An elevator for every situation

Abstract

The present invention relates to an elevator, particularly a passenger elevator, characterized in that the elevator comprises a car (110), an inner framework (32, 34, 36) and an outer framework, the outer framework surrounding an elevator shaft (10) and comprising a floor plate (20), a first side (12), a second side (16) opposite the first side (12), a third side (14) and a fourth side (18) opposite the third side (14), the inner framework (32, 34, 36) comprising at least a first guide column (32, 170) and a second guide column (34, 172) opposite the first guide column, the inner framework (32, 34, 36) carrying the weight of the car (110).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator, in particular a passenger elevator. The elevator according to the invention is particularly well suited for use in various elevator shafts, in particular in elevator shafts made of concrete, or also in lightweight elevator shafts, for example made of glass or aluminum. The elevator is also very well suited for retrofitting. [Background technology]

[0002] As the prior art confirms, elevators are typically installed in elevator shafts which are usually part of the crude structure of a building.

[0003] EP 921088 discloses an elevator with a typical elevator shaft. It is made of concrete and has various access openings at its front. In the shaft runs an elevator car. At the rear of the elevator car, space is provided for a lifting mechanism and a counterweight. At the upper end of the shaft, a drive unit is provided. This drive unit is connected to and carried by the shaft wall.

[0004] EP 665181 discloses an open elevator shaft and an elevator car fitted thereto. In particular, such an elevator shaft can be manufactured with glass panels and a corresponding supporting framework, which is usually done during the construction of the building.

[0005] JP 2006-151625 A discloses an elevator with a compact guide and drive unit. The elevator has a car on a square base. The elevator shaft is also square. Guide elements are provided on the left and right of the car. Further drive and guide elements are provided behind the car. This also includes a counterweight, which is guided on the rear wall of the elevator shaft. Overall, this arrangement appears to be space-saving. However, the dimensions of the shaft required are significantly larger than those of the car. Only in the front area of ​​the shaft, where the access door is also provided, are there no technical components for the drive and guide. At the rear, the shaft must be significantly larger in size than the car, and similarly, a large free area must be provided in the shaft at the sides of the car. This elevator is provided for a shaft that is provided during the construction of the building.

[0006] In other cases, elevators are added after a building has been constructed, and the elevator shaft is usually attached to the wall of the building.

[0007] In both of these cases, typically, another structure is fitted inside each shaft. The present invention aims to avoid the disadvantages in the prior art and to allow elevators to be equally well integrated into prefabricated (concrete) shafts or into later-installed shafts.

[0008] The present invention therefore aims to make available in a simple and economical way an elevator arrangement which is compact and suitable for many shaft types. In particular, the elevator should be suitable for both initial fitting and retrofitting of buildings. Economic advantages should be achieved by the possibility of reducing the load-bearing capacity of the shaft walls and the corresponding saving in construction materials.

[0009] This problem is solved by an elevator according to claim 1. Advantageous further configurations are given in the dependent claims.

[0010] More detailed explanation The elevator according to the invention may be a passenger elevator or a freight elevator, and is provided with a suitably adapted car, the passenger car usually being provided with at least one car door.

[0011] The elevator should have an outer framework surrounding the elevator shaft. This outer framework thus forms the outer shell of the elevator shaft and determines its dimensions. This outer framework has a floor, a ceiling surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, a third side surface opposite to the first side surface, and a fourth side surface opposite to the third side surface. If the elevator shaft is placed in a rough structure, the floor surface is usually made of stone or concrete. This also usually applies to the side walls having the aforementioned sides. The same applies to the ceiling that closes the elevator shaft above along the ceiling surface, which is typically provided with ducts.

[0012] The elevator shaft may be placed above a rectangular base and thus have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, meaning that it has four side walls corresponding to the aforementioned sides. Alternatively, other shapes are possible, for example the elevator may be placed above a regular octagonal base, in which case further sides are added in addition to the four previously mentioned. In the case of a substantially round shaft, the sides can also be considered as circumferential portions on a cylindrical surface.

