Levelling device for adjusting an elevator guide rail

Abstract

Levelling device for adjusting the distance of an elevator guide rail from the bottom of the shaft, wherein the levelling device comprises a platform which holds an adjusting screw for acting on the lower end face of the elevator guide rail in position above the bottom of the shaft, in such a way that the distance of the guide rail from the bottom of the shaft can be adjusted by actuating the adjusting screw and in that the levelling device comprises a rail guide which guides the lower end of the guide rail movably in the vertical direction in such a way that it cannot deviate laterally from the adjusting screw when adjusting its distance from the bottom of the shaft.

Description

[0001] MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH

[0002] LEVELLING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AN ELEVATOR GUIDE RAIL

[0003] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates to a levelling device for adj usting an elevator guide rail according to the generic term of claim 1 .

[0005] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0006] In elevator systems , the rails that guide the elevator car and also the counterweight vertically generally do not touch the floor at the bottom of the shaft directly . Since the shaft ground is often not smooth enough, and also to spread the guide rail load over the shaft floor, usually sheet metal plates are placed under the guide rail . These sheet metal plates placed under the guide rail are called sole plates .

[0007] In some cases , the vertical position of the guide rails also needs to be fine-tuned or adapted to certain conditions .

[0008] A first case in which this is necessary, is , when components at the top of the guide rails , such as the machine frame , have to be perfectly level . I f the shaft base is out of balance or other negative factors occur, there has to be a possibility to ensure a level ground for the components on top of the guide rails .

[0009] Second, i f a damaged guide rail needs to be removed, the bottom guide rail must be moved down a little bit so that the damaged one can be disassembled . Also , in this case the guide rail needs to be able to move downwards after the initial mounting of the guide rails .

[0010] Third, in high buildings , the ef fect of the building MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH gravitating (settlement, slight decrease in height of the structure) over time after construction is much greater. Therefore, after a certain period, the vertical position of the guide rails may need to be readjusted from the bottom to reduce the stress on brackets between the building structure and elevator guide rails.

[0011] In order to being able to adjust the vertical position of the guide rails, mostly, sheet metal plates or shims are placed under the guide rail (or rather under the bottom guide rail) to fine-tune the vertical position of the guide rail.

[0012] Sole plate designs are usually in the form of welded or L- shaped bent sheets. The horizontal surface of the L shape presses on the shaft floor, while the side surface is used for the connection to the guide rail.

[0013] Adding or removing shims under the heavy guide rail during the installation can be quite difficult and time-consuming. Especially for elevators with high travel heights, the total guide rail weight will also increase. Therefore, it is much more difficult to add or remove shims under heavy loads.

[0014] Additionally, while a few millimeters of adjustability are sufficient for elevators that do not have a high travel height, higher vertical adjustability is required for elevators with a high travel height. Therefore, a bigger height adjustment is also more difficult to execute with more shims .

[0015] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to provide a means with which a vertical adjustment of elevator guide rails MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH can be performed in a simple manner, also when a high guide rail weight is present .

[0017] SOLUTION ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION

[0018] A solution to this problem is provided by the main claim .

[0019] Here , a levelling device for adj usting the distance of an elevator guide rail from the bottom of the shaft is proposed . Said levelling device comprises a platform which holds an adj usting screw for acting on the lower end face of the elevator guide rail in position above the bottom of the shaft , in such a way that the distance of the guide rail from the bottom of the shaft can be adj usted by actuating the adj usting screw . Furthermore , the levelling device comprises a rail guide which - during the adj ustment process - guides the lower end of the guide rail - movably in the vertical direction - in such a way that it cannot - not at all or not substantially - deviate laterally from the adj usting screw, when adj usting its distance from the bottom of the shaft .

[0020] The adj usting screw is acting on the lower end face of an elevator guide rail - either by direct contact or preferably by indirect contact via at least one part in between the adj usting screw' s open end of the shank and the guide rail . By actuating the adj usting screw, that is held by the platform, the distance of the guide rail to the bottom of the shaft can be adj usted . Depending on the length of the adj usting screw' s thread, the possible adj usting distance is a lot higher compared to plates that have to be inserted or taken out . Furthermore , the fine tuning of the vertical distance can be performed way more exact , because there is no predefined thickness of a plate that changes the distance to the bottom, but the position of the thread of the screw . MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH

[0021] In order not to deviate or at least not to deviate substantially laterally from the adj usting screw, the levelling device also comprises a rail guide , which guides the lower end of the guide rail , in such a way that it cannot - not at all or not substantially - deviate laterally from the adj usting screw, when adj usting its distance from the bottom of the shaft .

