Self-equalizing tension member termination for elevator system

Abstract

A termination assembly for an elevator system having a plurality of tension members includes a termination housing, and a plurality of tension member retainers. Each tension member retainer is configured for connection to a corresponding tension member of the plurality of tension members. A flowable housing filler is positioned in the termination housing. The flowable housing filler is configured to equalize tensile forces acting on the plurality of tension members by flowing away from a first tension member retainer of a first tension member subjected to a first tensile force, and toward a second tension member retainer of a second tension member subjected to a second tensile force less than the first tensile force.

Description

[0001] Exemplary embodiments generally relate to elevator system. More particularly, exemplary embodiments relate to terminations of tension members of elevator systems having multiple tension members.

[0002] Tension members, such as steel ropes or coated steel belts containing metal cords, are used to move an elevator car up and down within an elevator shaft or hoistway. The tension members may be secured to, for example, the elevator car, a counterweight, or a hoistway fixed structure via a termination, which are also utilized to provide tension to the tension member. Some elevator systems include multiple tension members, which each have their own termination structure.

[0003] A problem encountered in elevators with tension members is the correct equalization of these tension members in order to distribute the equipment load evenly between the belts. Equipment with not equalized tension members may have problems with ride quality, and may result in uneven wear or damage of the tension members, thereby reducing the service life of the tension members. traction and / or risk of one of the belts coming off the pulley and causing damage to the belt or even, in extreme cases, the belt breaking.

[0004] In one exemplary embodiment, a termination assembly for an elevator system having a plurality of tension members includes a termination housing, and a plurality of tension member retainers. Each tension member retainer is configured for connection to a corresponding tension member of the plurality of tension members. A flowable housing filler is positioned in the termination housing. The flowable housing filler is configured to equalize tensile forces acting on the plurality of tension members by flowing away from a first tension member retainer of a first tension member subjected to a first tensile force, and toward a second tension member retainer of a second tension member subjected to a second tensile force less than the first tensile force.

[0005] Particular embodiments further may include at least one, or a plurality of, the following optional features, alone or in combination with each other: Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the flowable housing filler is a plurality of spherical balls.

[0006] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the spherical balls are formed from a steel material.

[0007] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a spring element is operably connected to each tension member retainer of the plurality of tension member retainers to dampen movement of the plurality of tension member retainers in the tension direction.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a first end of each tension member retainer is positioned in the termination housing and a second end of each tension member retainer extends outside of the termination housing.

[0009] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the plurality of tension member retainers is a plurality of caps slidably movable a respective housing protrusion of a plurality of housing protrusions of the termination housing.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments each tension member extends into the termination housing to connect to a respective tension member retainer of the plurality of tension member retainers.

[0011] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments each tension member of the plurality of tension members is one of a rope or a belt.

[0012] In another exemplary embodiment, an elevator system includes an elevator car, a plurality of tension members operably connected to the elevator car and configured to move the elevator car along a hoistway of the elevator system, and one or more termination assemblies to which an end of the plurality of tension members is secured. A termination assembly of the one or more termination assemblies includes a termination housing and a plurality of tension member retainers. Each tension member retainer is configured for connection to a corresponding tension member of the plurality of tension members. A flowable housing filler is positioned in the termination housing. The flowable housing filler is configured to equalize tensile forces acting on the plurality of tension members by flowing away from a first tension member retainer of a first tension member subjected to a first tensile force, and toward a second tension member retainer of a second tension member subjected to a second tensile force less than the first tensile force.

[0013] Particular embodiments further may include at least one, or a plurality of, the following optional features, alone or in combination with each other:

[0014] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the flowable housing filler is a plurality of spherical balls.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the spherical balls are formed from a steel material.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a spring element is operably connected to each tension member retainer of the plurality of tension member retainers to dampen movement of the plurality of tension member retainers in the tension direction.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a first end of each tension member retainer is positioned in the termination housing and a second end of each tension member retainer extends outside of the termination housing.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the plurality of tension member retainers is a plurality of caps slidably movable a respective housing protrusion of a plurality of housing protrusions of the termination housing.

