Elevator Belt Jacket Fiber Orientation for Uniform Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator belts face challenges in achieving improved mechanical properties, durability, and cost-effectiveness, with existing alternatives struggling to provide uniform pressure distribution and reduced noise and vibration.
Innovation Solution
The belt design incorporates a jacket with distinguishable first and second fibers, selected for specific mechanical properties, ensuring a uniform pressure distribution on the traction surface by optimizing fiber orientation and material selection, such as polyester, polyamide, or aramid yarns, which reduces the need for additional thermoplastic layers and lowers manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ropes made of steel wires are used, then reliability and cost-effectiveness are achieved, but mechanical properties and durability are limited compared to fiber-based alternatives
Solution Approach 1:
The belt uses a composite structure combining steel tension members with a fiber jacket (polyester, polyamide, or aramid fibers). This composite design leverages the high strength of steel for load-bearing while the fiber jacket provides enhanced mechanical properties, durability, and flexibility that pure steel ropes cannot achieve.
2Strength
If fiber-based belts are used instead of conventional ropes, then mechanical properties and durability are improved, but uniform pressure distribution and noise/vibration control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber jacket is designed with specific local properties: fibers are oriented and arranged to provide uniform pressure distribution at the traction surface where it contacts the sheave. The jacket's construction includes fibers with varying orientations and properties tailored to specific locations to achieve consistent pressure distribution and reduce noise and vibration.
3Strength
If belts with steel cords within fiber jacket are used, then advantages over conventional ropes are achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The belt is segmented into distinct functional components: steel tension members for load-bearing and a separate fiber jacket for protection and enhanced performance. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and manufactured using specialized processes, potentially reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the composite nature.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber jacket serves multiple functions simultaneously: protecting the steel tension members, providing enhanced mechanical properties, ensuring uniform pressure distribution, and reducing noise and vibration. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components, simplifying the overall structure and potentially reducing manufacturing cost.
Data Source
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AI summary
A belt for an elevator system and a method for making the same is provided. The belt includes a plurality of tension members that extend along a length of the belt and a jacket. The jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The jacket maintains a desired spacing and alignment of the tension members relative to each other. The jacket includes a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. The jacket defines at least one exterior, traction surface of the belt. The first fibers are at least partially disposed between the tension members and the traction surface of the belt. The second fibers are fill fibers. The first fibers have at least one property that distinguishes them from the second fibers.