Patent Description:
As a tool for improving the walking of passengers between floors or shortening the walking distance of passengers, passenger transportation devices are very common in daily life. As an example, the most common passenger transportation devices are escalators and elevators that are usually used between floors of commercial buildings, and moving walkways that are usually used in large airports.

An elevator system usually includes one or more elevator cars that can move along an elevator hoistway. In order to provide electricity for components that implement lighting, audio, communication and other functions (such as connection between a car operation panel and a control system of the elevator system) in the elevator car, a traveling cable will be additionally provided in the elevator hoistway. One end of such traveling cable may be connected to an elevator control system, and the other end may be operatively connected to the elevator car.

In some application scenarios and hoistway structures or when affected by a variable-speed operation of the elevator car, the traveling cable often swings to a certain extent in the elevator hoistway. An example of the mentioned application scenarios may be a high-rise building, in which the traveling cable has a very large length and swings due to vibration conditions. Such an undesirable swinging process may interfere with brackets and/or other components in the elevator hoistway. In addition, due to the small distance between the traveling cable and the elevator hoistway, this kind of swinging will also cause excessive wear of the traveling cable and affect its service life. Sudden excessive wear may even affect power supply of the elevator car and cause safety hazards.

The SNAPTRACK product of Scidyne Corporation discloses a channel for mounting assemblies and custom circuit boards. Printed circuit boards snap-in from the front and are held securely by integral ribs that allow for removal.

The present application aims to provide a clamping device and an elevator system to solve or at least alleviate some of the aforementioned technical problems.

In order to achieve at least one object of the present application, according to an aspect of the present application, a clamping device is provided in accordance with claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the clamping arm assembly is hinged to the base, and the clamping arm assembly is capable of rotating toward the limiting space under a driving force no less than the first damping force, and are capable of rotating away from the limiting space under a driving force no less than the second damping force.

In some embodiments, the clamping arm assembly includes: a first-stage force arm and a first-stage damping member, in which the first-stage damping member applies a damping force to the first-stage force arm when the first-stage force arm rotates either toward or away from the limiting space; and a second-stage force arm and a second-stage damping member, in which the second-stage force arm is associated with the first-stage force arm, and moves in association with the first-stage force arm when the first-stage force arm rotates away from the limiting space; and when the second-stage force arm moves in association, the second-stage damping member applies a damping force to the second-stage force arm; the damping force applied by the first-stage damping member is not greater than the first damping force, and a damping force applied by the first-stage damping member and the second-stage damping member in association is not greater than the second damping force.

In some embodiments, the first-stage force arm includes a first section and a second section; a first end of the first section and a first end of the second section are connected to each other and form an included angle, a first hinge point of the first-stage force arm and the base is arranged at a connection position of the first section and the second section, and the first-stage damping member is arranged at the first hinge point and abuts between a portion of the base that is close to the opening and the first section.

In some embodiments, a first end of the second-stage force arm abuts a side of the second section that is close to the first section and moves in association with the second section, and a second hinge point of the second-stage force arm and the base is arranged at a second end of the second-stage force arm; the second-stage damping member is arranged at the second hinge point and abuts between a portion of the base that is away from the opening and the second-stage force arm.

In some embodiments, the first-stage damping member is configured as a first torsion spring arranged around the first hinge point, and the first section further includes a first stop wall for abutting the first torsion spring; and/or the second-stage damping member is configured as a second torsion spring arranged around the second hinge point, and the second-stage force arm further includes a second stop wall for abutting the second torsion spring.

In some embodiments, two said clamping arm assemblies arranged oppositely are included; in which one of the clamping arm assemblies is hinged to the base at a first end of the opening, and the other one of the clamping arm assemblies is hinged to the base at a second end of the opening.

In some embodiments, in a stationary state, the two clamping arm assemblies are aligned with each other.

In some embodiments, the rotatable end of the clamping arm assembly has a guiding arc surface, and the guiding arc surface is configured to follow the direction in which the clamped part enters and exits the limiting space via the opening.

In some embodiments, the base further includes a fixing portion that allows the base to be fixed to an installation position.

