ELECTRONIC CATCHING DEVICE THAT CAN BE EASILY RESET

Abstract

A method and a catching device are used to catch a traveling body in an elevator system wherein traveling body is movable along a rail. The catching device includes a first braking element, a second braking element, a first guide element, a second guide element and an actuating element. The first braking element and the second braking element are brought into contact with the rail for braking. A first linear bearing is formed between the first braking element and the first guide element and a second linear bearing is formed between the second braking element and the second guide element. Both guide elements are moved between a rest position and a braking initial position, the actuating element moving the two guide elements from the rest position into the braking initial position.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A catching device for an elevator system, the elevator system having a traveling body that is movable along a rail, the catching device comprising: a first braking element; a second braking element; a first guide element; a second guide element; an actuating element; wherein the first braking element and the second braking element are movable into contact with the rail for braking the traveling body; a first linear bearing being formed between the first braking element and the first guide element; a second linear bearing being formed between the second braking element and the second guide element; wherein the first and second guide elements are movable between a rest position and a braking initial position; wherein the actuating element when activated moves the first and second guide elements from the rest position into the braking initial position; a housing with the first guide element pivotably mounted on the housing in a first bearing; and wherein the first bearing is pivotable about an associated pivot axis, the pivot axis being aligned parallel to braking surfaces of the first and second braking elements and the pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the first linear bearing.

17. The catching device according to claim 16 wherein the actuating element asymmetrically moves the first and second guide elements from the rest position into the braking initial position.

18. The catching device according to claim 16 wherein the second guide element is pivotably mounted on the housing in a second bearing.

19. The catching device according to claim 18 wherein the second bearing is pivotable about an associated pivot axis that is aligned parallel to the braking surfaces of the first and second braking elements and the associated pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the second linear bearing.

20. The catching device according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the first braking element and the second braking elements is wedge-shaped.

21. The catching device according to claim 16 wherein the actuating element includes an operating element and an energy store.

22. The catching device according to claim 21 wherein the operating element keeps the energy store in a charged state in which an amount of energy is stored, and wherein the operating element releases the energy store in response to a trigger signal such that the stored amount of energy moves at least one of the first and second guide elements from the rest position into the braking initial position.

23. The catching device according to claim 22 wherein the operating element includes a holding element and an electromagnet, the electromagnet, in a current-carrying state, holds the holding element counter to a force generated by the energy store, and the operating element releases the energy store in response to the trigger signal by switching off current flow through the electromagnet.

24. The catching device according to claim 16 wherein the first bearing is arranged on the first guide element between a first region of the first guide element, on which first region the first braking element is guided, and a second region of the first guide element with which the actuating element engages, and/or wherein the second guide element is pivotably mounted on the housing in a second bearing arranged on the second guide element between a first region of the second guide element, on which first region the second braking element is guided, and a second region of the second guide element with which the actuating element engages.

25. The catching device according to claim 24 wherein the first region of the first guide element is positioned against a first stop of the housing in the rest position, and/or the first region of the second guide element is positioned against a second stop of the housing in the rest position.

26. The catching device according to claim 25 wherein the actuating element is under tensile forces in the rest position pressing the first and second guide elements against the first and second stops respectively in the rest position.

27. The catching device according to claim 25 wherein the first and second guide elements are held on the first and second stops respectively by fixing elements.

28. The catching device according to claim 27 wherein the first and second stops are permanent magnets or mechanical snappers.

29. The catching device according to claim 24 wherein the actuating element generates a force between the second region of the first guide element and the second region of the second guide element.

30. An elevator system for the vertical transport of passengers or goods, the elevator system comprising: a car; a drive for moving the car; and the catching device according to claim 16 wherein the car is the traveling body and the catching device is located on the car.

