Elevator apparatus

Abstract

 An elevator apparatus having a hoistway (1), a guide rail (2) provided in the hoistway, and a driving machine (8) having a driving sheave (10) is provided. A main rope (11) is wound around the driving sheave (10) and has a main rope body (21) and a covering member (23) made of resin, the covering member (23) covering an outer periphery of the main rope body (21). A car (12) is suspended in the hoistway (1) by the main rope (11) and raised and lowered along said guide rail (2) by the driving machine (8). A non-lubricated type guiding device (14) engages with the guide rail (2) and is attached to said car (12).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus using a main rope a surface of which is covered with a covering member made of a material with a high frictional coefficient.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-267534 shows a main rope for an elevator which is composed of a synthetic fiber rope. The synthetic fiber rope has a rope body and a covering member covering an outer periphery of the rope body. The rope body is constructed by twisting a plurality of strands each of which is composed of aramid fibers and an impregnating agent such as polyurethane. The covering member is made of, for example, polyurethane.

[0003] In the case of using such a main rope, greater transmission efficiency of the driving force between a driving sheave of a driving machine and the main rope is sought. Accordingly, there is a need to ensure high frictional force between the driving sheave and the main rope, and to avoid the adhesion of foreign objects to the covering member which reduce the frictional force and damage the covering member.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is made to solve the problems mentioned above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an elevator apparatus in which the transmission efficiency of driving force between a driving sheave and a main rope can be further improved.

[0005] To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator apparatus comprising: a hoistway; a driving machine having a driving sheave; a main rope wound around the driving sheave and having a main rope body and a covering member made of resin, the covering member covering an outer periphery of the main rope body; and a car suspended in the hoistway by the main rope and raised and lowered by the driving machine; wherein the driving sheave has a sheave body and a rope receiving member made of a material with a higher frictional coefficient than the sheave body, the sheave body having a groove in which the main rope is inserted formed at an outer peripheral surface thereof, and the rope receiving member is provided along an inner surface of the groove.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator apparatus comprising: a hoistway; a guide rail provided in the hoistway; a driving machine having a driving sheave; a main rope wound around the driving sheave and having a main rope body and a covering member made of resin, the covering member covering an outer periphery of the main rope body; and a car suspended in the hoistway by the main rope and raised and lowered along the guide rail by the driving machine; wherein a non-lubricated type guiding device engaging with the guide rail is attached to the car.

[0007] According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator apparatus comprising: a hoistway; a driving machine having a driving sheave; a main rope wound around the driving sheave and having a main rope body and a covering member made of resin, the covering member covering an outer periphery of the main rope body; a car suspended in the hoistway by the main rope and raised and lowered by the driving machine; and an oil buffer for buffering an impact of the car, provided at a bottom portion of the hoistway; wherein the oil buffer is surrounded by a flexible cover for preventing dispersion of oil in the oil buffer to the surrounding area.

[0008] According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator apparatus comprising: a hoistway; a guide rail provided in the hoistway; a rail bracket for fixing the guide rail to the hoistway; a driving machine having a driving sheave; a main rope wound around the driving sheave and having a main rope body and a covering member made of resin, the covering member covering an outer periphery of the main rope body; and a car suspended in the hoistway by the main rope and raised and lowered along the guide rail by the driving machine; wherein the rail bracket is fixed in the hoistway by a non-welding process using a fastening device.

[0009] According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator apparatus comprising: a hoistway; a driving machine having a driving sheave; a main rope wound around the driving sheave, a surface of the main rope being covered by a covering member made of resin; and a car suspended in the hoistway by the main rope and raised and lowered by the driving machine; wherein a surface portion of the driving sheave contacting the main rope is composed of conductive material; a conductive member is provided inside of the covering member; and a detecting apparatus is connected to the surface portion and the conductive member, for detecting damage to the covering member when the surface portion becomes electrically conductive with the conductive member.

[0010] According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator apparatus comprising: a hoistway; a driving machine having a driving sheave; a main rope wound around the driving sheave and having a main rope body and a covering member made of resin, the covering member covering an outer periphery of the main rope body; and a car suspended in the hoistway by the main rope and raised and lowered by the driving machine; the elevator apparatus further comprising a brake device for braking the car by directly gripping the main rope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] 

Fig. 1 is a side view showing an elevator apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main rope in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an essential portion of the driving sheave in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a structural view showing an elevator apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a structural view showing an elevator apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

[0013] Fig. 1 is a side view showing an elevator apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1. In the figures, a pair of car guide rails 2 and a pair of counterweight guide rails 3 are installed in a hoistway 1.

[0014] The guide rails 2 and 3 are fixed through a plurality of rail brackets 5 to building side fittings 4 fixed to a building. The rail brackets 5 are fixed to the building side fittings 4 by a non-welding process using a plurality of bolts 6 as a fastening device. The guide rails 2 and 3 are fastened to the rail brackets 5 by a plurality of rail clips (not shown).

