Elevator Parking Brake Wedge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator car positioning precision is compromised due to elasticity in hoisting ropes, creating a tripping hazard, and existing parking brakes require reliability and efficiency for long-term use during loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
A compact elevator car parking brake system with a housing, actuator, operating fork, braking wedges, and detaching means, where the actuator moves the operating fork perpendicular to the guide rail to engage or disengage the braking wedges, utilizing a spring-based detaching mechanism and an optional electric motor with a controller to monitor wear and issue alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If machinery is used for relevelling the car to prevent tripping hazards, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases and the process becomes iterative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the braking function from complex relevelling machinery and implements it through a simple wedge-based parking brake mechanism. The braking wedges are inserted between the guide rail and the car frame, providing a straightforward mechanical solution that eliminates the need for complex iterative relevelling systems while maintaining positioning precision.
2Reliability
If parking brake is engaged at every landing stop to hold the elevator during loading and unloading, then reliability is improved, but the brake mechanism must endure long-term use and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a spring-based detaching means that automatically pushes the braking wedges away from the guide rail after the brake is engaged. This self-service mechanism reduces wear on the braking wedges by minimizing their contact time with the guide rail, thereby extending the service life of the brake components while maintaining reliable operation at every landing stop.
3Force
If braking wedges are pushed towards the guide rail to achieve braking state, then braking force is improved, but wear of the braking wedges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by engaging the brake only during landing stops for loading and unloading, then automatically releasing it through the spring-based detaching means. This periodic engagement-disengagement cycle allows the braking wedges to generate sufficient braking force when needed while minimizing cumulative wear by limiting contact duration to only when braking is required.
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 reliable and efficient parking brake functionality, ensuring safe elevator operation by maintaining precise positioning and alerting for wear, thus preventing tripping hazards and ensuring long-term reliability.
Implementation Method 1
detaching means attached to each braking wedge... the detaching means are configured to pull the braking wedges away from the side surfaces of the guide rail
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator car parking brake. An operating fork is configured to move within a housing in a direction perpendicular to an end surface of a guide rail in response to operating an actuator. When the actuator is operated to move the operating fork within the housing towards the guide rail to achieve a braking state, the operating fork is configured to push braking wedges towards side surfaces of the guide rail to contact the side surfaces. When the actuator is operated to move the operating fork within the housing away from the guide rail to achieve a brake release state, detaching means are configured to pull the braking wedges away from the side surfaces of the guide rail.