Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator rope.
Background Art
[0002] Generally, an elevator car is suspended by a wire rope (hereinafter, referred to
as a "rope" or "elevator rope"). This rope is wound around the drive sheave of a winding
machine, and is driven by friction between the rope and the rope groove on the surface
of the sheave to raise or lower the car.
[0003] Meanwhile, it is demanded, for example, for a machine-room-less elevator, in which
a winding machine is installed in a hoistway, to have a smaller size of the winding
machine in order to reduce the cross-sectional area of the hoistway. Means for realizing
this include making the drive sheave thinner. Making the drive sheave thinner makes
it possible to reduce the dimension of the axial length of the winding machine, and
to reduce the size of the winding machine. Because of this, as elevator ropes, high-strength
ropes that individually have high breaking strengths and allow reduction of the required
number of ropes for suspending a car are demanded.
[0004] As a configuration for realizing high-strength ropes, for example, PTL 1 discloses
an elevator main rope including: an IWRC (Independent Wire Rope Core) having a core
strand, a plurality of peripheral strands arranged around the core strand, and a covering
resin that covers the core strand and the plurality of peripheral strands; and a plurality
of main strands arranged around the IWRC. In the elevator main rope, the plurality
of peripheral strands are arranged at approximately equal intervals on the circumference
of an imaginary-layer core circle on which the center of each of the plurality of
peripheral strands is positioned, and the ratio, to the circumferential length of
the imaginary-layer core circle, of the sum of gaps between pairs of peripheral strands
that are included in the plurality of peripheral strands, and are each adjacent to
each other in the circumferential direction of the imaginary-layer core circle is
equal to or higher than 8.5%.
[0005] The rope disclosed in PTL 1 is constituted by elementary wires. The elementary wires
are made thin by being subjected to wire drawing, and have a breaking strength which
is increased to the level of 2300 MPa (the elementary-wire breaking strength of generally
widely used elevator ropes is about 1620 to 1910 MPa). The strength of a rope improves
in proportion to the elementary-wire strength, which allows reduction of the number
of ropes.
Citation List
Patent Literature
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0007] The number of ropes to be used for an elevator is determined on the basis of the
ratio between the load to be borne per rope and the breaking strength, and improvement
in the breaking strength per rope can reduce the number of ropes to be used per elevator.
Although there is a method of improving the breaking strength per elementary wire
constituting a wire rope as one of methods to improve the breaking strength of wire
ropes, the modulus of elasticity per elementary wire is not proportional to the breaking
strength, and so the rigidity of entire ropes lowers corresponding to the reduced
number of ropes. Accordingly, for example, when the load on ropes changed suddenly
due to passengers getting in and off an elevator, the amount of elongation or contraction
of the ropes increases, and the ride comfort deteriorates inevitably.
[0008] In order to prevent this, elevator ropes are demanded to have characteristics of
being not easily elongated even if tension is applied thereto. However, in PTL 1,
attention is paid mainly to improvement of the service life of ropes enabled by suppression
of contact between elementary wires having a higher strength, and rope elongation
is not considered.
[0009] In view of the circumstance explained above, an object of the present invention is
to provide elevator ropes that allow reduction of the amount of change of rope elongation
that results from a change in rope tension due to passengers getting in and off an
elevator even if the breaking strength of ropes is improved to reduce the number of
ropes.
Solution to Problem
[0010] In order to achieve the object explained above, the present invention provides an
elevator rope formed by intertwisting a plurality of strands formed by intertwisting
a plurality of steel wires, wherein when a diameter of the elevator rope is defined
as d (mm), intervals between turns of the strands are defined as a rope pitch P
1, and intervals between turns of the steel wires are defined as a strand pitch P
2, a ratio a of P
1 to d, a ratio b of P
2 to d and a breaking strength T (N) of the elevator rope satisfy the following Formula
A.
[Equation 1]

