Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a support structure for supporting elevator carriages. In particular, a support structure for supporting a carriage on a track of an elevator system and an assembly and an elevator system comprising the support structure are provided.

Background

Various types of elevator systems for vertically transporting people and/or goods are known. Some elevator systems include a rotatably supported cabin such that the cabin can be maintained in a horizontal orientation as the cabin transitions between horizontal and vertical track portions.

US 2001020429 Al discloses an autonomous transport system where a cabin is connected to a rolling traction with a cantilever. The cantilever holds the cabin with a swivel joint at a fixed distance from the wheel guides.

The Articulated Funiculator (R) is a new concept of vertical transportation which is described in WO 2013159800 Al . This transportation system may be used in tall buildings, deep underground subway stations and deep mines.

The concept of the Articulated Funiculator (R) opens up for the use of a wide range of track configurations. For example, practically endless combinations of straight, curved, inclined and helical track sections may be used. For these track configurations, a carriage suspension such as the one shown in US 2001020429 Al is not suitable.

Summary

Accordingly, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a simple and compact support structure that is well adapted to support a carriage on an elevator track including straight, curved, inclined and helical track sections.

According to one aspect, a support structure for supporting a carriage on a track of an elevator system is provided, where the support structure comprises a first support member and a second support member, wherein the first support member is configured to be coupled to the track for movement along the track and configured to rotatably support the second support member for rotation about a yaw axis, and wherein the second support member is configured to rotatably support the carriage for rotation about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the yaw axis.

The support structure thus provides two degrees of rotational movement of the carriage with respect to the track. A third degree of rotational movement may be provided by the track.

The carriage may be a passenger carriage and/or a load carriage. The carriage may alternatively be referred to as a pod, cabin or car. Several carriages may be used in the elevator system . The carriages may be individually routed on the track or collectively as trains with two or more carriages. In case the carriages are driven collectively as trains, the carriages may be driven individually or interconnected, for example with cables.

The track may include a single rail or several rails. One suitable track is constituted by a pair of rails. The track may contain a wide range of combinations of straight, curved and inclined sections. In particular, the track may contain helical or twisted sections such that the carriage can roll in space as the support structure with the carriage is moved along the track.

The first support member may be designed in various ways in order to be coupled to the track for movement along the track. The first support member may thus alternatively be referred to as a track coupling member throughout the present disclosure.

For example, the first support member may comprise one or more wheel assemblies engaging one or more rails of the track to establish the movement along the track. Each wheel assembly may comprise at least two wheels for engaging opposite sides of a track rail.

For example, the first support member may comprise four wheel assemblies for engaging two rail portions of two separate rails. Each wheel assembly may comprise two wheels for engaging one side of a track rail and two wheels for engaging an opposite side of the track rail. A corresponding amount (in this case two) of lateral wheels may also be provided in each wheel assembly for engaging an outer or lateral part of the track rail.

Thus, two of the four wheel assemblies may engage two rail portions of the track separated along a local extension direction of the track. The first support member may further be configured to allow relative rotation between the two wheel assemblies about each rail, i .e. about a pivot axis parallel with a roll axis of the track. Thereby, the support structure can follow helical track portions. The yaw axis and the second axis may be intersecting. The second axis may be maintained substantially horizontal as the support structure travels along the track. In case the second axis is oriented perpendicular to the travel direction of the carriage, the second axis constitutes a pitch axis. The pitch axis is perpendicular to the roll axis and the yaw axis. The first support member may also be designed in various ways in order to rotatably support the second support member. For example, the first support member may comprise a swivel mount. One type of swivel mount is a bearing mount that attaches the first support member to the second support member. The swivel mount allows rotation of the second support member about a pivot point collocated with the yaw axis. The first support member may be configured to support the second support member for a rotation of 360 ° about the yaw axis.

The support structure may further comprise a motor for rotating the second support member about the yaw axis. The control of the motor may be based on signals indicating the position of the support structure along the track, e.g. electric signals from position sensors or from a GPS system . Thus, the motor may execute a specific rotational movement and positioning of the second support member about the yaw axis in response to the signals. The motor may be an electric motor. However, the support structure may alternatively be configured to control the rotation of the second support member about the yaw axis entirely mechanically. This may for example be realized with a guiding rail along the track. By varying the distance between the track and the guiding rail, these distance variations can be transformed into different rotational positions of the second support member about the yaw axis.

As an example, the support structure may comprise a linkage with a wheel assembly for movement along the guiding rail . When there is a relatively short distance between the support structure and the guiding rail, the linkage pushes the second support member into a specific rotational position and where there is a relatively long distance between the support structure and the guiding rail, the linkage pulls the second support member into a different rotational position.