[0019] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments each tension member extends into the termination housing to connect to a respective tension member retainer of the plurality of tension member retainers.

[0020] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments each tension member of the plurality of tension members is one of a rope or a belt.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the belt includes a plurality of tension elements at least partially enclosed in an elastomeric jacket.

[0022] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the belt has an aspect ratio of belt width to belt thickness of greater than 1.

[0023] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the rope is formed from a plurality of steel wires.

[0024] Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the termination is secured to the elevator car.

[0025] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an elevator system; FIG. 2 is an end view of a belt for an elevator system; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tension element of a belt; FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of rope of an elevator system; FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a termination assembly of an elevator system in a first position; FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the termination assembly of FIG. 5 in a second position; and FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiment of a termination assembly of an elevator system.

[0026] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 1, an elevator system 10 is shown in schematic fashion. It is to be understood that the version of the elevator system10 shown in FIG. 1 is for illustrative purposes only and to present background for the various components of a general elevator system.

[0028] Shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary traction elevator system 10. Features of the elevator system 10 that are not required for an understanding of the present invention (such as the guide rails, safeties, etc.) are not discussed herein. The elevator system 10 includes an elevator car 14 operatively suspended and / or propelled in a hoistway 12 with two or more tension members 16, for example, ropes or belts, or braided tapes. The tension members 16 interact with sheaves 18 and 52 to be routed around various components of the elevator system 10. Sheave 18 is configured as a diverter, deflector or idler sheave and sheave 52 is configured as a traction sheave, driven by a machine 50. Movement of the traction sheave 52 by the machine 50 drives, moves and / or propels (through traction) the tension members 16 that are routed around the traction sheave 52. Diverter, deflector or idler sheaves 18 are not driven by a machine 50, but help guide the tension members 16 around the various components of the elevator system 10. The tension members 16 could also be connected to a counterweight 22, which is used to help balance the elevator system 10 and reduce the difference in belt tension on both sides of the traction sheave 52 during operation. The sheaves 18 and 52 each have a diameter, which may be the same or different from each other. The tension members 16 are installed to terminations 54 at their ends to secure the tension members 16 to, for example, the elevator car 14 and the counterweight 22.

[0029] In addition, the elevator system 10 could have various configurations such that either both sides of the tension members 16 engage the sheaves 18, 52 or only one side of the tension members 16 engages the sheaves 18, 52. The embodiment of FIG 1 shows a 1:1 roping arrangement in which the tension members 16 terminate at the elevator car 14 and counterweight 22, while other embodiments may utilize other roping arrangements.

[0030] The tension members 16 are constructed to meet belt life requirements and have smooth operation, while being sufficiently strong to be capable of meeting strength requirements for suspending and / or driving the elevator car 14 and counterweight 22.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the tension members 16 are configured as belts 16a. The belt 16a includes a plurality of tension elements 24 extending longitudinally along the belt 16a and arranged across a belt width 26. The tension elements 24 are at least partially enclosed in a jacket 28 to restrain movement of the tension elements 24 in the belt 16a with respect to each other and to protect the tension elements 24. The jacket 28 defines a traction side 30 configured to interact with a corresponding surface of the traction sheave 52. A primary function of the jacket 28 is to provide a sufficient coefficient of friction between the belt 16a and the traction sheave 52 to produce a desired amount of traction there between. The jacket 28 should also transmit the traction loads to the tension elements 24. In addition, the jacket 28 should be wear resistant, fatigue resistant and protect the tension elements 24 from impact damage, exposure to environmental factors, such as chemicals, for example.

[0032] Exemplary materials for the jacket 28 include the elastomers of thermoplastic and thermosetting polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyester elastomers, ethylene propylene diene elastomer, chloroprene, chlorosulfonyl polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyamide, polypropylene, butyl rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylic elastomer, fluoroelastomer, silicone elastomer, polyolefin elastomer, styrene block and diene elastomer, natural rubber, or combinations thereof. Other materials may be used to form the jacket material 28 if they are adequate to meet the required functions of the belt 16a.

