Belt end connection for an elevator installation

• US 7,740,113 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Ach, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kruer; Stefan
• Application Number:
  US12/260,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20090127032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 187/411, 241/30, 241/15.M, 241/36.K, 241/36.L, 241/36.R, 403/211
• US Class Current: 187/411
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 7/085 Belt termination devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3909 Plural-strand cord or rope
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3969 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3971 Rope looped about movable member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3996 Sliding wedge

Abstract

A belt end connection for fastening a support belt end in an elevator installation and a method for protecting and checking a belt end connection in an elevator installation includes a twisting prevention device that prevents twisting of the belt end connection about the longitudinal axis thereof. A wedge retains the support belt end in a wedge pocket and is secured by a loss prevention device against slipping out of the wedge pocket. The twisting prevention device and/or the loss prevention enable efficient protection of the support belt and/or of the belt end connection against damage and make possible efficient checking and control of the belt end connection.

Claims

1. In an elevator installation including a car and a counterweight moving in opposite directions in an elevator shaft and connected together and supported by a support belt, the support belt having two ends, wherein each end is fastened by a belt end connection to one of the car, the counterweight and the elevator shaft, the belt end connection comprising:

a wedge housing including a wedge pocket for receiving a wedge and for fixing the support belt in said wedge pocket;

a support bolt disposed within said wedge housing and connecting said wedge housing to one of the car, the counterweight and the elevator shaft;

a loss prevention device preventing said wedge from slipping out of said wedge pocket, wherein the loss prevention device is removably positioned on the wedge housing and abuts the support bolt, and the loss prevention device is entirely removable from the wedge housing; and

a support bolt securing means disposed through the loss prevention device, the support bolt, and the housing, the support bolt securing means securing the loss prevention device directly to the support bolt, thereby preventing all substantial relative movement of said support bolt and said wedge housing.

2. The belt end connection according to claim 1 wherein said support bolt securing means is a splitpin, said splitpin adapted to fit through and connect together said support bolt and said loss prevention device, and to attach said loss prevention device to the belt end connection.

3. The belt end connection according to claim 1 wherein said support bolt is a threaded bolt, said threaded bolt disposed in a threaded hole of said wedge housing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support bolt is a threaded bolt, said threaded bolt disposed in a threaded hole of said wedge housing, and wherein said support bolt securing means is a splitpin, said sptitpin disposed through and connecting together said support bolt and said loss prevention device, and attaching said loss prevention device to the belt end connection.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support belt includes at least two strands spaced from one another and a casing separating said stands from one another and enclosing said strands, said casing being formed of one of a thermoplastic material and an elastomer, and wherein a width of the support belt is at least twice a thickness of the support belt.

6. A method of fastening a belt end connection in an elevator installation comprising the steps of:

a. providing a wedge housing;

b. providing a support bolt for connecting the wedge housing to one of a car, a counterweight and an elevator shaft;

c. inserting an end of the support bolt and a wedge into the wedge housing;

d. providing a loss prevention device to prevent the wedge from slipping out of the wedge housing, wherein the loss prevention device is removably positioned on the wedge housing and abuts the support bolt; and

e. securing the loss prevention device and the support bolt together and to the wedge housing with a support bolt securing means disposed through the loss prevention device, the support bolt, and the housing, the support bolt securing means securing the loss prevention device directly to the support bolt, thereby preventing all substantial relative movement of said support bolt and said wedge housing.