As an alternative realization, the elevator system may comprise two cables where one cable drives the support structure and one cable controls the rotational position of the second support member about the yaw axis. One cable may be connected to a base of the first support member (e.g. a bearing race fixed about the yaw axis) and one cable may be connected to an off-centre position of the second support member (e.g. a bearing race movable about the yaw axis). By driving the cables with the same speed, a constant rotational position of the second support member is maintained about the yaw axis. By altering the relative movement between the cables such that one connection point is "ahead" or "behind" the other connection point along the track, the second support member may be rotated about the yaw axis.

Thus, the support structure may be configured such that the second support member of the support structure travelling along the track adopts specific rotational positions about the yaw axis at some or all sections along the track. Thereby, the control of the rotational position of the second support member about the yaw axis is entirely mechanical .

The first support member may comprise a first bearing for providing the rotation about the yaw axis and the second support member may comprise a second bearing for providing the rotation about the second axis. The second bearing may allow a relative rotation between the second support member and the carriage of 360 ° about the second axis. Throughout the present disclosure, the second support member may alternatively be referred to as a carriage support member.

The second support member may be integrally formed with one race of the first bearing and/or with one race of the second bearing. A typical bearing comprises an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of rolling elements between the races. Alternatively, or in addition, the second support member may comprise at least one arm interconnecting one race of the first bearing and one race of the second bearing. In case one arm is used, the second support member may have a generally L-shaped appearance.

The at least one arm may interconnect one race of the first bearing and the outer race of the second bearing. The arm may have a flat

appearance. At least a major length of the arm may be substantially parallel with the track.

The second support member may comprise two second bearings and two arms interconnecting one race of the first bearing and the outer or inner race of each of the second bearings. In case two arms are used, the second support member may have a generally U-shaped appearance.

The bearings may be of various different types. The first and second bearings may be of the same type. For example, each bearing (i .e. the first bearing and the one or more second bearings) may be constituted by a radial bearing.

According to a further aspect, there is provided an assembly comprising a support structure according to the present disclosure and a carriage.

The carriage may have an exterior profile substantially rotation

symmetric with respect to the second axis and/or an exterior profile with a horizontally elongated appearance. For example, the carriage may be substantially barrel shaped and a second bearing may be attached to at least one end of the barrel. The barrel shape may have the shape of a widened cylinder, i.e. a cylinder with a larger outer diameter at its central portion.

Thus, the carriage may have a substantially cylindrical appearance. One or two second bearings may be attached onto or within the end faces of the carriage. Alternatively, one or two second bearings may

circumferentially enclose end portions of the carriage. With this variant, one or both ends of the carriage are available for the provisions of windows.

Alternatively, the carriage may be substantially spherical. In this case, the second support member may comprise one or two circular arms interconnecting the first bearing to one or more second bearings. The circular arms may thus extend along (e.g. with a substantially constant distance from) an outer circular surface of the carriage. The carriage may alternatively be cube formed.

The yaw axis and the second axis may be intersecting substantially through a geometrical centre of the carriage. Alternatively, or in addition, the yaw axis and the second axis may intersect substantially through the centre of mass of the carriage in a loaded or unloaded state.

The rotational movement of the carriage about the second axis may be entirely mechanical. For this purpose, the carriage may in an unloaded state have an asymmetrical weight distribution along a vertical axis through a geometrical centre of the carriage such that the lower part of the carriage is heavier than the upper part of the carriage. Thereby, the carriage is automatically rotated into a horizontal position about the second axis (e.g. for maintaining passengers standing or sitting erect) by means of gravity.

A sufficient asymmetrical weight distribution for maintaining the carriage in a horizontal orientation with respect to the second axis may be reached by installing an interior floor (and no corresponding interior ceiling) within the carriage. Electronic circuits and corresponding wiring may also be gathered below the interior floor of the carriage to enhance this asymmetrical weight distribution.

Alternatively, an electric motor may be used to control the rotational position of the carriage about the second axis. This motor may for example use signals from sensors along the track to execute a specific rotational movement and positioning of the carriage about the second axis in response. An electric motor may be installed at each second bearing. Various types of electromagnetic systems may be used to rotate the first and second support members.

The carriage in an unloaded state may have a substantially symmetrical weight distribution along the second axis.

According to a further aspect, there is provided an elevator system comprising a track and a support structure or an assembly, each according to the present disclosure.

The elevator system may for example be used in a tall building or underground to access a deep underground substation or a deep mine. In case the elevator system is implemented in a building, the track may be provided in an elevator shaft within the building and/or be provided at the exterior of the building.

