Elevator Safety Brake Layout for Uniform Guide Rail Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator safety brakes with multiple engagement members along a guide member experience varying braking characteristics due to differences in surface conditions, leading to uneven load distribution and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
An elevator safety brake arrangement with two spaced-apart safety brakes featuring differently angled and elastic properties to adapt to the condition of the guide member, ensuring consistent braking performance by varying the pressing forces on the rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple elevator safety brakes are arranged along the guide member, then the braking capacity is improved, but the braking performance becomes uneven due to varying surface conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different safety brakes with different elastic element properties (stiffness, pre-compression force) according to their specific position on the guide member. The leading safety brake encounters fresh guide member surface requiring different elastic properties compared to trailing brakes that contact worn surfaces. This localized differentiation ensures each brake adapts to its local surface conditions, achieving uniform braking performance across all brakes.
2Force
If the engagement members contact the guide member in sequence, then the braking force is distributed, but the load distribution becomes uneven due to surface condition differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the elastic properties (stiffness, pre-compression force) of each safety brake's elastic element based on its position. The leading brake, contacting fresh guide member surface, is configured with different parameters compared to trailing brakes. This parameter differentiation compensates for surface condition variations, ensuring uniform load distribution across all engagement members during sequential contact with the guide member.
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 ensures uniform braking performance by compensating for differences in adhesive and frictional properties of the guide member, maintaining consistent braking forces across the system.
Implementation Method 1
each safety brake comprises a roller and an elastic element, which extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, so that a proximal end of the elastic element is closer to the passage than a distal end of the elastic element, thereby defining a tapered region between the passage and the elastic element
Implementation Method 2
The roller is capable of moving along the elastic element towards the proximal end of the elastic element into a wedged condition between the elastic element and a guide member passing through the passage
Implementation Method 3
the elastic element extends at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, so that a proximal end of the first elastic element is closer to the passage than a distal end of the first elastic element, thereby defining a first tapered region between the passage and the first elastic element
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator safety brake arrangement (20) comprises a first safety brake (30) and a second safety brake (40). The first safety brake (30) comprises a first elastic element (36) extending at a first angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L), defining a first tapered region between the passage (25) and the first elastic element (36). The second safety brake (40) comprises a second elastic element (46) extending at a second angle (β) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L), defining a second tapered region between the passage (25) and the second elastic element (46). The elastic properties of the first elastic element (36) differ from the elastic properties of the second elastic element (46).