Brake device for an elevator car with integrated load measuring device, use of the brake device in an elevator system, and method - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a braking device (15) for braking a displaceable elevator car (3) of an elevator installation (1) and measuring load changes induced in the elevator car (3). The braking device includes a brake (17), a brake holding device (19) for holding the brake on the elevator car, a load measuring device (21) for measuring forces acting on a force transmission element (25), and a load measuring device holding device (23) for holding the load measuring device on the elevator car. The brake and brake holding device are configured so that the brake can be held on the elevator car by the brake holding device in such a way that the brake can be displaced in a force direction (39) generated by the brake relative to the elevator car. The load measuring device and load measuring device holding device are configured so that the load measuring device is held on the elevator car by the load measuring device holding device so that the load measuring device is fixed in the force direction generated by the brake relative to the elevator car. The force transmission element of the load measuring device is operatively connected to the brake so as to be able to measure a force acting between the brake and the load measuring device due to a relative displacement of the brake with respect to the load measuring device. The load measuring device holding device and the brake holding device are connected to each other in an elastically deformable manner via a connecting piece device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a braking device for an elevator installation, by means of which a displaceable elevator car can be braked and the load changes induced in the elevator car can be measured. The invention also relates to an elevator installation equipped with such a braking device. The invention also relates to a method for measuring the load acting on the elevator car and a method for setting the force to be exerted on the elevator car by the drive in response to load changes in the elevator car, using the braking device described herein. [Background technology]

[0002] In an elevator installation, an elevator car is typically displaced in a vertical elevator shaft between different levels or floors in a building. The elevator car is displaced by a drive device that drives a support means, such as a rope or belt, that holds the elevator car. The elevator car is typically guided by a guide rail as it is displaced. To bring the elevator car to a stop at the desired floor, the displacement motion of the elevator car is typically braked by appropriately controlling the drive device.

[0003] When an elevator car stops at a floor and people enter or leave the elevator car, the resulting load changes can cause elastic changes in the length of the support means holding the elevator car. The position of the elevator car relative to the floor can therefore easily change during its stop at the floor. To prevent a step between the elevator car floor and the floor of the floor, the change in the position of the elevator car is conventionally compensated by so-called releveling, in which the drive displaces the support means holding the elevator car in a targeted manner so that the change in the position of the elevator car is counteracted. However, complex means are required to perform such a releveling.

[0004] Alternatively, it has been proposed to provide a brake directly on the elevator car, by means of which the elevator car can be held in a fixed position while stopped at a floor, however here a problem can arise in that load changes in the car during the stop lead to abrupt changes in the car position when the brake is subsequently released due to the change in car load.

[0005] Approaches have been described for measuring loads acting on elevator cars. For example, EP 1278694 describes a load handling means for a traction elevator with an integrated load measuring device. An alternative load measuring device for an elevator car is described in EP 0151949. A brake load measuring system in which a load measuring cell interacts with the brake is described in US 6483047. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 1278694 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 0151949 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 6,483,047 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Among other things, there may be a need for a braking device, a means by which an elevator car of an elevator installation can be braked in an advantageous manner, which is also designed to be able to measure load changes caused in the elevator car. Furthermore, there may be a need for an elevator installation equipped with such a braking device. There may also be a need for an advantageous method of measuring the load acting on the elevator car. Finally, there may be a need for an advantageous method of setting the force exerted by the drive on the elevator car in response to load changes in the elevator car. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Such a need can be met by the subject matter of one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, a braking device is proposed for braking a displaceable elevator car of an elevator installation and for measuring load changes induced in the elevator car. The braking device comprises a brake for braking the elevator car relative to a stationary component of the elevator installation, a brake holding device for holding the brake on the elevator car, a load measuring device having a force transmission element for measuring forces acting on the force transmission element, and a load measuring device holding device for holding the load measuring device on the elevator car. The brake and the brake holding device are configured such that the brake can be held on the elevator car by the brake holding device in such a way that the brake can be displaced in a force direction generated by the brake relative to the elevator car. The load measuring device and the load measuring device holding device are configured such that the load measuring device is held on the elevator car by the load measuring device holding device such that the load measuring device is fixed in a force direction generated by the brake relative to the elevator car. The force transmission element of the load measuring device is operatively connected to the brake in order to be able to measure forces acting between the brake and the load measuring device due to a relative displacement of the brake relative to the load measuring device. The load measuring device holding device and the brake holding device are connected to one another in an elastically deformable manner via a connecting piece device.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an elevator installation is described having an elevator car, a guide rail and a braking device according to an embodiment of the first aspect. The elevator car can be displaced along the guide rail. The braking device is held on the elevator car by a brake holding device of the braking device and a load measuring device holding device of the braking device. The brake of the braking device is configured to cooperate with the guide rail to brake the elevator car.

