Adjustable Elevator Door Interlock Base Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator door interlock systems are prone to malfunctions, accounting for 50% of maintenance requests and 30% of callbacks, and the installation process is time-consuming and complicated due to inaccurate alignment of interlock components, leading to unreliable elevator operation.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable elevator door interlock system where the base is movable relative to the pivot axis, allowing for separate alignment of door movement bumpers without adjusting the latch or switch components, thereby separating door unlocking and moving functions and reducing load on latch components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional interlock arrangements are used with fixed component positions, then the structure is simple, but alignment accuracy deteriorates leading to malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidinterlock structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base is made selectively movable horizontally relative to the pivot axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the interlock position during installation and maintenance. This enables accurate alignment with the door coupler while maintaining structural simplicity through a single adjustable component rather than multiple fixed components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If interlock components are adjusted for accurate alignment, then alignment accuracy improves, but installation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterlock alignmentVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The interlock is segmented into independently adjustable components: the base can be moved horizontally without affecting the latch or switch components. This allows installation personnel to adjust only the necessary alignment aspects rather than repositioning entire assemblies, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The latch and switch components are pre-positioned relative to the pivot axis, so that when the base is adjusted for alignment, the other components remain in their correct positions. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for repeated adjustments during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the latch components carry the load for door movement, then the unlocking function is integrated, but reliability deteriorates due to increased wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent durabilityVSAvoidfunctional integration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door interlock system is segmented into distinct functional components: the latch handles unlocking while the door movement bumpers handle door movement. This separation ensures that the latch components do not carry door movement loads, reducing wear and improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through clear functional division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door movement function is extracted from the latch mechanism and assigned to separate bumpers. This extraction removes the harmful load-carrying function from the latch components, allowing them to专注于 the unlocking function without excessive wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If multiple components are adjusted together for alignment, then functional integration is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment simplicityVSAvoidcomponent interdependence
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base is made independently adjustable while other components remain fixed during the adjustment process. This dynamic adjustment capability simplifies operation by allowing technicians to focus on aligning only the base position without worrying about maintaining relationships between multiple moving parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3564176B1Elevator door interlock assembly
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3564176B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3564176B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3564176B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a latch situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a door locking position and a released position. At least one base is configured to be selectively movable relative to the pivot axis. A plurality of door movement bumpers are supported on the at least one base. Selective movement of the at least one base relative to the pivot axis adjusts an alignment position of the door movement bumpers.