Torsion reduction mechanism for elevator main rope, and elevator using same

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique with which it is possible to eliminate rope torsion caused by operation of an elevator in addition to rope torsion produced during attachment of a rope. A torsion reduction mechanism 10 according to the present invention is provided to a terminal 107a of an elevator main rope 107 for suspending a car and a balance weight, the torsion reduction mechanism 10 having a thrust bearing 16 that allows rotation of the elevator main rope 107 and reducing torsion of the elevator main rope 107. The torsion reduction mechanism 10 is provided with a positioning mechanism 19 for regulating displacement of the thrust bearing 16 such that the rotary axis for the rotation of the elevator main rope 107 and the rotary axis of the thrust bearing 16 coincide with each other.

Description

Elevator main rope twist reduction mechanism and elevator using same

[0001] The present invention relates to a torsion reduction mechanism that reduces the torsion of elevator main ropes, and to an elevator that uses the same.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a twist eliminator for eliminating twist in an elevator rope. This elevator rope twist eliminator includes a rope tension detection unit that detects the rope tension generated in a rope suspended in a hoistway with its end secured by a rope fastener as deformation of an elastic body, and a rope rotation unit that rotates the rope about its central axis in a direction that eliminates twist generated when tension is applied to the rope in response to the rope tension detected by the rope tension detection unit (see Abstract). The rope tension detection unit includes a base with a through hole, a stopper whose lower end is fixed to the end rod of the rope fastener and fitted into a fitting groove at the upper end of a rotor that passes through the through hole, and a coil spring that is an elastic body disposed between the stopper and the base and detects the rope tension generated in the rope (see Paragraph 0016). The rope rotation means includes a rotating body that is integrally connected to the tip of the terminal rod coaxially with the terminal rod, a rotation conversion means that moves the rotating body vertically by rope tension and rotates it around the axis of the rotating body, and a bearing that is provided between the stopper and the coil spring and that rotates the rotating body and stopper smoothly relative to the coil spring (see paragraph 0017).

[0003] JP 2017-65923 A

[0004] Although Patent Document 1 takes into consideration the elimination of twists in the rope during the rope installation work, it does not give sufficient consideration to the elimination of twists in the rope that occur when the elevator operates after the rope has been installed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can eliminate twisting of the rope that occurs when the rope is attached, as well as twisting of the rope that occurs during elevator operation.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the torsion reduction mechanism of the present invention is provided at the end of an elevator main rope that suspends a car and a counterweight, has a thrust bearing that allows the elevator main rope to rotate on its own axis, and reduces torsion in the elevator main rope, and is equipped with a positioning mechanism that restricts displacement of the thrust bearing so that the rotation axis of the elevator main rope when it rotates on its own axis coincides with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate twisting of the rope that occurs when the rope is attached, and also to eliminate twisting of the rope that occurs during elevator operation. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the description of the following embodiments.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view parallel to the vertical direction showing the configuration of an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view parallel to the horizontal direction showing the configuration of an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an elevator main rope terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an elevator main rope terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] An outline of the overall configuration of an elevator system 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an elevator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an elevator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the elevator 100 includes a car 104 and a counterweight 105 that move up and down within the elevator shaft HW, a hoist 102 around which an elevator main rope 107 that connects the car 104 and the counterweight 105 is wound, a guide rail 109 that is erected in the elevator shaft HW and guides the car 104 and the counterweight 105 as they move up and down, a control panel 101 that controls the elevator 100, and a governor 111 that detects the ascent and descent speed of the car 104.

[0012] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a rope having a twisted structure is used as an elevator main rope. Hereinafter, the elevator main rope will be referred to as a "rope."

[0013] The car 104 and counterweight 105 are provided inside a hoistway HW provided in a building, and are suspended in a bucket-like manner by ropes 107. The car 104 is electrically connected to the control panel 101 by a tail cord 108, and receives power via the tail cord 108, and exchanges control signals and various other signals with the control panel 101. A buffer 106 is provided on the bottom of the hoistway HW below the car 104 and counterweight 105.