[0011] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method of measuring a load acting on an elevator car is described, the method comprising at least the steps of: (i) activating a brake of a braking device according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention held on the elevator car while the elevator car is stationary, and (ii) measuring the load acting on the elevator car using a load measuring device of the braking device.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for setting a force to be exerted on an elevator car by a drive in response to a load change in the elevator car is described, the method comprising at least the steps of (i) measuring the load change using a method according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention, and (ii) setting the force exerted on the elevator car by the drive such that the measured load change is compensated for.

[0013] Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention may be considered based on the concepts and findings described below, among others, without limiting the present invention.

[0014] Briefly summarized, the basic concept of the braking system proposed here can be seen as enabling two functions in a single device: braking the elevator car and measuring the load changes induced in the elevator car. To this end, the braking system is essentially composed of two parts:

[0015] The first part comprises a brake and a brake holding device. The brake is designed to generate a force between the elevator car and a stationary component of the elevator installation, such as a guide rail, which counteracts the movement or weight of the elevator car to which the brake is attached, in order to brake the movement of the elevator car and / or keep said elevator car stationary on the stationary component. The brake holding device is designed to attach the brake to the elevator car.

[0016] The second part of the braking system comprises a load measuring device and a load measuring device holding device. The load measuring device is designed to measure a load or force acting on a part of the load measuring device, hereinafter referred to as the force transmission element. The load measuring device is configured to mount the load measuring device on the elevator car.

[0017] The two parts of the braking system are not only designed for different functions, but also are mounted to or retained on the elevator car in different ways due to the different designs of the respective retaining devices of both parts.

[0018] The brake and the brake holding device are designed such that the brake is not fixed by the brake holding device to the elevator car so as to be completely stationary, but can be at least slightly displaced relative to the elevator car, in particular in the direction of the force direction generated by the brake, i.e. typically in the direction in which the elevator car moves during its travel or in the opposite direction. In other words, the brake holding device, together with the brake fixed to it, can move relative to the elevator car along the direction of movement of the car within a certain tolerance or within a certain play. The tolerance can be, for example, a few tenths of a millimeter, in particular, for example less than 1 mm.

[0019] The load measuring device and the load measuring device holding device are designed in such a way that the load measuring device is fixed to the elevator car by the load measuring device holding device at least in the direction of the force generated by the brake, and preferably also in a direction transverse to this force direction, i.e. the load measuring device is attached to the elevator car as rigidly and without play as possible.

[0020] Thus, the brake, which is held on the elevator car with some freedom of movement, is able to move at least slightly relative to the load measuring device which is rigidly fixed on the elevator car.

[0021] The force transmission element of the load measuring device is operatively connected to the brake. For example, if an elevator car, with the load measuring device rigidly coupled to the elevator car, moves relative to the brake and the brake is held stationary on a stationary component of the elevator installation when actuated, the relative movement of the brake with respect to the load measuring device accordingly transmits a force via the force transmission element to a suitable counter element of the load measuring device, which force can be measured by the load measuring device.

[0022] Thus, the load measuring device can measure forces acting on the elevator car, in particular in the direction of the elevator car's movement, i.e. typically vertically. In particular, load changes in the elevator car can be determined using the load measuring device.

[0023] However, not only the load measuring device and the brake should be operatively connected to each other via the force transmission element of the load measuring device that connects them, but also the load measuring device holding device that holds the load measuring device and the brake holding device that holds the brake should be connected to each other via the connecting piece device as well.

[0024] The connecting piece device should be configured in such a way that the majority of the forces acting between the brake and the load measuring device are transferred via the connecting piece device and not via the force transmission elements of the load measuring device, in particular in such a way that, for example in the event of a failure of the force transmission elements, all of the forces acting between the brake and the load measuring device can be transferred exclusively via the connecting piece device without the connecting piece device being damaged.

[0025] The connecting piece device should be configured to interconnect the load measuring device retention device and the brake retention device in such a way that the connecting piece device deforms primarily elastically, at least when the forces are not excessive, i.e., when irreversible plastic deformation is not caused. In particular, the connecting piece device should only undergo elastic deformation when forces occur that correspond approximately to the weight of the elevator car, including the maximum allowable payload of the elevator car, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0026] The fact that the load measuring device holding device is connected in an elastically deformable manner to the brake holding device via the connecting piece device means that only a small part of the forces generated between the brake and the load measuring device actually acts on the load measuring device when the brake and the load measuring device move relative to one another, and therefore the load measuring device can be designed to be weaker than if all forces were transmitted to it.

