Elevator Belt Roller Lateral Derailment Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator systems with belt-type carrier means often experience lateral derailment due to diagonal pull, which existing measures like crowned rollers and raised edges fail to prevent consistently, posing a risk of undetected partial derailment.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates rollers with longitudinal recesses and retaining elements where the distance between the outermost recess and the retaining element is less than half the recess width, along with an inclined guide surface, to guide the belt-type carrier means back into position and prevent lateral derailment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If crowned deflection rollers or raised lateral edges are used to guide the belt-type carrier means laterally, then lateral guidance is improved to some degree, but lateral derailment cannot be prevented in every case, especially under diagonal pull

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral guidance reliabilityVSAvoidroller structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The roller contact surface is segmented into multiple longitudinal recesses that receive corresponding longitudinal elevations of the carrier means. This segmentation creates discrete engagement points that positively guide the carrier laterally, preventing derailment under diagonal pull without requiring complex crowned surfaces or raised edges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Longitudinal elevations on the carrier means serve as intermediaries that engage into the longitudinal recesses of the roller. This intermediary engagement mechanism provides reliable lateral guidance by creating a positive mechanical interface between the carrier and roller, eliminating the need for complex roller structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If longitudinal ribs and grooves are used to engage between carrier means and roller, then lateral guidance is improved, but the carrier means can still be laterally displaced by one or more longitudinal ribs under diagonal pull, causing partial derailment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral guidance reliabilityVSAvoidcarrier means operation safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element is positioned in advance to intercept the carrier means before it can completely derail laterally. This preliminary action prevents partial derailment by guiding the carrier back into the correct longitudinal recess before the diagonal pull can displace it by more than one engagement position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining element features a curved guide surface that gently guides the carrier means back into the correct longitudinal recess under diagonal pull. This curved surface provides a smooth transition that prevents damage while ensuring the carrier returns to its proper engagement position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of operation

If the distance between the outermost longitudinal recess and the retaining element is large, then the carrier means has more space to move, but the carrier means can completely come up out of the longitudinal recess under diagonal pull

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier means movement freedomVSAvoidlateral derailment prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The distance parameter between the outermost longitudinal recess and the retaining element is optimized to be less than half the width of a longitudinal recess. This parameter change ensures that under diagonal pull, the carrier means cannot completely exit the longitudinal recess before being guided back by the retaining element, while still allowing sufficient movement for normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If the retaining element is positioned very close to the outermost longitudinal recess, then lateral derailment is reliably prevented, but the carrier means may incur damage from the retaining element during normal operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral derailment preventionVSAvoidcarrier means damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element features a curved guide surface that provides a smooth transition for the carrier means during normal operation. This curvature eliminates sharp edges that could damage the carrier, while the retaining element remains positioned close enough to the outermost longitudinal recess to reliably prevent lateral derailment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The distance parameter is optimized to balance two competing requirements: it is small enough to prevent complete derailment but large enough to avoid damage during normal operation. Specifically, the distance is set to less than half the width of a longitudinal recess, creating an optimal safety margin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11091353B2Belt roller for an elevator system

Publication Date: 2021.08.17 INVENTIO AG

AI summary

In an elevator system, a belt-type carrier is guided over a pulley. In this case, longitudinal elevations of the belt-type carrier engage into longitudinal recesses on a roller contact surface. The roller has at least one retaining element, which is arranged laterally to the contact surface. In this case, a distance between an outermost longitudinal recess and the retaining element is less than half a longitudinal recess width of the roller contact surface.