HK1199086B - A rope terminal assembly and an elevator - Google Patents

Description

Rope terminal assembly and elevator

Technical Field

The object of the invention is a rope terminal assembly of an elevator and an elevator, which elevator is suitable for transporting passengers and/or goods.

Background

In an elevator system, elevator ropes are used to suspend and/or move an elevator car, a counterweight, or both an elevator car and a counterweight. The elevator ropes are usually woven from metal wires or filaments and have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The problem with metal ropes is that, due to the material properties of metals, they have a high weight and a large thickness with respect to their tensile stiffness and tensile strength.

Lightweight suspension ropes are also known, in which the width of the suspension rope for the hoisting machine is greater than the thickness of the rope in its transverse direction. The rope comprises a load-bearing part made of a composite material comprising non-metallic reinforcing fibres in a polymer matrix material. The structure and selection of the material make it possible to achieve a light-weight elevator rope with a thin construction in the bending direction, good tensile rigidity and tensile strength in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the rope structure remains substantially unchanged at the bend, which contributes to a long service life.

Several arrangements have emerged to provide a means for attaching elevator ropes and elevator units. With non-metallic elevator ropes, particularly with elevator ropes made of fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials, it is challenging to mechanically attach to an elevator unit without causing damage to the elevator ropes. Furthermore, the installation process is laborious and slow.

The development of damage detection of fiber-reinforced polymer composites during service life is a key issue in many practical applications of elevator technology. Many of these non-destructive tests involve periodic inspection of composite parts with the aid of expensive equipment. There is thus an increasing need for a cost-effective and reliable elevator rope terminal assembly which is connected to the rope condition monitoring means of the elevator, which rope condition monitoring means incorporates a sensor allowing damage in the rope to be monitored in situ.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to introduce an improved rope terminal assembly and an elevator. The object of the invention is, inter alia, to solve the disadvantages of the known solutions and the problems mentioned later in the description of the invention. A further object is to allow a cost effective and reliable rope terminal assembly with a quick mounting process. It is an object of the invention to provide a rope terminal assembly for an elevator rope comprising a polymer composite having improved mounting quality.

The presented embodiments facilitate especially a simple, safe and efficient rope terminal assembly in connection with damage detection of non-metallic load bearing parts in said elevator rope. Embodiments are also provided in which the rope terminal assembly enables rope condition monitoring that ensures a good and safe working position and good ergonomics. Embodiments are also provided in which reliable site condition monitoring of the rope is possible throughout the life of the elevator.

A new rope terminal assembly for a non-metallic, lightweight rope of an elevator is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the rope terminal assembly of the elevator is used to fix the elevator rope to a fixed base, e.g. an elevator unit. The terminal assembly comprises a rope gap through which the elevator rope passes, the wedge element being arranged to wedge between the rope and the wedge housing, thus locking the elevator rope in the gap, the rope end block (block) being attached on the end face side of the elevator rope with respect to the wedge element.

Thereby, the safety of the rope terminal assembly is also improved. The rope end block is used as a safety device for the rope terminal assembly. If the elevator rope slides into the rope gap of the rope terminal assembly, the rope end block pushes the wedge element so that the wedge element is arranged to wedge more tightly between the rope and the wedge housing, thus locking the elevator rope in the gap.

In a preferred embodiment, an elevator rope having a carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite load-bearing part is fixed to the elevator unit by means of said rope terminal assembly, to which rope an electrical rope condition monitoring device is connected via said rope end block of the rope terminal assembly. For unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, the longitudinal resistance of the unidirectional fibers is much lower than the transverse resistance, and damage to the composite can be detected by detecting either the longitudinal resistance or the transverse resistance. The resistance is a good damage sensor for the detection of carbon/epoxy laminates, especially for fiber breakage.

In the preferred embodiment the rope terminal assembly is used in an elevator with counterweight, but it can also be applied in an elevator without counterweight. In addition, it can also be combined with other hoists, for example for use as a crane suspension and/or transmission line. The light weight of the rope provides advantages especially in acceleration situations, since the energy required by a change in rope speed depends on its mass. The light weight further provides advantages in rope systems requiring separate compensating ropes, since the need for compensating ropes is reduced or eliminated altogether. The light weight also allows for easier handling of the rope.

