Description

The present invention relates to a guide for elevators and lifts, usable in civil, commercial or industrial environments for example, as well as to a method of manufacturing such a guide.

It is known that guides for lifts consist of section members having a straight axis which are mounted in series in the slide channels of said lifts; these guides generally have a T-shaped cross section in which a base is present which is usually disposed close to and secured to the walls of the slide channel, and a central protrusion emerging from the base and jutting out in the slide channel.

The guides of known type are made using different methodologies, contemplating important and accurate controls to verify and maintain high production accuracy (in terms of straightness or angular warping on the main axes of the object, for example); these strict manufacture requirements are directly connected with the sliding homogeneity of the lift that in turn results in regular running and without jerks for the lift's users.

Coming back to the geometric conformation of the guides of known type, it is possible to see that these are generally provided with a base that in cross-section has a planar side (which is generally the side that is placed close to the wall of the slide channel) and an opposite side consisting of two tapering faces converging towards the central protrusion, at the same time defining a thickness increase from the side ends of the base to the centre.

The central protrusion in turn has variable thickness (still considered in terms of its cross-section) between a proximal portion of smaller thickness that is generally directly connected to the central part of the base, and a distal portion of increased thickness.

The just described guide structure, while being widely used, has some drawbacks.

In fact, the sections of the guides for lifts of known type do not allow the mechanical features of the material of which they are made to be exploited at best; in other words, the conformation of the guides for lifts of known type generally involves an excess of weight (and therefore an excess of material used in making the guide itself) or non-optimal exploitation and distribution of the efforts internal to the guide itself .

In addition, the guides for lifts of known type are secured to the walls of the slide channels by series of bolts and/or intermediate hooking elements requiring a rather complicated installation (and generally based on intensive use of nuts and bolts); this prolongs the construction time for the lift plant and increases the full cost.

In the light of the just mentioned drawbacks, the present invention aims at devising a guide for lifts that is able to overcome said drawbacks. In particular, the present invention aims at devising a guide for lifts having greater structural efficiency, both in terms of better exploitation of its mechanical strength and in terms of reduced amount of material (and therefore reduced weight) required for conceiving ^■ ±tr-

At the same time, the present invention aims at devising a method of manufacturing these guides for lifts ensuring high repeatability, high production rates and sequences of simple operations that can be easily monitored/set.

In addition, the present invention aims at devising an intermediate hooking element that can be set between the guide and the wall of the slide channel where said guide is installed, in a simple, quick and highly reliable manner.

The foregoing and further aims are achieved by a guide for lifts according to the invention, hereinafter disclosed and claimed in an embodiment thereof given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in section of the guide for lifts according to the invention;

- Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the guide of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an intermediate fastening element associable with the guide in Figs. 1 and 2 ; and

- Fig. 4 is a front view of the intermediate fastening element of Fig. 3 associated with a general guide for lifts. With reference to the accompanying drawings, the guide for lifts according to the present invention is generally denoted with reference numeral 1 and comprises a main body 2 extending along a respective (generally straight) main axis 2a; this main body in cross section has a base portion 3 having a rest side 3a that can abut against a wall when guide 1 is installed and a locating side 3b opposite to the rest side 3a.

As highlighted in the following (and as clearly shown in the figures) , the rest side 3a that is conveniently planar, and the locating side 3b that on the contrary has a non-planar surface, in mutual cooperation, define a variable thickness of the base portion 3 itself.

Conveniently, two boundary edges 4 are present which are placed at mutually opposite side ends of the base portion 3 and it is also possible to see the presence I of a central protrusion 5 emerging from the locating side 3b; this central protrusion 5 has a proximal root 5a connected to the base portion 3 and a distal thickening 5b connected to the mentioned proximal root 5a .

Advantageously, due to the particular conformation of the present guide 1, at least one mass-redistribution potion 6 is present. This mass is formed in the base portion 3 and is adapted to lighten the base portion 3; I in particular, this mass displacement action is carried out in an "intermediate part" of the base portion included between the central protrusion 5 and at least one boundary edge 4.

) It is also to be noticed that within the scope of the present invention, the mass-redistribution portion 6 (that to the aims of the present invention may be intended to be both a portion in cross section where additional material is present and a portion characterised by lack of material relative to the usual cross-sections of the guides for lifts of known type) is also adapted to make the base portion 3 heavy in a localised end part thereof in the vicinity of at least one boundary edge 4.

