Elevator Edge Protection With Shock-Absorbing Collision Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Historic and old elevators with open portions lack effective safety mechanisms to prevent intrusion into the elevator pathway, posing risks of injury and damage, and retrofitting with modern shafts is often impractical due to structural, spatial, and aesthetic constraints.
Innovation Solution
A protective structure with top and bottom protective elements, connected via a shock-absorbing system, and an electronic detector to ensure complete protection of the elevator pathway, allowing maintenance access without disrupting the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective structure is installed on historic elevators with open portions, then safety against intrusion is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and historical integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a protective structure comprising thin protective elements (such as transparent or translucent panels, mesh, or grille structures) that can be installed on historic elevators. These elements provide physical protection against intrusion while being designed to minimize visual impact, thus maintaining the aesthetic appearance and historical integrity of the original elevator design.
2Reliability
If a protective plate is installed on the top and bottom surfaces, then protection against intrusion is improved, but maintenance access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure is segmented into multiple components including top protective elements, bottom protective elements, and side protective elements. The top and bottom protective elements are designed to be removable or adjustable, allowing maintenance personnel to access the top and bottom surfaces of the elevator car when needed, while still providing comprehensive protection during normal operation.
3Reliability
If the protective structure covers the entire top and bottom surface, then protection against collision is improved, but space for maintenance personnel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure provides localized protection at critical areas such as the top and bottom edges of the elevator car where collisions are most likely to occur. The protective elements are positioned to protect against intrusion and collision while leaving sufficient open space on the top and bottom surfaces for maintenance personnel to stand and work, thus balancing protection needs with maintenance accessibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides comprehensive protection against intrusions while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of historic elevators and enabling maintenance checks during operation.
Implementation Method 1
The electronic detector, for example a light curtain, configured to detect a penetration of an object through the surface spanned between the top edge and the bottom edge
Implementation Method 2
a shock-absorbing system, in particular configured to allow a movement of the protective structure against the driving direction of the movable element
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A movable element of an elevator like an elevator cabin or a counterweight, wherein the movable element comprising : a top side, a bottom side, a lateral side, a top edge between the lateral side and the top side, a bottom edge between the lateral side and the bottom side, a protective structure connected to the movable element via a shock-absorbing system holding the protective structure in an operating position and allowing the protective structure to move against the driving direction of the movable element, when the protective structure hits an object during driving of the elevator, wherein the protective structure has a top protective element which in the operating position is arranged above the top edge and is extending along the top edge, wherein the protective structure has a bottom protective element which in the operating position is arranged below the bottom edge and is extending along the bottom edge, and a collision detector for detecting when the protective structure is moved out of its operating position to detect a collision, wherein the collision detector is configured to initiate the stop of the movable element during its drive, when the collision is detected.