[0013] The outer framework can be part of the building or can be installed independently of the building. In this case, a metal structure is often used. In the case of a rectangular elevator shaft, this metal structure typically has four corner columns that stand on the appropriate floor plate and are connected by cross members at least in the upper area. Such cross members can also fully support the ceiling. Depending on the height of the elevator shaft, further cross members should be provided. The walls of the outer framework can be closed with suitable panels; for this purpose, metal or plastic panels can be used. Glass panels are also often used.

[0014] The elevator should furthermore have an inner framework, which consists of at least one first guide column and a second guide column on the opposite side. These columns are usually of one piece and usually extend over the entire length of the elevator shaft. However, they can also be implemented as several parts. These guide columns serve in particular to guide the elevator. They therefore ensure that the car moves into position in the elevator shaft, independent of the lifting means. In addition to both guide columns, the inner framework usually comprises a lateral connection at the upper end of these columns. This can be a cross member, the guide column and the cross member forming a kind of gate. The lateral connection can also be manufactured by a covering plate.

[0015] This inner framework can bear the weight of the car. The outer framework can therefore increase the stability of the inner framework and in particular serve to prevent the inner framework from tilting around the axis of rotation in the area of ​​the floor plate. However, the outer framework does not have to bear the weight of the car in addition to this. This is a major departure from conventional elevator constructions. Within the scope of the invention, it would also be possible for the outer framework to bear part of the weight of the car, for example 10% or up to 20% of the weight. In principle, however, for construction reasons, the inner framework already bears the entire weight of the elevator. However, in most cases, this inner framework is not suitable for providing an elevator without the outer framework. In particular, this outer framework is expedient since it serves to statically support the inner framework, in particular against movements from the vertical direction. Furthermore, the side walls of the outer framework serve to reliably separate the elevator from its surroundings. Usually, shaft doors are also provided in the outer framework.

[0016] The first and second guide columns are expediently arranged on diagonally opposite sides, i.e. on the edges of the floor plate, so that there remains sufficient space between the guide columns for guiding the car. If the sides of the outer frame are arranged in a rectangle, the first and second guide columns are usually arranged in opposite corners of this rectangle.

[0017] It is expedient if the inner framework also carries the drive unit. The drive unit usually consists of a motor, often an electric motor, and, if necessary, a transmission. The drive unit will usually also comprise at least one driven wheel. Within the scope of the invention, it is expedient if the drive motor drives two wheels, each of which is located in a corner region of the outer framework, in which the guide pillars of the inner framework are also arranged.

[0018] A particularly expedient embodiment results when the first guide column and the second guide column are connected by a cross member, which can be embodied as one-piece or in several parts. A one-piece cross member is very expedient. This results in an essentially three-piece inner frame consisting of both guide columns and the cross member. All three components, as well as the inner frame itself, can be embodied in one or several parts.

[0019] In particular, the crosspiece can also carry the drive member. In particular, the motor can be supported by the crosspiece and is typically fixed to it for this purpose. The drive shaft axis can likewise be arranged parallel to the crosspiece. This drive shaft axis can also be attached to the crosspiece. It is expedient to provide the drive wheels at one end, and it is often even more expedient for the elevator configuration according to the invention to provide a drive wheel in each of the two end regions of the crosspiece. In this case, the end region of the crosspiece can be understood to be the outer quarter or fifth of the length of the crosspiece. It is advantageous for the crosspiece to run diagonally in the shaft, in particular diagonally of a rectangle or square (above which a square shaft is arranged).

[0020] Such an arrangement clearly differs significantly from the prior art, where the drive unit is usually arranged on a larger surface, for example on the ceiling of the intermediate floor or shaft. Where two drive wheels are used, these are driven by separate electric motors via a diverting transmission, from which two drive shafts run. However, such an arrangement requires a lot of space. It is particularly advantageous if only one drive shaft is required, which can be oriented parallel to the cross member. For this purpose, a motor can be used, preferably a gearless motor, which is likewise mounted on or against the cross member.

