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EP-4737375-A1 - RESISTANCE-BASED INSPECTION OF ELEVATOR SYSTEM SUPPORT MEMBERS

EP4737375A1EP 4737375 A1EP4737375 A1EP 4737375A1EP-4737375-A1

Abstract

A monitoring system for a belt supportive of an elevator car of an elevator system includes a monitoring unit, and one or more connectors configured to connect the monitoring unit to one or more tension members of the belt. A connector of the one or more connectors is configured to connect to the one or more tension members at a longitudinal end of the one or more tension members. The monitoring system is configured to measure an electrical resistance of the one or more tension members.

Inventors

  • TORLAI, DAVID R.
  • GAO, YINGXIN
  • MARTIN, Kyle B.
  • SHAW, GEORGE

Assignees

  • Otis Elevator Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251023

Claims (10)

  1. A monitoring system for a belt supportive of an elevator car of an elevator system, comprising: a monitoring unit; and one or more connectors configured to connect the monitoring unit to one or more tension members of the belt, a connector of the one or more connectors configured to connect to the one or more tension members at a longitudinal end of the one or more tension members.
  2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is configured to measure an electrical resistance of the one or more tension members.
  3. The monitoring system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more connectors includes one or more electrically conductive pins electrically connected to the one or more tension members.
  4. The monitoring system of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more electrically conductive pins are inserted into the one or more tension members.
  5. The monitoring system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more connectors includes an electrically conductive material at a longitudinal end of the belt.
  6. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the electrically conductive material includes an electrically conductive fixture or an electrically conducting material disposed on an external surface of a fixture, the electrically conductive material being electrically connected to the one or more tension elements.
  7. The monitoring system of any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a protective sleeve disposed over a connector of the one or more connectors.
  8. The monitoring system of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the one or more connectors includes: a first connector disposed at a first longitudinal end of the belt; and a second connector disposed at a second longitudinal end of the belt.
  9. A combination of a belt and a monitoring system of an elevator system, comprising: a belt including: one or more tension members extending longitudinally along a belt length of the belt; and a jacket at least partially enveloping the one or more tension members; a monitoring system according to any of claims 1 to 8, the monitoring system operably connected to the one or more tension members.
  10. An elevator system, comprising: an elevator car; a belt operably connected to the elevator car and configured to move the elevator car along a hoistway of the elevator system, the belt including: one or more tension members extending longitudinally along a belt length of the belt; and a jacket at least partially enveloping the one or more tension members; the monitoring system according to any of claims 1 to 8, the monitoring system operably connected to the one or more tension members.

Description

Exemplary embodiments generally relates to monitoring systems and methods, and more particularly, to systems and methods for monitoring the condition of a support structure, for example a belt used in an elevator system. Tensile support structures, such as coated steel belts containing metal cords, are used to move an elevator car up and down within an elevator shaft or hoistway. Because the condition of the tensile support structure is critical to the safety of the operation of the elevator, there is a need to determine the remaining strength level of the tensile support and detect if the remaining strength level falls below a minimum threshold. One such method of determining the remaining strength level is via resistance-based inspection, where an electrical resistance of one or more cords of the belt is monitored, with a change in electrical resistance indicative of a reduction in remaining strength of the cord, and the belt. Resistance-based inspection requires connection of a measurement device to the one or more cords, which is typically accomplished through holes formed in a traction side or bask side of the belt. Because of the increased overall thickness of the belt when such devices are installed to the belt, the belt having the measurement device installed cannot be installed through a termination at the installation site of the belt. Thus, the belt must be installed in the hoistway and the system termination, then the measurement device can be installed. Some electrical characteristics, such as electrical resistance or impedance, of the cables, cords or tension members in the support structure will vary as the cross-sectional areas of the tension members decrease. Accordingly, it is possible to determine the remaining support strength of the support structure based on the electrical characteristics of the tension members thereof. There currently are some monitoring systems which employ a resistance-based inspection scheme to monitor the resistance of support structures, and thus, the remaining strength thereof. In such systems, a measured electrical resistance is compared to a predetermined resistance threshold such that if the resistance threshold is exceeded, the belt is evaluated for potential repair or replacement. The resistance threshold is determined taking selected factors into account, including an expected elevator system traffic pattern, In one exemplary embodiment, a monitoring system for a belt supportive of an elevator car of an elevator system includes a monitoring unit, and one or more connectors configured to connect the monitoring unit to one or more tension members of the belt. A connector of the one or more connectors is configured to connect to the one or more tension members at a longitudinal end of the one or more tension members. The monitoring system is configured to measure an electrical resistance of the one or more tension members. Particular embodiments further may include at least one, or a plurality of, the following optional features, alone or in combination with each other: Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more connectors includes one or more electrically conductive pins electrically connected to the one or more tension members. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more electrically conductive pins are inserted into the one or more tension members. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more connectors includes an electrically conductive material at a longitudinal end of the belt. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the electrically conductive material includes an electrically conductive fixture or an electrically conducting material positioned on an external surface of a fixture. The electrically conductive material is electrically connected to the one or more tension elements. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a protective sleeve positioned over a connector of the one or more connectors. Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more connectors includes a first connector positioned at a first longitudinal end of the belt, and a second connector positioned at a second longitudinal end of the belt. In another exemplary embodiment, a belt and monitoring system of an elevator system includes a belt including one or more tension members extending longitudinally along a belt length of the belt, and a jacket at least partially enveloping the one or more tension members. A monitoring system is operably connected to the one or more tension members. The monitoring system includes a monitoring unit, and one or more connectors configured to connect the monitoring unit to the one or more tension members. A connector of the one or more connectors connects to the one or more tension members at a longitudinal end of the one or more tension members. Particular embodiments further may include at lea