Patent Description:
In high-rise buildings, the elevator has a longer traveling distance. When the elevator car is on a low floor, the length of a rope between an elevator car and a tractor becomes longer. This rope will inevitably stretch or shorten when the weight of the passengers in the elevator car changes. Therefore, when passengers enter and exit the elevator, they will feel the springing or vibrating of the elevator car for example caused by the deformation of the rope.

<CIT> describes a vibration suppressing device for an elevator car comprising guide rollers, a brake device for regulating rotation of the guide rollers, a sensor for detecting opening an elevator car door, and a control part for driving the brake device based on the detection result of the sensor.

<CIT> describes a system for reducing the vertical oscillation of an elevator car in the vertical direction while the doors of the elevator car are open.

<CIT> describes a vibration suppressing device for a guide roller of an elevator car, arranged to damp vibration in the vertical direction while the elevator car is stopped in the hoistway.

<CIT> describes an elevator system comprising a device configured to reduce vibration of an elevator car caused by passengers entering or exiting the elevator car.

An object of the present invention is to solve or at least alleviate the problems existing in the related art.

According to an aspect of the invention, a guiding device for an elevator car is provided according to claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the guiding device for the elevator car further includes a control device, wherein the control device is coupled with the braking device, and the control device is configured to activate the braking device when elevator car is parked and release the braking device before the elevator car starts to move.

Optionally, in the guiding device for the elevator car, the control device is configured to activate the braking device when the elevator car is parked and during the opening of the car door, and release the braking device during the closing of the car door and/or when the elevator is in a standby state.

Optionally, in the guiding device for the elevator car, spring means between the rollers and the guide rail are pre-compressed by certain distances to ensure that the rollers closely abut the working surfaces of the guide rail.

Optionally, in the guiding device for the elevator car, the braking device includes a first braking module acting on the first roller and a second braking module acting on the second roller, wherein the first braking module and the second braking module are respectively connected to the same brake via the pull wire.

Optionally, in the guiding device for the elevator car, the friction member acts on an outer ring of a roller body of the at least one roller.

Optionally, in the guiding device for the elevator car, the friction member acts on a hub of the at least one roller.

Optionally, in the guiding device for the elevator car, the friction member acts on a rotating shaft of the at least one roller or an accessory fixed to the rotating shaft of the at least one roller.

According to another aspect, an elevator system is also provided, which includes:.

Optionally, the tractor is connected to the elevator car by a rope belt having a plurality of ropes integrated therein.

According to another aspect, an elevator rail clamping device is provided, which includes a roller guide shoe and a braking device installed on the roller guide shoe; the braking device includes a brake, and the brake is set on one side of a guide wheel on the roller guide shoe, the brake pad on the brake is arranged close to the wheel edge of the guide wheel.

Optionally, the brake device further includes a drive mechanism matched with the brake; the brake includes a brake box and the brake pad; the brake pad is curved, and the middle portion of the brake pad is rotatably connected to the brake box, the first end of the brake pad is connected to the drive mechanism, and the second end of the brake pad is arranged close to the wheel edge of the guide wheel.

Optionally, the drive mechanism includes a push-pull electromagnet and a brake wire; the first end of the brake pad is connected to one end of the brake wire, and the other end of the brake wire is connected to the push-pull end of the push-pull electromagnet.

Optionally, the brake further includes a compression spring; the brake pad is placed in the brake box, the first end of the brake pad is connected to one end of the compression spring, and the other end of the compression spring is connected to an inner side wall of the brake box; one end of the brake wire passes through the compression spring and is connected to the first end of the brake pad.

Optionally, the roller guide shoe includes a frame and three guide wheels installed on the frame, and the wheel edges of the three guide wheels are opposite to each other and enclose a clamping channel.

Optionally, the brake includes two brakes, and the two brakes are arranged on one side of two of the guide wheels respectively; the first end of the brake pad in each brake is correspondingly connected to the push-pull end of the push-pull electromagnet by a brake wire.

