SUPPORT BEAM FOR THE TRACTION CABLE PULLEYS FOR A LIFT

Abstract: The beam comprises at each of its ends a telescopic arm (3) which may be extended on installation from a retracted position permitting the introduction of the beam into the lift shaft, to an extended position in which the beam can be disposed with its extremities in the corresponding recesses provided in the lift shaft for receiving them.

Description: The invention relates to a lift including a support beam for the traction cable pulleys for the lift and in particular to a beam to be mounted in the upper structure of a building with a lift with machinery disposed at the shaft bottom. Up to the present, beams of this kind are of a fixed length and must be mounted with through insertion of one of their ends into open recesses provided at the top of the lift shaft. Such fitting in particular requires masonry work after fitting of the beam. Such an operation is very likely to destroy the beam isolation arrangement on the building by freezing the function of the isolating cushions supporting the beam ends. The invention aims at overcoming these drawbacks by proposing a lift of the above mentioned kind and which is characterized essentially by the fact that the beam has at least one telescopic arm mounted at an end of the beam, said arm having a first retracted position facilitating insertion and handling of the beam in the lift shaft and a second extended position in which the arm is extended for engaging a corresponding shaft support provided for receiving the arm. The advantage of such an arrangement is that it no longer requires open recesses to be provided in the thickness of the shaft wall on construction of the building. Consequently, masons are not required to cement around the beam once it has been positioned. Preferably the beam has a telescopic arm mounted at each end of the beam. Preferably, the or each support consists of a masonry recess suitably dimensioned and positioned, formed in the shaft wall. Fitting of the beam on these recesses only requires the simple operation of opening out the telescopic arms of the beam to extend into these recesses. The isolating cushions between arms and recesses may fully play their role without the danger of being made inoperative by being embedded in cement through subsequent masonry work, as with traditional beams. Furthermore, the inward folding of the telescopic arms of the beam in particular facilitates raising of the beam in the shaft as far as its top fitting position, whether the landing doors are mounted on the sills or thresholds or project inside the shafts. Moreover, the maximum extension of the telescopic arms, which depends on the forces acting on and the permissible flexion of the beam structure, may be indicated by a label affixed to each arm at this extension position. In this way it is possible to make sure that the permissible stress limits are not exceeded. One embodiment of the invention is described hereafter by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevational view with parts cut away on one of the arms, of a lift beam in accordance with the invention, the telescopic arms being in the retracted position; Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevational view similar to figure 1 of the beam laid on the lift shaft with the arms extended; Figure 3 is a sectional view through line A-A of figure 2; and Figure 4 is a top view with parts cut away of the beam. As shown in these figures, the lift beam of the invention is formed essentially of an upper generally tubular or channel-shaped body 1 housing at each of its ends a telescopic arm 3, and a lower skirt 5 fast with body 1 and carrying the pulleys 7 for the traction cables of the lift. The width of skirt 5 is equal to that of pulleys 7 plus the operating clearance. Body 1 is open longitudinally at its upper part by this same skirt width. Each of the lateral parts 9 forming the body and the skirt is formed from the same suitably profiled member, the two profiled members being opposite each other with symmetry with respect to the median longitudinal plane. The upper part 11 of each profiled member 9 is in the form of an inwardly turned U and the lower part 13 is flat. The flat portions 13 are braced and receive the pulley shafts 15 suitably keyed at their ends. The telescopic arms 3 are each formed of two opposite U shaped members 17 reinforced by gussets 16. These members have a profile complementary, except for the clearance, to that of the U shaped parts 11 of the beam body so that each is housed thereinside and may slide freely. They are spaced apart substantially by the width of skirt 5 so as to slidingly pass around the rims of pulleys 7. Arms 3 may slide from a retracted position (figure 1) in which their internal opposite ends reach a level close to each other in the substantially middle portion of the beam, to an opened out position, such as shown in figure 2, in which their external ends may each be fitted on the support of the shaft recesses 18. They are each locked in position with the body 1 of the beam by four through bolts 19 disposed vertically in twos at each end. Longitudinal apertures 21 are provided for allowing free movement for adjusting the position of the arms in particular on the support of the recesses. The lower end of each arm is provided with a support plate which engages a rubber shoe 23 isolating the beam from the building. The foregoing clearly shows the convenience in positioning such a beam. In the retracted position of the arms, its length is substantially less than the width of the lift shaft so that it may be readily winched to its top fitting position. In this position, the arms may be extended into the shaft recesses and locked in position and the beam is thus supported with the arms resting on the isolating shoes. This operation is rapid and is carried out with all safety. Flexion labels 25 on the outside of the arms indicate the permissible stress level at varying distances of arm extension. It will be noted that other equipment elements may be mounted on the beam other than those described, such as a counterweight fixed point plate 27, to which end eyelet rods of the cables are secured, and tools for fixing the guides in their final position, e.g. a string of cabin guides 29 and two strings of counterweight guides 31.

Claims: A lift including a load carrying support beam for the traction pulleys (7) of the lift characterized in that the beam has at least one telescopic arm (3) mounted at an end of the beam, said arm having a first retracted position facilitating insertion and handling of the beam in the lift shaft and a second extended position in which the arm is extended for engaging a corresponding shaft support (18) provided for receiving the arm. A lift according to claim 1 further comprising lift traction pulleys mounted on the beam. A lift according to claim 1 or 2 having a telescopic arm mounted at each end of the beam. A lift according to claim 3, characterized in that the beam has a body portion and the telescopic arms (3) slide in the body portion and may be locked in an extended position for fitting. A lift according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that labels (25) on the outside of the arms (3) indicate the permissible stress limits at various positions of the arms. A lift according to any preceding claim characterized in that the beam comprises a counterweight fixed point plate (27) and tools for fixing the guides all mounted thereon. A lift according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the beam comprises an upper body (1) having the telescopic arm (3) and a lower skirt (5) secure to the body, on which are mounted the pulleys (7) for the cables as well as any different equipment elements. A lift according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the beam is formed of two opposite profiled members (9) symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane, each in the form of an inwardly turned U at the top or body part, and of a vertical braced flat shape in the lower or skirt part, the telescopic arms (3) having a section complementary, except for the clearance, to that of the body part for sliding freely thereinside. A lift according to claim 8, characterized in that the arm (3) is locked in position fast with the body part (1) by four through bolts (19) disposed in twos at each end and tightened on longitudinal apertures (21) permitting position adjustment. A method of installing a lift in an elevator shaft having supports in the shaft wall, which comprises the steps of a) raising a support beam into position adjacent the supports in the shaft wall; b) extending a telescopic arm from one end of the support beam towards one support; c) extending a telescopic arm from the other end of the support beam towards another support; and d) lowering the support beam into position with the telescopic arms engaging the supports thereby supporting the beam in the desired position. A method as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that the supports are simple supports fixed to the shaft wall. A method as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that the supports are masonry recesses provided in the shaft wall.

Inventors: BEAULIEU, DANIEL, CHAPELAIN, JEAN-CLAUDE
Applicants: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B66B11
IPC codes: B66B11, B66B7