Decentralized Holding Brake Circuit Voltage Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit arrangements for electromagnetic holding brakes in electric motors require additional sensor lines for central drive control, increasing wiring effort and error potential, especially when a central controller is needed for multiple motors.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized circuit arrangement that supplies an electromagnetic holding brake with an operating voltage for release and a reduced voltage for holding, controlled by a central controller, using a comparator and pulse width modulation to manage voltage independently of supply line drops, ensuring quick release and reapplication of the brake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor line is added to transmit voltage or current data from the holding brake to the central drive controller, then voltage drop detection and compensation is enabled, but wiring effort and error potential increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage measurement function from the central controller and places it locally at the holding brake through a voltage divider circuit. This eliminates the need for additional sensor lines to transmit voltage data, as the microcontroller directly reads the divided voltage locally, thereby reducing wiring complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit arrangement enables the holding brake system to self-regulate by using the locally measured voltage information to adjust the pulse width modulation duty cycle. The system serves itself by detecting voltage drops and compensating automatically without external intervention or additional wiring to a central controller
2Use of energy by moving object
If pulse width modulation is used to reduce holding voltage, then energy consumption is reduced, but the brake release speed may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first applying full operating voltage to the holding brake electromagnet to ensure rapid release, and only after the brake is fully released does it switch to pulse width modulation for voltage reduction. This sequence ensures that brake release speed is not compromised while still achieving energy savings during the holding phase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action through pulse width modulation to apply voltage intermittently rather than continuously. By controlling the duty cycle of voltage pulses, the system maintains the brake in the released state with significantly reduced average power consumption while keeping the brake responsive and ready for rapid reapplication when needed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces energy consumption, eliminates the need for additional sensor lines, and allows for efficient control of multiple motors from a central controller, ensuring quick brake release and reapplication without relying on voltage drops.
Implementation Method 1
A circuit arrangement is described in EP 2503682 B1 in which the different voltages for opening the brake or holding the already opened brake are set by means of pulse width modulation.
Implementation Method 2
US 2008/116828 A1 discloses a circuit arrangement for supplying an electromagnetic holding brake of an electric motor, which comprises a comparator which compares a reference voltage with a voltage tapped off at the holding brake and made available via a voltage divider, and is set up to output a pulse width modulated To generate a signal with which a switching element can be controlled, via which the operating voltage is applied to the holding brake in a clocked manner, as a result of which the holding voltage is set on average.
Data Source
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AI summary
A circuit arrangement for supplying an electromagnetic holding brake (B) of an electric motor (M) with an operating voltage (UB) for releasing the holding brake (B) and a voltage reduced relative to the operating voltage for holding the open holding brake (B) is disclosed. This circuit arrangement differs from the prior art in that the operating voltage (UB) is supplied by a higher-level control unit (S) located separately from the motor (M) and the holding brake (B), that the circuit arrangement is located in or on the motor (M) or in or on the holding brake (B), and that it includes a voltage regulator configured to regulate the reduced voltage after the holding brake (B) is released to a fixed value independently of the operating voltage (UB).