Optionally, the central axes of the first and second guide wheels are parallel, and the central axis of the third guide wheel is perpendicular to the central axis of the first guide wheel; the two brakes are correspondingly arranged on one side of the first and second guide wheels.

The contents of the present disclosure will become easier to understand with reference to the accompanying drawings. It can be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the drawings are merely used for illustration, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In addition, like parts are denoted by like numerals in the drawings, wherein:.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an elevator system <NUM>, which includes an elevator car <NUM>, a counterweight <NUM>, a rope <NUM>, a guide rail <NUM>, a tractor <NUM>, and an elevator system controller <NUM>. The elevator car <NUM> and the counterweight <NUM> are connected to each other via the rope <NUM>. The rope <NUM> may include or be configured as, for example, a cord, a steel cable, and/or a coated steel belt. In this embodiment, the rope is configured as a rope belt have a plurality of ropes integrated therein. The counterweight <NUM> is configured to balance the load of the elevator car <NUM>, and is configured to move simultaneously with the elevator car <NUM> in an opposite direction to the elevator car <NUM> when the elevator car <NUM> is traveling in an elevator hoistway <NUM> relative to the counterweight <NUM> along the guide rail <NUM>. The rope <NUM> engages with the tractor <NUM>, which is part of the top structure of the elevator system <NUM>. The tractor <NUM> is configured to control the movement between the elevator car <NUM> and the counterweight <NUM>.

The elevator system controller <NUM> is positioned within an elevator system controller room <NUM> of the elevator hoistway <NUM> as shown, and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system <NUM>, in particular the operation of the elevator car <NUM>. For example, the elevator system controller <NUM> may provide a driving signal to the tractor <NUM> to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, parking and the like of the elevator car <NUM>. When the elevator car <NUM> is moving upward or downward in the elevator hoistway <NUM> along the guide rail <NUM>, the elevator car <NUM> can be parked at one or more landings <NUM> under the control of the elevator system controller <NUM>. Although the elevator system controller <NUM> is shown in the elevator system controller room <NUM>, those skilled in the art will understand that the elevator system controller <NUM> may be located and/or configured at other positions or locations within the elevator system <NUM>. The tractor <NUM> may include a motor or a similar driving mechanism.

Although the rope system is illustrated and described, the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented in elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms for moving the elevator car within the elevator hoistway. <FIG> merely shows a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes.

Turning now to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> is a partial perspective view of an elevator car frame <NUM> on which two guiding devices <NUM> for the elevator car are mounted, and <FIG> is a schematic top view of the guiding devices <NUM> for the elevator car when engaging with the guide rail <NUM> of the elevator system. The elevator car frame <NUM> includes a horizontal frame <NUM> extending between a pair of vertical frames <NUM>. The guiding devices <NUM> for the elevator car are mounted to at least one of the horizontal frame <NUM> and the vertical frames <NUM> at a mounting base in a manner known in the art. The mounting base defines at least a part of a roller guide frame <NUM>, or the roller guide frame <NUM> is mounted to the mounting base. The mounting base is configured to mount and support the guiding devices <NUM> with at least one roller to the elevator car. Although only a pair of guiding devices <NUM> located at the top of the elevator car are shown in <FIG>, optionally, a pair of guiding devices may also be provided at the bottom or middle portion of the elevator car, or two or more pairs of guiding devices <NUM> may be located at the top, middle portion and/or bottom of the elevator car respectively.

The guiding devices <NUM> for the elevator car are each configured to engage with and move along the guide rail <NUM> (<FIG>). The guide rail <NUM> has a base <NUM> and a sheet-like engaging portion <NUM>, and the rollers of the guiding device <NUM> for the elevator car engage with and roll along the respective surfaces of the engaging portion <NUM> of the guide rail <NUM>. For example, the guiding device <NUM> for the elevator car shown in <FIG> includes a first roller <NUM>, a second roller <NUM>, and a third roller <NUM>, which engage with three different surfaces of the guide rail <NUM> respectively. In the current configuration, as understood by those skilled in the art, the third roller <NUM> is a lateral roller, and the first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> are front and rear rollers. Although specific configurations are shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments provided herein may be applicable to various other configurations of the guiding device for the elevator car.