[0014] The hoisting machine 102 is supported by a machine beam 102a and is disposed at the top of the hoistway HW, and the control panel 101 is disposed near the hoisting machine 102. That is, the control panel 101 is also disposed at the top of the hoistway HW. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the hoisting machine 102 and the control panel 101 are disposed at the top of the hoistway HW, but the positions of the hoisting machine 102 and the control panel 101 are not limited to the top of the hoistway HW.

[0015] The guide rail 109 is fixed to the inner wall (hoistway wall) HWa of the hoistway HW by a rail bracket 110 .

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the car 104 has a car door 104a on the side facing the elevator hall 112, and an entrance door 120a facing the car door 104a is provided on the elevator hall 112 side. A space is provided between the other sides of the car 104, excluding the side on which the car door 104a is provided, and the hoistway wall 101a, in which equipment (equipment within the hoistway) such as the hoisting machine 102, the encoder (governor encoder) 111a of the governor 111, the brake of the hoisting machine 102, and the control panel 101 is disposed. A posidetector 104c for detecting the position of the car 104 is provided on the car 104 so as to protrude from one side position of the car 104 towards the hoistway wall HWa.

[0017] The elevator 100 of this embodiment is a traction type elevator, in which a hoist 102 frictionally drives a rope 107 to raise and lower a car 104 along a car guide rail 109A, and raise and lower a counterweight 105 along a counterweight guide rail 109B.

[0018] The guide rails 109 are erected in the vertical direction along the hoistway wall HWa. The guide rails 109 include a car guide rail 109A and a counterweight guide rail 109B. The car guide rail 109A is a guide rail for the passenger car 104 and includes a pair of guide rails. The counterweight guide rail 109B is a guide rail for the counterweight 105 and includes a pair of guide rails.

[0019] When viewed from the elevator hall 112 side, the pair of car guide rails 109A are arranged separately on the hoistway wall HWa on both the left and right sides of the passenger car 104. One of the pair of car guide rails 109A is fixed to the hoistway wall 101a by a shared rail bracket 110C, and the other is fixed to the hoistway wall 101a by a car rail bracket 110A. The shared rail bracket 110C is a rail bracket shared between the car guide rail 109A and the counterweight guide rail 109B. The car rail bracket 110A is a rail bracket provided for the car guide rail 109A and dedicated to the car guide rail.

[0020] The pair of counterweight guide rails 109B are arranged in the space in which the counterweight 105 is arranged. That is, the pair of counterweight guide rails 109B are arranged in the same space on either the left or right side of the car 104 when viewed from the elevator hall 112 side. One of the pair of counterweight guide rails 109B is fixed to the hoistway wall 101a by a common rail bracket 110C, and the other is fixed to the hoistway wall 101a by a counterweight rail bracket 110B. In this embodiment, the common rail bracket 110C is fixed to the hoistway wall HWa facing the left side surface (left side face) of the car 104 when viewed from the front, and the counterweight rail bracket 110B is fixed to the hoistway wall HWa facing the back surface of the car 104.

[0021] Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between "for car" and "for counterweight" in the car guide rail 109A and the counterweight guide rail 109B, the terms "for car" and "for counterweight" will be omitted and they will be referred to simply as the guide rail 109. Also, when it is not necessary to distinguish between "for common use," "for counterweight" and "for car" in the car rail bracket 110A, the counterweight rail bracket 110B and the shared rail bracket 110C, they will be referred to simply as the rail bracket 110, omitting the terms "for common use," "for counterweight" and "for car."

[0022] The hoisting machine 102 is disposed in a space formed on the left side of the car 104 when viewed from the elevator hall 112 side. In this embodiment, a governor 111 having a governor encoder 111a is disposed in the space on the same side as the hoisting machine 102. The hoisting machine 102 is fixed to the hoistway wall HWa by the machine beam 102a described in Fig. 1, and by installing the machine beam 102a between the car guide rails 109A and the counterweight guide rails 109B, the hoisting machine 102 is fixed to the hoistway wall HWa via the car guide rails 109A and the counterweight guide rails 109B.

