Elevator Car Top Structure Access via Controller Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accessing the top of an elevator car for maintenance and installation is challenging due to the difficulty in accurately timing the emergency stop of the elevator, especially in systems that dynamically respond to emergency stop signals, leading to potential delays and complications.

Innovation Solution

An elevator system with a controller that aligns the top structure with a landing in response to a specific command, allowing access without manual timing and emergency stop procedures, using existing components like landing call input devices to issue the command, and incorporating a top structure access mode to prevent accidental activations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mechanic manually triggers an emergency stop to access the top of the elevator car, then access to the top structure can be achieved, but the timing must be extremely accurate which is difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessing top structureVSAvoidtime to access top structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller automatically controls the elevator car to move to the position where the top structure is aligned with the landing in response to a top structure access command, eliminating the need for manual timing and emergency stop procedures by the mechanic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical timing and emergency stop triggering is replaced by an automated control system that uses sensors and controllers to precisely position the elevator car automatically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the elevator system dynamically responds to emergency stop signals to avoid passenger entrapment, then passenger safety is improved, but accessing the top of the car becomes more complicated because the car may not stop immediately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger safetyVSAvoidease of accessing top structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the top structure access function from the emergency stop function. A dedicated top structure access command initiates a controlled movement to align the top structure with a landing, while emergency stop procedures remain independent and optimized for passenger safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that receives a top structure access command and automatically manages the elevator car movement to the correct position, eliminating the need for manual emergency stop procedures and their associated timing challenges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250011130A1Elevator systems

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

An elevator system is provided which comprises an elevator shaft, an elevator car located within the elevator shaft and comprising an operational compartment and a top structure located above the operational compartment, and a controller. The controller is arranged to control the elevator car to move in the elevator shaft such that the operational compartment serves a plurality of landings in response to elevator service requests. The controller receives a top structure access command, and in response to receiving the top structure access command, controls the elevator car to move in the elevator shaft such that the top structure is aligned with a landing of the plurality of landings.