Adjustable Tool for Elevator Landing Door Lock Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current elevator systems require technicians to adjust the alignment of elevator car and landing door components from the top, necessitating a safety volume and additional space, which is inefficient and time-consuming, especially during maintenance when precision adjustments are needed.

Innovation Solution

A tool with a telescoping element and adjustable parts that can be mounted inside the elevator car door, simulating the elevator car door coupling to allow for adjustments of landing door locks from within the elevator car, eliminating the need for top access and enabling multiple adjustments without reconfiguring the tool.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If technicians adjust door alignment from the top of the car, then they can directly view and measure clearance between components, but a safety volume and additional space are required above the car

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclearance measurement accuracyVSAvoidsafety volume above car
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional adjustment approach by moving the measurement and adjustment function from the top of the car to the interior of the car. The tool is mounted on the interior door panel rather than requiring access from above, eliminating the need for safety volume while maintaining measurement capability through the use of a scale and visual indicators visible from inside the car.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a tool as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between the interior mounting location and the exterior door components. The tool includes an exterior portion that extends through the door opening to engage with the door coupling and landing door lock, allowing measurement and adjustment to be performed from inside the car while still accessing the external components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If technicians access door components from the top of the car, then alignment can be adjusted, but the process is time-consuming and requires reconfiguration for each landing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor alignment precisionVSAvoidadjustment time per landing
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal tool that can be mounted once on the interior door panel and used to adjust door alignment at multiple landings without reconfiguration. The tool remains fixed in the door opening while the car moves between landings, allowing the same tool to serve multiple adjustment functions across different floors, thereby eliminating repetitive installation and reconfiguration time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The tool is pre-mounted on the interior door panel before the adjustment process begins. This preliminary installation establishes a fixed reference point and measurement system that remains in place throughout the entire multi-landing adjustment process, eliminating the need for repeated setup and configuration at each landing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If a fixed measurement tool is used inside the car, then adjustments can be made from interior, but the tool must accommodate varying door opening sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterior adjustment accessibilityVSAvoidcompatibility with different door openings
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a telescoping element in the tool that allows the exterior portion to dynamically adjust its length. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the tool to accommodate varying door opening sizes and configurations while maintaining its mounting position on the interior door panel, providing both ease of operation and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3292062B1Apparatus and method for adjusting landing door locks from inside an elevator car
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3292062B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3292062B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3292062B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A tool for adjusting landing door locks in an elevator shaft is provided. The tool includes a first part that is adjustable in length and configured to be mounted in an elevator door opening and a second part movably attached to the first part and configured to simulate an elevator door coupling, the second part moveable along the length of the first part.