INTEGRATED ELEVATOR MACHINE MOTOR AND DRIVE

BACKGROUND

[0001] Elevator systems typically include an elevator car that is supported for movement within a hoistway. The elevator car travels between different levels of a building, for example, to transport passengers, cargo or both to desired destinations. An elevator machine causes the desired movement of the car.

[0002] Many elevator machines include a motor that rotates a traction sheave to cause movement of a roping arrangement (e.g., round ropes or flat belts) from which the elevator car is suspended. The machine includes a drive that provides power and control signals to the motor to achieve the desired elevator car movement.

[0003] Typical arrangements include separated motors and drives. Hardwired connections between them facilitate achieving the desired motor operation based upon the control signals provided by the drive. One issue with traditional arrangements is that the amount of wiring required between the drive and the motor introduces additional expense and complexity when installing or repairing an elevator machine. Another issue that is common to most drives is that some arrangement must be provided for cooling the electronics of the drive.

[0004] One attempt at changing an elevator drive arrangement is shown in WO 2005/040024. That document describes a proposed separation of drive components with an inverter integrated with a motor.

SUMMARY

[0005] An exemplary elevator machine includes a motor having a case. A drive provides power and control signals to the motor. The drive is supported adjacent the motor case such that the drive and the motor are at the same location.

[0006] The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 schematically shows selected portions of an elevator system including an exemplary elevator machine assembly.

[0008] Figure 2 is a perspective illustration diagrammatically illustrating one example embodiment of selected portions of an elevator machine assembly.

[0009] Figure 3 is an exploded, perspective illustration of the example of Figure 2. [00010] Figure 4 is a perspective illustration diagrammatically showing another example elevator motor and drive arrangement.

[00011] Figure 5 shows selected portions of the example of Figure 4.

[00012] Figure 6 diagrammatically illustrates an elevator machine assembly including a motor and drive consistent with the example of Figure 4. [00013] Figure 7 shows another example configuration.

[00014] Figure 8 shows another example configuration.

[00015] Figure 9 shows another example configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [00016] Figure 1 schematically shows selected portions of an elevator system

12. An elevator car 14 is supported for movement along guide rails 15. A counterweight 16 is coupled with the car 14 using a roping arrangement (e.g., round ropes or flat belts) 17 in a known manner. An elevator machine assembly 18 includes a frame 20 that supports a motor and drive portion 22, a traction sheave 24 and a brake portion 26. The frame 20 is supported on a structural member 28, which in this example is connected with the guide rail 16.

[00017] One feature of the illustrated example is that the motor and drive portion 22 includes a motor 30 and a drive 32 at the same location. The drive 32 provides power and control signals to the motor 30. Having the motor 30 and drive 32 at the same location is different than previous arrangements where the drive and motor were at separate locations.

[00018] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, one example motor 30 includes a motor case 40 that houses components of the motor 30. In this example, at least one capacitor component 44 is provided near one end of the case 40. In one example the capacitor component 44 comprises an electrode of the capacitor. The illustrated example allows for the capacitor component 44 to be supported between the motor case 40 and a support plate of a machine frame, for example.

[00019] Example components within the case 40 include a rotor 50, a stator 52 and a choke 54. Incorporating the choke 54 into the motor structure is different than

previous motor designs. In this example, the choke 54 comprises a line inductor that includes part of the motor core with wire to establish a line inductor. Incorporating the choke into the motor structure avoids having the choke as a stand alone component. This represents space savings and reduces installation time as the number of stand alone components of an elevator machine assembly has an impact on the complexity of the system and the time required for installation, for example.

[00020] In this example, the drive 32 includes a support structure 60 comprising a plurality of boards 62. In one example, the boards 62 comprise printed circuit board substrate materials. The illustrated example includes an end cap board 64 from which each of the boards 62 extends. Each of the boards 62 and 64 support a plurality of electronic components 66. Power control and control signal generation for operating the motor 30 are accomplished by the electronic components 66.

[00021] In the illustrated example, the drive support structure 60 is positioned adjacent the motor case 40. In this particular example, at least one of the boards 62, 64 is received immediately against the motor case 40 such that the drive 32 is supported by the motor case 40. This is one example arrangement that allows for locating the motor 30 and drive 32 at the same location.

