ELEVATOR DRIVE AND ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Abstract

An elevator drive for controlling an elevator system has an electric motor with a housing, the electric motor being a permanent magnet synchronous motor. The electric motor has a motor shaft that, on an axial portion of the shaft lateral surface outside the housing, has a drive zone for coupling to at least one support means of the elevator system. A ratio of a weight of the elevator drive to a nominal payload for which the elevator drive is designed is less than 0.2.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. An elevator drive for an elevator system, the elevator drive comprising: an electric motor having a housing, the electric motor being a permanent magnet synchronous motor; wherein the electric motor has a motor shaft extending from the housing, the motor shaft having a drive zone on an axial portion of a lateral surface of the motor shaft outside of the housing; and wherein the drive zone is adapted to couple to at least one support means of the elevator system.

18. The elevator drive according to claim 17 wherein a ratio of a weight of the elevator drive to a nominal payload for which the elevator drive is adapted to displace is less than 0.2.

19. The elevator drive according to claim 17 wherein an outside diameter of the drive zone corresponds to an outside diameter of the motor shaft or a ratio of the outside diameter of the drive zone to the outside diameter of the motor shaft is less than 1.4.

20. The elevator drive according to claim 17 including a circuit board arranged on the electric motor and extending perpendicularly to an axis of the motor shaft, the circuit board being arranged on a side of the electric motor facing away from the drive zone, and the circuit board having an inverter arranged thereon for electrically controlling the electric motor when the inverter is electrically connected to the electric motor.

21. The elevator drive according to claim 20 wherein the circuit board is mechanically connected to the electric motor on a first side of the circuit board, and including a heat sink arranged on a second side of the circuit board remote from the electric motor, wherein the heat sink is positioned in thermal contact with the inverter, and the heat sink including first cooling ribs.

22. The elevator drive according to claim 21 wherein the first cooling ribs have a zigzag shape.

23. The elevator drive according to claim 21 wherein an outer side of the housing has second cooling ribs arranged thereon, the second cooling ribs extending in the direction in parallel with an axis of the motor shaft and the second cooling ribs being angled at at least one of axial ends thereof, and wherein an axial portion of the housing facing the drive zone is free of the second cooling ribs.

24. The elevator drive according to claim 20 wherein the circuit board has safety module arranged thereon for interrupting a power supply of the electric motor so that the electric motor does not generate any torque.

25. The elevator drive according to claim 20 wherein the circuit board has an encoder arranged thereon, the encoder sensing a speed of the electric motor.

26. The elevator drive according to claim 20 wherein the circuit board is mechanically connected to the electric motor on a first side of the circuit board, the circuit board having, on the first side, a first electrical connection adapted for connection to a power supply and a second electrical connection adapted for electrical connection to at least one of the inverter, the electric motor, a safety module and an encoder for receiving and/or transmitting electrical signals through the second electrical connection.

27. The elevator drive according to claim 20 wherein the inverter is configured for an operating voltage of less than 60 V.

28. The elevator drive according to claim 17 wherein the housing has on a first side a mechanical interface adapted for connection to a suspension of the elevator system and for placing the elevator drive on the mechanical interface, and/or the housing has on a second side a deposition surface facing away from the first side, the deposition surface adapted for placing the elevator drive on the deposition surface.

29. The elevator drive according to claim 17 wherein the drive zone has an uneven profile.

30. An elevator system comprising: an elevator shaft; an elevator car arranged in the elevator shaft; two counterweights arranged in the elevator shaft and being coupled to the elevator car by a support means; two elevator drives according to claim 17, wherein the support means extend over the drive zones of the elevator drives such that the support means is moved by the elevator drives displace the elevator car and the counterweights vertically by operation of the elevator drives; and a brake adapted to brake the elevator car against movement in the elevator shaft.

31. The elevator system according to claim 30 including a control device controlling the elevator drives in a master-slave configuration as a single drive, and wherein the elevator drives rotate in opposite directions.

32. The elevator system according to claim 30 wherein the elevator drives are arranged in a shaft head of the elevator shaft.

33. The elevator system according to claim 32 wherein each of the elevator drives has a circuit board mechanically connected to the electric motor on a side of the electric motor facing away from the drive zone, the circuit board having facing the drive zone, a first electrical connection adapted for connection to a power supply and a second electrical connection adapted for electrical connection to at least one of the inverter, the electric motor, a safety module and an encoder for receiving and/or transmitting electrical signals through the second electrical connection, and wherein a region bounded by the electric motor, the circuit board and a ceiling of the elevator shaft guides cables to the first and second electrical connections.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 shows an elevator system according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows an elevator drive according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a part of an embodiment of a drive zone of the elevator drive according to FIG. 2.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a heat sink according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of two electrical connections of an inverter of the elevator drive according to FIG. 2.

