Linear Motor Elevator Commissioning for Air Gap and Floor Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Elevators with linear motors face issues related to ride comfort due to bending or unevenness of linear motor parts, and the conventional shaft setup process is time-consuming, especially in multi-car elevators with complex shaft configurations.
Innovation Solution
A method and elevator system utilizing an electric linear motor with a movable unit that determines and stores characteristics like floor positions and air gap widths during movement, controlling the movement of other units based on these stored characteristics to improve ride comfort and reduce setup time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional shaft setup process is used in multi-car elevators, then all elevator cars must be driven through all shaft sections to read position indicators, but this process becomes extremely time-consuming taking even days for 40 cars with 3 vertical shafts and 6 horizontal paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by having one elevator car (the first car) perform the shaft setup process and store the position indicator information, then copying this stored information to other elevator cars. This eliminates the need for each car to individually traverse all shaft sections, reducing setup time from days to a fraction of that time while maintaining position reading accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the first elevator car complete the shaft setup process in advance during commissioning. The position indicator information is read and stored beforehand, so that subsequent cars can utilize this pre-collected data without repeating the time-consuming traversal process.
2Ease of manufacture
If linear motors are used in elevators, then installation tolerances are higher compared to rotating motors with mechanical bearings, but this causes bending or unevenness of linear parts affecting ride comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using position indicators installed in the shaft and sensors on the elevator cars to continuously detect and measure the actual position and alignment of linear motor components during operation. This feedback information is used to compensate for installation tolerances and maintain precise control, thereby ensuring ride comfort despite higher installation ease of linear motors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If joints between linear parts are present in turning stations, then horizontal movement is enabled, but relatively long gaps are created affecting ride comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical joint system with an electromagnetic field-based positioning system. Position indicators and sensors detect and compensate for gaps at joints between linear parts in turning stations, using electromagnetic fields rather than mechanical continuity to maintain precision across joints, thereby enabling horizontal movement while minimizing the impact of gaps on ride comfort.
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
The method enhances ride comfort by accurately controlling propulsion and levitation forces, and significantly reduces the time required for shaft setup in multi-car elevators.
Implementation Method 1
the elevator comprises an electric linear motor for moving movable units, such as elevator cars or motor units, in an elevator shaft
Implementation Method 2
determining at least one characteristic related to the electric linear motor, such as a floor position or an air gap width of the electric linear motor, at a plurality of elevator shaft positions by the first movable unit, such as by a winding, a coil, or a sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A method for operating, such as commissioning, an elevator (100), and an elevator (100) are presented herein. The elevator (100) comprises an electric linear motor (50) for moving movable units (10). The method comprises moving (510) a first movable unit (10) along a linear stator (72) of the electric linear motor (50) in the elevator shaft (13), and determining (520) at least one characteristic, such as a floor position or an air gap width of the electric linear motor (50), at a plurality of elevator shaft positions by the first movable unit (10), such as by a winding, a coil, or a sensor, during the moving. The method further comprises storing (530) the determined at least one characteristic, and controlling (540) moving of at least a second movable unit (10), such as comprising another of the elevator cars or a second motor unit, by utilizing the stored at least one characteristic.