Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Green Elevator System Using Weightless Ropes Traction Concept and Related
Applications
2. Technical Field
3. The present invention relates to self-climbing elevators; and to a
system of magnetic vertical
bars configured to support the weight of the stationary ropes used by the
same.
4. Background of the Invention
5. Today, the typical movement of elevator cars up or down in its hoist-way
is facilitated by
means of traction ropes systems. The rope traction machines of such a system
use a large quantity of
energy, and a lot of electricity is needed just for moving the ropes to
facilitate the car function. The old
traction system works well, and has reasonable maintenance cost. However, a
rope-mounted elevator
system has a serious drawback, if it has to be employed for a super-tall
building as an express elevator. If
the elevator shaft is taller than 400 meters, the weight of the ropes is in
excess of 35 tons, and the
energy needed to move the elevator car is high power inefficiency, stressing
the electricity bill for the
buildings using this system. There are more types of self-climbing elevators
in service today, like the rack
and pinion traction system, and some failed passenger elevators projects
trying to use rope climbing as a
traction system. There are serious limitations of those systems, like the rack
and pinion technology,
which is very noisy and slow moving, and as a result is used only as an
exterior elevator during building
construction. The attempts to use rope self-climbing in passenger elevators
failed to be embraced by the
vertical transportation Industry for very important technical issues, like the
weight of their stationary
ropes, the system required to secure them in place, the impossibility to
control the ropes vibrations, etc.
In order to be functional, the conventional rope traction systems are known to
have a space to house for
example, a machine room, and counterweight system in place. All of those
limitations are overcome by
this invention.
6. For a long time the customers of the most elevator projects have
attempted to address those
limitations by proposing a new elevator traction system. Any new elevator
project have to have a more
efficient traction integration devices in which the machine-less room, contra-
weightless system, and the
envision to put back electricity on the building greed by using the
gravitational kinetic energy induced by
the weight of the elevator car in moving down operation, to be a norm for any
new elevator project. To
date, there is not any such design system to be considered as a break-throw,
concept, and proved to be
feasible, and able to lead to a new revolution for the vertical transportation
industry.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-02
= 7. Disclosure of the invention
8. Is the object of this invention to provide a self-propelled climbing
elevator, with a magnetic
vertical bars system, to able to magnetically support on its face the entire
weight of the stationary rope
traction in place.
9. Another object of this invention is to create a new elevator system in
which the traction
system is able to facilitate the elevator projects to be machine-less room,
contra-weightless, and
designed to capture more than 85 percent of gravitational kinetic energy in a
descending move of the
elevator car.
10. Another scope of this invention is to create a very flexible stationary
ropes traction system
able to be applied for all types of elevators, like: passenger elevators,
commercial elevators, and freight
elevators.
11. Another very important scope of this invention is to apply the new
traction concept for high-
speed express elevators employed for super-tall buildings, envisioned to
travel 1000, or 2000 plus
meters in one trip, and to accept double deck cars, or multiple elevators in
the same hoist-way.
12. Another scope of this invention is to employ the new traction concept
for the modernization
of the vertical transportation system in the existing buildings, creating
larger elevator cars in the existing
elevators hoists-way space, increasing the passenger's car capacity, and
efficiency.
