Elevator Landing Door Lock Assembly with Disengageable Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator landing doors often remain unlocked and can be opened unauthorizedly, posing safety risks, as existing mechanisms do not ensure secure locking and unlocking only when the elevator car is aligned with the landing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an elevator landing door lock assembly with a keyway and a disengageable link, such as an actuator arm, that prevents unlocking unless the elevator car is aligned with the landing door, ensuring secure locking and unlocking only when the elevator car is present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the landing door lock assembly includes a disengageable link that prevents unlocking unless the elevator car is aligned with the landing, then security against unauthorized opening is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disengageable link is integrated within the lock assembly structure, with the actuator arm nested between the car door coupling and the lock mechanism. This nested configuration allows the safety feature to be incorporated without significantly increasing the overall device footprint or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator arm serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the car door coupling and the lock mechanism. It transfers the engagement status from the car door alignment to the lock, enabling the lock to sense whether the car is properly positioned without requiring separate detection systems.
2Reliability
If the disengageable link is positioned to engage with the car door coupling only when the car is aligned with the landing, then unauthorized opening is prevented, but the ease of operation for authorized access is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock assembly performs its own safety verification function through the disengageable link that automatically engages or disengages based on car door alignment. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate safety checks or complex control systems, maintaining ease of operation for authorized users while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The disengageable link transitions between engaged and disengaged states dynamically based on the physical alignment conditions. When the car door coupling is in the correct position, the link automatically engages to permit unlocking; when misaligned, it naturally disengages to prevent operation, providing adaptive safety without complicating the user interface.
3Reliability
If the lock mechanism requires the disengageable link to be engaged for unlocking to occur, then door opening is restricted to authorized conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access control function is merged with the existing lock mechanism by integrating the disengageable link directly into the locking assembly. The actuator arm and lock share common mounting structures and operational pathways, combining two functions (safety verification and access control) into a single integrated device rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The disengageable link serves multiple functions: it acts as a safety interlock, a position sensor, and an operational enabler for the lock mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, as the same structural element performs multiple critical roles in ensuring secure and authorized access.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Elevator landing door lock assemblies and elevator landing doors having a lock with a keyway accessible from a landing of an elevator system, the lock operable to lock and unlock a landing door and a disengageable link operably connected to the lock and configured to prevent unlocking of the landing door when the disengageable link is not engaged. When an elevator car is aligned with the landing door, the disengageble link is engaged and completed such that the lock is operable to unlock and open the landing door, and, when an elevator car is not aligned with the landing door, the lock is not operable.