DEVICE FOR CHECKING GUIDES AND METHOD FOR BALANCING AN ELEVATOR CAR

Abstract

A device for checking guides of an elevator car that can be moved along guide rails may include means for measuring contact forces of the guides on the guide rails. The device may further include an evaluation unit. The means for measuring contact forces may be configured to make measured values determined by the means for measuring contact forces available to the evaluation unit, either through wired connection or wireless connection. In some cases, the means for measuring contact forces may measure contact forces on the guide rails in at least two different directions. Also disclosed are methods for balancing elevator cars.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A device for checking guides of an elevator car that can be moved along guide rails, the device comprising: means for measuring contact forces of the guides on the guide rails, wherein the means for measuring contact forces are detachably fitted to the guide rails; and an evaluation unit, wherein the means for measuring contact forces are configured to make measured values determined by the means for measuring contact forces available to the evaluation unit.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the means for measuring contact forces are configured to measure contact forces on the guide rails in at least two different directions.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the means for measuring contact forces are at least partly fitted between the guide rails and running rollers of the guides.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the means for measuring contact forces comprise force measuring films.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the means for measuring contact forces each include at least one force transducer.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the means for measuring contact forces are either removably disposed into guides configured as emergency guides or fitted to the elevator car as separate guides.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein the means for measuring contact forces comprise radio transmission units that transmit the measured values to the evaluation unit.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein the means for measuring contact forces are connectable to the evaluation unit by a cable connection.

21. The device of claim 13 wherein the evaluation unit comprises a processing means and a display means, wherein based on the measured values and the contact forces calculated therefrom the evaluation unit is configured to determine and display a weight distribution of the elevator car that changes the contact forces.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the weight distribution that is determined and displayed by the evaluation unit comprises a setting for adjustable weights on the elevator car.

23. A method for balancing an elevator car that can be moved by guides along guide rails, wherein the balancing involves a device comprising means for measuring contact forces of the guides on the guide rails, wherein the means for measuring contact forces are detachably fitted to the guide rails, the device further comprising an evaluation unit, wherein the means for measuring contact forces are configured to make measured values determined by the means for measuring contact forces available to the evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit comprises a processing means and a display means, wherein based on the measured values and the contact forces calculated therefrom the evaluation unit is configured to determine and display a weight distribution of the elevator car that changes the contact forces, with the weight distribution comprising a setting for adjustable weights on the elevator car, the method comprising: fitting the means for measuring contact forces; determining and displaying the weight distribution of the elevator car that changes the contact forces by way of the evaluation unit; and performing corrective measures to adapt the elevator car to the determined weight distribution.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the weight distribution is determined and displayed after the means for measuring contact forces have been fitted and after one or more individuals in or on the elevator car have left the elevator car.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising removing the means for measuring contact forces after the corrective measures have been performed.

Description

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows, schematically, an elevator car with a device according to the invention in a preferred configuration.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows, schematically, a guide of an elevator car with a device according to the invention in a preferred configuration.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows, schematically, a guide of an elevator car with a device according to the invention in a further preferred configuration.

[0035] In FIG. 1, an elevator car 100 in an elevator shaft with guide rails 10 and a device according to the invention in a preferred configuration is illustrated schematically. The elevator car 100 has four guides 20 formed as roller guides, by means of which it is guided along the guide rails 10. The elevator car 100 is held by a supporting means 90.

[0036] Four means 30 for measuring contact forces are fitted to the guide rails 10. According to this embodiment, the means 30 are formed as force measuring films. They are each placed on the guide rails 10 in such a way that they can pick up and measure the contact forces of the roller guides 20. For a more detailed illustration of the means 30, reference should be made to FIG. 2. Also shown is an evaluation unit 50, which is connected to the means 30 via a radio connection.

[0037] The evaluation unit 50 can be a specific device for evaluating the contact forces. However, for example, the use of a laptop, a tablet computer or a smart phone having an appropriate computer program, in particular a so-called App, is also expedient.

[0038] Also illustrated on the underside of the elevator car 100, by way of example, are two displaceable weights 60, by means of which the weight distribution of the elevator car 100 can be set. Another number of such weights 60, for example three or four, is also conceivable.

[0039] In FIG. 2, a cross section of a guide rail 10 with a roller guide 20 is shown. The roller guide 20 comprises three rollers, which press on the guide rail 10 in different directions.

[0040] A means 30 formed as a force measuring film is fitted to the guide rail 10. This can be, for example, a force measuring film which is bent appropriately or else three individual force measuring films which are appropriately connected to one another. For the detachable attachment to the guide rail 10, the force measuring film has, for example, a magnetic coating on one side. However, other coatings, for example adhesive coatings, are also conceivable.

[0041] Here, it should also be noted that the force measuring films including the coating are so thin that they readily find space between the rollers of the roller guides 20 and the guide rail 10 and also do not substantially change the measured result, because of the low application. Care must also be taken that the force measuring film is not stripped off by catch devices.

[0042] The means 30 also comprise a radio transmission unit 40, by means of which a radio link to the evaluation unit 50 can be produced. Such a radio connection can, for example, be made via a so-called Bluetooth connection.

[0043] In order to perform the method according to the invention, the means 30 including the radio transmission unit 40 are each fitted to the appropriate points on the guide rail, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1. Expediently, the means 30 are each fitted directly above or below the guides 20, and the elevator car 100 is then moved appropriately.

[0044] After all individuals have left the elevator car 100 (that is to say in particular after a mechanic has left the roof of the elevator car), an up-to date and precise distribution of the contact forces can be measured by means of the evaluation unit 50. By means of the evaluation unit 50, an optimal weight distribution of the elevator car 100 can then be determined, so that all the contact forces are distributed optimally. For this purpose, an optimum setting of the weights 60 can expediently be specified or proposed by the evaluation unit 50, which setting is then adjusted appropriately.

[0045] It should also be noted that such balancing can be carried out at each position to which the elevator car can move. Expedient, however, is one floor, for example, with a longer waiting time of the elevator car, since loadings of the guides manifest themselves most quickly there. In addition, the mass of a suspension cable on the elevator car 100 should also be taken into account.

[0046] Following the balancing, the elevator car can be moved down again from the means 30, and the means 30 can be removed.

[0047] In FIG. 3, a cross section of a further preferred configuration of the device according to the invention is shown. An inlay 70, in which in turn the means 30 for measuring the contact force of the guide 20 on the guide rail 10 are introduced, is introduced into the guide 20, formed as an emergency guide. The means 30 comprise three force transducers, for example so-called load cells. The three force transducers are connected to a radio transmission unit 40, via which they are connected to an evaluation unit.

[0048] The force transducers here, as well as the force measuring films in FIG. 2, measure three different directions of the contact forces. These directions expediently correspond to the directions in which rollers of a regular roller guide bear on the guide rail. During the performance of the method according to the invention, the difference here, as opposed to the use of a device shown in FIG. 2, is that the means 30 are introduced in the respective inlay 70 into the emergency guides, which are usually arranged close to the roller guides. Following the balancing, the inlays 70 are then removed from the emergency guides again.