Elevator Door Frame Electronics Housing Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine roomless elevator systems face challenges in finding a suitable location for control electronics, with existing solutions either increasing the door surround size or requiring technicians to enter the hoistway for maintenance, inspection, or other procedures.
Innovation Solution
An electronics enclosure integrated into the elevator door frame with a first and second sidewall that are moveable relative to a third obliquely oriented sidewall, providing a single access opening from the landing side, allowing access to control electronics without entering the hoistway, and accommodating various electronic components for inspection, maintenance, and passenger assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control electronics are housed in a separate machine room, then electronics are protected and accessible, but space requirements increase and machine roomless systems cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control electronics housing with the door frame structure, integrating two previously separate functions (door framing and electronics housing) into a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for a separate machine room while providing dedicated space for electronics within the door assembly itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The door frame structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the door assembly, houses the control electronics, and includes integrated access mechanisms. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to accommodate electronics without requiring additional space or increasing the door surround size.
2Ease of repair
If control electronics are accessible from the hoistway through a large opening, then maintenance and inspection are easier, but technicians must enter the hoistway increasing safety risks and time requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary access mechanism - a movable panel or door on the landing side of the door frame - that provides access to the control electronics without requiring technicians to enter the hoistway. This intermediary structure mediates between the need for electronics accessibility and the safety requirement of avoiding hoistway entry.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing access to electronics from the hoistway side (traditional approach), the patent inverts the access direction by providing a dedicated access opening on the landing side. This reversal allows technicians to service electronics from a safe location outside the hoistway while maintaining full accessibility to all electronic components.
3Productivity
If control electronics are housed in the door frame, then machine room space is eliminated, but access to electronics requires entering the hoistway or increasing door frame size
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a structural portion providing support, an electronics housing portion containing the control electronics, and an access portion with movable panels. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently - the housing provides compact electronics storage while the access portion enables convenient servicing from the landing side without compromising structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary enclosure for housing electronics useful with an elevator system includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall adjacent the first sidewall. A third sidewall is at an oblique angle relative to the first sidewall. The third sidewall provides a support surface for supporting electronics inside the enclosure. The first and second sidewalls are moveable relative to the third sidewall to provide a single opening facing the support surface.