Integrated Elevator Safety Device for UCM and UDM Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems face challenges in preventing unintentional movements of elevator cars and doors, leading to increased costs and complexity due to the need for separate safety devices that can cause delays and misunderstandings about safety, as well as additional installation efforts and potential safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the unintentional movement prevention functions into the existing Unintended Car Movement (UCM) device, which already prevents unintentional car movements, to create a single safety device that controls both UCM and Unintended Door Movement (UDM) functions, using input signals from sensors to generate control signals for the brake and door drive, thus preventing both car and door movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate safety devices are used for UCM and UDM functions, then safety coverage is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety coverageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the UCM (unintentional car movement prevention) and UDM (unintentional door movement prevention) safety functions into a single integrated safety device. The control unit processes signals from sensors and simultaneously controls both the brake system and door drive system, eliminating the need for separate safety devices while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The safety device is designed with multi-functional capability, where a single control unit can perform both UCM and UDM functions. The device receives input signals from various sensors and generates control signals for different safety-critical components (brake and door drive), making it a universal safety solution that replaces multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate safety devices are used for UCM and UDM functions, then safety coverage is improved, but installation effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety coverageVSAvoidinstallation effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the UCM (unintentional car movement prevention) and UDM (unintentional door movement prevention) safety functions into a single integrated safety device. The control unit processes signals from sensors and simultaneously controls both the brake system and door drive system, eliminating the need for separate safety devices while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate safety devices are used for UCM and UDM functions, then safety coverage is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety coverageVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device is designed with multi-functional capability, where a single control unit can perform both UCM and UDM functions. The device receives input signals from various sensors and generates control signals for different safety-critical components (brake and door drive), making it a universal safety solution that replaces multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If multiple separate safety devices are used, then comprehensive safety control is improved, but response time may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety controlVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the UCM (unintentional car movement prevention) and UDM (unintentional door movement prevention) safety functions into a single integrated safety device. The control unit processes signals from sensors and simultaneously controls both the brake system and door drive system, eliminating the need for separate safety devices while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4214149B1Safety device for controlling safety-relevant ucm and udm functions in an elevator system
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 INVENTIO AG
  • EP4214149B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a safety device (13) for controlling safety-relevant functions in a lift system (1) and to a lift system (1) equipped therewith. The safety device (13) is configured to do both of the following, on the basis of input signals from at least one first component (15) of the lift system (1) which provides information relating to current conditions inside the lift system (1) such as a current position and speed of a lift car (3): - actuate at least one second component (21) such as a brake (23) of the lift system (1) such that an unintended movement of the lift car (3) of the lift system (1) is prevented, - actuate at least one third component (25) such as a door drive (27) of the lift system (1) such that an unintended movement of a lift car door (43) is prevented. Therefore, both a UCM (unintended car movement) function and a UDM (unintended door movement) function are implemented in the safety device.