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Title:
ELEVATOR SHAFT FOR AN ELEVATOR COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CURVED CLOSURE/FILLER PANEL MADE OF POLYCARBONATE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/033363
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention refers to an elevator shaft for an elevator comprising a plurality of crosspieces and uprights connected to each other to form a load-bearing framework that supports curved closure/filler panels made of polycarbonate. The connection between the panels and the load-bearing framework is obtained by clamping the closure/filler panels, along the edges thereof, between metal lips obtained for such purpose at the crosspieces and at the uprights, and suitable plates or elements, extended lengthwise with nearly T-shaped cross section, integrally connected to the framework.

Inventors:
VOLPE GIUSEPPE (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IT2013/000264
Publication Date:
March 12, 2015
Filing Date:
September 30, 2013
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
DONZELLI S R L (IT)
International Classes:
B66B9/00; B66B11/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2006131947A22006-12-14
Foreign References:
KR101160644B12012-06-28
DE10050815A12002-05-23
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GUELLA, Paolo (Via Aldrovandi 7, Milano, IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
C L A I M S

Elevator shaft (1 ) of an elevator, said elevator shaft (1 ) comprising a containment structure (1 ) including:

• a load-bearing framework (2) comprising a plurality of mutually connected beams (4, 5, 6, 7);

• at least one curved closure/filler panel (3) substantially permeable to light;

• means (10, 1 1 , 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27) for connecting said closure/filler panel (3) to at least one said beam (4, 5, 6, 7) of said framework (2), said elevator shaft (1 ) being characterized in that said panel (3) is at least partially made of polycarbonate.

Elevator shaft (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said panel (3) has a thickness comprised between 4 mm and 12 mm.

Elevator shaft (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that said panel (3) has a thickness of 8 mm.

Elevator shaft (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said panel (3) has the shape of a cylindrical surface portion, the radius of curvature of a straight arc of said cylindrical surface portion being comprised between 0.6 m and 1.5 m.

Elevator shaft (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said connection means comprise:

• at least one lip (14, 27) integrally connected with said beam (5, 7);

• means (17, 22, 25, 26) for clamping a portion (15) of said panel (3) against said lip (14, 27),

said portion (15) of said panel (3) being at least partially extended from one edge of said panel (3) and having a width, starting from said edge, comprised between 8 mm and 20 mm.

Elevator shaft (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said portion (15) of said panel (3) has a width of 10 mm.

Description:
Elevator shaft for an elevator comprising at least one curved closure/filler panel made of polycarbonate

Field of application of the invention

The present invention refers to the field of systems for lifting loads, i.e. systems comprising machinery suitable for translating at least one support unit for the load between positions placed at different heights with respect to the horizontal, along suitable guides or along a spatially-defined path. Hereinbelow in the present description, with the word "elevator" it is intended to identify all the lifting systems of the aforesaid type. Incidentally, the load support unit can be, by way of example, a platform or a structure defined "cabin" and comprising a floor, a ceiling and at least one side wall.

In current elevators, for reasons of safety, the load support unit is usually housed inside an "elevator shaft", i.e. a structure comprising a bottom, a ceiling and at least one side wall that encloses a portion of space within which the sup- port unit can translate. Hereinbelow in the present description, with the expression "elevator shaft", it is intended the set constituted by said space portion within which the load support unit can translate, and by the containment structure for said space portion.

The containment structures of the elevator shafts usually comprise a plurality of crosspieces and uprights (for example made of steel) connected to each other to form a load-bearing framework that sustains filling elements commonly defined as "closure/filler elements". Hereinbelow in the present description, with the expression "closure/filler panel" it is intended a closure/filler element of the containment structure for an elevator shaft, having two dimensions clearly larger than the third (and therefore one element extended lengthwise and widthwise). A closure/filler panel can therefore be, by way of example, the bottom, the ceil- ing or a side wall of the elevator shaft, or a portion thereof.

More precisely, the present invention refers to an elevator shaft for an elevator comprising at least one curved closure/filler panel made of polycarbonate. By "curved" panel it is intended a panel that, if represented by means of a surface, comprises at least one curved line.

