Construction Elevator with Vertical and Horizontal Door Configurations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for transporting goods and people during building construction are inefficient and do not smoothly transition to the final building configuration, lacking in efficiency and adaptability.

Innovation Solution

A construction-time elevator arrangement with a hoistway and vertically displaced landings, featuring a first door with a vertical opening for goods transport and a second door with a horizontal opening for passenger transport, allowing for easy conversion between goods and passenger transport using the same elevator car and control system, facilitating efficient and safe movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a temporary elevator installed outside the building or crane/hoist is used for goods transport during construction, then goods can be transported vertically, but the flow of goods is not sufficiently efficient and transition to final building configuration is not smooth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of goods flowVSAvoidtransition to final building configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator car is designed to serve dual purposes: during construction phase it transports goods with vertical door opening, and after construction it transports passengers with horizontal door opening. The same hoistway and elevator infrastructure is used for both phases, eliminating the need for separate temporary and permanent elevator systems.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The door opening direction is made changeable - the elevator car can operate with vertical door opening during construction and switch to horizontal door opening for passenger transport in the final building. This dynamic adaptability allows the same physical infrastructure to serve different functional requirements at different time phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a construction-time elevator installed inside the building is used, then vertical transport is enabled, but it does not ensure sufficiently smooth transition to serving transportation needs of the final building

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical transport capabilityVSAvoidtransition to final building needs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator system is designed as a universal infrastructure that serves both construction-phase goods transport and post-construction passenger transport. The same hoistway, elevator car, and control system are used for both phases, ensuring smooth transition without requiring separate elevator installations.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The door configuration parameter is changed between phases - vertical door opening for construction goods transport, and horizontal door opening for final building passenger transport. This parameter change allows the same physical elevator infrastructure to adapt to different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If vertical opening door is used during construction, then installation and modification is easy, but it is not optimized for final building passenger transport needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation and modification easeVSAvoidpassenger entry/exit efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door opening direction is made dynamic and changeable between phases. During construction, vertical door opening facilitates easy installation and goods transport. After construction, the system switches to horizontal door opening which is optimized for passenger entry and exit efficiency in the final building.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hoistway is preliminarily constructed with openings that can accommodate both vertical and horizontal door configurations. The infrastructure is prepared in advance to support both construction-phase and final-building operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If horizontal opening door is used for final building, then passenger transport is optimized, but it is not suitable for construction-time goods transport needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger transport optimizationVSAvoidconstruction-time goods transport
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is made dynamic, capable of changing opening direction based on operational phase. Horizontal door opening optimizes passenger transport in the final building, while vertical door opening optimizes goods transport during construction. The same physical infrastructure supports both configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The door system is segmented into configurable components that can be arranged in different configurations - vertical opening for construction phase and horizontal opening for final building phase. This segmentation allows flexible adaptation to different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3822215B1Method and construction-time elevator arrangement
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 KONE OYJ
  • EP3822215B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3822215B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3822215B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for transporting goods in a building (1) under construction, comprising providing an elevator arrangement (2;20) comprising a hoistway (H) inside the building (1) under construction, and vertically displaced landings (F0,Fn), and an elevator car (3), which is vertically movable inside the hoistway (H), the hoistway being provided with openings (4) between landings (F0,Fn) and the hoistway (H), one or more of the hoistway openings (4) being provided with a first door arrangement (5;25), wherein the first door arrangement (5;25) comprises a first sliding hoistway door (6;26) for openably closing the hoistway opening (4), the opening direction of which first hoistway door (6;26) is vertical; and thereafter transporting vertically goods between landings (F0,Fn) of the building (1) under construction with said elevator car (3); and thereafter constructing a second door arrangement (8) in place of one or more of the first door arrangements (5;25), wherein the second door arrangement (8) comprises a second sliding hoistway door (9) for openably closing the hoistway opening (4), the opening direction of which second sliding hoistway door (9) is horizontal; and thereafter transporting vertically passengers between landings (F0,Fn) of the building (1) with an elevator car (15) in the hoistway inside the building (1). The invention also relates to a construction-time elevator arrangement (2,20).