HK1192209A - Elevator braking system - Google Patents

Description

Elevator brake system

Technical Field

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to elevator systems. More specifically, the subject disclosure relates to a braking system for an elevator.

Background

The elevator system is driven by a motor, called a machine, which drives a hoisting means, usually ropes or belts, attached to the elevator car. The speed and movement of the elevator car is controlled by various devices separately mounted and adjusted, dispersed throughout the elevator system. For example, brakes at the machine are used to stop and hold the elevator car during normal and emergency operation. A governor (governor) is located at an idler sheave in the hoistway or pit or machine room to detect overspeed of the elevator car as it moves. A position reference system on the elevator car and in the hoistway is used to collect data about the position of the elevator car and a safety device mounted on the elevator car is used to stop the car in the hoistway in the event of an emergency. Installation and setup of all of these separate devices is costly and time consuming.

Disclosure of Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a braking system for an elevator system includes one or more braking surfaces secured to an elevator car and frictionally engageable with a guide rail of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces and configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces into and/or out of engagement with the guide rail during operation of the elevator system to stop and/or hold the elevator car.

According to another aspect of the invention, an elevator system includes one or more guide rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move along the one or more guide rails through the hoistway. The system includes one or more braking systems having one or more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more guide rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces and configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces into and/or out of engagement with the guide rail during operation of the elevator system to stop and/or hold the elevator car.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an elevator system;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a brake for an elevator system;

fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a brake for an elevator system connected to a safety device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a brake for an elevator system with an integrated safety device;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a wedge-drive brake for an elevator system;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a brake for an elevator system using rollers;

fig. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a brake for an elevator system having a brake arm;

fig. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a brake for an elevator system having a brake arm;

fig. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a brake for an elevator system having a brake arm;

fig. 10 is a plan view of another embodiment of an elevator braking system;

fig. 11 is a side view of the elevator braking system of fig. 10; and

fig. 12 is an end view of the elevator braking system of fig. 10.

The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of an elevator system 10 is shown in fig. 1. Elevator system 10 includes a motor, referred to as machine 12, for driving the elevator system. The machine 12 drives a hoisting device, such as one or more belts or ropes, hereinafter referred to as "ropes" 14, via one or more sheaves to propel an elevator car 16 upward and/or downward in a hoistway 18. One or more guide rails 20, typically at least two guide rails 20, are located in the hoistway 18, and the elevator car 16 is positioned in the hoistway 18 such that the guide rails 20 guide movement of the elevator car 16. A braking system, shown generally at 22, is secured to the elevator car 16. Braking system 22 interacts with guide rails 20 to decelerate and/or stop elevator car 16 during normal operation of elevator 10, e.g., to stop at a landing for loading and/or unloading passengers. In addition, some embodiments of the braking system 22 include the functionality of a conventional emergency brake or safety device to slow and/or stop movement of the elevator car 16 in the event of an emergency such as the elevator car 16 exceeding a predetermined speed or in the event of a power failure of the elevator 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the braking system 22 is shown. The braking system 22 is secured to the elevator car 16 via, for example, a support member 24, with various components of the braking system 22 secured to the support member 24. The brake system 22 includes a caliper 26 having one or more brake pads 28. The brake pads 28 are movable to engage the rail 20 between the brake pads 28 and one or more brake pads 30 on opposite sides of the rail 20. In some embodiments, the brake pads 28 are movable via brake actuators 32. The brake actuator 32 may be, for example, a solenoid, linear motor, or other type of actuator. The brake actuator 32 includes one or more brake actuator plungers 34 extending toward one or more brake pad pins 36. When the brake actuator 32 is energized, such as during operation of the elevator 10, the brake actuator plunger 34 is drawn into the brake actuator 32. When it is desired to activate the braking system 22, the brake actuator 32 is de-energized. The one or more plunger springs 38 bias the brake actuator plunger 34 outwardly away from the actuator 32, pushing the brake actuator plunger 34 into the extended position. As the brake actuator plunger 34 moves outward, the brake actuator plunger 34 contacts the brake pad pin 36 and pushes the brake pad pin 36 toward the guide rail 20. The brake pad pins 36, in turn, move the brake pads 28 into contact with the rail 20 and slow and/or stop movement of the elevator car 16 relative to the rail 20 through frictional forces between the brake pads 28 and the rail 20 and between the brake pads 30 and the rail 20. To close the brake, the brake actuator 32 is energized, pulling the brake actuator plunger 34 into the actuator 32, overcoming the biasing force of the plunger spring 38, thereby allowing the brake pads 28 to move away from the rail 20.

