Elevator Safety Gear Triggering for Compact Wedge Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator safety gear systems are complex and difficult to operate efficiently, particularly due to the mechanical complexity of overspeed governors with long ropes, which complicates the detachment of the elevator car after safety gear activation.
Innovation Solution
A safety gear arrangement using a torsion spring and electromagnet mechanism, where the electromagnet maintains the actuating member in an untriggered position with minimal energy consumption, allowing for efficient operation and easier detachment of the wedges from the guide rail, facilitated by a linear motor for moving the safety gear mechanism between normal and operated positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical overspeed governor with long ropes is used, then the safety gear can be operated mechanically, but the structure becomes complex and detachment of the elevator car becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical overspeed governor system with an electromagnet-based triggering device. The electromagnet actuates the safety gear mechanism through electromagnetic force, eliminating the need for long mechanical ropes and complex mechanical linkages. This substitution of mechanical systems with electromagnetic actuation directly reduces structural complexity while maintaining safety gear operation reliability.
2Reliability
If the electromagnet continuously holds the actuating member in the untriggered position, then the safety gear remains ready for operation, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnet operates using periodic or intermittent excitation rather than continuous power supply. The control unit provides excitation current only when needed to maintain the safety gear in the ready state or to reset it after activation. This periodic action allows the safety gear to remain reliable and ready for operation while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous electromagnet activation.
3Device complexity
If the safety gear mechanism uses spring elements for actuation, then the structure can be compact, but the detachment of wedges from the guide rail becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spring elements (first and second spring elements) that provide dynamic, reversible actuation of the safety gear mechanism. The springs enable the wedge portions to be extended into the guide rails for braking and then automatically retracted for detachment. This dynamic spring-based mechanism maintains compact structure while facilitating easy detachment of wedges from the guide rail through elastic recovery, eliminating the need for complex manual detachment procedures.
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
The solution simplifies the structure and operation of the safety gear system, eliminating the need for long ropes and reducing energy consumption, while enabling easier detachment of the wedges from the guide rail, thus enhancing the efficiency and compactness of the elevator safety gear system.
Implementation Method 1
a triggering device comprising an electromagnet, a second spring element, such as a compression spring element, an actuating member, and an excitation power input, wherein the electromagnet is arranged, while being supplied with excitation power via the excitation power input, to maintain the actuating member in an untriggered position against the second spring element
Implementation Method 2
at least one wedge portion of the safety gear arrangement, wherein, in a normal position, the at least one wedge portion is retracted and, in an operated position, extended by a first spring element, such as a torsion spring element, for acting on a guide rail of the elevator system
Implementation Method 3
the safety gear arrangement may comprise a linear motor, such as being a part of the safety gear mechanism, wherein the linear motor is arranged to move the safety gear mechanism from the operated position to the normal position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A safety gear arrangement (30) for an elevator system (100), comprising a safety gear mechanism (32) comprising at least one wedge portion (34A, 34B) of the safety gear arrangement (30), wherein, in a normal position (101), the at least one wedge portion (34A, 34B) is retracted and, in an operated position (102), extended by a first spring element (36) for acting on a guide rail (17) of the elevator system (100), and a triggering device (40) comprising an electromagnet (41), a second spring element (42), an actuating member (44), and an excitation power input (46), wherein the electromagnet (41) is arranged, while being supplied with excitation power, to maintain the actuating member (44) in an untriggered position (111) against the second spring element (42), and the actuating member (44) is arranged to operate the safety gear mechanism (30) in response to moving of the member (44) from the untriggered (111) to a triggered position (112) due to the second spring element (42).