DESCRIPTION
ELEVATOR APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus where an elevator cage and a counterweight move along a guide rail in an elevator path.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, as a method for improving a traction ability, an elevator apparatus is proposed where a wrap angle of a rope with respect to a drive sheave of a winch is made not less than 180°.
[0003] For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. S61-282285 (FIG. 1 and the like) is described an elevator apparatus where a rope is wound by a wrap angle not less than 360° with respect to a drive sheave of a winch.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0004] However, in accordance with the elevator apparatus described in the patent document, a size of an elevator instrument including a winch is not considered at all. In fact, the rope is directly fixed on an elevator cage and counterweight of the patent document, and the cage and the counterweight are hung by 1:1 roping. Accordingly, a large torque is needed in the winch, and consequently, its whole configuration needs to be large! therefore, it is not easy to achieve space-saving of an elevator path of the elevator apparatus.
[0005] A purpose of the present invention is to make a configuration of an instrument such as a winch small and to provide an elevator apparatus which

achieves the space-saving of an elevator path.
[0006] In the invention, in order to achieve the purpose, an elevator apparatus
where an elevator cage and a counterweight hung in an elevator path by a rope are
driven by a winch comprises a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the
elevator cage; a rope stopper provided at the elevator cage; a hanging wheel
provided on an upper portion of the counterweight; and a rope stopper provided at
the upper portion of the counterweight, wherein the rope is configured to be wound
on a drive sheave of the winch by a wrap angle not less than 360°.
[0007] According to the invention, it is possible to make a configuration of an
instrument such as a winch small and to provide an elevator apparatus which
achieves the space-saving of an elevator path.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a way of hanging a rope in an elevator apparatus showing a first example of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan section view of an elevator path of the elevator apparatus showing the first example of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a way of hanging the rope in an elevator apparatus showing a second example of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan section view of an elevator path of the elevator apparatus showing the second example of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a way of hanging the rope in an elevator apparatus showing a third example of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a plan section view of an elevator path of the elevator apparatus showing the third example of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a way of hanging the rope in an elevator

apparatus showing a fourth example of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan section view of an elevator path of the elevator apparatus showing the fourth example of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a way of winding the rope around a drive sheave in the elevator apparatus showing the first example of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a way of winding the rope around a drive sheave in the elevator apparatus showing the second example of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a way of winding the rope around a drive sheave in the elevator apparatus showing the third example of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF ALPHANUMERALS
[0009] 1 Elevator cage 2 Counterweight
3, 15 Rope Stopper
4, 8, 8a, 13 Hanging wheel 5 Rope
6, 7 Elevator-Cage-Side Return Wheel
9 First Drive-Sheave-Side Return Wheel
10 Drive Sheave
11 Winch
12 Second Drive-Sheave-Side Return Wheel
14 Counterweight-Side Return Wheel
16a, 16b Elevator-Cage Guide Rail 17a, 17b Counterweight Guide Rail
18 Drive-Sheave-Side Return Wheel
BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [0010] Next will be described a best mode for carrying out the present invention, based on drawings.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a way of hanging a rope 5 of an elevator apparatus showing a first example of the present invention,' FIG. 2 is a plan section view of an elevator path of the elevator apparatus showing the example. In accordance with the elevator apparatus of the example, an elevator cage 1 is configured to move up and down along elevator-cage guide rails 16a, 16b in the elevator path; a counterweight 2 is configured to move up and down along counterweight guide rails 17a, 17b in the elevator path. Furthermore, the elevator cage 1 and the counterweight 2 are hung by the rope 5 and driven by a winch 11. Here, the winch 11 is used whose length in an axial direction thereof, that is, a barrel length is larger than a diameter of a drive sheave 10.
[0012] Moreover, on an upper portion of the elevator cage 1 is provided a hanging wheel 8; at a lower portion of the cage 1 is provided a rope stopper 3; and on a side of the lower portion is provided a hanging wheel 4. On one hand, on and at an upper portion of the counterweight 2 are provided a hanging wheel 13 and a rope stopper 15, respectively.
