Self-climbing Elevator Grips for High-rise Hoistway Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face limitations such as significant weight and expense in high-rise installations for traction-based systems and impracticality for high-rise buildings in hydraulic systems, and existing solutions to increase passenger-carrying capacity are often complex and not widely adopted.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system utilizing a plurality of supports that extend or contract to cause vertical movement of a platform, with each support having a vertical stroke and engaging the nearby structure to facilitate simultaneous movement, potentially incorporating articulating robotic arms or pressurized cylinders, and grips to engage various features for stable and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traction-based elevator systems are used, then elevator cars can be moved between levels, but significant weight and expense are introduced in high-rise building installations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy traction ropes from the elevator system by using a self-climbing mechanism where the elevator car engages directly with the hoistway structure through gripping elements, eliminating the need for separate suspension ropes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical traction rope system with a direct mechanical engagement system where the elevator car's gripping elements interact with the hoistway structure, substituting the rope-based transmission mechanism
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic elevator systems are used, then elevator cars can be raised or lowered, but they are not practical for high rise buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the elevator support system into multiple independent supports distributed along the hoistway, allowing each support to independently engage with the structure and provide localized support, making the system adaptable to high-rise buildings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point hydraulic lifting mechanism to a distributed multi-point support system that engages with the hoistway structure along the vertical dimension, enabling high-rise applications
3Productivity
If more than one elevator car is included in a single hoistway, then passenger-carrying capacity increases and building space is reduced, but the system becomes too complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal self-climbing support system that can serve multiple elevator cars independently within the same hoistway, where each car has its own support mechanism that operates autonomously without requiring complex interconnections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where each elevator car's support system independently engages with the hoistway structure without requiring coordination or complex control systems to manage multiple cars, allowing each car to operate autonomously
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 enables efficient and space-saving vertical movement of multiple elevator cars within a single hoistway, reducing complexity and weight, and allowing for independent movement of cars, thus addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least some of the supports each comprise a pressurized cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system (20) includes a platform (22) and a plurality of supports (30) configured to selectively engage a nearby structure (40). The plurality of supports (30) include at least a first support (32) and a second support (34). The first and second supports (32, 34) alternate between engaging the nearby structure (40) to support the platform (22) while the other one of the supports (32, 34) is disengaged from the nearby structure (40). At least one of the first and second supports (32, 34) is configured to move relative to the platform (22) while engaging the nearby structure (40) to cause vertical movement of the platform (22).