ELEVATOR SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES AN ALUMINUM GUIDE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an elevator installation, comprising in particular a motor, a linear drive element driven by the motor, a car assembly and / or a counterweight assembly fixed to the linear drive element and at least one fixed guide. Document US 3,880,258 discloses such an elevator installation.

[0002] Conventionally, two fixed T-shaped guides are mounted on two opposite wall sections, on either side of the cabin, so as to extend longitudinally vertically or substantially vertically (angular difference of less than 15°). The cabin assembly comprises, in addition to the cabin, a stirrup forming a structure supporting the cabin and defining two slides, called mobile slides because they are integral with the cabin, and each cooperating with a respective fixed guide so as to guide the movements of the cabin along the guides.

[0003] The fixed guides currently used are steel guides, T-shaped and supplied in bars of predefined length, typically 5 meters. They are used to guide the cabin and / or the counterweight, and in addition a parachute system can be locked against a fixed guide.

[0004] At each end of the guide, a tenon or, if necessary, a mortise allows the guide sections to be assembled without creating any discontinuity. In addition, the sections can be assembled using a bolted fishplate.

[0005] Each section defines holes in the base of the T (from which the branch cooperating with the movable slides extends) for fixing with screws or equivalent to a corresponding section of wall. This section of wall must be sufficiently robust to mechanically support at least part of the elevator installation.

[0006] Depending on the environment, it is sometimes necessary to install the elevator installation against a single wall section, particularly in the case of an elevator to be installed in an existing and sometimes old building and / or in the case of a private elevator ("homelift" in English). The other facades of the elevator installation may be intended for cladding purposes and be non-load-bearing.

[0007] It is known to fix the T-sections not directly to the wall section but to folded sheet metal profiles, as illustrated in the figure 1 .

[0008] Each profile 1 extends longitudinally, that is to say on the figure 1 perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, and has a section, in the planes normal to the longitudinal direction, in the shape of a U. The fixed guides 2 in the shape of a T are fixed on the base of the U by welding, while one 3 of the branches of the U is mounted on a section of load-bearing wall not shown. This branch 3 defines orifices for this purpose.

[0009] A cabin assembly not shown may comprise a movable slider forming a sliding connection with a branch 5 of the guide 2 projecting from the part 6 welded to the profile 1 of folded sheet metal. This movable slider may be offset towards the load-bearing wall relative to the cabin, so that the profiles 1 are between the cabin and the load-bearing wall.

[0010] A counterweight assembly 7 may be guided directly by the folded sheet metal profiles 1. This assembly may comprise, in addition to a counterweight 8, a structure 9 to which the counterweight 8 is fixed, for example by means of bolts 110, and comprising wheels 111. The structure 9 is designed so that each of the four wheels 111 is received in a respective corner of profile 1 and can be moved longitudinally, thus ensuring the guidance of the counterweight assembly.

[0011] The U-shaped profiles 1 themselves have a predefined length of approximately 2.5 meters, and the individual sections are joined together. More precisely, two sections are joined together by spacer bars, so that the profiles are delivered in the form of pieces each comprising two U-shaped profile sections, T-shaped guide sections welded to the U-shaped profiles and spacer bars. These pieces are then joined together.

[0012] These pieces are relatively heavy, and there is a need for an easier-to-install elevator installation guide assembly. This need exists in the case of an elevator installation leaning against a single wall section, but more generally in any type of installation, particularly installations leaning against two walls facing each other.

[0013] An elevator installation according to claim 1 is provided. The profile is made entirely of a material comprising at least 50% by weight of aluminum, advantageously at least 80% by weight, advantageously at least 84% by weight, advantageously at least 90% by weight, for example between 95% and 100% by weight. It is thus possible to use pure aluminum or alternatively an aluminum alloy.

[0014] Thus, rather than welding a T-shaped steel guide to a U-shaped sheet metal, a single element is provided defining both the means of fixing to a wall and the longitudinal guiding means. This element comprising aluminum can therefore be easier to obtain and lighter than the known pieces of the prior art, which can weigh nearly 100 kg for a length of 2.50 meters.

[0015] This profiled element can also be lighter than conventional T-shaped steel guides.

