Abstract
The invention relates to a rope terminal assembly of an elevator fixing an elevator rope to a fixing base such as an elevator unit, said elevator being suitable for transporting passengers and/or goods, which assembly comprises, an elevator rope, whose width is larger than its thickness in a rope transverse direction, with at least one end having an end face, one or more wedge elements, a wedge housing, the rope terminal assembly comprising a rope gap through which said elevator rope passes and said wedge element is arranged to wedge between said rope and said wedge housing thus locking said elevator rope in the gap, and said wedge housing is a one piece structure of predetermined size made from a hollow tube, and an elevator.
Claims
1. A rope terminal assembly configured to fix an elevator rope to an elevator unit, the rope terminal assembly comprising: a wedge housing having a one-piece structure with a round shaped cross-section that gradually decreases in diameter from a first end of the wedge housing to a second end of the wedge housing; and a pair of elongated wedge elements having a diameter that gradually decreases from a first end of the pair of elongated wedge elements to a second end of the pair of elongated wedge elements, the pair of elongated wedge elements including a first wedge element and a second wedge element having a rope gap therebetween through which the elevator rope passes such that the pair of elongated wedge elements wedge between the elevator rope and the wedge housing to lock the elevator rope in the rope gap between the first wedge element and the second wedge element, the first wedge element and the second wedge element being elongated elements, the elevator rope having a width and a thickness, the width of the elevator rope being larger than the thickness of the elevator rope such that the elevator rope is belt shaped.
2. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one piece structure of the wedge housing is made of a metallic hollow tube with the round shaped cross-section.
3. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 2, wherein the one piece structure of the wedge housing is made of the metallic hollow tube through tube hydroforming.
4. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a rope end block attached to a rope end face of the elevator rope, the rope end block configured to configured to push the pair of elongated wedge elements more tightly between the elevator rope and the wedge housing, when the elevator rope slits in the rope gap.
5. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 4, wherein the rope end block includes a first portion on a first side surface of one end of the elevator rope and a second portion on a second side surface of the one end of the elevator rope.
6. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rope end block is a single piece structure such that the first portion and the second portion of the rope end block are connected via a middle part of the rope end block.
7. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 4, wherein the rope end block extends over the rope end face of the elevator rope.
8. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pair of wedge elements include a non-patterned contact surface portion and a patterned contact surface portion, the non-patterned contact surface portion is arranged against the wedge housing and the patterned contact surface portion is arranged against the elevator rope.
9. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wedge housing comprises: one or more adjustable locking devices configured to lock the pair of elongated wedge elements in the wedge housing.
10. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rope end block is attached to the rope end face with one or more fastening devices.
11. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rope end block is electrically non-conductive.
12. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elevator rope is electrically connected to a rope condition monitoring device via the rope end block, the rope end block including one or more electrically conductive short circuit elements and fastening devices.
13. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 12, wherein the elevator rope includes a non-metallic material such as carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer load bearing parts to which the rope condition monitoring device is connected with electrically conductive fasteners.
14. The rope terminal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elevator rope is made of a non-metallic material such as carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composite material.
15. An elevator comprising: the elevator unit movable in a hoistway, a lifting device; and the elevator rope connected to the elevator unit via the rope terminal assembly according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which
(2) FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an elevator according to an embodiment of the invention.
(3) FIG. 2a illustrates a preferred embodiment of a hollow tube placed inside a negative mold that has the shape of the wedge housing.
(4) FIG. 2b illustrates a preferred embodiment of a hollow tube placed inside a negative mold that has been hydroformed to the shape of the wedge housing.
(5) FIG. 2c illustrates cross-sections of a preferred embodiment of the hydroformed wedge housing.
(6) FIG. 3a illustrates cross-sections of a preferred embodiment of the rope terminal assembly with two wedge elements.
(7) FIG. 3b illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of the rope terminal assembly with two wedge elements.
(8) FIG. 3c illustrates an embodiment of the rope end block.
(9) FIG. 3d illustrates an embodiment of the rope end block and the rope condition monitoring device.