13. According to the present invention the elevator hoist-way (elevator
shaft), has at least one
pair of magnetic bars attached to the hoist-way walls, and adapted to hold
through its magnets tile
system, the stationary traction rope in place. The position and the number of
the magnetic vertical bars
in the elevator shaft hoist-way depending on the elevator system to be
employed. In this aspect the
passenger elevators might have only one pair of vertical magnetic bars,
positioned in the opposite
corners (cross-over), or in a mirror in the middle of the elevator hoist-way,
etc. The commercials and
industrial elevators might have two pairs of magnetic vertical bars systems,
meaning that each corner of
the hoist-way is served by one magnetic vertical bar. Some heavy duty elevator
projects might have
three pairs of magnetic vertical bars positioned in all four corners, and in
the mirror of the hoist-way
walls, etc. Each vertical magnetic bar, (by the magnet tiles function) will
magnetically hold in place at
least one stationary rope on it. For safety reasons each vertical magnetic bar
section will hoist (hold in
place) two, or multiple magnetic stationary ropes. Further the stationary rope
system will be tensioned
on the bottom and on the top of the elevator hoist-way (shaft). The magnetic
vertical bars structure
frames could be constructed by inexpensive curtain sheets of metal sections,
bolted directly into the
elevator hoist-way walls. For a better vertical alignment, the magnetic
vertical bars will may employed a
desired numbers of brackets (spacers), bolted directly into the elevator hoist-
way walls. The linear
vertical magnets tiles (plates) sections will be installed by gluing or
screwing them in place, (or the like)
on each magnetic vertical bars frame system, which are bolted into the
elevator hoist-way walls. Most
preferably those said tile magnets will be a permanent magnets system. To save
magnets materials,
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-02
some elevator projects might use a designated vertical space (gaps) between
tile magnets installed on
each magnetic vertical bar's magnet frames. This embodiment is applied
especially for projects using
conventional steel stationary rope traction systems, having very strong
magnetic capability. Other
elevator projects using less magnetically traction rope systems, like the
composite steel flat ropes,
covered in flexible nonmagnetic shields, the space between the magnet tiles
installed on the magnetic
vertical bars frames will be smaller, or absent creating a continuous wall of
vertical magnets on the
magnetic vertical bars. Design engineering team will determine the size of the
said magnetic vertical
bars, and the magnets sections configuration (sizes, and thickness of them)
installed in the elevator
hoist-way in order to fit any elevator project.
14. According to the present invention an elevator car is moving
vertically (up, or down) in the
elevator hoist-way by the use of at least one pair of mechanical
interdependent traction sheaves drums
system. Each sheave traction drum is envisioned to be rotating with the same
ratio in an opposite
direction by the functioning of a 1 to 1 ratio gearbox transmission system.
The rope climbing traction
systems ready to be described here, are designed to be mounted mostly
preferable on the roof of the
elevator car (car top end). Some special projects (like a double deck elevator
system employed for
super-tall building) might have a double rope climbing machine traction system
(double pairs of sheaves
traction drums), envisioned to be mounted one on the top end, and another, one
on the bottom end of
the elevator car. In this case the both rope climbing machine traction (four
traction drums) have to
operate synchronized. The sheave drums traction system is designed to engage
the stationary ropes by
wrap-around them at 360 or 720 degree manner, according to the designated
elevator project. The
preferred embodiment is referring to a passenger elevator designed to employ
the most simple and
inexpensive stationary rope climbing traction system. In this aspect a single
pair traction sheave drums is
designed to be turned in the opposite direction, and in this way it is
allowing the vertical rope climbing
movement of the elevator car in its hoist-way. This vertical movement is made
possible by the operation
of the one 1 to 1 ratio gearbox transmissjon system, ( preferably positioned
in the middle length of the
dual contra-rotating shafts assembly) mounted in between, and mechanically
connecting each driving
contra-rotating shafts forming a mechanical device named: a dual traction
contra-rotating shafts
assembly. This is designed to be connected, and to transmit the rotational
power to the corresponding
sheave drums traction system. At each front end of the dual contra-rotating
driving shaft assembly is
mounted the one corresponding sheave drum traction (some mentioned special
elevator projects might
have a one traction sheave drum at each end of the said dual traction shafts).
