SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR A ROTARY PLATFORM IN AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Abstract

A support device for supporting a rotary platform of an elevator. The support device includes a first form-fit engagement means at an end of a fixed first guide rail, said end facing the platform, a third form-fit engagement means at an end of a third guide rail fastened to the platform and rotatable with the latter. In an alignment of the platform to a first position, the first and third form-fit engagement means are arranged with respect such that, when the platform deflects, as around an axis arranged in a second direction, the third form-fit engagement means is supported on the at least one first form-fit engagement means.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A support device for supporting a platform, in particular a rotary platform, of an elevator installation, the elevator installation comprising: at least one elevator car configured to move along guide rails, at least one fixed first guide rail, which is aligned in a first direction, at least one fixed second guide rail, which is aligned in a second direction, at least one rotatable, third guide rail, which is fastened to the platform and is configured to be transferred between a first position aligned in the first direction, and a second position aligned in the second direction, the support device comprising: at least one first form-fit engagement means at one end of the at least one fixed first guide rail, said end facing the platform, at least one third form-fit engagement means at at least one end of the at least one third guide rail fastened to the platform and rotatable with the at least one third guide rail, wherein in an alignment of the platform in the first position, the at least one first form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means are arranged with respect to one another such that, when there is a deflection of the platform around an axis arranged in the second direction, the at least one third form-fit engagement means is configured to be supported on the at least one first form-fit engagement means.

17. The support device of claim 16 wherein a gap arranged in a third direction, substantially perpendicular to the first and second direction, is formed between the at least one first form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means, the extension of said gap, when the platform is not deflected, corresponding to a predetermined maximum misalignment of the at least one third guide rail with respect to the first guide rail in the third direction.

18. The support device of claim 17 wherein the third direction is horizontal.

19. The support device of claim 16 wherein one of the at least one first form-fit engagement means is arranged in each case at at least one end, facing the platform, of the at least one fixed first guide rail arranged above the platform and at least one arranged below the platform, and at least one third form-fit engagement means is arranged in each case at the corresponding ends of the rotatable third guide rail, so that the platform, when there is a deflection of the platform around an axis arranged in the second direction, is configured to be supported on the third form-fit engagement means arranged at the two ends, on at least one first form-fit engagement means arranged above the platform and at least one arranged below the platform.

20. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one second form-fit engagement means is arranged at an end of the at least one fixed second guide rail, said end facing the platform, so that in the event of an alignment of the platform in the second direction, the at least one second form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means are arranged with respect to one another such that, when there is a deflection of the platform around an axis arranged in the first direction, the at least one third form-fit engagement means is configured to be supported on at least one second form-fit engagement means.

21. The support device of claim 20 wherein a gap arranged in a third horizontal, direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second direction is formed between the at least one second form-fit engagement means and the at least one third form-fit engagement means, the extension of said gap, when the platform is not deflected, corresponds to a predetermined maximum misalignment of the third guide rail with respect to the second guide rail in the third direction.

22. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one second form-fit engagement means is arranged in each case on at least one end, facing the platform, of at least one fixed second guide rail arranged in the second direction to the left of the platform and at least one arranged to the right of the platform, and one of the at least one third form-fit engagement means is arranged on the respectively corresponding ends of the rotatable third guide rail, so that the platform, when there is a deflection of the platform around an axis arranged in the first direction, can be supported on the third form-fit engagement means arranged at the two ends, on at least one second form-fit engagement means arranged to the left of the platform and at least one arranged to the right of the platform.

23. The support device of claim 16 wherein the at least one third form-fit engagement means arranged on the third guide rail is designed such that, with an alignment of the platform in the first position, it can be supported on at least one first form-fit engagement means arranged on a first guide rail and, with an alignment of the platform in the second position, can be supported on at least one second form-fit engagement means arranged on a second guide rail.

24. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one first and/or at least one second and at least one third engagement means is configured such that a misalignment of the respective end of the at least one third guide rail with respect to the corresponding end of at least one first and/or second guide rail can be supported in a direction of an axis which is substantially arranged in the third direction.

25. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one first and/or at least one second and at least one third engagement means is configured such that a misalignment of the respective end of the at least one third guide rail with respect to the corresponding end of at least one first and/or second guide rail can be supported in both directions of an axis which is substantially arranged in the third direction.

26. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one third form-fit engagement means is configured at one end of the rotatable third guide rail differently from the at least one third form-fit engagement means at the other end of the third guide rail.

27. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one form-fit engagement means comprises a shaped element such as a projection, a groove or a recess, which in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail has a specified overlap with a form-fit engagement means at the end of the guide rail lying opposite.

28. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one bevel is arranged at at least one end of the at least one fixed first guide rail, said bevel aligned in the second direction.

29. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one bevel is arranged at at least one end of the at least one fixed second guide rail, said bevel aligned in the first direction.

30. The support device of claim 16 wherein at least one bevel is arranged at at least one end of the third guide rail fastened to the rotary platform and rotatable with the latter, said bevel in an alignment of the third guide rail in the first direction is aligned in the second direction, and in an alignment of the third guide rail in the second direction is aligned in the first direction.

31. An elevator installation comprising the support device of claim 16.

Description

[0038] The invention is explained below in greater detail with the aid of the figures. In the figures, respectively,

[0039] FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically the basic structure of an exemplary elevator installation according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2a shows diagrammatically an exemplary arrangement for the transfer of an elevator car from a first elevator shaft into a second elevator shaft;

[0041] FIG. 2b shows the fastening of the rotatable third guide rail on the shaft wall from above;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the fastening of the rotatable third guide rail on the shaft wall from the front with the arrangement of the exemplary support device;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the support device in detail;

[0044] FIG. 5a shows a diagrammatic representation of the detail of exemplary support device 70 represented in FIG. 4 and

[0045] FIG. 5b shows a further diagrammatically represented embodiment of an exemplary support device 70.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of parts of an exemplary elevator installation 50 according to the invention. Elevator installation 50 comprises fixed first guide rails 56, along which an elevator car 51 can be moved by means of a rucksack bearing. First guide rails 56 are aligned vertically in a first direction z and make it possible for elevator car 51 to be able to move between different storeys. Arrangements of such first guide rails 56, along which elevator car 51 can be guided by means of a rucksack bearing, are arranged parallel to one another in two shafts 52, 52 running in parallel. Elevator cars in the one shaft 52 can move largely independently of and unhindered by elevator cars in the other shaft 52 over respective first guide rails 56.

[0047] Elevator installation 50 further comprises fixed second guide rails 57, along which elevator car 51 can be guided with the aid of the rucksack bearing. Second guide rails 57 are aligned horizontally in a second direction y, and make it possible for elevator car 51 to be able to move within a storey. Furthermore, two guide rails 57 connect first guide rails 56 of two shafts 52, 52 to one another. Second guide rails 58 thus also serve for the transfer of elevator car 51 between the two shafts 52, 52, in order for example to implement a modern paternoster operation.

[0048] By means of third, rotatable rails 58, elevator car 51 can be transferred from first guide rails 56 to second guide rails 57 and vice versa. Third guide rails 58 are rotatable with respect to a rotation axis A, which lies perpendicular to a y-z plane, which extends through first and second guide rails 56, 57.

[0049] All guide rails 56, 57, 58 are fastened at least indirectly to at least one shaft wall 52a of shaft 52. The shaft wall defines a fixed reference system of the shaft. The term shaft wall alternatively also includes a fixed frame structure of the shaft, which carries the guide rails. Rotatable third guide rails 58 are fastened to a rotary platform 53.

[0050] Such installations are described fundamentally according to WO 2015/144781 A1 and also in German patent applications 10 2016 211 997.4 and 10 2015 218 025.5. In patent application 10 2016 205 794.4, an arrangement with an integrated platform swivel bearing and a drive unit for rotating the rotary platform is described in detail in this connection, which can also be used within the scope of the present invention for the bearing of and as a rotary drive for the rotary platform.

[0051] FIG. 2a shows diagrammatically an exemplary arrangement for the transfer of an elevator car 51 from a first elevator shaft into a second elevator shaft in an elevator installation 1 according to the invention. Elevator installation 1 comprises a plurality of elevator cars 51, whereof only one is shown here. Elevator cars 51 can be moved in a plurality of elevator shafts 52.

[0052] During the vertical movement, elevator car 51 is guided by means of fixed first guide rails 56. A first guide rail 56 is rigidly fastened to a shaft wall 52a of elevator shaft 52. Furthermore, the elevator installation comprises rotatable third guide rails 58. The latter are shown in FIG. 2 in a vertical alignment. Guide rollers 12 roll on guide rails 56, 58. Guide rollers 12 are fastened to a chassis 16, which comprises a drive unit and can move along rails 56, 58. By means of a swivel joint 17, elevator car 51 is fastened to chassis 16. Swivel joint 17 provides for a largely fixed connection between elevator car 51 and chassis 16; only rotatability is provided so as to continue to leave elevator car 51 in its original rotational position during the rotation of chassis 16 in the transfer process.

