Elevator Landing Door Lock Access Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator systems lack effective mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to landing door locks, which is a safety concern, especially during maintenance operations or emergencies.

Innovation Solution

An access prevention system for elevator landing door locks that includes a breakable indicator feature on the lintel, allowing authorized access by breaking a frangible portion, which can trigger a safety mode or disrupt an electrical safety chain when accessed, ensuring secure operation and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a locking mechanism is mounted on the lintel for easy access by mechanics and technicians, then ease of operation is improved, but unauthorized access becomes possible creating safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to locking mechanismVSAvoidunauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lintel is segmented into a fixed portion and a removable cover portion. The cover can be removed to access the locking mechanism, while the fixed portion remains intact. This segmentation allows authorized access when needed while preventing unauthorized access during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A safety glass panel is introduced as an intermediary between the exterior environment and the locking mechanism. The glass panel can be broken in an emergency to access the lock, but provides protection during normal operation. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by allowing access only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the lintel is made solid and secure to prevent access, then safety is improved, but authorized personnel cannot access the lock mechanism for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidaccess for maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lintel structure is divided into fixed and removable portions. The removable cover maintains safety during normal operation but can be removed by authorized personnel for maintenance and emergency access to the locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The safety glass panel is designed as a consumable safety element that can be broken in emergencies. While it provides reliable protection during normal operation, it is designed to fail in a controlled manner when needed, after which it is replaced to restore safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If an indicator feature is made frangible to allow breaking for access, then ease of operation is improved, but the lintel structure becomes weaker

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to lockVSAvoidlintel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The indicator feature is segmented as a separate frangible element within the stronger lintel structure. This allows the indicator to be broken for access while the main lintel structure remains intact and strong, resolving the contradiction between ease of access and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10889466B2Elevator landing door lock safety system

Publication Date: 2021.01.12 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

Access prevention systems of elevator landing door locks including a landing door lintel for a landing door of an elevator system, a lock mechanism mounted to the lintel and arranged to enable unlocking of the elevator landing door, and an indicator feature on the lintel and aligned with the lock mechanism to indicate a location of a blocked locking mechanism, wherein the indicator feature is at least one of frangible or breakable to permit access to the lock mechanism when the indicator feature is broken.