Elevator systems, guide rail assemblies and methods of installing elevator systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11845635-B2
Application number	US-202217830654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2022
Priority date	Nov 5, 2021
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

An elevator system (2) comprising a hoistway (4), an elevator car (6) and a counterweight (8) arranged to move within the hoistway (4). The system (2) further includes a first counterweight guide rail and a second counterweight guide rail arranged to guide the counterweight within the hoistway (4) and a guide rail bracket (32) which connects the first and second counterweight guide rails together. An elevator machine (10) is arranged to drive a tension member (14), which couples the elevator car (6) and counterweight together (8), to move the elevator car (6) within the hoistway (4). The system (2) further includes a friction reducing element (36) arranged on the guide rail bracket (32) such that if the tension member (14) moves towards the guide rail bracket (32) during operation of the elevator system (2), the tension member (14) contacts the friction reducing element (36).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator system comprising:
a hoistway;
an elevator car and a counterweight arranged to move within the hoistway;
a first counterweight guide rail and a second counterweight guide rail arranged to guide the counterweight within the hoistway;
a plurality of guide rail brackets arranged to connect the first and second guide rails together, wherein the plurality of guide rail brackets are spaced along a length of the first and second guide rails;
an elevator machine arranged to drive a tension member, which couples the elevator car and counterweight together, to move the elevator car within the hoistway; and
a friction reducing element arranged on a guide rail bracket at an uppermost position within the hoistway, such that if the tension member moves towards the guide rail bracket, the tension member contacts the friction reducing element;
wherein the tension member comprises at least one coated-steel belt.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the elevator machine comprises a traction sheave around which the tension member passes; and wherein the tension member extends between the traction sheave and a deflector sheave arranged on the elevator car.

3. The elevator system of claim 1 ,
wherein the elevator machine comprises a traction sheave around which the tension member passes; and
wherein the tension member extends between the traction sheave and a deflector sheave arranged on the elevator car;
wherein the elevator car is arranged to move in a vertical direction within the hoistway and wherein a portion of the tension member extending from the deflector sheave arranged on the elevator car towards the traction sheave extends in a plane which is angled with respect to the vertical direction at an angle greater than zero degrees.

4. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the elevator car is movable within a range within the hoistway, and wherein the friction reducing element is arranged such that the tension member contacts the friction reducing element during only a portion of the range of movement of the elevator car.

5. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing element comprises a rounded surface which the tension member may contact in use.

6. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing element comprises a roller.

7. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing element is arranged on an upper side of the guide rail bracket.

8. The elevator system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one elevator car guide rail, and wherein the elevator car guide rail is supported by the guide rail bracket.

9. The elevator system of claim 1 , wherein the elevator machine is arranged within the hoistway.

10. An elevator system comprising:
a hoistway;
an elevator car and a counterweight arranged to move within the hoistway;
a first counterweight guide rail and a second counterweight guide rail arranged to guide the counterweight within the hoistway;
a plurality of guide rail brackets arranged to connect the first and second guide rails together, wherein the plurality of guide rail brackets are spaced along a length of the first and second guide rails;
an elevator machine arranged to drive a tension member, which couples the elevator car and counterweight together, to move the elevator car within the hoistway; and
a friction reducing element arranged on a guide rail bracket at an uppermost position within the hoistway, such that if the tension member moves towards the guide rail bracket, the tension member contacts the friction reducing element;
wherein the friction reducing element comprises a friction reducing coating.

11. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the elevator machine comprises a traction sheave around which the tension member passes; and wherein the tension member extends between the traction sheave and a deflector sheave arranged on the elevator car.

12. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the elevator machine comprises a traction sheave around which the tension member passes; and
wherein the tension member extends between the traction sheave and a deflector sheave arranged on the elevator car;
wherein the elevator car is arranged to move in a vertical direction within the hoistway and wherein a portion of the tension member extending from the deflector sheave arranged on the elevator car towards the traction sheave extends in a plane which is angled with respect to the vertical direction at an angle greater than zero degrees.

13. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the elevator car is movable within a range within the hoistway, and wherein the friction reducing element is arranged such that the tension member contacts the friction reducing element during only a portion of the range of movement of the elevator car.

14. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the friction reducing element comprises a rounded surface which the tension member may contact in use.

15. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the friction reducing element comprises a roller.

16. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the friction reducing element is arranged on an upper side of the guide rail bracket.

17. The elevator system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one elevator car guide rail, and wherein the elevator car guide rail is supported by the guide rail bracket.

18. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the elevator machine is arranged within the hoistway.

19. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the tension member comprises at least one coated-steel belt.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Xiong bi
• Lopez Vincent

Classifications

• B66B7/026 Primary

  Interconnections · CPC title

• B66B7/025

  End supports, i.e. at top or bottom · CPC title

• B66B7/046

  Rollers · CPC title

• B66B7/047

  Shoes, sliders · CPC title

• B66B17/12

  Counterpoises · CPC title