Elevator guide rail alignment method and device
By improving the guide rail alignment method and device, and using plumb lines and measuring devices to detect guide rail errors, the problem of difficult guide rail alignment in elevator shafts has been solved, and the quality of guide rail alignment and result recording have been improved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KONE OYJ
- Filing Date
- 2021-05-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
In elevator shafts, guide rail alignment is difficult and alignment tools are hard to read, resulting in time-consuming repetitive and precise work with no recorded results, and rope bundles hinder accurate measurements.
An improved guide rail alignment method and apparatus is adopted, which uses a limited number of sensors to detect guide rail errors through a plumb line and measuring device, and records the alignment results. It is suitable for both manual and automatic alignment.
It improves the quality and accuracy of guide rail alignment, enables the detection of guide rail errors and the recording of alignment results, and is applicable to different types of elevator shafts and building heights.
Smart Images
Figure CN117320993B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for aligning elevator guide rails. Background Technology
[0002] An elevator may include a car, elevator shaft, traction machine, ropes, and counterweight. A separate or integrated car frame may surround the car.
[0003] A traction machine can be positioned within an elevator shaft. The traction machine may include a drive unit, a motor, a traction sheave, and a mechanical brake. The traction machine moves the elevator car up and down within the shaft. The mechanical brake stops the rotation of the traction sheave, thereby stopping the elevator car's movement.
[0004] The car frame can be connected to the counterweight via ropes through a traction pulley. The car frame can also be supported on guide rails by a guiding device, which extend vertically within the elevator shaft. The guide rails can be attached to the side wall structure of the elevator shaft using fastening brackets. As the car moves up and down within the elevator shaft, the guiding device keeps the car in the correct position in the horizontal plane. The counterweight can be supported on the guide rails in a similar manner, and the guide rails are attached to the wall structure of the elevator shaft.
[0005] The elevator car can transport people and / or goods between building floors. The wall structure of the elevator shaft can be formed by solid walls, open beam structures, or any combination thereof.
[0006] EP2872432B1 discloses a guide rail straightness measurement system for elevator installation. The system includes at least one plumb line vertically mounted on the shaft and close to the guide rail, and at least one sensor device supported on the guide rail. The sensor device includes: a measuring frame; at least one guide shoe connected to the measuring frame for supporting the sensor device on the guide rail; a biasing device for placing and biasing the measuring frame onto a guide surface; and at least one sensor device for sensing the position of the plumb line relative to the measuring frame.
[0007] However, conditions within the elevator shaft are extremely harsh during alignment work. Visibility is typically poor, making it difficult to read alignment tools. Cable bundles within the shaft can hinder accurate DBG measurements. Therefore, repeatable precision work within the elevator shaft is challenging. All of this is time-consuming, and if done poorly, requires laborious rework. Guide rail alignment results are typically not recorded or documented. Summary of the Invention
[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for aligning elevator guide rails.
[0009] This invention enables improvements in the alignment quality of guide rails.
[0010] This invention enables the detection of pipeline errors.
[0011] This invention makes it possible to record and document alignment results.
[0012] This invention can be used for both manual and automatic guide rail alignment.
[0013] This invention can be implemented using a limited number of sensors.
[0014] Each guide rail of this invention requires only one plumb line. Attached Figure Description
[0015] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, in which:
[0016] Figure 1 A side view of the elevator is shown.
[0017] Figure 2 The horizontal cross-section of the elevator is shown.
[0018] Figure 3 The fastening bracket is shown.
[0019] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the guide rail alignment measuring device is shown.
[0020] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 An enlarged view of the measuring device shown.
[0021] Figure 6 It shows Figure 4 A further enlarged view of the measuring device shown. Detailed Implementation
[0022] Figure 1 A side view of the elevator is shown. Figure 2 The horizontal cross-section of the elevator is shown.
[0023] An elevator may include a car 10, an elevator shaft 20, a traction machine 30, ropes 42, and a counterweight 41. A separate or integrated car frame 11 may be provided around the car 10.
[0024] The traction machine 30 can be installed in the elevator shaft 20. The traction machine may include a drive 31, a motor 32, a traction pulley 33, and a mechanical brake 34. The traction machine 30 can move the elevator car 10 up and down in the vertical direction Z within the vertically extending elevator shaft 20. The mechanical brake 34 can stop the rotation of the traction pulley 33, thereby stopping the movement of the elevator car 10.
