The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to the field of elevator door wedges, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for determining a status of the elevator door wedge.
Elevator door wedges help protect elevator technicians but must be properly used.
According to one embodiment, an elevator door wedge monitoring system is provided. The elevator door wedge monitoring system comprising: an engagement sensing system configured to detect an engagement parameter, wherein the engagement parameter indicates whether an elevator door wedge is properly engaged with an elevator door; a communication device in electronic communication with the engagement sensing system and configured to receive the engagement parameter from the engagement sensing system; and an application installed on a user device in wireless communication with the communication device; wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the engagement parameter to the application.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the wireless communication is Bluetooth.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the user device is configured to transmit the engagement parameter to an application on a manager device.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the user device is configured to activate an alarm on the user device when the engagement parameter indicates that the elevator door wedge is not properly engaged.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the user device is configured to detect a location parameter of the user device.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the user device is configured to activate an alarm on the user device when the location parameter is within a selected radius of a selected location and the engagement parameter indicates that the elevator door wedge is not properly engaged.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the user device is configured to display an elevator door wedge status in response to the engagement parameter.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the manager device is configured to display an elevator door wedge status in response to the engagement parameter.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the user device is configured to display instructions in response to the engagement parameter, the instructions depicting proper engagement of an elevator door wedge and an elevator door.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the application on the manager device is configured to activate an alarm on the manager device when the engagement parameter indicates that the elevator door wedge is not properly engaged.
According to another embodiment, a method of monitoring elevator door wedge usage is provided. The method comprising: detecting, using an engagement sensing system, an engagement parameter, wherein the engagement parameter indicates whether an elevator door wedge is properly engaged with an elevator door; receiving, using a communication device, the engagement parameter from the engagement sensing system, the communication device being in electronic communication with the engagement system; and transmitting, using the communication device, the engagement parameter to an application installed on a user device in wireless communication with the communication device.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: transmitting, using the application installed on the user device, the engagement parameter to an application installed on a manager device.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: activating, using the application installed on the user device, an alarm on the user device when the engagement parameter indicates that the elevator door wedge is not properly engaged.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: detecting, using the application installed on the user device, a location parameter of the user device.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: activating, using the application installed on the user device, an alarm on the user device when the location parameter is within a selected radius of a selected location and the engagement parameter indicates that the elevator door wedge is not properly engaged.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: displaying, using the application installed on the user device, an elevator door wedge status in response to the engagement parameter.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: displaying, using the application installed on the manager device, an elevator door wedge status in response to the engagement parameter.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: displaying, using the application installed on the user device, instructions in response to the engagement parameter, the instructions depicting proper engagement of an elevator door wedge and an elevator door.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: activating, using the application installed on the manager device, an alarm on the manager device when the engagement parameter indicates that the elevator door wedge is not properly engaged.
According to another embodiment, an elevator door wedge is provided. The elevator door wedge comprising: an upper jaw; a lower jaw operably connected to the upper jaw; an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the upper jaw and the lower jaw; an engagement sensing system configured to detect an engagement parameter, wherein the engagement parameter indicates whether an elevator door wedge is properly engaged with an elevator door; and a communication device in electronic communication with the engagement sensing system and configured to receive the engagement parameter from the engagement sensing system.
Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include monitoring an engagement parameter of an elevator door wedge and transmitting the engagement parameter to a user device in short-range wireless connection with the elevator door wedge.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and non-limiting.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring now to
The manager device 300 is capable of secure bi-directional communication with the user device 200. The communication may occur over a wireless network, such as 802.11x (Wi-Fi), short-range radio, cellular, satellite, etc. The manager device 300 may be a computing device such as a desktop computer. The manager device 300 may also be a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a phone, PDA, smart watch, tablet, laptop, etc. The manager device 300 may also be two separate devices that are synced together such as, for example, a cellular phone and a desktop computer synced over an internet connection. The manager device 300 may include a processor 350, memory 352, and communication module 354, as shown in
Referring now to
The engagement sensing system 120 is configured to detect an engagement parameter 50 of the elevator door wedge 100. The engagement parameter 50 may indicate whether the elevator door wedge 100 is properly engaged with an elevator door 20.
In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment mechanism 180 includes an adjustment knob 182 securely connected to a threaded screw 184. Further, the threaded screw 184 is rotatably connected to the lower jaw 106a such that as the adjustment knob 182 is rotated, the screw 184 will spin within the lower jaw 106 but the lower jaw 106b will not move relative to an axis A of the threaded screw 184. The upper jaw 106a is operably connected to the threaded screw 184 through internal threads 108 located within the upper jaw 106a. The internal threads 108 mate with threads (not shown) on the threaded screw 184 such that as the adjustment knob 182 is rotated, the screw 184 will spin and the upper jaw 106a will move along the axis A of the screw 184 either towards the lower jaw 106b or away from the lower jaw 106b depending upon the direction of rotation of the adjustment knob 182.