[0053] Rotatable third guide rails 58 are rotatable between the represented vertical alignment and a horizontal alignment. Elevator car 51 is guided by means of a rucksack suspension on guide rails 56, 57, 58. This means that guide rails 56, 57, 58 are all arranged on a common side of the elevator car. This is necessary in order that first guide rails 56, during the horizontal transfer of the elevator car, do not block its horizontal travel path.

[0054] FIG. 2a shows the fastening of rotatable third guide rail 58 by means of a rotary platform 53 with respect to shaft wall 52a. As is represented in FIG. 2b, rotary platform 53 is held by a suspension 61, which is arranged fixed to shaft wall 52a. Rotary platform 53 is mounted rotatably within suspension 61. Arranged on rotary platform 53 is an exemplary rotatable third guide rail 58, on which guide rollers 12 roll when chassis 16 with elevator car 51 travels over guide rail 58. As can clearly be seen in FIG. 2b, guide rail 58 comprises four rail elements, two of which are arranged perpendicular to one another in each case, in order to absorb the forces acting during the travel of elevator car 51.

[0055] FIG. 2b shows the fastening of rotatable third guide rail 58 by means of a rotary platform 53 with respect to shaft wall 52a. As represented in FIG. 2b, rotary platform 53 is held by a suspension 61, which is arranged fixed to shaft wall 52a. Rotary platform 53 is mounted rotatably within suspension 61. Arranged on rotary platform 53 is an exemplary rotatable third guide rail 58, on which guide rollers 12 roll when chassis 16 with elevator car 51 travels over guide rail 58. As can clearly be seen in FIG. 2b, guide rail 58 comprises four rail elements, two of which are arranged perpendicular to one another in each case, in order to absorb the forces acting during the travel of elevator car 51.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional representation of an exemplary embodiment of the fastening of rotatable third guide rail 58 to shaft wall 52a from the front. As is already shown in FIG. 2b, rotary platform 53 is held by a suspension 61, which is fastened to shaft wall 52a. Suspension 61 comprises at the four corners holding fixtures 61a arranged on the outside, which are fixedly connected to shaft wall 52a. It can clearly be seen in FIG. 3 that rotary platform 53 is designed as circular and rotatable, in order to transfer rotatable third guide rail 58 between the alignment shown in FIG. 3 in the first direction z into an alignment in the second direction y. The rotary platform can rotate both in the clockwise direction and also in the anticlockwise direction around rotation axis A, which lies perpendicular to the y-z plane.

[0057] Apart from rotatable third guide rail 58, fixed first guide rails 56 arranged above the rotary platform S3 and below the rotary platform 53 are also represented. The positions of the elements of the exemplary embodiment of support device 70 are marked in FIG. 3 in each case with a circular marking 70a. These are arranged at four ends of third rotatable guide rail 58 and respectively at four ends of first fixed guide rails 56 arranged opposite the latter.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of support device 70 in detail. The section shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the detail marked in FIG. 3 in the circle of marking 70a arranged at the top left. In the representation, an end of third rotatable guide rail 58 is shown, which is arranged opposite an end of a first fixed guide rail 56.

[0059] As is also shown in FIG. 4, shown exemplary support device 70 comprises two first form-fit engagement means 71 at one end of the at least one fixed first guide rail 56, said end facing rotary platform 53. Furthermore, support device 70 comprises two third form-fit engagement means 73 at one end of a rail element of third guide rail 58 fastened to rotary platform 53 and rotatable with the latter. Both a projection 71 and also a recess or groove 73 are denoted in each case as a form-fit engagement means, even when the latter comprise two contact surfaces arranged in opposite directions and can thus support a misalignment in two directions.

[0060] As can clearly be seen, form-fit engagement means 71, 73 are designed such that a rotation of rotary platform 53 around rotation axis A is possible. In the event of an alignment of rotary platform 53 in the first direction z shown in FIG. 4, the two first form-fit engagement means 71 and third form-fit engagement means 73 are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that, in the case of a deflection of rotary platform 53 in particular around an axis arranged in the second direction y, third form-fit engagement means 73 can be supported on first form-fit engagement means 71.

[0061] In the detail of exemplary support device 70 represented in FIG. 4, first and third form-fit engagement means 71, 73 are arranged at the ends of the rail elements of fixed first guide rail 56 and of rotatable third guide rail 58, by means of which engagement means a deflection of third rotatable guide rail 58 can be supported in both directions of an axis arranged in the x direction. In the same way, embodiments are also possible in which first and third form-fit engagement means 71, 73 are designed such that the latter can be supported only in the case of a misalignment in an x direction, as is shown for example with the element of support device 70 represented on the right in FIG. 4. Here, only a misalignment of guide rail 58 or of rotary element 53 in a direction x away from the shaft wall 52a can be supported.

