US1073700A - Rope elevator. - Google Patents

Description

M. E. NEENAN.

ROPE ELEVATOR.

APPLIUA'IION TILED MAR.2B,1910. RENEWED r215. 20, 1013.

1,073,700. Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 1,

M 6" WM wi bvl omc A I (3 woe I1 ["0 t ame.

M. E. NEENAN.

ROPE ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION TILED MAR.28,1910. RENEWED FBB,20,1013.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5] me wlio'c WE/W $51 filmtozmug ya J. Ms.

wwwwom D STATE PATENT FFIGE ICHAEL a. memo, on NEW roan-1v. Y., ASSIGN'BR TO NEENAN canvases 00M- ;PANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or new YORK.

ROPE ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed MarchfiB, 1910, Serial No. 551,914. Renewed February 20, 1913. Serial No. 749,727.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MroriAnn E. NEIGNAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hope Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

In the rope elevator system now largely in use, the elevator car is suspended from the hoisting ropes which extend from the car up over the suspension sheave, then down and around the motor driven drum, and then up around another suspension sheave to a drum counterweight. A car counterweight of less weight than the car is usually suspended from an independent rope passing over suitable suspension sheaves and attached independently to the elevator car. The support for the car suspension sheave is mounted u on a rigid beam or framework at the top 0' the elevator shaft. The drum counterweight and the car counterweight are usually arranged to travel in the same vertical guideway, with the car counterweight above the drum counter-weight. In this old form of rope elevator construction, many serious accidents have resulted from the breaking of the motor controller and the running awe of the motor. If the motor runs away whi e the car is ascending, the uncontrolled 1 car is carried rapidly to the top of the ele' rater shaft and forced into engagement with the sheave supporting framework, causing the breaking of the supporting rope, and the sudden release of the car, which falls with only the car counterweight to resist its downward movement. Since the car counlerweight is not sufficient to balance the car," its weight, together with the weight of any load that may at the moment he in the car,

will cause the car to fall with increasing velocity until it reaches the bottom of the shaft or its movement is arrested by the safety catches usually mounted upon the car.

These safety catches have proven unreliable and the falling of H on numerous 00021910118, elevator cars under the circumstances explained, has resulted in many fatalities.

The objectot' my present invention is to provide simple and effective means for eliminating the possibility of breaking the car supporting ropes in rope elevator systems. In accomptishing'this ol'ajcet, I interpqse the car counterweight between the car supporting ropes and the drum hoisting ropes and place a butler between said counterweight and the hoisting drum. I also provide a yielding support for the car suspension sheave. As a further element of safety, I prefer to arrange the car supporting ropes 0t greater strength than the drum hoisting ropes, by employing a greater number of car supporting ropes than drum hoisting ropes.

The details of construction in carrying my invention into practice may be variously arranged. The yielding support for the car suspension sheave is preferably made in the form of a beam supported in normal position by heavy compression springs. This beam may be pivotally mounted at one end with or without supporting springs, an sustained at its other end by said compres sion springs. The car suspension sheave is journaled in pillow blocks-1nounted upon said yielding beam or frame. The compression springs are of sufficient strength to normally withstand the weight of the car and load and connected parts so that in the ordinary operation of the improved elevator construction, there will be no appreciable movement of the frame or beam upon which the car suspension sheave is mounted. In an elevator system having this arrangement of car supporting ropes, yielding support for the car suspension sheave, car counterweight, buffer and hoisting ropes, it will be observed that in the event of the motor running away as above set forth, the car counterweight will first be pulled down against the buffer to partially retard the upward movement of the car, and when the butter stops yielding, will result in breaking the hoisting ropes which connect the car counterweight with the drum; The hoisting ropes will break in this manner before any unusual strain is placed upon the car supporting ropes, which latter will therefore remain intact. When the hoisting ropes are broken, and the car is relieved in this way from the elevating action of the motor driven drum, the momentum of the car will carry it a short distance upward, when it will dro rapidly and apply its whole weight with a sudden blow to the ropes connecting it with the car counterweight. The yielding support for the car suspension sheave will yield under this sudden blow and relieve the ropes from the shock with I the result that the breaking of the ropes between the car and its counterweight will be avoided.