In a preferred embodiment of the elevator, the rope terminal assembly according to the invention is used to fix an elevator rope to a fixed base, e.g. an elevator unit or the end of an elevator hoistway. Elevators have been arranged to comprise an elevator shaft, and an elevator unit movable in the elevator shaft, said elevator unit being an elevator car for transporting passengers and/or goods. The elevator arrangement can also comprise other movable elevator units such as e.g. a counterweight, as shown. The elevator comprises a hoisting device comprising a hoisting apparatus, one or more suspension and/or transmission ropes, each of said ropes comprising one or more, preferably at least four, load-bearing parts, which are attached to an elevator unit at least by means of said rope terminal assembly. In a preferred embodiment, each rope is guided to pass around a traction sheave and one or more diverting pulleys rotated by the hoisting machine of the elevator. When the hoisting machine rotates, the traction sheave simultaneously moves the elevator car and the counterweight in an upward direction and a downward direction, respectively, due to friction. In addition, in high-rise buildings and in high-speed elevators there are one or more compensating ropes, each of which is attached at its first end to the bottom end of the counterweight and at its second end to the end of the elevator car, either to the car sling or to the car itself. The compensating ropes are kept tight, for example, by means of compensating pulleys, under which the compensating ropes are passed and which are supported to a support structure on the base of the elevator shaft. The travelling cable for electricity supply of the elevator car and/or for data communication is attached at its first end to the elevator car, e.g. to the bottom of the elevator car, and at its second end to a connection point on the wall of the elevator hoistway, which connection point is typically at or above the midpoint position in the height direction of the elevator hoistway.

Preferably, the elevator comprises rope condition monitoring means comprising rope condition monitoring equipment which monitors and transmits electrical signals of the elevator rope to the elevator controller at predetermined time intervals, preferably at least once per second. If an error signal is transmitted from the rope condition monitoring device to the elevator controller, the elevator operation is changed or the elevator is taken out of service. Preferably, the rope condition monitoring means comprises a current source, a voltage measuring device, a microcontroller, and a display for monitoring the condition of the rope. Preferably the rope condition monitoring means are used to measure the resistance between the first and second points of the elevator rope for the first time during installation of the elevator and for the second time when the elevator is used for transporting passengers and/or goods. Preferably, the first point and the second point are points of a non-metallic load-bearing part of an elevator rope, or points of several electrically connected non-metallic load-bearing parts of the elevator rope.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope end block has a first portion on a first side of the elevator rope and a second portion on a second side of the elevator rope. Preferably, the rope end block extends above the end face of the elevator rope and is a single piece structure in which the first and second portions of the rope end block are connected by a middle portion of the rope end block.

Preferably, the rope end block is made of plastic or some other non-conductive material. Preferably, the rope end block is a one-piece structure manufactured from plastic, preferably from a thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride, or a thermosetting polymer, such as polyester, polyurethane or epoxy. The rope end block may be reinforced with glass, carbon or aramid fibers, which may be chopped or they may be continuous fibers. Thereby, the mechanical properties, in particular the specific strength and rigidity, of the rope end block 3 are improved. The rope end block is preferably manufactured by, for example, extrusion, pultrusion, injection molding, blowing, thermoforming, rotational molding, casting, foaming, compression molding or transfer molding. Thus, the manufacture of the rope end block piece is fast and inexpensive to manufacture. The rope end block may also be made of recycled plastic or other recycled material.

Preferably, the rope end block comprises a first frame portion attached to the elevator rope end and a second frame portion attached to the wedge element. Preferably, though not necessarily, the rope end block comprises an elastic portion between said first and second frame portions, which elastic portion allows a relative movement of said first and second frame portions of said rope end block. The elastic portion is advantageously located outside the second frame portion of the rope end block attached to the wedge element.

Preferably, the rope end block is attached to said elevator rope end by fastening means. The fastening means may thus pass through the opening in the first frame part of the rope end block. The fastening means may advantageously be made of metal or some other suitable electrically conductive material. The fastening means are advantageously screws or bolts with nuts. Fastening to the rope may be accomplished by drilling holes in the rope and fastening with screws or bolts. The elasticity of the rope end block can also be arranged by adjusting the size and design of the opening of the first frame part of the rope end block to have, for example, an oval shape.

Preferably, the rope end block is attached to the wedge element by fastening means. The fastening means can thus pass through the opening in the second frame part of the rope end block. The fastening means may advantageously be made of metal or some other mechanically suitable material. The fastening means are advantageously screws or bolts. The fastening to the wedge element may be performed by drilling holes in the wedge element and fastening with screws or bolts.

