Elevator Rope Lateral Stability via Contoured Guide Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevators with light-weighted roping between the elevator car and counterweight experience unintended lateral movement due to low rope tension and sensitivity to air flow disturbances, particularly in elevators with long lifting heights, which can cause the ropes to sway and touch hoistway components, making a reliable tie-down mechanism difficult to provide.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of contoured rope shapes with guide ribs and grooves, combined with a rope wheel arrangement featuring a tensioning system and movable rope wheels, ensures adequate grip and reduces lateral movement by compensating for the light-weighted and belt-like nature of the ropes, maintaining tension within a suitable range to prevent unwanted horizontal movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If light-weighted non-metallic fiber ropes are used in the second roping, then weight is reduced, but lateral stability deteriorates due to low tension and sensitivity to air flow disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The rope wheel circumference is formed with a contoured shape that provides lateral guidance for the belt-like rope. The contoured side of the rope with guide ribs and grooves fits against the contoured circumference, creating a geometric interlocking system that prevents lateral movement and sway while allowing the lightweight non-metallic construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The rope tension is adjusted to an optimal range by the tensioning system to provide sufficient lateral stability without compromising the light-weighted design. The contoured guidance system changes the physical parameters of rope-wheel interaction to prevent sway caused by low tension.
2Ease of manufacture
If belt-like contoured ropes are used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but grip reliability deteriorates due to reduced friction contact
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured circumference of the rope wheel and the corresponding contoured side of the rope create a geometric interlocking system with guide ribs and grooves. This shape-based engagement provides reliable grip and lateral guidance without relying solely on friction, enabling the use of belt-like contoured ropes that are easier to manufacture.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rope tension is increased to reduce lateral movement, then lateral stability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured guidance system between the rope and rope wheel provides passive lateral stability through geometric interlocking. The guide ribs and grooves create a self-guiding mechanism that reduces lateral movement without requiring excessive active tensioning, thereby reducing energy consumption of the tensioning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The rope tension is optimized to a moderate range rather than being maximized. The contoured guidance system compensates for the reduced tension by providing mechanical lateral guidance, achieving stability with lower energy input to the tensioning system.
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
This configuration effectively reduces unintended lateral movement of the light-weighted roping, ensuring reliable operation and safety by maintaining adequate rope contact and tension, even in elevators with long lifting heights, without increasing the number of ropes needed.
Implementation Method 1
said at least one rope of the second roping is a belt-like rope having at least one contoured side provided with guide rib(s) and/or guide groove(s) oriented in the longitudinal direction of the rope, said side being fitted to pass against a contoured circumference of a rope wheel
Implementation Method 2
The implementation of contoured rope shapes with guide ribs and grooves, combined with a rope wheel arrangement featuring a tensioning system and movable rope wheels, ensures adequate grip and reduces lateral movement by compensating for the light-weighted and belt-like nature of the ropes, maintaining tension within a suitable range to prevent unwanted horizontal movement.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~4e
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an elevator comprising an elevator car (1) and a counterweight (2), and a first roping (3) between the elevator car (1) and counterweight (2) suspending the elevator car (1) and the counterweight (2), said first roping (3) comprising at least one rope (8). The elevator further comprises a second roping (4) between the elevator car (1) and counterweight (2) suspended to hang from the elevator car (1) and counterweight (2), the second roping (4) comprising at least one rope (7-7""), and a rope wheel arrangement (5), having at least one rope wheel (6), around which said at least one rope (7-7"") of the second roping (4) passes. The longitudinal force transmission capability of said at least one rope (7-7"") of the second roping (4) is based essentially on non-metallic fibers, and said at least one rope (7-7"") of the second roping (4) is a belt-like rope (7-7"") having at least one contoured side (9) provided with guide rib(s) (10) and/or guide groove(s) (11) oriented in the longitudinal direction of the rope (7-7""), said side (9) being fitted to pass against a contoured circumference (12-12"") of a rope wheel (6) of said rope wheel arrangement (5), said circumference (8) being provided with guide rib(s) (14) and/or guide groove(s) (13) so that said contoured circumference (12-12"") forms a counterpart for said contoured side (9) of the rope (7-7"").