Reversible Elevator Door Interlock with Pivot Keeper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residential elevators pose safety risks when swing doors are opened while the elevator is on a different level or in-use, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
A reversible door interlock system for residential elevators, comprising a baseplate, a pivotally attached keeper, and an actuator with a cylinder, which adjusts between locked and unlocked configurations based on the elevator's position, ensuring the door remains closed when the elevator is in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a door interlock is installed to prevent unsafe access, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door interlock system is divided into separate functional components: a baseplate mounted on the door, a keeper with pivotable arm, and an actuator mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall system while maintaining safety effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The door interlock system is designed to work with both left-handed and right-handed swing doors through a universal baseplate design. The keeper assembly can be configured for different door orientations, eliminating the need for separate interlock systems for different door types and reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the door interlock is designed to accommodate both left-handed and right-handed doors, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keeper assembly incorporates asymmetric design elements that allow it to function with both left-handed and right-handed doors. The pivotable arm and engagement features are configured to accommodate different door swing directions, providing universal adaptability without requiring completely separate systems for each door orientation.
3Reliability
If the door interlock prevents door opening during elevator use, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door interlock system automatically engages and disengages based on elevator operation status without requiring manual intervention. The actuator mechanism responds to elevator signals to lock the door during operation and unlock when safe, eliminating the need for users to manually operate the interlock while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
An example door interlock includes a baseplate and a keeper removably and pivotally attached to the baseplate. The keeper includes a bore and a grooved opening, where the grooved opening is configured to connect to an arm, the arm connecting a door to the door interlock. The door interlock further includes an actuator including a cylinder. The actuator is configured to insert or retract the cylinder into or out of the bore, respectively, based on a positioning of an elevator, thereby causing the keeper to move between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and causing the door to either be openable when the keeper is in the unlocked position or unopenable when the keeper is in the locked position.