EP3681834A1

EP3681834A1 - Method for electrical attachment of a connecting element to a belt for a lift system and corresponding belt assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3681834A1
Application number: EP18762855.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yves LARBOULETTE
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2017-09-15
Filing date: 2018-09-07
Publication date: 2020-07-22
Also published as: WO2019052909A1; US20200277162A1; CA3071484A1; CN111094166A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for establishing an electric connection between a connecting element (5) and a load-bearing belt (3) for a lift system, to a connecting element (5) that can be used in such method, and to a belt assembly (1) that can be formed by means of such method. The connecting element (5) has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins (7), which are arranged at a distance from one another in an assembly direction (11) and of which at least one contact pin are (7) is connected electrically to an electric conductor (15) leading out of the connecting element (5). The belt (3) has a plurality of electrically conductive traction supports (19), which are embedded in an electrically insulating matrix material (17) and which are arranged at a distance from one another in the assembly direction (11). In the method, firstly spacing pins (9) are pressed into the belt (3) between adjacent traction supports (19), in order to adjust the spacing pins into their intended position, and then the contact pins (7) of the connecting element (5) are pressed into the traction supports (19) in the belt (3). The spacing pins (9) can be a constituent part of the connecting element (5) or provided on a press-in tool to be used separately.

Description

Method for electrically connecting a connection element to a belt for an elevator installation and corresponding belt arrangement

The present invention relates to a method for establishing an electrical connection between a connection element and a load-bearing belt for an elevator installation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a belt arrangement for an elevator installation.

In modern elevator systems, elevator cabins are used by means of a

Drive unit driven belt moved vertically through a hoistway. The belts generally comprise a plurality of tension members, which are sometimes referred to as wires or cords and which mainly effect a load carrying capacity of the belt. As a tensile carrier are usually metal wires,

Metal wire mesh or metal strands used. The tension members are in one

Embedded matrix material, on the one hand to protect the tensile carriers, for example, from abrasion and / or corrosion and on the other hand to be able to increase friction between the belt and, for example, a traction sheave of the drive unit. The matrix material may be a flexible material, for example a plastic material, in particular a polymer or elastomer.

Since the belts hold the elevator car and thus play an important role in ensuring the safety of the elevator system, its integrity must always be ensured. Methods have been developed to monitor the integrity of elevator belt by electrically contacting the electrically conductive tension members incorporated in the belts from the outside. Electrical properties of the tensile carriers contacted in this way can then be monitored in order, for example, due to changes in this electrical system which occur over time

Properties on changes of the belt in particular with regard to it

To be able to conclude load bearing capacity. Various embodiments of such an approach for monitoring the integrity of belts in an elevator installation are described, for example, in WO 2017/021263 A1.

In order to be able to contact the tensile carriers within the belt appropriately electrically, various methods, connection elements and / or tools have been developed. For example, it may be provided to electrically contact each two adjacent in the belt tension members by means of a single pin by the

Pin is chosen wide enough and is pressed between the two tension members to get into mechanical and electrical contact with the respective outer surfaces of each of the two tension members. However, with such a

Contacting method Defects in the contacting of individual tension members occur. For example, some of the tension members may not properly abut one of the contact pins, so that no electrical contact or a high electrical

Contact resistance sets.

Alternatively, methods have been developed in which at least one sharpened pin is pressed directly into one of the tension members of a belt in order to contact it electrically. If the tensile carrier is penetrated sufficiently, this can result in a permanent electrical contact with low contact resistance.

However, it has been observed that problems can arise in the last-mentioned method in that during the establishment of the electrical connection between the belt and the connection element, in all cases or at least not with simple means, a sufficient and / or reliable electrical

Contacting the tension members in the belt can be achieved.

Among other things, there may be a need for a method of reliably and / or simply establishing electrical contact between contact pins of a terminal member and tension members in a belt of an elevator system. Further, there may be a need for a belt assembly for an elevator installation in which such electrical contact is reliably established.

