(19)
(11) EP 4 491 563 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
15.01.2025 Bulletin 2025/03

(21) Application number: 23184666.8

(22) Date of filing: 11.07.2023
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B66B 17/12(2006.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
B66B 17/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA
Designated Validation States:
KH MA MD TN

(71) Applicant: Wittur Holding GmbH
85259 Wiedenzhausen (DE)

(72) Inventors:
  • Selek, Mesut
    Istanbul (TR)
  • Ergen, Baris
    Istanbul (TR)
  • Yildiz, Oguzhan
    Istanbul (TR)

(74) Representative: Misselhorn, Hein-Martin 
Patent- und Rechtsanwalt Am Stein 10
85049 Ingolstadt
85049 Ingolstadt (DE)

   


(54) COUNTERWEIGHT FOR A SUSPENSION MEANS ELEVATOR


(57) A counterweight for a suspension means elevator for a compensation of the weight force with which a car loads its suspension means, wherein the counterweight comprises a supporting structure with at least one cross beam, which supports the at least one mass body and at least one deflection pulley for the suspension means, wherein the deflection pulley is rotating about an axis which is coaxial or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam, wherein the at least one deflection pulley is housed in the cross beam.




Description


[0001] The invention relates to a counterweight for a suspension means elevator according to the generic term of claim 1.

[0002] The invention further relates to the correspondingly equipped elevator according to the generic term of claim 13.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND



[0003] Usually, elevators comprise counterweights in order to balance the cabin load. In common suspension means elevators, the elevator motor consumes less power and needs less torque thanks to the counterweight. Moreover, it is advantageous to suspend the car and the counterweight in block and tackle arrangement instead of suspending it 1:1. This way the required motor torque will be reduced, which allows the use of smaller, less expensive motors. For the purpose of realizing a block and tackle arrangement at least one deflection pulley explicitly for the counterweight is needed.

[0004] Traditionally, all designs of such counterweights have these basic elements: At least one rotating deflection pulley with bearings on a fixed shaft, a top protection for parts that may fall on the pulley from above, parts that will prevent the suspension means from coming out of the pulley groove from both sides and bottom. In addition, the pulley must be removable for maintenance or replacement.

[0005] In traditional pulley constructions, the deflection pulley is usually protected against falling parts by a separate sheet metal part. This means an increase in the number of parts. Often, this also means that the overall height of the counterweight is increased. The higher counterweight construction has negative consequences in many ways, for example that the vertical space needed to place counterweights is reduced. To fit a certain weight into less vertical space, higher density and more expensive materials must be used as mass bodies for the counterweight.

[0006] While the suspension means attached to the deflection pulley of the counterweight (or only "deflection pulley" or "pulley"), suspension means that enter from one side of the pulley may not easily exit from the other side. This requires the installer to carefully follow the suspension means under the pulley and guide the suspension means with his hand, if necessary. In some existing designs, half-round shaped covers allow for easier assembly of the suspension means and prevent this problem. Although this is a simple solution, the production of such a part requires a mold. Mold production increases the average cost of the part, especially when not very high volumes are produced.

[0007] Furthermore, CN216889647U shows a typical construction according to the state of the art. Here, the deflection pulley is held by an extension which protrudes upwards from the actual cross beam of the supporting structure that carries the mass bodies. In this way, the deflection pulley requires considerable free space in the shaft head. Once more, if the counterweight is still to be as compact as possible in the vertical direction because there is little or no space in the area of the shaft head and pit, then the counterweight may have to be fitted with mass bodies that have a higher specific weight than the usual ones that are mostly made out of steel.

THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION



[0008] In the light of this, it is the object or "task" of the invention to provide a counterweight which - for a given width - is particularly compact in the vertical direction.

THE SOLUTION ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION



[0009] This task is solved by a device with the features of claim 1.

[0010] According to the invention, a counterweight for a suspension means elevator (in German: Tragmittelaufzug) for a complete or partial compensation of the weight force with which an elevator car loads its suspension means is proposed. Said suspension means preferably consist of one or more ropes or belts. The counterweight comprises a supporting structure with at least one cross beam which is consisting of one or more parts. This "cross beam" is not always but in most cases a beam whose greatest longitudinal extension extends transversely or substantially perpendicularly to the direction in which the counterweight moves up and down the elevator shaft during intended operation, and which extends over the major part of the width of the counterweight or preferably extends substantially from one outer edge of the counterweight to the other outer edge of the counterweight.