In this embodiment the
entire traction system, like the sheaves traction drums, the 1 to1 ratio
transmission gearbox, and its dual
contra-rotating driving shafts, is designed to be powered by the only one
traction motor (mover). The
traction motor is designed to transmit its rotational mechanical torqued
power, to the primary contra-
rotating shaft assembly, (the 1 to 1 ratio gearbox transmission and its
driving shaft system), and all the
way to the traction drums assembly. For better driving motor thrust on the
front end of the each, dual
contra-rotating driving shafts assembly is mounted a corresponding planetary
gearbox assembly unit,
connecting the planetary box, and the sheaves drums with an a 1 to 7 trust
ratio between the contra-
rotating dual shaft assembly, and the sheave drums. Part of planetary gear
box, is designed to be
rotated when the elevator car is moved up, and other part of it is designed to
rotated when the elevator
car is moved down, allowing the sheave drums to be rotated either way. The
location of the said
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-02
planetary gearbox could be mounted inside the traction drums, meaning that
there would be one
planetary gearbox for each sheave traction drum. In this design configuration
the planetary gearbox
mounted inside of each sheave traction drum has one part of it rotating at the
same speed with the dual
contra rotating 1 to 1 shafts assembly, and other part rotating the
corresponding sheave drum with 7 to
1ratio increasing the output trust. Further, the traction system is preferable
to be electrically powered
by a catenary bus bar, and a pantograph-like pick-up power system, attached to
the elevator car. Please
Note: the catenary-pantograph system is very schematically represented in Fig
2a. In the preferred
embodiment, the power storage device consists of a high-density capacitors
system, or for some
projects, other power storage devices might be employed. A logical application
to use high-density
capacitors electricity storage device is for super-tall buildings express
elevators projects. In this way for a
short time, a large amount of the electricity is allowed to be released
quickly to power the main traction
motor, (motors), permitting a super-fast acceleration of the said express
elevator, without overloading
the domestic power supply of the building grid. In this way is created a dual
power supply configuration,
like the line power supply in combination with the supercapacitors electricity
storage device. In this
design configuration, a designing engineering team can create a unique moving
elevator algorithm
system, allowing that said express elevator to accelerate at super high speed,
and creating the possibility
of the express elevator to travel more than 1000 meters in less than 40
seconds.
15. This new concept of elevator traction system is envisioned not to be
just a machine-less
room, contra-weightless, but to be the most power saver in today's vertical
transportation industry. By
entraining the traction motor to turn in reverse, and the flywheel-governor-
generator assembly to turn
when the elevator is descending by gravity, being installed on one-way crank
bearing systems, allowing
it to rotate when the elevator car is descending. In this way is possible to
recuperate and return more
than 85 percent of the electricity back on the building electrical grid, by
collecting a dual electricity
power, like the electricity power created by the traction motor in reverse,
combined with the electricity
power produced by rotation of the flywheel-governor-generator assembly. In
this way, the said express
elevator could be connected at a green energy source.
16. In operation the new traction system is designed to facilitate the
elevator car to descend
gravitationally. In this embodiment the passenger elevator car described here
is designed to be moved
down gravitationally. The purpose for this move is to put back into the
building grid more than 85
percent of electricity that was used before by the traction system in
operation at the time the elevator
was ascending. The invented system, in order to be feasible, and practical, on
the dual contra-rotating
shafts assembly, is installed a one-way crank bearing gears system. On said
one way bearing assembly is
mounted the utility brake assembly, and the 1 to18 ratio speed multiplication
gearbox system, designed
to turn the flywheel-governor-generator assembly. The planetary gears mounted
inside the traction
sheave drums, are not stationary either the elevator is ascending or
descending. When the elevator car
is ascending, by the function of the one way crank bearings assembly, all the
mechanical components
rotating on it, like the 1 to 18 rotational speed multiplication gearbox
system part of the flywheel-
generator-governor assembly, and the utility breaks, are stationary. When the
elevator car is in
descending operation, by the said functioning of the one way crank bearing
assembly system, all those
mechanical components installed on it, like the 1 to18 speed multiplication
gearbox part of the flywheel-
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-02
governor-generator assembly, and the utility brakes, start to rotate (comes
alive) by gravity. All those
described devices are designed to rotate one-way crank for their entire life.
