STATOR RAIL SEGMENT FOR THE LINEAR DRIVE OF AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Abstract

A stator rail segment, which may be used in a linear drive of an elevator system along a drive axis, may have a predetermined segment length and may include multiple coil interfaces arranged along the drive axis for receiving a respective coil unit. A shaft interface may be configured to secure the stator rail segment in an elevator shaft at a given assembly position with respect to the drive axis. The stator rail segment may also include a position adapter for adapting an assembly position of the coil units relative to the drive axis relative to the given assembly position.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A stator rail segment for a linear drive of an elevator system along a drive axis, the stator rail segment having a predetermined segment length, the stator rail segment comprising: coil interfaces disposed along the drive axis for receiving a respective coil unit; a shaft interface for securing the stator rail segment in an elevator shaft at a given assembly position with respect to the drive axis; and a position adapter for adapting an assembly position of the coil units relative to the drive axis relative to the given assembly position, wherein the position adapter comprises an oblong hole that extends parallel to the drive axis.

13. The stator rail segment of claim 12 wherein the position adapter comprises a mounting profile with assembly recesses that are spaced apart from each other along the drive axis.

14. The stator rail segment of claim 12 wherein the position adapter is disposed at the shaft interface.

15. The stator rail segment of claim 14 comprising a running rail bracket for guiding a running rail segment of the elevator system, wherein the running rail bracket comprises the shaft interface.

16. The stator rail segment of claim 14 wherein the position adapter is disposed at the coil interfaces.

17. The stator rail segment of claim 14 comprising a running rail segment for guiding an elevator car of the elevator system.

18. A method for installing a stator rail comprised of multiple of the stator rail segment of claim 14 along a shaft track with a predetermined track length, the method comprising: determining a maximum number of the stator rail segments of a predetermined segment length that can be built along the predetermined track length; determining a remaining overall air gap based on differences between the predetermined track length and a sum of the predetermined segment lengths; dividing the overall air gap equally among all individual air gaps between two adjacent stator rail segments; and mounting the stator rail segments on anchor rails and adapting the given assembly position of each stator rail segment in a travel direction to the individual air gap so determined by way of the position adapter.

19. A method for installing a stator rail comprised of multiple of the stator rail segment of claim 16 along a shaft track with a predetermined track length, the method comprising: determining a maximum number of coil units of a predetermined coil length that can be built along the predetermined track length; determining a remaining overall air gap based on a difference between the predetermined track length and a sum of the predetermined coil lengths; dividing the overall air gap equally among all individual air gaps between two adjacent coil units; mounting the coil units on stator rail segments of a predetermined segment length; and mounting the stator rail segments on anchor rails with a predetermined minimum air gap.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising, based on the predetermined track length, on at least one termination stator rail segment adapted to a length at an end of the shaft track, adapting the assembly position of each coil unit in a travel direction to the individual air gap so determined by way of the position adapter.

21. An elevator system comprising: a shaft track extending along a travel axis between two exchange sites that are spaced apart in a shaft; anchor rails that extend transversely to the travel axis and are disposed at a predetermined anchor spacing for securing a stator rail segment to a shaft wall; stator rail segments secured to at least one of the anchor rails, the stator rail segments being disposed adjacent to each other along the travel axis such that drive axes of the stator rail segments are oriented to the travel axis, wherein the stator rail segments and/or coil units are positioned with substantially a same size air gap from adjacent stator rail segments and/or adjacent coil units, so that each time an end of one of the stator rail segments and/or of the coil units also lies at least substantially against two ends of the shaft track.

22. The elevator system of claim 21 wherein the shaft is a first shaft, the elevator system comprising a second shaft, wherein the first and second shafts are vertical, wherein the first and second shafts are joined together at least at the two exchange sites by way of horizontal shafts.

