ELEVATOR CAR AND ELEVATOR

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator car comprising a pulley frame; and a cabin frame mounted on the pulley frame; and one or more pulleys mounted on the pulley frame; and at least one elastically deformable support member between the cabin frame and the pulley frame via which at least one elastically deformable support member the cabin frame rests on the pulley frame. The elevator car comprises at least one parallel motion linkage mechanism connecting the cabin frame pivotally to the pulley frame, and arranged to allow the cabin frame to pivot up and down relative to the pulley frame, and to keep their relative angle unchanged. The invention also relates to an elevator implementing the car.

Claims

1. An elevator car comprising a pulley frame; and a cabin frame mounted on the pulley frame; and one or more pulleys mounted on the pulley frame; and cabin structures delimiting a cabin interior of the car, which cabin structures are mounted on the cabin frame; and at least one elastically deformable support member between the cabin frame and the pulley frame via which at least one elastically deformable support member the cabin frame rests, or at least can rest, on the pulley frame, wherein the elevator car comprises at least one parallel motion linkage mechanism connecting the cabin frame pivotally to the pulley frame, and arranged to allow the cabin frame to pivot up and down relative to the pulley frame, and to keep their relative angle unchanged.

2. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein each said elastically deformable support member is placed in a gap, which is in vertical direction between the pulley frame and the cabin frame.

3. An elevator car according to claim 2, wherein the gap is enlarged when the cabin frame pivots up relative to the pulley frame and narrowed when the cabin frame pivots down relative to the pulley frame.

4. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the elevator car comprises one or more guide members for guiding movement of the car along one or more guide rails, which one or more guide members are mounted on the cabin frame.

5. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the cabin structures delimiting a cabin interior of the car comprise one or more of: a floor panel, wall panels, a ceiling panel, a door.

6. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein said one or more pulleys comprises a first and second pulley, which are arranged to rotate on the same rotation plane around parallel horizontal axes.

7. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein each said parallel motion linkage mechanism comprises a first lever connected to the pulley frame via a first pivot and to the cabin frame via a second pivot; and a second lever connected to the pulley frame via a third pivot and to the cabin frame via a fourth pivot.

8. An elevator car according to claim 7, wherein the first, second, third and fourth pivot are positioned such that the pivot axis of the first pivot and the pivot axis of the third pivot are on a first plane and the pivot axis of the second pivot and the pivot axis of the fourth pivot are on a second plane, wherein the first and second planes are parallel with each other; and the pivot axis of the first pivot and the pivot axis of the second pivot are on a third plane and the pivot axis of the third pivot and the pivot axis of the fourth pivot are on a fourth plane, wherein the third and fourth planes are parallel with each other.

9. An elevator car according to claim 7, wherein the pivot axes of the first, second, third and fourth pivot are horizontal.

10. An elevator car according to claim 8, wherein the first and second planes are vertical.

11. An elevator car according to claim 8, wherein the third and fourth planes are less than 30 degrees from horizontal, preferably less than 15 degrees from horizontal.

12. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the pulley frame is mounted on the cabin frame by two parallel motion linkage mechanisms, in particular a first parallel motion linkage mechanism and a second parallel motion linkage mechanism, which two parallel motion linkage mechanisms are horizontally displaced from each other, the pivot axes of the first parallel motion linkage mechanism being arranged to coincide with the pivot axes of the second parallel motion linkage mechanism.

13. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein each said pivot comprises a shaft pin, such as a bolt member, arranged to pass through an opening, such as a hole, of a lever.

14. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said pivots comprises a bushing made of plastic or elastomer or rubber around the shaft pin in the opening.

15. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable support member is preferably an elastically deformable pad, such as a block made of elastic material such as elastomer or rubber.

16. An elevator car according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said pivots comprises a bushing made of plastic or elastomer or rubber via which the lever is supported axially in place.

17. An elevator comprising an elevator car according to claim 1.

18. An elevator according to claim 17, wherein the elevator comprises a hoisting roping arranged to suspend the elevator car via the one or more pulleys of the car.

