Tool for releasing a belt

Abstract

Tool for releasing a belt of a belt elevator from its belt tensioning clamp in which it is clamped by means of a wedge, around which the end of a belt is guided, wherein the tool is designed to reach over the belt tensioning clamp so that a compressive force generated - on the side of the belt tensioning clamp facing away from the belt - between it and the tool can be transmitted to the wedge in such a way that the latter is released from its seat.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a tool for releasing a belt according to the generic term of claim 1.TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] In rope or belt traction systems, both ends of the rope or belt are usually fixed to a component with a means known as "belt attachment means", often in the form of a so called "belt tensioning clamp".

[0003] These belt tensioning clamps are connected to the fixed components above the elevator shaft in 2 / 1 drive systems, while they are connected to the elevator car and counterweight in 1 / 1 systems. An example of a commonly used belt tensioning clamp according to the state of the art is shown in Fig. 1 for the example of a belt as a traction means.

[0004] In terms of the rope or belt attachment, an angled wedge is a common application for a belt tensioning clamp. Therefore, the traction means is connected by passing between an angled housing of the belt tensioning clamp and an angled wedge placed inside the housing (see Fig. 2). The rope or belt placed between the wedge and the housing gets stuck when being pulled, thanks to its conical wedge shape. So, the traction means does not even move, if the traction means is not attached with an additional clamp. An additional clamp (see Fig. 1) is usually attached on the traction means for safety and in order to fix the loop that is formed at the end of the traction means. Nevertheless, the traction means is expected not to slip under load even without the clamp connection.

[0005] The belts of interest here are generally provided with an elastic coating that increases their traction capacity. When being clamped, the coating gets squeezed under load and causes the belt to stuck strongly to the belt tensioning clamp. This makes it very difficult to remove the belt from the belt tensioning clamp even if the belt is unloaded and it is very hard to push the belt by hand in the opposite direction in order to unstuck it.

[0006] Therefore, it is problematic especially in belt traction systems to remove the belt, as it sticks tightly to the belt tensioning clamp. If a special solution is not created, it is very difficult to remove the belt from the belt tensioning clamp during installation or maintenance and the belt must be cut. Cutting the belt means that the belt cannot be reused even if it has not yet reached the end of its service life. In addition, cutting the belt means that the existing belt tensioning clamp cannot be reused in the system or at least not be reused without additional work.OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a tool with which a belt of a belt traction system can be removed more easily from its belt tensioning clamp.SOLUTION ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION

[0008] A solution to this problem is provided by the main claim.

[0009] Claim 1 provides a tool for releasing a belt of a belt elevator from its belt tensioning clamp in which it is fixed by means of a wedge. According to the invention the tool is designed to reach over the belt tensioning clamp so that a compressive force is generated - on the side of the belt tensioning clamp facing away from the belt - between it and the tool can be transmitted to the wedge in such a way that the latter is released from its seat.

[0010] In this way, a very easy and cost-efficient way of removing the wedged belt can be provided through the tool according to the invention.

[0011] The key point is that a tool for belt releasing is created that makes the belt tensioning clamp itself becoming a tool part, since the belt tensioning clamp is a part of the chain that transmits the loosening force from its place of generation to its place of application.PREFERRED DESIGN OPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A preferred design option is that the belt is preferably clamped by means of a wedge in the belt tensioning clamp, around which the end of a belt is guided, preferably as a loop. The tool then is characterized in that it has a tab that engages in the area between the useful section of the belt that goes into the shaft and its short end and exerts pressure on the wedge there to push it through the bottom opening of the clamp in its unclamping direction. The "bottom opening" is the opening through which the belt is guided and which the belt passes while being clamped by the wedge.

[0013] Overall, a very easy and cost-efficient way of removing the wedged belt can be provided through the tool according to the invention. The tab of the tool can be used to apply force to the wedge aimed at the right spot and therefore makes the application of the force effective and repeatable, compared to a small tool like a screwdriver or something alike. In this way, it can be secured that the belt can be loosened without damage to the belt, not only because the belt also does not have to be cut in the removal process, but also since the tool does not apply detrimental forces to the belt.

