Elevator Car Self-Supporting Floor Platform Compact Shaft Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator designs occupy significant space within buildings, limiting architectural freedom and floor plan design due to the need for large elevator shafts and car frames, which restricts loadable floor space and requires substantial space for the elevator components.
Innovation Solution
The elevator design features a car guided on two opposite sides by guide rails, with deflection rollers positioned between the car and shaft walls, allowing the suspension element strand to be optimally utilized in the space between the car and shaft walls, eliminating the need for a separate car frame and reducing shaft dimensions by guiding the strand without crossing the guide rails or car floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a separate car frame is used to surround the elevator car on three or four sides, then the car structure is stable and can absorb forces during acceleration or braking, but the shaft dimensions increase and the loadable floor area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the separate car frame structure, integrating its functions directly into the car body. The car body itself is designed to absorb and distribute forces during acceleration and braking, removing the need for an additional frame that would occupy shaft space.
Solution Approach 2:
The car frame functions are merged with the car body structure. The suspension system is guided through the car body in such a way that the car body itself provides the structural support and force distribution, combining what were previously separate components into an integrated design.
2Reliability
If the suspension system is guided in a conventional manner with separate car frame, then the suspension can support the car, but it requires additional space for the car frame and suspension components
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is nested within the space between the car body and the shaft wall. The load-bearing strand is guided through the car body structure itself, utilizing the available space efficiently without requiring additional external components or increasing the overall shaft volume.
3Ease of manufacture
If guide rails are positioned away from the car body to accommodate a separate car frame, then the car frame can be installed, but the shaft dimensions must be larger
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning guide rails outward to accommodate a separate frame, the invention inverts the approach by guiding the suspension system through the car body itself. The guide rails can be positioned closer to the car body or even integrated with it, eliminating the need for additional clearance space.
4Ease of manufacture
If the suspension strand crosses the guide rails or car floor, then the suspension can be installed, but it requires additional pit space and increases shaft dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension strand is guided through a three-dimensional path that utilizes the vertical and lateral space between the car body and shaft wall, rather than crossing the horizontal car floor plane. This dimensional routing eliminates the need for additional pit depth while maintaining proper suspension function.
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 minimizes shaft dimensions, reduces material usage, and allows for a self-supporting floor platform, distributing braking forces effectively across four locations, resulting in a more compact and efficient elevator system with reduced bending loads and potential for smaller drives.
Implementation Method 1
deflection pulleys (10) are mounted on each of the two opposite sides for deflecting a suspension element strand (4)
Implementation Method 2
the car (1) is guided on two opposite sides by two guide rails (8)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An elevator is presented with a car that can move up and down vertically along guide rails, characterized by the fact that the car has a self-supporting floor platform and no separate car frame.