Elevator Suspension Member With Corrosion-Inhibitor Jacket for Bare Steel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator systems using flat belts or ropes with bare steel cords face high costs due to the need for pre-coated steel wires to meet corrosion-inhibiting requirements, limiting cost-effective alternatives.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a corrosion inhibitor into the jacket material of elevator suspension members, such as an organic heterocyclic compound, to provide corrosion protection without pre-coating the steel cords, thereby forming a corrosion-inhibiting coating during the jacket formation process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-coated steel wires are used, then corrosion protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The corrosion inhibitor is incorporated into the jacket material during manufacturing, so that corrosion protection is applied in advance during the jacket formation process itself, eliminating the need for separate pre-coating of steel wires

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The corrosion protection function is merged with the jacket material by incorporating the corrosion inhibitor into the polymer matrix, combining two functions (structural jacket and corrosion protection) into a single integrated component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If pre-coated steel wires are used, then corrosion protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The jacket material serves multiple functions: providing structural support, compression, and simultaneously delivering corrosion protection through the incorporated inhibitor, making the jacket a multi-functional component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 method reduces costs by eliminating the need for pre-coated steel and maintains effective corrosion protection, expanding material options for tension members.

Implementation Method 1

the corrosion inhibitor contacts the tension members and establishes a corrosion-inhibiting coating on the tension members

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS12358203B2Elevator load bearing suspension member including a corrosion inhibitor in the jacket

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

A load-bearing elevator suspension member includes a plurality of tension members and a compressible jacket at least partially encasing the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes a jacket base material mixed with a corrosion inhibitor that establishes a corrosion-inhibiting coating on the tension members. A method of making such a load-bearing elevator suspension member includes mixing the corrosion inhibitor into a thermoplastic jacket material and applying the resulting mixture to bare steel tension members. As the corrosion inhibitor in the mixture contacts the tension members, the corrosion inhibitor establishes a corrosion-inhibiting coating on the tension members.