Elevator Car Working Platform With Self-Locking Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator cars require significant manual effort to move and secure a working platform between stowed and lowered positions, posing safety risks due to potential sudden drops and complex, expensive structures.
Innovation Solution
An elevator car with a retractable working platform mechanism using pull means, including belt reels and self-locking mechanisms, to facilitate easy movement and secure positioning, reducing the risk of injury and eliminating the need for scissors mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a scissors mechanism is used to move and hold the working platform, then the platform can be supported and positioned, but the structure becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of platform support from the complex scissors mechanism and implements it using a simple retracting mechanism with spring element and blocking mechanism. This removes unnecessary structural complexity while maintaining the core support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The retracting mechanism uses a spring element that automatically provides retracting force to compensate for the platform weight, and a blocking mechanism that automatically holds the platform in position. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex control systems and manual operation mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If the working platform is moved manually without assistance, then the structure can be simple, but significant force is required to push it back up and safety risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element acts as a counterweight mechanism, providing retracting force that compensates for the platform weight. This reduces the manual force required to move the platform by approximately half, making operation easier while keeping the mechanism simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The retracting mechanism serves as an intermediary between the platform and the user, mediating the force interaction. The spring element and blocking mechanism together create a simple yet effective system that assists manual operation without adding significant complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the working platform can be lowered freely, then the operation is simple, but sudden drops or freefall can cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking mechanism provides beforehand protection by preventing uncontrolled platform descent. It allows controlled lowering while blocking sudden drops, cushioning against the harmful effect of freefall before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element converts the potentially harmful force of gravity (which could cause freefall) into a beneficial retracting force that controls platform descent and compensates for weight during normal operation, transforming a harmful factor into a useful function.
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 solution allows for safe, effortless movement and secure positioning of the working platform, meeting safety requirements and reducing structural complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The retracting mechanism can comprise a spring mechanism for generating the retracting force. That is, a spring return force of the spring mechanism can correspond to the retracting force.
Implementation Method 2
the pull means can comprise a self-blocking mechanism configured to prevent movement of the pull means when a specific activation force towards the lowered position is exceeded
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an elevator car (1) defining an interior space (4) for accommodating passengers and/or cargo. The elevator car (1) comprises a working platform (8) moveable up and down within the interior space (4), and pull means (10) mounted to the elevator car (1) above the interior space (4) and connected to the working platform (8) for moving the working platform (8) between a stowed position and a lowered position and holding the working platform (8) at an operational position. The pull means (10) comprises a retracting mechanism. A retracting force of the retracting mechanism is set to compensate for the weight of the working platform (8) or less. The disclosure also relates to an elevator assembly having an elevator shaft (2) and the elevator car (1).