SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT AND GUIDE SHOE ARRANGEMENT FOR AN
ELEVATOR
The object of the invention is a suspension arrangement and
guide shoe arrangement for an elevator as defined in the
preamble of claim .
In the suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement
according to the invention the hoisting machine of the
elevator is in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway and
the suspension and traction of the elevator car are separated
from each other. In this case the suspension members of the
elevator car, .such as the suspension ropes or suspension
belts, and the traction members of the elevator car are
separate from each other. This type of solution is well
suited to buildings of different heights and even to
elevators intended for extremely tall buildings, in which one
problem is that when the location of the hoisting machine of
the elevator is above, installation of the hoisting machine
and peripheral structures of the elevator is awkward,
expensive and even dangerous. The arrangement according to
the invention is also suited to new elevators in low-rise
buildings that previously had no elevator. In addition, the
solution according to the invention is well suited to the
modernization of old elevators.
Elevator solutions wherein the hoisting machine of the
elevator is disposed on the base of the elevator hoistway, or
close to the bottom part of the elevator hoistway, are known
in the art. When the hoisting machine is disposed thus, the
suspension ropes of the elevator cannot generally function
simultaneously as the means intended for moving the elevator
car, but instead separate traction ropes, traction belts or
some other traction members are needed for moving the
elevator car. One such prior-art solution is presented in
international patent publication no. WO03/043927 A2, in
which, inter alia, Figs. 8 and 9 present suspension solutions
wherein the hoisting machine of an elevator is disposed in
the bottom part of the hoistway and the suspension ropes and
traction ropes of the elevator car are different ropes. The
elevator car and the counterweight are supported by the aid
of a diverting pulley above, over which the suspension ropes
fixed to the elevator car and to the counterweight pass
around. Correspondingly, the moving of the elevator car is
implemented with a separate toothed belt, which passes around
the traction sheave of a hoisting machine below and is fixed
from below between the elevator car and the counterweight. A
problem in this solution is at least that the suspension of
the elevator car is not in balance in relation to the center
point of the elevator car. In this case additional stresses
are exerted on the guide rails, support members and other
hoistway structures, owing to which they must e.g. be
dimensioned to be unnecessarily large. Additional stresses
are produced e.g. when the load of the elevator car is not
evenly distributed inside the elevator car. Another problem
is that the solution is difficult to alter in relation to the
layout, because one large counterweight takes so much
hoistway space that flexible layouts cannot easily be used.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the
aforementioned drawbacks and to achieve an inexpensive and
easy-to-implement suspension arrangement and guide shoe
arrangement, which combines the advantages of a hoisting
machine disposed in the bottom part of the elevator hoistway
and of flexible layout design, and which enables a type of
new layout for an elevator with traction from below, by the
aid of which layout the balance, product izability and space
efficiency of the elevator can be improved. Another aim is to
achieve a suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of
an elevator, which owing to its better balancing enables
lighter and cheaper hoistway structures that have a longer
life. The arrangement according to the invention is
characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization
part of claim 1 . Other embodiments of the invention are
characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims.
Some inventive embodiments are also discussed in the
descriptive section of the present application. The inventive
content of the application can also be defined differently
than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may
also consist of several separate inventions, especially if
the invention is considered in the light of expressions or
implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or
categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the
attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous
from the point of view of separate inventive concepts.
Likewise the different details presented in connection with
each embodiment can also be applied in other embodiments. In
addition it can be stated that at least some of the
subordinate claims can, in at least some situations, be
deemed to be inventive in their own right.
One advantage, among others, of the solution according to the
invention is that by means of it symmetrical suspension,
traction and also guidance of the vertical movement of the
elevator car and compensating weights are made possible in an
elevator in which the suspension ropes are separated from the
traction members. In this case it is easy to keep the
elevator car in balance all the time, in which case
additional stresses are not exerted on the hoistway
structures. The invention enables the use of two or more
compensating weights, which can be smaller in size than one
large counterweight or compensating weight. An advantage of
small compensating weights is also that the solution
according to the invention is space-efficient in both the
width direction and the depth direction of the elevator
hoistway. Yet another advantage is that by means of the
arrangement according to the invention the rope arrangements
and layouts of elevators can be diversified, which enables
easier layout design. Another advantage is that owing to the
smaller stresses the hoistway structures can be lighter and
cheaper than in prior-art solutions. Another advantage is
also that disposal of the traction members on both sides of
the motor shaft of the hoisting machine balances the forces
on the shaft better than in prior-art solutions. Another
advantage is that all the diverting pulleys in the bottom
part of the elevator hoistway can be disposed on almost the
same plane in the vertical direction, in which case the
machine structure is very shallow.
