CABLE TREATMENT DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR

Abstract

 Provided is a cable management apparatus for an elevator, which enables a cable extending in a hoistway to be easily mounted to a predetermined base. The cable management apparatus includes: a supporting member (4) for supporting a cable (3) extending in a hoistway; and a base (1f) to which the supporting member is fixed. At least one projecting portion (4a) including an expanded-diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of a base portion is provided to one of the supporting member and the base. A fastening hole (13), through which the projecting portion is to be inserted, is provided to another of the supporting member and the base so as to correspond to the projecting portion. The fastening hole includes a passage portion and a retaining portion. The passage portion has a size which allows the expanded-diameter portion of the projecting portion to pass therethrough. The retaining portion has a size which prevents the expanded-diameter portion of the projecting portion from passing therethrough and allows the base portion to pass therethrough.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable management apparatus for an elevator.

Background Art

[0002] An elevator includes a plurality of landings and a hoistway, which are formed in a building, and further a car provided inside the hoistway so that the car can be raised and lowered therein. An operation/indication apparatus for registering a call for the elevator and indicating a current position of the elevator is provided to each of the landings of the elevator. A case of the operation/indication apparatus, which contains a button and an indicator therein, is embedded into a wall of the building, which constitutes each of the landings. In general, a wiring hole and a wiring device for covering the wiring hole are provided to the case of the operation/indication apparatus so as to connect a cable to the button and the indicator of the operation/indication apparatus. By using the wiring hole and the wiring device, the cable is led into the case and fixed thereto.

[0003] As a cover for the wiring as described above, there exists a configuration disclosed in JP 03-42481 A. In this configuration, a wiring hole, through which the cable is to pass, an upper screw hole for mounting a clamp for fixing the cable, lower guide holes, a projection for keeping holding the cable, and the like are formed in a back surface of a box. Then, by mounting the clamp to the back surface of the box, the cable is fixed so as to be interposed between the back surface of the box and the clamp. The clamp is fixed to the back surface of the box by screwing a screw into the upper screw hole of the box through the clamp while two guides provided to a lower part of the clamp are inserted into and locked to the corresponding lower guide holes of the box.

[0004] As another example, there exists a configuration disclosed in JP 2008-81311 A. In this configuration, an angular mounting member and a flexible member are mounted to a distal end of a cable. The mounting member is fixed to a back surface portion of the box with bolts in a state in which the flexible member is interposed between the back surface portion and the mounting member.

[0005] In the conventional configurations described above, however, an operation for locating the clamp and the mounting member, an operation for strict alignment to the screw holes or the like, and further a screwing operation following the operations described above are required to be performed from inside of the hoistway which has a large number of restrictions on a working space. Therefore, the operations are difficult to perform and require efforts.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0006] 

[PTL 1] JP 03-42481 A

[PTL 2] JP 2008-81311 A

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the problem described above, and therefore has an object to provide a cable management apparatus for an elevator, which enables a cable extending in a hoistway to be easily mounted to a predetermined base.

Solution to Problem

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a cable management apparatus for an elevator, including: a supporting member for supporting a cable extending in a hoistway; a base to which the supporting member is fixed; at least one projecting portion including an expanded-diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of a base portion, the at least one projecting portion being provided to one of the supporting member and the base; and a fastening hole, through which the at least one projecting portion is to be inserted, the fastening hole being provided to another of the supporting member and the base so as to correspond to the at least one projecting portion, in which: the fastening hole includes a passage portion and a retaining portion; the passage portion has a size which allows the expanded-diameter portion of the at least one projecting portion to pass therethrough; and the retaining portion has a size which prevents the expanded-diameter portion of the at least one projecting portion from passing therethrough and allows the base portion to pass therethrough.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0009] According to the cable management apparatus for an elevator of the present invention, the cable extending in the hoistway can be easily mounted to the predetermined base.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010] 

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation/indication apparatus provided on the landing side of an elevator.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of the operation/indication apparatus, taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cable management apparatus as viewed from the hoistway side.

FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c) are diagrams illustrating a state of the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed respectively from the hoistway side, the lateral side, and the lower side.

FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c) are diagrams illustrating a state of a cable management apparatus for an elevator according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed respectively from the hoistway side, the lateral side, and the lower side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fixing spring provided to the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the second embodiment.

FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) are diagrams illustrating a state of a cable management apparatus for an elevator according to a third embodiment of the present invention as viewed respectively from the hoistway side, the lateral side, and the lower side.

