Pivotable Support Pulley for Compact Elevator Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevators with a rope hoist and counterweight require a larger shaft width due to the protrusion of the support roller arrangement, which limits space efficiency and complicates door arrangements, especially in narrow shafts.
Innovation Solution
The support pulley arrangement on the counterweight is pivotable about an axis parallel to the drive pulley's axis, allowing the counterweight to be guided along an inwardly shifted plane, and is composed of two rotatable cable rollers with a housing that pivots on the counterweight, distributing cable tension evenly and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the support roller arrangement is aligned at 90° to the drive roller to reduce shaft width, then the shaft width can be reduced, but the support roller arrangement protrudes at the back requiring larger shaft width dimensioning
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller arrangement is made pivotable about a pivot axis running approximately parallel to the drive roller axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. This pivoting capability enables the support rollers to automatically adapt to the counterweight position in the shaft, eliminating the need for fixed protruding structures while maintaining compact shaft width dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a new degree of freedom by allowing the support roller arrangement to pivot parallel to the drive roller axis rather than being fixed at 90°. This dimensional change enables the support rollers to move along an inwardly shifted plane, effectively utilizing space in a different orientation and eliminating back protrusion.
2Area of stationary object
If the support roller arrangement is fixed at 90° to the drive roller, then the shaft width is reduced, but the space for guide rails and car doors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable support roller arrangement dynamically adjusts its position along an inwardly shifted plane, creating adaptable space behind the counterweight. This dynamic positioning allows for adequate clearance for guide rails and car doors while maintaining compact overall shaft dimensions, providing versatility in space utilization.
3Device complexity
If a single cable pulley is used in the support roller arrangement, then the structure is simpler, but the cable pull is not evenly distributed and guidance is poorer
Solution Approach 1:
The single cable pulley is divided into two parallel cable rollers within a common housing. This segmentation allows the cable pull to be distributed more evenly across multiple contact points, improving counterweight guidance and reducing uneven stress on the cable system, while the shared housing maintains structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Two cable rollers are combined within a single pivotable housing assembly that functions as one integrated unit. The housing merges the two rollers into a cohesive support structure that pivots together, providing improved cable distribution and guidance while maintaining relatively simple overall construction.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a passenger and/or goods lift with a rope pulley (3) for raising and lowering the lift car (2) and its counterweight (4) with a drive pulley (5) arranged on top, wherein the rope pulley is guided by a support pulley arrangement (6) on the counterweight (4), the axis of rotation (13) of which is rotated by approximately 90° relative to the axis of rotation (12) of the drive pulley and is pivotable about a pivot axis (22) on the underside parallel to the axis of rotation (12) of the drive pulley (5). This enables a very compact design of the lift.