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

[0002] Elevator systems are used to transport people and / or goods between floors of buildings. For this purpose, at least one elevator car, carrying a person and / or goods, travels vertically within an elevator shaft between floors. Depending on the transport capacity required in the building, an elevator system can have only one elevator car or several elevator cars that can be moved independently of each other in adjacent travel paths within the elevator shaft. An elevator system with multiple travel paths for elevator cars can be called a group elevator. The aforementioned travel paths for the elevator cars of a group elevator are typically not separated by walls, but by intermediate beams 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, the term "guide rail" will refer to either a complete guide rail or a guide rail section, depending on the context.

[0003] EP 0397064 B1 describes a lift installation with a lift shaft comprising a first travel path for a first lift car and a second travel path for a second lift car. The first and second travel paths are arranged side by side in the width direction of the lift shaft. Between the first and second travel paths, several intermediate beams are arranged, spaced vertically apart and extending in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction of the lift shaft. The first lift car is connected to a first counterweight via a first suspension element, and the second lift car is connected to a second counterweight via a second suspension element. The lift 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 located 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 direction of depth. The fourth travel path for the second counterweight is located between the second travel path for the second elevator car and the first intermediate supports.

[0004] JPS60178177A and CN107804767A also describe elevator systems, each comprising 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. JPS60178177A discloses the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] The 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 having two adjacent travel paths for elevator cars. According to the invention, this object is achieved with an elevator system having the features of claim 1. The elevator system according to the invention has an elevator shaft with a first travel path for a first elevator car and a second travel path for a second elevator car. The first travel path and the second travel path are arranged adjacent to each other in a lateral direction of the elevator shaft. Between the first travel path and the second travel path, several first intermediate supports are arranged, spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction and extending in a depth direction of the elevator shaft perpendicular to the lateral direction.Between the first and second travel paths, several secondary intermediate beams are arranged, spaced vertically apart and extending in the depth direction of the elevator shaft. These secondary intermediate beams are spaced laterally from the first intermediate beams. Between the first and second intermediate beams are a third travel path for a first counterweight of the elevator system, connected to the first elevator car via a first support element, and a fourth travel path for a second counterweight of the elevator system, connected to the second elevator car via a second support element. The first and second intermediate beams are elongated and are supported by 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 side by side 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. Advantageously, in this arrangement, the first counterweight does not travel directly past the second elevator car, and the second counterweight does not travel directly past the first elevator car. Thus, the third travel path is 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 technician or service worker on one of the two elevator cars being endangered by the counterweight of the other elevator car. Furthermore, this arrangement results in a less complex routing of the two load-bearing elements.

[0007] 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. This protective element can be, for example, a protective wall made of sheet metal or plexiglass, a grid, or a net stretched within a frame, such as a textile net or a wire mesh. The protective element extends in the depth direction along the first and second travel paths of the first and second elevator cars, respectively. This protects a technician or service worker located on the roof of an elevator car or at the bottom of the elevator shaft from a collision with a counterweight. Specifically, these protective elements prevent the technician or service worker from leaning from the first or second travel path into the adjacent travel path of a counterweight.The protective element need not extend over the entire height of the elevator shaft. A first protective element is, in particular, arranged at the bottom of the elevator shaft. It has a height that is at least as great as the height of the counterweight located in the adjacent travel path. A second protective element is, in particular, arranged at mid-height of the elevator shaft, i.e., where the elevator car and its associated counterweight pass each other.

[0008] The arrangement of the travel paths for the counterweights between the first and second intermediate beams requires very little space in the cross-section of the elevator shaft. This allows an elevator system with such a shaft to have elevator cars with particularly large cross-sections and thus floor areas, or, given a fixed cross-section and thus floor area for the elevator cars, the elevator shaft can have a particularly small cross-section.

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

[0010] 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 costly. In the elevator shaft according to the invention, guide rails can be attached directly to the intermediate beams. Installing guide rails in the elevator shaft is therefore simple, quick, and cost-effective.

[0011] The elevator shaft is typically bounded by solid shaft walls, which can be made of materials such as concrete or wood. However, it is also possible that the elevator shaft is bounded by a supporting structure, particularly one made of metal.

[0012] The elevator shaft, and thus also the travel paths for the independently movable elevator cars and the counterweights 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, non-overlapping spaces in which an elevator car or a counterweight can be moved vertically.

