Elevator Guide Rail Transport Frame Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for installing guide rails in elevator shafts are time-consuming and inefficient, particularly in high-rise buildings, as each guide rail section must be transported and installed individually, leading to increased installation time and halted work during retrieval.

Innovation Solution

A guide rail installation arrangement featuring a vertically moveable working platform and a transport frame that allows simultaneous transport and installation of multiple guide rail sections, utilizing a hoist system to move the transport frame and working platform along guide rails, reducing the need for individual section retrieval and minimizing installation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If guide rail sections are transported and installed individually, then installation precision can be maintained, but installation time increases significantly and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation precisionVSAvoidinstallation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail system is divided into multiple pre-fabricated sections that can be transported and installed separately. Each section maintains precise dimensions and alignment features, allowing individual handling while ensuring overall installation precision when connected together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Guide rail sections are pre-assembled and pre-aligned at ground level before being lifted into position. The connection elements and alignment features are prepared in advance, so that when sections are installed, they can be quickly connected without requiring time-consuming adjustments at height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a temporary scaffold or lift is constructed for transporting guide rail sections, then handling safety is improved, but device complexity and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling safetyVSAvoidinstallation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator shaft structure itself is utilized as the lifting and support system during installation. The existing hoisting mechanism and shaft configuration serve dual purposes: guiding the final guide rail installation and providing the lifting capability during installation, eliminating the need for separate scaffolding or temporary lifting equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The installation system uses the elevator shaft's own structural elements and hoisting capability to lift and position the guide rail sections. The shaft infrastructure serves its normal function while simultaneously providing the mounting support needed during installation, making the system self-sufficient without external temporary structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If guide rail sections are transported one by one to the working height, then installation accuracy can be ensured, but loss of time increases due to repeated retrieval operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoididle time during retrieval
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple guide rail sections are connected together using connection elements to form longer assembled units. These combined sections are then transported as single pieces to the installation location, reducing the number of separate lifting operations and minimizing idle time while maintaining alignment through the connection elements' built-in alignment features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Connection elements serve as intermediaries between guide rail sections during transport and installation. These elements include alignment features and mounting structures that maintain the precise relative positioning of connected sections, allowing multiple sections to be handled as a unified assembly while ensuring accurate final alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 method significantly speeds up the guide rail installation process by enabling the simultaneous transport and installation of multiple sections, reducing idle time and overall installation duration, especially in high-rise buildings with long hoisting distances.

Implementation Method 1

a hoist system to move the transport frame and working platform along guide rails

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2993153B1Guide rail installation arrangement and a method for installing guide rails
Publication Date: 2022.01.19 KONE OYJ
  • EP2993153B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2993153B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2993153B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A guide rail installation arrangement and a method for installing guide rails are disclosed. The guide rail installation arrangement for installing guide rails (1, 2) in an elevator shaft (3) comprises at least one vertically moveable working platform (4) within the elevator shaft (3) for reaching the installation height and a material hoist (5) for moving guide rail sections (1a, 2a) for installing the guide rail sections (1a, 2a). The guide rail installation arrangement is characterized in that it further comprises a transport frame (6) for transporting guide rail sections (1a, 2a) vertically within the elevator shaft (3) and a frame hoist (7) that is attachable to the transport frame (6) for vertically moving the transport frame (6) and for optionally moving the guide rail sections (1a, 2a) for loading the guide rail sections (1a, 2a) into the transport frame (6).