Elevator Car Stabilization With Guide-Rail Electromagnetic Clamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator cars experience instability due to vibrations and sinking/floating when the weight changes during loading or unloading, primarily caused by the elasticity of the traction medium like steel ropes or belts, leading to a poor passenger experience.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizing device with symmetrical electromagnetic blocks and dampers that clamp onto the guide rail to stabilize the elevator car, using horizontal and vertical reset components to manage weight changes and absorb vibrational energy, ensuring the car remains stable during stops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the steel rope or steel belt is made relatively long to span multiple floors, then the elevator system can cover more floors, but the elevator car experiences more vibration and sinking/floating due to increased elasticity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelength of steel ropeVSAvoidstability of elevator car
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces electromagnetic blocks as intermediary components that clamp onto the guide rail to provide additional support and stabilization. These blocks act as mediators between the elevator car and the guide rail, reducing the impact of steel rope elasticity on car stability during loading and unloading operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If electromagnetic blocks are added to clamp the guide rail for stabilization, then the elevator car stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of elevator carVSAvoidcomplexity of stabilizing device
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components. The electromagnetic blocks serve dual purposes: providing stabilization by clamping the guide rail and acting as reaction masses for the dampers. The dampers are integrated with the frame structure, merging vibration damping with the overall stabilizing mechanism to reduce overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electromagnetic blocks perform multiple functions simultaneously: they provide friction-based stabilization against the guide rail, serve as mounting points for dampers, and act as reaction masses for vibration damping. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If dampers are added to reduce vibration, then the elevator car stability is improved, but the device complexity and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of elevator carVSAvoidvolume of stabilizing device
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested structure where the second frame body containing the electromagnetic blocks is positioned within the first frame body. The dampers are integrated within this nested frame structure, with their fixed ends mounted in the second frame body and movable ends connected to the first frame body. This nesting approach minimizes the overall volume of the stabilizing device while maintaining all necessary components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

The stabilizing device effectively reduces vibrations and sinking/floating of the elevator car, enhancing passenger comfort by maintaining stability during loading and unloading, while minimizing impact and noise, and reducing the overall structure's volume and cost.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic block, which is installed in the second frame body in a limiting manner in an up-down direction, for engaging with a guide rail and generating friction force for preventing the second frame body from moving up and down relative to the guide rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

a damper arranged along the up-down direction, whose fixed ends are mounted within the second frame body in a limiting manner in the up-down direction, and whose movable ends are connected to the first frame body and moveable upwardly and downwardly together with the first frame body under the condition that the guide rail is engaged with the electromagnetic block, so as to reduce movement of the elevator car in the up-down direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

An elevator car of an elevator system is dragged or suspended by using a traction medium such as a steel rope or a steel belt. Especially, when stopping at a particular floor to load/unload passengers or goods, the elevator car is suspended by the steel rope or steel belt and stops in a hoistway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3819250B1Stabilizing device of elevator car and elevator system
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3819250B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3819250B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3819250B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a stabilizing device of an elevator car and an elevator system, and pertains to the technical field of elevators. The stabilizing device comprises a first frame body, a second frame body, a left electromagnetic block, a right electromagnetic block, a left damper and a right damper, wherein the left electromagnetic block and the right electromagnetic block are mounted within the second frame body in a limiting manner in an up-down direction and are moveable in a left-right direction, and the left damper and the right damper are arranged in the up-down direction. The fixed end of the left damper and the fixed end of the right damper are mounted within the second frame body in a limiting manner in the up-down direction, and the movable ends of the left damper and the right damper are connected to the first frame body and are moveable upwardly and downwardly together with the first frame body under the condition that the guide rail is clamped by the left electromagnetic block and the right electromagnetic block , so as to reduce movement of the elevator car in the up-down direction. The stabilizing device is simple and compact in structure, small in size and low in implementation cost.