Elevator Balustrade 3-State Switch Position Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator installations with foldable balustrades require multiple safety switches to monitor the balustrade's position, leading to increased complexity and cost, as well as potential safety risks due to the need for additional switches and wiring.

Innovation Solution

A 3-state switch is mechanically coupled to the foldable balustrade, allowing it to detect three positions (folded-down, raised, and intermediate states) without the need for additional switches, simplifying the system and reducing costs by eliminating the need for separate safety switches and wiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple safety switches are used to monitor the balustrade position, then the safety monitoring reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoring reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple safety switch functions into a single 3-state switch that can detect three different positions (folded-down, intermediate, and raised) of the balustrade. This merging of multiple monitoring functions into one device reduces the overall number of components while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The 3-state switch serves multiple functions: it monitors whether the balustrade is in the folded-down position, detects intermediate positions, and determines when the balustrade is raised. This multi-functional switch replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate switches, simplifying the control system while maintaining reliable safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple safety switches are used to monitor the balustrade position, then the safety monitoring reliability is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple safety switch functions into a single 3-state switch that can detect three different positions (folded-down, intermediate, and raised) of the balustrade. This merging of multiple monitoring functions into one device reduces the overall number of components while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The 3-state switch serves multiple functions: it monitors whether the balustrade is in the folded-down position, detects intermediate positions, and determines when the balustrade is raised. This multi-functional switch replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate switches, simplifying the control system while maintaining reliable safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple safety switches are used to monitor the balustrade position, then the safety monitoring reliability is improved, but the wiring complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidwiring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple safety switch functions into a single 3-state switch that can detect three different positions (folded-down, intermediate, and raised) of the balustrade. This merging of multiple monitoring functions into one device reduces the overall number of components while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The 3-state switch serves multiple functions: it monitors whether the balustrade is in the folded-down position, detects intermediate positions, and determines when the balustrade is raised. This multi-functional switch replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate switches, simplifying the control system while maintaining reliable safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10836605B2Elevator car with a foldable balustrade and control device for an elevator installation having such an elevator car

Publication Date: 2020.11.17 INVENTIO AG

AI summary

An elevator car has at least one balustrade attached to a roof of the elevator car, which balustrade can be pivoted about a rotation axis between a folded-down position, in which the balustrade is arranged essentially horizontally, and a raised position, in which the balustrade is arranged essentially vertically. The balustrade is mechanically coupled to a 3-state switch, which switch can adopt three different switching states. The balustrade and the 3-state switch thus cooperate such that the 3-state switch adopts a first switching state when the balustrade is in the folded-down position, the 3-state switch adopts a second switching state when the balustrade is in the raised position, and the 3-state switch adopts a third switching state when the balustrade is in neither the folded-down position nor the raised position.