Abstract:
A fastening device for a guide rail of an elevator installation with a elevator shaft with at least one shaft wall, the device comprising at least one mount for fastening the guide rail to the shaft wall, wherein the fastening device comprises a plastically deformable support device, which carries the guide rail, with deformation points.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 10152589.7, filed Feb. 4, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an elevator installation, particularly to the design or fastening of guide rails in the installation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Typically in an elevator installation, at least one elevator cage or at least one car and at least one counterweight are moved in opposite directions in an elevator shaft. The at least one lift cage and the at least one counterweight run along guide rails, are supported by one or more supporting and drive means and are driven by way of a drive pulley of a drive unit. 
         [0004]    The guide rails of an elevator installation on the one hand should be of such rigidity and rectilinearity that they ensure smooth running of the elevator cage or counterweight. On the other hand, the guide rails should be designed for acceptance of relatively high vertical forces. These high vertical forces arise due to the intrinsic weight of the guide rails, in the case of corresponding elevator installations by the mass of the drive mounted at the rails as well as by the masses suspended thereat of the elevator cage and the counterweight, by drive forces, and by the braking forces which act on the rail when the safety braking device responds. 
         [0005]    Moreover, the guide rails can in the case of a fixed attachment in a elevator shaft of a newly erected building be subjected to vertical compressive forces, because in certain circumstances the building continues to settle. However, even when the building should have definitively settled, thermal expansion—particularly in the case of tall elevator installations—can generate vertical compressive forces which in turn can lead to warping and bulging of the guide rails. 
         [0006]    European Patent No. 0 611 724 B1 discloses fastening points for a guide rail at the side walls of the elevator shaft, which are resiliently mounted by spring brackets. Compensation for unevennesses of the shaft wall is thereby provided and a fastening system is created which corresponds with a rigid, but resiliently embedded, support. A solution for optimization of the acceptance of vertical forces in a guide rail is not, however, described. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,736, on the other hand, describes a support device for guide rails consisting of a set of sheet-metal sections which can be preassembled. These sheet-metal sections, which are preassembled in the shaft pit of the elevator shaft, give an aligned construction of a triple configuration of guide rails. This guide rail support device is, however, restricted to the alignment or positioning of the guide rails during assembly and does not disclose any measures for acceptance of the vertical forces in a guide rail or the optimization thereof. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In some cases, the disclosed technology comprises an arrangement of a defined plastically deformable support device on which the guide rail is supported or carried. 
         [0009]    This support device is, for example, arranged in the shaft pit of the elevator shaft and in each instance carries a guide rail of unitary or multi-part construction. The support device can comprise a support plate on which the cross-sectional profile of an upright guide rail is detachably or, however, fixedly mountable. An optional design variant of the support plate provides a recess, also termed seat, in an upper side of the support plate for mechanically positive seating of the cross-sectional profile of the guide rail. The guide rail can be horizontally stabilized in this manner insofar as the support device is fixed on the shaft floor by, for example, screw-connection. 
         [0010]    The upper side of the support plate can go over into at least two side flanks of the support device. These side flanks in turn go over into a lower side of the support device, which has at least one base surface. 
         [0011]    The support device can be plastically deformable. This can be ensured in that, for example, the entire support device, thus the support plate, the side flanks and the support surfaces, plastically deform. According to an embodiment, however, the side flanks have intended bending points or intended deformation points so that the plastic deformation takes place principally in these side flanks. The support plate and the base surfaces can be designed so that they do not deform, not even when the intended deformation points have reached their maximum degree of deformation. 
         [0012]    Plastic deformation as far as a defined degree of deformation is achieved, in an exemplifying embodiment, by support pieces which are introducible in a specific number into the support device. In this manner a spacing is settable, for example between the uppermost support piece and the lower side of the support plate, which allows a plastic deformation of the support device only within a defined range. In principle, an abutment limiting the plastic deformation travel of the support device is also possible instead of the support pieces. 
