Patent Application
20170291797
The present disclosure is generally related to braking and/or safety systems and, more specifically, a protective device for speed sensing device.
Some machines, such as an elevator system, include a safety system to stop the machine when it moves at excessive speeds or accelerations. In some systems, optical sensing devices may be used to determine the speed of the system. In some elevator systems, dust and debris within the hoistway may obstruct the optical sensor; potentially causing inaccurate readings by the sensing device. There is therefore a need for a means to remove dust and debris from the optical sensing device to maintain proper operation.
In an embodiment, a safety actuation assembly for an elevator system is provided. The safety actuation assembly includes a housing, a speed sensing device disposed within the housing, wherein the speed sensing device comprises a proximal end, and a protection device disposed within the housing and located adjacent to the proximal end of the speed sensing device. The protection device is configured to be placed in a first position when in a non-engaging position and in a second position when in an engaging position. In an embodiment, the protection device is composed of a foam material.
In an embodiment. the safety actuation assembly further includes a lever operably coupled to the protection device. In an embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a protrusion disposed on the lever. In another embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a retention device disposed adjacent to the protection device.
In an embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes an elevator component disposed within the housing, the elevator component located adjacent to the protrusion and configured to operate between the engaging position and the non-engaging position. In an embodiment, the elevator component is configured to engage the protrusion when placed in the engaging position.
In an embodiment, the elevator component includes a braking device. In an embodiment, the braking device includes a magnetic braking device, and an electromagnetic component disposed adjacent to the magnetic braking device, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured to hold the magnetic braking device in the non-engaging position.
In one aspect, an elevator system is provided. The elevator system includes a hoistway, a first elevator component disposed within the hoistway and configured to travel within the hoistway, and a safety actuation assembly operably coupled to the first elevator component. In an embodiment, the first elevator component includes at least one of an elevator car and a counterweight.
The safety actuation assembly includes a housing, a speed sensing device configured to determine a speed of the first elevator component, wherein the speed sensing device comprises a proximal end, and a protection device disposed within the housing and located adjacent to the proximal end of the speed sensing device; the protection device configured to be placed in a first position when in a non-engaging position and in a second position when in an engaging position. In an embodiment, the protection device is composed of a foam material.
In an embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a lever operably coupled to the protection device. In an embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a protrusion disposed on the lever. In an embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a retention device disposed adjacent to the protection device.
In an embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a second elevator component disposed within the housing, the second elevator component located adjacent to the protrusion and configured to operate between the engaging position and the non-engaging position. In an embodiment, the second elevator component is configured to engage the protrusion when placed in the engaging position.
In an embodiment, the second elevator component comprises a braking device. In an embodiment, the braking device includes a magnetic braking device and an electromagnetic component disposed adjacent to the magnetic braking device, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured to hold the magnetic braking device in the non-engaging position
In an embodiment, the protection device is composed of a foam material.
The embodiments and other features, advantages and disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.
Movement of the elevator car 12 and counterweight 20 in the hoistway 16 is provided by a motor 24 mounted in a machine room 26. The motor 24 rotates a sheave 28 around which the cable 14 extends to raise and lower the elevator car 12.
An electromechanical brake (not shown) located in the machine room 26, electronic safety actuation assemblies 40 (shown in
If, however, cables 14 break or the elevator car 12 otherwise experiences a free-fall condition unaffected by the brake, the electronic safety actuation assembly 40 may then act to actuate either or both of the car safety device 34 and counterweight safety device 36 to arrest movement of the elevator car 12 and counterweight 20.
The safety actuation assembly 40 further includes a protection device 44 disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the speed sensing device 42. The protection device 44 is configured to remove particles or other debris away from the speed sensing device 42. In an embodiment, the protection device 44 may be composed of a cloth, plastic, foam, nylon, or polypropylene. It will be appreciated that the protection device 44 may be composed of any material suitable for removing particles or debris away from the speed sensing device 42.
In an embodiment, the protection device 44 is operably coupled to a lever 46. In an embodiment, the lever 46 includes a protrusion 48, that may be engaged by an elevator component, to actuate movement of the lever 46 and protection device 44 between a first position and a second position. In an embodiment, the elevator component includes a magnetic brake 52 as later described herein. In other embodiments, the elevator component may include an electromechanical device, such as a rotary solenoid with a lever to name one non-limiting example. In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The magnetic brake 52 may be placed in a rail-engaging position as a result of the repulsion force exerted on the magnetic brake 52 by the electromagnetic component 50 which propels the magnetic brake 52 towards either car guide rails 18 or the counterweight guide rails 22 into a rail-engaging position, as shown in
Returning to
In other embodiments, the electromechanical device may be moved once or multiple times to engage the protrusion 48 in order to move the protection device 44 across the speed sensing device 42 to properly perform maintenance. It will be appreciated that the protection device 44 may be actuated based in part on a predefined quality threshold of the speed sensing device 42 (e.g., when the current data from the speed sensing devices 42 is not consistent with prior data). This may occur relatively frequent in very hostile environment, such as building construction phase, or it is infrequent if air quality in the elevator hoistway is good.
It will therefore be appreciated that the present elevator system 10 includes a safety actuation device 40 that includes a protection device 44 disposed adjacent to a speed sensing device 42 such that the protection device 44 may remove particles away from the speed sensing device 42 when placed in a second position to ensure proper operation and functionality in detecting the speed of the elevator car 12.
While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.
