BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0022] Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a traction elevator system 12 . The elevator system 12 includes a car 14 , a counterweight 16 , a traction drive 18 , and a machine 20 . The traction drive 18 includes a tension member 22 , interconnecting the car 14 and counterweight 16 , and a traction sheave 24 . The tension member 22 is engaged with the sheave 24 such that rotation of the sheave 24 moves the tension member 22 , and thereby the car 14 and counterweight 16 . Tension member 22 is coupled to counterweight 16 and car 14 by terminal clamp 30 . Although shown as a geared machine 20 , it should be noted that this configuration is for illustrative purposes only, and the present invention may be used with geared or gearless machines. In addition, although shown as a relatively flat tension member 22 , it should be noted that this too is by way of example and the present invention may be used with other types of tension members including round coated tension members.

[0023] An embodiment of terminal clamp 30 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2 . Tension member 22 is wrapped around wedge 32 and disposed within socket 34 . Terminal clamp 30 is attached to car 14 and counterweight 16 via attachment rod 36 attached to socket 34 by pin 38 . Attachment rod 36 is coupled to counterweight 16 and car 14 by threaded nuts 40 secured in place by cotter pin 42 . Also shown in FIG. 2 is an optional gripping jaw clamp 50 wherein tension member 22 is clamped within grooves 52 , 54 of plates 56 , 58 in a double overlap arrangement.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3 clamp 30 operates to provide a secure termination of tension member 22 . In use, lead portion 44 of tension member 22 is inserted within aperture 46 in the bottom portion of socket 34 , as viewed in the figure, wrap portion 47 of the tension member is then wrapped around wedge 32 and then tail portion 48 passed back out through aperture 44 . Wedge 32 is then inserted within opening 60 of socket 34 to the clamp position shown in FIG. 2 wherein lead portion 44 and tail portion 48 are clamped between jaw surfaces 62 , 64 respectively, of socket 34 . Termination clamp 30 is designed such that tension member 22 and attachment rod 36 are substantially axially aligned to allow for efficient load transfer and prevents undesirable rotation of termination clamp.

[0025] Still referring to FIG. 3 , in normal operation of the elevator system 12 ( FIG. 1 ), the tension (T) in lead portion 44 of tension member 22 is in the direction indicated by arrow 66 which reacts in wrap portion 47 to force wedge 32 farther into socket 34 in the direction of aperture 46 . With the load in tension member 22 forcing wedge 32 into socket 34 , a clamping force represented by arrow 68 clamps lead portion 44 against jaw surface 62 and a clamping force represented by arrow 70 clamps tail portion 48 against jaw surface 64 . Clamping forces 68 , 70 are normal to jaws 62 , 64 respectively, and to the respective portions of wedge 32 and are expressed as normal forces (F _n ). The clamping forces generated by jaws 62 , 64 , together with the friction forces acting on wrap portion 47 , react out the total tension (T) in tension member 22 thereby retaining the member in clamp 30 .

[0026] An alternative embodiment of termination clamp 30 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein attachment rod 36 is attached to pivot block 72 by pin 38 an in turn pivotally attached to socket 34 by pivot pin 74 and secured by cotter pin 76 . In this particular embodiment, lead portion 44 of tension member 22 is inserted within aperture 46 in the bottom portion of socket 34 , as viewed in the figure, wrap portion 47 of the tension member is then wrapped around wedge 32 and then tail portion 48 passed back out through aperture 44 . Wedge 32 is then inserted within opening 60 of socket 34 to the clamp position shown in FIG. 5 wherein lead portion 44 and tail portion 48 are clamped between jaw surfaces 62 , 64 respectively, of socket 34 . It is an important feature of this embodiment that once wedge 32 and tension member 22 are installed within socket 34 pivot block 72 is then installed to prevent the wedge from being inadvertently dislodged from the socket if tension is lost in the member, as will be more fully described hereinbelow. In addition, this particular embodiment maintains tension member 22 and attachment rod 36 substantially axially aligned to allow for efficient load transfer. Pivot block 72 also permits angular displacement of tension member 22 relative to the car 14 or counterweight 16 without imparting large stresses within attachment rod 36 or socket 34 . Another advantage of this particular embodiment over that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is that the overall height the socket is reduced because the wedge 32 is inserted through the top of socket 34 . Pivot block 72 is then inserted within close proximity of the wedge thus reducing the overall height of termination clamp 30 .

