Theoretical-experimental assessment of braking systems for inclined lifts according to EN 81:22-2014

The inclined lifts, in case of emergency braking, can experience high longitudinal decelerations that can lead to passengers’ collisions with lift walls and interior elements. In 2014 the CEN/TC10 WG1 published the part 22 of the norm series 81 with regard to the construction elements and installation of electrical lifts with inclined trajectory. This norm stablishes, amongst other requirements, the maximum and minimum deceleration levels in both longitudinal and vertical directions. Both requirements, in opposite senses and the definition of the braking system, do not cause design difficulties in case of high slopes, but in case of lifts with the slope under a certain level they can be needed, to guarantee the fulfilment of the norm, elements that allow and additional relative displacement between the braking system and the cabin. To define the performances and the optimal behaviour of these systems it has been defined a simulation model of the dynamical behaviour of the lift under the conditions of the norm tests. Additionally, in this work it is presented a calculation methodology to define the cabin allowable weight corridor, for each braking effort made by each safety gear model, and the simulations have been validated with the results of tests with different braking efforts, weights and lift slopes. The present work has been performed in cooperation with Thyssen Krupp Elevadores with the aim of improving the knowledge of the brake dynamics of inclined lifts