Braking device for braking a moving vehicle which can be guided along a guide rail in the direction of travel, for example with a wedge-shaped braking element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a braking device (1) for braking a traveling body (3) that can be moved while being guided along a guide rail (5) in a moving direction (47). The braking device (1) has a holder (17), a braking element (19), a pretensioning element (21), a release element (23), and a pressing element (25). The brake element (19) has a brake surface (31) facing the guide rail (5) and is held and attached to the holder (17) so that the brake element (19) can be moved relative to the holder (17) between a free-travel position and a braked position, the brake surface (31) of the brake element (19) being laterally spaced from the guide rail (5) in the free-travel position and laterally pressed against the guide rail (5) in the braked position. The pretensioning element (21) is configured so that in the inactive configuration it does not apply a force to the brake element (19) that moves the brake element (19) toward the brake position, and so that in the active configuration it applies a force to the brake element (19) that moves the brake element (19) toward the brake position. The release element (23) is configured so that in the first configuration it holds the pretensioning element (21) in a held state and is configured so that when the release element (23) is actuated to the released state, it reconfigures the pretensioning element (21) from the inactive configuration to the active configuration. The pressing element (25) is configured such that, in a non-operated state, it does not generate a force on the braking element (19) in a direction toward the guide rail (5), and in an operated state, it generates a force on the braking element (19) in a direction toward the guide rail (5).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a braking device for braking a moving body that is guided along a guide rail in a moving direction. The present invention further relates to an elevator system having such a braking device as well as to a method for releasing a previously activated braking device in such an elevator system. [Background technology]

[0002] In elevator systems, elevator cars are moved between different floors using a drive machine. Particularly in elevator systems for high-rise buildings, the drive machine usually drives cable-like suspension elements that hold and move the elevator car and counterweight. The elevator car and counterweight are guided laterally by one or more guide rails during their vertical movement in the direction of travel.

[0003] The elevator car and the counterweight each represent a vehicle that can be moved along a substantially vertical travel path, which will be described below using the example of an elevator car, although the braking device described herein can also be used to brake the counterweight.

[0004] In order to be able to brake the movement of the elevator car safely, the elevator car is generally provided with a braking device. This braking device can in particular be configured as a safety brake and can be designed in such a way that it can brake the elevator car very efficiently and quickly, for example to stop the falling of the elevator car. The braking device typically has a braking element which, when the braking device is activated, presses against one or more surfaces of the guide rail and generates the necessary braking force to brake the elevator car by the friction caused thereby. In the case of its embodiment as a safety brake, the braking device is usually designed to be self-reinforcing, i.e. the pressing pressure with which the braking element presses against the guide rail is reinforced due to the relative movement between the guide rail and the braking device itself.

[0005] Conventional braking devices for elevator systems, in particular safety brakes, are described, for example, in WO 2015 / 047391, WO 2005 / 044709, WO 2011 / 078848 and WO 2017 / 087978.

[0006] It has been observed that returning an actuated braking system to its original, deactuated condition can be complicated, particularly in the case of self-compensating forced actuation systems. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2015 / 047391 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2005 / 044709 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2011 / 078848 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2017 / 087978 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] There would therefore be a need, inter alia, for a braking device that can be returned to its initial state in a simple manner after a braking process, and further for an elevator system with such a braking device, and a method for releasing a previously activated braking device in such an elevator system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Such a need can be met by the subject matter defined in any of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, a braking device is proposed for braking a traveling body that is movable so as to be guided along a guide rail in a moving direction. The braking device comprises a holder, a braking element, a pretensioning element, a release element and a pressing element. The braking element has a braking surface that can be oriented towards the guide rail and is held and attached to the holder such that the braking element can be moved relative to the holder between a free running position and a braking position. The braking surface of the braking element can be laterally spaced away from the guide rail in the free running position and can be pressed laterally against the guide rail in the braking position. In the non-actuated configuration, the pretensioning element does not apply a force to the braking element that moves the braking element towards the braking position, and in the actuated configuration, the pretensioning element applies a force to the braking element that moves the braking element towards the braking position. In the first configuration, the release element holds the pretensioning element in a holding state and reconfigures the pretensioning element from the non-actuated configuration to the actuated configuration when the release element is actuated to the released state. In a non-activated state, the pressing element does not generate a force on the braking element in a direction that can be oriented towards the guide rail, and in an activated state, the pressing element generates a force on the braking element in a direction that can be oriented towards the guide rail.

[0011] According to a second aspect, an elevator system is described comprising a guide rail, an elevator car movable so as to be guided along the guide rail in a moving direction, a drive device for moving the elevator car, and a braking device according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention attached to the elevator car by its holder and arranged adjacent to the guide rail.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the invention, a method for releasing a previously activated braking device in an elevator system according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention is described. When the braking device is activated, the braking element is engaged by moving the braking element relative to the holder against the direction of movement of the elevator car to be braked to a fully engaged position in which the braking surface abuts against the guide rail and the braking element is clamped between the guide rail and the holder. In the method, a pressing element of the braking device is first activated and then the braking device is moved by moving the elevator car by the drive in a release direction opposite to the direction of movement to be braked.

