Main rope sway suppression device

Abstract

To provide a main rope swing suppression device that can appropriately suppress the lateral swing of the main rope. [Solution] The main rope sway suppression device 30 comprises a pulley (first pulley) 44 positioned around the car-side main rope group 12A above the elevator car 14, a long member 43 positioned below the pulley 44 and rotatably supported, and an actuator (drive unit) 48 that rotates the long member 43 in the vertical direction. The actuator 48 rotates the long member 48 in the vertical direction to pull the car-side main rope group 12A via a sway suppression rope (first sway suppression rope) 52, which is stretched over the pulley 44 and has one end connected to the car-side main rope group 12A and the other end connected to the right end (first end) 43R of the long member 43.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for suppressing the sway of a main rope, and particularly to a sway suppression device for suppressing the sway of a main rope caused by the sway of a building due to an earthquake or the like.

Background Art

[0002] In a rope-type elevator installed in a high-rise building, in many cases, a machine room is provided directly above the upper part of the hoistway of the car, and a hoisting machine for driving the car is installed in the machine room. A main rope is hung on a drum that forms part of this hoisting machine. A car is connected to one end side of the main rope, and a counterweight is connected to the other end side, and each is suspended by the main rope. Then, by rotating the drum of the hoisting machine forward or backward, the car guided by a pair of car guide rails laid in the vertical direction is configured to move up and down.

[0003] In an elevator having such a configuration, for example, when the building shakes due to long-period seismic motion, horizontal sway (hereinafter, this horizontal sway of the main rope is referred to as "lateral sway") occurs in the main rope that suspends the car from the top of the building in substantially the same direction as the sway of the building.

[0004] Conventionally, the magnitude of the sway of the main rope is estimated from the magnitude of the sway of the building sensed by a long-period vibration sensor installed in the building, and depending on the degree of the magnitude of the sway of the main rope, the elevator is controlled to operate, and the operation of the elevator is temporarily stopped, etc.

[0005] However, there is a problem in that even after the building's vibrations subside, normal elevator operation cannot be resumed until the main rope's vibrations have stabilized. Furthermore, if the main rope resonates with the frequency of building vibrations caused by earthquakes or strong winds, the main rope's vibrations may become larger. In such cases, the main rope may come into contact with and damage equipment installed in the elevator shaft. If equipment is damaged, repair work by maintenance personnel will be required, which will result in a longer period before normal operation can be resumed.

[0006] In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a device for suppressing the lateral sway of the main rope, in which a sway-suppressing rope is connected to a clamp (connector) attached to the main rope, and both ends of the rope extend diagonally downward from the clamp and are stretched over pulleys installed at opposing corners on the upper surface of the elevator car so that the direction of rotation is vertical, and the sway-suppressing rope is connected to an actuator in the center of the upper surface, and the actuator rotates in a horizontal direction approaching one of the corners to pull the clamp, thereby exciting the clamp and suppressing the lateral sway of the main rope. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-51279 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] In the vibration suppression device described in Patent Document 1 above, a vibration suppression rope is stretched over a pulley installed at the corner of the upper surface of the elevator car so that its rotation direction is vertical, and the vibration suppression rope is pulled via an actuator that rotates horizontally.

[0009] In other words, because the rotation direction of the actuator is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the pulley, there is a problem in that the swing suppression rope is prone to falling off the pulley, making it impossible to properly suppress the lateral swing of the main rope.

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a main rope swing suppression device that can appropriately suppress the lateral swing of the main rope. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The main rope sway suppression device of the present invention is a main rope sway suppression device that suppresses the sway of the main rope when sway occurs in the main rope that suspends an elevator car, and comprises a first pulley arranged around the main rope above the elevator car, a long member arranged below the first pulley and rotatably supported, and a drive unit that rotates the long member in the vertical direction, and the drive unit rotates the long member in the vertical direction to pull the main rope via a first sway suppression rope which is stretched over the first pulley and has one end connected to the main rope and the other end connected to the first end of the long member.

[0012] In the main rope sway suppression device of the present invention, a second pulley is provided which is positioned opposite the first pulley with the main rope in between, and a second sway suppression rope may be connected to the second end of the long member, with one end of the rope connected to the main rope while stretched across the second pulley.

[0013] In the main rope sway suppression device according to the present invention, a first tension-applying part for applying tension to the first sway suppression rope may be provided at the first end of the long member.

[0014] In the main rope sway suppression device according to the present invention, a second tension-applying part for applying tension to the second sway suppression rope may be provided at the second end of the long member.