The respective rollers <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are rotatably mounted to the roller guide frame <NUM> via support brackets <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. In addition, spring mechanisms are provided, which are configured to provide a restoring force for each roller and limit their displacements. An outer ring of a roller body of the roller contacts the guide rail of the elevator system and rolls along the surface of the guide rail with the vertical movement of the elevator car.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the guiding device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The guiding device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a roller guide frame <NUM>; and at least one roller <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> rotatably mounted to the roller guide frame <NUM>, the at least one roller <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> being configured to roll on the guide rail of the elevator when the elevator car is moving; wherein the guiding device further includes a braking device, which inhibits the rotation of at least one roller <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> when activated. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is proposed to provide the braking device on the elevator guiding device to inhibit the rotation of the rollers, thereby suppressing and reducing the springing or vibrating of the elevator car when passengers enter and exit the elevator.

In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one roller includes a first roller <NUM> and a second roller <NUM> arranged side by side, wherein the first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> have a gap G therebetween to accommodate the guide rail, or the first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> may also be referred to as front-rear rollers. In addition, the guiding device also includes a third roller <NUM>, which is a lateral roller. When the elevator car is traveling up and down, the first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> roll on front and rear surfaces of the guide rail respectively, and the third roller <NUM> rolls on a side edge of the guide rail.

The first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> are rotatably mounted on the roller guide frame <NUM> through the brackets <NUM> and <NUM> similar to those shown in <FIG>, and the third roller <NUM> is also rotatably mounted on the roller guide frame <NUM> through the bracket <NUM>. The spring mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> act on the rollers respectively so that the rollers tend to approach and engage with the guide rail. Although the number and specific arrangement of the rollers in the guiding devices are proposed in the illustrated embodiment, other numbers and arrangements of the rollers may be appropriately set in alternative embodiments according to actual conditions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the braking device includes: braking modules <NUM> and <NUM>, pull wires <NUM> and <NUM>, and a brake <NUM>. The braking module <NUM> may include for example a friction member <NUM> capable of switching between a braking position and an idle position, wherein when the friction member <NUM> is in the braking position, the friction member <NUM> acts on at least one roller <NUM> by friction to inhibit the rotation of the at least one roller <NUM>, and when the friction member <NUM> is in the idle position, it is separated from the at least one roller <NUM>; the pull wire <NUM> is connected between the friction member <NUM> and the brake <NUM>; the brake <NUM> is, for example, a device capable of performing linear displacement such as an electromagnet, which can pull the pull wire <NUM> to cause the friction member <NUM> of the braking module to move from the idle position to the braking position. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the friction member <NUM> rotates, for example, around a pin <NUM> to thereby approach and contact the outer ring of the at least one roller <NUM>, thereby inhibit the rotation of the at least one roller <NUM>. In addition, a return spring <NUM> is provided to return the friction member <NUM> from the braking position to the idle position after the brake releases the friction member <NUM>. In the guiding device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the brake <NUM> is connected to the braking modules through the pull wires <NUM> and <NUM>, so that the braking modules are disposed close to each roller, and the brake <NUM> with a larger volume can be disposed away from the braking modules <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby increasing the flexibility of the arrangement of the brake. In addition, in the braking device according to the present disclosure, the brake <NUM> can be used for multiple braking modules at the same time.

