Deformable Elevator Car Camera Mount for Door Coupling Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems face challenges in remotely inspecting door couplings without increasing overhead space, which is necessary for safety regulations and to prevent damage from the 'car jump' position, where the counterweight contacts the buffer at the bottom of the hoistway.

Innovation Solution

A deformable camera mount is installed at the top of the elevator car, capable of moving downwards upon contact, allowing a camera to monitor the door coupling while minimizing the overhead space requirement and protecting the coupling from damage during the 'car jump' position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a camera mount is installed at the top of the elevator car to monitor the door coupling, then remote inspection capability is improved, but the overhead space requirement increases which may conflict with safety regulations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote inspection capabilityVSAvoidoverhead space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera mount is designed to be deformable rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The mount can extend into the overhead space during normal operation to enable camera monitoring, but deform downward when contacted by the ceiling during car jump events, thus adapting to changing spatial requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the camera mount changes from a rigid structure to a deformable one that can alter its vertical position. This parameter change allows the mount to occupy different spatial configurations - extended for monitoring functionality, retracted for safety compliance during overhead contact events

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the camera mount extends into the overhead space to monitor the door coupling, then monitoring precision is improved, but the risk of damage from car jump events increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor coupling monitoring precisionVSAvoiddamage risk from ceiling contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The camera mount is designed with inherent deformability that acts as a cushioning mechanism. Before any potential damage can occur during a car jump event, the mount is already configured to deform downward upon ceiling contact, absorbing the impact energy and protecting the camera and door coupling from damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harmful contact between the camera mount and ceiling during car jump events is converted into a beneficial protective mechanism. The deformable mount uses the ceiling contact force to trigger its downward deformation, transforming what would be a damaging rigid impact into a controlled protective action that safeguards the camera and door coupling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables remote monitoring of door couplings, reduces the need for manual inspections, and ensures compliance with safety regulations by allowing the camera mount to deform and avoid contact with the ceiling, thus preventing damage to the door coupling and maintaining the required overhead space.

Implementation Method 1

the camera mount is deformable at least in the vertical direction, when acted on by a downwards force, such as to protect the door coupling from being impacted by the camera mount

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the camera mount is arranged to contact the ceiling, and deform in the vertical direction, towards the top of the elevator car

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11453574B2Elevator cars with camera mount

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

An elevator car (42; 103) for carrying a load in a vertical direction. The elevator car includes at least one elevator car door (38) carrying a door coupling (20) and a camera mount (40) comprising a mounting location (46) for a camera (44). The camera mount (40) is located at the top of the elevator car (42) with the mounting location (46) positioned for a camera (44) to monitor the door coupling (20). The camera mount is deformable at least in the vertical direction, when acted on by a downwards force, such as to protect the door coupling (20) from being impacted by the camera mount (40).