U-Shaped Sheet Metal Profile Rails for Elevator Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator designs are complex and do not effectively enhance compactness and operational reliability, with guide rails that are costly and difficult to assemble, and lack a simple and effective safety mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The use of U-shaped sheet metal profile rails with protruding legs and angled rail parts for guiding the cabin and counterweight, providing a compact, weight-saving, and safe guidance system with integrated safety features, and allowing for easy assembly and adaptation of rail length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional guide rails with hollow profiles and base sections are used, then the section modulus is increased and guide rails can be coupled, but the structural complexity increases and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single U-shaped profile rail: guidance function through the U-shape, structural strength through integrated design, and coupling capability through the base side configuration. This eliminates the need for separate hollow guide sections and base sections, reducing structural complexity while maintaining strength requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-shaped profile rail serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it provides guidance for the cabin, supports the counterweight, enables coupling between rail segments, and offers mounting surfaces for safety devices. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed while achieving all required structural properties.
2Reliability
If conventional guide rails are used, then guidance function is provided, but the assembly difficulty increases and cost-effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is divided into modular segments that can be manufactured separately and then coupled together using coupling elements. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing, transportation, and assembly while maintaining the overall guidance function and structural integrity of the complete rail system.
Solution Approach 2:
Coupling elements serve as intermediaries that connect individual rail segments together. These specialized connectors simplify the assembly process by providing a standardized interface between segments, reducing assembly difficulty while ensuring reliable mechanical connection and maintaining guidance reliability.
3Reliability
If integrated safety features are added to guide rails, then operational safety is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Safety device mounting features are integrated directly into the U-shaped profile rail structure. The rail includes built-in mounting surfaces and attachment points that allow safety devices to be securely mounted without requiring separate complex mounting structures, thereby enhancing safety while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-shaped profile rail simultaneously provides guidance functionality and integrated mounting capabilities for safety devices. This multi-functionality allows safety features to be incorporated into the existing rail structure rather than adding separate safety systems, enhancing operational safety without proportionally increasing device complexity.
4Volume of moving object
If space-saving design is implemented, then compactness is improved, but the structural simplicity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped profile combines guidance, support, and coupling functions in a single compact structural element. This merging of functions achieves space-saving compactness while actually reducing overall structural complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate components that would occupy more space.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An elevator, in particular a passenger and/or goods elevator, comprises a movable cabin (1) and a counterweight (4) connected to it, which have guide elements (9a) sliding in longitudinal guides (6, 7) that can be fixed in an elevator shaft running in the direction of travel of the cabin (1). These longitudinal guides (6, 7) are formed, at least for the cabin, by sheet metal profile rails (11) each with a U-shaped cross-section, each having projecting legs (13, 14) with sliding surfaces (13a, 13b, 13c) for the guide elements (9a) of the cabin (1). Preferably, one projecting leg (13) of the respective sheet metal profile rail (11) is provided with an angled rail section (15) for guiding the counterweight (4) and the other projecting leg (14) of the sheet metal profile rail (11) is provided with an angled rail section (16) for engaging in a catch device (17) for the cabin (1).This enables not only a simple design but also a very rigid and absolutely smooth-running guidance of the cabin.