Conveyor Balustrade Sensor Detection Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor devices like escalators and inclined moving walks pose a risk of people, especially children, hanging onto the handrail and falling, leading to injuries or death, as existing mechanical barriers are often ineffective due to improper installation, design considerations, and lack of retrofitting requirements.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor device equipped with sensors positioned at the balustrades that detect a person's presence in a defined cone-shaped detection zone extending from the sensor, issuing an alarm or stopping the conveyor to prevent hanging, without the need for mechanical barriers, by setting the detection zone to end below the handrail to avoid false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical barriers are installed to prevent access to the outer decking, then safety against hanging onto handrail is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical barriers with an optical detection system. Sensors (optical, ultrasonic, or radar) detect the presence of persons in the detection zone and trigger alarm signals or stop the conveyor device, eliminating the need for physical barrier structures while maintaining safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as an intermediary detection mechanism between the person and the safety response system. The sensors detect persons in the detection zone and mediate the safety response through control signals that trigger alarms or stop the conveyor, replacing direct mechanical prevention with indirect detection and response.
2Measurement precision
If detection range is extended to detect persons closer to handrail, then detection accuracy is improved, but false alarm risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different detection characteristics to different spatial zones. The detection zone is configured with specific geometric parameters (cone shape with defined opening angle) that create different detection sensitivity in different areas: higher sensitivity for persons at dangerous distances from the handrail, and reduced sensitivity for areas where false alarms are more likely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes detection parameters including detection range, opening angle of the detection zone, and sensor positioning height. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves optimal balance between detecting persons who might hang onto the handrail and avoiding detection of normal hand interactions that would cause false alarms.
3Length of stationary object
If sensors are positioned higher to detect persons earlier, then detection range is improved, but detection of hand/arm hanging is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions sensors at optimized heights and configurations that create three-dimensional detection zones extending both vertically and horizontally. This multi-dimensional detection approach allows the system to detect persons at various heights including those whose hands or arms are hanging from the handrail, rather than only detecting at a single elevated plane.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A conveyor device (2) comprises: a conveyance element (8) extending in a longitudinal direction between two spaced apart landing portions (4, 6) and configured to move for conveying people and/or goods between the two landing portions (4, 6); at least one balustrade (10, 12) located laterally at one side of the conveyance element (8) and extending along the longitudinal direction of the conveyance element (8); and at least one sensor (22, 23), which is configured for detecting the presence of a person in a detection zone (28) which is defined by a main detection direction (D), at least one detection angle (α, β) and at least one detection range (R). The at least one sensor (22, 23) is located at or next to the at least one balustrade (10, 12), and the main detection direction (D) extends from the at least one sensor (22, 23) in a direction away from the balustrade (10, 12).