[0027] Due to the fact that the connecting piece device mainly deforms elastically during force transmission, the force transmitted proportionally to the load measuring device can always be substantially proportional to the resultant force acting between the brake and the elevator car.

[0028] Finally, the forces acting on or the load changes induced in the elevator car can be measured very accurately and reproducibly with the aid of the load measuring device, despite the mechanically relatively weak design of the load measuring device.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the brake and the brake holding device are configured such that the brake can be held on the elevator car by the brake holding device in such a way that the brake can be displaced at most to a predetermined position in the direction of the force generated by the brake relative to the elevator car.

[0030] In other words, the brake retaining device can be specifically designed such that the brake secured to the brake retaining device can be mounted on the elevator car with a certain amount of play, so that the brake can easily move within a tolerance range relative to the elevator car due to the forces generated when the brake is actuated, however the tolerance range should be clearly limited so that the brake cannot be displaced beyond a maximum predetermined position relative to the elevator car.

[0031] For example, one end of the tolerance range can be realized by a mechanical stop provided on the brake retention device, such that a fixing element rigidly connected to the elevator car can be displaced up to the stop relative to the brake retention device, but the fixing element cannot be moved beyond the stop.

[0032] The result of this is, for example, that in the case of relatively small forces, for example up to the weight of the elevator car to be held, the brake can move slightly relative to the elevator car, whereas in the case of significantly higher forces, for example those which may occur in the case of emergency braking, the relative movement between the brake and the elevator car is limited to a maximum specified position by the provided stops, as a result of which, among other things, the safety of the braking function of the proposed braking device can be increased.

[0033] In particular, according to one embodiment, the brake retaining device can have a slot, the longitudinal direction of which extends parallel to the force direction generated by the brake, and a fixing element held stationary on the elevator car can extend through the slot to retain the brake retaining device on the elevator car.

[0034] In other words, two or more slots may be provided in the brake retention device, through which fastening elements, such as screws or bolts, that are fixedly connected to the elevator car may extend.

[0035] The slot may be an elongated through opening having a dimension in a direction parallel to the force direction generated by the brake, i.e., lengthwise, that is greater than a dimension transverse to the force direction, i.e., widthwise. For example, the widthwise dimension may substantially correspond to the dimension of a fixing element extending through the slot, such that a conforming form exists in the widthwise direction, whereas the lengthwise dimension may be at least slightly greater than the dimension of the fixing element, such that the fixing element may move within an allowable range defined by the slot in the force direction.

[0036] The longitudinal ends of the slot act as mechanical limits of the relative movement of the brake in the longitudinal direction, i.e., they form mechanical stops that define the position at which the brake and the elevator car can be maximally displaced relative to each other.

[0037] Thus, for example in the case of emergency braking, the fixing element of the elevator car, which extends through the slot of the brake holding device, can be moved relative to the brake at most up to the longitudinal end of the slot. Further displacements are then prevented by the form-fit that results between the fixing element and the end of the slot. Thus, large forces, which occur, for example in the case of emergency braking, can be transmitted between the brake and the elevator car via the fixing element and the brake holding device.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the connecting piece device is positioned, dimensioned and configured such that the connecting piece device deforms substantially only elastically when a force corresponding to the weight of the elevator car, including the maximum allowable payload of the elevator car, is transmitted between the brake retaining device and the load measuring device retaining device.

[0039] In other words, the connecting piece device can extend between the brake holding device and the load measuring device holding device such that the connecting piece device undergoes elastic deformation only under forces that normally occur during normal operation of the elevator installation, for example when the elevator car is to be held on a floor.

[0040] For this purpose, several different influencing variables can be suitably selected. For example, the spatial arrangement of the connecting piece device, i.e. in particular the position, orientation and / or extension direction of the connecting piece device, can affect the mechanical load-bearing capacity and / or the elastic deformation capacity of the connecting piece device. In addition, the dimensioning of the connecting piece device, i.e. in particular the cross-section, width, length, height, etc. of the connecting piece device, can affect the load-bearing capacity and / or the elastic deformation capacity of the connecting piece device. Furthermore, other construction parameters such as the materials used, the processes carried out during production, etc. can affect the load-bearing capacity and / or the elastic deformation capacity of the connecting piece device. All these parameters can be suitably selected such that the connecting piece device is configured, for example based on the elevator car properties (e.g. the weight and payload of the elevator car) and / or based on the requirements of the entire elevator installation in normal operation of the elevator installation (e.g. safety requirements with regard to the braking process), to react only with elastic deformation and not with plastic deformation to the forces acting on the elevator car.