[0027] The geometry of wedge 32 is an important factor in producing normal forces 68 , 70 and properly retaining tension member 22 . The relevant parameters of wedge 32 controlling the normal force F _n are shown with reference to FIG. 6 and include the length (L) designated by 78 , depth (d) represented by 80 , angle φ represented by 82 and measured from centerline 83 to clamping surface 33 , 35 and the width (W) of tension member 22 ( FIG. 2 ). The other factor relevant to controlling the normal forces 68 , 70 is the tension (T) in tension member 22 represented by 66 . The parameters L and d are somewhat dependant on φ and are typically limited by available space in the hoistway (not shown). Given a nominal tension T, normal forces F _n 68 , 70 ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) are inversely related to φ. That is to say, if φ is too small, F _n will be too great and tension member 22 will experience compressive creep. This is particularly important in an embodiment where tension member 22 is comprised of a urethane outer coating, or where the coating is another flexible elastomer, as they have a maximum compressive stress (σc) capability of about 5 MPa before non-recoverable deformation, or creep, occurs. On the other hand if φ is too large the normal forces will be too small the tension member will slip within termination clamp 30 . It is particularly advantageous to reduce the compressive stress on tension member 22 . One way to reduce the compressive stress is to increase the length L over which the clamping forces are applied, however hoistway consideration are generally limiting in this regard. Taking the above referenced physical parameters in to consideration, in order to preclude exceeding σ _c the minimum φ can be predetermined in accordance with the formula:

φ=tan ⁻¹ [T/ (σ _c *L*W )]

[0028] In a typical application of the present invention for a tension member having a T of about 2500 N, d ranges from about 60 mm to about 70 mm, L is about 140 mm, φ ranges from about 9 degrees to about 10 degrees.

[0029] The present invention will now be described with respect to a specific example of the termination clamp 30 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by referring to FIG. 6 . A typical tension member 22 , as described in the above related applications, is comprised of a 30 mm wide flat flexible rope having a urethane outer coating and has a maximum tension capability of 30,000 N. As is known in the art, a safety factor of about 12 is applied to elevator ropes and provides a maximum tension in member 22 of about 2500 N. Wedge 32 has length L of 140 mm and angle φ of 10 degrees geometrically yielding diameter d as follows:

d= 2( L tan φ)=2(140 tan 20/2))=49.37 mm

[0030] The determination of F _n with T equal to 2500 N is as follows:

F _n =T /sin φ=2500/sin (20/2)=14,397 N

[0031] Since F _n is distributed over the entire area of lead portion 44 the compressive stress σ on the tension member 22 is a function of the area of lead portion, A, clamped between wedge 32 jaw surface 32 , and is calculated as follows:

A=L*W= 140*30=4,200 mm ²

[0032] The compressive stress in tension member 22 is then determined as follows:

σ F _n /A= 14,397/4,200=3.43 MPa

[0033] In this particular example, the compressive stress limit of the material is not exceeded and therefore no creep will occur.

[0034] The ability of termination clamp 30 to react out T in lead section 44 is important and is a function of F _n and the coefficient of friction (μ) between the tension member 22 and jaw surface 62 and the surface of wedge 32 . In the example given, tension member 22 is comprised of a urethane coating and jaw surface 62 , as well as wedge 32 , is smooth steel and a conservative number for the coefficient friction between the surfaces is about μ=0.25. To properly maintain wedge 32 within socket 34 T must be preferably substantially reacted out within lead section 44 although a remainder may be transferred into wrap section 47 . The following relation, from clamping theory, provides the maximum reaction force F _r , or the amount of tension that can be reacted, in the example given for μ=0.25:

F _r =μ*F _n =0.25*14,397=3,599 N

[0035] Therefore, recalling that the maximum T in the example given is 2500 N, all of the tension T will be reacted out of tension member 22 in the lead portion 44 and the member will not slip within termination clamp 30 .