Review of the prior art

Today, when it is necessary to install an elevator in a peripheral position of a building or a structure, there is the increasing tendency to obtain elevators having elevator shafts whose closure/filler panels are made of materials substantially permeable to light. Such elevators have a greater aesthetic impact with re- spect to the elevators having elevator shafts in masonry since they allow the people close to the elevator to observe the load support unit (in the specific case, a cabin) while it translates inside the elevator shaft. In addition thereto, if the cabin is also made of materials substantially permeable to light, the people occupying the cabin have the possibility of observing the environment outside the elevator shaft while they are moving in the elevator.

The current closure/filler panels substantially permeable to light are however made of glass and the use of this material involves a series of drawbacks, leading to an increased manufacturing cost of the system with respect to elevators having masonry elevator shafts. Indeed, glass is a material with fragile behav- ior, hence there are high risks that a glass plate be irreparably damaged during transport or while the same is fixed to the load-bearing framework of the elevator shaft. In addition thereto, if during the installation of an elevator it is necessary to reduce the size of a glass plate to be used as closure/filler panel, such glass plate cannot be cut on site since this operation requires the use of special tools which elevator installers do not usually have in work sites. Calculation errors of the size tolerances are therefore not easily correctable, and can delay the installation of an elevator for a considerable time. The abovementioned drawbacks are increased in the case in which the elevator shaft has curved closure/filler panels. A curved glass plate indeed has greater manufacturing times and costs than those of a flat glass plate. The modes of transport and storage also result more complex.

Objects of the invention

Object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks and to indicate an elevator shaft for an elevator comprising curved closure/filler panels substantially permeable to light which are more economical, less fragile and cut- table with greater ease than the currently-used curved glass plates.

Summary of the invention

The subject of the present invention is an elevator shaft for an elevator, the elevator shaft comprising a containment structure including:

• a load-bearing framework comprising a plurality of mutually connected beams;

· at least one curved closure/filler panel substantially permeable to light;

• means for connecting the closure/filler panel to at least one beam of the framework,

in which according to the invention the closure/filler panel is at least partially made of polycarbonate.

The curved closure/filler panels made of polycarbonate have clearly lower manufacturing costs than the glass plates and are significantly lighter than the latter. This not only renders the polycarbonate panels transportable with lower costs than the glass plates, but also allows accelerating the installation process for the elevator and to achieve elevator shafts having lesser weight and hence greater structural performances.

Unlike glass, polycarbonate has a ductile behavior; hence, the risks that a polycarbonate closure/filler panel be irreparably damaged during transport or during installation of the elevator are clearly lower. In addition, due to the increased ductility, a curved panel made of polycarbonate is obtainable by manually bend- ing, in a suitable manner, a flat panel at the time of installation. This further reduces the costs of the system, since it is not necessary to utilize bending technological process. By way of example, a flat rectangular panel with 1.5 m length and 1 .5 m width can be bent at the time of installation in a manner so as to make it assume the shape of a cylindrical surface portion with longitudinal axis parallel to one of the edges of the panel, for radii of curvature of a straight arc of said portion that are not less than 0.75 m.

By "cylindrical surface" it is intended a lateral surface portion of a cylinder. By "straight arc" of a cylindrical surface portion it is intended the arc of circumference obtained by intersecting said cylindrical surface portion with a plane parallel to the bases of the cylinder.

In the case in which a curved closure/filler panel made of polycarbonate cannot be obtained by manually bending, in a suitable manner, a flat panel at the time of installation, the curved polycarbonate panel is obtainable, by way of example, by rolling or by hot curving. Due to the ductile behavior of the polycarbonate, it is therefore not necessary to utilize particular molds, as instead occurs for the obtainment of curved glass plates. This ensures that the production times for a curved panel made of polycarbonate are clearly lower than those for a curved glass plate. In particular, by way of example, the supply time for a curved polycarbonate panel is several days, while that of a curved glass plate is 4 - 5 weeks.

Finally, if during the installation of an elevator it is necessary to reduce the size of a polycarbonate closure/filler panel, one such operation can be carried out directly on site by using, by way of example, a jigsaw. Hence, the use of a special tool is not required, like those required for cutting the glass plates.