[0016] In addition to the flat face, the profiled element may comprise at least two other sides (continuous or not, in particular when they define male or female guide members), for example three or more other sides. The profiled element may, for example, have a section whose outer circumference has a rectangular, hexagonal, or other shape.

[0017] Advantageously, the profiled element may be a hollow profile.

[0018] The profiled element may comprise external walls forming, in the plane normal to the longitudinal (top) direction, a closed perimeter, for example a rectangular perimeter.

[0019] Alternatively, a solid profile could be provided, for example a T-shaped, X-shaped, or other profile, or even a semi-hollow profile.

[0020] Advantageously, the profiled element may further comprise at least one wall, for example an interior wall, forming a reinforcing rib.

[0021] This at least one wall can define, possibly with at least one other wall, at least one recess, thus making it possible to lighten the profiled element and save material.

[0022] The invention may find an application in the case of elevator installations attached to a single wall section, particularly in the case of private elevators, but it is in no way limited to these applications. The invention could quite easily be implemented in an installation attached to several walls, the different guides of the installation then being fixed to separate wall sections.

[0023] The means of fixing to the wall may be defined at the level of the flat face, for example holes in the flat face, or close to the flat face. For example, it may be possible to provide in a face adjacent to the flat face an orifice, a cavity or a groove, dedicated to fixing to the wall section.

[0024] The guide means may open towards its bottom in the case of a female member, or extend projecting in a direction normal to the flat face in the case of a male member, in particular when the elevator installation is intended to be placed against several sections of wall.

[0025] Advantageously, the guide means can open or extend, in a plane normal to the longitudinal direction, in a direction having at least one component parallel to the flat face,

[0026] In this case, the guide means opens or extends in a plane normal to the longitudinal direction in a direction having at least one component parallel to the flat face (or normal to the direction normal to the plane of this flat face), for example a direction parallel or substantially parallel (angular deviation of less than 15°) to the flat face.

[0027] In a plane normal to the longitudinal direction of the profiled element, the male or female member used for guidance then has walls extending laterally relative to the direction normal to the plane of this flat face. The cooperation between a complementary guide means (for example a projection or a groove) of the cabin or counterweight assembly therefore takes place laterally relative to this direction normal to the plane of this flat face.

[0028] For example, the guide means can be defined in an adjacent face or at least raised in relation to the flat face against the wall section.

[0029] For example, it is possible to install a set of counterweights (or even a cabin) between two profiled elements each leaning against the same wall section with their flat face, in the same way that the counterweight is installed between two U-shaped sheets on the figure 1 , each of these profiled elements defining a guide means extending towards or opening towards the other profiled element (and therefore towards the counterweight assembly).

[0030] The profiled element may, for example, comprise a guide means, for example a longitudinally extending cavity, for guiding the cabin, and be devoid of a counterweight guide means, in particular in an elevator installation devoid of counterweight.

[0031] Advantageously, said at least one guide means may comprise a first guide means shaped for guiding in the longitudinal direction of the cabin assembly and a second guide means shaped for guiding in the longitudinal direction of the counterweight assembly.

[0032] This means that the single-piece profile element can be used to guide both the cabin and the counterweight, thereby reducing the need for positioning adjustments during installation.

[0033] The first and second guide means may for example be defined on the same face of the profiled element, for example on a face opposite another profiled element.

[0034] When this face opposite the other profiled element is raised (forms an angle) in relation to the flat face against the wall section, this nevertheless implies that the profiled element extends from the flat surface in planar contact with the wall section over a certain thickness.

[0035] When this face opposite the other profiled element is opposite (and parallel or parallel in appearance) the flat face, this profiled element can be used in an elevator installation backed by two sections of walls facing each other. It is advantageous compared to the T-shaped guides of the prior art, in particular due to the reduction in the number of positioning adjustments to be made.

[0036] The first and second guide means can advantageously be opposite each other, on either side of a straight line normal to the flat face, thus making it possible to limit the overhang relative to the fixing to the wall section.

[0037] It is advantageous to provide two profiled elements, shaped so that each can be placed against the same wall section by their flat face and to define on their faces facing each other the second guide means, so that the counterweight can be received between these two profiled elements. The first guide means open or extend outwards, and it is possible to provide a cabin assembly comprising complementary guide means offset from the cabin.

