Elevator control cable

Abstract

In high-lift elevators, by varying the free bending diameter of the cable only where necessary, it is possible to avoid contact between the control cable and the elevator car even when the car is near the lower floors. Furthermore, a flat cable is obtained that is space-saving, easy to process to set the optimal free bending diameter even with a cable with fewer core wires, and inexpensive to implement. [Solution] A flat cable characterized in that the parallel-arranged electric wires and reinforcing wires are covered by a sheath, and a groove structure is provided in the sheath near the reinforcing wires, parallel to the reinforcing wires.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flat movable control cable for wiring between a control panel or a hoistway pendant in a hoistway of an elevator and a car.

Background Art

[0002] The flat control cable of an elevator includes a plurality of wire cores each formed by bundling a plurality of conductive wires, and an outer covering (sheath) covering the plurality of wire cores. In the case of a high-rise elevator, the control cable for wiring between the control panel or the hoistway pendant and the car becomes long and heavy, so there is a risk that the center of gravity of the car for suspending the control cable will tilt, or that the control cable will contact the car or the hoistway wall. In this case, it is dealt with by applying a multi-core cable with a large free bending diameter, increasing the free bending diameter by making the sheaths hard over the entire length, or attaching a buffer material to the car side.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of a high-rise elevator, due to the weight of the control cable, the center of gravity of the car may tilt, so it is necessary to suspend the control cable near the center of the car bottom, but there are the following problems. When the car is on the lower floor, the control cable may approach the outer surface of the car, resulting in contact, damage, and the generation of collision sounds. The above problems can be avoided by using a multi-core cable with a large free bending diameter and suspending the cable at the center of the car bottom, but this is costly and increases the weight. As another solution, there is a method of hardening the sheath material and increasing the free bending diameter. However, like the multi-core cable, it is difficult to save space because the bending diameter is large over the entire length of the cable, the cable terminal processing property and the installation property are poor, and the application is also limited.

[0005] Regarding the structure and processing method of flat cables, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for resolving twisting in a cable by cutting a portion of the sheath to form an opening and exposing a reinforcing wire. This method involves cutting away the sheath that has developed a twisted habit to resolve the twist.

[0006] This disclosure addresses the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a flat cable that can be used in high-lift elevators, where the free bending diameter of the cable can be varied only in the necessary parts, thereby preventing contact between the control cable and the elevator car even when the car is near the lower floors. It also aims to provide a flat cable that is space-saving, has fewer core wires, is easy to process to set the optimal free bending diameter, and is inexpensive to implement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A flat cable characterized in that parallel-arranged electric wires and reinforcing wires are covered by a sheath, and a groove structure is provided in the sheath near the reinforcing wires, parallel to the reinforcing wires. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] By varying the free bending diameter of the cable only where necessary, it is possible to avoid contact between the control cable and the elevator car even when the car is located near the lower floors. Furthermore, by ensuring the optimal free bending diameter even with a space-saving cable and fewer core wires, it is possible to implement this solution at a low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of the flat control cable according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram of the method for cutting and removing the reinforcing wires of the flat control cable according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram of the method for calculating the variable bending diameter position of a flat control cable according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is a surface processing diagram of the reinforcing wire in Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the flat control cable according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of the flat control cable according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the flat control cable according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of the flat control cable according to Embodiment 5. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of the flat control cable according to Embodiment 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a flat control cable 1. Six power lines or signal lines 2 are arranged in parallel as a pair of stranded wires 3. Three or four pairs of stranded wires 3 form one block, and a steel core 4 is inserted at the boundary between them to reinforce the cable. One reinforcing wire 5 is inserted at each outer end of the arrangement of stranded wires 3 and steel core 4 to adjust the free bending diameter. The stranded wires 3, steel core 4 and reinforcing wires 5 are integrally molded by a resin sheath 6, and grooves 7 are provided in the sheath 6 at both ends of the cable to serve as cutting guides, exposing two reinforcing wires 5 and making them easy to cut out. In Figure 1, the grooves 7 are provided at both ends of the cable, but for example, the grooves 7 in the sheath 6 could be above and below the reinforcing wires 5. The position of the grooves 7 is not important as long as it is possible to cut out only the reinforcing wires 5 without interference with the stranded wires 3 or steel core 4 by cutting a part of the sheath 6.

[0011] The free bending diameter of a flat control cable is mainly determined by the sheath material, sheath thickness, and number of core wires. The reinforcing wires 5 added to both ends of the flat cable can be made of various materials such as polyethylene, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), EP (epoxy), or steel core, and the structure allows for adjustment of the material's hardness to match the required bending diameter.