Another advantage is also the modularized machine structure.
In this case from the viewpoint of production, three modules
can be created, of which the motor module is always placed in
the center of the hoistway, and extension modules provided
with diverting pulleys are suitably disposed on both sides of
it according to the size of the hoistway, and the extension
modules are fixed into their position e.g. on the bottom ends
of the guide rails. Another advantage is that when the
traction is on the width center line of the hoistway, the
bottom safety space can be made to fit in front of the motor
module opposite the motor in the depth direction of the
hoistway. One advantage is also that the guide rail forces
are divided between four guide rails, instead of two, in
which case smaller and cheaper guide rails can be used. Yet
another advantage is that the whole solution is, owing to its
symmetry, easily convertible to suit different hoistway
sizes, in which case finding solutions viable for production
is easier.
One inventive aspect in connection with the invention is
guiding the elevator car and the compensating weight - or
counterweight - on shared guide rails. In other words, the
tracks of the elevator car and compensating
weight /counterweight are determined with guide rails, at
least one guide rail, preferably more, of which is common to
both the elevator car and to the compensating
weight /counterweight . In this way material savings and
savings in installation work are achieved.
One advantageous manifestation of the invention is that the
counterweight and/or elevator car is fixed to a traction
member and/or to a suspension member at two fixing points
that are between the guide shoes corresponding to the guide
rails. The symmetrical placement of a fixing point between
the guide rails results in smaller guide shoe forces.
In the following, the invention will be described in detail
by the aid of one example of its embodiments with reference
to the simplified and diagrammatic drawings attached, wherein
presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view
of one elevator arrangement according to the
invention,
presents a simplified and
diagrammatic top view of an elevator arrangement
according to Fig. 1 ,
presents a top view of the top part of the
elevator hoistway in an elevator arrangement
according to Fig. 1 ,
presents an oblique side view of a
suspension solution of a compensating weight in an
elevator arrangement according to Fig. 1 ,
presents a top view of the bottom part of the
elevator hoistway in an elevator arrangement
according to Fig. 1 , and
presents a simplified, magnified and
diagrammatic top view of the guide rail structures
and guide shoe structures of an elevator
arrangement according to Fig. 1 .
To enable the arrangement according to the invention, the
elevator arrangement comprises at least an elevator car 1
configured to move up and down in an elevator hoistway and at
-least one or more compensating weights 3a, 3b, which are for
their part connected to support the elevator car by the aid
of suspension members 4a, 4b, such as belts or ropes, and
also by the aid of e.g. diverting pulleys 5a, 5b mounted on
bearings in the top part of the elevator hoistway. In
addition, the arrangement according to the invention
comprises a hoisting machine 9 , provided with at least one
traction sheave 8 or corresponding and disposed in the bottom
part of the elevator hoistway, and at least two or more
traction members 14a, 14b, such as ropes or belts, that are
fully separate from the suspension members 4a, 4b, which
traction members are configured to transmit the rotational
movement of the traction sheave 8 into linear movement of the
elevator car 1 and of the compensating weights 3a, 3b.
Characteristic to the solution according to the invention,
and common to all the different embodiments of the invention,
is that each compensating weight 3a, 3b, or in some cases
more than two compensating weights, is connected, by the aid
of its own traction member 14a, 14b provided with e.g.
essentially spring tensioning or constant-force tensioning,
to most preferably one and the same hoisting -machine 9 .
Fig. 1 presents a simplified and diagrammatic side view of
one elevator arrangement applicable to the solution according
to the invention. The elevator arrangement according to Fig.
1 comprises two compensating weights 3a and 3b functioning as
counterweights and disposed symmetrically on different sides
of the elevator car 1 , both of which compensating weights are
connected by means of suspension members 4a and 4b to a car
sling 2 fitted around the elevator car 1 . One suspension
member 4a, 4b can be e.g. just an individual rope, belt or
chain, or it can be composed of a number of parallel members,
e.g. hoisting ropes. The suspension members 4a, 4b are e.g.
steel wire ropes or belts and they are fixed at their first
ends to the top part of the compensating weights 3a and 3b,
from where they are led upwards to pass around the top of the
diverting pulleys 5a and 5b fitted in the top part of the
elevator hoistway, from where onwards down to the fixing
means 6a and 6b on the top part of the car sling 2 , to which
fixing means the suspension members 4a, 4b are fixed at their
second ends.
