Patent Publication Number: US-2019177124-A1

Title: Housing assembly for a safety actuation device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is an international patent application, which claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/258,028, filed Nov. 20, 2016, which is herein incorporated in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is generally related to elevator safety systems and, more specifically, a housing assembly for a safety actuation device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     Some machines, such as an elevator system, include a safety system to stop the machine when it rotates or the elevator cab when it travels at excessive speeds in response to an inoperative component. In some instances, safety system components are attached to the car frame/support and are guided by the rails. During travel, there is a variation in the distance from the car frame to the rails. As such, the design of the power requirements for safety actuation has to account for the greatest distance variation, which leads to increased costs for the elevator system. There is therefore a need for a device to reduce the distance variation between the rail and the car frame. 
     In an embodiment, each of the at least one guide devices affixed to the first channel wall interior surface is positioned adjacent to each of the at least one guide devices affixed to the second channel wall interior surface. 
     In any embodiment of the housing assembly, the at least one guide device is removable. In any embodiment of the housing assembly, the at least one guide device includes a guide pad. In an embodiment, the guide pad includes a wear indicator disposed therein. 
     In another aspect, a housing assembly for a safety actuation device is provided. The housing assembly includes, a mounting plate including a proximal end and a distal end, a first channel wall and a second channel wall extending substantially perpendicular from the mounting plate, wherein the first channel wall is positioned substantially parallel to the second channel wall to form a channel therebetween, and a flange extending from at least one of the proximal end and the distal end, the flange including a slot disposed therein, wherein the slot is substantially aligned with the channel. 
     In an embodiment of this housing assembly, the housing assembly further includes at least one guide device affixed to the mounting plate. In an embodiment of this housing assembly, the at least one guide device comprises a first roller and a second roller, wherein the first roller is located adjacent to the second roller to form a gap therebetween, wherein the gap is positioned substantially aligned with the channel and the slot. 
     In any embodiment of this housing assembly, the mounting plate includes at least one aperture disposed therein, the at least one aperture configured for mounting said assembly. In any embodiment of this housing assembly, the mounting plate includes at least one elevator accessory affixed thereto. 
     In one aspect, an elevator system is provided. The elevator system includes an elevator rail, an elevator car frame an elevator car affixed to the elevator car frame, the elevator car is configured to travel along the elevator rail, and a housing assembly for a safety actuation device affixed to the elevator car. The housing assembly includes a mounting plate, a first channel wall and a second channel wall extending substantially perpendicular from the mounting plate, the first channel wall including a first channel wall interior surface, and the second channel wall including a second channel wall interior surface, wherein the first channel wall is positioned substantially parallel to the second channel wall to form a channel therebetween, and at least one guide device affixed to the first channel wall interior surface and the second channel wall interior surface; wherein the elevator rail is disposed within the channel. 
     In any embodiment of the elevator system, each of the at least one guide devices affixed to the first channel wall interior surface is positioned adjacent to each of the at least one guide devices affixed to the second channel wall interior surface. In any embodiment of the elevator system, the at least one guide device is removable. In an embodiment of the elevator system, the at least one guide device comprises a guide pad. 
     In one aspect, an elevator system is provided. The elevator system includes an elevator rail, an elevator car frame, an elevator car affixed to the elevator car frame, the elevator car is configured to travel along the elevator rail, and a housing assembly for a safety actuation device affixed to the elevator car. The housing assembly includes a mounting plate including a proximal end and a distal end, a first channel wall and a second channel wall extending substantially perpendicular from the mounting plate, wherein the first channel wall is positioned substantially parallel to the second channel wall to form a channel therebetween, and a flange extending from at least one of the proximal end and the distal end, the flange including a slot disposed therein, wherein the slot is substantially aligned with the channel. 
     An embodiment of this elevator system further includes at least one guide device affixed to the mounting plate. In an embodiment of this elevator system, the at least one guide device includes a first roller and a second roller, wherein the first roller is located adjacent to the second roller to form a gap therebetween, wherein the gap is positioned substantially aligned with the channel and the slot. 
