Abstract: A fall arrest device comprises a casing with an entry hole for the wire rope, and an exit hole for the wire rope, and a clamping mechanism and an overspeed detector arranged inside the casing. The speed detection mechanism comprises a driven roller arranged to be driven by the wire rope. The driven roller has one or more selected areas to be detected by a sensor, and the device further comprises a motion indicator configured to receive a signal from the sensor when the sensor detects one of the selected areas. The motion indicator is configured to give different indications depending on whether or not the signal is received from the sensor, and such indications are detectable from outside the casing. Methods for operating such a fall arrest device and method for retrofitting fall arrest devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: An emergency brake apparatus for an elevator system is installed on an elevator cage or a balance weight of the elevator system and includes a grip member with slant surfaces and a pressing surface sandwiching a guide rail, a pressing member disposed movably between the slant surfaces of the grip member and the guide rail, and an electric solenoid connected to the pressing member and actuated by an electric signal. The electric solenoid positions the pressing member away from the guide rail in a non-braking operation while pushing the pressing member between the slant surfaces and the guide rail in a braking operation.

Abstract: In an emergency brake device for an elevator, a pair of pivot levers are pivotably provided to a car. Each pivot member is provided with each of a plurality of wedges that can be brought into and out of contact with a car guide rail as the pivot member pivots. A connecting member is connected between the pivot levers. The car is mounted with an electromagnetic actuator for displacing the connecting member in a reciprocating manner so as to pivot the pivot levers in a direction for bringing each wedge into and out of contact with the car guide rail. The electrical actuator is actuated when inputted with an actuating signal from an output portion mounted in a control panel.

Abstract: A braking mechanism (10) for the moving structure (22) of a moving assembly comprises an elongated member (28) provided with a scroll (34) for mating engagement with coupling means (46) formed on a ring (44) which is freely capable of rotating around the member (28) and therealong during normal operation of the relevant moving structure (22). The ring (44) is included within a guide structure (36) attached to the moving structure (22) and also comprising an engagement element (42) with which the ring (44) engages when the moving structure (22) exceeds a predetermined speed. A bearing (40) is associated with the guide structure (36) and provided on and around the engagement element (42) for the ring (44) in order to facilitate travel along the elongated member (28).

Abstract: A progressive safety device for an elevator includes a brake unit and an actuating unit. The brake unit has a first brake shoe with first spring assemblies and a triangular rotatable support with second and third brake shoes. The actuating unit has an electromagnetic actuator with a locking bolt, a guide bolt with a coaxial compression spring and an actuating arm. On actuation, the compression spring moves the actuating arm against a guide rail whereby grooves on the actuating arm create a frictional engagement with the guide rail turning the actuating arm about a swivel bearing and through a follower turning the support. With the turning motion and the engagement of one of the second and third brake shoes with the guide rail, the first brake shoe is guided against the guide rail and generates the necessary braking force on the guide rail.

Abstract: A tripping device for engaging an elevator lift cage safety brake has actuating levers arranged at a rotary axle for engaging safety brake wedges of the safety braking device. Each actuating lever has a longitudinal slot matched to the diameter of the rotary axle, wherein the actuating lever is freely movable in the direction of the rotary axle and in the direction of the length of the actuating lever. A torsion spring fixes the actuating lever about the rotary axle. One spring end presses the actuating lever downwardly, wherein the movement of the actuating lever is limited by a lower abutment. The other spring end is detachably connected to a support. An upper abutment limits the movement of the actuating lever upwardly. The lower abutment and the upper abutment are each held at a respective end of a T-shaped shackle, wherein the shackle is fixedly connected to the rotary axle.

Abstract: In an elevator emergency braking apparatus, a braking device main body has a main body braking surface facing a main rope and positioned at a first side of a main rope array, and a tapered surface facing the main body braking surface on an opposite side of the main rope array. An intermediate braking piece is disposed between mutually-adjacent main ropes inside the braking device main body. The intermediate braking piece is displaceable in a direction to be placed separably in contact with the main body braking surface. A wedge member is disposed between the tapered surface and the main rope array. The wedge member is separated from the main ropes during normal operation, and wedged between the tapered surface and the main ropes during braking.

Abstract: A safety lock device including a clover mechanism mounted on a rotating shaft to be used with an unbalanced free-fall dog that precludes rotation of the rotating shaft upon rapid acceleration or excessive speed of the rotation of the shaft. The free-fall dog is pivotally mounted on a fulcrum upon which the free-fall dog may teeter in an unbalanced seesaw motion. At opposite ends of the fulcrum are a locking finger and an arm. The free-fall dog is unbalanced such that the arm contacts the clover mechanism as it rotates while the locking finger does not contact the clover mechanism at slow rotating speed. At a slow rotative speed, the arm is only slightly deflected. With great acceleration, the arm is deflected farther from the clover mechanism thereby causing the locking finger on the opposite side of the fulcrum to be pivoted into the clover mechanism.

Abstract: A rail brake apparatus for a linear motor elevator includes mating magnetic cores with coils and spring, brake arms connected with magnetic cores and pivotally engaged with a shaft, linings disposed at both ends of the brake arms for braking a guide rail, thereby reducing the weight of the magnetic units, balancing both magnets in its weight, and obtaining the same pulling force in both magnetic cores. In addition, it further includes a gap maintaining apparatus for maintaining a predetermined gap the upper and the lower magnetic cores, thereby reducing an impact noise occurred during pulling each other and preventing friction due to the slip of the lining, so that the car of the elevator can precisely stop at a desired location.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for braking a carriage which travels on rails of an inclined or vertical elevator. The elevator includes a cable driving device having cables connected to the carriage for moving the carriage along the rails. The carriage has a main frame assembly and a movable frame assembly, mounted to slide along the main frame assembly. The braking device comprises a cam disk assembly having eccentric disks rotatably mounted to the movable frame assembly and held in a first position at a predetermined distance away from a surface of each of the rails for frictionally engaging the rails when released from the first position. The cam disk assembly then causes a plurality of brake blocks of the brake device to engage frictionally the rails when the eccentric disks frictionally engage the rails. A first releasing device causes the eccentric disks to release from the first position and engage frictionally the rails when at least one of the cables breaks.

Abstract: A safety catch device for elevator cars guided on at least one guide rail includes a braking device acting on the at least one guide rail for braking the elevator car and a control device for controlling the braking force of the braking device in dependence on the load and/or deceleration. The control device includes a control mass which is influenced by the acceleration of the elevator car and a brake spring which is deflected in accordance with the position of the control mass. The brake spring is coupled to the control mass and the braking device in such a way that a reduced braking force is applied by the braking device on the at least one guide rail in the case of a high deceleration of the elevator car and an increased braking force is applied by the braking device on the at least one guide rail in the case of a lower deceleration of the elevator car.