Abstract:
The present invention relates to an elevator wire rope braking apparatus, and more particularly, to a rope braking apparatus which prevents partial abrasion of the wire rope while increasing braking efficiency by preventing a deviation in the pressure applied to the wire rope by a pressure plate moving in a straight line to apply pressure to the wire rope. Since the pressure application is based not on a hydraulic method but on a purely mechanical structure using only a spring elastic force, environmental pollution caused by hydraulic oil may be prevented and product cost may be reduced.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a rope braking apparatus for pressurizing a wire rope during emergency braking in a hoist, a crane hoist, or an elevator, which is used to lift and lower an object tied to the wire rope. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    An elevator used in a general building includes a winding machine installed on the building, a cage for carrying people, and a wire rope connecting the winding machine and the cage so that the cage is lifted or lowered by winding or unwinding the wire rope. 
         [0003]    Such an elevator is provided with a braking apparatus, which is used when the cage needs emergency braking in an emergency. 
         [0004]    The braking apparatus is installed on the cage and is configured to grasp the main rope, when emergency braking is needed, to prevent the cage from moving. 
         [0005]    There have been extensive research and development on such rope braking apparatuses in line with stricter regulations for preventing accidents related to elevators, but most of such braking apparatuses, which usually employ a combination of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure and elastic force from springs, have problems in that the braking force may be degraded by leakage of the fluid, when hydraulic pressure is used, requiring frequent checkup of the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. 
         [0006]    Braking apparatuses have recently been proposed, which do not employ any hydraulic or pneumatic structure, but solely use elastic force from springs. 
         [0007]    Examples of such braking apparatuses include Korean Patent Registration No. 0609836, entitled “Rope Braking Device for Elevator” and Korean Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2008-3368, entitled “Rope Locking Device of the Rope Brake for Elevator”. 
         [0008]    Such conventional apparatuses share the following operation scheme: a separate operation panel is connected to a rope pressurization plate and a compression spring via a link mechanism, and expansion of the spring causes rotation the operation panel and then movement of the pressurization plate, which pressurizes the rope. 
         [0009]    Although the problem of fluid leakage can be solved, the following problem still exists. 
         [0010]    When the pressurization plate is configured to pressurize the rope as a result of rotation of the operation panel as described above, the pressurization plate does not move along a straight line, but pivots along the trajectory of rotation of the operation panel to apply pressure. Therefore, the direction of pressure applied by the pressurization plate is not perpendicular but oblique to the rope. 
         [0011]    As a result, there is a difference between a pressure applied to the upper portion of the rope and a pressure applied to its lower portion, making the braking force unstable, and there is also a possibility that friction force will be concentrated at a specific location on the rope, which may cause uneven wear of the rope or even cause the rope to break up. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0012]    The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is directed to provide a rope braking apparatus capable of solving the problems of degradation of braking force resulting from leakage of a fluid, environmental contamination resulting from use of the fluid, and the like. The present invention is also directed to provide a rope braking apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of deviation of applied pressure and uneven wear of the rope by improving the structure of operation of the pressurization plate. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0013]    A rope braking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which has been proposed in order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, includes: an installation body including a wire rope positioned on a back surface, the wire rope being connected to a lifted/lowered object; a driving unit including a driving motor installed on the installation body, a transfer block unit installed to be movable upwards/downwards while being connected to the driving motor, and elastic members installed on the transfer block unit; a pressurization unit including a movable unit installed on the installation body so as to be movable forwards/backwards along a straight line while contacting the transfer block unit and a pressurization plate positioned to face the installation body, with the wire rope interposed, while being connected to the movable unit; and a movement control unit having an end removably connected to the movable unit. 
