Elevator Brake Control Circuit for Autonomous Rescue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems require manual intervention by maintenance operators to release brakes during failures, leading to increased rescue time and inefficiency, as they need to connect to brake control devices or operate manual winding handles, which cannot be initiated until the operator arrives.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system with a controller that automatically releases the brake by blocking power to the power converter and supplying power directly to the brake coil, allowing for autonomous brake release and movement of the car during rescue operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual intervention by maintenance operator is used to release brake during failure, then brake release can be achieved, but rescue time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device stores control signals for brake release in advance before failure occurs. When failure is detected, the stored signal is automatically executed, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing rescue time while ensuring reliable brake release.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator system performs self-rescue by automatically detecting failure conditions and executing pre-stored control signals to release the brake and move the car to the nearest floor, without requiring external maintenance operator intervention.
2Ease of operation
If control signal is supplied during brake release operation, then car movement can be controlled, but safety risk increases due to potential motor operation interference
Solution Approach 1:
The control device extracts and isolates the brake control function from the main drive system by supplying control signals specifically to the brake coil through a dedicated path, preventing interference from the motor and power converter during brake release operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that directly controls the brake coil independently from the motor control system, mediating between the failure detection and brake release execution while preventing harmful motor operations during brake release.
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 the brake to be automatically released and the car to be moved without manual intervention, reducing rescue time and enhancing safety by eliminating unnecessary motor operations and providing emergency braking capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
supplying electric power from a power source to the brake coil (15)
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator system includes: a power supply switch that opens and closes a first power source route for connecting a power source and a power converter; a brake circuit that causes a brake to perform a release motion when receiving a supply of electric power from the power source, and causes the brake to perform a braking motion when the supply of the electric power from the power source is blocked; a first contact point that opens and closes a second power source route for connecting the power source and the brake circuit; a second contact point that is parallel-connected to the first contact point and opens and closes the second power source route; a first control circuit that controls opening and closing of the power supply switch; a second control circuit that controls opening and closing of the first contact point; a third control circuit that controls opening and closing of the second contact point; and a controller that controls operation of the power converter and manages the first control circuit, the second control circuit, and the third control circuit as control targets, wherein the controller: issues a command to the first control circuit, during a release operation of the brake, to perform an opening motion of the power supply switch and blocks a supply of the power source to the power converter; issues a command to the second control circuit to perform an opening motion of the first contact point and blocks the supply of the electric power to the brake circuit; and then issues a command to the third control circuit to perform a closing motion of the second contact point and supplies the electric power from the power source to the brake circuit by bypassing the first contact point.