[0014] Another preferred design option is that the tool has an L-shape with a long leg and a short leg, the long leg having a cutout into which said tab extends. Where the long leg and the short leg meet, it can be preferred in some cases that there is a radius, a bevel or an edge, so that the two ends of the legs facing each other do not immediately stand perpendicular to each other. The tab therefore is shaped by an edge of the cutout, preferably so that the tab is in the same plane as the long leg. Therefore, the tab preferably does not need to be bent or does not need to be modified in a greater way after being cut out. So overall, a very simple and cost-efficient way of providing the tab for releasing the belt is provided.

[0015] Moreover, the tab preferably is formed by the edge of the cutout furthest from the short leg. The cutout preferably has a mainly rectangular form and is designed that way that it can completely take up the body of the belt tensioning clamp.

[0016] The tab preferably has a width that is dependent on the bottom opening of the belt tensioning clamp and that width is preferably at most only 20% smaller than the width of said bottom opening, preferably even only at most 10% smaller than the width of the bottom opening. Therefore, an easy and cost-effective way of providing a tab that is having a big application surface can be secured.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferred that the cutout forms an additional supporting tab on its side facing the short leg. This tab is laterally confined by two groove-like extensions of the cutout. The cutout preferably has a mainly rectangular form, wherein the supporting tab is preferably on the top end of said rectangular cutout; protruding from that top side of the rectangular cutout. The top side in this case is the side facing the short leg. The supporting tab can be used in two ways. Firstly, it can be used as a help or guide for mounting the tool in the right way and keeping it in place in the mounted state. Therefore, it is preferred that the supporting tab is received at least partly by the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp. In this case it is preferably received by the top part of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp. Secondly, it can be preferred that the supporting tab in the mounted state is in contact with a roof plate of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp. In this case, the supporting tab uses the roof plate as a support for being able to apply even more force to the wedge by having a counter holder to support the tool.

[0018] It is also preferred that the cutout is so large that the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp is at least partly received by it. The bracket of the belt tensioning clamp is forming at least the back and side walls of the belt tensioning clamp. The cutout of the long leg should therefore preferably be matched with the outer contour of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp in the place where the tool in the mounted state is preferred to sit. The cutout is at least this large - also including the two possible tabs - that the contour of said cross section where the mounted tool sits can be received by the cutout, wherein the long leg is therefore enclosing the bracket in this area.

[0019] It is furthermore preferred that the cutout is so large that - in the mounted state of the tool - the tab on the lower side (side facing away from the short leg) touches the wedge directly or indirectly and the supporting tab on the upper side (side facing the short leg) simultaneously touches the upper side of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp (or the roof plate) or is in direct proximity thereto (at most 2 cm distance). Alternatively, the supporting tab touches the upper side of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp (or the roof plate) and the tab on the lower side simultaneously touches the wedge directly or indirectly or is in direct proximity thereto (at most 2 cm distance). The fact that the tabs of the tool are either contacting the wedge respectively the top of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp or are in proximity to do so lead to the fact that the tool can be safely mounted in an intended position and there is no big room for error as well as no long way has to be bridged in order to apply force to the wedge.

[0020] Another preferred design option is that the tool has, at least on its short leg, a cutout which is wide enough to receive the rod of the belt tensioning clamp therein. Therefore, the cutout of the short leg has a width that is at least wider than the diameter of the rod, but preferably only at most 20% wider than the diameter of the rod. That cutout is made so that the short leg can surpass the rod in some areas.

[0021] It is also preferred that the short leg has at least one, preferably exactly two, threaded holes for screwing in a screw in each case. Those screws are preferably screwed in in order to apply the needed force to press the tab against the wedge and to unwedge it. For that reason, the screws need to have a contact area at their bottom, so that the tool can be moved upwards. This contact area for the screws can be the bracket or the roof plate of the belt tensioning clamp. In this way, it is ensured in a simple and cost-effective way that the needed force to unwedge the wedge can be applied safely and defined.

[0022] Moreover, it is preferred that the respective axis of the threaded hole runs parallel to the back wall of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp and / or to the plane of the large surface of the long leg of the tool. It is ideal, if the tool is displaced straight upwards without any or only an angle of lower than 5° relative to the bracket's walls. In this way, the force can be distributed ideally to the wedge.

