Elevator Safety Brake Inversion for Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator safety brakes require a large amount of energy to operate due to high retention forces, making them inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
The elevator braking device employs a brake housing with a movable first brake body, such as a rotatable eccentric or brake wedge, that clamps onto a braking web using friction forces, allowing for energy-efficient operation by leveraging the eccentricity or wedge shape to transmit braking forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electromagnet is used to hold the brake counterplate against spring force, then the safety brake can be triggered electromechanically, but a large amount of energy is required for constant operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a spring to hold the brake in the engaged position and using an electromagnet to release it. Instead of constantly applying force to maintain braking, the system defaults to braking and only releases when needed, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining electromechanical triggering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnet operates periodically rather than continuously - it is activated only when braking release is required. This periodic operation pattern reduces energy consumption from constant high-power operation to intermittent low-power operation, resolving the contradiction between electromechanical control and energy efficiency.
2Force
If a spring element is used to strain the brake housing, then braking force can be applied, but the brake housing must be designed to withstand high stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The brake housing is segmented into multiple sections with distributed stress paths. The straining members are arranged to distribute forces across different portions of the housing rather than concentrating stress at single points, reducing the overall strength requirements while maintaining effective braking force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake housing design incorporates dynamic load distribution through the straining members, allowing the structure to adapt to varying braking forces. The housing can elastically deform within acceptable limits and return to its original configuration, reducing the need for overly robust static design.
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 design reduces energy consumption while ensuring reliable braking, allowing for efficient and cost-effective operation of elevator safety brakes, with adjustable components for optimal performance and easy integration into elevator systems.
Implementation Method 1
the eccentric is rotated by the friction force produced between eccentric and braking web
Implementation Method 2
the brake wedge is entrained by the friction force produced between brake wedge and braking web
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator car has a brake system with braking devices engaging braking webs integrated into guide rails to brake the car. The braking devices include a brake housing, a first brake body movable by contact with the braking web and relative movement between the braking web and the brake housing to clamp the brake web, and a pusher arranged on the brake housing with the braking web arranged between the first brake body and the pusher with a required passage clearance. The pusher can be advanced toward the first brake body and pressed against the braking web to forcibly bring the first brake body into contact with the braking web. A pressing lever pivotally mounted on the brake housing acts to press the pusher against the braking web.