Elevator Roof Balustrade Guide-Rail Latching for Fall Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems require heavy and expensive balustrades on the car roof for fall protection, which are cumbersome and costly due to the need for elaborate structural measures to ensure stability.

Innovation Solution

The elevator system incorporates a balustrade with guide rail engagement means that allow it to be supported inwardly and outwardly on guide rails, enabling a lightweight and stable fall protection mechanism that can be temporarily or permanently connected during maintenance or normal operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional heavy balustrades are used on the car roof, then fall protection stability is ensured, but the structure becomes heavy and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefall protection stabilityVSAvoidbalustrade weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential support function from the traditional heavy balustrade structure by utilizing the existing guide rail system. The guide rail engagement means engage with the guide rail to provide the necessary support, eliminating the need for heavy self-supporting balustrade structures while maintaining fall protection stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail serves multiple functions: it guides the elevator car movement and simultaneously provides support for the balustrade through the guide rail engagement means. This multi-functionality allows the balustrade to be lightweight while still ensuring stability, as the guide rail assumes the additional support role.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If traditional heavy balustrades are used on the car roof, then fall protection stability is ensured, but the structure becomes expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefall protection stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail serves multiple functions: it guides the elevator car movement and simultaneously provides support for the balustrade through the guide rail engagement means. This multi-functionality allows the balustrade to be lightweight while still ensuring stability, as the guide rail assumes the additional support role.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential support function from the traditional heavy balustrade structure by utilizing the existing guide rail system. The guide rail engagement means engage with the guide rail to provide the necessary support, eliminating the need for heavy self-supporting balustrade structures while maintaining fall protection stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Weight of moving object

If the balustrade is made lightweight, then ease of installation is improved, but structural stability under horizontal forces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalustrade weightVSAvoidresistance to horizontal forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail engagement means act as an intermediary between the lightweight balustrade and the guide rail. This intermediary mechanism transfers horizontal forces from the balustrade to the guide rail, enabling the lightweight balustrade to resist horizontal forces effectively through the guide rail's structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail serves multiple functions: it guides the elevator car movement and simultaneously provides support for the balustrade through the guide rail engagement means. This multi-functionality allows the balustrade to be lightweight while still ensuring stability, as the guide rail assumes the additional support role.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12522470B2Elevator system

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 INVENTIO AG

AI summary

An elevator system has an elevator car with a roof on which roof a balustrade is arranged as a fall protection for delimiting an accessible inner region on the roof. The balustrade includes a guide rail engagement means via which the balustrade can be brought into engagement with a guide rail by a latching mechanism for a secure position such that the balustrade is supported inwardly and outwardly on the guide rail in the secure position.