[0013] The vertical extent of the elevator shaft can be referred to as its height. A vertical position within the elevator shaft can be referred to as its height within the elevator shaft. The elevator shaft has a predominantly cuboid shape. It therefore has a height extending vertically, a width extending laterally, and a depth extending vertically.

[0014] The elevator shaft has openings at various heights, with each opening typically corresponding to a floor of the building containing the shaft. When the elevator stops at a floor, the cabin door and the shaft door located in the opening are aligned so that entry and exit are possible via both the cabin door and the shaft door.

[0015] Shaft openings assigned to a floor are arranged side by side, particularly in the width of the elevator shaft. It is also possible for an elevator car to have two opposing cabin doors, so that at least on one floor the elevator shaft also has opposing shaft openings.

[0016] The elevator shaft can also have more than two travel paths for elevator cars and more than two travel paths for counterweights.

[0017] The first and second intermediate beams run in the direction of depth, although this direction need not be exactly perpendicular to the direction of width; a slight deviation is possible. The first and second intermediate beams also run horizontally. In the elevator shaft, a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam are arranged in pairs at different heights. For example, a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam are spaced between 70 and 100 cm apart. Two first or second intermediate beams arranged vertically, one above the other, are spaced between 200 and 400 cm apart.

[0018] The first and second intermediate supports have an elongated shape and are braced against opposing shaft walls. With concrete shaft walls, they can be cast in place during the casting process. Alternatively, the shaft walls can be cast first, and the intermediate supports can then be attached to them, for example, by bolting. The shaft walls may also have ledges or recesses on which the intermediate supports can rest from above. It is also possible that, in the case of a first and a corresponding second intermediate support, only one of the two supports rests against opposing shaft walls, while the other is attached to the support that rests against the shaft walls.

[0019] The first and second intermediate beams are designed as metal beams, for example as hollow profiles with a rectangular cross-section, T-beams, or I-beams, with optional attachments. The intermediate beams feature, in particular, fastening points for attaching the elevator guide rails. These fastening points can be, for example, slotted holes or threaded studs.

[0020] The arrangement of the third travel path for the first counterweight and the fourth travel path between the first and second intermediate beams results in the first and second intermediate beams being designed and arranged in such a way that the first and second counterweights can be moved vertically between them.

[0021] In this 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 level within the elevator shaft. Guide rails for the elevator system are attached to these intermediate supports. This arrangement of the intermediate supports allows an installer, positioned on an installation platform, to attach guide rails to the first and second intermediate supports without having to change the platform's position vertically. This enables a particularly simple, quick, and therefore cost-effective installation of the elevator system.

[0022] In this 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. The crossbeam can, like the intermediate beams, have corresponding fastening options for this purpose. The crossbeam thus enables a particularly simple, quick, and therefore cost-effective installation of the elevator system. In addition, the crossbeam can contribute to the high stability of a combination of a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam.

[0023] The crossbeam runs horizontally, particularly in the width direction of the elevator shaft, and when the intermediate beams are parallel and at the same height, it runs horizontally. More than one crossbeam, for example, two or three, can be arranged between a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam. A crossbeam can, for instance, be positioned between the third travel path for the first counterweight and the fourth travel path for the second counterweight. Alternatively or additionally, crossbeams can be 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 crossbeam rather than to the aforementioned wall of the elevator shaft.Attaching to a crossbeam is usually easier, faster and therefore more cost-effective than attaching to a wall of the elevator shaft, especially if it is made of concrete.

[0024] In this embodiment of the invention, a first intermediate beam and a corresponding second intermediate beam of the elevator shaft run at the same level within the elevator shaft. The first intermediate beam and the corresponding second intermediate beam are connected by a crossbeam, and a guide rail for the first counterweight and / or the second counterweight is attached to the crossbeam. The above descriptions regarding one or more crossbeams of an elevator shaft apply accordingly to this embodiment of the elevator system.

[0025] 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 equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals. The drawings are schematic only and not to scale.

