ELEVATOR CARRIAGE SUPPORT STRUCTURE

Abstract

Support structure (10) for supporting a carriage (14) on a track (12) of an elevator system, where the support structure (10) comprises a track coupling arrangement (16) for movement along the track (12), a carriage support member (30) configured to rotatably support the carriage (14) for rotation about a pitch axis (32), and a linkage mechanism (24) connected between the carriage support member (30) and the track coupling arrangement (16), wherein the linkage mechanism (24) is configured such that the support structure (10) can be moved between an expanded state and a collapsed state, where the pitch axis (32) is closer to the track (12) in the collapsed state than in the expanded state.

Claims

1. Support structure for supporting a carriage on a track of an elevator system, the support structure comprising: a track coupling arrangement for movement along the track, a carriage support member configured to rotatably support the carriage for rotation about a pitch axis, and a linkage mechanism connected between the carriage support member and the track coupling arrangement, wherein the linkage mechanism is configured such that the support structure can be moved between an expanded state and a collapsed state, where the pitch axis is closer to the track in the collapsed state than in the expanded state, wherein the track coupling arrangement comprises a first and second track coupling member and wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a first and second linkage connected between the carriage support member and the first and second track coupling member, respectively, each comprising a pivot axis substantially parallel with the pitch axis for pivotal movement between the first and second linkage and the first and second track coupling member, respectively.

2. (canceled)

3. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the pitch axis and the pivot axes are substantially aligned in the collapsed state.

4. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the first and second track coupling members are configured to move relative to each other along the track.

5. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is configured such that the carriage can rotate about a yaw axis, perpendicular to the pitch axis, and wherein the carriage support member is configured to rotatably support the carriage for rotation about the yaw axis.

6. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the track coupling arrangement comprises at least one wheel assembly for engaging a rail portion of the track to establish the movement along the track.

7. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the carriage support member is configured to support the carriage for a rotation of 360 about the pitch axis when the support structure adopts the expanded state.

8. Elevator system comprising a track, a support structure according to claim 1 and a carriage.

9. The elevator system according to claim 8, wherein the support structure supports the passenger carriage such that the pitch axis passes through the centre of mass of the carriage.

10. The support structure according to claim 3, wherein the first and second track coupling members are configured to move relative to each other along the track.

11. The support structure according to claim 3, wherein the support structure is configured such that the carriage can rotate about a yaw axis, perpendicular to the pitch axis, and wherein the carriage support member is configured to rotatably support the carriage for rotation about the yaw axis.

12. The support structure according to claim 3, wherein the track coupling arrangement comprises at least one wheel assembly for engaging a rail portion of the track to establish the movement along the track.

13. The support structure according to claim 3, wherein the carriage support member is configured to support the carriage for a rotation of 360 about the pitch axis when the support structure adopts the expanded state.

14. The support structure according to claim 4, wherein the support structure is configured such that the carriage can rotate about a yaw axis, perpendicular to the pitch axis, and wherein the carriage support member is configured to rotatably support the carriage for rotation about the yaw axis.

15. The support structure according to claim 4, wherein the track coupling arrangement comprises at least one wheel assembly for engaging a rail portion of the track to establish the movement along the track.

16. The support structure according to claim 4, wherein the carriage support member is configured to support the carriage for a rotation of 360 about the pitch axis when the support structure adopts the expanded state.

17. The support structure according to claim 5, wherein the track coupling arrangement comprises at least one wheel assembly for engaging a rail portion of the track to establish the movement along the track.

18. The support structure according to claim 5, wherein the carriage support member is configured to support the carriage for a rotation of 360 about the pitch axis when the support structure adopts the expanded state.

19. The support structure according to claim 6, wherein the carriage support member is configured to support the carriage for a rotation of 360 about the pitch axis when the support structure adopts the expanded state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0049] FIG. 1a: shows a schematic representation of a support structure in an expanded state; and

[0050] FIG. 1b: shows a schematic representation of the support structure in FIG. 1a in a collapsed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In the following, a support structure for supporting a carriage on a track of an elevator system and an elevator system comprising the support structure will be described. The same reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

[0052] With reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b, FIG. 1a shows a schematic representation of a support structure 10 in an expanded state and FIG. 1b shows a schematic representation of a support structure 10 in a collapsed state.

[0053] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a portion of a track 12 of an elevator system, a support structure 10 and a carriage 14. The track 12 comprises two parallel rails. The track 12 may contain a variety of straight, inclined, curved and helical portions. In FIGS. 1a and 1b, a straight portion of the track 12 is illustrated.

[0054] The support structure 10 comprises a track coupling arrangement 16. The track coupling arrangement 16 comprises a first track coupling member 18 and a second track coupling member 18. With the orientation of the support structure 10 in FIG. 1, the first track coupling member 18 is above the second track coupling member 18.

[0055] The first and second track coupling member 18 each comprises two wheel assemblies 20. Each wheel assembly 20 in turn comprises four wheels, two wheels engaging one side of the rail and two wheels engaging the opposite side of the rail. The wheel assemblies 20 of each track coupling member 18 are substantially aligned along the travel direction of the track 12. The track coupling arrangement 16 is thereby configured to move along the track 12.

[0056] Optionally, each wheel assembly 20 may further comprise two lateral wheels such that for each track coupling member 18, two lateral wheels engage a lateral side of a first rail and two lateral wheels engage a lateral side of a second rail such that the lateral wheels engage opposite sides of the track 12.