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

[0014] In summary, the braking device described herein comprises at least a holder, a braking element, a pretensioning element and a release element. The described components can be configured similarly to conventional braking devices. The braking device described here differs from conventional braking devices in particular in the additional installation of a pressing element. The pressing element can be used to press the braking element against the surface of the guide rail so that said braking element can be temporarily held stationary on the guide rail, for example during a release process in which a previously activated braking device is intended to be released again to its initial state.

[0015] The individual components of the braking system and their functions are described in detail below.

[0016] The holder, on the other hand, is used as a bearing that holds the braking element and allows said element to move relative to the holder. In this case, the holder can be adapted to guide said element in a desired direction or along a desired path when the braking element moves relative to the holder. For example, the holder can support and guide the braking element so that it can move back and forth between a free-running position and a braking position, for example along a linear path. The holder, on the other hand, is a component of the braking device that is directly or indirectly coupled to the elevator car to be braked and thus remains stationary relative to the elevator car. Mechanically, the holder can be adapted to be able to withstand the forces caused by the braking element during the braking process.

[0017] The braking element has a braking surface directed towards the guide rail and is configured such that when the braking surface comes into contact with the surface of the guide rail, strong frictional forces arise that impede further movement of the braking element relative to the guide rail. These forces can result in the braking element being able to move relative to the holder of the braking device in the course of the braking process, allowing the braking effect to increase in a self-reinforcing manner. These forces can be largely transmitted to the holder and then to the elevator car in order to efficiently brake the movement of the elevator car relative to the guide rail. As long as the braking device is inactive, the braking element remains in its free-running position in which its braking surface is spaced laterally away from the guide rail, i.e. in a direction transverse to the opposite surface of the guide rail. The gap between the braking surface and the surface of the guide rail can be, for example, several millimeters in the free-running position. As soon as the braking device is activated, the braking element is moved from the free-running position to the braking position, and the braking surface of the braking element is brought towards the guide rail and pressed against it. The braking element can be guided in its movement by the holder. The path of movement can be, for example, linear, in particular it can extend obliquely at a shallow angle to the surface of the guide rail against which the braking surface of the braking element is intended to press.

[0018] The pretensioning element is provided for the purpose of moving the braking element from a free-running position to a braking position when the braking device is activated. However, the pretensioning element should not move the braking element unless the braking device is activated. To perform this function, the pretensioning element is configured to be able to be reconfigured between an inactivated configuration and an activated configuration. In the inactivated configuration, the pretensioning element does not apply a force to the braking element that moves it towards the braking position. On the other hand, in the activated configuration, the pretensioning element applies a force to the braking element that moves it from the free-running position towards the braking position.

[0019] The braking device further comprises a release element so that the braking device can hold the pretensioning element in a non-activated configuration during deactivation. The release element can also be put into different states. In a holding state, the release element holds the pretensioning element in its non-activated configuration so that the braking element is not eventually moved by the pretensioning element to its braking position. However, if the release element is activated in response to activation of the braking device, said release element moves to the released state. Thus, release of the release element is achieved by reconfiguration of the pretensioning element from its initial non-activated configuration to an activated configuration such that the pretensioning element moves the braking element to its braking position.

[0020] The above-described function and the structural configuration of the braking device used for this purpose are similar to conventional braking devices, but the braking device described here also has a pressing element. The pressing element can also be switched back and forth between at least two different states. In the inactive state, said pressing element does not exert a force on the braking element in the direction towards the guide rail. However, as soon as the pressing element switches to its active state, the pressing element generates a force that presses the braking element in the direction towards the guide rail. The pressing element can thus be controllably used to move the braking element with its braking surface towards the guide rail or to hold the braking element on the guide rail and / or to press the braking element onto the guide rail, preferably independently of any influence from other components of the braking device.

[0021] Thus, as will be explained in more detail below, the pressing element can advantageously be used to at least temporarily hold a previously activated braking device on the guide rail in a stationary state, in particular during a release process in which said braking element is intended to be released again, by the pressing element pressing its braking surface against the guide rail with sufficient pressing force. Such a temporary fixation of the braking element on the guide rail can advantageously be used to enable a previously activated braking device to be returned to its original, inactivated state in a simple manner, for example by a technician, preferably without additional assistance and / or intervention.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the braking element has a width that tapers in the direction of movement, the width being measured between the braking surface and a sliding surface arranged opposite the braking surface, the holder forming a counter-bearing along which the sliding surface of the braking element can be moved in cooperation with the counter-bearing between a free running position and a braking position.

