Elevator Maintenance Access Control With Technician Safety Token
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator maintenance methods lack sufficient safety measures to protect technicians from potential hazards during maintenance operations, particularly in ensuring that the technician is not endangered by cabin movement and is not trapped within the elevator shaft.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a maintenance token system managed by the elevator control unit, which ensures that only authorized personnel with verified presence can access and control the elevator during maintenance, using load measurement, camera systems, and active door drives to secure safe access and transition between maintenance and normal operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the technician manually opens the shaft door and accesses the elevator shaft for maintenance, then the technician can inspect and maintain elevator components, but the technician is exposed to safety hazards including cabin movement and potential entrapment in the shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a maintenance token as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the technician and the elevator system. The token is transferred from the control unit to the technician when maintenance mode is activated, and returned when maintenance is completed. This intermediary mechanism enables safe access to the shaft while maintaining control over cabin movement and preventing unauthorized operation during maintenance activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms through the maintenance token protocol. The control unit continuously monitors the token state to determine whether to allow cabin movement or shaft access. When the token is with the technician, the system feedbacks by disabling normal operation and enabling maintenance mode, thereby preventing harmful cabin movement while allowing safe shaft access.
2Ease of operation
If the elevator is placed in maintenance mode allowing shaft access, then the technician can perform maintenance operations, but the elevator cannot serve passengers during this period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a dynamic mode switching mechanism. The elevator system dynamically transitions between normal operation mode and maintenance mode based on the maintenance token state. When the token is transferred to the technician, the system dynamically changes its operational characteristics to allow shaft access while blocking passenger service. This dynamic adaptation enables maintenance operations without permanently sacrificing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by activating maintenance mode and transferring the maintenance token to the technician before actual maintenance work begins. This preliminary state change prepares the elevator system in advance, ensuring that all safety mechanisms are in place and the cabin is positioned appropriately before the technician enters the shaft, thereby enabling safe and efficient maintenance operations.
3Ease of operation
If the shaft door is manually unlocked and opened, then the technician can access the shaft, but the process requires specific tools and manual operations increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical unlocking system with an automated control-based system. Instead of requiring manual tools like triangular keys, the control unit automatically controls the door drive to unlock and open the shaft door when maintenance mode is activated. This substitution of mechanical operations with automated control simplifies the access process and eliminates the need for specialized tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by having the control unit automatically perform the door unlocking and opening actions based on the maintenance token state. The door drive receives automated commands from the control unit to open the shaft door when maintenance mode is activated, eliminating the need for manual intervention with specialized tools and simplifying the overall process.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Method for operating an elevator (1) for maintenance, wherein the elevator (1) comprises a cabin (2) and an elevator shaft (4), wherein the cabin being displaceable along the elevator shaft (4), a drive (6) for displacing the cabin (2), a plurality of shaft doors (8), at least one of the shaft doors (8) being arranged at each of multiple floors (10) including at least a lowermost floor (10') and a uppermost floor (10'') and an elevator control unit (12). The elevator control unit (12) performs among others the steps of: The elevator control unit (12) checks whether a person is within a predefined danger zone (18), wherein the predefined danger zone (18) preferably is the elevator shaft (4).