Brake Disc Release Gear-Wedge Mechanism for Controlled Elevator Rescue

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevators often become stuck between floors during emergency braking, making it difficult to evacuate passengers quickly, as the high force required to release the brake disc is challenging to apply manually.

Innovation Solution

A brake disc release device with an actuating mechanism, gear, sliders, and pulling cables that magnify force by over 40 times, combined with a turning device using a reduction gear set and shaft connector to control the motor spindle, allowing for safe and controlled movement of the elevator car to a nearby floor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If manual force is applied to release the brake disc, then the structure remains simple, but the force required is too high for manual operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce magnificationVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A gear mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the manual actuator and the brake disc release system. The gear transmits and amplifies the manual torque applied to the actuating mechanism, enabling the operator to overcome the high friction forces holding the brake disc without requiring excessive manual strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a wedge-shaped slider that converts rotational motion into linear motion through mechanical advantage, similar in principle to hydraulic systems. The wedge portion of the slider amplifies the force generated by gear rotation, multiplying the output force significantly to release the brake disc with minimal input effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of operation

If the brake disc is released to move the car, then passenger evacuation becomes possible, but uncontrolled movement creates safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevacuation accessibilityVSAvoidmovement control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic controlled state through the actuating mechanism. The gear and slider assembly enables progressive release of the brake disc, allowing the elevator car to be moved slowly and controllably to a safe floor rather than sudden uncontrolled movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating mechanism changes the operational parameters of the brake system by converting small rotational inputs into large linear forces through gear ratio multiplication and wedge mechanical advantage. This parameter transformation enables precise control over the brake disc release process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If high force is applied to the brake disc, then the brake disc can be released, but the required force is beyond manual capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual operabilityVSAvoidoutput force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The force transmission path is segmented into multiple stages: manual torque application to the actuating mechanism, gear tooth engagement for torque multiplication, wedge slider conversion to linear force, and final cable tension application to the brake disc. Each segment contributes to the cumulative force magnification, making the overall process manually operable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism employs nested mechanical advantage where the gear system is nested within the actuating mechanism, and the wedge slider is nested within the gear output path. Each nested component adds another level of force multiplication, similar to nested dolls where each smaller element is contained within and contributes to the larger system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables operators to promptly and safely evacuate passengers by releasing the brake disc and slowly rotating the elevator car to a nearby floor, facilitating easy evacuation in emergency situations.

Implementation Method 1

a gear connected to the first end of the actuating mechanism; a first slider capable of sliding along a first guide piece and comprising a rack portion for engagement with the gear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

drive the first slider to move in a first direction by means of the engagement between the gear and the rack portion of the first slider

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 3

a first slider capable of sliding along a first guide piece and comprising a rack portion for engagement with the gear and a first wedge portion; a second slider capable of sliding along a second guide piece and comprising a second wedge portion for engagement with the first wedge portion of the first slider

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge mechanism: Wedge

Implementation Method 4

a pulling cable having a first end connected to the second slider and a second end connected to the brake disc; drive the pulling cable to pull the brake disc

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension force: Tension

Implementation Method 5

a turning device, comprising: a hand disc coupled to an input shaft; a reduction gear set accommodated in a housing and connected to the input shaft and an output shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction gear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3626669B1Brake disc releasing device, turning device, elevator rescue kit and method
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3626669B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3626669B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The resent invention provides a brake disc release device, a turning device, and an elevator rescue package and method. The brake disc release device comprises: an actuating mechanism; a gear connected to a first end of the actuating mechanism; a first slider capable of sliding along a first guide piece and comprising a rack portion for engagement with the gear and a first wedge portion; a second slider capable of sliding along a second guide piece and comprising a second wedge portion for engagement with the first wedge portion of the first slider; and a pulling cable having a first end connected to the second slider and a second end connected to the brake disc. The devices and method according to the present invention have simple structures and convenient operations.