GB2260963A

GB2260963A - Elevator guide rail alignment

Info

Publication number: GB2260963A
Application number: GB9122880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Len Pearce
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Current assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Priority date: 1991-10-29
Filing date: 1991-10-29
Publication date: 1993-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-29
Also published as: GB9122880D0; GB2260963B

Abstract

The vertical alignment of an elevator guide rail 1 is checked by a method comprising the steps of: fixing a target 5 to said guide rail; mounting a theodolite 8 or the like to said guide rail, and centring said theodolite or the like on said target; and visually checking the alignment of said guide rail between said targets and said theodolite 8 or the like with reference to indicia preferably in the form of a line, provided on a lens or other optical component of said theodolite or the like. The theodolite 8 or the like can be mounted to the guide rail by way of a support means 6 to either a false working platform or a roof of an elevator car, allowing an up-grading of an existing elevator system in addition to aiding installation of a new elevator system. Preferably the theodolite is movably supported. <IMAGE>

Description

Elevator Guide Rail Alignment This invention relates to a method and apparatus for checking the vertical alignment of an elevator guide rail.

Correct vertical alignment of an elevator guide rail is an essential pre-requisite of smooth high-speed elevator travel. If the guide rail is out of vertical alignment smooth travel of an elevator car may be difficult or impossible to achieve. In addition, there is often only small clearance between an elevator car and locking mechanisms forming part of the doors at each floor. If the guide rail is incorrectly aligned it is possible for this clearance to be reduced still further, perhaps with dangerous consequences.

In the past, known methods for checking vertical alignment having included the use of traditional plumblines or more recently lasers. The latter methods involve mounting a laser at the bottom of an elevator shaft pointing upwardly so as to project a vertical beam of light as a reference. Although adequate for their original purposes, such prior techniques do not provide a sufficient degree of accuracy for current needs, especially in the case of very high buildings.

Very high buildings require a particularly high degree of accuracy in the alignment of the elevator guide rail for at least two reasons. Increasingly, high buildings are being provided with very fast "express" elevators and such high speed elevators require an accurately aligned guide rail for safe and comfortable travel. Another problem with high buildings is that they move in high winds and prevent accurate alignment from being carried out. For example, prior methods involving plumb lines or lasers both generate a fixed vertical reference line and if the building sways in the wind the guide rail will move relative to such reference line. An additional problem of using lasers is that the distance over which they may be used with any accuracy is limited by the divergence of the laser beam.

Accordingly, viewed from one broad aspect the present invention provides a method of checking the vertical alignment of an elevator guide rail, comprising the steps of: fixing a target to said guide rail; mounting a theodolite or the like to said guide rail, and centring said theodolite or the like on said target; and visually checking the alignment of said guide rail between said target and said guide rail with reference to indicia provided on a lens or other optical component of said theodolite or the like.

In this way, because the theodolite and the target are both mounted on the rail itself, the alignment operation is unaffected by movement of the building in high winds. The indicia is preferably in the form of a line that, in the case of perfect rail alignment, is seen by a user to exactly overly the guide rail.

Incorrect guide rail alignment can be seen as a deviation from this line by the guide rail, or at least a segment of the guide rail. Minor deviations in the guide rail alignment can be corrected then and there using shims or the like; more serious alignment problems would require the removal of the alignment apparatus from the rail before commencing the necessary remedial work.

Using a typical conventional vertical theodolite, it is possible to inspect approximately lOOm of rail in one go, for longer stretches of rail the operation can be repeated. The alignment can be checked with an accuracy of + lmm over a length of lOOm.

Preferably, the target and the theodolite may both be checked and adjusted to ensure that they are level.

Conceivably the theodolite could be-fixedly mounted to the rail, but preferably it is movably mounted so as to be able to move up and down the guide rail. The theodolite or the like may be mounted on support means, e.g. via a bracket, to either a false working platform or, to the roof of an elevator car. This latter option in particular permits the guide rail alignment method to be used in an up-grading of an existing elevator system, in addition to the installation of a new elevator system.

Viewed from another aspect the present invention provides apparatus for checking the alignment of an elevator guide rail comprising, target means adapted to be mounted on the guide rail, support means for supporting a theodolite or like instrument on said guide rail, said theodolite or the like being provided with indicia on a lens or other optical component thereof to provide a user viewing through said theodolite or the like with a reference line against which the alignment of said guide rail may be checked.

Preferably the support means is movable up and down said rail, and may be mounted on the roof of an elevator car or a working platform via an arm. In addition, the support means and the target means may both be provided with level indicators, and with means for adjusting the support means and target means to ensure that they are level. The support means is also preferably provided with means to ensure that it is central on the guide rail. Such means may comprise adjustable eccentric rollers.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of an elevator guide rail with alignment checking apparatus mounted thereon (and shown in two positions); Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are side, rear and plan views respectively of means for supporting a theodolite or the like on the guide rail; Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views showing the fixing of the support means to the roof of an elevator car; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of a target member.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 there is shown an elevator guide rail 1. Guide rail 1 is in the form of a T in cross-section with the downwardly extending leg 2 of the T forming guide member, and the cross-member 3 of the T being used to secure the rail to the elevator shaft via brackets 4 at regular intervals (e.g. every 5m).

Fixed to the guide rail 1, at an upper region thereof, is a target member 5, which will be described in greater detail below. Mounted to the guide rail below the target member 5 is vertically movable support means 6, again to be described in greater detail below.

The support means can move up-and-down the guide rail 1, two positions being shown in Fig. 1, and includes a support platform 7 for supporting a theodolite 8 or similar instrument.

