Elevator Brake Caliper Layout for Friction Heat Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing brake system in elevator systems faces complexity in assembly and adjustment due to structurally identical pads requiring different caliper structures for various rotational positions, leading to increased frictional heat and cumbersome maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A brake device with detachable pads and structurally identical calipers, featuring a concave-convex surface structure where each caliper's pressing parts contact different positions on the rotating braked body, dispersing frictional heat and ensuring balanced braking forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If pads are disposed on mutually different rotational circumferences of the disk, then frictional heat is concentrated at specific positions, but the structure of the calipers must be changed making the system complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional heat distributionVSAvoidcaliper structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing all calipers with an identical structural configuration. Each caliper consists of a body, a plunger, and a pad assembly with the same structural elements, allowing any caliper to be installed at any position around the disk without requiring position-specific modifications. This universal design resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural simplicity while enabling flexible heat distribution through strategic pad positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the braking function into multiple independent caliper units that can be distributed around the disk at different rotational circumferences. By dividing the single braking action into multiple segmented caliper applications, the system disperses frictional heat generation across different locations on the disk, preventing heat concentration while maintaining identical caliper structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If pads are disposed on mutually different rotational circumferences, then frictional heat is concentrated, but assembling and adjusting work becomes troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional heat distributionVSAvoidassembling and adjusting work
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The universal caliper design allows assembly technicians to use the same assembly procedures and adjustment methods regardless of which position around the disk is being serviced. Each caliper unit is self-contained with identical mounting interfaces and adjustment mechanisms, making assembly and adjustment work straightforward and repeatable across all positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The calipers are designed with pre-configured pad assemblies that are already positioned and secured within each caliper body before installation. The plungers are pre-assembled with their respective pads in the correct orientations, eliminating the need for complex on-site assembly procedures and reducing adjustment work during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If structurally identical calipers are used, then the structure is simplified and assembly work is easier, but frictional heat may accumulate at specific positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecaliper structure simplicityVSAvoidfrictional heat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the braking function into multiple identical caliper units positioned at different rotational circumferences, the system distributes frictional heat generation across multiple locations on the disk. This segmentation prevents heat accumulation at any single position while maintaining the simplicity of using identical caliper structures throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent distributes calipers along the rotational circumference dimension of the disk, placing them at different angular positions rather than concentrating them at a single location. This spatial distribution in the circumferential dimension effectively disperses frictional heat across the disk surface, preventing localized heat accumulation while preserving caliper structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This design reduces frictional heat accumulation, simplifies the brake device structure, and facilitates easier assembly and adjustment by using identical calipers, while maintaining balanced braking forces and uniform temperature distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of pads 2A, 2B which are disposed on a surface of the rotating braked body 1 in an attachable and detachable manner and have a function to give a braking force to the rotating braked body 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3246587B1Brake device and elevator system
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 HITACHI LTD
  • EP3246587B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3246587B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3246587B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A brake device is disclosed which has a function to adjust a speed of a hoisting machine, or stop the hoisting machine as a constituent element of an elevator system. The brake device includes: a rotating braked body having a rotary shaft interlocked with a rotation of the hoisting machine; a plurality of pads which are disposed on a surface of the rotating braked body in an attachable and detachable manner and have a function to give a braking force to the rotating braked body; and a plurality of calipers holding the pads. The plural calipers are structurally identical to each other, the pads have a pressing part to contact the surface of the rotating braked body and a recessed part not to contact the surface of the rotating braked body, and a position on the rotating braked body which contacts the pressing part of the pad in one of the calipers is different from a position on the rotating braked body which contacts the pressing part of the pad in another caliper. Thus, the frictional heat caused by the pads of the brake device can be reduced or dispersed, and also the calipers for holding the pads are made structurally identical so that assembling work and adjusting work can be easy.