[00022] Another feature of the illustrated example is a cooling circuit 70 that provides cooling to at least the drive 32. In this example, the cooling circuit 70 includes an electroconductive fluid that follows a closed loop conduit path that is positioned relative to the electronic components 66 of the drive 32 to dissipate heat and provide cooling for the component 66. The conduit for the cooling circuit 70 follows a path around and between at least some drive components in close enough proximity for the fluid to absorb some heat from the drive components. In this example, the electroconductive fluid effectively gets pumped through the cooling circuit 70 by the electric field of the motor 30. As the fluid flows, it carries heat away from the drive components to provide cooling.

[00023] One feature of such an arrangement is that the cooling for the drive 32 operates responsive to operation of the motor 30. No separate source of power for cooling the drive 32 is required. The illustrated example takes advantage of operation of the motor 30 to provide cooling to the drive 32.

[00024] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, another example arrangement is shown including a different drive support structure compared to that in the example of Figures 2 and 3. In this example, a plurality of boards 62 support electronic

components 66 of the drive 32. Each of the boards 62 in this example are received against an exterior surface of the example motor case 40. As best appreciated from Figure 5, the cooling circuit 70 in this example includes some conduit that is positioned at least partially within a central portion of the motor 30 such that electroconductive fluid within the cooling circuit 70 is pumped by the electric field of the motor 30. Additionally, the presence of the cooling circuit 70 within the motor 30 provides cooling to the motor 30 during operation along with providing cooling to the drive 32. This example includes an integrated cooling function for the motor and the drive from a single cooling circuit 70. This further reduces the complexity of the installation and provides cost savings by reducing the number of separate components required for the machine assembly. Additionally, having a single cooling source for the motor 30 and drive 32 reduces required space, which has economic benefits.

[00025] One feature of the illustrated examples is that it reduces the amount of wiring connections required external of the location of the motor 30 and drive 32. In the example of Figure 4, a single connector 80 allows for making a connection with the motor and drive portion 22 to provide power from a power source and to allow for signal communication between the drive 32 and an elevator controller (not illustrated) that is responsible for determining the desired position and motion profile of the elevator car 14. Reducing the amount of wired connections that must be installed at the location of the elevator system further reduces the complexity and cost associated with installing an elevator system.

[00026] Figure 6 illustrates the example of Figures 4 and 5 associated with an example machine frame 20. In this example, the frame 20 includes a plurality of support plates 82 and connecting rods 86 extending between the support plates 82. In this example, the frame 20 supports the motor and drive portion 22, traction sheave 24 and brake portion 26. The support plates 82 facilitate mounting the machine assembly onto an appropriate support structure 28 within a hoistway or in a machine room as may be needed. One feature of the illustrated example is that it facilitates positioning the machine assembly within an elevator hoistway for elevator machine roomless installations. The example machine frame 20 is only one example and those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this description will realize what other frame configurations can be used with the other features of the disclosed examples.

[00027] The example motor case 40 includes a mounting flange 88 that is secured to one of the support plates 82. The association between the motor case 40

and the support plate 82 and the position of the support plate 82 against the supporting structural member 28, provides a thermally conductive path for dissipating heat from the motor 30 and drive 32. In the example of Figure 1, the structural member 28 and the guide rail 16 along with the frame 20 act as a heat sink for dissipating heat away from the motor 30 and drive 32. Accordingly, the illustrated examples provide a convenient way of maintaining a desired temperature of the motor 30 and drive 32 during operation. Additionally, the traction sheave 24 comprises a metal that can dissipate heat for cooling the drive 32 and the motor 30. Having the drive 32 and motor 30 at the same location allows for using the same components for cooling both of them rather than requiring separate cooling arrangements for each.

[00028] The drive 32 may be located with the motor 30 by supporting portions of the drive 32 on a case 40 of the motor as shown in Figure 6, for example. In an alternative example as shown in Figure 7, the drive 32 is supported at the location of the motor 30 without having the drive 32 supported by any portion of the motor 30. In the example of Figure 7, the drive support structure is mounted to a portion of the frame 20 adjacent the traction sheave 24 (not visible in Figure 7). In another example as shown in Figure 8, the drive 32 is supported directly by a structural member 28 that also supports the machine frame 20. Another example is shown in Figure 9 where the drive 32 is supported directly by a guide rail 16. [00029] Given this description, those skilled in the art will realize how best to situate the motor 30 and drive 32 to realize the features of the disclosed examples such as integrating multiple components to avoid stand alone components that make up the elevator machine assembly, utilizing various structures associated with the machine assembly to provide cooling to the motor and drive (e.g.,. the machine frame, supporting structure or guide rails) and simplification of the installation process.

[00030] The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.