UNIVERSAL CONSOLE AND PIT ASSEMBLY FOR A RAIL VEHICLE OF AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM, RAIL SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ALIGNING THE RAIL SYSTEM

Abstract

A universal bracket for a rail system includes a positionable and alignable main support and at least one mounting point for at least one rail of the rail system. The main support has two guides that are inseparably connected to the main support in order to guide one plumb bob in each case, the mounting point and the guides being arranged in fixed positions relative to one another.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A universal bracket for a rail system of an elevator installation, the universal bracket comprising: a positionable and alignable main support; a mounting point for mounting a rail of the rail system; wherein the main support has two guides that are inseparably connected to the main support to guide one plumb bob each; and wherein the mounting point and the guides are arranged in fixed positions relative to one another.

13. The universal bracket according to claim 12 wherein the main support has an upper chord and a lower chord aligned parallel to the upper chord, and wherein the guides are formed as a first notch on the upper chord and as a second notch on the lower chord.

14. The universal bracket according to claim 12 wherein the guides are arranged on a side of the main support facing away from the mounting point.

15. The universal bracket according to claim 12 including a rail support aligned transversely to the main support, the mounting point being arranged on an end region of the rail support facing away from the main support, and an opposite end region of the rail support being connected to the main support.

16. A pit assembly for a rail system of an elevator installation, the pit assembly comprising: a floor support; a fastening support aligned transversely to the floor support; wherein the floor support has a mounting point for mounting a rail of the rail system; wherein the fastening support has two fastening points connected inseparably to the fastening support to fasten one plumb bob each; and wherein the mounting point and the fastening points are arranged in fixed positions relative to one another.

17. A rail system for an elevator installation, the rail system comprising: the pit assembly according to claim 16; two universal brackets, each of the universal brackets including a positionable and alignable main support, a mounting point for mounting a rail of the rail system, wherein the main support has two guides that are inseparably connected to the main support to guide one plumb bob each, and wherein the mounting point and the guides are arranged in fixed positions relative to one another; wherein one of the universal brackets is a reference bracket and another of the universal brackets is an intermediate bracket; wherein each of the fastening points of the pit assembly is arranged under an associated one of the guides of the reference bracket, and each of the guides of the intermediate bracket is positioned between associated ones of the guides of the reference bracket and the fastening points of the pit assembly; and a rail mounted on the mounting points of the pit assembly, the intermediate bracket and the reference bracket.

18. A method for aligning a rail system of an elevator installation in an elevator shaft for the elevator installation, the method comprising the steps of: arranging the pit assembly according to claim 16 at a lower end of the elevator shaft; providing two universal brackets, each of the universal brackets including a positionable and alignable main support, a mounting point for mounting a rail of the rail system, wherein the main support has two guides that are inseparably connected to the main support to guide one plumb bob each, and wherein the mounting point and the guides are arranged in fixed positions relative to one another; arranging one of the universal brackets as a reference bracket in a region of an upper end of the elevator shaft, the reference bracket being positioned and aligned on a wall of the elevator shaft; passing a first plumb bob through a first of the guides of the reference bracket and lowering the first plumb bob to the lower end of the elevator shaft; passing a second plumb bob through a second of the guides of the reference bracket and lowering the second plumb bob to the lower end of the elevator shaft; positioning a first of the fastening points of the pit assembly relative to the first plumb bob and positioning a second of the fastening points of the pit assembly relative to the second plumb bob; fastening the first plumb bob to the first fastening point and the second plumb bob to the second fastening point; arranging another of the universal brackets as an intermediate bracket in the elevator shaft, the intermediate bracket being positioned and aligned between the reference bracket and the pit assembly, wherein a first of the guides of the intermediate bracket is aligned with the first plumb bob and a second of the guides of the intermediate bracket is aligned with the second plumb bob; and mounting a rail of the rail system on the mounting points of the pit assembly, the intermediate bracket and the reference bracket.

19. The method according to claim 18 including at least one of positioning the reference bracket below an uppermost shaft door sill of the elevator shaft, and positioning the intermediate bracket below a shaft door sill of the elevator shaft.

20. The method according to claim 18 including hooking an upper end of each of the plumb bobs into the guides of the reference bracket.

21. The method according to claim 18 including fastening an upper end of each of the plumb bobs to a fastening means of the elevator shaft.

22. The method according to claim 18 including fastening an upper end of each of the plumb bobs to the reference bracket.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a representation of a rail system of an elevator installation which is under construction and has universal brackets according to an embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a representation of a universal bracket used as a reference bracket according to an embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a representation of a pit assembly according to an embodiment; and

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a representation of an alignment of a universal bracket used as an intermediate bracket according to an embodiment.

