface 47 of the braking element 45 is laterally spaced apart from the guide track 7. A distance between the braking surface 47 and the opposing surface 31, 33 of the guide track 7 is referred to here as the activation distance 49. In an activated configuration, however, the braking element 45 is arranged such that the braking surface 47 abuts the guide track 7.

[0072] As long as the elevator car 3 is to be moved without braking, the braking device 41 remains in the deactivated configuration thereof. If the elevator car 3 is to be braked, an electric actuator 57 can move the braking element 45 along the counter-sliding surface 53 over the activation distance 49 toward the guide track 7, such that the braking surface 47 of the element rests against the opposing surface 31, 33 of the guide track 7 and a braking force can thus be generated by friction. The distance traveled by the brake pad 45 along the counter-sliding surface 53 is greater than the activation distance 49.

[0073] The carrier 43 of the braking device 41 is rigidly coupled to the guide device 21. Accordingly, the carrier 43 follows the lateral movements of the guide device 21 relative to the holder 19 when the guide device 21 moves along the guide track 7 in a guided manner.

[0074] Possible details of how the individual components of the apparatus 9 described herein can be configured are described below by way of example

[0075] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the holder 19 is designed as a frame which is U-shaped in the horizontal section in the example shown. The holder 19 in this case surrounds the guide device 21 from three sides, i.e. on opposing sides along the horizontal direction 37, transversely to the longitudinal direction 35 of the guide track 7, and on a side of the guide device 21 that faces away from the guide track 7 in a further horizontal direction 59. The frame of the holder 19 is in this case designed to be mechanically stable, for example with a thick metal sheet. In addition, the holder 19 is fastened to the traveling body 2 so as to be able to withstand mechanical loads, for example by means of screw connections.

[0076] In the example shown, the guide device 21 has a carrier frame 55 on which a plurality of rollers 23 are each rotatably fixed about axles 25. The carrier frame 55 is in turn U-shaped. Axles 25′, 25″ are mounted in each case on end faces of two mutually parallel arms of this U-shaped carrier frame 55, such that rollers 23′, 23″ attached thereto are each rotatable about one of the axles 25′, 25″ at a distance from one another in direction 37. In this case, a gap having a predefined width results between lateral surfaces 24′, 24″ of these rollers 23′, 23″. The guide track 7 extends in this gap. The width of the gap is dimensioned such that it corresponds to the thickness of the guide track 7. Accordingly, the lateral surfaces 24′, 24″ of the two rollers 23′, 23″ can each roll along the opposite surfaces 31, 33 of the guide track 7. A third roller 23′ is arranged with the axle 25″' thereof in an inner region of the U-shaped carrier frame 55. The axle 25″' of this roller 23″' extends perpendicularly to the axles 25′, 25″ of the other two rollers 23′, 23″. This third roller 23′ is oriented and positioned such that the lateral surface 24″' thereof can roll along an end face 32 of the guide track 7.

[0077] The carrier frame 55 of the guide device 21 is coupled to the holder 19 via elastic elements 29 in the form of springs 27, for example. The elastic elements 29 are arranged and oriented such that the guide device 21, with the carrier frame 55 thereof, can be elastically moved relative to the holder 19 both in the horizontal direction 37 and in the horizontal direction 59 perpendicular thereto, at least within the tolerance distance 39 in each case.

[0078] The carrier frame 55 of the guide device 21 can thus be moved within a horizontal plane in all directions by at least the tolerance distance 39, such that rollers 23 attached thereto can always roll along the surfaces 31, 32, 33 of the guide tracks 7, even in the case that the guide track 7 does not always extend at the desired position thereof locally, but deviates from said position.

[0079] The carrier 43 of the braking device 41 is rigidly connected to the carrier frame 55 of the guide device 21 in the example shown. The braking element 45 of the braking device 41 is thus always carried along with the movement of the guide device 21 in a floating manner and is always located at a predetermined lateral distance from the surfaces 31, 32, 33 of the respectively associated guide track 7. This lateral distance can be equal to or less than the activation distance 49 over which the braking element 45 must be moved in order to abut an opposing surface 31, 32, 33 in the activated configuration of the braking device 41 and thereby generate a desired braking effect.

[0080] In the example shown, the braking device 41 is equipped with two wedge-shaped braking elements 45. Each wedge-shaped braking element 45 comprises, on a side opposite the braking surface 47, a sliding surface 51 which extends obliquely to the surface 31, 33 of the guide track 7 that faces said braking element. A corresponding counter-sliding surface 53 is formed on the carrier 43 of the braking device 41, which counter-sliding surface extends obliquely to the relevant surface 31, 33 of the guide track 7 in the opposite direction.

[0081] The braking element 45 can be moved from the deactivated configuration into the activated configuration by means of the electric actuator 57 (only shown schematically). In this case, the carrier 43 can have a bearing track which comprises the counter-sliding surface 53 and which can be folded away from the rest of the carrier 43, as shown in WO 2015/071188. The bearing track is hingedly mounted at one of the ends thereof on the rest of the carrier 43, such that movement in the hinge results in a movement of the bearing track in direction 37. The electric actuator 57 can move the bearing track laterally, i.e. in the direction 37 transverse to the longitudinal direction 35 of the guide track 7, toward the guide track 7. Alternatively, the actuator 57 can move the braking element toward the guide track 7 by briefly lifting the sliding surface 51 off the counter-sliding surface 53. For this purpose, the braking element 45 can have a groove which opens the braking element 45 toward the actuator 57. The actuator 57 presses against the base of the groove in the braking element 45 in the lateral direction. The groove is designed such that it provides the required space in the braking element 45 for the braking element 45 to remain movable along the longitudinal direction 35 when the electric actuator 57 at least partially protrudes into the braking element in an extended state.

[0082] Alternatively or additionally, the actuator 57 can move the braking element 45 in the longitudinal direction 35 of the guide track 7, the sliding surface 51 of the braking element sliding along the counter-sliding surface 53 of the carrier 43 and thus also being moved laterally toward the guide track 7.

[0083] As soon as the braking surface 47 of the braking element 45 rests against the guide track 7, the braking element is moved further in the longitudinal direction 35 of the guide track 7 by the friction acting between the two components. The contact pressure between the braking element 45 and the guide track 7 is further increased due to the wedge shape of the braking element 45.

[0084] Overall, the apparatus 9 described herein for guiding and braking the traveling body 2 offers the possibility of guiding the elevator car 3 comfortably during the vertical movement thereof along the guide track 7 by means of the guide device 21 which is elastically movable over the tolerance distance. The braking device 41 of the apparatus 9, with the braking element 45 or braking elements 45 thereof in the deactivated configuration, can also be moved past the guide track 7 with very little lateral play since the braking device 41 is rigidly coupled to the guide device 21. Accordingly, the braking device 41 can be activated quickly and effectively by the braking element 45 or the braking elements 45 being brought into engagement over an activation distance 49 to the guide track 7 that is smaller than the tolerance distance 39.

[0085] 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 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. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered to be limiting.