Elevator Car Floor Hatch Locking for Safe Hoistway Pit Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems pose safety risks when maintenance or inspection requires access to the hoistway below the elevator car, particularly in low pits, as there is a danger of the elevator car moving and hitting or squeezing a person.

Innovation Solution

An elevator car with a floor hatch and movable fixing elements that secure the car in place, allowing safe access to the hoistway by preventing movement when the hatch is open, and incorporating safety mechanisms to prevent accidental closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a person enters the hoistway below the elevator car for maintenance or inspection, then access to the space is enabled, but the safety risk increases due to potential movement of the elevator car

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to hoistwayVSAvoidsafety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movable fixing element is activated in advance by opening the floor hatch, which automatically engages the fixing mechanism to secure the elevator car at a predefined position before the person enters the hoistway below, thereby eliminating the safety hazard of car movement during maintenance operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The movable fixing element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the floor hatch operation and the elevator car positioning system, translating the simple action of opening the hatch into automatic engagement of fixing elements that prevent car movement, thus enabling safe access without requiring complex manual locking procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the elevator car is equipped with a floor hatch for accessing the hoistway below, then convenience for maintenance personnel is improved, but the complexity of the elevator car structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess convenienceVSAvoidcar structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor hatch structure is merged with the movable fixing element mechanism, where the hatch opening action is combined with the engagement of fixing elements. This integration allows a single structural component to serve dual functions: providing access to the hoistway and simultaneously securing the car position, thereby reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The floor hatch assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that not only provides access to the hoistway for maintenance personnel but also activates the movable fixing element to prevent car movement. This universal design eliminates the need for separate access doors and locking mechanisms, simplifying the overall car structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4686688A1Elevator car, elevator system and method of accessing a space in a hoistway of an elevator system

Publication Date: 2026.02.04 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D

AI summary

An elevator car (6) for moving in a hoistway (4) between a plurality of landings (8a-8d) comprises a floor hatch (22) formed at a bottom of the elevator car (6) and allowing a person to access a space (24) in a portion of the hoistway (4) below the elevator car (6) from inside the elevator car (6). The elevator car (6) further comprising at least one movable fixing element (34) that is movable between an elevator car fixing position in which it fixes the position of the elevator car (6) in a hoistway (4) at a predefined position above a bottom of the hoistway (4), and a released position, in which it does not fix the position of the elevator car (6) in the hoistway (4).