U.S. patent application number 15/261722 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-16 for elevator brake assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Otis Elevator Company. Invention is credited to Michael C. Lang, Amir Lotfi.
Application Number | 20170073184 15/261722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56893898 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170073184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lotfi; Amir ; et
al. |
March 16, 2017 |
ELEVATOR BRAKE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An elevator brake assembly including an asymmetrical brake
comprising at least three brake segments, a brake activating device
operably coupled to the asymmetrical brake, the brake activating
device comprising a first activation element and a second
activation element, wherein the first activation element is
configured to activate one of the at least three brake segments,
and the second activation element is configured to activate the
remaining of the at least three brake segments.
Inventors: |
Lotfi; Amir; (South Windsor,
CT) ; Lang; Michael C.; (Southbury, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Otis Elevator Company |
Farmington |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56893898 |
Appl. No.: |
15/261722 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62216482 |
Sep 10, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66D 5/14 20130101; B66D
5/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B66B 1/36 20060101
B66B001/36; B66B 11/08 20060101 B66B011/08; B66B 11/04 20060101
B66B011/04; B66B 9/00 20060101 B66B009/00 |
Claims
1. An elevator brake assembly comprising: an asymmetrical brake
comprising at least three brake segments; and a brake activating
device operably coupled to the asymmetrical brake, the brake
activating device comprising a first activation element and a
second activation element; wherein the first activation element is
configured to activate one of the at least three brake segments,
and the second activation element is configured to activate the
remaining of the at least three brake segments.
2. The elevator brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least
three brake segments are located adjacent to one another and
circumferentially disposed around a plate.
3. The elevator brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least
three brake segments comprises a first brake segment and a second
brake segment circumferentially disposed around a third brake
segment.
4. The elevator brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least
three brake segments comprise a first brake segment positioned
adjacent to a second brake segment; the first activation element is
positioned adjacent to the first brake segment and the second brake
segment, a third brake segment positioned adjacent to the first
activation element, and the second activation element is positioned
adjacent to the third brake segment.
5. The elevator brake assembly of claim 1, the at least three brake
segments further comprising a plurality of brake applying portions,
wherein a respective one of the plurality of brake applying
portions is disposed on each of the at least three brake
segments.
6. The elevator brake assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of
brake applying portions comprises a plurality of shoes.
7. The elevator brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the first
activation element comprises a first coil and the second activation
element comprises a second coil.
8. An elevator system comprising: a machine housing; a rotatable
output shaft mounted in said machine housing; a sheave mounted on
said output shaft and rotatable therewith; and a brake assembly
configured for braking said output shaft, the brake assembly
comprising: an asymmetrical brake comprising at least three brake
segments; and a brake activating device operably coupled to the
asymmetrical brake, the brake activating device comprising a first
activation element and a second activation element; wherein the
first activation element is configured to activate one of the at
least three brake segments, and the second activation element is
configured to activate the remaining of the at least three brake
segments.
9. The elevator system of claim 8, wherein the asymmetrical brake
comprises at least three brake segments located adjacent to one
another and circumferentially disposed around a plate.
10. The elevator system of claim 8, wherein the asymmetrical brake
comprises a first brake segment and a second brake segment
circumferentially disposed around a third brake segment.
11. The elevator system of claim 8, wherein the asymmetrical brake
comprises a first brake segment positioned adjacent to a second
brake segment; the first activation element is positioned adjacent
to the first brake segment and the second brake segment, a third
brake segment positioned adjacent to the first activation element,
and the second activation element is positioned adjacent to the
third brake segment
12. The elevator system of claim 8, wherein the asymmetrical brake
further comprises a plurality of brake applying portions, wherein a
respective one of the plurality of brake applying portions is
disposed on each of the at least three brake segments.
13. The elevator system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of brake
applying portions comprises a plurality of shoes.
