Elevator Safety Clamping Jaw with Low-Mass Lever Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping jaws for elevators are unsuitable for high-speed applications due to their high mass and slow response time, leading to extended travel distances before deceleration or stopping, and they lack adjustable and constant clamping force capabilities, which can result in unsafe operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A safety clamping jaw design featuring low-mass components with lever arms, wedge members, rollers, and a resilient member, where the rollers push the cam member to compress the resilient member, allowing for adjustable and constant clamping force application, enabling quick response and reduced activation delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional heavy components and long lever arms are used to generate high clamping force, then the clamping force is sufficient for high mass elevators, but the response time becomes too slow and activation delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety gear is divided into multiple independent clamping jaws (typically three) that can be activated simultaneously. Each jaw is a separate, lightweight component that can respond independently and quickly to activation signals, eliminating the need for a single heavy mechanism to provide all clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses short lever arms with low mass that can accelerate and decelerate rapidly. The dynamic design allows the clamping jaws to reach operating speed quickly and apply clamping force within a short time frame, suitable for high-speed elevator applications.
2Force
If large and heavy components are used to provide high clamping force for high mass elevators, then the required braking force is achieved, but the space requirements and component masses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the lever arms, making them shorter and lighter while maintaining structural integrity. By optimizing the lever arm dimensions and using appropriate materials, the component mass is reduced while still achieving the required clamping force through the mechanical advantage of the lever system.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping jaws and lever arms are constructed from high-strength materials that provide the necessary mechanical properties with reduced mass. The use of strong, lightweight materials allows the components to be smaller and lighter while maintaining the ability to generate high clamping forces.
3Force
If heavy components with high mass are used in the clamping mechanism, then sufficient clamping force is generated, but acceleration stresses and mechanism overshoot increase causing chattering
Solution Approach 1:
The lightweight lever arms with low moment of inertia can accelerate and decelerate smoothly without excessive overshoot. The reduced mass allows for better control of the activation and deactivation processes, minimizing oscillations and chattering that would occur with heavier components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates features that provide mechanical feedback to control the clamping action. The lever arm geometry and connection points are designed to naturally regulate the clamping force application, preventing overshoot and reducing the tendency for chattering during activation and deactivation.
4Force
If long lever arms are used to effect clamping force, then mechanical advantage is increased, but the response time and activation speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the lever arm length parameter to achieve a balance between mechanical advantage and response speed. Rather than using excessively long lever arms, the design uses moderately sized arms with optimized geometry that provide sufficient mechanical advantage while maintaining short response times suitable for high-speed elevators.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping force generation is segmented across multiple independent lever arms rather than relying on a single long lever arm. This segmentation allows each lever arm to be shorter and respond faster, while the combined effect of multiple arms provides the total required clamping force.
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 provides a high clamping force with adjustable and constant deceleration rates, suitable for high-speed elevators, reducing the risk of chattering and damage, and ensuring safe operation by minimizing mass and activation time.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member bearing against the cam member. Upon activation of the clamping jaw, each roller may push the cam member in a direction towards the resilient member, thereby compressing the resilient member
Implementation Method 2
each roller may push the cam member in a direction towards the resilient member, thereby compressing the resilient member
Data Source
AI summary
A safety clamping jaw includes at least one lever arm, a wedge member provided on a first end of each lever arm, a roller provided on a second end of each lever arm, a cam member provided between the rollers, and a resilient member bearing against the cam member. Upon activation of the clamping jaw, each roller may push the cam member in a direction towards the resilient member, thereby compressing the resilient member.