Elevator counterweight device

Abstract

To provide an elevator counterweight device that allows adjustment of the clearance between the guide rail and the retaining member. [Solution] The elevator counterweight device comprises a frame, guide members, and a retaining member. The frame has a pair of left and right vertical beams, and a counterweight is housed inside. The guide members are provided at the upper and lower ends of the vertical beams and guide along guide rails installed in the hoistway. The retaining member is provided between the upper and lower ends of the vertical beams and restricts the movement of the vertical beams in the front, back, left, and right directions relative to the guide rails. The retaining member has a base portion fixed to the vertical beam and an adjustment plate that allows adjustment of the distance between the guide rail and the retaining member, and is fixed to the base portion when the distance is adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a counterweight device for an elevator.

Background Art

[0002] In an elevator counterweight, a retaining means is provided at an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the counterweight frame so that the counterweight does not fall off the guide rail even if the guide rail bends during an earthquake. It is desirable that the retaining means has an appropriate clearance from the guide rail so that the retaining means passes near the blade surface of the guide rail.

[0003] However, the retaining means is required to be strong so as not to be destroyed by the impact during an earthquake. Since it is required to be strong, the retaining means has a structure in which it is difficult to adjust the clearance from the guide rail. Due to the difficulty of adjusting the clearance, the clearance may be insufficient due to the influence of the load balance during installation of the counterweight.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An embodiment aims to provide an elevator counterweight device capable of adjusting the clearance between a guide rail and a retaining member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The elevator counterweight device according to this embodiment comprises a frame, guide members, and a retaining member. The frame has a pair of left and right vertical beams, and a counterweight is housed inside. The guide members are provided at the upper and lower ends of the vertical beams and guide along guide rails installed in the hoistway. The retaining member is provided between the upper and lower ends of the vertical beams and restricts the movement of the frame in the front, back, left, and right directions relative to the guide rails. The retaining member has a base portion fixed to the vertical beams and an adjustment plate that allows adjustment of the distance between the guide rails and the retaining member, and is fixed to the base portion when the distance is adjusted. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view showing a counterweight device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of Figure 1, showing a counterweight device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a counterweight device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a front view showing an example of operation of the counterweight device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a counterweight device according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. These embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. In the drawings referenced in the embodiments, the same or similar reference numerals are used to denote identical parts or parts having similar functions, and repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0009] (First Embodiment) Generally, a hoisting elevator is constructed by suspending a car and a counterweight device 1 from both ends of a main rope 3 wound around a hoisting machine. Driven by the hoisting machine, the counterweight device 1 moves up and down along left and right guide rails installed in the hoistway, balancing the weight of the car. As shown in Figure 1, the counterweight device 1 comprises a frame 2, a counterweight 4, a guide member 5, and a safety member 8. In the following description, the Z direction in Figure 1 is defined as upward, and the opposite direction of the Z direction is defined as downward. Also, the X direction in Figure 1 is defined as right, and the opposite direction of the X direction is defined as left. Also, the Y direction in Figure 1 is defined as rear, and the opposite direction of the Y direction is defined as front.

[0010] Frame 2 is a frame-like structure in which a weight 4 is housed. Frame 2 has an upper beam 2a, a lower beam 2b, and a pair of left and right vertical beams 2c, 2c. The pair of left and right vertical beams 2c, 2c are spaced apart from each other in the elevator shaft. Each of the left and right vertical beams 2c, 2c extends in the vertical direction. The upper beam 2a is positioned to connect the upper ends of the left and right pair of vertical beams 2c, 2c. That is, the upper beam 2a extends in the left and right direction from the upper end of one vertical beam 2c to the upper end of the other vertical beam 2c. The left and right direction is also called the rail gauge direction. The lower beam 2b is positioned to connect the lower ends of the left and right pair of vertical beams 2c, 2c. That is, the lower beam 2b extends in the left and right direction from the lower end of one vertical beam 2c to the lower end of the other vertical beam 2c. The weight 4 is housed inside frame 2 so as to be stacked on the lower beam 2b. In other words, the weight body 4 has a block-like shape, and multiple weight bodies are stacked upwards from the lower beam 2b.

[0011] Guide members 5 are members that guide the raising and lowering of the counterweight device 1 along the guide rails 6. A total of four guide members 5 are provided at the upper and lower ends of each of the left and right vertical beams 2c, 2c. Guide members 5 are also called guide shoes. Guide members 5 are guided along the left and right guide rails 6 installed in the hoistway. The guide rails 6 are fixed to the inner wall of the hoistway by a plurality of brackets 7 provided on the guide rails 6 at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0012] The anti-detachment member 8 is a member that prevents the counterweight device 1 from deviating from the guide rail 6 when an impact occurs, such as an earthquake. A total of two anti-detachment members 8 are provided between the upper and lower ends of the pair of left and right vertical beams 2c, 2c. In the example shown in Figure 1, the anti-detachment members 8 are provided at an intermediate position between the upper and lower ends of the pair of left and right vertical beams 2c, 2c. The anti-detachment members 8 restrict the movement of the vertical beams 2c in the front, back, left, and right directions relative to the guide rail 6.

