Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~:3~i3D32
HYDRAULIC E~EVATOR SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
The invention relates in general to hydraulic
elevator systems, and more specifically to holeless, or
semi-holeless hydraulic elevator systems.
Description of the Prior Art:
In a hydraulic elevator system, the allowable
length of the plunger nearly doubles with the use of a
plunger-follower guide. Thus, a much smallar jack may be
10 used, as calculated according to the ANSI-ASME A17.1-1981
safety code for elevators and escalators. The use of a
smaller jack is especially desirable in the hydraulic
alevator system disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,361.,209, which
is assigned to the same assignee as the present applica-
1~ tion. The hydraulic elevator system disclosed in that
patent utilizes a tunnel member which is part of the car
~rame, and which extends vertically upward through the
elevator car to eliminate the need for, or to minimize the
depth of, a hole for the hydraulic jack. Reducing the size
~0 o the hydraulic jac~ in this application reduces the
cross-sectional area of the tunnel, which in turn reduces
the horizontal dimension of the swing return which faces
the front o~ the elevator car. Reducing this dimension
reduces the size of the hatch, for a given useful floor
~5 space in the elevator car.
32
The hereinbefore-mentioned U.S. Patent discloses
the use o a stabilizer assembly within the tunnel, which
is always fixed to a selected portion of the hydraulic
jack, i.e., to the section of the hydraulic jack which is
immediately below the uppermost plunger section. The
stabilizer assembly includes four rollers which are biased
against the four inner corners of a square-configured
tunnel. This was an improvement over prior art stabilizing
means which utilize complicated support arms, clamps, and
the like, which must be synchronized with car movement.
While the stabilizer-roller assembly of U.S.
Patent 4,361,209 functions well, its use is effectively
limited to telescopic jacks. On a single stage jack the
bottom of the tunnel would not be able to move higher than
the cylinder head, as the stabilizer assembly is fixed to
the cylinder head. Thus, it would be desirable to provide
new and improved stabilizer means for a single-stage jack
which provides the requisite plunger support, without the
limitation of maintaining the cylinder head within the
tunnel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a new and improved
hydraulic elevator system having a car frame Which includes
a tunnel structure disposed upwardly through the elevator
2~ car. A stabilizer member in the tunnel is releasably
latched to the cylinder head of a single stage hydraulic
jack, while the cylinder head is within the tunnel. As the
tunnel leaves the cylinder head during the ascension of the
elevator car, the stabilizer member is automatically
3~ released from the cylinder head. The stabilizer member,
which re~uires no moving parts, then moves with the plunger
and tunnel, providing a lateral support point for the
plunger, at the most advantageous position. The stabilizer
member increases its support as the elevator car continues
to rise, with this additional support point functioning
without any relative motion between the stabilizer member,
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plunger or tunnel. The support provided by the stabilizer
member extends from the plunger, through the stabilizer
meMber to the tunnel, which in turn is part of the car
frame or sling. The frame is firmly supported against
lateral movement by the guide rollers which rotate against
guide rails fixed in the hatch of the assoclated building.
BRIEF ~ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be better understood, and
~lrther advantages and ~ses thereof more readily apparent,
when considered in view of the followi.ng detailed descrip-
tion of exemplary embodiments, taken with the accompanying
drawirlgs, in which:
Figure l is an elevational view, partially in
section, of a hydraulic elevator system constructed accord-
ing to the teachings of the invention, with the plungerbeing shown retracted to a point where the cylinder head is
within a tunnel structure;
Fi~ure 2 is a view similar to that of Eigure 1,
except with the plunger extended to the point where the
cylinder head is just visible below the lower end of the
tunnel;
Fig~lre 3 is a view similar to that of Figures 1
and 2, except with the plunger more fully extended, to
illustrate the support function provided by the stabilizer
~5 member;
Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view, par-
,tially in section, of the stabilizer member shown in
Figures l, 2 and 3, illustrating an exemplary mounting
arrangement for the stabilizer member, which includes
latching means carL-ied by the cylinder head, and latch
release means carried by the tunnel member;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the latch
mechanism, and the latch release means, shown in Figure 4,
taken between and in the direction of arrows V-V;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the stabi-
lizer member shown in Figure 4, taken between and in the
direction of arrows VI-VI;
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Figure 7 is an elevational view similar to that
of Figure 4, except illustrating the release of the stabi-
li~er member from the cylinder head; and
Figure 8 is an elevational view similar to that
of Figures 4 and 7, except illustrating the stabilizer
means in the configuration where it provides increasing
support for the plunger as the elevator car continues to
rise.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In order to reduce the length and complexity of
the description, the invention will be described as being
applied to the front tunnel arrangement of the
hereinbefore-mentioned U.S. Patent 4,361,209, and this
patent is hereby incorporated into the specification of the
present application by reference. It is to be understood,
however, that while this use of the stabilizer arrangement
is the preferred embodiment, that the invention may be used
with any holeless, or semi-holeless hydraulic elevator
system having at least one hydraulic jack which extends
into a tunnel arrangement.
