Dual Horizontal Driving Machines for Machine-Roomless Elevator Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine-roomless elevators face challenges with increased size and complexity of the driving apparatus as capacity increases, leading to longer installation and maintenance times and higher manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The elevator apparatus employs two horizontal driving machines with symmetrical sheaves and a 2:1 roping method, reducing the size of the driving machines and sheaves, and allowing for identical equipment design to be used in both systems, thereby minimizing the overall size and complexity of the elevator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single driving apparatus is used to move the car and counterweight, then the elevator can achieve machine-roomless configuration, but the driving apparatus becomes enlarged with increases in elevator capacity, leading to increased installation and maintenance time and higher manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The single driving apparatus is segmented into two separate driving machines, each with its own driving sheave. This segmentation allows each machine to handle only a portion of the total load, preventing the enlargement of any single driving apparatus while maintaining the machine-roomless configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Two driving machines are merged to work together in a coordinated manner, with both machines contributing to moving the car and counterweight. This merging allows the system to handle increased elevator capacity without requiring a single oversized driving apparatus.
2Device complexity
If a single driving apparatus is used, then the system structure is simpler, but installation work and maintenance work become time-consuming due to the enlarged driving apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The driving system is segmented into two independent but coordinated machines, allowing installation and maintenance to be performed on smaller, more manageable units. This reduces the time required for installation and maintenance while the coordinated design maintains relatively simple system structure.
3Device complexity
If a single driving apparatus is used, then fewer components are needed, but manufacturing costs increase due to the enlargement of the driving apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The single enlarged driving apparatus is segmented into two smaller driving machines of identical design. This segmentation reduces manufacturing costs by allowing production of smaller, standardized units that can be manufactured more efficiently and in larger quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The two driving machines are designed with identical specifications and can be used interchangeably. This universality allows for standardized manufacturing processes, reducing production costs through economies of scale and simplified supply chain management.
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 configuration reduces the load on each driving machine, enabling smaller apparatuses, simplifies installation and maintenance, and lowers manufacturing costs by allowing for fewer sheaves and identical equipment usage.
Implementation Method 1
a first main rope that is wound sequentially around the first car suspending sheave, the first driving sheave, and the first counterweight suspending sheave
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Rotating shafts of first and second driving sheaves are each disposed horizontally, First and second car suspending sheaves are disposed on a car, and first and second counterweight suspending sheaves are disposed on a counterweight. A main rope group that suspends the car and the counterweight has: a first main rope that is wound sequentially around the first car suspending sheave, the first driving sheave, and the first counterweight suspending sheave, and a second main rope that is wound sequentially around the second car suspending sheave, the second driving sheave, and the second counterweight suspending sheave. The first driving machine, the first car suspending sheave, and the first counterweight suspending sheave, and the second driving machine, the second car suspending sheave, and the second counterweight suspending sheave, are respectively disposed at positions that are symmetrical in a vertically projected plane of a hoistway relative to a straight line that connects a pair of car guide rails that guide the car.