         [0014]    In addition, the driving unit may further include a lead screw connected to the driving motor, the leading screw having a non-threaded portion formed on an upper end and a threaded portion formed in a section below the non-threaded portion; and a driving block unit screw-coupled on the threaded portion of the lead screw so as to be movable upwards/downwards while being positioned below the transfer block unit. In addition, the transfer block unit may include a connection block movable upwards/downwards without contacting the lead screw while being penetrated by the lead screw; and coupling blocks connected to both sides of the connection block, the elastic members being seated on the coupling blocks, and ends of the coupling blocks being placed on the movable unit. In addition, the rope braking apparatus may further include a first guide unit formed on at least one of the connection block and the coupling blocks; and a second guide unit formed on the installation body and connected to the first guide unit, the second guide unit being formed along a direction of upward/downward movement of the transfer block unit. In addition, slide recesses may be formed on both sides of the installation body along a forward/backward straight line, and the movable unit may include movable panels installed to be movable along the forward/backward straight line along slide recess paths while being installed in the slide recesses, an end of each movable panel being connected to the pressurization plate; and a connection rod positioned between respective movable panels, both ends of the connection rod being connected to respective movable panels, and the ends of the coupling blocks being placed on the connection rod. In addition, the connection rod may be connected to the movable panels so as to be rotatable by itself, and engagement latches may be formed on the ends of the coupling blocks so as to surround a circumference of the connection rod. In addition, the pressurization unit may further include a fixing block installed on the connection rod and removably connected to the movement control unit. In addition, the pressurization unit may further include a control block installed on the fixing block, a cut-away portion being formed on a side of the control block so that the control block is removably coupled to the solenoid unit through the cut-away portion. In addition, the movement control unit may include a solenoid body positioned beneath the connection rod; and a solenoid shaft installed to be movable upwards/downwards while being connected to the solenoid body, an end of the solenoid shaft being removably inserted into the cut-away portion. In addition, the movement control unit may further include a position detection sensor connected to the solenoid body and configured to detect a completed movement of the movable unit towards the pressurization plate. In addition, the movement control unit may further include a second position detection sensor connected to the driving motor and installed at a descending location of the driving block unit to detect a descending state of the driving block unit. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0015]    Various embodiments of the prevent invention are advantageous in that pressurization of the wire rope solely by elastic force from elastic members, without using any hydraulic or pneumatic structure, solves the problems of degradation of braking force resulting from leakage of a fluid, environmental contamination resulting from use of the fluid, and the like. Furthermore, the structure of the pressurization unit itself and the structure of connection with the driving unit guarantee that the pressurization plate always moves along a straight line and pressurizes the rope, so that the pressure is applied across the entire pressurization plate, thereby securing stable braking force and preventing uneven wear of the wire rope. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an overall exploded perspective view. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view seen from the opposite direction. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an overall assembled perspective view. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top view when the rope is not pressurized. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front sectional view illustrating the installation structure of a driving block unit and a transfer block unit under the condition of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a lateral sectional view illustrating a structure of coupling between coupling blocks and a connection rod under the condition of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are front and lateral sectional views, respectively, illustrating an initial setting process and a forward movement of a pressurization unit, as a result of disengagement of a solenoid unit, followed by braking of the rope. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a top view under the condition of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
           [0024]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are front and lateral sectional views, respectively, illustrating the operation structure of the pressurization unit, in the process of lifting the transfer block unit by the driving block unit, and a process of compression of compression springs. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art pertaining to the present invention can easily practice it. However, the present invention can be implemented in a number of different forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described below. The same components are given the same reference numerals throughout the description. 
         [0026]    The rope braking apparatus according to the present invention includes, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , an installation body  100 , a driving unit  200 , a pressurization unit  300 , and a movement control unit  400 . 
         [0027]    The installation body  100  serves as an overall case according to the present invention, which has an overall shape of a quadrangular box, and, more specifically, has lateral plates  120  installed on both sides of a rear plate  110  so that an installation space  130  is defined therein. 
         [0028]    Both lateral plates  120  include fixing frames  140  coupled thereto, respectively, which are installed on a cage (not illustrated) of an object, which is carried by the wire rope, such as an elevator. The fixing frames  140  have guide holes  142  formed therein, respectively, so that the angle of both lateral plates  120  can be modified along the range of formation of the guide holes  142 . 
         [0029]    The guide holes can be omitted if adjustment of angle of both lateral plates  120  is unnecessary. 
         [0030]    Both lateral plates  120  have slide recesses  122  formed at intermediate locations, respectively, which serve as paths of movement of movable panels  312  (described later), and respective upper ends of both lateral plates  120  are interconnected via a cover plate  150 . 
         [0031]    Both lateral plates  120  include fixing plates  124  installed on lower inner surfaces, respectively, in order to install second guide rods  240  (described later). 
         [0032]    The rear plate  110  has a first seating recess  112 , which has a semi-circular or V-shaped sectional structure, formed on its back surface along the upward/downward longitudinal direction of the rear plate  110 , and half the sectional area of the wire rope R is inserted into the first seating recess  112 . 
