Lift system

Abstract

The invention relates to a lift system comprising a lift shaft. The lift shaft (112) is provided with a first movement path (114) for a first lift car (116) and a second movement path (126) for a second lift car (130). The first movement path (114) and the second movement path (126) are arranged next to one another in a width direction (32). Between the first movement path (114) and the second movement path (126), there are multiple first intermediate supports (146) spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction (11) and running in a depth direction running perpendicular to the width direction (32). Between the first movement path (114) and the second movement path (126), there are multiple second intermediate supports (148) that are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction (11). Between the first intermediate supports (146) and the second intermediate supports (148), there is a third movement path (142) for a first counterweight (120) and a fourth movement path (144) for a second counterweight (136) of the lift system (110). According to the invention, the third movement path (142) for the first counterweight (120) and the fourth movement path (144) for the second counterweight (136) are arranged next to one another in the width direction (32) of the lift shaft (112).

Description

[0001] Elevator system

[0002] The invention relates to an elevator system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Elevator systems are used to transport people and / or goods between floors of buildings. For this purpose, at least one elevator car, which can accommodate people and / or goods, is moved in an elevator shaft, particularly vertically between floors. Depending on the transport capacity required in the building, an elevator system can have just one elevator car or several elevator cars, which can be moved independently of one another in adjacent travel paths of the elevator shaft. An elevator system with several travel paths for elevator cars can be referred to as a group elevator. The travel paths for the elevator cars of a group elevator are usually not separated from one another by walls, but by intermediate supports to which components of the elevator system, in particular guide rails for guiding the elevator cars, are attached.Guide rails are typically assembled from individual, joined guide rail sections. In the following, a guide rail is defined as a complete guide rail and / or a guide rail section, depending on the context.

[0004] EP 0397064 B1 describes an elevator installation having an elevator shaft with a first travel path for a first elevator car of the elevator installation and a second travel path for a second elevator car of the elevator installation. The first travel path and the second travel path are arranged next to one another in a width direction of the elevator shaft. Between the first and the second travel paths, a plurality of first intermediate supports are arranged, spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction and extending in a depth direction of the elevator shaft at right angles to the width direction. The first elevator car is connected to a first counterweight via a first support means, and the second elevator car is connected to a second counterweight of the elevator installation via a second support means. The elevator shaft has a third travel path for the first counterweight and a fourth travel path for the second counterweight.The third travel path for the first counterweight is arranged between the first travel path for the first elevator car and a shaft wall of the elevator shaft adjacent to the first travel path for the first elevator car in the depth direction. The fourth travel path for the second counterweight is arranged between the second travel path for the second elevator car and the first intermediate supports.

[0005] JPS60f78f77A and CNf07804767A also describe elevator systems, each with an elevator shaft, a first travel path for a first elevator car, a second travel path for a second elevator car, a third travel path for a first counterweight, and a fourth travel path for a second counterweight. JPS6481782A describes a generic elevator system.

[0006] In contrast, the object of the invention is, in particular, to propose an alternative elevator system with an elevator shaft with two adjacent travel paths for elevator cars of the elevator system. According to the invention, this object is achieved with an elevator system having the features of claim 1.

[0007] The elevator system according to the invention has an elevator shaft with a first travel path for a first elevator car of the elevator system and a second travel path for a second elevator car of the elevator system. The first travel path and the second travel path are arranged next to one another in a width direction of the elevator shaft. Between the first travel path and the second travel path, a plurality of first intermediate supports are arranged, spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction and extending in a depth direction of the elevator shaft at right angles to the width direction. Between the first travel path and the second travel path, a plurality of second intermediate supports are arranged, spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction and extending in the depth direction of the elevator shaft. The second intermediate supports are arranged at a width distance from the first intermediate supports.Between the first intermediate supports and the second intermediate supports, a third travel path for a first counterweight of the elevator system, which is connected to the first elevator car via a first support means, and a fourth travel path for a second counterweight of the elevator system, which is connected to the second elevator car via a second support means, are arranged. The first intermediate supports and the second intermediate supports have an elongated shape and are supported on opposite shaft walls of the elevator shaft. According to the invention, the third travel path for the first counterweight and the fourth travel path for the second counterweight are arranged next to one another in the width direction of the elevator shaft. In particular, the first travel path of the first elevator car is arranged next to the third travel path of the first counterweight and the second travel path of the second elevator car is arranged next to the fourth travel path of the second counterweight.With this arrangement, the first counterweight advantageously does not pass directly past the second elevator car, nor does the second counterweight pass directly past the first elevator car. The third travel path is therefore not directly adjacent to the second travel path, and the fourth travel path is not directly adjacent to the first travel path. This eliminates the risk of a mechanic or service technician in one of the two elevator cars being endangered by the counterweight of the other elevator car. Furthermore, this results in a less complex routing of the two support elements.

