Elevator Pit Sensor Assembly for Maintenance Personnel Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems lack effective safety measures to prevent injury to maintenance personnel entering the elevator pit, and existing safety systems are either cumbersome or do not provide comprehensive detection and response mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly is integrated into the elevator system to detect the presence of a person in the pit, which can open or close the safety chain and generate alarms, utilizing sensors like LIDAR, millimeter wave RADAR, and RGBD cameras, with communication and processor control to ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional safety measures are used in elevator pits, then basic safety is provided, but comprehensive detection and response mechanisms are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection technologies (LIDAR, millimeter wave RADAR, RGBD cameras) into a single integrated sensor assembly. This merging approach provides comprehensive detection capabilities while consolidating multiple functions into one unified system, resolving the contradiction between enhanced safety and system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: detecting person presence, determining person location, opening safety chains, and generating alarms. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address various safety requirements, improving reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity
2Measurement precision
If sensor sensitivity is increased to improve detection accuracy, then false detections may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly incorporates feedback mechanisms where detection results are continuously monitored and used to adjust sensitivity thresholds. When false detections occur, the system learns from these errors and adjusts its detection parameters, maintaining high measurement precision while ensuring detection reliability through continuous optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes detection parameters such as sensitivity thresholds and detection zones based on operational conditions. This allows the sensor assembly to maintain high detection accuracy for persons while adapting to different environmental conditions and reducing false detections
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sensor assembly enhances safety by preventing elevator movement when personnel are in the pit, providing alarms, and improving detection accuracy through sensitivity adjustments and communication between multiple sensor assemblies, ensuring adherence to safety protocols.
Implementation Method 1
Some embodiments may include wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a LIDAR sensor, a millimeter wave RADAR sensor and an RGBD camera
Implementation Method 2
Some embodiments may include wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a LIDAR sensor, a millimeter wave RADAR sensor and an RGBD camera
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An elevator system includes a hoistway; an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway; a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway; a safety chain configured to enable or disable motion of the elevator car; and a sensor assembly configured to initiate opening the safety chain to disable motion of the elevator car upon detection of a person in the pit.