Referring now to the drawings, and to Figures 1,
2 and 3 in particular, there is shown a hydraulic elevator
system 10, in side elevation, constructed according to the
teachings of the invention. Elevator system 10 includes an
elevator car 12 mounted for guided vertical movement in a
hatch 13 of an associated building 15, via upper and lower
~uide roller assemblies 11 and 11', respectively, and first
and second spaced guide rail members 17 and 19, respective-
ly. Elevator car 12 includes a cab 21 supported by a car
frame or sling 14. An elongated, vertically oriented,
tunnel structure 16 forms a structural element of the car
frame 14, extending between the top and bottom horizontal
beams of the car frame 14. Tunnel structure or member 16
includes a metallic side wall portion 18 of any desired
cross-sectional configuration, with the side wall portion
18 defining an opening 20 having a longitudinal axis 23
which extends between an open lower end 22 and an upper end
3;3~
24. Upper end 24 is at least partially closed by an end
plate or member 26.
A single stage hydraulic jack ~8 is ~ounted in a
hatch pit 30 at the bottom of hatch 13, with its lonyitu-
dinal axis coaxial with the axis 23 of the tunnel member16. Hydraulic jack 28 provides the motive means for the
elevator car 12~ Hydraulic jack 28 includes a cylinder 32,
which is fixed to suitable horizontal cross members or
beams 33, a cylinder head 34, and a plunger 36. U.S.
10 Patent 4,041,~45, which is assigned to the same assiynee as
the present application, discloses a cylinder head con-
struction which may be used. The end of plunger 36 con-
tacts the end plate 26. End plate 26 may have a small
opening therein for receiving a portion of the top of
plunger 36, to clearly indicate that the plunger is proper-
ly centered on the end plate.
A stabilizer member 40, constructed according to
the teachings of the invention, has an I.D. sized to snugly
but slidably receive the plunger 36, and an outer periphery
configured to closely conform to the cross-sectional
confi~uration of the tunnel member 16.
Stabilizer member 40 is mounted such that while
the cylinder head 34 is at least partially within the
opening 20 of tunnel member 16, it is releasably attached
~5 to the cylinder head. This assures that the stabilizer
member 40 will be at the proper location to provide its
intended support function, as the cylinder head 34 leaves
the tunnel 16. While the cylinder head 34 is within tunnel
Member 16, there is ~:elative motion between the I.D. of the
stabilizer member a:~-l plunger 36, and between the outer
periphery of the sta~llizer member and the inner surface of
the side wall port' on 18 of the tunnel member 16. While
this relative motion is occurring, however, the stabilizer
member is not called upon to provide any lateral support
for the plunger, as it is closely adjacent to the cylinder
head 34 which is providing both lateral support and yuid-
ance for the plunger 36. The stabilizer member 40 is
properly positioned by lowering the car 12 to the buffers
(not shown). Plate 26 is removed and the upper guide
assemblies ll are adjusted to provide uniform clearance
between the outer sides of the stabilizer member 40 and the
adjacent inner surfaces of tunnel member 16. The top plate
26 is attached and the car 12 is jacked up until the bottom
of the tunnel 16 is several inches above the cylinder head
and the stabilizer member 40 is readily viewed. The lower
guide assemblies 11' are then adjusted to provide uniform
clearance between member 40 and tunnel 16.
