Slack condition monitoring system for an elevator suspension member
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a slack monitoring system for an elevator system. The slack monitoring system includes at least one processor and a shackle assembly. The shackle assembly includes a first planar member, a second planar member, at least one biasing member, a first conductive member, and a second conductive member. An electric circuit is defined by the first conductive member, the second conductive member and the at least one processor such that when a current tension of the at least one suspension member of the plurality of suspension members is less than a predetermined tension threshold, the biasing member biases the first planar member or the second planar member to enlarge the gap thereby separating the first conductive member and the second conductive member to a distance that prohibits an electrical communication between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
1 . A slack monitoring system configured for detecting a slack condition in at least one suspension member of a plurality of suspension members of an elevator system, the slack monitoring system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a shackle assembly coupled to each of the plurality of suspension members, the shackle assembly including:
a first planar member having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
a second planar member having a third surface and an opposite fourth surface, the second planar member being spaced apart from the first planar member to define a gap;
at least one biasing member positioned within the gap,
a first conductive member extending from the second surface of the first planar member; and
a second conductive member extending from the third surface of the second planar member,
wherein an electrical circuit is defined by the first conductive member, the second conductive member and the at least one processor such that when a current tension of the at least one suspension member of the plurality of suspension members is less than a predetermined tension threshold, the biasing member biases the first planar member or the second planar member to enlarge the gap thereby separating the first conductive member and the second conductive member to a distance that prohibits an electrical communication between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
2 . The slack monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein when the current tension of the plurality of suspension members is at or exceeds the predetermined tension threshold effected onto the shackle assembly the electrical communication between the first conductive member and the second conductive member is maintained.
3 . The slack monitoring system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a biasing member positioned within the gap and configured to bias the first planar member or the second planar member,
wherein the first conductive member or the second conductive member are electrically isolated from the biasing member and the corresponding first planar member or the second planar member.
4 . The slack monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the biasing member is a coil spring.
5 . The slack monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the biasing member is formed from an elastomer material.
6 . The slack monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive member and the second conductive member are each a bushing member.
7 . The slack monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein when the at least one processor detects the slack condition, an alert is generated to inhibit movement of the plurality of suspension members of the elevator system.
8 . The slack monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine whether there is the electrical communication between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
9 . The slack monitoring system of claim 8 , wherein the electrical communication between each of the corresponding first conductive member and each of the corresponding second conductive member is in a series circuit arrangement.
10 . The slack monitoring system of claim 8 , wherein the electrical communication between each of the corresponding first conductive member and each of the corresponding second conductive member is in a parallel circuit arrangement.
11 . A slack monitoring system configured for detecting a slack condition in at least one suspension member of a plurality of suspension members of an elevator system, the elevator system having an elevator cab or a counterweight, the plurality of suspension members coupled thereto within a hoistway, the plurality of suspension members move the elevator cab or the counterweight between a plurality of positions within the hoistway, the slack monitoring system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a shackle assembly coupled to each of the plurality of suspension members, the shackle assembly including:
a first planar member having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
a second planar member having a third surface and an opposite fourth surface, the second planar member being spaced apart from the first planar member to define a gap;
at least one biasing member positioned within the gap;
an elongated member corresponding to a number of suspension members of the plurality of suspension members and positioned within the gap extending through the second planar member and the gap such that a distal end of the elongated member is positioned to extend beyond the fourth surface to a corresponding suspension member of the plurality of suspension members;
a first conductive member extending from the second surface of the first planar member; and
a second conductive member extending from the third surface of the second planar member,
wherein an electrical circuit is defined by the first conductive member, the second conductive member and the at least one processor such that when a current tension of the at least one suspension member of the plurality of suspension members is less than a predetermined tension threshold, the biasing member biases the first planar member or the second planar member to enlarge the gap thereby separating the first conductive member and the second conductive member to a distance that prohibits an electrical communication between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
12 . The slack monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one biasing member is coaxially aligned with the elongated member such that portions of the elongated member are axially received within the at least one biasing member to circumferentially surround the elongated member within the gap.
13 . The slack monitoring system of claim 12 , wherein the first conductive member is coaxially aligned with the elongated member and the at least one biasing member such that portions of the at least one biasing member circumferentially surround portions of the first conductive member.
14 . The slack monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the second conductive member is coaxially aligned with the elongated member and the at least one biasing member such that portions of the at least one biasing member circumferentially surround portions of the second conductive member.
15 . The slack monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the first conductive member and the second conductive member are each a bushing member.
16 . The slack monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the first conductive member or the second conductive member are electrically isolated from the at least one biasing member and the corresponding first planar member or second planar member.
17 . The slack monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the electrical circuit further comprises:
at least two conductive flexible members that are electrically coupled to the at least one processor and one of the at least two conductive flexible members are electrically coupled to one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member and the other one of the at least two conductive flexible members are electrically coupled to the other one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member to define the electrical circuit.
18 . The slack monitoring system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate an electrical signal to transmit through the electrical circuit at predetermined intervals or at a continuous rate to detect the slack condition when the electrical signal does not return to the at least one processor within a predetermined amount of time.
19 . A slack monitoring system configured for detecting a slack condition in at least one suspension member of a plurality of suspension members of an elevator system, the elevator system having an elevator cab or a counterweight and a shackle assembly, the plurality of suspension members being coupled to the elevator cab or the counterweight and to the shackle assembly within a hoistway, the plurality of suspension members move the elevator cab or the counterweight between a plurality of positions within the hoistway, the shackle assembly having a first planar member having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a second planar member having a third surface and an opposite fourth surface, the second planar member being spaced apart from the first planar member to define a gap, an elongated member extending through the second planar member and the gap such that a distal end of the second planar member is positioned to extend beyond the fourth surface and is configured to couple to the at least one suspension member of the plurality of suspension members, and at least one biasing member positioned within the gap, the at least one biasing member coaxially aligned with the elongated member such that the portions of the elongated member are axially received within the at least one biasing member to circumferentially surround the elongated member within the gap, the slack monitoring system comprising:
at least one processor; and
an electrical circuit in electrical communication with the at least one processor, the electrical circuit defined by the at least one processor, a first conductive member, a second conductive member, and at least two conductive flexible members that are electrically coupled to the at least one processor and one of the at least two conductive flexible members are electrically coupled to one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member and the other one of the at least two conductive flexible members are electrically coupled to the other one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member,
wherein:
in a first position, an electrical signal is configured to pass from the at least one processor and through the electrical circuit and in a second position, the electrical signal is prohibited from passing through the electrical circuit,
when a predetermined tension is effected onto the shackle assembly caused by a tension of the at least one suspension member of the plurality of suspension members, the electrical circuit is in the first position, and in response to the slack condition when the tension being less than the predetermined tension, the biasing member biases the first planar member or the second planar member to enlarge the gap thereby separating the first conductive member and the second conductive member to a distance that causes the electrical circuit to be in the second position.
20 . The slack monitoring system of claim 19 , wherein:
the electrical communication between each of the corresponding first conductive member and each of the corresponding second conductive member is in a series circuit arrangement; or
the electrical communication between each of the corresponding first conductive member and each of the corresponding second conductive member is in a parallel circuit arrangement.