[0011] In the formula explained above, E denotes a modulus of longitudinal elasticity (MPa)
of a material used in the elevator rope, G denotes a modulus of transverse elasticity
(MPa) of the material used in the elevator rope, and N denotes the number of the strands.
[0012] In addition, in order to achieve the object explained above, the present invention
provides an elevator rope formed by intertwisting a plurality of strands formed by
intertwisting a plurality of steel wires, wherein the steel wires are formed by intertwisting
a plurality of elementary wires, and when a diameter of the elevator rope is defined
as d (mm), intervals between turns of the strands are defined as a rope pitch P
1, and intervals between turns of the steel wires are defined as a strand pitch P
2, a ratio a of P
1 to d, a ratio b of P
2 to d and a breaking strength T (N) of the elevator rope satisfy Formula A explained
above.
[0013] Specific configurations of the present invention are described in the scope of claims.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0014] The present invention can provide elevator wire ropes that allow reduction of the
amount of change of rope elongation that results from a change in rope tension due
to passengers getting in and off an elevator even if the breaking strength of ropes
is improved to reduce the number of ropes.
[0015] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those explained above become apparent
from the following explanation of embodiments.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0016]
Figure 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a first example of an elevator
rope of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side view schematically illustrating a second example of the elevator
rope of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a figure illustrating a relationship between tension T and elongation
δLτ and δLρ of the elevator rope.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elevator rope having an outermost
layer which is constituted by ten strands.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elevator rope having an outermost
layer which is constituted by six strands.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elevator rope including strands
having outermost layers each constituted by six steel wires.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elevator rope including strands
having outermost layers each constituted by twelve steel wires.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elevator rope (threefold-twisted)
having steel wires formed by twisting elementary wires.
Figure 9 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the strand-pitch multiple
and the rope-pitch multiple at the time when the rope-distortion amount is 0.55%.
Figure 10 is a side view schematically illustrating an elevator rope fabricated for
a test.
Figure 11 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the rope elongation amount
δL1, and the rope pitch P1 and the strand pitch P2.
Description of Embodiments
[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of an elevator wire rope according to the present invention
are explained with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2.
[0018] Figure 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a first example of the elevator
rope of the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 1, the elevator rope 1 is
formed by intertwisting a plurality of strands 2 formed by intertwisting a plurality
of steel wires 3. Figure 1 illustrates only one strand 2 and one steel wire 3 for
better visibility of the drawing.
[0019] Although not illustrated in Figure 1, a core (a fiber core, a steel wire core, etc.)
is arranged at the center of the elevator rope 1, and the strands 2 are twisted around
the core. The plurality of strands 2 are arranged with nearly equal gaps therebetween
on the same circumference. The same also applies to the steel wires 3. Note that,
other than being arranged circumferentially each in a single layer in radial directions,
the strands 2 and the steel wires 3 may be arranged in a plurality of layers such
as a two-layer arrangement in which two layers of the strands 2 and/or two layers
of the steel wires 3 are arranged on circumferences, a three-layer arrangement in
which three layers of the strands 2 and/or three layers of the steel wires 3 are arranged
on circumferences, and the like.
[0020] In the present invention, the longitudinal length (interval of turns) of one complete
turn of one strand 2 constituting the elevator rope is defined as a rope pitch P
1, and the longitudinal length (interval of turns) of one complete turn of a steel
wire 3 constituting the strand 2 is defined as a strand pitch P
2. In other words, the rope pitch P
1 is a longitudinal length over which one strand 2 makes one complete turn around the
core, and the strand pitch P
2 is a longitudinal length over which one steel wire 3 makes one complete around the
central axis of a strand.
[0021] Figure 2 is a side view schematically illustrating a second example of the elevator
rope of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates a steel wire 3 formed by intertwisting
a plurality of elementary wires 3a. The present invention can also be applied to an
elevator rope with such a configuration. The longitudinal length (interval of turns)
of one complete turn of an elementary wire 3a constituting the steel wire 3 is defined
as a steel-wire pitch P
3.
[0022] Next, the mechanism of occurrence of elongation of an elevator rope is explained
by using Figure 3. Figure 3 is a figure illustrating a relationship between tension
T and elongation δLτ and δLρ of the elevator rope. In a case discussed here, the tension
T acts on twisted strands in the axial direction of a central axis 30 of the twist.
Elongation of the strand 2 observed at this time is given as the sum of the elongation
δLτ produced by a shear force acting on cross-sections of the strand 2 to elongate
the twist, and the elongation δLρ produced by tension acting in the axial direction
of an axis 31 extending in the direction perpendicular to the cross-sections of the
strand 2 to generate minute distortions in the strand 2 itself (there is an angle
θ° formed between the central axis 30 of the twist and the axis 31 in the direction
perpendicular to strand cross-sections).
[0023] Accordingly, elongation δL
1 observed when tension T
1 acts on elevator rope with a length L
1 in the direction of the central axis of the twist of the strand can be expressed
by the following Formula (1). Similarly, elongation δL
2 observed when tension T
2 is applied in the direction of the central axis of the twist of a steel wire 3 with
a length L
2 can be expressed by the following Formula (2), and elongation δL
3 observed when tension T
3 is applied in the direction of the central axis of the twist of an elementary wire
3a with a length L
3 can be expressed by the following Formula (3).

