Liftwithout counterweight comprising a cable tension device with gas springs

Abstract

An elevator, in particular a passenger and / or goods elevator, without a counterweight, comprises an elevator car (11) in a shaft and a rope (25) for raising and lowering it. The rope (25) can be driven by a motor via a drive pulley (18) arranged above or below in the shaft (14), is guided around at least one deflection pulley (23) opposite it above or below in the shaft, and is operatively connected to the elevator car (11) above and below. The at least one deflection pulley (23) is held displaceably in a tensioning device (20) by tensioning means in the axial direction (A) of the rope (25) such that the rope (25) is always under tension with a defined force during operation.The clamping device (20) is designed and arranged with several clamping means such that they generate a resultant compressive force on the cable pull (25) in the clamping direction (F), wherein the clamping means are in particular designed as gas springs.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an elevator, in particular a passenger and / or goods elevator, without a counterweight, comprising an elevator car in a shaft and a rope for raising and lowering the same, wherein the rope can be driven by a motor via a drive pulley arranged above or below in the shaft, is guided around at least one deflection pulley opposite it above or below in the shaft and is operatively connected to the elevator car above and below, wherein the at least one deflection pulley or a rope end is held displaceably in a tensioning device by tensioning means in such a way that the rope is always tensioned with a defined tension force in the operating state, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Publication EP 0 917 518 A discloses a traction elevator without a counterweight, which is guided in an elevator shaft and comprises a load-carrying element, in particular an elevator car, a flexible load-bearing element, at least two traction sheaves driven by motors and connected in series relative to the load-bearing element, and a tensioning device downstream of the two traction sheaves, which applies the required tension to the load-bearing element and includes a force-actuated deflecting pulley. This deflecting pulley is subjected to force via a lever mechanism with a hydraulic device or the like. This allows the force acting on the load-bearing element via the deflecting pulley to be controlled depending on the load of the load-carrying element.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of creating an elevator without a counterweight that operates with a very effective compact tensioning of the cable pull, which generates a permanent tensioning force.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0005] The solution according to the invention is to design and arrange the clamping device with several clamping means in such a way that they generate a resultant compressive force on the cable pull in the clamping direction, wherein the clamping means are in particular designed as gas springs.

[0006] With this tensioning device, an extremely uniform and adaptable tensioning of the entire cable pull can be achieved through a compact design and arrangement of these several tensioning devices, even if the cable pull expands, shortens or experiences temporary operational deviations due to operational changes or disturbances.

[0007] The tensioning devices are advantageously mounted at one end on the guide unit of the pulley or the end of the cable, which is adjustable in the tensioning direction of the cable pull, and at the other end in a holding structure in which the guide unit is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the cable pull. This results in optimal mounting of the pulley, ensuring that the tensioning mechanism always guarantees a secure hold of the cable guide both above and below the cabin.

[0008] It is highly advantageous to use four gas springs as clamping elements, arranged in pairs from the guide unit at the same angle to the axis of the cable pull, pointing outwards to one side or the other, and pivotally mounted to the support structure. The four ends of the gas springs are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cable pull at the guide unit, and move perpendicular to this axis when adjusted within this plane. The support structure of the clamping device expediently includes a crossbeam and supports with guide rails for the guide unit, aligned with the axis of the cable pull.

[0009] The invention further provides that the tensioning device with its deflection pulley is mounted in the lower shaft area next to the rotary motor and the drive pulley rotatably connected to it, with axes of rotation parallel to each other. This allows for a very compact arrangement of the motor and the tensioning device in the elevator shaft, whose heights can be coordinated to minimize the space required in the lower part of the elevator shaft in the vertical direction, thus increasing the overall lifting height of the cabin, and ensuring that the cable pull is extremely stable and subjected to a uniform tension force.

[0010] The invention and further advantages thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a drive and a tensioning device according to the invention for a cable pull of an elevator, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the elevator according to Fig. 1 with the drive on the underside and the tensioning device; Fig. 3 a perspective view only of the tensioning device according to the invention for the cable pull according to Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 4 a perspective view of a variant of a tensioning device according to the invention for the cable pull of an elevator.

