Polymer Jacket Geometry Stabilizer for High Temperature Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elongated flexible assemblies with polymer jackets, such as elevator load bearing members and conveyor belts, face issues where the polymer jacket melts and drips onto other components during high temperature conditions like fires, causing undesirable material flow.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a melamine-based geometry stabilizer into the polymer jacket material to prevent melting and dripping by forming a flow-resistant char or gel, which maintains the jacket's integrity and adherence to the tension members even at high temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a polymer jacket is used to cover tension members, then the assembly gains flexibility and protection, but the jacket melts and drips onto other components during high temperature conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejacket integrityVSAvoidmaterial dripping

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the polymer jacket by incorporating flame retardant additives and geometry stabilizers. These compositional changes enable the jacket to resist melting and maintain structural integrity at high temperatures, directly addressing the contradiction between jacket protection and material dripping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polymer jacket material by combining base polymer with flame retardant additives and geometry stabilizers. This composite formulation provides both the protective functions of the polymer jacket and the high-temperature resistance needed to prevent melting and dripping, resolving the contradiction between flexibility/protection and thermal stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the polymer jacket is designed to be flexible for elongated assemblies, then the assembly can bend and flex, but the jacket loses structural stability when exposed to high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidjacket geometry stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal and mechanical parameters of the polymer jacket through additive incorporation. The geometry stabilizer specifically targets the structural stability parameter, enabling the jacket to maintain its geometric form at high temperatures while the base polymer maintains flexibility for normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The geometry stabilizer and flame retardant additives are pre-incorporated into the polymer jacket material during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when high temperature conditions occur, the jacket is already equipped with chemical mechanisms to prevent melting and maintain stability, rather than requiring structural modifications during the event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 melamine-based geometry stabilizer effectively inhibits the polymer jacket from melting and dripping, ensuring the jacket remains intact and attached to the tension members during high temperature events, thereby minimizing damage to surrounding components.

Implementation Method 1

forming a flow-resistant char or gel, which maintains the jacket's integrity and adherence to the tension members even at high temperatures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChar formation:

Implementation Method 2

forming a flow-resistant char or gel, which maintains the jacket's integrity and adherence to the tension members even at high temperatures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal stability:

Data Source

PatentUS9555579B2Tension member and polymer jacket assembly including a geometry stabilizer in the jacket

Publication Date: 2017.01.31 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

An exemplary assembly includes at least one elongated tension member. A jacket covers at least some of the tension member. The polymer jacket comprises a polymer material including a melamine based geometry stabilizer that facilitates maintaining the jacket material near the tension member if the assembly is subjected to a high temperature condition.