Elevator Termination Assembly Strain Gage Load Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems face challenges in accurately determining the load on the elevator car and ensuring equal distribution of load among load-bearing members, particularly with high-strength and stiff load-bearing components like carbon fiber belts, where traditional load sensors may not provide reliable and sensitive measurements.
Innovation Solution
The use of strain gages secured to the terminations of load-bearing members, which measure strain and provide sensitive output to a load processor to determine the total load on the elevator car and assess load distribution among multiple members, eliminating the need for sensors on the elevator car itself and accommodating high-strength load-bearing materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional load sensors are used on the elevator car, then load determination is possible, but measurement precision is insufficient particularly with high-strength and stiff load-bearing members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces strain gages as intermediary measurement devices that are secured to the terminations of load-bearing members rather than placing sensors directly on the elevator car. This intermediary approach allows the strain gages to measure the actual strain in the load-bearing members, providing more precise and reliable load measurements especially for high-strength and stiff materials where direct sensing is difficult.
2Ease of operation
If load sensors are placed on the elevator car, then load information can be obtained, but the system complexity increases and installation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the elevator car itself and relocates it to the terminations of the load-bearing members. By securing strain gages to the terminations rather than installing sensors on the car, the system simplifies installation and reduces complexity while maintaining the ability to determine load information.
3Measurement precision
If strain gages are secured to terminations of load-bearing members, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity at the termination point increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function by placing individual strain gages on each termination of load-bearing members. This segmentation allows for precise measurement at each connection point while keeping each individual strain gage installation simple and manageable, rather than requiring a complex integrated sensing 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 solution enables accurate and sensitive load determination on the elevator car, allowing for timely adjustments to maintain optimal load distribution and extending the applicability to systems with high-strength load-bearing members, such as carbon fiber belts, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of load monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
strain gages secured to a respective termination (40) of the plurality of terminations (40). The strain gages provide an output or indication to a load processor (62)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An illustrative example assembly for determining a load on an elevator car includes a plurality of terminations respectively configured for securing an end of a load bearing member. A plurality of strain gages are respectively secured to a portion of respective ones of the plurality of terminations so that each of the terminations includes at least one of the strain gages. A load determining processor receives indications from the plurality of strain gages and determines a load on the elevator car based on the received indications.