[0023] The control panel 101 is disposed in a space formed on the right side of the car 104 when viewed from the elevator hall 112 side. The control panel 101 is fixed to the hoistway wall HWa by a control panel bracket 123a. In this case, the control panel bracket 123a is fixed to the car guide rail 109A, and the control panel 101 is fixed to the hoistway wall HWa via the car guide rail 109A. The tail cord 108 described in FIG. 1 is connected to the control panel 101, and a tail cord support 108b that supports the tail cord 108 is provided near the control panel 101. The tail cord support 108b is fixed to the car guide rail 109A to which the control panel bracket 123a is fixed by the tail cord support bracket 108a.

[0024] When a twisted structure such as a rope is used for the elevator main ropes 107, the loads of the car and counterweight cause the ropes 107 of the main ropes to rotate on their own axis. The amount of rotation of the ropes 107 varies depending on the magnitude of the tension applied, so the rotation of the ropes 107 moves forward and backward in response to changes in the number of passengers getting on and off the car 104. Furthermore, in the case of a roping system in which the bending surfaces of the ropes 107 are not uniform but exist in multiple planes, rotation also occurs when the ropes 107 move from one bending surface to another bending surface. In this way, when a twisted structure such as a rope is used for the elevator main ropes 107, rotation of the ropes 107 inevitably occurs when the elevator operates, but this cannot be avoided. The rotation of the ropes 107, i.e., the twisting of the ropes 107, changes the length of the ropes, so in an elevator 100 in which the car 104 and counterweight 105 are suspended by multiple ropes 107, the twisting of each rope 107 will not necessarily be the same, resulting in uneven tension between the ropes. For the elevator 100, uneven tension in each rope 107 has a significant impact on durability and ride comfort, and is therefore something that should be avoided.

[0025] If the elevator main ropes 107 are twisted structures, twisting is inevitable, and therefore, in the embodiment according to the present invention, a structure is adopted in which the twist present in the main ropes 107 is released at the ends of the main ropes. That is, in this embodiment, a twist reduction mechanism (twist reduction device) 10 that reduces the twist of the main ropes 107 is provided at the ends of the main ropes. The twist reduction mechanism 10 moves the twisted main ropes 107 as the elevator 100 operates, thereby transmitting the twist to the ends of the main ropes 107 and releasing it at the ends of the main ropes 107.

[0026] The elevator main ropes 107 having the above mechanism 10 can release the twist that exists in each main rope 107 as the elevator 100 operates, for each main rope, according to the amount of twist. This makes it possible to equalize the tension between each main rope, improving the durability of the main ropes 107 and the ride comfort of the elevator 100. In addition, because the tension between each main rope is less likely to vary, it is expected that the work of adjusting the main rope tension, which has been done periodically until now, will no longer be necessary.

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the torsion reduction mechanism (torsion reduction device) 10 will be described. The elevator 100 described above is one embodiment of an elevator provided with the torsion reduction mechanism 10 described below, and is not limited to the configuration described above. [Embodiment 1] With reference to Figure 3, an elevator main rope terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the elevator main rope terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] 3 shows a rope 107 as an example of an elevator main rope. A twist reduction mechanism 10 that reduces twist in the rope 107 is provided at an end (elevator main rope end) 107a of the rope 107.

[0029] The rope 107 is babbitted into the socket 12, and a thimble rod 13 is attached to the tip of the babbitted socket 12. One end of the thimble rod 13 is structured so that a pin 11 for suspending the babbitted socket 12 can be inserted, and the other end has a screw thread (not shown) for tightening a nut 17. In this embodiment, the elevator main rope terminal 107a is connected to the thimble rod 13 by the babbitted socket 12, but it may also be connected to the thimble rod 13 by a method other than the babbitted socket 12. For example, the function of the present invention is not affected even if a wedge socket or the like is used instead of the babbitted socket 12.

[0030] The babbitt-embedded socket 12 and thimble rod 13 are fixed to a frame 18 provided on a support beam inside the elevator tower (hoistway) HW via a spring washer (third washer or lower washer) 14a, a dual-purpose washer (second washer or intermediate washer) 14b that serves as both a spring seat and a washer for the thrust bearing 16, a thrust bearing washer (first washer or upper washer) 14c, a spring 15, and a thrust bearing 16.