         [0033]    First guide rods  114  are formed in the periphery of the first seating recess  112 , in order to guide the movement of a pressurization plate  320  (described later), and are provided with shock-absorbing springs  115  so as to prevent collision between the pressurization plate  320  and the rear plate  110 , in the process of pressurizing the wire rope R, and to automatically return the pressurization plate  320  to its location. 
         [0034]    The rear plate  110  has an installation plate  116  formed at an intermediate location on its inner surface, in order to install a driving motor  210  (described later), and stick-shaped first guide units  117  are installed as rails on both sides of the installation plate  116 , respectively, so as to guide the path during upward/downward movements of a driving block unit  250  (described later). 
         [0035]    A transfer rail  118  is formed between both rail sticks  117  on the inner surface of the rear plate  110  along the upward/downward longitudinal direction so as to serve as a path of upward/downward movements of the driving block unit  250  (described later). 
         [0036]    A driving unit  200  is installed on the installation body  100 . 
         [0037]    The driving unit  200  is configured to generate pressure applied to the wire rope R, and includes a driving motor  210 , a lead screw  220 , a transfer block unit  230 , a driving block unit  250 , and elastic members  260 . 
         [0038]    The driving motor  210  is configured to generate force for compressing the elastic members  260  (described later), and generally consists of a DC motor or an AC motor, to which a reducer is connected, and the lead screw  220  is connected to the motor shaft (not illustrated). 
         [0039]    The driving motor  210  is seated and installed on the installation plate  116  so that the lead screw  220  faces downwards. 
         [0040]    The lead screw  220  has non-threaded sections  222  formed in predetermined upper and lower sections, where no threaded portion is formed, and a threaded portion  224  formed between the non-threaded sections  222 . 
         [0041]    The transfer block unit  230 , which constitutes the driving unit  200  together with the driving motor  210 , is configured to transfer elastic force from the elastic members  250  (described later) to the pressurization unit  300 , and includes a connection block  232  and coupling blocks  234 . 
         [0042]    The connection block  232 , which is a part of the transfer block unit  230  making direct coupling with the lead screw  220 , has the shape of a simple quadrangular block and has a first through-hole  232   a  formed at an intermediate location with a diameter larger than that of the lead screw  220 . 
         [0043]    The connection block  232  is installed on the lead screw  220  so that the lead screw  220  extends through the first through-hole  232   a , and the connection block  232  is positioned on the upper non-threaded section  222  of the lead screw  220 . 
         [0044]    The first through-hole  232   a  has a diameter larger than that of the threaded portion  224  of the lead screw  220 , as described above, so that no direct contact with the lead screw  220  occurs when the connection block  232  moves upwards/downwards along the longitudinal direction of the lead screw  220  later. 
         [0045]    The coupling blocks  234  are configured to directly connect to and separate from the pressurization unit  300  (described later), in the process of delivering driving force to the pressurization unit  300 , and have the shape of quadrangular blocks. Second through-holes  234   a  extend through the upper surfaces of the couplings blocks  234  in the upward/downward direction, respectively. Elastic members  260  are seated on the coupling blocks  234 , respectively. The coupling blocks  234  may have arcs of a mechanical structure formed on front surfaces, respectively, so that a predetermined level of force can be maintained or multiplied in response to reduction of elastic force from the elastic members  260 . 
         [0046]    The coupling blocks  234  are positioned on both sides of the connection block  232  and are integrally connected to both lateral surfaces of the connection block  232 . 
         [0047]    The coupling blocks  234  include second guide units  234   b  formed as recesses on their back surfaces, respectively, and the first guide units  117  of the installation body  100  are inserted into the second guide units  234   b , respectively (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0048]    Second guide rods  240  extend through the second through-holes  234   a  of the coupling blocks  234 , respectively, in order to induce more stable upward/downward movements. Upper ends of the second guide rods  240  are fixed to the cover plate  150  of the installation body  100 , and lower ends thereof are fixed to respective fixing pieces  124 . 
         [0049]    Therefore, the coupling between the first and second guide units  117  and  234   b  prevents vibration, and the like. during later upward/downward movements of the transfer block unit  230 . 
         [0050]    For reference, the structure of the first guide units  117  and the structure of the second guide units  234   b  can be switched. That is, the first guide units can be realized as recesses, and the second guide units as sticks. It is also possible to omit the first and second guide units  117  and  234   b  as long as the second guide rods  240  alone can prevent vibration of the driving block unit  250 . 
         [0051]    The coupling blocks  234  include engagement latches  234   c  formed on bottom surfaces of their front ends so as to be dented backwards, respectively. 