At any descending
command, the elevator car is allowed to move from its parking position by the
operation of the utility
brakes. As soon as the brakes are released, the elevator car is starting to
move down gravitationally, and
by the functioning of the one way crank bearings system, is driving the 1 to
18 speed multiplication
gearbox, accelerating the flywheel-governor-generator assembly. This assembly
starts a progressive
acceleration, and is adjusted to reach the nominal constant descending speed
requested by the project
customer. The nominal descending speed is adjustable to fit any elevator
project, from a slow moving
elevator on low-rise buildings up to a high-speed elevator for super-tall
towers. The main driving motor
is turning into the reverse direction by gravity, and in the process is
producing electricity. By the
gravitational kinetic power produced by the descending car, the sheave
traction drums assembly will
rotate in a descending mode, and in the process will turn the 1 to 7 ratio
planetary gearbox, the dual
contra-rotating shafts traction assembly, the 1 to 1 ratio gearbox
transmission, and the main traction
motor in reverse with the same speed 1 to 7 ratio output as the elevator car
was in the ascending
movement. As a result, the dual contra-rotating shaft traction assembly, and
the main motor have the
same speed ratio either way, the elevator car is moving up by the utility
power, or down, by gravity. In
this design configuration there is created a dual electrical power generation
system, like the electricity
produced by the 1 to 18 ratio flywheel-governor-generator assembly, and the
electricity created by the
main traction 1 to7 ratio speed of the main traction motor in reverse. An
elevator car operating without
contra-weight creates a lot of down speed acceleration to be addressed. This
invention solved this
problem by introducing a complex device named the analog speed limit governor,
part of the 1 to 18
ratio gearbox flywheel-governor-generator assembly. In this way, the elevator
car produces as much
electricity as possible when the car is descending.
17. A very important component of this embodiment is the analog speed
limit governor very
conveniently installed on the said dual coptra-rotating shafts traction
assembly, mounted on the said
one way crank bearings system. The governor body itself, in order to be
functional, and physically able
to control the descending speed of the elevator car, is employing two
essential components: the first
one is referring to a rotatory flying spring brakes system, mounted on the
corresponding one way crank
bearings, installed on the generator shaft in line, but not connected with the
dual contra-rotating shaft
assembly. Please Note: The generator shaft and the flying rotatory governor's
spring brakes have the
same speed. The second main component of the governor body is the stator
breaks device. How do the
two said components work together in order to be capable to monitor the speed
of the descending
elevator car? A mechanical design answer is to use the high-speed rotational
inertia of the flying sprig
brakes, rotating inside the governor body stator. Those flying brake shoes are
spring connected with the
shaft of the governor body. In operation, by high speed (1 to 18 ) rotation,
those flying brakes shoes will
push themselves upward, and by rotational inertia, will meet, and thatch the
stator governor body
brakes shoes, preventing the car a runaway acceleration, and to create a
desired nominal speed of the
descending elevator car. In this way the governor's flying brakes physically
will control the speed of the
descending of the elevator car. The operation of flying brakes shoes, and the
governor body stator brake
is serving a dual purpose: to create a desire nominal speed of the descending
elevator, and to act as a
safety device controlling the down speed acceleration in any situation like,
in the event of the totally lost
Date. Recue/Date Received 2023-03-02
of the electricity power, together with the all other safety device used today
in the vertical
transportation industry. In this unique unwanted situation, the elevator car
will descend gravitationally
only with the nominal speed, down to the bottom of the hoist-way. In practice
by adjusting the distance
between the flying brakes rotor and the governor body stator brakes, it will
created a very versatile
nominal descending speed of the elevator car designed to fit any elevator
project. This described
governor is acting as a nominal analog speed limit device, and is not designed
to bring the descending
elevator car to complete stop. Its purpose is to create only a nominal desired
speed limit of the
descending elevator car, requested by project customers. To bring the
descending elevator car to a
complete stop, and in parking position, the utility brakes will be activated.
There are not any brakes
necessary to stop the ascending elevator car. Just by reducing, or cutting the
power supply of the
traction motor, the elevator car will stop itself, by the upward gravitational
inertia. These and other
arrangements and advantages will become obvious to those skilled in the art
having appreciated the
flexibility and functionality provided by the elevator system according to the
present invention.
18. Brief Description of the Drawings
19. Fig.1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention without
the surrounding
hoist-way walls, and the elevator car guide rails.
20. Fig.2.a shows a more detailed plan view of the preferred embodiment
traction system
exposing the sheave drums traction arrangement, and its related gears system.
21. Fig.3 shows a side elevation of the sheave traction system arrangement,
from Fig.10, and
11 exposing the related mechanical gears system.
