HK1129359A - Counterweight for an elevator, ballast weights for this counterweight and elevator equipped therewith - Google Patents

Description

Counterweight for an elevator, ballast for such a counterweight and elevator equipped with such a counterweight

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a counterweight for an elevator, a ballast for the counterweight, and an elevator equipped with the counterweight.

Background

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, a conventional elevator counterweight is known to be equipped with a frame 1, which frame 1 comprises two vertical U-shaped columns 3 parallel and opposite to each other and connected to each other by at least one upper cross-member 5 and one lower cross-member 7. As best shown in fig. 3, the wings 9 of the vertical columns receive flat ballast weights 11 forming a weight, stacked on each other in the frame 1. The lower ballast weights are mounted in the frame by tilting them, while the upper ballast weights can be inserted horizontally by first inserting one end of the ballast weights into one of the posts 3 and pushing the other end into the other post 3 through a transverse upper cut 13 provided at the end of the post, and then lowering the ballast weights between the posts onto the stacked ballast weights. The ballast weights are assembled to the top of the frame 1. Finally, the cut-out 13 is closed by a stopper (not shown). This cut-out 13 in one of the columns reduces the strength of the counterweight frame, requiring thicker columns and consequent higher manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, if no cut-outs are provided on the columns in the counterweight as shown in fig. 2, the ballast weights 11 have to be mounted obliquely between the columns 3 of the frame. Thereby, a large amount of ballast loading space is lost in the upper part, resulting in the need to forcibly lengthen the counterweight frame to meet the maximum weight requirement for the counterweight.

Furthermore, modern elevators without machine room and with smaller shaft head and foot spaces require shorter counterweights with the same or even greater weight.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to solving the above-mentioned problems, and provides a counterweight for an elevator having a frame, the frame has two vertical columns of U-shaped cross-section parallel and opposite to each other and connected to each other by at least one upper cross-beam and one lower cross-beam, wherein the wings of the posts receive flat ballast weights forming a weight, stacked on top of each other in the frame, characterized in that at least those upper ballast weights arranged at a higher level comprise at least two parts interlocking with each other, so that the two parts can be assembled consecutively by interlocking them in a row in a plane between the two posts, the interlock provides good lateral stiffness during displacement of the counterweight to prevent lateral disengagement of the two interlocking ballast parts from the frame.

With the above arrangement, it is no longer necessary to provide a transverse cut at the end of one of the weighted frame posts to fit the ballast weights up to the top of the frame, and therefore no reinforcement of the frame posts is required. Furthermore, by placing one of the ballast part to be received by one post, then placing the other part over the first part and displacing it towards the opposite post until it falls between the two frame posts and interlocks with the first part, and then placing the subsequent rows in the same way, assembly is made easier and lighter in weight compared to conventional one-piece ballasts.

The two-piece ballast weights interlock at their opposing ends with cutouts in a complementary manner within a certain clearance range. The end cut may have various shapes, such as complementary tongue and groove, or dovetail, etc.

Because the posts do not have transverse cuts at their upper ends like in conventional counterweights, the posts can have a smaller material thickness for equivalent strength.

Furthermore, for the same reasons as described above, for the upper assembly of the ballast weights, the posts can be given the same strength as the conventional cut-out structure by a smaller section, which allows them to receive ballast weights of the same width as conventional ballast weights, but cut at one of its ends with a profile sufficient to cover the sides of the wings of each post and thus provide additional load at the corners of the ballast weights.

The end cut-out profile of the ballast weights may follow the profile of the wings of each post as viewed from the inside with some clearance, or have a U-shaped profile, with the wings of the posts abutting the legs of the U.

The post may also be arranged with its wings turned outwards and receiving ballast weights with cut-outs at the ends to laterally cap the wings of the post by a U-shaped profile, wherein the arrangement allows for providing further back cuts on the ballast weights and thus leaving more weight available.

The invention also relates to a counterweight ballast weight comprising at least two parts interlocked with each other between the counterweight frame posts for being fitted at a higher level in a counterweight as described above.

The invention also relates to counterweight ballast weights cut at their ends to cap the sides of the wings of the posts in the counterweight as described above.

Of course, in all cases, the ballast weights advantageously have a central longitudinal plane of symmetry, which is also the central longitudinal plane of symmetry of the counterweight.

Finally, the invention provides an elevator provided with a counterweight as described above.

Drawings

The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional counterweight having a transverse cut-out at the end of one of its posts that allows ballast weights to fit to the top of the counterweight frame;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a conventional counterweight having no transverse cut-outs in one column and a limited loading height;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the counterweight;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are top cross-sectional views of counterweights at lower and upper levels, respectively, according to the present invention;

fig. 6-9 illustrate the continuous assembly of the upper two-piece ballast weights onto the counterweight;

figure 10 is a perspective view of a counterweight fully filled with ballast weights according to the present invention; and

fig. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a deformation of the end profile of the ballast weights.

Detailed Description

The same or similar reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar elements of the present invention as those shown in fig. 1 to 3 according to the prior art.

With particular reference to fig. 4, 5 and 10, the counterweight according to the invention is essentially constituted by two parallel vertical columns 3 connected to each other by a lower cross-member 7 and an upper cross-member 5. The columns 3, the lower cross-beam 7 and the upper cross-beam 5 form a closed frame 1, and flat ballast weights 11, which add weight to the counterweight, are stacked on top of each other within the closed frame 1. The assembly has a central plane of symmetry (central plane of the frame).

The counterweight is mounted in a conventional manner for vertical sliding movement in the elevator shaft on the guide rails 10 by means of slides 12 attached to the columns.