31. A method for catching a traveling body of an elevator system using the catching device according to claim 16, the method comprising the steps of: guiding the first braking element along the first guide element by the first linear bearing; guiding the second braking element along the second guide element by the second linear bearing; and operating the actuating element to act on the first and second guide elements and pivot the first and second guide elements from the rest position into the braking initial position of the catching device.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In the drawings:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a side view of the catching device in the rest position;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a section of the catching device of FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows an elevator system with a catching device;

[0050] FIG. 4 is a side view of the catching device in the braking initial position;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a side view of the catching device in the braking position;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the actuating element;

[0053] FIG. 7 is a detailed view in the region of the braking element; and

[0054] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the braking element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIG. 1 is a side view of catching device 1 in the rest position. The first guide element 4A rests against the stop 10A and the second guide element 4B rests against the second stop 10B. The two guide elements 10A, 10B each guide a braking element 2A, 2B. A linear bearing 5A, 5B, which is designed as an independent structural element, assumes the guiding function. The guide element 4A, 4B extends from the region of the brake pad 2A, 2B via the two bearings 9A, 9B to the actuating element 11. The actuating element 11 comprises a spring, which acts as an energy store 3, and an operating element 12. Both the operating element 12 and the energy store 3 are independently connected to the first two regions of the guide elements 4A, 4B. The operating element 12, which comprises the electromagnet 7 and the holding plate 8, is able to hold the energy store 3 in a charged position. The catching device 1 is attached to a traveling body in such a way that the rail 6 extends through between the two braking elements 2A, 2B. The bearings 9A, 9B pass the bearing forces of the guide element 4A, 4B into the housing 14. The housing 14 also comprises the stop 10A, 10B. The first braking surface 111A and the second braking surface 111B are used for braking on the rail 6.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a section B-B of the catching device 1 from FIG. 1. Between the two braking elements 2A, 2B there is a substantially cuboid intermediate region 20. This cuboid intermediate region 20 is used to define the space in which the rail 6 is accommodated. For this purpose, the intermediate region 20 can be theoretically extended to infinity along its longest main axis. The actuating element 11, of which only the operating element 12 is shown, is located outside of this infinitely extended intermediate region 20.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an elevator system 100. Such an elevator system 100 comprises at least a drive 22, a rail 6 and a car 21. In addition, such an elevator system 100 comprises at least one catching device 1, as known from FIG. 1. The catching device 1 can, as shown by way of example on the left in FIG. 3, be located substantially at the side of the car 21. There is substantially no overlapping region between the car 21 and the catching device 1 in a vertical projection of the elevator. Alternatively, the catching device 1 can, as shown by way of example on the right in FIG. 3, be located substantially underneath the car 21. There is substantially no overlapping region between the car 21 and the catching device 1 in any possible horizontal projection of the elevator.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a side view of the catching device 1 from FIG. 1 in the braking initial position. The braking initial position is reached by interrupting the current flow through the electromagnet 7. As a result, the holding force between the electromagnet 7 and the holding plate 8 drops, and the energy store 3 is designed, i.e. in particular able to apply sufficient force, to press the two guide elements 4A, 4B against one another at the energy store 3, i.e. between the second region of the first guide element 4A and the second region of the second guide element 4B. The energy store 3 is designed as a compression spring. As a result, the braking elements 2A, 2B guided on the guide elements 4A, 4B are displaced relative to one another and in the direction of the rail. This can also take place asymmetrically. The first brake pad 2A is already in contact with the rail 6 and has therefore already fully reached the braking initial position. The second brake pad 2B is still at a small distance from the rail 6 and has therefore not yet fully reached the braking initial position. As soon as the second brake pad 2B also touches the rail, the residual tension remaining in the partially relaxed energy store 3 will act on the contact points of the brake pads 2A, 2B with the rail 6 via the guide elements 4A, 4B, which act as levers. When both brake pads 2A, 2B touch the rail, the remaining force of the energy store 3 is transmitted from the two guide elements 4A, 4B to the brake pads 2A, 2B and the rail 6. The normal force generated between the rail 6 and each of the two brake pads 2A or 2B then leads to the braking elements 2A, 2B being displaced into the braking position if the rail 6 is displaced relative to the catching device 1 in the direction to be braked. The first braking surface 111A and the second braking surface 111B are used to apply the normal force to the rail 6.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a side view of the catching device 1 in the braking position, in which the braking elements 2A, 2B are moved up to the braking position. In the braking position, the braking elements 2A, 2B cause a very large normal force on the rail 6. This normal force is limited by the fact that the housing 14 can expand resiliently, and the braking elements 2A, 2B in the braking position can thus produce a sufficient normal force, even with the already worn braking elements 2A, 2B. A sufficient normal force generates sufficient frictional forces to ensure a secure catch. The normal force that the braking elements 2A, 2B apply to the brake rail 6 is much greater than the contact force that the energy store 3 causes via the guide elements 4A, 4B on the braking elements 2A, 2B in the braking initial position. Therefore, during the movement into the braking position, the two moving braking elements 2A, 2B move the guide elements 4A, 4B back to the corresponding stops 10A, 10B. As a result, the energy store 3 is recharged. The holding plate 8 and the electromagnet 7 are brought into contact with one another again by this movement or at least come so close that switching on the electromagnet 7 causes the two to adhere to one another. In the braking position, the catching device 1 can hold the traveling body for any length of time. The first braking surface 111A and the second braking surface 111B are used for braking on the rail 6 and are pressed flat against the rail 6 for this purpose. The braking surfaces have a braking profile.

