Guide device with gib wear detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981828-B2
Application number	US-201315100797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2013
Priority date	Dec 30, 2013
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A guide device is operable to be connected to a hoisted object to aid in guiding the hoisted object relative to a guide member. The guide device includes a shoe, a gib, and a wear detector. The shoe is operable to be connected to the hoisted object. The gib is operable to be connected to the shoe. The gib is operable to contact the guide member when the hoisted object is moved relative to the guide member. The gib is operable to experience an amount of wear as a result of the contact between the gib and the guide member. The wear detector is disposed relative to the gib and the guide member. The wear detector is operable to detect when the amount of wear experienced by the gib reaches a predetermined threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A guide device operable to be connected to a hoisted object to aid in guiding the hoisted object relative to a guide member, the guide device comprising:
a shoe operable to be connected to the hoisted object;
a gib operable to be connected to the shoe, wherein the gib is operable to contact the guide member when the hoisted object is moved relative to the guide member, and wherein the gib is operable to experience an amount of wear as a result of the contact between the gib and the guide member; and
a wear detector disposed relative to the gib and the guide member, the wear detector operable to detect when the amount of wear experienced by the gib reaches a predetermined threshold, and the wear detector including a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor and a controller;
wherein the controller is operable to send and receive electrical signals via the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor; and
wherein the second electrical conductor includes a terminal that is connected to the guide member when the gib is in a new condition; and
wherein the gib is operable to contact an electrically conductive portion of the guide member.

2. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the hoisted object is an elevator car.

3. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the guide member is a rail.

4. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the gib is operable to contact an electrically conductive portion of the guide member.

5. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the gib defines a gib channel that is configured to receive a portion of the guide member.

6. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the gib is made at least partially of a plastic material.

7. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the gib is electrically non-conductive.

8. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the shoe does not contact the guide member during normal operation.

9. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to detect when the amount of wear experienced by the gib reaches the predetermined threshold by sensing a presence of an electrical connection between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.

10. The guide device of claim 9 , wherein the controller is operable to detect when the amount of wear experienced by the gib reaches the predetermined threshold by sensing that a closed circuit has been formed at least partially by the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.

11. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein
the terminal is a second terminal; and
the first electrical conductor includes a first terminal embedded within the gib and a first wire that extends between the first terminal and the controller.

12. The guide device of claim 11 , wherein the gib defines a gib channel that is configured to receive an electrically conductive portion of the guide member; and
wherein the first terminal is embedded within the gib such that, when the gib is in a new condition, a section of the gib extends between the first terminal and a surface of the gib that at least partially defines the gib channel.

13. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical conductor includes a sacrificial portion that is operable to contact the guide member and enable an electrical connection between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor until the sacrificial portion and the gib experience an amount of wear that reaches the predetermined threshold.

14. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the wear detector is operable to provide a wear threshold signal to indicate that the wear detector has detected that the predetermined threshold has been reached.

15. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the wear detector is operable to provide a wear threshold signal to a braking device that is operable to stop movement of the hoisted object in response to the wear threshold signal.

16. The guide device of claim 1 , wherein the wear detector is operable to provide a wear threshold signal to a warning device that is operable to warn a person that the predetermined threshold has been reached.

17. An elevator guidance wear monitoring system, comprising:
a slide guide configured to be operatively mounted to an elevator car, and to selectively contact a guide rail during movement of the elevator car in a hoistway, the slide guide comprising:
a sacrificial liner configured to wear during movement of the elevator car; and
a wear monitor configured to identify when wear of the sacrificial liner has reached a predetermined threshold, the wear monitor configured as an electrical monitor comprising a plurality of electrodes;

wherein a first of the electrodes is arranged with the sacrificial liner; and
wherein a second of the electrodes is arranged with the guide rail and remotely located from the sacrificial liner.

18. The elevator guidance wear monitoring system of claim 17 , wherein the wear monitor is connected to a remote system through an internet-based system.

19. An elevator sliding guide, comprising:
a gib configured to wear away due to sliding contact with a guide rail; and
a wear monitoring system configured to provide an electronic indication when the gib has worn away to a predetermined threshold, the wear monitoring system comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein one of the electrodes is located on the guide rail separate.

20. The elevator sliding guide of claim 19 , wherein the electronic indication is provided based on a quality of electrical contact between the plurality of electrodes.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co
• Vaunois Eric
• Quaretti Bruno

Inventors

• Vaunois Eric
• Quaretti Bruno

Classifications

• B66B5/0025

  for maintenance or repair · CPC title

• B66B7/047 Primary

  Shoes, sliders · CPC title

• B66B7/1246

  specially adapted for guides · CPC title

• B66B5/0031

  for safety reasons · CPC title

• B66B5/0037

  Performance analysers · CPC title