[0031] The weight of the rope 107 itself, the weight of the car 104, and the weight of the counterweight 105 are supported by the thrust bearing washer 14c via the nut 17 threaded onto the threads of the thimble rod 13. At this time, a large frictional force due to the load is generated between the nut 17 and the thrust bearing washer 14c, so that the rope 107 cannot rotate in the direction of the twist. The same applies between the dual-purpose washer 14b and the spring 15, and between the spring washer 14a and the spring 15. Therefore, the thrust bearing 16 eliminates the twist in the rope 107.

[0032] Twists in rope 107 that occur during the work of installing rope 107 and twists that occur later due to elevator operation both generate rotational torque around the longitudinal axis of rope 107, but the structure is such that the rotational torque is not transmitted to spring washer 14a, dual-purpose washer 14b, spring 15, and frame 18. In other words, twists that occur in rope 107 are eliminated by the main rope terminal, which is not restricted in its rotation around the longitudinal axis.

[0033] Furthermore, the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of this embodiment has a positioning mechanism 19 for the thrust bearing 16. The positioning mechanism 19 determines the position of the thrust bearing washer 14c and the dual-purpose washer 14b relative to the thrust bearing 16 so that the rotation axis of the rope 107 when it rotates coincides with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16. Alternatively, the positioning mechanism 19 determines the position of the thrust bearing 16 relative to the thrust bearing washer 14c and the dual-purpose washer 14b so that the rotation axis of the rope 107 when it rotates coincides with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16.

[0034] That is, the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of this embodiment is provided at the end 107a of the elevator main ropes 107 that suspend the car 104 and counterweight 105, has a thrust bearing 16 that allows the elevator main ropes 107 to rotate, and reduces the torsion of the elevator main ropes 107, and is equipped with a positioning mechanism 19 that restricts the displacement of the thrust bearing 16 so that the rotation axis of the elevator main ropes 107 when they rotate coincides with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16.

[0035] The positioning mechanism 19 determines the relative positions of the thrust bearing washer 14c and the dual-purpose washer 14b and the thrust bearing 16 so that the rotation axis of the rope 107 when it rotates coincides with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16, thereby reducing the positional deviation between the rotation axis of the rope 107 when it rotates and the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16.

[0036] That is, the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of this embodiment has a first washer 14c provided above the thrust bearing 16, and the positioning mechanism 19 is provided on the first washer 14c.

[0037] Furthermore, the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of this embodiment has a second washer 14b provided below the thrust bearing 16, and the positioning mechanism 19 is provided on the second washer 14b in addition to the first washer 14c.

[0038] In this case, the positioning mechanism 19 can be easily molded integrally with the first washer (thrust bearing washer) 14c and the second washer (dual-purpose washer) 14b, thereby reducing the number of parts and enabling the assembly work of the torsion reduction mechanism 10 to be performed efficiently.

[0039] Furthermore, the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of this embodiment has a spring 15 provided below the second washer 14b, and a third washer 14a provided below the spring 15 and serving as a spring seat for the spring 15, and the first washer 14c, the second washer 14b, and the third washer 14a have insertion holes 14c1, 14b1, and 14a1 through which the thimble rod 13 to which the elevator main rope 107 is connected is inserted.

[0040] The frame 18 is provided with an insertion hole 18a through which the thimble rod 13 is inserted.

[0041] The degree of twist in the rope 107 caused by the operation of the elevator is determined by the degree to which the rotation axis of the rope 107 when rotating coincides with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16. By aligning the rotation axis of the rope 107 when rotating with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16, it is possible to reduce twist in the rope 107 caused by the operation of the elevator 100.

[0042] In this embodiment, positioning mechanism 19 is provided on thrust bearing washer 14c and dual-purpose washer 14b. On thrust bearing washer 14c, positioning mechanism 19 is provided as a protrusion that protrudes downward from the lower surface of thrust bearing washer 14c. Positioning mechanism 19 on thrust bearing washer 14c is provided along the outer periphery of thrust bearing 16. On dual-purpose washer 14b, positioning mechanism 19 is provided as a protrusion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of dual-purpose washer 14b. Positioning mechanism 19 on dual-purpose washer 14b is provided along the outer periphery of thrust bearing 16. Positioning mechanism 19 abuts against the outer periphery of thrust bearing 16 and regulates relative displacement between thrust bearing washer 14c, dual-purpose washer 14b, and thrust bearing 16.

