Elevator Car Door Control System with Integrated Clutch and Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator car door control systems require the door to open slightly before preventing further opening, and they often necessitate a separate gate switch to prevent the car from traveling when the door is open, which is inefficient and unsafe, especially when the elevator is between floors.
Innovation Solution
An integrated elevator car door control system that includes a clutch and interlock assembly, where the clutch has a stationary and slidable base with a sensing vane and control link, and an interlock assembly with a support block and locking arm, allowing the door to remain closed without sliding when the elevator is between floors, and incorporating a built-in switch for mechanical and electrical locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door opens slightly before triggering the prevention mechanism, then the door can be controlled to prevent opening when unsafe, but the door unnecessarily opens before being prevented from opening further
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of unsafe conditions (door position relative to car position) before allowing door opening to proceed. The control system checks whether the door is within a predetermined distance of the car before permitting opening, preventing the need for partial opening and subsequent prevention.
2Reliability
If a separate gate switch is incorporated to prevent car travel when door is open, then car travel safety is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the door opening prevention function and the car travel prevention function into a single integrated control system. The same control unit that prevents door opening under unsafe conditions also controls car travel based on door status, eliminating the need for a separate gate switch and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: it detects door position, determines car position, prevents door opening when unsafe, and controls car travel based on door status. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated components.
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator car door control system includes a clutch and an interlock assembly. The clutch may include a stationary base and a slidable base movably attached to the stationary base. The stationary base may be adapted for attachment to a car door of an elevator car. The interlock assembly may include a locking arm operatively connected to the slidable base of the clutch and moveable from a locked position preventing translation relative to the elevator car to an unlocked position. When the car door is in a closed position, a door opening sequence may commence causing the slidable base to move relative to the car door, but the car door will only open if the slidable base presses against an object, such as a roller on a hoistway door, in which case the locking arm of the interlock assembly moves from the locked to the unlocked position.