My present inventioncomprlses further a I rearrangement of the car counterwe ght and drum counterweight. I propose to still arrange these counterweights to travel in a common vertical guideway, but will place the car counterweight beneath the drum counterweight. By this arrangement I am able to accomplish several important results, particularly when such arrangement is employed in connection with the yielding support for the car suspension sheave. In-

the first place, it will be observed that with this arrangement, the counterweights. will move up and down in their guideway 1n unison durin'gthe normal operation of the mechanism, but that in the event of the.

breaking of the hoisting ropes between the car counterweight and the hoisting drum while the car is ascending, the-moment'the weight of the car is thrown upon its counterweight (the shock being'absorbed by the yielding support for the car suspension sheave), the car counterweight will tend to move upwardly as the cargoes downwardly,

but will .not be-permitted to proceed ery far. when it will be arrested. by striking against-the drum counterweight, which lat- .tenis descending under the'conditions'noted,

not only because of the breaking of the hoisting ropes while the car was ascending, but also because of the release of the weight of the car from the hoisting ropes. The

mere'added weight of the drum .counterw'eightto that of'thecar counterweight is. in itself an element-of safety, but inaddition to this, I prefer to so form the ,car and drum' .counterweights thatjtheir sudden en-. gagement will wedge or otherwise clamp them between their guide rails, so that themovement of the'car will be arrestedbefore it can fall'far enough to cause any material damage. -Many different forms of devices can be adopted for-causing the two'counterweights to automatically bind between their guide rails when they are thrown into en-. gagement, such,- for .instancefias .wedgeshaped projections upon-the adjacent'faces .fof'thecountei'weights, or an arrangement of toggle levers upon 'one' counterweight in -'.position to be operated by the Other comb terweight.

In order that. my invention may be fully understood, I will first describe the same w1th reference'to the-accompanying draw ings; and afterward point out the novelty .more particularlyinthe annexed claims.

' a .In said drawings, Figure 1' is a diagrammatic' side elevation of'a positive-driverope anddrum elevator mechanism embodying my invention. Fig;-.'2.is a detail view of one form of cooperating counterweights.

'mally sustain the frame or beam 13 Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are views'similar to Fig.'

2 showing modified'arrangements of counj terweights embodying .my invention. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a frictiondrive mechanism showing a further modificationand illustrating the use of ropes of greater strength for supporting the car than for hoisting the car, and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the modified arrangement of counterweights illustrated in sion' sheave 3 mounted atthe top of the elevator shaft and to the end of the rope is properly secured the drum counterweight '5 which operates in the guideway formed" by the guide rails 6 and 7 at one sideof the elevator shaft. The "drum counterweight. may be of any suitable-construction'mounta ed in the usual way, but is preferably'anranged as hereinafter described for accomplishing the purposes of'my present invention; The drum counterweight. 5acts in the usual manner to equalize. the operation of the mechanism. The hoisting rope 2 passes up from the other side of v the hoisting drum 1 and is attached to the'bottom of the car counterweight 25 which is mountedin guideways formed 'by' the guide rails 6 and 7 beneath the drum counterweight 5. The

car counterweight 25 may be'variously con-.

structed as hereinafter explained.

The car-suspension rope or ropes 2 are:

secured to the upper end of car counterweight25 and extended up through asuitableopening formed vertically in the drum counterweight 5 and over a car suspension shea've 10 and downwardly. to the-elevator car 15 which is attached in the usual manner. The car. counterweight 25 is interposed as a connecting link between the hoisting rope 2 and the car supporting rope or ropes 2. The car supportmg'rope or ropes 2 are preferably of greater strength than. the

hoisting rope. 2- as'hereinafter more fully explained.