(10) FIGS. 4a-4c illustrates the preferred alternative cross-sections for the elevator rope.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(11) In FIG. 1 it is illustrated a preferred embodiment of an elevator where the elevator rope R, C is connected to the elevator unit 2, CW with a rope terminal assembly 1 according to the invention. The elevator has been arranged to comprise a hoistway S, and an elevator unit 2 movable in the hoistway S, the elevator unit being an elevator car 2 for transporting passengers and/or goods. The elevator arrangement may also comprise other movable elevator units such as the counterweight CW, as depicted. The elevator comprises lifting means comprising a lifting device M, roping comprising one or more suspension and transmission ropes R, each said rope R comprising one or more load bearing members 10a-d, 11a-b, 12, and being attached with the rope terminal assembly 1 at least to one elevator unit 2, CW. Each rope R is guided to pass over the traction sheave 4 rotated by the hoisting machine M of the elevator and one ore more diverting pulleys 3. As the hoisting machine M rotates, the traction sheave 4 at the same time moves the elevator car 2 and the counterweight CW in the up direction and down direction, respectively, due to friction. In addition, in high-rise buildings and in high-speed elevators there is a second roping comprising one or more a compensating ropes C, each compensating rope C being suspended to hang at its first end to the bottom end of the counterweight CW and at its second end to the bottom part of the elevator car 2, either to the car sling or to the car itself. The compensating rope C is kept taut, e.g. by means of compensating pulleys 5, under which the compensating rope C passes around and which pulleys 5 are connected to a support structure on the base of the elevator hoistway S, which support structure is not, however, shown in the figure. A travelling cable T intended for the electricity supply of the elevator car and/or for data traffic, e.g., rope condition monitoring data, is suspended to hang at its first end to the elevator car 2, e.g. to the bottom part of the elevator car 2, and at its second end to a connection point on the wall of the elevator hoistway S, which connection point is typically at the point of the midpoint or above the midpoint of the height direction of the elevator hoistway S.
(12) FIG. 2a-2c illustrates a preferred embodiment of said wedge housing 7 being a one piece structure of predetermined size made from a hollow tube 7a of round cross-section. To hydroform a metallic hollow tube 7a into the wedge housing shape, a hollow tube 7a of preferably ductile metal such as aluminum, brass, low alloy steels, stainless steel is placed inside a negative mold 6, 6 that has the shape of the wedge housing. High pressure hydraulic pumps are then used to inject fluid at very high pressure inside the aluminum which causes it to expand until it matches the mold. The hydroformed aluminum wedge housing 7b, 7b is then removed from the mold. Hydroforming allows complex shapes with concavities to be formed, which would be difficult or impossible with standard solid die stamping. Hydroformed wedge housing 7 can hence be made with a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio and at a lower per unit cost than traditional stamped or stamped and welded wedge housing. As shown in FIG. 2a, a hollow tube 7a of preferably ductile metal is placed inside a negative mold 6, 6 that has the shape of the wedge housing. As shown in FIG. 2b, using symmetrical mold 6, 6 in wedge housing lengthwise direction, two pieces of wedge housing 7b, 7b are manufactured simultaneously in the mold 6, 6 by cutting the one hydroformed piece in half for two pieces of wedge housing 7b, 7b. FIG. 2c illustrates the round-shaped cross-sections 7c, 7c, 7c, 7c, 7c of the hydroformed wedge housing 7b, 7b at different points of the longitudinal direction of the wedge housing 7b, 7b.
(13) FIG. 3a-3c illustrates a preferred embodiment of a rope terminal assembly 1 of an elevator fixing an elevator rope R to a fixing base such as an elevator unit 2, CW, which rope terminal assembly 1 comprises an elevator rope R, whose width is larger than its thickness in a rope transverse direction, with at least one end having an end face R, a rope end block 9 attached to the rope end, two wedge elements 8, 8, a wedge housing 4. The rope terminal assembly 1 comprises a rope gap through which said elevator rope R passes and said wedge element 8, 8 is arranged to wedge between said rope R and said wedge housing 7, preferably between said rope R and the supporting portions of said wedge housing 7, thus locking said elevator rope in the gap, and said rope end block 9 is attached on said end face R side of the elevator rope R with respect to the wedge element 8, 8. FIG. 3a illustrates the round-shaped cross-sections 7a, 7a, 7a, 7a, 7a of the rope terminal assembly 1 with two wedge elements at different points of the longitudinal direction of the wedge housing 7 and FIG. 3b the side view of the rope terminal assembly 1 with two wedge elements.