[0050] The drawings are merely schematic, and not to scale. In the different figures, identical reference signs denote identical or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an elevator system 20, such as a passenger or freight elevator. The elevator system 20 has an elevator shaft 22, an elevator car 24, two counterweights 26, two elevator drives 30, which each have a motor shaft 32, support means 28 and a brake 33. The elevator drives 30 are fastened in the region of the ceiling 34 of the elevator shaft 22, in particular supported on a guide rail of the elevator (not shown) or suspended on the ceiling 34 of the elevator shaft 22. A region which adjoins the ceiling 34 in the elevator shaft 22 can also be referred to as a shaft head. The elevator drives 30 are thus arranged in a supported/suspended manner in the shaft head. The support means 28 can, for example, have one or more cables or belts.

[0052] The elevator car 24 is arranged in the elevator shaft 22 so as to be vertically displaceable. The counterweights 26 are each connected to the elevator car 24 via the corresponding support means 28. The motor shaft 32 rotates during operation of the electric motor 30. The support means 28 runs over a drive zone 50 (see FIG. 2) on the motor shaft 32 and can be moved by means of the drive zone 50 in such a way that the elevator car 24 and the counterweight 26 can be displaced vertically in cooperation with the support means 28 by operating the electric motor 30. In particular, the elevator car 24 can be displaced vertically from a first floor having a first access 36 to a second floor having a second access 38, or vice versa. Optionally, the elevator shaft 22 can extend over more than two floors having corresponding accesses. The counterweights 26 are preferably of the same weight. The brake 33 allows braking and/or locking of the elevator car 24. Alternatively or additionally, a further brake can be arranged for braking and/or locking the counterweight 26.

[0053] A control device 35 for controlling the elevator drive 30 and/or the brake 33 can be communicatively coupled to the elevator drive 30 or the brake 33. The two elevator drives 30 can be designed in a master-slave configuration. For example, the two elevator drives 30 can be synchronized in a torque-controlled manner. In particular, the two elevator drives 30 are controlled and/or synchronized with one another in such a way that they vertically displace the elevator car 24 in a vertically oriented manner, and the counterweights 26 in a uniform manner relative to one another.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows an elevator drive 30 according to one embodiment of the invention. The elevator drive 30 corresponds to the elevator drive 30 explained with reference to FIG. 1. Therefore, only those features of the elevator drive 30 are discussed below which have not yet been mentioned with reference to FIG. 1. The elevator drive 30 has an electric motor 40 which has a housing 41. The electric motor 40 is designed as a permanent magnet synchronous motor and has a motor shaft 32. On an axial portion of its lateral surface outside the housing 41, the motor shaft 32 comprises the drive zone 50 for coupling to at least one of the support means 28. An outside diameter of the drive zone 50 substantially corresponds to an outside diameter of the motor shaft 32. Alternatively, the motor shaft 32 and the drive zone 50 can be designed such that a ratio of the outside diameter of the drive zone 50 to the outside diameter of the motor shaft 32 is less than 1.4, preferably less than 1.35, in particular less than 1.25. Illustratively, the outside diameter of the drive zone 50 can substantially correspond to the outside diameter of the motor shaft 32. A ratio of a weight of the elevator drive 30 to half a nominal payload of the elevator system 20 is less than 0.2, for example less than 0.15, for example less than 0.12, for example 0.11.

[0055] A circuit board 42 (surrounded by a housing) is arranged on a side of the electric motor 40 facing away from the drive zone 50. In particular, the circuit board 42 is arranged on the electric motor 40 perpendicularly to the motor shaft 32. The circuit board 42 faces the electric motor 40 with a first side of the circuit board 42 and is mechanically connected to the electric motor via a housing surrounding the circuit board. An inverter 43 is present on the circuit board 42, which inverter is electrically connected to the electric motor 40 and controls the latter via a DC bus at a voltage which is variable in amplitude and frequency, in order to achieve a predetermined torque. For example, the inverter 43 can be configured for an operating voltage (input side) of less than 60 V, for example less than 48 V.

[0056] The inverter can have a safety module 45. A power supply 47 of the electric motor 40 can be interrupted by means of the safety module, so that the electric motor 40 can no longer generate any torque. The safety module 45 (also referred to as STO module) can be implemented, for example, in the form of semiconductor switches or relays which can short-circuit the control inputs of the semiconductor switches of the inverter. The circuit board 42, which has the inverter and the STO module, can further comprise an encoder 49. For this purpose, a magnetic field sensor is positioned on the circuit board 42 such that it can detect the rotating magnetic field of a magnet that is attached to the motor shaft and rotates therewith. The encoder 49 thus makes it possible to measure the actual movement of the motor shafts.

