Portal Elevator Cabin with Hydraulic Balancing and Rack Drive
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems face inefficiencies in combined vertical and horizontal movement, including complex guidance systems, stability issues, energy waste, and limited capacity, especially when dealing with obstacles like roads and waterways, and require frequent maintenance and calibration due to the use of chains or ropes which are prone to wear and stretching.
Innovation Solution
A vertical and horizontal movement system with a portal structure using adaptive hydraulic balancing and energy recovery, employing motors coupled to pinions and racks or chains, with integrated protection systems and artificial intelligence for optimized cabin movement and user-centric control, eliminating the need for chains or ropes and enhancing maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chains or ropes are used for vertical movement, then the cabin can be lifted and lowered, but the system requires frequent maintenance and calibration due to wear and stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes chains and ropes from the system entirely, replacing them with a hydraulic lifting mechanism. The cabin is suspended by a suspension rod connected to a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly, eliminating the wear-prone flexible elements that required frequent maintenance and calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical chain/rope-based lifting system is replaced with a hydraulic system. The hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly provides direct mechanical lifting force, substituting the flexible mechanical transmission elements with a rigid hydraulic actuation mechanism that does not suffer from wear and stretching.
2Ease of operation
If traffic light systems are used to control crossing, then pedestrian and vehicle flow is regulated, but energy is wasted and polluting fumes are emitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic mechanisms for the elevator cabin movement and portal structure operation. The hydraulic system provides smooth, controlled motion with high energy efficiency, replacing electrical traffic light control systems that consume significant power and generate heat loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system is designed to recover and reuse energy during operation. The bidirectional hydraulic circuit allows energy recovered during descent to be stored and reused for ascent, creating a self-sustaining energy cycle that minimizes external energy input and eliminates emissions.
3Reliability
If elevated bridges are constructed for physical separation, then pedestrian and vehicle flows are separated, but the structure is expensive and occupies a lot of space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal space occupation (elevated bridges) to vertical space utilization. The portal structure with elevator cabin moves vertically to provide flow separation, allowing pedestrians to cross at different elevation levels without requiring extensive horizontal footprint, thus solving the space occupation problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The crossing system is segmented into multiple independent components: the portal structure, the elevator cabin, and the suspension mechanism. This segmentation allows the system to achieve flow separation through vertical displacement of the cabin rather than requiring a continuous elevated bridge structure, reducing overall material usage and space occupation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex guidance systems are used for combined vertical and horizontal movement, then the cabin can navigate obstacles, but the system becomes complex and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines vertical and horizontal movement functions into a single integrated portal-elevator system. The cabin is suspended from the portal structure and can move both vertically along the portal columns and horizontally along the portal beam, eliminating the need for separate guidance systems for each movement direction and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The portal structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, guides vertical movement through its columns, enables horizontal movement through its beam, and supports the suspension mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated components needed, simplifying the overall guidance system while maintaining adaptability for obstacle navigation.
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 system provides efficient, low-noise, and comfortable transportation with increased capacity, reduced energy consumption, and simplified maintenance, while ensuring safety and adaptability to various obstacles and user needs, optimizing movement trajectories and load balancing.
Implementation Method 1
A vertical and horizontal movement system with portal structure, of at least one or more cabins (20)... provided with a system of adaptive hydraulic balancing with recovery of energy
Implementation Method 2
system of adaptive hydraulic balancing with recovery of energy
Implementation Method 3
employing motors coupled to pinions and racks
Implementation Method 4
employing motors coupled to pinions and racks
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Vertical and horizontal movement system of one or more cabins (20) for the transport of people and things in a elevator shifter plant with portal structure (10) for the overcoming overhead and not, back and forth even automatic, obstacles such as roads, railways, waterways and other obstacles affected by driveways and not, especially for pedestrians, usable either in an overhead manner that underground and also incorporated in large buildings such as hospitals, airports, railway stations and so on, with two or more runaways running horizontally and vertically, in which one or more runways include vertical and horizontal stops and descents placed at different levels to overcome obstacles also passing under the same; operated by rack, wherein the motor is rigidly coupled to the cabin and acts via a pinion gear on the rack, having inclined toothing, to increase the fluidity of the movement reducing vibration and noise.