Stair Climbing Device Speed Control for Soft Landing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stair-climbing devices are inflexible and static in their speed adjustment, failing to provide a more flexible and potentially faster climbing experience.

Innovation Solution

A stair-climbing device with a climbing unit driven by a motor, capable of varying speeds, where the speed is reduced before placement on a step for soft landing and can be adjusted to a higher or lower speed after placement, allowing for flexible operation, including single-step and continuous modes, with electronic control and sensor assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drive speed is reduced before placement on a step, then soft landing is achieved, but the overall stair-climbing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoft landingVSAvoidstair-climbing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The drive speed is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase: a first drive speed is used during normal climbing, reduced to a second drive speed before step placement for soft landing, then increased to a third drive speed after placement. This dynamic speed variation resolves the contradiction by allowing both soft landing and maintained overall climbing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The speed reduction is applied periodically only during the critical placement phase rather than continuously. The speed profile follows a periodic pattern: normal speed → reduced speed (during placement) → increased speed (after placement), allowing soft landing while minimizing impact on overall climbing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If the drive speed is increased after placement on a step, then faster stair-climbing is achieved, but the risk of accidents increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestair-climbing speedVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drive speed is dynamically adjusted based on real-time operational status: after successful step placement, the speed increases to a third value for faster climbing, but before the next placement, it reduces again. This dynamic adjustment ensures safety during critical moments while maximizing productivity during stable phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The speed reduction is performed in advance before step placement to ensure soft landing and prevent accidents. This preliminary speed reduction acts as a safety measure that is executed before the critical placement event, while speed increase after placement maximizes productivity without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the drive speed is constantly adjusted, then flexibility is improved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed control flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts drive speed between three predefined values based on operational phase, providing flexibility without requiring complex continuous control. The dynamic switching between discrete speed levels achieves adaptability while keeping the control logic manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drive speed parameter is changed between three discrete values (first, second, and third speeds) depending on the operational phase. This parameter change approach provides flexibility in speed control while avoiding the complexity of continuous parameter adjustment, as the system switches between predefined speed levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2644473B1Stair climbing device and controlling method of its stepping unit
Publication Date: 2019.01.23 ALBER ANTRIEBSTECHN GMBH
  • EP2644473B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2644473B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2e
  • EP2644473B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device (1) has a climbing unit (3) that is connected with a carrier unit (2) and provided with climbing elements (4,5). The climbing elements are driven by a drive motor (6) and formed with stairway steps (11,12). The climbing unit is driven with different drive speeds. The drive speed is lowered to predetermined drive speed before placing the climbing element on the nearest stairway step so that the smooth fitting is ensured. The drive speed is adjusted to a speed different from predetermined drive speed after placing the climbing element on nearest stairway step. An independent claim is included for method for operating climbing unit of staircase climbing device.