Elevator Car Brake Spring Gear Drive Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency braking systems for elevator cars are complex, prone to mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic failures, and have environmental concerns due to hydraulic fluids, requiring multiple components and significant installation space.
Innovation Solution
A braking apparatus using springs and a gear drive assembly to apply brake shoes to elevator ropes, with a cam and connecting link arrangement for quick engagement, and resilient elements to protect gears from damage, providing a self-contained, reduced-component system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic or pneumatic systems are used for emergency braking, then braking force can be maintained, but system complexity increases and reliability decreases due to multiple components (hoses, tanks, valves, pumps)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydraulic or pneumatic system entirely from the emergency braking apparatus, extracting the problematic components (hoses, tanks, valves, pumps) that reduce reliability. The braking force is instead provided by spring elements that are mechanically coupled to the drive assembly, eliminating the need for separate fluid delivery systems and their associated failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the spring elements directly with the drive assembly, merging the braking force generation mechanism with the motor coupling system. This integration eliminates the need for separate hydraulic/pneumatic systems and reduces the number of components, thereby improving reliability while maintaining braking capability.
2Reliability
If hydraulic systems are used for emergency braking, then braking force can be controlled, but environmental harm increases due to petroleum-based hydraulic fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the harmful petroleum-based hydraulic fluids by replacing them with spring elements that provide braking force mechanically. This conversion removes the environmental hazard entirely while maintaining the ability to control braking force through the mechanical coupling of springs to the drive assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate hydraulic system and braking apparatus are used, then each can be optimized independently, but installation space increases and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the braking apparatus with the drive assembly by integrating spring elements directly into the motor coupling system. This combination eliminates the need for separate hydraulic systems and their enclosures, significantly reducing installation space while maintaining the ability to independently optimize braking characteristics through spring selection and positioning.
4Reliability
If hydraulic systems are used for emergency braking, then braking force can be applied, but maintenance difficulty increases due to seals, connections, and potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic system components (seals, connections, valves, pumps) that require maintenance and are prone to leaks. The braking force application is instead achieved through spring elements that have no seals or fluid connections, dramatically reducing maintenance requirements and eliminating leak risks.
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 achieves rapid brake application within 0.1-0.2 seconds, maintains constant braking force despite wear, and is less susceptible to failure, with reduced environmental impact and simplified installation.
Implementation Method 1
spring elements which are compressed and held in a compressed state by the drive assembly
Implementation Method 2
the spring elements can be released from the compressed state to move the brake shoes into engagement with the elevator ropes
Implementation Method 3
The brake shoes are connected to the spring elements through a cam and connecting link arrangement which is operably coupled to the gear drive assembly
Implementation Method 4
a gear drive assembly which is operably coupled to compress the spring elements
Implementation Method 5
brake shoes into engagement with ropes controlling the movement of an apparatus, such as an elevator car
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator car braking apparatus includes a gear drive assembly for compressing one or more springs which are coupled by a cam follower to one or a pair of brake shoes. When the springs are released from a compressed state, the brake shoes engage and grip hoisting ropes, part of the hoisting apparatus or the car guide rails, within a predetermined time from the start of a brake application cycle. During a brake application cycle, the springs move the cam follower along cam surfaces shaped and disposed to cause the cam follower to move at least one of the brake shoes toward the other brake shoe. The gear assembly includes clutch means for disengaging from and engaging with a gear or axle of the gear assembly during decompression and compression of the springs, respectively. A resilient material in the braking apparatus initially accelerates movement of the cam follower when the springs begin to decompress, and may protect gears of the gear assembly from damage at the end of a brake release cycle.