Preferably, the rope end block comprises one or more short-circuit elements attached to the rope end block by fastening means. The fastening means can thus pass through the opening in the short-circuit element. The short-circuit element as well as the fastening means are advantageously made of metal or some other suitable electrically conductive material. The fastening means are advantageously screws or bolts. The fastening to the rope is performed by drilling holes in the rope and fastening with screws or bolts. The fastening means for attaching the short-circuit element are advantageously the same screws or bolts used for attaching the rope end block to the rope. Preferably, the short-circuit element is a metal short-circuit plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the rope terminal assembly of an elevator comprises: an elevator rope having a width greater than its thickness in a rope transverse direction, at least one end having an end face; a cord end stop attached to the cord end; two wedge-shaped elements; and a wedge-shaped housing. The rope terminal assembly comprises a rope gap through which the elevator rope passes, the wedge element being arranged to wedge between the rope and the wedge housing, preferably between the rope and a supporting side of the wedge housing, thus locking the elevator rope in the gap, the rope end stop being attached on the end face side of the elevator rope with respect to the wedge element.

Preferably, the wedge element is an elongated element comprising a smooth contact surface portion arranged against the wedge housing element and a rough or patterned contact surface portion arranged against the elevator rope surface. The wedge element further includes a space for a rope end stop at the first end of the wedge element. The fastening means of said rope end block can thus be attached to said space of the wedge element. Said space for the rope end block is advantageously on the side of the rough or patterned contact surface portion of the first end of the wedge element and comprises a threaded opening for the fastening means. The wedge-shaped element is advantageously made of metal or some other mechanically suitable material.

Preferably, the wedge housing comprises two elongate side elements and an elongate wedge support element, the side elements and the wedge support element preferably being attached together by, for example, welding or gluing the side and wedge support elements together. The side elements comprise hollow parts and the wedge-shaped support elements comprise on their sides plug-in parts fitting together for placing the sides together, or vice versa. Preferably said wedge housing element includes one or more adjustable locking means arranged to lock said wedge element in its position in said wedge housing. The locking means may pass through an opening in the wedge housing support element. The wedge-shaped shell side elements as well as the support elements are advantageously made of metal or some other mechanically suitable material. The locking means are advantageously screws or bolts. The wedge element is locked by tightening with a screw or bolt. The rope terminal assembly is fixed to the fixing base by a fixing rod fixed to the wedge housing side member with a fixing device. The fixing means of the fixing rod may pass through an opening in the side element of the wedge-shaped housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the rope terminal assembly of an elevator, the light-weight rope comprises one or more, preferably at least four, unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer load-bearing parts covered with a polyurethane coating. In the case of four load-bearing parts, the rope is electrically moulded as four resistors. The preferred solution is to measure one rope as a single resistance. In this way, the measuring arrangement is kept simple and the method is also more reliable, since the number of wires and connections is minimized. By this method a simple and reliable solution is used to short-circuit the carbon fibre reinforced polymer load-bearing parts and to connect the measuring wire to the rope, preferably by means of a self-tapping screw screwed between the load-bearing parts, so that said screw acts as an electrically conductive path between adjacent load-bearing parts. At the counterweight end of the rope, preferably three screws are used to short all strands. At the car end of the rope, preferably the two outermost load bearing parts are connected together, and the measuring wire is inserted under these two screws through a split ring connector. With this arrangement, all carbon fibre reinforced polymer load bearing parts are monitored and the entire rope is treated as a single resistor.

In a preferred embodiment the resistance between a first point and a second point of the elevator suspension and/or transmission rope is measured a first time, after which a threshold value is determined on the basis of the measurement, after which the elevator is used for transporting passengers and/or goods, after which the resistance between the first point and the second point of the suspension and/or transmission rope is measured a second time, after which the result of said second measurement is compared with said threshold value, and if said second measured value fulfils said threshold value, a predetermined action is performed.