[0060] In order to release the elevator system, the electromagnet 7 is first switched on again. A current flow through the electromagnet 7 is thus activated. In particular, any gap between the holding plate 8 and the electromagnet 7 is so small that the switching on of the electromagnet 7 is able to attract the holding plate 8. The catching device 1 is thus ready for use again and can be triggered at any time. Releasing is carried out by lifting out the traveling body. The braking elements 2A, 2B remain stationary due to the static friction between the rail 6 and the braking elements 2A, 2B, while the traveling body is lifted out upwards. The braking elements 2A, 2B slide along the linear bearings 5A, 5B into the rest position. As a result, there are almost no additional frictional forces and releasing can be carried out using the normal drive motor.

[0061] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the actuating element 11 with an alternative operating element 12. A clamping element 61 can either clamp a rod 63 and thus hold the energy store 3 in a tensioned position, or release the rod 63 and thus cause the catching device to be triggered. This embodiment has caps 64A and 64B which allow the operating element 12 and the energy store 3 to rotate relative to the guide elements 4A, 4B. The rod 63 is rigidly connected to the cap 64B. The clamping support 62 is firmly connected to the cap 64A. In a further alternative embodiment, the actuating element can comprise a drive which is controlled by the trigger signal.

[0062] FIG. 7 is a detailed view in the region of the braking element 2A. In addition to the elements known from FIG. 1, a fixing element 13 is also attached here. Preferably, this fixing element 13 is attached to the housing and acts as an extension of the stop 10A. The object is to eliminate any backlash between the stop 10A and the guide element 4A, or at least to fix the backlash in such a way that the guide elements remain at least safely spaced apart from the rail 6. In addition, rattling is effectively prevented. The first braking surface 111A is used to apply the normal force to the rail.

[0063] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the braking element, which allows the housing to be designed to be rigid. Instead of the housing having to be resilient in order to prevent excessive normal forces from occurring in the braking position, the braking element 2A, 2B can be designed in such a way that a spring assembly 82 in the braking element limits the normal force. In particular, the spring assembly 82 can be made up of disk springs 81. In this case, only the first braking element 2A, only the second braking element 2B, or both braking elements can have a spring assembly. The first braking surface 111A and the second braking surface 111B are used to apply the normal force to the rail.

[0064] 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 that 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.

[0065] 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.