In some embodiments, the brake actuator plunger 34 is divided into two or more brake actuator plungers 34 extending from a single brake actuator 32. Each brake actuator plunger 34 can interact independently with a separate brake pad 28, providing redundancy in the braking system 22.

As shown in fig. 3, in one embodiment, the brake shoe 30 may be connected to a safety device 40. Many aspects of the braking system shown in FIG. 2, such as the plunger 34, plunger spring 38, and brake pad pin 36 are also included in this embodiment. In this example, the safety device actuator 42 includes a safety plunger 44 that retains the brake shoe 30 when the safety plunger 44 extends toward the brake shoe 30, for example, into a plunger bore 46 in the brake shoe 30. The brake shoe 30 is connected to the safety device 40 via a trip lever (trip rod) 48. When it is desired or required to engage the safety device 40 with the rail 20, the safety device actuator 42 is energized, pulling the safety plunger 44 away from the brake block 30. This allows the brake shoe 30 to translate along the rail 20 by friction with the rail 20. Translation of the brake shoe 30 along the rail 20 pulls the trip lever 48, and the trip lever 48 activates the safety device 40. When the brake pads 28 are released, gravity will reset (reset) the brake pads 30, trip lever 48 and safety device 40. The safety actuator 42 is de-energized to hold the brake block 30 in place.

Referring to fig. 4, in some embodiments, the brake pad 28 and the safety device 40 may be combined into a single unit. This embodiment includes a braking actuator 32 for moving the brake pads 28 toward the rail 20 through mechanical interaction between a de-energized actuator 32, plunger 34, and pin 36, similar to those described above with reference to fig. 2 and 3, and the brake pads 30. If it is desired to engage the safety device 40, the safety device actuator 42 is activated, which allows the brake block 30 to move along the rail 20, forcing the safety block 52 to travel in a direction parallel to the slot 54 into contact with the rail 20, at which point the rail 20 will be held between the safety block 52 and the safety wedge 56.

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment utilizing brake wedges 64 housed within the caliper 26 for moving the brake pads 28 into contact with the rail 20. The brake wedge 64 is connected to the brake actuator 32 via the brake actuator plunger 34. The plunger spring 38 biases the brake wedge 64 in the engagement direction. Brake wedge 64 abuts a complementary brake pad wedge 66 to which brake pad 28 is secured. When the braking actuator 32 is de-energized, the plunger spring 38 pushes the braking wedge 64 away from the braking actuator 32, which pushes the brake pad wedge 66 and the brake pad 28 into contact with the rail 20, wherein friction between the brake pad 28 and the rail 20 and between the brake pad 30 and the rail 20 decelerates or stops the elevator car 16 (not shown in fig. 5). In some embodiments, the caliper 26 is slidably connected to the support 24 by one or more support pins 68. As shown in fig. 6, instead of brake pads 28, some embodiments may use brake rollers 70 to slow or stop the elevator car 16.

Referring to fig. 7, some embodiments of the braking system 22 may include two or more braking arms 58 secured to a support 24, the support 24 secured to the elevator car 16 (not shown in fig. 7). The brake arm 58 is pivotally secured to the support 24 at an arm pivot 60. Each brake arm 58 includes a brake pad 28, and when the braking system 22 is activated, the brake pad 28 moves toward the rail 20 and slows or stops movement of the elevator car 16 relative to the rail 20 by frictional forces between the brake pad 28, one or more brake pads 30 secured to the support 24, and the rail 20. An arm spring 62 extends between the brake arms 58 and biases the brake pads 28 toward the rail 20. The brake actuators 32 (alternatively one actuator may be attached to each arm) are located between the brake arms 58 with a brake actuator plunger 34 connected to each brake arm 58. During operation of the elevator 10, the braking actuator 32 is energized, pulling the braking actuator plunger 34 inward and thus rotating the braking arm 58 about the arm pivot 60 such that the brake pads 28 move away from the rail 20. When it is desired to activate the braking system 22, the braking actuator 32 is de-energized and the arm spring 62 forces the braking arm 58 to rotate about the arm pivot 60 (as shown by arrow "a") such that the brake pads 28 contact the rail 20 (as shown by arrow "B") and slow or stop the elevator car 16.

Another embodiment is shown in fig. 8. In this embodiment, the brake arms 58 are located on either side of the rail 20. When the brake actuator 32 is energized, the brake actuator plunger 34 (not shown) overcomes the force of the arm spring 62 and rotates the brake pads 28 away from the rail 20 and each other. When the braking actuator 32 is de-energized, the arm spring 62 rotates the braking arm 58 about the arm pivot 60 and contacts the brake pads 28 to the rail 20 to slow or stop the elevator car 16. To provide redundancy, a plurality of brake arms 58 may be provided on each side of the rail 20, which in some embodiments may be coupled to a plurality of brake actuators 32 and/or a plurality of arm springs 62.