In an embodiment of a rope terminal assembly, an elevator is used for fixing an elevator rope to a fixing base, such as an elevator unit, which assembly comprises: an elevator rope having a width greater than its thickness in a rope transverse direction, at least one end having an end face; a cord end stop attached to the cord end; a wedge member; and a wedge-shaped housing. The rope terminal assembly comprises a rope gap through which the elevator rope passes, the wedge element being arranged to wedge between the rope and the wedge housing, preferably between the rope and a supporting side of the wedge housing, thus locking the elevator rope in the gap, the rope end stop being attached on the end face side of the elevator rope with respect to the wedge element.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention at least one rope, but preferably a plurality of suspension and/or transmission ropes, is constructed such that the width of the rope is larger than its thickness in the transverse direction of the rope and is suitable for supporting and moving an elevator car, said rope comprising a load-bearing part made of a composite material comprising reinforcing fibers, preferably unidirectional carbon fibers, in a polymer matrix. The suspension rope is most preferably fixed to the elevator car at one end and to the counterweight at the other end, but it can also be applied in elevators without counterweight. Although the figures only show an elevator with a 1:1 suspension ratio, the rope described can also be adapted for use as a suspension rope in an elevator with a 1:2 suspension ratio. The rope is particularly well suited for use as a suspension rope in an elevator having a large hoisting height, preferably having a hoisting height above 100 m, most preferably 150-800 m. The defined ropes can also be used to implement new elevators without compensating ropes or to change old elevators into elevators without compensating ropes.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not exclusively limited to the embodiments described above, in which the invention has been described by way of example, but that it is possible to have many variations and different embodiments within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the invention. It is thus obvious that the rope may be provided with a toothed surface or some other type of patterned surface to provide positive contact with the traction sheave. It will also be apparent that the rectangular composite load-bearing portion may include more rounded edges than those shown or edges that are not rounded at all. Likewise, the polymer layers of the rope may comprise more rounded edges/corners than those shown or not rounded at all. It is also obvious that the load-bearing part/parts in these embodiments can be arranged to occupy a large part of the cross-section of the rope. In this case, the sheath-like polymer layer surrounding the load-bearing part/parts is/are made thinner in the thickness direction of the rope than the thickness of the load-bearing part. It is also obvious that in connection with the shown solution other types of belts than those shown can be used. It is also apparent that both carbon and glass fibers can be used in the same composite part, if desired. It is also obvious that the thickness of the polymer layer may differ from what is described. It is also obvious that for any other rope construction shown in this application, the shear resistant section may be used as an additional component. It is also obvious that the matrix polymer in which the reinforcing fibers are distributed may comprise auxiliary materials, such as reinforcements, fillers, dyes, flame retardants, stabilizers or corresponding additives, mixed into the basic matrix polymer, such as an epoxy resin. It is also apparent that while the polymer matrix preferably does not include an elastomer, the present invention may also be used with an elastomer matrix. It is also obvious that the cross-section of the fibers need not be circular, but that they may have some other cross-sectional shape. It is further obvious that auxiliary materials, such as reinforcements, fillers, dyes, flame retardants, stabilizers or corresponding additives, can be incorporated into the base polymer layer, such as polyurethane. It is also obvious that the invention can also be applied in elevators designed for hoisting heights other than those mentioned above.

An elevator as described anywhere above is preferably, but not necessarily, disposed within a building. The car preferably runs vertically. The car is preferably arranged to serve two or more stopping floors. The car preferably responds to calls from the stopping floor and/or destination calls from inside the car in order to serve the people at the stopping floor and/or inside the elevator car. Preferably, the car has an interior space adapted to receive one or more passengers, and the car may be provided with doors for forming the closed interior space.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 schematically shows an elevator according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2a shows a preferred embodiment of a cord end stop;

FIG. 2b shows a first side view of a preferred embodiment of a cord end stop;

FIG. 2c shows a second side view of the preferred embodiment of the cord end stop;

FIG. 2d shows a preferred embodiment of a cord end stop;

FIG. 3a shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a rope terminal assembly having two wedge members;

FIG. 3b shows a preferred embodiment of a rope terminal assembly having two wedge members;

FIG. 3c shows a preferred embodiment of a rope terminal assembly wedge housing;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a rope terminal assembly having a wedge member;

fig. 5 schematically shows a cross-section of an embodiment of an elevator rope; and

fig. 6 shows an electrical model of an elevator rope condition monitoring arrangement connected to a rope terminal assembly via a rope end block.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1 a preferred embodiment of an elevator is shown, in which the elevator ropes R, C are connected to the elevator unit 1, CW by means of a rope terminal assembly 2 according to the invention. An elevator has been arranged to comprise an elevator shaft S, and an elevator unit 1 movable in the elevator shaft S, which elevator unit is an elevator car 1 for transporting passengers and/or goods. The elevator arrangement can also comprise other movable elevator units such as the counterweight CW, as shown. The elevator comprises a hoisting means comprising a hoisting device M, roping comprising one or more suspension and transmission ropes R, each of said ropes R comprising one or more, preferably at least four, load-bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d attached to one elevator unit 1, CW at least by means of a rope terminal assembly 2. Each rope R is guided to pass around a traction sheave 6 rotated by the hoisting machine M of the elevator and one or more diverting pulleys 5. When the hoisting machine M rotates, the traction sheave 6 simultaneously moves the elevator car 1 and the counterweight CW in the upward direction and in the downward direction, respectively, due to friction. In addition, in high-rise buildings and in high-speed elevators, there is a second roping comprising one or more compensating ropes C, each of which is suspended to hang at its first end to the bottom end of the counterweight CW and at its second end to the bottom of the elevator car 1, either to the car sling or to the car itself. The compensating ropes C are kept tight, for example, by means of a compensating pulley 7, under which compensating pulley 7 the compensating ropes C pass, which pulley 7 is connected to a supporting structure on the base of the elevator shaft S, which supporting structure is not shown in the figure, however. The travelling cable T for the electricity supply of the elevator car and/or for data communication is suspended to hang at its first end to the elevator car 1, e.g. to the bottom of the elevator car 1, and at its second end to a connection point on the wall of the elevator hoistway S, which connection point is typically at or above the midpoint position of the height direction of the elevator hoistway S.