[0013] Then at an upper portion of the elevator path are installed a first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, a second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12, and the drive sheave 10 of the winch 11. Furthermore, these first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12, and drive sheave 10 are positioned at an approximately same height, and as shown in FIG. 2, perpendicular projections thereof are approximately parallel with each other. Moreover, at the
upper portion of the elevator path are installed two elevator-cage-side return wheels 6, 7 and a counterweight-side return wheel 14. Here, in the elevator-cage-side return wheels 6, 7, the counterweight-side return wheel 14, and the hanging wheels 8, 13, perpendicular projections thereof are approximately parallel with each other and approximately vertical with respect to the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12, and the drive sheave 10. [0014] Furthermore, the winch 11 is approximately parallel in an axis thereof with respect to opening and closing directions of a gate door, and is disposed so as to be positioned within a perpendicular projection of the elevator cage 1. Then the counterweight 2 is disposed at back of the elevator cage 1. Here, the back of the elevator cage 1 means a rear space in relation to the cage 1, seen from a gate side. [0015] Next will be described a way of hanging the rope 5 in the elevator apparatus of the example with reference to FIG. 1. Basically, the elevator apparatus of the example adopts a 3^1 roping system, wherein the apparatus uses the rope stoppers 3, 15 and the hanging wheels 8, 13, and hangs the elevator cage 1 and the counterweight 2. Specifically, the roping system is as shown in FIG. 1, and firstly, one end of the rope 5 is fixed on the rope stopper 3 at the lower portion of the elevator cage 1, the rope 5 extends approximately in a horizontal direction from the stopper 3, and is turned upward through the hanging wheel 4. Then the rope 5 extends upward, extends approximately horizontally from the elevator-cage-side return wheel 6 to the other elevator-cage-side return wheel 7, and is turned downward by the wheel 7. Moreover, the rope 5 is turned upward through the hanging wheel 8 on the upper portion of the elevator cage 1, is wound over the drive sheave 10 through the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, and is wound by approximately 360° around the sheave 10. Next, after the rope 5 is turned downward through the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12, the rope 5 is
turned upward through the hanging wheel 13 on the upper portion of the counterweight 2. Then the rope 5 is turned downward by the counterweight-side return wheel 14, extends to the rope stopper 15 at the upper portion of the counterweight 2, and the other end of the rope 5 is fixed on the stopper 15. [0016] Here, a way of winding the rope 5 around the drive sheave 10 of the example is as shown in FIG. 9; even when three ropes 5 are wound helically by approximately 360° with respect to a drive sheave face 10a, the ropes 5 are not contacted with each other because a winding start position and end position thereof are displaced in an axial direction of the sheave 10. Furthermore, the ropes 5 are wound over the drive sheave 10 through the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, is wound by approximately 360° on the periphery of the sheave 10, and then, is turned downward through the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12. In other words, a winding direction of the ropes 5 toward the drive sheave 10, the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, and the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12 is a same direction; that is, the winding way of the ropes 5 is a forward winding. [0017] According to the example thus described, because the wrap angle of the ropes 5 is approximately 360° with respect to the drive sheave 10, it is possible to sufficiently ensure a traction and to make the diameter of the sheave 10 small; as a result thereof, a torque of the winch 1 lmay be small. Furthermore, because of the 3:1 roping, a suspending load is dispersed into three, and as a result thereof, the torque of the winch llmay be small. Thus, according to the example, because the torque of the winch llmay be small, it is possible to downsize the winch 11 itself and to expect a space-saving of the elevator path.