[0015] A deflector sheave 7 and a driving machine (hoisting machine) 8 are disposed at an upper portion of the hoistway 1. The driving machine 8 has a driving machine body 9 and a driving sheave 10 rotated by the driving machine body 9. A plurality of main ropes 11 are wound around the driving sheave 10 and the deflector sheave 7.

[0016] A car 12 is suspended at one end portion of the main ropes 11. A counterweight 13 is suspended at the other end portion of the main ropes 11. The car 12 is guided by the car guide rails 2 to be raised and lowered in the hoistway 1. The counterweight 13 is guided by the counterweight guide rails 3 to be raised and lowered in the hoistway 1.

[0017] A plurality of car guide shoes 14 and a plurality of counterweight guide shoes 15 as non-lubricated type guiding devices which engage with the guide rails 2 and 3 are attached to the car 12 and the counterweight 13. The guide shoes 14 and 15 are sliding guide shoes which are predominantly composed of wax or polyethylene and do not need to be supplied oil.

[0018] A car side buffer 16 buffering the shock of an impact by the car 12 and a counterweight side buffer 17 buffering the shock of an impact by the counterweight 13 are installed at a bottom portion (pit) 1a of the hoistway 1. These buffers 16 and 17 are oil buffers. The buffers 16 and 17 are surrounded by flexible covers 18 and 19 to prevent dispersion of oil in the oil buffers 16 and 17 to the surrounding area.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main rope 11 in Fig. 1. The main rope 11 has a rope body 21 composed of high strength synthetic fibers, a plurality of conductive members 22 disposed into a spiral on the outer periphery of the rope body 21, and a covering member 23 covering the outer periphery of the rope body 21 and the conductive members 22. The rope body 21 is constructed by twisting a plurality of strands 24 composed of aramid fibers and an impregnating agent such as polyurethane or the like around each other.

[0020] Further, the conductive members 22 are composed of, for example, carbon fibers, iron or copper. More, the covering member 23 is composed of, for example, polyurethane, polyethylene or the like.

[0021] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an essential portion of the driving sheave 10 in Fig. 1. In the figure, the driving sheave 10 has a sheave body 25 made of metal at the outer peripheral surface of which grooves 25a are formed, rope receiving members 26 provided along the inner surfaces of the grooves 25a, and groove entrance members 27 provided at the edge portions of the opening portions of the grooves 25a. The main ropes 11 are inserted in the grooves 25a. The rope receiving members 26 are made of a material with a higher frictional coefficient than the sheave body 25. The groove entrance members 27 are made of a material with a lower frictional coefficient than the rope receiving members 26. Further, in this embodiment, the rope receiving members 26 are made of the same material as the covering member 23.

[0022] In such an elevator apparatus, since the rope receiving members 26 having a high frictional coefficient are provided in the grooves 25a of the driving sheave 10, the transmission efficiency of the driving force between the driving sheave 10 and the main ropes 11 can be improved. Further, since the rope receiving members 26 are made of the same material as the covering member 23, the frictional force between the driving sheave 10 and the main ropes 11 can be improved effectively. Furthermore, since the groove entrance members 27 made of low frictional coefficient material are disposed at the edge portions of the opening portions of the grooves 25a, the friction when the main ropes 11 are inserted in and moved out from the grooves 25a is reduced, thereby preventing damage to the main ropes 11 and prolonging the life of the main ropes 11.

[0023] Moreover, since roller guide shoes which need to be supplied oil are not used, and the non-lubricated and sliding type guide shoes 14 and 15 are used as the guiding devices, the surfaces of the main ropes 11 are prevented from being stained by oil, thereby maintaining the transmission efficiency of the driving force between the driving sheave 10 and the main ropes 11.

[0024] Further, the buffers 16 and 17 are surrounded by covers 18 and 19, so dispersion of oil in the buffers 16 and 17 to the surrounding area is prevented, to also prevent the surfaces of the main ropes 11 from being stained by oil, thereby maintaining the transmission efficiency of the driving force between the driving sheave 10 and the main ropes 11.

[0025] Furthermore, the rail brackets 5 are fixed in the hoistway 1 by a non-welding process using the bolts 6, so the main ropes 11 are prevented from being damaged by sparks generated during welding, thereby maintaining the transmission efficiency of the driving force between the driving sheave 10 and the main ropes 11.

Second Embodiment

[0026] Next, Fig. 5 is a structural view showing an elevator apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a machine base 32 is installed at an upper portion of the hoistway 31. A driving machine 33 and a deflector sheave 34 are mounted to the machine base 32. The driving machine 33 has a driving sheave 35. A main rope 36 is wound around the driving sheave 35 and the deflector sheave 34. The cross sectional structure of the main rope 36 is the same as in Fig. 3, and the conductive members 22 are provided inside the covering member 23. Further, the surface portion of the driving sheave 35 contacting the main rope 36 is composed of conductive material.