In some embodiments, the braking device includes: a first braking module <NUM> acting on the first roller <NUM> and a second braking module <NUM> acting on the second roller <NUM> respectively, wherein the first braking module and the second braking module are connected to the same brake <NUM> via the pull wires <NUM> and <NUM> respectively. In some embodiments, when the braking device is activated, it acts on both the first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> simultaneously. In an alternative embodiment, a braking module that acts only on any one of the first roller, the second roller and the third roller may be provided, or a plurality of braking modules that act on any two or three of them respectively may be provided.

In the embodiments shown in <FIG>, the friction member acts on the outer ring of the roller body of the at least one roller, and it may be made of rubber material. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the at least one roller <NUM> may include a roller hub <NUM>, a roller outer ring <NUM> positioned on the hub <NUM>, a roller shaft <NUM> and a bearing <NUM>. The roller can be rotatably supported on the bracket through the bearing <NUM>. In this embodiment, instead of the braking module that acts on the outer ring of the roller, the friction member of the braking module may also act on the hub <NUM> of the roller. The roller hub <NUM> may be made of a metal material, and may be rough so as to have a large friction force with the friction member that inhibits the rotation of the roller. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the hub <NUM> may extend beyond the roller outer ring <NUM> in the axial direction, thereby facilitating engagement with the friction member of the braking module.

With continued reference to <FIG>, in this embodiment, the at least one roller <NUM> may include: a roller hub <NUM>, a roller outer ring <NUM> positioned on the hub <NUM>, a roller shaft <NUM> and a bearing <NUM>. The roller shaft <NUM> may include a portion on the back side of the bearing <NUM>, and the friction member of the braking module may act on the roller shaft <NUM> of the at least one roller, for example, a portion of the roller shaft <NUM> on the back side of the bearing <NUM>. Alternatively, an accessory <NUM> may be fixed on the roller shaft, and the friction member of the braking module may act on the accessory <NUM> on the rotating shaft of the at least one roller, wherein the accessory <NUM> and the roller hub <NUM> are located on both sides of the bearing <NUM>.

According to another aspect, an elevator system is also provided, which includes: an elevator car; a tractor for driving the elevator car; and the guiding device for the elevator car according to various embodiments, which is connected to the elevator car to guide the elevator car to move along a guide rail. The tractor can be connected to the elevator car by a rope belt having a plurality of ropes integrated therein, in which case the guiding device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is particularly required.

In some embodiments, the guiding device for the elevator car further includes: a control device, which is coupled with the braking device, and which is configured to activate the braking device when the elevator car is parked, and to release the braking device before the elevator car starts to move. In some embodiments, the control device is configured to activate the braking device after the elevator car is parked and during the opening of the door of the elevator car, and to release the braking device during the closing of the door of the elevator car and/or when the elevator is in a standby state. During the activation of the braking device, there is static friction between the rollers of the guiding device and the guide rail, which can effectively inhibit the movement of the elevator car along the guide rail, thereby ensuring that people will not feel the vibration of the elevator car in the longitudinal direction when entering or exiting the elevator if the elevator is parked. The control device may be integrated in the elevator system controller or may be a component separate from the elevator system controller, and may be mounted on the guiding device and accepts a signal sent from the elevator system controller regarding the start and stop of the elevator and/or opening and closing of the door, thereby determining the activation and release of the braking device. Alternatively, the control device may be connected to a sensor, such as a car door opening and closing sensor, to receive the opening and closing signal of the car door, thereby determining the activation and release of the braking device. Alternatively, the control device may be operated in other suitable ways.

The device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has a simple and compact structure, is suitable for simple modification of existing products, and has a lower cost than other types of anti-vibration products.

Further referring to <FIG>, an elevator rail clamping device according to one embodiment is provided, which includes roller guide shoes and a braking device installed on the roller guide shoes; the braking device includes a brake or brake module <NUM>',<NUM>', which is arranged on the roller guide shoe on one side of a guide wheel <NUM>',<NUM>', the brake pad or friction member <NUM>' on the brake <NUM>',<NUM>' is arranged close to the wheel edge of the guide wheel <NUM>',<NUM>'.

