Elevator Safety Gear Actuation via Spring Accumulator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems face challenges in efficiently actuating and resetting safety gears, particularly in terms of rapid actuation, low energy requirements, simple installation, and reliable operation during power or component failures, especially when integrating with conventional safety gears.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a device with a shared pressure accumulator that synchronously actuates engagement wedges of the safety gear, a remotely controlled resetting mechanism, and an actuator mounted on a swivelable horizontal axle, which minimizes rotating inertia masses for rapid actuation and includes sensors for monitoring the device's state, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electromechanical actuating units are designed to move mass components of the safety gear, then the safety gear can be actuated reliably, but the electromagnetic units must be dimensioned correspondingly large, increasing device complexity and space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the actuation task into two independent parts: a compact electromagnetic unit that only needs to overcome static friction to release the latch, and a mechanical energy storage system (spring) that provides the continuous force needed to move the mass components. This segmentation allows the electromagnetic unit to be small while the overall system remains reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-tensioned during normal operation to store mechanical energy, preparing the system for rapid actuation. When the electromagnetic latch releases, the pre-stored energy immediately drives the engagement wedges into the guiderail without requiring a large electromagnetic force during the movement phase.
2Force
If springs are pretensioned by large electromagnets to ensure sufficient force for safety gear actuation, then the actuation force is adequate, but the electromagnet size and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The force generation is split between a small electromagnetic latch (providing just enough force to overcome static friction) and a mechanical spring (providing the remaining force through pre-tension). This eliminates the need for a large continuously-powered electromagnet while maintaining adequate actuation force.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic unit operates periodically or intermittently only when actuation is needed, rather than continuously maintaining force. The spring maintains pre-tension passively without energy input, and the electromagnet only activates briefly to release the latch, dramatically reducing energy consumption.
3Reliability
If a shared pressure accumulator is used to synchronously actuate multiple engagement wedges, then actuation reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared pressure accumulator serves multiple functions: it provides synchronized actuation force to multiple engagement wedges, and the same accumulator (through the resetting mechanism) provides the retensioning function after actuation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the kinetic energy of the moving elevator car to automatically retension the spring after actuation, eliminating the need for an external power source during resetting. The spindle mechanism converts the car's motion into rotational force that winds the spring back to its pre-tensioned state.
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 enables rapid and safe actuation of safety gears, reduces energy consumption, simplifies installation, and ensures reliable operation even during power failures, enhancing the overall safety and efficiency of elevator systems.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure accumulator contains a compression spring which is stressed by means of a resetting device and which, in case of need, can release this stress to actuate the engagement wedges
Implementation Method 2
As the safety gear or traveling body continues to move, the frictional force caused by gripping now moves the engagement wedges further in a housing of the safety gear as far as a wedge stop
Data Source
AI summary
A device can actuate and reset a safety gear in an elevator system. The device contains a pressure accumulator, possibly a compression spring, which, in case of need, can move at least two engagement elements of the safety gear essentially synchronously into an engaged position, and a remotely actuatable resetting device, which can retension the pressure accumulator into a ready position.