[0057] The circuit board 42 can have, on its first side, a first electrical connection 52 and a second electrical connection 54. The first electrical connection 52 is configured to connect the inverter to a power source 47. The second electrical connection 54 is electrically connected to the electric motor 40, the safety module 45, and/or the encoder 49, for receiving and/or transmitting electrical signals. Since the two electrical connections 52, 54 are arranged on the first side of the circuit board 42, they face in the direction towards the electric motor 40. This makes it possible to guide one, two or more cables, for connection to the first or second electrical connection 52, 54, from one side of the housing 41, which faces the drive zone 50, via the housing 41, to the corresponding first or second electrical connection 52, 54. The cables can thus be guided in a space-saving manner through the region between the electric motor 40, the circuit board 42, and the ceiling 34 of the elevator shaft 22, and can thus be kept short.

[0058] A heat sink 44 is arranged on a second side of the circuit board 42 remote from the electric motor 40 and is in thermal contact, for example in direct physical contact, with the inverter and/or STO module, i.e., the circuit board 42. The heat sink 44 can have first cooling ribs 46 (see FIG. 4). The circuit board 42 (in particular the inverter and/or the STO module) can be passively cooled by means of the heat sink 44. The thermal load of the electric motor 40 is likewise reduced by the proximity of the heat sink 44 to the electric motor 40. In particular, the heat which arises on the circuit board is discharged on the second side (remote from the machine), and it is thus ensured that this heat does not additionally heat the electric motor. This can make it possible that the elevator drive can be constructed compactly and nevertheless can be cooled exclusively passively.

[0059] Second cooling ribs 48 can be arranged on an outer side of the housing 41. The second cooling ribs 48 extend in the direction in parallel with an axis 61 (see FIG. 3) of the motor shaft 32. The second cooling ribs 48 can be angled at at least one of their axial ends. An axial portion of the housing 41, which faces the drive zone 50, can be free of the second cooling ribs. Optionally, the electric motor 40 can be cooled exclusively passively by means of the second cooling ribs 48. Optionally, the electric motor 40 can be cooled exclusively passively by means of the heat sink 44 and the second cooling ribs 48.

[0060] The housing 41 can have a mechanical interface 56 for connection to a suspension of the elevator system 20, on a first side of the housing 41, in FIG. 2 on the upper side of the housing 41. Alternatively, the housing 41 can have a deposition surface 58 on a second side of the housing 41 facing away from the first side of the housing 41 (in FIG. 2 on an underside of the housing 41), which deposition surface is designed such that the elevator drive 30 can be safely placed on the deposition surface 58. The deposition surface 58 can be formed, for example, by the end faces of the second cooling ribs 48 remote from the motor shaft 32. For example, multiple these end faces can be located in one plane and together form the deposition surface 58. Furthermore, a lower part 57 of the interface 56 can be designed such that it also forms part of the deposition surface 58 when the elevator drive 30 is being deposited.

[0061] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a part of an embodiment of the drive zone 50 of the elevator drive 30 according to FIG. 2. The drive zone 50 can have an uneven profile. The profile can be for example V-shaped and/or can have one, two or more V-shaped notches. The V-shapes of the notches can each have an opening angle 60 of, for example, 90. The unevenness of the profile, in particular the V-shaped form, increases a surface of the drive zone 50 and thus a contact surface between the motor shaft 32 and the drive zone 50. Due to the V-shaped profile, a traction can be increased when driving a suitably complementarily designed drive means.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a heat sink 44 according to one embodiment of the invention. The heat sink 44 has first cooling ribs 46. The first cooling ribs 46 can have a zigzag shape. The first cooling ribs can, for example, each have a height of 8 mm or more, for example over 10 mm, for example over 15 mm, and, for example less than 30 mm. The heat sink 44 and/or in particular the first cooling ribs 46 can be produced for example by means of an additive manufacturing method.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the two electrical connections 52, 54 of the circuit board 42 of the elevator drive 30 according to FIG. 2. The first electrical connection 52, which is configured to connect the inverter to an external power source (not shown), can have, for example, a negative contact 62 and/or a positive contact 64, it also being possible for the negative contact 62 to be referred to as a ground connection. The second electrical connection 54, which can be configured for example to connect the inverter to the control device, can have, for example, a first CAN (controller area network) contact 66, a second CAN contact 68, an STO negative contact 70, and an STO positive contact 72.

[0064] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as comprising, having, etc. do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as a or an do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0065] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.