19. An elevator according to claim 17, wherein the elevator comprises a hoisting roping arranged to pass around the one or more pulleys of the car.

20. An elevator according to claim 17, wherein the elevator comprises one or more guide rails for guiding movement of the car, the car comprising guide members mounted on the cabin frame, which are arranged to move by sliding or rolling along the one or more guide rails.

21. An elevator according to claim 17, wherein the elevator comprises a motor and a drive wheel rotatable by the motor, and an elevator control system configured to control movement of the car in response to signals received from one or more user interfaces, such as user interfaces located at one or more landings and/or a user interface located inside the car, in particular by controlling rotation of the motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] 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

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment of a car from a side.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates the lower parts of the car of FIG. 1 from its right side.

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a parallel motion linkage mechanism connecting a cabin frame and a pulley frame of FIG. 1.

[0046] FIGS. 4-6 illustrate further preferred details of the car and parallel motion linkage mechanism of FIG. 3.

[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates an elevator according to an embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 8 illustrates preferred further details of the car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates an elevator car C according to an embodiment. The elevator car C comprises a pulley frame 1; and a cabin frame 2 mounted on the pulley frame 1; and one or more pulleys 4 mounted on the pulley frame 1. The elevator car C comprises cabin structures 5a,5b,5c,5d delimiting a cabin interior I of the car 1 mounted on the cabin frame 2. Said cabin structures 5a,5b,5c,5d delimiting a cabin interior include here in particular a floor panel 5a, wall panels 5b, a ceiling panel 5c and a door 5d.

[0050] The elevator car C moreover comprises one or more elastically deformable support members 6 between the cabin frame 2 and the pulley frame 1 via which one or more elastically deformable support members 6 the cabin frame 2 rests, or at least can rest, on the pulley frame 1. Owing to the elastically deformable support member(s) 6 the cabin frame 2 can be vertically supported such that a large portion of the vibration transmitted from the hoisting machine becomes attenuated and does not reach the cabin structure. Elastically deformable support member(s) 6 can also respond well to different load situation of the car 1.

[0051] The elevator car C moreover comprises at least one parallel motion linkage mechanism 7;7A,7B connecting the cabin frame 2 pivotally to the pulley frame 1 and arranged to allow the cabin frame 2 to pivot up and down relative to the pulley frame 1, and to keep their relative angle unchanged. Hereby, lateral support and control of orientation can be simply provided between the cabin frame 2 and the pulley frame 1 while allowing them freedom to move vertically relative to each other. Freedom of the cabin frame 2 and the pulley frame 1 to move vertically relative to each other is needed for well-functioning vibration attenuation of the at least one elastically deformable support member 6. Hereby, the deformable support member(s) 6 also stay as the primary vertical load carrying members between the cabin frame 2 and the pulley frame 1 in all vibration situations and in all kinds of load situations of the car 1. Ability of the parallel motion linkage mechanism 7;7A,7B to keep the relative angle between the cabin frame 2 and the pulley frame 1 unchanged is advantageous since hereby the car 1 can hold the pulley frame 1 in upright position without risks of it twisting into incorrect position. The rest of the car 1, such as the cabin frame 2, on the other hand is simple to maintain in upright position by guide members 9 arranged to engage guide rails 11. Thus, the cabin frame 2 gives the pulley frame 1 with the parallel motion linkage mechanism 7;7A,7B horizontal support to keep it in upright position and correctly positioned in horizontal direction. The pulley frame 1 on the other hand provides vertical support for the cabin frame 2 via the elastically deformable member(s) 6.

[0052] In the preferred embodiment, each said elastically deformable member 6 is placed in a gap G, which is in vertical direction between the pulley frame 1 and the cabin frame 2. Thus, vertical support is simply transmit between the cabin frame 2 and the pulley frame 1. The gap G is arranged to be enlarged when the cabin frame 2 pivots up relative to the pulley frame 1 and narrowed when the cabin frame 2 pivots down relative to the pulley frame 1. Said elastically deformable member 6 is arranged to elastically resist narrowing of the gap G. The elastically deformable member 6 is arranged to serve as a compression spring.

[0053] In the preferred embodiment, the elevator car 1 comprises one or more guide members 9 for guiding movement of the car 1 along one or more guide rails 11, which one or more guide members 9 are mounted on the cabin frame 2. The one or more guide members 9 can give lateral support for the car 1. The one or more guide members 9 are preferably either rolling guide members, as illustrated, or sliding guide members. There are preferably plurality of said guide members 9 including guide members 9 on different vertical levels, which facilitates guidance of the car 1 in upright attitude.

[0054] In the preferred embodiment, the pulley frame 1 is in the bottom area of the car 1. Said one or more pulleys 4 comprises a first and second pulley 4a,4b, which are arranged to rotate on the same rotation plane around parallel horizontal axes Xa,Xb. The first and second pulley 4a,4b are arranged/or at least suitable for being arranged to guide a hoisting roping 10 to pass below the car 1 from one side of the car 1 to the other side, opposite side, of the car 1.

[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the structure of the parallel motion linkage mechanism 7;7A;7B. FIGS. 4-6 illustrate further preferred details thereof.

[0056] In the preferred embodiment, the parallel motion linkage mechanism 7;7A;7B comprises a first lever 71 connected to the pulley frame 1 via a first pivot 71a and to the cabin frame 2 via a second pivot 71b; and a second lever 72 connected to the pulley frame via a third pivot 72a and to the cabin frame via a fourth pivot 72b.

[0057] The first, second, third and fourth pivot 71a,71b,72a,72b are positioned such that the pivot axis X1 of the first pivot 71a and the pivot axis X3 of the third pivot 72a are on a first plane P1 and the pivot axis X2 of the second pivot 71b and the pivot axis X4 of the fourth pivot 72b are on a second plane P2, wherein the first and second planes P1,P2 are parallel with each other; and the pivot axis X1 of the first pivot 71a and the pivot axis X2 of the second pivot 71b are on a third plane P3 and the pivot axis X3 of the third pivot 72a and the pivot axis X4 of the fourth pivot 72b are on a fourth plane P4, wherein the third and fourth planes P3,P4 are parallel with each other. Hereby, the levers 71,72 control movement of the pulley frame 1 the cabin frame 2 such that their relative angle remains unchanged.

[0058] The pivot axes X1,X2,X3,X4 of the first, second, third and fourth pivot 71a,72a,71b,72b are horizontal. The first and second planes P1,P2 are preferably vertical. The first and second planes P1,P2 are beside each other and the third and fourth planes P3,P4 are on top of each other. The third and fourth planes P3,P4 are preferably less than 30 degrees from horizontal, more preferably less than 15 degrees from horizontal. Thus, no substantial lateral movement occurs when there is vertical movement between the cabin frame 2 and pulley frame 1. The angle of the third and fourth planes P3,P4 from horizontal changes when the parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7;7A,7B pivots.

[0059] In the preferred embodiment, the pulley frame 3 is mounted on the cabin frame 2 by two parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7;7A,7B, in particular a first motion linkage mechanism 7A and a second motion linkage mechanism 7B, which two parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7A,7B are horizontally displaced from each other, the pivot axes X1,X2,X3,X4 of the first motion linkage mechanisms 7A being arranged to coincide with the pivot axes X1,X2,X3,X4 of the second motion linkage mechanisms 7B.

[0060] The cabin frame 2 can be made of multiple parts 2a-2c fixed to each other e.g. by bolt connection and/or weldings. These parts 2a-2c can comprise beams 2b,2c, as for example in the illustrated embodiments. However, the specific structure of the cabin frame 2 could also be different.

[0061] In the preferred embodiment, the part 2b of the cabin frame 2 on which the levers 71,72 are connected via pivots 71b,72b is a bottom corner part 2b of the cabin frame 2. The part 2a of the cabin frame 2 via which the cabin frame 2 rests, or at least can rest, on the pulley frame 1 is a horizontal beam. In the preferred embodiment, the beam 2a rests against the elastically deformable support member 6.

