Elevator control cables

Abstract

To provide a flat cable which can be manufactured at low cost and which can be easily processed to set an optimum free bending diameter even when the cable is space-saving and has a small number of core wires, by varying the free bending diameter of the cable only at a necessary portion in a high-lift elevator, thereby making it possible to avoid contact between the control cable and the car even when the car is near a lower floor. [Solution] A flat cable in which electric wires and reinforcing wires arranged in parallel are covered with a sheath, and a groove structure is provided in the sheath near the reinforcing wires and parallel to the reinforcing wires.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flat, movable control cable that runs between a control panel or hoistway hanger in an elevator hoistway and the car. [Background technology]

[0002] Flat elevator control cables are made up of multiple cores, each formed by bundling multiple conductive wires, and an exterior sheath that covers the cores. In the case of high-lift elevators, the control cables that run between the control panel or hoistway handrail and the car are long and heavy, which poses a risk of tilting the center of gravity of the car that suspends the control cable, or of the control cable coming into contact with the car or hoistway wall. In these cases, measures such as using a multi-core cable with a large free bending diameter, increasing the free bending diameter by making the sheath stiffer along its entire length, or attaching cushioning material to the car side are often taken. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-66554 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of high-lift trains, the weight of the control cables can cause the car's center of gravity to tilt, making it necessary to suspend the control cables near the center of the car's bottom. However, this poses the following challenges: When the car is on a lower floor, the control cables move toward the outside of the car, potentially resulting in contact, damage, and collision noise. The above challenges can be addressed by using a multi-core cable with a large free bending diameter and suspending the cable in the center of the car's bottom, avoiding contact, but this increases costs and weight. Another solution is to harden the sheath material to increase the free bending diameter. However, as with multi-core cables, the large bending diameter over the entire length of the cable makes space saving difficult, cable termination workability and installation are difficult, and applications are limited.

[0005] Regarding the structure and processing method of flat cables, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which, when a cable is twisted, part of the sheath is cut away to form an opening, exposing the reinforcing wire and eliminating the twist. This method eliminates the twist by cutting away the sheath that has become twisted.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a flat cable that, in a high-lift elevator, allows the free bending diameter of the cable to be varied only in the necessary portions, thereby making it possible to avoid contact between the control cable and the car even when the car is near a lower floor, and that is space-saving, easy to process to set the optimal free bending diameter even with a cable having few core wires, and that can be manufactured at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Parallel wires and In a flat cable in which a reinforcing steel core is integrally formed with a sheath, a reinforcing wire is provided in the sheath parallel to the electric wire, and the reinforcing wire adjusts the free bending diameter of the flat cable; Parallel to the reinforcing wire a groove provided in the sheath and serving as an excision guide for the sheath; Flat cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] By varying the free bending diameter of the cable only in the necessary portion, it is possible to avoid contact between the control cable and the car even when the car is near a lower floor, and by ensuring the optimum free bending diameter even with a space-saving cable with fewer core wires, it is possible to respond at low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flat control cable according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method for cutting and removing the reinforcing wires of the flat control cable according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method for calculating a bending diameter variable position of the flat control cable according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a surface processing diagram of the reinforcing wire of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flat control cable according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flat control cable according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flat control cable according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flat control cable according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flat control cable according to a sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a flat control cable 1. Six power or signal wires 2 are arranged in parallel as a set of twisted wires 3. Three or four twisted wires 3 form a block, and a steel core 4 is inserted between the blocks to reinforce the cable. A reinforcing wire 5 is inserted at each end of the twisted wires 3 and steel core 4, adjusting the free bending diameter. The twisted wires 3, steel core 4, and reinforcing wire 5 are integrally molded within a resin sheath 6. To expose and facilitate cutting out two reinforcing wires 5, grooves 7 are provided in the sheath 6 at both ends of the cable to serve as cutting guides. While FIG. 1 shows the grooves 7 at both ends of the cable, the sheath 6 may also have grooves 7 above and below the reinforcing wires 5. The location of the groove 7 is not critical as long as it is possible to cut out only the reinforcing wires 5 by cutting a portion of the sheath 6 without interfering with the twisted wires 3 or steel core 4.