In order to achieve at least one object of the present application, according to another aspect of the present application, an elevator system is provided in accordance with claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the plurality of clamping devices are installed in the elevator hoistway at an interval of <NUM>-<NUM> meters.

In some embodiments, an upper portion of the traveling cable is fixed in the elevator hoistway.

In some embodiments, the traveling cable is configured to have a cross-section with a thickness smaller than a width; the traveling cable swings substantially in the thickness direction, and the clamping device is arranged to align with the traveling cable in the thickness direction.

According to the clamping device of the present application, by providing a clamping arm assembly that cooperates with the base, different damping forces that allow the clamped part (for example, the traveling cable, etc.) to enter and exit the limiting space of the base are provided, so that the clamped part can overcome a small first damping force and enter the limiting space, thereby restraining the clamped part in the limiting space and avoiding the collision and wear caused by excessive swinging; and the clamped part needs to overcome a larger second damping force to exit the limiting space. Therefore, the possibility of the clamped part being disengaged from the clamping device due to swinging is avoided, and only when an external force is required for deliberate traction, can the clamped part be disengaged from the clamping device. This arrangement has a low cost and can achieve reliable clamping of the clamped part. The elevator system to which this kind of clamping device is applied can thus reliably alleviate the undesired swinging of the traveling cable, increase its service life, and avoid the potential safety hazards caused thereby.

Hereinafter, the present application will be described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in many different forms within the scope of the appended claims, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided herein to make the disclosure of the present application more complete, and to fully convey the concept of the present application to those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims.

In addition, for any single technical feature described or implied in the embodiments mentioned herein, or any single technical feature shown or implied in individual drawings, the present application still allows these technical features (or equivalents thereof) to be further arbitrarily combined or deleted without any technical obstacle, thereby obtaining more other embodiments of the present application that may not have been directly mentioned herein.

In the present application, a clamping device and its arrangement associated with an elevator system will be exemplarily described herein with reference to <FIG>. The clamping device <NUM> generally includes a base <NUM> and two clamping arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>. In each of the figures, a clamping action of the clamping device <NUM> is shown by limiting a traveling cable of the elevator system, which will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the base <NUM> is generally configured into the form of a frame made of sheet metal, thereby achieving a comprehensive consideration of both material and strength. The base <NUM> encloses a limiting space <NUM> with an opening <NUM>, and the opening <NUM> communicates the limiting space <NUM> of the base <NUM> with an outer side of the base <NUM>, i.e., a side that will typically face a clamped part in an installed position.

In the figure, two clamping arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> arranged opposite to each other are shown, in which one clamping arm assembly <NUM> is hinged to the base <NUM> at a first end of the opening <NUM>, and the other clamping arm assembly <NUM> is hinged to the base <NUM> at a second end of the opening <NUM>. The two clamping arm assemblies are aligned with each other in a stationary state, and form a gap smaller than the size of the clamped part with the opening <NUM>. This arrangement makes the clamped part unable to enter or exit the limiting space <NUM> from the opening <NUM> in the stationary state. More specifically, any one of the clamping arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> is a component with damping that can initiate a movement after being driven, and has a first damping force that allows the clamped part to enter the limiting space <NUM> via the opening <NUM>, and a second damping force that allows the clamped part to exit the limiting space <NUM> via the opening <NUM>. The aforementioned second damping force is greater than the first damping force, which means that a greater driving force is required for forcing the clamped part to exit the limiting space <NUM> than forcing it to enter the limiting space <NUM>.

In this arrangement, by providing the clamping arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> that cooperate with the base <NUM>, the clamping device <NUM> of this embodiment provides different damping forces that allow the clamped part (for example, a traveling cable <NUM>, etc.) to enter and exit the limiting space <NUM> of the base <NUM>. When the clamped part is actively or passively subjected to an applied external force, it can overcome the smaller first damping force and enter the limiting space <NUM>, so that it is restrained in the limiting space <NUM>, and collision and wear caused by excessive swinging are avoided; and when the clamped part is actively or passively subjected to a greater external force, it needs to overcome a greater second damping force to exit the limiting space <NUM>. Continuing to take the traveling cable as an example, this arrangement avoids the possibility of the clamped part being disengaged from the clamping device <NUM> due to swinging, and only when an external force is required for deliberate traction, can the clamped part be disengaged from the clamping device <NUM>. This arrangement has a low cost and can achieve reliable clamping of the clamped part.

