Patent Description:
An elevator belt monitoring system with the features of the preamble of claim <NUM> is known from <CIT>.

Elevator belts are used to raise and lower an elevator car. The belts are typically formed of a flexible material such as rubber or synthetic plastic and contain a plurality of parallel strands or cords formed of metal to increase the strength of the belt. The belts typically have a rectangular cross-sectional configuration and the cords are arranged in spaced relation across the width of the belt. Through use over time, the cords deteriorate which weakens the belt. While elevator belts can be visually inspected, deterioration of the cords normally cannot be detected visually. Accordingly, electrical monitoring systems have been developed which monitor changes in the integrity of the cords within the belts. Such monitoring systems typically use connecting devices which engage the cords within the belt. An electrical signal is delivered to the cords via the connecting devices and changes in the signal are analyzed to provide an indication of deterioration of the cords.

Elevator belt monitoring devices are known in the patented prior art as evidenced by <CIT> which discloses an elevator belt monitoring assembly including cord contacting in the nature of screws which penetrate the belt in gaps between adjacent cords so that the screws abut against adjacent cords. Adjacent screws are staggered or offset to engage different pairs of cords. Electrical conductors are connected with at least two of the screws for transmitting an electrical signal between the cords of the belt and a monitoring device.

While the prior devices operate satisfactorily, maintaining contact with the elevator cords can be difficult due to shifting of the cords and the penetrating screws over time. If the screws become separated from the cords, monitoring of the cord condition is no longer possible. The present invention was developed in order to overcome these and other drawbacks of prior elevator belt monitoring devices by providing an improved cord contact assembly.

The invention provides the subject matter of claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

Claim <NUM> provides an elevator belt monitoring system, comprising.

Accordingly, an elevator belt monitoring system is provided in which belt-piercing devices are used to pierce through the elevator belt and through the spaced cords arranged in the belt. One piercing device is used to penetrate each cord. A plurality of contacts are connected with the belt-piercing devices. More particularly, bridge contact assemblies connect selected pairs of belt-piercing devices and signal contacts are connected with the belt-piercing devices which penetrate the outermost cord on either side of the belt. An electrical signal is delivered to the cords via the signal and bridge contacts and the signal is analyzed by a monitoring device to indicate an abnormality in the condition of the cords.

The monitoring system includes a housing for receiving an elevator belt. The housing includes a bottom portion and a removable top portion, with the elevator belt being arranged in the housing bottom portion. The bottom portion contains an array of openings, preferably corresponding in number with the number of cords in the belt. A screw is arranged in each opening and is operable to penetrate the belt and pierce one of the cords.

In one embodiment, first bridge contacts are arranged in the housing top portion and configured for connection with second bridge contacts connected with the screws when the top is mounted on the housing bottom portion. In an alternate embodiment, the bridge contacts contain pairs of openings for receiving the adjacent screws being electrically connected and extend across the upper surface of the housing bottom portion. In this embodiment, the top portion contains a plurality of through openings aligned with the openings of the housing bottom portion, whereby a screwdriver can be inserted into the top portion openings to engage and operate a screw in the corresponding housing bottom opening.

According to a further preferred unclaimed embodiment, the belt-piercing devices comprise pins.

Preferably, said bridge and signal contacts each contain an opening for receiving a pin.

In one embodiment, a pin holding plate is arranged in the housing and contains a plurality of spaced parallel through slots. Each slot receives a pair of pins which are to be connected a bridge contact. Each through slot contains said selected pairs of pins.

In one embodiment, the pin holding plate further contains a pair of through openings in opposite ends of the plat for receiving end pins configured to pierce the cords at opposite ends of the elevator belt.

In one embodiment, signal contacts are connected with the end pins. An actuator mechanism is also arranged within the housing above the pin holding plate and is operable to displace the plate and the pins against the elevator belt to drive the pins into piercing engagement with respective cords of the belt.

In one embodiment, in order to properly position the elevator belt relative to the pin holding plate, a belt holding plate is arranged in the housing adjacent an opening through which the belt is inserted into the housing.

Preferably, the belt holding plate includes resilient side walls which press against edge portions of the belt to position the belt with each of the piercing pins in alignment with one of the cords within the belt.

Preferably, said elevator belt monitoring further comprises a monitoring device connected with said signal contacts for delivering an electrical signal to said pins and processing a return signal from said pins to indicate a condition of the elevator cords.

In one preferred embodiment, said elevator belt monitoring system further comprises an actuator mechanism arranged within said housing above said pin holding plate, said actuator mechanism being operable to displace said pin holding plate and said pins against said elevator belt and drive said pins into engagement with the cords, respectively.

In one preferred embodiment, said actuator mechanism comprises at least one screw connected with said housing, an end of said screw engaging said pin holding plate, whereby as said screw is rotated relative to said housing, said screw presses said pin holding plate toward the elevator belt.

In one preferred embodiment, said elevator belt monitoring system further comprises a belt holding plate containing a plurality of openings for receiving said pins, respectively, said belt holding plate openings having a diameter corresponding with an outer diameter of said pins, whereby said pins pass through said belt holding plate and into the elevator belt to pierce said cords upon operation of said actuator mechanism.

