Branch connecting structure for hoistway cable

Disclosed herein is a branch connecting structure for a hoistway cable. The structure includes a hoistway cable having a plurality of communication wires in a sheath. A branch cable connects each communication wire to a hall button or an indicator. A terminal block covers a first surface of the hoistway cable, and includes wire terminal members integrally having an input terminal and an output terminal. A branch block covers a first surface of the branch cable, and includes branch terminal members integrally having an input terminal and an output terminal. A first support block covers a second surface of the hoistway cable, and is compressed against the terminal block to be coupled thereto. A second support block covers a second surface of the branch cable, and is compressed against the branch block to be coupled thereto. A cover covers outer circumferences of the terminal block and the branch block.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 20-2010-0007925 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jul. 28, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a branch connecting structure for a hoistway cable and, more particularly, to a branch connecting structure for a hoistway cable, which is mounted to a wall of a hoistway to make communication between a machine room for controlling an elevator, and a hall button, provided on a side of an entrance to the elevator in a building and used by a user on each floor to call the elevator, and an indicator indicating the floor at which the elevator is located.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, an elevator, which is used to transport people and freight in a vertical direction, has a hall button on each floor of a building in which the elevator is installed. The hall button is provided on a wall around an entrance to the elevator, and is used by a user to call the elevator. Further, an indicator is provided to indicate in real-time the floor at which the elevator is located currently. The hall button and the indicator are electrically connected to a controller of a machine room which is provided on the upper portion of a hoistway that is the passage through which the elevator moves up and down, so as to control the elevator, so that communication is performed between the hall button and the indicator and the machine room.

Here, a communication cable connecting the hall button and the indicator with the controller of the machine room is commonly referred to as a hoistway cable. The hoistway cable is vertically mounted to a wall of the hoistway, and branches at each floor to be connected to the hall button and the indicator.FIG. 1schematically shows a conventional branch connecting structure for a hoistway cable.

The conventional hoistway cable comprises a round cable, and includes a plurality of communication wires in a sheath of the cable. Conventionally, in order to branch the hoistway cable to be connected to the hall button and the indicator, as shown inFIG. 1, the hoistway cable is made in the shape of a loop at a branch position and then is fastened by a cable tie. After a sheath is removed from a portion of the loop, one end of a branch cable is connected to each communication wire, and the other end of the branch cable is connected to the hall button and the indicator. Further, in order to prevent undesirable movement, the hoistway cable is fastened to a wall of the hoistway by providing fastening means, such as a fastening clip or a fastening bracket, at predetermined intervals.

However, such a method has the drawback of several operations, including the operation of forming the hoistway cable in the shape of the loop, the operation of fastening the loop by the cable tie, the sheath removing operation, etc., being required, so that the work is difficult and complicated. Further, over time, the cable tie may become unfastened by the hoistway cable's own load so that the loop may be undesirably undone, and thus the hoistway cable may become disconnected from the hall button or the indicator.

In order to solve the problems, the inventors of the present invention have proposed Korean U.M. Registration No. 20-448693. This includes a hoistway cable, a branch cable, a terminal block, and a support block. The hoistway cable has a plurality of communication wires which are arranged in parallel in a sheath having the shape of a flat band. The branch cable connects each communication wire of the hoistway cable with a hall button or an indicator. The terminal block is equipped with a terminal member which cuts through the sheath of the hoistway cable and penetrates into the sheath to be connected to each communication wire. The support block is compressed against and coupled to the terminal block, thus supporting the hoistway cable on the terminal block with each communication wire and the terminal member being connected to each other at a precise position.

According to the U.M. Registration No. 448693, after the conventional hoistway cable comprising a round cable is formed in the shape of the flat band, the terminal block having the terminal member which is connected to each of the communication wires arranged to be parallel to each other is coupled to the hoistway cable. Thereafter, the hoistway cable and the terminal block are secured while being connected to each other by the support block. Each rod terminal of the branch cable is inserted into a terminal hole which is formed in the terminal block.

This is advantageous in that it is unnecessary to manually remove the sheath for the sake of branching and connecting the hoistway cable, and it is easy to distinguish the communication wires in the hoistway cable from each other.

