Firefighter Elevator Car Roof Drainage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire service elevators face challenges in maintaining reliable operation during fires due to extinguishing water, which can lead to reduced traction between suspension elements and traction sheaves, causing uncontrolled elevator car movement and potential damage to electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A fire service elevator design featuring a horizontal car roof with integrated seals and drains that direct extinguishing water away from critical components, utilizing overflow protection to prevent lateral drainage and guide elements to control water flow, allowing for effective water management without additional structural changes or high costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If extinguishing water is used to fight fires in elevator shafts, then fire suppression is achieved, but traction between suspension elements and traction sheave is reduced causing uncontrolled elevator movement
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator car roof is segmented into different functional zones: a water collection area and a water-free zone where the suspension element and traction sheave interact. This spatial segmentation prevents extinguishing water from reaching critical traction components while still allowing fire suppression in the shaft
Solution Approach 2:
A guide element acts as an intermediary component that directs extinguishing water away from the suspension element and traction sheave. This mediator ensures water flows along a controlled path that protects the traction interface while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If extinguishing water accumulates on the car roof, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but water flows uncontrolled causing damage to electronic components and loss of traction
Solution Approach 1:
The seal with integrated drain is pre-installed on the car roof to create a controlled drainage path before water accumulation occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when extinguishing water accumulates, it automatically drains through the predetermined sealed channel away from electronic components and suspension elements
Solution Approach 2:
The seal structure serves as an intermediary that manages water flow between the water accumulation zone and the drainage path. It controls and directs water flow in a predetermined manner, preventing uncontrolled water movement that could damage electronic components or suspension elements
3Ease of manufacture
If belt-type suspension elements are used instead of steel cables, then modernization and reduced maintenance are achieved, but traction loss when wetted with extinguishing water is significantly worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The roof space is segmented into zones that protect the belt-type suspension element from water while allowing water accumulation elsewhere. This spatial separation enables the use of modern belt-type suspension with better maintenance characteristics without suffering from water-related traction loss
Solution Approach 2:
The seal and drain system converts the potentially harmful effect of water accumulation into a beneficial controlled drainage mechanism. By providing a predetermined drainage path, the system actually improves the situation by ensuring water does not contact the suspension element, thereby maintaining reliable traction with modern belt-type suspension
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
Prevents water from reaching sensitive components, maintains traction, and ensures safe, controlled elevator operation during fires, compatible with various elevator types and configurations, including those with plastic-coated suspension elements, while allowing efficient rescue operations.
Implementation Method 1
The drain is arranged in the seal in such a way that, in the event of a fire, extinguishing water that accumulates on the cabin roof essentially only drains off the cabin roof via the drain
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3c
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a firefighter elevator with an elevator car comprising a car roof, the car roof having a seal in which at least one outlet is arranged. Said outlet is arranged in the seal in such a manner that, in the event of a fire, the fire-extinguishing water accumulating on the car roof flows off the car roof substantially only via the outlet.