[0036] An alternative embodiment of the present invention aimed at increasing the coefficient of friction between the tension member 22 and the jaw surface 62 , 64 and wedge 32 comprises a roughened surface on the jaws and the wedge. In one particular embodiment the surface is roughened by a sandblasting procedure. Sandblasting of the surfaces raises the coefficient of friction to 0.35 or greater. Other methods of increasing the surface friction include etching, machining, knurling and other suitable equivalents. In addition to raising the coefficient of friction the roughened surfaces would form small ridges and valleys. A characteristic of the urethane coating is its tendency to exhibit cold flow under high loading conditions. Under the loading conditions described above the urethane coating cold flows into and around the ridges and valleys, also referred to as locking features, in the wedge and socket and provides for a small but effective mechanical lock. The locking features increase the ability of the termination clamp to resist slippage of tension member 22 . It is within the scope of the present invention that the locking features may comprise grooves, striations 83 ( FIG. 7 ), cuts, diamond pattern, or other suitable equivalents. It is important to note that the locking features reduce the required normal force as described hereinabove. The use of locking features as describes allows a reduction in the length L, or an increase in angle φ to further minimize the risk of creep.

[0037] An alternative embodiment for wedge 32 is shown in FIG. 7 and includes ridges 84 , 86 forming a channel 88 therebetween. Ridges 84 , 86 are approximately the height of a cord within the coating of tension member 22 . For example, a particular embodiment of tension member 22 is 3 mm thick having a cord with a 1.4 mm cord disposed therein. Ridges 84 , 86 for this particular embodiment would define a channel 88 having a depth of approximately 1 mm. Tension member 22 is disposed within channel 88 and wedge 32 is installed within socket 34 as described herein above. The benefit of ridges 84 , 86 are that they contain tension member 22 within channel 88 given the anticipated cold flow characteristics of the coating material. In addition, ridges 84 , 86 are sized to prevent compressive stress failure of tension member 22 by limiting the displacement of wedge 32 within socket 34 . In the event that a higher than anticipated normal force F _n is transferred to the member ridges 84 , 86 will contact jaw surfaces 62 , 64 and arrest the travel of wedge 32 within socket 64 .

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 2, 8 and 9 , the above mentioned optional tension clamp 50 for use with the termination clamp 30 is illustrated. The purpose of tension clamp 50 is to aid in terminating and reacting tension in member 22 and to equalize the tension between lead portion 44 and tail portion 48 as they enter socket 34 . Tension clamp 50 also assists termination clamp 30 in the unlikely event of that tension member 22 loses tension, such as for instance, during an abrupt stop of elevator car 14 . Tension clamp 50 is clamped onto the tail portion 48 and lead portion 44 prior to entering socket 34 . When engaged with the tension member 22 , tension clamp 50 cannot move thereon. Plates 56 , 58 as shown and described are identical, however it is within the scope of the present invention that the plates are different wherein one plate has a tension member groove and one plate has no groove.

[0039] As described hereinabove tension clamp 50 comprises a pair of plates 56 , 58 each having a tension member groove 52 , 54 approximately the thickness of the tension member 22 . Bore holes 51 are provided for through passage of fasteners 53 . Plates 56 , 58 further include leading edges 55 comprising a generous radius to facilitate a smooth transition of lead portion 44 and tail portion 48 from socket 34 into tension clamp 50 .

[0040] In use, the lead portion 44 is inserted into groove 52 of plate 56 and tail portion 48 into groove 54 of plate 58 and the plates are assembled together with fasteners 53 . When the bolts 53 are tightened tension member 22 is clamped within the grooves 52 , 54 and are held resistant to slippage by plates 56 , 58 . In this way the tension member is prevented from moving relative to tension clamp 50 .

[0041] When optional tension clamp 50 is used in conjunction with termination clamp 30 , leading portion 44 and tail portion 48 load share the full tension created by car 14 . In this regard, the analysis for determining the clamping performance established herein above is modified to reflect a load sharing in the tension in each of the cables.

[0042] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.