37 - Construction and mining; installation and repair services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Providing technical advice regarding repair and maintenance in the field of elevators as well as parts and components in connection with elevators; maintenance and repair of technical equipment, namely equipment for monitoring and control of security, safety, temperature and telecommunications associated with elevators and escalators installed in buildings, maintenance and repair of circuit boards utilized in elevator systems
(2) Installation, maintenance, programming and troubleshooting of computer software utilized in the field of elevators; technical project feasibility studies and engineering design services in the field of elevators as well as parts and components in connection with elevators
3.
METHOD OF REDUCING FRETTING OF STEEL ROPES AND BELTS
A load-bearing member includes a core including a first plurality of steel wires. Each of the first plurality of steel wires have a benign metallic layer disposed thereon and a low friction coating disposed over the benign metallic layer. A plurality of outer strands surrounds the core. The plurality of outer strands includes a second plurality of steel wires. Each of the second plurality of steel wires have a benign metallic layer disposed thereon. Each of the plurality of outer strands includes a plurality of outer strand inner wires surrounded by a plurality of outer strand outer wires and each of the outer strand inner wires includes a low friction coating.
An elevator door operator may comprise a drive connected to a motor for opening and closing elevator doors. The drive may include a power supply control switch, a rectifier for converting AC from a power source to DC, a DC bus with a capacitor bank for storing potential energy, and an inverter for converting DC back to AC for the motor. As the motor begins to accelerate the doors, the power supply control switch may disconnect the power source from the drive, forcing the capacitor bank to power the motor, which in turn discharges the capacitor bank. The motor may convert the kinetic energy of the doors into potential energy stored in the capacitor bank during deceleration of the doors. Once the doors are fully opened or closed, the power supply control switch may reconnect the power source to finish recharging the capacitor bank.
H02H 3/24 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to undervoltage or no-voltage
H02H 7/085 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for dynamo-electric motors against excessive load
An elevator system constructed in accordance to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an elevator car, a counterweight, a sheave assembly, a suspension rope, a compensation rope, a first optical sensor assembly and a controller. The suspension rope has a first suspension end coupled to the elevator car and a second suspension end coupled to the counterweight. The first compensation rope has a first compensation end coupled to the elevator car and a second compensation end coupled to the counterweight. The first optical sensor assembly can have a first optical sensor pair including a first emitter and a first receiver. The first emitter is configured to emit a first beam to be received by the first receiver. The first optical sensor pair is configured to detect interruption of the first beam by the first compensation rope. The controller controls movement of the elevator car based on the detected interruption.
An elevator system constructed in accordance to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an elevator car, a counterweight, a sheave assembly, a suspension rope, a compensation rope, a first optical sensor assembly and a controller. The suspension rope has a first suspension end coupled to the elevator car and a second suspension end coupled to the counterweight. The first compensation rope has a first compensation end coupled to the elevator car and a second compensation end coupled to the counterweight. The first optical sensor assembly can have a first optical sensor pair including a first emitter and a first receiver. The first emitter is configured to emit a first beam to be received by the first receiver. The first optical sensor pair is configured to detect interruption of the first beam by the first compensation rope. The controller controls movement of the elevator car based on the detected interruption.
A method for controlling elevator cars of an elevator system according to one example includes assigning free elevator cars of the elevator system to one of either general service or express priority service (EPS). A destination dispatch controller receives an express priority service (EPS) call. The EPS call can indicate a request for priority service from an EPS call originating location to an EPS call final destination. The controller can determine whether any active EPS assigned car can service the EPS call. A particular elevator car can be an active EPS car when the particular car is carrying out EPS service. When a specific active EPS car can service the EPS call, the controller assigns the specific EPS car to the EPS call. Upon completion of the EPS call, the controller unassigns the EPS car to a free car.