The engagement sensing system 120 is composed of a lever arm 121, an engagement arm 124, a biasing mechanism 126, and a sensing device 122. The engagement arm 124, the biasing mechanism 126, and the sensing device 122 are each operably attached to the lever arm 121. The lever arm 121 is cantilevered over the upper jaw 106a. When the elevator door wedge 100 is disengaged with the door 20, the biasing mechanism 126 maintains a separation S1 between the lever arm 121 and the upper jaw 106a, as seen in
The communication device 140 is in electronic communication with the engagement sensing system 120 and more specifically with the sensing device 122. The communication device 140 is also in wireless communication with the user device 200. The wireless communication may be short-range wireless communication such as for example 802.11x (Wi-Fi), short-range radio, Bluetooth, and/or any other type of communication known to one of skill in the art. In an embodiment the short-range wireless communication is Bluetooth. The communication device 140 is configured to transmit an engagement parameter 50 detected by the engagement sensing system 120 to the user device 200. The communication device 140 may be configured to transmit the engagement parameter 50 periodically at a selected frequency or when the engagement parameter 50 changes. The communication device 140 may also include a power device (not shown) configured to provide power to the communication device 140.
The engagement parameter 50 may be displayed on the user device 200 when received from the communication device 140. The alarm 259 may be activated on the user device 200 when the engagement parameter 50 is received. When an engagement parameter 50 is received by the user device 200, the engagement parameter 50 may be optionally transmitted to the manager device 300. The manager may wish to keep track of whether their elevator technicians are properly utilizing the elevator door wedges 100. Further, the engagement parameter 50 may be displayed on the manager device 300 when received from the user device 200. The alarm 359 may be activated on the manager device 300 when the engagement parameter 50 is received. Further, an alarm 359 may also be activated on the manager device 300 if the elevator technician is detected to enter an elevator shaft with the elevator door wedge 100 improperly engaged or not installed.
Referring now to
The connection status 430 depicts whether the user device 200 is connected to the communication device 140 of the elevator door wedge 100. The elevator door wedge status 440 depicts the engagement parameter 50 detected by the engagement sensing system 120. For example, an elevator technician may want to know if the elevator door wedge 100 is properly engaged, thus an engagement parameter 50 may be transmitted from the communication device 140 to the user device 200 and viewed on the user device 200 via elevator door wedge status 440. The engagement parameter 50 may be transmitted automatically to the user device 200 and/or at the request of user device 200. In another example, a manager of the elevator technician may want to know if their technician's elevator door wedge 100 is properly engaged, thus an engagement parameter 50 may be transmitted from the user device 200 to the manager device 300 and viewed on the manager device 300 via elevator door wedge status 440. In another example, if the engagement sensing system 120 detects that the elevator door wedge 100 is properly engaged then the elevator door wedge status 440 may illuminate a green symbol, which is an elevator door wedge in
The location status 470 depicts a location parameter 57 of the user device 200. In an example, the location status 470 may state the jobsite where the user device is located. In another example, the location status 470 may state the geographical location of the user device 200. In yet another example, the location status 470 may depict whether the user device 200 is within an elevator shaft. Advantageously, an alarm 259 may activate on the user device 200 if the user device 200 has entered the elevator shaft and the elevator door wedge 100 is not properly engaged.
Referring now to
An alarm 259 may activate on the user device 200 when the engagement parameter 50 is received. The alarm 259 may only activate when the engagement parameter 50 indicates that the elevator door wedge 100 is not properly engaged. Also, the alarm 259 may only activate when the location parameter 57 indicates that the user device 200 is within a selected radius of a selected location and the elevator door wedge 100 is not properly engaged. An alarm 359 may activate on the manager device 300 when the engagement parameter 50 is received. The alarm 359 may only activate when the engagement parameter 50 indicates that the elevator door wedge 100 is not properly engaged. Also, the alarm 359 may only activate when the location parameter 57 indicates that the user device 200 is within a selected radius of a selected location and the elevator door wedge 100 is not properly engaged.
The engagement parameter 50 may be displayed on either the user device 200 or the manager device 300 as an elevator door wedge status 440, as described above. The color of the door wedge status 440 may also change in response to the engagement parameter 50. It is important to note that text may be utilized for the door wedge status 440 in lieu of a symbol, as shown in
While the above description has described the flow process of
As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as a processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as network cloud storage, SD cards, flash drives, floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
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20190062108 A1 | Feb 2019 | US |