[0038] The second guide means may, for example, be a female member, for example a groove, for example open up to its walls. Indeed, the counterweight may be relatively compact and entirely between the two profiled elements, thus limiting the forces in the direction normal to the flat face. The forces exerted on the profiled elements being thus relatively limited, a relatively simple shape may be adopted.

[0039] The elevator installation may comprise a set of counterweights comprising a complementary guide means, for example of the projection type when the second guide means is a female element, for example a simple shoe shaped to be able to be received in the groove of the profiled element.

[0040] Advantageously, the first guide means may be a female member, of the groove type.

[0041] This female organ may, for example, include a cavity, for example with edges partially covering the opening of the cavity.

[0042] The male member of the cabin assembly can advantageously extend, in the direction normal to the flat face, over a thickness less than the cavity, and advantageously over a thickness less than that of the opening of the cavity, thus allowing this member to be replaced relatively easily.

[0043] The complementary male element of the cabin assembly may, for example, comprise a rolling roller, which may facilitate longitudinal movements of the cabin despite any forces exerted in the direction normal to the plane of the flat face, a pad, or other.

[0044] The profiled element may further define a means of securing to a spacer element. Thus, two profiled elements may be secured to each other via one or more spacer elements, making it possible to reinforce the structure of the guide assembly and to improve the precision in terms of distance between the guide elements.

[0045] In an advantageous embodiment, the profiled element can be obtained by extrusion.

[0046] In an advantageous embodiment, the profiled element may comprise metal, for example be made of a material comprising between 95% and 100% by weight of metal.

[0047] The profiled element may be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, for example an aluminum alloy comprising zinc, manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, silicon, chromium, nickel, gallium, titanium and / or the like.

[0048] Manganese may for example be present by weight between 0% and 10%, for example between 0.01% and 6%.

[0049] Zinc can, for example, be present by weight between 0% and 10%, for example between 0.1% and 0.6% or even between 0.6% and 6%.

[0050] Magnesium can for example be present by weight between 0% and 10%, for example between 0.01% and 6%.

[0051] Iron can for example be present by weight between 0% and 2%, for example between 0.1% and 1%.

[0052] Silicon can for example be present by weight between 0% and 3%, for example between 0% and 2%.

[0053] Chromium can for example be present by weight between 0% and 1%, for example between 0% and 0.6%.

[0054] Copper can for example be present by weight between 0% and 1%, for example between 0% and 0.6%.

[0055] Nickel can for example be present by weight between 0% and 1%, for example between 0% and 0.6%.

[0056] For example, gallium can be present by weight between 0% and 1%, for example between 0% and 0.6%.

[0057] Titanium can for example be present by weight between 0% and 1%, for example between 0% and 0.2%.

[0058] For example, one of the following alloys can be used: 5083 H22, 5086 H24, 5754 H24, 6005A T5, 6061 T6, 6082 T6 or even 7020 T5.

[0059] The profiled element can therefore comprise, for example, between 84% and 100% aluminum.

[0060] The profiled element can thus be considerably lighter than the guidance systems of the prior art. The Applicant has thus produced a piece 3 meters long, with two profiled elements and spacer elements, weighing approximately 40 kg. It will be understood that these pieces are easier to handle than those of the prior art, which weigh approximately 100 kg for 2.50 meters.

[0061] The fixing means may be arranged for direct fixing to the wall section, for example a hole to receive a screw, or alternatively for fixing via an added intermediate piece.

[0062] The guide assembly may then further comprise a fixing element cooperating on the one hand with at least one respective fixing means of a corresponding profiled element and on the other hand with the wall section.

[0063] This added fixing element can also advantageously define a flat surface, intended to be placed against the wall section.

[0064] The use of added fixing elements can facilitate any adjustments, particularly in the case of non-flat wall sections and / or those with surface irregularities.

[0065] Advantageously and in a non-limiting manner, the profiled element may further define at least one centering means relative to an adjacent profiled element, said profiled elements being in contact by their longitudinal ends, for example a tenon or a mortise at the longitudinal end of the profiled element, or even an orifice for receiving a centering rod or pin, for example an expansion dowel.

