Elevator Safety Gear Release via Motorized Pulley Lift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for releasing an activated safety gear in elevator installations are cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring manual operation such as pulling a rope with clamps or hydraulic actuators, which are inefficient and impractical.

Innovation Solution

The use of a support with a rotatable pulley and a lifting device that lifts the support member and pulley assembly to release the activated safety gear, allowing for a more straightforward and user-friendly method by moving the elevator unit upwards to disengage the jammed safety gear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional manual methods (clamps and hoist) are used to release the safety gear, then the safety gear can be released, but the operation is very cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of releasing safety gearVSAvoidtime required for releasing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional manual mechanical releasing method (clamps and hoist) with an automated electrical control system. The releasing device includes an electrical motor that winds the safety rope to lift the elevator car, thereby automatically releasing the safety gear without requiring manual intervention with clamps and hoist equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service releasing through automated control. The control unit automatically coordinates the motor to wind the safety rope and lift the car to the appropriate position for releasing the safety gear, eliminating the need for operators to perform cumbersome manual operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If hydraulic posts and manual hydraulic actuator are used to release the safety gear, then the safety gear can be released, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of releasing safety gearVSAvoidcomplexity of releasing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex hydraulic system (hydraulic posts and manual hydraulic actuator) with a simpler electrical motor-driven system. The motor winds the safety rope through a drum mechanism to lift the car, providing a more straightforward and less complex solution for releasing the safety gear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If traditional manual hoisting is used in high-rise installations, then the safety gear can be released, but the operation becomes impractical due to heavy and long ropes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepracticality of releasing operationVSAvoidweight of rope and elevator unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual hoisting with an automated electrical motor system that winds the safety rope. This motorized system is capable of handling the weight of long ropes in high-rise installations, making the releasing operation practical and feasible where manual methods would be impractical.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a drum as an intermediary mechanism between the motor and the safety rope. The drum winds the safety rope in a controlled manner, enabling the motor to effectively manage the weight and length of the rope in high-rise installations, thereby facilitating the releasing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables rapid and efficient release of the safety gear, reducing operational time and effort, and is suitable for high-rise installations where traditional methods face challenges with heavy and long ropes.

Implementation Method 1

a lifting device for lifting the support member, makes it possible to release the activated safety gear

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3153444B1An elevator installation and a method

Publication Date: 2020.01.22 KONE OYJ

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AI summary

The invention relates to an elevator installation comprising at least one elevator unit which is suspended by a rope (3), a safety gear moving with the elevator unit, one or more rotatable pulleys (4) over which the rope (3) runs, and a drive unit (5) engaging said rope via one of said pulleys for vertically moving the one or more elevator units via the rope (3). In order to obtain a simple solution for releasing an activated safety gear the elevator installation comprises a support member (10) supporting at least one of said one or more rotatable pulleys (4), and a lifting device (12) for vertically lifting the support member (10) with the at least one of said one or more pulleys (4) and for releasing the activated safety gear by moving the at least one elevator unit upwards.