Wireless Power Elevator Safety Device

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional elevator safety systems require additional power cables or wires, increasing complexity and power requirements, and are not robust enough for reliable operation without them.

Innovation Solution

An electronic safety device with a power assembly that provides wireless power to elevator components, including a safety actuation controller and a magnetic brake, which can engage or disengage without the need for additional cables, using a power source connected within the hoistway and a communication module for wireless signal exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional safety systems use actively applied systems with power from travelling cables, then the safety mechanism can be positively actuated, but the system complexity and power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety mechanism actuationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based power transmission system with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. The power assembly includes a transmitter that wirelessly transmits power to a receiver on the safety device, eliminating the need for physical power cables to travel with the elevator car while maintaining reliable actuation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the power transmission function from the mechanical cable system and separates it into a dedicated wireless power transmission subsystem. This allows the safety device to receive power independently without relying on the travelling cable infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If conventional safety systems use passively applied systems with power from travelling cables, then the system maintains hold operating state, but additional power wires are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety system hold stateVSAvoidpower wire requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based power transmission system with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. The power assembly includes a transmitter that wirelessly transmits power to a receiver on the safety device, eliminating the need for physical power cables to travel with the elevator car while maintaining reliable actuation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

If additional travelling cables or power wires are added to the elevator car, then power requirements are met, but the system becomes more complex and less robust

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower deliveryVSAvoidcable and wire quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based power transmission system with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. The power assembly includes a transmitter that wirelessly transmits power to a receiver on the safety device, eliminating the need for physical power cables to travel with the elevator car while maintaining reliable actuation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 eliminates the need for additional power cables, reduces complexity and power requirements, and ensures reliable operation by enabling wireless power transfer and communication for safety actuation, thereby enhancing the robustness and efficiency of elevator safety systems.

Implementation Method 1

the first power component is configured to provide wireless power to the second power component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless power transfer: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an electromagnetic component operably connected to the power component, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured generate an actuation or a reset

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 3

a magnetic brake disposed adjacent to the electromagnetic component, the magnetic brake configured to move between an engaging position and a non-engaging position based in part on a holding force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic brake: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS10252884B2Wirelessly powered elevator electronic safety device

Publication Date: 2019.04.09 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

An elevator system including a hoistway, an elevator component disposed in the hoistway, and a power assembly disposed in the hoistway, the power assembly including a first power component disposed in the hoistway, the first power component including a first power connection, and a second power component operably coupled to the elevator component; wherein the first power component is configured to provide wireless power to the second power component.