         [0013]    Through the described defined deformation it can thus be possible to limit vertical forces which, in the guide rail, exceed the magnitude of a load which usually arises. Vertical forces caused, for example, by the intrinsic weight of the guide rail, by instances of braking or by a drive at the rail side can be borne by the support device with only a small elastic deformation. Vertical loads such as, however, arise due to subsidence of the building (a deformation load) lead to a plastic deformation of the support device, whereby the rail longitudinal force can be limited. Undesired warping, stresses at the points of fastening of the guide rail to the shaft walls or bulging of the guide rail can thus be avoided. 
         [0014]    The lower side of the support plate or cover surface on which the support plate rests and/or one of the support pieces or the travel-limiting abutment can optionally have a pressure sensor or merely a limit switch, which provides information about whether the defined degree of deformation of the support device has been reached. Insofar as the limitation of the plastic deformation takes place by support pieces—possibly within the range of possible plastic deformation of the support device—there is thus a possibility of adaptation of the support device in the manner that in the case of a corresponding signal of the pressure sensor or sensors a support piece can be removed and thus a further range of deformation can be available. 
         [0015]    A support device can be usable a plurality of times. It can consist of a material which still does not break even after a number of plastic deformations, but can be subsequently straightened on a straightening bed or a press and can thus be suitable for re-mounting in a elevator installation. 
         [0016]    As already mentioned, a support device can have at least two side flanks each with a respective intended deformation point or with a respective plurality of intended deformation points. A possible design variant of a support device is C-shaped in cross-section and stands by the opening of the C on the shaft floor. The intended deformation points can be realized in that the material, for example thick sheet metal, is thinned at the side flanks of the support device. 
         [0017]    A further design variant of a support device thereagainst can provide for the side flanks to be separated and possibly formed as respective housing parts both at the bottom and the top, into which a block-shaped bar of a material different from the support device is insertable. This material or the block-shaped bar of this material can have a previously investigated strength and a defined deformation behavior. Longitudinal forces which arise in the guide rail and exceed the usual magnitude can thus deform merely the definedly deformable bars, the maximum deformation of which can be made visible by differently colored side markings in a gap still present between the two housing halves. A simple visual check thus gives information about whether in certain circumstances a new deformable bar has to be inserted. 
         [0018]    A fastening device can also comprise, apart from the stated support device, mounts for fastening the guide rail to the shaft wall. According to an optional variant of embodiment these mounts can allow a guided vertical displacing movement of the guide rail. This can in principle be realized by a screw connection guided in a slot or by a retaining guide engaging around a guide profile or also by rollers. However, a fastening device can also be realized by fixed mounts, as well as by mounts which are indeed fixed, but yield in the case of a load of appropriately high level. Use can also be made of mounts which are favorable in cost and which embrace the profile of the guide rail by means of two jaws and are closed by at least one screw connection. The screw connection can be tightened by a specific torque so that only from the occurrence of a correspondingly high level of vertical force in the guide rail does a displacement of the guide rail in the mounts arise. 
         [0019]    Moreover, a fastening device can be suitable not only for elevator installations with an engine room, but also for elevator installations without an engine room, particularly, however, for the latter, in which the vertical loading of the guide rails is higher due to the mass forces of the elevator installation which are derived from the drive, which is fastened to the guide rails, on the shaft floor. 
         [0020]    The described individual features can be combined with one another to form a fastening device or a elevator installation; thus by way of example the described different embodiments of the support device—with or without support pieces or with or without a pressure sensor—can be combined with the disclosed mounts regardless of the form of the intended deformation point. 