[0041] In particular, according to one embodiment, the connecting piece device can be positioned, dimensioned and configured such that when a force corresponding to the weight of the elevator car including the maximum allowable payload of the elevator car is transmitted between the brake holding device and the load measuring device holding device, the connecting piece device deforms by less than 1 mm, preferably by less than 0.5 mm, and more preferably by only 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm in the direction of the force generated by the brake.

[0042] In other words, the elevator car should be able to move slightly relative to the brake during the braking process. However, the extent of this relative movement should be limited by the specifically selected configuration of the connecting piece device, for example to such an extent that no relative movement of more than 0.5 mm occurs under normal conditions. In many applications, it may even be advantageous if the connecting piece device only allows a relative movement of less than 0.2 mm under normal conditions.

[0043] In particular, the relative movement permitted under normal conditions must be less than the tolerance range that the elevator car can be moved relative to the brake when the maximum permitted relative movement is reached at a given position before further relative movement is prevented, e.g. by a fixed element of the elevator car hitting the end of the slot. In other words, due to the mechanical configuration of the elevator car, the connecting piece device should preferably only allow a relative movement between the elevator car and the brake that is shorter than the tolerance range specified, e.g., by the slot of the brake retaining device.

[0044] According to one embodiment it can be particularly advantageous if the connecting piece arrangement extends transversely to the force direction generated by the brake, at least in a sub-region.

[0045] If the entire length of the connecting piece device between the brake holding device and the load measuring device holding device runs parallel to the force direction generated by the brake, the relative displacement between the two holding devices can only occur if the length of the connecting piece device itself can be elastically changed. However, this can be difficult with materials such as metals that may be used for the connecting piece device to withstand the forces acting on it.

[0046] The aim is therefore for the connecting piece device to extend transversely to the force direction generated by the brake, at least in a sub-region. The entire length of the connecting piece device can extend linearly and obliquely to the generated force direction. Alternatively, the connecting piece device can have a curvature and extend obliquely to the generated force direction only in a sub-region. In a sub-region extending obliquely to the force direction, the forces acting during braking can bend the connecting piece device instead of lengthening the entire connecting piece device, so that the two holding devices arranged at both ends of the connecting piece device can be displaced relative to each other in the force direction. With a suitable design of the connecting piece device, in particular with a suitable orientation of the connecting piece device, a suitable cross-section and / or a suitable choice of material, the local bending of the connecting piece device can be performed by elastic deformation.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the brake retaining device, the load measuring device retaining device and the connecting piece device are designed integrally with a common part, for example, the brake retaining device, the load measuring device retaining device and the connecting piece device can be formed integrally with a common stamped sheet metal part.

[0048] In other words, a single piece, such as a metal sheet stamped to a suitable shape, may form both the brake retaining device and the load measuring device retaining device, as well as the connecting piece arrangement extending between the two devices.

[0049] The entire part can be easily produced and adapted to the forces to be absorbed and transmitted, for example by suitable selection of sheet metal, in particular with regard to the sheet metal thickness and the sheet metal material.

[0050] The one-piece design of all areas of such a part makes it possible to avoid, for example, increased wear at weak points that would otherwise occur in a multi-piece part at the transitions between the segments of the multi-piece part. One-piece parts are also able to withstand repeated mechanical loads over time.

[0051] An option can be made for fixing the two holding devices on the elevator car. In particular, a round hole can be provided in the load measuring device holding device to enable the load measuring device holding device to be fixed to the elevator car using, for example, a bolt or a screw. A slot can be provided in the brake holding device, through which the bolt or screw can also extend. Both the round hole and the slot can be punched into the sheet metal forming the holding device.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the force transmission element can be connected to a counter element of a load measuring device, the counter element being fixed to the load measuring device holding device via a strain gauge.

[0053] In other words, the strain gauges can be used to measure the forces acting on the load measuring device via the force transmission element. Thus, using strain gauges, the forces acting between the brake holding device and the load measuring device holding device when the brake is applied, and therefore ultimately between the applied brake and the elevator car braked thereby, can be measured. The use of strain gauges for this task allows a very robust design of the load measuring device. Moreover, strain gauges make it possible to measure the acting forces very accurately and reproducibly.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the load measuring device can be configured to generate an electrical signal representative of the force acting on the force transmission element.