[0025] The car frame 11 can be connected to the counterweight 41 via a rope 42 and a traction pulley 33. The car frame 11 can also be supported by a guide device 27 on a guide rail 25, which extends vertically within the elevator shaft 20. As the car 10 moves up and down within the elevator shaft 20, the guide device 27 may include rollers rolling on the guide rail 25 or slippers sliding on the guide rail 25. The guide rail 25 can be attached to the side wall structure 21 of the elevator shaft 20 using a fastening bracket 50. As the car 10 moves up and down within the elevator shaft 20, the guide device 27 keeps the car 10 in the appropriate position in the horizontal plane. The counterweight 41 can be supported on the guide rail in a corresponding manner, and the guide rail is attached to the wall structure 21 of the elevator shaft 20.
[0026] The wall structure 21 of the elevator shaft 20 can be formed by a solid wall 21, an open beam structure, or any combination thereof. Therefore, one or more walls can be solid, and one or more walls can be formed by an open beam structure. The elevator shaft 20 may include a front wall 21A, a rear wall 21B, and two opposing side walls 21C, 21D. Two guide rails 25 for the car 10 may be provided. The two car guide rails 25 may be provided on the opposing side walls 21C, 21D. Two guide rails 25 for the counterweight 41 may also be provided. The two counterweight guide rails 25 may be provided on the rear wall 21B.
[0027] The guide rail 25 can extend vertically along the height of the elevator shaft 20. Therefore, the guide rail 25 can be formed from guide rail elements of a certain length (e.g., 5m). The guide rail elements 25 can be installed end-to-end. The guide rail elements 25 can be attached to each other using connecting plates that extend between the end portions of two consecutive guide rail elements 25. The connecting plates can be attached to the consecutive guide rail elements 25. The ends of the guide rails 25 may include shape-locking devices to correctly position the guide rails 25 relative to each other. The guide rails 25 can be attached to the wall 21 of the elevator shaft 20 at support points along the height of the guide rail 25 using support devices.
[0028] The car 10 can transport people and / or goods between the floors of a building.
[0029] Figure 2 The vertical lines PL1 and PL2 in the elevator shaft 20 are shown. These vertical lines PL1 and PL2 can be generated by plumbing the elevator shaft 20 before elevator installation. The vertical lines PL1 and PL2 can be formed from conventional plumb wires.
[0030] Figure 1 The first direction Z is shown, which is the vertical direction in the elevator shaft 20. Figure 2The second direction X, i.e., the direction between the guide rails (DBG), and the third direction Y, i.e., the direction from the rear wall to the front wall in the elevator shaft 20 (BTF), are shown. The second direction X is perpendicular to the third direction Y. The second direction X and the third direction Y are perpendicular to the first direction Z. The second direction X and the third direction Y are horizontal.
[0031] Figure 3 The fastening bracket is shown.
[0032] The fastening bracket 50 can be formed by two separate bracket components 60 and 70, which are movably attached to each other. The first bracket component 60 can be L-shaped, having a vertical portion 61 and a horizontal portion 62. The second bracket component 70 can also be L-shaped, having a vertical portion 71 and a horizontal portion 72. The first bracket component 60 can be attached to the guide rail 25, and the second bracket component 70 can be attached to the wall 21 in the elevator shaft 20. The horizontal portions 62 and 72 of the two bracket components 60 and 70 can be adjusted and attached to each other.
[0033] The vertical portion 61 of the first support component 60 can be attached to the bottom portion 25A of the guide rail 25 using a clamp 65 and a bolt 66.
[0034] The vertical portion 71 of the second support component 70 can be attached to the wall 21 in the elevator shaft 20 using anchor bolts 76. The vertical portion 71 of the second support component 70 may include an elliptical opening 75, which opens at the lower end of the vertical portion 71 in the second support component 70. Before installing the guide rail 25, holes for the anchor bolts 76 can be pre-drilled in the wall 21 of the elevator shaft 20 at predetermined positions. The anchor bolts 76 can be screwed into these holes. The anchor bolts 76 can be partially screwed into the threads, such that the head of the anchor bolt 76 is spaced a certain distance from the fastening surface.
[0035] The horizontal portion 62 of the first support member 60 and the horizontal portion 72 of the second support member 70 can be attached to each other by bolts passing through elliptical openings in the horizontal portions 62 of the first support member 60 and 70 of the second support member 70. The size of the elliptical openings can be designed to allow for fine-tuning of the position of the first support member 60 relative to the second support member 70, thereby enabling alignment with the guide rail 25.