[0015] In the main rope sway suppression device according to the present invention, the drive unit has a drive arm that extends and retracts in the vertical direction, and the first end of the long member may be provided with an engagement portion that engages the drive arm so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the long member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the main rope sway suppression device of the present invention, the first sway suppression rope is stretched over a first pulley positioned around the main rope above the elevator car, and then pulled downward via a long member positioned below the first pulley. This ensures that when suppressing the lateral sway of the main rope, the first sway suppression rope is pulled in a direction along the rotational direction of the first pulley. As a result, it becomes possible to appropriately suppress the lateral sway of the main rope. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is an overall configuration diagram of an elevator to which a main rope sway suppression device, which is one embodiment of the present invention, is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view of the main rope sway suppression device. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing the upper structure of the swing suppression device for the main rope. [Figure 4] Figure 4(a) is a side view showing the overall configuration of the main rope sway suppression device, and Figure 4(b) is a plan view of the main rope sway suppression device. [Figure 5] Figure 5(a) shows the operation of the main rope sway suppression device when the main rope is pulled to the right, and Figure 5(b) shows the operation of the main rope sway suppression device when the main rope is pulled to the left. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, an elevator 10 to which a main rope swing suppression device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, "X" shown in the figure indicates a horizontal direction X that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the upper beam 14A-1, "Y" indicates a horizontal direction Y orthogonal to the horizontal direction X, and "Z" indicates a vertical direction Z orthogonal to the horizontal directions X and Y, respectively. Also, if necessary, the horizontal direction X is also denoted as the X direction, and the horizontal direction Y as the Y direction.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the elevator 10. In FIG. 1, for simplicity of illustration, the main rope group 12 is shown as one rope. As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator 10 is a traction-type rope elevator, and a car frame 14A that supports a car 14 is suspended from one end side of the main rope group 12 composed of a plurality of main ropes 12-1, 12-2, 12-3,... (see FIG. 2), and a counterweight 15 is suspended from the other end side.

[0020] A main rope swing suppression device (hereinafter referred to as the "swing suppression device") 30 is attached to the car frame 14A. Further, the car 14 is configured to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction Z along a pair of guide rails (not shown) provided on the wall surface of the hoistway 17 corresponding to the car 14. Similarly, the counterweight 15 is also provided so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction Z along a pair of guide rails (not shown) provided corresponding to the counterweight 15.

[0021] Furthermore, one end of a compensation rope 16 having a function of compensating for the imbalance of the weight of the main rope group 12 whose suspended weight varies depending on the up and down position of the car 14 is connected to the car frame 14A. This compensation rope 16 is spanned over a deflector sheave 19 installed at the bottom pit 17-1 of the hoistway 17, and the other end side is connected to the lower end portion of the counterweight 15.

[0022] The main rope group 12 is stretched across the sheave 18A and deflector 18B of the hoisting machine 18, which is installed in the machine room M directly above the elevator shaft 17. The hoisting machine motor (not shown) rotates the sheave 18A in the forward or reverse direction, thereby relatively raising and lowering the elevator car 14 and the counterweight 15. The machine room M is also equipped with a control unit 20 that comprehensively controls the operation of the hoisting machine 18 and the swing suppression device 30. In this embodiment, the operation of the swing suppression device 30 is controlled by the control unit 20 located in the machine room M, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a control unit for controlling the operation of the swing suppression device 30 may be provided on the upper surface 14R of the elevator car 14.

[0023] In the following explanation, the portion of the main rope group 12 that suspends the elevator car 14 will be referred to as the car-side main rope group 12A, and the portion that suspends the counterweight 15 will be referred to as the counterweight-side main rope group 12B, as needed. According to the above definition, the lengths of the car-side main rope group 12A and the counterweight-side main rope group 12B within the main rope group 12 will vary depending on the elevation position of the elevator car 14. Here, the car-side main rope group 12A shown by the dashed line in Figure 1 schematically represents an example of the state when the car-side main rope group 12A swings laterally (described in detail later).

[0024] Figure 2 shows the configuration of the sway suppression device 30 in a side view. Figure 3 shows the configuration of the upper part of the sway suppression device 30 in a plan view. In Figure 3, to avoid complicated illustrations, the long member 43 and the surrounding configuration of the member 43, which will be described later, are omitted from the illustration. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the sway suppression device 30 has the function of suppressing the lateral swing of the car-side main rope group 12A when the car-side main rope group 12A swings in the horizontal direction (hereinafter, this horizontal swing of the car-side main rope group 12A will be referred to as "lateral swing"). The sway suppression device 30 comprises a frame 32 and a connector 34 attached to the car-side main rope group 12A located above the elevator car 14.