[0011] The free bending diameter of a flat control cable is determined mainly by the sheath material, sheath thickness, and number of core wires, but the reinforcing wires 5 added to both ends of the flat cable can be made of any material, such as polyethylene, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), EP (epoxy), or steel core, and the hardness of the material can be adjusted to suit the required bending diameter.

[0012] The manufacturing method for flat cables containing reinforcing wires 5 will be described. The reinforcing wires 5 are manufactured using the same process as the built-in power or signal wires 2 and steel core 4, by pouring the reinforcing wires 5 into a mold together with the resin sheath material. Silicone oil is applied to the reinforcing wires 5 as a lubricant to make it easier to later remove unnecessary sections. The manufactured cables are stored in drums in batches of several hundred meters, and the required length of cable is cut out for use. The cut cable is cut into grooves 7 on both ends of the sheath 6, and unnecessary sections and lengths of reinforcing wire 5 are pulled out. The remaining sections of the reinforcing wire 5 have a larger free bending diameter than the sections from which the reinforcing wire 5 was pulled out. This allows the reinforcing wire 5 to remain only in the necessary areas, allowing the bending diameter to be adjusted locally.

[0013] Figure 2 shows the method for removing the reinforcing wire 5 during processing when there is one reinforcing wire 5 in the cable. The same applies when there are multiple reinforcing wires 5 or when the reinforcing wires 5 are located at both ends of the cable. Figure 2(A) shows the state of the wound control cable. In the process of cutting out the required length of control cable for each elevator installation, a processing machine 8 is installed on the cable sheath as shown in Figure 2(B). A cut is made in the groove 7 from the desired position 9 to the desired length of the reinforcing wire 5, exposing the reinforcing wire 5 (Figure 2(C)). The reinforcing wire 5 is removed by sliding it in the direction of cable breakage, to the right in Figure 2(C), from the groove 7. As shown in Figure 2(D), making a cut in the groove 7 creates an opening 19, and the area where the reinforcing wire was removed creates a hollow 20. This allows the reinforcing wire 5 to be cut and removed to the required length. Furthermore, when installing the cable, it must be hung from the hoistway side, and taking into consideration the tendency of the control cable to wind, it must be installed so that the outside of the wound surface faces the wall when hung. Therefore, the reinforcing wire 5 is cut so that the inner circumference at the time of shipment faces the car hanger side and the outer circumference faces the hoistway hanger side.

[0014] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the conditions under which the control cable 10 and the car 13 interfere when there is insufficient clearance between the cable hanger 11 on the hoistway wall and the cable hanger 12 below the car, and a method for calculating the free bending diameter and the length of the reinforcing wire 5 to be left under those conditions. As mentioned above, the cut cable 10 is hung down from the hanger 11 on the hoistway wall to the bottom of the hoistway, then turned back and connected to the under-car hanger 12. Figure 3(1) shows the state where the under-car hanger 12 is located near the hoistway hanger 11, and Figure 3(2) shows the state where the under-car hanger 12 is located at the lowest level of the hoistway.

[0015] The distance between the cable hanger 11 on the hoistway wall and the cable hanger 12 below the car (shown as A in Figure 3) is assumed to be equal to or greater than the free bending diameter (shown as U in Figure 3), taking into account 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 above the folded-back part (bottom end of the U-shape) of the cable 10. In this case, the cable hanging distance: A is generally set to be 30 to 180 mm wider than the free bending diameter: U, which prevents interference between the cable 10 and the car 13.