[0036] Tightening bolt 76 will attach the second bracket component 70 of fastening bracket 50 to the wall 21 in elevator shaft 20.
[0037] This invention is not limited to the use of... Figure 4 The fastening bracket 50. This invention can be used in conjunction with any type of fastening bracket 50.
[0038] Figure 4A cross-sectional view of the guide rail alignment measuring device is shown.
[0039] The device includes a first measuring device 100 arranged to connect to a first guide rail 25, a second measuring device 200 arranged to connect to a second opposing guide rail 25, and a wire 300 extending across the elevator shaft between the two measuring devices 100 and 200. The figure also shows a rope bundle 400 located in the middle of the elevator shaft. Ropes in the rope bundle 400 can extend between the car 10 and the counterweight 41. The ends of the wire 300 are positioned at a distance from the respective guide rail 25, allowing the wire 300 to cross the elevator shaft without colliding with the rope bundle 400 in the elevator shaft. The wire 300 bypasses the rope bundle 400 in the elevator shaft. The wire 300 can be elastic, or have a spring device in the middle, such that the length of the wire 300 is suitable for the width of the elevator shaft.
[0040] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 An enlarged view of the measuring device shown.
[0041] The two measuring devices 100 and 200 can be mirror images of each other.
[0042] The guide rail 25 may have a T-shaped cross-section, including a planar bottom portion 25A and a planar support portion 25B projecting outward from the middle of the bottom portion 25A. The guide rail element 25 may be attached from the bottom portion 25A to the wall 21 in the elevator shaft 20 using a fastening bracket 50. As previously described, the fastening bracket 50 may include a first bracket member 60 and a second bracket member 70 adjustablely attached to each other. The support portion 25B of the guide rail element 25 may include two opposing side guide surfaces and an end guide surface for guiding the car 10 or the counterweight 41. The guiding device of the car 10 may be provided with rollers or slippers acting on the guide surfaces of the support portion 25B of the guide rail element 25. The support portion 25B of the guide rail 25 extends along a second direction X (i.e., the DBG direction).
[0043] Each measuring device 100, 200 may include guide shoes 110, 210 supported on the guide surface of the support portion 25B of the guide rail 25. The guide shoes 110, 210 may be supported on the guide surface of the support portion 25B of the guide rail 25 by magnets. Magnets may be disposed within the guide shoes 110, 210. The magnets may be electromagnets and may be switched on and off by switches in the measuring devices 100, 200. The guide shoes 110, 210 may include longitudinal support frames 115, 215 extending outward from the guide shoes 110, 210. The support frames 115, 215 may extend along a third direction Y (i.e., the BTF direction). Therefore, the longitudinal centerline of the support frames 115, 215 is perpendicular to the direction of the support portion 25B of the guide rail 25.
[0044] Edge sensors 120 and 220 can be attached to the second opposing end portions of support frames 115 and 215 relative to guide shoes 110 and 210. Opposite ends of the wire 300 can be supported within the respective edge sensors 120 and 220. Edge sensors 120 and 220 detect the outer edges of the wire 300, and thereby detect the orientation of the wire 300 relative to the edge sensors 120 and 220. When the guide rail 25 is not twisted, the wire 300 is perpendicular to the end faces of the edge sensors 120 and 220. Therefore, when the guide rail 25 is not twisted, the wire 300 is also perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the support frames 115 and 215.
[0045] The first support arms 130 and 230 may be further attached to the guide shoes 110 and 210. The first support arms 130 and 230 may extend outward from the guide shoes 110 and 120 in the opposite direction relative to the support frames 115 and 215. The first support arms 130 and 230 may extend in a third direction Y.
[0046] Second support arms 140 and 240 can be supported on first support arms 130 and 230. Second support arms 140 and 240 can extend along a second direction X. The second direction X is perpendicular to the third direction Y. Second support arms 140 and 240 can be supported on first support arms 130 and 140 via connecting devices 150 and 250. Connecting devices 150 and 250 are supported on first support arms 130 and 230, allowing them to move in the third direction Y. Second support arms 140 and 240 can be supported within connecting devices 150 and 250, allowing them to move in the second direction X.