         [0052]    The driving block unit  250 , which is another component of the driving unit  200 , is configured to transfer the transfer block unit  230  and, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , includes a transfer plate  252 , which is shaped as a simple plate member, and a fastening tube  254  integrally formed beneath the transfer plate  252 . 
         [0053]    The transfer plate  252  has a third through-hole  252   a  formed with a diameter larger than that of the threaded portion  224  of the lead screw  220  and a guide protrusion  252   b  formed on the back side. The fastening tube  254  has a screw hole  254   a  formed along the same line with the third through-hole  252   a.    
         [0054]    The driving block unit  250  is installed on the threaded portion  224  of the lead screw  220  based on the following installation structure. The threaded portion  224  of the lead screw  220  extends through the third through-hole  252   a  and the screw hole  254   a  and is screw-coupled to the screw hole  254   a , and the guide protrusion  252   b  of the transfer plate  252  is fitted to the transfer rail  119  of the installation body  100 . 
         [0055]    The elastic members  260 , which are the remaining components of the driving unit  200 , are configured to substantially generate pressure applied to the wire rope, and generally have the shape of coil springs. The elastic members  260  are installed so as to surround respective second guide rods  240 , with upper ends of the elastic members  260  forced against the cover plate  150  and lower ends thereof seated on upper surfaces of respective coupling blocks  234 . 
         [0056]    For reference, the elastic members  260  can also consist of blocks having sufficient elastic force, besides the coil spring structure. 
         [0057]    A pressurization unit  300  is further installed on the installation body  100 , on which the driving unit  200  has been installed as described above. 
         [0058]    The pressurization unit  300  has the substantial braking function and includes a movable unit  310  and a pressurization plate  320 . 
         [0059]    The movable unit  310  is configured to deliver elastic force from the elastic members  260  to the pressurization plate  320  (described later), and includes movable panels  312  and a connection rod  314 . 
         [0060]    The movable panels  312  serve as operation levers of the pressurization unit  300  and have the shape of simple plate members. The moveable panels  312  are fitted into the slide recesses  122  of respective lateral plates  120  and are configured to move along a straight line forwards/backwards along the longitudinal direction of the slide recesses  122 . 
         [0061]    Installation holes  312   a  are formed on front ends of the movable panels  312 , respectively, in order to install the connection rod  314  (described later), and bearings B are installed in the installation holes  312   a.    
         [0062]    Furthermore, front ends of both movable panels  312  are connected via a separate connection plate  316  so that the movable panels  312  move together forwards/backwards. 
         [0063]    The connection rod  314 , which is installed on the movable panels  312 , is configured to deliver elastic force from the elastic members  260  to respective movable panels  312 , and has the shape of a simple circular rod. The connection rod  314  is positioned between respective movable panels  312 , with both ends fitted into respective bearings B, so that it can rotate on its own inside the bearings B. 
         [0064]    In this case, the engagement latches  234   c  of the coupling blocks  234  surround partial sections of the circumference of the connection rod  314 , so that front ends of respective coupling blocks  234  are placed on the upper end of the connection rod  314 . 
         [0065]    The pressurization plate  320 , which is another component of the pressurization unit  300 , is the substantial component of the pressurization unit  300  in charge of pressurizing the wire rope R, and has the shape of a simple plate member. With both sides coupled to rear ends of respective movable panels  312 , the pressurization plate  320  is positioned to face the rear plate  110  of the installation body  100  while maintaining a distance. 
         [0066]    The pressurization plate  320  has a second seating recess  320   a  formed on a surface, which faces the rear plate  110 , to have a symmetrical structure with regard to the first seating recess  112  of the rear plate  110 . Coupling holes  320   b  are formed near respective corners of the pressurization plate  320 , and the ends of the first guide rods  114  of the installation body  100  are fitted into respective coupling holes  320   b.    
         [0067]    The pressurization unit  300  is further provided with a fixing block  330  to be coupled to the movement control unit  400  (described later) and limit the movement of the pressurization unit  300 . 
         [0068]    The fixing block  330 , while being positioned at an intermediate location of the connection rod  314 , is positioned on the connection rod  314  as the connection rod  314  extends through both sides of the fixing block  330 , and is coupled to the connection plate  316  in this state so that the position is fixed. 
         [0069]    A control block  340  is installed on the bottom of the fixing block  330  to provide substantial connection with the movement control unit  400 . 