However, this is problematic in that each rod terminal of the branch cable must be individually connected to the terminal hole formed in the terminal block, and it must be verified whether each rod terminal of the branch cable corresponds to each communication wire of the hoistway cable before the rod terminal is connected to the communication wire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a branch connecting structure for a hoistway cable, which obviates the necessity of manually removing a sheath for the sake of branching and connecting of the hoistway cable, makes it easy to couple the hoistway cable with a branch cable, makes it easy to distinguish communication wires in the hoistway cable and the branch cable from each other, prevents terminal members connected to the communication wires from making contact with each other by cutting the sheath of each of the hoistway cable and the branch cable and thereafter adjusting the positions of the terminal members connected to the communication wires, and makes mass production possible in a harness type using automated equipment.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a branch connecting structure for a hoistway cable, including a hoistway cable including a sheath which has a shape of a flat band, and a plurality of communication wires which are accommodated in the sheath in such a way as to be spaced apart from each other by predetermined intervals and to be parallel to each other; a branch cable connecting each of the communication wires of the hoistway cable to a hall button or an indicator; a terminal block covering a first surface of the hoistway cable, and equipped with wire terminal members, each of which has an input terminal and an output terminal that are integrated with each other, the input terminal being provided on a first end of the wire terminal member and cutting the sheath of the hoistway cable and penetrating into the sheath to be connected to each of the communication wires, the output terminal being provided on a second end of the wire terminal member and connected to the branch cable; a branch block covering a first surface of the branch cable, and equipped with branch terminal members, each of which has an input terminal and an output terminal that are integrated with each other, the input terminal being provided on a first end of the branch terminal member and cutting a sheath of the branch cable and penetrating into the sheath to be connected to each of the communication wires, the output terminal being provided on a second end of the branch terminal member and connected to the hoistway cable; a first support block covering a second surface of the hoistway cable, and compressed against the terminal block to be coupled thereto, thus supporting the hoistway cable on the terminal block with each of the communication wires being connected to the wire terminal member; a second support block covering a second surface of the branch cable, and compressed against the branch block to be coupled thereto, thus supporting the branch cable on the branch block with each of the communication wires being connected to the branch terminal member; and a cover coupled to cover outer circumferences of the terminal block and the branch block.

Further, the wire terminal members, which have been connected to the communication wires arranged in the hoistway cable in parallel, may be arranged in a zigzag fashion so as to prevent a short circuit.

Furthermore, the output terminal of each of the branch terminal members may be bent to be in contact with the output terminal of each of the wire terminal members.

Further, the terminal block and the first support block may be coupled to each other using a hook, and the branch block and the second support block may be coupled to each other using a hook.

The branch connecting structure may further include a seal ring provided between the terminal block and the branch block.

The branch connecting structure may further include a waterproof member provided on each of opposite surfaces of the hoistway cable, thus sealing a gap between the hoistway cable and the terminal block which is in contact with the hoistway cable or a gap between the hoistway cable and the first support block which is in contact with the hoistway cable.

The branch connecting structure may further include a waterproof member provided on each of opposite surfaces of the branch cable, thus sealing a gap between the branch cable and the branch block which is in contact with the branch cable or a gap between the branch cable and the second support block which is in contact with the branch cable.

Further, each of the hoistway cable and the branch cable may include grooves on an outer surface thereof on which the communication wires are placed, and each of the first and second support blocks may include protrusions which are arranged at predetermined intervals and are inserted into the corresponding grooves.

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is advantageous in that a hoistway cable is reliably branched off for and connected to every floor, it is easy to work because the hoistway cable and a branch cable may be connected to each other at one time without manually performing complicated operations, including a cable peeling operation, a loop forming operation, a wire connecting operation, and an insulating tape wrapping operation, and it requires only an operation of connecting the branch cable to a hall button and an indicator in a site because the hoistway cable, a connector, and the branch cable may be mass produced in a harness structure beforehand in a factory, thus achieving the effect of saving on labor costs due to automating production.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a branch connecting structure for a hoistway cable according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, as shown inFIGS. 2 to 6, a hoistway cable1, a connector C, and a branch cable2are provided to branch the hoistway cable1and thus connect the hoistway cable1to a hall button3and an indicator4of each floor.

The hoistway cable1has a shape of a flat band, and includes a plurality of communication wires1awhich are accommodated in a urethane sheath1band are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in such a way as to be parallel to each other. Preferably, a portion in which each communication wire1ais placed protrudes in a rectangular or circular shape. Further, grooves1care formed in portions of the sheath1bin which the respective communication wires1aare placed.

