Patent Publication Number: US-2021171319-A1

Title: Elevator System

Description:
ELEVATOR SYSTEM 
     The invention relates to an elevator system. 
     The invention is applicable to elevator systems in which a plurality of cars can travel simultaneously in a shared shaft. Moreover, the elevator system comprises a plurality of shafts. With the help of a repositioning assembly, the cars can be transferred from a first shaft into a second shaft. 
     An elevator system of this kind is disclosed in principle in EP 3 318 526 A1. In this case, a repositioning assembly comprises a plurality of repositioning modules  162  which can be assembled according to the configuration of the elevator system. Each module of this kind comprises a rail (reference number  176  in  FIG. 3 ) and together these form a repositioning track. A car guide (reference number  172  in  FIG. 3 ) represents a repositioning carrier which transfers the car along the rail from a first repositioning position in a first shaft into a second repositioning position in a second shaft. These modules are positioned on a story with the help of a frame (reference number  170  in  FIG. 3 ). However, this modular arrangement is extremely limited in terms of variability. In addition, the frame must be positioned extremely accurately when fitting. 
     The problem addressed by the present invention is that of developing an elevator system of the kind referred to above. 
     The patent application PCT/EP2018/050265 published subsequently discloses a multi-car elevator system. A repositioning assembly is formed by a rotatable rail segment. The elevator system has an adjusting assembly for adjustment of the rotational axis. 
     The problem underlying the invention is solved by an elevator system and a method as claimed in the main claims. Embodiments result from the sub-claims and the description. 
     The advantage of the elevator system according to the invention is, in particular, that the repositioning assembly can be fitted with quite rough tolerances. The adjusting assembly can be used to adjust the fitted repositioning assembly in such a manner that the cars are arranged as accurately as possible in the respective target shaft during operation following the repositioning process. Deformations during operation can make it necessary for the orientation of the repositioning assembly to be readjusted in this case. 
     Unlike in the case of the elevator system in PCT/EP2018/050265, the car is not mounted in a rucksack-type manner during vertical travel. 
     In particular, the car comprises guide rollers which are attached to opposite sides of the car. 
     In particular, the repositioning assembly has no rotatable rail segments. 
     The advantages mentioned in relation to the device or the method and other possible embodiments can easily be applied to the method or the device. 
    
    
     
