Elevator Car Parking Brake With Self-Centering Brake Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator car positioning precision is challenging due to elasticity in hoisting ropes, creating a tripping hazard, and existing parking brakes need to be reliable for long-term use while ensuring safe boarding and exit.
Innovation Solution
An elevator car parking brake system comprising a brake carrier with spaced plates, a caliper, brake pads, and compression springs, actuated by an electro-mechanical linear actuator, with a controller to manage brake pad wear and positioning, allowing for precise and reliable holding and release of the elevator car during loading and unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a parking brake is engaged at every landing stop to hold the elevator car during loading and unloading, then the reliability and safety of passenger boarding and exit are improved, but the complexity of ensuring the brake remains reliable for long-term use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system is divided into separate functional components: a brake carrier with first and second plates, a caliper assembly with brake pads, compression springs for positioning, and an actuator. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall reliability through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs compression springs to dynamically adjust and maintain the positioning of brake pads relative to the guide rail. The springs compensate for wear and dimensional variations, automatically adjusting parameters to keep the brake pads equidistant from the center line, thereby maintaining reliability without complex control systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If the brake pads are positioned equidistant from the longitudinal center line using compression springs, then the manufacturing and assembly precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression springs automatically position the brake pads equidistant from the longitudinal center line through their elastic force. The springs self-adjust to maintain equal spacing without requiring external positioning mechanisms or complex assembly procedures, achieving high manufacturing precision through self-centering elastic elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The first compression spring between the first plate and first brake pad, and the second compression spring between the second plate and second brake pad, create equipotential conditions that naturally position both brake pads at equal distances from the center line. This symmetric elastic support system ensures balanced positioning without complex mechanical adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If the caliper is made movable with sliding pins or hinged bracket instead of fixed, then the ease of operation and brake release is improved, but the reliability and stability during braking may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The caliper is designed with movable connections through sliding pins or hinged brackets, transforming it from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic assembly. This allows the caliper to move and release easily when the actuator retracts, while the compression springs and brake carrier maintain stable positioning during the braking operation, combining ease of operation with braking 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 system ensures precise positioning and reliable operation of the elevator car, preventing tripping hazards and ensuring safe loading and unloading by maintaining the car and landing doors at the same level, with features like simultaneous brake pad engagement and wear detection for extended brake life.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first compression spring arranged between the first plate of the brake carrier and a brake pad directly associated with the actuator; and at least one second compression spring arranged between the second plate of the brake carrier and the caliper, the first and second compression springs being configured to settle the brake pads substantially equidistant with respect to the longitudinal center line of the brake carrier and hence the guide rail
Implementation Method 2
an actuator configured to move the brake pads against the guide rail in a braking operation
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator car parking brake (130, 132, 134) comprising a brake carrier (100) having a first plate (100A) and a second plate (100B), the plates (100A, 100B) being spaced from each other and positioned to enable a guide rail (108) to travel within the space between the plates (100A, 100B), a caliper (102) movably connected to the brake carrier (100), brake pads (104A, 104B), and an actuator (106) configured to move the brake pads (104) against a guide rail (108, 202) in a braking operation. The elevator car parking brake further comprises at least one first compression spring (110) arranged between the first plate (100A) of the brake carrier (100) and a brake pad (104A) directly associated with the actuator (106); and at least one second compression spring (112) arranged between the second plate (100B) of the brake carrier (100) and the caliper (102), the first (110) and second (112) compression springs (110, 112) being configured to keep the brake pads (104A, 104B) substantially centered with respect to the brake carrier (100).