Grounded Conductive Housing for Elevator Wire Integrity Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator installations face challenges in reliably monitoring the integrity of plastics-sheathed metal wires used in supporting means, as damage such as breakages or local abrasions can impede current flow, making it difficult to detect issues like sheath damage or exposed metal wires.

Innovation Solution

A housing is designed to surround the supporting means, with an electrically conductive surface that is grounded, allowing for detection of damage by monitoring electrical properties, as exposed metal wires can contact and ground through this surface, facilitating early detection of potential faults.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a plastics sheath surrounds the metal wires of the supporting means, then protection against corrosion and mechanical damage is improved, but detection of wire integrity becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against corrosion and mechanical damageVSAvoiddetection of wire integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electrically conductive housing as an intermediary element between the supporting means and the monitoring system. This housing serves as a mediator that detects electrical contact from exposed metal wires through its conductive surface, enabling indirect detection of sheath damage without compromising the protective function of the plastics sheath

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical visual inspection methods with an electrical monitoring system. Instead of mechanically examining the supporting means for damage, the system uses electrical current flow monitoring through the conductive housing to detect wire integrity, substituting mechanical detection with electrical measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If electrical currents are conducted through the metal wires to monitor supporting means state, then wire integrity monitoring is improved, but detection of sheath damage remains difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire integrity monitoringVSAvoiddetection of sheath damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive housing acts as an intermediary detection surface that translates physical contact from exposed wires into measurable electrical signals. When the plastics sheath is damaged and metal wires become exposed, they contact the conductive housing surface, creating an detectable electrical connection that indicates sheath damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback monitoring by constantly measuring electrical current flow through the supporting means and through the conductive housing. Changes in electrical properties, such as unexpected current paths through the housing, provide immediate feedback about sheath damage conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the housing surrounds the supporting means closely, then detection sensitivity is improved, but mechanical damage risk to the supporting means increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidmechanical damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with differentiated local properties: the outer surface provides mechanical protection and maintains appropriate spacing from the supporting means, while the inner surface facing the supporting means is made electrically conductive for detection purposes. This local quality differentiation allows the housing to serve both protective and sensing functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 reliable detection of damage to the supporting means, preventing electrical ground faults and ensuring the integrity of the elevator system by allowing for real-time monitoring of electrical current changes due to sheath damage.

Implementation Method 1

A surface of the housing facing the supporting means is electrically conductive and is connected to an electrical grounding. If the supporting means or a wire coming out of a damaged supporting means comes in contact with the housing, an electrical ground fault results.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11130656B2Elevator installation having a supporting means, around which an electrically conductive housing partially extends, in particular at a deflecting roller arrangement

Publication Date: 2021.09.28 INVENTIO AG

AI summary

An elevator installation wherein damage to a support for an elevator car and a counterweight, in particular damage to a sheath of the support, advantageously can be detected. At the elevator installation, a housing at least partially extending around the support, for example at a deflecting roller arrangement. A surface of the housing facing the support is electrically conductive and is electrically grounded. If the support or a wire coming out of the damaged support comes in contact with the housing, an electrical ground fault results. The ground fault can be detected by a security monitoring unit by monitoring a current flowing through the wires of the support, and the damage to the support can thus be inferred.