         [0021]    At least some embodiments of an elevator installation disclosed herein can bring the following results:
       Excessive vertical loads of the guide rail do not have the consequence of excessive stresses, warping or bulging of the guide rail.   Compensation can be provided for subsequent subsidence of the building or thermal expansion movements.   The elevator cage and the counterweight are guided securely and smoothly at the guide rails.   An elevator installation with at least one fastening device as well as mounts offers cost advantages, particularly with respect to a reduced need for inspection and maintenance.   Use can be made of a guide rail profile of lower stiffness. This can lead to advantages in material and costs.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The disclosure is explained in more detail symbolically and by way of example on the basis of figures. The figures are described conjunctively and generally. The same reference numerals signify the same components and reference numerals with different indices indicate functionally identical or similar components. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of an exemplifying elevator installation with guide rails, which are supported and fastened in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic illustration of a first variant of embodiment of a fastening device with a support device and mounts; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic illustration of a second variant of embodiment of a fastening device with a further support device and further mounts; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a plot of the deformation of the support device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows an elevator installation  100  such as is known from the prior art, with, by way of example, a  2 : 1  cable guidance. An elevator cage  2 , which is connected by way of a supporting and drive means  3  with a movable counterweight  4 , is arranged in an elevator shaft  1  to be movable. The supporting and drive means  3  is, in operation, driven by means of a drive pulley  5  of a drive unit  6 , these being arranged in the uppermost region of the elevator shaft  1  or in an engine room  12 . The elevator cage  2  and the counterweight  4  are guided by means of guide rails  7   a  or  7   b  and  7   c  extending over the height of the shaft. 
         [0033]    The elevator cage  2  can at a conveying height h serve an uppermost story with a story door  8 , further stories with story doors  9  and  10  and a lowermost story with story door  11 . The elevator shaft  1  is formed by lateral shaft walls  15   a  and  15   b,  a rear shaft wall  15   c,  a shaft ceiling  13  and a shaft floor  14 , on which a shaft floor buffer  19   a  for the counterweight  4  and two shaft floor buffers  19   b  and  19   c  for the elevator cage  2  are arranged. 
         [0034]    The supporting and drive means  3  is fastened to the shaft ceiling  13  at a stationary fastening point or support means fixing point  16   a  and is led parallel to the lateral shaft wall  15   a  to a support roller  17  for the counterweight  4 . From here, it goes back again over the drive pulley  5 , continues to a first deflecting or support roller  18   a  and a second deflecting or support roller  18   b,  loops under the elevator cage  2 , and continues to a second stationary fastening point or support means fixing point  16   b  at the shaft ceiling  13 . 
         [0035]    Moreover,  FIG. 1  shows symbolically and by way of example a fastening device  200  for the guide rails  7   b  and  7   c,  with in each instance a floor mount  20   a  or  20   a ′ and respective mounts  21   a - 21   e  or  21   a ′- 21   e ′ by which the guide rails  7   b  and  7   c  are fastened to the rear shaft wall  15   c.    
         [0036]      FIG. 2  schematically shows a fastening device  200   a,  which is a component of an elevator installation  100   a.  A support device  22   a  stands, at an underside  26   a  or two base surfaces  32   a  and  32   b,  on a shaft floor  14   a  of an elevator shaft  1   a.  The two base surfaces  32   a  and  32   b  respectively go over into side flanks  27   a  and  27   b,  which each have an outwardly disposed groove  28   a  or  28   c  as well as an inwardly disposed groove  28   b  or  28   d.  The grooves  28   a  and  28   b  form an intended deformation point  29   a  in the side flank  27   a  and the grooves  28   c  and  28   d  form an intended deformation point  29   b  in the side flank  27   b.    
         [0037]    The side flanks  27   a  and  27   b  of the support device  22   a  go over into a common cap surface  33   a,  on the upper side  25   a  of which a support plate  23   a  is arranged to be approximately parallel to a horizontal H 1 . The support plate  23   a  has a seat  24   a  which corresponds with the cross-sectional profile of a guide rail  7   d.  The seat  24   a  has a smaller depth than the thickness of the support plate  23   a  and gives lateral retention to the guide rail  7   d.  The same retention can optionally also be achieved by an elevated profile which is, for example, welded on. 
         [0038]    The guide rail  7   d  therefore stands approximately vertically, thus parallel to a vertical V 1 , on the support plate  23   a.  Vertical forces F which arise in the guide rail  7   d  thus press on the support plate  23   a,  on the cover surface  33   a  and, by way of the side flanks  27   a  and  27   b,  on the intended deformation points  29   a  and  29   b.  The material characteristics and the thickness of the target deformation points  29   a  and  29   b  are so designed that an absolute amount of the vertical force F, which corresponds with a normal loading in the guide rail  7   d,  still does not cause a plastic deformation, neither in the target deformation points  29   a  and  29   b  nor in the support plate  23   a,  the cover surface  33   a  and/or the side flanks  27   a  and  27   b.    
