Frictionless Safety Brake Actuator for Elevator Guide Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator safety brake systems rely on friction between electronic safety actuators and guide rails, leading to wear, debris accumulation, and limited positioning flexibility, which complicates high-rise elevator operations.
Innovation Solution
A frictionless safety brake actuator system that uses a biasing element, actuating element, holding arrangement, and reset system to actuate safety brakes without frictional contact with the guide rail, allowing for flexible positioning and reduced interference from debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction-based electronic safety actuators are used to trigger safety brakes, then the safety brake can be actuated reliably, but wear on the guide rail occurs and debris accumulates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based mechanical actuation system with a magnetic field-based actuation system. The electronic safety actuator uses a magnet (permanent magnet or electromagnet) to interact with a ferromagnetic component on the guide rail without physical contact, eliminating wear and debris generation while maintaining reliable safety brake actuation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the actuator and the guide rail. The magnet on the actuator creates a magnetic field that attracts a ferromagnetic component on the guide rail, enabling force transmission without direct mechanical contact, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable actuation and wear prevention
2Reliability
If friction-based actuation is used, then the safety brake can be triggered, but the position of the actuator is restricted by the need for contact with the guide rail
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical friction-based contact with magnetic field interaction, the actuator gains positioning flexibility. The magnet can be positioned anywhere within the magnetic field range of the ferromagnetic component, allowing the actuator to be mounted in various locations on the elevator car rather than being constrained to specific contact points on the guide rail
3Ease of operation
If magnet and guide rail friction interaction is used to actuate safety brake, then the safety brake can be activated, but wear on the guide rail and chipping occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the friction-based mechanical interaction with a magnetic field-based interaction. The magnet on the electronic safety actuator creates a magnetic field that exerts force on a ferromagnetic component without physical contact, enabling safety brake activation while completely eliminating guide rail wear and chipping
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful friction interaction into a beneficial non-contact magnetic interaction. By using the magnetic field's ability to exert force at a distance, the system achieves the desired safety brake activation while avoiding the harmful effects of friction, wear, and chipping
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 frictionless safety brake actuator system ensures reliable and efficient actuation of safety brakes, reducing wear and debris issues, and enabling flexible placement, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of elevator systems.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element arranged between the fixed component and the movable component to apply a biasing force to the movable component to bias the movable component away from the fixed component towards the first position
Implementation Method 2
ESA's typically activate a safety brake by controlled release of a magnet (either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet) to drag against the guide rail, and using the friction resultant therefrom to pull up on a linkage attached to the safety brake
Data Source
AI summary
A frictionless safety brake actuator (100), a braking system, and an elevator system. The frictionless safety brake actuator (100) for use in an elevator system, includes: a fixed component (110); a movable component (130), configured to be moveable between a first position in which a safety brake is actuated and a second position in which the safety brake is not actuated; a biasing element (120) arranged between the fixed component (110) and the movable component (130) to apply a biasing force to the movable component (130) to bias the movable component (130) away from the fixed component (120) towards the first position; an actuating element (140) connected to the movable component (130); a holding arrangement (150) comprising a latch (154) and a first actuator (152), wherein the first actuator (152) is configured to be selectively operable to move the latch (154) between a holding position and a release position.