Laser Range Finder Safety Inspection for Evacuation Elevators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional elevator systems face challenges in quickly and accurately inspecting the safety of occupant evacuation elevators, particularly in adjusting elevator ropes and guide rails during disaster situations like earthquakes or fires, which is crucial for ensuring safe evacuation.

Innovation Solution

A safety inspection system equipped with laser range finders installed on both ends of the elevator rope and guide rail, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustment of length and verticality, enabling the system to determine if slight adjustments are necessary and ensuring the elevators operate within a predetermined error range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional manual inspection methods are used for elevator ropes and guide rails, then inspection thoroughness can be maintained, but inspection time is excessive and real-time monitoring is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection timeVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection methods with laser range finder technology. The laser range finders automatically measure the position and verticality of elevator ropes and guide rails, eliminating the need for manual measurement tools and procedures. This substitution enables rapid, real-time inspection while maintaining high measurement precision through optical sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces laser range finders as intermediary devices between the inspection system and the elevator components. These range finders serve as mediators that automatically capture position data of elevator ropes and guide rails, transmitting measurement information to the control system without requiring direct human intervention in the measurement process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual adjustment of elevator ropes and guide rails is performed, then adjustment accuracy can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and cannot respond quickly to disaster situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevacuation readinessVSAvoidadjustment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where laser range finders continuously monitor the position and verticality of elevator ropes and guide rails. The control system receives real-time measurement data and automatically determines whether adjustments are needed. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables rapid response to deviations while maintaining precise adjustment through automated control, significantly improving evacuation readiness without sacrificing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If frequent manual inspections are conducted, then safety can be ensured, but operational downtime increases and maintenance costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperational downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous safety monitoring through laser range finders that operate throughout elevator operation. Instead of periodic manual inspections that stop elevator service, the system continuously tracks the position and verticality of critical components, ensuring safety is maintained without interrupting elevator operation. This continuous monitoring approach eliminates operational downtime associated with manual inspections while maintaining high safety standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Enables real-time safety inspection and quick operation of occupant evacuation elevators, ensuring safe and efficient evacuation by monitoring and adjusting elevator components as needed during disaster situations.

Implementation Method 1

a first laser range finder attached to both ends of the elevator rope to measure a length and verticality of the elevator rope; and a second laser range finder attached to both ends of the elevator guide rail to measure a length and verticality of the elevator guide rail

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS11767195B2Safety inspection system for occupant evacuation elevator, and method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 KOREA INST OF CIVIL ENG & BUILDING TECH

AI summary

A safety inspection system of an occupant evacuation elevator capable of having a laser range finder installed on each of an elevator rope and an elevator guide rail of the occupant evacuation elevator of a skyscraper and checking a length and verticality of each of the elevator rope and the elevator guide rail measured from the laser range finder to monitor slight distortion or location variation in real time, and accordingly, capable of easily performing a safety inspection of the occupant evacuation elevator, capable of performing the safety inspection of the occupant evacuation elevator in real time to operate the occupant evacuation elevator again in an operation mode of the occupant evacuation elevator according to an occurrence of a disaster situation in the skyscraper, and accordingly, capable of safely and quickly evacuating occupants and a method thereof are provided.