Dynamic Elevator Brake Pulse Control for Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for moving an elevator car during a power failure are inefficient, requiring a large number of electrical pulses and resulting in slow movement, making it take a long time for the elevator car to reach a height where passengers can safely exit.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that apply electrical pulses to release the brake, with the pulse duration varying based on the distance covered, allowing the elevator car to move a significant distance with fewer pulses, and include termination criteria such as distance, speed, and time to ensure safe and quick evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed-duration electrical pulses are applied to release the brake, then the brake can be reliably released, but the elevator car moves very slowly and requires a large number of pulses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic pulse duration adjustment based on the elevator car's movement state. The control unit determines whether to apply a first pulse duration or a second pulse duration based on real-time feedback about the car's position and movement, optimizing the brake release timing to achieve faster evacuation while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors that detect the elevator car's position and movement state to dynamically adjust the electrical pulse duration. This closed-loop control allows the system to adapt pulse characteristics based on actual evacuation progress, resolving the contradiction between reliable brake release and fast evacuation
2Device complexity
If fixed-duration electrical pulses are applied to release the brake, then the control logic is simple, but the elevator car requires a large number of pulses to cover significant distance
Solution Approach 1:
The control logic dynamically switches between different pulse duration modes based on the elevator car's movement state, using feedback from position sensors to determine when to apply longer or shorter pulses, thereby reducing total evacuation time while maintaining manageable control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical pulse parameter (duration) based on the detected movement state of the elevator car. By adjusting this critical parameter dynamically, the system achieves faster evacuation without requiring overly complex control logic
3Ease of manufacture
If the brake is released for a fixed time period, then the pulse generation is straightforward, but the elevator car may not cover the optimal distance per pulse
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors provide feedback on the elevator car's actual movement and position, allowing the control unit to adjust pulse duration optimally. This feedback mechanism maintains relatively simple pulse generation hardware while significantly improving movement speed through intelligent control
Data Source
AI summary
A method for moving an elevator car of an elevator for evacuating passengers from the elevator car in the event of a power failure, wherein a brake blocks a vertical movement of the elevator car, includes the steps of: applying an electrical pulse or a plurality of electrical pulses to the brake of the elevator car to release the brake and unblock the vertical movement of the elevator car, the brake being released for as long as the particular electrical pulse is applied to the brake; determining a covered height which the elevator car has covered during the application of the particular electrical pulse; comparing the determined covered height with a predetermined distance; and terminating the application of the particular electrical pulse to the brake when the determined covered height is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance.