Ropeless Elevator Linear Motor Propulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional roped elevator systems are cumbersome and costly for high-rise buildings, especially when multiple elevator cars are needed in a single shaft, as they require heavy ropes and limited vertical space, necessitating innovative solutions for efficient vertical transportation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a self-propelled elevator system utilizing linear permanent magnet motors with extended moving parts to generate thrust force, allowing for oversized elevator cars and additional cars to be coupled for increased load capacity, and the use of transfer stations for horizontal movement, enabling efficient vertical and horizontal transportation within a single shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional roped elevator systems are used in high-rise buildings, then the elevator system can be implemented, but the mass of the ropes becomes prohibitive and multiple elevator cars cannot be efficiently placed in a single shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rope component entirely from the elevator system, replacing it with a ropeless linear motor propulsion system. This extraction eliminates the prohibitive mass of ropes while enabling multiple elevator cars to operate in a single shaft, directly resolving the contradiction between increasing car quantity and reducing rope mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rope-based pulley system with an electromagnetic linear motor system. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy ropes and counterweights, allowing multiple lightweight elevator cars to be propelled independently within a single shaft, thus resolving the weight versus quantity contradiction.
2Quantity of substance
If oversized elevator cars are installed to increase load capacity, then the thrust force requirement increases, but the motor size and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a linear motor system where the thrust force can be dynamically controlled and adjusted based on the actual load requirements. The extended moving part of the linear motor allows for variable thrust generation, enabling the system to provide high force when needed for oversized cars while maintaining a compact form factor through optimized motor design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes an extended moving part in the linear motor that can be configured to generate different levels of thrust force. By adjusting the motor parameters and extending the moving part, the system achieves high thrust capability for oversized cars without proportionally increasing the overall motor volume, thus resolving the contradiction between load capacity and motor size.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple elevator cars are coupled together to increase load capacity, then the thrust force requirement increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows multiple elevator cars to be coupled together to form a combined load-bearing unit, merging their individual capacities. The linear motor system provides coordinated propulsion for coupled cars through synchronized control, enabling increased load capacity while managing system complexity through unified electromagnetic propulsion rather than separate mechanical drive systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear motor propulsion system serves multiple functions: it can propel single cars, coupled cars, and oversized cars with varying load capacities. The extended moving part design provides universal thrust generation capability across different configuration scenarios, reducing the need for specialized mechanisms for each car type and thereby managing system complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If transfer stations are implemented for horizontal movement between hoistways, then the versatility of the elevator system increases, but the construction time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the elevator system into separate vertical hoistways connected by horizontal transfer stations at intermediate levels. This segmentation allows independent construction and commissioning of vertical shafts, enabling the elevator system to become operational at lower levels before upper levels are complete, thereby reducing overall construction time while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer stations are designed to be pre-assembled and pre-tested as modular units before installation in the building. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid integration into the hoistway system, reducing on-site construction time and costs while enabling the versatile horizontal movement capability between different vertical shafts.
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 allows for efficient construction and operation of high-rise buildings by enabling multiple elevator cars to move vertically and horizontally within a single shaft, reducing construction time and costs, and facilitating the transport of heavy loads and equipment without the need for cranes, with the system's components being adaptable for both construction and passenger use.
Implementation Method 1
a linear permanent magnet motor mounted on the elevator car and disposed within the hoistway, the linear permanent magnet motor comprising a moving part and a stationary part, the moving part mounted on the elevator car and the stationary part mounted to a structural member positioned within the hoistway, the linear permanent magnet motor configured to generate a thrust force to move the elevator car in a vertical direction within the hoistway
Implementation Method 2
An extended moving part of the linear permanent magnet motor may be incorporated to generate a greater thrust force
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (160) for constructing a building (92) with an elevator system (20) is disclosed. The method (160) may include forming a first hoistway (22) for the elevator system (20) within two adjacent levels (82, 84) of the building (92), installing a first stationary part (54) of a first linear permanent magnet motor within the first hoistway (22), placing a first elevator car (24) within the first hoistway (22), mounting a first moving part (52) of the first linear permanent magnet motor on the first elevator car (24), and using the first stationary part (54) and the first moving part (52) of the first linear permanent magnet motor to generate a vertical thrust force to move the first elevator car (24) within the first hoistway (22), the first elevator car (24) carrying at least one of passengers, equipment and materials for construction of upper levels of the elevator system (20) and the building (92).