Magnet unit, elevator guiding apparatus and weighing apparatus

• US 8,264,311 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ito, Hiroaki, Morishita, Mimpei, Tonami, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): TALPALATSKI, ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US13/051,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20110162914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12.09, 310/12.11, 310/12.21, 310/12.22, 310 1224- 1226, 310/181, 335/220, 335/229, 335/234, 187/292
• US Class Current: 335/229
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3476 Load weighing or car passenger counting devices B66B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 7/044 with magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/18 having electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 7/02 by electromagnetic action

Abstract

A magnet unit includes a first magnetic pole (7a), a second magnetic pole (7b) and a third magnetic pole (7c) at a center between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the second magnetic pole (7b), providing an E-shaped configuration. In the magnet unit, a first magnet is defined between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71aa, 73aa) with each other through a permanent magnet (72a), while a second magnet is defined between the second magnetic pole (7b) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71ba, 73ba) with each other through a permanent magnet (72b). With this configuration, it is possible to reduce a deviation in the length of respective magnetic paths from the permanent magnets (72a, 72b) up to their respective magnetic poles. By controlling exciting currents to the respective electromagnets (71aa, 73aa, 71ba, 73ba), it is also possible to adjust fluxes (or flux density) in respective directions x, y individually.

Claims

1. An elevator guiding apparatus comprising:

a magnet unit having an E-shaped configuration, comprising

a first magnetic pole,

a second magnetic pole opposed to the first magnetic pole, the second magnetic pole having the same polarity as the first magnetic pole,

a third magnetic pole arranged at a center between the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole, the third magnetic pole having a different polarity from the polarity of the first and second magnetic poles,

a first magnet defined between the first magnetic pole and the third magnetic pole, the first magnet comprising a first electromagnet, a third electromagnet, and a first permanent magnet, the first electromagnet and the third electromagnet connected with each other through the intermediary of the first permanent magnet, and

a second magnet defined between the second magnetic pole and the third magnetic pole, the second magnet comprising a second electromagnet, a fourth electromagnet, and a second permanent magnet, the second electromagnet and the fourth electromagnet connected with each other through the intermediary of the second permanent magnet, wherein

the first and second permanent magnets are arranged on upper and lower sides of the E-shaped configuration of the magnet unit, respectively,

the first permanent magnet is sandwiched between the first and third electromagnets, and

the second permanent magnet is sandwiched between the second and fourth electromagnets;

a plurality of sensors for detecting respective conditions of magnetic circuits in the magnet unit; and

a control unit for controlling exciting currents supplied to the electromagnets of the magnet unit based on output signals from the sensors.

2. The elevator guiding apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control unit controls the exciting currents so that the magnetic circuits are stabilized while the exciting currents to the electromagnet are zero.

3. The elevator guiding apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the first, second and third magnetic poles are arranged so as to oppose a guide member of magnetic material through respective gaps,

the magnet unit further comprises

sensors adapted to detect respective conditions of magnetic circuits in the magnet unit.

4. The elevator guiding apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the third electromagnet and the fourth electromagnet are formed by a single electromagnet.