Elevator Apron Dynamics for Shallow Pit Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator aprons in systems with reduced depth pits face challenges in fitting a full-length apron due to limited space, leading to safety risks during rescue operations, as existing solutions like foldable or collapsible mechanisms add complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An elevator car apron that moves vertically to overlap with the door in a retracted position, allowing it to be displaced upwards when the car reaches the lowest floor, eliminating the need for complex folding mechanisms and ensuring the apron can be of sufficient length without obstructing access during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full-length apron (750 mm) is used to protect passengers during rescue operations, then passenger safety is improved, but the apron cannot fit into reduced depth pits (300 mm space)
Solution Approach 1:
The apron is designed to be movable between a deployed position (hanging below the door for safety) and a retracted position (vertically overlapped with the door). The apron engages with the door such that when the door opens, the apron moves sideways with it, allowing the full-length apron to be stored in the door opening space during normal operation and deployed when needed for protection.
2Reliability
If the apron is deployed to block the hoistway gap during rescue operations, then passenger safety is improved, but the apron obstructs access during normal operation at the lowest floor
Solution Approach 1:
The apron dynamically changes position based on operational mode. During normal operation at the lowest floor, the apron is in the retracted position vertically overlapped with the door, allowing unobstructed access. When the door opens during normal operation, the apron moves sideways with the door. During rescue operations, the apron deploys to block the hoistway gap, providing protection.
3Volume of moving object
If foldable or collapsible apron mechanisms are used to fit shallow pits, then the apron can be accommodated in reduced depth pits, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex foldable or collapsible mechanisms, the apron is designed to be simply movable between deployed and retracted positions. The apron engages with the door such that it moves sideways with the door opening, eliminating the need for folding mechanisms while maintaining the ability to fit in shallow pits.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening space serves multiple functions: it accommodates the retracted apron during normal operation and provides the mechanism for the apron to move sideways when the door opens. This multi-functional use of existing space eliminates the need for additional folding or collapsible structures.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
An elevator car comprising: a door; and an apron movable between a deployed position and a retracted position; wherein in the deployed position the apron hangs below the door; wherein in the retracted position the apron is vertically overlapped with the door; and wherein in the retracted position the apron is engaged with the door such that it is movable sideways together with the door. Allowing the apron to overlap vertically with the door (i.e. such that the door and the apron share an amount of vertical extent or such that a certain height range is occupied by both the apron and the door) means that the apron can be simply displaced upwards when the elevator car reaches the lowest landing and the apron contacts the pit floor. As the apron is displaced upwards relative to the elevator car it will block the doorway However, as the apron is engaged with the door in the retracted position, opening the door also moves the apron out of the way of the doorway so that the apron does not hinder passengers from using the elevator car. This arrangement is especially useful in elevators with shallow pits as a full length apron can be used without needing to fold it or rotate it out of the way in order to allow access to the lowest floor.