EP2582606B1 - Holding brake with locking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a holding brake for an elevator installation, a correspondingly equipped elevator installation, i. an elevator installation which has at least one such holding brake, and a method for operating such an elevator installation.

Elevator systems of a conventional type generally have a drive, a drive control associated with the drive, and a braking system.

At the elevator cabs, holding brakes are used that must comply with the requirements of the safety regulations.

From the patent EP 0 648 703 B1 a hydraulically actuated disc brake is known in which attack brake plates in a brake on a guide rail and secure the elevator car at a floor stop against unauthorized upward movement and downward movements.

From the patent application EP 0 999 168 A2 / A3 is a locking device is known, which is engageable from the outside and which builds up the necessary braking force for fixing the elevator car with the movement in the upward or downward direction of the elevator car.

From the EP 1 840 068 A1 an elevator system with a car brake has become known in which sliding wedges on obliquely to a guide rail extending tracks. In the case of braking, each hydraulic actuator pushes a respective brake wedge along the path counter to the direction of travel of the elevator car. As soon as the brake wedge comes into contact with the guide rail, the brake wedge moves on the track Continue and wedged brake enhancement between the guide rail and the track.

It is therefore the task of providing a corresponding holding brake that combines a simple structure and a reliable function. In particular, the holding brake should exert an immediate braking effect. In addition, it involves the provision of a corresponding elevator installation and a method for operating such an elevator installation.

Details of the elevator system according to the invention and the corresponding holding brake are defined by the respective independent patent claims.

The corresponding holding brake of the invention is characterized in that it is equipped with a locking mechanism, preferably a double-acting locking mechanism, for holding an elevator cage in a fixed shaft position.

The holding brake exerts a kind of symmetrical forceps action. The forceps effect results from unilaterally acting tension elements of the locking mechanism.

The holding brake in one embodiment comprises a double-acting brake which engages symmetrically. In this case, two opposing brake shoes act as active brake shoes and cause a braking force on a guide rail.

Preferably, a holding brake is used which is specially designed for use in an elevator installation comprising an elevator car. The holding brake is designed to apply a mechanical braking action with respect to a guide rail of the elevator installation so that the elevator car or the counterweight can be moved after the actuation of the elevator car Holding brake holds its vertical position. For this purpose, the holding brake comprises a locking mechanism, preferably a double-acting locking mechanism, which is designed so that it acts on the guide rail from two opposite sides and reinforces the braking force.

It is an advantage of the invention that a minimum vertical movement of the elevator car or the counterweight is sufficient to trigger an amplified, or self-reinforcing blocking function of the holding brake. This locking function is triggered by the use of the locking mechanism both when the elevator car or the counterweight should move up a little (referred to here as unauthorized movement), as well as when the elevator car or the counterweight should move a little bit down (here referred to as unauthorized movement).

It is an advantage of the invention that the holding brake has a self-locking function, since the braking effect increases quasi automatically even with a small undesired movement of the elevator car.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in that the locking mechanism is equipped with at least one actuator in order to deliver braking body in an initial movement or adjustment movement so that they only have to perform a small closing movement (engagement movement) in the case of activation in order to tighten the elevator car fix.

Advantageous developments of the elevator system according to the invention are defined by the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine Aufzugsanlage mit einer ersten Haltebremse, in stark vereinfachter schematisierter Darstellung;

Fig. 2

zeigt Details einer ersten Haltebremse und

Fig. 3

zeigt Details einer zweiten Haltebremse.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1

shows an elevator system with a first holding brake, in a highly simplified schematic representation;

Fig. 2

shows details of a first holding brake and

Fig. 3

shows details of a second holding brake.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention in a schematic overall representation. It is shown an elevator system 10 in a highly schematic form. The elevator installation 10 comprises an elevator car 12 and a corresponding counterweight 19, which are guided in a lift shaft 14 in opposite directions vertically movable. The elevator car 12 can serve several floors (here two floors A and B are shown). The elevator car 12 can be moved by a drive 11 which, for example, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 indicated, located at the upper end of the shaft. In addition to the drive 11, the elevator installation 10 has a drive control 15 assigned to the drive 11 and a brake system 13. The elevator car 12 is here connected to the counterweight 19 via a suspension element 18, which runs around a traction sheave of the drive 11. The control-technical connection of the drive control 15 with the elements of the elevator installation 10 is schematically indicated by a double arrow 16 which symbolizes a connection between the drive 11 and the drive control 15. Typically, the drive controller 15 receives signals, for example via the control technology link 16. These signals are converted into control variables. When the drive 11 sets the elevator car 12 in motion, at least one holding brake 20, which is arranged on the elevator car 12 and mechanically with at least one guide rail 17 in the elevator shaft 14 interacts, solved.