The elevator comprises a rope condition monitoring device with rope condition monitoring means, which monitors and transmits the electrical signals of the elevator ropes R, C to the elevator controller at predetermined time intervals, preferably at least once per second. If an error signal is transmitted from the rope condition monitoring device to the elevator controller, the elevator operation is changed or the elevator is taken out of service. Preferably the rope condition monitoring means are used to measure the resistance between the first and second points of the elevator rope R, C for the first time during elevator installation and for the second time when the elevator is used for transporting passengers and/or goods. Preferably, said first and second points are the points of the non-metallic load bearing part 12a, 12b, 12C, 12d of the elevator rope R, C or the points of several electrically connected non-metallic load bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12C, 12d of said elevator rope R, C.

Fig. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d show a preferred embodiment of a rope end block 3 having a first part 3' on a first side of the elevator rope and a second part 3 "on a second side of the elevator rope. Preferably the rope end block 3 extends above said end face R' of the elevator rope. The rope end block 3 is of one-piece construction, wherein said first and second portions 3', 3 "of said rope end block 3 are connected by a middle portion 3d of said rope end block 3.

The rope end block 3 is made of plastic or some other elastic, non-conductive material. Preferably, rope end block 3 is a one-piece structure made of plastic, preferably a thermoplastic polymer or a thermosetting polymer. The rope end blocks 3 may be reinforced by non-metallic short lengths of reinforcing fibers or they may be continuous fibers. Thereby, the mechanical properties, in particular the specific strength and rigidity, of the rope end block 3 are improved. The rope end block 3 is preferably manufactured by extrusion, pultrusion, injection moulding, blowing, thermoforming, rotational moulding, casting, foaming, compression moulding or transfer moulding, for example. Thus, the manufacture of the rope end block 3 article is fast and inexpensive to manufacture. The rope end block 3 piece may also be made of recycled plastic or other recycled material.

Preferably, the rope end block 3 comprises a first frame part 3c attached to the end of the elevator rope and a second frame part 3a attached to the wedge element 8, 8'. Preferably, though not necessarily, rope end block 3 comprises an elastic portion 3b between said first and second frame portions, which elastic portion 3b allows a relative movement of said first and second frame portions of said rope end block 3. Said elastic portion 3b is advantageously located outside the second frame portion 3a of said rope end block 3 attached to said wedge element 8, 8'.

Preferably, rope end block 3 is attached to the end of the elevator rope R by fastening means. Thus, the fastening means can be passed through an opening in the first frame part 3c of the rope end block 3. The fastening means may advantageously be made of metal or some other suitable electrically conductive material. The fastening means are advantageously screws or bolts with nuts. The fastening to the rope may be performed by drilling holes in the rope and fastening with screws or bolts. The elasticity of the rope end block 3 can also be provided by dimensioning and designing the opening of the first frame part 3c of the rope end block to have, for example, an oval shape.

The rope end block 3 is attached to the wedge elements 8, 8 'by fastening means 10, 10'. The fastening means 10, 10' can thus be passed through the opening in the second frame part 3a of the rope end block 3. The fastening device 10, 10' may advantageously be made of metal or some other mechanically suitable material. The fastening means 10, 10' are advantageously screws or bolts. The fastening to the wedge elements can be performed by drilling holes in the wedge elements 8, 8' and fastening with screws or bolts.

