Elevator Brake Resetting via Retaining Magnet Air Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current braking devices for elevators require manual intervention for resetting after activation without a braking effect, leading to unnecessary wear on guide rails due to the need for simulated braking to reset the braking element.
Innovation Solution
A braking device with a retaining magnet and an air gap reducing agent allows for fully automatic resetting by reducing or eliminating the air gap between the magnet and the braking element, enabling magnetic attraction and return to the standby position without manual intervention or unnecessary braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the braking element is held at a distance from the rail by a retaining magnet after activation, then the braking device can be reset automatically, but the air gap between the magnet and braking element prevents reliable magnetic attraction when no significant braking effect is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap reducing agent dynamically adjusts the air gap between the retaining magnet and braking element based on operational conditions. During normal operation, the braking element is held at a distance for automatic resetting. When no significant braking effect is achieved, the air gap reducing agent reduces or eliminates the air gap to ensure reliable magnetic attraction for resetting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of the air gap between the retaining magnet and braking element. By reducing or eliminating the air gap when no significant braking effect is achieved, the magnetic field strength increases, ensuring reliable magnetic attraction for resetting the braking element to the standby position.
2Ease of operation
If the car is moved further to drive the braking element into the wedge gap for resetting, then the braking element can be returned to standby position, but unnecessary wear occurs on the guide rails due to simulated braking
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap reducing agent extracts or removes the harmful intermediate step of simulated braking. By directly reducing the air gap to enable magnetic attraction, the system eliminates the need to move the car further and drive the braking element into the wedge gap, thereby preventing unnecessary wear on the guide rails.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical resetting mechanism (moving the car to drive the braking element into the wedge gap) with a magnetic resetting mechanism. The air gap reducing agent enables the retaining magnet to directly attract the braking element back to the standby position, substituting mechanical wear-based resetting with magnetic field-based resetting.
3Reliability
If the braking element is held close to the rail for strong magnetic attraction, then resetting is reliable, but the braking element cannot be automatically driven into the gap between basic body and rail
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the position of the braking element relative to the rail. During normal braking operation, the braking element is held at a distance to allow automatic driving into the gap. When resetting is needed and no significant braking effect is achieved, the air gap reducing agent reduces the distance to ensure reliable magnetic attraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The air gap reducing agent performs a preliminary action by reducing or eliminating the air gap before magnetic attraction is needed for resetting. This preliminary adjustment of the magnetic field ensures that when the retaining magnet is activated, it can reliably attract the braking element even if it hasn't been driven into the wedge gap.
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
Enables quick, easy, and wear-free automatic resetting of the braking device even when no significant braking effect is achieved, reducing operational costs and extending equipment lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the braking elements is held at a distance from the rail in its standby position against the force of an automatic actuator by means of a switchable retaining magnet
Implementation Method 2
the air gap between the retaining magnet and the braking element which has not yet or only slightly been driven in between the rail and the basic body can be reduced or eliminated in such a way that the retaining magnet again holds the braking element magnetically trapped on it
Data Source
AI summary
A braking device for an elevator with a rail-guided car, which encompasses a guide rail and holds a braking element in position on one side of the guide rail and holds another braking element in position on the opposite side of the guide rail, wherein at least one of the braking elements is held in its standby position by a switchable retaining magnet against the force of an automatic actuator. The braking element is automatically driven in between the basic body and the guide rail, if the car moves at the point in time at which the braking element abuts against the guide rail. The retaining magnet is equipped with an air gap reducing agent, which reduces or eliminates an air gap between the retaining magnet and the braking element such that the retaining magnet keeps the braking element magnetically trapped again, as soon as it is switched accordingly.