[0025] The frame 32 is attached to the upper beam 14A-1, which forms part of the cage frame 14A, and is a structure composed of steel materials and the like that form a roughly rectangular frame shape when viewed from above, which are provided to surround the main rope group 12A on the cage side.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the sway suppression device 30 comprises a connector 34 attached to the main rope group 12A on the car side, pulley units 41 and 42 on which sway suppression ropes (first sway suppression rope, second sway suppression rope) 52 and 54 connected to the connector 34 are respectively stretched, and a long member 43 positioned below the pulley units 41 and 42. The sway suppression ropes 52 and 54 are each connected to the connector 34 at one end via joints 34A and 34B that are rotatable around an axis substantially parallel to the vertical direction Z.

[0027] By using joints 34A and 34B in this manner, the bending forces acting on the swing-suppressing ropes 52 and 54 when the cage-side main rope group 12A is swinging laterally can be mitigated. Universal joints may also be used as joints 34A and 34B. Since the swing-suppressing ropes 52 and 54 and their surrounding configurations are identical, the following explanation will mainly focus on the swing-suppressing rope 52 and its surrounding configuration, while the explanation of the swing-suppressing rope 54 and its surrounding configuration will be omitted as appropriate.

[0028] Pulley units 41 and 42 are pulley units with almost identical configurations, arranged facing each other with the cage-side main rope group 12A in between. In the following description, parts of the configuration common to both pulley units 41 and 42 will be described using pulley unit 41, and descriptions of pulley unit 42 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0029] The pulley unit 41 includes a pulley (first pulley) 44 positioned at the same height as the connector 34, and a pivot mechanism 60 for supporting the pulley 44 on the frame 32 so that it can rotate horizontally. The pulley 44 is provided on the pivot mechanism 60 such that its rotation direction is vertical (in other words, the axis of rotation is horizontal).

[0030] Here, the portion of the vibration suppression rope 52 located on the connector 34 side of the pulley 44 is referred to as the connector-side vibration suppression rope 52A, and the portion located on the actuator 48 side of the pulley 44 is referred to as the drive-side vibration suppression rope 52B, as needed.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rotating mechanism 60 includes a base 62 attached to the upper part of the frame 32 and a movable base 64 that is rotatably supported on the base 62 along the horizontal direction. The movable base 64 is rotatably supported on the base 62 via a cylindrical shaft 63. The movable base 64 is also equipped with a support part 44-1 that pivotally supports the pulley 44 described above. The base 62 and the movable base 64 are each composed of plates that have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the cylindrical shaft 63 has a hollow structure 63A in its center that is roughly annular in plan view, and is attached so as to penetrate the base 62 and the movable base 64 in the thickness direction. The cylindrical shaft 63 has the role of rotatably supporting the movable base 64 on the base 62, as shown by the dashed-dotted and double-dotted lines in Figure 3. This allows the orientation of the pulley 44 to change in accordance with the displacement of the main rope group 12A on the cage side, even if the main rope group 12A is displaced in the front-rear direction.

[0033] Furthermore, the drive-side vibration suppression rope 52B is inserted through the cylindrical shaft 63 and is positioned to extend from the right end 43R of the elongated member 43 (described later) toward the pulley 44. Here, it is preferable to set the mounting position of the cylindrical shaft 63 to the movable base 64 and the base 62 such that the center portion of the hollow structure 63A substantially coincides with the position where the rope 52B extends from the pulley 44 toward the right end 43R of the elongated member 43 (described later).

[0034] As a result, as shown by the dashed and double-dotted lines in Figure 3, in a plan view, the position of the pivot point when the movable base 64 rotates can be set to the periphery of the drive-side sway suppression rope 52B (see Figure 2) that extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the movable base 64 equipped with the pulley 44 rotates, the horizontal displacement of the drive-side sway suppression rope 52B is reduced, and slack in the drive-side sway suppression rope 52B due to the rotation of the pulley 44 can also be suppressed.

[0035] Figure 4(a) is a schematic side view showing only the vibration suppression device 30 shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4(b) is a diagram showing the configuration of the elongated member 43 in a plan view. As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the elongated member 43 is supported at its center by the frame 32 in a rotatable manner via a rotating support part 47 (this can also be described as a pivot support), and is configured by connecting two plate-shaped members 43-1 and 43-2 so as to face each other with the car-side main rope group 12A in between. As shown in Figure 4(b), the rotating support part 47 is composed of a first base 47A and a second base 47B which are positioned opposite each other on the front and rear sides of the frame 32 with the elongated member 43 in between, and is connected to the front plate-shaped member 43-1 and the rear plate-shaped member 43-2 via rotating shafts AX1 and AX2, respectively.

