Elevator Maintenance Control Unit Bypassing Landing Stop Button

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current maintenance operation procedures for elevators with deep pits require multiple climbs up and down a ladder, increasing the risk of tripping and the likelihood of shortcuts or errors in activating safety stop buttons, which can lead to safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A method and arrangement that allows the elevator car to be driven in maintenance mode by bypassing the first stop button, enabling the mechanic to enter the pit once and exit only once, reducing ladder climbs and ensuring safety by integrating a maintenance control unit in the pit with a drive switch that by-passes the first stop button.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two stop buttons are required for maintenance operations in deep pits, then safety is improved, but the complexity of the maintenance procedure increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmaintenance efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the stop button functionality into two distinct buttons: a first stop button positioned at the lowermost landing and a second stop button positioned in the pit. This segmentation allows the safety function to be distributed across multiple control points, ensuring that the elevator car cannot move unless both buttons are deactivated, thereby maintaining high safety standards while providing clear procedural guidance for maintenance personnel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary control mechanism where the first stop button acts as a mediator between the landing level and the pit level. The first stop button must be deactivated before the second stop button can be deactivated, creating a controlled sequence that ensures safety while simplifying the overall procedure. This intermediary control prevents accidental activation and ensures proper safety protocols are followed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple climbs up and down the ladder are required, then safety control is improved, but the risk of tripping and operational errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety controlVSAvoidtripping risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention requires the maintenance personnel to deactivate the first stop button as a preliminary action before entering the pit and before deactivating the second stop button. This preliminary deactivation of the first stop button ensures that the safety circuit is properly configured before the personnel begin work in the pit, eliminating the need for repeated climbs to verify safety status and reducing tripping risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the traditional safety approach by requiring the first stop button to be deactivated first (before entering the pit), rather than requiring it to remain activated during pit entry. This inversion of the safety sequence allows the personnel to work efficiently in the pit while maintaining safety through the structured deactivation sequence, reducing the need for repeated ladder climbs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the first stop button remains activated, then safety is improved, but the ability to perform maintenance in the pit is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the safety control into two independent but interconnected stop buttons positioned at different locations. The first stop button can be deactivated to enable maintenance operations in the pit, while the second stop button provides an additional safety layer within the pit itself. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access the pit for work while maintaining distributed safety controls that prevent unauthorized or accidental movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first stop button serves as an intermediary control that, when deactivated, enables maintenance operations without completely compromising safety. The deactivation of the first stop button acts as an intermediary step that transitions the system from a fully restricted state to a maintenance-enabled state, allowing controlled access and operation in the pit while the second stop button remains as a final safety barrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10549950B2Method and an arrangement for enabling movement of the elevator while a maintanence technician is in the pit

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 KONE OYJ

AI summary

The method of performing maintenance of an elevator is performed by unlocking and opening a landing door at a lowermost landing manually, activating a first stop button in the shaft, whereby a safety circuit of the elevator is opened so that operation of the car is completely prevented, entering into the shaft, closing the landing door, climbing down from the lowermost landing to the pit, turning a drive switch in a maintenance control unit positioned in the pit into a maintenance drive mode, whereby the first stop button is by-passed so that the car can be driven from the maintenance control unit upwards and downwards in the shaft.