[0047] Measuring heads 160 and 260 can be attached to the outer end portions of the second support arms 140 and 240. Measuring heads 160 and 260 may include sensor devices 170 and 270. Sensor devices 170 and 270 may include measuring frames 171 and 271; 272 and 273 having two sensors 172 and 173. Measuring frames 171 and 271 may be generally rectangular. Sensors 172 and 173; 272 and 273 may be positioned on adjacent sides of frames 171 and 271. Measuring frames 171 and 271 may enclose corresponding plumb lines PL1 and PL2. Plumb lines PL1 and PL2 may be positioned within measuring frames 171 and 271 such that plumb lines PL1 and PL2 do not contact measuring frames 171 and 271.
[0048] Each sensor 172, 173; 272, 273 can be formed by an optical sensor that generates a parallel beam of light. Therefore, the beams of the two sensors 172, 173; 272, 273 are perpendicular to each other. As a first option, sensors 172, 173; 272, 273 can include a light source opposite to the photodetector, in which case the shadows of the vertical lines PL1, PL2 can be detected on the photodetector. As a second option, sensors 172, 173; 272, 273 can be based on the principle of reflection, in which case the light source and the photodetector are located on the same side. In the second option, light reflected from the vertical lines PL1, PL2 can be detected in the photodetector. Therefore, the positions of the vertical lines PL1, PL2 within the measuring frames 171, 271 can be determined in a second direction X (i.e., the direction between the guide rails (DBG)) and a third direction Y (i.e., the direction from the rear wall to the front wall (BTF)). The deviation of plumb lines PL1 and PL2 from their desired positions within the measuring frames 171 and 271 at the measuring points means that guide rail 25 is correspondingly deviated from its desired position at those measuring points.
[0049] The measuring devices 100 and 200 can be supported on the car 10 or on other platforms arranged to move on the guide rails 25, allowing the measuring devices 100 and 200 to move up and down within the elevator shaft 20. Therefore, the alignment of the guide rails 25 can be measured at each support position along the height of the elevator shaft 20.
[0050] During the measurement process, the height position of the car 10 or platform in the elevator shaft 20 can also be measured at each support location. The height position of the car 10 in the elevator shaft 20 can be measured using an encoder and / or a laser. Therefore, the measurement results of the measuring devices 100 and 200 can be assigned to the corresponding height position in the elevator shaft 20.
[0051] The plumb lines PL1 and PL2 can be formed from plumb metal wires.
[0052] The alignment measurement results of guide rail 25 can be stored in memory.
[0053] The embodiment shown in the figure includes edge sensors 120 and 220 connected to each of the measuring devices 100 and 200. However, it is also possible to use only one edge sensor 120 or 220. A single edge sensor 120 or 220 can be configured to be connected to either of the two measuring devices 100 or 200.
[0054] The figure also shows the angle α1 between the wire 300 and the end of the edge sensor. This angle α1 can be measured using edge sensors 120 and 220. This angle α1 represents the twist between the two opposing guide rails 25. In the figure, angle α1 is 90 degrees, meaning there is no twist between the two opposing guide rails 25. Angle α1 can be measured using only one edge sensor 120 or 220, which is arranged to be connected to either of the two measuring devices 100 or 200.
[0055] Edge sensors 120 and 220 can be formed from photoelectric sensors. An edge sensor may include an emitter that emits an array of light rays toward a reflector. The object to be measured (i.e., the wire 300) is located between the emitter and the reflector of the sensor. The light reflected from the reflector can be measured at a receiver in the sensor. Therefore, the edge of the wire 300 can be determined, and thereby the orientation of the wire 300 relative to the measuring devices 100 and 200 can also be determined.
[0056] Figure 6 It shows Figure 4 A further enlarged view of the measuring device shown.
[0057] The bottom portion 25A of the guide rail 25 can be attached to the first bracket component 60 using a clamp 65 and a bolt 66. The second bracket component 70 (not shown) can be attached to the wall structure in the elevator shaft.
[0058] The guide shoe 110 of the first measuring device 100 can be supported by magnets on the first side guide surface 25B1 and the end guide surface 25B3 of the support portion 25B of the guide rail 25. In this embodiment, the second side guide surface 25B2 remains free. However, the guide shoe 110 can be supported on all three guide surfaces 25B1, 25B2, and 25B3 to further stabilize the guide shoe 110 on the guide rail 25.