[0033] The belt 16a has a belt width 26 and a belt thickness 32, with an aspect ratio of belt width 26 to belt thickness 32 greater than one. The belt 16a further includes a back side 34 opposite the traction side 30 and belt edges 36 extending between the traction side 30 and the back side 34. While six tension elements 24 are illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, other embodiments may include other numbers of tension elements 24, for example, 4, 10 or 12 tension elements 24. Further, while the tension elements 24 of the embodiment of FIG. 2 are substantially identical, in other embodiments, the tension elements 24 may differ from one another. While a belt 16a with a rectangular cross-section is illustrated in FIG. 2, it is to be appreciated that belts 16a having other cross-sectional shapes are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 3, the tension element 24, also referred to as a cord, may be a plurality of wires 38, for example, steel wires 38, which in some embodiments are formed into one or more strands 40. The strands 40 are groups of wires 38 that are arranged, in some embodiments, by twisting or the like. An exemplary strand 40 may include a central wire 38a and a plurality of outer wires 38b arranged around the central wire 38a. In some embodiments the wires 38a and 38b are the same size and formed of the same material, while in other embodiments the wires 38a and 38b may vary in cross-sectional shape or size and / or vary in material composition. For example, the central wire 38a may be formed from a first material and has a first cross-sectional shape, and the outer wires 38b may be formed from a second material different from the first material, and / or the outer wires 38b may have a second cross-sectional shape different from the first cross-sectional shape.

[0035] The strands 40 are grouped or arranged to form a tension element 24. In some embodiments, the tension element 24 includes one or more central strands 40a with a plurality of outer strands 40b arranged around the central strands 40a. In some embodiments, the outer strands 40b are wrapped around the central strands 40a. While in some embodiments, the central strands 40a have the same configuration as each of the outer strands 40b, in other embodiments, the outer strands 40b and the central strands 40a may vary in, for example, wire 38 quantity, wire 38 cross-sectional size or shape, or wire 38 material composition.

[0036] While a circular cross-sectional tension element geometry is illustrated in the embodiment of FIG 3, other embodiments may include different tension element cross-sectional geometries, such as rectangular or ellipsoidal. While the cross-sectional geometries of the tension elements 24 in FIG. 2 are shown as identical, in other embodiment the tension elements' cross-sectional geometries may differ from one another.

[0037] In other embodiments, the tension member is configured as a rope 16b, in which one or more cords 24 are arranged in, in some embodiments, a roughly circular arrangement. The one or more cords 24 may include a central cord 24a and outer cords 24b surrounding the central cord 24a. As in the belt 16a configuration, the cord 24 may be formed from a plurality of steel wires 38 arranged in a plurality of strands 40 which in turn are arranged to form the cord 24.

[0038] Illustrated in FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a termination assembly 54 for a plurality of tension members 16. The termination assembly 54 includes a tension member retention 58 for each of the tension members 16, and a termination housing 60 in which the tension member retentions 58 are installed. A base portion 62 of each tension member retention 58 is located inside of the termination housing 60, and a tip portion 64 of each tension member retention 58 extends out of the termination housing 60. Each of the tension member retentions 58 is independently movable in the termination housing 60 in a tension direction 66 of the tension member 16. A flowable housing filler, such as a plurality of spherical steel balls 70, are disposed in the termination housing 60 between the base portions 62 of the tension member retentions 58 and a housing base 72 of the termination housing 60, such that each tension member retention 58 rests on and is supported by a portion of the plurality of spherical steel balls 70. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the use of spherical steel balls 70 is merely exemplary and that balls of other materials, such as other metallic materials, and other shapes may be utilized as the flowable housing filler. The plurality of spherical steel balls 70 are configured to shift or move when one or more of the tension members 16 are under greater load that another one or more of the tension members 16, to redistribute the loads on the tension members 16 to thereby equalize the loads.