[0013] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the retaining member 8 comprises a base portion 81 and an adjustment plate 82. In Figures 2 and 3, the retaining member 8 provided on the right vertical beam 2c of a pair of left and right vertical beams 2c, 2c is shown. The retaining member 8 provided on the left vertical beam 2c has a shape that is mirror-symmetric with respect to the retaining member 8 shown in Figure 2, which is provided on the right vertical beam 2c, with respect to the YZ plane.

[0014] The base portion 81 is fixed to the vertical beam 2c. In the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, the base portion 81 is fastened to the vertical beam 2c by a first fastening member 84. The first fastening member 84 has a plurality of bolts 84a and a plurality of nuts 84b corresponding to each bolt 84a. More specifically, in the example shown in Figure 3, the base portion 81 has a horizontal base plate 811 and side walls 812 extending upward from both ends of the base plate 811 in the front-rear direction. The base portion 81 is fastened to the vertical beam 2c by the first fastening member 84 located on the side walls 812.

[0015] The base portion 81 is provided with a first recess 81a extending from the guide rail 6 side toward the vertical beam 2c side. In the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first recess 81a is provided in the base plate 811 of the base portion 81 so as to have width in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. Specifically, in the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first recess 81a is provided so as to partially cut out a rectangular portion of the right end of the base plate 811. The guide rail 6 is positioned in the first recess 81a with a gap in the front-back direction and a gap in the left-right direction between it and the base portion 81. In the example shown in Figure 2, the blade portion 61 of the guide rail 6 is positioned in the first recess 81a.

[0016] The adjustment plate 82 is a horizontal, plate-shaped member that allows adjustment of the distance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8. The adjustment plate 82 is fixed to the base portion 81 in a state where the distance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8 has been adjusted. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the retaining member 8 further comprises a second fastening member 83 that fixes the adjustment plate 82 to the base portion 81. The second fastening member 83 is an example of a fastening member. The second fastening member 83 has a plurality of bolts 83a and a plurality of nuts 83b (see Figure 4) corresponding to each bolt 83a. The adjustment plate 82 is fastened to the base plate 811 by the second fastening member 83. More specifically, the bolts 83a of the second fastening member 83 penetrate the adjustment plate 82 and the base plate 811 through bolt holes 82b provided in the adjustment plate 82 and bolt holes (not shown) provided in the base plate 811. The nut 83b of the second fastening member 83 fastens the adjustment plate 82 to the base plate 811 by tightening the bolt 83a of the second fastening member 83 on the lower side of the base plate 811.

[0017] The adjustment plate 82 is provided with a second recess 82a extending from the guide rail 6 side towards the vertical beam 2c side. The second recess 82a is provided on the adjustment plate 82 so as to be located on (i.e., overlapping with) the first recess 81a of the base portion 81. In other words, the second recess 82a is continuous with the first recess 81a in the vertical direction. In the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second recess 82a is provided on the adjustment plate 82 so as to have width in the left-right and front-back directions.

[0018] Specifically, in the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second recess 82a is provided so as to partially notch the right end portion of the adjustment plate 82 into a rectangular shape. The guide rail 6 is positioned in the second recess 82a with a space in the front-back direction and a space in the left-right direction from the adjustment plate 82. The guide rail 6 is positioned in both the first recess 81a and the second recess 82a simultaneously. The second recess 82a is smaller than the first recess 81a in dimensions in the front-back direction and the left-right direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when the first recess 81a and the second recess 82a are projected onto the XY plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the second recess 82a is positioned inside the first recess 81a.

[0019] The adjustment plate 82 can adjust at least the left-right interval between the guide rail 6 and the anti-disengagement member 8. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment plate 82 can adjust the left-right interval d1 between the left end portion of the blade portion 61 of the guide rail 6 and the left end portion (i.e., the left edge portion) of the second recess 82a of the adjustment plate 82. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the bolt hole 82b of the adjustment plate 82 has a long hole shape extending in the left-right direction. By having a long hole shape extending in the left-right direction, when the bolt 83a of the second fastening member 83 is inserted in a loosened state, the bolt hole 82b can allow the adjustment plate 82 to move in the left-right direction. Since the adjustment plate 82 is allowed to move in the left-right direction, the position where the adjustment plate 82 is fastened by the second fastening member 83 can be moved in the left-right direction. Thereby, the left-right interval between the guide rail 6 and the anti-disengagement member 8 can be adjusted.