In the following, the configurations of various parts of the clamping device and connection relationships thereof will be introduced. In addition, in consideration of further improvement of the reliability, practicability, economy or other aspects, some additional parts may be added, which are also exemplified as follows.

For example, continuing to refer to <FIG>, when the two clamping arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> are both hinged to the base <NUM>, they can rotate about the hinge points when they receive an external force that meets requirements. Specifically, the clamping arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> can rotate toward the limiting space <NUM> under a driving force no less than the first damping force, and can rotate away from the limiting space <NUM> under a driving force no less than the second damping force. Of course, the figure only exemplarily gives an example of the connection mode between the clamping arm assemblies and the base, and other movable connection modes such as sliding may also be used under the premise of meeting the inventive object of this embodiment.

As another example, as a structural form for specifically realizing the clamping arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>, they each include a first-stage force arm <NUM>, <NUM> and a second-stage force arm <NUM>, <NUM> associated with the first-stage force arm <NUM>, <NUM> for providing support, and each include a first-stage damping member <NUM>, <NUM> and a second-stage damping member <NUM>, <NUM> for providing damping.

Specifically, when the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> rotate toward the limiting space <NUM>, the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> each apply a damping force to the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM>; and when the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> rotate away from the limiting space <NUM>, the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> actuate the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> to move in association therewith. At this time, the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> apply a damping force to the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM>, and the second-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> apply a damping force to the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM>. In the design process, the damping force applied by the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> should not be greater than the first damping force, and the damping force applied by the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> and the second-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> in association should not be greater than the second damping force. Under this arrangement, only when the external force applied to the clamped part exceeds the thresholds of these two damping forces respectively, can the corresponding restrained or restrained behavior occur.

The structural details of the two stages of damping members will be described in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings as follows.

Firstly, for the first-stage damping members, the corresponding first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> are configured into an "L"-shaped structure, and respectively include a first section 1211a, 1221a and a second section 1211b, 1221b. First ends 1213a, 1223a of the first sections 1211a, 1221a and first ends 1213a, 1223a of the second sections 1211b, 1221b are connected to each other and form an included angle; optionally, the included angle may for example be the right angle as shown in the figure.

In addition, first hinge points 1211c, 1221c of the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> and the base <NUM> are arranged at the connection positions of the first sections 1211a, 1221a and the second sections 1211b, 1221b, and at the same time, the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged at these positions so that the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> abut between a portion of the base <NUM> that is close to the opening <NUM> and the first sections 1211a, 1221a. More specifically, the first-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured as first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> arranged around first hinge posts 1211c, 1221c, and first stop walls 12111a, 12211a for abutting the first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged on the first sections 1211a, 1221a. At this time, when the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> receive a force toward the limiting space <NUM> from the clamped part, they will press the first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> toward the limiting space <NUM> through the first stop walls 12111a, 12211a. When the force is greater than the first damping force, the first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> are forced to compress backward by a certain angle by the first stop walls. At this time, the first sections 1211a, 1221a of the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> are rotated backward until a gap sufficient for the clamped part to pass through is exposed at the opening <NUM>, thereby realizing the capture of the clamped part. When the clamped part enters the limiting space <NUM>, the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> are no longer subjected to the external force applied by the clamped part. At this time, the first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> release the elastic energy, and push the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> back to the initial positions through the first stop walls. In this process, the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> are not actuated.

Next, for the second-stage damping members, the corresponding second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> are configured into a vertical strip structure, and first ends 1213a, 1223a thereof abut inner sides of the second sections 1211b, 1221b, and can move in association with the second sections 1211b, 1221b when the second sections 1211b, 1221b rotate toward the limiting space. Second hinge points 1213c, 1223c of the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> and the base <NUM> are arranged at second ends 1213b, 1223b of the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM>, thereby forming the fulcrum for the associated rotation.