The car sus ension sheave'lO is journaled at 11 upon t e pillow blocks 12 mounted upon the supportin beams or framework 13.

journaled at one en as indicated at 14 upon a supporting beam 16 and sustained 'at its opposite end by .one'or more heavy springs 20 mounted upon a rigid sustaining beam 21. The spring supports 20 for the. beam.

or frame 13 are of sufiic ient strength to nor.- with the weight of the car, its load, and attached. parts) in'horizontal posltion.

Ad acent to'the bottom of the guideway formed byrails (S and 7 is a butler plate or bar 30 sustained by heavy springs 31 mounted upon stationary beams 32, this buffer being for the purpose of absorbing any shock incident to the end of the downward travel of the car counterweightflfl which is coincident to the'ending of the upward travel of the car 15 in the elevator shaft. The spring sustained buffer 30 is also of importance in reducing the shock to the car and the car supporting rope in the event of the motor running away and breaking the hoisting rope.

As, explained above, my present invention includes the arrangement of the drum counterweight and car counterweight in the same vertical guideway with the former above the latter for the purpose of presenting the drum counterweight in the path of the car counterweight to resist its rapid ascent caused by the falling of the car in the event of the breaking of the hoisting rope. This result can be accomplished with the described rearrangement of the ordinary forms of counterweights for the drum and car, since the mere added weight of the drum counterweight to that of the car counterweight in the case of the supposed accident will aflordmaterial resistance to the falling of the car. I have found, however that more reliable results can be accomplished by a special construction and arrangement of said counterweights such as shown in my drawings and now to be described.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an arrangement for applying a gradually increasing braking pressure. The car counterweight 25 connected above with car supporting rope 2" and below with the hoisting'rope 2, is formed with an upwardly presented projection 35 having an inclined cam surface 36. The drum counterweight 5 is cut away on its lower edge as shown at 37 and pivotally mounted upon counterweight 5 at 38 is a downwardly presented lever 39 formed with a beveled end 39;-one or more stout springs 40 being confined between seats formed at 41 upon the inner face of lever 39 and at 42 upon a vertical shoulderof the counterweight 5. A stop pin or lug 43 upon weight 5 engages the lever 39 to retain it in vertical position with its lower beveled end presented just above the cam face 36 of projection 35 of the car counterweight 25. With this construction and arrangement of the counterweights, it will be observed that upon the close approach of the counterweights by reason of the breaking of the hoisting rope, the beveled end 39 of lever 39 will travel upon the cam face 36 of projection 35 and by the compression of spring or springs 40, will apply a strong and gradually increasing braking pressure between the counterweights and the guide rails G and 7. This increased friction between the a l a counter-weights and their guide rails will gradually retard the falling of the car.

In Fig. 3. the car counterweight 25 is formed with upwardly presented lugs 45 in which are mounted the toggle levers 46 pivotally connected at 47 and carrying at, their outwardlypresented ends the brake blocks or shoes 18 which slide upon the guide rails 6, 7. Thesebralre blocks or shoes i8 are pivotally connected at 49 with the ends of the toggle levers 4e and said toggle levers preferably have pin and slot connection with their supporting lugs 45. One of the toggle levers 4G is formed with an upwardly presented head as whiclvis presented di rectlybeneath the drum counterweight 5. A spring.50 is confined between the body of car counterweight 25 and a shoulder 46 formed beneath one of the toggle levers 46 for the purpose of holding the toggle levers raised above the counterweight 25 with the brake blocks or shoes -58 released from the rails 6 and 7. In this form of the mechanism, the drum counterweight 5 may be of the ordlnary construction. In the event of the two counterweights being thrown forcibly together in this construction, it will be observed that the engagement of the drum counterweight 5 with the head 46 of the togglc lovers to will actuate said toggle levers to force the brake blocks or shoes 48 against the rails (3 and 7 and thereby apply a powerful frictional resistance to the movement of the counterwcights to gradually retard and arrest the falling of the car. i

