Cambered Rope Wheel Deck for Elevator Tension Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems face issues with guiding belt-shaped ropes, particularly due to tension differences caused by cambered rope wheel shapes, leading to uneven rope wear and potential damage from excessive tension or slipping, especially over long travel distances.
Innovation Solution
A configuration featuring a rope wheel deck with cambered rope wheels that are mounted coaxially and rotatable relative to each other, allowing each rope wheel to turn independently to equalize belt tension, with each rope wheel guiding only one belt-shaped rope and using a combination of rolling and sliding bearings for optimal rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cambered rope wheel shape is used to guide ropes, then rope guidance is improved, but tension differences and uneven wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the rope guidance function into separate modules: one rope wheel per rope, allowing each wheel to independently manage its specific rope without tension interference from adjacent ropes. This segmentation eliminates the tension differences that occur when multiple ropes share a single cambered wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rope wheel is made independently rotatable relative to the frame and relative to each other, enabling dynamic adjustment of each wheel's position and orientation to optimize rope guidance. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying tension conditions and maintain uniform tension distribution.
2Stability of the object's composition
If high friction engagement is used to prevent slipping, then rope stability is improved, but loose rope forms and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
By assigning one dedicated rope wheel to each rope, the system eliminates the competitive friction dynamics that occur when multiple ropes share a wheel. Each rope wheel can maintain optimal friction engagement with its specific rope without causing excessive tension or loose rope formation in adjacent ropes.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent rotatability of each rope wheel allows for optimization of friction parameters on a per-rope basis. The system can adjust the friction characteristics and engagement forces to maintain stability while minimizing wear, rather than using uniform high friction that causes loose rope and excessive wear.
3Device complexity
If multiple ropes share a single rope wheel, then device complexity is reduced, but tension differences and rope damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the rope wheel function into multiple independent wheels, one for each rope. This increases device complexity slightly but prevents the severe tension differences and rope damage that occur when multiple ropes share a single wheel, thereby preserving rope strength and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent rotatability of each rope wheel provides dynamic control over tension distribution. Each wheel can rotate independently to accommodate variations in rope tension, preventing excessive forces that would compromise rope strength, while the modular design keeps the overall system manageable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively neutralizes the problematic effects of unequal rope positions, reducing wear and damage by ensuring consistent tension across all ropes, thereby improving the longevity and reliability of the elevator's rope system.
Implementation Method 1
the cambered shape of the rope wheel circumference has a tendency to centralize the belt-shaped rope to pass along the peak of the cambered shape
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of bearings, wherein the rope wheels are cambered and mounted coaxially on the frame via the bearings such that they are rotatable relative to the frame as well as relative to each other
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for guiding belt-shaped ropes of an elevator includes a plurality of belt-shaped ropes; and a rope wheel deck including a frame mounted on a structure of an elevator, a plurality of rope wheels for guiding ropes of the elevator, and plurality of bearings, wherein the rope wheels are cambered and mounted coaxially on the frame via the bearings such that they are rotatable relative to the frame as well as relative to each other, wherein only one belt-shaped rope passes around each of said rope wheels of the rope wheel deck. An elevator implements the arrangement for guiding belt-shaped ropes of an elevator.