Rope Gripper The^TM

Operation
" Rope Gripper^TM " is a safety equipment which stops the elevator to protect accidents in advance by gripping the suspension ropes when the " Rope Gripper^TM " gets an emergency signal from the elevator controller caused by electrical or mechanical malfunction.

It is the most suitable Safety Brake Equipment if an ascending elevator overspeeds in up or down direction and also the elevator leaves the floor with doors opened.

The " Rope Gripper^TM " uses springs along a stationary cam to obtain a mechanical advantage and apply adequate pressure to the elevator suspension ropes without any damages to the traction machine, sheaves and others.

This cam action causes a changing mechanical advantage and is designed to compensate for lining wear and lengthening springs, providing a constant force on the elevator ropes, even with the spring extended to less than half their original compressed value.

1) Open Position (Normal Status)
When the " Rope Gripper^TM " is in its open position, the springs are fully compressed and prevented from extending by an electric solenoid trigger mechanism.

When the electric solenoid is de-energized, the springs will extend forcing the movable shoe against the ropes.


2) Gripping
When an emergency condition exists (overspeed or the elevator outside of door zone with doors opened), the contact on the elevator controller will disconnect the electric solenoid releasing the trigger mechanism, to grip the suspension rope and stop the elevator.
As the springs extend, the oil is forced from a cylinder into a tank allowing a smooth shock absorbing action.

The contact on the " Rope Gripper^TM " will open so that power to the elevator motor will be disconnected and/or remain disconnected until the " Rope Gripper^TM " is once again reset.

3) Resetting
To reset the " Rope Gripper^TM " after it has been set (gripping ropes), a contact on the elevator controller will close indicating all signals are normal.

The pump motor will be energized along with the electric trigger solenoid. Then, a hydraulic dump valve is closed and oil will be pumped into the cylinder causing the springs to compress and move down the cam. The plunger will retract into the cylinder compressing the springs.

When the " Rope Gripper^TM " reaches the open ready position, a microswitch will disconnect the pump motor and the electric solenoid will keep the brake in the open position. A contact on the " Rope Gripper^TM " will indicate that the elevator can run.

[REMARK]
In the unlikely event of excessive use, the shoe lining may wear so that the shaft extends to near the end of the cam, however, a microswitch is provided which will prevent resetting of the " Rope Gripper^TM " and will not allow the elevator to run until the " Rope Gripper^TM " is re-adjusted.

As the linings wear, the rotating shaft will go higher up the cam although the springs become weaker in this condition, the mechanical advantage becomes greater allowing a constant pressure of the linings on the ropes.

Safety

An elevator "Rope Gripper^TM is a safety braking device invented by Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corp. in U.S.A. and patented in over 10 countries including U.S.A. and Korea. Hollister-Whitney has been specialized in elevator products and equipment for over 100 years, which is one of leading companies in the elevator industry.
We obtained safety certification from CSA International in Canada where it was obliged to install elevator auxiliary safety braking devices by law, first in the world. Furthermore, the safety and reliability of the product quality was secured once again by acquiring EC Type-Examination Certificate, i.e., CE Certificate and TX Certificate in China.

Since Hollister-Whitney started the sale of "Rope Gripper^TM in 1990, the perfect function and high quality has been proved continuously. EU, Canada, USA and Hong Kong already regulated the installation of elevator auxiliary safety braking devices by law, and it is also under such regulation in Korea since 2000.

"Rope Gripper^TM" completely meets the requirements of the elevator inspection standards of Korea, and basically prevents accidents so that elevators can run safely and comfortably.

Superiority

"Rope Gripper^TM " is a device to protect passengers from danger and injuries due to an elevator’s overspeed caused by any failure of a brake, an elevator brake controlling system, or parts controlling the car speed in the up and down directions. If an ascending or descending elevator overspeeds suddenly or when the car leaves a floor with the doors opened due to a trouble with the traction sheave or slipped ropes, "Rope Gripper^TM " stops the elevator safely clamping main ropes, which is an epochal invention preventing elevator accidents that was unavoidable before.

The "Rope Gripper^TM " :

• Can be installed and tested easily in any elevator system whether to be already set up or not.
• Stops the car smoothly but with much force, and hardly causes damage to main ropes and other elevator parts.
• Activates by force of extending springs, and resets hydraulically not to allow interference of operation.
• Stops the car safely during a power failure, and resets the system automatically placing the car on normal operation when power is restored.
• Detects an emergency condition and applies within 1,200mm if the car leaves a floor with doors opened.
• Activates only when an emergency condition exists, and linings rarely wear, which doesn’t require frequent replacement of linings.
• Indicates the time for replacement of linings because of a sensor perceiving linings wear.
• Patented in U.S.A., Russia, Finland, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Poland, and Korea.
• Continuously proved the perfect function and high quality in various countries including U.S.A., EU, and Hong Kong for over 10 years since 1992.

Specification

[When you order the " Rope Gripper^TM ", please describe the following in detail.]

1. Max. Out to Out of Cables,
2. Number of Main Ropes(or Cables) and Diameter of a Rope(or Cable),
3. Type of Roping (1:1 or 2:1),
4. Rated Speed,
5. Car Rated Load,
6. Car and Counterweight Mass,
7. Gross Weight

[Gross Weight = Total Mass of Car Side + Counterweight Mass]

• Total Mass of Car Side(kg) = Car(kg) + Car Rated Load(kg) + Rope Weight(kg)
• Counterweight Mass(kg) = Car(kg) + Car Rated Load(kg) / 2 + 50kg