Elevator Oscillation Dampers for Vertical Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevators experience noticeable vertical oscillations due to reduced damping, causing discomfort to passengers, especially during changes in weight, and face traction challenges due to optimized rope dimensions for cost and weight reduction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating oscillation dampers with weight elements suspended by a cross beam, featuring deformable members and shock absorbers to alter the natural frequency and reduce oscillations, which can be added to existing elevators as a passive system without electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If rope dimensions are optimized to reduce cost and weight, then economic efficiency is improved, but damping capacity is reduced causing increased vertical oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces oscillation dampers as intermediary devices suspended from the elevator car frame. These dampers include weight elements connected through deformable members that provide the necessary damping force without requiring the main suspension ropes to be heavier. The dampers act as mediators between the lightweight ropes and the oscillation control requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping function is segmented from the suspension rope system and implemented as separate oscillation damper units. Each damper is an independent component with weight elements and deformable members, allowing the ropes to remain lightweight while the damping function is provided by dedicated components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If oscillation dampers with weight elements are added to reduce vertical oscillation, then passenger comfort is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillation dampers utilize dynamic weight elements that move vertically relative to the damper body through deformable members. This dynamic configuration allows the dampers to actively respond to oscillation forces and provide damping without requiring complex control systems or multiple static components.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampers change the natural frequency parameters of the elevator car system by adding mass elements with specific stiffness characteristics through the deformable members. This parameter modification reduces vertical oscillation without requiring complex structural changes to the elevator car itself.
3Force
If dead weights are added to increase traction between suspension ropes and drive wheel, then traction is improved, but car weight is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillation dampers with weight elements serve as intermediary mass elements that provide ballast for improved traction between the suspension ropes and drive wheel. The weight elements are suspended from the car frame and provide the necessary downward force without permanently increasing the car's structural weight, as they can be decoupled when not needed.
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 effectively reduces vertical oscillations and enhances traction by modifying the elevator's weight distribution, improving passenger comfort and ride quality while maintaining economic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one or more deformable members between the one or more weight blocks and the damper body for resisting vertical movement of the one or more weight blocks relative to the damper body. Particularly, vertical movement of the one or more weight blocks relative to the damper body is arranged to cause the one or more deformable members to deform and resist vertical movement
Implementation Method 2
one or more of the weight elements are oscillation dampers for dampening vertical oscillation of the car
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7
AI summary
The invention relates to an elevator comprising an elevator car (1), the elevator car (1) comprising an interior (2) for receiving a load to be transported; a car frame (3) via which the elevator car (1) is suspended by a roping (R), the car frame (3) comprising at least one horizontally oriented cross beam (3a) extending across the vertical projection of the interior (2); and a plurality of weight elements (4,5) forming a line (L) of weight elements and being suspended by the cross beam (3a). One or more of the weight elements (4,5) are oscillation dampers (4) for dampening vertical oscillation of the car (1). The invention also relates to a method for modifying an existing elevator to be as described above.