Elevator Guide Rail Basket Layout for Faster Shaft Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of guide rails in high-rise buildings is time-consuming due to the repetitive driving of installation platforms up and down the elevator shaft, leading to increased non-productive work and prolonged installation times.

Innovation Solution

An arrangement comprising an installation platform with a guide rail basket suspended below it, allowing simultaneous transport of multiple guide rail elements, reducing the need for repetitive platform driving and enhancing safety by supporting the elements below the platform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If guide rail elements are transported one by one on the installation platform, then the platform structure remains simple, but the installation time increases significantly due to repetitive driving up and down

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidnon-productive driving time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail elements are segmented into multiple individual components that can be independently loaded onto the installation platform. Each element can be transported separately and installed sequentially, allowing the platform to carry multiple discrete guide rail sections rather than requiring one element per trip. This segmentation enables batch transportation and reduces the total number of trips needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by suspending guide rail elements below the installation platform. Instead of only using horizontal space on the platform surface, the solution extends the loading capacity into the vertical space underneath the platform, effectively creating a multi-level transport configuration that increases capacity without expanding the platform's horizontal footprint.

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

2Productivity

If multiple guide rail elements are carried simultaneously on the platform, then installation time decreases, but the platform structure becomes more complex and less stable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidplatform structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Suspension means act as an intermediary mechanism between the installation platform and the guide rail elements. These suspension components (such as hooks, chains, or cables) provide a simple yet effective connection that allows multiple elements to be carried without requiring complex structural modifications to the platform itself. The intermediary suspension system absorbs the complexity of multi-element handling while keeping the platform structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By utilizing the vertical space below the platform, the invention avoids the need for expanded horizontal platform structures. The guide rail elements hang downward in the vertical dimension, allowing multiple elements to be suspended in parallel or stacked configurations without increasing the platform's horizontal complexity or reducing its stability.

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

3Ease of operation

If guide rail elements are placed on the platform floor, then loading is simple, but there is safety risk of elements falling on workers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading simplicityVSAvoidsafety hazard to workers
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail elements are positioned in the vertical dimension by suspending them below the platform floor level. This spatial repositioning removes the elements from the workspace area where workers stand, eliminating the safety hazard of falling objects while maintaining simple loading procedures. The elements hang in the unused vertical space underneath the platform, out of the way of ground-level operations.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The potentially hazardous guide rail elements are extracted from the platform floor area and relocated to the space below the platform. This separation removes the source of the safety hazard (falling elements) from the worker environment while keeping the loading process simple, as elements can still be easily attached to the suspension means from the platform level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Quantity of substance

If the installation platform is driven repeatedly up and down for each guide rail element, then transport capacity per trip remains low, but the time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of guide rails transportedVSAvoidrepetitive driving time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Guide rail elements are segmented into multiple transportable units that can be independently loaded and suspended below the platform. This segmentation allows the platform to carry multiple discrete elements in a single trip, increasing the quantity transported per journey and reducing the frequency of repetitive driving cycles required to complete the installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By utilizing vertical suspension space below the platform, the invention effectively increases the platform's transport capacity without requiring larger horizontal dimensions. Multiple guide rail elements can be suspended in parallel or stacked arrangements in the vertical dimension, allowing greater quantity per trip while maintaining the same platform size and reducing repetitive trips.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4419469B1Arrangement and method for installing guide rails of an elevator
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 KONE OYJ
  • EP4419469B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4419469B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4419469B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

An arrangement and method for installing guide rails of an elevator. The arrangement comprises an installation platform (31) movable vertically in an elevator shaft (2) and one or more guide rail baskets (32) hanging below a floor (33) of the installation plat- form for carrying guide rail elements (20) vertically. The several guide rail elements are transported in one transport drive from a lower loading level to a higher installation level by means of the arrangement. This way, several successive sections of the guide rails can be installed at the installation level.