Roller guide for elevators

#This invention relates to an elevator roller guide assembly designed to guide an elevator car along a guide rail, and more specifically to improvements in roller guide structure and functionality.

#A general elevator device includes a hoist mechanism arranged to move an elevator car in upward and downward directions along an elevator shaft. Guides are arranged to stably maintain the orientation and positioning of the elevator car within the elevator shaft during operation. For example, the guides may include a pair of guide rails disposed within the elevator shaft along the upward and downward directions, and roller guide assemblies which correspond to the respective guide rails, and which are disposed, respectively, at positions above and below the elevator car. Each of the roller guide assemblies includes a plurality of rollers arranged to be rolled on a plurality of guide surfaces of the guide rails.

#Since it is exceedingly difficult to mount and maintain guide rails in perfect alignment and maintain the conveying device in perfect balance, the results are high noise levels, swaying, poor ride quality, and passenger discomfort. The configuration of prior guide roller assemblies also contributed to accelerated wear and maintenance difficulties. The present invention seeks to solve these problems by improving the roller guide assembly arrangement.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a guide roller assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a plan view of a guide roller assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a portion of a guide roller assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#The roller guide system of the present invention preferably includes a set of four elevator roller guide assemblies, designed to operate together to stabilize an elevator car in transit along an elevator shaft by engaging longitudinally extending elevator guide rails located along the elevator shaft. This guide system is designed to be used not only on the car and its rails, but also on the counterweight and its rails. As a result, a base interface is also provided that accommodates both bolt mounting patterns with the same guide. This feature is a simplification for installation and a cost benefit in production and supply of such roller guide assemblies.

#The elevator roller guide assembly is generally the first assembly of a plurality of elevator roller guide assemblies mounted on an elevator. Preferably, the diameter of the face wheel of the first assembly is different from the diameter of the face wheel of another one of the plurality of roller guide assemblies; and the diameter of the side wheels of the first assembly are different from each other as well as the diameter of the side wheels of another one of the plurality of roller guide assemblies. In a particular embodiment, the elevator roller guide assembly contains delta diameter wheels wherein the diameters of the face wheels of the plurality of roller guide assemblies differ by as no more than +0.5″ and preferably by +0.01″ to 0.02″ the diameter of each other, and wherein the diameters of the side wheels of the plurality of roller guide assemblies differ by no more than +0.5″ and preferably by +0.01″ to 0.02″ the diameter of each other.

#Each roller guide assembly 1 includes a large diameter face wheel 2 preferably aligned in position by two smaller diameter side wheels 3, the side wheels being disposed facing each other at a fixed spacing so as to straddle and engage the sides of an elevator guide rail. The face wheel 2 of each assembly 1 is self-aligning with the elevator guide rail edge, and has a larger diameter than the side wheels 3 that engage the elevator guide rail sides. The fixed spacing of the side wheels 3 reduces face wheel 2 tire wear by preventing scrubbing, along with rutting and grooving due to running on rail edges, caused by side wheel movement during operation.