Elevator Safety Device Internal Inspection via Endoscope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inspection methods for service elevator traction and safety devices, particularly fall-arrest secondary safety devices, are cumbersome and costly, requiring frequent disassembly and full load drop tests, leading to increased downtime and ergonomic risks for maintenance personnel, with existing visual inspection methods like endoscopes not effectively addressing the need for internal component inspection without introducing new failure modes.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact visual inspection method using endoscopes to inspect the internal components of traction and safety devices, such as rollers and jaws, through the cable entry and exit holes, allowing for the evaluation of wear and damage without disassembly, using an 8.4 mm endoscope to assess the condition of the components without opening the safety device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If disassembly and full load drop tests are performed for inspection, then inspection thoroughness is improved, but device downtime and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection process is segmented into external inspection and internal inspection phases. The housing is divided into accessible external surfaces and internal components. External inspection can be performed quickly without disassembly, while internal inspection is performed selectively on components that require thorough examination, reducing overall downtime while maintaining inspection thoroughness for critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Visual inspection of external housing surfaces is performed as a preliminary action before deciding whether disassembly is necessary. This preliminary inspection can identify obvious defects that would require full disassembly, allowing inspectors to avoid unnecessary disassembly in cases where external inspection suffices, thereby reducing downtime while maintaining thoroughness where needed.
2Measurement precision
If disassembly is performed for inspection, then internal component inspection is improved, but risk of introducing new failure modes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is segmented into modular components (housing, internal mechanisms, cable components) that can be inspected separately. This allows inspectors to focus disassembly efforts on specific internal components that require thorough examination rather than complete disassembly, reducing the risk of introducing failure modes while maintaining inspection precision for critical internal parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Visual inspection methods create a detailed record (optical copy) of internal component conditions through photography and documentation during inspection. This copying approach allows thorough examination of internal components without requiring permanent disassembly, reducing the risk of introducing failure modes while maintaining inspection thoroughness through detailed visual recording.
3Reliability
If frequent inspection is performed, then safety monitoring is improved, but maintenance cost and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Inspection frequency is structured as periodic action based on operational cycles, usage intensity, and risk assessment. Critical components are inspected at regular intervals, while less critical components are inspected less frequently. This periodic approach maintains safety monitoring effectiveness while reducing operational disruption compared to continuous or overly frequent inspection schedules.
Solution Approach 2:
Inspection effort is distributed as partial action across different components rather than exhaustive inspection of all components at every interval. High-risk components receive more frequent and thorough inspection, while lower-risk components receive less frequent or simplified inspection. This partial action approach maintains safety monitoring for critical areas while reducing overall operational disruption and maintenance costs.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods for inspecting a cable mounted device (10) for an elevator are disclosed. The cable mounted device (10) comprises a housing (13), an entry hole (12) for a cable (5), and an exit hole (14) for the cable (5), and a cable actuation mechanism inside the housing (13). The method comprises inspecting the cable actuation mechanism using an endoscope. Cable mounted devices (10) having an additional inspection hole in the housing (13) for entry of an insertion tube of an endoscope and the use of an endoscope for the visual inspection of cable mounted devices (10) of an elevator are also disclosed.