[0023] In other words, the braking element can have a greater width, for example, at the front side in the typical direction of movement of the braking element relative to the guide rail than at the rear side. The holder can be structurally configured to form a counter-bearing for this braking element designed in this way, so that the braking element can be moved relative to the holder. Due to the tapered design of the braking element, the holder and the braking element should interact during the braking process in such a way that the braking element is shifted from its free-running position to the braking position when its sliding surface interacts with the counter-bearing formed by the holder. Due to the tapered shape of the braking element and the interaction of its sliding surface with the counter-bearing formed by the holder, a self-reinforcing braking effect can be achieved during the braking process. This self-compensating forcing effect can be achieved in particular by the fact that the braking element is pushed by the friction of the braking surface on the guide rail in the direction of the rear side of the braking element, i.e. in the direction of the side with a smaller thickness, whereby it is clamped more and more strongly by the holder as a counter-bearing and thus pressed against the guide rail.

[0024] In particular, according to an embodiment, the braking element may be wedge-shaped.

[0025] In such a wedge-shaped braking element, the braking surface and the sliding surface are respectively flat, but extend obliquely to each other. Such a wedge-shaped braking element can be easily manufactured and / or operated in a braking device. In particular, a counter-sliding surface acting as a counter-bearing and oriented obliquely to the opposite surface of the guide rail can be formed on the holder, along which the sliding surface of the wedge-shaped braking element can be moved, so that the braking element can be moved in a direction at a predetermined angle to the guide rail and thus laterally moved from a free-running position to a braking position.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the pretensioning element is designed as an elastically deformable element, in particular a spring element, which is arranged to interact with the holder on one side and the braking element on the other side, in its activated configuration, said pretensioning element moves the braking element with its braking surface until said surface comes into mechanical contact with the guide rail.

[0027] In other words, the pretensioning element can be elastically deformed so that it can be brought into an elastically pretensioned state. For example, the pretensioning element can be designed as a spring element, for example a helical spring, etc. The pretensioning element can, for example, be coupled at one end to a holder of the braking device and can interact with the braking element at the opposite end. Here, the pretensioning element should be arranged and configured such that when passing from the inactivated configuration to the activated configuration, the pretensioning element moves the braking element towards the guide rail until the braking surface of said braking element comes into mechanical contact with the guide rail. For example, the pretensioning element can be mechanically pretensioned in its inactivated state, and the mechanical pretension can be so strong and directed that, when brought into the activated state, the pretensioning element uses this pretension to move the braking element from its free running position to its braking position and thus presses it at least slightly against the guide rail. Such a pretensioning element can ensure that the braking device can be reliably activated. In this case, the pretensioning element can be designed as a passive element, i.e. does not require its own power source.

[0028] According to a further embodiment, the pretensioning element can be designed as an elastically deformable element, in particular a spring element, and thus arranged to interact with the holder on one side and the brake element on the other side, so that in its non-actuated configuration, said pretensioning element is pretensioned in a first direction. Furthermore, the pretensioning element can here be arranged to interact with the holder and the brake element in such a way that in a fully engaged configuration of the brake element, said pretensioning element is pretensioned in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In the fully engaged configuration, the brake element can be moved against the direction of movement by friction on the guide rail beyond the position where the brake element coming from the free-running position first abuts against the guide rail.

[0029] In other words, the pretensioning element may be constructed and arranged such that in its non-activated configuration it is mechanically pretensioned in a first direction. In its activated configuration, the pretensioning element first moves to a relaxed state and in the process can shift the braking element from its free-running position to its braking position, i.e. towards the guide rail. When the braking surface of the braking element abuts the guide rail, the braking element is typically moved further by the guide rail due to the relative movement still occurring between the guide rail and the braking device. The braking element is moved towards a fully engaged configuration in which it is gradually pressed between the holder and the guide rail such that the overall braking force applied is self-reinforcing. When moving towards the engaged configuration, the pretensioning element is temporarily transformed again from a relaxed state to a mechanically pretensioned state. However, this pretensioned state does not correspond to the original pretensioned state in the non-activated configuration of the pretensioning element. Instead, in this case the pretensioning element is pretensioned in the opposite direction compared to the original pretensioned state.

[0030] In other words, the pretensioning element, which is designed as a spring when it is compressed in the working configuration before actuation, for example, first relaxes in response to actuation, thereby allowing the braking element to move until the braking surface comes into contact with the guide rail. Then, when the braking element is carried further along by the guide rail, this initial movement of the braking element continues, resulting in the spring being stretched. Thus, when the braking element finally reaches its fully engaged configuration, the spring is highly stretched and therefore exerts a restoring force on the braking element which, if not clamped in the engaged configuration, tends to move the braking element away from the fully engaged configuration and towards the position where the braking element first abuts the guide rail coming from the free running position.

[0031] As explained below, such a configuration and arrangement of the pretensioning element may be beneficial in releasing the braking device to assist the braking element in moving away from the fully engaged configuration and back to its original free running position.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the release element can be designed as a pawl that can be moved between a latched position and an unlatched position, in which the pawl holds the pretensioning element in its unactivated configuration and in which the pawl releases the pretensioning element to its activated configuration.