The hoistway cable1extends lengthwise in a longitudinal direction, and is vertically fastened to a wall of a hoistway by a fastening means, such as a bracket or a fastening clip.

Protrusions34aformed on a first support block30awhich will be described below are inserted into the grooves1c, thus preventing the undesirable movement of the hoistway cable1which is placed in the first support block30a.

The hoistway cable1constructed as described above is advantageous in that the communication wires1aare placed at predetermined positions in such a way as to be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals, so that it is easy to distinguish the communication wires1afrom each other, thus preventing communication problems from occurring because of improper connections, and it is easy to work.

The connector C is the connecting means for the branch connection of the hoistway cable1, and includes a terminal block10, a branch block20, the first support block30a, a second support block30b, and a cover40.

The terminal block10covers one surface of the hoistway cable1, and connects each communication wire1aof the hoistway cable1with the branch cable2that will be described below. A body of the terminal block10is generally made of a synthetic resin material. Wire terminal members11having electric conductivity are installed in the body by an insert molding method. Moreover, the terminal block10has in left and right side ends thereof hook insert holes12so that hooks31aof the first support block30aare inserted into the hook insert holes12. Terminal holes14and an insert groove15are formed in the top of the terminal block10. Branch terminal members21installed in the branch block20, which will be described below in detail, by the insert molding method are connected to the terminal holes14. A seal ring50is inserted into the insert groove15to perform a waterproofing function. A plurality of coupling protrusions13is provided on the front and back of the terminal block10to be inserted into and secured to coupling holes41of the cover40.

Here, each hook insert hole12further includes a locking protrusion121to lock the inserted hook31ato a predetermined position.

Each wire terminal member11is an electric conductor having an input terminal111and an output terminal113that are integrated with each other. The input terminal111is provided on one end of the wire terminal member11, cuts the sheath1bof the hoistway cable1and penetrates into the cable1to be connected to each communication wire1a. The output terminal113is provided on the other end of the wire terminal member11, and is connected to each branch terminal member21which is mounted to the branch block20.

Here, each wire terminal member11is installed in the terminal block10by the insert molding method. In order to prevent the wire terminal members11from being short-circuited when they are connected to the communication wires1awhich are provided in the hoistway cable1in such a way as to be parallel to each other, it is preferable that the wire terminal members11be arranged in a zigzag fashion.

As shown inFIG. 4A, each wire terminal member11has the structure of a two-pronged spear. That is, the wire terminal member11has a blade such that a front end of the input terminal111cuts the sheath1bof the hoistway cable1to penetrate into the cable1, and protrudes from a surface of the terminal block10. A connection groove112is formed in a central portion of the input terminal111so that one strand of communication wire1aof the hoistway cable1is inserted into the connection groove112. The connection groove112extends lengthwise in a longitudinal direction of the wire terminal member11.

Here, a length of the input terminal111is set such that the input terminal111is connected to the communication wire1aafter cutting the sheath1bof the hoistway cable1. Preferably, the length of the input terminal111is set such that the input terminal111does not pass completely through the sheath1bof the hoistway cable1.

The output terminal113is coupled to the rear end of the input terminal111, and is connected to an output terminal213of the branch block20, which will be described below. As shown inFIG. 4A, the output terminal113extends in a longitudinal direction from the rear end of the input terminal111, and is fitted into the corresponding terminal hole14of the terminal block10. When the output terminal213of the branch block20is inserted into the terminal hole14, the inserted output terminal213makes surface contact with the output terminal113of the terminal block10, thus applying an electric current.

The output terminal113may further include a circular projection114which protrudes towards a surface making contact with the output terminal213. The circular projection114serves to apply an electric current between the two terminals113and213when the output terminal113and the output terminal213are loosely inserted into the terminal hole14.

FIG. 4Bshows the structure of the branch terminal member21which is installed in the branch block20by the insert molding method. An input terminal211has the same shape as the above-mentioned input terminal111of the wire terminal member11. The input terminal211is connected to each communication wire2aplaced in a sheath2b, after cutting the sheath2bof the branch cable2. The output terminal213protrudes outwards to be inserted into the terminal hole14which is formed in the terminal block10, and is bent to be inserted into the terminal hole14while overlapping the output terminal113of the wire terminal member11which is disposed in the inner circumference of the terminal hole14.