In Fig. 4: I have shown a further n1odification of my invention in which the car counterweight 25 is formed with the up wardly presented cam projection 55, and the drum counterweight 5 is cut oil at one cornor to form an inclined cam face 56 which is adapted to engage the cam projection 55 of the car counterweight when said counterweights are forcibly brought together. The effect of this form of construction is the jamming of the counterweights between their guide rails for accomplishing the explained purpose.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a further modification in which the car counterweight 25 is made of two laterally separating sections 25 and 25 Secured to the bottom of the section 25 is a laterally extending bar portion (St) havins sliding connection with the counterweight section 25, and the central portions of the counterweight sections 25 and 25" are preferably formed with interlocking tongue and groove portions. In the upper edge of the sectional car counterweight 25, 25" is formed a recess (51 having diverging side walls. The drum counter weight 5 in this form is constructed with a central dtavnwardly presented wedge member or having diverging side walls. Upon the forcible coming together of the counterv thesame result explained in connection ing rope and a different form of combined.

drum 1 around which it passes and friction:

and has sliding engagement with the open frame car'counterweight 25. I I with this arrangement, I would havejit-uning ropes are fewer in number, or are of less in Figs. 7 and 8, I provide the-same spring portion of the counterweight 25 I pivotally mount at 76 a brake block75-to which pivoted at 77 a dog 78 operating over a Se counterweight 5 is provided with a down- 'wardly presented projection 66 at'the same side, so that when these counterweights are supporting ropes 2 and one hoisting rope 2,-

.having a greater number of car supporting ropes such as three, four, five,;- s1 x or more,

counterweight 5*.v With this last 'described brought together, they will be thrownfaskew by reason of the engagement of projections 65 and 66 and willbind between the railssfi and 7 and, effectively resist-the downward movement of the car. I

I'n-Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a further modification in which the car i supporting ropes are of greater strength than the hoistcar and drum counterweights for retarding the descent of the car in case of accident. I have shown the car 15 supported by two ropes 2 passing over the suspension sheave 10 and connected to the upper end of an open oblong car counterweight 25's operating betweenthe guide rails 6 and 7. A'single hoisting rope 2 extends from the lower end ofthe counterweight 25 to the hoisting ally engages and, then up over-the counterweight suspension sheave 3 and down to' a drum counterweight 5 which is mounted In In connection derstood that while I havetshown two'carthis arrangement is only illustrative of the principle by which the ropes for supporting the car are made 'of greaterstrengthathan" therope for hoisting; 'Itfwillibeielearjthat the same result willbe accomplished by and by having a plurality of hoistingropee arranged as explained, so long as the hoist;

tensile strength, than the car supporting ropes. o In this modified arrangement shown supported buffer plates 30 beneath the car counterweight 25 and in a cut-out or slotted ries of rack teeth 79 formed in the upperface of thebottom rail of counterweight 25". Cooperating with this brake block'7 5 of the car counterweight, is a downwardly extending wedge-shaped projection 80 of the drum the descent of the rious results. i p Ashereinbefore explamed, the importance the strength oi the car supportingrrepes greaterthanthat of the h i' tiniropea some cases this car counterweigf modified construction, it will be observed that in the event of the motor running away by reason of the breaking of the controller,

the hoisting'rope 2will break and leave intact the ear supporting ropes 2 which conface of the bottom rail of counterweight 25;

The strain'upon the supporting ropes 2 is relieved at the breaking of the hoisting rope by the slight retardation of the upward movement of the car when the car counterweight engages the bufler 30. -After the slight upward jump due to the momentum of the car at'the moment of breaking of the hoisting rope, the car will start to descend and draw upward its counterweight 25. At thesame time the drum counterweight 5% is moving downwardly because of the direction of operation of the runaway motor, and

thesetwo counterweights, moving in opposite. directions, will draw the cam projection '80 intoengagement with the brake lever 75 j and force the latter into eifectivefrictional engagement with theside rail 6. The com? bined weights of the'twocounterweights 5 and 25 augmentedby the braking action of of my present invention is the added element- 'of safety in the old'form of drum and rope elevator mechanisms by a s im lo, and economical' arrangement andnmo icatmnwof a the parts of said me'chanis'mri By/rea'sonjof the yielding buffer. arranged: betweenathe.