[0018] Furthermore, because the wrap angle of the ropes 5 is approximately 360° with respect to the drive sheave 10, it is not necessary to heighten the position of the sheave 10 and to provide another return wheel in the vicinity of the lower portion of
the sheave 10, in order to obtain a sufficient traction. Here, no need for heightening the position of the drive sheave 10 suppresses the height of the elevator path low and contributes to the space-saving of the elevator path. Then no need for installing an excess pulley also contributes to the space-saving of the elevator path. [0019] Moreover, no need for providing the excess pulley leads to a suppression of bent times of the ropes 5, and as a result thereof, also has an effect of making the life of the ropes 5 long. Furthermore, because the winding way of the ropes 5 toward the drive sheave 10, the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, and the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12 is the forward winding, it is possible to keep the life of the ropes 5 long even if the diameter of the sheave 10 is made small. [0020] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a way of hanging the rope 5 of an elevator apparatus showing a second example of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a plan section view of an elevator path in the elevator apparatus of the example. The elevator apparatus of the example is different from the first example; in the apparatus a pair of hanging wheels 8, 8a is provided on sides of a floor of the elevator cage 1, and the rope stoppers 3, 15 are provided at places that are at an upper portion of the elevator path and where there is no trouble in traveling of the elevator cage 1 and the counterweight 2. That is, according to the present example, 2:1 roping is adopted; because the torque of the winch 11 may be small in comparison with that of 1:1 roping, the downsizing of the winch 11 can be expected, and as a resulting thereof, the space-saving of the elevator path can be expected. [0021] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the present example is different from the first example; in the present example the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9, the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12, and the drive sheave 10 are slant with respect to opening and closing directions of the gate door. However, in accordance with such a configuration, even in the 2:1 roping, it is possible to dispose the winch
11 within the perpendicular projection of the elevator cage 1 and to dispose the counterweight 2 at back of the cage 1.
[0022] Moreover, according to the present example, because the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9 and the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12 are approximately linearly disposed and the drive sheave 10 and the winch 11 are disposed therebetween, a suspending load does not almost act on the drive sheave 10, and there is no need for work of adjusting the wrap angle between the rope 5 and the sheave 10 by moving the position of the sheave 10 upward, similarly to the first example. Accordingly, the effect of space-saving of the elevator path, in other words, the effect capable of disposing the winch 11 can be expected even in the elevator path of a restricted layout.
[0023] Furthermore, a shape of the drive sheave face 10a of the present example is as shown in FIG. 10! a radius of the drive sheave 10 is small at an end and large at center in an axial direction of the sheave 10. Moreover, the drive sheave face 10a is formed of a curve, and is specifically like an approximate rotation ellipse or an approximate rotation arc. By using the drive sheave 10 thus described, the ropes 5 tend to slide toward a side opposite to the winch 11 on a side of the ropes 5 entering in the drive sheave face 10a.' whereas, the ropes 5 tend to slide toward a winch 11 side on a side of the ropes 5 exiting from the face 10a. Accordingly, the ropes 5 are difficult to be contacted with each other, and an effect of preventing abnormal wear of the ropes 5 can be expected.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a way of hanging the rope 5 in an elevator apparatus showing a third example of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a plan section view of an elevator path in the elevator apparatus of the example. The elevator apparatus of the example also basically adopts the 3:1 roping similarly to the first example, and a way of winding the rope 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 5.
[0025] Firstly, one end of the rope 5 is fixed on the rope stopper 3 at the lower portion of the elevator cage 1, the rope 5 extends approximately in a horizontal direction from the stopper 3, and is turned upward through the hanging wheel 4. Then the rope 5 extends upward, extends approximately in a horizontal direction from the elevator-cage-side return wheel 6 to the other elevator-cage-side return wheel 7, and is turned downward by the wheel 7. Moreover, the rope 5 is turned upward through the hanging wheel 8 on the upper portion of the elevator cage 1, is wound over the drive sheave 10 through a drive-sheave-side return wheel 18, is wound by approximately 450° around the sheave 10, and is turned downward. Next, the rope 5 is turned upward through the hanging wheel 13 on the upper portion of the counterweight 2. Then the rope 5 is turned downward by the counterweight-side return wheel 14, extends to the rope stopper 15 at the upper portion of the counterweight 2, and the other end of the rope 5 is fixed on the stopper 