[0026] This shows: 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 made of Fig. 1 from a top view,

[0027] According to Fig. 1 and 2An elevator system 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 suspension element 118 in the form of a rope or belt. The first suspension element 118 runs over a first drive pulley 122 located above the first elevator car 116 and a first deflection pulley 124 located above the first counterweight 120. The first drive pulley 122 can be driven by a first drive motor (not shown), which allows the first suspension element 118, and thus the first elevator car 116 and the first counterweight 120, to be moved 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 lateral 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 suspension element 134 in the form of a rope or belt. The second suspension element 134 runs over a second drive pulley 138 located above the second elevator car 130 and a second deflection pulley 140 located above the second counterweight 136. The second drive pulley 138 can be driven by a second drive motor (not shown), which allows the second suspension element 134, and thus the second elevator car 130 and the second counterweight 136, to be moved vertically in the elevator shaft 112.The two drive motors 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 the Fig. 1 The third travel path 142 is located to the left of the fourth travel path 144. The third travel path 142 and the fourth travel path 144 are thus arranged side by side in the width direction 32. The third travel path 142 is therefore located next to the first travel path 114 in the width direction 32, and the fourth travel path 144 is located next to the second travel path 126 in the width direction 32.

[0030] Between the third travel path 142 and the first travel path 114, a total of three first intermediate beams 146 run. They run horizontally and in a depth direction 45 perpendicular to the vertical direction 11 and perpendicular to the width direction 32, and are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction 11. Between the fourth travel path 144 and the second travel path 126, a total of three second intermediate beams 148 also run. They are spaced apart from each other in the width direction 32 and in the vertical direction 11, with two corresponding first and second intermediate beams 146, 148 running parallel and at the same level in the elevator shaft 112. The first intermediate beams 146 and the second intermediate beams 148 are each supported on the outside by 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 each other by 32 mm in the lateral direction and the guide rails 150 of the two counterweights 120, 136 are spaced apart from each other by 45 mm in the lateral direction. The pair of guide rails 150 of the two counterweights 120, 136 are spaced apart from each other by 32 mm in the lateral direction. The guide rails 150 of the two elevator cars 116, 130, which are located on the outside of the elevator shaft 112, are fastened to the 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, inner guide rail 150 of the second elevator car 130 is fastened to the second intermediate supports 148 by means of rail brackets and rail clamps (not shown).

[0032] The guide rails 150 of the two counterweights 120, 136 are connected by means of rail brackets and rail clamps to a first intermediate support 146 and a corresponding second intermediate support 148 connecting crossbeams 154 (see Fig. 2 The elevator system 110 has two external crossbeams 154 per pair consisting of a first intermediate beam 146 and a second intermediate beam 148. The aforementioned guide rails could also be fixed to opposite walls of the elevator shaft 112, so that no crossbeams would be present.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising," "encompassing," 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 within the scope of protection of the appended claims. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising: - an elevator shaft (112) - a first elevator car (116), - a second elevator car (130), - a first counterweight (120) connected to the first elevator car (116) via a first support means (118), and - a second counterweight (136) connected to the second elevator car (130) via a second support means (134), 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 adjacently arranged in a width direction (32) of the elevator shaft (112), - arranged between the first travel path (114) and the second travel path (126) is a plurality of first intermediate beams (146) which are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction (11) and run in a depth direction (45) of the elevator shaft (112) running perpendicular to the width direction (32), - arranged between the first travel path (114) and the second travel path (126) is a plurality of second intermediate beams (148) which are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction (11) and run in the depth direction (45) of the elevator shaft (112), - the second intermediate beams (148) are arranged spaced apart from the first intermediate beams (146) in the width direction (32), and - a third travel path (142) for the first counterweight (120) of the elevator system (110) connected to the first elevator car (116) via the first support means (118) and a fourth travel path (144) for the second counterweight (136) of the elevator system (110) connected to the second elevator car (130) via the second support means (134) are arranged between the first intermediate beams (146) and the second intermediate beams (148), - the first intermediate beams (146) and the second intermediate beams (148) have an elongated shape, - the third travel path (142) for the first counterweight (120) and the fourth travel path (144) for the second counterweight (136) are adjacently arranged in the width direction (32) of the elevator shaft (112) characterized in that the first intermediate beams (146) and the second intermediate beams (148) are supported on opposite shaft walls (152) of the elevator shaft (112).

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

3. The elevator system according to claim 2, characterized in that the first intermediate beam (146) and the corresponding second intermediate beam (148) of the elevator shaft (112) are connected to a cross member (154).

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

Images