         [0039]    If, however, the vertical loading by the vertical force F in the guide rail  7   d  should attain a peak load exceeding the normal amount, the intended deformation points  29   a  and  29   b  deform until, at the most, a lower side  39  of the cover surface  33   a  rests on an upper side  40  of a support piece  30 . The support piece  30  is the uppermost support piece of a support piece packet, which depending on the respective need is adaptable in its overall height by withdrawal or insertion of support pieces. In the illustrated undeformed state of the support device  22   a  a spacing A 1  corresponding with a maximum possible deformation D 2  is present between the lower side  39  of the cap surface  33   a  and the upper side  40  of the uppermost support piece  30 . 
         [0040]    Further components of the fastening device  200   a  are mounts, of which only one mount  21   f  is illustrated by way of example. By means of retaining guides  31   a  and  31   b  which engage around the profile of the guide rail  7   d  the guide rail  7   d  is fastened to a shaft wall  15   d  of the elevator shaft  1   a  and, in particular, so that the guide rail  7   d  is kept in the horizontal H 1 , but remains displaceable in the vertical V 1  under the action of an appropriately high vertical force F. 
         [0041]    A further variant of embodiment of a fastening device  200   b  for a guide rail  7   e  is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Arranged on a shaft base  14   b,  which lies in a horizontal H 2 , is a support device  22   b  which is shown schematically in an exploded illustration and which is formed substantially by a continuous base surface  32   c  with a lower side  26   b  and a cap surface  33   b  with an upper side  25   b.  By contrast with the variant of embodiment of a support device  200   a  of  FIG. 2 , side flanks  27   c  and  27   d  are separated and form intended deformation points  29   c  and  29   d  in that a respective deformable bar  35   a  or  35   b  is insertable into housing parts  34   a  and  34   b  at the side of the side flank  27   c  and into further housing parts  34   c  and  34   d  at the side of the side flank  27   d.    
         [0042]    Two spacings A 2  and A 3 —in effect the compressibility of the deformable bars  35   a  and  35   b —give in total a maximum deformation D 2 ′ of the support device  22   b.  In addition, a colored marking  38  is illustrated at the side of the deformable bar  35   b.  in the uncompressed state of the deformable bar  35   b  the surfaces above and below the colored marking  38  at the edges of the housing parts  34   c  and  34   d  are still visible, but when the deformable bar  35   b  has been compressed only the colored marking  38  exclusively can still be seen in a residual gap between the edges of the housing parts  343   c  and  34   d.  In this manner it is ascertainable by means of a visual check whether the guide rail  7   e  has settled. By finely stepped differently colored markings it would be possible to ascertain the degree of deformation attained by the deformable bar  35   b.  As an alternative to the just-described visual check it is possible to insert one or more pressure sensors into the deformable bars  35   a  and  35   b  or also into only one of the two deformable bars  35   a  and  35   b.    
         [0043]    A support plate  23   b  is arranged on the upper side  25   b  of the cap surface  33   b  in a horizontal H 2 , as also shown in the preceding  FIG. 2 . The guide rail  7   e  stands approximately vertically, thus parallel to a vertical V 2 , in a seat  24   b.  The guide rail  7   e  is fastened to a shaft wall  15   e  by means of mounts, of which one mount  21   g  is illustrated by way of example. The mount  21   g  has screw connections  36   a  and  36   b  which so retain the guide rail  7   e  in slots  37   a  and  37   b  that it is fixed in the horizontal H 2 , but which in the vertical V 2  can describe a displacement movement along the vertical V 2  under the action of an appropriately high vertical force F. 
         [0044]    With the same fastening preconditions, corresponding mounts  21   g  are also conceivable which retain not only a guide rail  7   e  in the form of a T-profile, but also guide rails in the form of a cruciform profile. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary plot of a maximum possible deformation D 2  or D 2 ′ of the support device  22   a  of  FIG. 2  or the support device  22   b  of  FIG. 3 , in dependence on an absolute amount of the vertical force |F| on the Y axis and a travel s on the X axis. 
