ELEVATOR BRAKE

Abstract

An elevator brake braking and holding an elevator car in an elevator system includes a first brake lining having a first actuating device and a second brake lining, which brake linings cause braking in interaction with a braking strip or brake disk. A second actuating device is associated with the second brake lining, and the second actuating device moves the second brake lining toward the first brake lining, if necessary, thus clamping and braking the braking strip or the brake disk between the second and first brake linings. The first actuating device moves the first brake lining toward the second brake lining to clamp and brake the braking strip or the brake disk between the first and second brake linings. The first and the second actuating device operate according to different principles of operation.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An elevator brake for braking and holding an elevator car in an elevator system, the elevator brake comprising: a first brake lining with a first actuating device and a second brake lining with a second actuating device, wherein the first brake lining and the second brake lining are arranged at a predetermined distance from one another in a standby position so that a braking strip of a guide rail for the elevator car or a brake disc of an elevator drive for the elevator car can be arranged between the first brake lining and the second brake lining; wherein the second actuating device moves the second brake lining towards the first brake lining to clamp and brake the braking strip or the brake disc between the first brake lining and the second brake lining; wherein the first actuating device moves the first brake lining towards the second brake lining to clamp and brake the braking strip or the brake disc between the first brake lining and second brake lining; and wherein the first actuating device is operated according to a first principle of operation and the second actuating device is operated according to a second principle of operation, the second principle of operation being different from the first principle of operation.

17. The elevator brake according to claim 16 wherein according to the first principle of operation, the first actuating device includes a first advancing device with an energy store, wherein the first advancing device advances the first brake lining from the standby position towards the braking strip or the brake disc and presses the first brake lining against the braking strip or the brake disc when energy stored in the energy store is released, and according to the second principle of operation, the second actuating device includes a second advancing device that advances the second brake lining from the standby position towards the braking strip or the brake disc and presses the second brake lining against the braking strip or the brake disc, and the second actuating device further includes a return device that returns the second brake lining into the standby position.

18. The elevator brake according to claim 17 wherein the second advancing device includes an advancing control by which an advancing force applied by the second advancing device to advance the second brake lining is controlled.

19. The elevator brake according to claim 17 wherein the second advancing device includes a spindle drive driven by an electric motor, wherein the spindle drive is self-locking to maintain an advanced position without a supply of electrical energy to the electric motor.

20. The elevator brake according to claim 17 wherein the first actuating device includes a tension bolt that acts directly or indirectly on the energy store of the first advancing device and the tension bolt is actuated to return the energy store together with the first advancing device and the first brake lining to the standby position.

21. The elevator brake according to claim 20 wherein the first advancing device of the first actuating device includes an electromagnetic holding and catch device that holds the energy store in the standby position and is operated to release the energy store.

22. The elevator brake according to claim 21 wherein the electromagnetic holding and catch device includes a plurality of electromagnets that act on the tension bolt through a lever distribution and act directly or indirectly on the energy store of the first advancing device.

23. The elevator brake according to claim 22 wherein the plurality of electromagnets move the tension bolt and the energy store from an actuated position, in which the first brake lining is advanced towards the braking strip or the brake disc, back to the standby position.

24. The elevator brake according to claim 23 wherein a partial quantity of the plurality of electromagnets holds the tension bolt and the energy store in the standby position and thereby holds the first brake lining at a predetermined or adjustable distance from the braking strip or the brake disc.

25. The elevator brake according to claim 17 wherein the energy store of the first advancing device includes a compression spring and the first brake lining in the standby position lies adjacent to a stop so that a tensioning force brought about by the second actuating device via the second brake lining is transferred via the stop into a brake housing of the elevator brake.

26. The elevator brake according to claim 17 wherein the second advancing device of the second brake lining is actuated to push the first brake lining together with the first advancing device and the energy store back to the standby position.

