Elevator Car Parking Brake With Screw-Lever Rail Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator car positioning precision is challenging due to elasticity in hoisting ropes, causing tripping hazards during loading and unloading, and existing parking brake solutions require reliability and efficiency for long-term use.
Innovation Solution
An elevator car parking brake system utilizing electro-mechanical actuators, brake pads, and levers to precisely engage and disengage with a guide rail, with a controller monitoring actuator revolutions to detect pad wear and issue alerts, allowing for efficient and reliable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If machinery is used for relevelling of the car to prevent tripping hazards, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases and the process becomes iterative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the braking function from the complex relevelling machinery and implements it as a separate, simple parking brake mechanism. This brake mechanism independently holds the car in position without requiring the complex iterative relevelling process, thereby maintaining positioning precision while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical relevelling systems with a simpler electro-mechanical actuator system that uses a screw mechanism and lever to apply braking force. This substitution maintains the necessary positioning precision while significantly reducing the complexity of the overall system.
2Reliability
If parking brake is engaged at every landing stop to hold the car during loading and unloading, then reliability is improved, but the actuator and brake pads require long-term endurance and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a controller that monitors the number of revolutions of the electro-mechanical actuator and determines brake pad wearing based on calculated revolutions. This feedback mechanism allows for predictive maintenance, ensuring the brake system remains reliable while extending its service life through timely replacement of worn components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring of its own wear state through the controller tracking actuator revolutions. This self-service capability enables the system to maintain high reliability by automatically detecting when maintenance is needed, without requiring external monitoring systems.
3Ease of operation
If electro-mechanical actuator with screw and lever mechanism is used to move brake pads, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pads are pre-positioned by the electro-mechanical actuator before braking is needed. The screw mechanism is pre-threaded and the lever is pre-configured in the correct position, allowing for easy operation while accommodating standard manufacturing tolerances. This preliminary positioning reduces the need for high-precision manufacturing during actual braking operations.
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 system effectively maintains the elevator car's position during loading and unloading, reduces tripping hazards, and provides a reliable and efficient braking mechanism with remote detection of brake pad wear, minimizing operational complexity and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator comprises an electro-mechanical actuator
Implementation Method 2
at least one screw associated with the actuator and rotatably fixed to at least one lever via at least one attaching member
Implementation Method 3
the levers are pivoted such that the force produced by the actuator is multiplied for the brake pads
Implementation Method 4
The parking brake holds the elevator car in its place during loading and unloading
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator car parking brake (120, 122) comprising brake pads (112) and an actuator (100) configured to move the brake pads (112) with respect to a guide rail (110). The elevator car parking brake (120, 122) further comprises levers (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D), each having an associated brake pad (112); and at least one screw (102, 102A, 102B) associated with the actuator (100) and rotatably fixed to at least one lever (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D) via at least one attaching member (104, 104A, 104B). In a braking operation, the actuator (100) is configured to rotate the at least one screw (102, 102A, 102B) in a first direction with respect to the at least one attaching member (104, 104A, 104B), thus causing the levers (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D) with the brake pads (112) to move towards the guide rail (110). In a brake release operation, the actuator (100) is configured to rotate the at least one screw (102, 102A, 102B) in a second direction with respect to the at least one attaching member (104, 104A, 104B), thus causing the levers (106A, 106B, 106C, 106D) with the brake pads (112) to move away from the guide rail (110).