[0033] The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Like reference signs denote like or equivalent features in the various drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a representation of a rail system 100 which is under construction and has universal brackets 102 and a pit assembly 104 according to an embodiment. The rail system 100 is installed in an elevator shaft. The elevator shaft is only indicated in this case and extends over three floors of a building. Movable components of the elevator installation are later movably guided by the rail system 100 in a vertical direction. Rails 106 of the rail system 100 are mounted on the universal brackets 102 and on the pit assembly 104. The universal brackets 102 and pit assembly 104 dictate a later position of the rails 106 in the elevator shaft.

[0035] The rail system 100 is assembled from above. The uppermost of the universal brackets 102 is fastened as a reference bracket 108 to a wall 110 of the elevator shaft, and a main support 112 of the reference bracket 108 is aligned substantially parallel to the wall 110, so that rail supports 114 of the reference bracket 108 protrude away from the wall 110 horizontally into the elevator shaft. Mounting points 116 for mounting the rails of the rail system are arranged at the end regions of the rail supports 114.

[0036] In one embodiment, the reference bracket 108 is positioned and aligned horizontally on the wall 110 below a shaft door sill of the uppermost floor connected by the elevator shaft. A door guide of the reference bracket 108 is adjusted to a height of the shaft door sill. An angular position of the door guide is already predetermined by the alignment of the reference bracket 108.

[0037] Two plumb bobs 118 or plumb lines are then fastened to the reference bracket 108 and are each guided through a guide 120 of the reference bracket 108. At the ends of the plumb bobs 118, plumb weights 122 are fastened in this case. Due to the weight of the plumb weights 122, the plumb weights 122 and thus also the plumb bobs 118 hang vertically from the guides 120 of the reference bracket 108 downward into the elevator shaft.

[0038] The plumb bobs 118 are adjusted so that the plumb weights 122 hang just above a floor 124 of the elevator shaft. The pit assembly 104 is positioned on the floor 124 using plumb weights 122. The pit assembly 104 is moved on the floor 124 until fastening points 126 of the pit assembly 104 are aligned with the plumb weights 122 and the plumb bobs 118, respectively. After the alignment, the mounting points 116 of the pit assembly 104 are positioned according to the construction. In this position, the pit assembly 104 is fixed. To prevent the plumb weights 122 from swinging, the plumb bobs 118 can be fastened to the fastening points 126 of the pit assembly 104.

[0039] If the fastening points 126 of the pit assembly 104 are not alignable with the plumb weights 122, a distance of the reference bracket 108 from the wall 110 is adjusted. In this way, tolerances in the elevator shaft can be compensated for.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, instead of the pit assembly 104, an additional universal bracket is arranged in the elevator shaft as a pit bracket. In contrast to the pit assembly 104 specially designed for this purpose, the pit bracket is not fastened to the floor 124 but rather to the wall 110 and is aligned horizontally using alignment devices on fastening means in the wall 110 until the guides of the pit bracket are aligned with the plumb weights 122 or plumb bobs 118. After the alignment, the mounting points of the pit bracket are arranged vertically below the mounting points 116 of the reference bracket 108.

[0041] Another universal bracket 102 is fastened to the wall 110 as an intermediate bracket 128 between the reference bracket 108 and the pit assembly 104. The intermediate bracket 128 is positioned below a shaft door sill of the middle floor. An angular position of the intermediate bracket 128 is adjusted until the intermediate bracket 128 is level and guides 120 of the intermediate bracket 128 are aligned with the plumb bobs 118. A door guide of the intermediate bracket 128 is adjusted to a height of the shaft door sill.

[0042] After all guides 120 have been aligned vertically one above the other via the plumb weights 122 or plumb bobs 118, the mounting points 116 for the rails 106 are also arranged vertically one above the other. Thus, the rails 106 can be mounted without further alignment. The plumb bobs 118 are removed after assembly of the rail system 100 and can be reused.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a representation of a universal bracket 102 used as a reference bracket 108 according to an embodiment. The reference bracket 108 substantially corresponds to the reference bracket in FIG. 1. As in FIG. 1, the reference bracket 108 is arranged in front of the wall 110 of the elevator shaft and is aligned in an installation position. The main support 112 is designed in this case as a C-shaped profile having an upper chord 200, a lower chord 202, and a web 204 connecting the upper chord 200 and the lower chord 202. The “C” of the main support 112 is open to the wall 110. The upper chord 200, the lower chord 202, and the web 204 have recesses to save material.

[0044] In this case, one of the guides 120 is shown with one of the plumb bobs 118. The guide 120 has a first notch 206 in the upper chord 200 and a second notch 208 in the lower chord 202. The notches 206, 208 are arranged vertically one above the other when the universal bracket 102 is aligned in the intended position thereof in space. The notches 206, 208 are spaced apart by a width of the web 204. The plumb bob 118 is knotted in this case on the main support 112 in the region of the upper chord 200 and runs through the first notch 206 and the second notch 208 downwards in the direction of a lower end of the elevator shaft.

[0045] The notches 206, 208 are designed as V-shaped indents. The plumb bob 118 rests against a low point of the indents. In order not to weaken the main support 112, the notches 206, 208 are arranged outside of a loaded cross section of the main support 112. The notches 206, 208 are arranged in projections protruding from the upper chord 200 and the lower chord 202.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a representation of a pit assembly 104 according to an embodiment. The pit assembly 104 substantially corresponds to the pit assembly in FIG. 1. A rail 106 of the rail system has been connected to one of the mounting points 116 of the pit assembly 104. The rail 106 is designed to guide a car of the elevator installation and a counterweight of the elevator installation vertically in the elevator shaft.

[0047] The pit assembly 104 has a floor support 302 and a fastening support 304. The floor support 302 has mounting points 116 at opposite ends. A length of the floor support 302 thus substantially corresponds to a clear width of the rail system. The fastening support 304 is fastened to the floor support 302 and has fastening points 126. The fastening support 304 positions the fastening points 126 in a fixed position relative to the mounting points 116. In positioning the pit assembly 104, the floor support 302 and fastening support 304 are slid back and forth until the fastening points 126 are aligned with the plumb weights or plumb bobs 118 that are hanging down. In this position, the pit assembly 104 is bolted to the floor 124. In this case the plumb bobs 118 are fastened to the fastening points 126 to tension them.

[0048] The floor support 302 is designed as an upwardly open U-profile. The fastening support 304 extends as a metal sheet along the floor 124 to a flange that is bent upwards, on which flange the fastening points 126 are arranged at the intended distance from one another and in the correct relative position to the mounting points 116. The fastening points 126 are arranged at opposite ends of the flange. The fastening support 304 has a large recess in the region of the floor 124 to reduce weight and save material.

[0049] The fastening points 126 of the pit assembly 104 are designed differently than the guides of the universal brackets. The fastening points 126 each have only one indent 306 through which the plumb bob 118 is guided. The indent 306 is aligned toward the floor 124 and clamps the plumb bob 118 when under tension. To secure the plumb bob 118 in the fastening point 126, the plumb bob 118 may be knotted to the fastening point 126.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a representation of an alignment of a universal bracket 102 used as an intermediate bracket 128 according to an embodiment. The intermediate bracket 128 substantially corresponds to the universal bracket used as a reference bracket in FIG. 2. In this case, the reference bracket on an above-lying floor of the building and the pit assembly at the lower end of the elevator shaft are already aligned and fixed in their intended positions. Plumb bobs 118 are tensioned between the guides of the reference bracket and the fastening points of the pit assembly. The plumb bobs 118 run at a small distance from the wall 110 of the elevator shaft.

[0051] The intermediate bracket 128 is fastened to threaded bolts 400 anchored in the wall 110 and projecting substantially horizontally into the elevator shaft. The intermediate bracket 128 is slid onto the threaded bolts 400 and temporarily fixed using an alignment device per threaded bolt 400. The plumb bobs 118 run through a gap 402 between the main support 112 and the wall 110.

[0052] Stops are arranged on the threaded bolts 400, via which stops a distance of the main support 112 from the wall 110 and an angular position of the entire intermediate bracket 128 can be adjusted. The stops are adjusted so that the plumb bobs 118 pass precisely through both notches 206, 208 of the guides 120 of the intermediate bracket 128 without deflecting the plumb bobs 118 laterally. This adjusts both the distance and angular position of the intermediate bracket 128 such that the mounting points of the intermediate bracket 128 are arranged perpendicularly below the mounting points of the reference bracket. After the alignment, the intermediate bracket 128 is finally fixed on the threaded bolt 400 by tightening lock nuts. After tightening, the plumb bobs 118 run in a straight line, i.e. without kinks, through the guides 120. In this way, further intermediate brackets can be aligned with the plumb bobs 118.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “having,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps, and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0054] 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.