Supersized Elevator Wind Shield and Braking for Shipyard Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevators in shipyards are inefficient in deploying large numbers of workers and materials to high work sites, prone to safety accidents, and struggle with windy conditions, with existing solutions either costly or ineffective in emergency evacuations.
Innovation Solution
A supersized elevator system with a cable wind shield module, emergency stairs, and advanced braking systems, capable of rapidly transporting multiple workers and heavy materials, designed to withstand strong winds and prevent accidents, featuring a consolidated structure with a wire rope emergency brake and elevator cage rail brake devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional small-sized lifts are used to transport workers to high work sites, then the installation cost is reduced, but the deployment time increases significantly and productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator structure is divided into modular components including the elevator cage, machine room, guide rails, and foundation platform that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site, enabling rapid deployment while maintaining large capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator is designed to operate in the vertical dimension with a large cage capacity, transforming the transportation approach from horizontal (multiple small lifts) to vertical (one large elevator), thereby reducing deployment time and improving productivity
2Reliability
If conventional lifts are used for worker transportation, then the system complexity is reduced, but the emergency evacuation capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Emergency evacuation procedures and dual braking systems are pre-configured into the elevator design, allowing rapid response to emergencies without requiring complex real-time decision-making or additional equipment
Solution Approach 2:
Dual braking systems (wire rope emergency brake and elevator cage rail brake) are installed as backup safety mechanisms to prevent accidents and enable safe evacuation, with the added complexity justified by the significant improvement in reliability
3Reliability
If the elevator operates in windy conditions without a cable wind shield, then the device complexity is reduced, but the tail cable is affected by strong wind causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
A cable wind shield module is introduced as an intermediary component between the tail cable and the external wind environment, protecting the cable from wind interference while maintaining the simplicity of the overall elevator system
4Quantity of substance
If conventional lifts are used, then the load capacity is limited, but transporting heavy materials requires additional cranes increasing cost and time
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator cage is designed with universal loading capability to transport both workers and heavy materials simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate crane operations and improving overall material transportation efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A supersized elevator for use in building a large ship or an offshore plant is provided. The supersized elevator includes an elevator structure (100), an elevator cage (200) configured to accommodate passengers and heavy articles, a counterweight (230) configured to maintain a weight balance with the elevator cage (200), a wire rope (220) configured to interconnect the elevator cage (200) and the counterweight (230), and a winding machine (210) configured to wind the wire rope (220). A wind shield module (800) configured to prevent a tail cable (910) from being affected by a strong wind is vertically installed on one inner side surface of the elevator structure (100).