Such a need may be met by the method and / or the belt arrangement according to any one of the independent claims. advantageous

Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims as well as the description below. According to a first aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for establishing an electrical connection between a connection element and a load-bearing belt for an elevator installation. In this case, the connection element has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins which are arranged spaced apart from one another in an arrangement direction and of which at least one contact pin is electrically connected to an electrical line leading out of the connection element. The belt has a plurality of electrically conductive tensile carriers, which are embedded in an electrically insulating matrix material and which in the

Arranging direction spaced from each other. The proposed method has at least the following method steps: on the one hand, the

Contact pins of the connection element are pressed into the tension members in the belt;

On the other hand, spacer pins are additionally pressed between adjacent tension members in the belt. According to a second aspect of the invention is a belt assembly for a

Elevator system proposed with a load carrying belt and a belt contacting the connecting element. The connection element in this case again has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in an arrangement direction and of which at least one contact pin is electrically connected to an electrical line leading out of the connection element. The

Belt has a plurality of embedded in a matrix material, electrically conductive tensile carriers, which are integrated in an electrically insulating matrix material and which are arranged spaced apart in the arrangement direction. The contact pins of the connecting element are pressed into the tension members of the belt. In addition, between adjacent tension members of the belt between the adjacent tension members reaching depressions are pressed into the matrix material of the belt.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a connection element for electrically contacting tension members within a belt for an elevator installation is proposed, wherein the connection element has several of a frame of the

Terminal element projecting and spaced apart in an arrangement direction electrically conductive contact pins and arranged in the arrangement direction between adjacent contact pins electrically insulating Spacing pins.

Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered, inter alia, and without limiting the invention, as being based on the ideas and findings described below.

As explained in the introduction, it has been observed that inadequate electrical connections could sometimes occur when trying to contact tensile members of a belt by directly pressing in contact pins into the tensile carriers.

It has now been recognized that such defective electrical contacts can be due to the fact that when establishing the electrical connection, the contact pins of the connecting element do not meet the tension members in the belt or at least not sufficiently accurately. This has been recognized inter alia as a result of the fact that the tension members in the belt, for example due to

Manufacturing tolerances are not always located at intended positions.

Instead, tension members may be slightly offset from their intended positions. Accordingly, when attempting to press at least one contact pin into each of these tension members, it may happen that the contact pin does not hit the respective tension member centrally, as desired, but merely brushes it on the edge or, in the worst case, does not touch it at all. This is particularly true because manufacturing tolerances in positioning the tension members in the

Matrix material of a belt can often be of the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the tension members. For example, with tensile carrier diameters of about 1 mm, manufacturing tolerances in the positioning of such tensile carriers within the matrix material of the belt can be up to 0.5 mm in some cases.

To the described problematic of varying deviations of the position of tension members within the belt of desired target positions and thereby resulting poor contact of the tension members by pressed

Overcoming contact pins is suggested during the attachment of the

Connecting element to the belt in addition to the contact pins so-called

Press spacer pins into the straps. While the contact pins of the connection element while pressed as directly as possible in the tension members of the belt be, the spacer pins between two adjacent tensile carriers are pressed into the belt.

The spacing pins are intended to serve to displace the tension members running in the belt towards a desired setpoint position, so that the contact pins can then be accurately pressed into the tension members and can thus reliably contact them. The spacing pins thus form a kind of template, which can be pressed into the belt and thereby displaced in the belt possibly not arranged at desired positions Zugträger the desired positions desired.

Hereinafter, possible embodiments of components of both the belt and the connecting element and possibly of tools, as in the inventive establishment of the electrical connection between the

Connection element and the belt can be used described.