22. Fig.4 shovOs a magnified section of the magnetic vertical bars
sections, bolted directly into
the elevator hoist-way walls shaft.
23. Fig.5 shows a front side elevation of the magnetic vertical bars
assembly, exposing the
stationary ropes arrangement on the magnetic vertical bars section.
24. Fig.6 shows one of the sheave traction drums engaging a stationary rope
on the magnetic
vertical bar exposed section.
25. Fig.7.a shows the sectional side of the preferred embodiment exposing
the all mechanical
components arrangements installed on the top (roof) of the elevator car.
26. Fig.7 shows a sectional side of the flying wheel- governor-generator
assembly, part of the
second embodiment.
27. Fig.8 shows a continuation of the side parts, mechanical arrangement
from Fig. 7,
containing the sheave traction drum assembly, and two utility disc brake
assemblies.
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Date Rccue/Date Received 2023-03-02
28. Fig.9 is a schematic side elevation of the traction system installed on
top of the elevator
car, part of the second embodiment mechanical design arrangement.
29. Fig.10 is a schematic representation of the traction system, showing
the rotational
direction of the traction gears, exposing its rotation direction in ascending
of the elevator car
30. Fig.11 is a schematic representation of the traction system showing the
rotational
direction of the traction system gears, in a descending of the elevator car
100.
31. Best Mode for Carrying Out of the Invention
32. Referring now to the drawing in particular to fig. 1, a first preferred
embodiment
according to the present invention is described in detail. Fig. 1 shows an
elevator car 100 positioned
within a hoist-way shaft (not shown). A pair of magnetic vertical bar sections
124a and 124b are
configured to have a magnetic capability in order to holds the weight of the
stationary ropes, on its
exposed magnets tiles such that they are able to hold in place the seeing
pairs of stationary ropes
120/124 and 126/128. Each pair of ropes is tensioned at the top end and at the
bottom of the vertical
hoist-way shaft preferably using conventional rope tensioning systems devices
128, 130, 132 and
140.The main parts of the traction system 2 are shown schematically on top
(roof) of the elevator car
100. (Please note, that the representation of the fraction system 2 is very
schematic in fig.1, as it is
intended to show only the traction motors, and the dual contra-rotating shafts
of the traction assembly,
that are connected directly with the pair of contra-rotating sheave drums).
Referring now to particular
Figs. 2.a, and Fig.3 enumerated the all parts, and describing the
functionality of the preferred
embodiment of this invention. An electrical motor 138 is driving the main
shaft 148a, of a dual contra-
rotating shafts assembly, comprised of a first shaft 148a and a second shaft
148b and the 1 to 1 ratio
gearbox speed transmission assembly, 152 located there between,(Please note,
that the 1 to 1ratio
gearbox speed transmission unit, assembly shown in fig. 2a needs only two
transmission gears wheels),
in order to operate, shown In Fig.2.a, and in this way is connects the first
driving shaft 148a to the
second driving shaft 148b. The gearbox 152, the 1 to 1 transmission having a
two or four gear
configuration, is designed to turn the dual contra-rotating driving shafts
assembly in the opposite
direction. At the opposite ends of the driving shafts 148a and 148b are,
installed the ropes climbing
sheaves 156a and 156b. The connections between each and the rope are made a 1
to 7 ratio rotational
speed multiplication, planetary gearbox and the related gears 136a and 136b.
(Please note that the all
planetary gearbox units and the related gears are very schematically
represented on all drawing figures).
