Elevator Counterweight Roller Guide Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing counterweight guide systems in elevators suffer from vibrations and uneven load distribution due to multiple contact surfaces with guide rails, which can lead to increased energy consumption, noise, and reduced space efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A counterweight guiding arrangement featuring a guide rail with a guide groove and a roller guide with overlapping roller wheels, each rotating on a plane at an angle to the others, providing stable support and minimizing horizontal movement while optimizing space usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a roller guide with three rollers is used to guide the counterweight, then the counterweight can be supported, but vibration and uneven load are produced due to multiple contact surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidvibration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roller guide is divided into multiple independent roller elements (at least two rollers) that contact the guide rail at different points. Each roller independently supports the counterweight, distributing the load and reducing vibration through the segmentation of contact points rather than having multiple contact surfaces on a single roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rollers are arranged at different positions along the guide rail, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the guide rail to create multiple contact points. This spatial arrangement in one dimension allows the rollers to work independently, reducing the harmful effects of multiple contact surfaces while maintaining support stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If guide shoes are installed above the upper counterweight frame cross beam and below the lower counterweight frame cross beam, then the counterweight can be guided, but the effective height for fillers is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding functionVSAvoideffective height for fillers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The roller guides are positioned to contact the guide rail at multiple points along the longitudinal axis, utilizing the length dimension rather than requiring vertical space. This allows the guiding function to be achieved without reducing the vertical effective height available for filler placement within the counterweight frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding function is segmented into multiple roller contact points distributed along the guide rail, eliminating the need for a single large guide shoe structure that would occupy vertical space. This segmentation allows the counterweight frame to maintain its full effective height for fillers while still providing reliable guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Weight of moving object

If the counterweight needs sufficient weight for effective balancing, then the balancing function is improved, but the horizontal space required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecounterweightVSAvoidhorizontal space
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The roller guide arrangement utilizes the vertical dimension and longitudinal positioning along the guide rail to provide stable support. This allows the counterweight to achieve sufficient weight for effective balancing without requiring increased horizontal clearance, as the guidance is provided through vertically arranged rollers contacting the guide rail at different heights.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 reduces unwanted horizontal movement, conserves space, and allows for increased filler volume, enhancing the counterweight's balancing efficiency and reducing noise and vibration during elevator operation.

Implementation Method 1

each of the roller wheels being configured to move along a guide groove-facing surface of one of said lateral portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3018085B1Counterweight guiding arrangement for an elevator
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 KONE OYJ
  • EP3018085B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3018085B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3018085B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A counterweight guiding arrangement for an elevator is disclosed. It comprises at least one guide rail (10), at least one roller guide (20) configured to move along the guide rail, the guide rail comprising two lateral portions (11) defining a guide groove (12) therebetween. The roller guide comprises a guide frame (21) and at least two roller wheels (22) attached to the guide frame. Each of the roller wheels has a plane of rotation (23). The counterweight guiding arrangement is characterized in that each of the roller wheels is configured to move along a guide groove-facing surface (13) of one of said lateral portions, so that each said guide groove-facing surface has at least one roller wheel configured to move thereon. It is further characterized in that there are at least two planes of rotation of the roller wheels, the planes of rotation being at an angle to each other, and that the projections of the roller wheels on a plane perpendicular to the direction of the roller guide movement overlap at least partially.