[0008] The first travel path of the first elevator car and the second travel path of the second elevator car are each separated from the adjacent travel path of a counterweight by a protective element. The protective element can be designed, for example, as a protective wall in the form of a sheet metal or a Plexiglas wall, as a grid or as a net stretched in a frame, for example a textile net or a wire net. The protective element extends in the depth direction along the first or second travel path for the first or second elevator car. This protects a fitter or service technician located on the roof of an elevator car or on the floor of the elevator shaft from a collision with a counterweight. The aforementioned protective elements prevent, in particular, the fitter or service technician from bending out of the first or second travel path into the adjacent travel path of a counterweight.The protective element does not have to extend over the entire height of the elevator shaft. A first protective element is arranged in particular at the floor of the elevator shaft. In particular, it has a height that is at least as great as the height of the counterweight arranged in the adjacent travel path. A second protective element is arranged in particular at mid-height of the elevator shaft, i.e. where the elevator car and the associated counterweight pass each other. The arrangement of the travel paths for the counterweights between the first and second intermediate supports takes up particularly little space in the cross-section of the elevator shaft. This means that an elevator system with such an elevator shaft can have elevator cars with particularly large cross-sections and thus base areas, or with given cross-sections and thus base areas of the elevator cars, the elevator shaft can have a particularly small cross-section.

[0009] Guide rails can be attached, at least indirectly, to the first and second intermediate supports to guide the first and second counterweights, as well as the first and second elevator cars, during movement in the elevator shaft. The first and second intermediate supports thus fulfill multiple functions, eliminating the need for additional components. This allows the elevator shaft to be constructed using minimal material, particularly metal. This enables a cost-effective and resource-efficient construction of the elevator shaft.

[0010] In order to attach guide rails for the second counterweight and the second elevator car to the first intermediate beams, plates, rods, and bolts are mounted to the first intermediate beams using nuts in the elevator shaft according to EP 0397064 B1. This assembly is time-consuming and expensive. In the elevator shaft according to the invention, guide rails can be attached directly to the intermediate beams. Installation of guide rails in the elevator shaft is thus simple, quick, and therefore cost-effective.

[0011] The elevator shaft is typically enclosed by solid shaft walls, which can be made of concrete or wood, for example. However, it is also possible for the elevator shaft to be enclosed by a supporting structure, particularly made of metal.

[0012] The elevator shaft and thus also the travel paths for the independently movable elevator cars and the counterweights of the elevator shaft connected to the elevator cars run primarily vertically, although minor deviations from the vertical are possible. The individual travel paths are therefore each designed as mainly cuboid-shaped, non-overlapping spaces, in each of which an elevator car or a counterweight can be moved vertically. A vertical extension of the elevator shaft can be referred to as a height of the elevator shaft. A vertical position within the elevator shaft can be referred to as a height in the elevator shaft. The elevator shaft has, in particular, a mainly cuboid basic shape. It therefore has a height extending in the vertical direction, a width extending in the width direction and a depth extending in the depth direction.

[0013] The elevator shaft, in particular, has shaft openings at different heights, with each shaft opening typically being assigned to a floor of the building containing the elevator shaft. When stopping at a floor, a car door of an elevator car and a shaft door located in a shaft opening are aligned with each other in such a way that entering and exiting the elevator car is possible via the car door and the shaft door.

[0014] Shaft openings assigned to a floor are arranged next to each other, particularly in the width direction of the elevator shaft. It is also possible for an elevator car to have two opposite car doors, so that at least on one floor the elevator shaft also has opposite shaft openings.

[0015] The elevator shaft may also have more than two travel paths for elevator cars and more than two travel paths for counterweights.

[0016] The first and second intermediate beams run in the depth direction, whereby the depth direction does not have to be exactly perpendicular to the width direction; a small deviation is possible. Furthermore, the first and second intermediate beams run horizontally. In the elevator shaft, a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam are arranged in pairs at different heights. A first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam are spaced, for example, between 70 and 100 cm apart. Two first or second intermediate beams arranged vertically one above the other are spaced, for example, between 200 and 400 cm apart.

