Conveyor device with moving comb plate in the longitudinal direction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018237271-A1
Application number	US-201515754760-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	Aug 23, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A conveyor device (2) comprises a truss (4); a conveyance element (8), which is movable with respect to the truss (4) in a longitudinal direction and which comprises at least one groove (22) extending along said longitudinal direction. The conveyor device (2) further comprises a comb plate (16) having at least one tooth (18) extending into the at least one groove (22). For minimizing the effects resulting from a comb crash, the conveyor device (2) further comprises at least one compensation device (24, 26, 28a, 28b) fixing the comb plate (16) in the longitudinal direction during normal operation, but allowing the comb plate (16) to move in the longitudinal direction in case of a comb crash.

First claim

1 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) comprising:
a truss ( 4 ); a conveyance element ( 8 ), which is movable with respect to the truss ( 4 ) in a longitudinal direction and which comprises at least one groove ( 22 ) extending along said longitudinal direction; a comb plate ( 16 ) comprising at least one tooth ( 18 ) extending into the at least one groove ( 22 ); and at least one compensation device ( 24 , 26 , 28 a, 28 b ), which is configured for
fixing the comb plate ( 16 ) in the longitudinal direction during normal operation, and
allowing the comb plate ( 16 ) to move in the longitudinal direction in case of a comb crash.

2 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensation device ( 24 , 26 , 28 a, 28 b ) comprises at least one damping element ( 24 ), which is arranged next to the comb plate ( 16 ) in the longitudinal direction.

3 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 2 , wherein the damping element ( 24 ) is elastically and/or plastically deformable.

4 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 2 , wherein the damping element ( 24 ) comprises a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic and/or electro-hydraulic compressible component ( 40 ).

5 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensation device ( 24 , 26 , 28 a, 28 b ) comprises at least one friction element ( 28 a, 28 b ), which is configured for fixing the comb plate ( 16 ) in the longitudinal direction by exerting a frictional force onto the comb plate ( 16 ).

6 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 5 , comprising at least one actuator ( 30 ), which is configured for pressing at least one friction element ( 28 a, 28 b ) against the comb plate ( 16 ).

7 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 6 , wherein the at least one actuator ( 30 ) acts in a direction which is oriented orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal direction.

8 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 6 , wherein the at least one actuator ( 30 ) comprises at least one elastic element ( 33 ).

9 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 5 , wherein friction elements ( 28 a, 28 b ) are provided on both sides of the comb plate ( 16 ) in the horizontal and/or in the vertical directions, respectively.

10 . Conveyor device ( 2 ) of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor ( 34 , 36 , 42 ), which is configured for detecting any movement of the comb plate ( 16 ).

11 . Method of reducing the damage resulting from a comb crash in a conveyor device comprising:
a truss ( 4 ); a conveyance element ( 8 ), which is movable with respect to the truss ( 4 ) in a longitudinal direction and which comprises at least one groove ( 22 ) extending along said longitudinal direction; and a comb plate ( 16 ) comprising at least one tooth ( 18 ) extending into the at least one groove ( 22 ); wherein the method comprises:
fixing the comb plate ( 16 ) against any movement in the longitudinal direction caused by a force below a predetermined threshold;
allowing the comb plate ( 16 ) to move in the longitudinal direction when the force acting the comb plate ( 16 ) exceeds the predetermined threshold.

12 . Method of claim 11 , wherein the step of allowing the comb plate ( 16 ) to move includes compressing a damping element ( 24 ), which is arranged next to the comb plate ( 16 ) in the longitudinal direction.

13 . Method of claim 11 , wherein the step of fixing the comb plate ( 16 ) includes exerting a frictional force on the comb plate ( 16 ).

14 . Method of claim 13 , wherein exerting a frictional force on the comb plate ( 16 ) includes pressing at least one friction element ( 28 a, 28 b ) against the comb plate ( 16 ).

15 . Method of any of claim 11 further including
detecting any movement of the comb plate ( 16 ); and
stopping any movement of the conveyance element ( 8 ) as soon as a movement of the comb plate ( 16 ) has been detected.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Park Chan-Jong

Classifications

• B66B29/06 Primary

  Combplates · CPC title

• B66B23/24

  Handrails (driving gear therefor B66B23/02; tensioning means therefor B66B23/16; preventing jamming thereof by foreign objects B66B29/04; accessories therefor B66B31/02) · CPC title

• B66B23/12

  Steps · CPC title