Elevator Door Emergency Unlocking via Floor-Actuated Mechanical Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator door unlocking mechanisms are complex, expensive, and prone to failure, especially during power outages, trapping passengers inside the elevator.
Innovation Solution
A manually operated emergency release mechanism, activated by a key, which unlocks both the cabin and shaft doors from the floor, utilizing a mechanical linkage and actuator to bypass electrical power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrically activated door lock system is used for the cabin door, then the door can be securely locked during normal operation, but the door cannot be unlocked during a power outage, leaving passengers trapped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical actuator system that connects the shaft door lock mechanism to the cabin door lock. This actuator serves as a mediator that can mechanically override the electrically locked cabin door from the shaft door, enabling emergency evacuation without requiring power to the cabin door lock system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely electrical door unlocking system with a mechanical backup system. The actuator uses mechanical linkages and levers to physically disengage the cabin door lock bolt, substituting mechanical force for electrical actuation during emergency conditions when power is unavailable.
2Ease of operation
If a complex door coupling mechanism with multiple components is used to unlock the shaft door, then the door can be unlocked, but the mechanism becomes expensive and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shaft door lock and cabin door lock unlocking functions into a single integrated mechanism. By combining these functions, the system eliminates the need for separate complex door coupling mechanisms, reducing the number of components and potential failure points while maintaining the ability to unlock both doors.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator mechanism serves multiple functions: it unlocks the shaft door lock and simultaneously activates the cabin door emergency release. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate unlocking mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while providing comprehensive door access capability.
3Ease of operation
If a manual lock system is used for the shaft door, then the door can be unlocked from the floor during emergencies, but the system lacks automated control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the door locking control into two distinct systems: an automated electrically activated lock for normal operation and a manual override lock for emergency situations. This segmentation allows each system to be optimized for its specific function, maintaining automated control when needed while providing manual access when necessary.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an elevator and a method for the emergency unlocking of a cabin door of the elevator. The elevator has a cabin which can move in a shaft and moves to at least one floor. The cabin has a cabin door and a shaft door. The cabin door has an electrically activatable cabin door lock, and the shaft door has an electrically activatable shaft door lock. The cabin door lock has a first latch for locking a first cabin door leaf and an emergency unlocking mechanism. The shaft door has a lock which can be accessed from the floor. An actuator is attached to the shaft door. The method comprises the following steps: - the shaft door is unlocked from the floor by the lock being manually actuated, - the actuation of the lock moves the actuator from a first position to a second position; - when the second position is reached, the actuator actuates the emergency unlocking mechanism; and - the actuation of the emergency unlocking mechanism unlocks the cabin door lock in order to unlock the first cabin door leaf.