Description of Embodiments

[0011] Hereinafter, a cable management apparatus for an elevator according to embodiments of the present invention is described referring to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference symbol denotes the same or corresponding part.

First Embodiment

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation/indication apparatus provided on the landing side of an elevator, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of the operation/indication apparatus taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1. An operation/indication device 1 is provided to a landing of the elevator and contains a position indicator for informing an elevator user of the arrival of a car and a landing button for registering a landing call. The operation/indication device 1 includes a case 1f embedded into a landing wall 2, which is provided on a back surface of a face board 1a. Inside the case 1f, a position indicator 1b and a call button 1c are housed. The position indicator 1b and the call button 1c are exposed on the face board 1a.

[0013] A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to this embodiment connects a cable 3 extending in a hoistway to the position indicator 1b and the call button 1c described above. Mainly referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the details of the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to this embodiment are described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cable management apparatus as viewed from the hoistway side, whereas FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c) are diagrams illustrating a state of the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the first embodiment, as viewed from the hoistway side, the lateral side, and the lower side, respectively.

[0014] A cable management apparatus 10 includes a wiring cover 4 as a supporting member for supporting the cable 3 and the case 1f as a base to which the supporting member is fixed. The wiring cover is an example of the supporting member, whereas the case is an example of the base. Therefore, the present invention may respectively use a wiring cover and a case, each having a structure different from that described in this embodiment, as the supporting member and the base. Further, members completely different from the wiring cover and the case may be respectively used as the supporting member and the base.

[0015] To one of the supporting member and the base, specifically, the wiring cover 4 in this embodiment, at least one projecting portion including an expanded-diameter portion having a larger diameter than a diameter of a base portion is provided. Specifically, af as tening member may be used as the projecting portion. In this embodiment, two screws 4a are used as the fastening members. Each of the screws 4a includes a threaded-shaft portion 11 as the base portion and a screw-head portion 12 as the expanded-diameter portion. Each of the screws 4a is screwed into a portion of the wiring cover 4 , which faces the case 1f , from the case If side (landing side).

[0016] A wiring hole 1g having a rectangular shape, as a communication window for the passage of the cable 3, is formed in a back surface of the case 1f (surface on the hoistway side). The wiring hole 1g is covered, from the hoistway side, with the wiring cover 4 for fixing the cable 3 to be connected to the position indicator 1b and the call button 1c. In this manner, dust, water, and the like are prevented from entering inside the case 1f through the wiring hole 1g.

[0017] To another of the supporting member and the base, specifically, the case 1f in this embodiment, two fastening holes 13, through which the screws 4a are respectively inserted, are provided so as to correspond to the screws 4a. Each of the fastening holes 13 includes a passage portion 14 and a retaining portion 15. The passage portion 14 is formed so as to be larger than the retaining portion 15. Specifically, the passage portion 14 has a size large enough to allow the screw-head portion 12 of each of the screws 4a to pass therethrough. The retaining portion 15 has a size which prevents the screw-head portion 12 of each of the screws 4a from passing therethrough and allows the threaded-shaft portion 11 to pass therethrough.

[0018] The passage portion 14 and the retaining portion 15 are more specifically described. First, a first one of the fastening holes 13 is located above the wiring hole 1g. The passage portion 14 thereof is formed of a large-diameter round hole, whereas the retaining portion 15 is formed of a small-diameter round hole connected to the large-diameter round hole, which is smaller than the large-diameter round hole of the passage portion 14 and partially overlaps the large-diameter round hole. On the other hand, a second one of the fastening holes 13 is formed by using the wiring hole 1g. Specifically, the passage portion 14 of the second fastening hole 13 is the wiring hole 1g itself which is a rectangular hole having a large diameter, whereas the retaining portion 15 thereof is formed of a small-diameter round hole connected to the wiring hole 1g at a lower corner of the wiring hole 1g.

[0019] Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, for each of the fastening holes 13, the retaining portion 15 is located lower than the passage portion 14. In this embodiment, in particular, each of the retaining portions 15 is located obliquely below the corresponding passage portion 14.

[0020] Next, the connection between the wiring cover 4 and the cable 3 is described. A covering portion 16, which is open downward and projects to the hoistway side, is formed on the wiring cover 4. On a surface of the covering portion 16 located on the landing side, a groove 4b for introducing the cable 3 into the case 1f is formed. The cable 3 is located inside the covering portion 16 and is guided in a vertical direction by the covering portion 16.

