Pivoting Emergency Drive Shaft for Elevator Manual Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual emergency operation systems for elevators and lifts, particularly those with vertical screw drives, face challenges in safe and convenient access due to the vertical orientation of the screw and motor shaft, making it difficult to manually operate tall tower lifts without expensive modifications.
Innovation Solution
A manual emergency movement device with a pivoting body and gear box system that allows the output drive shaft to engage or disengage from the main drive screw, supported by a biasing spring and input shaft, enabling safe and accessible manual operation without requiring access panel modifications, and includes a safety switch to prevent power engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the emergency movement device is accessed by removing cover panels and reaching over the tower or standing on the lift platform, then the device can be activated, but the operation becomes difficult and unsafe for tall tower lifts
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency movement device is relocated from the vertical tower top area to the horizontal base structure of the lift. The pivoting body allows the output drive shaft to swing from a retracted position (away from the drive screw) to an engaging position (contacting the drive screw), enabling operators to access the device from the ground level rather than requiring access to the tower top.
2Ease of operation
If the output drive shaft is permanently engaged with the main drive screw, then the lift can be manually operated, but the system cannot be safely disengaged for normal electric operation
Solution Approach 1:
The output drive shaft is designed with dynamic positioning capability through the pivoting body mechanism. It can transition between a retracted position (disengaged from the drive screw, allowing normal electric operation) and an engaging position (contacting the drive screw, enabling manual operation). The biasing spring provides automatic return to the retracted position, ensuring safety through automatic disengagement.
3Ease of operation
If access panels are cut into the tower support wall to reach the emergency device, then the device becomes accessible, but the cost of modification increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency movement device is extracted from its traditional location at the tower top and relocated to the base structure. This extraction eliminates the need for costly tower wall modifications and access panel installations, while maintaining full functionality of the emergency operation capability.
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 safe and convenient manual operation of elevators and lifts by allowing the output drive shaft to be disconnected from the main drive screw, reducing the need for costly access panel modifications and ensuring user safety through power disengagement during emergency operation.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing spring is provided in communication with the pivoting body for biasing the pivoting body and the output drive shaft in the non-engaging position
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency movement device for a lift has a mounting body attached to the lift and a pivoting body pivotally attached to the mounting body. A gear box with an output drive shaft for engaging a main drive of the lift is provided. The output drive shaft is movable in conjunction with the pivoting body. The pivoting body is movable between an engaging position in which the output drive shaft engages the main drive to allow for rotation of the main drive of the lift and a non-engaging position in which the output drive shaft is disconnected from the main drive. An input shaft is provided and has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the gear box to allow rotation of the input shaft which causes rotation of the output drive shaft. An input shaft support is positioned on the lift for providing support to the input shaft so that the input shaft is supported in a substantially horizontal orientation. A biasing spring is provided in communication with the pivoting body for biasing the pivoting body and the output drive shaft in the non-engaging position.