27. The elevator brake according to claim 16 including a traction means holding the first brake lining in the standby position, the traction means being looped around a bollard or a capstan and, via a free end of the traction means, held by at least one electromagnet.

28. An elevator system with an elevator car that traverses along a guide rail, comprising: at least one elevator brake fixed to the elevator car for acting on a braking strip arranged on the guide rail, the at least one elevator brake comprising: a first brake lining with a first actuating device and a second brake lining with a second actuating device, wherein the first brake lining and the second brake lining are spaced apart in a standby position so that the braking strip of the guide rail is arranged between the first brake lining and the second brake lining; wherein the second actuating device moves the second brake lining towards the first brake lining to clamp and brake the braking strip or the brake disc between the first brake lining and the second brake lining; wherein the first actuating device moves the first brake lining towards the second brake lining to clamp and brake the braking strip or the brake disc between the first brake lining and second brake lining; and wherein the first actuating device is operated according to a first principle of operation and the second actuating device is operated according to a second principle of operation, the second principle of operation being different from the first principle of operation.

29. The elevator system according to claim 28 wherein the elevator brake includes a centering device that centers the elevator brake in a standby position wherein the first brake lining and the second brake lining are arranged at a predetermined or adjustable distance from the braking strip, and wherein the elevator brake is fixed laterally displaceable to the elevator car so that the elevator brake is aligned with respect to the guide rail by a contact pressure generated by at least one of the second actuating device and the first actuating device.

30. The elevator system according to claim 28 including an elevator control for controlling the elevator system and a monitoring device for monitoring operation of the elevator system, wherein the elevator control triggers solely the second actuating device of the elevator brake during a normal operation of the elevator system and the monitoring device triggers at least one of the second actuating device and the first actuating device in response to a malfunction of the elevator system.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The invention is explained in greater detail below with the aid of examples of embodiment in connection with the appended figures. In the figures:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of an exemplary elevator system;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the elevator system from FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of an elevator brake;

[0037] FIG. 4a shows a diagrammatic representation of a possible first advancing device for the first actuating device in a tensioned standby position;

[0038] FIG. 4b shows the first advancing device from FIG. 4a in an actuated position;

[0039] FIG. 5a shows a diagrammatic representation of an electromagnetic holding and catch device for the first actuating device in a tensioned standby position;

[0040] FIG. 5b shows the electromagnetic holding and catch device from FIG. 5a in an actuated position;

[0041] FIG. 5c shows a magnet arrangement for the electromagnetic holding and catch device from FIG. 5a;

[0042] FIG. 6 shows another magnet arrangement for the electromagnetic holding and catch device;

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an elevator brake;

[0044] FIG. 8 shows the elevator brake from FIG. 7 with an actuated first actuating device; and

[0045] FIG. 9 shows the elevator brake from FIG. 7 with an actuated second actuating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] An elevator shaft 3 of an elevator system 1 is represented diagrammatically in FIG. 1. Elevator system 1 comprises an elevator car 2, which is at a floor E.sub.1. Further floors of elevator shaft 3 are represented by E.sub.2 to E.sub.n. Elevator system 1 of FIG. 1 is constituted as a traction elevator system with a counterweight 8, wherein suspension means 6 connect and carry elevator car 2 and counterweight 8. Suspension means 6 are passed beneath elevator car 2 by means of support rollers 7 and are driven as required by a drive pulley 5 of a drive machine 4. Cables or belts are normally used as suspension means 6. An elevator control 10 ascertains and controls elevator system 1. It transmits necessary travel commands to a drive control 11 and drive control 11 correspondingly controls drive machine 4.

[0047] Also present in elevator shaft 3 are guide rails 9 for elevator car 2 and counterweight 8, which serve to guide and stabilize elevator car 2 and counterweight 8. Elevator car 2 is provided with an elevator brake 20, which is located beneath elevator car 2.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows elevator system 1 diagrammatically from above. Guide rails 9, which guide elevator car 2 and counterweight 8 in each case in pairs, can clearly be seen.