where L
1 denotes the length (mm) of the twist of the strand in its central-axis direction,
L
2 denotes the length (mm) of the twist of the steel wire in its central-axis direction,
and L
3 denotes the length (mm) of the twist of the elementary wire in its central-axis direction.
[0024] Since, in a strand constituted by a plurality of steel wires being intertwisted,
the direction perpendicular to strand cross-sections coincides with the direction
of the central axis of the twist of the steel wires, tension that is applied in the
direction perpendicular to the strand cross-sections is a force that is applied in
the direction of the central axis of the twist of the steel wires. Therefore, the
elongation δL
1ρ caused by tension on the strand is presumably equal to the elongation δL
2 of the entire steel wires. This relationship also applies to a steel wire constituted
by a plurality of elementary wires being intertwisted. By combining the relationships
mentioned above, elongation of a twofold-twisted rope (a rope formed by twisting strands
and steel wires in Figure 2) can be expressed by Formula (4), and elongation of a
threefold-twisted rope (a rope formed by twisting strands, steel wires and elementary
wires in Figure 3) can be expressed by Formula (5).

[0025] For Formulae (4) and (5), elongation δL
1τ observed when the tension T
1 is applied in the direction of the central axis of the twist of strands with the
length L
1 is obtained from the following Formula (6) where K
1τ denotes the spring constant of the strands, and K
1τ can be expressed by the following Formula (7). A similar formula is also seen when
the spring constant of a coil spring is obtained, for example.

[0026] Here, G denotes the modulus of transverse elasticity (MPa) of the strands, S
1 denotes the cross-sectional area (mm
2) per strand, n
1 denotes the number of twists of the strands per length L
1, and do denotes the rope diameter (mm) .
[0027] Similarly, elongation δL
2τ observed when the tension T
2 is applied in the direction of the central axis of the twist of steel wires with
the length L
2 is obtained from the following Formula (8) where K
2τ denotes the spring constant of the steel wires, and K
2τ can be expressed by a formula which is the following (9). Furthermore, elongation
δL
3τ observed when the tension T
3 is applied in the direction of the central axis of the twist of elementary wires
with the length L
3 is obtained from the following Formula (10) where K
3τ denotes the spring constant of the elementary wires, and K
3τ can be expressed by a formula which is the following (11). It should be noted, however,
that in the case of strands, there are geometrical constraints only in one axial direction
(an up/down direction), but in the case of steel wires, there are geometrical constraints
in three axial directions (all of an up/down direction, a front/rear direction and
a left/right direction) since steel wires are twisted further. Accordingly, as the
order of twist increases, the spring constant of steel wires increases, and so multiplication
by a constraint coefficient is added.

