Compliant shear layer for elevator termination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111105-B2
Application number	US-201715415980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2017
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system includes a housing and a wedge assembly located in the housing. The wedge assembly includes a wedge interactive with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member and a compliant shear element secured to the wedge or the suspension member and configured to reduce shear loads 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; and
a two wedge assemblies disposed in the housing and located at opposing sides of the suspension member, each wedge assembly including:
a wedge interactive with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member; and
a compliant shear element secured to the wedge or the suspension member and configured to reduce shear loads on the suspension member;
wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge via two or more tabs disposed at one of the compliant shear element or a wedge inner surface of the wedge, the two or more tabs engageable with two or more slots in the other of the wedge inner surface or the compliant shear element;
wherein the compliant shear element is formed from one of a thermoplastic urethane or elastomeric material;
wherein the compliant shear element includes a plurality of friction-enhancing features to produce a desired frictional force between the compliant shear element and the suspension member, the plurality of friction-enhancing features including a plurality of faceted elements arrayed across a lateral width of the compliant shear element.

2. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge inner surface and is configured to abut the suspension member.

3. The termination device of claim 2 , wherein the wedge assembly includes a wedge outer surface opposite the wedge inner surface, the wedge outer surface abutting a housing inner surface.

4. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the compliant shear element is secured to one of the wedge or the suspension member via one or more of an adhesive, a mechanical fastener or a mechanically interlocking feature.

5. The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the compliant shear element has a stiffness in the range of 0.025 and 1.0 Giga Pascals.

6. 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 housing; and
a two wedge assemblies disposed in the housing and located at opposing sides of the suspension member, each wedge assembly including:
a wedge interactive with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member; and
a compliant shear element secured to the wedge or the suspension member and configured to reduce shear loads on the suspension member;
wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge via two or more tabs disposed at one of the compliant shear element or a wedge inner surface of the wedge, the two or more tabs engageable with two or more slots in the other of the wedge inner surface or the compliant shear element;
wherein the compliant shear element is formed from one of a thermoplastic urethane or elastomeric material;
wherein the compliant shear element includes a plurality of friction-enhancing features to produce a desired frictional force between the compliant shear element and the suspension member, the plurality of friction-enhancing features including a plurality of faceted elements arrayed across a lateral width of the compliant shear element.

7. The termination device of claim 6 , wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge inner surface and abuts the suspension member.

8. The termination device of claim 7 , wherein the wedge assembly includes a wedge outer surface opposite the wedge inner surface, the wedge outer surface abutting a housing inner surface.

9. The termination device of claim 6 , wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge via one or more of an adhesive, a mechanical fastener or a mechanically interlocking feature.

10. The termination device of claim 6 , wherein the compliant shear element has a stiffness in the range of 0.025 and 1.0 Giga Pascals.

11. The elevator system of claim 6 , 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.

12. The elevator system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from one or more of carbon, glass, polyester, nylon, or aramid material.

13. The elevator system of claim 11 , wherein the compliant shear element is configured to reduce shear forces between the plurality of tension elements and the jacket.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Schmidt Walter Thomas
• Rampone Joseph C
• Mosher Daniel A

Classifications

• B66B7/062

  Belts · CPC title

• B66B7/08 Primary

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

• 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

• B66B11/08

  with hoisting rope or cable operated by frictional engagement with a winding drum or sheave {(B66B11/008 takes precedence)} · CPC title