BRAKE DEVICE, E.G. WITH AN ECCENTRIC ELEMENT, FOR BRAKING A TRAVELING BODY THAT CAN BE MOVED IN A GUIDED MANNER ALONG A GUIDE RAIL IN A MOVEMENT DIRECTION

Abstract

A brake device for braking an elevator installation traveling body movable along a guide rail includes a holder mounting a brake element having a brake surface movable relative to the holder between a freewheel position and a braking position. In a deactivated configuration, a pretensioning element does not exert any force moving the brake element towards the braking position, and in an activated configuration exerts such force. In a retaining state, a release element retains the pretensioning element in the deactivated configuration, and when activated into a released state, the release element changes the pretensioning element into the activated configuration. In an unactuated state, a friction-generating element does not abut the guide rail and, in an actuated state generates friction by abutting the guide rail to exert a force on the brake element and force the brake element towards the freewheel position.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A brake device for braking a traveling body of an elevator installation, the traveling body being movable in a guided manner along a guide rail in a movement direction, the brake device comprising: a holder adapted to be attached to the traveling body; a brake element; a pretensioning element; a release element; a friction-generating element; wherein the brake element is mounted and retained on the holder and has a brake surface directed toward the guide rail when the holder is attached to the traveling body, the brake element being movable relative to the holder between a freewheel position and a braking position, wherein the brake surface is laterally spaced apart from the guide rail in the freewheel position and is pressed laterally against the guide rail in the braking position; wherein the pretensioning element, in a deactivated configuration, does not exert a force on the brake element to move the brake element toward the braking position and, in an activated configuration, exerts a force on the brake element that moves the brake element toward the braking position; wherein the release element, in a retaining state, retains the pretensioning element in the deactivated configuration and, when the release element is in a released state, changes the pretensioning element from the deactivated configuration into the activated configuration; and wherein the friction-generating element, in an unactuated state, cannot generate any friction by abutting the guide rail and therefore does not exert any force resulting from such friction on the brake element and, in an actuated state, the friction-generating element generates friction by abutting the guide rail to exert a force resulting from the generated friction on the brake element, which force forces the brake element in a direction towards the freewheel position.

15. The Brake device according to claim 14 wherein the brake element is an eccentric element having a sub-region of a lateral surface of the eccentric element that acts as the brake surface, the eccentric element being pivotable eccentrically about a pivot axis between a freewheel orientation and a braking orientation thereby pivoting the brake surface between the freewheel position and the braking position.

16. The brake device according to claim 15 wherein the pretensioning element is an elastically deformable element that interacts with the holder and the brake element such that, in the activated configuration, the pretensioning element pivots the brake surface into mechanical contact with the guide rail and wherein one end of the elastically deformable element interacts eccentrically with the eccentric element and is mechanically pretensioned in the deactivated configuration.

17. The brake device according to claim 14 wherein the pretensioning element is an elastically deformable element that interacts with the holder and the brake element such that, in the activated configuration, the pretensioning element pivots the brake surface into mechanical contact with the guide rail.

18. The brake device according to claim 17 wherein the pretensioning element is a spring.

19. The brake device according to claim 14 wherein the pretensioning element is an elastically deformable element, in particular as a spring (33), that interacts with the holder and the brake element such that, in the deactivated configuration, the pretensioning element is pretensioned in a first direction and in a fully engaged configuration of the brake element, the pretensioning element is pretensioned in a second direction transverse or opposite to the first direction, wherein, in the fully engaged configuration, the brake element is movable by friction on the guide rail, counter to the movement direction beyond a position in which the brake surface, moving from the freewheel position, first abuts the guide rail.

20. The brake device according to claim 19 wherein the pretensioning element is a spring.

21. The brake device according to claim 14 wherein the release element is a latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and wherein the latch, in the latched position, retains the pretensioning element in the deactivated configuration and, in the unlatched position, releases the pretensioning element to the activated configuration.

22. The brake device according to claim 14 wherein the friction-generating element includes a pressure element and an actuator, wherein the actuator keeps the pressure element spaced apart from the guide rail in the unactuated state of the friction-generating element, and wherein the pressure element is pressed against the guide rail by the actuator in the actuated state of the friction-generating element.