In case the control of the rotational position of the second support member about the yaw axis is entirely mechanically implemented, the track may additionally comprise a guiding rail as described above. Thus, the track of elevator system and the support structure may be configured such that the second support member of the support structure travelling along the track adopts specific rotational positions about the yaw axis at some or all sections along the track.

The support structure according to the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type of propulsion system. For example, all carriages in the elevator system may be driven with a cable or set of cables or each carriage may have an individual propulsion system . Two or more different types of propulsion systems may also be combined within the elevator system .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein :

Fig. la : schematically represents a side view of a support structure with a carriage below a horizontal track section;

Fig. lb: schematically represents a side view of the support structure with the carriage at one side of a vertical track section; Fig. 2a : schematically represents a front view of the support structure with the carriage below a horizontal track section;

Fig. 2b: schematically represents a side view of the support structure with the carriage below a horizontal track section;

Fig. 3a : schematically represents a front view of the support structure with the carriage in front of a vertical track section; Fig. 3b: schematically represents a front view of the support structure with the carriage in front of a horizontal track section; and

Fig. 4: schematically represents a transitional movement of the

support structure with the carriage from a horizontal track section, through a helical track section and to a vertical track section.

Detailed Description

In the following, a support structure for supporting a carriage on a track of an elevator system and an assembly and an elevator system

comprising the support structure will be described. The same reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

In Figs, la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, a support structure 10 supporting a carriage 12 on a track 14 in an elevator system is shown. The support structure 10 comprises a first support member 16 and a second support member 18.

The first support member 16 comprises a plurality of wheel assemblies (not illustrated) with which the first support member 16 is coupled to a track 14. The track 14 comprises two rails 20 and two wheel assemblies are attached to each rail 20. The first support member 16 is thereby coupled to the track 14 for movement along the track 14. This

suspension of the support structure 10 to the track 14 is merely illustrative and may be altered in various ways. The support structure 10 should however be able to follow helical track portions.

The first support member 16 comprises a first bearing 22, here implemented as a radial roller bearing. The first bearing 22 attaches the first support member 16 to the second support member 18 and provides an endless relative rotation about a yaw axis 24. The first support member 16 is thus configured to rotationally support the second support member 18 for rotation about the yaw axis 24. The yaw axis 24 is perpendicular to the track 14. In Figs, la, 2a and 2b, the yaw axis 24 is parallel with a vertical direction or axis 26 and in Figs, lb, 3a and 3b, the yaw axis 24 is parallel with a horizontal direction or axis 28. Although not shown in the figures, the first support member 16 may be aligned with the track 14, i.e. provided between the two rails 20. For this purpose, the wheels of the first support member 16 may run within inwardly facing grooves of the two rails 20.

The first bearing 22 comprises an inner race 30 and an outer race 32. In the figures, the outer race 32 is offset from the inner race 30 along the yaw axis 24 for improving clarity. In practice, the inner race 30 and the outer race 32 are aligned in the same plane in a conventional manner.

The first support member 16 may comprise a motor (not shown) for rotating the second support member 18 about the yaw axis 24. A suitable control unit may be used to control the motor based on signals from positional sensors along the track 14.

The second support member 18 comprises two arms 34 and two second bearings 36. The outer race 32 of the first bearing 22, the arms 34 and the outer race of the second bearings 36 are integrally formed in a rigid unitary structure.

The carriage 12 is here implemented as a passenger carriage. The carriage 12 is substantially barrel shaped, i.e. it has an exterior shape of a widened cylinder. Several windows are provided on the carriage 12, three on each longitudinal side and one on each end of the carriage 12. The middle window also constitutes a door for enabling passengers to enter and leave the carriage 12.

The two second bearings 36 circumferentially enclose the end portions of the carriage 12. The two second bearings 36 rotationally support the carriage 12 for rotation about a second axis 38. The second support member 18 is thus configured to rotatably support the carriage 12 for rotation about the second axis 38.

The carriage 12 has an exterior profile substantially rotation symmetric with respect to the second axis 38. The yaw axis 24 and the second axis 38 are intersecting through a geometrical centre 40 of the carriage 12. The carriage 12 in an unloaded state has a substantially symmetrical weight distribution along the second axis 38.

The second axis 38 is substantially perpendicular to the yaw axis 24. Additionally, the second axis 38 is intersecting with the yaw axis 24. In all figures, the second axis 38 is substantially horizontal . In Figs. 2a, 3a and 3b, it can be seen that the second axis 38 is substantially parallel with the horizontal direction 28. Thus, the second axis 38 is maintained substantially horizontal as the support structure 10 travels along the track 14. The second bearings 36 provide a 360 ° relative rotation between the second support member 18 and the carriage 12 about the second axis 38. Thereby, the second support member 18 may rotate around the carriage 12 about the second axis 38.