[0016] Next, the conditions under which the control cable 10 and the cage 13 interfere with each other are shown below. The variables are defined as follows (see FIG. 3): A: Hanging distance = B + C (B: Distance from elevator shaft handrail 11 to car frame 13, C: Distance from car underhand handrail 12 to car frame 13) The hoistway hanger 11 is installed on the hoistway wall at a height of approximately half the hoistway stroke. The car under-hanging handle 12 is installed at the bottom of the car frame. D: Distance between cables at L' = A-(AU) x ((L' / 2) / L) (L': height from the elevator shaft hanger 11 to the car under-hanger 12, L: distance from the elevator shaft hanger 11 to the free bending diameter U when the car under-hanger 12 is located near the elevator shaft hanger 11) U: Free bending diameter (the distance between cables when a cable of about 5 m is bent freely into a U shape) If the above are used as variables, C: the distance from the car underhand handle 12 to the car frame 13 is used as the standard, When C < A / 2, since D is always greater than C, 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 and the car 13 interfere, by cutting and removing the reinforcing wire 5 by the length of the following (1) from the landing side 11 of the hoistway towards 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 minimum required suspension interval (the distance from the landing side 11 of the hoistway to the frame of the car 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 car sides is also excessive, by not cutting the reinforcing wire 5 and leaving the reinforcing wire 5 along 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, there is a possibility that the position of the reinforcing wire 5 may shift within the sheath 6 when the cable is bent. In preparation for this 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 applications for the cable 1 with the reinforcing wire 5 for a long time and the cable life is approaching, the reinforcing wire 5 can be removed over the entire length and applied as a normal control cable without the reinforcing wire 5.

[0021] Embodiment 2. In the first embodiment, the reinforcing wires 5 are provided at both ends of the flat control cable 1. However, the location and number of reinforcing wires 5 are not limited within the integrally molded cable. Figure 5 shows a cross section of a flat control cable 14. As in the first embodiment, six power or signal wires 2 are arranged in parallel as a set of twisted wires 3. Two or three sets of twisted wires 3 form a block, and a steel core 4 is inserted between them to reinforce the cable. Two reinforcing wires 5 are inserted between the twisted wires 3 and the steel core 4 to adjust the free bending diameter. The twisted wires 3, steel core 4, and reinforcing wires 5 are integrally molded within a resin sheath 6. Furthermore, grooves 7 are provided in the sheath 6 surrounding the two reinforcing wires 5, above and below the reinforcing wires 5, to expose and facilitate their removal. The method of removing the reinforcing wires 5 and the method of installing the cable 10 within the hoistway are the same as in the first embodiment. This allows the free bending diameter to be adjusted with cable 14 having two reinforcing wires 5 at the center and being harder than in the first embodiment.

[0022] Embodiment 3 Figure 6 shows a cross section of a flat control cable 15, with six power or signal wires 2 arranged in a single stranded wire 3, and multiple shielded signal wires 16 arranged in parallel. Three or four stranded wires 3 or shielded wires 16 form a block, with a steel core 4 inserted between them to reinforce the cable 15. Two reinforcing wires 5 are inserted at each end of the stranded wires 3, shielded wire 16, and steel core 4 arrangement to adjust the free bending diameter. The stranded wires 3, shielded wire 16, steel core 4, and reinforcing wire 5 are integrally molded within a resin sheath 6. To expose and facilitate cutting out the four reinforcing wires 5, grooves 7 are provided in the sheath 6 at both ends of the cable and above and below the reinforcing wires 5 to serve as cutting guides. While Figure 6 shows the grooves 7 at both ends of the cable, the location of the grooves 7 is not critical as long as the reinforcing wires 5 can be cut out by cutting open a portion of the sheath 6 without interfering with the stranded wires 3 or steel core 4. 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. As a result, the free bending diameter can be adjusted using the cable 15, which has two reinforcing wires 5 at each end and is harder than in embodiment 1.

[0023] Embodiment 4 FIG. 7 shows a cross section of a flat control cable 17, in which six power or signal wires 2 are twisted into a set of twisted wires 3, and multiple shielded signal wires 16 are arranged in parallel. Two or three sets of twisted wires 3 or shielded wires 16 form a block, and a steel core 4 is inserted between the blocks to reinforce the cable. A reinforcing wire 5 is inserted between the twisted wires 3, shielded wire 16, and steel core 4 to adjust the free bending diameter of a single wire. The twisted wires 3, shielded wire 16, steel core 4, and reinforcing wire 5 are integrally molded with a resin sheath 6. Furthermore, a portion of the sheath surrounding each reinforcing wire 5, above and below the reinforcing wire 5, is provided in the sheath as an exposing guide groove 7 to facilitate easy excision. The method of excising the reinforcing wire 5 and the method of installing the cable 10 in the hoistway are the same as in embodiment 1. This allows for fine adjustment of the free bending diameter of the cable 17, which has a single reinforcing wire 5 at the center and is softer than in embodiment 1.