[0012] This section describes a method for manufacturing flat cables with reinforcing wires 5. The reinforcing wires 5 are manufactured by pouring them into a mold along with the resin of the sheath material, using the same process as for the power lines or signal lines 2 and the steel core 4 that are originally built into the cable. Silicone oil is applied to the reinforcing wires 5 as a lubricant to make it easier to remove any unnecessary portions later. The manufactured cables are stored in drums in units of several hundred meters, so the required length of cable is cut out for use. The cut cable is then cut into grooves 7 provided at both ends of the sheath 6, and the unnecessary portions and lengths of reinforcing wires 5 are pulled out. The portion where the reinforcing wires 5 remain will have a larger free bending diameter than the portion from which the reinforcing wires 5 were removed. This allows for partial adjustment of the bending diameter by leaving only the necessary portions of the reinforcing wires 5.

[0013] Figure 2 shows the method for removing a reinforcing wire 5 during processing when there is one reinforcing wire 5 inside the cable. The same applies when there are multiple reinforcing wires 5 or when there are reinforcing wires 5 at both ends of the cable. Figure 2(A) shows the state of the wound control cable. In the process of cutting the required length of control cable for each property where an elevator is installed, as shown in Figure 2(B), the processing machine 8 is placed on the cable sheath, and an incision is made in the groove 7 from the position 9 where the reinforcing wire 5 is to be removed to the desired length, exposing the reinforcing wire 5 (Figure 2(C)). The reinforcing wire 5 is slid in the direction of the cable break, to the right in Figure 2(C), and removed from the groove 7. As shown in Figure 2(D), when an incision is made in the groove 7, a cut section 19 is formed, and the area where the reinforcing wire was removed forms a cavity section 20. This allows the reinforcing wire 5 to be cut and removed to the required length. Furthermore, when installing the cables, they must be suspended from the hoistway side, and considering the tendency of the control cables to coil, the outer side of the coiled surface must be positioned so that it faces the wall when suspended. For this reason, the reinforcing wire 5 is cut so that the inner circumference faces the car handle side and the outer circumference faces the hoistway handle side at the time of shipment.

[0014] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the condition where the control cable 10 and the car 13 interfere when the distance between the cable hanger 11 on the hoistway wall and the cable hanger 12 under the car cannot be ensured sufficiently, and the calculation method of the free bending diameter and the length of leaving the reinforcing wire 5 under that condition. As described above, the cut cable 10 is hung from the hanger 11 on the hoistway wall to the lower part of the hoistway and then folded back and connected to the hanger 12 under the car. Fig. 3(1) shows the state where the hanger 12 under the car is near the hanger 11 on the hoistway, and Fig. 3(2) shows the state where the hanger 12 under the car is at the lowest layer of the hoistway.

[0015] The distance between the cable hanger 11 on the hoistway wall and the cable hanger 12 under the car (the part indicated by A in Fig. 3) is assumed to be ensured to be more than the free bending diameter (the part indicated by U in Fig. 3) in consideration of the static and dynamic characteristics of the control cable 10. The free bending diameter is the distance between the cables at a height of about 1 to 2 m from the folded part (the lower end of the U shape) of the cable 10. Generally, at that time, the cable hanging interval: A is set to expand the interval between 30 and 180 mm with respect to the free bending diameter: U, so that the cable 10 and the car 13 do not interfere.

[0016] Next, the conditions for the control cable 10 and the car 13 to interfere are shown below. The variables are defined as follows (see Fig. 3). A: Hanging interval = B + C (B: The distance from the hanger 11 on the hoistway to the car 13 frame, C: The distance from the hanger 12 under the car to the car 13 frame) The hanger 11 on the hoistway is installed on the hoistway wall at about half the height of the hoistway stroke. The hanger 12 under the car is installed at the bottom of the car frame. D: Cable distance at the L' position = A - (A - U) × ((L' / 2) / L) (L': The height from the hanger 11 on the hoistway to the hanger 12 under the car, L: The distance from the hanger 11 on the hoistway to the free bending diameter U in the state where the hanger 12 under the car is near the hanger 11 on the hoistway) U: Free bending diameter (the cable distance that can be formed when a cable of about 5 m is bent into a U shape in a free state) When the above are used as variables, based on C: the distance from the hanger 12 under the car to the car 13 frame When C < A / 2, since D > C always holds, the control cable 10 does not interfere with the car 13. When C ≥ A / 2, at the position where D ≤ C, the control cable 10 always interferes with the car 13. When the control cable 10 interferes with the car 13, by cutting and removing the reinforcing wire 5 for the length of the following (1) from the hoistway side 11 of the car to the car side 12 of the car, it is possible to ensure a sufficiently large free bending diameter only for the interfering part between the control cable 10 and the car 13 at the necessary minimum suspension interval (the distance from the hoistway side 11 of the car to the car frame 13).