[0021] If the inner framework can support both the weight of the car and the weight of the drive unit, the outer framework does not have to carry heavy loads. This allows for more design freedom in the outer framework. If the outer framework is made of concrete, concrete (or comparable building material) can be saved, which according to current knowledge is very advantageous ecologically. If the outer framework is installed independently of the building, it is likewise advantageous if it can be dimensioned in such a way that it does not have to carry heavy loads.

[0022] The first guide column is expediently connected to the outer framework by at least one spacer element. Typically, several spacer elements are used over the length of the elevator. For example, it may be expedient to employ a spacer element at each floor level. Usually, the second guide column is also connected to the outer framework by a spacer element, but it is advantageous to use the same spacer element as for the first guide column, usually at the same level.

[0023] Such spacer elements can be designed to bridge a length of at least 2 cm, i.e., so that the innermost point of the outer framework is 2 cm away from the outermost point of the inner framework. This length is expediently 5 to 10 cm, and can be up to 20 cm, but more than 30 cm is usually not necessary. It is also possible to use spacer elements of different sizes for the elevators, so that they can bridge different lengths. In this way, irregularities in the outer framework can also be compensated for. Thus, for example, it is possible to combine the inner framework with several finished building shafts, and easily compensate for construction defects.

[0024] Spacer elements, which provide a mechanical connection towards the outer framework, have proven to be particularly useful. This can be plugs or flat parts which can be conveniently inserted into grooves. Corresponding grooves, which can be continuous over the entire height, can conveniently be provided in the outer framework. Towards the shaft, i.e. towards the guide posts, the spacer elements are expedient since they can provide a mechanical connection of different construction. Mounting plates are suitable. Such plates can have holes for receiving screws or bolts.

[0025] It has proven expedient for the guide column to be provided essentially by a T-beam, which itself can be connected with high rigidity. The foot of the "T" is particularly suitable as a guide (i.e. as a guide rail), whilst the shoulder of the "T" makes it possible to fix the column firmly to the outer framework. In practice, the shoulder of the "T" is usually connected to a spacer element (in this case the horizontal line in the shape of the letter indicates the "shoulder").

[0026] It has proven expedient to manufacture the guide columns essentially from steel, so that they can be connected with sufficient rigidity and also bear the load of the car and possibly the drive unit. The stable guide columns accordingly allow the outer frame to be constructed light. For example, the outer frame can be constructed entirely or partly from aluminum. It is particularly expedient to manufacture the corner columns of the outer frame from aluminum. Usually, four corner columns are sufficient to construct a light and stable outer frame.

[0027] It has also proven expedient for at least one column of the outer framework to have a groove pointing towards the inner framework. Expediently, the outer framework is placed on a rectangular surface, the groove pointing towards a diagonal of this rectangle.

[0028] It is expedient if the corner posts have a square cross section. This can be selected for at least two or all of the corner posts. In the case of such corner posts with a square cross section, the groove can be particularly advantageously arranged at an angle of 45 degrees to the side surface. In this case, this groove is oriented substantially towards the centre of the shaft. In addition to this groove, it can be expedient to provide further grooves or fastening elements in the direction of the side surface, i.e. the side wall.

[0029] In this case, the grooves are particularly suitable for receiving spacer elements which can connect the inner framework to the outer framework, but they can also receive further guide or control elements.

[0030] Further features and advantages of the present invention are also apparent from the following drawings and the associated description. In the drawings and the associated description, the features of the present invention are described in combination. However, these features can also be included in other combinations of the subject matter according to the present invention. Therefore, each disclosed feature can also be considered as being disclosed in a technically meaningful combination with other features. Some figures are partially slightly simplified and schematic. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an outer and inner framework according to the invention for an elevator; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the inner and outer frameworks according to the present invention and of an elevator car fitted thereto; [Diagram 3] 3 is an enlarged view of the corner posts and guide posts of the elevator according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a further horizontal section through an expedient drive unit for an elevator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective overall view of an elevator that can be used within the scope of the present invention. However, other elevator configurations are also conceivable. The elevator comprises an elevator shaft 10. The elevator shaft 10 is preferably installed above a rectangular base, i.e. in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped as a whole. A square base is also expedient. The elevator shaft can be provided by the building, for example made of concrete, or it can be produced in its own parts, independent of the building. For example, the elevator shaft can be produced from columns, supports and fitted cladding. Such cladding can be made of plastic, metal or glass. The elevator shaft can also be designed to be retrofitted to an existing building.

