Compensatory measure for low overhead or low pit elevator

• US 9,809,420 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Fauconnet, Aurelien, Delachatre, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Diem
• Application Number:
  US14/430,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 187357, 187356
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0068 by activating the safety brakes when the elevator car exceeds a certain upper or lower position in the elevator shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/18 and applying frictional retarding forces

Abstract

A safety system for an elevator is provided including a safety brake. The safety brake is operatively connectable to one of an elevator car or a counterweight. The safety brake includes a trigger configured to engage the safety when actuated. An actuation device is configured to be mounted to a guide rail. The actuation device includes an actuator movable between a first position and a second position. The actuation device is configured to not actuate the trigger of the safety brake when the actuator is in the first position. The actuation device is configured to actuate the trigger of the safety brake when the actuator is in the second position by physically contacting the trigger.

Claims

1. A safety system for an elevator, comprising:

a safety brake, operatively connectable to one of an elevator car or a counterweight, the safety brake comprising a safety linkage configured to engage the safety brake when actuated;

a safety device, configured to be mounted to a guide rail, the safety device including an actuator and an actuation device, the actuation device being movable between a first position and a second position,

wherein when the actuation device is in the first position, the safety device does not actuate the safety linkage of the safety brake, and when the actuation device is in the second position, the safety device is configured to actuate the safety linkage of the safety brake by physically contacting the safety linkage, wherein gravity causes the actuation device to move between the first position and the second position.

2. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the actuation device is configured to actuate the safety linkage of the safety brake by physically contacting the safety linkage as the safety brake moves past the actuation device.

3. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the actuation device further comprises a weight, and when the actuation device is in the first position, the actuator is operably coupled to the weight, and when the actuation device is in the second position, the actuator is uncoupled from the weight.

4. The safety system according to claim 3, wherein the weight is selectively coupled to the actuator using an electromagnet.

5. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail is one of a car guide rail and a counterweight guide rail.

6. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electromagnet having a permanent magnet core.

7. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the actuation device is uncoupled from the actuator when power is removed from the actuator.

8. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the safety device further comprises a bracket, a weight, and a triggering member, the triggering member pivotally coupling the weight to the bracket of the safety device.

9. The safety system according to claim 8, wherein the triggering member includes a first arm for coupling the weight to the bracket and a second arm arranged at an angle to the first arm for engaging the safety linkage of the safety brake.

10. The safety system according to claim 9, wherein when the weight is in the first position, the triggering member is retracted into the safety device, and when the weight is in the second position, the triggering member extends from the safety device.

11. The safety system according to claim 1, wherein the safety device includes a first contactor and a second contactor.

12. The safety system according to claim 11, wherein a first end of the actuation device engages the first contactor when the actuation device is in the first position and a second end of the actuation device engages the second contactor when the actuation device is in the second position.

13. An elevator system comprising:

an elevator hoistway having an upper end and a lower end;

an elevator car configured to move within the elevator hoistway along at least one car guide rail;

a counterweight coupled to the elevator car, the counterweight being configured to move within the hoistway along at least one counterweight guide rail;

a safety brake, operatively connectable to one of the elevator car or counterweight, the safety brake comprising a safety linkage configured to engage the safety brake when actuated;

safety device, configured to be mounted to one of the car guide rail or counterweight guide rail, the safety device comprising an actuation device movable between a first position and a second position,

wherein when the actuation device is in the first position, the safety device does not actuate the safety linkage of the safety brake, and

when the actuation device is in the second position, the safety device is configured to actuate the safety linkage of the safety brake by physically contacting the safety linkage wherein gravity causes the actuation device to move between the first position and the second position.

14. The elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the actuation device is in the first position when the elevator system is in a normal mode and the actuation device is in the second position when the elevator system is in an inspection mode.

15. The elevator system according to claim 14, wherein the safety device further comprises an actuator, and the actuation device includes a weight, wherein the weight is selectively coupled to the actuator is in the first position when the actuation device is in the first position, and the weight is uncoupled from the actuator when the actuation device is in the second position.

16. The elevator system according to claim 15, wherein the weight is selectively coupled to the portion of the actuator using an electromagnet.

17. The elevator system according to claim 16, wherein the actuator is an electromagnet having a permanent magnet core.

18. The elevator system according to claim 17, wherein the weight is uncoupled from the actuator when power is removed from the actuator.

19. The elevator system according to claim 18, wherein the elevator system is placed in an inspection mode, power is removed from the actuator.

20. The elevator system according to claim 13, wherein the elevator system includes a plurality of safety devices including first safety device mounted to the car guide rail and a second safety device mounted to the counterweight guide rail.

21. A method of using a safety device in an elevator system to stop an elevator car or counterweight from moving beyond a desired location comprising:

placing the elevator system in an inspection mode;

removing power from an actuator of the safety device such that an actuation device of the safety device moves from a first position to a second position, wherein the actuation device moves from the first position to the second position via gravity; and

activating a safety brake by physically contacting a safety linkage of the safety brake as the safety brake passes the safety device.