In one preferred embodiment, said belt holding plate includes a pair of side walls extending normal to said plate to define a channel for receiving the elevator belt.

In a preferred embodiment, said belt holding plate side walls include inwardly extending resilient members which press against edge portions of the elevator belt to position the elevator belt within said housing with each of said pins in alignment with one of the cords within the elevator belt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:.

Referring to <FIG>, a first embodiment of an elevator belt monitoring apparatus according to the invention will be described. The apparatus includes a housing <NUM> having a top portion <NUM> which is removably connected with a bottom portion <NUM>. The bottom portion contains a longitudinal through slot <NUM> which is configured to receive an elevator belt <NUM>. The belt has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration and is formed of a durable flexible material such as rubber or other suitable synthetic material and contains a plurality of longitudinal cords <NUM> generally arranged in spaced relation across the width of the belt. The cords are typically formed of a woven, twisted or braided strands which are formed of a durable material such as metal and serve to reinforce the belt.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of belt piercing devices in the form of screws <NUM> are arranged within the housing bottom portion <NUM>. More particularly, the housing bottom portion contains a plurality of openings <NUM>, one for each screw, which are arranged in an array as shown in <FIG>, with each opening and the associated screw being aligned with a different cord of the belt. With the top portion of the housing removed, a screwdriver (not shown) can be inserted into each opening to engage a head of each screw and rotate each screw and drive it downwardly through the belt into each cord, respectively. The screws thus penetrate the cords and are lodged therein as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>. The screws are made of an electrically conductive material such as metal and thus are both physically and electrically connected with the cords.

A plurality of contacts are connected with the screws. The contacts are also formed of metal and thus are electrically as well as mechanically connected with the screws. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, each contact <NUM> has an L-shaped configuration and includes a first planar portion 18a containing an opening which is configured to receive a screw and a second planar portion 18b arranged normal to the first planar portion. The contacts are pre-arranged in the housing bottom portion as shown in <FIG> with the openings in the first planar portion 18a aligned with the openings <NUM> to receive respective screws. The second planar portion extends upwardly in the housing bottom portion. The housing top portion <NUM> contains a plurality of bridge contacts <NUM>. The bridge contacts include a planar portion and end connector portions arranged normal to the planar portion. The bridge contact end portions are configured for connection with respective second planar portions 18b of adjacent screws as shown in <FIG>, with the joined screws piercing adjacent cords.

The screws at each end of the housing which engage the outermost cords of the elevator belt pass through contacts <NUM> similar to that shown in <FIG>. The contacts at the outer edges of the housing serve as signal contacts which are connected with a monitoring device <NUM>. The monitoring device delivers an electrical input signal to the contact <NUM>in and screw at one edge of the belt and receives a return signal from the contact <NUM>out and screw at the other edge of the belt. The return signal is analyzed in a known manner by the monitoring device and any variations in the return signal from the input signal provides an indication of the condition of the cords. The analyzed signal thus provides an indication of any deterioration of the cords.

Turning now to <FIG> and <FIG>, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. As in the first embodiment, the elevator belt monitoring apparatus <NUM> includes a housing including a top portion <NUM> removably connected with a bottom portion <NUM>. The bottom portion contains a plurality of openings <NUM> arranged in an array to receive a plurality of screws <NUM> which are configured to pierce cords <NUM> contained in an elevator belt <NUM>. The housing bottom portion further contains a through slot <NUM> which receives the elevator belt. In the second embodiment, the bridge contacts are not arranged in the housing top portion as in the first embodiment. Rather, they are arranged on an upper surface 104a of the housing bottom portion. As shown in <FIG>, the bridge contacts <NUM> have a planar configuration and preferably contain two openings, each of which is aligned with a respective housing opening for receiving a screw <NUM>. The paired screws joined by a bridge contact <NUM> preferably pierce adjacent cords. The end contacts have an L-shaped configuration, the same as shown in <FIG>. These end contacts serve as input and output signal contacts which are connected with a monitoring device <NUM> in the same manner as the input and output contacts in the first embodiment.

The top portion <NUM> of the housing contains a plurality of through openings <NUM> which are aligned with the openings <NUM> in the housing bottom portion. The through-openings <NUM> provide access openings for a screwdriver which is used to turn the screws <NUM> and drive them into piercing contact with respective cords of the belt. As the screws are driven into the belt, the bridge contacts <NUM> and the planar portions 18a of the contacts <NUM> are pressed against the top surface 104a of the housing bottom portion, with the screws passing through the openings in the respective contacts. It will be readily apparent that the diameter of the contact openings corresponds with the outer diameter of the threaded portion of the screws with sufficient tolerance that the screws may pass through the openings. Once assembled, the piercing screws <NUM> are arranged in an array as shown in <FIG> with each screw piercing a respective cord.