[0011] In Fig. 1 The figure shows a drive 15 of an elevator 10, which can be attached to the underside of a shaft 14 by means of screws 24, lateral fixing means 12 for each guide rail 13 for the cabin 11, and a tensioning device 20 for a cable 25. The drive 15, mounted in a motor frame 19, has a rotary motor 17 and a drive pulley 18 coaxially connected to it, around which the cable 25 is guided by 180° and which also serves as a deflection pulley. The tensioning device 20 has a deflection pulley 23 for the cable 25, which is held displaceably in the axial direction A of the cable 25 by tensioning means such that the cable is always tensioned in the tensioning direction F with a defined tensioning force acting in its longitudinal direction during operation.

[0012] In Fig. 2 The elevator 10 is schematically illustrated, in which a cabin 11 can be moved up and down in an indicated shaft 14. The cabin 11 preferably runs along the shaft 14 on both sides in guide rails 13 and is supported and height-adjustable by the cable 25. Several deflection pulleys 21, 22, located in the shaft wall 14' above and below the cabin 11, guide the cable 25 in a known manner within the shaft 14, with the cable 25 being held at both ends 16 on the upper and lower sides of the cabin 11, respectively. In particular, this is a passenger elevator with payloads between 150 kg and 630 kg, suitable for applications without a counterweight. However, it can also deviate from these payloads and be used as a goods elevator.

[0013] The cable pulley 25 consists of several parallel individual cables 25', which are attached at the ends 16. The drive pulley 18 and the deflection pulleys 21, 22 are each provided with corresponding grooves 26 on their outer circumference, in which the respective individual cables 25' are securely guided. The individual cables 25' can be made of plastic-coated material, a plastic belt, or the like, instead of wire ropes.

[0014] According to the invention, the clamping device 20 is designed and arranged with several clamping means in such a way that it generates a resultant compressive force on the cable pull 25 in the clamping direction F.

[0015] With this tensioning device 20, an extremely uniform and adaptable tensioning of the entire cable pull can be achieved by means of a compact design and arrangement of these several tensioning devices, even if the cable pull 25 expands, shortens or temporarily deviates due to operational changes, for example when the elevator car starts moving downwards fully loaded and a high load is placed on the cable pull 25.

[0016] As in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the several clamping devices of the clamping device 20 are each pivotally mounted at one end 33 on the guide unit 35 of the deflection pulley 23, which is adjustable in the tensioning direction F of the cable pulley 25, and at the other end 33' in a fixed holding structure 36. In each adjustment position, the clamping devices are oriented symmetrically to the deflection pulley 23 and the cable pulley 25 wound around it, so that the resulting compressive force generated by them acts in the tensioning or axial direction F of the cable pulley.

[0017] In the context of the invention, these clamping devices are advantageously designed as gas springs 30, in which a cylinder housing 31 with its end 33' is pivotally mounted at the holding structure 36 and a projecting end 33 of a piston 32, which is slidable in the cylinder housing 31, is pivotally mounted at the guide unit 35. Four gas springs 30 are provided, which are arranged in pairs laterally at the guide unit 35, each oriented outwards at the same angle α to the axial direction A of the cable 25, and pivotally mounted at the holding structure 36.

[0018] The four ends of the gas springs 30 are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cable 25 on the guide unit 35, and during adjustment, they move in this plane perpendicular to the axis. For this purpose, the four gas springs 30 are each provided with the same stroke length and set pressure force so that they all exert the same force. The set angle α of the four gas springs 30 to the axis A of the cable 25 can, for example, be approximately 45°. However, it can vary between 0° and 45° depending on the payload. Furthermore, using four gas springs offers the advantage that even if one gas spring fails, sufficient pressure on the cable and thus safe operation is still ensured.

[0019] These inclined positions of the gas springs 30, compared to a neutral position of α, result in a smaller overall height of the clamping device 20, thus approximately matching the height of the adjacent motor frame 19 with the rotary motor, in order to maximize the adjustment height of the elevator car 11. Furthermore, due to their inclined position, these gas springs 30, in addition to the force component in the clamping direction F, also generate a horizontal force component, which makes this guide unit 35 more stable and centered against vibrations or similar forces.