     An embodiment of this elevator system further includes at least one aperture disposed within the mounting plate, the at least one aperture configured for mounting said assembly. An embodiment of this elevator system further includes at least one elevator accessory affixed to the mounting plate. 
     Other embodiments are also disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments and other features, advantages and disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an elevator system employing a mechanical governor; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a safety actuation housing assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a safety actuation housing assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a guide pad with a wear indicator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a safety actuation housing assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a safety actuation housing assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a safety actuation housing assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended. 
       FIG. 1  shows an elevator system, generally indicated at  10 . The elevator system  10  includes cables or belts  12 , a car frame  14 , a car  16 , roller guides  18 , guide rails  20 , a governor  22 , safeties  24 , linkages  26 , levers  28 , and lift rods  30 . Governor  22  includes a governor sheave  32 , rope loop  34 , and a tensioning sheave  36 . Cables  12  are connected to car frame  14  and a counterweight (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) inside a hoistway. Car  16 , which is attached to car frame  14 , moves up and down the hoistway by force transmitted through cables  12  to car frame  14  by an elevator drive (not shown) commonly located in a machine room at the top of the hoistway. Roller guides  18  are attached to car frame  14  to guide the car  16  up and down the hoistway along guide rail  20 . Governor sheave  32  is mounted at an upper end of the hoistway. Rope loop  34  is wrapped partially around governor sheave  32  and partially around tensioning sheave  36  (located in this embodiment at a bottom end of the hoistway). Rope loop  34  is also connected to elevator car  16  at lever  28 , ensuring that the angular velocity of governor sheave  32  is directly related to the speed of elevator car  16 . 
     In the elevator system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , governor  22 , an electromechanical brake (not shown) located in the machine room, and safeties  24  act to stop elevator car  16  if car  16  exceeds a set speed as it travels inside the hoistway. If car  16  reaches an over-speed condition, governor  22  is triggered initially to engage a switch, which in turn cuts power to the elevator drive and drops the brake to arrest movement of the drive sheave and thereby arrest movement of car  16 . If, however, cables  12  break or car  16  otherwise experiences a free-fall condition unaffected by the brake, governor  22  may then act to trigger safeties  24  to arrest movement of car  16 . In addition to engaging a switch to drop the brake, governor  22  also releases a clutching device that grips the governor rope  34 . Governor rope  34  is connected to safeties  24  through mechanical linkages  26 , levers  28 , and lift rods  30 . As car  16  continues its descent unaffected by the brake, governor rope  34 , which is now prevented from moving by actuated governor  22 , pulls on operating lever  28 . Operating lever  28  “sets” safeties  24  by moving linkages  26  connected to lift rods  30 , which lift rods  30  cause safeties  24  to engage guide rails  20  to bring car  16  to a stop. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a housing assembly for a safety actuation device  40  configured to be affixed to the car frame  14 . The housing assembly  40  includes a mounting plate  42 . In one embodiment, the assembly  40  includes at least one elevator accessory  44  affixed to the mounting plate  42 . It will be appreciated that the at least one elevator accessory may include a safety actuation device, and one or more sensors to name a couple of non-limiting examples. 
     In an embodiment, the mounting plate  42  includes at least one aperture  46  disposed therein for mounting the assembly  40  to the car frame  14 . The apertures  46  on the mounting plate  42  and the fasteners fixed on the car frame  14  allow a safety actuation device  44 A to be floating horizontally when there is position variation between the car  16  and the rail  20 , which typically occurs during actuating and resetting the safeties  24 , as well as an elevator normal run. 
     The assembly  40  further includes a first channel wall  48  including a first channel wall interior surface  50 , and a second channel wall  52  including a second channel wall interior surface  54 . The first channel wall  48  and the second channel wall  52  extend substantially perpendicular from the mounting plate  42 , and the first channel wall  48  is positioned substantially parallel to the second channel wall  52  to form a channel  56  therebetween. 