Further innovative characteristics of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the closure/filler panel has a thickness comprised between 4 mm and 12 mm.

According to another aspect of the invention, the closure/filler panel has a thickness of 8 mm.

According to another aspect of the invention, the closure/filler panel has the shape of a lateral surface portion of a cylinder, the radius of curvature of a straight arc of said cylindrical surface portion being comprised between 0.6 m and 1 .5 m. According to another aspect of the invention, the connection means comprise:

• at least one lip integrally connected with said beam;

• means for clamping a portion of the closure/filler panel against the lip, said portion of the closure/filler panel being at least partially extended from one edge of the panel for a width, starting from said edge, comprised between 8 mm and 20 mm.

By width of the portion of the closure/filler panel clamped between the lip and the clamping means, it is intended the distance between said edge of the panel and the point of said portion of the panel furthest from said edge of the panel. According to another aspect of the invention, said portion of the closure/filler panel has a width of 10 mm.

Brief description of the figures

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be clearer from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof and from the enclosed drawings, given as a mere non-limiting example, in which:

- figure 1 shows, in front perspective view, a portion of a side wall of a elevator shaft for an elevator, according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows the side wall portion of figure 1 in schematic cross section;

- figure 3 shows an enlargement of a detail of figure 2;

- figure 4 shows the side wall portion of figure 1 in rear perspective view.

Detailed description of several preferred embodiments of the invention

In the present description, to facilitate the explanation, reference is made to a portion of a side wall of an elevator shaft for an elevator, comprising a curved closure/filler panel made of polycarbonate. It must be clear that the present in- vention is not limited to the aforesaid embodiment: in an entirely equivalent manner, it refers to a portion of the bottom or ceiling of the elevator shaft. In addition thereto, even if the technical problem underlined regards the elevator shafts of elevators, all of the considerations made are valid also in reference to the use of curved polycarbonate panels as closure/filler panels in platforms or cabins of elevators having a load-bearing framework with mutually connected beams.

In the following description, a figure can also be illustrated with reference to elements not expressly indicated in that figure but in other figures. The scale and proportions of the various depicted elements do not necessarily correspond to the actual scale and portions.

Figure 1 shows a portion 1 of a side wall of an elevator shaft for an elevator. The portion 1 comprises a load-bearing reticular structure 2 that encloses and sustains a closure/filler panel 3 made of polycarbonate.

The reticular structure 2 comprises a first pair of beams 4 and 5 arranged horizontally in figure 1 and indicated hereinbelow in the present description with the word "crosspieces", connected orthogonally at the ends thereof to a second pair of beams 6 and 7 arranged vertically in figure 1 and indicated hereinbelow in the present description with the word "uprights". By way of example, the cross- pieces 4 and 5 are curved and vertically aligned in a manner so as to lie in a same cylindrical lateral surface; the uprights 6 and 7 are rectilinear. The cross- pieces 4 and 5 and the uprights 6 and 7 are therefore mutually connected to form a rectangular frame whose edges corresponding to the short sides are curved. The crosspieces 4 and 5 and the uprights 6 and 7 are preferably metallic, and still more preferably are made of steel.

The panel 3 is preferably a curved rectangular panel housed inside the reticular structure 2 in a manner such that its edges are respectively opposite the cross- pieces 4 and 5 and the uprights 6 and 7. The panel 3 is therefore arranged vertically in figure 1 and has the shape of a cylindrical lateral surface portion. The panel 3 is preferably made of Lexan ® or Margard ® and still more preferably has been subjected to a scratch-resistant surface treatment. The panel 3 has a thickness preferably comprised between 4 mm and 12 mm, and still more pref- erably is 8 mm. The radius of curvature of a straight arc of the cylindrical lateral surface portion - the shape panel 3 assumes - is preferably comprised between 0.6 m and 1.5 m, and still more preferably is 0.8 m.

Figures 2 to 4 show the manner in which the connection is made between the reticular structure 2 and the panel 3.