In this configuration, the traction motor 138 is rotated 7times faster than
sheaves traction drums, and is
creating all the necessary thrust to move the elevator car up at any desired
speed. On the other end of
the contra-rotating shaft 148b, in line with the shaft 40, does Flywheel-
Governor-Generator assembly
comprise: a 1 to 18--speed multiplication gearbox including gears 34, 36 and
38; governor body
assembly stator and its fly brakes 44 (Please note: the governor body stator,
and its fly brakes are noted
together as 44, in Fig. 2a, and fig. 7a); and a governor-generator flywheel 46
(noted FW in fig. 7a). The
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Date Reyue/Date Received 2023-03-02
flywheel-generator-governor assembly is designed not just to monitor the speed
of the car 100, but it is
employed to physically control the descending speed of the elevator car in any
wanted or unwanted
situation. The governor-flywheel-generator assembly (40, 34, 36, 38, 44, and
46) is designed to be
rotated one way on bearings K2-K4, and is activated only when the elevator car
is moving down. Further
on the driving shaft 148b, independently of the shaft 40 but in line with
shaft 148b, is installed a triple
disc brake system 154.a, 154.b. 154.e. (Fig.2a and 7a), the brake discs
assembly is operated by one or
multiple brake calipers systems. The brake discs 154.a,154.b,154.e, are
designed to rotate one way
crank on the bearing, K.1. In this configuration when the elevator car is
moved up, the utility discs
brakes assembly is stationary. The entire traction driving assembly is held in
place on top (roof) of the
elevator car platform by multiple mechanical brackets,142.a to 142.j. Further
the elevator car 100 is
guided in the elevator hoist-way 144 by a pair of conventional guide rails
150.a, and 150.b. Fig.3 shows a
side view of the car 100 and exposes the visible side of the traction
components, like the vertical
stationary ropes 120-124, tensioned by the tensioning devices 128,140. On top
(roof) of the elevator car
100 is visible a driving motor 138, traction sheave drums 156a and 156b,
portion of the 1 to1 ratio
gearbox transmission 152 (please note that the traction system visible in
Fig.3. is referring to the
embodiment in which the transmission of the 1to lgearbox is using a four gears
wheels system designed
to rotate in opposite direction, part of the dual contra-rotating shafts
assembly), a portion of the
bracket assembly 142 and a designated empty space 160. The empty space 160 is
envisioned for having
a dual practical interest; like to create a phonic isolation, and a storage
space device, designed to house
the energy storage device, like a battery pack, supercapacitors etc.
33. Fig. 4, Fig. 5, and Fig.6 show in more detail the most important
part of this invention,
defined as the magnetic vertical bars 124a and 124b previously shown in fig.l.
Fig. 4 shows wall 144, and
the brackets 28a and 28b that are bolted into it. The magnetic vertical bars
are comprised of frames 26
that are metallic or nonmetallic, and that are secured in place by the
brackets 28a and 28b. On the
frames 26 are installed the magnet tiles (plates) 24 (MG). The magnet tiles 24
are bolted, or glued on the
frame 26.The magnet tiles 24 (MG) could be installed on the magnet frame with
vertical gaps 34 or
without vertical gaps, depending on any particular elevator project. Fig. 5
shows that the magnets tile 24
are installed with a designated vertical gap (vertical spaces) 34 on the frame
26. The magnet frame 26 is
adapted to hold the magnet tiles in place, and further on the face of the said
magnet tiles, to
magnetically hold in place the stationary traction ropes 120 and 124. Fig. 6
shows the side view of the
magnetic vertical bars assembly 124 showed in fig. 1. The stationary traction
ropes 120 and 124 (124
not shown) are by the traction sheave drum 156, engaged, and the arrows
indicate the direction of the
engagement (the sheave drum 156a is not shown in fig. 6, only the stationary
rope 120 and its direction
of engagement are). Fig. 7a shows a detailed preferred design of the flywheel-
governor-generator
assembly (40 ,34, 36, 38, 44, and 46).The flywheel-governor-generator
assembly, is driven by the shaft
40 as shown in fig.2a and 7a, is installed a 1 to 18 speed multiplication
ratio gearbox system, wherein
the gear wheel 34 is rotating one way on the shaft 148b the and the gear 36 is
rotated on the stationary
shaft 52. The 1 to 18 speed multiplication gearbox unit comprises gears 34, 36
and 38. The driving gear
wheel 34 is receiving the rotational thrust from the described dual shaft
contra-rotating traction system
148a, 148b, and is adapted to rotate the 1 to 18 speed multiplication gearbox
unit with the governor-
generator-flywheel assembly, on the bearings K.2, K3, K4. Gearwheel 36 is
receiving its rotational thrust
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Date Reyue/Date Received 2023-03-02