[0033] In other words, a pawl can be provided as a release element, which can be moved between a latched position and an unlatched position. In the latched position, the pawl can block the pretensioning element so that said element remains in its unactivated configuration. The pawl itself can be held in its latched position, for example, using an actuator, for example an electromagnet that can be excited in a controllable manner. When the pawl is released, i.e. moved to its unlatched position, it releases the pretensioning element, so that said pretensioning element moves to its activated configuration and can then move the braking element from its original free-running position to its braking position.

[0034] Possible configurations of the pressing element are described below, which allow the braking element to be controlled and preferably pressed against the guide rail independently of the other components of the braking device.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the pressure element can be designed using an electromagnet.

[0036] When a current is applied to the electromagnet, the latter can generate a magnetic field, which causes the electromagnet to be subjected to an attractive force towards a magnetizable part, in this case a guide rail, and thus when a pressing element formed by means of the electromagnet is activated, said element can be pulled towards the guide rail and the resulting force can be transmitted to the braking element.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the pressure element can be rigidly connected to the braking element.

[0038] In other words, the pressing element can be connected to the braking element such that the force acting on the pressing element is transmitted to the braking element. For example, a pulling force, which pulls the pressing element towards the guide rail when said pressing element is activated, can be transmitted to the braking element. Since the braking element is pressed against the guide rail by its braking surface, the braking element is subjected to considerable frictional forces when the pressing element is activated. These frictional forces can result in the braking element being able to be fixed to the guide rail independently of other components of the braking device as long as the pressing element is activated.

[0039] According to an embodiment, the pressure element can be attached to the braking element so as to be adjacent to a braking surface of the braking element.

[0040] In other words, the pressing element can be attached to the braking element in the vicinity of its braking surface. The pressing element can preferably be arranged so that its surface facing the opposite guide rail is arranged flush with the braking surface of the braking element or is slightly recessed compared to said braking surface. In other words, said surface of the pressing element can be spaced at the same distance from the opposite guide rail or a little further from said opposite guide rail than the braking surface of the braking element. With such an aligned or slightly recessed arrangement of the pressing element, when the pressing element is actuated, the pressing element is pulled towards the guide rail, but the pressing element does not come into contact with the guide rail, or at least not exclusively, and in any case the braking surface of the braking element is also pressed against the guide rail. The pressing element can be arranged close enough to the guide rail so that it can interact with the guide rail over a short distance. This can be particularly advantageous if the pressing element is pulled towards the guide rail using an electromagnet.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the braking device has two braking elements which can be arranged on either side of the guide rail and at least one pressing element cooperating with the braking elements.

[0042] In other words, the braking device can have two braking elements facing each other with their respective braking surfaces. The guide rail can extend into the gap between the braking surfaces. When the braking device is actuated, the two braking elements driven by the respective pretensioning elements can be moved from their free-running position to their braking position, whereby the two braking elements come into contact with their braking surfaces on the opposite surfaces of the guide rail. By providing two braking elements, a more symmetrical distribution of forces in the braking device can be achieved overall when cab braking is performed using said braking device. In order to be able to release the braking element again, the braking device can have at least one pressing element which cooperates with the braking element to keep said element temporarily pressed against the guide rail. Optionally, it can be advantageous to equip each of the braking elements with its own pressing element.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the pressing element has a mechanism configured to shift the pressing element towards a counter element which can be arranged on the opposite side of the guide rail relative to the pressing element.

[0044] Such an embodiment may comprise an electromagnet as an alternative or in addition to the above-mentioned configuration of the pressing element. A mechanism may be activated to activate the pressing element. For this purpose, the mechanism may have a controllable actuator. Such an actuator may, for example, have an electric motor. When the mechanism is activated, the pressing element may be moved towards the counter element. The counter element may be arranged on the opposite side of the guide rail and may, for example, be supported on the opposite side of the guide rail, so that the pressing element may be pulled towards the guide rail as a result. The pressing element may be mechanically coupled to the braking element, so that the braking element may be pressed against the guide rail in this way.

[0045] The embodiments of the braking device described herein can be used in an elevator system according to the second aspect of the invention. The holder of the braking device is attached to the elevator car, i.e. fixed directly or indirectly to the elevator car. The braking device is arranged adjacent to a guide rail that guides the elevator car, and its one or more braking elements can be moved to their braking position when the braking device is activated and can interact with the guide rail in a braking manner.

[0046] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method is described in which embodiments of the braking devices described herein can be released again after they have previously been actuated or actuated.

[0047] Releasing the braking device can be understood here in particular to mean that the braking device can independently terminate the interaction of its braking elements with the guide rail and thus the effect of the braking force, i.e. without the need for a technician to be present on site or to operate and release the braking device, for example by manual intervention.

[0048] Preferably, releasing the brakes can also be understood to mean that the brakes can be returned to an initial configuration in which they were previously activated or after they have been activated, i.e. after a braking operation, the elevator system can be operated normally and the brakes can be activated again if necessary. The release of the brakes can be partially or fully automated.