B66B 1/20 - Control systems without regulation, i.e. without retroactive action electric with devices, e.g. push-buttons, for indirect control of movements with means for storing pulses controlling the movements of several cars or cages and for varying the manner of operation to suit particular traffic conditions, e.g. "one-way rush-hour traffic"
B66B 1/24 - Control systems with regulation, i.e. with retroactive action, for influencing travelling speed, acceleration, or deceleration
An elevator positioning system includes an optical tape, optical tape clips, and a sensor. The optical tape clips are resiliently biased and mount to various structures including mounting bracket that attach to elevator guide rails or other framework within the hoistway. A connecting member of the optical tape clips is configured to be disposed between a sensor and optical tape such that the sensor detects an interruption in the optical tape and can send signals to an elevator controller in response to detecting these interruptions. The position of the optical tape clips is such that the elevator car can be controlled to align evenly with the landings associated with the hoistway.
A hydraulic elevator system includes a power unit and elevator controller where the elevator car is controlled within the hoistway when a portion of the hoistway might be flooded. The power unit includes a water tight tank having a ventilation tube or snorkel. A moisture sensor is connected with the elevator controller, and positioned within the pit of the hoistway. The moisture sensor detects the existence of a flooded pit condition and communicates such a condition to the elevator controller. The elevator controller initiates a safety sequence when the presence of a flooded pit condition is detected to prevent the elevator car from entering a flooded area of the hoistway.
A pumping unit for use with a hydraulic elevator system includes a reservoir storing fluid, a first pump, and a second pump. The first pump is coupled with the reservoir and the elevator system to communicate fluid between the reservoir and the elevator system to actuate the elevator system. The second pump is also coupled with the reservoir and the elevator system to communicate fluid between the reservoir and the elevator system to actuate the elevator system. The second pump is selectively actuatable when the first pump is inactivated.
A vibration dampening device is operable to dampen vibrations within ropes of an elevator car or other components to improve ride quality, and is further operable to harness or harvest and convert energy from those vibrations into electrical energy. The dampening device includes a macro-fiber composite and the vibrations are communicated or transmitted to the macro-fiber composite. The macro-fiber composite is operable to harness or harvest and convert energy from vibrations into electrical energy. Such electrical energy is communicated or transmitted to a control system of the elevator car for storage and/or use.
F16F 15/00 - Suppression of vibrations in systemsMeans or arrangements for avoiding or reducing out-of-balance forces, e.g. due to motion
H02N 2/18 - Electric machines in general using piezoelectric effect, electrostriction or magnetostriction producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators
A hydraulic elevator system is operable to selectively raise and lower an elevator car. The system raises and lowers the elevator car by actuating a hydraulic jack. The system retracts a hydraulic jack that is fixed to an upper portion of the hoistway by pressurizing hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic jack via a hydraulic fluid pump. When retracting the hydraulic jack the elevator car travels upward. An accumulator usable with the system is operable to store energy during the downward travel of the elevator car for later use during the upward travel of the elevator car.
An elevator activation system (100) provides virtual activation of one or more buttons (32) by passengers. An optical sensor (102) or time-of-flight camera (302) is positioned near buttons of the elevator and projects an optical curtain (104) over buttons of the elevator. Disturbances in the optical curtain are detected and an exact location of a disturbance in the optical curtain is communicated to a sensor controller (106) which then virtually activates a button correlated to the particular location of the disturbance. The sensor controller communicates with an elevator controller (40) such that the elevator is controlled based on the particular function activated in response to virtual activation of the button. The elevator activation system may further comprise a user feedback feature (34) configured to signify to a passenger that a button has been virtually activated without physically contacting the button.
An elevator activation system provides virtual activation of one or more buttons by passengers. An optical sensor or time-of-flight camera is positioned near buttons of the elevator and projects an optical curtain over buttons of the elevator. Disturbances in the optical curtain are detected and an exact location of a disturbance in the optical curtain is communicated to a sensor controller which then virtually activates a button correlated to the particular location of the disturbance. The sensor controller communicates with an elevator controller such that the elevator is controlled based on the particular function activated in response to virtual activation of the button. The elevator activation system may further include a user feedback feature configured to signify to a passenger that a button has been virtually activated without physically contacting the button.
