Elevator Rescue Clamping Wheel Set for Balanced-Load Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current elevator rescue methods are inefficient and labor-intensive, requiring multiple mechanical interventions and often cannot be implemented if the elevator car is stuck in a position that hinders equipment access, posing challenges in safely evacuating passengers in case of a balanced-load failure.

Innovation Solution

An elevator balanced-load rescue device featuring a clamping wheel set with a driving wheel and driven wheel that clamp and release the traction belt, combined with an energy storage device like a torsion spring and ratchet wheel assembly, allows for efficient movement of the elevator car and counterweight without needing to access the hoistway, reducing rescue time and manpower.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional brake releasing way or weight suspension method is used, then rescue can be performed, but rescue time and labor are greatly consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverescue effectivenessVSAvoidrescue time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage device is pre-loaded with mechanical energy before the rescue operation. When the clamping wheel set needs to move the elevator car, the stored energy is immediately released to provide the necessary driving force, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual intervention or multiple mechanical operations in the machine room and hoistway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional brake releasing way or weight suspension method is used, then rescue can be performed, but labor consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverescue effectivenessVSAvoidlabor consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage device automatically provides the necessary mechanical energy for the rescue operation without requiring external power sources or multiple personnel interventions. The clamping wheel set with energy storage forms a self-contained rescue system that can be activated with minimal human input, greatly reducing labor consumption compared to conventional methods requiring coordinated operations in both machine room and hoistway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If car stops at position hindering equipment entry, then conventional rescue cannot be implemented, but alternative solution needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverescue applicabilityVSAvoidrescue implementability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping wheel set acts as an intermediary device that transfers energy from the storage device to the traction belt, enabling movement of the elevator car without requiring access to the hoistway or machine room. This intermediary mechanism allows rescue to be performed from a single location (machine room) regardless of the car's position in the shaft, greatly improving adaptability to different stopping positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If multiple mechanical equipment interventions are required, then rescue can be performed, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverescue capabilityVSAvoidmechanical equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the energy storage function and the driving function into a single integrated clamping wheel set assembly. Instead of requiring separate brake releasing mechanisms, weight suspension systems, and manual operating procedures in both machine room and hoistway, the patent combines these functions into one compact device with an energy storage device and clamping wheels that operate from a single location, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables faster and more convenient rescue operations by allowing the elevator car to be moved to a safe position without interfering with normal elevator operations, reducing the need for extensive mechanical intervention and enhancing applicability across different elevator configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a rotational movement of the ratchet wheel assembly is transmitted to the torsion spring via the sleeve and is converted into an elastic energy of the torsion spring, and the elastic energy of the torsion spring is transmitted to the transmission shaft and is converted into a rotational movement of the transmission shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic energy storage: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the driving wheel and the driven wheel move toward each other to clamp a traction belt connected between an elevator car and an elevator counterweight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3613694B1Elevator balanced-load rescue device, elevator and elevator balanced-load rescue method
Publication Date: 2022.11.23 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3613694B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3613694B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3613694B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

An elevator balanced-load rescue device 100, an elevator, and an elevator balanced-load rescue method are provided by the present disclosure. The elevator balanced-load rescue device 100 includes: a clamping wheel set 110 including a driving wheel 111 and a driven wheel 112 that cooperate with each other; wherein the clamping wheel set 110 has a clamping position and a releasing position; in the clamping position, the driving wheel 111 and the driven wheel 112 move toward each other to clamp a traction belt 210 connected between an elevator car and an elevator counterweight; and in the releasing position, the driving wheel 111 and the driven wheel 112 move opposite to each other to release the traction belt 210; a transmission shaft 120 which has a first end connected to the driving wheel of the clamping wheel set, and which transmits a torque to the driving wheel; and an energy storage device associated with the transmission shaft; wherein the energy storage device is configured to store a mechanical energy, and to convert the mechanical energy into a torque to be transmitted to the transmission shaft. The elevator balanced-load rescue device, elevator and elevator balanced-load rescue method according to the present disclosure have high efficiency and high applicability.