The roller guide shoe is installed on an elevator car and it includes a frame <NUM>' and three guide wheels mounted on the frame <NUM>'. The three guide wheels are all guide wheels for orientation, the sides of which are opposed to each other and enclose a clamping channel G. The central shaft of each guide wheel is connected to one end of the support brackets <NUM>', and the other end of the support brackets <NUM>' are against the springs <NUM>',<NUM>'. When the elevator guide rail <NUM>' is placed in the channel G, the wheel edges of the three guide wheels are contacting the side wall of the guide rail <NUM>' and the roller guide shoe thus is used to guide the car along the guide rail <NUM>' of the elevator, ensuring the stability of the lifting movement of the car.

In this embodiment, the brake device is integrated on the existing roller guide shoe, and the brake pad <NUM>',<NUM>' of the brake device brakes the guide wheel <NUM>',<NUM>' on the roller guide shoe. When the elevator car moves up and down along the guide rail <NUM>', only the guide wheels are in rolling connection with the surface of the guide rail <NUM>', and the brake devices are separated from the guide rail <NUM>'. When the car stops, only the brake pads <NUM>',<NUM>' of the brake device stop the rotation of the guide wheel, ensuring the stability of the car during parking and stopping of the car. This will not cause damage to the surface of the guide rail <NUM>'. At the same time, since the brake device is integrated with the roller guide shoe, the installation space is greatly saved. When the brake device is regularly maintained, it is only necessary to directly remove the roller guide shoe from the car for maintenance operations. Therefore, the brake device also has the characteristics of convenient disassembly and subsequent replacement and maintenance.

Furthermore, the brake device in one embodiment also includes a drive mechanism that matches the brake <NUM>',<NUM>'. Referring to <FIG>, the brake <NUM>' includes a brake box <NUM>' and a brake pad <NUM>'. The contacting surface of the brake pad <NUM>' is curved, and the middle portion of the brake pad <NUM>' is rotatably connected to the brake box <NUM>'. The first end of the brake pad <NUM>' is connected to the drive mechanism, and the second end of the brake pad <NUM>' is arranged close to the edge of the guide wheel.

[<NUM>] In one embodiment, the brake <NUM>',<NUM>' may be arranged on one side of at least one guide wheel on the roller guide shoe, so as to stop the rotation of the guide wheel when the car is stopped. When the brake <NUM>',<NUM>' brakes the guide wheel, the first end of the brake pad <NUM>' is driven by the drive mechanism, so that the brake pad <NUM>',<NUM>' rotates along its middle portion, so that the second end of the brake pad <NUM>',<NUM>' is in contact with the side of the guide wheel, thereby prevent the guide wheel from further rotating. When it does not need to brake the guide wheel, the drive mechanism only needs to leave the brake <NUM>',<NUM>' to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the second end of the brake pad <NUM>' is separated from the edge of the guide wheel.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the control of the rotation of the brake pad by the drive mechanism, the shape of the brake pad may be of a "<NUM>" shape, and the drive mechanism may be a telescopic mechanism or a rotating mechanism without limitation. The telescopic end of the telescopic mechanism is connected to the first end of the brake pad or the output end of the rotating mechanism is connected to the first end of the brake pad through a cam so as to control the rotation of the brake pad <NUM>'.

Furthermore, the drive mechanism in one embodiment includes a push-pull electromagnet <NUM>' and a brake wire <NUM>'; the first end of the brake pad <NUM>' is connected to one end of the brake wire <NUM>', and the other end of the brake wire <NUM>' is connected to the push-pull end of the push-pull electromagnet <NUM>'.

When the brake <NUM>',<NUM>' is about to brake the guide wheel, the push-pull electromagnet <NUM>' is energized, the push-pull end retracts, and the first end of the brake pad <NUM>' is pulled by the brake wire <NUM>', so that the second of the brake pad <NUM>' is contacting the edge of the guide wheel to achieve braking.