[0020] Instead of having a long hole shape, the bolt hole 82b may be configured to have an inner diameter that is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the bolt 83a of the second fastening member 83. That is, the bolt hole 82b may be a clearance hole. Even in this case, since the bolt hole 82b can allow the adjustment plate 82 to move in the left-right direction, the left-right interval between the guide rail 6 and the anti-disengagement member 8 can be adjusted.

[0021] The adjustment plate 82 may further be capable of adjusting the distance in the front-rear direction between the guide rail 6 and the anti-disengagement member 8. That is, the adjustment plate 82 may be capable of adjusting the distance d2 in the front-rear direction between the front end portion of the blade portion 61 of the guide rail 6 and the front end portion (i.e., the front edge portion) of the second recess 82a of the adjustment plate 82, and the distance d3 in the front-rear direction between the rear end portion of the blade portion 61 and the rear end portion (i.e., the rear edge portion) of the second recess 82a. For example, the bolt holes of the base plate 811 may have an elongated hole shape extending in the front-rear direction. The bolt holes of the base plate 811 extending in the front-rear direction correspond to bolt holes having a shape obtained by rotating the bolt holes 82b of the adjustment plate 82 shown in FIG. 2 by 90°. By having an elongated hole shape extending in the front-rear direction, when the bolts 83a of the second fastening member 83 are inserted in a loosened state, the bolt holes of the base plate 811 can allow the adjustment plate 82 to move in the front-rear direction. Since the adjustment plate 82 is allowed to move in the front-rear direction, the position where the adjustment plate 82 is fastened by the second fastening member 83 can be moved in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the distance in the front-rear direction between the guide rail 6 and the anti-disengagement member 8 can be adjusted.

[0022] Alternatively, instead of having an elongated hole shape, the bolt holes of the base plate 811 may be configured to have an inner diameter that is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the bolts 83a of the second fastening member 83. That is, the bolt holes of the base plate 811 may be clearance holes. Even in this case, since the bolt holes of the base plate 811 can allow the adjustment plate 82 to move in the front-rear direction, the distance in the front-rear direction between the guide rail 6 and the anti-disengagement member 8 can be adjusted.

[0023] The dimensions of the first recess 81a in the left-right direction are such that even if the adjustment plate 82 comes off due to impact and the guide rail 6 bends, there is a clearance of 10 mm or more between it and the guide rail 6 (i.e., a range that overlaps with each other in the front-rear direction). These dimensions satisfy the contents of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Notification No. 1494 of 2008. For example, as shown in Figure 4, if the left guide rail 6 bends in the X direction (rightward direction) due to impact, and the left retaining member 8 is pushed out in the X direction by this bending, the first recess 81a of the left retaining member 8 after being pushed out will have a clearance of 10 mm or more between it and the left guide rail 6.

[0024] In the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second fastening member 83 fixes the adjustment plate 82 at a fixed position having a lateral distance from the left-right end of the second recess 82a (the left end in Figures 2 and 3). More specifically, in the example shown in Figure 3, the adjustment plate 82 is fixed to the base plate 811 by two bolts 83a of the second fastening member 83, which are positioned at a fixed position spaced apart in the front-rear direction, and by nuts 83b corresponding to each bolt 83a.

[0025] In the counterweight device 1 having the above configuration, when the counterweight device 1 is installed, the clearance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8 is adjusted by the adjustment plate 82 according to the inclination of the counterweight device 1 suspended by the main rope 3. For example, the lateral distance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8 is adjusted by moving the adjustment plate 82 in the left-right direction with the bolt 83a of the second fastening member 83, which is inserted into the bolt hole 82b of the adjustment plate 82 and the bolt hole of the base plate 811, loosened. Also, the lateral distance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8 is adjusted by moving the adjustment plate 82 in the front-rear direction with the bolt 83a of the second fastening member 83 loosened.

[0026] Then, at the position after spacing adjustment, the adjustment plate 82 is fixed to the base plate 811 by tightening the bolt 83a of the second fastening member 83 with the nut 83b of the second fastening member 83 (see Figure 4). This determines the clearance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8. Note that if roller guides (not shown) that have the function of adjusting the tilt of the counterweight device 1 are provided on the top and bottom of the frame 2, the clearance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8 can be adjusted to some extent by adjusting the tilt with the roller guides. In this case, the clearance adjustment using the adjustment plate 82 may be performed if the clearance cannot be fully adjusted by adjusting the tilt with the roller guides.

[0027] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the retaining member 8 includes a base portion 81 fixed to the vertical beam 2c, and an adjustment plate 82 that allows adjustment of the distance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8, and is fixed to the base portion 81 when the distance is adjusted.