         [0070]    The control block  340  has the shape of a simple plate member; a cut-away recess  342  is formed at an intermediate location of the rear end of the control block  340 ; and an engagement pin  344  is fitted into the rear portion of the cut-away recess  342 . 
         [0071]    A movement control unit  400  is further installed on the installation body  100 , on which the pressurization unit  300  has been installed as described above. 
         [0072]    The movement control unit  400  is configured to control the movement of the pressurization unit  300  and thus to control whether or not to pressurize the rope, and includes a solenoid unit  410 , a first position detection sensor  420 , and a second position detection sensor  430 . 
         [0073]    The solenoid unit  410  is configured for substantial control of operation of the pressurization unit  300 , and has a conventional solenoid structure, i.e. a solenoid shaft  414  is connected to a solenoid body  412  and is moved forwards/backwards in response to electric signals. 
         [0074]    The solenoid unit  410  is installed by positioning it below the control block  340  and fitting the end of the solenoid shaft  414  into the cut-away recess  342  of the control block  340 . 
         [0075]    In this state, the solenoid body  412  is electrically connected to a separate power unit (not illustrated) so that, as the solenoid shaft  414  moves upwards/downwards in response to electric signals, it can be inserted into and separated from the space between the cut-away recess  342  and the engagement pin  344 . 
         [0076]    For reference, the cut-away recess  342  of the control block  340  may have the shape of a simple hole, which is enclosed in four directions. 
         [0077]    The first position detection sensor  420 , which constitutes the movement control unit  400  together with the solenoid unit  410 , is configured to detect the position of the pressurization unit  300  during its movement and control whether or not to operate the solenoid unit  410 , and a conventional limit switch is used. 
         [0078]    The first position detection sensor  420  is installed at a location where the control block  340  is supposed to be positioned when the movable panel  312  has been fully moved backwards, so that the position of the control block  340  can be detected. 
         [0079]    To this end, the first position detection sensor  420  is simultaneously connected to the separate power unit and the solenoid unit  410 . 
         [0080]    The second position detection sensor  430  is configured to detect the state of downward movement of the driving block unit  250 , after compression of the elastic members  260 , and thereby control whether or not to operate the driving motor  210 , and a limit switch structure is also applied in this case. 
         [0081]    The second position detection sensor  430  is installed at a location where the driving block unit  250  descends, after pushing up the transfer block unit  230 , as much as the length of compression of the elastic members  260 , so that the position of the driving block unit  250  can be detected. 
         [0082]    To this end, the second position detection sensor  430  is connected to the driving motor  210 . 
         [0083]    Hereinafter, operations of the present embodiment, the construction of which has been described above, and unique effects occurring in the process will be described. 
         [0084]    A process of initially setting the braking apparatus will now be described. 
         [0085]      FIGS. 7 to 9  illustrate a state prior to initial settings, i.e. when the entire transfer block unit  230  has descended so that the connection block  232  is seated on the upper surface of the transfer plate  252 , and when the coupling blocks  234  include pushed the connection rod  314  forwards so that the entire pressurization unit  300  is moved forwards and the pressurization plate  320  is forced against the installation body  100 . 
         [0086]    In this state, if the lead screw  220  is rotated by operation of the driving motor  210  as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the driving block unit  250 , which is screw-coupled to it, ascends along the longitudinal direction of the lead screw  220 . 
         [0087]    In this case, the guide protrusion  252   b  of the transfer plate  252  is fitted to the transfer rail  118  of the installation body  100 , as mentioned above, so that, when the lead screw  220  is rotated, the driving block unit  252  does not rotate together, but moves upwards along a straight line. 
         [0088]    Such an upward movement of the driving block unit  250  is followed by an upward movement of the coupling blocks  234 , including the connection block  232 , and, since the diameter of the first through-hole  232   a  of the connection block  232  is larger than that of the threaded portion  224  of the lead screw  220 , the upward movement is made natural by the driving block unit  250 . 
         [0089]    The elastic members  260  are compressed as a result of such an upward movement of the coupling blocks  234 . 
         [0090]    During this process, the moment the contact between the coupling blocks  234  and the connection rod  314  is released, the shock-absorbing springs  115 , which have been compressed by the pressurization plate  320 , push the pressurization plate  320  backwards. As a result, the movable panels  312  and the connection rod  314  are also moved backwards, so that the connection rod  312  is finally fitted into the engagement latches  234   c  of the coupling blocks  234 . 
         [0091]    As a result, ends of respective coupling blocks  234  are placed on the connection rod  314 . 