15. [0026] Thus the drive-sheave-side return wheel 18 is positioned between the hanging wheel 8 of the elevator cage 1 and the drive sheave 10, and the sheave 10 combinedly has a function of the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12 in the first example. Accordingly, the space-saving of an overhead can be expected according to the reduction of a number of the return wheels, and when the drive sheave 10 cannot be physically disposed between the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9 and the second drive-sheave-side return wheel 12, the present example is especially effective. Furthermore, different from the first example, because in the present example the wrap angle of the rope 5 is approximately 450° with respect to the drive sheave 10, it is possible to obtain a more sufficient traction. In addition, the winch 11 is disposed so as to overlap on both of the elevator cage 1 and the counterweight 2 in the perpendicular projection of the winch 11. [0027] Furthermore, a radius of the drive sheave 10 according to the present
example is small on a side near a main body of the winch 11 and large on a side opposite to the main body, and specifically, the sheave 10 has the drive sheave face 10a of an approximate frustum shape as shown in FIG. 11. Therefore, when a face pressure with respect to the drive sheave face 10a of the ropes 5 is assumed approximately constant, a rope 5 nearer to a side of the main body of the winch 11 tends to slide more; therefore, the ropes 5 are difficult be contacted with each other, and the effect of preventing abnormal wear thereof can be expected. [0028] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a way of hanging the rope 5 of an elevator apparatus showing a fourth example of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a plan section view of an elevator path in the elevator apparatus of the example. In accordance with the elevator apparatus of the example, although the 2^1 roping is adopted similarly to the second example, the counterweight 2 is disposed at a left side portion in relation to the elevator cage 1, different from any of the first to third examples. Here, the left side portion of the elevator cage 1 means a left space in relation to the cage 1, seen from the gate of the elevator. Furthermore, the drive sheave 10 combinedly has a function of the first drive-sheave-side return wheel 9 in the first example, and there is an advantage of selecting a position, where repair and maintenance are easy, and disposing the winch 11.
[0029] Furthermore, a surface of the drive sheave face 10a is treated with any one of a shot blast treatment, a knurl treatment, and a plating treatment such as nickel plating and chrome plating, in the present example. Naturally, after any one of the shot blast treatment and the knurl treatment is treated, the plating treatment may further treated on the surface of the drive sheave face 10a.
[0030] According to the first to fourth examples thus described, although the drive sheave 10 is shown whose wrap angle is approximately 360° and more than 360°, for example, approximately 450° further wound by 90° from 360°, if the wrap angle
is at least not less than approximately 360°, it is possible to obtain a sufficient traction even if the radius of the sheave 10 is made small. When the traction is further needed, the rope 5 may be used whose surface is covered with a resin. [0031] Furthermore, any of the first to fourth examples is a method of hanging the elevator cage 1 by a hanging wheel located on the upper or lower portion of the cage 1. Accordingly, there is a less restriction on the overhead in comparison with a conventional method of fixing a rope end on an elevator cage through a thimble rod in a perpendicular direction as a rope stopper and hanging the cage by the 1:1 roping. In addition, according to the first and third examples, although the rope stopper 3 is provided at the lower portion of the elevator cage 1, it is possible to suppress size increase in the height direction of the elevator path because the stopper 3 is disposed in a horizontal direction.

CLAIMS
[l] An elevator apparatus where an elevator cage and a counterweight hung in
an elevator path by a rope are driven by a winch, the apparatus comprising: a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the elevator cage; a rope stopper provided at the elevator cage;
a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the counterweight; and a rope stopper provided at the upper portion of the counterweight, wherein the rope is configured to be wound by a wrap angle not less than 360° with respect to a drive sheave of the winch.
[2] An elevator apparatus where an elevator cage and a counterweight hung in
an elevator path by a rope are driven by a winch, the apparatus comprising:
a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the elevator cage!
a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the counterweight; and
a rope whose one end is fixed on a rope stopper of the elevator cage, the
rope extending upward from the rope stopper, being turned downward through an
elevator-cage-side return wheel, being turned upward through the hanging wheel of
the elevator cage, being wound over a drive sheave of the winch through a
drive-sheave-side return wheel, being wound by not less than 360° around the drive
sheave, being turned upward through the hanging wheel of the counterweight, and
being turned downward through a counterweight-side return wheel, wherein the
other end of the rope is configured to be fixed on a rope stopper of the counterweight.