The structures of the wire terminal member11and the branch terminal member21have been described in detail. After the input terminal111and the input terminal211cut the sheath1bof the hoistway cable1and the sheath2bof the branch cable2, the input terminal111and the input terminal211penetrate into the sheaths1band2bto be connected to the communication wires1aand2a. As long as the output terminal113may be connected to the output terminal213, the output terminals113and213are not limited to a specific structure.

The branch block20covers one surface of the branch cable2, and is coupled with the terminal block10to apply an electric current between the hoistway cable1and the branch cable2. A body of the branch block20is generally made of a synthetic resin material. Each branch terminal member21having electric conductivity is installed in the body by the insert molding method.

Further, the branch block20has in left and right side ends thereof hook insert holes22so that hooks31bof the second support block30bare inserted into the hook insert holes22. An insert groove25is formed in a surface which makes contact with the terminal block10, so that the seal ring50is inserted into the insert groove25. A stopper24is provided on a side on which the input terminal211of each branch terminal member21is placed so as to prevent the branch cable2from protruding outwards. A plurality of coupling protrusions23is provided on the front and back of the branch block20, and is inserted into the corresponding coupling holes41of the cover40, which will be described below.

Each hook insert hole22further includes a locking protrusion221which is inserted into a locking hole32bformed in the second support block30b.

The stopper24functions to support an end of the branch cable2. The stopper24is placed to be parallel to a direction in which the input terminals211are arranged, and prevents the undesirable movement of the branch cable2when each input terminal211cuts the sheath2bof the branch cable and thereafter is connected to the corresponding communication wire2a.

The first support block30acovers the other surface of the hoistway cable1, and supports the hoistway cable1and the terminal block10which are connected to each other. The hooks31aprotrude from the left and right side ends of the first support block30a. The protrusions34aare provided on an inner surface33ain which the hoistway cable1is seated, and are inserted into the corresponding grooves1cwhich are formed in the hoistway cable1, thus preventing the removal of the seated hoistway cable1while work is being performed.

The hooks31aare fitted into the corresponding hook insert holes12which are formed in opposite ends of the terminal block10. Here, a locking hole32ais formed in each hook31aso that the locking protrusion121formed in each hook insert hole12is inserted into the locking hole32a, thus increasing a coupling force between the terminal block10and the first support block30a.

The inner surface33aof the first support block30has a depth which corresponds to the thickness of the seated hoistway cable1, thus pressing and locking the hoistway cable1between the terminal block10and the first support block30a.

The second support block30bcovers the other surface of the branch cable2, and functions to support the branch cable2and the branch block20which are connected to each other. The hooks31bprotrude from the left and right side ends of the second support block30b. The protrusions34bare provided on an inner surface33bin which the branch cable2is seated, and are inserted into the corresponding grooves2cwhich are formed in the branch cable2, thus preventing the removal of the seated branch cable2while work is being performed.

Since the second support block30bhas the same construction as the above-mentioned first support block30a, the detailed description of the second support block30bwill be omitted herein.

The cover40is coupled to surround the outer surfaces of the terminal block10and the branch block20while the terminal block10and the branch block20press and lock the hoistway cable1and the branch cable2in cooperation with the first support block30aand the second support block30b, thus preventing the inflow of foreign matter and moisture. The cover40has the shape of a rectangular casing which is hollow therein. Coupling holes41are formed in the cover40such that the coupling protrusions13provided on the front and back of the terminal block10and the coupling protrusions23provided on the front and back of the branch block20are coupled to the coupling holes41.

The branch cable2serves to connect each communication wire1aof the hoistway cable1to the hall button or the indicator. The branch cable2is cut by the distance necessary to connect the hoistway cable1to the hall button or the indicator, and has the same shape and construction as the hoistway cable1.

Therefore, after the branch cable2is mass produced using automated equipment, it can be cut to a proper length, thus increasing the ease of manufacture.

The seal ring50disposed in the insert groove15of the terminal block10and the insert groove25of the branch block20functions to prevent water from penetrating into the branch connecting part of the hoistway cable1when water gets into the hoistway. As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the seal ring50usually has the shape of a rectangular ring which is hollow therein, and is placed on a coupled portion when the terminal block10and the branch block20are coupled to both sides of the hoistway cable1, thus preventing water from entering a junction between the branch terminal member21mounted to the branch block20and the wire terminal member11mounted to the terminal block10, therefore preventing a short circuit and an electric shock.