[0033] The elevator shaft comprises a front wall 12 followed by a side wall 14 followed by a rear wall 16 and a side wall 18 on the opposite side of the side wall 14. In accordance with the design of the shaft, all the side walls have a substantially rectangular flat shape. The side walls are built above a floor 20.

[0034] Access openings are provided in the side walls, i.e. an access opening 22 is provided at the first floor in the front wall 12. Furthermore, an access opening 24 is arranged in the side wall 18. As a further access opening, an access opening 26 is provided at a higher floor in the front wall 12. Typically, these access openings are each closed by a shaft door. All access openings can also be provided on one side, thus for example all access openings can be provided in the front wall 12, or access openings can also be provided in the various side walls.

[0035] In the elevator construction shown here, it is even possible to provide access openings in all four shaft walls, which is not possible with a normal elevator. This possibility allows great freedom in the architectural design. It also has a decisive influence on whether the elevator can be retrofitted or not, in which case access is often only possible from certain sides: on the ground floor access must be from the front, while on the upper floors access is only possible from one side.

[0036] The shaft 10 is bounded above by a ceiling 28. However, exactly within the framework of the invention, it is also entirely conceivable to provide a shaft without a ceiling.

[0037] Inside the shaft 10, an inner framework 30 is installed. This inner framework consists of a first column 32 located in one shaft corner. A second column 34 is located in the diagonally opposite shaft corner. Both columns are connected by a cross member 36 that extends diagonally through the upper region of the shaft. This cross member may extend just below the ceiling 28.

[0038] This cross member 36 can carry various components, here symbolically represented as drive rollers 38A, 38B, which are provided at the ends of the cross member 36 adjacent to the posts 32, 34. It can also carry a drive unit 40, which typically comprises an electric motor, which can drive the drive roller 38 by means of suitable drive means, for example a corresponding shaft. The drive roller is particularly suitable for driving a toothed belt, which can raise and lower the elevator car, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0039] 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of an inner and outer framework and an elevator car fitted therewith in accordance with the present invention. The car 110 includes a floor 112 and further includes a first car door 140 and a second car door 146.

[0040] The floor 112 extends within a square, but is not a square as the corners of the square are not filled in. The car 110 is bounded by a first side wall 114 and a second side wall 116. The side wall 114 has a first access opening on an opposite side. The second side wall 116 has a second access opening on an opposite side.

[0041] The side walls 114, 116 extend perpendicular to one another but do not meet. Rather, a first obtuse corner 122 is provided in the area where the extensions of the side walls would intersect. Opposite, a second obtuse corner 124 is provided in the area where the direction of the entry opening intersects. A first acute corner is provided between the side wall 116 and the first entry opening. A second acute corner is provided between the first side wall 114 and the second entry opening.

[0042] Between the first and second side walls 116 there is a wall member 132. When viewed from above there is an obtuse corner between the side walls and when viewed from the inside by the user there is simply a further wall member 132 or panelling. Correspondingly, a wall member 134 is located in the second obtuse corner 124.

[0043] A wall member is provided in the acute corners described above as well. In the first acute corner, this is wall member 136. In the second acute corner, this is wall member 138.

[0044] The first access opening is closed by a first car door 140. The first car door 140 is made up of two panels, a first panel 142 and a second panel 144. The car door opens towards the second obtuse corner 124. That is, the first panel 142 travels a longer distance when opening than the second panel 144. Therefore, the first panel 142 is usually referred to as the "fast" panel.

