US 11,912,537 B2
Progressive elevator safety brake
Javier Munoz Sotoca, Madrid (ES); and Luis Mena, Madrid (ES)
Assigned to OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by Otis Elevator Company, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/846,815.
Prior Publication US 2023/0159302 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. B66B 5/22 (2006.01)
CPC B66B 5/22 (2013.01) 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
14. An elevator system (10) comprising:
an elevator car (16);
a guide rail (20, 330);
an elevator safety brake (200, 300) mounted on the elevator car (16), the safety brake (200, 300) comprising:
a safety block (210, 310), wherein the safety block (210, 310) is substantially made of a polymeric material or a polymer-based composite material, the safety block (210, 310) comprising:
an elongate channel (220) defining a channel axis (225, 325), wherein the elongate channel (220) receives the elevator guide rail (20, 330) of the elevator system (10); and
a cavity (240, 340);
wherein the safety brake (200, 300) further comprises:
a first braking component (250, 350) housed in the cavity (240, 340), wherein the first braking component (250, 350) comprises a body (260, 360) and a first braking surface (270, 370);
a second braking component (280, 380) comprising a second braking surface (290, 390);
wherein the first braking component (250, 350) is arranged on one side of the guide rail (20, 330) received in the elongate channel and the second braking component is arranged on the other side of the guide rail (20, 330) received in the elongate channel;
wherein the first braking component (250, 350) is arranged to move in a direction generally parallel to the channel axis between a first position and a second position (B); and
wherein, when the first braking component (250, 350) is in the first position, the first braking surface (270, 370) and the second braking surface (290, 390) define a first separation distance (D1) that is greater than a width of the guide rail (20, 330) and when the first braking component (250, 350) is in the second position (B), the first braking surface (270, 370) and the second braking surface (290, 390) define a second separation distance (D2), wherein the second separation distance (D2) is less than the first separation distance (D1); and
wherein, when the first braking component (250, 350) is in the second position, the first braking surface (270, 370) engages the elevator guide rail (20, 330) such that a braking force is applied thereto.