[0049] In other words, the method proposed herein according to the third aspect of the invention can enable the elevator car to be braked using the braking device, and then the elevator system can be returned to normal operation by returning the braking device to its original state from which it can be released and reactivated, preferably without the intervention of an on-site technician. After the braking element has been pressed with its braking surface in contact with the guide rail by a previous activation of the braking device and then moved to a fully engaged position, said braking element can be released from the fully engaged position. Furthermore, the braking element can also be returned to its free running position, and then the pretensioning element can be returned to its inactivated configuration and the release element can be set to its state that holds the pretensioning element in the inactivated configuration.

[0050] To make it possible to achieve this, a pressing element is first activated on a previously activated braking device. In this activated state, the pressing element subsequently generates a force on the braking element, so that the braking surface of the braking element is pressed against the guide rail. In this way, the braking element is fixed to the guide rail. The elevator car is then moved by the drive in a release direction opposite to the direction of movement in which it should initially be braked. That is to say, if the elevator car was moved downwards when the braking device was activated, the elevator car is moved upwards by the drive in order to release the braking device. Such a movement of the elevator car in the release direction also moves the holder of the braking device in the release direction. However, since the braking element is held firmly on the guide rail due to the previously activated pressing element, the braking element does not move with the holder, but is moved relative to it from its previously assumed fully engaged position. Thus, the braking effect by the braking element can be released.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the elevator car is moved in the release direction until the braking element, which is held stationary on the guide rail by the activated pressing element, is moved relative to the holder to a fixed position in which the pretensioning element is in a position corresponding to its inactivated configuration, and the release element transitions from its release state to its holding state in order to hold the pretensioning element in its inactivated configuration.

[0052] In other words, in the method described herein, the actuated pressing element can continue to press the braking element into position on the guide rail until the braking element has been moved relative to the holder of the braking device so that the pretensioning element is fully pretensioned again, i.e. until it is in its original inoperative position configuration. The pretensioning element thus re-tensioned can then be reset to its inoperative configuration by moving the release element from the previously released state back to its holding state. In general, the braking device then returns to its original state and can be operated again, i.e. actuated again, during normal operation of the elevator system.

[0053] Specifically, in relation to the embodiment described above, this can mean that the wedge-shaped braking element, which has been pushed into its fully engaged position by a previous actuation and thereby clamped between the holder and the guide rail, is initially moved back from the fully engaged position by the elevator car with the holder being moved in a release direction opposite to the direction of movement in which it is initially to be braked.

[0054] In this movement, the braking element can optionally be assisted by a spring acting as a pretensioning element, where it is driven to its fully engaged position from a temporarily relaxed state during the previous engagement of the braking element to an oppositely pretensioned state, the resulting pretensioning can help to push the braking element out of the fully engaged position when the braking device is released.

[0055] However, without the support of the pressure element, the braking element would only be released from the fully engaged position until it was no longer pressed against the guide rail by the holder, and the braking element would not be able to return to its original position, especially since the pretensioning element had already been pressed in the opposite direction.

[0056] However, with the use of a pressing element, the braking element can also be pressed against the guide rail without a pressing interaction with the holder and thus held stationary on the guide rail. Thus, when the elevator car together with the holder is moved further in the release direction, the braking element moves continuously towards its original position, i.e. close to its free running position, and the braking element fixed to the guide rail continuously pretensions the spring forming the pretensioning element. Finally, the pretensioning element is brought to its inactivated configuration. The pawl forming the release element can then be moved from its previously released state back to its holding state, e.g. an electromagnet provided thereon can be activated to latch the pawl in the holding state. Overall, the braking device has returned to its initial configuration and is thus ready to be activated for a subsequent braking process.

[0057] The entire process for releasing the brake can be performed automatically. There is no need for a technician to reset the brake to its original configuration on-site, as is usually the case with conventional brakes. Instead, the reset can be brought about only by appropriately shifting the elevator car in the release direction and momentarily activating the pressing element of the brake.

[0058] It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the present invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments of a braking device or an elevator system having the same, or a method carried out therewith to release a previously activated braking device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be appropriately combined, adapted or substituted to arrive at further embodiments of the present invention.

[0059] It is further noted that the applicant of the present patent application has filed another patent application on the same day as the present patent application, entitled "Brake device, for example having an eccentric element, for braking a traveling body that can be moved in a guided manner along a guide rail in a movement direction". This further patent application describes embodiments that can also be implemented for the present patent application. In particular, an embodiment is described in which the braking element is designed as an eccentric element rather than a wedge-shaped element. The further patent application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0060] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but neither the drawings nor the description are intended to be construed as limiting the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0061] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an elevator system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2a] 1 shows a braking device according to an embodiment of the invention at different stages during activation and subsequent release of the braking device; [Figure 2b] 1 shows a braking device according to an embodiment of the invention at different stages during activation and subsequent release of the braking device; [Figure 2c] 1 shows a braking device according to an embodiment of the invention at different stages during activation and subsequent release of the braking device; [Figure 2d] 1 shows a braking device according to an embodiment of the invention at different stages during activation and subsequent release of the braking device; [Figure 2e] 1 shows a braking device according to an embodiment of the invention at different stages during activation and subsequent release of the braking device; [Figure 2f] 1 shows a braking device according to an embodiment of the invention at different stages during activation and subsequent release of the braking device; [Diagram 3] 1 shows an embodiment of a braking device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] The drawings are only schematic and are not to scale. The same reference signs refer to features that have the same or similar function in the various figures.