       The invention is explained in greater detail below with the help of the figures. In the figures 
         FIG. 1  shows schematically the basic design of an elevator system according to the invention having two repositioning assemblies; 
         FIG. 2  shows a repositioning assembly in a first embodiment in side view in different states of orientation; 
         FIG. 3  shows a detailed and enlarged perspective view of an adjusting assembly; 
         FIG. 4  shows schematically the adjusting assembly in combination with the repositioning assembly in a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows schematically the adjusting assembly in combination with the repositioning assembly in a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  shows schematically the cabin and the vertical guide rails from above. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows parts of an elevator system  1  according to the invention. The elevator assembly  1  comprises fixed guide rails  52  along which cars  53  can be guided in a vertical direction. The first vertical guide rails  52   a  in this case are arranged in a first shaft  51   a  and second guide rails  52   b  are arranged in a second shaft  51   b . The elevator system in this case comprises a plurality of cars  53   a ,  53   b ,  53   c ,  53   d , wherein more than two cars can, in particular, travel simultaneously in one shaft. 
     The elevator system  1  comprises multiple repositioning assemblies  60   a ,  60   b . With the help of a repositioning assembly  60  of this kind, a car can be repositioned from one shaft into the other shaft. 
     A repositioning process of the car  53   a  from the first shaft  51   a  into the second shaft  51   b  with the help of the upper repositioning assembly  60   a  is looked at by way of example. For this purpose, the car  53   a  runs along the vertical guide rails  52   a  vertically into the repositioning assembly  60   a . The car  53   a  is then located in the first repositioning position  64   a . From this repositioning position  64   a , the car  53  could, on the one hand, continue to travel on vertically into the next story along the vertical guide rails  52   a . On the other hand, the car  53   a  can also be transferred into a second repositioning position  64   b  in which said car is then arranged in the second shaft  51   b.    
     For this purpose, the repositioning assembly  60   a  has a repositioning frame  61  which is likewise located in the first repositioning position  64   a . If both the repositioning frame  61  and the car  53   a  are located in the first repositioning position  64   a , the repositioning frame  61  can receive the car  53   a.    
     A rail portion  62  of the vertical guide rail  52  can be separated from the remainder of the guide rail  52  in this case and fixedly connected to the repositioning frame  61 . By being introduced into the first repositioning position  64   a , the car  53   a  then reaches the guiding region of the rail portion  62 . If the repositioning frame  61  then moves horizontally, this rail portion  62  is moved along with the car  53  guided on the rail portion  62  together with the repositioning frame  61 . The repositioning frame  61  is then moved from the first repositioning position  64   a  into the second repositioning position  64   b  along a repositioning track  63 . The repositioning track  63  may be a horizontal rail on which the repositioning frame  61  is guided. This repositioning principle is basically described in EP 3 318 526 A1. 
       FIG. 3  shows a possible embodiment of an exemplary adjusting device  70 . The adjusting device  70  comprises an adjustment base  71  which can be fastened in a predefined position on the shaft wall  54 , for example. An adjusting support  72  is fastened to the repositioning track  63  in a predefined position. The adjusting support  72  may also be an integral part of the repositioning track  63 . The relative position of the adjusting support  16  in relation to the respective adjustment base  12  defines the position of the repositioning track, at least in a locally limited manner. 
     An adjusting rail  73  is held on the adjustment base  71  such as to be displaceable in the y-direction. An adjusting slide  74  is held on the adjusting rail  13  such as to be displaceable in the x-direction. An adjusting screw  75  is fitted to the adjusting slide  74  from above. The adjusting screw  75  is guided through a threaded bore in the adjusting support  72 . The directions of the individual adjusting means need not necessarily correlate with the spatial directions x, y, z. 
     As shown at the connection between the adjusting rail  73  and the adjusting slide  74 , displaceability can be achieved by means of a dovetail guide. There is also a dovetail guide of this kind between the adjustment base  71  and the adjusting rail  73 , but it cannot be seen in this representation. By turning the adjusting screw  75 , the adjusting support  72  can be raised or lowered in the z-direction in relation to the adjusting slide  74 . The adjusted relative position of the adjusting support  72  in relation to the adjustment base  71  is fixed following adjustment. 
     Alternatively, the repositioning assembly may also comprise a conveyor belt assembly  60   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . An assembly of this kind can be used on a lower repositioning assembly in particular. The conveyor belt assembly  60   b  comprises a conveyor belt  66 , wherein the elevator cage  52   b  being repositioned is placed on this conveyor belt. The region of the conveyor belt on which the car is mounted is regarded as the repositioning carrier  61 . The conveyor belt  66 , and with it the repositioning carrier  61 , is guided with the help of bearing rollers  67 . The repositioning track  63  is defined by the arrangement and orientation of the bearing rollers. The bearing rollers are oriented by the adjusting assembly  7  in a similar way to the preceding embodiment. The repositioning positions  64   a ,  64   b  are thereby adjusted. 
     It is not necessary for rail portions  62  to be repositioned with the car  53  in the conveyor belt embodiment. Otherwise, the method of operation is identical to the previously described embodiment with the repositioning frame. 
     The adjustment can be carried out once during commissioning. There is no need for continuous adjustment during routine operation. Checks that the orientation is correct can be made during routine maintenance work. 
     As  FIG. 2  shows, the repositioning carrier is guided on the repositioning track  63  with the help of a roller guide  65 . The repositioning track in this case can be formed by a horizontal rail, wherein there may also be a rail of this kind on the other side. The repositioning track  63  is held on the shaft wall  54  by means of multiple adjusting devices  70  (see also  FIG. 4 ). 
     An adjusting process is illustrated in  FIG. 2  with the help of the first adjusting assembly  60   a . In this case,  FIG. 2 a    shows the repositioning carrier  61  along with the car  53   a  in the second, as yet unaligned, repositioning position  64   b . It can be seen that the rail portion  62 , which has been moved along with the car  53   a  from the first repositioning position into the second repositioning position, is not aligned with the vertical guide rail  52   b  in the second shaft. With the help of the adjusting device  70   b , there is a change in position of the repositioning track  63  in the region of the second repositioning position  64   b , initially in the z-direction ( FIG. 2 b   ) and then in the x-direction. The rail portion  62  is then aligned at least in side view with the vertical guide rail  52  in the second repositioning position  64   b . Alignment in the position in the X-direction can be achieved with the help of a limit stop (not shown) which may also be an integral part of the adjusting assembly. The guideway of the repositioning carrier  61  along the track  63  can be limited in a defined manner by the limit stop. The car  53  can then be moved vertically in the second shaft. 
       FIG. 7  shows the bearing of the car during vertical travel. The car is guided with the help of guide rollers on the at least two vertical guide rails. The at least two vertical guide rails are arranged on opposite sides of the car. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       1  elevator system 
       51  shaft 
       52  guide rails 
       53  car 
       54  shaft wall 
       55  guide rollers 
       60  repositioning assembly 
       61  repositioning frame 
       62  rail portion 
       63  repositioning track 
       64  repositioning position 
       65  roller guide 
       66  conveyor belt 
       67  bearing rollers 
       7  adjusting assembly 
       70  adjusting device 
       71  adjustment base 
       72  adjusting support 
       73  adjusting rail 
       74  adjusting slide 
       75  adjusting screw