The arms 34 each have a substantially flat appearance substantially parallel with the rails 20 of the track 14. In the figures, the arms 34 are slightly inclined forming a slight V-shape pointing to the track 14.

Although not illustrated, the arms 34 and the outer race 32 of the first bearing 22 may be substantially aligned.

The second bearings 36 are substantially perpendicularly arranged with respect to the arms 34. Thus, the second support member 18 has a generally U-shaped appearance.

In the figures, the carriage 12 is illustrated in its unloaded state. An interior floor 42 is provided within the carriage 12. As a consequence, the carriage 12 in its unloaded state has an asymmetrical weight distribution along the vertical direction 26 through the geometrical centre 40 of the carriage 12. Due to the higher weight of the lower part of the carriage 12, the carriage 12 automatically adopts the horizontal orientation about the second axis 38 shown in the figures due to gravity.

The support structure 10 provides two degrees of rotational movement with respect to the track 14. With reference to Figs, la and lb, the support structure 10 can support the carriage 12 during a transition between a horizontal section of the track 14 where the rails 20 are aligned in a horizontal plane (Fig. la) and a vertical section of the track 14 (Fig. lb). The transition may include a curved section (not shown) of the track 14. During a transition from the horizontal section of the track 14 (Fig. la) to the vertical section of the track 14 (Fig. lb), the second support member 18 does not rotate about the yaw axis 24 but the carriage 12 is rotated 90 ° counter clockwise about the second axis 38 due to gravity.

With reference to Figs. 2a and 2b, the two illustrated sections of the track 14 may be same section. Thus, the second support member 18 may rotate about the yaw axis 24 while the support structure 10 is stationary at one single section of the track 14. In this case, the carriage 12 does not rotate about the second axis 38.

Alternatively, the two sections of the track 14 illustrated in Figs. 2a and 2b may be different sections along a straight portion of the track 14.

Thus, the second support member 18 may rotate about the yaw axis 24 as the support structure 10 travels along the straight portion of the track 14. Also in this case, the carriage 12 does not rotate about the second axis 38. The carriage 12 may thus travel along the track 14 with the second axis 38 parallel with the track 14 or perpendicular to the track 14. Any intermediate rotational position about the yaw axis 24 is also

conceivable.

With reference to Figs. 3a and 3b, the support structure 10 can support the carriage 12 during a transition between a vertical section of the track 14 (Fig. 3a) and a horizontal section of the track 14 where the rails 20 are aligned in a vertical plane (Fig. 3b). The transition may include a curved section (not shown) of the track 14. During a transition from the vertical section of the track 14 (Fig. 3a) to the horizontal section of the track 14 (Fig. 3b) through a curve where the rails 20 are substantially in one single plane, the second support member 18 rotates 90 ° about the yaw axis 24 but the carriage 12 is not rotated about the second axis 38.

Fig. 4 illustrates a transitional movement of the support structure 10 from a horizontal section 44 of the track 14, through a helical section 46 of the track 14 and to a vertical section 48 of the track 14. In the horizontal section 44, the rails 20 are aligned in the horizontal plane. The helical section 46 is twisted 90 ° about the longitudinal axis of the track 14 and curved 90 °.

The horizontal travel direction of the support structure 10 at the horizontal section 44 is illustrated with the arrow 50. When the support structure 10 travels along the horizontal section 44, the carriage 12 is oriented perpendicular to the horizontal travel direction 50, i.e. the carriage 12 is held by the support structure 10 such that the second axis 38 is perpendicular to the horizontal travel direction 50. As the support structure 10 travels through the helical section 46, the second support member 18 is rotated 180 ⁰ with respect to the first support member 16 about the yaw axis 24 and the carriage 12 is simultaneously rotated 90 ⁰ with respect to the second support member 18 about the second axis 38. During the transition through this helical section 46, the second axis 38 is maintained horizontal.

When the support structure 10 arrives to the vertical section 48, the support structure 10 continues in a vertical travel direction 52 along the track 14.

The support structure 10 according to the present disclosure thus provides two degrees of rotational movement and a third degree of rotational movement may be provided by the track 14, e.g. by a helical or twisted track section. The carriage 12 can with a simple design maintain the second axis 38 horizontal when the support structure 10 travels through a track with any arbitrary direction of the yaw axis 24 in space, e.g. along a track 14 with a helical section. The rotational orientation of the carriage 12 about the vertical axis 26 may also be changed in various ways, or an orientation of the carriage 12 may be maintained fixed in space, as the support structure 10 travels through complex track layouts including straight, curved and inclined track sections.

An elevator system comprising such complex track layouts and a support structure according to the present disclosure thus allows an enormous potential to adapt to different building configurations.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.