Elevator load bearing termination assembly for carbon fiber belt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10562740-B2
Application number	US-201715705642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2017
Priority date	Sep 15, 2017
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system includes a termination housing, and two wedge assemblies located in the termination housing. The wedge assemblies are interactive with a suspension member end positioned between the two wedge assemblies to apply a clamping force to the suspension member end in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member end. Each wedge assembly includes a wedge and a biasing element operably connected to the wedge to bias a position of the wedge along a suspension member axis direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system comprising:
a termination housing; and
two wedge assemblies disposed in the termination housing, the wedge assemblies interactive with a suspension member end disposed between the two wedge assemblies to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member end, each wedge assembly including:
a wedge; and
a biasing element operably connected to the wedge to bias a position of the wedge along a suspension member axis direction;
wherein the biasing element is a spring operably connected to the wedge and to the termination housing; and
wherein the spring extends between a retaining rod installed in the termination housing and the wedge.

2. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the termination housing includes a housing inner surface tapering inwardly toward the suspension member with increasing distance from the suspension member end.

3. The termination device of claim 2 , wherein the wedge includes:
a wedge outer surface abutting the housing inner surface and having a taper complimentary to the housing inner surface; and
a wedge inner surface configured to abut the suspension member end.

4. The termination device of claim 2 , wherein the termination housing comprises:
two opposing face plates; and
two opposing side plates affixed to the face plates, each side plate defining the housing inner surface.

5. The termination device of claim 4 , further comprising:
one or more plate tabs disposed in each side plate; and
one or more plate openings disposed in each face plate, the one or more plate tabs insertable into the one or more plate openings to form the termination housing.

6. The termination device of claim 5 , wherein the two face plates are secured to the two side plates via welding.

7. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the retaining rod extends through a face plate of the termination housing.

8. An elevator system comprising:
a hoistway;
an elevator car disposed in the hoistway;
a suspension member operably connected to the elevator car to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway; and
a termination device disposed in the hoistway and operably connected to a suspension member end of the suspension member, the termination device including:
a termination housing; and
two wedge assemblies disposed in the termination housing, the wedge assemblies interactive with a suspension member end disposed between the two wedge assemblies to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member end, each wedge assembly including:
a wedge; and
a biasing element operably connected to the wedge to bias a position of the wedge along a suspension member axis direction;
wherein the biasing element is a spring operably connected to the wedge and to the termination housing; and
wherein the spring extends between a retaining rod installed in the termination housing and the wedge.

9. The elevator system of claim 8 , wherein the termination housing includes a housing inner surface tapering inwardly toward the suspension member with increasing distance from the suspension member end.

10. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the wedge includes:
a wedge outer surface abutting the housing inner surface and having a taper complimentary to the housing inner surface; and
a wedge inner surface configured to abut the suspension member end.

11. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the termination housing comprises:
two opposing face plates; and
two opposing side plates affixed to the face plates, each side plate defining the housing inner surface.

12. The elevator system of claim 11 , further comprising:
one or more plate tabs disposed in each side plate; and
one or more plate openings disposed in each face plate, the one or more plate tabs insertable into the one or more plate openings to form the termination housing.

13. The elevator system on claim 12 , wherein the two face plates are secured to the two side plates via welding.

14. The elevator system on claim 8 , wherein the retaining rod extends through a face plate of the housing.

15. The elevator system of claim 8 , wherein the suspension member includes:
a plurality of tension elements extending along a length of the suspension member, each tension element including a plurality of fibers extending along the length of the suspension member bonded into a polymer matrix; and
a jacket substantially retaining the plurality of tension members.

16. The elevator system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from one or more of carbon, glass, polyester, nylon, or aramid material.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Zaidi Salman

Classifications

• B66B7/085 Primary

  Belt termination devices · CPC title

• B66B9/00

  Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures (characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12) · CPC title

• B66B7/08 Primary

  for connection to the cars or cages, e.g. couplings · CPC title

• F16G11/04

  with wedging action, e.g. friction clamps (F16G11/02, {F16G11/10} take precedence; {eyes for grommet-thimble type fastenings F16G11/146}) · CPC title

• B66B7/062

  Belts · CPC title