[0049] In this example of embodiment, two elevator brakes 20 are arranged laterally beneath elevator car 2. The two elevator brakes 20 interact respectively with a guide rail 9 for braking and holding elevator car 2. Guide rail 9 comprises a braking strip 9a (FIG. 3) which is designed to interact with the elevator brake. Elevator brakes 20 are constituted as a holding, emergency and safety brake. A separate safety device is not provided. Elevator brake 20 is controlled on the one hand by elevator control 10 during normal operation. It triggers the elevator brake in order to hold elevator car 2 when elevator car 2 is at a floor E.sub.1 to E.sub.n for example or it initiates emergency braking, if for example a door is opened unexpectedly or if another malfunction is ascertained. A monitoring device 13 is also located on elevator car 2. This monitoring device monitors the course of the movement of elevator car 2 and it triggers elevator brake 20 if for example a suspension means 6 breaks. The control units such as elevator control 10, drive control 11, monitoring device 13 and required sensors, switches and further control devices are connected to one another by signal lines 12 or bus systems. The various controls can of course also be combined to form common controls.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an elevator brake 20, such as can be used in the previously described elevator system. Elevator brake 20 for braking and holding an elevator car in an elevator system comprises a second brake lining 21 and a first brake lining 22. Brake linings 21, 22 are arranged in a brake housing 40 of elevator brake 20. A spacing 23 between the two brake linings 21, 22 is adjusted such that braking strip 9a of guide rail 9 can be arranged between the latter, so that the braking strip is not clamped in the non-actuated position of elevator brake 20. The non-actuated position of the elevator brake is also referred to as a standby position. Spacing 23 corresponds to a width of braking strip 9a plus a passage clearance of approx. 2 times 1.5 to 3 millimeters. In this standby position, the elevator car can be traversed by the drive machine unhindered.

[0051] The two brake linings 21, 22 are constituted multi-part in the example of embodiment. They each comprise a pressure plate 21a, 22a, an elastic interlayer 21b, 22b and a friction lining 21c, 22c. An impact noise of brake linings 21, 22 on braking strip 9a, for example, can be reduced by means of the elastic interlayer. A plastic insert, a spring arrangement or for example an inserted rubber ring/O-ring can be used as elastic interlayer 21b, 22b. In the example, both brake linings 21, 22 are constituted multi-part. Only one of the two brake linings 21, 22, for example second brake lining 21, can of course also be constituted multi-part.

[0052] Second brake lining 21 is arranged and mobile in brake housing 40 by means of a second actuating device 24. Second actuating device 24 operates according to a second principle of operation and, in the example of embodiment, is constituted as second advancing device 26 and at the same time as second return device 27. By means of an electric motor 30, which drives a spindle drive 29, second brake lining 21 is advanced if necessary by means of an advancing control 28 and also returned again. Electric motor 30 can act on spindle drive 29 directly or by means of gearing.

[0053] First brake lining 22 is arranged and mobile in brake housing 40 by means of a first actuating device 25. First actuating device 25 operates according to a first principle of operation and, in the example of embodiment, comprises a first advancing device 31. First advancing device 31 essentially comprises an energy store 32, for example in the form of a compression spring. Energy store 32 is held in a standby position via a tension bolt 34 by means of a holding and catch device 36. In the represented example, holding and catch device 36 comprises a traction means 43, which is connected to the tension bolt and which is held by an electromagnet 38. In the energized state, electromagnet 38 can thus hold the first brake lining in its standby position. As soon as the energization of the electromagnet is removed, energy store 32 presses against the brake lining and thus firmly clamps braking strip 9a. In order to keep a holding force of electromagnet 38 small, traction means 43 is passed around a bollard or capstan 44. The holding force of electromagnet 38 is thus increased corresponding to the Euler-Eytelwein belt friction formula, in order to make available sufficient tensioning force for holding the energy store.

