Flexible Elevator Pit Barrier for Safety Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to reduce the depth of the elevator pit while maintaining safety for personnel working within it, as existing solutions fail to ensure the regulatory minimum free vertical clearance between the pit floor and the elevator car during normal operation, posing risks to maintenance personnel.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable, flexible barrier is placed in the pit to deter personnel from entering areas of reduced vertical clearance, which can deform to accommodate the elevator car and prevent injury, and can be used in conjunction with existing buffers to maintain safety during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the depth of the elevator pit is reduced to save space, then the space occupied by the elevator installation is reduced, but the regulatory minimum free vertical clearance between the pit floor and the elevator car cannot be maintained, posing safety risks to maintenance personnel
Solution Approach 1:
A barrier is introduced as an intermediary element in the pit to physically prevent maintenance personnel from entering the hazardous area where the vertical clearance is reduced. The barrier acts as a mediator between the safety requirements and the reduced pit depth, allowing the car to occupy the space while blocking personnel access to the dangerous zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier is designed to be flexible and deformable, allowing it to bend or collapse when the elevator car descends into the pit during normal operation. This flexibility ensures the barrier does not interfere with the car's movement while still providing protection when the car is in its normal position and the clearance is reduced.
2Reliability
If a fixed barrier is installed to prevent personnel entry into reduced clearance area, then personnel safety is improved, but the barrier may be damaged or cause injury if the car travels into it during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can change its state based on conditions. It remains rigid enough to prevent personnel entry when the car is in normal position, but becomes deformable when the car descends into the pit, allowing the car to pass through without damage or injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier is designed with inherent flexibility and deformability that acts as a cushioning mechanism. When the car descends and contacts the barrier, the barrier deforms to absorb the impact energy, preventing both barrier damage and potential injury to personnel who might be nearby.
3Ease of operation
If a rigid barrier is used to deter personnel from hazardous areas, then the barrier provides strong physical deterrence, but it cannot accommodate the elevator car during normal operation and may cause damage or injury
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier employs dynamic characteristics by being flexible and deformable rather than rigid. This allows it to maintain its deterrent function during normal operation while adapting to the car's movement when the car descends into the pit during maintenance or emergency situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier changes its physical parameters (height, shape, rigidity) in response to the car's position. When the car is in normal position, the barrier maintains its full height for deterrence; when the car descends, the barrier deforms to accommodate the car's presence, effectively changing its protective parameters.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible barrier effectively reduces the pit depth by ensuring the regulatory clearance is maintained, preventing inadvertent personnel presence in hazardous areas and allowing for safe maintenance operations without compromising the elevator's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible barrier may comprise two flexible uprights interconnected by linkage means such as a net. Should the car descend into the barrier, the flexible uprights will automatically deform to a reduced height.
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator installation comprising a car (1) within a shaft (10), a buffer (16) mounted in a pit (12) of the shaft (10) and a barrier (20;30;40) located in the pit (12) surrounding or within an area wherein a vertical clearance between the pit floor (14) and the car (1) or equipment mounted thereon is less than a regulatory threshold value (C) when the car (1) fully compresses the buffer (16). Accordingly, the barrier (20;30;40) acts to physically deterrent personnel within the pit from inadvertent presence in the area of reduced vertical clearance.