When the plunger 36 extends to the point where
the cylinder head 34 is just visible under the lower end 22
of the tunnel 16, as shown in Figure 2, the stabilizer
member 40 is automatically released from the cylinder head
34 and it rests upon a suitable support structure fixed to
the inside surface of the tunnel member 16, immediately
adjacent to the lower end 22 of the tunnel member 16. At
this point, relative motion between the stabiliæer member
and the plunger 36, and relative motion between the
~0 stabilizer member 40 and the tunnel 16 ceases. The stabi-
lizer member 40 now moves with the rising plunger and
tunnel, as shown in Figure 3. The stabilizer member 40 now
starts to provide lateral support for plunger 36 via tunnel
16, the car frame 14, guide roller assemblies 11', and the
~5 ~uide rail members 17 and 19, with the greater the exten-
sion o plunger 36, the greater the support. It is impor-
tant to note that no binding can occur while stabilizer
member 40 is providing its lateral support function, since
t}~ere is now no relative motion between the stabilizer
member 40, the plunger 36 and tunnel member 16.
Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of
stabilizer member 40, in section, along with exemplary
mounting means 42 for providing the hereinbefore-mentioned
functions for fixing and releasing the stabilizer member
40. Figure 5 will also be referred to in the following
discussion, with Figure 5 being a view of the mounting
means 42 taken between and in the direction of arrows V-V
~L~36~3~
in Figure 4. Figure 4 illustrates the cylinder head 34
while it is still partially within the opening 20 of tunnel
16. As hereinbefore stated, while the cylinder head 34 is
within tunnel 16, stabilizer member 40 is secured to the
cylinder head 34. This is accomplished in the embodiment
of the invention shown in Figure 4 by a latch arrangement
which may include a plurality of latch assemblies spaced
about the cylinder head 34, such as four latch assemblies.
In the view shown in Figure 4, only one latch assembly 44
is illustrated. Figure 5 illustrates two latch assemblies
44 and 46, with two similar latch assemblies being disposed
on the other side of vertical centerline 23. Since each of
the latch assemblies are of like construction, only latch
assembly 44 will be described in detail.
Latch assembly 44 is attached to a split mounting
ring 48. Ring 48 cooperates with two similar split mount-
ing rings 48' (Figure 5), to fix all four latch assemblies
to the cylinder head 34. A support channel 50 having first
and second horizontally spaced arm portions 52 and 54,
respectively, and a bight 56, is suitably attached to the
mounting ring 48~ A latch member 58 is pivotally mounted
between arm portions 52 and 54 via a pivot pin 60, with
suitable bias means, such as a helical compression spring
62, being disposed between an upper extension of bight 56
~5 and the latch member 58, to bias latch member 58 ~W about
pivot pin 60, in the view o Figure 4. In other words, the
upper end of latch member 58, which includes a latch hook
64 is biased outwardly, away from cylinder head 34, until a
stop 66 at the lower end of latch member 58 contacts a
lowar extension of bight 56.
Stabilizer means 40, which is also shown in
Figure 6, which is a plan view of stabilizer member 40
taken between and in the direction of arrows VI-VI in
Figure 4, is constructed to cooperate with the various
latch assemblies, such as latch assemblies 44 and 46.
Stabilizer member 40 may be a single block of non-metallic
material selected to provide the desired low COF between
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itself and the plunger 36, and between itself and the inner
surface of the side wall portion 18 of tunnel member 16. A
suitable material is ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW)
polyethylene, but other materials may be used. Or, as
illustrated, stabilizer member 40 may include a block 72 of
non-metallic material, such as the hereinbefore-mentioned
UHMW polyethylene, with a metallic wear plate 74 being
disposed to absorb latching and unlatching wear. Screws
75, for example, may secure plate 74 to block 72. Block 72
llas a centrally disposed I.D. 76 sized to snugly but
slidably receive plunger 36, and an outer periphery 78
configured to closely conform to the cross-sectional
configuration of tunnel 16. If tunnel 16 has a rectangular
cross-sectional configuration, as illustrated, block 72
lS would also have a rectangular outer periphery, sized to
snugly but slidably move adjacent to the inner surface of
the side wall portion 18. Block 72 has flat upper and
lower surfaces 80 and 82, respectively, with suitable
openings extending inwardly from surface 82 for receiving
~0 the latch hook 64, such as opening 84.