[0054] A centering device 50 holds brake housing 40 with unloaded brake linings in a central position. This central position is adjusted such that the two brake linings 21, 22 in the unloaded state, or when the brake linings are in their standby position, are positioned symmetrically at a distance from braking strip 9a. For this purpose, brake housing 40 can be fixed to elevator car 2 laterally displaceable by means of receiving elements 18. For this purpose, receiving element 18 are provided with sliding surfaces 19. Receiving elements 18 can of course also be made in another design by means of slide bolts, on which the brake housing is mounted laterally displaceable. In the example, the brake housing comprises a spherical depression or centering trough 49. A centering sphere 48 is pressed into centering trough 49 by means of a centering spring 47, which is pretensioned by means of a set screw 46 stationary with respect to elevator car 2 or receiving element 18. A lateral displacement of the entire brake housing 40 is thus enabled and at the same time the brake housing is centered in its central position in a force-free state.

[0055] For holding the elevator car during normal operation or also when emergency braking is required, elevator control 10 triggers second advancing device 26 of second actuating device 24. Electric motor 30 moves, by means of spindle drive 29, second brake lining 21 in the direction of braking strip 9a. As soon as the second brake lining presses against braking strip 9a, brake housing 40 is pushed back in the direction of second actuating device 24 (to the left in FIG. 3), as a result of which first brake lining 22 is also brought into contact with braking strip 9a. By a further rotation of electric motor 30, a pressing force and corresponding braking force is finally produced and the elevator car is correspondingly retarded or held at a standstill. Spindle drive 29 is preferably constituted with a small screw pitch, so that a selected contact pressure position is maintained without further supply of energy.

[0056] For the return of elevator brake 20, electric motor 30 is reversed by means of second return device 27, until the brake linings again release braking strip 9a. Centering device 50 accordingly returns brake housing 40 back into its central position.

[0057] In order to catch the elevator car, if for example the elevator car is threatening to fall or if an unexpectedly high travel speed is ascertained, monitoring device 13 triggers first advancing device 31 of first actuating device 25. Electromagnet 38 is thereby de-energized and the energy store abruptly or very rapidly advances first brake lining 22 of the elevator brake. As soon as first brake lining 22 is pressed against braking strip 9a, brake housing 40 is pushed back in the direction of first actuating device 25 (to the right in FIG. 3), as a result of which second brake lining 21 is also brought into contact with braking strip 9a. Braking strip 9a is then clamped corresponding to a set pressing force of energy store 32 and braking of the elevator car takes place.

[0058] Second actuating device 24 is used to return elevator brake 20. Second advancing device 26 is triggered in order to push back first brake lining 22 until brake lining 22 lies adjacent to a stop 41 of brake housing 40 and energy store 32 is tensioned again. Counter-spring 45 of holding or catch device 36 presses a counter-plate of electromagnet 38 towards electromagnet 38. Once the latter has been switched on, second actuating device 24 together with second brake lining 22 can be traversed back and the elevator brake is back in its standby position.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of an elevator brake 20, such as can be used in the elevator system described at the outset. In contrast with the embodiment of FIG. 3, second and first brake linings 21, 22 are each constituted in one part. Brake housing 40 is, as already explained, guided sliding in receiving elements 18 and the brake housing is aligned centrally with braking strip 9a by means of centering device 50. Holding and catch device 36 is constituted by means of a catch 37. Catch 37 is held at one end by means of electromagnet 38 and at the other end holds back tension bolt 34.

[0060] For catching of the elevator car, electromagnet 38 releases catch 37 and therefore tension bolt 34 and energy store 32. As already explained in connection with FIG. 3, first brake lining 22 is thus pressed against braking strip 9a with a pressing force F22 predetermined by means of energy store 32, the brake housing is displaced laterally, as a result of which braking strip 9a is finally clamped and braked. This state is represented in FIG. 8.