     The assembly  40  further includes at least one guide device  58  configured to engage a component disposed within the channel  56 . In an embodiment, the at least one guide device  58  includes at least one guide pad  58  affixed to the first channel wall interior surface  50  and the second channel wall interior surface  54 . In an embodiment, the at least one guide pads  58  are removable for replacement and service purposes. In an embodiment, the at least one guide pad  58  is affixed to the first channel wall interior surface  50  and the second channel wall interior surface  54 . It will be appreciated that the at least one guide pads  58  may be composed of a high weight, wear resistant plastic to name one non-limiting example. 
     In some embodiments, each of the at least one guide pads  58  is affixed to the first channel wall interior surface  50  and positioned adjacent to each of the at least one guide pads  58  affixed to the second channel wall interior surface  54 . For example, in the embodiment shown, the guide pads  58 A and  58 B are disposed on the first channel wall interior surface  50  towards the ends, and the guide pads  58 C and  58 D are positioned along the second channel wall interior surface  54  substantially adjacent to the guide pads  58 A and  58 B, respectively. It will be appreciated that the guide pads  58  may also be formed from one piece of material and adjusted to accommodate for the elevator accessories  44 . 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the at least one guide pad  58  includes a wear indicator  59  disposed therein. In an embodiment, the wear indicator  59  may be composed of steel or any other metal, ceramics, or any other material suitable for the purpose as provided to name just a few non-limiting examples. As the component (e.g. the rail  20 ) moves within the channel  56  over time, the at least one guide pads  58  may begin to wear due to the friction of the component rubbing against the at least one guide pad  58 . The wear indicator  59  is configured to provide a visual and/or audible indication that the at least one guide pad  58  should be replaced. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rail  20  is disposed with the channel  56 . The at least one guide pads  58 A and  58 C may or may not be in contact with the rail  20  to minimize the impact of position variations between the car  16  and the rail  20 . Moreover, the at least one guide pads  58 A and  58 C are capable of preventing small objects from entering the channel  56  to obstruct the safety actuator  44 A. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the mounting plate  42  includes a flange  62  extending from a proximate end  64  of the mounting plate  42 . The flange  62  includes a slot  66  disposed in the flange  62 , wherein the slot  66  is substantially aligned with the channel  56 . The flange  62  is configured to prevent small objects from entering the channel  56  to obstruct the safety actuator  44 A. It will be appreciated that the flange  62  may extend from the proximate end  64 , a distal end  68  of the mounting plate  42 , or both. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the assembly  40  further includes at least one guide device  58  affixed to the mounting plate  42 . In this embodiment, the at least one guide device includes a first roller  58 A and a second roller  58 B affixed to the mounting plate  42  above the first channel wall  48  and the second channel wall  52 . A third roller  58 C and a fourth roller  58 D are affixed to the mounting plate  42  below the first channel wall  48  and the second channel wall  52 . 
     The first roller  58 A is located adjacent to the second roller  58 B to form a gap  60  therebetween, wherein the gap  60  is substantially aligned with the channel  56  and the slot  66 . The third roller  58 C is located adjacent to the fourth roller  58 D to form a gap  61  therebetween, wherein the gap  61  is substantially aligned with the channel  56  and the slot  66 . In another embodiment, the first roller  58 A, second roller  58 B, third roller  58 C, and fourth roller  58 D are removable for replacement and service purposes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the rail  20  is disposed with the channel  56 , the slot  66 , and the gap  60 . The first roller  58 A, the second roller  58 B, the third roller  58 C, and the fourth roller  58 D are engaged with the rail  20  to minimize the impact of position variations between the car  16  and the rail  20 . 
     It will therefore be appreciated that the present embodiments include a mounting assembly  40  having at least one guide device  58  disposed within channel  56 , or alternatively at least one guide device  58  affixed to the mounting plate  42  to form gap  60  substantially aligned with the channel  56  to improve the performance of safety actuation and reset due to the minimized position variations between the car  16  and the rail  20 . As a result, the power requirements for safety actuation is reduced, and effectively reducing the cost of the elevator system  10 . 
     While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.