Elevator Rescue Force Application Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator rescue devices require direct access to the elevator hoistway and are cumbersome for remotely applying forces to move an elevator car out of a balanced state with a counterweight, limiting effective and safe rescue operations.
Innovation Solution
A force application assembly with a removably attached first portion to the hoistway, a partially elastic second portion attached to the elevator car or counterweight, and an actuation mechanism that stores force as elastic potential energy, allowing an operator outside the hoistway to apply forces using a reversible chain mechanism or pulley block, enabling remote operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing rescue devices are used to apply force to move the elevator car, then the car can be moved out of balanced position, but the operator requires direct access to the hoistway making the operation cumbersome and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary force application assembly that includes a first attachment portion fixed to the hoistway and a second attachment portion connected to the elevator car. This intermediary mechanism allows the operator to apply force remotely through a transmission mechanism (rod, cable, or chain) without direct access to the hoistway, thereby improving safety while maintaining operational effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The force application assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a first attachment portion for hoistway mounting, a second attachment portion for car mounting, and a transmission mechanism. This segmentation allows the operator to interact with the system from outside the hoistway while the force is transmitted through the segmented components to move the car, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and safety
2Ease of operation
If a dedicated rescue device is used to apply force onto the steel wire rope, then the elevator car can be moved to desired position, but the device complexity increases and requires cooperation with speed governor and closed loop cable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force application function from the complex existing rescue device system that requires speed governor cooperation. The simplified force application assembly directly applies force to the elevator car through attachment portions without needing to integrate with the speed governor or closed loop cable system, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining rescue functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The force application assembly is designed as a universal device that can be applied to elevator cars regardless of the specific speed governor or control system. The assembly provides multi-functional capability by enabling force application, position adjustment, and rescue operations through a single integrated structure, reducing the need for specialized complex equipment
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
Enables safe and efficient remote operation to break the balanced state of the elevator car and counterweight, facilitating rescue by storing and releasing elastic potential energy to change the elevator car's position without requiring direct access to the hoistway.
Implementation Method 1
the force is stored as elastic potential energy in the second attachment portion before the balanced state of the elevator car and the counterweight is broken
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application provides a force application assembly (100), an elevator and a method of elevator rescue. The force application assembly (100) is provided for applying a force to an elevator car (103) when the elevator car (103) and a counterweight (105) are in a balanced state, and the force application assembly (100) includes: a first attachment portion (110), which is configured to be removably attached to an elevator hoistway (117); a second attachment portion (120), one end of which is removably fixed relative to the elevator car (103) or the counterweight (105), and which is configured to be at least partially elastic; an actuation portion (130) connected between the first attachment portion (110) and the second attachment portion (120), wherein the first attachment portion (110) is configured to be fixed relative to the actuation portion (130), and the second attachment portion (120) is configured to be movable relative to the actuation portion (130); and an operation portion (140), which is associated with the actuation portion (130) and is operable to move the second attachment portion (120) away from or close to the actuation portion (130); wherein the actuation portion (130) applies a force to the second attachment portion (120), and the force is stored as elastic potential energy in the second attachment portion (120) before the balanced state of the elevator car (103) and the counterweight (105) is broken.