[0028] This allows for adjustment of the clearance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the adjustment plate 82 can adjust at least the distance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8 in the left-right direction.

[0030] This allows for adjustment of the lateral clearance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the adjustment plate 82 can further adjust the distance in the front-rear direction between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8.

[0032] This also allows for adjustment of the clearance in the front-rear direction between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8.

[0033] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the second recess 82a of the adjustment plate 82 has smaller dimensions in the front-rear and left-right directions than the first recess 81a of the base portion 81.

[0034] This allows for a large clearance between the base portion 81 and the guide rail 6, while the adjustment plate 82 can be adjusted to the specified clearance.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the left-right dimension of the first recess 81a is such that even if the adjustment plate 82 comes off due to impact and the guide rail 6 bends, there is a gap of 10 mm or more between it and the guide rail 6.

[0036] This ensures that the necessary clearance is maintained between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8, even if the guide rail 6 is deflected.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the retaining member 8 includes a second fastening member 83 that fixes the adjustment plate 82 to the base portion 81.

[0038] This allows for a clearance between the guide rail 6 and the retaining member 8 with a simple configuration.

[0039] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the second fastening member 83 fixes the adjustment plate 82 at a fixed position having a left-right distance between it and the left-right ends of the second recess 82a.

[0040] This improves the strength of the fixing of the adjustment plate 82 against lateral impacts. Furthermore, it reduces costs by minimizing the area of ​​the adjustment plate 82.

[0041] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the retaining member 8 is provided at an intermediate position between the upper and lower ends of the vertical beam 2c.

[0042] This effectively prevents the counterweight device 1 from falling off the guide rail 6.

[0043] (Second embodiment) In the second embodiment, the fixing position of the adjustment plate 82 by the second fastening member 83 is different from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, in the second embodiment, the second fastening member 83 fixes the adjustment plate 82 at a fixing position that has a front-to-rear distance from the front-to-rear end of the second recess 82a.

[0044] As a result, the bolt hole 82b (see Figure 2) of the adjustment plate 82 can be made longer in the left-right direction than in the first embodiment, thus increasing the left-right adjustment range of the adjustment plate 82 compared to the first embodiment. Furthermore, since the second fastening member 83 can be provided near the left-right outer end of the adjustment plate 82, the rotation angle per turn of the tool (e.g., a wrench) used to fasten the second fastening member 83 by rotational movement can be increased. This improves the ease of adjusting the clearance.

[0045] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1. Counterweight device, 2. Frame, 2c. Vertical frame, 5. Guide member, 6. Guide rail, 8. Anti-detachment member, 81. Base part, 82. Adjustment plate

Claims

1. A frame having a pair of vertical beams on the left and right, with a weight body housed inside, Guide members are provided at the upper and lower ends of the vertical beam and are guided along guide rails installed in the elevator shaft, The frame is provided between the upper and lower ends of the vertical beam and includes a retaining member that restricts the movement of the frame in the front-rear, left-right, and right directions relative to the guide rail, The aforementioned anti-detachment member comprises a base portion fixed to the vertical beam and an adjustment plate that allows adjustment of the distance between the guide rail and the anti-detachment member, and is fixed to the base portion when the distance is adjusted.

2. The elevator counterweight device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment plate is capable of adjusting the distance in the left-right direction between at least the guide rail and the anti-detachment member.

3. The elevator counterweight device according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment plate is further capable of adjusting the distance in the front-rear direction between the guide rail and the anti-detachment member.

4. The base portion is provided with a first recess in which the guide rail is positioned with a gap in the front-rear direction and a gap in the left-right direction between it and the base portion. The adjustment plate is provided with a second recess in which the guide rail is positioned with a gap in the front-rear direction and a gap in the left-right direction between it and the adjustment plate. The counterweight device for an elevator according to claim 1, wherein the second recess has smaller dimensions in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions than the first recess.

5. The elevator counterweight device according to claim 4, wherein the left-right dimension of the first recess is such that even if the adjustment plate comes off due to impact and the guide rail bends, there is an engagement of 10 mm or more between it and the guide rail.

6. The counterweight device for an elevator according to claim 4, wherein the retaining member further comprises a fixing member for fixing the adjustment plate to the base portion.

7. The elevator counterweight device according to claim 6, wherein the fixing member fixes the adjustment plate at a fixed position having a left-right distance from the left-right end of the second recess.

8. The elevator counterweight device according to claim 6, wherein the fixing member fixes the adjustment plate at a fixed position having a front-to-rear distance from the front-to-rear end of the second recess.

9. The counterweight device for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the anti-detachment member is provided at an intermediate position between the upper and lower ends of the vertical beam.

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