Elevator Guide Means for Emergency Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems with linear drives face challenges when part or all of the linear drive fails, making it difficult to access or evacuate a stuck car, as service work or evacuation becomes impractical due to the inability to use the defective section.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a guide device with guide means that allow an elevator car to be moved using an alternative drive independent of the linear drive, enabling access and evacuation by a service car or equipping regular cars with an alternative drive for backup, which includes a rail with teeth and gaps for positive contact with a pinion or chain, and using a more wear-resistant material for the guide means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a linear drive is used for moving elevator cars, then the elevator system achieves efficient and reliable operation, but if the linear drive fails, the system loses the ability to access or evacuate stuck cars
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device is segmented into two independent functional components: a guide rail for normal linear drive operation and separate guide means (such as a rack with teeth) for alternative drive operations. This segmentation allows the system to maintain emergency access capability through the alternative drive path even when the primary linear drive fails
Solution Approach 2:
The guide means acts as an intermediary structure that enables alternative drive mechanisms (such as winches or rescue cars) to access and move elevator cars when the primary linear drive fails. This intermediary component provides a backup pathway that is independent of the failed linear drive system
2Adaptability or versatility
If guide means are added to the guide device for alternative drive, then emergency access and evacuation capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide means is merged with the existing guide rail structure, where the rack with teeth is integrated along the same vertical path as the guide rail. This merging approach allows the alternative drive system to use the same spatial envelope and mounting structure as the primary drive, minimizing additional complexity while providing emergency access capability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both the guide rail for normal operation and the guide means for emergency operations within a single integrated structure. This universal design allows the same physical structure to serve multiple purposes: guiding cars during normal service and enabling rescue operations during emergencies
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
Enables safe and efficient access to defective sections of the elevator system, allowing for the movement of stuck cars using alternative drives, reducing assembly time and maintenance, and providing a backup solution for service or evacuation purposes.
Implementation Method 1
Linear motors can be conceptually thought of as a rotary motor unwound in one plane. Such a linear motor comprises a primary part and a secondary part. The primary part is comparable to a stator of a rotary motor and can be designed, for example, as a current-carrying coil. The secondary part, or reaction part, is comparable to a rotor or rotor of a rotary motor and can be designed as a magnet, for example as a permanent magnet or electromagnet.
Implementation Method 2
Braking coils are applied to the teeth of the rail, by means of which a car can be braked through interaction with the part of the linear drive on the car side.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a guiding device (100) for an elevator system comprising at least one elevator cab which can be moved by means of a linear drive along the guiding device (100), the guiding device (100) comprising a guide rail (110) on which the at least one elevator cab can be guided, and a stationary part (120) of the linear drive. The guiding device has guiding means (130) which extend at least partly along the guiding device (100) and are designed such that an elevator cab can be moved along them by means of an alternative drive, which is different from the linear drive. The invention also relates to an elevator system and to a method for operating an elevator system.