[0045] The second entrance opening is closed by a second car door 146. This car door has three panels. This car door 146 comprises a third panel 148 and a fourth panel 150. This door further comprises a fifth panel 152. The panels 148, 150 should also open towards the second obtuse corner 124. Therefore, in this case, the fourth panel 150 is the fast panel. The fifth panel 152 opens in the opposite direction, i.e. towards the second acute corner 128. The fifth panel 152 is substantially shorter than the third panel 48 and the fourth panel 50. Alternatively, the second car door can be implemented with four panels, two of which open in opposite directions.

[0046] Therefore, the cage design may have short wall panels (such as 132 and 134) and obtuse corners that are convenient for cage utilization, which may be advantageously combined with the inner framework.

[0047] The car 110 is bounded by a first shaft wall 154 and a second shaft wall 156. On the opposite side of the first shaft wall 154 is a third shaft wall 158 and a first shaft door 160, and on the opposite side of the second shaft wall 156 is a fourth shaft wall 162 and an adjacent second shaft door 164. Although elevator cars are suitable for various types of shafts, a shaft constructed with corner posts is shown here, and shaft corner posts 166A, 166B, 166C and 166D are illustrated. These corner posts are located in the corners of a square, so that the shaft has a square base. However, as mentioned above, the floor 112 is not shaped square, but rather is spaced apart from the corners of the shaft, just in the corner area.

[0048] Thus, in the obtuse corners of the car 110, there is space for further equipment in the shaft. Here, a first guide post 170 is provided, which is connected to the corner post 166D by a first connecting member 168. On the opposite side, a guide post 172 is provided, which is connected to the corner post 166B by a connecting member 174. Each guide post provides (generally within the framework of the present invention) at least one guide rail. These guide posts can consist only of guide rails (e.g. flat bars) or can be equipped with further members, for example shaped as T-beams. The guide posts can provide an inner framework. Therefore, the guide posts are often referred to only as guide rails. However, the guide posts are advantageously free-standing members, which do not require support from the shaft walls at least, and even if they are supported on the shaft floor, they do not require support from the shaft walls.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross section of the shaft structure in the region of the corner post 166D. Such corner posts can be shaped as profiled posts, so that the corresponding shaft walls, for example the third shaft wall 158 and the fourth shaft wall 162, can be conveniently connected to the corner posts 166D and supported by these corner posts. The corresponding wall parts can be conveniently manufactured from metal, for example aluminum, plastic or glass. These wall parts can be provided with suitable frames. Grooves can also be provided for suitable connections. In shaft posts with a substantially square profile, suitable connecting members bend at right angles.

[0050] Between these connecting elements, additional connecting elements can be provided, for example at an angle of 45 degrees. These additional connecting elements serve to connect to technical components for the shaft. For example, here a groove is provided (not described in more detail) bent at an angle of 45 degrees, which receives a connecting element 168. This connecting element 168 carries a guide post 170.

[0051] This close-up view highlights how the arrangement of the corner posts and guide posts creates an area where the car door panel can move to an open position, shown in cross-hatched form as area 176.

[0052] Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the shaft 110 of an elevator according to the invention. The structure of the shaft, in its substantial parts, is already known from Figure 2. This figure shows a view of the shaft floor from above. The shaft is bounded by a first shaft wall 154 and a second shaft wall 156 perpendicular to it and adjacent thereto. On opposite sides of the first shaft wall 154 there is a third shaft wall 158 and a first shaft door 160. On opposite sides of the second shaft wall 156 there is a fourth shaft wall 162 and a second shaft door 164. The shaft is embodied as a rack overall and is therefore suitable, for example, for retrofitting an elevator and is supported by corner posts. Corner posts 166A, 166B, 166C and 166D are recognizable.

[0053] In the two corners on diametrically opposed sides, guide posts are provided which can be connected to the corner posts by connecting members. Connecting member 168 connects guide post 170 to corner post 166D. On the opposite side, guide post 172 is provided and connected to corner post 166B by connecting member 174.