[0021] Further, a cable-fixing clamp 4c is mounted on a portion of an outer surface (surface on the hoistway side) of the wiring cover 4, which is located below the covering portion 16. The most part of the cable-fixing clamp 4c is formed to have an arch-like shape, as well illustrated in FIG. 4(c), in particular. One end of the cable-fixing clamp 4c is locked from the hoistway side of the wiring cover 4 to the landing side through an opening or a dedicated through hole formed below the covering portion 16. Another end of the cable-fixing clamp 4c is fixed to the wiring cover 4 by fastening means 4d. The cable 3 is interposed between an arch-like inner surface of the cable-fixing clamp 4c and the outer surface of the wiring cover 4 to be fixed therebetween.

[0022] Next, a procedure for mounting the wiring cover configured as described above to the case is described. First, in a state in which the cable 3 is fixed to the wiring cover 4 by using the cable-fixing clamp 4c, the wiring cover 4 is located in the vicinity of the case 1f. The two screws 4a are mounted in advance to the wiring cover 4. At this time, the screw-head portion 12 of each of the screws 4a is kept spaced away from the surface of the wiring cover 4 on the landing side by a predetermined distance (for example, a thickness of the case + about 1 mm).

[0023] Then, the wiring cover 4 in the state described above is brought into contact with the case 1f so that the two screws 4a are inserted into the passage portions 14 of the corresponding fastening holes 13. At this time, the screw-head portions 12 are spaced away from the surface of the wiring cover 4 as described above, and therefore have passed through the passage portions 14 of the fastening holes 13. Thus, the threaded-shaft portions 11 are located in the fastening holes 13, respectively. A distal end of the cable 3 extends so as to pass through the wiring hole 1g to sufficiently reach the position indicator 1b and the call button 1c. In other words, the wiring hole 1g, the fastening holes 13, and the screws 4a described above are provided in such a relationship, positions, and mode as to obtain the above-mentioned state.

[0024] Thereafter, the wiring cover 4 is slid obliquely downward with respect to the case 1f so that the threaded-shaft portions 11 of the two screws 4a are located in the retaining portions 15 of the corresponding fastening holes 13, respectively. As a result, the screw-head portions 12 of the screws 4a are locked on the retaining portions 15 of the fastening holes 13, respectively. Then, the wiring cover 4 is supported so as not be separated away from the case 1f. Specifically, the wiring cover 4 is provisionally fixed.

[0025] Thereafter, a connector for the cable 3 is connected to the position indicator 1b and the call button 1c from the landing side, whereas the screws 4a threadably fitted to the wiring cover 4 are sufficiently fastened. In this manner, the complete fixation of the wiring cover 4 to the case 1f is completed. Any one of the connection of the connector for the cable 3 and the complete fixation of the wiring cover 4 may be first started or first terminated in accordance with a situation.

[0026] According to the cable management apparatus for an elevator of this embodiment as described above, only by locking the projecting portions to the fastening holes, the wiring cover can be provisionally fixed to the case of the operation/indication device. Therefore, a worker does not need to perform operations from the hoistway side, such as a strict alignment operation to the screw holes and a screw-fastening operation following the alignment operation. Specifically, it is only necessary to perform an operation to lock the projecting portions to the predetermined holes from inside the hoistway which has many restrictions on a working space. Therefore, a necessary operation can be completed on the hoistway side without using any tools, and hence the cable extending in the hoistway can be easily mounted to a predetermined target.

[0027] The fastening means screwed from the landing side is used as the projecting portions. Therefore, the complete fixation can be directly performed by screwing the fastening members in a loosened state at the time of the provisional fixation and then fastening the fastening members in a state in which the fastening members are locked to the fastening holes. Therefore, common means can be used for the provisional fixation and the complete fixation, and hence the number of components can be reduced. Further, before the complete fixation, the fastening means is already set. Therefore, there is no fear in that the fastening means falls before the fastening means held in a hand is inserted into each of the screw holes. In addition, for the complete fixation, only a simple operation using a quite common tool such as a screwdriver is required to be performed from the landing side. Therefore, extremely good workability is provided.

[0028] Further, the hole provided to the case can be used for two functions, that is, as the hole for guiding the cable to be connected to the target (communication window) and the hole corresponding to the passage portion through which the expanded-diameter portion of one of the projecting portions is allowed to pass. Therefore, it is not necessary to individually provide the passage portions. Thus, fabrication and processing can be simplified, while the structure can be prevented from becoming complex. Further, the space of a region required for forming the fastening holes can be saved.