[0039] For example, in FIG. 5, three tension members 16d, 16e and 16f are secured at the termination assembly 54 via corresponding tension member retentions 58d, 58e, 58f. In this example, the load tensile load on the tension member 16e is greater than the tensile loads on tension members 16d and 16f, so a portion of the plurality of spherical steel balls 70 are flowed from the portion of the termination housing 60 beneath the tension member retention 58e and to the portions of the termination housing 60 beneath the tension member retentions 58d and 58f. This shifting of the plurality of spherical steel balls 70 equalizes the tensile loads on the tension members 16d, 16e and 16f. In another example, illustrated in FIG. 6, the tensile loads on tension members 16d and 16f are greater than the tensile load on tension member 16e. Thus, the plurality of spherical steel balls 70 flows from beneath tension member retention 58d and 58f, and toward the portion beneath tension member retention 58e.

[0040] Another embodiment of a termination assembly 54 is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the termination housing 60 includes a plurality of housing protrusions 74, corresponding to each tension member 16 secured at the termination assembly 54. The housing protrusions 74, which in some embodiments are cylindrical, are each closed at a tip end 76 by an individual cap 78, which is slidable along the housing protrusion 74 in the tension direction 66. The tension members 16 are each secured to a corresponding cap 78. Thus, the caps 78 are moved in the tension direction 66 depending on the tensile force on the corresponding tension member 16. Similarly in this embodiment, the plurality of spherical steel balls 70 shift or move in the termination housing 60 in response to unequal tensile forces on the tension members 16 to thereby equalize the tensile forces. In some embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 7, a spring element 80 is operably connected to each cap 78 of the plurality of caps 78 to dampen movement of the plurality of caps 78 in the tension direction 66.

[0041] Equalizing the tensile forces acting on the tension members 16 via the termination assembly 54 reduces the need to mechanically equalize tension of the tension members 16 by a technician, and further improves ride quality and reduces vibration. This further extends service life of the tension members 16 and the sheaves 18, 52 of the elevator system 10.

[0042] The term "about" is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application.

[0043] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and / or groups thereof.

[0044] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A termination assembly for an elevator system having a plurality of tension members, the termination assembly including: a termination housing; a plurality of tension member retainers, each tension member retainer configured for connection to a corresponding tension member of the plurality of tension members; and a flowable housing filler disposed in the termination housing, the flowable housing filler configured to equalize tensile forces acting on the plurality of tension members by flowing away from a first tension member retainer of a first tension member subjected to a first tensile force, and toward a second tension member retainer of a second tension member subjected to a second tensile force less than the first tensile force.

2. The termination assembly of claim 1, wherein the flowable housing filler is a plurality of spherical balls.

3. The termination assembly of claim 2, wherein the spherical balls are formed from a steel material.

4. The termination assembly of any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a spring element operably connected to each tension member retainer of the plurality of tension member retainers to dampen movement of the plurality of tension member retainers in the tension direction.

5. The termination assembly of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a first end of each tension member retainer is disposed in the termination housing and a second end of each tension member retainer extends outside of the termination housing.

6. The termination assembly of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of tension member retainers is a plurality of caps slidably movable a respective housing protrusion of a plurality of housing protrusions of the termination housing.

7. The termination assembly of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein each tension member extends into the termination housing to connect to a respective tension member retainer of the plurality of tension member retainers.

8. The termination assembly of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein each tension member of the plurality of tension members is one of a rope or a belt.

9. The termination assembly of claim 8, wherein the belt includes a plurality of tension elements at least partially enclosed in an elastomeric jacket.

10. The termination assembly of claim 8 or 9, wherein the belt has an aspect ratio of belt width to belt thickness of greater than 1.

11. The termination assembly of claim 8, wherein the rope is formed from a plurality of steel wires.

12. An elevator system, comprising: an elevator car; a plurality of tension members operably connected to the elevator car and configured to move the elevator car along a hoistway of the elevator system; one or more termination assemblies to which an end of the plurality of tension members is secured, a termination assembly of the one or more termination assemblies having the configuration of the termination assembly of any of claims 1 to 11.

13. The elevator system of claim 12, wherein the termination is secured to the elevator car.

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