Electronic safety actuator and method of condition or state detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11901121-B2
Application number	US-202117532721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Feb 4, 2021
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

An electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) for an elevator safety brake, includes a first solenoid ( 2 ), a magnet ( 3 ), movable by the first solenoid ( 2 ) between a first position proximate to the first solenoid ( 2 ) and a second position distal from the first solenoid ( 2 ) a second solenoid ( 6 ) and a detector ( 8 ). The detector ( 8 ) is arranged to apply an electrical signal to one of the first solenoid ( 2 ) and the second solenoid ( 6 ), and to detect an electrical signal induced in the other of the first solenoid ( 2 ) and the second solenoid ( 6 ) as a result of the applied electrical signal. There is also provided a method of detecting a condition or state of the first solenoid ( 2 ) or the magnet ( 3 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) for an elevator safety brake, comprising:
a first solenoid ( 2 );
a magnet ( 3 ), movable by the first solenoid ( 2 ) between a first position proximate to the first solenoid ( 2 ) and a second position distal from the first solenoid ( 2 );
a second solenoid ( 6 ); and
a detector ( 8 ) arranged to apply an electrical signal to one of the first solenoid ( 2 ) and the second solenoid ( 6 ), and to detect an electrical signal induced in the other of the first solenoid ( 2 ) and the second solenoid ( 6 ) as a result of the applied electrical signal.

2. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the detector ( 8 ) is further arranged to determine a condition or state of the first solenoid ( 2 ) or the magnet ( 3 ) by comparing the detected electrical signal to at least one reference value.

3. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the induced electrical signal is insufficient to move the magnet between the first position and the second position.

4. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the detector is arranged to detect a voltage across the first solenoid or the second solenoid.

5. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 4 , wherein the detector is arranged to apply the electrical signal to the second solenoid ( 6 ) and measure the voltage induced in the first solenoid ( 2 ).

6. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein a number of turns of the second solenoid ( 6 ) is less than half of a number of turns of the first solenoid ( 2 ).

7. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein a number of turns of the second solenoid ( 6 ) is less than 20 turns.

8. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the detector is arranged to detect a current in the first solenoid or the second solenoid.

9. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the detector ( 8 ) is arranged to apply the electrical signal to the first solenoid ( 2 ) and measure the current induced in the second solenoid ( 6 ).

10. The electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first solenoid ( 2 ) and the second solenoid ( 6 ) are coaxial.

11. A method of detecting a condition or state of a first solenoid ( 2 ) or a magnet ( 3 ) of an electronic safety actuator ( 1 ) for an elevator safety brake, the magnet ( 3 ) being movable by the first solenoid ( 2 ) between a first position proximate to the first solenoid ( 2 ) and a second position distal from the first solenoid ( 2 ), comprising:
applying an electrical signal to the first solenoid ( 2 ) or a second solenoid ( 6 );
detecting an electrical signal induced in the other of the first solenoid ( 2 ) and the second solenoid ( 6 ) as a result of the applied electrical signal; and
determining the condition or state based on the detected electrical signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising determining a position of the magnet ( 3 ).

13. The method of claim 11 , comprising detecting whether the magnet is in an intermediate position, between the first position and the second position.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising determining that the magnet ( 3 ) is in the first position when the detected electrical signal is different to a first reference value; optionally wherein the first reference value is at least 80% of an electrical signal expected from an undamaged coil.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the condition or state based on the detected electrical signal comprises detecting wear in the first solenoid ( 2 ).

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Munoz Sotoca Javier

Classifications

• H01F7/16 Primary

  Rectilinearly-movable armatures (H01F7/17 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01F7/064

  Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets (circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325) · CPC title

• H01F7/1638

  Armatures not entering the winding · CPC title

• B66B5/16

  Braking or catch devices operating between cars, cages, or skips and fixed guide elements or surfaces in hoistway or well · CPC title

• H01F7/081

  Magnetic constructions · CPC title