[0063] Fig. 1 shows an elevator system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Only components that allow an understanding of the invention are shown in the figure. The elevator system 1 may have further components that are not shown for clarity.

[0064] The elevator system 1 comprises a running body in the form of an elevator car 3 which can be moved vertically in an elevator shaft 7. During its vertical displacement, the elevator car 3 is guided laterally by guide rails 5 which are attached to the side walls 9 of the elevator shaft 7 and extend along the entire travel path of the elevator car 3. The elevator car 3 is held by cable-like suspension means 13 which are movable by a drive 11. Two braking devices 15 are attached to the elevator car 3. The braking devices 15 are each arranged adjacent to one of the guide rails 5 and can interact with this guide rail to generate a braking force.

[0065] 2a shows a cross-sectional view of a braking device 15 according to an embodiment of the invention. The braking device 15 comprises a holder 17, a braking element 19, a pretensioning element 21, a release element 23 and a pressure element 25.

[0066] The holder 17 is implemented in the illustrated example by means of a frame 27, which can be attached to the elevator car 3. Furthermore, the holder 17 comprises a guide element 29 which extends obliquely to the guide rail 5 and has a guide surface which serves as a counter bearing 35 for the brake element 19.

[0067] In this case, the braking element 19 is designed as a braking wedge. The braking element 19 is held and mounted in the holder 17 in such a way that said braking element 19, having a braking surface 31 directed towards the guide rail 5, can be moved in or against the direction of movement 47 in which the brake device 15 is moved relative to the guide rail 5, i.e. vertically, and also transversely to the direction of movement 47, i.e. horizontally.

[0068] Due to such displaceability, the sliding surface 33 of the braking element 19 opposite the braking surface 31 can slide along an inclined guide surface which serves as a counter bearing 35 on the guide element 29 of the holder 17. The braking element 19 can be moved back and forth between a free running position shown in FIG. 2a and a braking position shown in FIG. 2b. The sliding surface 33 of the braking element 19 and / or the counter bearing 35 of the guide element 29 can be formed with a suitable bearing (not shown), for example a sliding bearing or a bearing configured with a plurality of rollers. In the free running position, the braking surface 31 of the braking element 19 is spaced apart from the opposite surface of the guide rail 5, whereas in the braking position, the braking surface 31 of said braking element abuts against the guide rail 5.

[0069] To be able to move the braking element 19 from its free running position in the direction of its braking position, the braking device 15 has a pretensioning element 21. The pretensioning element 21 is an elastically deformable element, such as a spring 37. In the example shown, this spring 37 is arranged between the frame 27 of the holder 17 and an end stop 51 of a rod 49 connected to the braking element 19. As long as the braking device 15 is not activated, the pretensioning element 21 remains in an inactivated configuration, as shown in FIG. 2a. In this inactivated configuration, the pretensioning element 21 is mechanically pretensioned. In the example shown, the spring 37 used for this purpose is mechanically compressed.

[0070] In order to keep the pretensioning element 21 in this inactivated configuration as long as the brake device 15 is not activated, the brake device 15 has a release element 23. In the illustrated example, this release element 23 is designed to have a pawl 39. This pawl 39 can be held in a holding state by an electromagnet 41 by the release element 23 which holds the pretensioning element 21 in its first configuration. The pretensioning element 21 is an elastically deformable element, such as a spring 37.

[0071] When the braking device 15 is intended to be actuated, the release element 23 can be actuated to the release state, for example by, in the embodiment shown, no longer energizing the electromagnet 41 and thus releasing the pawl 39. The pawl 39 can then be moved from its latched position shown in Fig. 2a, in which said pawl blocks the movement of the spring 37 used as pretensioning element 21, to the unlatched position shown in Fig. 2b, in which said pawl releases the pretensioning element 21. In the example shown, the pawl 39 can be pivoted about a central axis for this purpose.

[0072] The pretensioning element 21 thus released, due to the mechanical pretension prevailing therein, can move the rod 49 by means of its end stop 51 and the braking element 19 fixed therein vertically upwards, i.e. opposite to the movement direction 47, as shown in Fig. 2b. The sliding surface 33 of the braking element 19 slides along the counter bearing 35 and is accordingly pressed against the guide rail 5 with its braking surface 31.

[0073] In order to be able to adequately counteract the forces acting on the brake element 19 and, through it, on the holder 17, the brake device 15 has a counter pressure element 43 which is also attached to the holder 17 and supported by a counter pressure spring 53 against the frame 27 of the holder 17.

