Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people – With means to control the operation of the section
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2001-08-14
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people
With means to control the operation of the section
C198S330000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273234
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a method of load independent braking of the stair respectively pallet band of an escalator respectively a moving pavement according to the generic part of the first claim.
For braking the stair respectively pallet band of an escalator at response of safety elements essentially mechanically or electro-mechanically-operable brakes, in particular block brakes, have been used so far. As a rule these brakes are spring-loaded, wherein the action of the spring is compensated by a magnet coil, so that the brake remains open in operating state. While stopping the escalator respectively the moving pavement the action of the electromagnet is compensated and thereby it is then made use of the prevailing spring power. If there is a power outage, the mechanical brake immediately acts, since the action of the electromagnet is immediately compensated and the spring power can be activated then. Herein usually the centrifugal mass at the motor is simultaneously used as a brake drum, wherein the centrifugal mass, which has to be calculated dependent on the dimensions of the escalator respectively the moving pavement, causes the stopping distance to remain within the given limits. Substantial criteria of the calculation of the centrifugal mass are for escalators the load caused by the number of persons and for moving pavements essentially the length in connection with the passenger load being located thereon.
When the brake acts, the drive motor is cut off from the power supply. Herein the brake will be released, if the emergency stop is actuated as well as if safety switches in the existing safety chain respond.
The known brake has the disadvantages that the stopping distance is load dependent, that no equal stopping distances can be obtained—since they are load dependent—, and that with special constructional conditions (e.g. overlength of moving pavements) such high centrifugal masses are required, that technical limits for the accommodation have been reached herein. Furthermore, a relatively high wear of the brake lining is given, which, due to safety reasons, makes a continuous adjustment of the mechanical brakes necessary.
GB-A 2156173 relates to a method as well as an apparatus for braking a passenger conveyor. The movement of the passenger conveyor shall be essentially braked in a load independent and transport direction independent way. A motor-tachogenerator is used, which measures the retardations, whereby the trigger current of the drive motor is modified. Direct-current is applied to the windings of an A.C. drive motor, whereby an electrodynamic brake effect is achieved in such a way, that a previously determinable braking behaviour of the passenger conveyor is induced via the motor.
From EP-A 557 570 a braking device, in particular for a crane, is known. The same one comprises a drive motor and a brake, wherein the motor is monitored by means of microprocessors. A monitoring device checks the microprocessor on eventual brake failures. Finally an application device is provided which applies the brake, when a breakdown of the microprocessor has been detected.
It is the aim of the subject of invention to provide a different kind of braking method on the one hand and a braking device differing from the state of the art, which is no more load dependent and mostly resistant to wear, on the other hand, in order to increase safety and observe the stopping distances (downwards and upwards) required by the relevant norms as well as to reduce the mechanical requirement (centrifugal masses).
On the one hand this aim is achieved by the characterizing features of the first claim.
Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are disclosed in the associated subclaims.
On the other hand the aim is also achieved by the features disclosed in the characterizing part of the objective secondary claim.
Advantageous embodiments of the braking device according to the invention are disclosed in the associated subclaims.
By means of the method according to the invention as well as the braking device according to the invention a load independent braking of the stair respectively pallet band of escalators and moving pavements is carried out in comparison to the actual state of the art, which substantially offers the following advantages:
always equal stopping distances, since independent from the load
resistance to wear of the service brake
low mechanical requirement (reduction of the centrifugal masses to zero)
increase of safety
at least partly energy recycling into the supply system
Thus the invention provides for the use of an exclusively electrically active service brake. Herein the contacts of the main control elements (contactors) of the motor circuit are maintained closed for braking the escalator respectively the moving pavement, although the safety chain has been interrupted by releasing one or more safety elements.
By means of the embodiments according to the invention it is assured, that the additional brake is surely applied, if error functions of the frequency converter occur, and after the escalator has been stopped. A potential voltage loss has to be considered as a breakdown of the service brake, i.e. the additional brake has to be activated by a monitoring of the distribution voltage or it has to be applied automatically at once.
Preferably all the disconnecting contacts in a path of the current act on two, in particular parallel connected contactors (redundancy), which both cause the drive of the main control elements during the braking operation of the frequency converter and provide, in case of deviations, for the immediate application of the additional brake.
An additional safety device can then assure, that the additional brake is applied in any case (e.g. via two separate time relays) after a certain period of time, which has to be fixed yet, has run out. In case the time relays and/or the monitoring contacts do not function correctly, an evaluation with error alarm and connecting lock will be carried out.
By means of the method according to the invention respectively the braking device according to the invention the speed of the escalator respectively the moving pavement can thus be decreased to the value of 0 m/s in a defined way with substantially constant retardation. At the moment of standstill of the stair respectively pallet band (rotary frequency =0 or 0 Hz) the mechanical brake acts as a holding brake. At the moment of release of a safety element the brake ramp of the frequency converter is activated and braked in a uniformly retarded way while observing the stopping distance required in the corresponding regulations.
If the desired curve of the brake ramp of the frequency converter is exceeded in case of breakdown, it will be assured by immediate application of the additional brake, that the stopping distance is observed. As criteria for the premature application the deviation from the given ramp is taken. The evaluation is preferably carried out by a microprocessor in the electronic control of the escalator respectively the moving pavement.
If both the frequency converter and the electronic control receive false information, which cause the speed of the motor not to be reduced respectively the motor not to pass through the given brake ramp, the brake must be applied and the frequency converter has to be separated from the motor connection at the latest after running out of the monitoring time.
By means of the safety measures according to the invention the following diversitary system could be formed, by which the brake can be controlled in a defined way and surely applied:
evaluation respectively control of the motor speed via the frequency converter for the load independent reduction of the speed of the escalator respectively the moving pavement and release of the additional brake approximately at a motor speed of zero
evaluation of the speed pulses with evaluation via electronic control for releasing the brake at the motor speed of zero
capacitor short-time relays or pneumatic relay control elements for an absolute applic
Balzer-Apke Ludwig
Lange Dirk
Kinberg Robert
Kone Corporation
Valenza Joseph E.
Venable
LandOfFree
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