[0066] Advantageously and in a non-limiting manner, the profiled element can further define at least one cavity for receiving at least one peripheral element, for example a user manual, or an electrical element, for example, a wire, a sensor, processing means of the processor type, etc. In other words, the profiled element is used to make it a support for peripheral element(s).

[0067] Furthermore, a guide assembly for a cabin assembly and / or a counterweight assembly of an elevator installation attached to a single wall section or to several wall sections is proposed, this guide assembly comprising two profiled elements as described above, and at least one spacer element secured by its two ends to the two respective profiled elements.

[0068] This guide assembly can be delivered in pieces, or not.

[0069] A piece can have a predefined height (in the longitudinal direction), for example 2 or 3 meters.

[0070] Alternatively, a single-piece guide assembly could be provided incorporating two guide elements and a spacer element, which ensures greater precision with respect to the distance between the guide elements. It is nevertheless advantageous to secure spacer elements separate from the guide elements to these guide elements, since the spacer elements can have a lower height (in the longitudinal direction), for example by a few centimeters, which makes it possible to lighten the guide assembly, and also to adjust the distance between the guide elements.

[0071] Additionally, an elevator installation is offered, including: a guide assembly as described above, a cabin assembly comprising a cabin and at least one guide means, secured to said cabin and capable of cooperating with at least one guide means of a profiled element of the guide assembly.

[0072] This at least one means for guiding the cabin assembly may for example comprise at least one male guide member, for example a pad, preferably at least 10 centimeters high, or a roller mounted to rotate relative to the rest of the cabin assembly. The movements of the cabin assembly can thus be facilitated even if this assembly exerts forces on the means for guiding the profiled element, for example a female member receiving the male guide member, for example a cavity or other.

[0073] Advantageously, the cabin assembly may comprise at least two male guide members (for example two rollers mounted to rotate relative to the rest of the cabin assembly) each mounted at a different height, said at least two male guide members being received in the same female member, and the lowest male member being further offset towards the flat face than the highest male member. Thus, if the female member opens laterally, that is to say defines two opposite walls having components parallel to the plane of the flat face, and the barycenter of the cabin is further from this flat face than the barycenter of all the guide means of the cabin assembly, the highest male member will exert forces on the wall of the female member furthest from the flat face, while the lowest male member will exert forces on the wall closest to the flat face.The sum of these forces can thus be less than if the two male organs exerted forces on the same wall, thus limiting the overhang.

[0074] The elevator installation may further comprise a motor and a linear drive element driven by the motor, the car assembly being suspended from said linear drive element, for example a belt or a cable.

[0075] The elevator installation may further comprise a counterweight assembly comprising a counterweight.

[0076] Advantageously, this counterweight assembly may further comprise at least one guide means, secured to the counterweight and capable of cooperating with at least one guide means of a profiled element of the guide assembly.

[0077] In one embodiment, the two flat faces of two profiled elements are substantially in the same plane in order to rest on the same section of wall.

[0078] Alternatively, different angles and / or planes (possibly parallel to each other) could be provided, so that the elevator installation is placed against several sections of wall.

[0079] In one embodiment, the elevator installation may further comprise a cable extending along the travel of the car.

[0080] A cabin locking device, equivalent to a parachute, can be configured for locking on this cable.

[0081] Alternatively, a parachute device and a profiled member may be provided shaped such that the parachute device can lock onto the profile. For example, the profile may define a projection extending along the profiled member and extending laterally relative to the direction normal to the planar face.

[0082] The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which: [ FIG 1 ] already commented on, represents a sectional view of a guide assembly of the type known from the prior art, for an installation attached to a single section of wall. FIG 2 ] represents a sectional and top view of an example of an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the invention. [ FIG 3 ] represents a sectional view of an example of a profiled element according to an embodiment of the invention. [ FIG 4 ] represents a sectional view of another example of a profiled element according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0083] In the embodiments of the figures 2 à 4 , the elevator installation is attached to a single section of wall.

[0084] In reference to the figure 2 , an elevator installation 11 is attached to a single section of wall 10.

[0085] This installation comprises a cabin 12 and a counterweight 13 secured to linear elements, of the cable or belt type, not shown, and driven in movement by a motor not shown.

