Patent Publication Number: US-10315886-B2

Title: Electronic safety actuation device with a power assembly, magnetic brake and electromagnetic component

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is generally related to braking and/or safety systems for elevator systems and, more specifically, an electronic safety actuation device with a power assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     Some machines, such as an elevator system, include a safety system to stop the machine when it rotates at excessive speeds or the elevator cab travels at excessive speeds or accelerations. Conventional safety systems include an actively applied safety system that requires power from travelling cables to positively actuate the safety mechanism or a passively applied safety system that requires power from travelling cables to maintain the safety system in a hold operating state. There is a need for a safety system with reduced complexity without the need for additional travelling cables or additional power wires to the elevator car and/or counterweight. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     In one aspect, an elevator system is provided. The elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator component disposed in the hoistway, and a power generating device disposed within the hoistway and operably coupled to the elevator component, wherein the power generating device is configured to generate power when the elevator component is in motion. In an embodiment, the elevator component includes at least one of an elevator car and a counterweight. In an embodiment, the power generating device includes a wind turbine. 
     In an embodiment, the elevator system further includes a safety actuation device operably coupled to the elevator component, and a power assembly disposed within the safety actuation device and operably coupled to the power generating device. In an embodiment, the power assembly includes at least one power storage device operably coupled to the power generating device, and a safety actuation device controller operably coupled to the at least one power storage device, the safety actuation device controller configured to receive and transmit safety signals. 
     In one embodiment, the safety actuation device includes a roller guide affixed thereto. In this embodiment, the power generating device is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the roller guide. 
     In one embodiment, elevator system further includes a guide rail disposed in the hoistway; the guide rail configured to engage the elevator component and direct the course of travel of the elevator component, and a safety device operably coupled to the elevator component and safety actuation device, the safety device configured to engage the guide rail. 
     In one embodiment, elevator system further includes an elevator drive operably coupled to the elevator component and in communication with the safety actuation device controller to receive and transmit the safety signals. In this embodiment, the safety actuation device controller is configured to wirelessly exchange safety signals with the elevator drive. 
     In one aspect, a safety actuation assembly is provided. The safety actuation assembly includes a housing, a power assembly disposed within the housing, an electromagnetic component operably coupled to the housing, the electromagnetic component operably coupled to the power assembly, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured generate an actuation or reset, and a power generating device operably coupled to the power assembly, the power generating device configured to transfer power to the power assembly based in part on movement of the power generating device. 
     In an embodiment, the power assembly includes at least one power storage device operably coupled to the power generating device, and a safety actuation device controller operably coupled to the at least one power storage device, the safety actuation device controller configured to receive and transmit safety signals. 
     In an embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a magnetic brake disposed adjacent to the electromagnetic component, the magnetic brake configured to move between an engaging position and a non-engaging position based in part on a holding force. In an embodiment, the safety controller includes a communication module. In an embodiment, the communication module is configured to wirelessly receive and transmit safety signals. 
     In an embodiment, the power generating device includes a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the safety actuation assembly further includes a roller guide affixed to the housing. In this embodiment, the power generating device is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the roller guide. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments and other features, advantages and disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an elevator system employing an electronic safety actuation device to the elevator car and/or counterweight; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic safety actuation device, with a power assembly in use without a power traveling cable, in an engaging position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an electronic safety actuation device with a power assembly in use with an elevator car; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an electronic safety actuation device with a power assembly in use with an elevator counterweight; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an electronic safety actuation device with a power assembly in use without a power traveling cable. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     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. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an elevator system, generally indicated at  10 . The elevator system  10  includes an elevator component  12 A-B disposed in a hoistway  14 . In an embodiment, the elevator component  12 A-B includes at least one of an elevator car  12 A and a counterweight  12 B. The elevator car  12 A is suspended by a cable  16  in the hoistway  14 . The elevator car  12 A is guided between car guide rails  18 . The counterweight  12 B is guided between counterweight guide rails  20  and is suspended on an opposite end of the cable  16 . 
     Movement of the elevator car  12 A and counterweight  12 B in the hoistway  14  is provided by a motor  22  mounted in a machine room  24 . The motor  22  rotates a sheave  26  around which the cable  16  extends to raise and lower the elevator car  12 A and counterweight  12 B. 
     An electromechanical brake (not shown) located in the machine room  24 , electronic safety actuation devices  28  operably coupled to car safeties  30 , and/or counterweight safeties  32  act to stop elevator car  12 A and counterweight  12 B if the elevator car  12 A or counterweight  12 B exceeds a set speed as they travel inside the hoistway  14 . If the elevator car  12 A or counterweight  12 B reaches a defined over-speed condition, the electronic safety actuation device  28  detects this event, and transmits a signal to an elevator drive  34  (shown in the machine room  24  in this embodiment), which in turn cuts power to the elevator drive  34  and drops the machine brake to arrest movement of the sheave  26  and thereby arrest movement of elevator car  12 A and counterweight  12 B. 
     If, however, cables  16  break, the elevator car  12 A otherwise experiences a free-fall condition unaffected by the machine brake, the machine brake fails to arrest movement of the sheave  26 , or the over-speed condition worsens, the electronic safety actuation device  28  may then act to actuate either or both of the car safety device  30  and/or counterweight safety device  32  to arrest movement of the elevator car  12 A and/or the counterweight  12 B. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of an exemplary electronic safety actuation device  28  operably coupled to a car safety device  30 , the car safety device  30  in an engaging position against the car guide rail  18 . It will be appreciated that the exemplary electronic safety actuation device  28  may also actuate a counterweight safety device  32  to the counterweight guide rail  20  in a similar manner, and may include similar components as described below. 
