Elevator Safety Actuation Module Independent Guide Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator safety systems require significant power to maintain safety mechanisms, leading to increased energy consumption and operating costs, and often feature larger components that affect the size, weight, and efficiency of the elevator system. Additionally, these systems typically rely on a guide rail interface for operation.
Innovation Solution
The development of an elevator electrical safety actuation system that operates independently of a guide rail, utilizing a brake device activated by a second portion that moves along guides within a housing, and includes a resetting mechanism such as an electrical cylinder to reset the actuation mechanism after engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a passively applied safety system is used to stop the elevator car, then the safety mechanism can be positively actuated, but a significant amount of power is required to maintain the safety system in a hold operating state, greatly increasing energy requirements and operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional passive safety system approach by using an actively applied safety system with a solenoid actuator and electric motor to positively actuate safety wedges, eliminating the need for continuous power to maintain the hold state. The system switches from requiring power to maintain readiness to requiring power only for actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety system operates periodically rather than continuously - the solenoid actuator and electric motor are activated only when safety intervention is needed, rather than maintaining continuous engagement. This periodic operation dramatically reduces energy consumption while maintaining safety reliability.
2Reliability
If a passively applied safety system is used to stop the elevator car, then the safety mechanism can be positively actuated, but larger components are required due to large power requirements during operation, adversely affecting the overall size, weight, and efficiency of the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional passive safety system approach by using an actively applied safety system with a solenoid actuator and electric motor to positively actuate safety wedges, eliminating the need for continuous power to maintain the hold state. The system switches from requiring power to maintain readiness to requiring power only for actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety system operates periodically rather than continuously - the solenoid actuator and electric motor are activated only when safety intervention is needed, rather than maintaining continuous engagement. This periodic operation dramatically reduces energy consumption while maintaining safety reliability.
3Reliability
If the safety system is configured to engage with a guide rail, then actuation and braking can be applied to stop the elevator car, but the system is designed to operate specifically with the characteristics of the guide rail, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety actuation mechanism from its traditional dependency on guide rail characteristics. By using a self-contained solenoid actuator and electric motor system that operates independently of guide rail material, construction, or surface treatment, the system gains versatility across different elevator configurations while maintaining reliable actuation and braking capability.
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
This solution provides an efficient and cost-effective electrical safety actuation mechanism that can effectively stop an elevator without relying on a guide rail interface, reducing energy consumption and maintaining system efficiency while allowing for independent operation.
Implementation Method 1
The safety mechanism utilizes a solenoid actuator and an electric motor and gear box assembly to move safety wedges into engagement with a guide rail
Implementation Method 2
The safety mechanism utilizes a solenoid actuator and an electric motor and gear box assembly to move safety wedges into engagement with a guide rail
Implementation Method 3
The reset motor drives a reset member for resetting the electromagnet device by pushing it, and the reset member allows movement of the electromagnet device in a holding position to a release position thereof
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An elevator electrical safety actuation system and method are provided. The system includes an actuation device configured to operate a brake device. The actuation device includes a locking mechanism (542), a first portion (534) configured to be engaged and retained by the locking mechanism (542) in a first portion-first state and moveable to a second state wherein the first portion is not retained by the locking mechanism (542), a second portion (536) in contact with the first portion (534) when the second portion (536) is in a second portion-first state and the first portion (534) is in the first portion-first state, the second portion (536) moveable to a second portion-second state, wherein the second portion (536) is operably connected to the brake device, and a resetting mechanism (546) configured to force the first portion (534) from the first portion-second state to the first portion-first state.