In a preferred embodiment, said rope end block 3 comprises one or more short-circuit elements attached to said rope end block 3 by said fastening means. The fastening means can thus pass through the opening in the short-circuit element. The short-circuit element, for example the short-circuit plate, and the fastening means are advantageously made of metal or some other suitable electrically conductive material. The fastening means are advantageously screws or bolts. The fastening to the rope is done by drilling holes in the rope and fastening with screws or bolts. The fastening means for attaching the short-circuit element are advantageously the same screws or bolts used to attach the rope end block 3 to the rope

Fig. 3a and 3b show a preferred embodiment of a rope terminal assembly 2 with two wedge elements 8, 8', and fig. 3c shows a preferred embodiment of a wedge housing 4 of a rope terminal assembly 2. A preferred embodiment of a rope terminal assembly 2 of an elevator fixing an elevator rope R to a fixed base such as an elevator unit 1, CW comprises: an elevator rope R having a width greater than its thickness in the rope transverse direction and at least one end having an end face R'; a rope end block 3 attached to the rope end; two wedge-shaped elements 8, 8'; a wedge-shaped housing 4. The rope terminal assembly 2 comprises a rope gap through which the elevator rope R passes, said wedge element 8, 8 'being arranged to wedge between the rope R and the wedge housing 4, preferably between the rope R and a supporting side 4b, 4 b' of the wedge housing 4, thus locking the elevator rope in the gap, said rope end block 3 being attached to the end face side R 'of the elevator rope R by means of the wedge element 8, 8'.

Preferably, the wedge element 8, 8 ' is an elongated element comprising a smooth contact surface portion 8b, 8b ' and a rough or patterned contact surface portion 8a, 8a ', the smooth contact surface portion 8b, 8b ' being arranged against the wedge 4 and the rough or patterned contact surface portion 8a, 8a ' being arranged against the elevator rope R surface. The wedge element 8, 8 'also comprises a space for the rope end block 3 at the first end of the wedge element 8, 8'. The fastening means 10, 10 'of said rope end block 3 can thus be attached to the space of the wedge elements 8, 8'. The space for the rope end block 3 is advantageously on the side of the rough or patterned contact surface portion 8a, 8a 'of the first end of the wedge element 8, 8' and comprises a threaded opening for the fastening means. The wedge-shaped elements 8, 8' are advantageously made of metal or some other mechanically suitable material.

The wedge-shaped shell 4 comprises two elongated side elements 4a, 4a 'and two elongated wedge-shaped support elements 4b, 4 b', the side elements 4a, 4a 'and the wedge-shaped support elements 4b, 4 b' being attached together by welding or gluing the side elements and the wedge-shaped support elements together. The side elements 4a, 4a 'comprise hollow parts and the wedge-shaped support elements 4b, 4 b' comprise on their sides plug-in parts which fit together for arranging the sides together. Preferably, said wedge housing 4 comprises one or more adjustable locking means 9, 9 'arranged to lock said wedge member 8, 8' in its position in said wedge housing member 4. The locking means 9, 9 'can pass through openings in the support elements 4b, 4 b' of the wedge-shaped housing element 4. The wedge-shaped housing side elements 4a, 4a 'and the support elements 4b, 4 b' are advantageously made of metal or some other mechanically suitable material. The locking means 9, 9' are advantageously screws or bolts. The wedge element is locked by tightening with a screw or bolt. The rope terminal assembly 2 is fixed to the fixing base by a fixing rod 11 fixed to the side members 4a, 4 a' with fixing means. The fixing means of the fixing rod 11 may pass through openings in the side elements 4a, 4 a' of the wedge-shaped housing 4.

Fig. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a rope terminal assembly of an elevator attaching an elevator rope R to an elevator unit, said assembly comprising: an elevator rope R having a width greater than its thickness in the rope transverse direction and at least one end having an end face R'; a rope end block 3 attached to the rope end R'; a wedge-shaped element 8; and a wedge housing 4. The rope terminal assembly 2 comprises a rope gap through which the elevator rope R passes, said wedge element 8 being arranged to be wedged between said rope R and said wedge housing 4, preferably between said rope R and a supporting side of said wedge housing 4, thus locking said elevator rope R in the gap, said rope end block 3 being attached on said end face side R' of the elevator rope R with respect to the wedge element 8. It is obvious that the wedge shell 4 can be built as a one-piece structure, a two-piece structure, a three-piece structure or a structure built from several elements forming the rope gap for the rope and a support for one or more wedge elements.

