Shaft-changing Multi-Cabin Elevator Control for Peak Load Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-rise buildings face inefficiencies in elevator systems due to increased number of floors and users, leading to long waiting times and high operational costs, as existing systems struggle to handle peak loads effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a dual shaft unit system with single and multi-car systems, where a shaft-changing multi-car system operates between multiple elevator shafts, allowing for dynamic cabin allocation and minimal intermediate stops, optimized by a control unit evaluating the best combination of cabin systems for each transport process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single-car system or multi-car system is used in each elevator shaft, then the system structure is simple and maintenance is easier, but the handling capacity is insufficient and waiting times increase during peak loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling capacityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator system is divided into multiple independent shaft units, each containing single-car or multi-car systems. This segmentation allows each shaft to operate independently while collectively providing high handling capacity, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft-changing multi-car system can operate in multiple different shafts and perform different transport tasks depending on demand. This multi-functionality increases handling capacity without requiring dedicated shafts for each function, maintaining system efficiency while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the number of elevator shafts is increased to handle more users, then the handling capacity increases, but the space requirements and installation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling capacityVSAvoidspace requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft-changing multi-car system can serve multiple shafts and different floor destinations by changing between shafts. This allows fewer physical shafts to provide the equivalent capacity of more dedicated shafts, reducing space requirements while maintaining high handling capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically assigns cabins to different shafts based on real-time transport demands. This dynamic allocation maximizes the utilization of existing shafts, increasing effective handling capacity without proportionally increasing the number of physical shafts required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If cabins are firmly connected in a double-decker system, then the structure is simpler and fewer cabins are needed, but the cabins cannot be moved independently and flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The double-decker cabin is segmented into two independently controllable cars that can operate separately. This segmentation provides operational flexibility for each car to respond to different transport demands while maintaining the space-efficient double-decker structure, balancing flexibility with structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of time

If users must change cabins multiple times to reach destination floors, then fewer intermediate stops are needed, but waiting times increase and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaiting timeVSAvoidtransport efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors cabin positions, user destinations, and system load, dynamically optimizing transport routes and cabin assignments. This feedback mechanism minimizes both intermediate stops and transfers by making real-time decisions that balance transport efficiency with user convenience, reducing overall waiting time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3099616B1Method for operating a lift system
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR INNOVATION AND OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP3099616B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for operating a lift system (100) having a first shaft unit (110) and a second shaft unit (120), which shaft units each comprise a number of lift shafts (111a, 111b, 111c, 112a, 112b, 112c, 113a, 113b, 113c, 114a, 114b, 114c; 121, 122, 123, 124), wherein at least one single-cabin system and/or at least one multi-cabin system are/is provided in the first shaft unit (110), wherein at least one shaft-changing multi-cabin system is provided in the second shaft unit (120), and wherein, when a transportation process from a starting floor to a target floor is intended to be carried out, a decision is made as to whether whether the transportation process is carried out by means of a cabin from one or more of the single-cabin systems, by one cabin or several cabins of the multi-cabin system or systems, by one cabin or several cabins of the shaft-changing multi-cabin system or systems or by a combination of these.