Elevator Car Mover Derailment Prevention via Barrier Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-car elevator systems face challenges in preventing derailment when a transfer station is unavailable, as they lack effective mechanisms to safely stop the elevator car and car mover within a predetermined distance of the transfer station.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a car mover with motor-driven wheels and sensors, including a motion buffer and barrier that deploy into the travel path when the transfer station is unavailable, using primary and safety brakes to stop the car mover, and a limit switch to determine proximity, ensuring safe stopping and preventing derailment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the car mover continues moving when the transfer station is unavailable, then the system maintains operational continuity, but derailment risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by deploying barriers and motion buffers into the travel path before the car mover reaches the unavailable transfer station. The car mover is configured to stop upon detecting the unavailable transfer station through sensor data or limit switch engagement, preventing potential derailment by counteracting the forward motion before it can cause harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by preparing the stopping mechanism in advance. When the transfer station is detected as unavailable, the car mover proactively stops by controlling brakes and power before reaching the transfer station, ensuring safety measures are activated ahead of time rather than reacting after a problem occurs.
2Measurement precision
If the car mover stops using brakes and power control, then stopping precision improves, but stopping distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting the unavailable transfer station in advance using sensors or limit switches and initiating the stopping sequence before reaching the transfer station. This allows the car mover to begin braking early, maintaining precision while managing the required stopping distance through proactive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies beforehand cushioning by deploying motion buffers and barriers into the travel path ahead of time. These components provide a cushioning effect that absorbs the car mover's kinetic energy, enabling controlled stopping while reducing the impact forces that would otherwise require longer braking distances.
3Reliability
If barriers and motion buffers are deployed into the travel path, then derailment prevention improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the safety mechanism into distinct components: barriers positioned at the transfer station end and motion buffers associated with the car mover. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining effective derailment prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses intermediaries (barriers and motion buffers) as mediating elements between the car mover and the unavailable transfer station. These intermediaries physically intervene in the travel path to prevent direct contact between the car mover and the problematic transfer station, reducing complexity by using simple mechanical blocks rather than complex active control systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an elevator system (10) configured for controlling motion of an elevator car (50) in a hoistway (40), the hoistway (40) having a transfer station end (210) that is configured to receive a transfer station (200), the system (10) having: a car mover (80) is operationally connected to the elevator car (50) for moving the elevator car in the hoistway (40), wherein the car mover (80) is configured to stop while approaching a transfer station (200) when the transfer station (200) is unavailable.