[0020] The support structure 36 comprises a crossbeam 37, supports 38 with guide rails 39 that hold the crossbeam, and a base plate 41 that can be fastened to the underside of the shaft 14 by means of screws 13. The guide rails 39, which extend in the axial direction A of the cable pulley 25, are surrounded by U-shaped guide elements 42 or the like, which are arranged laterally at the guide unit 35 and enable its adjustment. The crossbeam 37 runs at a distance and parallel to the axis of the deflection pulley 23 arranged in the guide unit 35 and is aligned between the several individual cables 25' that extend on both sides of the deflection pulley 23 in the axial direction A of the cable pulley, as can be seen from Fig. 1 emerges.

[0021] In Fig. 2 It is evident that the tensioning device 20, with its single deflection pulley 23, is mounted in the lower shaft area next to the rotary motor 17 and the drive pulley 18 rotatably connected to it, with their axes of rotation parallel to each other. The cable 25 is guided upwards from the drive pulley 18, rotatably connected to the rotary motor 17, in the lower shaft area to the single deflection pulley 22 in the upper shaft area, with the cable 25 passing laterally between the elevator car 11 and the shaft wall 14'. It then runs downwards around a deflection pulley 21 on the top of the elevator car 11, subsequently to the next deflection pulley 22 in the upper shaft area, and back to the top of the elevator car 11 as the cable end 16, where the cable is attached. The deflection pulleys 21, 22 are each rotatably mounted in bearing elements 21', 22', which are attached in the shaft 14 and to the elevator car 11 respectively.

[0022] The cable 25 runs from the drive pulley 18 to a deflection pulley 21 below the elevator car 11 and back to the deflection pulley 23 in the tensioning device 20 next to the drive pulley 18. From there, the end 16 of the cable is guided to the underside of the elevator car and fastened. The cable runs approximately vertically between the deflection pulleys.

[0023] As in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the clamping device 20 is associated with an auxiliary device by means of which the gas springs 30 and the guide unit 35 with the deflection pulley 23 can be pressed into the retracted position so that the cable 25 can be guided around the adjustable deflection pulley 23 during assembly in the shaft 14, since the gas springs 30 themselves press this guide unit 35 into the clamping position towards the base plate 41. This auxiliary device has at least one tension element 43 on each side of the guide unit, which can be attached to the latter. This tension element, by means of an actuated tension mechanism (not shown), preferably located within the U-shaped crossbeam 37, causes the tension rods 43 to be pulled. This can be done mechanically by means of a screw connection or mechanically by means of a piston / cylinder unit (not shown).Even when replacing the cable pull 25, this auxiliary device can be used to relax the cables and, after the replacement, to build up and generate this pressure force again through the gas springs 30.

[0024] In principle, this auxiliary device could be designed by means of adjustment devices below the guide unit, in which adjusting screws or the like would act from below against the guide unit and push it upwards.

[0025] According to Fig. 3 Within the scope of the invention, a measuring and monitoring unit 40 with an upper and lower limit switch 44 for measuring the end positions of the guide unit 35 is associated with the clamping device 20. These limit switches allow deviations from the target position or from the tolerance range of the actual position of the guide unit to be detected, evaluated, and displayed. These limit switches 44, which are fixedly arranged in the holding structure 36, interact with a switch 45 located laterally on the guide unit. This interaction occurs, for example, if the cable 25 experiences permanent, irreversible stretching due to its service life, causing the guide unit 35 to be moved to its lower end position under the same clamping force, the lower limit switch 44 is actuated by the switch 45, and a signal is sent to an elevator control system. This shuts down the elevator and at least allows the cable to be inspected.

[0026] At the end 16 of the cable 25, on the underside near the cabin, a load measuring unit is preferably integrated, which measures the tensile tension of all cables of the cable 25 together or in each individual cable 25'. In this way, the cable tension and thus the condition of the gas springs 30 can be monitored, which is also transmitted to the measuring and monitoring unit 40. If a predefined limit value for this tensile tension is undershot, the operation of the elevator system is stopped. The current tension values ​​can be read by the service technician via a display.