A third embodiment not according to the invention is shown in <FIG>. In this embodiment, the housing <NUM> is formed as a unitary structure without separate top and bottom portions as in the first and second embodiments. However, a series of adjoining housings may be provided as shown in <FIG>. The housing or housings contain a through slot <NUM> which receives the elevator belt <NUM>. The housings contain openings <NUM> configured in an array for receiving piercing screws <NUM> similar to those of the first and second embodiments which are operable by a screwdriver accessible via the openings to pierce the cords of the elevator belt <NUM>. A characterizing feature of the third embodiment is the configuration of the contact <NUM> which is shown in detail in <FIG>. Each contact includes a planar portion 218a containing an opening for receiving a screw <NUM>. A second portion 218b of the contact extends normal to the planar portion. The second portion includes a spring clip 218c configured to receive and retain a wire. The wire may be a bridge wire to connect adjacent contacts and screws or a signal wire to connect the screws and contacts at opposite edges of the elevator belt with a monitoring device <NUM> to transmit and deliver input and output signals between the end contacts and screws and the monitoring device. Each housing further contains additional openings <NUM> aligned with the spring clips 218c to afford access to the spring clips and operate the clips to clamp or release a wire.

A fourth embodiment of the elevator belt monitoring apparatus not according to the invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. In this embodiment, a piercing pin <NUM> serves as the belt-piercing device.

A housing <NUM> includes a cover <NUM> which contains a longitudinal through slot <NUM> for receiving the elevator belt <NUM>. The housing contains a plurality of openings <NUM> in which screws or bolts <NUM> are arranged. A series of nuts <NUM> are arranged in slots at the bottom of the screw openings <NUM> to receive and retain a bottom portion of the screws, respectively. Arranged within a lower portion of the housing behind the slot in the cover <NUM> is a belt holding plate <NUM>. The plate includes side walls <NUM> depending from opposite side edges thereof to define a channel which receives and retains the elevator belt <NUM>. The inner surfaces of the side walls include resilient members <NUM> which have a limited degree of flexure which press against the side edges of the elevator belt to center the belt within the belt holding plate. The plate further includes an array of through openings <NUM> which are offset from one another so that each opening is arranged above a cord within the elevator belt.

A pin holding plate <NUM> is arranged within the housing beneath the screws <NUM> and above the belt holding plate <NUM>. The pin holding plate contains a series of spaced angular through slots <NUM> each of which is configured to receive a pair of piercing pins <NUM>. The pointed lower ends of the pins are aligned with the openings <NUM> of the belt holding plate <NUM>. The upper surface of the belt holding plate contains a pair of spaced projections or studs <NUM> at the side ends thereof. A pair of springs <NUM> are mounted on the studs and thus are arranged between the pin holding plate <NUM> and the belt holding plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, pairs of pins <NUM> are joined by a bridge contact <NUM>. The pairs are arranged in the slots <NUM> of the pin holding plate <NUM>.

When the housing is assembled with the belt <NUM> in the belt holding plate <NUM>, the pins <NUM> in the pin holding plate, and the screws in the openings <NUM> with the bottoms threadably engaged with respective nuts as shown in <FIG>, the housing is operable to insert the pins into engagement with the elevator belt cords. That is, the screws <NUM> are rotated, either in synchronization or intermittently successively to press the pin holding plate <NUM> against the bias force of the springs <NUM> toward the belt holding plate <NUM>. As the pin holding plate is displaced, the pins are simultaneously driven through and guided by the openings <NUM> of the belt holding plate into the belt and through the cords as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Each pin engages a different cord.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a combination of a pin <NUM> and a signal contact <NUM>. The pins <NUM> are arranged to engage the outermost cords of the belt and the signal contacts <NUM> are connected with a monitoring device <NUM> to deliver the input and output signals therebetween. The end pins <NUM> are driven into the end cords by the pin holding plate.

The screw and pin holding plate cooperate as an actuating mechanism to insert the pins into contact with the cords.

Claim 1:
An elevator belt monitoring system, comprising
(a) a housing (<NUM>, <NUM>) for receiving an elevator belt (<NUM>), wherein said housing (<NUM>) includes a bottom portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) which receives the elevator belt (<NUM>) and a top portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) removably connected with said bottom portion (<NUM>, <NUM>);
(b) a plurality of parallel belt-piercing devices arranged in an array within said housing, each belt-piercing device being configured to pierce a respective cord (<NUM>) within the belt (<NUM>); and
(c) a plurality of contacts connected with said belt-piercing devices, said contacts including a pair of signal contacts and a plurality of bridge contact assemblies, said bridge contact assemblies connecting selected pairs of belt-piercing devices, wherein said bridge contact assemblies each have a planar portion which extends normal to said belt-piercing devices ,
characterized in that
(d) said housing bottom portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) contains a plurality of openings (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged in an array and said belt-piercing devices comprise screws (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged in said housing bottom portion openings, respectively, whereby a screwdriver may be inserted into said housing bottom portion openings (<NUM>, <NUM>) and rotated to drive said screws (<NUM>, <NUM>) through the elevator belt (<NUM>) to engage a respective cord (<NUM>).