Elevator Car Operation Panel Mechanical Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current elevator systems lack a convenient and secure method for authorized personnel to manually control elevator car movement during inspection and maintenance operations without risking abuse by unauthorized individuals.
Innovation Solution
A car operation panel that can be mechanically converted from a normal operation mode to an inspection and maintenance mode, allowing authorized personnel to manually control the elevator car's movement by reconfiguring existing switches, with additional safety measures to prevent inadvertent operation, such as requiring a key and specific switch combinations for activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate inspection and maintenance operation control terminal is provided outside the car (in machine room or on top of car), then manual control of car movement is enabled for service persons, but the device complexity increases and accessibility becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The car operation panel is designed to serve dual purposes: normal operation mode for passenger use and inspection/maintenance mode for service personnel. The same physical panel and switches are used for both functions, eliminating the need for separate control terminals outside the car while maintaining full functionality for both operation modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the normal operation control functions and inspection/maintenance control functions into a single integrated car operation panel. By combining these functions in one location (inside the car), the system eliminates the need for separate control terminals in the machine room or on top of the car, reducing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If existing car operation switches are used for both normal operation and inspection/maintenance modes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases due to risk of inadvertent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the function assignment of switches based on the operational mode. In normal operation mode, switches control door operations and floor selection. When conversion to inspection/maintenance mode is detected, the same switches are dynamically reconfigured to control car movement (up/down directions and run/stop), ensuring that only the intended mode of operation is active at any given time.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational parameters of the switches change based on the detected mode. The control system monitors the conversion state and adjusts the functional parameters of the switches accordingly - in normal mode they respond to floor selection inputs, in maintenance mode they respond to movement command inputs, thereby preventing inadvertent operation across mode boundaries.
3Ease of operation
If a mechanically convertible car operation panel is implemented to enable inspection/maintenance mode from inside the car, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to conversion mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the conversion state through sensors or switches that monitor the position of the front cover or presence of a tool. Based on this preliminary detection, the control system proactively reconfigures the switch functions before actual inspection/maintenance operations begin, ensuring seamless transition and eliminating the need for complex manual reconfiguration mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical conversion mechanisms with an electronic/detector-based system. Instead of requiring physical transformation of the panel structure, the system uses detectors to sense the operational mode and electronically reconfigures the switch functions through software or control circuitry, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining the ability to control the car from inside during inspection.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Embodiments as disclosed herein provide a car operation panel (30) for commanding travel of an elevator car (10) from a boarding landing to a destination landing during normal operation of an elevator system. The car operation panel (30) has a plurality of car operation switches (32, 34, 56, 58, 60) to be operated by a passenger from inside of the elevator car (10) during normal operation of the elevator system. The car operation panel (30) is mechanically convertible such as to switch the car operation panel (30) from a first configuration corresponding to the normal operation mode to a second configuration corresponding to an inspection and maintenance operation mode. The car operation panel (30), when switched to the second configuration, allows manual control of the elevator car (10) to travel in up direction and/or in down direction by operating at least a part of the car operation switches (56, 58, 60) of the car operation panel (30).