When reaching a destination floor (eg floor B in Fig. 1 ), the speed of the drive 11 is moved back and the brake system 13 is activated. When the correct vertical position has been reached in the elevator shaft 14, the holding brake 20 comes into action to keep the elevator car 12 exactly at the correct vertical position.

The holding brake 20, with reference to the Figures 2 and 3 is described in more detail in two different embodiments, is designed for use in an elevator installation 10. The holding brake 20 is used for applying a mechanical braking action relative to a stationary guide rail 17 of the elevator installation 10. The holding brake 20 holds the elevator car 12 in its vertical position in the elevator shaft 14 after it has been actuated.

The holding brake 20 is characterized in that it comprises a locking mechanism 21, preferably a double-acting locking mechanism 21. The ratchet 21 is designed and constructed so that it acts on the guide rail 17 from two opposite sides S1, S2.

In Fig. 2 and 3 is ever a view of the holding brake 20 is shown, in which the double-acting ratchet 21 from the left (side S1) and from the right (side S2) acts on the guide rail 17. When acting on the guide rail 17, the ratchet 21 exerts a feed force BK1 and an oppositely directed feed force BK2 on the guide rail 17.

The ratchet 21 preferably comprises a first brake body 22.1 and a second brake body 22.2. These brake bodies 22.1, 22.2 are opposite each other. The first brake body 22.1 has on a side facing the second brake body 22.2, a first brake shoe 23.1. The second brake body 22.2 has on a side facing the first brake body 22.1, a second brake shoe 23.2. The first brake body 22.1 presses together with the first brake shoe 23.1 with the feed force BK1, or with a force which is proportional to the feed force BK1, from the side S1 ago against the guide rail 17. The second brake body 22.2 presses together with the second brake shoe 23.2 with the Delivery force BK2, or with a force which is proportional to the feed force BK2, from the side S2 ago against the guide rail 17th

The first brake body 22.1 and the second brake body 22.2 are movably mounted on a running body 26 such that they are movable towards and away from each other in all embodiments.

The locking mechanism 21 is designed in all embodiments so that the two delivery forces BK1 and BK2 are equal. This is achieved in that the double-acting ratchet 21 is constructed / arranged mechanically and / or force-symmetrically to the longitudinal axis L of the guide rail 17.

Preferably, the ratchet 21 is realized in all embodiments by a unilaterally acting traction device 24, as in the Figures 2 and 3 shown.

This traction device 24, or the locking mechanism 21, is so symmetrical to the first brake body 22.1 and the second brake body 22.2 constructed / arranged that two tension elements 24.1, 24.2 of the pulling device 24 with the first brake body 22.1 and two other tension elements 24.3, 24.4 of the pulling device 24 are connected to the second brake body 22.2.

Preferably, the traction device 24, or the ratchet 21, a pull rope (eg a steel cable), which is arranged so that four cable sections 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4 of the pull rope arise, as in Fig. 2 shown. Preferably, the four cable sections 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4 form a kind of rhombus or parallelogram with lateral corner points or lateral points UL, UR at the two extremal ends of the brake bodies 22.1, 22.2 and with an upper extremal point or upper deflection point UO at one Fixing element 25 of the holding brake 20 and with a lower extremal point, or lower deflection UU to the fastening element 25 of the holding brake 20th

Preferably, the traction cable of the pulling device 24 is connected at the lateral deflection points UL, UR fixed to the respective brake body 22.1, respectively 22.2. At the upper deflection point UO and at the lower deflection point UU are preferably (deflection) rollers 27 (as in Fig. 2 shown) or sliding post provided so that the traction cable can revolve or slide around these deflection points UO or UU. The axes R1, R2 of these rollers 27 or sliding posts are perpendicular to the plane E (which here coincides with the plane of the drawing).

The holding brake 20 preferably comprises in all embodiments a fastening element 25 and a running body 26, as in FIG Fig. 2 and 3 shown. The fastening element 25 is designed for fastening the holding brake 20 to the elevator car 12 and the running body 26 is displaceable along the fastening element 25 stored. The corresponding displacement movement is in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 indicated by the double arrow P1.

Preferably, the running body 26 has two mutually parallel rails or sliding surfaces 28 which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis L in the mounted state. In addition, the running body 26 comprises a transverse profile 29 which is fixedly connected to the rails or sliding surfaces 28.

Preferably, the fastening element 25 and the transverse profile 29 are arranged perpendicular to one another and form a kind of cross.

Preferably, the transverse profile carries 29 (horizontal) guides 30 for horizontally guiding the brake body 22.1, 22.2. The two brake bodies 22.1, 22.2 are so movable in, mounted on or between the guides 30 that they can perform a feed movement in the direction of the guide rail 17.