23. The brake device according to claim 22 wherein the friction-generating element includes a mechanism for moving the pressure element toward a counter-bearing element, and wherein the guide rail is arranged between the pressure element and the counter-bearing element.

24. The brake device according to claim 14 wherein the friction-generating element includes an electromagnet.

25. The brake device according to claim 14 wherein the friction-generating element is pivotally connected to the brake element.

26. An elevator installation comprising: a guide rail; a traveling body movable in a guided manner along the guide rail in a movement direction; a drive device for moving the traveling body; and the brake device according to claim 14 attached by the holder to the traveling body and being arranged adjacent to the guide rail.

27. A method for releasing the brake device in the elevator installation according to claim 26, the brake device having been previously activated such that the brake element is engaged in a fully engaged position by moving the brake element relative to the holder counter to a movement direction of the traveling body being braked, wherein the brake surface abuts the guide rail and the brake element is clamped between the guide rail and the holder, the method comprising the steps of: actuating the friction-generating element of the brake device; and moving the brake device by moving the traveling body using the drive device in a release direction opposite to the movement direction.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the traveling body is moved in the release direction until the brake element that is held stationary and braked on the guide rail by the actuated friction-generating element is moved relative to the holder into a fixing position in which the pretensioning element is in a position corresponding to the deactivated configuration, and the release element transitions from the released state to the retaining state to retain the pretensioning element in the deactivated configuration.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] FIG. 1 shows an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIGS. 2a-f show a brake device according to an embodiment of the present invention in different stages during activation and then release of the brake device.

[0070] The drawings are merely schematic and not true to scale. In the various figures, identical reference signs refer to features which are identical or have an identical function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] FIG. 1 shows an elevator installation 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure only shows components which allow an understanding of the present invention. The elevator installation 1 can have further components, which are not shown for reasons of clarity.

[0072] The elevator installation 1 comprises a traveling body in the form of an elevator car 3 which can be moved vertically within an elevator shaft 7. During its vertical movement, the elevator car 3 is guided laterally by guide rails 5 which are attached to side walls 9 of the elevator shaft 7 and extend along an entire travel path of the elevator car 3. The elevator car 3 is held by cable-like suspension means 13 which can be moved by means of a drive device 11. Two brake devices 15 are attached to the elevator car 3. The brake devices 15 are each arranged adjacent to one of the guide rails 5 and can interact therewith to generate a braking force.

[0073] FIG. 2a shows a brake device 15 according to an embodiment of the invention in cross section. The brake device 15 comprises a holder 17, a brake element 19, a pretensioning element 21, a release element 23, and a friction-generating element 25.

[0074] The holder 17 is implemented using a frame 27 in the example shown. This frame 27 can be fastened to the elevator car 3. The frame 27 is designed to transmit the forces generated by the brake device 15 to the elevator car 3, in particular to brake the elevator car. The frame 27 also serves to support other components such as, inter alia, the brake element 19, the pretensioning element 21, and the release element 23.

[0075] On its lateral surface, the brake element 19 has a brake surface 31 directed towards the guide rail 5. Due to its material and/or its structure, the brake surface 31 can be adapted to bring about high frictional forces upon contact with the guide rail 5.

[0076] In the present case, the brake element 19 is designed as an eccentric element 29. In the example shown, the eccentric element 29 has a circular cross section and can be pivoted about an eccentrically arranged axis 30. The axis 30 is coupled to the frame 27 of the holder 17. Accordingly, the eccentric element 29 can be pivoted relative to the holder 17 in different orientations.

[0077] As long as the brake device 15 is not actuated, the eccentric element 29 forming the brake element 19 is pivoted into a freewheel orientation shown in FIG. 1, in which the brake surface 31 is laterally spaced apart from an opposite surface of the guide rail 5. Accordingly, no friction is created between the brake element 19 and the guide rail 5 in this unactuated state.

[0078] When the brake device 15 is actuated, the eccentric element 29 is pivoted from its freewheel orientation into a braking orientation. In this braking orientation, the brake surface 31 comes into contact with the opposite surface of the guide rail 5, as shown in FIG. 2b. This mechanical contact causes considerable friction between the brake element 19 and the guide rail 5 in the actuated state.