[0017] (L′^2 + B^2)^(1 / 2) ···(1) (When C ≥ A / 2, L′ = A - (A - U) × ((L′ / 2) / L))

[0018] Conversely, when the hoistway space is large and the distance between the sides of the car is also excessive, by not cutting the reinforcing wire 5 and leaving the reinforcing wire 5 for the entire length of the cable 10, the free bending diameter can be further enlarged.

[0019] The material of the reinforcing wire 5 is assumed to be a steel wire, a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) wire, etc. In the case of a PVC wire, when the cable is bent, the position of the reinforcing wire 5 in the sheath 6 may shift. In preparation for such an event, as shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the reinforcing wire 5 may be processed into a convex and concave shape.

[0020] Also, when there are no application cases for the cable 1 with the reinforcing wire 5 for a long time and the cable life is approaching, by removing the reinforcing wire 5 over the entire length, it can also be applied as a normal control cable without the reinforcing wire 5.

[0021] Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 1, the reinforcing wires 5 are shown to be provided at both ends of the flat control cable 1, but the position and number of reinforcing wires 5 are not limited to within the integrally molded cable. Figure 5 is a cross-section of the flat control cable 14, and, as in Embodiment 1, six power lines or signal lines 2 are arranged in parallel as one pair of stranded wires 3. Two or three pairs of stranded wires 3 are made into one block, and a steel core 4 for reinforcing the cable is inserted at the boundary between them. Two reinforcing wires 5 for adjusting the free bending diameter are inserted between the arrangement of stranded wires 3 and steel core 4. The stranded wires 3, steel core 4 and reinforcing wires 5 are integrally molded with a resin sheath 6, and grooves 7 that serve as cutting guides are provided in the sheath to expose the reinforcing wires 5 and to make them easier to cut out, in a part of the sheath 6 that surrounds the outer circumference of the two reinforcing wires 5 and at the upper and lower positions of the reinforcing wires 5. The method of cutting out the reinforcing wires 5 and the method of installing the cable 10 in the elevator shaft are the same as in Embodiment 1. This allows the free bending diameter to be adjusted using a cable 14 that has two reinforcing wires 5 at its core and is more rigid than that of Embodiment 1.

[0022] Embodiment 3. Figure 6 shows a cross-section of a flat control cable 15, where six power lines or signal lines 2 are arranged in pairs of stranded wires 3, and multiple shielded signal lines 16 are arranged in parallel. Three or four pairs of stranded wires 3 or shielded wires 16 form one block, and a steel core 4 is inserted at the boundary between them to reinforce the cable 15. Two reinforcing wires 5 are inserted at each outer end of the arrangement of stranded wires 3, shielded wires 16, and steel core 4 to adjust the free bending diameter. The stranded wires 3, shielded wires 16, steel core 4, and reinforcing wires 5 are integrally molded in a resin sheath 6, and grooves 7 that serve as cutting guides are provided in the sheath 6 at both ends of the cable and above and below the reinforcing wires 5 to expose the four reinforcing wires 5 and make them easier to cut. In Figure 6, the grooves 7 are provided at both ends of the cable, but the position of the grooves 7 is not important as long as it is possible to cut out only the reinforcing wires 5 without interference with the stranded wires 3 or steel core 4 by cutting a part of the sheath 6. The method for cutting the reinforcing wire 5 and the method for installing the cable 10 in the elevator shaft are the same as in Embodiment 1. This allows for adjustment of the free bending diameter using a cable 15 that is more rigid than in Embodiment 1, with two reinforcing wires 5 at each end.

[0023] Embodiment 4. Figure 7 shows a cross-section of a flat control cable 17, where six power lines or signal lines 2 are arranged in a pair of stranded wires 3, and multiple shielded signal lines 16 are arranged in parallel. Two or three pairs of stranded wires 3 or shielded wires 16 form one block, and a steel core 4 is inserted at the boundary between them to reinforce the cable. A single reinforcing wire 5 is inserted between the arrangement of the stranded wires 3, shielded wires 16, and steel core 4 to adjust the free bending diameter. The stranded wires 3, shielded wires 16, steel core 4, and reinforcing wire 5 are integrally molded with a resin sheath 6, and grooves 7 are provided in the sheath to serve as cutting guides, exposing the reinforcing wire in a portion of the sheath surrounding the outer circumference of the single reinforcing wire 5 and at the top and bottom positions of the reinforcing wire 5, making it easy to cut. The method of cutting the reinforcing wire 5 and the method of installing the cable 10 in the elevator shaft are the same as in Embodiment 1. This allows for fine adjustment of the free bending diameter with a cable 17 that has one reinforcing wire 5 at the center and is softer than in Embodiment 1.

