Patents by Inventor David R. Polak

David R. Polak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11643301
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring a sheave bearing condition, and in particular relates to passenger conveyer systems, such as elevator systems, employing the system and method. An example passenger conveyer system includes a suspension member, and a sheave configured to rotate on a bearing. The suspension member is wrapped around at least a portion of the sheave. Further, the system includes a sensor mounted adjacent an end of the suspension member, and a controller configured to determine a condition of the bearing based on an output of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yan Chen, David R. Polak, Paul R. Braunwart, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Charles C. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20210122608
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring a sheave bearing condition, and in particular relates to passenger conveyer systems, such as elevator systems, employing the system and method. An example passenger conveyer system includes a suspension member, and a sheave configured to rotate on a bearing. The suspension member is wrapped around at least a portion of the sheave. Further, the system includes a sensor mounted adjacent an end of the suspension member, and a controller configured to determine a condition of the bearing based on an output of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Yan Chen, David R. Polak, Paul R. Braunwart, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Charles C. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20210101776
    Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an elevator system (2), the elevator system (2) including a hoistway (4) extending between a plurality of landings (8) situated on different floors (9), and at least one elevator car (6) configured for moving along the hoistway (4) between the plurality of landings (8). The method includes receiving a control input indicating a passenger transport request, wherein the control input comprises at least one passenger transport request parameter; monitoring passengers (30) within or outside the elevator car (6) and determining at least one passenger parameter associated with the passengers (30); comparing the at least one passenger transport request parameter with the at least one passenger parameter; and controlling further operation of the elevator system (2) based on the result of said comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen R. Nichols, Matteo Rucco, Jose Miguel Pasini, Cecilia Tonelli, Andrea De Antoni, David R. Polak
  • Publication number: 20210024326
    Abstract: A method for crowd prediction in an elevator system includes logging the number of calls across a period of time and generating a first time series for an average number of calls; collecting external influence data and generating a second time series for the external influence data; performing a cross-correlation test on the first and second time series; when a cross-correlation between the first and second time series is determined, performing a causality test on the first and second time series; and when a causal relationship between the first and second time series is determined, using the causal relationship to predict an expected number of calls in the elevator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: David R. Polak, Stephen Richard Nichols, Matteo Rucco, Cecilia Tonelli, Andrea De Antoni, Jose Miguel Pasini, Giacomo Gentile
  • Patent number: 10773929
    Abstract: A belted elevator system (10) includes a hoistway (14) and an elevator car (12) suspended in the hoistway (14) via a suspension member (16) and drivable along the hoistway (14). The suspension member (16) is routed over a plurality of sheaves (18). A sheave (18) of the plurality of sheaves includes a shaft (36) defining a central axis of the sheave (18), the sheave (18) rotatable about the central axis. A sheave outer member (38) is operably connected to the shaft (36) and rotatable about the central axis. The sheave outer member (38) includes a sheave outer surface (44) interactive with the suspension member (16). The sheave outer member (38) is formed from a molded plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun Ma, Peter Keyo, Brad Guilani, Gopal R. Krishnan, David J. Lanesey, John P. Wesson, David R. Polak, Vijay Jagdale
  • Patent number: 10336581
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an elevator system. The elevator system comprises a car, a counterweight, at least one belt connecting the car and counterweight, and at least one sheave having a surface that engages with the belt. At least part of the surface of the sheave that interfaces with the belt has a plurality of features for reducing unwanted noise created due to the interaction between the belt and the sheave surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: David R. Polak, Christopher T. Chipman, Charles C Coffin, Arthur Blanc, John P. Wesson, Yan Chen, Daniel G. Opoku, Sergei F. Burlatsky
  • Patent number: 10246300
    Abstract: An elevator car (20) comprises: a cab (24) having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front, and a back, the front having a door (50); and a frame (22) supporting the cab. The cab comprises a perimeter shroud (120; 320; 420; 620) protruding above a surface of the top and leaving a well (130) exposing a central portion of an upper surface (60) of the top; the perimeter shroud protrudes above the upper surface; and the perimeter shroud has, in vertical section, a curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: David R. Polak, Ray-Sing Lin, David E. Parekh, Mark S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9815667
    Abstract: A method for applying a coating to a substrate includes obtaining a fluorinated polymer compound, where the fluorine is chemically or covalently bonded to the polymer molecule; and coating the surface of the substrate with the fluorinated polymer compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaomei Yu, Yan Chen, David R. Polak, Daniel V. Viens, John P. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20170267497