[0055] For example, the load measuring device can have a sensor system capable of monitoring physical parameters that allow the forces acting on the force transmission element to be inferred. The sensor system can generate an electrical signal based on the monitored physical parameters. Such an electrical signal can be forwarded in a simple manner, for example to a controller of the elevator installation or to an external monitoring device. Then, based on the signal, the forces acting on the elevator car can be inferred. Thus, for example, the controller of the elevator installation can be informed of the payload currently in the elevator car and can therefore control the drive depending on the load.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the brake of the braking device mentioned above can be configured as a holding brake, which holds the elevator car stationary against its weight during stopping. It may be preferred to additionally configure the brake as a safety brake, in order to brake the elevator car in emergency situations, especially in case of a free fall.

[0057] In other words, the brake should be designed in such a way that it can be used at least to hold the elevator car stationary on a stationary component of the elevator installation with which it interacts, i.e., on a guide rail, for example, while the elevator car is stopped at a floor. As such a holding brake, the brake can prevent the elevator car from moving due to load changes when passengers get on and off the elevator car.

[0058] Furthermore, it may be advantageous to design the brake to be further loadable so that it can also act as a safety brake. In this case, the brake should be configured to be able to generate very high forces between the elevator car and the stationary components in order to be able to brake the elevator car to a standstill in a short distance, even if, for example, all of the support means holding the elevator break and the elevator car falls freely. In order to be able to reliably transmit very high forces, which temporarily occur during such a safety braking process, from the brake to the elevator car, the connecting piece device can be configured to be stable enough to not break under high forces, although plastic deformation of the connecting piece device may be tolerated in such exceptional cases. The brake holding device itself can also be designed, for example by appropriately dimensioning the slots of the brake holding device, and can be fixed to the elevator car in such a way that in the case of safety braking, the brake holding device remains reliably held on the elevator car.

[0059] Thus, when using a braking device according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the brake of the elevator car on which the brake retaining device and the load measuring device retaining device of the braking device are retained can interact reliably with the guide rail in order to be able to brake the elevator car, for example in an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

[0060] In addition, braking devices can be used within the scope of a method according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the invention in order to be able to measure the current load acting on the elevator car. In particular, temporary load changes can be measured.

[0061] For example, the brakes of the braking device can be applied for this purpose while the elevator car is gradually stopped at a floor and stationary. In this case, the brakes can be applied only after the elevator car has been stopped at a floor by suitable control of the drive, for example. Alternatively, the brakes can be used to actively brake the movement of the elevator car to a standstill, in which case the brakes can remain applied during the standstill.

[0062] The applied brakes can prevent the elevator car from moving while stopped at a floor, for example when passengers are getting on or off. However, the load in the elevator car changes as a result of passengers getting on or off. When using the braking system described herein, a load measuring device of the braking system can be used to determine such load changes. This can be used, among other things, to make it possible to detect overcrowding and thus overloading of the elevator car.

[0063] Alternatively or additionally, according to one embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention, the load changes in the car can be measured using the method described above and the information so obtained can be used to set the force applied to the elevator car by the drive such that the measured load changes are compensated for.

[0064] In other words, the load measuring device can be used first to measure how much heavier or lighter the elevator car becomes as a result of passengers getting on or off. Without appropriate countermeasures, if the holding brake is subsequently released, the load change would cause the elevator car to suddenly drop downwards or slide up, since the elastic support means holding the elevator car would lengthen or shorten as a result of the load change. By measuring the load change of the elevator car with the load measuring device, the drive can be controlled accordingly to allow the force acting on the support means to be set appropriately even before the holding brake is released, so that the elevator car does not drop or slide up when the holding brake is released. The above-mentioned process can also be called adjustment (pretorque) to be performed before the torque is generated by the drive.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the above-described method can be implemented in a particularly simple manner if the force measured by the load measuring device before the load change occurs is determined as a reference force. After the brake is applied and the load in the elevator car changes, the force applied to the elevator car can then be set such that the load measuring device measures a force corresponding to the reference force.

[0066] In other words, before the brakes of the braking system are applied and also before the elevator doors are opened and passengers can then get on and off, the current value of the force measured, for example, by a load measuring device can be determined and stored as a reference value. If the load in the elevator car changes due to a change in the number of passengers, then this can be recognized by the load measuring device.

[0067] However, it is not necessary to perform an absolute measurement of the forces generated by the load changes and determine the control signal to be sent to the drive in order to be able to set the resulting torque so that these load changes are compensated. Instead, the drive can simply be controlled to continuously vary its torque. At the same time, the change in the current force measured by the load measuring device can be monitored. If this force corresponds to the initially determined reference value, this means that the torque generated by the drive can be set appropriately in order to be able to compensate for the load changes occurring in the meantime, and therefore the brake can be released without an abrupt change in the position of the elevator car.