Fig. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a cross-section of a rope R as described in connection with one of fig. 1, 3 and 4 for use as a suspension and/or transmission rope R of an elevator, particularly a passenger elevator. In use according to the invention at least one rope R, but preferably a plurality of ropes R, is constructed such that the width of the rope is greater than its thickness in the transverse direction of the rope R and is suitable for supporting and moving an elevator car, said rope R comprising a load-bearing part 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d made of a composite material comprising reinforcing fibres f oriented in the longitudinal direction of the rope in a polymer matrix, which reinforcing fibres comprise untwisted unidirectional carbon fibres. The suspension ropes R are most preferably fixed to the elevator car 1 at one end and to the counterweight CW at the other end, but it may also be suitable for use in elevators without counterweight. Although the figure only shows an elevator with a 1:1 suspension ratio, the rope R may also be suitable for use as a suspension rope R in an elevator with a 1:2 suspension ratio. The ropes R are particularly well suited for use as suspension and transmission ropes R in elevators having a large hoisting height, preferably elevators having a hoisting height above 100 m, most preferably 150-800 m. The defined ropes R can also be used to implement a new elevator without compensating ropes C or to change an old elevator into an elevator without compensating ropes C.

Fig. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of an electrical model of an elevator rope condition monitoring arrangement, in particular for the rope R part of the rope condition monitoring device, which is connected to the rope R via the rope end block 3 of the rope terminal assembly 2. In a preferred embodiment of the rope condition monitoring arrangement, the elevator comprises a lightweight rope R covered with a polyurethane coating p, which rope R comprises one or more, preferably at least four, unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer load-bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, as shown in fig. 6. In the case of four load bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d as shown in fig. 6, the rope R is electrically molded as four resistors. The preferred solution is to measure one rope R as a single resistance. In that way the measuring arrangement is kept simple and the method is also more reliable, since the number of wires and connections is minimal. By this method, a simple and reliable solution is used to short-circuit the carbon fibre reinforced polymer bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and to connect the measuring line to the rope R, preferably by means of self-tapping screws screwed between the bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, so that said screws act as electrically conductive paths between adjacent bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12 d. At the weighted end R ″ of the rope R, preferably three screws are used to short-circuit all strands. At the car end R' of the rope R, preferably the two outermost load-bearing parts are connected together, and a measuring line is inserted below these two screws through a split ring connector. With this arrangement, all carbon fibre reinforced polymer load bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d are monitored and the entire rope is treated as a single resistor.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not exclusively limited to the embodiments described above, in which the invention has been described by way of example, but that the invention can be varied and implemented in many different ways within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the invention. It is thus obvious that the rope R described can be provided with a toothed surface or some other type of patterned surface to create positive (positive) contact with the traction sheave 6. It is also apparent that the rectangular composite material bearing portions 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, which are electrically molded as resistors, may include more rounded edges than those shown, or edges that are not rounded at all. Likewise, the polymer layer 10 of the rope R may comprise more rounded edges/corners than those shown or not rounded at all. It is also obvious that the load-bearing part/parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d in the described embodiment may be arranged to occupy a large part of the cross-section of the rope R. In this case, the sheath-like polymer layer 10 surrounding the load-bearing part/parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d is/are made thinner than the thickness of the load-bearing parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d in the thickness direction of the rope R. It is also obvious that in connection with the solution shown by the figures, other types of belts than those shown can be used. It is also apparent that both carbon and glass fibers can be used for the same composite part, if desired. It is also apparent that the thickness of the polymer p-layer may vary from that described. It is also obvious that for any other rope construction shown in this application, the shear resistant section may be used as an additional component. It is likewise obvious that the matrix polymer in which the reinforcing fibers f are distributed can comprise auxiliary materials, such as reinforcements, fillers, dyes, flame retardants, stabilizers or corresponding additives, which are mixed into the basic matrix polymer, such as an epoxy resin. It is also apparent that while the polymer matrix preferably does not include an elastomer, the present invention may also be utilized with elastomer matrices. It is also obvious that the cross-section of the fibers f need not be round, but that they may have some other cross-sectional shape. It is further obvious that auxiliary materials, such as reinforcements, fillers, dyes, flame retardants, stabilizers or corresponding additives, can be incorporated into the base polymer, such as polyurethane, of the layer p. It is also obvious that the invention can also be applied in elevators designed for other hoisting heights than the one mentioned above.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and drawings are only illustrative of the invention. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the invention.

Claims (22)

1. Rope terminal assembly (2) of an elevator for fixing an elevator rope (R) to an elevator unit (1, CW), which elevator is suitable for transporting passengers and/or goods, which rope terminal assembly (2) comprises:

an elevator rope (R) having a width greater than its thickness in the transverse direction of the rope, at least one end of the elevator rope having an end face (R'),

a rope end block (3) attached to the end of the rope,

one or more wedge elements (8, 8'), and

a wedge-shaped shell (4),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the terminal assembly (2) comprises a rope gap through which the elevator rope (R) passes, the wedge element (8, 8 ') being arranged to wedge between the rope (R) and the wedge housing (4) thus locking the elevator rope (R) in the gap, the rope end block (3) being attached on the end face (R') side of the elevator rope (R) with respect to the wedge element (8, 8 '), and the rope end block (3) being made of plastic or some other electrically non-conductive material, the rope end block (3) having a first portion (3') on a first side of the elevator rope (R) and a second portion (3 ") on a second side of the elevator rope (R).

2. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge element (8, 8 ') is an elongated element comprising a smooth contact surface portion (8b, 8b ') and a rough or patterned contact surface portion (8a, 8a '), the smooth contact surface portion (8b, 8b ') being arranged against the wedge housing element (4), the rough or patterned contact surface (8a, 8a ') being arranged against the elevator rope (R) surface.

3. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge housing (4) comprises two elongated side elements (4a, 4a ') and two elongated wedge support elements (4b, 4 b'), which side elements (4a, 4a ') and wedge support elements (4b, 4 b') are connected together to form a rope gap of the wedge housing (4).

4. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge housing (4) comprises one or more adjustable locking means (9, 9 ') arranged to lock the wedge element (8, 8') in its position in the wedge housing (4).

5. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rope end block (3) extends over the end face (R') of the elevator rope (R).

6. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rope end block (3) is a one-piece structure in which the first part (3') and the second part (3 ") of the rope end block (3) are connected by a middle part (3d) of the rope end block (3).

7. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rope end block (3) is attached to the elevator rope end by fastening means.

8. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rope end block (3) is attached to the wedge element (8, 8') by fastening means.

9. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rope end block (3) comprises a first frame part (3c, 3c ') attached to the elevator rope end and a second frame part (3a, 3a ') attached to the wedge element (8, 8 '), and between the first and second frame parts an elastic part (3b, 3b '), which elastic part (3b, 3b ') allows a relative movement of the first and second frame parts of the rope end block (3).

10. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to any of the previous claims 1-9, characterized in that the rope end block (3) comprises an elastic part (3b, 3b ') outside the frame part of the rope end block (3) attached to the wedge element (8, 8').

11. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the elevator rope (R) is electrically connected to a rope condition monitoring device via the rope end block (3) comprising one or more electrically conductive short-circuit elements and a fastening device.

12. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the elevator rope (R) is made of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite.

13. Rope terminal assembly (2) according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the elevator rope comprises a carbon fiber reinforced polymer bearing part (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) to which the rope condition monitoring device is connected by means of an electrically conductive fastening means.

14. An elevator adapted to transport passengers and/or goods, the elevator comprising:

an elevator shaft (S),

at least one elevator unit (1, CW) movable in the elevator hoistway (S) comprising at least one elevator car (1), and

a hoisting device comprising a hoisting apparatus (M) and one or more elevator ropes (R, C) connected to at least one elevator unit (1, CW),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the elevator rope (R, C) is fixed to an elevator unit (1, CW) by a rope terminal assembly (2) according to any of claims 1-13.

15. Elevator according to claim 14, characterized in that the elevator comprises rope condition monitoring means connected to the load-bearing part (12a, 12b, 12C, 12d) of the elevator rope (R, C) via the rope end block (3).

16. Elevator according to any of the preceding claims 14-15, characterized in that the elevator comprises a rope condition monitoring apparatus with rope condition monitoring means, which monitors and transmits the electrical signals of the elevator rope (R, C) to the elevator controller at predetermined time intervals.

17. Elevator according to any of the preceding claims 14-15, characterized in that the elevator comprises rope condition monitoring means, from which the elevator operation is changed or the elevator is taken out of service if an error signal is transmitted to the elevator controller.

18. Elevator according to any of the preceding claims 14-15, characterized in that the elevator rope (R, C) comprises a load-bearing part (12a, 12b, 12C, 12d) made of a fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite.

19. Elevator according to claim 18, characterized in that the fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite is a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite.

20. Elevator according to claim 19, characterized in that the carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite is a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite.

21. Elevator according to any of the preceding claims 14-15, 19, 20, characterized in that the elevator comprises rope condition monitoring means for measuring the resistance between the first and second points of the elevator rope (R, C) for the first time during elevator installation and for the second time when the elevator has been used to transport passengers and/or goods.

22. Elevator according to claim 19, characterized in that the first and second points are points of a non-metallic load-bearing part (12a, 12b, 12C, 12d) of the elevator rope (R, C) or points of several electrically connected non-metallic load-bearing parts (12a, 12b, 12C, 12d) of the elevator rope (R, C).