Elevator Rail Clamp Assembly for Tolerance and Length Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator rail fastening systems face challenges in providing consistent and adjustable fastening forces due to manufacturing tolerances and building settlement, leading to potential deformation and misalignment of guide rails.
Innovation Solution
A clamping set comprising a clamp and a spacer that allows for elastic and plastic deformation, enabling adjustable mounting distances and compensating for tolerances, with the spacer being removable to reduce clamping force over time, facilitating length compensation and ensuring stable rail attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid fastening system is used to ensure strong attachment, then the rail can safely absorb lateral guides, but the rail cannot compensate for building height changes and may deform
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system transitions from a rigid static connection to a dynamic adjustable connection. The rail foot holder incorporates an adjustment mechanism that allows the attachment point to move vertically along the rail foot, enabling the system to adapt to building height changes while maintaining secure attachment. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between strong attachment and length compensation.
2Reliability
If the rail is firmly fixed to prevent displacement, then lateral guide forces are absorbed, but frictional forces vary excessively due to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The rail foot holder features a self-adjusting mechanism that automatically compensates for manufacturing tolerances in the rail foot dimensions. The adjustment mechanism allows the fastening system to self-regulate the clamping force and position, ensuring consistent attachment strength regardless of variations in rail foot thickness or geometry. This eliminates the need for precise manual adjustment and reduces frictional force variations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an elastic material is used to provide spring force, then some compliance is achieved, but the force specification remains insufficient and the material loses functionality over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces static elastic materials with a dynamic mechanical adjustment mechanism. Instead of relying on elastic materials that lose their spring force over time, the new design uses an adjustable fastening mechanism that can be manually or automatically repositioned to maintain optimal clamping force. This mechanical adjustment system provides reliable and consistent fastening force without the degradation issues of elastic materials.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the building shrinks or expands over time, then height changes occur, but rigidly fastened rails deform or misalign
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system incorporates vertical adjustability that allows the rail attachment point to move along the rail foot as building height changes. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to accommodate building settlement or expansion without causing rail deformation or misalignment, while the rail remains securely attached to the building structure.
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 ensures a consistent and adjustable clamping force, reducing the range of variation in frictional forces and enabling reliable length compensation, thus preventing rail deformation and ensuring stable elevator operation.
Implementation Method 1
the clamp is partially elastically and partially plastically deformed
Implementation Method 2
the clamp is partially elastically and partially plastically deformed
Implementation Method 3
the spacer being used to maintain a mounting distance between the contact zone of the clamp and the contact side on an upper side of the side part of the rail foot
Implementation Method 4
reducing the range of variation in frictional forces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for fastening a rail (3) of an elevator system (1) to at least one bearing element (4), which is fixed in an elevator shaft (16), by means of at least one clamp set (2) which has a clamp (20) and a spacer (21). In the method, the clamp (20) is arranged on a side part (9) of a rail foot (8) of the rail (3), said side part being arranged on the bearing element (4), such that the clamp (20) can be connected to the bearing element (4) in a fastening zone (34) of the clamp (20) and that a contact zone (30) of the clamp (20) is situated on a bearing side (36) on an upper face (37) of the side part (9) of the rail foot (8). The spacer (21) defines a mounting distance (Δd) between the contact zone (30) of the clamp (20) and the bearing side (36) on the upper face (37) of the side part (9) of the rail foot (8) such that the clamp (20) is partly elastically and partly plastically deformed in the fastening zone (34) thereof, when the clamp (20) is connected to the bearing element (4). The spacer (21) is then at least partially removed so that a distance (68) between the contact zone (30) of the clamp (20) and the bearing side (36) on the upper face (37) of the side part (9) of the rail foot (8) is reduced. The invention also relates to an elevator system (1) which has at least one rail (3) which is mounted using such a method. The invention further relates to a clamp set (2) for fastening a rail (3) of an elevator system (1) to at least one bearing element (4) which is fixed in an elevator shaft (16).