The invention relates to a method of braking a travel body of an elevator installation and to a corresponding elevator braking device.
The elevator installation is installed in a building. It substantially consists of a car, which is connected by way of support means with a counterweight or with a second car. The car is moved along substantially vertical guide rails by means of a drive which selectably acts on the support means or directly on the car or the counterweight. The elevator installation is used in order to convey persons and goods within the building over individual or several floors.
The elevator installation includes devices in order to safeguard the elevator car in the case of failure of the drive or of the support means. For that purpose, use is usually made of safety brakes which when required can brake the elevator car on the guide rails.
A safety brake of that kind is known from European Application EP 2112116, which can be triggered by way of an electromechanical device. In that case, an electromagnet holds a brake counterplate in a normal position against the action of a spring force. The electromagnet requires a large amount of energy, since it has to constantly operate with a high retention energy against the spring force.
The invention has the object of providing an alternative safety brake which can be triggered by way of an electromechanical device and which can operate with a small amount of energy.
The safety brake, termed elevator braking device in the following, is provided for operation and for possible braking of an elevator car on a braking web, preferably on a braking web integrated in a guide rail. The elevator braking device includes a brake housing. The brake housing forms the basic structure of the elevator braking device. It is preferably incorporated in a support structure of an elevator car and it is preferably constructed for transmitting braking forces from brake bodies to the elevator car. Instead of the elevator car, the elevator braking device can obviously also be mounted on a counterweight of the elevator installation.
The elevator braking device includes a first brake body. This first brake body is arranged at the brake housing to be movable. It is constructed in such a manner that as soon as it comes into contact with the braking web and this braking web moves relative to the elevator braking device, thus when the elevator car moves along the guide rail, it moves in the brake housing with the braking web of the guide rail. Through this movement, which preferably takes place due to friction couple, the braking web can be clamped and the brake housing, or spring elements belonging to the brake housing, can be strained.
This takes place in that, for example, the first brake body includes or is a braking eccentric, which is arranged to be rotatable about an axis of rotation arranged at the brake housing. As soon as the eccentric is brought into contact with the braking web the eccentric is rotated by the friction force produced between eccentric and braking web. The brake housing is thereby urged back in correspondence with the eccentricity of the eccentric and the brake housing is correspondingly strained. In correspondence with the shape of the straining eccentric or of the braking eccentric the rotation thereof constrainedly takes place in correspondence with a direction of movement of the elevator braking device. The elevator braking device can consequently be constructed to act at both sides.
Alternatively, the first brake body can also be a brake wedge instead of an eccentric. In that case, a brake wedge is mounted on a wedge track at a spacing from the braking web. As soon as the brake wedge is brought into contact with the braking web or is pressed thereagainst the brake wedge is entrained by the friction force produced between brake wedge and braking web. The brake housing is thereby urged back in correspondence with the wedge slope of the brake wedge and brake housing is correspondingly strained.
The elevator braking device includes a presser. This presser is arranged at the brake housing so that the braking web can be arranged between the first brake body and the presser. The presser is thus disposed on a side, which is opposite the first brake body with respect to the braking web, in the brake housing. The presser is so arranged that in a normal setting there is, between the first brake body and the presser, a spacing at least corresponding with the thickness of the braking web plus a required passage tolerance between the first brake body, the braking web and the presser. The presser is so constructed that when required it can be adjusted in the direction of the first brake body substantially in a line of action extending perpendicularly to the braking web and that it can be pressed against the braking web able to be arranged between the first brake body and the presser. Moreover, the first brake body can be brought by a counterforce, which is produced by the pressing of the presser against the braking web, into contact with the braking web in that the presser arranged at the brake housing presses the brake housing laterally away and thus brings the first brake body, which is similarly arranged at the brake housing, into contact with the braking web. This form of clamping has the effect that the first brake body, after it has been brought into contact with the braking web, can be automatically strained again and thus bring the elevator braking device into action. The spacing between the first brake body and the presser can on occasion also be selected to be somewhat greater than the minimum required passage tolerance if, for example, other braking parts are intended for the presser.
Advantageously, the brake housing is fastened to the elevator car to be horizontally flexible or displaceable. The brake housing and thus the elevator braking device can thus be oriented with respect to the braking web, and guide shoes of the car are thereby relieved of load.
Advantageously, the elevator braking device further includes a pressing lever, which is pivotably mounted at the brake housing and which when required acts on the presser in order to press this against the braking web and to bring the first brake body into contact with the braking web. The trigger structure is thus directly located on the brake housing. This is advantageous, since the pressing forces are thus accepted directly within the elevator braking device. Type approvals of the elevator braking device, such as are frequently carried out by safety bodies, can thus be carried out simply for the individual subassembly, in the elevator braking device, since all functional parts are included in this one subassembly.