[0027] Fig. 4 shows a variant of a clamping device 50, which is similar in itself to the one according to Fig. 3 The design is as follows. Therefore, only the differences are explained below, and the same reference numerals are used for the same components or parts as for the clamping device 30. This clamping device 50 is also advantageously arranged next to the drive 15. However, it could also be attached at the top of the shaft 14 or, theoretically, to the lift car 11.

[0028] Gas springs 30 are again provided as clamping devices, analogous to those specified above. Fig. 3 The cylinder housing 31 is arranged in a continuous sequence. The cylinder housing 31, with its end 33', is pivotally mounted to a retaining structure 56, and a projecting end 33 of the piston 32, which is slidable within the cylinder housing 31, is pivotally mounted to the guide unit 35. Four gas springs 30 are also provided, arranged in pairs laterally at the guide unit 35, each spring directed outwards at the same angle α to the axial direction of the cable 25, and pivotally mounted to the retaining structure 56.

[0029] The holding structure 56 of this clamping device 50 differs from that according to Fig. 3 The cylinder housings 31 with the respective ends 33 of the gas springs 30 are pivotally mounted in pairs in profile-shaped supports 52, each standing on a base plate 51. These supports 52 are rigidly connected to each other by a crossbeam 53 above the deflection pulley 23. Guide rails 39, running parallel to the axial direction A of the cable 25, and guide elements 42' designed as rollers are provided. The guide elements 42' are assigned to the guide unit 35 and enable its adjustment along the longitudinal direction of the cable 25. The guide unit differs from the one according to Fig. 3 The position illustrates how it is approximately set up in operation, where it is located in the middle range.

[0030] The four ends of the gas springs 30 are arranged in the guide unit 35 in this plane, which is perpendicular to the axis of the cable pull 25, and move in this plane perpendicular to this axis during adjustment. For this purpose, they are each provided with the same stroke length and nominal compressive force.

[0031] The invention is sufficiently demonstrated by the exemplary embodiments described above. However, it could be demonstrated further by other variations.

[0032] As mentioned, the tensioning device could be arranged at the end 16 of a cable 25 instead of at a deflection pulley 23. The gas springs would then be arranged in the same way and would hold the cable end accordingly instead of on the deflection pulley, tensioning it in the axial direction of the cable.

[0033] Instead of four gas springs, only two could be used, each arranged symmetrically to the cable pull at an angle α. They would then advantageously act not laterally, but in the center of the guide unit.

[0034] In principle, the gas springs could be arranged in reverse, with the cylinder housing and its end at the guide unit and the movable piston pivotally mounted in the support structure. The gas springs could also be arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable.

[0035] Instead of gas springs, clamping devices with similar operating principles could be used, such as piston / cylinder units with appropriate pressure control.

[0036] The drive and / or tensioning device could be mounted at the top of the elevator shaft instead of at the bottom. The number of pulleys is also variable. For example, only the tensioning device with its pulley could be located at the top, the drive with its drive pulley at the bottom, and the ends near the elevator car. However, the ratio of the resulting pulley system is preferably between 1:3 and 1:5, as shown in Fig. 2 is shown.

[0037] The clamping device could also be designed differently than shown, in which, for example, the frame-shaped guide unit could be provided only by bearings of the shaft carrying the deflection roller, which would be guided by the guide rails and the gas springs would be mounted there.

[0038] Likewise, the supporting structure and the crossbeam could be designed or shaped differently than shown.

Claims

1. Elevator, in particular a passenger and / or goods elevator, without a counterweight, comprising an elevator car (11) in a shaft and a rope (25) for raising and lowering the same, wherein the rope (25) can be driven by a motor by means of a drive pulley (18) arranged above or below in the shaft (14), is guided around at least one deflection pulley (23) opposite it above or below in the shaft and is operatively connected to the elevator car (11) above and below, wherein the at least one deflection pulley (23) or a rope end is held displaceably in a tensioning device (20, 50) by tensioning means in such a way that the rope is always tensioned with a defined tension force in the operating state, characterized by the fact thatthe clamping device (20, 50) is designed and arranged with several clamping means such that they generate a resultant compressive force on the cable pull (25) in the clamping direction (F), wherein the clamping means are in particular designed as gas springs (30).