[0086] The cabin 12 is supported by a structure comprising a support plate 14 under the cabin, a metal plate 15, called an arch, erected relative to the support plate 14 and secured to the cabin 12, and two offset elements 16, 17, fixed to the arch 15 and extending from the arch 15 towards the wall section 10.

[0087] These offset elements 16, 17 may have a height, in the longitudinal direction, normal to the plane of the sheet, of a few tens of centimeters.

[0088] These offset elements 16, 17 can, for example, be obtained by folding sheet metal(s), or even by extrusion.

[0089] On a shift element 16, 17, two rollers 18, 118, 19, 119 are rotatably mounted.

[0090] These rollers 18, 118, 19, 119 constitute male guiding members of the cabin, cooperating with respective female members defined in two respective profiled elements 20, 21.

[0091] More precisely, the installation 11 comprises a guide assembly comprising these two profiled elements 20, 21 and spacer elements in the general shape of a strip, one of which 22 is shown in the figure 2 .

[0092] There figure 3 shows in more detail the section of the profile referenced 20 on the figure 2 .

[0093] This profile defines: a cavity 23 intended to receive the rollers referenced 18, 118 on the figure 2 , a groove 24 intended to receive a pad referenced 25 on the figure 2 , integral with the counterweight 13, a cavity 27 allowing to receive a threaded rod and a nut (or a threaded plate), referenced 26 on the figure 2 , for fixing to an added intermediate part 28, a cavity 29 allowing to receive a threaded rod and a nut (or a threaded plate), referenced 30 on the figure 2 , for attachment to the spacer element referenced 22 on the figure 2 , a flat face 31, intended to rest in planar contact on the wall section 10, a cavity 32, here opposite the flat face, to receive at least one electrical element not shown, for example, a wire, a sensor, or other, two centering orifices 33, 34, each intended to receive a portion of a pin not shown to facilitate the positioning of a section of profiled element 20 to another identical section when these sections are assembled on top of each other

[0094] It may be noted that this profiled element comprises numerous hollowed-out parts 23, 24, 27, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35-38, so that it is relatively light. The possibility of obtaining complex profiles with aluminum alloys makes it possible to compensate for the relatively low elastic modulus of the metal by a shape of the profiles which leads to a high moment of inertia.

[0095] The profile is hollow.

[0096] It can also be noted that the section of the profile is shaped so that it includes parts 40-67, generally rectilinear or in an arc of a circle, and most of which have an identical thickness, of the order of a centimeter.

[0097] These various parts 40-67, and in reality the entire profiled element, are made of aluminum alloy.

[0098] The parts 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 42, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 65, 67, 60, 59, 56 and 48 form a closed outer circumference in the plane of the sheet.

[0099] The interior walls 46, 47 and 51 serve as reinforcing ribs.

[0100] Returning to the cavity 23, it can be noted that its thickness, along the direction normal to the plane of the flat surface 31, represented by the line (D), is greater than that of the rollers 18, 118 (which have identical dimensions). The thickness of the opening 72 is also greater than that of these rollers, thus allowing easier replacements.

[0101] To return to the figure 2 , the lowest roller 118 is mounted further away, relative to the cabin 12, than the roller 18, that is to say closer to the flat face 31 and the wall section 10. Indeed, the barycenter of the rollers 18, 118, 19, 119 being offset relative to the barycenter of the cabin assembly, one can expect a tilting linked to the torque: the offset of the roller 118 relative to the roller 18 can prevent the cabin from tilting.

[0102] Furthermore, the roller 18 exerts forces on the wall 48 ( figure 3 ), while the roller 118 exerts forces on the wall 60, thus limiting the overhang.

[0103] The parts 40 and 59 partially cover the opening 68, making it possible to retain the roller when it is pressed against one of the walls 48 or 60 of the cavity 23.

[0104] The open groove 24 is sized to receive, within functional clearance, the pad 25 secured to the counterweight 13.

[0105] Regarding the fixing to the wall section referenced 10 on the figure 2 , this involves an intermediate piece 28 also having a flat surface 70 intended to come to bear on the wall section 10.

