Escalator Safety Brake Linear Guide Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety brakes for escalators and moving walks can be destructive when the locking piece accidentally wedges with a projection, leading to potential accidents and requiring frequent replacement, and they often fail to ensure non-destructive engagement due to leverage effects and inadequate stress distribution.
Innovation Solution
A safety brake design featuring a locking piece that pivots between a release and locking position, guided by a linear guide mounted on a stationary part, with a stop surface for stress relief and an elastic element for controlled retraction, and a slipping clutch to manage kinetic energy, ensuring non-destructive engagement and prolonged usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the locking piece is designed to engage directly with the moving part without additional guidance, then the device complexity is reduced, but the locking piece may accidentally wedge with projections and cause destructive forces
Solution Approach 1:
A linear guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the locking piece and the moving part. The linear guide constrains the locking piece to move only in a predetermined linear path, preventing accidental wedging with projections on the moving part while maintaining relative simplicity of the overall structure.
2Speed
If the locking piece is held close to the moving part to reduce stopping distance, then the braking response time is improved, but the leverage effect increases and can break the locking piece or moving part
Solution Approach 1:
The linear guide serves as a mediator that allows the locking piece to approach the moving part quickly while constraining its movement path. This prevents the locking piece from engaging at unfavorable angles that would create excessive leverage, thereby protecting both the locking piece and moving part from breakage while maintaining fast braking response.
3Ease of manufacture
If the locking piece is designed without a linear guide to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the locking piece cannot be properly guided and may cause accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The linear guide is designed as a simple guiding structure that can be easily manufactured and integrated into the existing safety brake system. It provides necessary constraints to prevent accidental engagement while adding minimal manufacturing complexity, thereby reducing accident risk without significantly complicating production.
4Device complexity
If the locking piece engages the moving part without linear guidance, then the device complexity is reduced, but the actuating element and pivot axis are overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The linear guide acts as an intermediary that distributes and directs the engagement forces along a predetermined path. This prevents concentrated loads on the actuating element and pivot axis, reducing stress and the risk of failure while adding only minimal structural complexity to the system.
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 solution ensures safe and non-destructive engagement of the safety brake, reducing the risk of accidents and extending the lifespan of the brake components by distributing forces effectively and allowing multiple uses without damage.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element for controlled retraction
Implementation Method 2
a slipping clutch to manage kinetic energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a safety brake of an escalator (1) or of a travelator. The safety brake contains at least one locking piece (21) which is arranged so as to assume a release position or a locking position by means of a pivoting movement. In the locking position, the locking piece (21) engages into at least one displaced part (18) of the escalator (1) or of the travelator and blocks said part. The safety brake also has a linear guide (23) by means of which the locking piece (21) is linearly guided between a first position (25) and a second position (26). The linear guide (23) is mounted on a stationary part (5) of the escalator (1) or of the travelator by a pivot axle (22).