As the brake wire <NUM>' is shapeable rigid cable, it can be adapted to different installation structures. The push-pull action of the push-pull electromagnet <NUM>' can be realized by the control of power transmission, so that the brake device formed by the push-pull electromagnet <NUM>', the brake wire <NUM>' and the brake <NUM>',<NUM>' can be applied to roller guide shoes of different sizes with low cost and easy integrated installation.

Furthermore, referring to <FIG>, the brake <NUM>',<NUM>' in one embodiment further includes a compression spring <NUM>'. The brake pad <NUM>' is placed in the brake box <NUM>'. The first end of the brake pad <NUM>' is connected to one end of the compression spring <NUM>', and the other end of the compression spring <NUM>' is connected to an inner side wall of the brake box <NUM>'. One end of the brake wire <NUM>' passes through the compression spring <NUM>' and is connected to the first end of the brake pad <NUM>'.

Moreover, by providing a compression spring <NUM>' between the first end of the brake pad <NUM>' and the inner wall of the brake box <NUM>', when it does not need to brake the guide wheel, i.e. when the push-pull electromagnet <NUM>' does not exert a pulling force to the first end of the brake pad <NUM>' by the brake wire <NUM>', the compression spring <NUM> will recover, and thereby exert a thrust on the first end of the brake pad <NUM>', so that the brake pad <NUM>' rotates in an opposite direction along its middle portion, then the second end of the brake pad <NUM>' is separated from the edge of the guide wheel.

Furthermore, in order to control the stability of the car during parking, two brakes <NUM>',<NUM>' are provided in one embodiment, and the two brakes <NUM>',<NUM>' are provided on one side of the two guide wheels respectively. The first end of each the brake pad <NUM>' is connected to the push-pull electromagnet <NUM>' through the brake wires <NUM>'.

Moreover, the center axis of the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel may be parallel to each other, and the center axis of the third guide wheel may be perpendicular to the center axis of the first guide wheel.

Moreover, the two brakes <NUM>',<NUM>' are correspondingly arranged on one side of the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel, and the push-pull electromagnet <NUM>' is installed on the corresponding side of the third guide wheel on the frame, such that the integrated installation of the roller guide shoe and the brake device is thus realized. The push-pull electromagnet <NUM>' can drive the two brakes <NUM>',<NUM>' simultaneously, and synchronous brake control of the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel can be realized. The operation is simple, convenient, stable and reliable.

Claim 1:
A guiding device (<NUM>) for an elevator car (<NUM>), comprising:
a roller guide frame (<NUM>); and
at least one roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) rotatably mounted to the roller guide frame (<NUM>), the roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) being configured to roll on an elevator guide rail (<NUM>) when the elevator car (<NUM>) is moving;
wherein the guiding device (<NUM>) further comprises a braking device which inhibits the rotation of the roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) when activated;
wherein the braking device comprises:
a braking module (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a friction member (<NUM>) capable of switching between a braking position and an idle position, wherein when the friction member (<NUM>) is in the braking position, the friction member (<NUM>) acts on the at least one roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) by friction to inhibit the rotation of the at least one roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and when the friction member (<NUM>) is in the idle position, it is separated from the at least one roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a pull wire (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the friction member (<NUM>); and
a brake (<NUM>) which is connected to the pull wire (<NUM>, <NUM>) and which is capable of pulling the pull wire (<NUM>, <NUM>) so as to cause the friction member (<NUM>) of the braking module (<NUM>, <NUM>) to move from the idle position to the braking position;
characterized in that:
the at least one roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a first roller (<NUM>) and a second roller (<NUM>) arranged side by side, the first roller (<NUM>) and the second roller (<NUM>) have a gap therebetween to accommodate the guide rail (<NUM>), and when the braking device is activated, it acts on both the first roller (<NUM>) and the second roller (<NUM>).