[0022] So overall , a very cost-ef ficient and simple way of adj usting the vertical distance of the guide rail to the shaft bottom can be provided .

[0023] PREFERRED DESIGN OPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A preferred design option is that the platform is designed as a bridge , with a bridge deck which stands on at least two feet which keep it at a distance from the bottom of the shaft . This simple and cost-ef fective design allows a very sturdy and high load-bearing structure that furthermore opens up a space under said bridge deck, in which the adj usting screw and / or the adj usting screw' s head can be held at least partly; without touching the shaft bottom .

[0025] Furthermore , it is preferred that the bridge deck comprises a through hole for the adj usting screw . In this way, the bridge deck is also used as the holder for the adj usting screw; preferably so that the adj usting screw' s head is placed in between the bridge deck and the bottom of the shaft .

[0026] It is also preferred that the adj usting screw is supported on the upper side of the bridge deck by an adj usting nut screwed onto it or by a nut welded to the underside of the bridge deck . Using an adj usting nut on the upper side of the bridge MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH deck is the simplest and safest design option to secure a safe hold of the screw and also to give the opportunity to use the adj usting nut as the adj usting part that has to be turned in order to actuate the adj usting screw and in order to move the adj usting screw vertically . It is also possible to weld a nut to the underside of the bridge deck, wherein it is preferred that instead of an adj usting screw an adj usting bolt is used .

[0027] It is also preferred that the bridge deck forms a chamber - preferably in the shape of a shaft - on its underside and therefore the side that is facing the elevator shaft bottom , in this chamber the head of the adj usting screw can move up and down vertically while being held in a rotationally fixed position for adj ustment . This is a very simple and costef ficient way to make sure that the adj usting screw is rotationally fixed, while the actuating of the screw is done by turning the adj usting nut on the upper side of the bridge deck . Therefore , the adj usting screw does not also turn, when the adj usting nut is turned, wherein the adj usting screw moves vertically relative to the shaft bottom .

[0028] Moreover, it is preferred that said chamber is formed by at least one reinforcing rib and ideally the rail guide to increase the load-bearing capacity of the bridge deck . By using the already existing rail guide , another simple and cost-ef fective way of designing the whole levelling device can be achieved . Yet , the platform and in speci fic the bridge deck has to bear a lot of stress because of the weight of the guide rail resting on it . Therefore , a reinforcing rib furthermore strengthens the structure and the at least one reinforcing rib together with another reinforcing rib or the rail guide also limit the chamber, preferably leading to above mentioned rotationally fixed adj usting screw' s head . MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH

[0029] It is also preferred that the platform is an omega-shaped sheet metal bending part . This is once more a simple and cost- ef fective way of designing the levelling device , while also maintaining a steady and load-bearing structure . The "omegashaped" structure means the form of the uppercase Greek letter omega, but preferably with straight edges and therefore a hori zontal part , followed by vertical part , followed by a hori zontal part , followed by a vertical part , followed by a hori zontal part . The angles of the vertical parts to the following hori zontal parts and vise-versa a preferably substantially 90 ° and the first and last hori zontal part are on the same level , as well as the two vertical parts are parallel to each other .

[0030] It is also preferred that the platform has at least two feet with a through hole for bolting to the bottom of the shaft . These " feet" are preferably the above mentioned first and second hori zontal parts that are in direct or indirect contact with the shaft bottom .

[0031] Furthermore , it is preferred that the adj usting screw acts on the lower end face of the elevator guide rail not directly, but via a pressure plate , the pressure plate preferably being provided on one of its two large surfaces with a blind hole for receiving an end section of the adj usting screw - preferably the open end of the adj usting screw' s shank . The pressure plate preferably is essentially triangular, preferably rounded edges . Because the guide rail presses on the pressure plate , it helps trans fer the loads coming from the guide rail to the tip of the adj usting screw in a smooth manner .

[0032] The pressure plate is thick enough to withstand the loads coming from the guide rail and preferably triangular, suitable MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH for the usual T shape of the guide rail . The triangular shape is the optimum according to the T rail shape , but it can also be in other shapes .