[0057] The wheel assemblies 20 of the respective track coupling member 18 are connected to each other with a base structure such that they are maintained aligned along the travel direction of the track 12. The base structure of each track coupling member 18 also comprises a plate member 22.

[0058] The support structure 10 further comprises a linkage mechanism 24. In FIGS. 1a and 1b, the linkage mechanism 24 is implemented as a first and second linkage 26. The first and second linkage 26 are pivotally connected to the first and second track coupling member 18, respectively. More specifically, the first and second linkage 26 are connected with their ends to a distal end portion (opposite to the track 12) of the plate member 22 of each track coupling member 18.

[0059] Each of the first and second linkage 26 is constituted by a rigid link arm. However, one or both of the first and second linkage 26 may alternatively be constituted by telescoping arms. The first and second linkage 26 are allowed to rotate about a pivot axis 28. Thus, the first and second linkage 26 are rotatably attached to the first and second track coupling member 18, respectively, about the pivot axes 28. The particular configuration of each track coupling member 18 may be varied in many ways to rotationally couple the linkages 26 to the track coupling members 18.

[0060] The pivot axes 28 are parallel. The pivot axes 28 are also substantially parallel with a separating direction between the two rails of the track 12. With a separating direction is meant a lateral direction of the track 12, i.e. a direction between the rails that is perpendicular to the travel direction of the track 12.

[0061] At the ends of the first and second linkage 26, opposite to the pivot axes 28, the linkages 26 are rotatably connected to a carriage support member 30 for rotation about a common axis, namely a pitch axis 32. The pitch axis 32 is substantially parallel with the pivot axes 28. Thus, the pitch axis 32 is substantially parallel with the separating direction between the two rails of the track 12.

[0062] The carriage support member 30 is implemented as a swivel mount with a pivot point collocated with the pitch axis 32. Thus, the carriage support member 30 is configured to rotatably support the carriage 14 about the pitch axis 32.

[0063] Due to the pivotal connections between the track coupling members 18, the linkages 26 and the carriage support member 30, the first and second track coupling member 18 are configured to move relative to each other along the track 12. At least one of the first and second track coupling member 18 may also comprise a further pivot connection (not shown) with a pivot axis parallel with a yaw axis 34 of the track 12. Thereby, one track coupling member 18 may yaw relative to the respective linkage 26, to which it is attached. The support structure 10 can in this manner be made to follow tracks 12 curved in the plane of the rails.

[0064] In a corresponding manner, at least one of the first and second track coupling member 18 may also comprise a further pivot connection (not shown) with a pivot axis parallel with a roll axis 36 of the track 12. Thereby, one linkage 26 may pivot with respect to the track coupling member 18, to which it is attached, about the roll axis 36. Since the first and second track coupling member 18 are thereby allowed to rotate relative to each other about the roll axis 36, the support structure 10 can follow helical track portions.

[0065] The carriage 14 in FIGS. 1a and 1b has an external appearance of an elongated box. The carriage 14 is vertically oriented such that passengers can be maintained in their upright seating or standing position.

[0066] The representations of the carriage support member 30 and the carriage 14 are merely schematic. The carriage support member 30 may for example additionally be configured such that the carriage 14 can rotate about the yaw axis 34. For this purpose, the carriage support member 30 may comprise a further swivel mount.

[0067] In the expanded state of the support structure 10 in FIG. 1a, the carriage support member 30 is distanced from the track 12. The first and second track coupling members 18 adopt a compact state where they are closer to each other along the extension direction of the track 12 in comparison with a separated state.

[0068] In the expanded state of the support structure 10, the carriage 14 is allowed to rotate 360 about the pitch axis 32. The expanded state may for example be adopted as the support structure 10 travels on a curved track 12 (curved in a plane perpendicular to the pitch axis 32) in order to avoid interference between the track 12 and the carriage 14 while still maintaining the carriage 14 in the vertical orientation.

[0069] The expanded state of the support structure 10 may also be adopted at a horizontal portion of the track 12, e.g. when passengers enter and leave the carriage 14.

[0070] In the collapsed state of the support structure 10 in FIG. 1b, the pitch axis 32 is closer to the track 12 than in the expanded state in FIG. 1a. The collapsed state enables the support structure 10 and the carriage 14 to travel through narrow elevator shafts.

[0071] As can be seen in FIG. 1b, the pitch axis 32 and the pivot axes 28 are substantially aligned. More specifically, the pitch axis 32 and the pivot axes 28 are aligned along a line substantially parallel with the local extension direction of the track 12.

[0072] Furthermore, the track coupling members 18 adopt a separated state when the support structure 10 adopts the collapsed state. As can be seen in FIG. 1b, the separated state of the track coupling members 18 allows the carriage 14 to fit partly between the track coupling members 18 along the extension direction of the track 12. This enables an even more compact configuration of the support structure 10.

[0073] Since the first and second track coupling members 18 are rotatable about the pivot axes 28, the track coupling members 18 can rotate with respect to each other and follow curved portions of the track 12 (portions curved about an axis parallel with the pitch axis 32). If the first and second track coupling members 18 are rotatable with respect to each other also about an axis parallel with the roll axis 36 and/or the yaw axis 34, the support structure 10 can also follow helical portions of the track 12 and/or portions of the track 12 curved in the plane of the rails.

[0074] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.