[0068] Furthermore, the device and the methods described above and below can be used to ensure that there are no maintenance technicians in the car. For example, before switching from normal operation to maintenance operation, the car weight can be measured and then this value can be compared with the value measured after the maintenance work before returning to normal operation. In case of deviations, the return to normal operation can be prevented. This is particularly advantageous in elevator installations that do not have headroom, since it is important in all circumstances to avoid the elevator installation going into normal operation when people are in the shaft. In contrast to conventional load measurements on the car floor, where the weight of a person is only detected if the person is on the car floor and not if the person is standing on the car roof, load measurements on the car brake, as described above and below, make such applications possible.

[0069] It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the present invention are described herein with reference to the braking device itself and various embodiments of an elevator installation equipped with said device, as well as the use of this braking device for measuring the load acting on the elevator car or for setting the force to be exerted by the drive on the elevator car in response to a load change. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be suitably combined, adapted or exchanged to arrive at other embodiments of the present invention.

[0070] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, neither the drawings nor this description should be considered as limiting the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0071] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view of a braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0072] The drawings are only schematic and are not drawn to scale. The same reference signs refer to the same or equivalent features in the various drawings.

[0073] Figures 1 and 2 show different designs of an elevator installation 1 with a braking device 15 according to two embodiments of the invention. In figure 3 a particular embodiment of the braking device 15 is shown to a larger extent and in more detail.

[0074] The elevator installation 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises an elevator car 3, which is held by, for example, cable-like or belt-like supporting means 5 and can be displaced in an elevator shaft 11. The supporting means 5 can be displaced for this purpose by a drive 7. The drive 7 is controlled by a controller 9. During the displacement of the supporting means, the elevator car 3 is guided on at least one guide rail 13, which acts as a stationary component 14, on both sides.

[0075] In particular, in order to be able to keep the elevator car 3 stationary while stopped at a desired position, such as a floor, the elevator car 3 can be temporarily fixed to the stationary guide rail 13 by means of brakes 17 provided on the elevator car braking device 15 after the elevator car has been moved to the desired position by the drive device 7. Each brake 17 is fixed to the frame of the elevator car 3, for example by means of a brake holding device 19.

[0076] At least one of the braking devices 15 also comprises a load measuring device 21. The load measuring device 21 comprises a force transmission element 25 and a counter element 29. Between the force transmission element 25 and the counter element 29, the load measuring device 21 can comprise a sensor, for example in the form of a strain gauge 27, by means of which the force acting on the load measuring device 21 can be measured between the force transmission element 25 of the load measuring device and the counter element 29 of the load measuring device. The load measuring device 21 can comprise evaluation electronics, for example in the counter element 29 of the load measuring device, by means of which the measurement parameters prevailing at the sensor can be converted into electrical signals. The load measuring device 21 is also fixed to the elevator car 3 via a load measuring device holding device 23.

[0077] Figure 2 shows another embodiment of an elevator installation 1 according to the invention. In this case, the braking device 15 is shown only diagrammatically and can be configured in detail similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The elevator installation 1 has an elevator car 3 and two counterweights 8. It comprises two drives 7, which are arranged in a shaft pit 10 of the elevator shaft 11. Traction and suspension are separate in such an embodiment, i.e. two traction support means 4 (below the car) and two suspension support means 6 (above the car) are used.

[0078] The braking device 15 as described above and below has proven to be particularly advantageous when used in such an elevator installation 1, since braking on the drive 7, i.e. via the traction support means 4 which is not stressed by the weight of the elevator car 3, can be avoided.

[0079] It has also proven to be advantageous in such an elevator installation 1 to incorporate the load measurement in the braking device 15 provided on the elevator car 3 and not in the support means fastening, as is usually the case. In such an elevator installation 1, load measurement via the suspended support means 6 is difficult, since the forces in the suspended support means 6 are also influenced by unknown variables due to the prestressing of the traction support means 4. To carry out the load measurement in the traction support means 4, a sensor would have to be attached to the traction support means 4 and a sensor would have to be attached to the suspended support means 6. In order to be able to obtain accurate measurement results even if the load is unevenly distributed in the elevator car 3, the measurement must be carried out on both sides of the elevator car 3. A total of four sensors would therefore have to be installed.

[0080] In the case of the load measurement in the braking system 15, a reliable measurement can be realized with only two sensors.

[0081] In another slightly modified embodiment, the two drives are arranged at the top of the shaft head 12 of the elevator shaft 11 (not shown).

