Compact belt termination assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870557-B2
Application number	US-201715782657-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 12, 2017
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system includes a housing including a socket defined by two face plates and two side plates. At least one of the face plates and at least one of the side plates are integrally formed. A wedge is receivable within the socket with the suspension member. The wedge is configured to cooperate with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system comprising:
a housing including a socket defined by first and second face plates and first and second side plates, wherein the first side plate is longer than the second side plate, wherein the first and second face plates are arranged opposite one another and the first and second sides plates extend between the first and second face plates, the first and second side plates being arranged opposite one another,
wherein the first and second face plates and the first side plates are formed from a single piece on a first side of the housing, and the second side plate is coupled to the first and second face plates on a second side of the housing that opposes the first side of the housing so that the first and second face plates and the first side plate therebetween form a U-shaped configuration; and
a wedge receivable within the socket with the suspension member, wherein the wedge is configured to cooperate with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member,
wherein:
the second side plate forms a flat plate without defined openings and with plate tabs extend outwardly in opposing directions from opposing side edges of the flat plate; and
each of the first and second face plates defines a plurality of plate openings at the second side of the housing, and the plurality of plate tabs are insertable into respective ones of the plurality of plate openings for securing the second side plate to the housing; and
a rod, configured to connect the termination device to a building structure, is connected the first and second face plates at the first side of the housing and aligned with the first side plate.

2. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially symmetrical about a plane extending between and generally parallel to the first and second face plates.

3. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the second side plate is coupled to the first and second face plates without a weld.

4. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second side plates defines a housing inner surface configured to engage the suspension member.

5. The termination device of claim 4 , wherein the housing inner surface includes one or more friction enhancing features.

6. The termination device of claim 4 , wherein the housing inner surface defined by at least one of the first and second side plates tapers inwardly toward the suspension member with increasing distance from the suspension member end.

7. An elevator system comprising:
a hoistway associated with a building structure;
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 an end of the suspension member, the termination device including:
a housing including a socket defined by first and second face plates and first and second side plates, wherein the first side plate is longer than the second side plate, wherein the first and second face plates are arranged opposite one another and the first and second sides plates extend between the first and second face plates, the first and second side plates being arranged opposite one another,
wherein the first and second face plates and the first side plates are formed from a single piece on a first side of the housing, and the second side plate is coupled to the first and second face plates on a second side of the housing that opposes the first side of the housing so that the first and second face plates and the first side plate therebetween form a U-shaped configuration; and
a wedge receivable within the socket with the suspension member, wherein the wedge is configured to cooperate with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member,
wherein:
the second side plate forms a flat plate without defined openings and with plate tabs extending outwardly in opposing directions from opposing side edges of the flat plate; and
each of the first and second face plates defines a plurality of plate openings at the second side of the housing, and the plurality of plate tabs are insertable into respective ones of the plurality of plate openings for securing the second side plate to the housing; and
a rod, configured to connect the termination device to a building structure, is connected the first and second face plates at the first side of the housing and aligned with the first side plate.

8. The elevator system of claim 7 , wherein the first side plate is arranged along a direction of load transfer from the elevator car to the building structure.

9. A method of manufacturing a termination device comprising:
contouring a piece of material associated with at least two sides of a housing;
bending the piece of material to form a first piece; and
coupling a second piece to the first piece to form the housing wherein:
the housing includes first and second face plates and first and second side plates, wherein the first side plate is longer than the second side plate, wherein the first and second face plates are arranged opposite one another and the first and second sides plates extend between the first and second face plates, the first and second side plates being arranged opposite one another,
the first and second face plates and the first side plates are formed from a single piece on a first side of the housing, and the second side plate is coupled to the first and second face plates on a second side of the housing that opposes the first side of the housing so that the first and second face plates and the first side plate therebetween form a U-shaped configuration;
the second side plate forms a flat plate without defined openings and with plate tabs extending outwardly in opposing directions from opposing side edges of the second flat plate;
each of the first and second face plates defines a plurality of plate openings at the second side of the housing, and the plurality of plate tabs are insertable into respective ones of the plurality of plate openings for securing the second side plates to the housing,
a rod, configured to connect the termination device to a building structure, is connected the first and second face plates at the first side of the housing and aligned with the first side plate, and
wherein bending the piece of material further comprises:
forming a first bend to define the first face plate integrally formed with the first side plate; and
bending the piece of material further comprises forming a second bend to define the second face plate integrally formed with the first side plate, the first face plate and the second face plate being disposed on opposite ends of the first side plate.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein coupling the second piece to the first piece does not include welding the second piece to the first piece.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein bending the piece of material to form the first piece of the housing and coupling the second piece to the first piece occur simultaneously.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising forming one or more friction enhancing features in the first and second side plates.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Ma Jun

Classifications

• B66B7/08

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

• B66B7/085 Primary

  Belt termination devices · CPC title

• B66B7/062 Primary

  Belts · CPC title

• B66B7/00

  Other common features of elevators · CPC title

• B66B17/12

  Counterpoises · CPC title