[0017] The first and second intermediate girders are elongated and rest on opposite shaft walls. In the case of concrete shaft walls, for example, they can be cast in during the casting of the shaft walls. It is also possible for the shaft walls to be cast first and the intermediate girders to be attached to the shaft walls, for example, with screws. The shaft walls can also have recesses or recesses on which the intermediate girders can rest from above. It is also possible for only one of the two intermediate girders of a first and a corresponding second intermediate girder to rest on opposite shaft walls, while the other intermediate girder is attached to the intermediate girder resting on the shaft walls.

[0018] The first and second intermediate beams are designed, in particular, as metal beams, for example, as hollow profiles with a rectangular cross-section, T-beams, or double-T beams, with optional attachments. The intermediate beams, in particular, have fastening options for attaching the guide rails of the elevator system to the intermediate beams. The fastening options can be designed, for example, as elongated holes or threaded pins.

[0019] The arrangement of the third travel path for the first counterweight and the fourth travel path between the first and second intermediate supports results in the first intermediate supports and the second intermediate supports being designed and arranged in such a way that the first and second counterweight can be displaced vertically between them.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, a first intermediate support and a corresponding second intermediate support of the elevator shaft run parallel to each other and at the same height in the elevator shaft. Guide rails of the elevator system are attached to the intermediate supports. Due to the aforementioned arrangement of the intermediate supports, an installer located on an installation platform can attach guide rails to a first and a second intermediate support during installation of the elevator system without having to change the vertical position of the installation platform. This enables a particularly simple, fast, and therefore cost-effective installation of the elevator system.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the first intermediate beam and the corresponding second intermediate beam of the elevator shaft are connected by a crossbeam. Components of the elevator system, in particular guide rails, can also be attached to the crossbeam. Like the intermediate beams, the crossbeam can have corresponding fastening options. The crossbeam thus enables particularly simple, quick, and therefore cost-effective installation of the elevator system. Furthermore, the crossbeam can contribute to the high stability of a combination of a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam.

[0022] The cross member runs in particular in the width direction of the elevator shaft and horizontally when the intermediate girders are arranged parallel and at the same height. More than one cross member, for example two or three cross members, can be arranged between a first intermediate girder and a corresponding second intermediate girder. A cross member can, for example, be arranged between the third travel path for the first counterweight and the fourth travel path for the second counterweight. It is also possible that, alternatively or additionally, cross members are arranged between the third and / or fourth travel path and a wall bordering the elevator shaft. This allows guide rails for the first and / or second counterweight to be attached to a cross member and do not have to be attached to the aforementioned wall of the elevator shaft.Attaching to a cross beam is usually easier, faster and therefore more cost-effective than attaching to a wall of the elevator shaft, especially if the wall is made of concrete.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam of the elevator shaft run at the same height in the elevator shaft. The first intermediate beam and the corresponding second intermediate beam are connected to a crossbeam, and a guide rail for the first counterweight and / or the second counterweight is attached to the crossbeam. The above statements regarding one or more crossbeams of an elevator shaft apply accordingly to this embodiment of the elevator system.

[0024] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings, in which identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals. The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale.

[0025] Showing:

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a side view of an elevator system with two elevator cars that can be moved independently of each other in an elevator shaft, and Fig. 2 shows the elevator system from Fig. 1 in a view from above,

[0027] 1 and 2, an elevator installation 110 has an elevator shaft 112 extending vertically and thus in a vertical direction 11, with a first travel path 114 for a first elevator car 116. The first elevator car 116 is connected to a first counterweight 120 via a first support means 118 in the form of a cable or a belt. The first support means 118 runs over a first drive pulley 122 arranged above the first elevator car 116 and a first deflection pulley 124 arranged above the first counterweight 120. The first drive pulley 122 can be driven by a first drive machine (not shown), whereby the first support means 118 and thus the first elevator car 116 and the first counterweight 120 can be displaced vertically in the elevator shaft 112.

[0028] The elevator shaft 112 has a second travel path 126 for a second elevator car 130, which is arranged in a width direction 32 of the elevator shaft 112 next to the first travel path 114 for the first elevator car 116. The second elevator car 130 is connected to a second counterweight 136 via a second support means 134 in the form of a cable or a belt. The second support means 134 runs over a second drive pulley 138 arranged above the second elevator car 130 and a second deflection pulley 140 arranged above the second counterweight 136. The second drive pulley 138 can be driven by a second drive machine (not shown), whereby the second support means 134 and thus the second elevator car 130 and the second counterweight 136 can be displaced vertically in the elevator shaft 112.The two drive machines can be controlled independently of each other by an elevator control system (not shown), so that the first elevator car 116 and the second elevator car 130 can be moved independently of each other in the elevator shaft 112.