The column 3 (fig. 4 to 5) has a regular U-shaped cross-section with the wings 9 of the U turned outwards. The wings 9 are mounted opposite each other and receive vertically stacked ballast weights 11. These ballast weights are cut at their ends with regular U-shaped portions 15, which U-shaped portions 15 are complementary to the cross section of the posts 3 within a certain clearance and laterally cover the posts 3. It has a central plane of symmetry (the same as the central plane of symmetry of the counterweight).

The lower ballast weights 11' are shaped as a whole to a given height level in the counterweight, as shown in fig. 2, they are tiltably mounted into the frame 1.

The upper ballast weights (fig. 5) are divided into two complementary parts 11'a and 11' b, which are interlocked with each other between the columns 3, with the smaller part 11'a on the left and the larger part 11' b on the right. The two complementary portions 11'a and 11' b are rigidly interlocked at their opposite ends with a slight gap by means of a tongue 17 and a groove 19 in their central longitudinal portion. The tongue 17 is of sufficient length to maintain the aligned fit of the interlocking portions 11'a and 11' b during movement and thereby prevent lateral disengagement of the interlocking portions 11'a and 11' b from the post 3.

The assembly of these ballast weights forming rows (about four to five rows) at a higher level is described below with reference to fig. 6 to 9. Specifically, the assembly of the topmost upper row is described, with the lower row assembled in the same manner.

The heaviest ballast, i.e. the right ballast 11'b, is placed first (fig. 6) and aligned with the ballast lying below and against the right post 3, then the smaller ballast 11' a is placed in the remaining free space 21 over the already placed right ballast 11'b at the level of the upper ballast (fig. 7), and then the smaller ballast 11' a is moved to the left in the direction of the arrow to abut against the left post 3. And then vertically interlocked into the already placed ballast 11'b by abutting the left side post and dropping ballast 11' a in the direction of the arrow (fig. 8).

With this construction, for a counterweight about 3 meters high, the additional weight of the counterweight according to the invention is about ten percent (10%) of the weight of the counterweight for a conventional eight-person lift, as compared to conventional constructions, which can be exploited by shortening the length of the counterweight proportionally.

As a variant (fig. 11), it should be noted that the wings of the columns can be turned inwards and the profile of the end cut of the ballast weights can follow the profile of the section of the columns within a certain clearance, in particular can be cut with a profile with sufficient spacing to turn the outside of the wings, but this has not been possible so far in conventional counterweights because the section of the columns is too large with respect to the width of the ballast weights.

Claims (11)

1. A counterweight for an elevator, the counterweight comprising:

frame (1) comprising two vertical U-shaped columns (3) parallel and opposite to each other and connected to each other by at least one upper cross-beam (5) and one lower cross-beam (7), wherein the wings (9) of the vertical columns receive flat ballast weights (11) stacked on each other forming a weight in the frame (1), characterized in that,

at least those upper ballast weights (11' a, 11' b) arranged at a higher level than the conventional obliquely fitted lower integral ballast weights (11') comprise at least two parts interlocking with each other such that the two parts can be fitted consecutively by interlocking them in a row in a plane between the two columns (3), which provides good lateral stiffness during the counterweight displacement to avoid lateral disengagement of the two interlocking ballast weight parts (11' a, 11' b) from the frame (1).

2. Counterweight for an elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the two-piece ballast weights (11'a, 11' b) interlock in a complementary manner at their notched opposite ends within a certain clearance.

3. Counterweight for an elevator according to claim 2, characterized in that the end cut-outs of the two-piece ballast weights (11'a, 11' b) can have various shapes, such as complementary tongues (17) and grooves (19), or dovetail grooves, etc.

4. Counterweight for an elevator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the column (3) does not have a transverse cut (13) at its upper end like in a conventional counterweight and that the column (3) can have a smaller material thickness for equivalent strength.

5. Counterweight for elevators according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the posts (3) do not have a transverse cut (13) at their upper end, like in conventional counterweights, and have a smaller section to achieve the same strength as the conventional cut structure, which allows the posts (3) to receive ballast weights of the same width as conventional ballast weights, but cut at their ends with a profile sufficient to cover the sides of the wings (9) of each of the two posts (3) and thus provide additional load at the corners.

6. Counterweight for an elevator according to claim 5, characterized in that the end cut-out profile of the ballast weights (11) follows the profile of the wing (9) of each column (3) seen from the inside with some clearance or has a U-shaped profile, wherein the wings (9) of the columns abut the legs of the U.

7. Counterweight for an elevator according to claim 5, characterized in that the column (3) is arranged with its wings (9) turned outwards and receiving ballast weights (11' a, 11' b, 11') with cut-outs at the ends to cover the wings (9) of the column laterally by a U-shaped profile, wherein the arrangement allows to provide further cut-outs backwards on the ballast weights and thus leave more weight available.

8. Ballast weight for an elevator counterweight, characterized in that it is formed of at least two parts (11'a, 11' b) designed to interlock with each other in a plane between two columns (3) for being fitted into a counterweight according to any of claims 1-7 at a higher level.

9. Ballast weight for an elevator counterweight, characterized in that it is cut at its ends to cover laterally the wings (9) of the column (3) of the counterweight according to any of claims 1-7.

10. Ballast weight for an elevator counterweight according to any of claims 8-9, characterized in that the ballast weight has a central longitudinal plane of symmetry, which is also the plane of symmetry of the counterweight.

11. An elevator provided with a counterweight according to any one of claims 1 to 7.