In addition, the second-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged at the second hinge points 1213c, 1223c, and abut between a portion of the base <NUM> that is away from the opening <NUM> and the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM>. More specifically, the second-stage damping members <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured as second torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> arranged around second hinge posts 1213c, 1223c, and second stop walls 1213d, 1223d for abutting the second torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged on the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM>. At this time, when the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> receive a force away from the limiting space <NUM> from the clamped part located in the limiting space <NUM>, the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> will drive the first sections 1211a, 1221a of the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> to rotate away from the limiting space <NUM>. Correspondingly, the second sections 1211b, 1221b of the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> will rotate toward the limiting space <NUM>, and the rotational movement path will be interfered by the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM>, thereby making the second sections 1211b, 1221b still need to push the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> to rotate. In this process, the external force from the clamped part needs to simultaneously overcome the damping forces of the first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> and the second torsion springs. Specifically, when the force is greater than the second damping force, the first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> and the second torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> are both compressed by a certain angle. At this time, the first sections 1211a, 1221a of the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> will rotate outward until a gap sufficient for the clamped part to pass through is exposed at the opening <NUM>, thereby realizing the release of the clamped part. After the clamped part exits the limiting space <NUM>, the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> and the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> are no longer subjected to the external force applied by the clamped part. At this time, the first torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> and the second torsion springs <NUM>, <NUM> both release the elastic energy, and push the first-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> and the second-stage force arms <NUM>, <NUM> back to their initial positions.

It should be understood that although the two clamping arm assemblies shown in the figures are used as an example for description in the foregoing embodiments, the number of the clamping arm assemblies is not a necessary condition for restraining the clamped part. For example, under certain circumstances, it is also possible to use only one clamping arm assembly which is hinged to one end of the opening and which directly forms a gap with the other end of the opening that cannot be passed through by the clamped part. When subjected to an external force that meets the condition, the clamping arm assembly can also rotate about the other end of the opening to form a path that can be passed through by the clamped part.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the entry and exit of the clamped part into and out of the limiting space, and to avoid other undesired mechanical interference or wear, the rotatable ends of the clamp arm assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> may also be configured to have guiding arc surfaces 12112a, 12212a, and the guiding arc surfaces 12112a, 12212a are configured to follow the direction in which the clamped part enters and exits the limiting space <NUM> via the opening <NUM>, so as to guide the clamped part into and out of the limiting space along the desired direction of movement.

For another example, in order to facilitate the installation and positioning of the clamping device, a fixing portion <NUM> may also be arranged on the base <NUM>, and the fixing portion <NUM> allows the base <NUM> to be fixed to an installation position, so as to realize quick disassembly and assembly.

In addition, although not shown in the figures, an embodiment of an elevator system is also provided herein. The elevator system includes the clamping device <NUM> in any of the foregoing embodiments or combinations thereof, so it also has various effects brought about by it, which will not be repeated herein. The following will focus on the arrangement position of the clamping device <NUM> in the elevator system, its relationships with other components, and the additional technical effects brought about when it is applied to the elevator system.

Specifically, the elevator system further includes an elevator car configured to move up and down vertically along a plurality of car guide rails in the elevator hoistway. Guide assemblies (not shown) installed to the top and bottom of the elevator car are configured to engage the car guide rails so as to maintain proper alignment of the elevator car when the elevator car moves in the elevator hoistway.

The elevator system further includes a counterweight device configured to move up and down vertically in the elevator hoistway. As is known in conventional elevator systems, the counterweight device moves in a direction substantially opposite to the movement of the elevator car. The movement of the counterweight device is guided by counterweight device guide rails installed in the elevator hoistway. In the non-limiting embodiment as shown, at least one load-bearing member (such as a belt or rope) is coupled to the elevator car and the counterweight device, and cooperates with a driving sheave installed to a driving machine. Therefore, the elevator car and the counterweight device move up and down along the elevator hoistway.

In addition, the elevator system also includes a traveling cable <NUM> positioned in the elevator hoistway, and the traveling cable <NUM> can connect the elevator car to an elevator control system through a car operation panel in the elevator car. In addition, the traveling cable <NUM> may be utilized to provide electricity and/or communication to the elevator car. In some embodiments, the traveling cable <NUM> is attached to the elevator car and/or enters the elevator car at the car floor of the elevator car, and can move along the elevator hoistway together with the elevator car.

