Rope-climbing self propelled elevator system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875743-B2
Application number	US-201816009969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2018
Priority date	Jun 16, 2017
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car positioned in and movable along the hoistway. The elevator car includes a first sheave and a second sheave spaced apart from the first sheave. The first sheave and second sheave have parallel axes of rotation and each include a traction surface and a gearless prime mover operably connected to the traction surface to drive rotation of the traction surface. A first load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway and a second load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway. The first load bearing member passes laterally under the first sheave, vertically upward between the first sheave and the second sheave, and laterally over the second sheave. The second load bearing member passes laterally under the second sheave, vertically between the second sheave and the first sheave, and laterally over the first sheave.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator system comprising:
a hoistway;
an elevator car disposed in and movable along the hoistway, the elevator car including a first sheave and a second sheave spaced apart from the first sheave, the first sheave and second sheave having parallel axes of rotation, the first sheave and second sheave each including:
a traction surface; and
a gearless prime mover operably connected to the traction surface to drive rotation of the traction surface, the gearless prime mover including a motor, inverter and bearing disposed radially insider of the first sheave and the second sheave;

a first load bearing member disposed in the hoistway;
a second load bearing member disposed in the hoistway; and
a power storage module located at the elevator car and operably connected to the gearless prime mover and configured to drive the gearless prime mover;
wherein the first load bearing member passes laterally under the first sheave, vertically upward between the first sheave and the second sheave, and laterally over the second sheave, and wherein the second load bearing member passes laterally under the second sheave, vertically between the second sheave and the first sheave, and laterally over the first sheave.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the gearless prime mover is a hub wheel motor.

3. The elevator system of claim 2 , wherein the hub wheel motor is mounted on a shaft.

4. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the gearless prime mover is operably connected to a power source located remotely from the elevator car.

5. The elevator system of claim 4 , wherein the prime mover is configured to generate electrical power and return the generated electrical power to the power source.

6. The elevator system of claim 4 , wherein the connection to the remotely-located power source is one of inductive or conductive.

7. The elevator system of claim 4 , wherein an interface between the prime mover and the remotely-located power source includes the power storage module.

8. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the load bearing member is one of a rope or a belt.

9. The elevator system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second elevator car disposed in the hoistway, the second elevator car including a third sheave and a fourth sheave spaced apart from the third sheave, the third sheave and fourth sheave having parallel axes of rotation, the third sheave and the fourth sheave each including:
a traction surface; and
a gearless prime mover operably connected to the traction surface to drive rotation of the traction surface;
a third load bearing member disposed in the hoistway; and
a fourth load bearing member disposed in the hoistway;

wherein the third load bearing member passes laterally under the third sheave, vertically upward between the third sheave and the fourth sheave, and laterally over the fourth sheave, and wherein the fourth load bearing member passes laterally under the fourth sheave, vertically between the fourth sheave and the third sheave, and laterally over the third sheave.

10. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the third sheave is axially offset from the first sheave and the fourth sheave is axially offset from the seconds sheave.

11. The elevator system of claim 9 , further comprising a third or more elevator car disposed in the hoistway.

12. The elevator system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more tension offset devices positioned in the hoistway to selectively restrain and release the first load bearing member and/or the second load bearing member to control the tension of the first load bearing member and/or the second load bearing member.

13. The elevator system on claim 12 , wherein the tension offset device is configured to:
release an associated load bearing member before the elevator car passes the tension offset device; and
restrain the associated load bearing member after the elevator car passes the tension offset device.

14. The elevator system of claim 12 , wherein the tension offset device is configured to apply an upward force to the first load bearing member and/or the second load bearing member.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Hollowell Richard L
• Bhaskar Kiron

Classifications

• B66B11/007 Primary

  for counterweightless elevators · CPC title

• B66B7/068

  Cable weight compensating devices · CPC title

• B66B11/0095

  where multiple cars drive in the same hoist way · CPC title

• B66B11/04 Primary

  Driving gear {; Details thereof, e.g. seals (braking devices acting on the driving gear B66B5/02; of mining-hoist winding devices B66B15/08)} · CPC title

• B66B9/00 Primary

  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