An elevator moves through a hoistway with one or more sensors positioned so that they pass by one or more targets that are in fixed positions relative to the hoistway. As they pass, an inductive current is generated, giving the elevator's control circuitry precise information as to the vertical position of the elevator car. The control system adjusts the raising and/or lowering of the elevator car based on that position information and any discrepancy between it and the supposed position at which the control system had believed the car was. Discrepancies are accumulated over time as an indication of cable stretch, and when the stretch exceeds a particular threshold, an alarm is raised for maintenance. The control system also defines a “door zone” around each landing where, based on the precise height measurement achieved herein, it is safe under the circumstances to open the doors of the car.
An elevator swing operation system for use in a building includes a plurality of floors with landings that are grouped into zones. The elevator cars are allocated to service the zones with a default allocation setup or configuration. The allocation of elevator cars to zones can be modified by moving an elevator car from one zone to another in response to a maximum estimated time to arrival being exceeded and a maximum number of elevator cars allowed to change zones not being exceeded. Furthermore, the default configuration or allocation can be restored when the system is in swing operation, an elevator car is parked, and a minimum time for receiving no calls has been exceeded.
B66B 1/20 - Control systems without regulation, i.e. without retroactive action electric with devices, e.g. push-buttons, for indirect control of movements with means for storing pulses controlling the movements of several cars or cages and for varying the manner of operation to suit particular traffic conditions, e.g. "one-way rush-hour traffic"
B66B 1/24 - Control systems with regulation, i.e. with retroactive action, for influencing travelling speed, acceleration, or deceleration
An elevator swing operation system for use in a building includes a plurality of floors with landings that are grouped into zones. The elevator cars are allocated to service the zones with a default allocation setup or configuration. The allocation of elevator cars to zones can be modified by moving an elevator car from one zone to another in response to a maximum estimated time to arrival being exceeded and a maximum number of elevator cars allowed to change zones not being exceeded. Furthermore, the default configuration or allocation can be restored when the system is in swing operation, an elevator car is parked, and a minimum time for receiving no calls has been exceeded.
A method and apparatus for dampening oscillations of an elevator car retains the active control of an elevator system in the presence of displacement. This active control may be maintained via the use of an actuator that tailors Lorentz force relative to the level of displacement along a non-linear continuum.
An elevator positioning system includes an optical tape, optical tape clips, and a sensor. The optical tape clips are mountable to various structures within the hoistway. A crossbar of the optical tape clips is located between a sensor and optical tape such that the sensor detects an interruption in the optical tape and signals the detection to an elevator controller. The elevator car can then be controlled to align evenly with the landings associated with the hoistway. Another elevator positioning system includes a sensor and a reflector clip assembly. The reflector clip assemblies are mountable to various structures within the hoistway. A reflector target of the reflector clip assemblies faces the sensor such that the sensor detects the reflector target and signals the detection to an elevator controller. The elevator car can then be controlled to align evenly with the landings associated with the hoistway.
An elevator positioning system includes an optical tape, optical tape clips, and a sensor. The optical tape clips are mountable to various structures within the hoistway. A crossbar of the optical tape clips is located between a sensor and optical tape such that the sensor detects an interruption in the optical tape and signals the detection to an elevator controller. The elevator car can then be controlled to align evenly with the landings associated with the hoistway. Another elevator positioning system includes a sensor and a reflector clip assembly. The reflector clip assemblies are mountable to various structures within the hoistway. A reflector target of the reflector clip assemblies faces the sensor such that the sensor detects the reflector target and signals the detection to an elevator controller. The elevator car can then be controlled to align evenly with the landings associated with the hoistway.
