Rollable Elevator Fall Protection for Shallow Pit Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator car door aprons pose safety risks and logistical challenges, particularly in shallow pit depths, due to limitations in length, activation mechanisms, and potential for collision or failure to deploy in emergency situations, leading to inadequate fall protection and increased risk of injury or accident.
Innovation Solution
A rollable fall protection system with a movable roll-up device that deflects the material to be flush with the car door sill, equipped with a deflection device, monitoring sensors, and a locking mechanism for automatic or manual activation, ensuring the material remains taut and extends only when necessary, independent of shaft pit depth, and can be activated during unintentional car movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed vertical apron of 750mm length is used, then fall protection is provided, but collision with the pit floor occurs in shallow shaft pits
Solution Approach 1:
The apron is transformed from a fixed static structure to a dynamic rollable system that can extend and retract. The rollable material unwinds when fall protection is needed and winds back when not needed, allowing the same structure to provide both full-length protection and clearance for shallow pits.
Solution Approach 2:
The effective length of the apron changes based on operational requirements. Through the rollable mechanism, the apron can achieve its full 750mm length when protection is needed and retract to a compact form when not needed, effectively changing its dimensional parameter to suit different pit depth conditions.
2Shape
If a roll-up apron is installed flush with the threshold, then a smooth surface is achieved, but the gap between apron and threshold increases when rolled up
Solution Approach 1:
The roll-up device is positioned in a different spatial dimension (above or to the side of the threshold rather than directly behind it). This dimensional relocation allows the apron to roll up without creating a gap at the threshold line, maintaining both smooth surface appearance and proper apron positioning.
3Reliability
If the apron is automatically moved together when entering the lowest landing, then fall protection is provided, but noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous automatic movement, the system uses periodic manual activation only when needed (when opening the shaft door for rescue operations). This transforms the operation from a continuous noisy process to an intermittent on-demand process, eliminating unnecessary noise while maintaining fall protection capability.
4Reliability
If telescopic aprons are used, then fall protection is provided, but minimum shaft pit depth of 400mm is required
Solution Approach 1:
The rollable apron system is inherently dynamic, allowing it to be stored in a compact retracted position that requires minimal space. This dynamic storage capability eliminates the need for the 400mm minimum pit depth required by telescopic systems, as the rollable material can be wound onto a compact drum regardless of pit depth.
5Reliability
If manual fastening of aprons is required, then fall protection is provided, but logistical problems and risk of non-use occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-activating through simple manual intervention. When the shaft door is opened, the apron automatically unrolls and secures itself without requiring operators to manually fasten or adjust components. This self-service mechanism eliminates logistical complexity while ensuring the protection is always properly deployed when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The system has a housing (2) attached below a cabin door sill (1) and comprising a shaft-door side slot (11). A rollable material (4) is rolled and unrolled by a roll-up device (3). The rollable material is deflected by a deflection device (20) such that the rollable material is pointed in vertical direction after deflecting in an activated state. The roll-up device and the deflection device are arranged in a region of a canopy. The rollable material is held at a free end by a mounting frame (7).