Gas-Spring Rope Tensioning for Counterweight-Free Elevators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevators without counterweights face challenges in maintaining a consistent and stable tension force on the cable pull due to operational changes and disturbances, leading to potential instability and reduced lifting capacity.
Innovation Solution
The use of clamping devices, specifically designed with gas springs, to generate a resultant compressive force on the cable pull, ensuring uniform tensioning even during expansions, shortenings, or temporary deviations, with a compact design that includes adjustable gas springs mounted at specific angles and orientations to maintain stability and minimize space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hydraulic devices or lever mechanisms are used to control the deflecting pulley force, then the tension force can be controlled depending on the load, but the device complexity increases and the design becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses gas springs (pneumatic elements) to provide the tensioning force on the cable pull. The gas springs are arranged in pairs at specific angles to generate a resultant compressive force that maintains uniform tension. This pneumatic approach replaces complex hydraulic devices or lever mechanisms while achieving the desired tension control through the elastic properties of the gas springs.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple tensioning devices are used to achieve uniform tensioning, then the cable pull stability improves, but the space requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple gas springs into a single tensioning device assembly that acts on the cable pull. The gas springs are arranged in pairs at the same angle to the cable axis, with their forces merging to create a resultant compressive force. This merging approach achieves stable uniform tensioning while maintaining a compact design that minimizes space requirements in the elevator shaft.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tensioning device is mounted in the lower shaft area next to the drive pulley, then the cable pull stability improves and lifting height increases, but the arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the tensioning device with its deflection pulley in the lower shaft area next to the rotary motor and drive pulley, with all three having parallel axes of rotation. This spatial arrangement in three dimensions allows the cable to be guided smoothly from the drive pulley through the deflection pulley to the elevator car, maintaining cable stability while maximizing the vertical lifting height. The parallel axis configuration simplifies the mechanical arrangement compared to alternative configurations.
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 achieves an extremely uniform and adaptable tensioning of the cable pull, ensuring stable operation and maximizing the lifting height by minimizing space, while maintaining secure cable guidance and detecting potential cable issues for safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
the clamping means are in particular designed as gas springs
Implementation Method 2
generate a resultant compressive force on the cable pull in the clamping direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An elevator, in particular a passenger and/or goods elevator, without a counterweight, comprises an elevator car (11) in a shaft and a rope (25) for raising and lowering it. The rope (25) can be driven by a motor via a drive pulley (18) arranged above or below in the shaft (14), is guided around at least one deflection pulley (23) opposite it above or below in the shaft, and is operatively connected to the elevator car (11) above and below. The at least one deflection pulley (23) is held displaceably in a tensioning device (20) by tensioning means in the axial direction (A) of the rope (25) such that the rope (25) is always under tension with a defined force during operation.The clamping device (20) is designed and arranged with several clamping means such that they generate a resultant compressive force on the cable pull (25) in the clamping direction (F), wherein the clamping means are in particular designed as gas springs.