Elevator Braking Device Using Electric Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator safety governor systems occupy significant space in the hoistway due to the need for a governor wheel and tension pulley, which is a limitation in machine roomless elevators where space reduction is desired while maintaining safety functions.
Innovation Solution
An electrically actuated braking system with a base, carriage, and brake members that can be mounted on the elevator car, allowing for selective application of braking force on both sides of the car using an electric actuator to prevent undesired movement, eliminating the need for a mechanical linkage and reducing hoistway volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional governor wheel and tension pulley arrangements are used, then overspeed protection is provided, but hoistway space is significantly occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical governor wheel and tension pulley system with an electrically actuated braking system. The electric actuator receives signals from the governor wheel and directly actuates brake members to engage with guide rails, substituting complex mechanical linkages with electrical control mechanisms to reduce space requirements while maintaining safety functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary mechanical components such as the governor rope, tension pulley, and mechanical linkages from the conventional system. By removing these intermediate mechanical elements and directly coupling the electric actuator to the brake members, the system achieves compact dimensions suitable for machine roomless elevators
2Volume of stationary object
If governor rope is provided on one side of elevator car, then space is reduced, but mechanical linkage is required to activate braking devices on both sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical linkage system that would connect brake members on both sides of the car with independent electric actuators. Each brake member is equipped with its own electric actuator that receives control signals, eliminating the need for mechanical linkages and allowing for more flexible, space-efficient arrangement of components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the braking system into independent segments with separate electric actuators for each brake member. This segmentation allows each side of the elevator car to be controlled independently through electrical signals rather than being mechanically coupled, reducing overall system complexity and space requirements
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 provides effective braking without the need for a mechanical linkage, reducing space requirements, lowering costs, and enhancing elevator performance by synchronizing braking forces on both sides, while also allowing for battery-powered operation and reduced weight and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an electric actuator configured to selectively cause a relative movement between the base and the carriage to cause the at least one brake member to move between the released position and, the braking position
Implementation Method 2
the at least one brake member is coupled with the carriage and is moveable along a surface on the base between a released position and a braking position
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator assembly (20) includes braking devices (30) for controlling movement of an elevator car (22). A braking device (30) includes an electrical actuator (62) for controlling relative movement between a carriage (42) and a base (40) that is mountable on the elevator car (22). Relative movement between the carriage (42) and the base (40) results in at least one braking member (46) following a surface (60) on the base (40) for movement between a released position and a braking position.