Furthermore, with regard to the clamping devices <NUM> in any of the foregoing embodiments or combinations thereof, they can be respectively arranged in the elevator hoistway along the moving direction of the elevator car, and the clamping devices <NUM> can be aligned with the traveling cable <NUM> respectively.

Under this arrangement, in the downward movement process of the elevator car, when the swinging force of the traveling cable <NUM> is not less than the first damping force, the traveling cable <NUM> can swing to push away the clamping device <NUM> from the outside to the inside, and enter the limiting space <NUM> via the opening <NUM> so as to be restrained therein, thereby achieving reliable clamping of the traveling cable <NUM> at a lower cost, and avoiding collision and wear caused by excessive swinging. In the upward movement process of the elevator car, when a resultant force of a traction force of the elevator car and the swinging force of the traveling cable <NUM> is not less than the second damping force, the traveling cable <NUM> can be pulled by the elevator car to push away the clamping device <NUM> from the inside to the outside, and exit the limiting space <NUM> via the opening <NUM>. The elevator system can thus reliably alleviate the undesired swinging of the traveling cable <NUM>, increase its service life, and avoid the potential safety hazards caused thereby.

The following description will continue to introduce the structures and connection relationships of other modifications made to the elevator system to which the clamping device is applied. In addition, in consideration of further improvement of the reliability, practicability, economy or other aspects, some additional parts may be added, which are also exemplified as follows.

For example, considering that the elevator car of an elevator system usually has a long traveling distance, the traveling cable equipped therewith is also usually long. For such a long traveling distance, a single-point restraint strength and reliability of the clamping device are relatively insufficient. At this time, it may be considered to install a plurality of clamping devices <NUM> in the elevator hoistway at an interval of <NUM>-<NUM> meters to realize multi-point restraining on the traveling cable. It should be known that the greater the swinging strength experienced by the traveling cable of the elevator system is, the closer the interval should be set accordingly. It should also be known that the swing strength of the traveling cable is positively related to its own total length and the running speed of the elevator car.

As another example, considering that the required maximum movement distance of the traveling cable <NUM> is only half of the traveling distance of the elevator car (or the depth of the elevator hoistway), in order to improve the swinging problem, it can be considered to directly fix the upper half of the traveling cable <NUM> that does not need to move in the elevator hoistway, so that only the lower half has a swinging problem and a clamping device is required to be provided. In addition, the fixing of the upper half also reduces the length of the movable lower half of the traveling cable <NUM>, thereby reducing its swinging strength.

As further another example, the traveling cable <NUM> used in an elevator system is generally configured to have a flat structure having a cross section with a thickness smaller than a width. It has been found through practice that this type of traveling cable <NUM> basically swings along its thickness direction with a relatively small size. Therefore, the clamping device <NUM> installed in the hoistway can be arranged in the thickness direction of the traveling cable <NUM> and aligned with the traveling cable <NUM>, thereby having a better clamping and limiting effect on the traveling cable <NUM>.

In addition, it should also be known that the clamping device provided by the present application and other parts of the elevator system can be designed, manufactured, and sold separately, or they can also be assembled together and then sold as a whole. Either the single pieces formed before the combination or the entirety formed after the combination will fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claim 1:
A clamping device (<NUM>), comprising:
a base (<NUM>) having a limiting space (<NUM>) and an opening (<NUM>) communicating with the limiting space (<NUM>); and
a clamping arm assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>), which is arranged at the opening (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>) and forms a gap with the opening (<NUM>) in a stationary state, the gap being smaller than a size of a clamped part;
wherein the clamp arm assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>) has a first damping force that allows the clamped part to enter the limiting space (<NUM>) via the opening (<NUM>), and has a second damping force that allows the clamped part to exit the limiting space (<NUM>) via the opening (<NUM>); and the second damping force is greater than the first damping force;
characterised in that:
the clamping device (<NUM>) is configured to clamp or release a traveling cable (<NUM>) of an elevator system.