Magnetic Safety Brake Actuator for Frictionless Elevator Engagement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator safety brake systems relying on friction between magnets and guide rails face issues such as wear, debris accumulation, and increased power consumption, particularly in high-rise systems, necessitating an improvement in safety actuation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A frictionless safety brake actuator utilizing a magnetic circuit with a controllable electromagnet and a magnetic portion, where a biasing member applies force to move a linkage into frictional engagement with the guide rail, leveraging a confined magnetic field to reduce power demand and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnet is used to drag against the guide rail to activate the safety brake, then the safety brake can be actuated, but wear on the guide rail and debris accumulation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical friction-based magnet dragging system with an electromagnetic field-based system. The electromagnet generates a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic portion on the movable component, eliminating the need for physical contact and friction between the actuator and guide rail, thereby preventing wear and debris generation while maintaining reliable safety brake actuation
2Force
If friction between magnet and guide rail is used to activate safety brake, then braking force is generated, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention substitutes the mechanical friction force generation method with an electromagnetic force generation method. The electromagnet creates a magnetic field that exerts force on the magnetic portion, which then actuates the linkage to engage the safety brake. This electromagnetic interaction is more energy-efficient than maintaining continuous friction contact, reducing power consumption while generating the necessary braking force
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic or intermittent activation of the electromagnet rather than continuous operation. The electromagnet is activated only when safety brake engagement is required, and the magnetic field is used to move the movable component between positions. This periodic action reduces overall power consumption compared to continuous friction-based actuation
3Use of energy by moving object
If a confined magnetic field in a magnetic circuit is used, then efficiency increases and power demand reduces, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic circuit components serve multiple functions: the electromagnet generates the magnetic field, the magnetic portion provides magnetic interaction, and the movable component serves both as a magnetic element and as the actuating mechanism that moves the linkage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, managing system complexity while achieving efficient magnetic field confinement and reduced power demand
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 provides a more efficient and reliable safety braking system with reduced wear and power consumption, capable of effectively engaging and disengaging the safety brake without friction, enhancing safety and operational efficiency in elevator systems.
Implementation Method 1
one of the fixed component or the movable component comprises a magnetic portion and the other of the fixed component or the movable component comprises a controllable electromagnet
Implementation Method 2
the fixed component and the movable component together confine a magnetic field between the controllable electromagnet and the magnetic portion in a magnetic circuit
Implementation Method 3
the fixed component and the movable component together confine a magnetic field between the controllable electromagnet and the magnetic portion in a magnetic circuit
Implementation Method 4
the use of a confined magnetic field in a magnetic circuit, increases the efficiency of the magnetic forces in the system by efficiently channelling the magnetic fields
Implementation Method 5
the magnetic circuit selectively produces an attractive magnetic force, larger than the biasing force, which acts upon the magnetic portion against the biasing force of the at least one biasing member to move the movable component from the first position to the second position
Implementation Method 6
at least one biasing member arranged to apply a biasing force to the movable component to bias the movable component towards a first position in which the linkage is actuated
Data Source
AI summary
A frictionless safety brake actuator includes a fixed component; a movable component; one of the fixed component or the movable component includes a magnetic portion and the other includes a controllable electromagnet; a connection arrangement configured to connect a linkage to the movable component, the linkage is actuatable so as to move a safety brake into frictional engagement with an elevator guide rail; and at least one biasing member arranged to apply a biasing force (FB) to the movable component to bias the movable component towards a first position in which the linkage is actuated; the movable component is moveable against the biasing force (FB) to move between the first position and a second position in which the linkage is not actuated; the fixed component and the movable component together confine a magnetic field between the controllable electromagnet and the magnetic portion in a magnetic circuit.