[0043] The positioning mechanism 19 may be provided as a single annular protrusion along the outer periphery of the thrust bearing 16, or may be provided as a plurality of protrusions spaced apart in the circumferential direction. Note that providing the positioning mechanism 19 as a single annular protrusion is advantageous in terms of ensuring strength.

[0044] [Embodiment 2] An elevator main rope terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an elevator main rope terminal according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] The torsion reduction mechanism 10 provided at the elevator main rope terminal 107a according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of the first embodiment, except for the thimble rod 13, spring washer 14a, dual-purpose washer 14b, spring 15, and nut 17. The rope 107 is connected to the thrust bearing washer (first washer) 14c by the Babbitt recessed socket 12.

[0046] In this embodiment, since the thimble rod 13 is not provided, the thrust bearing washer 14c does not have an insertion hole through which the thimble rod 13 is inserted.

[0047] In this embodiment, the simplified configuration allows for a smaller torsion reduction mechanism 10. Furthermore, by providing a flange portion on the Babbitt embedded socket 2 and using this flange portion to form the thrust bearing washer 14c, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0048] In the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the elevator main ropes 107 are connected to the first washer 14 c by the Babbitt-embedded socket 12, and the first washer 14 c is configured by a flange portion formed on the Babbitt-embedded socket 12.

[0049] The function of eliminating twists in the rope 107 that occur during the work of attaching the rope 107 and twists that occur after the rope 107 is attached due to the operation of the elevator 100 is the same as the structure shown in the first embodiment.

[0050] The torsion reduction mechanism 10 of the second embodiment is provided with the positioning mechanism 19 described in the first embodiment so that the rotation axis of the rope 107 when it rotates coincides with the rotation axis of the thrust bearing 16. Since the spring washer 14a is not provided in this embodiment, the positioning mechanism 19 that was provided on the spring washer 14a in the first embodiment is provided on the frame 18.

[0051] That is, in the torsion reduction mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the positioning mechanism 19 is provided not only on the first washer 14c but also on the frame 18 provided on the support beam of the hoistway HW.

[0052] When the spring washer 14a of the first embodiment is used as the washer (first washer, thrust bearing washer) 14a disposed below the thrust bearing 16, the positioning mechanism 19 may be provided on the washer 14a.

[0053] The washers 14a and 14c on which the positioning mechanism 19 is provided can be regarded as positioning members for the thrust bearing 16 or as relative displacement restricting members.

[0054] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

[0055] 10...twist reduction mechanism, 12...Babbitt recessed socket, 13...thimble rod, 14a...third washer, 14a1...through hole through which thimble rod 13 is inserted, 14b...second washer, 14b1...through hole through which thimble rod 13 is inserted, 14c...first washer, 14c1...through hole through which thimble rod 13 is inserted, 15...spring, 16...thrust bearing, 18...frame, 19...positioning mechanism, 104...car, 105...counterweight, 107...elevator main rope, 107a...terminal of elevator main rope 107.

Claims

1. A torsion reduction mechanism that is attached to the end of an elevator main rope that suspends a car and a counterweight, has a thrust bearing that allows the elevator main rope to rotate on its axis, and reduces torsion in the elevator main rope, characterized in that it also has a positioning mechanism that restricts displacement of the thrust bearing so that the axis of rotation of the elevator main rope on its axis coincides with the axis of rotation of the thrust bearing.

2. A torsion reduction mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a first washer provided above said thrust bearing, said positioning mechanism being provided on said first washer.

3. A torsion reduction mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising a second washer provided below the thrust bearing, and the positioning mechanism is provided on the second washer in addition to the first washer.

4. A torsion reduction mechanism as claimed in claim 3, comprising: a spring provided below the second washer; and a third washer provided below the spring and serving as a spring seat for the spring, wherein the first washer, the second washer and the third washer have insertion holes through which thimble rods to which the elevator main ropes are connected are inserted.

5. A twist reduction mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the elevator main rope is connected to the first washer by a Babbitt recessed socket, and the first washer is constituted by a flange portion formed on the Babbitt recessed socket.

6. A torsion reduction mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the positioning mechanism is provided on a frame attached to a support beam of the elevator shaft in addition to the first washer.

7. An elevator equipped with a torsion reduction mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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