Elevator Car Blocking Mechanism for Hoistway Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems require additional space in the hoistway for maintenance, which complicates reliable positioning and accessibility for mechanics, and there is a need for secure maintenance conditions during normal operation.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system with a security device comprising first and second blocking devices that stabilize the elevator car in a fixed position within the hoistway, allowing a safety volume for maintenance, using wedge-shaped or plate-shaped components attached to the guide rail and elevator car respectively, ensuring safe and stable maintenance conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional space is provided in the hoistway for maintenance, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but the hoistway space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking devices are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned only when needed for maintenance. The first blocking device can be moved along the guide rail, and the second blocking device can be moved within the elevator car, enabling the safety volume to be created on-demand without permanently occupying hoistway space.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking devices are deployed periodically only during maintenance operations and retracted during normal elevator operation. This periodic deployment allows the system to provide maintenance accessibility when needed while minimizing space requirements during normal operation.
2Reliability
If the elevator car is held in a fixed waiting position, then positioning reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security device is divided into two separate blocking devices: a first blocking device attached to the guide rail and a second blocking device attached to the elevator car. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in structure while together they provide reliable positioning through their interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The interaction between the first and second blocking devices serves as an intermediary mechanism to achieve reliable positioning. The blocking devices work together to create the safety volume and hold the elevator car in the desired position without requiring a complex single-device solution.
3Reliability
If a safety volume is created above or below the elevator car, then maintenance safety is improved, but the hoistway space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The safety volume is created dynamically by positioning the blocking devices only when maintenance is required. During normal operation, the blocking devices are retracted, maximizing hoistway space utilization. This dynamic approach allows the same space to serve both maintenance safety and operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator system (1) to be positioned in a hoistway (2). The elevator system includes an elevator car (3), at least one guide rail (4) for guiding the elevator car when moving up and down in the hoistway, and a security device (5) that is designed and arranged in such way that a safety volume (6) above or below the elevator car inside the hoistway can be set in at least one secured state for safe maintenance operation of a mechanic inside the safety volume. The security device comprises at least one first blocking device (7) attached to the at least one guide rail or configured for being mounted to a wall of the hoistway and at least one second blocking device (8) configured to be mounted on or in the elevator car to cooperate with the first blocking device.