[0061] For holding of elevator car during normal operation also when emergency braking is required, elevator control 10 triggers second advancing device 26 of second actuating device 24, as already explained in connection with FIG. 3. A pressing force F21 and the corresponding braking force is finally produced by electric drive 30 via spindle drive 29, independently of first actuating device 25, and the elevator car is correspondingly retarded or held at a standstill. This state is represented in FIG. 9. The same working position, as represented in FIG. 9, is of course also established when, after actuation by means of the first actuating device, elevator brake 20 is returned by the second actuating device.

[0062] Holding and catch device 36 of first actuating device 25 can, as explained in respect of FIG. 3, be optimized with the aid of a bollard or a capstan. In the standby position of elevator brake 20, electromagnetic 38 holds traction means 43 fast. The traction means is for example wound twice (720°) around the capstan. A retention force of approx. 13 kilo-Newton (of approx. 0.4 in the case of a capstan friction value) can thus be achieved by means of an electromagnetic clamp 38 with approx. 250 Newton holding force. If electromagnet 38 is de-energized, as shown in FIG. 4b, the tensioned energy store can rapidly advance brake lining 22. Traction means 43 is held under tension by means of small counter-spring 45, so that the counter-plate of electromagnet 38, during the return, is brought back into contact with the electromagnet.

[0063] FIGS. 5a to 5c represent a further alternative for holding and catch device 36. Brake plate 22 is tensioned in FIG. 5a by means of energy store 32 of first advancing device 31. Brake plate 22 is held by tension bolt 34. Tension bolt 34 is held by electromagnet 38 by means of a lever 42 via a fulcrum M. Fulcrum M defines the magnetic forces required by the resultant lever distribution L1/L2 of lever 42. As can be seen in FIG. 5c, electromagnet 38 is a plurality of electromagnets 38a to 38h, i.e. in the example eight partial magnets. Electromagnets 38a to 38h are arranged star-shaped around tension bolt 34 and each of electromagnets 38a to 38h engages via its own lever 42 with the tension bolt. Low-cost small magnets can thus be used. At all events, a partial quantity of electromagnets 38 suffices to hold the elevator brake in the standby position, whereas all the electromagnets are switched on for the return. In the example of embodiment, the partial quantity of electromagnets could mean that two electromagnets 38d, 38h suffice to hold the elevator brake in the standby position. In the case of a de-energization of electromagnets 38a-38h, tension bolt 34 with brake lining 22 is pushed into its working position by energy store 32, as can be seen in FIG. 5b.

[0064] Instead of the star-shaped arrangement of the electromagnets, as mentioned previously, the electromagnets can also be arranged in parallel and can act on the tension bolt via a common lever arrangement 42, as represented in FIG. 6. Combinations of the solutions are of course also possible. Thus, for example, in the case of the star-shaped arrangement of FIG. 5c, a plurality of double levers 42 can also be used, so that for example eight times two electromagnets can act on the tension bolt.

[0065] In one embodiment, electromagnets 38a to 38h are constituted by different design forms. Thus, in one variant, six of the eight electromagnets 38a to 38h, for example electromagnets 38a, 38b, 38c, 38e, 38f, 38g, are constituted as lifting magnets. The lifting magnets produce, by a linear motion, a lifting or tractive force and they can thus tension energy store 32. The partial quantity of two remaining electromagnets 38d, 38h are constituted as magnetic clamps. They are capable of holding energy store 32 in its tensioned position. The lifting magnets can thus be switched off after the tensioning. The exemplary embodiment with eight electromagnets can of course be varied by the person skilled in the art according to required forces, taking account of installation space and cost.

[0066] Further combinations and modifications are possible. Thus, the elevator brake shown can of course also be fitted as a brake on a drive of a conveyor belt or an elevator.

[0067] Furthermore, the second actuating device can also comprise hydraulic or pneumatic elements in place of the spindle drive described by way of example or the first actuating device can if need be also comprise a pyrotechnic actuator. In any event, the two actuating devices are capable, independently of one another, of triggering a braking operation.

[0068] 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.