Elevator Car Positioning for Secure Well Access Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator access control methods allow unauthorized individuals to memorize and misuse access codes, leading to unauthorized maintenance and potential service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a well access operating mode that isolates the elevator car by moving it to a predetermined distance from the landing call, requiring a service technician to open a secure entrance, and automatically returning to normal service if unauthorized access attempts are made, thereby preventing misuse and ensuring safe access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a code is input in a landing call receiving means to control access to an elevator well, then the elevator car can be initiated to stop at a predetermined stop position, but unauthorized persons may memorize the code and enter the maintenance mode without permission
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator car is moved to a predetermined stop position away from the landing before the maintenance mode is activated. This preliminary action ensures that even if an unauthorized person memorizes the code and activates maintenance mode, they cannot access the elevator well because the car is positioned away from the landing entrance.
Solution Approach 2:
A predetermined stop position acts as an intermediary location between the landing and the elevator well. The car stops at this intermediate position, creating a physical barrier that prevents direct access to the well while still allowing maintenance operations to be performed when needed.
2Reliability
If the elevator car is moved to a predetermined stop position away from the landing, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the elevator cannot respond to landing calls or group controller commands
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator control system dynamically changes its operational state based on the maintenance mode activation. When maintenance mode is activated, the system automatically transitions the car to the predetermined stop position and disables response to landing calls. This dynamic behavior ensures security while maintaining service availability when maintenance is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by monitoring whether the car is at the predetermined stop position and automatically managing the response to landing calls accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the elevator only becomes unresponsive to calls when actually in maintenance mode with the car positioned away from landings.
3Reliability
If the elevator car stops at a set distance away from the landing, then safe access is provided, but additional control mechanisms are required to manage car movement and stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The predetermined stop position serves multiple functions: it acts as a safety barrier preventing unauthorized access to the well, it serves as a controlled access point for authorized maintenance personnel, and it enables automatic activation of maintenance mode. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the access control function with the car positioning function. The same predetermined stop position that provides safety by being away from landings also serves as the activation point for maintenance mode. This consolidation of functions reduces overall system complexity while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing well access in an elevator well having at least one elevator car moveable in the elevator well, includes the following steps: a well access operating mode of the elevator is activated, in which well access operating mode the elevator car will not respond to any landing calls, group controller commands or to any other remote commands, upon activation of the well access operating mode the car is controlled to travel a set distance up or down, the car is controlled to stop at said distance for a given time, the elevator will automatically exit the well access operating mode and return back to service if within the given time no well entrance, e.g. landing door, is opened. After non authorized activation of the well access operating mode, the elevator is automatically returned to service, which reduces the danger of off-service times of the elevator based on misuse of activation signals.