Fig. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the braking system 22, wherein the brake arms 58 are generally disposed along the rail 20 and are disposed generally vertically. The brake actuator plunger 34 extends between the brake arms 58 and, when the actuator (not shown) is energized, overcomes the biasing force of an arm spring 62 connected to, for example, the support 24 such that the brake arms are pivoted away from the rail 20 and the brake pads 28 do not contact the rail 20. When the brake actuator is de-energized, the arm spring 62 urges rotation of the brake arm toward the rail 20, which in turn urges the brake pads 28 into contact with the rail 20. To disengage the brake pads 28 from the rail 20, the brake actuator is energized such that the plunger 34 pushes the brake arm 58 to rotate about the arm pivot 60 in the direction shown by arrow a, which in turn moves the brake pads 28 away from the rail 20.

In yet another embodiment shown in fig. 10-12, a pivot spring 80 extends through the brake arm 58 at the pivot 60. Pivot spring 80 is preloaded to prevent movement of brake arm 58 along pivot spring axis 82 during normal operation of elevator system 10. Under such conditions, when the braking actuator 24 is de-energized, the braking system 22 engages the rail 20, allowing the brake arm 58 to rotate about the pivot 60 such that the brake pads engage the rail 28. If the speed of the elevator car (not shown) exceeds a desired limit, the braking force applied by de-energizing the braking actuator 24 may be insufficient to stop the elevator car. In this case, friction between the rail 20 and the brake pad 28 will cause a force to overcome the preload of the pivot spring 80 and allow movement of the brake arm 58 along the pivot spring axis 82. As a result, the brake pads 28 engage the brake wedges 84, and the brake wedges 84 are configured to force the brake pads 28 closer to the rail 20, resulting in an increase in braking force for stopping the elevator car.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A braking system for an elevator system, comprising:

one or more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car or frame and frictionally engageable with a guide rail of the elevator system; and

one or more actuators operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces and configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces into and/or out of engagement with the guide rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.

2. The braking system of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators are one or more solenoids.

3. The braking system of claim 2, comprising a plunger associated with each of the one or more solenoids configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces away from the rail when the associated solenoid is energized.

4. The braking system of claim 1, comprising one or more plunger springs configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces into contact with the guide rail.

5. The braking system of claim 1, wherein the one or more braking surfaces are operably connected to a safety of the elevator.

6. The braking system of claim 5, wherein one of the one or more braking surfaces is movable along the rail such that movement of the one braking surface causes engagement of the safety device.

7. The braking system of claim 1, comprising two or more braking arms on which the one or more braking surfaces are disposed.

8. The braking system of claim 7, wherein each brake arm is pivotable about an arm pivot.

9. The braking system of claim 8, further comprising:

a pivot spring disposed at the arm pivot and preloaded to bias the brake arm against movement along a pivot spring axis; and

one or more braking wedges configured to urge the braking surface toward the rail when the preload of the pivot spring is overcome.

10. The braking system of claim 7, comprising one or more arm springs extending between the two or more braking arms to bias the braking surface into contact with the guide rail.

11. The braking system of claim 7, wherein one or more actuators are disposed between the two or more brake arms.

12. The braking system of claim 11, wherein when the one or more actuators are activated, at least one member associated with the one or more actuators overcomes the force of the arm spring biasing the braking surface into contact with the rail and urges the braking surface away from the rail.

13. An elevator system comprising:

one or more guide rails fixed in the hoistway;

an elevator car configured to move along the one or more guide rails through the hoistway;

one or more braking systems, comprising:

one or more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more guide rails of the elevator system; and

one or more actuators operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces and configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces into or out of engagement with the one or more guide rails to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.

14. The elevator system of claim 13, wherein the one or more actuators are one or more solenoids.

15. The elevator system of claim 14, comprising a plunger associated with each of the one or more solenoids configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces into contact with the guide rail.

16. The elevator system of claim 13, comprising one or more plunger springs configured to urge the one or more braking surfaces into contact with the guide rail.

17. The elevator system of claim 13, wherein the one or more braking surfaces are operably connected to a safety of the elevator.

18. The elevator system of claim 17, wherein one braking surface of the one or more braking surfaces is movable along the rail such that movement of the one braking surface causes engagement of the safety device.

19. The elevator system of claim 13, comprising two or more brake arms on which the one or more braking surfaces are disposed.

20. The elevator system of claim 17, wherein each brake arm is pivotable about an arm pivot.