[0028] Here, S
2 denotes the cross-sectional area (mm
2) per steel wire, n
2 denotes the number of twists of steel wires per length L
2, and α denotes a constraint coefficient (α=10).

[0029] Here, S
3 denotes the cross-sectional area (mm
2) per elementary wire, n
3 denotes the number of twists of elementary wires per length L
3, and α denotes a constraint coefficient (α=10).
[0030] Note that the numbers of twists of strands, steel wires and elementary wires are
values determined by the rope pitch P
1, the strand pitch P
2, and the steel-wire pitch P
3, and assuming that the ratio of the rope pitch to the rope diameter do is a (P
1/d
0), the ratio of the strand pitch to the rope diameter d
0 is b (P
2/d
0), and the ratio of the steel-wire pitch to the rope diameter d
0 is c (P
3/d
0), the numbers of twists of strands, steel wires and elementary wires can be expressed
by Formulae (12) to (14).

[0031] Next, a relationship between: the rope cross-sectional structure; the strand diameter,
the steel-wire diameter, and the elementary-wire diameter; and the strand twist diameter,
the steel-wire twist diameter, and the elementary-wire twist diameter is explained
by using Figure 4 to Figure 8. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of
an elevator rope having an outermost layer constituted by ten strands. Figure 5 is
a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an elevator rope having an outermost layer
constituted by six strands. In Figure 4 and Figure 5, the numbers of steel wires of
the outermost layers of the strands are nine. In addition, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional
schematic diagram of an elevator rope including strands having outermost layers each
constituted by six steel wires. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of
an elevator rope including strands having outermost layers each constituted by twelve
steel wires. In Figure 6 and Figure 7, the numbers of strands at the outermost layers
of the elevator ropes are eight. Furthermore, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional schematic
diagram of an elevator rope (threefold-twisted) having steel wires formed by twisting
elementary wires.
[0032] As illustrated in Figure 4 to Figure 8, strands, steel wires, and elementary wire
are arranged almost evenly on circumferences. Accordingly, the strand diameter: d
1, the steel-wire diameter: d
2, the elementary-wire diameter: d
3, the strand twist diameter: D
1, the steel-wire twist diameter: D
2, and the elementary-wire twist diameter: D
3 are obtained geometrically, and the relationships of the following Formulae (15)
to (17) hold true.

[0033] Here, N
1 denotes the number of outermost-layer strands.

[0034] Here, N
2 denotes the number of outermost-layer steel wires.

[0035] Here, N
3 denotes the number of outermost-layer elementary wires.
[0036] Next, tension to be applied per outermost-layer strand, outermost-layer steel wire,
and outermost-layer elementary wire when tension T
0 is applied to a rope is obtained. The tension is determined by the ratios of the
cross-sectional areas of strands, steel wires, and elementary wires, and can be obtained
geometrically. When the tension to act on outermost-layer strands is defined as T
1, the tension to act on outermost-layer steel wires is defined as T
2, and the tension to act on outermost-layer elementary wires is defined as T
3, T
1, T
2 and T
3 can be expressed by formulae which are the following (18) to (20) .

[0037] Next, a relationship between the strand, steel-wire, and elementary-wire twist angles
of is explained. The twist angles are determined by the rope pitch P
1, the strand pitch P
2, the steel-wire pitch P
3, the strand twist diameter, the steel-wire twist diameter, and the elementary-wire
twist diameter, and can be expressed by the following Formulae (21) to (23).

[0038] Here, θ
1 denotes the strand twist angle (rad), θ
2 denotes the steel-wire twist angle (rad), and θ
3 denotes the elementary-wire twist angle (rad).
[0039] In addition, the lengths of strands, steel wires, and elementary wires can be obtained
by uses their twist angles. In a strand constituted by intertwisting a plurality of
steel wires, the length of the spiral of a twisted strand (the length of the strand
when it is pulled tight) and the length of the twist of the steel wires in its central-axis
direction are equal to each other. Similarly, in a steel wire constituted by intertwisting
a plurality of elementary wires, the length of the spiral of a twisted steel wire
(the length of the steel wire when it is pulled tight) and the length of the twist
of the elementary wires in its central-axis direction are equal to each other. Accordingly,
a relationship between the length of a strand in its central-axis direction: L
1, the length of a steel wire in its central-axis direction: L
2 and the length of an elementary wire in its central-axis direction: L
3 can be expressed by the following Formulae (24) and (25).