14. The elevator system of claim 8, wherein the first activation
element comprises a first coil and the second activation element
comprises a second coil.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a nonprovisional patent
application, which claims priority to 62/216,482 filed Sep. 10,
2015, and having the title "Elevator Brake Assembly" which is
herein incorporated in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0002] The presently disclosed embodiments generally relate to
elevator systems and more specifically, an elevator brake
assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0003] Elevators are presently provided with a plurality of braking
devices which are designed for use in normal operation of the
elevator, as for example to hold the elevator car in place when it
stops at a landing; and which are designed for use in emergency
situations such as stopping the elevator car and/or counterweight
from rapidly descending into the hoistway pit.
[0004] Electromechanical brakes are generally designed and
installed in two sets controlled by a single coil. Each set of
brakes has equal torque and are applied simultaneously. For
multiple segment brake assemblies (i.e. more than two brake sets),
multiple brake coils are required to provide flexibility in the
timing of the application of the brakes. As a result, the increased
number of coils increases the cost of the elevator system. There is
therefore a need for a more cost effective solution for multiple
segment brake assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0005] In one aspect an elevator brake assembly is provided. The
elevator brake assembly includes an asymmetrical brake including at
least three brake segments, and a brake activating device operably
coupled to the asymmetrical brake. The brake activating device
includes a first activation element and a second activation
element, wherein the first activation element is configured to
activate one of the at least three brake segments, and the second
activation element is configured to activate the remaining of the
at least three brake segments. In any embodiment, the first
activation element comprises a first coil and the second activation
element includes a second coil.
[0006] In one embodiment the at least three brake segments are
located adjacent to one another and circumferentially disposed
around a plate. In another embodiment, the at least three brake
segments include a first brake segment and a second brake segment
circumferentially disposed around a third brake segment. In another
embodiment, the at least three brake segments include a first brake
segment positioned adjacent to a second brake segment; the first
activation element is positioned adjacent to the first brake
segment and the second brake segment, a third brake segment
positioned adjacent to the first activation element and the second
activation element is positioned adjacent to the third brake
segment.
[0007] In any embodiment, the at least three brake segments further
include a plurality of brake applying portions, wherein a
respective one of the plurality of brake applying portions is
disposed on each of the at least three brake segments. In an
embodiment, the plurality of brake applying portions includes a
plurality of shoes.
[0008] In one aspect, an elevator system is provided. The elevator
system includes a machine housing, a rotatable output shaft mounted
in said machine housing, a sheave mounted on said output shaft and
rotatable therewith, and a brake assembly configured for braking
said output shaft. The brake assembly includes an asymmetrical
brake including at least three brake segments, and a brake
activating device operably coupled to the asymmetrical brake, the
brake activating device comprising a first activation element and a
second activation element, wherein the first activation element is
configured to activate one of the at least three brake segments,
and the second activation element is configured to activate the
remaining of the at least three brake segments. In an embodiment,
the first activation element includes a first coil and the second
activation element includes a second coil.
[0009] In an embodiment, the asymmetrical brake includes at least
three brake segments located adjacent to one another and
circumferentially disposed around a plate. In another embodiment,
the asymmetrical brake includes a first brake segment and a second
brake segment circumferentially disposed around a third brake
segment. In another embodiment, the asymmetrical brake includes a
first brake segment positioned adjacent to a second brake segment;
the first activation element is positioned adjacent to the first
brake segment and the second brake segment, a third brake segment
positioned adjacent to the first activation element, and the second
activation element is positioned adjacent to the third brake
segment.
[0010] In any embodiment of the elevator system, the asymmetrical
brake further includes a plurality of brake applying portions,
wherein a respective one of the plurality of brake applying
portions is disposed on each of the at least three brake segments.