(14) FIG. 3c illustrates an embodiment of the rope end block 9 attached to said elevator rope R end with fastening means 91 and FIG. 3d illustrates an embodiment of short circuit elements 92 connected to the rope end block 9. It is thus possible for the fastening means 91 to pass through the openings in the frame portion of the rope end block 9. The fastening means 91 can advantageously be made of metal or of some other suitable electrically conductive material. The fastening means 91 are advantageously screws or bolts with nuts. The fastening to the rope can be done by drilling bores in the rope R and fastening with screws or bolts. Elasticity of said rope end block 9 can also be arranged by sizing and designing the openings of the frame portion of the rope end block 9 to have an oval shape, for instance. The rope end block 9 comprises one or more short circuit elements 92 attached to the rope end block 9 with fastening means. It is thus possible for the fastening means to pass through the openings in the short circuit elements. The short circuit elements 92 such as short circuit plates as well as the fastening means are advantageously made of metal or of some other suitable electrically conductive material. Rope end block 9 is manufactured from plastics or some other electrically non-conductive material. Preferably rope end block 9 is a single piece structure manufactured from plastics, preferably from thermoplastics polymer or thermosetting polymer.
(15) Said wedge housing 7 may comprise hollows and one or more adjustable locking means 81 which are arranged to lock said wedge elements 8, 8 in its position in said wedge housing element. It is possible for the locking means 81 to pass through the openings in the wedge housing element 7. The locking means 81 are advantageously screws or bolts. Locking of the wedge elements is done by fastening with screws or bolts. Said rope terminal assembly 1 is fixed to said fixing base with a fixing rod being fixed to said side of the wedge housing 7 with fixing means. It is possible for the fixing means of the fixing rod to pass through the openings 10 in the wedge housing 7.
(16) FIG. 3d also illustrates a rope condition monitoring device (or, alternatively, rope condition monitoring means) 20 connected to the rope D. The elevator comprises rope condition monitoring means comprising the rope condition monitoring device 20, which monitors and transmits an electrical signal of said elevator rope R, C, at predefined time intervals, preferably at least once per second, to an elevator controller. If an error signal is transmitted from said rope condition monitoring means to an elevator controller, the elevator operation is altered or the elevator is taken out of service. Preferably the rope condition monitoring means is used to measure electrical resistance between a first point and a second point of said elevator rope R, C first time during elevator installation and second time when said elevator is used for transporting passenger and/or goods. Preferably said first point and second point are points of a non-metallic load bearing part 11a-d, 12a-b, 13 of the elevator rope R, C, or points of several electrically connected non-metallic load bearing parts 11a-d, 12a-b, 13 of said elevator rope R, C.
(17) Preferably said wedge element 8, 8 is an elongated element comprising a smooth contact surface portion and a rough or patterned contact surface portion, said smooth contact surface portion being arranged against said wedge housing 7 and said rough or patterned contact surface being arranged against said elevator rope R surface. The wedge element 8, 8 may also comprise a space for the rope end block 9 at the first end of the wedge element 8, 8. It is thus possible for the fastening means 91 of the rope end block 9 to be attached to the space of the wedge element 8, 8. The space for the rope end block 9 is advantageously on the rough or patterned contact surface portion side of the first end of the wedge element 8, 8 and comprises a threaded opening for the fastening means 91. The wedge element 8, 8 is advantageously made of metal or of some other mechanically suitable material.
(18) FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c illustrates a preferred embodiment of a rope R cross section with four load-bearing parts 11a-d, two load-bearing parts 12a-b, and one load-bearing part 13, respectively, as described in connection with one of FIGS. 1 and 3 used as a suspension and/or transmission rope R of an elevator, particularly a passenger elevator. In the use according to the invention, at least one rope R, but preferably a number of ropes R is constructed such that the width of the rope is larger than its thickness in a transverse direction of the rope R and fitted to support and move an elevator car, said rope R comprising a load-bearing part 11a-d, 12a-b, 13 made of composite material, which composite material comprises reinforcing fibers f, which consist of untwisted unidirectional carbon fibers, in a polymer matrix m oriented in the lengthwise direction of the rope. The suspension rope R is most preferably secured by one end to the elevator car 1 and by the other end to a counterweight CW, but it is applicable for use in elevators without counterweight as well. Although the figures only show elevators with a 1:1 suspension ratio, the rope R described is also applicable for use as a suspension rope R in an elevator with a 1:2 suspension ratio. The rope R is particularly well suited for use as a suspension and transmission rope R in an elevator having a large lifting height, preferably an elevator having a lifting height of over 100 meters, most preferably 150-800 meters. The rope R defined can also be used to implement a new elevator without a compensating rope C, or to convert an old elevator into one without a compensating rope C.
