Pivoting Elevator Sill Assembly for Gap Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing gap between the elevator car sill and the landing sill poses a risk of items falling through and is aesthetically undesirable, with previous solutions failing to provide a satisfactory reduction or closure of this gap.

Innovation Solution

A sill assembly with a pivoting sill plate and support arm system, actuated by a linear actuator, which moves between a stored and actuated position to align with the landing sill, reducing the gap and preventing items from falling through.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed gap is maintained between the elevator car sill and landing sill, then safety and aesthetics are improved by preventing items from falling through, but the gap cannot be closed completely due to operational requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidgap distance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sill plate is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The sill plate can pivot between a first position (when the elevator car is moving) and a second position (when the elevator car is stationary at a landing), enabling the gap to be closed when safety is needed while opening when operational clearance is required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sill plate is positioned in advance to close the gap before the elevator door opens, preventing items from falling through the gap between the elevator car sill and landing sill. This preliminary closing action occurs when the elevator car is stationary at a landing, eliminating the harmful gap before passengers can drop items

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the gap between sills is reduced or closed, then safety is improved by preventing items from falling into the hoistway, but the mechanism requires additional components and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sill plate uses its own weight and gravity to automatically pivot between positions. When the elevator car moves, the sill plate naturally pivots to the open position; when the car is stationary, it pivots to the closed position, eliminating the need for complex motors or continuous power sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A pivot arm serves as an intermediary mechanism that translates the vertical movement of the elevator car into rotational movement of the sill plate. The pivot arm connects the sill plate to the elevator car structure, using the car's movement to automatically control the sill plate's position without requiring separate control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the sill plate is made movable to close the gap, then safety is improved, but the mechanism requires power consumption to maintain position

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sill plate operates in periodic cycles corresponding to the elevator's operation: it closes the gap when the elevator is stationary at a landing (when safety is needed) and opens when the elevator is moving (when clearance is needed). This periodic operation eliminates the need for continuous power consumption, as the system only acts when required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism uses gravity and the weight of the sill plate itself as counterweights to maintain positions. The sill plate's weight provides the force needed to pivot it between positions, eliminating the need for continuous electrical power to hold it in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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

Effectively reduces the gap between the elevator car and landing sills, enhancing safety and aesthetics by preventing items from falling into the hoistway and maintaining alignment without requiring continuous power.

Implementation Method 1

at least one linear actuator has a moving portion that moves in a vertical direction to cause the at least one support arm to pivot relative to the mounting bracket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLinear actuator: Linear Motor

Implementation Method 2

an opposite end of the at least one support arm includes a surface configured as a pinion, and the moving portion of the at least one linear actuator is configured as a rack that cooperates with the pinion to cause the at least one support arm to pivot

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRack and pinion: Rack and Pinion

Implementation Method 3

The support arm is supported on the mounting bracket to allow the support arm to pivot relative to the mounting bracket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPivoting: Hinge

Data Source

PatentUS11760606B2Gap-reducing sill assembly for an elevator car

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

An illustrative example elevator sill assembly includes a sill plate and at least one support arm secured to the sill plate. A mounting bracket is configured to be mounted to an elevator car. The support arm is supported on the mounting bracket to allow the support arm to pivot relative to the mounting bracket. At least one linear actuator has a moving portion that moves in a vertical direction to cause the at least one support arm to pivot relative to the mounting bracket to thereby cause the sill plate to pivot from a stored position to an actuated position.