Description

[0035] Further features, benefits and application possibilities of the invention will emerge from the following description in connection with the figures. There are shown, partly in schematized representation,

[0036] FIG. 1 a shaft track of an elevator system between two exchange sites, comprising a stator rail with multiple stator rail segments according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention in a lateral sectional view;

[0037] FIG. 2 a shaft track of an elevator system between two exchange sites, comprising a stator rail with multiple stator rail segments according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention in a lateral sectional view;

[0038] FIG. 3 a shaft track of an elevator system between two exchange sites, comprising a stator rail with multiple stator rail segments according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention in a lateral sectional view; and

[0039] FIG. 4 an elevator system according to one embodiment of the invention with two vertical and three horizontal elevator shafts in a greatly simplified sectional view.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a shaft track 1 of an elevator system 2 between two exchange sites 4 and 6 designed as direction changers (exchangers), being only represented schematically. Extending along a travel axis 8 for substantially the entire track length 10 of the shaft track 1 are multiple adjacently situated stator rail segments 12, which together form the stator rail 14 of the elevator system 2. The stator rail segments 12 are oriented with their drive axis 16 parallel to the travel axis 8. All the stator rail segments 12 comprise at least substantially the same design and thus also the same segment length 18.

[0041] Each of the stator rail segments 12 in the exemplary embodiment shown comprises six coil interfaces 20, in which each time a coil unit 22 is contained and connected. The heads of the coil units 22 form that portion of the stator rail 14 which interacts with the rotor of the elevator car for the propulsion of the elevator car, not shown.

[0042] Each of the stator rail segments 12 furthermore comprises two shaft interfaces 24 and 26 in the exemplary embodiment, respectively comprising a position adapter 25 and 27 configured as an oblong hole, the oblong hole being formed each time with its lengthwise axis parallel to the travel axis 8 and the drive axis 16.

[0043] FIG. 1 also shows the shaft wall 28, comprising each time an anchor rail 30 at given, constant spacings 34, especially at the anchor rail positions 35.x, where a stator rail segment 12 can be secured with a shaft interface 24 or 26. The stator rail segments 12 are secured in their respective assembly position by means of screw connections 32 each time between a shaft interface 24, 26 (at the suitable location of the oblong hole 25, 27) and an anchor rail 30 or by another advisable connection technique in the individual case.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment, the segment lengths 18 of the stator rail segments 12 and the spacing 34 of the anchor rails 30 do not match up, because the anchor rail spacing 34 is dictated by the building owner, while the segment length 18 is dictated by the maker of the elevator system 2.

[0045] Thanks to the oblong holes 25, 27 of the shaft interfaces 24, 26 of the stator rail segment 12, despite this lack of a matching, it is possible to adapt the assembly position of each individual stator rail segment 12 so that the stator rail segments 12 can be mounted with always the same spacing (segment spacing) 36 between every two adjacent stator rail segments 12.

[0046] This segment spacing 36 is larger than the otherwise required minimum air gap between adjacent stator rail segments 12. This larger, adapted air gap (corresponding to the segment spacing 36) makes possible a uniform distribution of stator rail segments 12 along the entire shaft track 1, even when the nominal dimension (standard segment length times the number of segments plus the sum of the minimum air gaps) does not correspond to the track length 10.

[0047] Prior to the installation, it is first of all determined how many stator rail segments 12 with the particular standard segment length 18 can be installed at most along the predetermined track length 10. Then the remaining overall air gap is determined from this and divided evenly among all the individual air gaps 36 between two adjacent stator rail segments.

[0048] For the installation itself, the stator rail segments 12 are screwed onto the anchor rails, adapting the assembly position of each stator rail segment 12 in the travel direction 8 to the ascertained individual air gap 36 by means of the position adapter 25, 27.

[0049] The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 in particular in that a mounting profile with a plurality of assembly recesses 127 evenly distributed and spaced apart from each other along the drive axis 16 is used as the position adapter 125. The mounting profile 125 extends substantially along the entire standard length 18 of the stator rail segments 112 used.

[0050] In addition, the stator rail segment 112 of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that a running rail segment 138 is additionally provided for guiding the elevator car of the elevator system 102. In the exemplary embodiment, the shaft interface 124 is arranged with the mounting profile 125 on this running rail segment 138, or more precisely on its running rail bracket 139. However, a mounting independent of the running rail segment 138 can also be provided.

[0051] The stator rail segments 112 are secured in their respective assembly position by means of screw connections 32 each time between a shaft interface 124 (at the suitable assembly recess 127) and an anchor rail 30 or by another advisable connection technique in the individual case. The mounting method including the preceding steps corresponds to that of FIG. 1.