[0036] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), an elastic unit (first tension-applying part) 70 is provided at the right end (first end) 43R of the elongated member 43. This elastic unit 70 has an elastic spring built in and connects the drive-side sway suppression rope 52B to the right end 43R of the elongated member 43 via the spring. This applies tension, or in other words, a preload, to the drive-side sway suppression rope 52B, thereby suppressing slack throughout the entire length of the sway suppression rope 52.

[0037] As a result, it is possible to prevent slack from forming in the swing-suppressing rope 52, which would prevent it from properly suppressing the lateral swing of the main rope group 12A on the car side. It is also possible to prevent the swing-suppressing rope 52 from falling off the pulley 44 due to slack forming in the swing-suppressing rope 52.

[0038] Preferably, the elastic unit 70 has shafts 70A and 70B provided at the top that are rotatably engaged with through holes H3 and H4 provided in the plate-shaped members 43-1 and 43-2, respectively. This allows the elastic unit 70 to rotate in accordance with the direction of the drive-side vibration suppression rope 52B, even if the angle between the drive-side vibration suppression rope 52B and the plate-shaped members 43-1 and 43-2 changes as the plate-shaped members 43-1 and 43-2 rotate. As a result, bending or rubbing of the drive-side vibration suppression rope 52B at the connection point with the elastic unit 70 can be suppressed as the plate-shaped members 43-1 and 43-2 rotate.

[0039] Similarly, an elastic unit (second tension-applying part) 72 may also be provided at the left end (second end) 43L of the long member 43. This elastic unit 72 has the same configuration as the elastic unit 70 described above and has the role of connecting the other end of the swing-suppressing rope 54, which is connected at one end to the connector 34 and stretched over the pulley (second pulley) 46 included in the pulley unit 42, to the left end 43L of the long member 43.

[0040] As a result, even if the angle between the vibration-suppressing rope 54 and the long member 43 changes due to the rotation of the long member 43, the elastic unit 72 can rotate according to the direction of the vibration-suppressing rope 54. This prevents the vibration-suppressing rope 54 from bending and becoming prone to wear at the connection point with the elastic unit 72.

[0041] In this embodiment, the sway-suppressing ropes 52 and 54 are connected to the long member 43 via elastic units 70 and 72. However, if slack in the sway-suppressing ropes 52 and 54 is not a particular problem, the sway-suppressing ropes 52 and 54 may be connected to the long member 43 without using the elastic units 70 and 72.

[0042] Furthermore, the vibration suppression device 30 includes an actuator 48 positioned directly below the right end portion 43R of the elongated member 43. This actuator 48 is attached to the right side of the main body 32 and has a drive arm 49 that extends and retracts in the vertical direction. By extending and retracting the drive arm 49, the right end portion 43R of the elongated member 43 is moved up and down.

[0043] Furthermore, the drive arm 49 is a rod-shaped member with an upper end 49A that is roughly T-shaped, and engages with elongated holes (engaging parts) H1 and H2 (see Figure 4(b)) provided opposite to the plate-shaped members 43-1 and 43-2 at the right end 43R. These elongated holes H1 and H2 are through holes formed to be horizontally elongated, or in other words, elongated in the longitudinal direction of the elongated member 43, in order to allow the drive arm 49 to move smoothly up and down by sliding within the elongated holes H1 and H2 when the relative position of the drive arm 49 and the elongated member 43 changes as the elongated member 43 rotates.

[0044] The length L in the width direction of the elongated hole H1 (see Figure 4(b)) is set to be longer than the distance the drive arm 49 slides so as not to hinder the sliding movement of the drive arm 49 within the elongated hole H1 when the elongated member 43 rotates. Similarly, the elongated hole H2 is also set so that its length in the width direction is equal to the length L of the elongated hole H1. It is preferable to use a hydraulic or electric actuator for the actuator 48.

[0045] In this embodiment, the elongated member 43 is provided with elongated holes H1 and H2 to engage the drive arm 49 with the elongated member 43 so that it can slide; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, instead of providing elongated holes H1 and H2 in the elongated member 43, a guide rail may be provided and the drive arm 49 may be engaged with the guide rail so that it can slide.

