Elevator Cooling Device Using Airflow Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional elevator cooling devices require large installation spaces due to the size of cooling fans needed for high-caloric load components, and they suffer from foreign matter contamination leading to reduced cooling capacity and maintenance challenges, including filter clogging and wear in moving parts.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device that utilizes an air intake section with foreign matter separating means using centrifugal or gravitational forces to reduce foreign matter content in airflow, eliminating the need for filters and minimizing maintenance by discharging separated matter externally.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a cooling fan with large volume is used to cool high-caloric load components, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the installation space required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the air intake function and air discharge function into a single air discharge port structure. The air discharge port serves dual purposes: discharging hot air from the cooling fan and simultaneously serving as the air intake port for the cooling fan, thereby eliminating the need for separate air intake ports and reducing installation space requirements while maintaining sufficient cooling capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The air discharge port is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the air discharge port for hot air and the air intake port for ambient air. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall structure, addressing the space constraint issue

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

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a filter is installed in the air intake port to remove foreign matter, then the protection against dust and sand is improved, but the filter clogs over time requiring maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign matter contaminationVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the foreign matter removal function from the traditional filter component and relocates it to the air discharge port structure. By designing the air discharge port with an inclined surface and drainage hole, foreign matter is naturally separated from the air flow and discharged externally, eliminating the need for filters that require maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The air discharge port structure automatically separates and discharges foreign matter through its inclined surface design and drainage hole configuration. The structure uses gravity and air flow dynamics to self-clean and prevent clogging, eliminating the need for manual filter maintenance while continuing to protect against foreign matter contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If a rotation transmission mechanism is used to mechanically transmit roller guide rotation to the cooling fan, then the fan rotation is achieved, but the number of moving parts increases causing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefan rotationVSAvoidnumber of moving parts
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical rotation transmission mechanism with a direct air flow-driven system. The cooling fan is positioned to be directly driven by air flow from the air intake port, eliminating the need for mechanical transmission components such as gears, belts, or linkages. This reduces the number of moving parts and prevents wear while maintaining fan rotation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses air flow dynamics to drive the cooling fan rotation instead of mechanical transmission. The air intake port directs ambient air flow to rotate the cooling fan, utilizing pneumatic principles to achieve fan rotation without mechanical moving parts, thereby reducing device complexity and maintenance requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 solution provides effective cooling without complex maintenance, reduces the risk of foreign matter contamination, and decreases manufacturing costs by minimizing the number of components and avoiding filter-related issues.

Implementation Method 1

foreign matter separating means which is provided in the air intake section and separates foreign matter contained in the airflow by using at least either a centrifugal force or gravitational force which acts on the foreign matter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

foreign matter separating means which is provided in the air intake section and separates foreign matter contained in the airflow by using at least either a centrifugal force or gravitational force which acts on the foreign matter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

an air discharge fan 22 which serves also as an air discharge port is attached to the other side surface of the cabinet 1... when this air discharge fan 22 rotates, the air whose temperature rises due to the heat generated by the object of cooling 2 is discharged from the cabinet 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2644556B1Cooling device for elevator
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2644556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2644556B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2644556B1 patent drawingFigure 4(a)~4(c)

AI summary

Provided is a cooling device of an elevator which makes complicated maintenance work unnecessary and can obtain a necessary cooling effect. For this purpose, a cooling device of an elevator which cools apparatus provided in a car of the elevator includes an air intake section which introduces an airflow caused by the running wind during the ascent and descent of the car into the interior of the apparatus, an air discharge section which discharges the air in the interior of the apparatus to outside the apparatus, and foreign matter separating means which is provided in the air intake section and separates foreign matter contained in the airflow by using at least either a centrifugal force or gravitational force which acts on the foreign matter. The air intake section is configured in such a manner that the airflow whose foreign matter is separated by the foreign matter separating means and whose foreign matter content is lowered from the foreign matter content before the separation, is introduced into the interior of the apparatus.