[0052] The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 shows an adapting of the assembly position of the stator rail segments 212, 213 by means of a position adapter 225 at the coil interfaces 220, which in the exemplary embodiment are configured together with a mounting profile 225at least in regard to the securing of the coil unitsthat extends substantially along the entire segment length 18, 219.

[0053] The adapting of the assembly position here does not occur by means of the shaft interface 224. That is fixed in position and only enables a mounting of the stator rail segments 212, 213 on the anchor rails 30 with the minimum air gap 237 to equalize any subsidence of the building and thermal expansion of the rail components.

[0054] Instead, the individual coil units 22 can be screwed (or otherwise attached) into a plurality of assembly recesses 227 along the drive axis 16 of the individual stator rail segments 212, 213 and be connected there. The connecting of the coil units 212, 213 is not represented in FIG. 3 and occurs in familiar fashion.

[0055] Thanks to the adapting of the assembly position of the coil units 212, 213, in the optimal case one can ensure that all pairs of adjacent coil units 212, 213 are spaced apart from each other with a substantially identical air gap 236, even in the case of adjacent coil units on different stator rail segments. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the spacing and thus the air gap 236.1 of adjacent coil units 212, 213 on different stator rail segments is slightly greater than the spacing and thus the air gap 236.2 between adjacent coil units on a stator rail segment. Even so, the distribution of the coil units is relatively uniform.

[0056] In order to achieve a complete stator rail 14 for the shaft track 1 despite the fixed assembly position of the standard stator rail segments 212, there is provided in the exemplary embodiment a termination stator rail segment 213 differing from the standard segment length 18, here for example with only four coil units 22 and a shorter termination segment length 219.

[0057] Prior to the installation, at first the maximum number of standard coil units 22 of a standard coil length 23 that can be built along the predetermined track length 10 is determined. From this, an overall air gap is determined, which among all the individual air gaps 236 between two adjacent coil units (possibly separated into adjacent coil units on a stator rail segment and adjacent coil units on two stator rail segments).

[0058] For the installation itself, the coil units are screwed onto stator rail segments 212 of the standard segment length 18 and the termination stator rail segment 213 of adapted length 219, adapting the assembly position of each coil unit 22 in the drive direction 16 to the ascertained individual air gap 236 by means of the mounting profile. Then the stator rail segments 212, 213 are mounted with a predetermined minimum air gap 237 on the anchor rails 30.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows an elevator system 302 according to one embodiment of the invention with two vertical elevator shafts 340, 341 and three horizontal elevator shafts 342, 343, 344. There is situated at each intersection between the elevator shafts an exchange site 4, 6, 5 designed as an exchanger for changing the direction of travel of the elevator cars 351, 352, 353. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the elevator system 302 comprises three elevator cars.

[0060] Every two exchange sites 4, 6, 5 bound a shaft track 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 with a track length 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 dictated by the building geometry and the position of the exchange sites.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0061] 1 Shaft track [0062] 2, 102, 202, 302 Elevator system [0063] 4, 5, 6 Exchange sites [0064] 8 Travel axis [0065] 10 Track length [0066] 12, 112, 212 Standard stator rail segment [0067] 213 Termination stator rail segment [0068] 14 Stator rail [0069] 16 Drive axis [0070] 18 Standard segment length [0071] 219 Termination segment length [0072] 20, 220 Coil interface [0073] 22 Coil unit [0074] 23 Coil length [0075] 24, 26, 124, 224 Shaft interface [0076] 25, 27 Position adapter (oblong hole) [0077] 125, 225 Position adapter (mounting profile) [0078] 127, 227 Assembly recesses [0079] 28 Shaft wall [0080] 30 Anchor rail [0081] 32 Screw connection [0082] 34 Anchor rail spacing [0083] 35 Anchor rail position [0084] 36, 236 Stator rail segment spacing (air gap) [0085] 138 Running rail segment [0086] 139 Running rail bracket [0087] 340, 341 Vertical elevator shaft [0088] 342, 343, 344 Horizontal elevator shaft [0089] 351, 352, 353 Elevator cars