A roller for elevator door hangers

Abstract

A roller (1) for elevator door hangers, comprising a roller body (2) rotatable around a central rotation axis (X), said roller body (2) having a lateral surface (2c) with a circumferential development around said central rotation axis (X), said lateral surface (2c) having an inward portion (2d) 5 defining an outer groove (4) destined to move along a guide rail (100), wherein the roller (1) comprises at least one protrusion (5) obtained on the inward portion (2d). [Figure 2]

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] A ROLLER FOR ELEVATOR DOOR HANGERS

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to a roller for elevator door hangers.

[0005] Background art

[0006] Generally, an elevator door is installed on a guide rail in a suspended state through a hanger roller. An endless belt connected to the elevator door is provided on the output shaft of a drive motor. Accordingly, the input from the drive motor is transmitted through the endless belt and the elevator door is opened or closed by moving the hanger roller along the guide rail forward or backward.

[0007] As the hanger roller moves along the guide rail, the roller is subject to wear. Thus, there is felt the need to monitor the wear of the roller.

[0008] Disclosure of the invention

[0009] In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a roller for elevator door hangers which overcomes the drawbacks in the prior art as described above.

[0010] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a roller for elevator door hangers, which allows an operator to monitor wear even in a mounted state.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to make available a roller for elevator door hangers, which allows to monitor wear in a reliable and timeefficient way.

[0012] The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a roller for elevator door hangers, comprising: a roller body rotatable around a central rotation axis, said roller body having a lateral surface with a circumferential development around said central rotation axis, said lateral surface having an inward portion defining an outer groove destined to move along a guide rail.

[0013] The roller comprises at least one protrusion obtained on the inward portion. According to one embodiment, the roller comprises a plurality of protrusions distributed along the circumferential development of the inward portion.

[0014] According to one embodiment, there is at least one pair of protrusions, the protrusions of each pair being obtained at the opposite sides of the inward portion.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the protrusion of a pair are aligned along a direction transverse to the circumferential development of the inward portion.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the protrusions of the same pair are symmetrical with respect to a circumferential line defined by the groove.

[0017] According to one embodiment, a plurality of pairs of protrusions is distributed along the circumferential development of the inward portion.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the roller body has a first series of protrusions on one side of the inward portion and a second series of protrusions on the opposite side of the inward portion, the angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions of the second series is identical to the angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions of the first series.

[0019] According to one alternative embodiment, the protrusions are all obtained on one side of the inward portion.

[0020] According to another alternative embodiment, the protrusions are obtained scattered along the circumferential development of the inward portion.

[0021] According to a first embodiment, the protrusion has an elongated development in a direction transverse to the inward portion.

[0022] According to a second embodiment, the protrusion is a spot.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the protrusion is obtained at an outer edge of the inward portion.

[0024] Brief description of drawings

[0025] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the non-limiting, description of a preferred, but nonexclusive embodiment of a roller for elevator door hangers, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

[0026] - figure 1 illustrates a frontal view of a roller for an elevator door hanger, according to the present invention;

[0027] - figure 2 illustrates a side view of the roller of figure 1 , with protrusions according to a first embodiment;

[0028] - figure 3 illustrates a perspective enlargement view of an upper part of the roller of figure 2;

[0029] - figures 4a and 4b illustrate the upper part of the roller of figure 2 coupled with a guide rail and in a non-worn condition;

[0030] - figures 5a and 5b illustrate the upper part of the roller of figure 2 coupled with a guide rail and in a worn condition;

[0031] - figure 6 illustrates a side view of the roller of figure 1 , with protrusions according to a second embodiment;

[0032] - figure 7 illustrates a perspective enlargement view of an upper part of the roller of figure 6;

[0033] - figures 8a and 8b illustrate the upper part of the roller of figure 6 coupled with a guide rail and in a non-worn condition;

[0034] - figures 9a and 9b illustrate the upper part of the roller of figure 6 coupled with a guide rail and in a worn condition.

[0035] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0036] With reference to the figures, number 1 indicates a roller for an elevator door hanger (also known as “hanger roller”).

[0037] The roller 1 comprises a roller body 2. The roller body 2 is rotatable around a central rotation axis X. In particular, the roller body 2 has a disk shape with a through hole 3 in a central portion. Preferably, the axis of the through hole 3 is substantially parallel to the central rotation axis X of the roller body 2. More preferably, the two axes are coincident.

[0038] In other words, the roller body 2 has the shape of a ring or an annulus with two circular and holed bases 2a, 2b that are connected by a lateral surface 2c following the circumferential development of the bases 2a, 2b.

