Elevator Guide with Mass Redistribution and Resilient Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator guides are inefficient in exploiting mechanical features, leading to excess weight and material usage, and have complex installation processes that increase construction time and cost.
Innovation Solution
A guide with a variable thickness base and central protrusion, featuring mass-redistribution portions and an intermediate fastening element with resilient pressure means for quick and reliable installation, optimizing mechanical performance and reducing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If guides are made with traditional T-shaped cross-section and uniform thickness, then structural strength is maintained, but weight and material usage increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The guide employs variable thickness design where the base portion has different thicknesses at different locations: thicker at the ends for mounting strength and thinner at the central protrusion for weight reduction. This local quality variation allows optimal material distribution - sufficient material where structurally critical, minimal material where less critical, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining required structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure utilizes parameter changes in thickness along its length. The base portion transitions from thicker end regions to a thinner central region, and the central protrusion has its own thickness variation. These parameter changes enable the guide to achieve both strength requirements and weight reduction by adapting material quantity to local structural needs.
2Reliability
If guides are secured using bolts and intermediate hooking elements, then reliable fixation is achieved, but installation complexity and construction time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide design extracts the mounting function from the main body by incorporating dedicated mounting portions with through-holes at the base ends. This separation allows simple bolt fixation without requiring complex intermediate hooking elements, reducing installation complexity while maintaining reliable fixation through direct attachment to the building structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide's base portion is designed with inherent mounting capabilities through the inclusion of mounting portions with through-holes, enabling self-fixation to the building structure without requiring additional intermediate elements. This self-service approach simplifies installation by allowing direct mounting while ensuring reliable fixation.
3Ease of manufacture
If guides have excessive material and non-optimized structure, then manufacturing is simpler, but structural efficiency and mechanical strength exploitation are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The variable thickness design with thicker ends and thinner central region implements local quality optimization, placing material precisely where structurally necessary. This maintains manufacturing simplicity through a relatively straightforward extrusion or forming process while dramatically improving structural efficiency by eliminating excess material from non-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide employs parameter changes in the thickness profile along its length, transitioning from thicker to thinner sections. This parameter variation optimizes structural efficiency by matching material distribution to stress requirements, while the overall simple geometric form maintains ease of manufacture through standard fabrication processes.
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 guide achieves greater structural efficiency with reduced weight, faster and more accurate manufacturing, and simplified, cost-effective installation, while maintaining high quality and stability.
Implementation Method 1
resilient pressure means for pressing the guide against the wall
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A guide for lifts comprises a base portion, two boundary edges placed at opposite side ends of the base portion and a central protrusion emerging from the base portion; the guide further comprises at least one mass- redistribution portion formed in the base portion and adapted to lighten the base portion at an intermediate part thereof included between the central protrusion and at least one boundary edge, and also adapted to make the base portion heavy at a localised end part thereof in the vicinity of at least one boundary edge.