[0062] In the preferred embodiment, the elevator car C comprises are two of said parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7;7A,7B. This facilitates more even force distribution as well as firmness and control of relative movement between the frames 1 and 2. More specifically, there are two of said bottom corner parts 2b and two of said parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7;7A,7B. The levers 71,72 of the two parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7A,7B are connected to opposing faces of the cabin frame 2, in particular to opposing faces of two corner parts 2b of the cabin frame 2. The faces being opposing, facilitates that the two parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7A,7B do not take space from the sides of the car 1. However, this kind of space efficient positioning is not necessary and connection particularly to corner parts 2b as described is not necessary since the levers 71,72 of each parallel motion linkage mechanism 7,7A,7B could be connected via pivots 71b,72b to any suitable face of the cabin frame 2, such as alternatively to any exterior face of the frame 2 for example if added space consumption in this area would be acceptable, for instance. FIG. 8 illustrates how the two parallel motion linkage mechanisms 7,7A,7B are preferably arranged. In the Figure, many features of the car 1 are omitted for making visible the inner structure thereof. FIG. 8 illustrates a beam 2d of the cabin frame 2 and diagonal struts 2e of the cabin frame 2, which are not visible in other Figures.

[0063] The structure of said pivots is preferably such that each said pivot 71a,72a, 71b,72b comprises a shaft pin, such as a bolt member, arranged to pass through an opening, such as a hole, of a lever 71,72. Preferably, one or more of said pivots 71a,72a, 71b,72b comprises a bushing made of plastic or elastomer or rubber around the shaft pin in the opening. Preferably, one or more of said pivots 71a,72a, 71b,72b comprises a bushing b made of plastic or elastomer or rubber via which the lever 71,72 is in axial direction supported in place. A bushing made of plastic or elastomer or rubber can attenuate vibration from transmitting to and from the levers 71,72 of a parallel motion linkage mechanism 7;7A,7B.

[0064] The elastically deformable support member 6 is preferably fixed at least to one of the cabin frame 2 and the pulley frame 1.

[0065] The elastically deformable support member 6 is preferably an elastically deformable pad, such as a block made of elastic material such as elastomer or rubber.

[0066] FIG. 7, illustrates an elevator 100 according to an embodiment. The elevator 100 comprises an elevator car 1 as described referring to FIGS. 1-6 and 8.

[0067] The elevator 100 comprises a hoisting roping 10 arranged suspend the elevator car 1 via the one or more pulleys 4 of the car 1. The hoisting roping 10 is arranged to pass around the one or more pulleys 4 of the car 1.

[0068] The elevator 100 comprises guide rails 11 for guiding movement of the car 1, and the car 1 comprises guide members 9 mounted on the cabin frame 2, which are arranged to move by sliding or rolling along the one or more guide rails 11.

[0069] The elevator 100 comprises a motor 12 and a drive wheel 13 rotatable by the motor 12, and an elevator control system 14 configured to control movement of the car 1 in response to signals received from one or more user interfaces, such as a user interface located at one or more landings and/or a user interface located inside the car 1, in particular by controlling rotation of the motor 12.

[0070] Generally preferably, the suspension ratio of the car is 2:1 as illustrated in Figures. However, alternatively some other suspension ratio could be used such as 4:1, for example, or any other known suspension ratio.

[0071] Generally, the features of the car 1 are described in this application in a state where the car 1 is in an upright position.

[0072] Generally preferably, the at least one elastically deformable support member is/are arranged to carry completely or at least majority (i.e. more than 50%) of the total weight of the cabin frame 2 and components mounted thereon. Thus, the at least one elastically deformable support member 6 serve(s) as the main means for supporting the cabin frame 2 and components carried by it.

[0073] It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying Figures are only intended to teach the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The above-described embodiments of the invention may thus be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.