Elevator Safety Brake Testing With Redundant Brake Elements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator safety brake systems are inefficient in testing operation conditions, leading to potential mechanical failures and increased risk of accidents, as they often rely on dual mechanical brakes that may not detect failures promptly, and emergency brakes activate only after significant speed or acceleration, failing to prevent falls and non-fatal injuries.
Innovation Solution
A motor-assisted safety brake system with a disc or drum brake unit featuring multiple movable elements and compression springs, where a common electromagnet deactivates braking, allowing for easy testing and ensuring continued operation even if one brake fails, with a method that involves actuating subsets of brake elements to verify functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical double brakes are used for safety redundancy, then reliability is improved, but the ability to detect brake failures is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the drive motor assists in testing the safety brake by providing controlled torque during operation. The system monitors the interaction between the motor and brake to detect anomalies, ensuring that failures are identified through continuous performance feedback rather than relying solely on mechanical redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety brake system performs self-testing during normal elevator operation. The drive motor temporarily assists the brake in holding the elevator car, and the system monitors this interaction to detect brake degradation or failure, allowing the brake to test itself without external intervention.
2Device complexity
If emergency brake activates only after significant speed or acceleration is achieved, then the brake structure is simplified, but the ability to prevent falls and injuries is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously monitoring brake performance during normal operation through motor-assisted testing. This allows the system to detect brake degradation before it leads to failure, enabling preventive maintenance or shutdown before dangerous situations arise, rather than waiting for emergency conditions to develop.
3Reliability
If multiple brake elements are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the drive motor universal by giving it dual functionality: it serves both as the driving motor for normal elevator operation and as a testing device for the safety brake. This eliminates the need for separate testing equipment or additional mechanical testing components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 enables fast, cost-effective, and easy testing of safety brakes, reducing deceleration fluctuations and noise during braking, providing higher ride comfort, and ensuring the brake system remains operational with minimal torque, thus enhancing passenger safety and compliance with regulations.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring assembly or corresponding associated with said movable composition, and adapted to activate a braking by pushing said movable composition forward
Implementation Method 2
a coil assembly of an electromagnet disposed in said frame part and adapted to deactivate the braking by pulling said movable composition backwards
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator safety brake unit, an elevator including at least two of the safety brake units, and a method for testing the safety brake units are disclosed. Each safety brake unit includes a frame part, a movable composition movably supported on the frame part, a compression spring assembly associated with the movable composition, and adapted to activate a braking by pushing the movable composition forward, and a coil assembly of an electromagnet disposed in the frame part and adapted to deactivate the braking by pulling the movable composition backwards. Each movable composition includes at least two movable elements, one compression spring for each movable element, and at least one coil assembly adapted to deactivate the braking by pulling the at least two movable elements backwards.