The belts may be conventional belts, as they have long been used in elevator systems for holding and relocating elevator cars. A belt may have a length of several meters to several hundred meters, a width of a few centimeters and a height of a few millimeters. In the belt usually extend over the entire length of the belt towards electrically conductive tension members, usually in the form of metal wires, in particular steel wires or strands. The tensile carriers typically have diameters in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1 mm to 2 mm. The tension members are embedded in a matrix material which gives the belt its outer shape. In particular, polymers or other plastics are used as the matrix material. The tension members are generally parallel to each other. A distance between adjacent tension members is typically similar to the diameter of the tension members. For example, such a distance may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1 mm to 2 mm. The lateral distances between adjacent tension members may be the same for all tension members of a belt, i. the tension members may be retained in the belt along the direction of arrangement, i. transverse to a longitudinal direction of the tension members, be arranged equidistant. Between adjacent tension members arranged matrix material provides an electrical

Insulation between the tension members. The tension members can be just below one Surface of the matrix material of the belt, for example, be located at a depth of between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, so that the overlapping matrix material protects the tension members from chemical and / or mechanical attacks. The belt may be profiled on at least one surface which comes into contact as a traction surface, for example, with a traction sheave of the prime mover, for example, with grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the belt.

The connecting element may have a housing or a frame, from whose surface directed toward the belt the contact pins protrude, preferably in a direction transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the said surface of the housing or frame and thus also transversely or perpendicular to the arrangement direction , along which the contact pins are arranged side by side and spaced from each other. The housing or the frame of the connection element can be dimensioned such that they can rest against at least one surface of the belt to be contacted. Alternatively, the housing or the frame may be designed such that they enclose the belt to be contacted on both sides or on all sides. The housing or the frame may be made of an electrically non-conductive material, in particular of

Plastic exist.

The contact pins of the connection element are electrically conductive. In particular, a surface of the contact pins consists of electrically conductive material. For example, the pins may be made of metal, in particular steel or stainless steel, or be coated with this.

The contact pins are preferably arranged parallel to one another. They have at least a length which is slightly greater than a depth at which the tension members are embedded in the belt off of a surface of the belt. The said depth corresponds to a thickness of a layer of matrix material which covers the tensile carriers towards the outside. In particular, the contact pins should be at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50% longer than said depth. In particular, when said depth is, for example, 0.5 mm, the contact pins may, for example, have a length of at least 0.6 mm, more preferably at least 1 mm or more. The contact pins can be round in cross-section, ie have a diameter. Alternatively, the contact pins may have any other cross-sectional geometry, for example a rectangular cross-section, while having a width measured in the arrangement direction.

The contact pins may have a diameter or a width which corresponds at least roughly to the diameter or the width of the tension members to be contacted by them, for example a diameter or a width in the range of 10% to 200%, preferably in the range of 30%. up to 130%, of the diameter or the width of the tension members to be contacted. For example, a diameter or a width of the contact pins in the range of 0.3 mm to 3 mm, preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

A lateral distance (measured along the arrangement direction) between adjacent contact pins may be equal to or substantially equal to a lateral distance between adjacent tension members of the belt to be contacted.

The elongated contact pins may be secured at their cantilevered end, i. at its end directed towards the belt when establishing the electrical connection, pointed, i. be rejuvenating, be educated. Due to such a pointed configuration, the contact pins can be relatively easily, i. with technically easily generated forces, are pressed into the matrix material of the belt and then into the embedded therein tension members. A curve radius of the tip can be significantly smaller than the diameter or the width of the contact pin. For example, the radius of curvature of the tip may be less than 50%, preferably less than 20%, 10% or even 5%, of the diameter or the width of the contact pin.

At least one of the contact pins of the connection element is intended to be able to apply an electrical voltage to at least one of the tension members in the contacted belt via the connection element. For this purpose, at least this contact pin is electrically connected to an outgoing from the connection element electrical line. Preferably, a plurality of the contact pins of the connection element, each with one of a plurality of outgoing from the connection element electrical lines or each of the same out of the connection element electrically connected electrical line. About the leading out electrical lines can be applied in the desired manner electrical voltages to the contacted by the associated pins contact carrier of the belt. Other contact pins can not be connected to such an electrical line leading out of the connection element, but instead can be connected to further contact pins of the connection element in order to be able to short-circuit two or more tension members of the belt in this way.

The spacing pins are preferably designed such that they can be pressed into the belt and thereby penetrate the matrix material of the belt. With regard to their dimensions and geometry, the spacing pins are designed in such a way that they can be pressed into areas between two adjacent tension members within the belt and, if necessary, press the adjacent tension members laterally towards their desired positions. Pressing in the

Spacing pins can thus effect an adjustment of the tension members in the belt at desired target positions, so that the contact pins can then be simply, accurately and / or reliably pressed into the thus adjusted tension members. The spacing pins may have the same or similar dimensions as the contact pins and / or be arranged at similar lateral distances from each other. In particular, a length, a diameter or a width and / or lateral spacing between the spacer pins may be equal to or, for example, between 5% and 50% greater or smaller than corresponding properties in the case of the

Contact pins. The spacing pins may be aligned parallel to each other and / or parallel to the contact pins.

According to one embodiment, the spacer pins are pressed between the tension members before the contact pins are pressed into the tension members.

In other words, in the method presented here, preferably the spacer pins are first pressed in between the tension members of the belt in order to press the tension members towards their desired positions, and only then are the contact pins pressed into the tension members. Such a successive pressing in first of the spacer pins and then the contact pins can be realized in various ways. For example, first the spacer pins in the belt can be pressed to a depth where they lie between adjacent tension members, before then the contact pins are pressed into the belt. The spacing pins can be part of a tool to be provided separately from the connection element, for example, and thus be pressed into the belt before pressing the connection element onto the belt.

Alternatively, the spacer pins can be pressed together with the contact pins virtually simultaneously in the belt, wherein a geometry of the

Spacing pins may be chosen such that they reach the area between adjacent tension members before the contact pins are pressed to a depth in the matrix material of the belt, where they reach the surface of the tension members. For this purpose, the spacer pins may for example be significantly longer or project significantly further towards the belt than the contact pins. A cantilevered end may, for example, project at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm or at least 2 mm, further towards the belt in the spacer pins than in the case of the contact pins.

In one embodiment, the spacer pins have tips at their cantilevered end that have a greater radius of curvature than tips on the cantilevered ends of the contact pins.

On the one hand, the spacer pins, like the contact pins, should be pointed at their cantilevered end to easily, i. with acceptable force, to be pressed into the matrix material of the belt. On the other hand, the spacer pins need not and should not be pressed into the much harder tension members, but on the contrary when pressed into the belt with their

Slide outer edge along these tension members along in order to be able to shift them to their desired position. Accordingly, a radius of curvature at the tips of the spacer pins should be significantly greater, that is, for example more than 20%, more than 50%, more than 100% or even more than 200% larger than at the tips of the contact pins. In particular, in one embodiment, the spacer pins may have tips at their cantilevered end having a radius of curvature that is between 0.3 times and 3 times the width of the spacer pins. In other words, the spacer pins may be provided with a relatively blunt point compared to the contact pins whose radius of curvature is between one-third and three times the width, ie the dimension of a

Spacing pin measured in the direction of the above-defined arrangement direction is. The width of the spacer pins is thereby at its widest point, i. E. at a point beyond its tapering tip, measured. With such a blunt tip spacing pins can still be in the relatively soft

Matrix material are pressed, a risk that a spacer pin is pressed into a much harder tensile medium, but is low. Instead, the spacer pin, when it hits a tension member, with its rounded tip press the tension member to the side in its nominal position.

According to one embodiment, the spacing pins have a width which is equal to or smaller than distances between adjacent tension members in the belt. In other words, the width of the spacer pins should be such that a

Spacer pin fits exactly or with slight lateral play between two adjacent tension members of the belt. Thus, the spacer pin, when pressed between the adjacent tension members of the belt, may exert lateral pressure on any misplaced tension members to urge them toward their desired position.

According to one embodiment, the spacing pins are made of an electrically insulating material. In other words, in contrast to the contact pins, which are intended to bring about an electrical contact towards one of the tension members, a spacing pin can consist of an electrically non-conductive material. Accordingly, the

Although spacer pin come into mechanical contact with one or two adjacent tension members in the belt, but there is no electrical contact with or established between these train carriers. Since the spacer pin is subjected to high mechanical forces when pressed into the belt, the material of the

Spacer pin be chosen suitably so that it is not damaged during pressing.

Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned embodiment, the spacer pins may be coated with an electrically insulating material.

In other words, one of any, i. electrically conductive or electrically insulating, existing material body of a spacer pin to be coated with an electrically non-conductive material. In this case, the base body made of a mechanically resistant material such as metal, in particular steel, exist, which may be electrically conductive. In order to prevent electrical contact with the spacing pin mechanically contacted by a spacer pin, an insulating layer of electrically insulating material can be applied to the surface of the base body. The

Insulation layer may be very thin, that is, for example, have a thickness in the range of between 5 μιη and 500 μιη.

According to one embodiment, the electrically insulating material of which a spacer pin is made or coated with the spacer pin may be a plastic or a ceramic.

If the spacer pin has a mechanically stable base body and is only coated on its surface with the electrically insulating material, the material need only have sufficiently electrically insulating properties and otherwise only be sufficiently resistant to abrasion, for example, when the spacer pin is pressed into the belt become. In this case, almost all plastics or ceramics can be used to form the insulating layer.

In the event that the entire spacer pin should consist of the electrically insulating material, this should ensure sufficient strength of the spacer pin. Accordingly, for example, sufficiently hard and / or Break-resistant materials are used. For this purpose, for example, plastics such as cured epoxy resin, COC (cyclo-olefin copolymers), PA (polyamide), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PP (polypropylene) or similar into consideration. Various ceramic materials can be used and provide the required electrical insulation as well as mechanical strength.

According to one embodiment, the spacing pins may be part of the

Be connecting element. In other words, the spacer pins as well as the contact pins on the

Connection element may be formed and project, for example, from a directed towards the belt surface of a frame or housing of the connection element. In particular, at least one spacing pin can be provided in each case between two contact pins adjacent in the arrangement direction.

That equipped with both contact pins and spacer pins

Connection member may then be placed on a surface of the belt and then pressed into this for establishing the desired electrical connection with the tension members in the belt with the surface from which the contact pins and spacer pins ablate. In the process, the spacing pins first press between adjacent tensile carriers and align them before the tensile carriers are then penetrated by the contact pins and thus electrically contacted.

In such an embodiment, the spacing pins together with the remainder of the terminal element permanently remain on the contacted belt. The

Spacing pins extend into the depressions formed in the matrix material of the belt during pressing in, reaching between the adjacent tension members. In each of the wells a spacer pin is pressed in each case.

As a result, these wells are absorbed by the therein

Spaced spacer pins to the outside, so that, for example, no

Moisture can enter the wells and worst case adjacent cores can attack corrosive. Alternatively, according to one embodiment, the spacing pins may be part of a press-fit tool.

In other words, the spacer pins do not necessarily need to be part of the

Be connecting element. Instead, the spacer pins may be provided on a separately provided press tool. This press-fit tool can be temporarily pressed into the belt during the establishment of the electrical connection between the connection element and the belt, in order to the therein

To position embedded tension members in the desired manner. By pressing in the spacer pins, the recesses are formed between adjacent tension members in the matrix material of the belt. As soon as the connecting element has been mounted on the belt and its contact pins have been pressed into the tension members of the belt, the press-in tool can optionally be removed again. In that

In this case, the matrix material of the belt remains the recesses generated by the spacing pins and extending between the adjacent tension members.

Optionally, according to one embodiment, the matrix material may be sealed in the region of the recesses with a layer covering the recesses.

The sealing layer may cover and seal the recesses in such a way that, for example, moisture penetration through the recesses into the interior of the belt can be prevented. In this way, for example, corrosion on the inside of the belt extending tension members can be avoided. The sealing layer may be thin, for example in the range from 5 μm to 500 μm, and / or should have an elasticity or flexibility suitable for the intended use on the belt. The layer may for example consist of plastic.

It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention herein with reference to different embodiments on the one hand of

Method for establishing an electrical connection between a

Connection element and a belt and on the other hand, the belt assembly thereby produced or of the connection element to be used in this case are described. One skilled in the art will recognize that the features are suitably combined, adapted can be transferred or replaced in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the

Description are to be construed as limiting the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a belt for an elevator installation as well as a connection element for establishing an electrical connection and thus forming a belt arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a belt contacted by contact pins of a connection element in an ideal case.

3 shows a sectional view of a belt contacted by contact pins of a connection element in a real case.

4 shows a sectional view of a belt contacted by contact pins of a connection element, in which the electrical connection has been established by means of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein spacer pins form components of the connection element.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a belt contacted by contact pins of a connection element, in which the electrical connection has been established by means of a method according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein spacer pins form part of a press-fit tool.

The figures are only schematic and not to scale. Like reference numerals designate like or equivalent features throughout the several figures

1 shows a belt arrangement 1 with a load-carrying belt 3 for an elevator installation and with a connection element 5. The belt 3 is designed as an elongated belt. An outer geometry of the belt 3 is predetermined by a polymer-type matrix material 17. The matrix material 17 forms a profiled side 21 on a surface directed towards an input disk of the elevator installation and a flat side 23 on an opposite surface. Grooves 25 extending in the longitudinal direction 10 of the belt 3 are located on the profiled side 21 and intermediate webs 27. The grooves 25 are parallel to each other at a distance of a few millimeters, for example 5 mm.

In the matrix material 17 along the longitudinal extension direction 10 and parallel to each other several tension members 19 are embedded. The tension members 19 are spaced apart in an arrangement direction 11, which runs parallel to the flat side 23 and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction 10, for example with lateral distances of about 1 to 2 mm. The tension members 19 have one

Diameter of about 1 to 2 mm. The tension members 19 typically extend at a depth of about 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm below the surface of the flat side 23 of the belt 3. In most cases, two tension members 19 extend in the region of one of the webs 27.

The connection element 5 has a frame 13 or a housing. From this frame 13 and the housing protrude from one to the belt 3 directed

Surface both a plurality of pins 7 and a plurality of spacing pins 9 towards the belt 3 from. In particular, both the contact pins 7 and the spacing pins 9 extend approximately perpendicular to the direction towards the belt 3

Surface of the frame 13. The contact pins 7 and the spacer pins 9 are aligned parallel to each other. Further, the contact pins 7 and the

Spacing pins 9 are alternately positioned along the arrangement direction 11. That is, between two adjacent contact pins 7 is a spacing pin 9 and between two adjacent spacing pins 9 is a contact pin 7. The spacing pins 9 and the contact pins 7 may, but need not necessarily be arranged along a common straight line. For example, the spacing pins 9 can be arranged along a straight line and the contact pins 7 can be arranged along a further straight line running parallel thereto. Both lines may be parallel to the arrangement direction 11. The contact pins 7 are each spaced laterally apart along the arrangement direction 11. Also the spacer pins 9 are laterally spaced apart along the arrangement direction 11, respectively. A lateral spacing between adjacent contact pins 7 can essentially correspond to a lateral spacing between adjacent tension members 19 within the belt 3.

The connection element 5 is intended to establish an electrical connection between its contact pins 7 and the tension members 19 in the belt 3 in order, for example, to create a possibility by means of the connection element 5 to electrically connect the tension members 19 to an external measuring or monitoring device. In this case, the measuring or monitoring device can apply an electrical voltage to one or more electrical lines 15 provided on the connecting element 5. These electrical leads 15 may be in contact with one or more of the one or more interconnects 29 (see FIG. 4)

Contact pins 7 and transmitted via this the applied voltage to the thus contacted tension members 19. Other contact pins 7 can be short-circuited or connected in parallel via short-circuit connections 31 (see FIG. 4) with one another or with the connection pins 7 which are connected to the electrical line 15. By monitoring the applied voltages or resulting voltages after passing through the tension members 19 then changes in the electrical

Characteristics of the tension members 19 are detected and can be inferred about changes in the mechanical properties of the tension members 19 and thus of the entire belt 3.

In order to better understand the characteristics of the belt assembly 1 and the special connection element 5 used therein or the way in which this connection element 5 is used to establish an electrical connection with the belt 3, will be explained briefly with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 what problems with

Contacting belts 3 may occur with conventional connection elements.

In Fig. 2, the ideal case is shown, in each case a contact pin 7 of the connecting element 5 penetrates one of the embedded in the belt 3 tension member 19 in the middle. The tension members 19 are arranged equidistant and exactly at desired positions within the matrix material 17, and the contact pins are arranged such that each contact pin can strike a tension member assigned to it centrally. In this Ideally, a very good electrical contact between a respective contact pin 7 and the associated tension member 19 would be established.

As indicated in FIG. 3, however, the tension members 19 are not distributed uniformly within the belt 3 in reality, as assumed in the ideal case.

Instead, actual positions of the tension members 19 deviate from intended equidistant setpoint positions due to, for example, manufacturing tolerances in the manufacture of the belt 3. Position deviations can make up in real case often up to half the diameter of a tension member 19. Because of such

Position deviations may cause individual contact pins 7 to not touch the tension members 19 to be contacted by you in the middle or, in the worst case, even at all, so that an unreliable or even no electrical power is applied

Contacting between the connection element 5 and the affected tension members 19 comes.

To avoid the problem described is therefore proposed in the

Establishing an electrical connection between a connecting element 5 and a belt 3 in addition to the contact pins 7 and spacer pins 9 in the belt 3 to press. The contact pins 7 are intended to be pressed into the tension members 19 of the belt 3, whereas the spacing pins 9 in each case are to be pressed into the belt 3 between adjacent tension members 19. This is shown schematically in FIG. 4. In contrast to the existing of an electrically conductive material contact pins 7, the spacer pins 9 are formed of an electrically non-conductive material or at least coated with such a material. Further, the contact pins 7 have at their cantilever ends sharp tips 41 with a small radius of curvature, whereas the spacer pins 9 have at their cantilever ends blunt tips 43 with a larger radius of curvature. The spacer pins 9 have a width b which is less than or equal to a lateral distance D between adjacent tension members 19.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, both the contact pins 7 and the spacing pins 9 are formed as components of the connection element 5. The spacing pins 9 are slightly longer or protrude further from a base body 6 of the connecting element 5, so that when pressing the Connection element 5 to the flat side 23 of the belt 3, first the spacer pins 9 are pressed between adjacent tension members 19 in the belt 3 and this forcibly laterally shift towards their desired positions, ie adjust positionally. Only then are the contact pins 7 penetrated far enough into the matrix material 17, so that they reach the surface of the previously adjusted tension members 19 and finally penetrate them in a further press-fitting. The largely centered in this case in the respective tension members 19 penetrating pins 7 can provide a reliable electrical contact with low contact resistance. The one

Component of the connecting element 5 forming spacer pins 9 remain in this case in depressions 33 formed by them during pressing in the matrix material 17 of the

Belt, and thereby seal the recesses 33, for example

from penetrating water.

Alternatively to the aforementioned embodiment, in which the spacer pins 9 as well as the contact pins 7 are components of the connection element 5 and both

Pin types are pressed together in the belt 3, a positional adjustment of the tension members 19 in the belt 3 also using a separate

Pressing tool 35 are made, as illustrated in Fig. 5. On which a press-in tool 35 several Beabstandungsstifte 9 are provided.

The spacing pins 9 are designed in terms of their dimensions and distances such that they can be pressed in each case between adjacent tension members 19 in the belt 3 in a press-in 39 and adjust this positionally. Subsequently, a connection element 5 can be pressed with its projecting from pins 7 accurately positioned on the belt 3, so that the

Contact pins 7 are pressed with their cantilevered tips 41 as centrally as possible in the previously oriented tension members 19.

