Self-Climbing Elevator Drive Mechanism for Ultra-High Rise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultra-high rise elevator systems face challenges with long ropes or belts that increase mass, power consumption, sag, bounce, sway, and drift, requiring additional equipment and modifications.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system with rotatable drive members that engage a vertical traction surface, utilizing a biasing mechanism with an actuator to adjust the engagement force based on the load of the elevator car, and a feedback sensor to control the biasing force, allowing for efficient movement and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If long ropes or belts are used in ultra-high rise elevator systems, then the elevator can reach higher buildings, but the mass increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rope or belt from the traditional roped elevator system and replaces it with a self-propelled elevator car that uses friction wheels pressing against the hoistway walls. This eliminates the need for long ropes, thereby reducing mass and power consumption while maintaining the ability to reach high buildings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rope-based pulley system with a self-propelled system using friction wheels and guide arms. The elevator car propels itself by pressing friction wheels against the hoistway walls, eliminating the need for long ropes and associated mechanical components.
2Length of stationary object
If long ropes or belts are used in ultra-high rise elevator systems, then the elevator can reach higher buildings, but sag due to stretch and bounce increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the long ropes or belts that cause sag and bounce, replacing them with a rigid hoistway structure that the friction wheels press against. This eliminates the flexible components that lead to unwanted movement and instability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using flexible ropes to suspend the elevator car, the patent inverts the approach by having the elevator car press against rigid hoistway walls with friction wheels. This inversion eliminates the sag and bounce problems inherent in flexible rope systems.
3Length of stationary object
If longer ropes or belts are used in taller buildings, then the elevator can serve higher floors, but sway and drift increase requiring additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the long ropes or belts that cause sway and drift, replacing them with a rigid hoistway structure. This eliminates the need for additional equipment to counteract these effects while maintaining the ability to serve higher floors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the flexible rope system with a self-propelled system using friction wheels against rigid hoistway walls. This substitution eliminates sway and drift without requiring additional stabilization equipment.
4Reliability
If friction wheels are pressed against the hoistway by compression springs, then the elevator car is held within the hoistway, but the biasing force must be adjusted for load variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic biasing mechanism that can adjust the pressing force of the friction wheels against the hoistway walls based on load variations. This allows the system to maintain reliable positioning while adapting to different operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of biasing force dynamically based on the load conditions. The compression springs or alternative biasing mechanisms can be adjusted to provide appropriate pressing force for different elevator car loads, maintaining both reliability and adaptability.
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 reduces power consumption, minimizes wear on components, and maintains stable traction, extending the life of drive mechanism components while optimizing space and reducing material costs.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable drive member that is configured to engage a vertical surface near the one side of the elevator car frame, selectively cause movement of the elevator car frame as the rotatable drive member rotates along the vertical surface
Implementation Method 2
A biasing mechanism urges the rotatable drive member in a direction to engage the vertical surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
An elevator includes an elevator car (22) and a drive mechanism (26) connected with the elevator car. The drive mechanism moves with the elevator car (22) in a vertical direction. The drive mechanism (26) includes at least one drive member (28) that is configured to engage a vertical structure (32) near the elevator car (22), selectively climb along the vertical structure (32) to cause movement of the elevator car (22), and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car (22) when the drive member (28) remains in a selected position relative to the vertical structure (32). A biasing mechanism urges the drive member (28) in a direction to engage the vertical structure (32). The biasing mechanism applies a biasing force based upon a condition of the elevator car (22). The biasing force changes based upon a change in the condition.