[0074] As soon as the braking surface 31 of the braking element 19 abuts against the guide rail 5, the braking element 19 is moved further in a movement direction 47 opposite to this movement direction 47 along the obliquely extending counter bearing 35 due to the relative movement between the braking device 15 and the guide rail 5. Due to the wedge-shaped configuration of the braking element 19, the pressing pressure exerted by the braking element 19 via its braking surface 31 on the guide rail 5 is increased. The overall braking effect achieved by the braking device 15 is therefore self-reinforcing.

[0075] Finally, the braking element 19 is moved to a fully engaged configuration as shown in Figure 2c. In this configuration, the braking device 15 generates a high braking force, whereby an elevator car 3 attached to said element can be effectively and quickly braked to a stop.

[0076] During the movement of the braking element 19 from the position where it reaches its braking position and first abuts the guide rail 5 with its braking surface 31 to the position where it reaches its fully engaged configuration, the braking element 19 is moved further relative to the frame 27 of the holder 17. As a result of this, the pretensioning element 21, which is fixed at one end to the end stop 51 of the rod 49, is also stretched beyond its temporarily relaxed configuration into a pretensioned configuration under tension.

[0077] With conventional braking systems, once actuated and the braking elements are moved to a fully engaged configuration, it is difficult to release the braking system, i.e., return the braking system to its initial configuration.

[0078] With reference to Figures 2d to 2f, it will now be described how, using the braking device 15 presented in this specification, such release of the braking device 15 can be easily and generally performed without the need for intervention by a technician, i.e., at best, can be fully automated.

[0079] To release the brake device 15, its pressing element 25 is first activated. In the illustrated example, the electromagnet 45 of the pressing element 25 is excited for this purpose. The electromagnet 45 now generates a magnetic field, as a result of which the pressing element 25 is pulled towards the magnetizable guide rail 5. Since the pressing element 25 is rigidly connected to the brake element 19, this force pulls the brake element 19 towards the guide rail 5. Furthermore, since the pressing element 25 is mounted adjacent to the braking surface 31 of the brake element 19, i.e. in the illustrated example it is arranged flush with this braking surface 31, the braking surface 31 of the brake element 19 is pressed against the guide rail 5 by means of the activated pressing element 25, and thus the brake element 19 is fixed stationary on the guide rail 5.

[0080] After the pressing element 25 has been actuated in this way, as shown in Fig. 2d, the elevator car 3 is moved using the drive 11 in a release direction 65, opposite to the original direction of movement 47, i.e. upwards in the illustrated example. As a result, the holder 17 is also moved together with the elevator car 3. The braking element 19 is thereby moved from its previous fully engaged configuration, since it is pressed against the guide rail 5 and is held stationary thereon.

[0081] However, without the pressing effect of the pressing element 25, the braking element 19 would quickly lose its pressing pressure on the guide rail 5, since it would no longer be held pressed against the guide rail 5 by the counter bearing 35 of the guide element 29. The pretensioning element 21 then transmits the movement of the holder 17 to the braking element 19, which therefore subsequently starts to move together with the holder 17. The braking element 19 could therefore not be fully returned to its original configuration.

[0082] However, the pressing effect of the pressing element 25 causes the braking element 19 to remain stationary on the guide rail 5 without interacting with the counter bearing 35. The braking element 19 can therefore be moved further relative to the mount 17, in that the elevator car 3 together with the holder 17 is moved further in the movement direction 47, as shown in Fig. 2e.

[0083] This causes the pretensioning element 21 to be continuously compressed until it finally reaches its non-actuated configuration again. In this setting, the release element 23 can be reconfigured to its holding state, as shown in Fig. 2f. For this purpose, the electromagnet 41 can be energized, whereby the pawl 39 can be returned to its latched position.

[0084] Finally, the pressing effect that can be generated using the pressing element 25 can hold the braking element 19 on the guide rail 5 until it reaches its initial position relative to the holder 17, and in this way the entire braking device 15 can be automatically returned to its original configuration.

[0085] Finally, with reference to Fig. 3, an alternative embodiment of the braking device 15 is described. In this embodiment, the braking device 15 has two braking elements 19 arranged on either side relative to the guide rail 5. The holder 17 therefore has two opposing inclined surfaces on the corresponding guide elements 29, which act as counter-bearings 35. Each of the braking elements 19 can slide along one of these counter-bearings 35 by means of its sliding surface 33. The pressing pressure ultimately caused by the braking elements 19 on the guide rail 5 in the fully engaged configuration can in this case be adjusted or limited by counter-pressure springs 53 supporting each of the guide elements 29 on the frame 27 of the holder 17.

[0086] In the illustrated example, the pressing element 25 is formed by means of a mechanism 55 arranged to move two braking elements 19 towards each other and thereby press their braking surfaces 31 against the guide rail 5 arranged between them. For this purpose, the mechanism 55 can drive a threaded rod 59 by means of an electric motor 57, which can interact with a counter element 61 arranged on the opposite side of the guide rail 5. A pretension spring 63 can provide a mechanical pretension in the mechanism 55.