[0029] Between the first travel path 114 for the first elevator car 116 and the second travel path 126 for the second elevator car 130, a third travel path 142 for the first counterweight 120 and a fourth travel path 144 for the second counterweight 136 are arranged, wherein in Fig. 1, the third travel path 142 is arranged to the left of the fourth travel path 144. The third travel path 142 and the fourth travel path 144 are thus arranged next to one another in the width direction 32. The third travel path 142 is thus arranged next to the first travel path 114 in the width direction 32, and the fourth travel path 144 is arranged next to the second travel path 126 in the width direction 32.

[0030] A total of three first intermediate supports 146 extend between the third travel path 142 and the first travel path 114. They extend horizontally and in a depth direction 45 extending at right angles to the vertical direction 11 and at right angles to the width direction 32, and are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction 11. A total of three second intermediate supports 148 extend between the fourth travel path 144 and the second travel path 126. They are spaced apart from one another in the width direction 32 and the vertical direction 11, with two corresponding first and second intermediate supports 146, 148 extending parallel and at the same height in the elevator shaft 112. The first intermediate supports 146 and the second intermediate supports 148 are each supported externally on opposite shaft walls 152 of the elevator shaft 112.

[0031] The elevator cars 116, 130 and the counterweights 120, 136 are each guided by a pair of guide rails 150, wherein the guide rails 150 of the two elevator cars 116, 120 are spaced apart from one another by 32 in the width direction, and the guide rails 150 of the two counterweights 120, 136 are spaced apart from one another by 45 in the depth direction. The pair of guide rails 150 of the two counterweights 120, 136 are spaced apart from one another by 32 in the width direction. Guide rails 150 of the two elevator cars 116, 130, which are located outside the elevator shaft 112, are fastened to shaft walls 152 of the elevator shaft 112 by means of rail brackets and rail clamps (not shown). The second, inner guide rail 150 of the first elevator car 116 is fastened to the first intermediate supports 146 by means of rail brackets and rail clamps (not shown).The second, interior guide rail 150 of the second elevator car 130 is secured to the second intermediate supports 148 by means of rail brackets and rail clamps (not shown). The guide rails 150 of the two counterweights 120, 136 are secured to cross members 154 (see Fig. 2) connecting a first intermediate support 46 and a corresponding second intermediate support 48 by means of rail brackets and rail clamps (not shown). The elevator system 110 has two exterior cross members 154 per pair consisting of a first intermediate support 146 and a second intermediate support 148. These guide rails could also be secured to opposite walls of the elevator shaft 112, so that no cross members would be required.

[0032] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "having," "comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Elevator system with - an elevator shaft (112) - a first elevator car (116), - a second elevator car (30), - a first counterweight (120) connected to the first elevator car (16) via a first support means (18) and - a second counterweight (136) connected to the second elevator car (30) via a second support means (34), wherein the elevator shaft (112) comprises: - a first travel path (114) for the first elevator car (116) and - a second travel path (126) for the second elevator car (130), wherein - the first travel path (114) and the second travel path (126) are arranged next to one another in a width direction (32) of the elevator shaft (112), - between the first travel path (114) and the second travel path (126) there are arranged a plurality of first intermediate supports (146) which are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction (11) and extend in a depth direction (45) of the elevator shaft (112) extending at right angles to the width direction (32), - between the first travel path (114) and the second travel path (126) a plurality of second intermediate supports (148) are arranged, which are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction (11) and extend in the depth direction (45) of the elevator shaft (112), - the second intermediate supports (148) are arranged at a distance from the first intermediate supports (146) in the width direction (32) and - between the first intermediate supports (146) and the second intermediate supports (148) there are arranged a third travel path (142) for a first counterweight (120) of the elevator system (110) connected to the first elevator car (116) via a first support means (118) and a fourth travel path (144) for a second counterweight (136) of the elevator system (110) connected to the second elevator car (130) via a second support means (134), - the first intermediate supports (146) and the second intermediate supports (148) have an elongated shape and are located on opposite shaft walls (152) of the elevator shaft (112), characterized in that the third travel path (142) for the first counterweight (120) and the fourth travel path (144) for the second counterweight (136) are arranged next to one another in the width direction (32) of the elevator shaft (112).

2. Elevator installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a first intermediate support (146) and a corresponding second intermediate support (148) of the elevator shaft (112) run parallel to each other and at the same height in the elevator shaft (112).

3. Elevator installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the first intermediate support (46) and the corresponding second intermediate support (48) of the elevator shaft (112) are connected to a cross member (154).

4. Elevator installation according to claim 3, characterized in that a guide rail (150) for the first counterweight (120) and / or the second counterweight (136) is fastened to the cross member (154).

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