[0054] Guide columns 170, 172 form the inner framework and correspond to columns 32, 34 in the schematic diagram of FIG. 1. They are implemented in this case as T-beams. They can not only support the cross members in their upper area, but also serve to guide the car over its length. The legs of the T-beams therefore point towards the inside of the shaft.

[0055] The figure focuses on the drive elements in the upper shaft area. In this figure, a shaft axle 80 is visible, which drives a first drive wheel 82 and a second drive wheel 84. A drive motor 86 for driving this shaft is shown diagrammatically. A transmission 88 is likewise shown diagrammatically, but this can also be omitted within the scope of the invention. Within the scope of the invention, it is generally quite possible for the drive elements, such as the drive motor, or even the electric switch box to be located below the shaft ceiling previously provided by the outer framework.

[0056] The shaft axis 80 is oriented exactly along the connecting line of the guide posts 170, 172. This shaft axis 80 can therefore be easily supported by the guide posts themselves or by cross members attached to them. This orientation of the drive shaft axis is generally preferred within the scope of the present invention.

[0057] Overall, it can be seen how a versatile and successfully retrofittable elevator can be constructed in an efficient and ecological way. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10 Shaft 12 Front wall 14 Side wall 16 Back wall 18 Side wall 20 beds 22 Entry opening 24 Entry opening 26 Entry opening 28 Ceiling 30 Inner framework 32 Pillar 1 34 Pillar 2 36 Cross member 38 Drive shaft axis 40 Drive unit [...] 80 Drive shaft axis 82 1st drive wheel 84 2nd drive wheel 86 Motor 88 Transmission unit [...] 110 Basket 112 beds 114 First side wall 116 Second Side Wall 118 1st approach opening 120 2nd approach opening 122 1st obtuse corner 124 Second obtuse corner 126 First acute corner 128 Second acute corner 130 Operating member 132 Wall components 134 Wall components 136 Wall components 138 Wall components 140 First cage door 142 Panel 1 144 Second Panel 146 Second cage door 148 Third Panel 150 Fourth Panel 152 Panel 5 154 1st Shaft Wall 156 Second Shaft Wall 158 3rd Shaft Wall 160 First Shaft Door 162 4th Shaft Wall 164 Second Shaft Door 166 Corner pillar 168 Connecting member 170 Guide column 172 Guide column 174 Connecting member

Claims

1. An elevator comprising a car (110), an inner frame (32, 34, 36), and an outer frame, wherein the outer frame surrounds the elevator shaft (10) and comprises a floor plate (20), a first side (12), a second side (16) facing the first side (12), a third side (14), and a fourth side (18) facing the third side (14), and the inner frame (32, 34, 36) comprises at least one first guide column (32, 170) and a second guide column (34, 172) facing the first guide column (32, 170), wherein the inner frame (32, 34, 36) bears the weight of the car (110), The first guide column and the second guide column (32, 170) are arranged on diagonally opposite sides at the edge of the floor plate (20) on which the outer framework is installed, in an elevator.

2. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned side surfaces are arranged in a rectangular shape.

3. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the internal frame (32, 34, 36) also serves as the drive unit (40).

4. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame (32, 34, 36) also serves as the two drive rollers (38A, 38B).

5. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the first guide column is connected to the outer frame by at least one spacer member (168, 174).

6. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the spacer members (168, 174) are designed to bridge a length of at least 2 cm.

7. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the first guide column (32, 170) and the second guide column (34, 172) are connected by a horizontal member (36).

8. The elevator according to claim 7, wherein a drive shaft (80) is provided parallel to the horizontal member (36).

9. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein at least the first guide columns (32, 170) are substantially T-shaped beams.

10. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein at least the first guide columns (32, 170) are substantially made of steel.

11. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame is substantially made of aluminum.

12. The elevator according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame also comprises four corner columns (166A, 166B, 166C, 166D).

13. The elevator according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the corner columns (166A) has sides (178, 180) arranged around a rectangular cross-section and a groove (182) arranged at a 45-degree angle to the sides (178, 180).

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