car counterweight and the hoisting drum, and theyielding support for the car suspension, sheave, the car suspension ropes are re.-

lieved from the shock of;b0th-.. the sudden stoppi et the upwardinovement. of the f flry 41,1 ithe sudden startmg vof; the, downward movement otthe ar sitar. the breal' ip -'of the 'hoistingimrope, sothat thedanger of: breaking the {car suspension ropesjis. .eliml nated. Greatersafety is insured by supported by an independent cable-or rope I and. not interposed as a art. ofthe hoisting rope, Whether or not t e samejrope'isj femployed as the hoisting rope and as thfejsupportlfor the car"counterweight, the yieldin I support forth'e car suspension sheave is' of great value in relieving said cable or cables from the shock ofthe. sudden downward movement of the car, the yielding support;

hein of suflicient stren h to normally withstan anydownwardiyield of the suspension sheave, but suiiici'entlysensitive to relieve the apparatus from the shock under the conditions described. This yielding support for the car suspension sheave is of importance in the old arrangement of the apparatus, but is of particular value when use 111- combi r i the bar 75;?will gradually slow up and stop, y 1

car, thereby avoiding; vS 5- nation with the novel arrangement and construction of counterweights above described, since it affords an additional element of safety to the suspension ropes when the sudden downward movement of the car is arrested by the automatic engagement of the two counterweights operating as described.

What I claim is:

1. In an elevator system, the combination of an elevator car, a suspension sheave therefor, suitable hoisting means, a rope extending from said car over said sheave to said hoisting means, a butter mounted adjacent to the course of said rope, and means carried by said rope adapted to engage said butter and limit the movement of the rope ;oi an elevator car, a car suspension sheave,

toward the hoisting means.

2. In an elevator system, the combination of an elevator car, a suspension sheave there- .for, suitable hoisting means, a rope extending .from said car over said sheave to said hoisting means, a car counterweight con nected with said rope between said car. and said hoisting means, and a butter mounted in the path of said counterweight to limit its downward travel.

3. In an elevator system, the combination of a car suspension sheave, an elevator car, a car supporting rope extending over said sheave to said car, a car counterweight connected with said supporting rope, suitable hoisting means, a hoisting rope extending from said hoisting means and connected with said c'air counterweight,- and a buffer mounted in'th'e path of said counterweight to limit its downward travel.

4. In an elevator system, the combination of hoisting means, a car suspension sheave, an elevator car, a yielding support for said suspension sheave,..a supporting rope extending over said sheave to said car, a car counterweightsuitably connected with said car, and a buffer in the path of said counterweight for limiting its downward travel.

5. In an elevator system, the combination of a car suspension sheave, a yielding support for said suspension'sheave, an elevator car, a supporting rope connected with said car and passing over said sheave, a car counterweight connected with said supporting rope, suitable hoisting means, a hoisting rope connecting said car counterweight with said hoisting means, and a butter mounted in the path of saidcounterweight to limit its down ward travel.

6. In an elevator system, the combination of a car suspension sheave, an elevator car, a supporting rope connected with said car and assing over said sheave, a car counterweiglit connected with said supporting rope, a hoisting drum, a hoisting rope operating upon said drum and connected with said car counterweight, a buffer mounted in the path of said counterweight to limit its downward travel, a drum counterweight arranged above and in the same pathway as the car counterweight, and a rope connecting said drum counterweight with said drum.

7. In an elevator system, the combination of an elevator car, a car suspension sheave,

suitable hoisting means, a rope connecting said our and said hoisting means and extend ing over said sheave, a counterweight guide- ;way, counterweights connected respectively with said hoisting means and said car, and mounted to travel in said guideway, one above the other, and means operated by relative movement between said counterweightstor applying braking pressure between one ol said counterwcights and said guideway.