A motor module 7 is fitted in the bottom part of the elevator
hoistway, which motor module comprises at least a hoisting
machine 9 arranged to move the elevator car 1 and provided
with a traction sheave 8 , as well as two diverting pulleys
10a and 10b. The arrangement also comprises two extension
modules 11a and lib, which are fitted at the edges of the
elevator hoistway on opposite sides of the motor module 7 to
each other. Both extension modules comprise at least two
diverting pulleys, which are arranged to guide the traction
members 14a and 14b.
The first traction member 14a is fixed at its first end to
the bottom part of the first compensating weight 3a, from
where it is led down to pass around the bottom of the first
diverting pulley 12a of the first extension module 11a, from
where onwards under the first diverting pulley 10a of the
motor module 7 , after which over the traction sheave 8 . From
the traction sheave 8 the first traction member 14a is led to
pass around the bottom of the second diverting pulley 10b of
the motor module 7 , from where onwards under the second
diverting pulley 13b of the second extension module lib,
after passing around the bottom. of which diverting pulley 13b
the traction member 14a is led up to the car sling 2 , to the
bottom part of which the first traction member 14a is fixed
e.g. via a fixing means provided with e.g. spring tensioning
or constant-force tensioning.
The second traction member 14b is, for its part, fixed at its
first end to the bottom part of the second compensating
weight 3b, from where it .is led down to pass around the
bottom of the first diverting pulley 12b of the second
extension module lib, from where onwards over the second
diverting pulley 10b of the motor module 7 , after which under
the traction sheave 8 . From the traction sheave 8 the second
traction member 14b is led to pass around the top of the
first diverting pulley 13a of the, motor module 7 , from where
onwards under the second diverting pulley 13a of the first
extension module 11a, after passing around the bottom of
which diverting pulley 13a the traction member 14b is led up
to the car sling 2 , to the bottom part of which the second
traction member 14b is fixed e.g. via a fixing means provided
with e.g. spring tensioning or constant-force tensioning.
In the situation according to Fig. 1 , the traction sheave 8
rotates in the direction of the arrows drawn above and below
the traction sheave, in which case the elevator car 1 moves
downwards and the compensating weights 3a and 3b move
upwards .
Fig. 2 presents a simplified and diagrammatic top view of an
elevator arrangement according to Fig. 1 . The elevator car 1
is fitted inside the car sling 2 . Essentially vertical guide
rails 17 are fixed by the aid of clamps 16 to the side walls
of the elevator hoistway 15, guided by which guide rails the
elevator car 1 is arranged to travel up and own in the
hoistway 15. On both sides of the elevator car 1 are two
guide rails 17 that are essentially similar to each other and
are fitted symmetrically with respect to each other and to
the elevator car 1 . In this case the guide rails 17 are
disposed symmetrically as viewed from above in relation both
to the depth center line la of the elevator car running
through the center point of the elevator car 1 and to the
width center line lb of the elevator car running through the
center point of the elevator car 1 .
Compensating weights 3a, 3b are fitted between the guide
rails 17 on both sides of the elevator car 1 , at least one
compensating weight each side of the elevator car 1 , which
compensating weights 3a, 3b are configured to travel in the
hoistway 15 resting on the first outer surfaces, which are
opposite each other, of the guide rails 17. In Fig. 2 the
compensating weights 3a, 3b are, however, for the sake of
clarity presented as slightly detached from the
aforementioned outer surfaces, which are opposite to each
other, of the guide rails 17. Correspondingly the elevator
car 1 is configured to rest, by the aid of roller guide shoes
18 fixed to the car sling 2 , on the second outer surfaces of
the guide rails 17, which surfaces point away from each
other.
The suspension members 4a, 4b of the elevator car 1 are
arranged to be fixed at their first ends to the top parts of
the compensating weights 3a, 3b and at their second ends to
the fixing means 6a, 6b on the car sling 2 . The fixing points
of the suspension members 4a, 4b are marked in the figure
with the number 19. As is seen from Fig. 2 , the suspension
and the guidance of the vertical movement of the elevator car
1 is implemented symmetrically with respect to the center
lines la and lb, in which case no additional stresses or
strains are exerted e.g. on the guide rails 17 and other
hoistway structures.
