Elevator Safety System Force Amplification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator safety systems face challenges in providing sufficient and stable acting force for safety devices, especially when larger forces are required, and synchronization issues arise when multiple devices are used simultaneously, leading to unsatisfactory performance and reliability.

Innovation Solution

The elevator safety system incorporates a force amplifying device using a rack and gear transmission mechanism to amplify the acting force from the trigger to the safety device, and a synchronization device ensures synchronized operation of multiple safety units, enhancing the reliability and redundancy of safety operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a trigger generates a triggerring action to actuate a safety device, then the safety device can be activated, but the magnitude of acting force is limited (up to about 40N) and cannot meet requirements when larger force is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacting forceVSAvoidworking performance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A force amplifying device is introduced as an intermediary component between the trigger and the safety device. This force amplifying device receives the limited acting force from the trigger and amplifies it to a larger magnitude, enabling the safety device to be actuated with sufficient force while maintaining the reliability of the triggering mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If two or more devices such as triggers and safety gears are used simultaneously in elevator equipment, then more safety coverage is achieved, but synchronization operability and redundancy reliability become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety coverageVSAvoidsynchronization operability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple safety units are merged into a unified system where each safety unit comprises a trigger, a force amplifying device, and a safety device. The force amplifying devices in all safety units are synchronized through a common synchronization mechanism, ensuring that all safety devices operate simultaneously and reliably when triggered, thus achieving both comprehensive safety coverage and synchronized operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system provides a stable and reliable means to actuate safety devices with sufficient force, ensuring safe elevator operation even in cases of partial failure, thereby improving safety performance and operational reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a force amplifying device (13) arranged between the trigger (11) and the safety device (12) for amplifying the acting force output by the trigger (11) into a relatively larger acting force F2, the acting force F2 being transmitted to the safety device (12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 2

a force amplifying device comprising: a first rack (133) connected to the output end (111) of the trigger (11); a second rack (134) connected to the safety device (12); a first gear (131) meshing with the first rack (133) and the second rack (134); a second gear (132) meshing with the first gear (131) and the second rack (134)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP4122863B1Elevator safety system and elevator equipment
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP4122863B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4122863B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An elevator safety system and elevator equipment are disclosed. The elevator safety system comprises a safety unit which has a safety device and a trigger, the trigger is connected with the safety device and outputs an acting force from its output end to the safety device for actuating the safety device to perform safety operation to the elevator, wherein the safety unit further comprises a force amplifying device provided between the trigger and the safety device for amplifying the acting force output from the output end and then transmitting the amplified acting force to the safety device. The application of the disclosure is able to provide sufficient and effective acting force for an elevator safety device, and also enable the synchronous operation of a plurality of elevator safety devices, thereby enhancing the safety performance of elevator equipment.