2. Elevator according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that The clamping devices are each mounted with one end at the guide unit (35) of the deflection pulley (23) or the cable end (16), which is adjustable in the tensioning direction of the cable pull (25), and with the other end in a holding structure (36, 56) in which the guide unit (35) is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the cable pull (25).

3. Elevator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that The clamping devices in each adjustment position are arranged symmetrically to the deflection pulley (23) and the cable (25) wound around it, so that the resulting compressive force generated by them is always directed in the clamping direction (F) of the cable (25).

4. Elevator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that four clamping devices are arranged in pairs from the guide unit (35) at the same angle (α) to the axis direction (A) of the cable pull (25) to one side or the other and are pivotally mounted at the holding structure (36, 56).

5. Elevator according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the four ends of the clamping means in the guide unit (35) are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis direction (A) of the cable pull (25) and move in this plane perpendicular to this axis direction when adjusted.

6. Elevator according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact thatThe holding structure (36, 56) of the tensioning device (20, 50) has at least one crossbeam (37, 53) and supports (38, 52) holding it, with guide rails (39) in the axial direction (A) of the cable pull for the guide unit (35), wherein the crossbeam (37, 53) runs at a distance parallel to the axis of rotation of the deflection pulley (23) in the area in the axial direction of the cable pull (25) and between the cable pull.

7. Elevator according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the clamping device (20, 50) with the one deflection roller (23) next to the rotary motor (17) as motor with the drive roller (18) rotatably connected to it with an axis of rotation parallel to that of the deflection roller (23) in the lower shaft area.

8. Elevator according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact thatThe cable (25) is guided from the drive pulley (18) in the lower shaft area, which is rotatably connected to the rotary motor (17) as a motor, firstly upwards to at least one deflection pulley (22) in the upper shaft area and subsequently to the top of the elevator car (11), and secondly from the drive pulley (5) to a deflection pulley (21) below the elevator car (2) and to the further deflection pulley (23) in the tensioning device (20, 50) next to the drive pulley (18) and from this end to the underside of the elevator car (11) and can be fastened there.

9. Elevator according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that The clamping device (20, 50) is assigned an auxiliary device by means of which the clamping means and the guide unit (35) with the deflection pulley (23) therein can be pressed into the inserted state so that the cable pull (25) can be guided around the adjustable deflection pulley (23) during assembly in the shaft.

10. Elevator according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that The clamping device (20, 50) is assigned limit switches (44) for the upper and lower end positions of the guide unit (35) with the deflection pulley (23) or the rope end, which interact with at least one switch (45) at the guide unit (35).

11. Elevator according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that These limit switches (44) detect deviations from the target position of the guide unit (35), which can be displayed or evaluated, and for example when a permanent elongation occurs in the cable pull (25) due to its service life, causing the guide unit (35) to be moved to the lower end position with the same compressive force of the clamping means, and then the limit switch (44) is actuated.

12. Elevator according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact thatthe clamping means are designed as gas springs (30), in each of which preferably a cylinder housing (31) with its end (33') at the holding structure (36, 56) and a projecting end (33) of a piston (32) displaceable in the cylinder housing (31) are pivotally mounted on the guide unit (35).

13. Elevator according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the gas springs (30) are each provided with a specific stroke length and a specific target pressure force, which are the same for all of them.

14. Tensioning device for a lift according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by the fact thatin the tensioning device (20, 50) at least one deflection pulley (23) or a rope end in a guide unit (35) is provided and the tensioning device (20, 50) is designed and arranged with several tensioning means such that these tensioning means generate a resultant compressive force on the rope pull (25) in the tensioning direction (F) when the tensioning device is installed in the elevator (10), wherein the tensioning means are in particular designed as gas springs (30).

15. Clamping device according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that The clamping device (20, 50) comprises a holding structure (36, 56), at least one crossbeam (37, 53) and supports (38, 52) holding it, with guide rails (39) for the guide unit (35), wherein the crossbeam (37, 53) runs at a distance parallel to the axis of rotation of the deflection roller (23), wherein the clamping means are each supported at one end at the adjustable guide unit (35) and at the other end in the holding structure (36, 56).

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