         [0046]    The deformation D 2  or D 2 ′ consists of an elastic range E, a plastic range P and an elastic range E 1  on contact with the support pieces. Gs represents the travel of the building under settling. The mass of the guide rail is illustrated at the ordinate by M S , the operational forces in normal operation by F NB , the operational forces in the case of safety braking of the elevator cage by F F , the vertical force with plasticization by F P , the theoretical vertical force without plasticization by F T  and the reduction due to plasticization by R. The area Stb represents the likely range of stiffness of a guide rail. 
         [0047]    The following is a reference numeral list for the accompanying figures: 
         [0048]      1 ,  1   a,    1   b  elevator shaft 
         [0049]      2  elevator cage 
         [0050]      3  supporting and drive means 
         [0051]      4  counterweight 
         [0052]      5  drive pulley 
         [0053]      6  drive unit 
         [0054]      7   a - 7   e  guide rail 
         [0055]      8  uppermost story door, uppermost shaft door 
         [0056]      9 ,  9   a,    9   b  story door, shaft door 
         [0057]      10 ,  10   a,    10   b  story door, shaft door 
         [0058]      11  lowermost story door, lowermost shaft door 
         [0059]      12  engine room 
         [0060]      13  shaft ceiling 
         [0061]      14 ,  14   a,    14   b  shaft floor 
         [0062]      15   a - 15   e  shaft wall 
         [0063]      16   a,    16   b  stationary fastening point, support means fixing point 
         [0064]      17  support roller for  4   
         [0065]      18   a - 18   b  deflecting roller, support roller for  2   
         [0066]      19   a - 19   c  shaft floor buffer 
         [0067]      20   a,    20   a ′ floor mount for  7   
         [0068]      21   a - 21   e,    21   a ′- 21   e ′; 
         [0069]      21   f,    21   g  mount for  7   
         [0070]      22   a,    22   b  support device 
         [0071]      23   a,    23   b  support plate 
         [0072]      24   a,    24   b  seat 
         [0073]      25   a,    25   b  upper side of  33   
         [0074]      26   a,    26   b  lower side 
         [0075]      27   a - 27   d  side flank 
         [0076]      28   a - 28   d  groove 
         [0077]      29   a - 29   d  intended deformation point 
         [0078]      30  support piece 
         [0079]      31   a,    31   b  retaining guide 
         [0080]      32   a - 32   c  base surface 
         [0081]      33   a,    33   b  cap surface 
         [0082]      34   a - 34   d  housing parts 
         [0083]      35   a,    35   b  deformable bar 
         [0084]      36   a,    36   b  screw connection 
         [0085]      37   a,    37   b  slot 
         [0086]      38  colored marking 
         [0087]      39  lower side of  33   
         [0088]      40  upper side of  30   
         [0089]      100 ,  100   a,    100   b  elevator installation 
         [0090]      200 ,  200   a,    200   b  fastening device 
         [0091]    A 1 -A 3  spacing 
         [0092]    D 1 , D 2 , D 2 ′ deformation 
         [0093]    E, E 1  elastic range 
         [0094]    |F| absolute amount of the vertical force F in  7   
         [0095]    F F  operational forces in the case of safety braking 
         [0096]    F NB  operational forces in the case of normal operation 
         [0097]    F P  vertical force with plastification 
         [0098]    F T  theoretical vertical force without plastification 
         [0099]    Gs travel of the building settling 
         [0100]    H 1 , H 2  horizontal 
         [0101]    M S  mass of  7   
         [0102]    P plastic range 
         [0103]    R reduction due to the plastification 
         [0104]    s travel 
         [0105]    Stb apparent range of stiffness of  7  without  22   
         [0106]    V 1 , V 2  vertical 
         [0107]    Having illustrated and described the principles of the disclosed technologies, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed technologies can be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only examples of the technologies and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and their equivalents. I therefore claim as my invention all that comes within the scope and spirit of these claims.