[0033] Furthermore , it is preferred that the rail guide is a rail guide plate fixed to one side of the platform and proj ecting at least substantially vertically into the chamber and / or limiting it on one side , wherein the rail guide plate forms a support for a back portion of the lowermost guide rail . This simple and cost ef fective design allows the usage of the rail guide as a rest for the lowermost guide rail , as well as limit of the chamber .

[0034] It is also preferred that the rail guide plate has slotted holes via which a lower end of a guide rail , itsel f carrying corresponding through-holes , can be connected to the rail guide plate by means of through-screws in such a way that the guide rail can be vertically displaced within the limits of the slotted holes essentially without being able to deviate laterally . In this simple and cost-ef fective way, a possibility is created to safely guide the guide rail during its vertical displacement .

[0035] It is also preferred that the levelling device has a spacer plate which, inserted between the guide rail and the rail guide plate , also ensuring full-surface contact of the back of the guide rail with the rail guide plate , when the end of the guide rail is provided on its back with a cut-out for inserting a guide rail connecting plate . Typical guide rails often comprise small cutouts at their bottom and top ends that are essentially slight reductions of the thickness . These cutouts are needed to connect guide rails together via a guide rail connecting plate that is usually screwed to the back of the two guide rails to be connected . The rail connecting plate MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH therefore utili zes these cutouts so that the connected guide rails do have a smooth back wall nevertheless and the guide rail connecting plate does not substantially protrude the back surface of the guide rail . Because this cutout is also existing on the bottom part of the guide rail , it is preferred to close it via said spacer plate in order to also ensure that a full contact of the back wall of the guide rail with the rail guide plate can be made .

[0036] Moreover, it is preferred that the levelling device comprises at least four rail clamping screws by means of which an end of a guide rail which is not itsel f perforated can be connected to the rail guide plate in such a way that the guide rail can be displaced vertically essentially without being able to deviate laterally . In this simple and cost-ef fective way, a possibility is created to safely guide the guide rail during its vertical displacement .

[0037] It is also preferred that the rail guide plate has a window into which the adj usting screw or the at least one nut carried by it proj ects and / or which facilitates the actuation of this at least one nut by an open-end wrench .

[0038] Further possible configurations , functions and advantages result from the dependent claims and / or the following description of the preferred embodiment and / or with reference to the figures .

[0039] FIGURE LIST

[0040] Figure 1 shows an exploded three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of the levelling device with the bottom end of a guide rail . MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH

[0041] Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of the levelling device in a mounted state with the bottom end of a guide rail fixed to the rail guide with through screws .

[0042] Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of the levelling device with a wrench to indicate schematically how the vertical displacement of the adj usting screw is actuated .

[0043] Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the levelling device .

[0044] Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of the pressure plate .

[0045] Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of the platform with the rail guide mounted as intended on top of it .

[0046] Figure 7 shows analogous to Fig . 2 a three-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of the levelling device in a mounted state with the bottom end of a guide rail fixed to the rail guide with rail clamping screws .

[0047] Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional view of two levelling devices each with a guide rail attached to it and facing each other ; both mounted on top of a base plate .

[0048] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0049] Fig . 1 to Fig . 6 show the preferred embodiment of the levelling device 1 and its parts in di f ferent views . MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH

[0050] The levelling device 1 comprises a platform 3 and a rail guide 5, wherein the rail guide 5 is preferably mounted at least partly on top of the platform 3 (see Fig. 6) . The platform 3 holds an adjusting screw 4 that is acting on the lower end face of the elevator guide rail 2 via a pressure plate 9 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) . The adjusting screw 4 is held in position above the bottom of the shaft head, wherein the adjusting screw is preferably mounted as shown in Fig. 1 with the adjusting screw's head pointing towards the bottom.

[0051] The platform 3 is preferably designed as a bridge, preferably in omega-shape, with a bridge deck 3a which stands on at least two feet 3b, that keep it at a distance from the bottom of the shaft. The bridge deck 3a comprises a through hole for the adjusting screw and below the bridge deck a free space is created, where the adjusting screw's head and partly its shank can be accommodated. After sticking the adjusting screw 4 through the bridge deck's through hole, it is supported on the upper side of the bridge deck 3a by an adjusting nut 6 screwed onto it. IT is preferred that a washer is put between the adjusting nut 6 and the bridge deck 3a. It is preferred that on top of said adjusting nut 6 another nut, a locking nut 12, is screwed on the adjusting screw 4 as well (see Fig. 2) . This locking nut 12 is preferably screwed tightly onto the adjusting nut 6 in order to secure it and not to allow any unwanted movement of the adjusting nut 6. In order to turn the adjusting nut 6, the locking nut 12 has to be unscrewed first.

