Elevator Safety Brake Automatic Reset Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator safety brakes often fail to automatically reset after energy interruptions or non-critical events, leading to potential safety hazards and unnecessary downtime, as they require human intervention or cannot be stressed without energy.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with a brake safety control that detects non-critical events, such as energy interruptions or intentional deactivations, and initiates an automatic resetting process by selectively moving the elevator travel body in specific directions to stress and re-stress the safety brake, ensuring it returns to a readiness setting without requiring continuous energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the safety brake is designed to require human intervention for resetting after energy interruptions, then safety is ensured through manual verification, but downtime increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety brake system performs automatic self-resetting after energy interruptions by utilizing the mechanical stress from normal elevator operation to activate the retaining device and return the braking element to its ready position, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining safety standards
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential energy interruptions by designing the automatic resetting mechanism that activates as soon as power is restored, performing the resetting action in advance of any potential safety issues that might arise from the interruption
2Reliability
If the safety brake requires continuous energy to maintain readiness, then the brake can be immediately re-engaged after power restoration, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety brake uses the mechanical energy from the elevator's normal operational movements to automatically reset and re-engage the braking element, converting the kinetic energy of cage movement into the potential energy needed to maintain brake readiness without requiring continuous electrical power
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous energy consumption, the system uses periodic mechanical stress from normal elevator operations to periodically reset and maintain the brake in a ready state, converting intermittent operational movements into sustained operational readiness
3Reliability
If the safety brake cannot be stressed without energy, then the brake remains safe during power outages, but the brake cannot reset automatically when power is restored
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the mechanical stress from normal elevator operation to automatically activate the retaining device and reset the braking element, allowing the brake to self-recover from the deactivated state without external intervention while maintaining safety during outages
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of the retaining device from deactivated to activated by applying mechanical stress during normal operation, enabling the transition from a safe but inactive state during outages to an active ready state when operation resumes
Data Source
AI summary
In an elevator installation an elevator cage is arranged to be movable along guide rails and the elevator cage is equipped with a brake system possibly with two safety brakes. The safety device is activated by way of control devices which can trigger the safety device from critical or non-critical events. The control devices further include a function for automatic resetting of the safety brake when an event, which is evaluated as non-critical, is indicated as a reason for triggering the safety brake. Resetting of the safety brake takes place through execution of pre-defined resetting steps of the elevator cage.