When press-fitting, the spacer pins 9 form the depression rings 33 in the matrix material 17 of the belt 3. The press-in tool 35 can be designed in such a way that it subsequently remains on the belt 3 as a tool to be used once. In this case, the spacer pins 9 remain in the

Recesses 33 and thus can seal them. Alternatively, the

Press-in tool 35, after the connection element 5 correctly on the belt. 3 was attached, removed again. In this case, the recesses 33 remain in the matrix material 17 of the belt 3. Optionally, the recesses 33 may be sealed with a layer 37 covering them. The covering layer 37 may be a plastic layer and be applied in such a way that it completely covers the depressions and thus seals them in a fluid-tight manner.

Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising,""comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a variety. It should also be appreciated that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 belt arrangement

3 straps

5 connection element

6 main body of the connection element

7 contact pins

9 spacer pins

10 longitudinal direction

1 1 arrangement direction

13 frames

15 electrical line

17 matrix material

19 tension members

21 profiled page

23 flat side

25 grooves

27 bridges

29 Connection to the electrical line

31 Short-circuit connection between To;

33 wells

35 press-fit tool

37 sealing layer

39 pressfit

41 tips of the contact pins

43 tips of the spacer pins

Claims

claims

A method for establishing an electrical connection between a connection element (5) and a load-carrying belt (3) for an elevator installation, wherein the connection element (5) has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins (7) which are arranged spaced apart in an arrangement direction (11) are and of which at least one contact pin (7) is electrically connected to an out of the connection element (5) leading out electrical line (15),

wherein the belt (3) comprises a plurality of electrically conductive tension members (19), which are embedded in an electrically insulating matrix material (17) and which in the

Arranging direction (11) spaced from each other,

the method comprising:

Pressing spacer pins (9) between adjacent tension members (19) in the belt (3);

Pressing the contact pins (7) of the connecting element (5) in the tension members (19) in the belt (3).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the spacer pins (9) are pressed between the tension members (19) before the contact pins (7) are pressed into the tension members (19).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Spacing pins (9) have at their cantilevered end tips (43) which have a greater radius of curvature than spikes (41) at the cantilevered ends of the contact pins (7).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Spacing pins (9) have at their cantilever end tips (43) having a radius of curvature between 0.3 and 3 times the width (d) of the spacer pins (9).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Spacing pins (9) have a width (d) which is equal to or less than Distances (D) between adjacent tension members (19) in the belt (3).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Spacing pins (9) consist of an electrically insulating material.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Spacing pins (9) are coated with an electrically insulating material.

8. The method according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the electrically insulating material is a plastic or a ceramic.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Spacing pins (9) are part of the connection element (5). 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Spacing pins (9) are part of a press-fit tool (35).

11. A belt arrangement (1) for an elevator installation with a load-carrying belt (3) and a connection element (5) contacting the belt (3),

wherein the connection element (5) has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins (7) which are arranged spaced apart in an arrangement direction (11) and of which at least one contact pin (7) is electrically connected to an electrical line (15) leading out of the connection element (5). connected is,

wherein the belt (3) comprises a plurality of electrically conductive tensile carriers, which are embedded in an electrically insulating matrix material (17) and which in the

Arranging direction (11) spaced from each other,

wherein the contact pins (7) of the connection element (5) are pressed into the tension members (19) of the belt (3),

wherein between adjacent tension members (19) of the belt (3) between the adjacent tension members (19) reaching depressions (33) in the matrix material (17) of the

Belt (3) are pressed.

12. A belt assembly according to claim 11, wherein in each of the recesses (33) in each case a spacing pin (9) is pressed.

13. A belt assembly according to any one of claims, wherein the matrix material (17) in the region of the recesses (33) with a the recesses (33) covering layer

(37) is sealed.

14. connecting element (5) for electrically contacting tension members (19) within a belt (3) for an elevator system, wherein the connecting element (5) of a frame (13) of the connecting element (5) projecting and in a

Arrangement direction (11) spaced from each other electrically conductive contact pins (7) and in the arrangement direction (11) between adjacent contact pins (7) arranged electrically insulating spacer pins (9).