Embodiments in which at least one active actuator is used in order to be able to actively carry out initial movements or infeed movements are particularly preferred. These movements serve to bring the locking mechanism 21 in a position in which this can build the holding force with a minimum feed path. At the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment are preferably a total of three actuators 31.1, 31.2, 31.3 are used. The actuator 31.1 adjusts the brake body 22.1 in the direction of the guide rail 17 such that the first brake shoe 23.1 presses against the guide rail 17 as needed. The actuator 31.2 sets the brake body 22.2 in the direction of the guide rail 17 in such a way that the second brake shoe 23.2 also presses against the guide rail 17 when required. Preferably, a middle (reset) actuator 31.3 is used, to be able to press apart the brake shoes 23.1, 23.2 for releasing the holding brake 20. By an interaction of the actuators 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, the position of the brake shoes 23.1, 23.2 can be optimally preset and readjusted if necessary. The actuators 31.1, 31.2 trigger a first braking effect. The actuator 31.3 releases the holding brake 20 again.

The specification of a minimum braking force by one or more actuators can also be used so that the holding brake 20 does not open automatically in a load change from an empty elevator car 12 to a full elevator car at a corresponding passage through the zero position.

In Fig. 3 only one central actuator 32 is used, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis L and sits between the upper deflection point UO and the lower deflection point UU. This central actuator 32 combines the braking effect and the release of the holding brake 20 in one. The actuator 32 thus replaces the actuators 31.1, 31.2, 31.3.

Advantageous developments of the invention are thus distinguished by the fact that the locking mechanism 21 is equipped with at least one actuator in order to be able to deliver the brake bodies 22.1, 22.2 in an initial movement in such a way that they exert a braking action in order to fix the elevator car 12.

Preferably, all actuators comprise a spring and an active actuator element that expands or contracts, for example, by the application of a voltage. An actuator in the sense of the present invention is a component or element that converts a signal of a control into mechanical work or movement. The signal may be an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic signal act. Electrically operated actuators are preferred in the context of the present invention.

Preferably, the ratchet 21 comprises a pull rope having a plurality of sections 24.1 - 24.4, as in Fig. 2 shown. The rollers 27 serve as pulleys around which the traction cable is guided. At the points UL and UR, the pull rope is attached so as to be able to build up a tensile force which, due to the symmetrical structure / course of the pull rope at points UL and UR, acts in the direction of guide rail 17.

Instead of the traction cable, the ratchet 21 can also be a linkage 33 with a plurality of rods 34.1 - 34.4 capable of being subjected to tension and compression, as in FIG Fig. 3 shown include. So that these locking 21 after Fig. 3 the same effect is with the locking 21 after Fig. 2 , At each of the deflection points UO and UU a short piece of a pull cable 35 is attached. These traction cables 35 are stretched between the points UO1 and UO, and between UU1 and UU.

It is at the pull rope of Fig. 2 and in the linkage 33 together with the short traction cables 35 to a so-called unilaterally acting tension element. The effect of this unilaterally acting tension element is the following.

When the elevator car 12 is located on a floor (eg floor B in FIG Fig. 1 ), the holding brake 20 is used as follows.

By the actuators 31.1, 31.2, the brake body 22.1, 22.2 delivered and the brake shoes 23.1, 23.2 occur with the guide rail 17 in interaction. This results in a first braking effect. Should the elevator car 12 now lower a piece, eg because a big load in the Elevator car 12 is introduced, the fastener 25, which is attached to the elevator car 12, moves in solidarity with the elevator car 12 a few millimeters down. At the same time pull the elements 24.2 and 24.3 obliquely at the points UL and UR down. By this symmetrically acting tensile force, the brake body 22.1, 22.2 further delivered and the brake shoes 23.1, 23.2 press even more firmly from both sides symmetrically against the guide rail 17th

Due to their unilateral character, the tension elements 24.1 and 24.4 can exert no pressure force on the brake shoes 23.1, 23.2, which would impair the braking effect.

Conversely, if the elevator car 12 were to move up a small distance, e.g. when a large load is taken out of the elevator car 12. Here the tension elements 24.1 and 24.4 are used.

In one embodiment according to Fig. 3 , in which the unilaterally acting tension element comprises a linkage 33 with traction cables 35, the mode of action is in principle the same. In a downward movement of the elevator cars 12 pulls the lower rope piece 35 at the point UU and the rods 34.2, 34.3 pull symmetrically at the points UL, UR. By this symmetrically acting tensile force, the brake body 22.1, 22.2 further delivered and the brake shoes 23.1, 23.2 press even more firmly from both sides symmetrically against the guide rail 17th

The reverse happens if the elevator car 12 should move up a little bit. Here pulls the upper rope piece 35 at the point UO and the rods 34.1, 34.4 draw symmetrically at the points UL, UR.

