Elevator Safety Brake Orthogonal Sliding Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety brake devices for conveying means, such as elevator cars, require high forces to release the brake shoes from the rail after triggering, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A safety brake device with a braking element comprising a brake shoe and a base element that slide orthogonally relative to each other, using a sliding element with reduced friction surfaces and limiting elements to facilitate easier release, allowing the brake shoes to be detached from the rail with less force while maintaining effective braking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If brake shoes are pressed against the rail with high force to achieve effective braking, then braking effect is improved, but release force required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking forceVSAvoidrelease effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The brake assembly is segmented into a brake shoe and a base element that can move independently relative to each other. The brake shoe remains stationary against the rail while the base element slides to accommodate release, separating the braking function from the release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A sliding element with reduced friction surfaces is introduced as an intermediary between the brake shoe and base element. This sliding element acts as a mediator that allows easy relative movement during release while maintaining stable contact during braking operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If brake shoes are firmly clamped to the rail to prevent slippage during braking, then braking reliability is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking reliabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake assembly is divided into functionally independent components: a stationary brake shoe that ensures reliable contact with the rail, and a movable base element that handles the complexity of release operations. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The friction characteristics are changed by introducing a sliding element with reduced friction surfaces between the brake shoe and base element. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high friction for reliable braking while enabling low-friction movement for easy release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high force is applied to release brake shoes from the rail after activation, then brake reset is achieved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake reset capabilityVSAvoidreset time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the brake assembly into a stationary brake shoe and a movable base element, the release operation can be performed by simply moving the base element along the sliding surface, significantly reducing the time and force required for reset compared to moving the entire brake assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding element with reduced friction surfaces serves as a mediator that facilitates rapid and easy movement of the base element during release, minimizing the time and effort required to reset the brake system after activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 the safety brake device to be released with significantly less force compared to traditional systems, improving operational efficiency and reducing the effort required to reset the brake after activation.

Implementation Method 1

A sliding element with reduced friction surfaces is introduced between the brake shoe and base element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

the brake element is pressed against the rail by a force acting orthogonally to the rail... the braking surface rests against the rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3057902B1Progressive safety gear and method for conveying means
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 COBIANCHI ELEVATORTEILE AG
  • EP3057902B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3057902B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3057902B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a progressive safety gear and a progressive safety method for conveying means, in particular for lift cars, having a load-bearing element, which can be fastened on the conveying means, and having at least one braking unit, which is intended to act on a rail arranged at a fixed location parallel to the conveying route. The invention also relates to such a braking unit comprising at least one braking jaw and at least one base element, wherein each braking jaw comprises at least one braking surface and is arranged such that, in the event of braking, it can butt against a rail by way of the braking surface, and wherein each braking jaw also has a surface ("sliding-10 surface-B") which is located opposite the braking surface and is oriented in particular parallel to the braking surface, and wherein each base element is designed to be connected to the progressive safety gear and the base element has a surface ("sliding surface-S") which is oriented in the direction of the braking surface of the braking jaw, and wherein sliding surface-B and sliding surface-S are oriented towards one another and make it possible for the at least one braking jaw and the at least one base element to slide along one another on a plane parallel to the at least one braking surface of the respective braking jaw.