The connection between the uprights 6 and 7 and the panel 3 is obtained by means of two coupling beams 10 and 11 , each of which interposed between the panel 3 and one of the uprights 6 and 7. With reference to the connection be- tween the panel 3 and the upright 7, the coupling beam 10 is integrally connected to the upright 7 parallel thereto and at the wall 12 of the upright 7 closest to the panel 3. A wall 13 of the coupling beam 10, preferably arranged orthogonal to the wall 12 of the upright 7, projects above the panel 3 to form a lip 14 that is preferably extended for the entire length of the coupling 10. The lip 14 is opposite a portion 15 of panel 3 that is extended, for a short section, starting from the vertical edge of the panel 3 opposite the upright 7. The portion 15 is therefore a "strip" of panel 3 arranged vertically and having a width preferably comprised between 8 mm and 20 mm, and still more preferably is 10 mm. The portion 15 is opposite the lip 14 at the convexity thereof. A gasket 16 is interposed between the lip 14 and the portion 15 of panel 3.

An element 17 extended lengthwise and having a substantially T-shaped cross section is integrally connected to the coupling beam 10 parallel to the latter and on the side opposite the lip 14 with respect to the portion 15 of panel 3. Herein- below in the present description, with the expression "T-shaped element" it is intended to indicate said element 17. The shank of the T comprises a pair of walls 18 and 19 that are mutually parallel and connected, preferably orthogonally, along a respective edge, to a wall 20 of the coupling beam 10 preferably orthogonal to the lip 14. The walls 18 and 19 of the T-shaped element 17 are therefore substantially parallel to the portion 15 of panel 3. The T-shaped element 17 comprises a third wall 21 (corresponding to the second section of the T), preferably orthogonally connected to the walls 18 and 19. The wall 21 is sufficiently wide to be in contact, along one edge thereof, with the portion 15 of the panel 3 so as to press the latter against the gasket 16 and hence against the lip 14. The portion 15 of panel 3 is thus clamped between the lip 14 of the coupling beam 10 and the wall 21 of the T-shaped element 17. Said clamping achieves the connection between the panel 3 and the upright 7.

The coupling beam 10 and the T-shaped element 17 are preferably metallic; still more preferably, they are made of aluminum. The gasket 16 is preferably made of rubber (silicone, nitrile, etc.) known on the market as EPDM rubber.

Mirroring the above-described connection, at the upright 6, a second portion of panel 3 arranged vertically is clamped between a lip of the coupling beam and a wall of a T-shaped element 22. A second gasket is interposed between said second vertical portion of panel 3 and the lip of the coupling beam 1 1 .

The connection between the crosspieces 4 and 5 and the panel 3 is achieved by means of two plates, preferably flat, 25 and 26, each of which integrally con- nected to one of the crosspieces 4 and 5, preferably parallel to the latter (and therefore orthogonal to the panel 3). With reference to the connection between the panel 3 and the crosspiece 5, the latter has an edge projecting above the panel 3 to form a lip 27 which is preferably extended over the entire length of the crosspiece 5. The lip 27 is opposite a portion of panel 3 that is extended, for a short section, starting from the horizontal edge of the panel 3 opposite the crosspiece 5. Said portion of panel 3 is therefore a "strip" of panel 3 arranged horizontally and having a width preferably comprised between 8 mm and 20 mm, and still more preferably is 10 mm. Said horizontal portion of panel 3 is opposite the lip 27 on the side of the convexity. A third gasket (not shown in the figures) is interposed between the lip 27 and said horizontal portion of panel 3. The plate 26 is integrally connected to the crosspiece 5 on the side opposite the lip 27 with respect to said horizontal portion of panel 3 in a manner so as to press the latter against said third gasket and hence against the lip 27. Said horizontal portion of panel 3 is thus clamped between the lip 27 of the cross- piece 5 and the plate 26. Said clamping achieves the connection between the panel 3 and the crosspiece 5.

The plate 26 is preferably metallic, and still more preferably is made of steel. Said third gasket is preferably made of EPDM rubber.

Mirroring the above-described connection, at the crosspiece 4, a fourth portion of panel 3 arranged horizontally is clamped between a lip of the crosspiece 4 and the plate 25. A fourth gasket (not visible in the figures) is interposed between said fourth horizontal portion of panel 3 and the lip of the crosspiece 4. On the basis of the description provided for a preferred embodiment, it is clear that some changes can be introduced by the man skilled in the art without de- parting from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.