[0011] Said supporting structure supports at least one mass body and at least one deflection pulley for the suspension means, wherein the deflection pulley is rotating about an axis which is coaxial or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam. Said longitudinal axis is the axis in the direction of the greatest longitudinal extension of the cross beam.

[0012] The counterweight according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one deflection pulley is housed at least partially - ideally predominantly or substantially completely - in the cross beam.

[0013] "Housed in the cross beam" in a broader sense means that the rotational axis of the at least one deflection pulley is running inside the box that the cross beam spans, wherein the cross beam is preferably directly connected with one longitudinal beam on each horizontal side and the cross beam is preferably not or not essentially protruding the longitudinal beam in the vertical direction or only protruding the longitudinal beam by at most 30 cm in the vertical direction.

[0014] In the narrower sense "housed in the cross beam" according to the invention means that the at least one deflection pulley is at least partially and preferably predominantly or substantially completely enclosed by the cross beam or the box that the cross beam spans. It is preferred that the at least one deflection pulley protrudes the cross beam or the box that the cross beam spans - preferably on two opposing vertical sides of the cross beam - by at most 20% of the diameter of the respective deflection pulley. Ideally, the respective deflection pulley protrudes the cross beam or the box that the cross beam spans only so far that the suspension means can pass the vertical sides of the cross beam unhindered, in some cases with the safety distance commanded by the German elevator standards.

[0015] Therefore, a very compact design in the vertical direction can be ensured, as the at least one deflection pulley is not protruding the cross beam in the vertical direction and therefore the direction in which the counterweight is driven up and down.

PREFERRED DESIGN OPTIONS



[0016] Preferably, the cross beam has at least one window, preferably as a cutout or aperture, through which the deflection pulley projects outwardly and therefore beyond the side surface in which the window is located. This ensures a more desired and unhindered course of the suspension means.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferred that the window is at least partially covered by a protective plate that spans the window with clearance, in such a way that the suspension means running onto or off the deflection pulley can pass unhindered - or essentially unhindered through the cross beam's outer surface surrounding the window and the inner surface of the protective plate, ideally in such a way that the suspension means closes off the major part of the free opening cross section remaining at the top between the cross beam and the protective plate. The protective plate helps to ensure that as far as possible no foreign bodies can stray into the area of the deflection pulley and the suspension means running around it. The term "protective plate" does not imply any material specification, but it may be made of plastic or preferably of metal.

[0018] It is preferred that two bearing plates are arranged in the cross beam, each of which holds a free end of a deflection pulley axle. The axle of the deflection pulley can thus be supported in the immediate vicinity of the deflection pulley, which keeps its deflection small. Said bearing plate preferably is a bracket, preferably designed as a sheet metal with several bends.

[0019] It is preferred that at least one, preferably all, bearing plates are preferably bolted to the cross beam by means of elongated holes in such a way that the bearing plates can be displaced - parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam- within the cross beam in such a way that the deflection pulley axle disengages therefrom. This results in a considerably simplified mountability and dismountability.

[0020] Furthermore, it is preferred that the respective bearing plate is a, preferably substantially rectangular, metal sheet which is bent by about 90° in each case at least along its opposing vertical sides and ideally also along its upper horizontal side. This ensures the needed stability, buckling stability and easier fixability to the cross beam.

[0021] It is preferred that the cross beam is closed at the top, at least in the area in which it receives the at least one deflection pulley. This is as to prevent objects falling down the shaft, such as bolts or nuts slipped out of the hands of the service technician working on the car roof, can fall into the cross beam in the area of the deflection pulley and then get jammed between the deflection pulley and the cross beam or even be drawn into the gap between the suspension means running onto the deflection pulley and the deflection pulley. Same applies in regard to debris including (especially in winter time) little stones which may pass the slight gap between the sill of the car body and the adjacent wall of the elevator shaft, in order to fall down the elevator shaft hereinafter.

[0022] It is preferred that the cross beam consists of several - preferably two - sheets, which are connected to one another at or in the area of their horizontal ends by a longitudinal beam in each case. Said "longitudinal beam" is a beam whose greatest longitudinal extent extends - at least substantially - parallel the direction in which the counterweight moves up and down the elevator shaft during intended operation and therefore in the vertical direction.

[0023] It is preferred that the sheets forming the cross beam are bent along their horizontal sides. That way a stability and/or strength increase can be ensured.

[0024] It is also preferred that the bearing plates are held in position on the cross beam by direct positive interaction (i. e. not only indirectly by bolts) with the cross beam, preferably in that the bearing plates - ideally with their own bend - rest directly against a bend of the cross beam. This ensures a particularly good protection against the deflection pulley bearing shifting inside the cross beam in the event of an overload occurring outside regular operation.