[0082] In one embodiment, the load measurement may be at only one braking device 15 .

[0083] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the load measuring device holding device 23 and the brake holding device 19 are connected to one another via a connecting piece arrangement 31 in such a way that they are mechanically loadable.

[0084] The brake holding device 19 is formed with a number of slots 35. The longitudinal direction of the slots 35 is substantially parallel to a force direction 39 in which the force generated by the brake 17 is directed. The force direction 39 substantially corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car 3 and is therefore substantially vertical. The length of the slots 35 can be, for example, about 0.5 mm greater than the width of the slots. The slots 35 are linearly arranged above and below the force direction 39. Fixing elements 36, for example in the form of bolts or screws, can extend through the slots 35, respectively, and can be fixed to the elevator car 3 or its frame. The brake holding device 19 can thus be held on the elevator car 3 via the fixing elements 36, but can be moved slightly vertically relative to the elevator car 3 by displacing the fixing elements 36 in the slots 35.

[0085] The load measuring device holding device 23 has a number of round holes 33. Fixing elements (not shown) can then extend through the round holes 33, via which the load measuring device holding device 23 can be fixed substantially without play to the elevator car 3 or its frame.

[0086] Therefore, the brake 17 held by the brake holding device 19 can be slightly displaced in the force direction 39 relative to the load measuring device holding device 23 or relative to the elevator car 3 when a force in the force direction 39 is generated by actuating the brake 17.

[0087] Such a relative displacement causes, among other things, a deformation of the connecting piece device 31. The connecting piece device 31 is arranged, dimensioned and configured such that this deformation is normally elastic, at least insofar as the brake 17 generates only the force necessary to hold the elevator car 3 and its payload, for example when stopping at a floor.

[0088] However, the relative displacement between the brake 17 and the car 3 caused when the brake 17 is applied can also be used to enable the load or load change currently acting on the elevator car 3 to be measured using a load measuring device 21.

[0089] For this purpose, in the illustrated example, the counter element 29 of the load measuring device 21 is fixedly connected, for example by screwing, to the load measuring device holding device 23. The force transmission element 25 is, for example, coupled to a part of the brake holding device 19 and thus operatively connected to the brake 17. For example, electronics (not shown) provided in the counter element 29 can be used to measure the mechanical stresses that arise in a strain gauge 27 arranged between the force transmission element 25 and the counter element 29 due to the forces generated by the relative displacement. The electronics can then generate an electric signal that can serve as a measure of the force to which the load measuring device 21 is subjected.

[0090] It is therefore possible not only to use the brake 17 of the braking device 15 to brake the elevator car 3, but also to use the load measuring device 21 of said braking device to measure the load acting on the elevator car 3.

[0091] During operation of the elevator installation 1, the elevator car 3 can be transported to a floor, for example, by the drive 7. To prevent the elevator car 3 from subsequently moving up or down due to the resulting load changes when passengers get on or off, the brake 17 of the braking device 15 can be activated, for example via a control line 37, before the car doors are opened.

[0092] The force currently acting between the brake 17 and the elevator car 3 can be measured in advance, or at least before a load change can occur in the elevator car 3, i.e., for example, before the car doors are opened, using the load measuring device 21. This force can usually be zero, for example, in particular if the elevator car 3 is exclusively braked to a standstill by controlling the drive 7 and the brake 17 is only activated afterwards. However, this force can also have a value other than zero, in case the brake 17 is also used to slow down the movement of the elevator car 3. This previously measured force can be stored as a reference value.

[0093] Thereafter, as soon as a load change occurs when passengers get on or off the car, the load change can be measured using the load measuring device 21. Information about the measured load change can be used to vary the force exerted on the elevator car 7 via the support means 5 by controlling the drive 7 in a targeted manner, so that the load change occurring in the meantime is compensated.

[0094] Alternatively, the drive device 7 can vary the force acting on the elevator car 3 via the support means 5 until the force currently measured by the load measuring device 21 again corresponds to the predetermined reference value.

[0095] In either case, it can be ensured that the changed load conditions in the elevator car 3 are compensated for by appropriately tensioning or relaxing the support means 5 using the drive 7, so that the entire elevator car 3, including its payload, which has changed in the meantime, is again held by the support means 5. In this condition, the brake 17 can be released without the elevator car 3 then suddenly moving.

[0096] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising" and "having" do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other of the above embodiments. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered as limiting.

