Elevator Safety Brake with Constant-Width Wedging Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current elevator safety devices have large dimensions and limited braking capacities, which can cause damage to guide rails and are inefficient in braking operations.
Innovation Solution
The elevator safety device incorporates a movable braking element with a non-circular cross-section, such as a Reuleaux polygon, that rotates and wedges between a support element and guide rail, allowing for enhanced braking capacity without increasing dimensions, and includes an elastic support element to enhance braking force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional circular braking element is used, then the device structure is simple, but the braking capacity is limited and dimensions are large
Solution Approach 1:
The braking element employs a non-circular cross-section (such as Reuleaux triangle, Reuleaux pentagon, or other polygons with constant width) instead of a conventional circular shape. This asymmetric geometry allows the element to maintain a smaller overall dimension while providing larger contact surface area with the guide rail, thereby increasing braking capacity without proportionally increasing the device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional circular cross-section to a multi-dimensional polygonal cross-section with constant width. This dimensional change enables the braking element to achieve better space utilization, where the non-circular shape provides enhanced contact area with the guide rail while maintaining compact overall dimensions, effectively solving the contradiction between braking capacity and device size.
2Volume of moving object
If the curvature of contact sections is increased to reduce dimensions, then the device size decreases, but the braking capacity and impact on guide rails deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By using a non-circular cross-section with constant width (such as Reuleaux polygons), the braking element achieves an optimal balance between size and performance. The asymmetric geometry provides sufficiently large contact surface area for effective braking while maintaining a compact overall diameter, eliminating the need to increase curvature radius to reduce dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the braking element from a circular cross-section to a polygonal cross-section with constant width. This parameter change allows the element to maintain a smaller diameter while providing adequate contact area with the guide rail, thereby achieving both reduced dimensions and maintained braking capacity without compromising performance.
3Force
If a larger movable braking element is used to improve braking capacity, then the braking force increases, but the device dimensions and potential damage to guide rails increase
Solution Approach 1:
The non-circular cross-section (Reuleaux polygons or other constant-width shapes) optimizes the contact geometry between the braking element and guide rail. This asymmetric shape distributes the braking force over a larger contact area while maintaining compact dimensions, reducing stress concentration and minimizing damage to the guide rail compared to conventional circular elements of the same size.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking element features localized contact surfaces with specific geometric properties optimized for force distribution. The non-circular cross-section creates favorable contact patterns with the guide rail, concentrating braking force in specific zones while reducing overall impact, thereby achieving effective braking with minimized guide rail damage.
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 reduces the device's dimensions while maintaining or improving braking capacity, minimizing damage to guide rails, and enabling effective braking in both upward and downward movements.
Implementation Method 1
The movable braking element is capable of moving along the support element, while rotating around its rotation axis, into a wedged condition between the support element and the guide member
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator safety device comprises a housing attachable to an elevator car or to an elevator counterweight of an elevator system, the housing comprising a passage for allowing a guide member to pass through. A brake shoe is attached to the housing and is located on a first side of the guide member. A support element is arranged on a second of side of the guide member, the support element extending at an angle with respect to the guide member, thereby defining a tapered region between the guide member and the support element. A movable braking element is rotatable around a rotation axis of the movable braking element. The movable braking element is, at least in an activated condition of the elevator safety device, arranged within the tapered region defined by the support element and the guide member. The movable braking element is capable of rotatingly moving along the support element into a wedged condition between the support element and the guide member. The movable braking element has, in a plane that is oriented perpendicularly to the rotation axis, a non-circular cross-section, which is defined by a closed curve having a constant width.