[0023] It is furthermore preferred that the respective axis of the threaded holes run in such a way that it cuts the upper side of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp or cuts the back and / or side walls of the bracket of the belt tensioning clamp. So, it is ensured in a very simple way to use the already existing structure of the bracket as a contact area for the bottom of the screws.

[0024] It is also preferred that the tool is a one-piece integral part - except the possible screws. That adds to the simple and cost-efficient design of the tool.

[0025] Moreover, it is preferred that the tool is an L-shaped bent sheet metal. That furthermore adds to the simple and cost-efficient design of the tool.

[0026] Further possible configurations, functions and advantages result from the dependent claims and / or the following description of the preferred embodiment and / or with reference to the figures.FIGURE LIST

[0027] Figure 1 shows a belt tensioning clamp with a wedged belt according to the state of the art in three-dimensional view. Figure 2 shows a cut through the belt tensioning clamp according to the state of the art with a wedge wedging the belt in side view. Figure 3 shows a tool according to the invention as it is to be mounted on a belt tensioning clamp in three-dimensional front view. Figure 4 shows the tool according to the invention as it is mounted on the belt tensioning clamp, but without screws in three-dimensional front view. Figure 5 shows the tool according to the invention as it is mounted on the belt tensioning clamp with screws being screwed in in three-dimensional front view. Figure 6 shows the tool with the belt tensioning clamp according to Figure 5 in another view with screws being screwed in in three-dimensional back view. Figure 7 shows the tool according to the invention in three-dimensional front view. Figure 8 shows another possible embodiment of the tool without a supporting tab in three-dimensional front view. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Fig. 3 to Fig. 7 show a preferred embodiment of the tool 1 for releasing a belt 2 according to the invention.

[0029] Fig. 7 shows the tool 1 alone without the belt tensioning clamp 3 it is mounted on. Here, it can be seen that the tool 1 comprises an L-shape with a long leg 5a and a short leg 5b, wherein there is preferably a radius where the two legs meet. The long leg 5a comprises a preferably central cutout 6 that forms the tab 4 on its bottom side and preferably also the supporting tab 7 on its upper side. The tab 4 has the width W. The short leg 5b also comprises another cutout 8 that preferably still cuts into the radius located between the two legs 5a and 5b.

[0030] The short leg 5b preferably also comprises two holes 10 for the pressure exerting screws, preferably jacking screws, preferably each on one side of the cutout 8. The mating thread required for the screws is ideally formed in the holes mentioned, but can also be provided by an appropriately positioned weld-on nut. Therefore, the holes 10 in the following are called "threaded holes". The respective axis of the threaded holes 10 run preferably parallel to the plane of the large surface of the long leg 5a.

[0031] Fig. 3 to Fig. 6 show the mounting process and the mounted state of the tool 1 on the belt tensioning clamp 3. In Fig. 3 the tool 1 is "threaded" on its bottom side, so that the tab 4 enters between the two layers of the belt 2 that are formed because of the loop that guided around the wedge 101 (see Fig. 2). Dependent on the kind of clamp that is used to clamp that loop of the belt 2 together, it can be preferable to remove the clamp or leave the clamp on and the tab 4 can preferably enter through the clamp.

[0032] Figure 4 shows how the tab 4 is moved between the two layers of the belt 2 into its "starting position" where it touches the wedge 101 or is in direct proximity thereto, not more away from it than preferably 2 cm.

[0033] The cutout 6 is so large that the bracket 12 of the belt tensioning clamp 3 is received by it, as it is shown in Fig. 4. For that, the short leg 5b is placed above the top of the bracket 12, preferably by using the cutout 8 that is receiving the rod 9 of the belt tensioning clamp 3. The supporting tab 7 not only helps with the mounting of the tool 1, as it preferably lies in the area between the bracket 12 and the area above the roof plate 13 of the belt tensioning clamp 3. In addition, it helps to stabilize the transitional area between the long and the short leg and avoid that way undue deformation in case the jack screws have to exert a big pressure.