power from the gear wheel 34.The gear wheel 38 is designed to be the main
driving gear of the shaft 40,
and is the main driver of the flywheel-governor-generator assembly. The shaft
40, being part of the
flywheel-governor-generator assembly unit, is envisioned to be the main shaft
rotor of the flywheel-
governor-generator assembly. To dissipate the rotational kinetic energy, the
flywheel 46, the generator
66 rotor, the governor assembly 44 are rotated one way crank on bearing K2,
K.3, and K.4, shown in
fig.2a, and 7a. The purpose of this configuration is to prevent the utility
brakes system from wearing out
when the elevator car 100 is descending, and has the command to stop at any
particular floor. In
operation after the elevator car stop at any floor, the dual contra-rotating
shafts 148a and 148b come to
a stop, but because of the one way crank bearings K2, K.3 and K.4, the
flywheel 46, the generator rotor,
and the shaft 40 driving the governor-flywheel-generator assembly are still
rotating for 10 to 15 seconds
to dissipate the gravitational rotational kinetic energy, generating
electricity, and protecting the utility
brakes. This described mechanical component is rotated at a high speed (1 to
18 ratios) in the same
direction with the shaft 40. The governor stator 44 is installed on the
mainframe on top of the elevator
car 100. Further a system of brackets 142.a to 142.1, showed in fig 2a and
fig. 7a, are designed to secure
all the described mechanical devices in place on top of the elevator car 100.
The entire gearbox speed
multiplication system, including the flywheel-governor-generator assembly, is
designed to be stationary
when the elevator car 100 is moved up or in a parking position. Conversely,
the governor system, the
flywheel 46, and generator 66 are activated gravitationally when the elevator
car 100 is descending,
creating electricity. Fig.8 represents a continuation of the driving shaft
148a from Fig.7. On the driving
shaft 148a, shown in figs. 7 and 8, is installed several mechanical
assemblies, including a dual one way
rotating utility disc brake assembly 154a and 154b installed on one way crank
bearings. In operation the
brake discs assembly are stationary when the elevator car 100 is moving up.
The utility brakes become
activated when the elevator 100 is moving down, preferably gravitationally. As
shown in fig. 8 a gear
wheel 48 is installed on the dual contra-rotating shaft 148b. At the front end
of the driving shaft 148b is
installed the traction sheave drums assembly 156a. (156b not being shown in
fig.8) The rotational speed
of the traction sheave drum 156.a (156.b not being shown in fig. 8) is reduced
by 1 to 7 ratio, between
the driving motor 138 (not showing) and the dual contra-rotating driving
shafts assembly 148.a and
148.b. In Fig.8, the shaft 148a is a continuation of the shaft 148a from
fig.7. Inside the traction sheaves
156a and 156b is a schematic representation of the planetary gearbox systems
136.a and 136.b.
(planetary gearbox 136b not shown in fig.8). In this configuration the reduced
speed of the sheave
traction drums 156.a and 156.b, is turned into high torque (1 to 7 ratios) and
is creating the necessary
ascending power needed in order to engage the stationary ropes 120 and 124
(not shown in fig. 7).
Further the entire mechanical assembly from Fig. 8 is held together by the
mechanical brackets
assembly 142a to 142j. All the moving parts shown in Fig. 7 are served by the
appropriate bearings
system, like bearings 54a, 54b and 54c. The mechanical bearings 54.a, 54.b,
54.c, 54.d, 54.e, 54.f, and
54.g are shown in fig. 7a. All the mechanical components in fig.7a are held
together by the brackets
assembly 142.a,142.b, 142.c, 142.d, 142.e and 142.f. Fig.9 is a magnified
representation of the second
embodiment described in Fig. 3. Fig.9 shows the rotational direction of the
visible mechanical elements,
like the traction motor 138 rotating in the opposite direction with the
traction sheaves 156a,156b,
facilitated by the gearbox system 152. The mechanical configuration of the 1
to 1 ratio gearbox 152 is
not limited four gears, as depicted in fig. 9. Some elevator projects may be
configured with a two gear 1
to 1 ratio (as described in Fig.2.a, and Fig.7.a,) to secure the same contra-
rotating transmission of the
9
Date Reyue/Date Received 2023-03-02
dual contra-rotating shafts traction system. The arrows depicting the
direction of the dual contra-
rotating shafts system show that the elevator car 100 is moving up, climbing
the rope system 120, and
124, (126 and 128 not shown). The mechanical driving system visible in Fig. 9
is held in place by the
visible brackets system 142a, 142b, and 142c. Visible under the mechanical
traction system is an empty
space 160 envisioned to house the power storage devices, and to create a sound
isolation space
designed to protect the passengers from any noise induced by the traction
system in operation.
