Braking apparatus, elevator hoisting machine that uses same, and buffering reaction force adjusting method for a braking apparatus

An elevator hoisting machine comprising:

• a rotating body that has a driving sheave around which is wound a suspending body that suspends a car and a counterweight;
• a motor that rotates the rotating body;
• and
• a braking apparatus that brakes rotation of the rotating body,
• the braking apparatus comprising:
• a fixed portion;
• a movable portion that is displaceable toward and away from the fixed portion;
• a friction member that is disposed on the movable portion, and that brakes rotation of the rotating body by being placed in contact with the rotating body;
• a forcing device that forces the movable portion in a direction that places the friction member in contact with the rotating body;
• a braking force releasing device that displaces the movable portion in a direction in which the friction member separates from the rotating body in opposition to the forcing device;
• a buffering member that is disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion, and that is made of a flexible material;
• and
• a deforming device that deforms the buffering member by pressing the buffering member in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the movable portion, wherein
• the buffering member is a hollow member, and
• the deforming device is disposed inside the buffering member, and presses an inner circumferential surface of the buffering member so as to expand an inside diameter thereof.

A buffering reaction force adjusting method for a braking apparatus comprising:

• a fixed portion;
• a movable portion that is displaceable toward and away from the fixed portion;
• a friction member that is disposed on the movable portion, and that brakes rotation of a rotating body by being placed in contact with the rotating body;
• a forcing device that forces the movable portion in a direction that places the friction member in contact with the rotating body;
• a braking force releasing device that displaces the movable portion in a direction in which the friction member separates from the rotating body in opposition to the forcing device;
• and
• a hollow buffering member that is disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion, and that is made of a flexible material,
• wherein, by pressing an inner circumferential surface of the buffering member in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of displacement of the movable portion by a deforming device is disposed inside the buffering member to deform the buffering member so as to expand an inside diameter thereof and change a dimension of the buffering member in the direction of displacement of the movable portion, the buffering reaction force adjusting method for the braking apparatus adjusts reaction force characteristics of the buffering member during collisions with the movable portion or the fixed portion.