Elevator Machine Support Load Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Machine roomless elevator systems face challenges in load support, installation complexity, and maintenance accessibility, requiring strategic placement of components while minimizing construction costs and technician time within the hoistway.
Innovation Solution
A machine support system with a first portion within the hoistway and a second portion oriented perpendicular to it, supported by a building structure, allowing load distribution between the hoistway and the building structure, reducing the need for counterweight guide rails and enabling maintenance from outside the hoistway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a machine room is eliminated to reduce construction cost, then construction cost is reduced, but load support and component placement become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The machine support is divided into two distinct portions: a first portion positioned within the hoistway to support the machine, and a second portion extending outside the hoistway to transfer load to the building structure. This segmentation allows the system to eliminate the machine room while distributing structural requirements across different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system transitions from a traditional single-location machine room support to a distributed support structure that extends in multiple spatial dimensions - both within and outside the hoistway boundary, utilizing the building structure in a different spatial configuration.
2Ease of manufacture
If components are placed within the hoistway to eliminate machine room, then construction cost is reduced, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The machine support is divided into two distinct portions: a first portion positioned within the hoistway to support the machine, and a second portion extending outside the hoistway to transfer load to the building structure. This segmentation allows the system to eliminate the machine room while distributing structural requirements across different locations.
3Strength
If load is fully supported within hoistway structure, then structural integrity is maintained, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine support is divided into two distinct portions: a first portion positioned within the hoistway to support the machine, and a second portion extending outside the hoistway to transfer load to the building structure. This segmentation allows the system to eliminate the machine room while distributing structural requirements across different locations.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary elevator system comprises a machine support (30) including a first portion (32) situated in a generally horizontal position at least partially within a hoistway (24). A second portion (34) is oriented generally perpendicular to the first portion. The second portion has one end supported by a support surface (52) adjacent the hoistway such that a portion of a load of the machine support is transferred to the support surface. One end of the first portion (32) is supported by the second portion (34) and another end of the first portion is supported by a structural member at least partially in the hoistway such that a remainder of the load of the machine support is transferred to the structural member.