[0087] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprises", "having" and the like 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 embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered as limiting.

Claims

1. A braking device (1) for braking a running body (3) of an elevator system (1) movable so as to be guided along a guide rail (5) in a moving direction (47), comprising: The braking device (1) comprises: A holder (17); A braking element (19), A pretensioning element (21), A release element (23), and A pressing element (25), Equipped with the braking element (19) has a control surface (31) which can be directed towards the guide rail (5) and which is held and attached to the holder (17) such that the braking element (19) can be moved relative to the holder (17) between a free-running position and a braking position, the braking surface (31) of the braking element (19) being able to be spaced laterally away from the guide rail (5) in the free-running position and being able to be pressed laterally against the guide rail (5) in the braking position, In the non-activated configuration, the pretensioning element (21) exerts no force on the braking element (19) that moves the braking element (19) towards the braking position, and in the activated configuration, the pretensioning element (21) exerts a force on the braking element (19) that moves the braking element (19) towards the braking position; a release element (23) that, in a first configuration, holds the pretensioning element (21) in a retained state and reconfigures the pretensioning element (21) from a non-actuated configuration to an actuated configuration when the release element (23) is actuated to the released state; A braking device in which, in a non-activated state, the pressing element (25) does not generate a force on the braking element (19) in a direction that can be directed toward the guide rail (5), and, in an activated state, the pressing element (25) generates a force on the braking element (19) in a direction that can be directed toward the guide rail (5).

2. The braking element (19) has a width, measured between a braking surface (31) and a sliding surface (33) arranged opposite the braking surface (31), that tapers in a direction of movement (47); the holder (17) forms a counter-bearing (35) along which the sliding surface (33) of the braking element (19) can be moved in cooperation with the counter-bearing (35) between a free-running position and a braking position; 2. The braking device according to claim 1.

3. The braking element (19) is wedge-shaped.

3. A braking device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a pretensioning element (21) is designed as an elastically deformable element, in particular a spring element, and in its working configuration, said pretensioning element is arranged to interact with the holder (17) on one side and with the braking element (19) on the other side, so as to move the braking element (19) together with its braking surface (31) until said braking surface comes into mechanical contact with the guide rail (5), A braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the pretensioning element (21) is designed as an elastically deformable element, in particular a spring element, and is arranged to interact with the holder (17) on one side and with the brake element (19) on the other side in such a way that in its non-activated configuration, said pretensioning element is pretensioned in a first direction, and in a fully engaged configuration of the brake element (19), said pretensioning element is pretensioned in a second direction opposite to the first direction, in which friction on the guide rail (5) allows the brake element (19) to be moved against the direction of movement (47) beyond the position where the brake element (19) coming from a free-running position first abuts against the guide rail (5), A braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The release element (23) is designed as a pawl (39) that can be moved between a latched position and an unlatched position, in which the pawl (39) holds the pretensioning element (21) in its unactivated configuration and in which the pawl releases the pretensioning element (21) to its activated configuration. A braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The pressing element (25) is formed using an electromagnet (45). A braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The pressure element (35) is rigidly connected to the brake element (19). A braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The pressing element (25) is attached to the braking element (19) so as to be adjacent to the braking surface (31) of the braking element (19). A braking device according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The braking device (15) has two braking elements (19) which can be arranged on either side of the guide rail (5) and at least one pressing element (25) cooperating with the braking elements (19). A braking device according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. The pressing element (25) has a mechanism (55) configured to shift the pressing element (25) towards the counter element (61), the counter element (61) can be arranged on the opposite side of the guide rail (5) with respect to the pressing element (25). A braking device according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. An elevator system (1), comprising: A guide rail (5); a running body (3) movable so as to be guided along a guide rail (5) in a moving direction (47); A drive device (11) for moving the traveling body (3), and A braking device (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, attached to a running body (3) by its holder (17) and arranged adjacent to the guide rail (5); An elevator system comprising:

13. A method for releasing a pre-activated braking device (15) in an elevator system (1) according to claim 12, comprising the steps of: When the braking device (15) is actuated, the braking element (19) is engaged by moving the braking element (19) relative to the holder (17) against the direction of movement (47) of the running body (3) so that the braking surface (31) abuts against the guide rail (5) and the braking element (19) is braked to a fully engaged position in which it is clamped between the guide rail (5) and the holder (17); The method is: - actuating the pressing element (25) of the braking device (15); - moving the braking device (15) by moving the running body (3) by means of the drive device (11) in a release direction (65) opposite to the direction of movement (47) to be braked, A method comprising:

14. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the running body (3) is moved in the releasing direction (65) until the brake element (19), which is held stationary on the guide rail (5) by the activated pressing element (25), is moved relative to the holder (17) into a fixed position in which the pretensioning element (21) is in a position corresponding to its inactivated configuration, and the releasing element (23) transitions from its releasing state to its holding state in order to hold the pretensioning element (21) in its inactivated configuration.

Images