[0039] In particular, the lateral surface 2c has a circumferential development around the central rotation axis X.

[0040] The lateral surface 2c of the roller body 2 has an inward portion 2d defining a recess 4 (or groove) that follows its circumferential development. In particular, the groove 4 develops along a circumferential line. The groove 4 is shaped to partially receive a guide rail 100.

[0041] The inward portion 2d is defined by two sides converging at a bottom valley. In particular, the groove 4 in cross section is shaped like a U or a V with a rounded vertex. The sides of the inward portion 2d are lateral edges.

[0042] The roller 1 comprises at least one protrusion 5 obtained on the inward portion 2d.

[0043] Preferably, the roller 1 comprises a plurality of protrusion 5. The protrusions 5 are distributed along the circumferential development of the inward portions 2d.

[0044] Preferably, the protrusion 5 is obtained at one of the sides of the inward portion 2d.

[0045] According to an embodiment of the invention, the roller 1 comprises at least one pair of protrusions 5. The protrusions 5 of the pair are obtained at the opposite sides of the inward portion 2d.

[0046] Preferably, the protrusions 5 of the pair are aligned along a direction that is transverse to the circumferential development of the inward portion 2d. More preferably, the transverse direction is parallel to the central rotation axis X.

[0047] Preferably, a plurality of pairs of protrusions 5 is distributed along the circumferential development of the inward portion 2d.

[0048] The protrusions 5 of each pair are obtained at the opposite sides of the inward portion 2d.

[0049] Thus, the roller body 2 has a first series of protrusions 5 on one side of the inward portion 2d and a second series of protrusions 5 on the opposite side of the inward portion 2d.

[0050] In particular, the protrusions 5 of the first series are equally spaced. Also, the protrusions 5 of the second series are equally spaced.

[0051] Preferably, the angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions 5 of the second series is identical to the angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions 5 of the first series.

[0052] In particular, the angular pitch is comprised between 5° and 10° for small rollers.

[0053] In this context, small rollers are defined as rollers having diameter equal to or less than 60 millimetres.

[0054] Thus, rollers having diameters greater than 60 millimetres are addressed as big rollers.

[0055] For big rollers, the angular pitch is comprised between 1 ° and 5°.

[0056] As said, protrusions 5 are arranged in pairs. This means that the protrusions 5 of the same pair are symmetrical with respect to a circumferential line defined by the groove 4.

[0057] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the protrusions 5 are all obtained on one side of the inward portion 2d. The angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions 5 is comprised between 5° and 10° for small rollers and between 1 ° and 5° for big rollers.

[0058] According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, the protrusions 5 are obtained staggered along the circumferential development of the inward portion 2d. In other words, following the circumferential development of the inward portion 2d, one protrusion 5 is obtained on one side of the inward portion 2d and the next protrusion 5 is obtained on the other side of the inward portion 2d. These protrusions 5 are not aligned.

[0059] The angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions 5 (one of one side and the next one on the other side) is comprised between 5° and 10° for small rollers and between 1 ° and 5° for big rollers.

[0060] According to the embodiment here described and illustrated, each protrusion 5 is obtained in a peripheral area of the inward portion 2d. In other words, the protrusion 5 is obtained at an outer edge of the inward portion 2d.

[0061] As illustrated in figures, the inward portion 2d and the protrusions 5 are shaped and arranged so that in a standard working condition of the roller 1 , the guide rail 100 is inserted in the groove 4 and partially contacts the inward portion 2d without touching the protrusions 5.

[0062] As the roller 1 slides along the guide rail 100, the inward portion 2d wears out and the depth of the groove 4 increases accordingly.

[0063] Therefore, the guide rail 100 gradually comes into contact with the protrusions 5, damaging them.

[0064] According to a first embodiment, illustrated in figures 2-5b, each protrusion 5 is a rib. In other words, the protrusion 5 has an elongated development in a direction transverse to the circumferential development of the inward portion 2d. Preferably, the transverse direction is substantially parallel to the central rotation axis X. In other words, the protrusion 5 develops along the one of the side of the inward portion 2d.

[0065] The rib 5 can be straight, inclined or curved.

[0066] Preferably, the protrusion 5 originates at an outer edge of the inward portion 2d. Preferably, the development of the protrusion 5 is such that it never reaches the bottom valley of the inward portion 2d.

[0067] In this embodiment, the damage of the protrusions 5 results in the emission of a sound distinguishable by a human ear. Therefore, it allows a wearing auditive recognition.