[0034] In order to achieve the force that pushes the wedge upwards out of its wedged position, it is preferred that a jack screw 11 is screwed into each of the threaded holes 10 of the tool 1. Those screws 11 are preferably screwed in until they touch a surface. In the example shown (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6), the threaded holes 10 are placed so that the screws 11 can touch the top side of the bracket 12, in specific the side walls of the bracket 12, when being screwed in far enough. By screwing in the screws 11 even further, the tool 1 is brought upwards and the tab 4 is pressing against the wedge 101 stronger and stronger. This screwing of the screws 11 can be done until the wedge 101 is unwedged and the belt 2 can be removed from the belt tensioning clamp 3 without having to be cut. In the course of pressing upwards, the tab 4 might have to enter the bottom opening of the belt tensioning clamp 3. This is why the width W of the tab 4 preferably is smaller than the width of the bottom opening in order for it to be able to enter.

[0035] Figure 8 furthermore shows another possible embodiment of the tool 1. This tool is designed without a supporting tab. It is an alternative for the tool 1 that is shown in Figure 7. The long leg 5a of the tool 1 shown in Fig. 8 is preferably a little longer than the long leg 5a of the tool 1 shown in Fig. 7. Because of that, the area around the actual supporting tab 7 can be made flat and therefore no supporting tab is shown in Fig. 8. Otherwise, the tool 1 is preferably designed at least similar, preferably identical to the tool 1 shown in Fig. 7. In order to achieve also the functions of the supporting tab 7, that are explained above, slightly longer screws 11 compared to the first embodiment can be used. In this way, the functions of the supporting tab can be also provided at least partly by the screws 11 themselves.REFERENCE LIST

[0036] 1Tool 2Belt 3Belt tensioning clamp 4Tab 5aLong leg of the tool 5bShort leg of the tool 6Cutout on the long leg 7Supporting tab 8Cutout on the short leg 9Rod of belt tensioning clamp 10Threaded hole 11Screw 12Bracket of the belt tensioning clamp 13Roof plate of the belt tensioning clamp 101Wedge WWidth

Claims

1. Tool (1) for releasing a belt (2) of a belt elevator from its belt tensioning clamp (3) in which it is clamped by means of a wedge (101), around which the end of a belt (2) is guided, characterized in that the tool (1) is designed to reach over the belt tensioning clamp (3) so that a compressive force generated - on the side of the belt tensioning clamp (3) facing away from the belt (2) - between it and the tool (1) can be transmitted to the wedge (101) in such a way that the latter is released from its seat.

2. Tool (1) for releasing a belt (2) from its belt tensioning clamp (3), according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool (1) has a tab (4) which is applied to the wedge (101) from below and is designed in a way that it can push the wedge (101) upwards out of the wedged position.

3. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool (1) has an L-shape with a long leg (5a) and a short leg (5b), the long leg (5a) having a cutout (6) into which the tab (4) formed by the long leg (5a) extends.

4. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tab (4) is provided on the side of the cutout (6) that is facing away from the short leg (5b) .

5. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutout (6) forms a supporting tab (7) on its side facing to the short leg (5b).

6. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutout (6) is so large that the bracket (12) of the belt tensioning clamp (3) is received by it.

7. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tab (4) is so small that it can be fitted between the folded belt (2) that forms a loop and / or into the bottom opening of the belt tensioning clamp (3) .

8. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutout (6) is so large that - in the mounted state of the tool (1) - the tab (4) on the lower side touches the wedge (101) and the supporting tab (7) on the upper side simultaneously touches the upper side of the bracket (12) of the belt tensioning clamp (3) or is in direct proximity thereto, or alternatively that the supporting tab (7) touches the upper side of the bracket (12) of the belt tensioning clamp (3) and the tab (4) on the lower side simultaneously touches the wedge (101) or is in direct proximity thereto.

9. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool (1) has, at least on its short leg (5b), a cutout (8) which is wide enough to receive the rod (9) of the belt tensioning clamp (3) therein.

10. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the short leg (5b) has at least one, preferably exactly two, threaded holes (10) for screwing in a screw (11) in each case.

11. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective axis of the threaded hole (10) runs parallel to the back wall of the bracket (12) of the belt tensioning clamp (3) and / or to the plane of the large surface of the long leg (5a) of the tool (1).

12. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective axis of the threaded holes (10) runs in such a way that it cuts the upper side of the bracket (12) of the belt tensioning clamp (3) or cuts the back and / or side walls of the bracket (12) of the belt tensioning clamp (3).

13. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool (1) is a one-piece integral part.

14. Tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool (1) is an L-shaped bent sheet metal.

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