Advantageously, the elevator braking device includes a second brake body, which is similarly arranged at the brake housing so that the braking web can be arranged between the first brake body and the second brake body. In addition, the second brake body is so arranged that the straining, which can be produced by the first brake body, of the brake housing can clamp the braking web between the first and second brake bodies. Accordingly, the first brake body is, as a reaction to the pressed presser, drawn or pressed with respect to the braking web. The braking web is thus clamped. Straining of the brake housing takes place through subsequent straining of the first brake body, whereby the second brake body is clamped again.
Advantageously, the presser is at the same time the second brake body. This second brake body is mounted, partially slidably, in the brake housing by way of stop pins and supported by way of biased pressure elements, such as, for example, a plate spring packet, at the brake housing. The second brake body can consequently be adjusted by means of an adjusting device over the slide range of the stop pin towards the braking web and the first brake body can be drawn towards the opposite side of the braking web as a reaction. The braking web is thereby clamped and the first brake body entrained by a possible car movement. Through the straining function of the first brake body the presser or, in the present variant, the second brake body is initially urged back and strained again after contact with the pressing elements in the brake housing.
In an alternative, the presser is a stud. The stud is mounted at the brake housing or at the second brake body and it is adjustable towards the braking web, preferably by means of the pressing lever. In this embodiment the stud can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device towards the braking web and the first brake body can as a reaction be drawn towards the opposite side of the braking web. The braking web is thereby clamped and the first brake body is entrained by a possible car movement. Through the straining function of the first brake body the presser or, in the present variant, the stud is urged back until a plane of the second brake body is reached. The elevator braking device is thereafter strained again. In this embodiment the presser or the stud set back with respect to the second brake body, in the normal position, by a small amount.
In an alternative, the presser is a pressing roller. The pressing roller is preferably mounted on the brake housing. It is adjustable towards the braking web preferably by means of the pressing lever. In this embodiment the pressing roller is adjusted towards the braking web by means of the adjusting device and the first brake body is drawn towards the opposite side of the braking web as a reaction. The braking web is thereby clamped and the first brake body is entrained by a possible car movement. Due to the straining function of the first brake body the presser or, in the present variant, the pressing roller is urged back until a plane of the second brake body is reached. Thereafter, the elevator braking device is strained again.
Advantageously, the first brake body is realized in the form of a straining eccentric. The straining eccentric is arranged to be rotatable about an axis of rotation arranged at the brake housing. When the straining eccentric is pressed against the braking web the straining eccentric is rotated by a friction force produced between straining eccentric and braking web. The brake housing is thereby urged back and strained. Straining eccentrics are proven components and allow realization of the required adjusting and resetting travels.
The straining eccentric is advantageously centered in the normal position by resetting means. Departure from the normal position, attainment of a predetermined clamping and/or attainment of a braking setting is or are ascertained by an electrical sensor. The resetting means is preferably a spring-loaded roller tappet which co-operates with a control cam, which is mounted at the straining eccentric, or a resetting cam. The sensor monitors, for preference, the position of the roller tappet. This is advantageous, since the working setting of the elevator braking device can be monitored. The elevator installation can thus, for example, be stopped as long as the elevator braking device is in its braking setting or as long as it is in a significant clamping range. A significant clamping is, for example, achieved when the straining eccentric is significantly rotated or the resetting means is correspondingly clearly pressed.
Advantageously, an elevator braking device of that kind is attached to the elevator car of the elevator installation by way of a horizontal slide device and a centering device. The brake housing and thus the elevator braking device can therefore be oriented with respect to the braking web and guide shoes of the car are thereby relieved of load. The centering device advantageously comprises a double arrangement of springs or abutments, which resiliently hold the brake housing in a center position. This centering device is set at the time of installing the elevator installation or at the time of maintenance thereof.
Advantageously, the presser of the elevator braking device can, when required, be pressed against the braking web by means of an actuator loaded by a biased spring. An adjusting mechanism of the elevator braking device, such as presser, pressing lever, studs and rollers, is thus relieved of load in normal operation. The parts loaded with force in normal operation are thus concentrated in a preferably separate actuator.
Advantageously, in each instance at least two elevator braking devices are attached to an elevator car and respectively act as required on braking webs or guide rails arranged on either side of the elevator car. Forces of the elevator braking devices can thus be introduced into the elevator car symmetrically and an actuator can act directly synchronously on the two adjusting mechanisms of the elevator braking devices.
Exemplifying embodiments are explained in the following by way of examples and schematic illustrations, in which:
a shows a sectional illustration of the elevator braking device of
a shows a sectional illustration of the elevator braking device of
a shows a sectional illustration of the elevator braking device of
a shows a sectional illustration of the elevator braking device of
a shows a sectional view of the elevator braking device of
The same reference numerals are used in the figures for equivalent parts over all figures.
The elevator installation 1 is controlled by an elevator control 10. The elevator control 10 receives user requests, optimizes the operating sequence of the elevator installation and controls the drive 5.
