Abstract:
A load bearing assembly (20) includes a plurality of tension members (22). A joint in the load bearing assembly (20) has a staggered pattern of discontinuities (30) in the tension members (22). A stress relieving feature is associated with at least outermost tension members (22A, 22L) in the vicinity of the discontinuities. One example includes supplemental tension members (32, 50) as the stress relieving feature. Another example includes selected spacings (32', 40, 42) between ends of at least some of the tension members. One example includes different sized tension members as the stress relieving feature. Another example includes different lateral spacings between selected tension members.
Abstract:
A belt (30) for suspending and/or driving an elevator car (14) includes a plurality of tension elements (32) extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, at least one tension element of the plurality of tension elements having one or more tension element coating layers (46) applied thereto. A plurality of fibers are interlaced with the plurality of tension elements forming a composite belt structure. A belt coating (44) at least partially encapsulates the composite belt structure.
Abstract:
A belted elevator system (10) includes a hoistway (14) and an elevator car (12) suspended in the hoistway (14) via a suspension member (16) and drivable along the hoistway (14). The suspension member (16) is routed over a plurality of sheaves (18). A sheave (18) of the plurality of sheaves includes a shaft (36) defining a central axis of the sheave (18), the sheave (18) rotatable about the central axis. A sheave outer member (38) is operably connected to the shaft (36) and rotatable about the central axis. The sheave outer member (38) includes a sheave outer surface (44) interactive with the suspension member (16). The sheave outer member (38) is formed from a molded plastic material.
Abstract:
A belt for an elevator system and a method for making the same is provided. The belt includes a plurality of tension members that extend along a length of the belt and a jacket. The jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The jacket maintains a desired spacing and alignment of the tension members relative to each other. The jacket includes a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. The jacket defines at least one exterior, traction surface of the belt. The first fibers are at least partially disposed between the tension members and the traction surface of the belt. The second fibers are fill fibers. The first fibers have at least one property that distinguishes them from the second fibers.
Abstract:
An exemplary elongated elevator load bearing member includes a plurality of tension elements that extend along a length of the load bearing member. A plurality of weave fibers transverse to the tension elements are woven with the tension elements such that the weave fibers maintain a desired spacing and alignment of the tension elements relative to each other. The weave fibers at least partially cover the tension elements. The weave fibers are exposed and establish an exterior, traction surface of the load bearing member.
Abstract:
An elevator load bearing assembly (30) includes a jacket (34) having different portions comprising different polymer compositions. In a disclosed example, a plurality of tension members (32) are at least partially surrounded by a first portion (36) comprising a first polymer composition. A second portion (38) establishes at least one exterior surface (40) of the jacket (34) and comprises a second polymer composition. In one example, a surface-modifying agent is added to alter the composition of at least a portion of the jacket (34). In another example, co-extrusion techniques using different polymer compositions establish different portions of the jacket (34).
Abstract:
Making a passenger handrail (30) includes splicing together ends (58) of handrail stock. A disclosed device (50) includes mounting members (54), (56) for positioning the ends (58) of the handrail stock relative to each other before splicing them together. Example mounting members (54), (56) include position control members (80) having at least one tooth (82) for engaging a tooth (36) on a driven surface (34) of the handrail. A disclosed example includes a mover (62) having a threaded rod (66) that causes a follower (68) to move with the mounting member (54) for adjusting a position of the mounting member and the corresponding end (58) of the handrail stock within very stringent tolerance requirements.
Abstract:
A load bearing member (30) for a lifting and/or hoisting system includes a plurality of tension members (32) arranged along a width of the load bearing member. Each tension member (32) includes a plurality of load carrying fibers (34) arranged to extend in a direction parallel to a length of the load bearing member (30) and a matrix material (36) in which the plurality of load carrying fibers (34) are arranged. The load bearing member (30) further includes a lateral layer (42a, 42b) and a jacket material (50) at least partially encapsulating the plurality of tension members. The lateral layer (42a, 42b) is wrapped around one or more tension members (32) of the plurality of tension members (32).
Abstract:
A belt (16) for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of cords (24). Each cord (24) includes a plurality of wires and at least one yarn thread (32) disposed at an outer periphery of the plurality of wires. An elastomeric jacket (26) substantially retains the plurality of cords (24). The at least one yarn thread (32) is configured to promote adhesion of the elastomeric jacket (26) to the plurality of cords (24) and reduce fretting of the plurality of wires.
Abstract:
A belt (16) for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of tension elements (28) extending longitudinally along a length of the belt (16), and a jacket (30) at least partially encapsulating the plurality of tension elements (28). The jacket (30) defines a traction surface (36) of the belt (16) configured to be interactive with a drive sheave and a back surface (38) opposite the traction surface (36). The jacket (30) is formed from a first material. One or more material strips (46) are located at one or more of the traction surface (36) or the back surface (38) to improve one or more operational characteristics of the belt (16). The one or more material strips (46) are formed from a second material different from the first material.