Elevator Hoistway Mechanic Detection for Safe Remote Car Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face challenges in remotely determining if an elevator mechanic is present within a hoistway, which is essential for safe and efficient remote operation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising local and remote processors that record and analyze operational parameters of the elevator car, creating an operational log to determine if an elevator mechanic is onsite, with alerts issued when the mechanic is present, allowing for safe remote operation or manual verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If remote operation of elevator car is enabled, then service efficiency and productivity are improved, but safety risks increase when mechanic is present in hoistway
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors operational parameters of the elevator car and provides feedback to the remote operator. Sensors detect the presence of a mechanic in the hoistway and immediately communicate this information to the remote operation center, enabling real-time awareness and appropriate action to prevent safety incidents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection system between the remote operator and the elevator car. This intermediary layer analyzes operational parameters and determines mechanic presence, acting as a mediator that prevents direct harmful interaction between remote operations and on-site personnel.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If direct contact with mechanic is required to verify presence, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator car's operational parameters automatically indicate whether a mechanic is present, without requiring direct contact or manual verification. The system self-monitors parameters such as door operation patterns, movement anomalies, and operational mode changes that are characteristic of mechanic presence, eliminating the need for time-consuming direct contact verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of direct contact verification with an electronic monitoring system. Sensors and processors detect mechanic presence through analysis of operational parameters, substituting the need for physical verification with automated electronic detection, thereby maintaining safety while improving operational efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If operational parameters are monitored continuously at high sample rate, then detection accuracy is improved, but data processing load and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors operational parameters at varying sample rates, using higher sampling rates only when anomalies are detected or during critical operations. During normal operation, a lower sample rate is sufficient, reducing data processing load while maintaining adequate detection accuracy. This selective monitoring approach balances precision requirements with system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the monitoring system into multiple independent modules, each responsible for specific operational parameters. This modular approach allows selective activation of monitoring functions based on operational context, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy when needed. Each segment can be optimized independently for its specific measurement task.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system having: an elevator car (103) operationally located in a hoistway (117) of a building (150); one or more local processors (160) operationally coupled to the elevator car and configured to: record operational parameters of the elevator car based on a sample rate and populate, in chronological order, an operational log (200) of the operational parameters with the operational data; one or more remote processors (210) that are configured to communicate with the one or more local processors, receive the operational log, and execute remote operation of the elevator car unless an elevator mechanic (250) is within the building, wherein an alert (260) is issued upon: the local processor, or the remote processor, analyzing the operational log and determining that the elevator mechanic is within the building; or user input received from a networked computing device (235) indicating that the elevator mechanic is within the building responsive to receipt and analysis of the operational log.