The elevator car 2 and, if required, also the counterweight 3 are additionally equipped with a braking system, which is suitable for securing and/or retarding the elevator car 2 in the case of unexpected movement or in the case of excess speed. In the example, the braking system comprises two constructionally identical safety brakes or elevator braking devices 20, 20′, which are installed at the travel body 2, 3 on either side thereof. The elevator braking devices 20, 20′ are, in the example, arranged below the car 2 and are electrically, actuable by way of a brake control 11. This brake control 11 preferably also includes an electronic speed or travel plot limiter, which monitors travel movements of the elevator car 2. A mechanical speed limiter, such as is usually used, can accordingly be eliminated.
The construction and function of the elevator braking device 20 are explained by way of example in the following on the basis of the series of
A first brake body 22 is arranged at the brake housing 21. In the example, the first brake body is a straining eccentric 23. The first brake body 22 or the straining eccentric 23 is mounted to be rotatable about an axis 24 of rotation, which is fixedly arranged in the brake housing. The first brake body 22 is shaped in such a manner that a spacing of the straining eccentric 23 from the axis 24 of rotation continuously increases starting from a zero position over an angle of rotation. In end regions, the straining eccentric 23 goes over into a brake surface. The first brake body 22 is positioned in the zero position by a resetting means 37. In the example, the first brake body 22 includes for that purpose a resetting cam 40 which is rotatable together with the first brake body 22. The resetting cam 40 is flattened in the region of the zero position and a roller tappet 38 constantly presses against the resetting cam 40. The roller tappet 38 is loaded by a tappet spring 39 so that the roller tappet 38 always presses against the resetting cam 40. A corresponding resetting moment of the first brake body 22 takes place due to this pressing against the resetting cam 40 flattened in the region of the zero position. The course of the resetting moment can be influenced by the shape of the resetting cam 40 with valleys and elevations. In the example, the roller tappet 38 is a spring-loaded roller lever. The roller tappet can instead also be a direct, longitudinally spring-loaded tappet.
In the example, the position of the first brake body 22 is detected by means of the position of the roller tappet 38 by way of a sensor 36, for example a safety switch, since a rotated first brake body 22 urges the roller tappet rearwardly and activates the sensor 36.
In addition, a presser 25 is arranged at the brake housing 21, which in the example is welded together from a plurality of parts. In the example, the presser 25 is constructed in accordance with
A spacing S1 is set between the first brake body 22 and the second brake body 30. This spacing S1 enables arrangement of guide rails 6 or a braking web 7 in this intermediate space. The spacing S1 can be set by the design and setting of the pressure elements 31 and the associated stop pin 32. The spacing S1 is usually set so that it corresponds with the thickness S3 of the braking web 7 of the guide rail 6 plus a desired passage play S2 between braking web 7 and brake surfaces of the first and second brake bodies 22, 30. Typical passage plays S3 are approximately 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters.
In the example of
The stud 26 is connected with a pressing lever 28 and the pressing lever 28 is arranged in the brake housing 21 to be pivotable about a fulcrum 29. The pressing lever 28 is additionally connected with the actuator 15 by way of connecting rods 16, 16′.
In the normal setting according to
In
Insofar as a vertical relative movement between elevator braking device 20 and braking web 7 takes place the straining eccentric 23 or the first brake body 22 is rotated on the axis 24 of rotation until the straining eccentric 23 reaches its brake surface. This braking setting is apparent in
The afore-mentioned setting back of the stud 26 behind a brake surface of the second brake body 30 in the normal setting makes it possible for the second brake body 30 or the pressure element 31 to be able to be pressed during braking.
The resetting cam 40 of the straining eccentric 23 is also rotated as a consequence of the rotation of the straining eccentric 23, whereby the roller tappet 38 is urged back and the sensor 36 is actuated. As a result, the elevator control can interrupt further travel operation of the elevator installation. A time point or switching instant of the sensor 36 can be determined by the shape of the resetting cam 40 as well as the arrangement of the sensor 36. As a rule, the switching instant of the sensor 36 is selected or set in such a manner that only a clear rotation of the straining eccentric 23 leads to switching of the sensor 36. Faulty switching, for example as a consequence of a brief rail contact, is thereby avoided.
In that regard it is apparent that the rotation of the straining eccentric 23 or of the first brake body 22 takes place in correspondence with the vertical relative movement or the travel direction of the elevator braking device 20. This elevator braking device 20 can be actuated in both directions of travel in the case of appropriate design of the brake body 22.
For resetting of the elevator braking device the car 2 can now be moved in an opposite direction, whereby the straining eccentric 23 is urged back until the normal setting, as illustrated in
An alternative embodiment is illustrated in
Alternative embodiments are possible. Thus, the stud 26 according to
A straining wedge or a straining roller can also be used instead of the illustrated first brake body in the form of a straining eccentric. In this case, a straining or braking wedge or correspondingly a straining roller is moved along an inclined draw-in path and an adjusting movement is produced by the draw-in path.
The illustrated embodiments and sequences can be further varied by the expert. The substantially symmetrical shape of the straining eccentric as apparent in
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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11192831.3 | Dec 2011 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2012/073674 | 11/27/2012 | WO | 00 | 6/3/2014 |