34. Fig. 10 shows a schematic view of the traction system of figs. 2a and
7a, but with added
arrows denoting the movement direction of the rotational parts when the
elevator car 100 is in the
moving up operation. In this configuration, the driving motor 138 rotates in
the clockwise direction, the
primary shaft 148a transmits the rotational power to the 1 to 1 ratio gearbox
assembly 152 and, and the
planetary gears system 136a turns the traction sheave drums 156.a. In the
moving up operation, the
brakes discs 154.a and 154.b are allowed to stay stationary by means of the
one way crank bearing k.1
(not shown) such that. The dual contra-rotating shafts 148.a and 148.b are
free to rotate and engage
only the sheave traction drums 156a and 156b. The 1 to 1 ratio gearbox 152 the
driving shaft 148b in
148a, the opposite direction. The shaft 148.b turns the planetary gearbox
system 136.b of the sheave
traction drum 156.b in the same direction as itself. Further, in the moving up
operation, the driving shaft
148.6 does not turn (rotate) the one way crank brakes disc 154.a,154.b, and
the 1 to 18 ratio speed
multiplication of the flywheel-governor-generator assembly, allowing to stay
stationary by the function
of the one way crank bearing system K.2,and K.3 (not shown). This simple
mechanical traction system
has a low number of moving parts, when the elevator car 100 is moving up. In
this configuration only the
driving motor 138, the transmission 1 to 1 gearbox 152, and the sheaves
traction drivers' drums 156.a,
and 156.b, will be rotated engaging the stationary ropes 120, 124, 126, and
128. The power catenary-
pantograph panel assembly 94, shown in fig.2a, powers the driving motor 138.
The traction system is
further is served by the necessary bearings system, assembly (not shown), and
the entire system is
mounted on the platform 64, (shown in fig.2a.) on the top (roof) of the
elevator car.
35. Fig. 11 shows a schematic view of the rotational configuration of the
traction system when
the elevator car is moving down. In this configuration the elevator car 100 is
designed to descend
gravitationally. As the car 100 starts to move down, the driving motor 138 is
turning in reverse by
gravity, producing electricity. Before the elevator car 100 starts to descend,
the disc brake systems 154a
and 154b slowly release the pressure over the shoes inside the brake calipers
(not shown), allowing the
car 100 to move down. In the process, the main gearbox 152 will turn the
driving shafts 148a and 148b
in opposite directions allowing the one way bearings crank flywheel-governor-
generator assembly (40,
34, 36, 38, 44, and 46) and the 1 to 18 ratio speed multiplication gearbox
(34, 36 and 38) shown in figs
2a and 7a to rotate. Further the flywheel 46, and its shaft 40 (shown in fig.
2a, and 7a) will turn the
generator shaft with the same speed as the flywheel 46, (the system is shown
in Fig.2.a,and 7a).The high
speed rotation of the flywheel-generator-governor assembly 46 will create a
desired descending
mechanical resistance, preventing the elevator car from accelerating out of
control, and protecting the
utility braking system. This movement has a dual practical interest; the more
is multiplied the speed in
reverse of the traction motor and of the, flywheel-generator-governor
assembly, the more electricity is
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-02
produced and the less energy is needed for the braking system to stop the
elevator car. While the
preferred embodiments have been described herein, it is acknowledged that the
generally or specific
features may vary in part or totally, without departing from the scope of the
presently claimed
invention.
=
11
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-02