8. In an elevator system, the combination suitable hoisting means, a rope connecting said car and said hoisting means and extend' mg over said sheave, a counterweight guideway, countcrweights connected respectively with said hoisting means and said car, and

mounted to travel in said guideway, one

above the other, and means for applyinga gradually increasing pressure between one of said counterweights and said guidewa-y.-

9. In an'clevator' system, the combination of an elevator car, a car suspension sheave. suitable hoisting means, a rope connecting said car and said hoisting means and ex-' tending over said sheave, a counterweight guideway, counterweights connected respec tively with said hoisting means and said car and mounted to travel in said guideway, one above the other, and means for applying braking pressure between said counterweights and their guideway.

10. In an elevator system, the comhina tion of hoisting means, a car suspension sheave, an elevator var, a supporting rope' connected with said our and extending over Qsaid sheave, cc-unterweights connected re-' sp-ectively with said hoisting means and said car, said counterwcights being mounted to travel in the same guideway with the hoist counterweight arranged above the car counterweight, and means upon said counterweights for applying braking pressure be tween the counterweights and their guideway in the event of said countcrweights being thrown together.

11. In an elevator system, the combination of a hoisting drum, :1 car suspension sheave, an elevator car, a counterweight suspension sheave, a counterweight guideway, a drum counterweight operating in said guideway, a hoisting rope extending from one side of the drum over said counterweight suspension sheave and connected with said drum counterweight, a car sup porting rope extending from said drum over said car suspension sheave and connected with said car, a car counterweight suitably connected with said car and operating in said guideway beneath said drum countersaid hoisti operating in said ,guideway beneath said weight and-means carried-by said counterpressure be. tween the counterweights an their guide-' .way in the event. of said counterweights be-' weights for applying .bra

ingthrow-n together. 12'. In .an' elevator tion .ofa hoistingdrum, a car suspension sheave, a yielding support for said sheave an elevator car, a rope extending from sai drum over said sheave to.-sa1d car, a guideway for counter-weights a drum counterweight" operating in said .guideway, a rope connectin said drum. counterweight with drum, and a car counterweight drum counterweight and suitably connected with said car. f1

13. In an elevator system, the .combina tion of a hoisting drum, a car suspenflon sheave, an elevator car, a guideway' for courtterweights, a car counterweight operatingin said guideway, a rope. connecting said car and said car counterweight and extending over said car suspension sheave, a rope connecting said car counterweight with said hoisting drum, a drum counterweight, operating in said guideway above said car c0un-- terweight, a rope connecting said, druni counterweight with said'hoisting drum, and meansupon said counterweights for applying braking pressure between said counter weights and their'guideway in'the event of said counterweights being thrown together.

14. In an elevator system, the combination of a hoisting drain, a carsuspension sheave, a yielding support for said car suspension sheave, an elevator car, a guideway or counterweights, a car counterweight operating in said ideway, a rope connecting said car and sai car counterweight, and extending over said car suspension sheave, a rope connecting said car counterweight with 'systein, the c'ornbina-- for applying "andmounted to travel in said above theother and a projection on oneof said counterweights adapted to engage a art of, the other of saldieo'unterweights' I said hoisting drum, a counterweight suspen sion sheave, a drum counterweight operating' insaid-guideway above said, car coun-' terweight, arope connecting said drum counterweight with said hoisting drum and ,'ex-. tending over said counterweight suspension sheave, and means upon said counterweights braking pressure between the counte'rwei tsand their guideway. in; the event of said counterweights being-thrown together. V

;'I'n an elevator system, th combination of an elevator car, a car suspension sheave, suitable hoisting means, a rope con- 1 necting said car and sa hoisting means and extending over said sheave, 'a counterweight guideway, counterweights connected .respec-' tively with saidihoisti means and said car or applying braking pressure betweensaid counterweights and their guideway.

necting said car and said hoisting means and extending over said sheave, a counterweight guideway, counterweights connected res eotively with said hoisting means and sai car and inountedto travel in said'g'u'ideway, one abovethe other, and a braking de-;

ideway, one

' =z= "16.- In, an elevator system,3the combina- 151011 of an elevator car, a car suspension sheave, suitable hoisting means, a rope con-'- vice. carried by-one of said counterweights adapted to be operated by the engagement

Images