I

Due to the different conformation obtained by providing guide 1 with this mass-redistribution portion 6, it is possible to obtain a change in the mechanical/geometric properties of the guide itself and in particular it is

I possible to vary both the main moments of inertia of the guide and the so-called "centre of stresses" thereof in order to obtain better mechanical performances from the material used and, differently said, in order to be able to use less constituent

) material for obtaining the same mechanical performances .

In addition, the presence of a hollow space at the recess 6a enables possible additional devices to be j housed on guide 1, such as magnetic position sensors for example (that in guides of known type must be positioned under the so-called "runway"); this enables better reading thereof and therefore increased sensitivity/accuracy, to the benefit of the work

) quality of the lift.

For reasons of symmetry in behaviour, the guide according to the present invention conveniently has two mass-redistribution portions 6 positioned at mutually j opposite (and typically spaced apart the same distance) parts relative to the central protrusion 5.

In more detail, it is to be noted that at least one, and preferably both of the mass-redistribution portions 6 comprise a lightening recess 6a formed in the locating side 3b and a localised thickening 6b in the vicinity of a boundary edge 4; practically, the mass eliminated in the intermediate part of the base portion is "recovered" in the parts that are more distal from the geometric centre of the cross section of guide 1; in this manner the presence of material in the most critical parts of the section is maximised, while at the same time the moments of inertia are maximised and the overall quantity of "solid space" required for defining the guide itself is optimised.

It is also to be noted that by virtue of the different possible geometric configurations that can be given to the lightening recess 6a and/or the localised thickening 6b, new geometries of guide 1 can be defined; in particular, the example figures of this specification enable an intermediate part and an end part of the base portion 3 to be respectively defined which have constant thickness in cross section relative to the main axis 2a (while the guides for lifts of known type have a monotonous course of the thickness in the base portion growing from their boundary edges to the central protrusion) .

According to a further feature of the present invention, also present is at least one connection portion 7 placed between the mass-redistribution portion 6 and the central protrusion 5; this connection portion 7 is positioned between a lightening recess 6a and the proximal root 5a and preferably has a cusp- shaped configuration and/or a configuration with a sharp-cornered point relative to the main axis 2a (note that this configuration can be a consequence of the forming process of the lightening recess 6a that is typically defined by pressing and/or rolling and/or drawing after a similar operation has been carried out to previously form the proximal root 5a) .

Obviously, depending on the operating production requirements, the so-called "forming" method can also be carried out using other processes of known type, such as hot rolling.

Exactly as regards the manufacturing method of the present guide 1, it is to be pointed out that it is also an object of the present, invention to provide a method of manufacturing a guide for . lifts, elevators and the like, comprising the following steps:

- first of all pre-forming of a semifinished product is carried out through a predetermined number of roughing-out stations, so as to define a main axis 2a thereof and a temporary section; and

- subsequently, finishing of said semifinished product is carried out through a predetermined number of finishing stations (following the roughing-out stations) ; in this way, the finished semifinished product takes a more defined cross-section relative to the main axis 2a (and such as to show, in a visually more distinguishable manner, at least one base portion 3, two boundary edges 4 and a central protrusion 5) .

Advantageously, the method according to the present invention further comprises a step of imposing a mass redistribution at least in. the base portion 3; this operating step is adapted to lighten the base portion 3 in an intermediate part thereof included between the central protrusion 5 and at least one boundary edge 4 and also adapted to make the base portion 3 heavy at a localised end part thereof in the vicinity of at least

> one boundary edge 4.

As already pointed out above, the steps of pre-forming the semifinished product, finishing it and imposing a mass redistribution can be carried out through ) profiling and/or drawing and/or planing and/or rolling and/or hot-rolling (depending on the current requirements) .

In order to ensure quick, accurate and easy installation of guide 1 according to the invention, it is conveniently possible to use an intermediate interconnecting element which can be mounted between a guide for lifts (in accordance with that which has been hitherto described and hereinafter claimed, but also of ) different type in case of need) and a wall.

From the structural point of view, this intermediate interconnecting element substantially comprises a linking portion 10 to be connected to a wall and an j active portion 11 connected to the linking portion 10 and adapted to be activated on a guide for lifts.

Advantageously, the intermediate interconnecting element (generally denoted at 100 in the accompanying ) drawings) further comprises resilient pressure means integrally formed in the linking portion 10 and/or the active portion 11; this resilient pressure means is adapted to keep the guide for lifts in place by reactions of the spring type and/or by direct

> mechanical interference, without therefore utilising the mechanical pressure of the "indirect" type generated by the usual couplings based on nuts, threaded rods and bolts.

