Elevator Telescopic Apron Stiffening Profile Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic car aprons for elevator cars face issues with dimensional accuracy, high manufacturing costs, uncontrolled lateral movements, and deflection due to tolerances in fastening holes, which affect the stability and extension of the apron, particularly in four-part designs with commercially available telescopic rails.
Innovation Solution
The use of stiffening profiles, specifically made of aluminum with adapted bores for fastening elements, and a unique rail system with U-shaped and C-shaped sections on ball bearings, which are integrated into the telescopic rail system to enhance stability and reduce deflection by providing additional support and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If commercially available telescopic rails with ball bearings are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but stability and strength of the extended car apron deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The car apron is divided into multiple plate-shaped telescopic elements (at least three) that can extend and retract independently along telescopic rails. This segmentation allows the use of standard commercial rails while maintaining overall system stability through distributed support structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Stiffening profiles are added as additional structural elements in a perpendicular dimension to the telescopic motion. These profiles run transversely across the apron plates and connect to the telescopic rails, providing lateral support and preventing deflection without interfering with the primary extension/retraction function.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard fastening holes with diameter 4.2mm-4.5mm are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but deflection under horizontal force increases
Solution Approach 1:
Stiffening profiles are introduced as transverse support elements that create additional fastening points and structural reinforcement. These profiles run perpendicular to the telescopic direction, providing multiple attachment points that distribute lateral forces and reduce deflection without requiring larger fastening holes in the standard rails.
Solution Approach 2:
The car apron system combines multiple materials including metal telescopic rails with ball bearings, plate-shaped telescopic elements, and stiffening profiles. This composite construction creates a structurally robust assembly where each material component contributes specific properties: the rails provide smooth motion, the plates provide structural base, and the stiffening profiles provide lateral rigidity.
3Ease of operation
If sufficient play is provided between U-profile legs and guide grooves to avoid blocking, then ease of operation is improved, but uncontrolled lateral movements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Stiffening profiles are positioned to interact with the telescopic rails in a dimension perpendicular to the guide grooves. These profiles engage with the U-shaped rail sections from the side, providing lateral constraint without interfering with the vertical engagement of the guide grooves and angled legs, thus preventing uncontrolled lateral movements while maintaining smooth extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening profiles act as intermediary elements between the telescopic rails and the apron plates. They mediate the interaction by providing lateral support and alignment, ensuring that the play necessary for smooth operation does not lead to uncontrolled lateral movements. The profiles transfer and distribute lateral forces uniformly across the telescopic assembly.
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 ensures precise alignment and reduced deflection, maintaining the required apron height and stability, even under horizontal forces, thereby preventing uncontrolled movements and ensuring correct extension and retraction of the car apron.
Implementation Method 1
at least one further rail section mounted on ball bearings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~7
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The multipart telescope apron has four plate shaped telescope elements (3,4,5,6), which are fastened mutually to telescope rail (7) and are transferred back from a drive in state into a driving out state. An outside rail section (7.1) of the telescope rail is inserted in the driving out state of cabin apron over the telescope element in a U-shaped stiffener profile (8).