[0046] Next, the operation of the sway suppression device 30 will be explained using Figures 5(a) and 5(b). As shown in Figure 5(a), when the sway suppression device 30 pulls the car-side main rope group 12A to the right, the actuator 48 displaces the right end 43R of the long member 43 downward via the drive arm 49. As a result, the long member 43 rotates to the right and can pull the car-side main rope group 12A to the right via the sway suppression rope 52. In addition, a preload is applied to the opposite sway suppression rope 54 via the elastic unit 72, so it can follow the displacement of the car-side main rope group 12A without slackening.

[0047] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5(b), when the sway suppression device 30 pulls the car-side main rope group 12A to the left, the actuator 48 displaces the right end 43R of the elongated member 43 upward via the drive arm 49. As a result, the elongated member 43 rotates to the left, and can pull the car-side main rope group 12A to the left via the sway suppression rope 54. In addition, since a preload is applied to the opposite sway suppression rope 52 via the elastic unit 70, it can follow the displacement of the car-side main rope group 12A without slackening.

[0048] According to the main rope sway suppression device 30 of this embodiment, the sway suppression ropes 52 and 54, which are stretched across pulleys 44 and 46 arranged around the car-side main rope group 12A above the elevator car 14 and connected to the car-side main rope group 12A via a connector 34 through a long member 43 located below the pulleys 44 and 46, are pulled downward.

[0049] As a result, when suppressing the lateral sway of the main rope group 12A on the car side, the direction in which the long member 43 pulls (tensions) the sway-suppressing ropes 52 and 54 is aligned with the rotational direction of the pulleys 44 and 46. Therefore, it becomes possible to appropriately suppress the lateral sway of the main rope group 12A on the car side.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the sway suppression device 30 is described as being configured to be able to pull the car-side main rope group 12A to the right and to the left using sway suppression ropes 52 and 54. However, it is also possible to configure the device to pull the car-side main rope group 12A to the right or to the left using only one of the sway suppression ropes 52 or 54.

[0051] In the above embodiment, an example is given in which the swing suppression device 30 is used to suppress the lateral swing of the cage-side main rope group 12A. However, the swing suppression device 30 may also be installed on the upper part of the counterweight 15 to suppress the lateral swing of the counterweight-side main rope group 12B.

[0052] The present invention can be implemented in various forms with improvements, modifications, or alterations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, without departing from its spirit. Furthermore, the invention may be implemented in a form in which any of its defining features is replaced with other technologies, as long as the same function or effect is achieved. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 10 Elevators 12 Main rope groups 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 Main ropes 12A Main rope group on the cage side 12B Main rope group on the counterweight side 14. Car 14A cage frame 14A-1 Upper beam 30. Swing suppression device (Swing suppression device for the main rope) 32 skeleton 34 Connectors 34A, 34B fittings 43 Long members 43R Right side end (1st end) 43L Left end (second end) 43-1, 43-2 Plate-shaped member H1,H2 long hole (engaging part) 41,42 Pulley Unit 43 Long members 44 Pulley (1st pulley) 46 Pulley (2nd pulley) 48 Actuator (drive unit) 49 Drive arm 52. Swing suppression rope (1st swing suppression rope) 54. Swing suppression rope (second swing suppression rope) 60 Rotating Mechanism 62 base 63 Cylindrical shaft 64 Movable platform 70,71 Elastic unit (first tension-applying part, second tension-applying part) X,Y horizontal direction Z vertical direction

Claims

1. A main rope swing suppression device that suppresses the swing of the main rope that suspends an elevator car when the main rope swings, A first pulley is positioned around the main rope above the aforementioned elevator car, A long member positioned below the first pulley and rotatably supported, A drive unit that rotates the aforementioned elongated member in the vertical direction, Equipped with, The drive unit rotates the elongated member vertically, thereby pulling the main rope via a first sway-suppressing rope, which is stretched across the first pulley and has one end connected to the main rope and the other end connected to the first end of the elongated member. A device to suppress the swing of the main rope.

2. The system includes a second pulley positioned opposite the first pulley with the main rope in between, The long member has a second sway-suppressing rope connected to its second end, which is stretched across the second pulley and has one end connected to the main rope. The main rope sway suppression device according to claim 1.

3. The first end of the long member is provided with a first tension-applying part for applying tension to the first sway-suppressing rope. The main rope sway suppression device according to claim 1.

4. The second end of the long member is provided with a second tension-applying part for applying tension to the second sway-suppressing rope. The main rope sway suppression device according to claim 2.

5. The drive unit has a drive arm that extends and retracts in the vertical direction, The first end of the elongated member is provided with an engagement portion that engages the drive arm so that it can slide in the longitudinal direction of the elongated member. The main rope sway suppression device according to claim 1.

Images