[0029] Further, a plurality of sets of the projecting portion and the fastening hole are provided. Thus, the rotation of the wiring cover with respect to the case is already suppressed in the stage of the provisional fixation before the complete fixation. Thus, the operation can proceed from the provisional fixation to the complete fixation in a stable state.

[0030] Further, the cable is guided by the covering portion of the wiring cover so as to extend in the vertical direction. Therefore, the cable extending from the wiring cover to the hoistway can be laid downward, specifically, the cable is prevented from extending perpendicularly to the wiring cover. In this manner, the projection of the cable toward the hoistway can be avoided.

[0031] Further, the cable is fixed so as to be pressed by the cable-fixing clamp while being guided by the covering portion. Therefore, the cable is prevented from moving with respect to an outer surface of the wiring cover. Thus, the cable can be maintained in a desirable state inside the covering portion.

Second Embodiment

[0032] Next, a cable management apparatus for an elevator according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described referring to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c) are diagrams respectively illustrating a state of the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the hoistway side, the lateral side, and the lower side. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fixing spring provided to the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the second embodiment.

[0033] The second embodiment is obtained by modifying the configuration relating to the fixing clamp of the first embodiment. For the remaining part, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment may be used. A cable management apparatus 20 includes a plate-like fixing spring 5. The fixing spring 5 is mounted to the inner side of the covering portion 16 of the wiring cover 4.

[0034] The fixing spring 5 includes a semi-circular cable holding portion 5a and a pair of right and left peak portions 5b located at both ends thereof. A plurality of pairs of insertion holes 4e, into which the pair of peak portions 5b is to be inserted, are formed in both end portions of the covering portion 16 of the wiring cover 4.

[0035] The pair of right and left peak portions 5b is inserted into a corresponding one of the pairs of insertion holes 4e of the covering portion 16 so that the fixing spring 5 is placed into a curved state as compared with a natural state, and hence the fixing spring 5 is mounted to the covering portion 16 by its own elastic restoring force. The fixing spring 5 holds the cable 3 with the inner surface of the covering portion 16 as illustrated in the figures, thereby fixing the cable 3. Moreover, by changing the pair of insertion holes 4e, to which the pair of peak portions 5b is to be inserted, the size of a space generated between the fixing spring 5 and the inner surface of the covering portion 16 can be changed.

[0036] Also with the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the second embodiment described above, the cable extending in the hoistway can be easily mounted to a predetermined target, as in the first embodiment described above. Further, in the second embodiment, the fixing spring itself can be retained and the cable can be fixed by using the elastic restoring force of the fixing spring. Therefore, the reduction in number of components and the facilitation of the mounting/removal operation of the fixing spring can be realized. Further, the fixing spring is mounted by using the elastic restoring force. Thus, the position at which the fixing spring is mounted can be changed easily. Further, the fixing spring is expected to be deformed and generate the restoring force at the time of fixation. Therefore, cables having different thicknesses can be fixed by the single fixing spring, which in turn reduces the number of kinds of fixing springs to be prepared.

Third Embodiment

[0037] Next, a cable management apparatus for an elevator according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described referring to FIGS. 7. FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) are diagrams respectively illustrating a state of the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the third embodiment as viewed from the hoistway side, the lateral side, and the lower side.

[0038] The third embodiment is also obtained by modifying the configuration relating to the fixing clamp of the first embodiment. For the remaining part, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment may be used. A cable management apparatus 30 includes a fixing-line member 6. The fixing-line member 6 is, for example, a string-like member such as a binding wire, and is wound around the covering portion 16 of the wiring cover 4. In both end portions of the covering portion 16, through holes 4f are formed. At the top of projection of the covering portion 16, an elongated locking hole 4g is provided.

[0039] The fixing-line member 6 is inserted into the right and left through holes 4f alternately so as to extend alternately on the inner side and the outer side of the covering portion 16. In this manner, the fixing-line member 6 holds the cable 3 with the inner surface of the covering portion 16 to fix the cable 3, as illustrated in the figures. As an example, the fixing-line member 6 having a given sufficient length may be prepared in advance so that a length in accordance with the thickness of the cable 3 to be fixed is used for winding and the remaining length is cut away after the winding.

[0040] After the fixing-line member 6 is wound around the covering portion 16, the fixing-line member 6 is pushed so as to be located in the elongated locking hole 4g. As a result, the fixing-line member 6 is locked in the elongated hole 4g so as to prevent the fixing-line member 6 from being positionally shifted with respect to the covering portion 16.

