Elevator Rope Guide System with Segmented Stops
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-rise buildings experience excessive rope sway in elevator systems during earthquakes or high winds, leading to potential damage and objectionable vibrations, which existing solutions, such as cable stabilizers and antiwobble walls, are inadequate to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
An elevator rope guide system comprising vertically movable rope guides and stop mechanisms positioned at different intermediate heights along the hoistway, with notches and protrusions allowing the guides to engage and stop at specific heights, and incorporating rollers and dampers to mitigate sway, including permanent magnets for shock absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing cable stabilizers or antiwobble walls are used, then some rope sway restriction is achieved, but they are inadequate for high rise buildings with longer ropes and excessive sway
Solution Approach 1:
The hoistway is divided into multiple zones with stop mechanisms positioned at different intermediate heights. Rope guides are segmented to engage with specific stops based on car position, creating a distributed system that effectively restrains rope sway throughout the entire travel distance, particularly addressing the excessive sway in high rise buildings.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a vertical dimension to rope sway control by positioning stop mechanisms at multiple heights along the hoistway. Instead of relying on a single horizontal restraint point, the system creates a three-dimensional restraint network that addresses sway throughout the vertical travel path, making it effective for high rise applications.
2Ease of operation
If rope guides are allowed to move freely to collect at the top, then they can be positioned above the elevator car, but they may drop below intermediate locations causing excessive sway
Solution Approach 1:
Stop mechanisms are pre-positioned at intermediate heights along the hoistway before the elevator car arrives. These stops are ready to engage rope guides that may drop below intermediate locations, preventing excessive sway before it occurs and maintaining position stability throughout the car's travel.
Solution Approach 2:
Stop mechanisms act as intermediary elements between the freely moving rope guides and the fixed hoistway structure. The stops provide controlled restraint points that allow rope guides to move upward freely while preventing excessive downward movement, thus maintaining stability without completely restricting motion.
3Measurement precision
If stop mechanisms are positioned at intermediate heights, then rope guides can be stopped at precise heights, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop mechanism system is segmented into multiple simple units positioned at different heights, each capable of restraining rope guides independently. This segmentation allows precise positioning control without requiring a single complex stopping mechanism, as each stop is a relatively simple component that can be independently implemented.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses variations in stop mechanism positioning (vertical parameter) to achieve precise stopping positions for rope guides. By changing the vertical location parameter of stops along the hoistway, the system achieves precise height control without increasing the intrinsic complexity of each individual stop mechanism.
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
Effectively restricts rope sway by engaging and stopping the rope guides at precise heights, reducing damage and vibration, while the rollers and dampers absorb lateral movement and impact, enhancing safety and operational stability.
Implementation Method 1
The guide members are provided with rollers which reduce friction between the guide members and the hoistway walls
Implementation Method 2
The stop mechanisms may include impact absorption elements such as rubber material or permanent magnets
Implementation Method 3
The stop mechanisms may include impact absorption elements such as rubber material or permanent magnets
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An elevator rope guide system comprises a plurality of rope guides for restricting the swaying of at least one main rope and a plurality of stop mechanisms each configured to stop a corresponding rope guide. The rope guides are located above an elevator car and/or counterweight and are vertically movable along a hoistway. The stop mechanisms are positioned at different intermediate heights along the hoistway. The elevator rope guides are collected by the elevator car or counterweight as the elevator car or counterweight moves up and are stopped by a corresponding stop mechanism as the elevator car or counterweight moves down.