[0052] The underside of the bridge deck 3a forms a chamber 3c in which the head of the adjusting screw 4 can move up and down while being held in a rotationally fixed position for adjustment. This rotationally fixed position is essential for the usage of the adjusting nut 6 which is described later on. Fig. 4 shows said chamber 3c that is preferably formed by the MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH rail guide 5 and preferably the rail guide plate 5a of the rail guide 5 and a reinforcing rib 7 . The head of the adj usting screw 4 is held in between those two parts so that no substantial rotation of the screw 4 is possible .

[0053] The rail guide 5 preferably comprises a rail guide plate 5a that is preferably a bent sheet metal in a C shape . Raid rail guide plate 5a is preferably fixed to one side of the platform 3 and proj ecting vertically into the chamber 3c and also preferably limiting it on one side . The rail guide plate 5a forms a support for a back portion of the lowermost guide rail 2 as seen in Fig . 2 .

[0054] The rail guide plate 5a has slotted holes 5b ( see Fig . 1 ) via which a lower end of a guide rail 2 , itsel f carrying corresponding through-holes , can be connected to the rail guide plate 5a by means of through-screws 5c ( see Fig . 2 ) in such a way that the guide rail 2 can be vertically displaced within the limits of the slotted holes 5b .

[0055] In a second preferred embodiment , instead of the through screws 5c rail clamping screws 5d are used . This embodiment is shown in Fig . 7 . The rest of the levelling device and also its functions stay the same .

[0056] In order to ensure a full-surface contact of the back of the guide rail 2 with the rail guide plate 5a the levelling device 1 has a spacer plate 10 ( see Fig . 1 ) which is inserted between the guide rail 2 and the rail guide plate 5a in a cut-out that is used for inserting a guide rail connecting plate , which was already explained above .

[0057] The adj usting screw 4 acts on the lower end face of the elevator guide rail 2 via a - preferably essentially MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH triangular - pressure plate 9 ( see Fig . 2 ) . On the underside of the pressure plate 9 , there is a preferably round-shaped blind hole 9a that will house the tip of the adj usting screw 4 and serve as a template for the installer for the position of the part .

[0058] For simple production, this pressure plate 9 is preferably made of two pieces of plate ( see Fig . 5 ) : a plate of suf ficient thickness to withstand the loads and a thinner plate to form the blind hole 9 . This general shape can also be produced by other production methods such as casting or machining, instead of two plates .

[0059] Now the distance of the guide rail 2 from the bottom of the shaft - where the platform 3 is preferably placed, can be adj usted by actuating the adj usting screw 4 . The adj usting screw is preferably actuated by turning the adj usting nut 6 ( see Fig . 3 ) . Because the adj usting screw 4 cannot rotate , it is moved vertically in the chamber 3c . That also translates that vertical movement to the guide rail 2 that is laying on top of it via the pressure plate 9 and therefore the guide rail 2 can be moved vertically .

[0060] The rail guide plate 5 preferably also has a window 5e into which the adj usting screw 4 or the at least one nut 6 carried by it proj ects . This window 5e facilitates the actuation of this at least one nut 6 by an open-end wrench .

[0061] The platform 3 has at least two feet 3b with a through hole 3d for bolting to the bottom of the shaft ( see Fig . 2 ) . In order to achieve a system for a whole elevator, usually at least one pair of the levelling devices 1 is needed . This pair of levelling devices 2 stand in hori zontal distance to each other whole facing each other ( see Fig . 8 ) . In order to ensure that MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH there is no vertical or horizontal offset between the two levelling devices besides the distance to each other, it is preferred to use a base plate 13 to fix the two levelling devices 1 to.

[0062] MISCALLE ANOUS

[0063] As it is mentioned in the claims, it is also possible to have an embodiment that uses a nut that is welded to the underside of the bridge deck and an adjusting bolt instead of the preferred embodiment of the adjusting screw and the adjusting nut. Then, by rotating the adjusting bolt, the levelling device can be actuated.

[0064] In order to implement this design, there are preferably two options to make this design work:

[0065] 1. The head of said adjusting bolt is above the platform, but below the pressure plate and the bolt is rotated in that area between the platform und the pressure plate. In this case, the chamber does not have to be present.