[0024] Embodiment 5. 8 shows a configuration in which the reinforcing wires 5 are removed from both ends of the control cable 1 shown in embodiment 1 over the entire length, and a power line or signal line 18 is installed in the space. Note that, as shown in embodiment 2 or embodiment 4, a configuration in which the reinforcing wires 5 are removed between the arrangement of the twisted wires 3, the shielded wire 16, and the steel core 4, and a power line or signal line 18 is installed may also be used.

[0025] When adding a cable, a cut is made in the sheath groove 7 of the cable 1 using the method shown in embodiment 1, and after forming the cutout 19 as shown in Figure 2(D), the reinforcing wire is slid and removed to form the hollow portion 20. The sheath is then expanded through the cutout 19 and the cable to be added is inserted into the sheath, and the reinforcing wire is slid inside the sheath to fit inside the cable. When removing the reinforcing wire, a cut is made in the inner surface of the U-shape that suspends the cable 1 and then removed, preventing 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 additional cables are installed, the same cable 18 shall be placed on both ends, and if an S-twisted or Z-twisted structure is used, the cable shall be configured to cancel out the rotation angles, taking into account static and dynamic characteristics. The method of installing cable 10 within the hoistway is the same as in embodiment 1. This makes it possible to add power or signal lines 18 to the control cable when changing specifications or adding functions after the elevator has been installed.

[0027] The strength and static and dynamic characteristics of the round cable 18 alone cannot be ensured and it is not possible to add more. However, by encasing it within the sheath of the control cable, the allowable tension can be ensured and the static and dynamic characteristics can also be stabilized.

[0028] Embodiment 6 Figure 9 shows a configuration in which one of the two reinforcing wires 5 at each end of the control cable 15 shown in embodiment 3 is removed along its entire length, and a power or signal line 18 is installed in the resulting space. As in embodiment 5, when installing an additional cable, the same cable 18 is installed in both ends. Furthermore, if an S-twisted or Z-twisted structure is used, the cable is configured to cancel out its rotation angle, taking into account static and dynamic characteristics. When removing the reinforcing wire 5, it is removed from the inside surface of the U-shape that suspends the control cable 15, preventing the additional cable 18 from coming loose when the control cable is in operation. The method for cutting out the reinforcing wire 5 and the method for installing the cable 10 in the hoistway are the same as in embodiment 1. This allows for adjustment of the free bending diameter using the reinforcing wire and allows for specification changes and additional functions to be accommodated 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 Reinforcing wire, 6 Sheath, 7 Cutting groove, 8 Cable sheath processing machine, 9 Cutting position, 10 Cable, 11 Hoistway hanger, 12 Under-car hanger, 13 Car, 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 (round cable extension), 19 Cutting section, 20 Hollow section

Claims

1. In a flat cable in which parallel-arranged electric wires and a reinforcing steel core are integrally molded with a sheath, a reinforcing wire provided in the sheath parallel to the electric wire, for adjusting the free bending diameter of the flat cable; a groove provided in the sheath parallel to the reinforcing wire, the groove serving as a guide for cutting out the reinforcing wire; A flat cable comprising:

2. 2. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein a part of the sheath is cut out from the groove, and a desired length of the reinforcing wire is removed.

3. 3. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the reinforcing wire is textured.

4. A flat cable as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing wires are arranged within the sheath at both ends of the row of electric wires or between the electric wires.

5. 4. The flat cable according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing wires are provided in the sheath at both ends of the row of the electric wires or between the electric wires.

6. 3. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein one end is connected to the bottom of the car and the other end is connected to a support part of the elevator shaft, and the cable is used by hanging in a U-shape in the elevator shaft.

7. 4. The flat cable according to claim 3, wherein one end is connected to the bottom of the car and the other end is connected to a support part of the elevator shaft, and the cable is used by hanging in a U-shape in the elevator shaft.

8. 5. The flat cable according to claim 4, wherein one end is connected to the bottom of the car and the other end is connected to a support part of the elevator shaft, and the cable is used by hanging in a U-shape in the elevator shaft.

9. 6. The flat cable according to claim 5, wherein one end is connected to the bottom of the car and the other end is connected to a support part of the elevator shaft, and the cable is used by hanging in a U-shape in the elevator shaft.

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