Moreover, in order to provide a waterproofing effect, waterproof members51may be attached to a contact portion between the hoistway cable1and the terminal block10and to a contact portion between the branch cable2and the branch block20. One waterproof member51is positioned between the hoistway cable1and the input terminal111inserted into the sheath1bof the hoistway cable1after cutting the sheath1b, thus preventing outside water from penetrating the inside. Another waterproof member51is provided between the branch block20and the branch cable2to achieve the same effect as the above-mentioned waterproof member51.

The waterproof member51may comprise tape, double-sided tape, a pad, a sheet, etc. to be attached to or placed on the contact portion, and may be applied using a waterproof material such as silicone.

FIGS. 5A,5B, and5C are views sequentially showing a branch connecting method of the hoistway cable1according to the present invention, andFIG. 6is a view showing the state in which the hoistway cable1according to the present invention is branch connected.

As shown inFIGS. 5A,5B, and5C, first, the hoistway cable1is seated on the inner surface33of the first support block30a, so that the protrusions34aformed on the first support block30aare inserted into the grooves1cformed in the hoistway cable1, and thus the hoistway cable1is locked to a predetermined position. Thereafter, after the input terminal111of each wire terminal member11of the terminal block10is placed towards the inner surface33aof the first support block30aand is aligned with the corresponding communication wire1aof the hoistway cable1, the input terminal111is compressed against the communication wire1aby a manual operation or a tool such as a jig.

In the compressed state, the front end of the input terminal111of the wire terminal member11cuts and penetrates into the sheath1bof the hoistway cable1. As each communication wire1ais inserted into the corresponding connection groove112of the input terminal111, the communication wire1aand the wire terminal member11are electrically connected to each other.

Simultaneously, the hooks31aprovided on the left and right side ends of the first support block30aare fitted into the hook insert holes12of the terminal block10, and the locking protrusions121formed in the hook insert holes12are inserted into the locking holes32aof the hooks31a. Thereby, the wire terminal member11and the hoistway cable1are firmly coupled while an electrical connection is formed therebetween.

As such, the cover40is coupled to the terminal block10to which the first support block30aand the hoistway cable1are coupled. At this time, the coupling protrusions13formed on the front and back of the terminal block10are inserted into the coupling holes41formed in the cover40, thus preventing the inflow of foreign matter and moisture from the outside.

Next, the branch block20is placed towards the interior of the cover40and then is coupled with the terminal block10. The output terminal213of each branch terminal member21mounted to the branch block20by the insert molding method is fitted into the corresponding terminal hole14of the terminal block10.

After the branch cable2is seated on the inner surface33bof the second support block30b, the second support block30bis placed on a side at which the input terminal211of each branch terminal member21of the branch block20is located. Thereafter, the branch block20and the branch cable2are compressed against and coupled with each other by a manual operation or by using a jig or the like. Thereby, the front end of the input terminal211cuts the sheath2bof the branch cable2and then is connected to the corresponding communication wire2ain the branch cable2. In order to prevent the branch cable2from being dislodged from a predetermined position during work, an end of the branch cable2is supported by the stopper24which is provided on the branch block20.

Thereafter, another end of the branch cable2is connected to the hall button or the indicator, thereby completing the entire connecting operation.

When the branch cable2is connected to each input terminal211, an electric current is applied between the hoistway cable1and the branch cable2through the output terminal113connected to each output terminal213.

The seal ring50is further provided on the coupled portion between the branch block20and the terminal block10, thus obtaining a waterproofing effect. Moreover, the cover40is provided to cover the coupled portion between the branch block20and the terminal block10, thus preventing the inflow of foreign matter or moisture from the outside.

According to the above method, as shown inFIG. 6, the hoistway cable1is reliably branched off for and connected to every floor, it is easy to work because the hoistway cable and a branch cable may be connected to each other at one time without manually performing complicated operations, including the cable peeling operation, the loop forming operation, the wire connecting operation, and the insulating tape wrapping operation, and only the operation of connecting the branch cable2to the hall button and the indicator is required in a site because the hoistway cable1, the connector C, and the branch cable2may be mass produced in a harness structure beforehand in a factory, thus achieving the effect of saving on labor costs due to automating production.