[0066] 2. The head of said adjusting bolt is below the platform or below a part of the platform, just like the adjusting screw shown in the figures. In this case, there should be suitable windows under the platform to be able to turn said adjusting bolt with a tool like a wrench. Also in this case, the chamber does not have to be present. MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH

[0067] REFERENCE LIST

[0068] 1 Levelling device

[0069] 2 Elevator guide rail

[0070] 3 Platform

[0071] 3a Bridge deck

[0072] 3b Foot of the bridge

[0073] 3c Chamber

[0074] 3d Through hole

[0075] 4 Adj usting screw

[0076] 5 Rail guide

[0077] 5a Rail guide plate

[0078] 5b Slotted holes

[0079] 5c Through screw

[0080] 5d Rail clamping screw

[0081] 5e Window

[0082] 6 Adj usting nut

[0083] 7 Reinforcing ribs

[0084] 8 not assigned

[0085] 9 Pressure plate

[0086] 9a Blind hole

[0087] 10 Spacer plate

[0088] 11 Washer

[0089] 12 Locking nut

[0090] 13 Base plate

Claims

Page 15 of 18MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbHPATENT CLAIMS1. Levelling device (1) for adjusting the distance of an elevator guide rail (2) from the bottom of the shaft, characterized in that the levelling device (1) comprises a platform (3) which holds an adjusting screw (4) for acting on the lower end face of the elevator guide rail (2) in position above the bottom of the shaft, in such a way that the distance of the guide rail (2) from the bottom of the shaft can be adjusted by actuating the adjusting screw (4) and in that the levelling device (1) comprises a rail guide (5) which guides the lower end of the guide rail (2) movably in the vertical direction in such a way that it cannot deviate laterally from the adjusting screw (4) when adjusting its distance from the bottom of the shaft.

2. Levelling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform (3) is designed as a bridge, with a bridge deck (3a) which stands on at least two feet (3b) which keep it at a distance from the bottom of the shaft.

3. Levelling device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the bridge deck (3a) comprises a through hole for the adjusting screw.

4. Levelling device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting screw (4) is supported on the upper side of the bridge deck (3a) by an adjusting nut (6) screwed onto it or by a nut welded to the underside of the bridge deck ( 3a) .

5. Levelling device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the bridge deck (3a) forms a chamber (3c) on the underside in which the head of the adjustingPage 16 of 18MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH screw (4) can move up and down while being held in a rotationally fixed position for adjustment.

6. Levelling device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the chamber (3c) is formed by at least one reinforcing rib (7) and ideally the rail guide (5) to increase the load-bearing capacity of the bridge deck ( 3a) .

7. Levelling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform (3) is an omegashaped sheet metal bending part.

8. Levelling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform (3) has at least two feet (3b) with a through hole (3d) for bolting to the bottom of the shaft.

9. Levelling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting screw (4) acts on the lower end face of the elevator guide rail (2) via a - preferably essentially triangular - pressure plate (9) , the pressure plate (9) preferably being provided on one of its two large surfaces with a blind hole (9a) for receiving an end section of the adjusting screw (4) .

10. Levelling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail guide (5) is a rail guide plate (5a) fixed to one side of the platform (3) and projecting vertically into the chamber (3c) and / or limiting it on one side, wherein the rail guide plate (5a) forms a support for a back portion of the lowermost guide rail (2) .Page 17 of 18MISSELHORN | mw-patent.de | 05197EPWO for Wittur Holding GmbH11. Levelling device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the rail guide plate (5a) has slotted holes (5b) via which a lower end of a guide rail (2) , itself carrying corresponding through-holes, can be connected to the rail guide plate (5a) by means of through-screws (5c) in such a way that the guide rail (2) can be vertically displaced within the limits of the slotted holes (5b) .

12. Levelling device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the levelling device (1) has a spacer plate (10) which, inserted between the guide rail (2) and the rail guide plate (5a) , also ensuring full-surface contact of the back of the guide rail (2) with the rail guide plate (5a) , when the end of the guide rail (2) is provided on its back with a cut-out for inserting a guide rail connecting plate.

13. Levelling device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the levelling device (1) preferably comprises at least four rail clamping screws (5d) by means of which an end of a guide rail (2) which is not itself perforated can be connected to the rail guide plate (5a) in such a way that the guide rail (2) can be displaced vertically.

14. Levelling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 10 or following, characterized in that the rail guide plate (5) has a window (5e) into which the adjusting screw (4) or the at least one nut (6) carried by it projects and / or which facilitates the actuation of this at least one nut (6) by an open-end wrench.

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