Telescopic Elevator Car Apron Reducing Pit Depth

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems face challenges in reducing the pit height due to the predetermined height of the retracted car apron, which often requires costly modifications like chiseling work in the shaft pit to accommodate the required depth, especially when converting existing installations.

Innovation Solution

The elevator car features a multi-part telescopic car apron with at least three plate-shaped elements, where two elements have downward and rearwardly extending bevels inclined at the same angle, allowing the bevel to be distributed over multiple elements, thereby reducing the total height of the apron in the retracted state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bevel is located on the telescopic element at the bottom in the extended state, then the car apron provides the required safety function, but the retracted car apron height is predetermined and requires increased shaft pit depth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety function of car apronVSAvoidretracted car apron height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bevel is divided into multiple separate bevels distributed across different telescopic elements. Instead of having a single bevel on the lowest telescopic element, the invention places bevels on at least two telescopic elements (e.g., first and third elements in a four-element apron), segmenting the protective function across multiple components. This segmentation allows the retracted height to be reduced while maintaining the required safety coverage when extended.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a vertical stacking approach (single bevel on lowest element) to a distributed spatial arrangement where bevels are positioned on multiple elements at different levels. This dimensional redistribution allows the bevels to work together in three-dimensional space to provide the required protection while reducing the vertical footprint when retracted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If the retracted car apron height is reduced, then the shaft pit depth requirement is minimized, but the bevel configuration must be redesigned to maintain safety standards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretracted car apron heightVSAvoidbevel configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bevel function is segmented across multiple telescopic elements, with each element contributing a portion of the protective coverage. This segmentation reduces the individual height requirement while distributing the safety function, thereby reducing retracted height without compromising the overall safety performance when the apron is extended.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different telescopic elements are equipped with bevels based on their specific positions and functional requirements. The local quality principle allows each element to have the bevel configuration optimized for its location, with at least two elements having downward and rearwardly directed bevels to ensure comprehensive coverage while minimizing overall height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2039644B1Lift car
Publication Date: 2010.08.25 WW AUFZUGKOMPONENTEN U
  • EP2039644B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2039644B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The cage (2) has a multiple-part telescopic cage toe guard (1) including a set of panel-shaped inner and outer telescopic elements (10-13) that is moved from a retracted condition to an extended condition. Oblique portions (13.1, 13.2) of one of the outer telescopic elements form an angle with respect to a horizontal axis in the retracted condition of the cage toe guard. The oblique portions projected over a horizontal plane have a minimum width.