Fig. 3 presents a simplified and diagrammatic top view of the
top part of the elevator hoistway 15. Diverting pulleys 5a
and 5b are fitted in the top part of the elevator hoistway 15
on opposite sides of the elevator car 1 in the lateral
direction. In this embodiment on the first side of the
elevator car 1 above the elevator car 1 and on the side of
the travel profile of the elevator car 1 are two first
diverting pulleys 5a symmetrically on different sides of the
depth center line la of the elevator car. Correspondingly, on
the second side of the elevator car 1 above the elevator car
1 and on the side of the travel profile of the elevator car 1
are two second diverting pulleys 5b symmetrically on
different sides of the depth center line la of the elevator
car 1 . In addition the diverting pulleys 5a and 5b are
disposed symmetrically to each other in relation to the width
center line lb of the elevator car 1 . The suspension members
4a, 4b of the elevator car 1 are led over the diverting
pulleys 5a, 5b from the compensating weights 3a, 3b to the
elevator car 1 , as is already described in the descriptive
part of Fig, 1 .
Fig. 4 presents an oblique view from the side and top of a
suspension arrangement of the compensating weights of the
elevator arrangement presented above. Fig. 4 presents only
the first compensating weight 3a, because the second
compensating weight 3b is suspended in the same way. In the
situation according to Fig. 1 , the elevator car 1 is in its
bottom position and the compensating weights 3a and 3b are in
their top position near the diverting pulleys 5a and 5b. The
first suspension members 4a, which are thus at least two
belts, ropes or two pluralities of parallel ropes, leaving
from the compensating weight 3a each pass around the top of
their own diverting pulley 5a and then descend to their
fixing points 19 on the elevator car 1 . The suspension
members 4b on the second side of the elevator car 1 are
suspended in a corresponding manner.
Fig. 5 presents a simplified and diagrammatic top view of the
bottom part of the elevator hoistway 15. For the sake of
clarity, in Fig. 5 the diverting pulleys in the bottom part
of the hoistway are not presented, and the traction members
14a and 14b are presented as cross-sections. The traction
members 14a and 14b are preferably e.g. toothed belts, which
are configured to travel a part of the distance parallel with
each other and symmetrically to each other on both sides of
the depth center line la of the elevator car 1 . In the
arrangement according to Fig. 5 the traction member 14a is
disposed on a first side of the depth center line la of the
elevator car 1 and the traction member 14b is disposed on a
second side of the depth center line la of the elevator car
1 . In addition, the horizontal distances of the traction
members 14a and 14b are symmetrically disposed from the width
center line lb of the elevator car 1 .
The toothed contact surface of the traction sheave 8 is so
wide that both the traction members 14a, 14b fit side-by-side
onto the contact surface of the traction sheave 8 without
interfering with each other. In this way one and the same
hoisting machine 9 and also one and the same traction sheave
8 give to both the traction members 14a, 14b a force
producing linear movement of the elevator car 1 and of the
compensating weights 3a, 3b.
Fig. 6 presents a simplified, magnified and diagrammatic top
view of the guide rail structures and guide shoe structures
of an elevator arrangement according to Fig. 1 , the structure
and operation of which have been described already in
conjunction with Fig. 2 . For the sake of clarity, in Fig. 6
the clamps 16 are presented slightly detached from the side
wall of the elevator hoistway 15, although in reality they
are attached to the side wall. The guide rail 17 of the
elevator car 1 is in its cross-section essentially a U-shaped
beam, which opens towards the elevator car 1 . In this case it
has been possible to fit the fixing means 6a, 6b of the
suspension members 4a, 4b on the car sling 2 , and the fixing
points 19 of the suspension members 4a, 4b in them, inside
the web of the guide rail 17, in which case it has been
possible to utilize the space in the width direction of the
elevator hoistway 15 better. The compensating weights 3a and
3b disposed between the guide rails 17 are configured to
travel in the hoistway 15 resting on the first outer
surfaces, which are opposite each other, of the web of the
guide rails 17. For the sake of clarity, the compensating
weight 3a is presented in Fig. 6 slightly detached from the
aforementioned outer surface of the guide rails 17.
Correspondingly the elevator car 1 is configured to rest, by
the aid of roller guide shoes 18 fixed to the car sling 2 , on
the second outer surfaces of the guide rails 17, which
surfaces point away from each other.
