Elevator Suspension and/or Driving Assembly Having at Least One Traction Surface Comprising Exposed Weave Fibers

Abstract

An exemplary elongated elevator load bearing member includes a plurality of tension elements that extend along a length of the load bearing member. A plurality of weave fibers transverse to the tension elements are woven with the tension elements such that the weave fibers maintain a desired spacing and alignment of the tension elements relative to each other. The weave fibers at least partially cover the tension elements. The weave fibers are exposed and establish an exterior, traction surface of the load bearing member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An elongated elevator load bearing member of a traction elevator system, comprising:
 a plurality of tension elements that extend along a length of the load bearing member; and   a plurality of weave fibers transverse to the tension elements and woven with the tension elements, the weave fibers maintaining a desired spacing and alignment of the tension elements relative to each other, the weave fibers at least partially covering the tension elements, the weave fibers being exposed and establishing an exterior, traction surface of the load bearing member.   
     
     
         2 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein the weave fibers have a thickness sufficient to prevent the tension elements from contacting a component that the traction surface engages. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein weave fibers are arranged in a pattern that comprises a predetermined spacing between the weave fibers that establishes a surface area of coverage over the tension elements sufficient to prevent the tension elements from contacting a component that the traction surface engages. 
     
     
         4 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein the tension elements comprise a first material and the weave fibers comprise a second, different material. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 4 , wherein the tension elements comprise metal and the weave fibers are non-metallic. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein the weave fibers comprise yarn and sizing. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein the weave fibers comprise yarn impregnated with an elastomer material. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein the tension elements are at least partially coated with an adhesive coating on the tension elements, the weave fibers contacting the adhesive coating. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein the tension elements are at least partially coated with an elastomer material. 
     
     
         10 . The elongated elevator load bearing member of  claim 1 , wherein the weave fibers have a first outside dimension and the tension member have a second, larger outside dimension. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making an elongated elevator load bearing member of a traction elevator system, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of tension elements; and   weaving a plurality of weave fibers together with the tension elements to thereby
 (i) maintain a desired spacing and alignment of the tension elements relative to each other, 
 (ii) at least partially cover the tension elements, and 
 (iii) establish an exterior, traction surface of the load bearing member comprising exposed ones of the weave fibers. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising
 at least partially covering the tension elements with the weave fibers that have a thickness sufficient to prevent the tension elements from contacting a component that the traction surface engages.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising
 at least partially covering the tension elements using a weave pattern that comprises a predetermined spacing between the weave fibers that establishes a surface area of coverage over the tension elements sufficient to prevent the tension elements from contacting a component that the traction surface engages.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tension elements comprise a first material and the weave fibers comprise a second, different material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tension elements comprise metal and the weave fibers are non-metallic. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the weave fibers comprise yarn and sizing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the weave fibers comprise yarn impregnated with an elastomer material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tension elements are at least partially coated with an adhesive coating prior to the weaving. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tension elements are at least partially coated with an elastomer material prior to the weaving. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the weave fibers have a first outside dimension and the tension member have a second, larger outside dimension.