Elevator load bearing member having a fabric structure including warp and weft yarns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator load bearing member technologies, including traditional round steel ropes and flat belt systems, face challenges in enhancing load-bearing capacity and durability, necessitating innovative designs to improve performance and longevity.

Innovation Solution

A load bearing member comprising a woven fabric with interlaced warp and weft yarns, including a central portion and lateral edge portions with specific interlocking and bonding techniques, and coated cords to enhance structural integrity and flexibility, fabricated using a shuttleless loom process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional round steel ropes are used, then load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but flexibility and ability to wrap around smaller sheaves is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to wrap around smaller sheavesVSAvoidload-bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional round steel ropes with a flat belt structure composed of flexible cords embedded in a woven fabric matrix. This flat, flexible design enables the belt to wrap around smaller sheaves more effectively while maintaining load-bearing capacity through the distributed cord structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure by embedding load-bearing cords within a woven fabric matrix. This composite design combines the strength of the cords with the flexibility and structural integrity of the fabric, resolving the contradiction between load-bearing capacity and adaptability to smaller sheaves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If flat belt technologies are used, then flexibility improves, but load-bearing capacity and durability need enhancement

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidload-bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating load-bearing cords in the central portion of the belt where maximum stress occurs, while the woven fabric provides flexibility throughout. This localized reinforcement enhances load-bearing capacity without compromising overall flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure of embedded cords within woven fabric allows the belt to simultaneously achieve flexibility from the fabric and enhanced load-bearing capacity from the cord reinforcement, directly addressing the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple interlocking methods are used in lateral edge portions, then structural integrity is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent varies the interlocking parameters of warp and weft yarns in the lateral edge portions to create enhanced structural integrity. By changing the weaving pattern and interlocking methods in specific regions, the design achieves greater stability without requiring fundamentally different manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides a robust, flexible, and cost-effective load bearing member with extended service life, capable of wrapping around smaller sheaves, allowing for reduced motor sizes and improved performance in elevator systems.

Implementation Method 1

at least some of the yarns have a first melting temperature that is higher than a second melting temperature of at least some others of the yarns; the at least some others of the yarns are at least partially melted thereby bonding the yarns together

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

An example embodiment includes an adhesive that at least partially bonds the yarns together

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

the cords include a coating that is configured to at least partially melt and bond to the woven fabric

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP3747816B1Elevator load bearing member having a fabric structure including warp and weft yarns

Publication Date: 2023.08.16 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

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AI summary

An elevator load bearing member (16) includes a plurality of load bearing cords (30) and a woven fabric (22) including a plurality of warp yarns (24) along a length of the load bearing member and a plurality of weft yarns (26) transverse to the length of the load bearing member (16). The woven fabric (32) includes a central portion (32) and lateral edge portions (34) extending along the length of the load bearing member (16). The central portion (32) includes the load bearing cords (30) interlaced with the woven fabric (32). The lateral edge portions (34) each include terminal ends (38) of the weft yarns (26). The central portion (32) has a first plurality of warp yarns (24) situated between laterally outermost ones of the cords (30). The lateral edge portions (34) have a second plurality of warp yarns (24) between the laterally outermost ones of the cords (30) and the terminal ends (38) of the weft yarns (26).