[0040] Next, taking into consideration that the central axis of the twist of the steel wire
and the perpendicular axis of a cross-section of the steel wire are angled relative
to each other due to the twist of the steel wire, elongation δL
2ρ observed when the tension T
2 is applied in the direction of the central axis of the twist of a steel wire with
the length L
2 can be obtained according to the following Formula (26) where K
2ρ denotes the spring constant of the steel wire, and K
2ρ can be expressed by the following Formula (27).

[0041] Here, E denotes the modulus of longitudinal elasticity (MPa) of the steel wire.
[0042] Similarly, taking into consideration that the central axis of the twist of the elementary
wire and the perpendicular axis of a cross-section of the elementary wire are angled
relative to each other due to the twist of the elementary wire, elongation δL
3ρ observed when the tension T
3 is applied in the direction of the central axis of the twist of a elementary wire
with the length L
3 can be obtained according to the following Formula (28) where K
3ρ denotes the spring constant of the steel wire, and K
3ρ can be expressed by Formula (29).

[0043] Accordingly, by combining the calculation formulae of the Formula (1) to Formula
(29) mentioned above, the elongation amount: δL
1 observed when tension: T
0 is applied to a twofold-twisted rope with a rope diameter: do and a length: L
1 which is constituted by N
1 strands and N
2 steel wires that are twisted at the ratio: a of the rope pitch to the rope diameter
and at the ratio: b of the strand pitch to the rope diameter can be expressed by the
following Formula (30).
[Equation 2]

[0044] Similarly, the elongation amount: δL
1 observed when tension: T
0 is applied to a threefold-twisted rope with a rope diameter: d
0 and a length: L
1 which is constituted by N
1 strands, N
2 steel wires, and N
3 elementary wires that are twisted at the ratio: a of the rope pitch to the rope diameter,
the ratio: b of the strand pitch to the rope diameter, and the ratio c of the steel-wire
pitch to the rope diameter can be expressed by the following Formula (31) .
[Equation 3]