Claims

1. A braking device (15) for braking a displaceable elevator car (3) of an elevator installation (1) and for measuring the load changes induced in the elevator car (3), comprising: a brake (17) for braking the elevator car (3) against a stationary component (14) of the elevator installation (1); a brake retaining device (19) for retaining the brake (17) on the elevator car (3); a load measuring device (21) having a force transmission element (25) for measuring a force acting on the force transmission element (25); a load measuring device holding device (23) for holding the load measuring device (21) on the elevator car (3); Equipped with the brake (17) and the brake holding device (19) are configured such that the brake (17) is held on the elevator car (3) by the brake holding device (19) in such a way that the brake (17) can be displaced in a force direction (39) generated by the brake (17) relative to the elevator car (3); the load measuring device (21) and the load measuring device holding device (23) are configured such that the load measuring device (21) is held on the elevator car (3) by the load measuring device holding device (23) in such a way that the load measuring device (21) is fixed in a force direction (39) generated by the brake (17) relative to the elevator car (3); a force transmission element (25) of the load measuring device (21) operatively connected to the brake (17) for enabling a force acting between the brake (17) and the load measuring device (21) due to a relative displacement of the brake (17) with respect to the load measuring device (21) to be measured; A braking device (15), in which a load measuring device holding device (23) and a brake holding device (19) are connected to each other in an elastically deformable manner via a connecting piece device (31).

2. 2. The braking device according to claim 1, The brake (17) and the brake holding device (19) are configured such that the brake (17) can be held on the elevator car (3) by the brake holding device (19) in such a way that the brake (17) can be displaced at most to a predetermined position in a force direction (39) generated by the brake (17) relative to the elevator car (3).

3. 3. A braking device according to claim 1 or 2, A braking device, wherein the brake holding device (19) has a slot (35), the longitudinal direction of which extends parallel to a force direction (39) generated by the brake (17), and a fixing element (36) held stationary on the elevator car (3) can extend through the slot to hold the brake holding device (19) on the elevator car (3).

4. 4. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting piece device (31) is arranged, dimensioned and configured such that when a force corresponding to a weight of the elevator car (3) including a maximum permissible payload of the elevator car (3) is transmitted between the brake retaining device (19) and the load measuring device retaining device (23), the connecting piece device (31) deforms substantially only elastically.

5. 5. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting piece device (31) is arranged, dimensioned and configured such that when a force corresponding to the weight of the elevator car (3) including the maximum permissible payload of the elevator car (3) is transmitted between the brake retaining device (19) and the load measuring device retaining device (23), the connecting piece device (31) deforms by less than 1 mm in the force direction (39) generated by the brake (17).

6. Braking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting piece arrangement (31) extends transversely to the force direction (39) generated by the brake (17), at least in a sub-region.

7. Brake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brake retaining device (19), the load measuring device retaining device (23) and the connecting piece device (31) are integrally formed by a common part.

8. 8. The braking device according to claim 7, wherein the brake retaining device (19), the load measuring device retaining device (23) and the connecting piece device (31) are integrally formed by a common stamped sheet metal part.

9. 9. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein the force transmission element (25) is connected via a strain gauge (27) to a counter element (29) of a load measuring device (21) fixed to the load measuring device holding device (23).

10. 10. A braking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load measuring device (21) is configured to generate an electrical signal representative of the force acting on the force transmission element (25).

11. The brake (17) is designed as a holding brake which holds the elevator car (3) stationary against its weight during stopping, Braking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake (17) is preferably also designed as a safety brake for braking the elevator car (3) in emergency situations in case of a free fall.

12. An elevator installation (1), comprising: An elevator car (3); A guide rail (13); A braking device (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, having The elevator car (3) is displaceable along a guide rail (13); The braking device (15) is held on the elevator car (3) by a brake holding device (19) of the braking device and a load measuring device holding device (23) of the braking device; An elevator installation, wherein a brake (17) of a braking device (15) is configured to interact with a guide rail (13) for braking an elevator car (3).

13. A method for measuring a load acting on an elevator car (3), comprising: activating a brake (17) of a braking device (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 carried on the elevator car (3) while the elevator car (3) is stationary; measuring the load acting on the elevator car (3) using a load measuring device (21) of the braking system (15); A method comprising:

14. 1. A method for setting a force to be exerted by a drive (7) on an elevator car (3) in response to a load change in the elevator car (3), comprising: Measuring load changes using the method of claim 13; setting the force exerted by the drive (7) on the elevator car (3) so as to compensate for the measured load change; A method comprising:

15. Before the load change occurs, the force measured by the load measuring device (21) is measured as a reference force; 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the force exerted on the elevator car (3) after activation of the brake (17) and after a load change occurs in the elevator car (3) is set such that the load measuring device (21) measures a force corresponding to a reference force.

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