Flanges, turned outwards from the web of the guide rail at a
right angle with respect to the web of the guide rail 17, are
additionally on the guide rail 17 on the side of the elevator
car 1 , of which the flanges 17a that point towards each other
are configured as a fixing surface for an enclosure board 20,
with which the compensating weight 3a, 3b is enclosed in its
own enclosure. Good enclosing reduces the noise disturbance
when, inter alia, the elevator car 1 and the compensating
weights 3a, 3b meet each other in the elevator hoistway.
It is further characteristic to the arrangement according to
the invention that the positioning point of the diverting
pulleys 5a, 5b disposed in the top clearance of the elevator
hoistway 15 is configured such that the elevator car 1 can
rise past the diverting pulleys 5a, 5b in the top end of the
elevator hoistway 15 right to the top end of the elevator
hoistway 15. In this way the most space-efficient layout
solution possible is also achieved in the top end of the
elevator hoistway 15.
It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the
invention is not limited solely to the examples described
above, but that it may be varied within the scope of the
claims presented below. Thus, for example, the suspension
solutions can also be different to what is presented above.
It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that
the location of the hoisting machine can be elsewhere than
what is presented above. The hoisting machine can be on the
base of the elevator hoistway, or close to the base, but also
on some side of the elevator hoistway and also in the top
part of the elevator hoistway.
It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the
number of compensating weights can also be greater than two.
There can be e.g. three, four, six, eight, ten or even more
compensating weights disposed in a different manner.
CLAIMS
1 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator, which arrangement comprises at least an elevator car
(1) configured to move up and down in an elevator hoistway
(15) guided by guide rails (17) and at least two compensating
weights (3a, 3b) , which are for their part connected to
support the elevator car (1) by the aid of at least two
suspension members (4a, 4b) , such as ropes or belts, and also
by the aid of diverting pulleys (5a, 5b) , and a hoisting
machine (9) provided with at least one traction sheave (8) or
corresponding, as well as at least two traction members (14a,
14b) , such as belts, ropes or chains, separate from the
suspension members (4a, 4b) , which traction members are
configured to transmit the rotational movement of the traction
sheave (8) into movement of the elevator car (1) and of the
compensating weights (3a, 3b) , characterized in that there are
at least four guide rails (17) of the elevator car (1) and
they fitted into the elevator hoistway (15) symmetrically to
each other in relation to the elevator car (1) .
2 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide
rails (17) of the elevator car (1) are disposed symmetrically
in relation to the depth center line (la) and the width center
line (lb) of the elevator car (1) .
3 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that
there are two guide rails (17) of the elevator car (1) on both
sides of the elevator car (1) .
4 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that
the arrangement comprises two essentially similar compensating
weights (3a, 3b), one on each side of the elevator car (1) ,
and in that both compensating weights (3a, 3b) are suspended
in connection with the elevator car (1) with two separate
suspension members (4a, 4b) , which are disposed symmetrically
to each other on different sides of the depth center line (la)
of the elevator car (1) .
5 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the compensating weights (3a, 3b) are
disposed symmetrically to each other on different sides of the
depth center line (la) and of the width center line (b) of the
elevator car (1) .
6 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that in the top part of the elevator hoistway
(15) are two diverting pulleys (5a, 5b) for each compensating
weight (3a, 3b) , one for each suspension member (4a, 4b) of a
compensating weight (3a, 3b) .
7 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the traction members (14a, 14b) in the
bottom part of the elevator hoistway (15) are configured to
travel at least a part of the distance parallel with each
other and symmetrically to each other on different sides of
the depth center line (la) of the elevator car (1) .
8 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the horizontal distances of the
vertical parts of the traction members (14a, 14b) from the
width center line (lb) of the elevator car (1) are
symmetrically disposed to each other.
9 . Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the compensating weights (3a, 3b) are
disposed in an enclosure, two walls of which are comprised of
Lde rails (17) , which are on different sides to each other
the depth center line (la) of the elevator car (1) .
10. Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that at least one of the guide rails (17) is
common to the track both of the elevator car and of the
compensating weight /counterweight .
11. Suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an
elevator according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the fixing point (19) of a traction
member and/or of a suspension member to be fixed to the
counterweight and to the elevator car is disposed
symmetrically between the two guide rails (17) guiding said
counterweight or elevator car, at least on one of these,
either the counterweight or the elevator car.