Referring to Fig. 7 the target member 5 comprises a generally square member. One side of the square is provided with a slot 9 for receiving guide rail member 2 and the target member 5 is secured thereto by means of a clamp 10, such as a Boston clip. The underside of the target member 5 is provided with a button level 11 to enable the target member 5 to be fixed to the rail 2 in a level configuration. The target member 5 is provided with a target such as a cross 12.

Turning now to Figs. 3 to 5 in particular, the theodolite support means will be described in detail.

The support means 6 is adapted to move vertically along the guide rail and comprises a main body portion 13 having a generally T-shaped cross-section complementary to that of the guide rail. The T-shaped cross-section is formed by a pair of first plates 14 parallel to the leg 2 of the guide rail, and a pair of second plates 15 extending at right-angles to ends of said first plates 14 and being parallel to the cross-member 3 of the guide rail. The support member is movably mounted on the guide rail 2 by means of fixed rollers 16 mounted between said first plates and engaging the end of said guide rail leg 2, and eccentric rollers 17 mounted on said second plates 15 and engaging the sides of said guide rail leg 2.

The top of the support means 6 is provided with a support platform 7 for supporting thereon the theodolite or the like. The support platform 7 is generally rectangular, with one of the sides being provided with a cut-out slot, the edges of which are coincident with first plates 14, for receiving the guide rail leg 2.

Formed with the support platform 7 are mutually orthogonal level indicators 19. The support platform is also provided with a slot 20 in line with guide rail leg 2 to facilitate securement on the platform 7 of the theodolite or the like.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, fixed to a mid-point along the first pair of plates 14 are respective arms 21. As seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the distal ends of arms 21 are attached, via brackets 22, to a plate 23 that in turn extends across and is secured to two of the car bows 24 extending over the roof of an elevator car.

Alternatively the arms 21 may be connected in any convenient manner to a false working floor. By means of the connection via arms 21, it will be seen that the support means is enabled to move up and down the elevator guide rail as required.

In use, the target member 5 is firstly secured to the top of a guide rail 1. The guide rail may be an existing rail of an elevator shaft that is being upgraded, or may be a newly installed rail that has been approximately aligned using conventional techniques.

The target member 5 can be checked for level using level 11 and adjusted as necessary with the clamp 10. The remainder of the guide rail alignment apparatus is then fitted to the guide rail, with the support means 6 being held on the guide rail by means of arms 21 the other ends of which are fixed to the roof of an elevator car.

The support means may be adjusted by means of eccentric rollers 17 to ensure that it runs smoothly on the rail 1. The platform 7 is checked for level and adjusted as necessary.

A theodolite 8 or the like is then located in place on the support platform 7 and fixed in place if necessary. The theodolite may be provided with its own level indicator and with means for making fine adjustments in the setting of the theodolite as necessary. The support means 5 is then moved to a point just below, one bracket or Sm below say, the target member 5, and the theodolite is centred on the target.

The theodolite is then moved down the guide rail to a desired location, up to say 100m below the target, by lowering the elevator car. The theodolite may then be used to inspect the alignment of the guide rail between the target and the theodolite. The theodolite is provided on one lens with indicia that presents to a user a straight line that, in the case of a correctly aligned guide rail, should exactly overly the rail. Any deviations from the line show that the rail is incorrectly aligned and adjustments to the rail may be made either immediately or at a later stage.

Although up to 100m of rail may be checked-this way in a single sighting, more accurate results can be obtained by progressively moving the theodolite up the rail toward the target and checking the alignment at regular intervals, at every bracket say. When the theodolite reaches the top of the rail adjacent the target, a check can be made that the theodolite is still centred on the target. For distances greater than 100m the above operations can be repeated as necessary.

Claims

1. A method of checking the alignment of an elevator guide rail, comprising the steps of: a) fixing a target to said guide rail; b) mounting a theodolite or the like to said guide rail, and centring said theodolite or the like on said target; c) visually checking the alignment of said guide rail between said target and said theodolite or the like with reference to indicia provided on a lens or the optical component of said theodolite or the like.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising movably mounting the theodolite or the like to said guide rail so as to be able to move up and down said guide rail.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the theodolite or the like is mounted to a movable support means.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the support means is mounted via a bracket to either a false working platform or to the roof of an elevator car.

5. A method according to any preceding claim comprising an indicia on the theodolite or the like in the form of a line so that in the case of perfect rail alignment, it is seen by the user to exactly overly the guide rail.

6. A method according to any preceding claim comprising checking and adjusting the target and the theodolite or the like to ensure that they are level.

7. A method according to any preceding claim comprising repeating this procedure along the length of the guide rail as is necessary.

8. Elevator guide rail alignment apparatus comprising: target means adapted to be mounted to said guide rail, support means for supporting a theodolite or like instrument on said guide rail, said theodolite or the like being provided with indicia on a lens or other optical component of said theodolite or the like to provide a user viewing through said theodolite or the like with a reference against which the alignment of said guide rail can be checked.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the theodolite or the like is movably mounted so as to allow it to be moved up and down said guide rail.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the support means is movably mounted to said guide rail.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the support means comprises a bracket that is mounted to either a false working platform or the roof of an elevator car.

12. Apparatus according.to any of claim 8 to 11 wherein means are provided to the support means to ensure that it is central on the guide rail.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the support means is provided with eccentric adjustable rollers to ensure that it is central on the guide rail.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 13 wherein the indicia provided on the theodolite or the like takes the form of a line.

15. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 14 wherein level indicating means are provided to ensure that the target and the theodolite or the like are level.

16. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 15 wherein the target is mounted to said guide rail by means of a Boston clip.

17. A method of checking the alignment of an elevator guide rail substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. Elevator guide rail alignment apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.