    Abstract: A belted elevator system (10) includes a hoistway (14) and an elevator car (12) suspended in the hoistway (14) via a suspension member (16) and drivable along the hoistway (14). The suspension member (16) is routed over a plurality of sheaves (18). A sheave (18) of the plurality of sheaves includes a shaft (36) defining a central axis of the sheave (18), the sheave (18) rotatable about the central axis. A sheave outer member (38) is operably connected to the shaft (36) and rotatable about the central axis. The sheave outer member (38) includes a sheave outer surface (44) interactive with the suspension member (16). The sheave outer member (38) is formed from a molded plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Jun Ma, Peter Keyo, Brad Guilani, Gopal R. Krishnan, David J. Lanesey, John P. Wesson, David R. Polak, Vijay Jagdale
  • Publication number: 20170261058
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elevator safety spring is provided. The method includes determining a plurality of dimensional parameters of the elevator safety spring. The method also includes selecting a plurality of dimensions within the dimensional parameters. The method further includes manufacturing the elevator safety spring based on the selected parameters, the elevator safety spring having an I-beam cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Shihemn Chen, Joe J. Liou, Andrzej Ernest Kuczek, Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, Xiaodong Luo, David R. Polak, James M. Draper, John J. Kriss, Duan Liang, Patricia L. O'Coin, Aayush Desai
  • Patent number: 9630806
    Abstract: A method for constructing an interface between a sheave and a coated belt or rope of an elevator system, includes determining the surface energy of a surface of a coated belt or rope; and selecting a sheave such that the sheave has a work of adhesion between the coated belt or rope and the sheave, the work of adhesion meeting a defined relationship with a work of adhesion threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: John P. Wesson, Xiaomei Yu, David R. Polak
  • Publication number: 20170001838
    Abstract: An elevator car (20) comprises: a cab (24) having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front, and a back, the front having a door (50); and a frame (22) supporting the cab. The cab comprises a perimeter shroud (120; 320; 420; 620) protruding above a surface of the top and leaving a well (130) exposing a central portion of an upper surface (60) of the top; the perimeter shroud protrudes above the upper surface; and the perimeter shroud has, in vertical section, curved portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: David R. Polak, Ray-Sing Lin, David E. Parekh, Mark S. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20150166307
    Abstract: A method for applying a coating to a substrate includes obtaining a fluorinated polymer compound, where the fluorine is chemically or covalently bonded to the polymer molecule; and coating the surface of the substrate with the fluorinated polymer compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaomei Yu, Yan Chen, David R. Polak, Daniel V. Viens, John P. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20150129366
    Abstract: A method for constructing an interface between a sheave and a coated belt or rope of an elevator system, includes determining the surface energy of a surface of a coated belt or rope; and selecting a sheave such that the sheave has a work of adhesion between the coated belt or rope and the sheave, the work of adhesion meeting a defined relationship with a work of adhesion threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: John P. Wesson, Xiaomei Yu, David R. Polak
  • Publication number: 20130292211
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an elevator system. The elevator system comprises a car, a counterweight, at least one belt connecting the car and counterweight, and at least one sheave having a surface that engages with the belt. At least part of the surface of the sheave that interfaces with the belt has a plurality of features for reducing unwanted noise created due to the interaction between the belt and the sheave surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: David R. Polak, Christopher T. Chipman, Charles C. Coffin, Arthur Blanc, John P. Wesson, Yan Chen, Daniel G. Opoku, Sergei F. Burlatsky
  • Patent number: 8167540
    Abstract: A system for reducing compressor noise includes a rotor having a plurality of blades. The blades have a nominal geometry characterized by a blade parameter. At least some of the blades are mistuned, such that they differ from the nominal geometry by greater than a manufacturing tolerance in the blade parameter. The blades produce shock waves at a blade passing frequency, and the mistuned blades shift acoustic energy away from the blade passing frequency to multiple lower amplitude tones at other frequencies. The system is configurable to be deployed with an inlet silencer that preferentially absorbs acoustic energy at some of the shifted frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Hans Schlinker, James C. Napier, David R. Polak, Ray-Sing Lin, Scott A. Liljenberg, Anthony C. Jones
  • Publication number: 20090191047
    Abstract: A system for reducing compressor noise includes a rotor having a plurality of blades. The blades have a nominal geometry characterized by a blade parameter. At least some of the blades are mistuned, such that they differ from the nominal geometry by greater than a manufacturing tolerance in the blade parameter. The blades produce shock waves at a blade passing frequency, and the mistuned blades shift acoustic energy away from the blade passing frequency to multiple lower amplitude tones at other frequencies. The system is configurable to be deployed with an inlet silencer that preferentially absorbs acoustic energy at some of the shifted frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Hans Schlinker, James C. Napier, David R. Polak, Ray-Sing Lin, Scott A. Liljenberg, Anthony C. Jones