[0024] Embodiment 5. Figure 8 shows a configuration in which the reinforcing wire 5 is removed along the entire length from both ends of the control cable 1 shown in Embodiment 1, and power lines or signal lines 18 are added in that space. Alternatively, as shown in Embodiment 2 or Embodiment 4, the reinforcing wire 5 between the stranded wire 3, shield wire 16, and steel core 4 may be removed, and power lines or signal lines 18 may be added.

[0025] When adding a cable, an incision is made in the sheath groove 7 of cable 1 using the method shown in Embodiment 1, and after forming a cut portion 19 as shown in Figure 2(D), the reinforcing wire is removed while sliding to form a cavity portion 20. Then, the cable to be added is inserted into the sheath by expanding the sheath through the cut portion 19, and the cable is fitted into the sheath while sliding it inside. When removing the reinforcing wire, an incision is made in the inner surface of the U-shaped support that suspends cable 1, and the wire is removed to prevent the added wire 18 from coming loose when the control cable is in operation.

[0026] The additional cable 18 shall be a round cable conforming to JIS C3408 in Japan and EN50214 overseas. When adding the cable, identical cables 18 shall be placed at both ends. If there is an S-twist or Z-twist structure, the configuration shall be such that the rotation angles cancel each other out, taking into account the static and dynamic characteristics. The method of installing the cable 10 in the elevator shaft is the same as in Embodiment 1. This makes it possible to add power lines or signal lines 18 to the control cable to accommodate specification changes or function additions after the elevator is installed.

[0027] While a single round cable 18 cannot be expanded due to insufficient strength and static-dynamic characteristics, housing it within the sheath of a control cable ensures sufficient tensile strength and stabilizes static-dynamic characteristics.

[0028] Embodiment 6. Figure 9 shows a configuration in which one inner wire from each of the two reinforcing wires 5 at each end of the control cable 15, as shown in Embodiment 3, is removed along its entire length, and a power line or signal line 18 is added to the resulting space. Similar to Embodiment 5, when adding a line, the same type of cable 18 is used on both ends, and if there is an S-twist or Z-twist structure, the configuration is made so that the rotation angles cancel each other out, taking into account the static and dynamic characteristics. When removing the reinforcing wires 5, they are removed from the inner surface of the U-shape that suspends the control cable 15, to prevent the added line 18 from coming loose when the control cable is in operation. The method of cutting the reinforcing wires 5 and the method of installing the cable 10 in the elevator shaft are the same as in Embodiment 1. This allows for adjustment of the free bending diameter using the reinforcing wires and enables adaptation to specification changes or additions of functions after elevator installation. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 1 Flat control cable (Embodiment 1), 2 Power line or signal line, 3 Stranded wire, 4 Steel core, 5 Reinforcement wire, 6 Sheath, 7 Cutting groove, 8 Cable sheath processing machine, 9 Cutting position, 10 Cable, 11 Hoistway hanger, 12 Under-cab hanger, 13 Cage, 14 Flat control cable (Embodiment 2), 15 Flat control cable (Embodiment 3), 16 Shielded wire, 17 Flat control cable (Embodiment 4), 18 Power line or signal line (additional round cable), 19 Cut section, 20 Cavity

Claims

1. A flat cable characterized in that parallel-arranged electric wires and reinforcing wires are covered by a sheath, and a groove structure is provided in the sheath near the reinforcing wires, parallel to the reinforcing wires.

2. The flat cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove has an incision, there is no reinforcing wire corresponding to the incision, and the reinforcing wire housing has a hollow structure.

3. The flat cable according to claim 2, characterized in that an electric wire is housed in the aforementioned cavity.

4. The flat cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the reinforcing wire is unevenly textured.

5. The flat cable according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the reinforcing wires are provided inside the sheath at both ends of the arrangement of the electric wires or between the electric wires.

6. The flat cable according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cavity is provided within the sheath at both ends of the arrangement of the electric wires or between the electric wires.

7. A flat cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, used in an elevator shaft, with one end connected to the bottom of the car and the other end connected to a support in the shaft, suspended in a U-shape.

8. The flat cable according to claim 5, which is used in an elevator shaft, with one end connected to the bottom of the car and the other end connected to a support in the shaft, and suspended in a U-shape.

9. The flat cable according to claim 6, which is used in an elevator shaft, with one end connected to the bottom of the car and the other end connected to a support in the shaft, and suspended in a U-shape.

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