Elevator System with Central Support Column and Panoramic Car
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator systems require a dedicated hoistway against building walls, limiting installation flexibility and providing only partial sightseeing views due to their wall-dependent design.
Innovation Solution
The elevator system employs a support column with a counterweight and traction assembly, allowing the car to reciprocate along the column, eliminating the need for wall-mounted hoistways and enabling panoramic views by surrounding the column with car doors and transparent outer walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the elevator system uses a wall-mounted hoistway design, then the structural stability is improved, but the installation flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator system is divided into independent modular components: a support column module, a car module, and a counterweight module. The support column can be independently installed and positioned, separating the structural support function from the wall structure, thereby enabling flexible installation in various locations without requiring wall-mounted hoistways.
Solution Approach 2:
The support column acts as an intermediary element between the building structure and the elevator car. It provides the necessary structural support and guidance for the elevator car while being independently installable, thus mediating between the need for structural stability and installation flexibility.
2Measurement precision
If the elevator car is enclosed by wall-mounted guide rails, then the guiding precision is improved, but the sightseeing angle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding elements are arranged in a circular pattern around the support column, creating a three-dimensional guiding structure. This allows the car to be guided precisely while having transparent outer walls, as the guiding function is provided by the spatial arrangement of guide rails around the column rather than by wall-mounted rails that would block the view.
Solution Approach 2:
The car is designed with transparent outer walls that can be rotated or adjusted, allowing passengers to have panoramic views while the car is still guided precisely by the support column and surrounding guide rails. The transparent walls replace traditional opaque wall structures.
3Reliability
If the elevator system requires dedicated hoistway installation, then the operational reliability is improved, but the device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support column serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, guides the elevator car movement, supports the counterweight, and can be installed in various locations without requiring a dedicated wall-mounted hoistway. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity of the system while maintaining operational reliability.
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 enhances installation flexibility, allowing elevator use in various environments and supports multi-compartment shared elevators, while providing a broader sightseeing angle.
Implementation Method 1
a counterweight arranged in the support column; a car having a through hole penetrating in a vertical direction, wherein the car is arranged around the support column via the through hole; and a traction assembly, wherein the car is connected to the counterweight via the traction assembly, and the car and the counterweight reciprocate along the length direction of the support column under the traction of the traction assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator system and a support column assembly. The elevator system includes a support column, with the bottom end thereof connected to a bottom mounting base, and the top end thereof connected to a top mounting base; a counterweight arranged in the support column; a car having a through hole penetrating in a vertical direction, wherein the car is arranged around the support column via the through hole; and a traction assembly, wherein the car is connected to the counterweight via the traction assembly, and the car and the counterweight reciprocate along the length direction of the support column under the traction of the traction assembly.