Coated Elevator Rope Clamp With Static Charge Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coated elevator ropes experience static charge buildup due to their nonconductive polymer coatings, leading to potential static electricity discharges, rope deflection, and increased risk of dust fires, which are not issues with traditional steel wire ropes.
Innovation Solution
A clamp for coated elevator ropes that incorporates piercing instruments on the wedge and/or the internal tapered hollow of the socket body, which are electrically conductive and penetrate the insulating coating to establish contact with the conductive tensile members, thereby conducting away static charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a polymer coating is applied to protect steel filaments from abrasion, then the protection against wear and tear is improved, but static charge builds up on the coating surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces piercing instruments as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the insulating polymer coating and the conductive steel core. These instruments create conductive pathways through the coating, allowing static charge to be conducted away while preserving the coating's protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp is divided into functional segments: the socket body with internal tapered hollow, the wedge with piercing instruments, and the conductive path components. This segmentation allows the insulating coating to remain intact for protection while the piercing instruments provide localized conductive channels.
2Strength
If static charge builds up on the coated elevator rope, then the rope is protected from direct filament contact, but the static electricity may cause dust fires or rope deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful static charge buildup into a beneficial conductive path. The piercing instruments transform the insulating property of the coating from a hazard (charge accumulation) into a controlled feature where charge is safely conducted through the steel core to the clamp and ground.
3Reliability
If traditional steel wire ropes are used, then static electricity issues are avoided, but the hoisting machine size cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the coating insulating (for protection) while creating localized conductive pathways through the piercing instruments. This allows the rope to have different electrical properties in different locations: insulating where protection is needed, conductive where charge dissipation is required.
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 clamp effectively addresses static charge buildup by providing a conductive path for static electricity to be dissipated, reducing the risk of static-related issues such as dust fires and rope deflection, while maintaining the advantages of coated elevator ropes.
Implementation Method 1
The piercing instruments on the wedge and/or the internal tapered hollow of the socket body are electrically conductive and penetrate the insulating coating to establish contact with the conductive tensile members, thereby conducting away static charge.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a clamp or termination for a coated elevator rope in an elevator. When coated elevator ropes are used electrostatic charge may build up in the ropes due to the insulating coating. These charges generate repelling or attracting forces between the parallel ropes, which hampers the correct running of the ropes in the pulleys and in extreme cases may derail the coated elevator ropes. The wedge and socket clamps according the invention discriminate themselves from prior art wedge and socket clamps in that the piercing instruments are provided in the low tension zone of the clamp. These piercing instruments can take the form of pins, fins or other protrusions and establish an electrical connection between the wedge and the conductive tensile member. Such an elevator clamp allows to leak static electricy being build up or allows wear detection per elevator rope.