As a result, every smallest positional deviation of the elevator car 12 is immediately converted into an increased braking action of the holding brake 20. In one embodiment according to Fig. 2 ensure the (deflection) rollers 27 that pull the respective tension elements 24.1 - 24.4 with the same forces symmetrically at the points UL, UR. In one embodiment according to Fig. 3 ensure the short traction cables 35 a uniform pulling effect as long as the lengths of the rods 34.1 - 34.4 are identical and the positions of the points UO and UU centered.

To release the braking action of the holding brake 20, the actuator 31.3 or 32 is used, which presses the brake shoes 23.1, 23.2 apart. The release of the holding brake 20 is typically only when the drive 11 a sufficient torque (Pretorque called) for driving the elevator car 12 applies.

Depending on the embodiment, optionally even a load measurement in the elevator car 12 can be dispensed with, since the actuator can only open the holding brake 20 when there is sufficient pretorque. For this purpose, the pretorque can be increased until the actuator is able to release the holding brake 20. In addition, this embodiment offers the following additional advantage. In case of false pretorque the release of the holding brake 20 is hardly possible, resulting in improved safety. In the embodiment of the Fig. 3 shortens the actuator 32 and thereby pushes, due to the rigidity of the rods of the linkage 33, the brake body 22.1, 22.2 to the outside. In this way, the release of the holding brake 20 happens here.

The holding brake 20 of the invention is thus a braking device which acts symmetrically on both sides on a stationary guide rail 17.

Such a holding brake 20 may be attached to the elevator car 12 and / or the counterweight 19.

The holding brake 20 prevents drifting of the elevator car 12 from the floor level. Adjustments by the elevator drive 11 accounts for it.

Claims (10)

1. Holding brake (20) for a lift installation (10), comprising brake shoes (23.1, 23.2), which are actuable by means of actuators (31.1, 31.2) and which in the case of braking produce a braking force at a guide rail (17) of the lift installation (10), characterised in that a locking mechanism (21) with a traction device (24) is provided, wherein the brake shoes (23.1, 23.2) are arranged at a cross member (29) which in the case of braking is movable relative to the traction device (24) and wherein the traction device (24) amplifies the braking force of the brake shoes (23.1, 23.2) at the guide rail (17) by a movement relative to the cross member (29).
2. Holding brake (20) according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking mechanism (21) is a double-acting locking mechanism (21) comprising a first brake body (22.1) and a second brake body (22.2) which are arranged opposite one another, wherein the first brake body (22.1) has a first one of the brake shoes (23.1) at a side facing the second brake body (22.2) and wherein the second brake body (22.2) has a second one of the brake shoes (23.2) at a side facing the first brake body (22.1).
3. Holding brake (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the locking mechanism (21) comprises a traction device (24) acting at one side.
4. Holding brake (20) according to claim 3, characterised in that the traction device (24) is arranged symmetrically with respect to the first brake body (22.1 and the second brake body (22.2) and two traction elements (24.1, 24.2) of the traction device (24) are connected with the first brake body (22.1) and two further traction elements (24.3, 24.4) of the traction device (24) are connected with the second brake body (22.2).
5. Holding brake (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a fastening element (25) and a guide body (26), wherein the fastening element (25) is designed for fastening the holding brake (20) to the lift cage (12) and the guide body (26) is mounted to be displaceable along the fastening element (25).
6. Holding brake (20) according to claim 5, characterised in that the first brake body (22.1) and the second brake body (22.2) are so movable mounted on the guide body (26) that they are movable towards and away from one another.
7. Holding brake (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an actuator (31.3; 32) for releasing the holding brake (20).
8. Lift installation (10) with a locking mechanism (21) according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. Method of operating a lift installation (10) according to claim 8, characterised by the following steps:

   - engaging the brake shoes (23.1, 23.2) by means of actuators (31.1, 31.2, 32) for fixing the lift cage (12) or the counterweight (19) at the guide rail (17) and

   - exerting an additional braking force by means of a locking mechanism (21) in the case of an impermissible movement of the lift cage (12) or of the counterweight (19), wherein a locking mechanism (21) with a traction device (24) is provided, wherein the brake shoes (23.1, 23.2) are arranged at a cross member (29) which in the case of braking can be moved relative to the traction device (24) and wherein the traction device (24) amplifies the braking force of the brake shoes (23.1, 23.2) at the guide rail (17) in the case of a movement relative to the cross member (29).
10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the following steps are for performed for releasing the holding brake (20):

    - building up a holding force by a drive (11) whilst the locking mechanism (21) diminishes the holding force,

    - releasing the brake shoes (23.1, 23.2) when sufficient holding force by the drive (11) is present and

    - holding the lift cage (12) or the counterweight (19) in a rest position by the drive (11).

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