[0025] Furthermore, it is preferred that a guide plate for the suspension means is provided immediately below each deflection pulley, extending from an area immediately below one window in the cross beam to an area immediately below the opposite window in the cross beam, and thereby preferably approaches the underside of the deflection pulley at least locally to such an extent that the suspension means cannot move sideways out of their seat on the deflection pulley. This facilitates the mounting of the suspension means, as the end of the suspension means can be pushed in at one window and then comes out again by itself at the opposite window. Furthermore, this ensures special safety against unintentional slipping of the suspension means out of their seat on the deflection pulley.

[0026] It is also preferred that the guide plate for the suspension means approximates the shape of the deflection pulley by multiple folding. This results in a simpler manufacturability, as there is no pressing tool required to impress a partially cylindrical recess onto the guide plate.

[0027] Further possible configurations, modes of operation and advantages result from the dependent claims and/or the subsequent description of the exemplary embodiment and/or with reference to the figures.

FIGURE LIST



[0028] 

Figure 1 shows the upper part of a counterweight according to the invention in three-dimensional view.

Figure 2 shows the upper part of a counterweight according to the invention in three-dimensional view as in Figure 1, but without one sheet of the cross beam.

Figure 3 shows - analogous to Figure 2 - the upper part of a counterweight without one sheet of the cross beam, but in two-dimensional front view and with the bearing plates being displaced in such a way that the deflection pulley axle is disengaged therefrom.

Figure 4 shows a section of the upper part of the counterweight according to the invention in two-dimensional side view.


PREFERRED EMBODIMENT



[0029] Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 show a preferred embodiment of the counterweight 1 according to the invention.

[0030] The counterweight 1 preferably comprises a supporting structure 2 with at least one cross beam 3 on top of the counterweight 1, facing the shaft ceiling, and at least two longitudinal beams 12 that are connected to the cross beam 3 at or in the area of its horizontal ends. The counterweight 1 also comprises mass bodies 4 in order to ensure the desired weight of the counterweight 1.

[0031] The cross beam 3 preferably consists of two separate sheets 14 which are connected to one another by said longitudinal beams 12. Furthermore, preferably each sheet 14 of the cross beam 3 comprises at least one window 7, also dependent on the number of deflection pulleys 5 being used. In the shown preferred embodiment four deflection pulleys 5 are used, wherein two deflection pulleys 5 are arranged right beside each other and two deflection pulleys 5 protrude one window 7, which is why two windows 7 on each sheet 14 of the cross beam 3 are provided. Furthermore, the windows 7 are preferably arranged in such a way, that the windows 7 facing each other and therefore on another sheet 14 are corresponding to each other, preferably symmetrically identical (see Fig. 4).

[0032] The deflection pulleys 5 are housed in the cross beam 3 and only slightly protrude the outside surface of the cross beam 3 through the lateral windows 7 (see Fig. 1). The windows 7 are preferably at least partially covered by a protective plate 8 in order to prevent possible hand injury and prevent the suspension means from coming out of the groove on the sides.

[0033] Preferably the protective plates themselves have little windows or a mesh-like structure allowing visual inspection of the covered portion of the suspension means.

[0034] While the preferred U-shaped sheets 14 of the cross beam 3 create a robust structure, their upper bending 15 provides additional structural security by preventing upward movement with shape bond. The upper bending 15 also covers the deflection pulleys 5 in a sufficient area, eliminating the need for additional protection against falling parts.

[0035] Figure 2 shows the inside of the cross beam 3 by showing it without the front sheet 14. The axle 10 of the pulleys 5 or the pulley group is connected to a bearing plate 9 at both ends. The bearing plate 9 is connected to the cross beam 3 or its sheets 14 with the bends on both sides and makes the structural integrity of the cross beam 3 even stronger. Its upper bending preferably touches on the upper bending 15 of the sheets 14, making the upward movement of the pulley group physically impossible. In this way, additional security is provided to the bolt connections.

[0036] Thanks to the elongated holes 11 in the cross beam sheets 14, the bearing plates 9 can be moved outwards during assembly and disassembly. This makes both assembly and disassembly much easier. Even if it is preferred, the elongated holes 11 need not to be mandatorily in the cross beam sheets 14, but also could be in the bearing plates 9 instead.

[0037] The guide plate 13 is a simple part that preferably can be produced easily with conventional sheet metal bending machines and does not require molds. Although it is an easy part to manufacture, it fulfills several functions thanks to its special shape.

[0038] First, it prevents the suspension means from coming out of the groove of the pulley.

