Elevator Suspension Jacket Coating for Crack-Resistant Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator suspension members, such as round steel ropes or flat belts with compressible polymer jackets, are susceptible to damage from contact with foreign objects or debris, leading to undesirable effects like cracking and splitting, especially when bending over sheaves.
Innovation Solution
Applying a protective material, typically a cold temperature-resistant thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, to pre-identified portions of the suspension member jacket that are prone to contact with foreign objects or debris, the protective material is applied to pre-identified portions of the suspension member jacket, enhancing fatigue resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compressible polymer jacket is used to encase suspension members, then the suspension members are protected from corrosion and wear, but the jacket is susceptible to cracking and splitting when bending over sheaves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a protective coating material over the compressible polymer jacket to create a composite structure. This coating provides enhanced resistance to cracking and splitting while maintaining the corrosion and wear protection already provided by the polymer jacket, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective coating is applied specifically to areas of the jacket that are prone to cracking and splitting, such as regions that bend over sheaves. This localized application provides targeted strength enhancement where needed while maintaining the overall flexibility and protection properties of the jacket.
2Reliability
If the entire jacket is coated with protective material, then fatigue resistance is maximized, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective coating is applied selectively to high-stress areas of the jacket that are most susceptible to cracking and splitting, rather than coating the entire jacket uniformly. This localized approach maximizes fatigue resistance where it is most needed while minimizing material usage and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying protective material to the entire jacket surface, the patent applies the coating partially only to the critical areas that experience the highest stress and are most prone to failure. This partial action provides sufficient protection to prevent fatigue-related failures while avoiding the unnecessary cost of coating the entire jacket.
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 protective material provides enhanced fatigue resistance to the suspension member, reducing damage from contact while optimizing cost by using a more expensive material only in critical areas, thus extending the member's lifespan and maintaining system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the protective material provides enhanced fatigue resistance to the suspension member
Implementation Method 2
performing at least one mechanical test to identify the protective material, the at least one mechanical test comprising at least a crack propagation test
Implementation Method 3
the first characteristic comprises a first glass transition temperature and the second characteristic comprises a second glass transition temperature that is less than the first glass transition temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly and method includes selecting a jacket material for a jacket that encases a plurality of tension members, selecting a protective material for the jacket, and covering only pre-identified portions of the jacket with the protective material.