[0068] This embodiment also allows the operator to approximately recognize the amount of wear occurred because an increasingly longer portion of the protrusion 5 is damaged as wear increases.

[0069] The protrusion 5 of the first embodiment (i.e. rib) has length comprised between 2 to 10 millimetres. For length here is intended the dimension along the previous mentioned direction transverse to the circumferential development of the inward portion 2d.

[0070] Accordingly, the length is chosen proportionally to the diameter of the roller 1 . The greater the diameter, the longer the protrusion 5. The above- mentioned range of length refers to a range of roller diameters between 30 and 120 millimetres.

[0071] By way of example, the width of the protrusion 5 is comprised between 0.5 and 10 millimetres and the height is between 0.25 to 5 millimetres.

[0072] By way of example, the protrusion 5 may have an elevation shape of a parallelepiped, pyramid, pyramid trunk, etc.

[0073] According to a second embodiment, illustrated in figures 6-9b, the protrusion 5 is a spot. The spot 5 is located at the very external edge of the inward portion 2d.

[0074] The spot 5 may have a rectangular or round cross-section.

[0075] In this embodiment, an operator is able to feel the damage of the protrusions 5 by touching them, while the roller 1 is still mounted. Indeed, the protrusions 5 are spots located on the edges of the inward portion 2d.

[0076] The protrusion 5 of the second embodiment (i.e. spot) has length comprised between 0.25 to 5 millimetres if it has a rectangular shape, whereas it has a radius comprised between 0.25 and 5 millimetres if it has a round shape. For length or radius here is intended the dimension along the previous mentioned direction transverse to the circumferential development of the inward portion 2d.

[0077] Accordingly, the length or the radius is chosen proportionally to the diameter of the roller 1 . The greater the diameter, the longer the protrusion 5. The above-mentioned range of length or raidus refers to a range of roller diameters between 30 and 120 millimetres.

[0078] By way of example, the width of the protrusion 5 is comprised between 0.5 and 10 millimetres and the height is between 0.25 to 5 millimetres.

[0079] By way of example, the protrusion 5 may have an elevation shape of a parallelepiped, pyramid, pyramid trunk, cone, truncated cone, etc.

[0080] The characteristics of the roller for elevator door hangers, according to the present invention, emerge clearly from the above description, as do the advantages.

[0081] In particular, the presence of at least one protrusion emerging from the inward portion of the lateral surface of the roller body allows the operator to easily recognize wear.

[0082] When the protrusion is a rib, the operator can hear a sound which identifies that wear has occurred. Moreover, the portion of the rib interested by the damage caused by the guide rail increases proportionally with wear, so that the operator can give an approximate estimate of the amount of wear.

[0083] When the protrusion is a spot, the operator can touch the outer edges of the inward portion and acknowledge if wear has occurred.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A roller (1 ) for elevator door hangers, comprising: a roller body (2) rotatable around a central rotation axis (X), said roller body (2) having a lateral surface (2c) with a circumferential development around said central rotation axis (X), said lateral surface (2c) having an inward portion (2d) defining an outer groove (4) destined to move along a guide rail (100), characterized in that the roller (1 ) comprises at least one protrusion (5) obtained on the inward portion (2d).

2. The roller (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the roller (1 ) comprises a plurality of protrusions (5) distributed along the circumferential development of the inward portion (2d).

3. The roller (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there is at least one pair of protrusions (5), the protrusions (5) of each pair being obtained at the opposite sides of the inward portion (2d).

4. The roller (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion (5) of a pair are aligned along a direction transverse to the circumferential development of the inward portion (2d).

5. The roller (1 ) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the protrusions (5) of the same pair are symmetrical with respect to a circumferential line defined by the groove (4).

6. The roller (1 ) according to claim 3 or 4 or 5, wherein a plurality of pairs of protrusions (5) is distributed along the circumferential development of the inward portion (2d).

7. The roller (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the roller body (2) has a first series of protrusions (5) on one side of the inward portion (2d) and a second series of protrusions (5) on the opposite side of the inward portion (2d), the angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions (5) of the second series is identical to the angular pitch between two consecutive protrusions (5) of the first series.

8. The roller (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the protrusions (5) are allobtained on one side of the inward portion (2d).

9. The roller (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the protrusions (5) are obtained scattered along the circumferential development of the inward portion (2d).

10. The roller (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one protrusion (5) has an elongated development in a direction transverse to the inward portion (2d).

11. The roller (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said at least one protrusion (5) is a spot.

12. The roller (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one protrusion (5) is obtained at an outer edge of the inward portion (2d).

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