[0106] A threaded rod and two bolts 26, 71 make it possible to fix this intermediate part 28 relative to the profiled element 20.

[0107] The intermediate part 28 is also secured, for example by screws not shown, to the wall 10.

[0108] Symmetrically, an intermediate piece 28' allows the profiled element 21 to be fixed to the wall 10.

[0109] These parts 28, 28 and these profiled elements 20, 21 have flat surfaces 31, 70, intended to come to bear against the wall 10.

[0110] The use of intermediate pieces 28, 28' can make it possible to compensate for any unevenness of the wall 10.

[0111] The cavity 29 participates in the securing of the profiled element 20 to the spacer element 22, via a threaded rod and bolts 30, 72. The other end of the spacer element 22 is fixed symmetrically to the profiled element 21.

[0112] Advantageously, several fixings of each profiled element 20, 21 to one or more spacer element(s) will be provided, in order to stiffen the guide assembly.

[0113] In the variant of the figure 4 , the profiled element 20' is always made of aluminum alloy, by extrusion, and defines a flat face and numerous recesses 23', 24', 27', 35', 33', 29', 36', 34', 37', including: a cavity 23' intended to receive two elevator car guide rollers, a groove 24' intended to receive a counterweight guide shoe, a cavity 27' for receiving a threaded rod and a nut, for fixing to an added intermediate part itself mounted on a wall section, a cavity 29' for receiving a threaded rod and a nut, for fixing to a spacer element between this profiled element 20' and a profiled element not shown and which has a symmetrical profile (capable of being obtained by axial symmetry) with respect to the profile of the element 20', a cavity 32', for example opposite the flat face 31', for receiving at least one electrical element not shown, for example, a wire, a sensor, or other, two centering holes 33', 34', at least partly circular,each intended to receive an expansion anchor not shown to facilitate the positioning of a section of profiled element 20' to another identical section.

[0114] The flat face 31' is intended to rest in planar contact on a section of wall.

[0115] This 20' profile can also be used in an installation against a single wall section.

Claims

1. An installation for lift (11) comprising: - a guide assembly of a cabin assembly and a counterweight assembly, said guide assembly comprising two profile elements (20, 21), each profile element extending longitudinally along a direction normal to the planes of the profile of said profile element, wherein said profile element is one piece, said profile element has a longitudinally extending planar face (31), and said profile defines: - at least one means (27) for fastening to a wall panel, such that the profile element rests against this all section by this planar face, - first guide means (23; 23') extending longitudinally over the entire height of said profile element, and shaped for guiding along the longitudinal direction of the cabin assembly, - second guide means (24; 24') extending longitudinally over the entire height of said profile element, and shaped for guiding along the longitudinal direction of the counterweight assembly; - a cabin assembly comprising a cabin (1) and at least one guide means (2), secured to said cabin and capable of cooperating with the first guide means (23) of the profile element (20, 21) of the guide assembly, characterized in that the installation for lift further comprises: - at least one spacer element (22) and securing means (29; 29') defined by said profile to secure the spacer element (22) by the two ends thereof to the two respective profile elements; and, - each profile element is made entirely of a material comprising at least 50% by mass of aluminium.

2. The installation for lift according to claim 1, wherein the profile element (20, 21; 20') further defines means (33, 34; 33', 34') for centring relative to an adjacent profile element, said profile elements being in contact via the longitudinal ends thereof.

3. The installation for lift according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said profile element is a hollow profile.

4. The installation for lift according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said at least one guide means of the cabin assembly comprises at least one male guide member (18, 118, 19, 119), and said at least one guide means comprises a female guide member (23; 23') for receiving the male guide means (18, 18).

5. The installation for lift according to claim 4, wherein the cabin assembly comprises at least two male guide members (18, 118, 19, 119) rotatably mounted relative to the rest of the cabin assembly, each mounted at a different height, said at least two male guide members being received in the same female member, and the lowest male guide member being further offset towards the planar face (31) than the highest male guide member.

6. The installation for lift according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the two planar faces (31) of two profile elements are substantially in the same plane in order to rest on the same wall section.

7. The installation for lift according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a cable extending along the travel of the cabin, and a blocking device shaped to block the cabin on said cable.