Elevator Brake Control for Shock Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional elevator brake systems often cause uncomfortable deceleration for passengers by applying excessive braking force to prevent collisions with hoistway ends, resulting in shocks that exceed a specified value.

Innovation Solution

An elevator system with a brake control mechanism that acquires traveling information to adjust the braking force, ensuring the collision speed with a buffer is reduced below a predetermined speed, thereby absorbing the shock to a level below a specified value, utilizing a car traveling-information acquisition means and a brake control means to manage the braking process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional brake systems apply excessive braking force to prevent collisions with hoistway ends, then collision prevention is improved, but passenger comfort deteriorates due to uncomfortable deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidpassenger comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The brake control means dynamically adjusts the braking force based on real-time car traveling information (position, speed, deceleration). The system transitions from static excessive braking to dynamic adaptive braking, modifying brake output according to current operational conditions to balance safety and comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The car traveling-information acquisition means continuously monitors car position, speed, and deceleration, feeding this data back to the brake control means. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust braking force in real-time, preventing both collisions and excessive deceleration that causes discomfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If rapid deceleration is applied to stop the car before the buffer, then collision speed is reduced, but deceleration shock exceeds specified values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision speedVSAvoiddeceleration shock
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The brake control means initiates braking action in advance based on predicted stopping distance calculated from current speed and position. By starting braking earlier and maintaining moderate deceleration, the system reduces collision speed without creating sudden shock, allowing passengers to adapt gradually.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the deceleration parameter from high magnitude (rapid stopping) to controlled magnitude (moderate stopping). The brake control means adjusts braking force to maintain deceleration within comfortable limits while still achieving speed reduction below the predetermined threshold before buffer contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system effectively reduces collision speed and absorbs shock to a level below the specified value, enabling slow and comfortable stopping of the elevator car during emergency stops.

Implementation Method 1

a brake for braking travel of the car

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a buffer for stopping the car at an end of the hoistway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2221267B1Elevator device
Publication Date: 2015.05.13 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2221267B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2221267B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2221267B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(d)

AI summary

An elevator system includes a car (1) traveling up and down along a hoistway; a buffer (15) for stopping the car (1) at an end of the hoistway, brakes (7), (8), and (9) for braking travel of the car (1); a car traveling-information acquisition means for acquiring car traveling information; and a brake control means (10) for controlling the brakes (8) and (9), based upon the information acquired by the car traveling-information acquisition means, so as to reduce a collision speed at a collision of the car with the buffer to below a predetermined speed so that a shock at the collision of the car (1) with the buffer (15) can be absorbed to a level below a specified value.