Patent ID: 12258240

The drawings are merely schematic, and not to scale. Like reference signs refer in different drawings to like or analogous features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a portion of an elevator installation1which comprises an elevator shaft2in which one or more elevator cars (not shown) are to be moved between different floors of a building in the operative state of the elevator installation1. To guide the elevator car(s), or a counterweight connected thereto, along the elevator shaft2, one or more hollow rails3are assembled in the elevator shaft2in a method described in more detail below.FIG.2andFIG.3show a portion of such a hollow rail3after assembly.

In a first step, a first hollow rail part4and a second hollow rail part5are arranged at different heights in the elevator shaft2, for example, by means of a crane. The hollow rail parts4,5may, for example, be elongated hollow profiles with one or more guide contours and/or running surfaces.

The hollow rail parts4,5can be arranged such that an open end6of the first hollow rail part4is opposite an open end7of the second hollow rail part5.

In the open end6of the first hollow rail part4, an alignment piece8may be inserted such that the alignment piece8partially projects beyond the open end6.

For example, the alignment piece8may be partially pressed into the first hollow rail part4.

In addition, an elongated, for example, plate-shaped or bracket-shaped fixing piece9may be pre-assembled on the first hollow rail part4. The fixing piece9may, for example, be fastened exclusively by the alignment piece8to the open end6of the first hollow rail part4, in particular such that a first longitudinal portion10of the fixing piece9protrudes into the open end6, while a second longitudinal portion11of the fixing piece9projects beyond the open end6.

To allow for simple (pre-)assembly, the alignment piece8can hold the fixing piece9centrally between the first longitudinal portion10and the second longitudinal portion11.

In a second step, the two hollow rail parts4,5are aligned with one another by means of the alignment piece8so that the two longitudinal axes of the hollow rail parts4,5lie approximately on a common line which thus corresponds approximately to a common longitudinal axis12of the two hollow rail parts4,5.

This can be achieved, for example, by the second hollow rail part5, here the upper hollow rail part, being lowered so far in the direction of the (lower) first hollow rail part4that a portion of the alignment piece8projecting beyond the open end6of the first hollow rail part4in the direction of the second hollow rail part5is partially inserted into the open end7of the second hollow rail part5.

In this step, together with the alignment piece8, the second longitudinal portion11of the fixing piece9can additionally be partially inserted into the open end7of the second hollow rail part5.

To prevent unintentional rotation of the two hollow rail parts4,5relative to one another about their common longitudinal axis12, the alignment piece8can positively engage in a suitable manner in each of the open ends6,7.

As can be seen inFIG.2andFIG.3, such a positive fit can be achieved, for example, by configuring the alignment piece8with a plurality of ribs13, here four ribs, which can extend from a main body14of the alignment piece8in different directions transversely to the common longitudinal axis12. For each rib13, the hollow rail parts4,5may have a groove15which can at least in the region of the open ends6,7extend parallel to the corresponding longitudinal axis of the hollow rail parts4,5. On the one hand, each rib13engages in the groove15of the first hollow rail part4associated therewith, and on the other hand, in the groove15of the second hollow rail part5associated therewith.

For example, the alignment piece8can be pressed into the first hollow rail part4for the purpose of pre-assembly (see above) in that the ribs13are pressed into the corresponding grooves15of the first hollow rail part4.

In principle, the positive fit can also already be achieved with a single rib13. For stability reasons, however, it is advantageous if a plurality of ribs13, i.e., at least two, preferably at least three ribs13, extend in different directions from the main body14.

As can be seen inFIG.2, the alignment piece8and the fixing piece9may be combined with one another to form an easy-to-handle alignment and connection unit, for example, by both pieces8,9being interlocked with one another in a suitable manner. Thus, the (pre-)assembly or disassembly can be further simplified.

In a third step, a clamping tool16is fastened to the hollow rail parts4,5(seeFIG.1). In this example, the clamping tool16comprises two first clamping elements17aand two second clamping elements17b, wherein each first clamping element17ais fastened to the first hollow rail part4and each second clamping element17bis fastened to the second hollow rail part5.

The clamping elements17a,17bcan expediently be positioned on the corresponding hollow rail part4or5so that, after the alignment of the hollow rail parts4,5, they are opposite one another in pairs on different sides of the hollow rail parts4,5, i.e., such that precisely one second clamping element17bis opposite each first clamping element17a.

By way of example, in the view shown inFIG.1, two clamping elements17a,17bare fastened to a left side of the hollow rail parts4,5and two clamping elements17a,17bare fastened to a right side of the hollow rail parts4,5. It is thus prevented that the hollow rail parts4,5cant when subsequently being brought together to form the hollow rail3.

As indicated inFIG.1using the example of the (upper) second clamping elements17b, each clamping element17a,17bcan be hooked into the corresponding hollow rail part4or5in a positive fit, for example, into corresponding slots in each hollow rail part4or5. This allows for a tool-free and thus particularly simple (dis)assembly of the clamping elements17a,17b.

It should be noted that the third step can be carried out before or after the second step.

In a fourth step, the clamping elements17a,17bof each pair are subjected to forces in opposite directions parallel to the common longitudinal axis12.

In the simplest case, this can take place in that a threaded rod18is passed through corresponding receptacles of two opposing clamping elements17a,17b, and a vertical distance between the relevant clamping elements17a,17bis shortened by means of two nuts19which are moved toward one another on the threaded rod18by turning them accordingly. However, other means for applying the forces, for example a pneumatic or electrical actuator, are also possible.

By applying the forces, the hollow rail parts4,5are moved toward one another in opposite directions and thus joined together to form the hollow rail3, for example until they abut against one another to form a hollow rail joint (seeFIG.2).

In this process, the alignment piece8is pressed into the open end7of the second hollow rail part5. More precisely, the ribs13of the alignment piece8are partially pressed into the corresponding grooves15in the open end7of the second hollow rail part5.

At the end of the assembly process, the ribs13of the alignment piece8are thus pressed into both the corresponding grooves15of the first hollow rail part4and the corresponding grooves15of the second hollow rail part5. This ensures a precise transition at the hollow rail joint.

A very smooth, straight hollow rail joint results, in particular when the alignment piece8, or at least its ribs13, is/are made of a less hard, i.e., softer material than the two hollow rail parts4,5and/or the fixing piece9, in particular of a metallic material that is not as hard as steel.

In tests, particularly good results could be achieved with an alignment piece8in the form of an aluminum part. In this case, flatness at the hollow rail joint of plus/minus 0.1 mm could be achieved without additional post-processing.

Furthermore, when the two hollow rail parts4,5are brought together, the second longitudinal portion11of the fixing piece9can be inserted completely into the second hollow rail part5.

In a fifth step, the hollow rail parts4,5, which are aligned relative to one another and brought together, can be fixed by fixing the first hollow rail part4to the first longitudinal portion10of the fixing piece9and fixing the second hollow rail part5to the second longitudinal portion11of the fixing piece9, for example, each with a plurality of bolts20.

After fixing, the clamping tool16can be removed again from the hollow rail3in a sixth step. For this purpose, the clamping elements17a,17bcan easily be unhooked again from the corresponding hollow rail part4or5.

Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” etc. do not exclude other elements or steps, and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it is noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the preceding embodiments can also be used in combination with features or steps described with reference to other of the above embodiments.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.