[0045] From Formulae (30) and (31) mentioned above, it can be found that while the distortion
amounts of both the twofold-twisted rope and the threefold-twisted rope decrease as
the number of strands: N
1 increases, the number of steel wires: N
2 and the number of elementary wires: N
3 do not affect the rope distortion amounts. This is because while rope cross-sectional
areas increase as the numbers of strands increase, the rope cross-sectional areas
barely change even if the number of steel wires or the number of elementary wires
is increased or decreased. Accordingly, when rope elongation is examined, it is not
necessary to consider the number of steel wires: N
2 and the number of elementary wires: N
3.
[0046] In addition, as Formulae (9) and (10) mentioned above indicate about twist pitches,
rope elongation is affected less as the order of twist increases. With the ratio of
steel-wire pitch: c, the influence is merely 1/100 of the ratio of rope pitch: a,
which influence is a very small value. Accordingly, the steel-wire twist pitch can
presumably be neglected in examination of rope elongation. Therefore, in the present
invention, the rope pitch ratio a and the strand pitch ratio b may be defined, and
so the ratio c of the pitch of steel wires which constitute the inside of a strand
does not have to be considered.
[0047] If rope breaking strength is improved according to the principles explained above,
about the problem that the load to be borne per rope increases and the rope elongation
(rope-distortion amount) increases inevitably, it can be found from Formula (30) and
Formula (31) mentioned above that the rope-distortion amount can be reduced by increasing
the rope pitch P
1 and the strand pitch P
2.
[0048] That is, as mentioned above, elongation that is produced by applying a load on twisted
steel wires is the sum of elongation produced by elongation of the twist due to a
shear force acting on rope cross-sections, and elongation produced by minute distortions
of a strand itself due to a tension acting in the direction perpendicular to cross-sections.
Therefore, by making the pitches of twists longer, it is possible to reduce elongation
produced by the twists being elongated, and to suppress the overall elongation of
the rope.
[0049] The configuration of an elevator rope in the present invention (the numbers of strands,
steel wires and elementary wires) is arbitrary. In addition, twist pitches (of the
steel wire 3 in the present invention) other than the outer two pieces (the rope 1
and the strand 2 in the present invention) constituting the elevator rope need not
be considered in the present invention. For example, other than the configurations
illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, there is also a configuration of an elevator
rope formed by intertwisting a plurality of unit ropes formed by intertwisting a plurality
of strands, and in this case, twists of the elevator rope and the unit ropes may be
made longer.
[0050] On the other hand, since as the rope pitch, the strand pitch, and the steel-wire
pitch are made longer, the numbers of times of twist decrease, and it becomes easier
for the twists to be untwisted, the form of a rope cannot be maintained in some cases.
In that case, it becomes possible to keep the rope shape by covering the rope with
plastic and/or resin.
[0051] Next, a design of an elevator rope by using Formulae (30) and (31) explained above
is explained. Since if the distortion amount of a rope increases in an elevator, not
only ride comfort is affected, but also the risk of stumbles at a step when passengers
get in the car increases, a most relevelling apparatus is provided. However, there
is a fear that toes and the like are caught by the floor if floor-levelling operation
becomes too large, the variation of the car-floor has to be kept at or smaller than
75 mm (the value defined in Notice No. 1429 issued by the Japanese Ministry of Construction
in 2000, "About Stipulation of Structural Method for Controller of Elevator").
[0052] Here, it is assumed that the tolerated rope-distortion amount is 0.092% when the
distance to be travelled by an elevator in a typical high-rise apartment/office building:
80 m is used as a reference distance, and in addition the change amount of a load
in the car is the rope factor of safety: 12 and the rope factor of safety: 10 (the
minimum value of the safety value stipulated in the Building Standards Act). At this
time, the tolerated distortion amount in a case where a rope having not been receiving
a load is brought into the state of the factor of safety: 10 is 0.55%. Therefore,
attaining the factor of safety of 10 or higher requires making the rope-distortion
amount 0.55% or smaller.
[0053] Figure 9 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the strand-pitch multiple
and the rope-pitch multiple at the time when the rope-distortion amount is 0.55%.
The graph illustrates cases where the breaking strength of the material of steel wires
is examined for four conditions which are 1770 MPa, 1910 MPa or lower, 2300 MPa or
lower, and 3200 MPa. In the graph in Figure 9, the rope-distortion amount is smaller
than 0.55% in areas outside each line (areas where the strand-pitch multiple and the
rope-pitch multiple are large).
[0054] Here, elevator ropes with the breaking strength of 1770 MPa are "Grade B" (JIS G3525)