[0041] Also with the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the third embodiment described above, the cable extending in the hoistway can be easily mounted to a predetermined target, as in the first embodiment described above. Further, in the third embodiment, only a length of the fixing-line member to be used differs in accordance with a situation, and a sufficiently long string-like member is merely required to be prepared as a member. Therefore, even without preparing a large variety of fixing-line members, the cables having a wide range of thicknesses can be fixed.

[0042] Although the contents of the present invention have been specifically described above with the preferred embodiments, it is apparent that those skilled in the art can adopt various modified modes based on the basic technological thought and teaching of the present invention.

[0043] For example, the embodiments have been described above as the mode in which the cable management apparatus is provided to connect the cable to the operation/indication device provided on the landing side. However, the cable management apparatus for an elevator according to the present invention can also be used to connect the cable to an operation/indication device provided on the car side.

[0044] The cable managed in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the cable is a linear member, and is not limited to those used for the transmission of an electrical signal and power feeding. Thus, as other examples, the present invention is also applicable to cables including an optical fiber and a wire for power transmission.

[0045] Moreover, the present invention is widely applicable to situations in which the linear member is connected to a device other than the operation/indication device, regardless of whether the device is provided on the landing side or the car side.

[0046] The screw described in the aforementioned embodiments is an example of the projecting portion and the fastening means constituting the projecting portion. As the projecting portion of the present invention, a member other than the screw may be used. For example, the projecting portion providing the provisional fixation may be integrally molded with or bonded to the supporting member, whereas means such as a screw independent of the projecting portion for the provisional fixation may be used for the complete fixation.

[0047] The present invention can also be carried out while the projecting portions are provided to the base and the fastening holes are provided to the supporting member. Further, the numbers of the projecting portions and the fastening holes and the positions, at which the projecting portions and the fastening holes are formed, can be appropriately modified.

Reference Signs List

[0048] 1f case (base), 1g wiring hole (communication window), 3 cable, 4 wiring cover (supporting member), 4a screw (projecting portion), 4c cable-fixing clamp, 5 fixing spring, 6 fixing-line member, 10, 20, 30 cable management apparatus, 11 threaded-shaft portion (base portion), 12 screw-head portion (expanded-diameter portion), 13 fastening hole, 14 passage portion, 15
retaining portion, 16 covering portion.

Claims

1. A cable management apparatus for an elevator, comprising:

a supporting member for supporting a cable extending in a hoistway;

a base to which the supporting member is fixed;

at least one projecting portion including an expanded-diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of a base portion, the at least one projecting portion being provided to one of the supporting member and the base; and

a fastening hole, through which the at least one projecting portion is to be inserted, the fastening hole being provided to another of the supporting member and the base so as to correspond to the at least one projecting portion, wherein:

the fastening hole comprises a passage portion and a retaining portion;

the passage portion has a size which allows the expanded-diameter portion of the at least one projecting portion to pass therethrough; and

the retaining portion has a size which prevents the expanded-diameter portion of the at least one projecting portion from passing therethrough and allows the base portion to pass therethrough.

2. A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one projecting portion comprises a fastening member screwed from the base side into a portion of the supporting member, which faces the base; and

the base portion comprises a threaded-shaft portion of the fastening member, and the expanded-diameter portion comprises a screw head portion of the fastening member.

3. A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a communication window for the cable, which is formed through the base,
wherein the passage portion of the fastening hole is formed of the communication window.

4. A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

a plurality of projecting portions is prepared as the at least one projecting portion; and

a plurality of fastening holes corresponding to the plurality of projecting portions is prepared as the fastening hole.

5. A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

the supporting member comprises a covering portion which is open downward; and

the cable is provided inside the covering portion and is guided in a vertical direction by the covering portion.

6. A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the fixing clamp is mounted on an outer surface of the supporting member at a position below the covering portion; and

the cable is interposed between the fixing clamp and the outer surface of the supporting member to be fixed.

7. A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a fixing spring mounted to an inner side of the covering portion of the supporting member,
wherein the fixing spring is mounted to the covering portion by its own elastic restoring force and holds the cable with an inner surface of the covering portion to fix the cable.

8. A cable management apparatus for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a fixing-line member wound around the covering portion of the supporting member,
wherein the fixing-line member extends on an inner side and an outer side of the covering portion alternately and holds the cable with an inner surface of the covering portion to fix the cable.

Drawing