An elevator lantern apparatus uses a snap-fit assembly and disassembly configuration where the lantern apparatus includes components such as a tray, a lens, and a control board having one or more illuminating features. These components are configured to assemble through an opening in a surface such as a wall. In some versions, assembly and disassembly is done without the use of tools. In some versions, disassembly of the lantern apparatus is done from the front side of the lantern apparatus by removing the lens to access other components.
An elevator lantern apparatus uses a snap-fit assembly and disassembly configuration where the lantern apparatus includes components such as a tray, a lens, and a control board having one or more illuminating features. These components are configured to assemble through an opening in a surface such as a wall. In some versions, assembly and disassembly is done without the use of tools. In some versions, disassembly of the lantern apparatus is done from the front side of the lantern apparatus by removing the lens to access other components.
A system and method for actively damping tension members modulates the natural frequency of shape memory alloys incorporated into tension members, such as suspension ropes or cables. The frequency of the tension member can be modulated by heating the shape memory alloy, such modulation preventing potentially destructive resonance with natural exciting forces.
C22F 1/10 - Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working of nickel or cobalt or alloys based thereon
26.
Method and apparatus for assigning elevator hall calls based on time metrics
A method for assigning an elevator car to respond to a call signal includes a controller that determines which elevator car will respond to the call signal based on certain time metrics. The controller receives a hall call signal, and based on certain time metrics that can include, e.g., an estimated wait time (EWT), and/or estimated travel time (ETT), assigns the call signal to an elevator car. In this example, EWT represents the time a passenger is waiting for an elevator car to arrive, and ETT represents the it takes for a passenger to reach their destination once having boarded an elevator car. In some versions, an estimated time to destination (ETD) is used in determining which elevator car to assign, where ETD represents the sum of EWT and ETT. In some versions, a handling capacity coefficient (HCx), which reflects current traffic conditions, is used in determining which elevator car to assign.
B66B 1/18 - Control systems without regulation, i.e. without retroactive action electric with devices, e.g. push-buttons, for indirect control of movements with means for storing pulses controlling the movements of several cars or cages
27.
Elevator system to minimize entrapment of passengers during a power failure
The invention provides a system and method for handling power outages in a multiple car elevator system in a building having a plurality of floors. The system includes an energy calculator connected to the elevators, and determines a total energy of the elevator system, a total energy required to handle a power outage, a plan to prepare for a power outage and a plan to handle a power outage. The system also includes a movement controller connected to the elevator(s) and the energy calculator. The movement controller receives the plan to prepare and the plan to handle from the energy calculator, and the movement controller executes the plan to prepare if there is no power outage and the movement controller executes the plan to handle if there is a power outage.
An elevator control system to govern elevator movement to avoid or minimize passenger discomfort caused by pressure changes associated with an elevator's movement and to optimize elevator operation. In one exemplary embodiment, the system uses the passenger's natural relief which occurs while the elevator car is stopped to reduce the pressure difference experienced by the passengers' ears as a factor to optimally control the operation of the elevator. In another example, the system obtains input regarding the traveling speed and conditions of the elevator system. This system then simulates individual trips for passengers that includes monitoring the pressure changes being experienced by passengers throughout the elevator's travels in order to ensure that the pressure differential level for each passenger remains below a designated maximum comfortable and safe level. This system uses the parameters of a successful simulation to govern the actual operation of the elevators.
One version of this disclosure includes a system for assigning an elevator car to respond to a call signal wherein a controller is responsible for determining which elevator car will respond to a call signal. This version includes the controller receiving a hall call signal, receiving information regarding the elevator system, determining whether the call assignment can be made in view of a first rule associated with a banned call assignment, and eliminating the rule against banned call assignments when necessary to avoid saturation of the elevator system.
B66B 1/18 - Control systems without regulation, i.e. without retroactive action electric with devices, e.g. push-buttons, for indirect control of movements with means for storing pulses controlling the movements of several cars or cages