[0062] As can be seen in FIG. 4, a first and a third form-fit engagement means 71, 73 are arranged adjacent to a guide surface 56a, 58a of guide rails 56, 58, on which guide rollers 12 roll. A gap 74 is formed between first form-fit engagement means 71 arranged there and third form-fit engagement means 73 arranged there, the extension of which gap, in the case of rotary platform 53 not deflected in FIG. 4, corresponds to a predetermined maximum misalignment of third guide rail 58 with respect to first guide rail 56 in third direction x. A second gap 75, which is arranged on the other side of first form-fit engagement means 71, has roughly the same extension as that of gap 74. A misalignment of guide surfaces 56a, 58a which is greater than respective gaps 74, 75 in the case of a deflection of rotary platform 53 is thus prevented in both x directions.

[0063] FIG. 5a represents diagrammatically a detail of the section of exemplary support device 70 represented in FIG. 4. A first form-fit engagement means 71 in the form of a projection is arranged on second guide rail 56 and a third form-fit engagement means 73 in the form of a recess 73 is arranged on third guide rail 58. First form-fit engagement means 71 and third form-fit engagement means 73 overlap one another with an overlap 85, which also defines a dimension of the support surface required for the support between engagement means 71 and 73.

[0064] It can clearly be seen in FIG. 5a that a gap 74 is formed between first form-fit engagement means 71 and third form-fit engagement means 73, the extension of which gap corresponds to the maximum misalignment of third guide rail 58 with respect to first guide rail 56 in third direction x. A second gap 75, which has roughly the same extension as that of gap 74, is arranged on the other side of projection 71. Insofar as exemplary support device 70 also comprises a support of rotary platform 53 with respect to second fixed guide rails 57, the support can be designed between second and third guide rails 57 and 58 analogous to the support between first and third guide rails 56 and 58. The extension of a gap 76 formed between second form-fit engagement means 72 and third form-fit engagement means 73 corresponds to the maximum misalignment of third guide rail 58 with respect to second guide rail 57 in third direction x. A second gap 77, which has roughly the same extension as that of gap 76, is arranged on the other side of projection 71. The corresponding reference numbers are entered in FIG. 5a.

[0065] FIG. 5b shows a further diagrammatically represented embodiment of a detail of an exemplary support device 70. In this embodiment, a first form-fit engagement means 71 in the form of a projection is also arranged on second guide rail 56, which projection however is formed as step-shaped. A third form-fit engagement means 78 also in the form of a projection formed as step-shaped is formed on third guide rail 58. In this embodiment, a gap 79 is formed between first form-fit engagement means 71 and third form-fit engagement means 78, the extension of which gap corresponds to maximum misalignment 86 of third guide rail 58 with respect to first guide rail 56 in third direction x. A possible misalignment of third guide rail 58 in the opposite direction x with respect to first guide rail 56 cannot be supported in this embodiment. Also in this embodiment of a support device 70, rotary platform 53 can be supported with respect to second fixed guide rails 57, wherein the support can be designed between second and third guide rails 57 and 58 analogous to the support between first and third guide rails 56 and 58. The extension of a gap 81 formed between second form-fit engagement means 72 and third form-fit engagement means 78 corresponds to maximum misalignment 86 of third guide rail 58 with respect to second guide rail 57 in third direction x. The corresponding reference numbers are also entered in this representation.

[0066] At least one bevel 83 is provided at the respective ends of first 56 or second 57 guide rail and of third guide rail 58, which bevel is arranged perpendicular to the x-direction. The bevel is arranged in particular on the running surface of guide rollers and improves the crossing-over of junctions between the guide rails. Arrow 84 points to a dashed line, which indicates the transfer between misaligned guide rails that is improved by bevel 83.

[0067] In the present example of embodiment, the invention has been described with the aid of a rotatable rotary platform; the invention can for example also be used with a displaceable platform.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0068] 12 guide rollers [0069] 16 chassis [0070] 17 swivel joint [0071] 50 elevator installation [0072] 51 elevator car [0073] 52 shaft [0074] 52a shaft wall [0075] 53 rotary platform [0076] 56 fixed vertical first guide rail [0077] 57 fixed horizontal second guide rail [0078] 58 rotatable third guide rail [0079] 61 suspension [0080] 61a holding fixture [0081] 70 support device [0082] 70a marking [0083] 71 first form-fit engagement means [0084] 72 second form-fit engagement means [0085] 73 third form-fit engagement means [0086] 74 gap [0087] 75 gap [0088] 76 gap [0089] 77 gap [0090] 78 third form-fit engagement means [0091] 79 gap [0092] 81 gap [0093] 83 bevel [0094] 85 overlap [0095] 86 misalignment [0096] A rotation axis