[0027] A car 37 and a counterweight 38 are suspended in the hoistway 1 by the main rope 36. A detecting apparatus 39 is installed on the machine base 32. The detecting apparatus 39 is electrically connected to the surface portion of the driving sheave 35 and the conductive members 22 through wires 40, so any damage to the covering member 23 is detected by electrical continuity between the surface portion of the driving sheave 35 and the conductive members 22.

[0028] In such an elevator apparatus, if damage of the covering member 23 is detected by the detecting apparatus 39, the car 37 is moved to the nearest floor and stopped, where the operation of the elevator is halted. Thereafter, maintenance and replacement of the main rope 36 are performed. Accordingly, the transmission efficiency of the driving force between the driving sheave 35 and the main rope 36 can be maintained.

Third Embodiment

[0029] Next, Fig. 6 is a structural view showing an elevator apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a driving machine 42 and a deflector sheave 43 are disposed at an upper portion of a hoistway 41. The driving machine 42 has a driving sheave 44. A main rope 45 is wound around the driving sheave 44 and the deflector sheave 43. The cross sectional structure of the main rope 45 is the same as in Fig. 3, and its surface is covered by the covering member 23 made of high frictional coefficient material.

[0030] A car 46 is suspended at one end portion of the main rope 45. A counterweight 47 is suspended at the other end portion of the main rope 45. A brake device 48 for braking the car 46 by directly gripping the main rope 45 is disposed at the upper portion of the hoistway 41.

[0031] Although, lining material having a frictional coefficient of about 0.3 are used in brake devices of conventional elevators, since the covering member 23 made of polyurethane, polyethylene or the like has a frictional coefficient of about 0.4 to 0.6, a reduction in brake device size is possible by using the brake device 48 which directly grips the main rope 45.

OTHER ITEMS:

[0032] 

1. An elevator apparatus comprising:

a hoistway;

a driving machine having a driving sheave;

a main rope wound around said driving sheave and having a main rope body and a covering member made of resin, said covering member covering an outer periphery of said main rope body; and

a car suspended in said hoistway by said main rope and raised and lowered by said driving machine;

wherein said driving sheave has a sheave body and a rope receiving member made of a material with a higher frictional coefficient than said sheave body, said sheave body having a groove in which said main rope is inserted formed at an outer peripheral surface thereof, and said rope receiving member is provided along an inner surface of said groove.

2. An elevator apparatus as defined in 1, wherein said rope receiving member is made of the same material as said covering member.

3. An elevator apparatus as defined in 1, wherein a groove entrance member made of a material with a lower frictional coefficient than said rope receiving member is provided at an edge portion of an opening portion of said groove.

4. An elevator apparatus comprising:

a hoistway;

a driving machine having a driving sheave;

a main rope wound around said driving sheave, a surface of said main rope being covered by a covering member made of resin; and

a car suspended in said hoistway by said main rope and raised and lowered by said driving machine;

wherein a surface portion of said driving sheave contacting said main rope is composed of conductive material;
a conductive member is provided inside of said covering member; and
a detecting apparatus is connected to said surface portion and said conductive member, for detecting damage to said covering member when said surface portion becomes electrically conductive with said conductive member.

5. An elevator apparatus comprising:

a hoistway;

a driving machine having a driving sheave;

a main rope wound around said driving sheave and having a main rope body and a covering member made of resin, said covering member covering an outer periphery of said main rope body; and

a car suspended in said hoistway by said main rope and raised and lowered by said driving machine;

said elevator apparatus further comprising a brake device for braking said car by directly gripping said main rope.

6. An elevator apparatus as defined in any one of 1 to 5, wherein said main rope body is composed of high strength synthetic fibers.

Claims

1. An elevator apparatus comprising:

a hoistway (1);

a guide rail (2) provided in the hoistway (1);

a driving machine (8) having a driving sheave (10);

a main rope (11) wound around the driving sheave (10) and having a main rope body (21) and a covering member (23) made of resin, the covering member (23) covering an outer periphery of the main rope body (21); and

a car (12) suspended in the hoistway (1) by the main rope (11) and raised and lowered along the guide rail (2) by the driving machine (8);

characterized in that
a non-lubricated type guiding device (14) engaging with the guide rail (2) is attached to the car (12).

2. The elevator apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an oil buffer (16) for buffering an impact of the car (12), provided at a bottom portion of the hoistway (1); and

the oil buffer (16) is surrounded by a flexible cover (18) for preventing dispersion of oil in the oil buffer (16) to the surrounding area.

3. The elevator apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a rail bracket (5) for fixing the guide rail (2) to the hoistway (1); wherein

the rail bracket (5) is fixed in the hoistway (1) by a non-welding process using a fastening device (6).

4. An elevator apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main rope body (21) is composed of high strength synthetic fibers.

Drawing