Wear plate 74, in general, has the same configu-
ration as block 72, but it is dimensioned to prevent
contact with plunger 36 and side wall 18. Wear plate 74
has openin~s which communicate with the openin~s in surface
~S 8~ of block 72, such as opening 88 which communicates with
opening 84~ Opening 88 is smaller in cross-sectional area
than its associated opening 84, to enable hook end 6~ of
latch member 58 to 'Ihoo~ over" an edge of the wear plate
opening. A resilient ring 85 may be disposed about the
upper end of cylinder head 34, to support the stabilizer
means 40 while it is "latched" to the cylinder head 34.
In addition to the latch assemblies, such as
latch assemblies 44 and 46, each mount.ing arrangement 42
includes latch release means carried by the tunnel 16, such
as latch release means 92 and 94, respectively, associated
with latch assemblies 44 and 46. Since each latch release
33~
means is of like construction, only the latch release means
92 will be described in detail.
Latch release means 92 includes a non-metallic
cam member 98, such as a member formed of nylon or acetol.
.~ non-metallic member 100, such as a member formed of
rubber~is attached to the inner surface of wall 18. Member
100, and a similar member on the opposite side of tunnel
16, support~ the stabilizer member 40 when the stabilizer
member 40 is not latched to the cylinder head 34. Cam 98
is configured and located adjacent to the lower end 22 of
tunnel 16 such that it actuates latch member 58 via a
suitably curved cam surface 102 on latch member 58, to
release the stabilizer member 40 before the support 100
contacts the wear plate 74. Instead of a fixed, i.e.
non-rotatable, cam, it would also be suitable to employ a
roller to perform the function of cam 92.
The operation of the mounting means 42 may be
observed relative to Figures 4, 7 and 8 which, respectively
correspond to the elevator car positions of Figures 1, 2
~0 and 3. In Figures 1 and 4, the stabilizer member 40 is
latched to the cylinder head 34. If the plunger 36 is
extending to raise the elevator car 12, the point shown in
Figures 2 and 7 is reached where cam 98 of the latch
release means 92 contacts the curved cam surface 102 of
~5 latch member 58, forcing latch member 58 against the bias
o~ spring 62, to move the hook end 64 into the non-
interfering position shown in Figure 7. This non-
interering position is maintained long enough for the hook
end 64 to clear the edges of opening 88 in the wear plate
74, to release the stabilizer member 40 from the cylinder
head 34. One side of stabilizer member 40 is now resting
upon member 100. Then, as shown in Figures 3 and 8, the
stabilizer member 40 moves with the continued upward
movement of plunger 36 and tunnel 16, without any relative
motion between these elements. The further the stabilizer
element 40 moves from the cylinder head 34, the more
lateral support it provides. Note that it functions
totally in support and has no guiding function, other than
the supporting and centerlng of the plunger 36 so it can be
guided via coaction between the stabilizer member 40, the
tunnel 16 and associated car frame, the guide roller
assemblies 11, and the guide rail members 17 and 19.
When the plunger 36 is retracted to lower the
elevator car, cam 98 contacts latch member 58, as shown in
Figure 7, biasing the latch member 58 to enable the hook
end 64 to re-enter opening 88, re-latching the stabllizer
member ~0, with further retraction, as shown in Figure 4.
In summary, there has been disclosed a new and
improved hydraulic elevator system for holeless, or
semi-holeless jack mounting, which system includes a low
cost, uncomplicated arrangement for reducing jack size by
providing an intermediate lateral support point for the
plunger. The intermediate lateral support point is provid-
ed by a stabilizer member which requires no moving parts,
which is mounted by a simple latch arrangement to stay
immediately adjacent to the cylinder head, as long as the
cylinder head is within a tunnel member which permits the
holeless, or semi-holeless mounting of the jack. When the
elevator car is raised and the cylinder head starts to
appear at the lower end of the tunnel member, the stabiliz-
er member is automatically unlatched from the cylinder
~5 head, and it now moves with the plunger and tunnel to
provide lateral support without any relative motion between
these elements.