[0079] In order to be able to pivot the brake element 19 from its freewheel orientation in the direction of its braking orientation, the brake device 15 comprises the pretensioning element 21. The pretensioning element 21 is an elastically deformable element such as a spring 33. In the example shown, this spring 33 is arranged between a first fastening point 35 on the frame 27 of the holder 17 and a second fastening point 37 on the brake element 19. The second fastening point 37 is arranged eccentrically on the eccentric element 29, in particular away from the axis 30 and preferably close to an outer circumference of the eccentric element 29.

[0080] As long as the brake device 15 is not actuated, the pretensioning element 21 remains in a deactivated configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 2a. In this deactivated configuration, the pretensioning element 21 is mechanically pretensioned in a first direction. In the example shown, the spring 33 used for this purpose is mechanically stretched.

[0081] In order to retain the pretensioning element 21 in this deactivated configuration as long as the brake device 15 is not actuated, the brake device 15 comprises the release element 23. In the example shown, this release element 23 is designed with a latch 39. This latch 39 can be held in a retaining state by means of an electromagnet 41 by the release element 23 retaining the pretensioning element 21 in its first configuration.

[0082] If the brake device 15 is to be actuated, the release element 23 can be activated in a released state, for example by no longer energizing the electromagnet 41 in the embodiment shown and the latch 39 thus being released. The latch 39 can then be moved from its latched position shown in FIG. 2a, in which it blocks a movement of the spring 33 used as the pretensioning element 21, to an unlatched position shown in FIG. 2b, in which it releases the pretensioning element 21. In the example shown, the latch 39 can be pivoted for this purpose.

[0083] The pretensioning element 21 released in this way, due the mechanical pretension prevailing therein, can then pivot the eccentric element 29 from its freewheel orientation into its braking orientation as illustrated in FIG. 2b. Due to its eccentric mounting about the axis 30, the brake surface 31 comes into lateral contact with the guide rail 5.

[0084] In order to be able to suitably counteract the force brought about on the brake element 19 and thus on the holder 17, the brake device 15 has a counter-pressure element 43 which is also attached to the holder 17 and is supported by counter-pressure springs 45 relative to the frame 27 of the holder 17.

[0085] As soon as the brake surface 31 of the brake element 19 abuts the guide rail 5, the brake element 19, due to the relative movement between the brake device 15 and the guide rail 5 in the movement direction 47, is further pivoted counter to this movement direction 47. Due to the configuration of the brake element 19 as an eccentric element 29, the contact pressure exerted by the brake element 19 on the guide rail 5 via the brake surface 31 thereof increases. The overall braking effect achieved by the brake device 15 is therefore self-reinforcing.

[0086] Ultimately, the brake element 19 is pivoted into a fully engaged configuration, as shown in FIG. 2c. In this configuration, the brake device 15 brings about high braking forces, with the aid of which the elevator car 3 fastened thereto can be braked to a standstill effectively and quickly.

[0087] During the pivoting movement of the brake element 19 from the position or orientation in which it reaches its braking position and first abuts the guide rail 5 with the brake surface 31 thereof to the position or orientation in which the brake element 19 has reached its fully engaged configuration, the brake element 19 is further pivoted relative to the frame 27 of the holder 17. As a result of this, the pretensioning element 21, which is fastened at one end to the second fastening point 37, is also stretched beyond its temporarily untensioned or at least less tensioned configuration into a further configuration subjected to a tensile pretension. However, in this case, the spring 33 forming the pretensioning element 21 runs in a different direction than was originally the case in the freewheel orientation. Accordingly, the force brought about by the pretensioned pretensioning element 21 on the brake element 19 in the freewheel orientation on the one hand and the fully engaged configuration on the other hand causes opposite torques on the brake element 19.

[0088] In other words, in the fully engaged configuration, the pretensioned pretensioning element 21 attempts to pivot the brake element 19 in a direction back to the braking orientation and ultimately to the freewheel orientation. However, in the fully engaged configuration, the forces clamping the eccentric brake element 19 to the guide rail 5 predominate, so that the brake element 19 remains in its fully engaged configuration despite the restoring forces exerted by the pretensioning element 21, as long as no further measures are taken.