[0039] Second, at the suspension means assembly, when the installer pushes the suspension means under the pulley 5, it provides the suspension means to come out of the opposite window 7. Thanks to the correct angles in the guide plate 13, it is not possible for the suspension means end to get stuck in any place and not come out. The shape guides the suspension means towards the window 7.

[0040] Third, when a pulley replacement is required for maintenance, a sheet 14 of the cross beam 3 is removed, and the bearing plates 9 are moved outwards on the elongated holes 11 (see Fig. 3). At this stage, thanks to its nest shape (see Fig. 4), it allows the pulleys 5 to remain in approximately the same position temporarily. It acts as a temporary holder so that the pulleys 5 do not fall down or forward. Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 also show the rotational axis 6 of the deflection pulleys 5, wherein the rotational axis 6 in Figure 3 is only an imaginary rotational axis, as this is not the intended position for the rotation, because the axle 10 is not held by the bearing plates 9 anymore.

REFERENCE LIST



[0041] 
1
Counterweight
2
Supporting structure
3
Cross beam
4
Mass body
5
Deflection pulley
6
Rotational axis of the deflection pulley
7
Window
8
Protective plate
9
Bearing plate
10
Axle of the deflection pulley
11
Elongated hole
12
Longitudinal beam
13
Guide plate
14
Sheet of the cross beam
15
Upper bending



Claims

1. A counterweight (1) for a suspension means elevator for a compensation of the weight force with which a car loads its suspension means, wherein the counterweight (1) comprises a supporting structure (2) with at least one cross beam (3), which supports the at least one mass body (4) and at least one deflection pulley (5) for the suspension means, wherein the deflection pulley (5) is rotating about an axis (6) which is coaxial or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam (3), characterized in that the at least one deflection pulley (5) is housed in the cross beam.
 
2. The counterweight (1) for a suspension means elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross beam (3) has at least one window (7) through which the deflection pulley (5) projects outwardly.
 
3. The counterweight (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the window (7) is at least partially covered by a protective plate (8) that spans the window (7) with clearance, in such a way that the suspension means running onto or off the deflection pulley (5) can pass unhindered through the cross beam's (3) outer surface surrounding the window (7) and the inner surface of the protective plate (8), ideally in such a way that the suspension means closes off the major part of the free opening cross section remaining at the top between the cross beam (3) and the protective plate (8).
 
4. The counterweight (1) for a suspension means elevator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two bearing plates (9) are arranged in the cross beam (3), each of which holds a free end of a deflection pulley axle (10).
 
5. The counterweight (1) for a suspension means elevator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably all, bearing plates (9) are preferably bolted to the cross beam (3) by means of elongated holes (11) in such a way that the bearing plates (9) can be displaced within the cross beam (3) in such a way that the deflection pulley axle (10) disengages therefrom.
 
6. The counterweight (1) for a suspension means elevator according to the immediately preceding claim, characterized in that the respective bearing plate (9) is a, preferably substantially rectangular, metal sheet which is bent by about 90° in each case at least along its opposing vertical sides and ideally also along its upper horizontal side.
 
7. The counterweight (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross beam (3) is closed at the top, at least in the area in which it receives the at least one deflection pulley (5).
 
8. The counterweight (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross beam (3) consists of several sheets (14), which are connected to one another at or in the area of their horizontal ends by a longitudinal beam (12) in each case.
 
9. The counterweight (1) according to the immediately preceding claim, characterized in that the sheets (14) forming the cross beam (3) are bent along their horizontal sides.
 
10. The counterweight (1) according to the immediately preceding claim in conjunction with claim 6, characterized in that the bearing plates (9) are held in position on the cross beam (3) by direct positive interaction with the cross beam (3), preferably in that the bearing plates (9) rest directly against a bend of the cross beam (3).
 
11. The counterweight (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a guide plate (13) for the suspension means is provided immediately below each deflection pulley (5), extending from an area immediately below one window (7) in the cross beam (3) to an area immediately below the opposite window (7) in the cross beam (3) and thereby preferably approaches the underside of the deflection pulley (5) at least locally to such an extent that the suspension means cannot move sideways out of its seat on the deflection pulley (5).
 
12. The counterweight (1) according to the immediately preceding claim, characterized in that the guide plate (13) for the suspension means approximates the shape of the deflection pulley (5) by multiple folding.
 
13. Elevator having a car which is connected to a counterweight via a suspension means preferably looped around a traction sheave, the car and the counterweight being guided on guide rails and being movable in the vertical direction, characterized in that the counterweight is a counterweight (1) according to one of the preceding claims.
 




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Search report




Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description