     The electronic safety actuation device  28  includes an electromagnetic component  36  and a magnetic brake  38 . In one embodiment, in order to power the electromagnetic component  36 , a portion of a power assembly  40  is disposed within the safety actuation device  28 . The other portion of the power assembly  40  is operably coupled to at least one of elevator car  12 A and counterweight  12 B (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) depending on whether the safety actuation device  28  is operably coupled to elevator car  12 A and/or counterweight  12 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the power assembly  40  includes a first power storage device  42 , for example a battery to name one non-limiting example, operably coupled to an electronic safety actuation device controller  44 . The electronic safety actuation device controller  44  is further coupled to a second power storage device  46 . The second power storage device  46 , for example a capacitor to name one non-limiting example, is further coupled to a portion of the electronic safety actuation device (e.g., the electromagnetic component  36 ), and is configured to activate the safety actuation device  28  based in part on an actuation command. 
     The electronic safety actuation device controller  44  is in communication with the elevator drive  34  via a communication module (not shown) disposed on the electronic safety actuation device controller  44 . In an embodiment, the communication module is configured to wirelessly exchange safety signals with the elevator drive  34 . It will be appreciated that the communication module may be separate from the electronic safety actuation controller  44 . 
     The first power storage device  42  is operably coupled to a power generating component  48  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The power generating component  48  is configured to generate power when the elevator car  12 A and counterweight  12 B are in motion. In an embodiment, the power generating component  48  includes a wind turbine disposed within the hoistway  14 . In this embodiment, power is generated from the wind created as the elevator car  12 A and counterweight  12 B travels up and down the hoistway  14 . Power may then be transferred from the power generating component  48  to the first power storage device  42 . 
     It will be appreciated that the power generating component  48  may be disposed in any location within the hoistway  14 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the power generating component  48  and the power assembly (not shown) are located on the elevator car  12 A and may provide power to components on the elevator car  12 A. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the power generating component  48  and the power assembly (not shown) are located on the counterweight  12 B and may provide power to components on the counterweight  12 B. In one embodiment, there may be a plurality of power generating component  48  operably coupled to the first power storage device  42  to provide power thereto. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the power generating component  48  may be disposed directly on the safety actuation device  28 . For example, the safety actuation device  28  may include roller guides  50  to enable travel along the car guide rails  18  and/or counterweight guide rails  20 . The power generating component  49  may be in contact with the roller guide  50  such that rotation of the roller guide  50  causes rotation of the power generating component  48 . 
     As the power generating component  48  rotates, electrical power is created. Power may then be transferred from the power generating component  48  to the first power storage device  42 . Either of the aforementioned arrangements, therefore, eliminates the need for a travelling cable to power the safety actuation device  28 . 
     In one embodiment, the power generating component  48  may be located anywhere on the elevator car  12 A and/or counterweight  12 B and have a dedicated roller guide  50  that engages with the car guide rail  18  or counterweight guide rail  20 , respectively. In one embodiment, the power generating component  48  may be located anywhere on the elevator car  12 A and/or counterweight  12 B and use a pre-existing or multipurpose rollers that engages with the car guide rail  18  or counterweight guide rail  20 , respectively. 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , during typical operation, the electromagnetic component  36  is a keeper configured to hold the magnetic brake  38  in a non-engaging position without power needed. The magnetic brake  38  provides a sufficient magnetic attraction force in a direction toward the electromagnetic component  36  to hold the magnetic brake  38  in the non-engaging position. 
     During an over-speed or other condition requiring braking, the elevator drive  34  may wirelessly transmit a safety signal to the electronic safety actuation device controller  44  to actuate the electromagnetic component  36 . In one embodiment, the electronic safety actuation device controller  44  may itself sense the over-speed or other condition requiring braking and actuate the electromagnetic component  36 . Upon receipt of the safety signal, the electronic safety actuation device controller  44  may issue an actuation command to the electromagnetic component  36  to propel the magnetic brake  38  towards the car guide rail  18  and/or counterweight guide rail  20  into an engaging position by using the power from the second power storage device  46 . 
     In the rail-engaging position, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the exemplary magnetic brake  38  is magnetically attached to the car guide rail  18 . The magnetic brake  38  is operably coupled to a safety brake  52  by a rod or small linkage bar  54 . The magnetic brake  38 , in the rail-engaging position, pushes/pulls the safety brake  52  in an upward direction due to the relative upward movement of the magnetic brake  38  relative to the descending elevator car  12 A. The safety brake  52  engages the car guide rail  18  when the magnetic brake  38  pushes/pulls the safety brake  52  in the upward direction. A wedge-shaped portion  56  of the safety brake  52  allows a safety brake pad  58  to move toward and engage with the car guide rail  18  upon upward movement of the magnetic brake  38  and the rod  54 . 
     It will therefore be appreciated that the present elevator system  10  includes an safety actuation device  28  that may be powered by a self-sustaining power assembly, including a power generating component  48 , without the need of additional traveling cables for power; thus, decreasing the costs of material and installation time of the elevator system  10 . 
     While the 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 disclosure are desired to be protected.