         [0092]    If the control block  340  contacts the first position detection sensor  420  while the entire pressurization unit  300  is moving backwards in this manner, the first position detection sensor  420  transmits a power application signal to the power unit. When the solenoid unit  410  receives power from the power unit, the solenoid shaft  414  moves upwards, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , and is fitted into the cut-away recess  342  of the control block  340 , so that the engagement pin  344  engages with the solenoid shaft  414 . 
         [0093]    If the lead screw  220  is rotated in the opposite direction by the driving motor  210  in this state, the driving block unit  250  again moves downwards along the longitudinal direction of the lead screw  220 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As soon as the driving block unit  250  contacts the second position detection sensor  430  after moving downwards as much as the length of compression of the elastic members  260 , the driving motor  210  stops, thereby preventing further downward movement of the driving block unit  250 . 
         [0094]    In line with such a downward movement of the driving block unit  250 , which has been supporting the transfer block unit  230 , the elastic force from the elastic members  260 , i.e. expansion force, causes a downward movement of the coupling blocks  234 . At the same time, the connection rod  314  is forced to move forwards by the coupling blocks  234 . 
         [0095]    However, the engagement pin  344  of the control block  340  remains engaged with the solenoid shaft  414 , as described above, and prevents any forward movement of the entire pressurization unit  300 , including the connection rod  314 , as well as any downward movement of the coupling blocks  234 . 
         [0096]    A braking process will now be described. 
         [0097]    When an elevator or any other object tied to the wire rope is carried while pressurization of the rope is released, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the wire rope R moves upwards/downwards between the pressurization plate  320  and the installation body  100 . 
         [0098]    In this state, if there is a need to stop the upward/downward movement of the elevator or any other object tied to the wire rope and carried, power supply to the solenoid unit  410  from the power unit is interrupted. The solenoid shaft  414  then moves downwards, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , and disengages from the engagement pin  344 . At the same time, elastic force from the elastic members  260  moves the entire pressurization unit  300  forwards. 
         [0099]    This process will now be described in more detail. The connection rod  314  is installed to be rotatable on its own so that, in the process of delivering force of downward movement of the coupling blocks  234 , which results from elastic force from the elastic members  260 , to the connection rod  314 , the connection rod  314  is rotated, causing the ends of the coupling blocks  234  to slide on the connection rod  314  and disengage from the connection rod  314 . 
         [0100]    As such, the coupling blocks  234  move downwards, and their ends push the connection rod  314  forwards, so that the movable panels  312 , which are connected to the connection rod  314 , also move forwards along a straight line along the slide recesses  122  of the installation body  100 . 
         [0101]    Such a forward movement of the movable panels  312  pulls the pressurization plate  320 , which is connected to them, forwards, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , so that the pressurization plate  320  is forced against the rear plate  110  of the installation body  100 . At the same time, the pressurization plate  320  pressurizes the wire rope R, which then stops moving, thereby suspending any upward/downward movement of the elevator or other object tied to the wire rope and carried. 
         [0102]    As such, according to the present invention, the movable panels  312  move along a straight line so that the pressurization plate  320  also moves along a straight line and pressurizes the wire rope R. Therefore, the moment the wire rope R is pressurized, uniform pressure is applied across the entire pressurization plate  320 , thereby guaranteeing stable braking. 
         [0103]    In addition, the fact that the entire surface of the pressurization plate  320  simultaneously contacts the wire rope as a result of such a straight movement prevents uneven wear of the wire rope. 
         [0104]    The coupling blocks  234  and the connection block  232 , which have moved downwards in this manner, are seated on the transfer plate  252  as soon as the elastic members  260  are completely expanded. 
         [0105]    When pressurization of the wire rope R needs to be released later, the above-mentioned initial setting process is followed. 
         [0106]    As described above, the present invention is most conspicuously characterized in that braking is accomplished solely by elastic force from elastic members, without using any hydraulic or pneumatic structure, thereby preventing degradation of braking force resulting from leakage of a fluid. Furthermore, the structure of the pressurization unit  300  itself and the structure of connection with the driving unit  200  are improved so that the pressurization plate  320  moves along a straight line during a braking process, thereby guaranteeing stable braking and preventing uneven wear of the wire rope. 
         [0107]    Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using basic concepts defined by the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0108]    In addition, the rope braking apparatus according to the present invention is widely applicable not only to elevators, but also to hoists, cranes, and the like, which are used to lift/lower objects tied to the wire rope.