Escalator dual solenoid main drive shaft brake
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorAlois Senger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A main drive shaft brake for a passenger conveyor includes a braking element, an actuator, and a counter-actuator. The actuator is de-energized to release the braking element and halt operation of the passenger conveyor during an abnormal or emergency condition. An energized counter-actuator permits release of the braking element but, when de-energized, inhibits release of the braking element by the actuator to prevent unintentional release of the braking element caused by, for example, an accidental loss of power to the actuator.
Claims24
A main drive shaft brake for a passenger conveyor, the brake comprising:
- a braking element for halting movement of a driving mechanism in the passenger conveyor system;
- an actuator connected to the braking element for controlling activation of the braking element, the actuator movable between an energized mode, in which power supplied to the actuator keeps the braking element in a ready position, and an un-energized mode, in which a lack of power supplied to the actuator causes the actuator to release the braking element, thereby halting movement of the driving mechanism in the passenger conveyor system;
- and
- a counter-actuator connected to the actuator, the counter-actuator movable between an energized mode in which power supplied to the counter-actuator keeps the counter-actuator from interfering with the actuator, and an un-energized mode, in which a lack of power causes the counter-actuator to block the release of the braking element.
A main drive shaft brake for a passenger conveyor, the brake comprising:
- a braking element;
- a release lever connected to the braking element for holding the braking element in a lifted and ready position or releasing the braking element to halt movement of the conveyor,
- an actuator having a first coil adjacent to the release lever and a first stroke extending into the first coil, the first stroke capable of moving further into the first coil to enable the release lever to release the braking element;
- and
- a counter-actuator opposite to the actuator, the counter-actuator having a second coil and a second stroke extending into the second coil, the second stroke being biased by a spring such that a loss of power causes the second stroke to block the first stroke from moving further into the first coil, thereby preventing release of the braking element.
A method of controlling a main drive shaft brake for a passenger conveyor, the method comprising:
- controlling a brake actuator in either an energized state, such that the brake actuator holds the main drive shaft brake in lifted position, or a de-energized state to cause the brake actuator to release the main drive shaft brake to a dropped position;
- and
- inhibiting the brake actuator from releasing the main drive shaft brake in response to a loss of line power.
A passenger conveyor comprising:
- a driving mechanism;
- a drive sheave in contact with the driving mechanism for imparting motion thereto;
- and
- a main drive shaft brake associated with the drive sheave, the main drive shaft brake including a braking element for halting rotation of the drive sheave, an actuator for controlling activation of the braking element, and a counter-actuator for blocking an unintentional activation of the braking element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.