Elevator Door Coupling Sidewall Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator systems have a large running clearance between the elevator car sill and the landing sill, which poses safety concerns such as passengers getting stuck or items falling through the gap, and also wastes space within the elevator shaft.
Innovation Solution
The elevator coupling mechanisms are repositioned outside the sill region, reducing the sill gap from the standard 30 mm to less than 25 mm, 10 mm, or even 6 mm, by using hanger extensions that extend into the elevator shaft, allowing the car door and landing door couplings to operate simultaneously while minimizing contact risks and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the running clearance between car sill and landing sill is reduced to improve safety and reduce space, then the sill gap is minimized, but the elevator coupling mechanisms cannot operate simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the door coupling mechanisms from a vertical arrangement (above the sills) to a horizontal arrangement (along the sidewalls) by extending hangers into the shaft. This dimensional change allows the coupling mechanisms to operate in a different spatial plane, resolving the conflict between minimizing vertical gap and maintaining operational clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces extended hangers as intermediary components that connect the door couplings to the car structure. These extended hangers provide the necessary clearance for coupling operation while allowing the sills to be positioned closer together, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of safety and operability.
2Volume of moving object
If the running clearance is reduced to minimize space requirements, then the footprint is reduced, but the risk of contact between car components and landing components increases
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the coupling mechanisms to the sidewall dimension rather than positioning them above the sills, the patent reduces the horizontal space requirements while maintaining adequate clearance between moving and stationary components, thus reducing both footprint and contact risk.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sill gap is reduced to prevent safety hazards, then passenger safety is improved, but the door coupling mechanisms cannot be positioned correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the positioning conflict by relocating the coupling mechanisms to the sidewall dimension, allowing them to be manufactured and positioned independently of the sill gap dimensions, thus enabling both safety and manufacturability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Elevator systems include an elevator car configured to travel along an elevator shaft, the elevator car having a car door and a car sill. One or more landings are arranged along the elevator shaft, the landings each having a landing door and a landing sill. An elevator coupling is provided that includes a car door coupling operably coupled to the car door and a landing door coupling operably coupled to the landing door. The car door coupling and the landing door coupling are selectively operable to drive operation of the car door and the landing door simultaneously and a sill gap between the car sill and the landing sill is less than 25 mm.