[0059] The measuring frame 171 of the sensor device 170 in the measuring head 160 surrounds the plumb line PL1. Sensors 172 and 173 in the sensor device 170 measure the position of the plumb line PL1 within the measuring frame 171 of the sensor device 170. The position of the plumb line PL1 within the measuring frame 171 of the sensor device 170 indicates the position of the guide rail 25 in the DBG and BTF directions.
[0060] A metal wire 300 extending between measuring devices 100 and 200 is used to measure the torsion of guide rail 25.
[0061] This invention is not limited to the fastening bracket 50 shown in the figure. Any type of adjustable fastening bracket 50 can be used in this invention.
[0062] Although the elevator shaft 20 shown in the figure is intended for use with only one car 10, the present invention can certainly be used with elevator shafts intended for use with several cars 10. Such an elevator shaft 12 can be divided into sub-shafts for each car 10 using steel bars. Horizontal steel bars can be arranged at predetermined intervals along the height of the elevator shaft 20. Then, a portion of the guide rails 25 will be attached to the steel bars in the elevator shaft 20. Another portion of the guide rails 25 will be attached to the solid wall 21 in the elevator shaft 20.
[0063] This invention can be used in both low-rise and high-rise buildings. Of course, this invention offers greater advantages for high-rise buildings. High-rise buildings can have a height increase of over 75 meters, preferably over 100 meters, more preferably over 150 meters, and most preferably over 250 meters.
[0064] The use of this invention is not limited to the elevator disclosed in the accompanying drawings. This invention can be used with any type of elevator, such as elevators with or without a machine room, and elevators with or without a counterweight. The counterweight can be positioned on any one or both side walls or the rear wall of the elevator shaft. The drive unit, motor, traction sheave, and machine brake can be positioned in the machine room or other locations within the elevator shaft. In so-called backpack elevators, the car guide rails can be positioned on opposite side walls or the rear wall of the elevator shaft.
[0065] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways as technology advances. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above, but can be varied within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A method for aligning elevator guide rails, comprising: Using plumb lines (PL1, PL2) and measuring devices (100, 200), the positions of the two opposing guide rails (25) relative to each other and relative to the elevator shaft from back to front are measured along the height of the guide rails (25). The measuring devices (100, 200) are arranged to connect to each of the two guide rails (25), and each measuring device (100, 200) includes: The guide shoes (110, 210) are supported on at least two guide surfaces (25B1, 25B3) of the guide rail (25), the measuring frame (171, 271) is connected to the guide shoes (110, 210), and the sensor devices (172, 173; 272, 273) are used to sense the position of the plumb line (PL1, PL2) relative to the measuring frame (171, 271). The twist between the guide rails (25) is measured using a metal wire (300) extending between the two measuring devices (100, 200) and at least one edge sensor (120, 220), the edge sensor (120, 220) being arranged to be connected to at least one of the two measuring devices (100, 200), the edge sensor (120, 220) measuring the angle (α1) of the metal wire (300) relative to the measuring devices (100, 200) to determine the twist of the guide rails (25).
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A laser distance sensor (125) is used to measure the distance between the two guide rails (25), the laser distance sensor (125) being arranged to be connected to one of the measuring devices (100, 200).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The measurement results are stored in the memory.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: The position of the guide rail (25) is adjusted based on the measurement.
5. A device for aligning elevator guide rails, comprising: A plumb line (PL1, PL2) and measuring devices (100, 200), the measuring devices being arranged to connect to each of two opposing guide rails (25) for measuring the direction of the two opposing guide rails (25) relative to the guide rails and their position relative to the elevator shaft from back to front along the height of the guide rails (25), each measuring device (100, 200) comprising: The guide shoes (110, 210) are supported on at least two guide surfaces (25B1, 25B3) of the guide rail (25), the measuring frame (171, 271) is connected to the guide shoes (110, 210), and the sensor devices (172, 173; 272, 273) are used to sense the position of the plumb line (PL1, PL2) relative to the measuring frame (171, 271). A metal wire (300) extends between the two measuring devices (100, 200); An edge sensor (120, 220) is arranged to be connected to at least one of the two measuring devices (100, 200) to measure the angle (α1) of the wire (300) relative to the measuring device (100, 200) to determine the twist of the guide rail (25).
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: A laser distance sensor (125) is arranged to be connected to one of the measuring devices (100, 200) for measuring the distance between the two guide rails (25).
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising: A memory used to store measurement results.