elevator ropes stipulated in the JIS standards (Japanese Industrial Standards), and
elevator ropes with the breaking strength of 1910 MPa are "Grade T" (JIS G3525) elevator
ropes stipulated in the JIS. These two types of elevator ropes are generally widely
used. Elevator ropes with the breaking strength of 2300 MPa and 3200 MPa have strength
still higher than those of the elevator ropes mentioned above that are generally widely
used.
[0055] As illustrated in Figure 9, it can be found that as the breaking strength of an elevator
rope increases, it becomes necessary to increase the strand pitch and the rope pitch
in order to attain the rope-distortion amount of 0.55% or smaller. It can be found
that in the present invention, if P
2=2.5, and Pi=17.2 in a high-strength elevator rope with the breaking strength of 3200
MPa, the rope distortion of 0.55% or smaller can be achieved. In other words, even
if elevator ropes are made stronger (breaking strength: 3200 MPa), and the number
thereof is reduced, the rope distortion can be made 0.55% or smaller as long as P
2=2.5 and P
1=17.2, and the amount of change of rope elongation that occurs due to a change in
rope tension can be reduced sufficiently.
[0056] Even in a case where strands and steel wires having breaking strengths other than
those explained above are used, the rope pitch P
1 and the strand pitch P
2 that are required to make the rope-distortion amount 0.55% or smaller can be computed
by substitution of the value of 1/10 (factor of safety: 10) of the rope breaking strength
into Formula (32).
[0057] Next, a test for confirming the validity of the calculation based on the principles
explained above was performed. Figure 10 is a side view schematically illustrating
a rope fabricated for the test. In the elevator rope 101 for the test, the diameter
do of the elevator rope 1 is 8.0 (mm), the number N
1 of the strands 102 is four, the number of the steel wires 103 at the outermost layers
of the strands 102 is seven, the number of the elementary wires 103a at the outermost
layers of the steel wires 103 is seven, the original rope length (the length of the
twist of the strands in its central-axis direction) L
1 is 21000 (mm), the applied load (tension To) is 6000 (N), the modulus of longitudinal
elasticity E of the steel wires is 205000 MPa, and the modulus of transverse elasticity
G of the steel wires is 170800 MPa. The surface of the elevator rope 101 is covered
with a resin 104 so as to prevent deformation of the rope.
[0058] Figure 11 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the rope elongation amount
δL
1, and the rope pitch P
1 and the strand pitch P
2. In Figure 11, calculated values and experimental values are compared. It is supposed
that the rope pitch is P
1 (mm), the strand pitch is P
2 (mm), and the steel-wire pitch is P
3 (mm) in the elevator rope 101 in Figure 10, and experiments and calculation were
performed for the following Conditions 1 to 3.
Condition 1: Pi=90 (mm), P2=16 (mm), P3=12 (mm)
Condition 2: P1=180 (mm), P2=32 (mm), P3=18 (mm)
Condition 3: P1=360 (mm), P2=60 (mm), P3=24 (mm)
[0059] Figure 11 illustrates elongation-amount calculated values and experimental values
(measurements) of each rope when L
1=21000 (mm) and T
0=6000 (N). The three levels exhibit errors between the calculated values and the experimental
values which are smaller than ±10%, and it can be confirmed that sufficient calculation
accuracy is ensured.
[0060] From the matters that are discussed above, it can be found that "the ratio a of the
rope pitch P
1 to the rope diameter d," and "the ratio b of the strand pitch P
2 to the rope diameter d" may be kept in ranges that satisfy the following Formula
(32) in order to suppress rope-distortion amounts to the predetermined rope-distortion
amount (0.55%) or smaller which is a condition required for elevator wire ropes to
satisfy.
[Equation 4]

[0061] Rearranging Formula (32) explained above such that the left side becomes b gives
Formula A mentioned above.
[0062] As has been explained above, it has been illustrated that the present invention can
provide elevator wire ropes that allow reduction of the amount of change of rope elongation
that results from a change in rope tension due to passengers getting in and off an
elevator even if the breaking strength of ropes is improved to reduce the number of
ropes.
[0063] Note that the present invention is not limited to the examples explained above, and
includes various variants. For example, the examples explained above are explained
in detail for explaining the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and
the present invention is not necessarily limited to embodiments including all the
configurations explained. In addition, it is also possible to replace some of configurations
of an example with configurations of another example, and also possible to add configurations
of an example to configurations of another example. Furthermore, addition, elimination
and replacement of other configurations are possible for some of configurations of
each example.
Reference Signs List
[0064]
- 1, 101...
- elevator rope,
- 2, 102...
- strand,
- 3, 103...
- steel wire,
- 3a, 103a...
- elementary wire,
- 104...
- resin,
- 30...
- central axis of twists,
- 31...
- axis perpendicular to a strand cross-section