(19) As presented in the FIGS. 4a-4c, the rope R is in the form of a belt, and thereby has a width substantially larger than the thickness thereof. This makes it well suitable for elevator use as bending of the rope is necessary in most elevators. So as to enable turning radius well suitable for elevator use, it is preferable that the width/thickness ratio of the rope is at least 2 or more, preferably at least 4, even more preferably at least 5 or more. So as to enable turning radius well suitable for elevator use, it is preferable that the width/thickness ratio(s) of said force transmission part(s) is/are at least 2, preferably at least 3 or more. When the rope R is made to contain only one load bearing member 13, then it is preferable that the ratio is 5 or more. It is preferable, that all the load bearing member(s) 11a-d, 12a-b, 13 of the rope R (irrespective whether there is only one or more of them in the rope) cover together majority, preferably 70% or over, more preferably 75% or over, most preferably 80% or over, of the width of the rope. Thus, the width of the rope is effectively utilized for the function of load bearing.
(20) In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, the rope R comprises a plurality of load bearing members 11a-d, 12a-b. These plural load bearing members 11a-d, 12a-b are placed adjacent each other in the width direction of the belt and on the same plane. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 4c, the rope R comprises only one load bearing member 13. In both of these embodiments, the load bearing member(s) 11a-d, 12a-b, 13 is/are surrounded with a layer p, which layer p forms the surface of the rope protecting the load bearing member(s) 11a-d, 12a-b, 13. The layer p is preferably of polymer, most preferably of elastic polymer, such as of polyurethane, as it provides good wear resistance, protection and good friction properties, for instance for frictional traction contact with the rope wheel 4. In both of these embodiments, the load bearing member(s) 11a-d, 12a-b, 13 have a width larger than the thickness thereof as measured in width-direction of the rope R.
(21) In this application, the term load bearing member of a rope refers to the part that is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the rope, and which part is able to bear without breaking a significant part of the load exerted on the rope in question in the longitudinal direction of the rope. The aforementioned load exerted on the rope causes tension on the load bearing member in the longitudinal direction of the load bearing member, which tension can be transmitted inside the load bearing member in question all the length of the load bearing member, e.g. from one end of the load bearing member to the other end of it.
(22) It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not exclusively limited to the embodiments described above, in which the invention has been described by way of example, but that many variations and different embodiments of the invention are possible within the scope of the inventive concept defined in the claims presented below. Thus it is obvious that the ropes R described may be provided with a cogged surface or some other type of patterned surface to produce a positive contact with the traction sheave 4. It is also obvious that the rectangular composite load-bearing parts 11a-d, 12a-b, and 13 may comprise edges more starkly rounded than those illustrated or edges not rounded at all. Similarly, the polymer layer p of the ropes R may comprise edges/corners more starkly rounded than those illustrated or edges/corners not rounded at all. It is likewise obvious that the load-bearing part/parts 11a-d, 12a-b, and 13 in the embodiments can be arranged to cover most of the cross-section of the rope R. In this case, the sheath-like polymer layer p surrounding the load-bearing part/parts 11a-d, 12a-b, and 13 is made thinner as compared to the thickness of the load-bearing part 11a-d, 12a-b, and 13 in the thickness-wise direction of the rope R. It is likewise obvious that, in conjunction with the solutions represented by figures, it is possible to use belts of other types than those presented. It is likewise obvious that both carbon fiber and glass fiber can be used in the same composite part if necessary. It is likewise obvious that the thickness of the polymer p layer may be different from that described. It is likewise obvious that the shear-resistant part could be used as an additional component with any other rope structure showed in this application. It is likewise obvious that the matrix polymer in which the reinforcing fibers f are distributed may comprisemixed in the basic matrix polymer, such as e.g. epoxyauxiliary materials, such as e.g. reinforcements, fillers, colors, fire retardants, stabilizers or corresponding agents. It is likewise obvious that, although the polymer matrix preferably does not consist of elastomer, the invention can also be utilized using an elastomer matrix. It is also obvious that the fibers f need not necessarily be round in cross-section, but they may have some other cross-sectional shape. It is further obvious that auxiliary materials, such as e.g. reinforcements, fillers, colors, fire retardants, stabilizers or corresponding agents, may be mixed in the basic polymer of the layer p, e.g. in polyurethane. It is likewise obvious that the invention can also be applied in elevators designed for hoisting heights other than those considered above.
(23) It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.