In an embodiment, the plurality of brake applying portions includes
a plurality of shoes
[0011] Other embodiments are also disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic drawing of an elevator
system; and
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of selected
portions of an elevator machine; and
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic drawing of a brake assembly
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic drawing of a brake assembly
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic drawing of a brake assembly
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] 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.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an elevator system, generally indicated
at 10. The elevator system 10 includes an elevator car 12 and
counterweight 14. A roping arrangement 16 (e.g., round ropes or
flat belts) supports the weight of the elevator car 12 and
counterweight 14 in a known manner. An elevator machine 18 includes
a motor 20 associated with a traction sheave 22.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of selected
portions of the example elevator machine 18. The motor 20
selectively drives a shaft 24 in response to signals from a
controller 26. Rotation of the shaft 24 moves traction sheaves 22,
which move ropes or belts to move the elevator car 12 and
counterweight 14 in the hoistway as known. The example shaft 24
includes a disk 28 within a brake assembly 30. The brake assembly
30 selectively applies a braking force to the disk 28 to resist
rotation of the shaft 24. In one example, the controller 26
commands the brake assembly 30 to apply a braking force to hold the
elevator car 12 at a selected building landing (not shown) or to
slow the movement of the elevator car 12.
[0020] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate different embodiments of the brake
assembly 30. The brake assembly 30 comprises an asymmetrical brake
32 including at least three brake segments. Only three brake
segments, 34, 36, and 38 are shown in the embodiments; however, it
will be appreciated that more than three brake segments may be used
in accordance with the present disclosure. In any embodiment, each
of the at least three brake segments include a brake applying
portion 40 disposed thereon. In any embodiment, the brake applying
portion 40 may include a brake shoe to name one non-limiting
example.
[0021] The brake assembly 30 further includes a brake activating
device 42 operably coupled to the asymmetric brake 32. The brake
activating device 42 includes a first activation element, such as a
first coil 44 configured to activate one of the at least three
brake segments (e.g. a brake segment 38), and a second activation
element, such as a second coil 46 configured to activate the
remaining of the at least three brake segments (e.g. brake segments
34 and 36).
[0022] The brake assembly 30, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3,
may include an asymmetrical brake 32 including at least three brake
segments 34, 36, and 38 located adjacent to one another and
circumferentially disposed around a segmented plate. The brake
assembly 30, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, may include
brake segments 34 and 36 circumferentially disposed around brake
segment 38. It will be appreciated that brake segments 34, 36 need
not be concentric to the brake segment 38. The brake assembly 30,
as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, may be a stacked brake
configuration, wherein the brake segments 34 and 36 are located
adjacent to the disk 28. The second activation element 46 is
located adjacent to brake segments 34 and 36. Brake segment 38 is
located adjacent to the second activation element 46, and the first
activation element 44 is located adjacent to the brake segment
38.
[0023] During operation, the brake activating device 42 may
independently de-energize the first activation element 44 and/or
second activation element 46 to increase flexibility of the timing
and braking torque applied to the shaft 24 or disk 28. For example,
in situations where the elevator car 12 is empty and moving in a
downward direction, the brake activating device 42 may de-energize
the first activation element 44 and the second activation element
46 to apply the at least three brake segments 34, 36, and 38.
[0024] In a situation where the elevator car 12 is empty and moving
in an upward direction, the brake activating device 42 may
sequentially activate the asymmetric brake 30 by first
de-energizing the second activation element coil 46 to apply all
but one of the brake segments (e.g. brake segments 34 and 36);
then, after a time delay, de-energizing the first activation
element 44 to apply one of the brake segments (e.g. brake segment
38).
[0025] In a situation where the elevator car 12 is balanced and
moving in either the up or down direction, the brake activating
device 42 may sequentially activate the asymmetric brake 30 by
first de-energizing the second coil 46 to apply the third brake
segment 38; then, after a time delay, de-energizing first coil 44
to apply the first brake segment 34 and second brake segment
34.
[0026] It will be appreciated that the brake assembly 30 includes
an asymmetrical brake 32 including at least three brake segments
operably coupled to a brake activating device configured to
independently operate the at least three brake segments to
selectively apply different brake torques to the shaft 24 or disk
28 to improve stopping performance.
[0027] While the present 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 present disclosure are desired
to be protected.
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