Elevator Safety Gear Alignment via Car-Interior Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator systems with shallow pits and low overheads pose challenges for maintenance and inspection, as mechanics need to access the elevator shaft, which is hazardous and requires additional space, conflicting with architectural and construction constraints.

Innovation Solution

A safety gear alignment system that allows alignment of safety gears from within the elevator car, using an upright structure with apertures and shim receiving regions, enabling shims to be inserted for precise alignment without requiring personnel to be outside the car.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mechanics access the elevator shaft from outside the elevator car for inspection or maintenance, then maintenance and inspection activities can be performed, but additional shaft and pit space is required and personnel are exposed to hazardous conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidshaft and pit space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional maintenance approach by allowing mechanics to access and work on safety gear components from the interior of the elevator car rather than from outside the car in the shaft. The safety gear frame includes access regions with apertures that enable insertion of alignment tools and shims from inside the car, eliminating the need for personnel to position themselves in the hazardous shaft environment while reducing the required shaft and pit clearance space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional elevator systems are assembled with safety gear requiring external access, then assembly and alignment can be performed, but personnel must work in hazardous shaft conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety gear assemblyVSAvoidpersonnel exposure to shaft hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the traditional assembly approach by designing the safety gear frame with access regions that allow alignment and assembly operations to be performed from inside the elevator car. Apertures in the frame permit insertion of alignment tools and shims from the car interior, enabling mechanics to work in the safe environment of the car rather than in the hazardous shaft conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where alignment tools and shims are inserted through apertures in the safety gear frame from inside the car. These tools act as intermediaries that transmit alignment forces and adjustments to the safety gear components without requiring direct manual manipulation from outside the car, thereby protecting personnel from shaft hazards while enabling precise assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10589963B2Elevator safety gear alignment system and method

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

A safety gear alignment system for an elevator system includes an elevator shaft and an elevator car having an interior region and disposed in and moveable within the elevator shaft. Also included is an upright structure operatively coupled to the elevator car, the upright structure defining at least one aperture. Further included is a safety gear member having a brake and a frame, the frame operatively coupled to the upright structure. Yet further included is at least one access region defined by the frame of the safety gear member, the access region accessible from the interior region of the elevator car and wherein measurement between the frame and a guide rail of the elevator shaft is made for alignment of the safety gear member relative to the guide rail.