[0089] In conventional brake devices, it was difficult to release an actuated brake device in which the brake element was moved into its fully engaged configuration, i.e. to return it to its original configuration.

[0090] With reference to FIGS. 2d to 2f, it is described below how, with the brake device 15 presented here, such a release of the brake device 15 can be carried out easily and generally without the need for intervention by a technician, i.e. ideally in a fully automated manner.

[0091] To release the brake device 15, its friction-generating element 25 is first actuated. In the example shown, an actuator 49 of a mechanism 48 of the friction-generating element 25 is activated for this purpose. The actuator 49 then moves a pressure element 51, which was previously held at a distance from the guide rail 5 due to a pretension caused by a spacer spring 55, towards the guide rail 5. A counter-bearing element 53 can engage behind the guide rail 5 on an opposite side. By the pressure element 51 being pressed against the guide rail 5 and thereby being supported on the counter-bearing element 53, the friction-generating element 25 can generate considerable friction with the guide rail 5, which can bring about a braking force that opposes a movement direction 47 of the brake device 15 relative to the guide rail 5.

[0092] This braking force can, for example, be transmitted from the friction-generating element 25 to the brake element 19 with the aid of a coupling rod 57. A force transmission can take place in such a way that the force causes a torque on the eccentric element 29. For this purpose, for example, the coupling rod 57 can act eccentrically on the eccentric element 29, in particular at a distance from its axis 30. In this case, the coupling rod 57 can be pivotable relative to the eccentric element 29.

[0093] After the friction-generating element 25 has been actuated in this way, the elevator car 3 is moved, as illustrated in FIG. 2d, by means of the drive device 11 counter to the original movement direction 47 in a release direction 59, i.e. upwards in the example shown. As a result, the holder 17 is also moved together with the elevator car 3. Since the brake element 19 is pressed against the guide rail 5 and is thus held there in a stationary manner, the brake element 19 is thus moved out of its previously fully engaged configuration, i.e. pivoted back in the direction of the freewheel orientation.

[0094] Without the braking effect of the friction-generating element 25, however, the brake element 19 would soon lose the contact pressure of its brake surface 31 against the guide rail 5, since it would reach an orientation in which the brake surface 31 no longer abuts the guide rail 5. Accordingly, the brake element 19 would then begin to move along with the holder 17 without being pivoted any further. Thus, the brake element 19 could not be restored all the way back to its original configuration.

[0095] However, the braking effect of the actuated friction-generating element 25, or the effect of its being fixed to the guide rail 5, causes the brake element 19 to experience a torque even without it abutting the guide rail 5 itself. The force causing the torque is transmitted from the friction-generating element 25 to the brake element 19 via the coupling rod 57. Accordingly, the brake element 19 can be pivoted further relative to the holder 17, as illustrated in FIG. 2e, by the elevator car 3, together with the holder 17, being moved further in the release direction 59.

[0096] The pretensioning element 21 is thereby gradually tensioned until it eventually reaches its deactivated configuration again. In this situation, as shown in FIG. 2f, the release element 23 can be reconfigured back into its retaining state. For this purpose, the electromagnet 41 can be energized and the latch 39 can thereby be moved back into its latched position.

[0097] Ultimately, the braking effect that can be generated using the friction-generating element 25 can pivot the brake element 19 until it has reached its starting position relative to the holder 17, and the entire brake device 15 can thus be automatically returned to its original configuration.

[0098] It should be noted that the specific configuration of the components of the brake device 15 in FIGS. 2a-f is merely an example. As an alternative to the configuration shown, for example, the brake element 19 could also be implemented using a movable brake wedge instead of as an eccentric element 29. The pretensioning element 21 can also be implemented, for example, with other components that are suitable for bringing about suitably directed forces on the brake element 19 instead of with the spring 33. The release element 23, for example, instead of being implemented as a latch 39, can also be implemented in the form of other components that controllably block a movement of the brake element 19. The friction-generating element 25 may comprise components other than those shown in order to be able to generate friction with the guide rail 5 in a controllable manner. For example, the friction-generating element 25 can be designed with an electromagnet which, when energized, can pull a brake body against the guide rail 5.

[0099] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “having,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0100] 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.