[3] An elevator apparatus where an elevator cage and a counterweight hung in
an elevator path by a rope are driven by a winch, the apparatus comprising: a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the elevator cage; a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the counterweight; and a rope whose one end is fixed on a rope stopper of the elevator cage, the
rope extending upward from the rope stopper, being turned downward through a elevator-cage-side return wheel, being turned upward through the hanging wheel of the elevator cage, being wound over a drive sheave of the winch through a first drive-sheave-side return wheel, being wound by approximately 360° around the drive sheave, being turned downward through a second drive-sheave-side return wheel, and being turned upward through the hanging wheel of the counterweight, and being turned downward through a counterweight-side return wheel, wherein the other end of the rope is configured to be fixed on a rope stopper of the counterweight,
wherein a length of the winch in an axial direction is configured to be larger than a diameter of the drive sheave.
[4] The elevator apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first
drive-sheave-side return wheel, the second drive-sheave-side return wheel, and the
drive sheave are positioned at an approximately same height, and perpendicular
projections thereof are approximately parallel with each other.
[5] An elevator apparatus where an elevator cage and a counterweight hung in
an elevator path by a rope are driven by a winch, the apparatus comprising:
a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the elevator cage;
a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the counterweight; and
a rope whose one end is fixed on a rope stopper of the elevator cage, the rope extending upward from the rope stopper, being turned downward through an elevator-cage-side return wheel, being turned upward through the hanging wheel of the elevator cage, being turned downward through a drive-sheave-side return wheel and a drive sheave, being turned upward through the hanging wheel of the counterweight, and being turned downward through a counterweight-side return wheel, wherein the other end of the rope is configured to be fixed on a rope stopper
of the counterweight,
wherein a winding direction toward the drive-sheave-side return wheel and a winding direction toward the drive sheave are configured to be a same direction,
wherein a wrap angle of the rope is configured to be approximately 450° with respect to the drive sheave, and
wherein a length of the winch in an axial direction is configured to be larger than a diameter of the drive sheave.
[6] The elevator apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the drive-sheave-side
return wheel and the drive sheave are positioned at an approximately same height,
and perpendicular projections thereof are approximately parallel with each other.
[7] The elevator apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the
drive-sheave-side return wheel is positioned between the hanging wheel of the elevator cage and the drive sheave.
[8] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 3, and 5, wherein
the elevatorcage-side return wheel has two return wheels.
[9] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 5,
wherein the rope stopper of the elevator cage is installed at the lower portion of the elevator cage, and wherein the rope whose one end is fixed on the rope stopper extends approximately in a horizontal direction and is turned upward through a hanging wheel provided on a side of the lower portion of the elevator cage. [10] An elevator apparatus where an elevator cage and a counterweight hung in an elevator path by a rope are driven by a winch, the apparatus comprising:
a pair of hanging wheels provided on a lower portion of the elevator cage.' and
a hanging wheel provided on an upper portion of the counterweight,
wherein the rope is configured to be wound by a wrap angle not less than
360° with respect to a drive sheave of the winch.
[11] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10,
wherein the rope is covered with a resin in a surface thereof.
[12] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10,
wherein a.radius of the drive sheave is small at an end in an axial direction and
large at center in the axial direction
[13] The elevator apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a sheave face of the
drive sheave is like any one of an approximate rotation ellipse and an approximate
rotation arc.
[14] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10,
wherein a radius of the drive sheave is small on a side near a main body of the
winch and large on a side opposite to the main body.
[15] The elevator apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a sheave face of the
drive sheave is an approximate frustum shape.
[16] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10,
wherein a sheave face of the drive sheave is treated with any one of a shot blast
treatment and a knurl treatment.
[17] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10,
wherein a sheave face of the drive sheave is treated with a plating treatment such
as nickel plating and chrome plating.
[18] The elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10,
wherein after a sheave face of the drive sheave is treated with any one of a shot
blast treatment and a knurl treatment, the sheave face is treated with a plating
treatment such as nickel plating and chrome plating