Elevator Shaft Access Monitoring Reset via User Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current elevator systems require time-consuming and physically demanding procedures for testing and resetting the shaft access monitoring system, which involves manual intervention and additional cabling, increasing costs and effort for maintenance personnel.
Innovation Solution
A method and control unit that allow for resetting the shaft access monitoring system using a user interface accessible to passengers, with inputs compared to a reference value to determine whether to reset the system, enabling resetting without the need for secured mechanical solutions or additional cabling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a reset switch is arranged in an elevator car with additional cabling from the car operating panel to safety switches, then resetting can be performed at each floor directly from the car, but costs increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing user interface elements (input devices) in the elevator car are made multi-functional by programming them to serve both normal elevator operation and shaft access monitoring reset functions. The control unit interprets specific input patterns from these existing devices to trigger reset operations, eliminating the need for dedicated reset switches and their associated cabling.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical solution of adding physical reset switches and cabling is replaced with an electronic/software-based solution. The control unit uses programmed logic to recognize specific input patterns from existing user interface devices and triggers reset operations through electronic signals, eliminating the need for additional mechanical components.
2Reliability
If a key switch is used to limit access to the reset switch, then security is improved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical key switch system is replaced with an electronic authentication system. The control unit is programmed to recognize specific input patterns from existing user interface devices that only authorized personnel would know or be able to execute, providing security through software logic rather than mechanical keying mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of access control from physical (mechanical key switch) to informational (specific input patterns). By requiring authorized personnel to know and execute specific sequences or combinations of input device activations, the system provides security through knowledge-based authentication rather than physical keying.
3Ease of operation
If the shaft access monitoring system is reset at a maintenance access panel located at top or bottom floor, then system reset function is provided, but huge physical effort is required for maintenance personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The reset function is segmented and distributed to multiple user interface locations throughout the elevator car rather than being concentrated at a single remote maintenance panel. This allows the reset operation to be performed at the location where the fault occurs, eliminating the need for maintenance personnel to travel to extreme locations in the shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives reset requests from user interface devices in the elevator car and transmits the appropriate signals to the shaft access monitoring system. This intermediary function enables remote reset capability without requiring physical access to the system at the top or bottom of the shaft.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for resetting a shaft access monitoring system of an elevator system. The method comprises: receiving an input from a user interface arranged in the elevator system, the input is provided with at least one input device of the user interface arranged to control an operation of the elevator system; comparing the received input to a reference value; and setting, in accordance with a comparison between the received input and the reference value, a detection result to express one of the following: (i) the shaft access monitoring system shall be reset, (ii) the shaft access monitoring system shall not be reset. The invention also relates to a control unit, to an elevator system and a computer program product.