Compliant shear layer for elevator termination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018208436-A1
Application number	US-201715415980-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 26, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2017
Publication date	Jul 26, 2018
Grant date	—

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 wedge assembly disposed in the housing, the 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.

2 . The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the compliant shear element is secured to a 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 . The termination device of claim 1 , wherein the compliant shear element includes one or more friction-enhancing features to produce a desired frictional force between the compliant shear element and the suspension member.

7 . 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 wedge assembly disposed in the housing, the 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.

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

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

10 . The termination device of claim 7 , 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.

11 . The termination device of claim 7 , wherein the compliant shear element has a stiffness in the range of 0.025 and 1.0 Giga Pascals.

12 . The termination device of claim 7 , wherein the compliant shear element includes one or more friction-enhancing features to produce a desired frictional force between the compliant shear element and the suspension member.

13 . The elevator system of claim 7 , 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.

14 . The elevator system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from one or more of carbon, glass, polyester, nylon, or aramid material.

15 . The elevator system of claim 13 , 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

• B66B7/085 Primary

  Belt termination devices · CPC title

• B66B7/08 Primary

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

• B66B7/062

  Belts · 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