) In greater detail, it is possible to see that the intermediate interconnecting element can be built in such a manner that the linking portion 10 and active portion 11 are made without a break through folding and/or profiling of a thread-like or strip-like

⁾ element; this thread-like or strip-like element in turn can preferably consists of a metal material (that conveniently maintains the elastic behaviour) , so as to ensure the above mentioned necessary mechanical action involving direct pressure.

)

In greater detail as to element 100, it is possible to see that it may comprise at least one interfacing seat 12 integrally formed in the thread-like or strip-like element; shit interfacing seat 12 is adapted to house a

⁾ dislodging tool (such as a common screwdriver) that in turn can be used for engaging or disengaging element 100 relative to guide 1; in addition one or more blocking expansions 13 integrally formed in the thread-like or strip-like element can be conveniently

) present.

The blocking expansions 13 are adapted to abut at least against one boundary edge 4 and/or against the lightening recess 6a and/or the localised thickening 6b ) of guide 1 so as to retain it both along the main axis 2a thereof and transversely of said axis 2a.

Within the scope of the present invention the interfacing seat 12 and blocking expansions 13 > preferably consist of localised curvatures without a break of the thread-like or strip-like element; in this manner the spring back features of element 100 are maintained and element 100 is given the correct form/functional character in a quick and efficient manner .

Still in terms of structure, as can be seen, at least one (and preferably two) portions for pivotal mounting 14 are present; these portions are integrally formed in the thread-like/strip-like element and are adapted to rotationally connect element 100 to a respective mounting pin.

Conveniently the (virtual) centre of rotation defined by the mentioned mounting pin can be positioned in such a manner that it is at a higher height than the lying plane of the rest side 3a of the base portion 3; in this way, being this centre of rotation in a "raised" position relative to guide 1, on occurrence of a load transverse in the plane . on guide 1, element 100 reacts in such a manner that it tends to come back to a balance position and so that the inherent stability of the whole system is increased which consists of the assembly made up of guide 1 + intermediate interconnecting element 100 + fastening plate (on which the mounting pin is formed) .

With reference to the drawings, it is finally possible to see that element 100 can contemplate the presence of at least one, and preferably two elastic counter- portions 15; these portions 15 are integrally formed in the thread-like/strip-like element too and are adapted to exert a reaction against possible rotations 100 around the mounting pin. The invention achieves important advantages.

First of all, due to the particular construction architecture of the guide it is possible to obtain an advantageous re-positioning of the so-called "centre of stresses" which results in greater structural efficiency and lower overall weight.

In addition, the steps of defining the new and original ¹ cross-section of the present guide for lifts can be conducted with great accuracy in forming, high manufacturing speed and maintenance of a constant high quality level of the different pieces under production. On the contrary, as to installation of the present guide for lifts, it should be noted that the possibility of using the intermediate fastening element described above (and hereinafter claimed) enables quicker and easier laying to be obtained, which

I advantageously brings about reduced installation costs and times for the lift plant.

Referring finally to the intermediate interconnecting element 100, it should be recognised that in addition

I to the already mentioned advantages in terms of construction simplicity, inherent reliability and easy and quick installation, it is also obtained an innovative set of functional constraints on the guide that is retained in place along at least two directions

) transverse to each other in the lying/installation plane and also retained against possible "slipping" actions .

In other words, the new coupling between element 100, > guide 1 and fastening plate (informally referred to as "fishplate") not only enables the installation time to be reduced, but also allows the guide to be maintained in place in an easier manner, facilitating the installation and alignment procedure.

In addition, by exploiting the characteristics of the particular type of constraint created between the element 100 according to the invention and a guide (that can be of the type hitherto described and ' hereinafter claimed, but also a guide of known type) , it is possible to further simplify the installation; typically, by carrying out fastening in an alternated manner from one side of the guide to the other (i.e. starting with an element on the right, then fastening one on the left and so on) , the so-called "pre- tightening step" of the bolts is no longer necessary (on the other hand, a "final tightening" operation being not required!). i It should be also recognised that this intermediate interconnecting element is not affected by the vibrational state and the thermal cycles that can occur during operation of the plant; but even, in case of a seismic event the guide+interconnecting element system enables the structural overloads to be absorbed, due to the elastic damping effect of the connecting element itself.

In addition, the system is in any case devoid of I spontaneous or uncontrolled decoupling, because Only an intentional action by an operator enables the guide to be removed from the interconnecting element; in addition, due to the structure shown, a possible intervention by an operator always involves an increase I in the constraining reaction that, if the intervention stops or fails, would bring the interconnecting element back to the starting balance condition (and therefore a "hold" condition on the guide) .