Abstract: An elevator car and counterweight system is provided with a variable drag element. The variable drag element is controlled such that the lower of the counterweight and the car has a higher drag against further movement. In an embodiment which is particularly useful in a 2:1 roping system, the sheaves (54, 58) associated with the counterweight (56) and the car (60) receive a braking/drive motor (62, 64) to provide the variable drag. While the present invention provides the variable drag to compensate for vertical differences between the counterweight and car, the invention can also be utilized to hold the car at a particular floor. Further, this invention can be utilized to address a counterweight or car jump situation. Another disclosed drag element may be a magnetizable member (40, 33) guided along a guide rail (34, 36) for each of the car (32) and the counterweight (38). A control controls the magnetic force associated with the guide elements to hold the car or prevent counterweight jump.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a controller (22) that communicates with a portable device (30) that is adapted to be carried about by a passenger (32). The system provides a color indication (28A-28E) associated with an elevator car (26A-26E) that will travel to a passenger's intended destination floor. In one example, the portable device (30) provides a color indication that corresponds to the color indication (28A-28E) associated with the car. Providing the color indication (34) on the portable device (30) assists a passenger (32) in locating the correct car and provides piece of mind to the passenger that they are entering the correct car and will be carried to their intended destination floor.

Abstract: A plurality of hoistways (11, 12) in a building serving a plurality of floors utilizes destination call entry panels (22, 22A) having buttons (23) with which passengers can enter destination call requests. A display (26, 26a) adjacent the request buttons provides an indication of the car that is assigned to answer the passenger's request by a controller (27), which indication is also presented on illuminatable signs (16-19, 40, 41), utilizing either colors, letters or other easily identifiable and rememberable indications. As the car assigned to the call approaches the landing upon which the call was made, an illuminatable sign, adjacent the hoistway of the assigned car, will present the same color or indicia as was presented to the passenger upon entering the passenger's desired destination; the controller does not announce approaching cars that are not assigned a call at that landing.

Abstract: An elevator door moving arrangement includes a door mover (40) and an interlock device (42) supported near a lower edge (44) of cabin doors (26). The strategic position of the door mover (40) and the interlock device (42) minimizes the distance between the sill member (34, 78) and the operative components for moving the doors. In one example, the entire door mover assembly and the interlock are located beneath a sill member (34), which is beneath the bottom edge of the doors (26).

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple cars (22, 24) within a hoistway (40). Parking positions (72, 74) are provided outside the range of passenger service levels (70). A destination entry strategy is used by a controller (60) for directing movement of the elevator cars (22, 24). The inventive combination of multiple cars in a hoistway, parking positions outside of the normal passenger service level range and destination entry car movement control allows for reducing car travel speed, reducing car size or both while still meeting desired handling capacity needs or even exceeding the desired handling capacity associated with another elevator system that requires larger cars, higher speeds and more building space.

Abstract: An elevator car and counterweight system is provided with a variable drag element. The variable drag element is controlled such that the lower of the counterweight and the car has a higher drag against further movement. In an embodiment which is particularly useful in a 2:1 roping system, the sheaves (54, 58) associated with the counterweight (56) and the car (60) receive a braking/drive motor (62, 64) to provide the variable drag. While the present invention provides the variable drag to compensate for vertical differences between the counterweight and car, the invention can also be utilized to hold the car at a particular floor. Further, this invention can be utilized to address a counterweight or car jump situation. Another disclosed drag element may be a magnetizable member (40,33) guided along a guide rail (34, 36) for each of the car (32) and the counterweight (38). A control controls the magnetic force associated with the guide elements to hold the car or prevent counterweight jump.

Abstract: A plurality of hoistways (11, 12) in a building serving a plurality of floors utilizes destination call entry panels (22, 22A) having buttons (23) with which passengers can enter destination call requests. A display (26, 26a) adjacent the request buttons provides an indication of the car that is assigned to answer the passenger's request by a controller (27), which indication is also presented on illuminatable signs (16-19, 40, 41), utilizing either colors, letters or other easily identifiable and rememberable indications. As the car assigned to the call approaches the landing upon which the call was made, an illuminatable sign, adjacent the hoistway of the assigned car, will present the same color or indicia as was presented to the passenger upon entering the passenger's desired destination; the controller does not announce approaching cars that are not assigned a call at that landing.

Abstract: Remote control devices borne by potential passengers are alerted to initiate a request for elevator service by beacons in the building. The beacon alert message includes a tag identifying the floor on which the beacon is located and a position on the floor at which the beacon is located. The floor description tags prevent transmissions of the remote device from being recognized on floors other than the floor on which the device was alerted by a beacon, whereby transmission power of the remote devices may be quite high to assure reception anywhere on the floor, while being ignored on adjacent floors.

Abstract: A speed command signal is applied to a variable voltage, variable frequency controller for driving a three-phase induction motor that operates a positive displacement pump for supplying fluid to a hydraulic elevator drive cylinder. An accelerometer mounted on the car provides an acceleration-related feedback signal to the car speed command input of the motor control, thereby to dampen low frequency resonant modes of the elevator car. A sensor on a check valve between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic cylinder provides a signal indicative of when the pump pressure is sufficient to support the car load, and the check valve begins to open; the signal is used to memorize ramped-up motor speed at that point, which equals the motor speed necessary to overcome pump leakage in order to support the car. That speed is added into the car speed command at the input of the motor controller to compensate for pump leakage.

Abstract: The point at which pump out pressure exceeds load is sensed to provide a point for scheduling flow to an actuator in a hydraulic system. Flow is controlled by a stepper motor (28) that moves a flow control valve (27). The steps needed to achieve fixed flow changes are greater for high flow positions. When the pump (21) is turned on, the valve (27) is positioned to bypass flow; the bypass flow is then programmably decreased to the actuator. Reverse flow is regulated by the valve (27) to control actuator retraction. Reverse flow is initiated by opening a check valve (40) with an actuator (50) that opens it first to reduce pressure across the valve, then fully. The flow control valve (27) also operates to relieve excess pressure in the system. During a descent the stepper rate is started at a first stored rate for worse conditions, the car velocity is measured and successive stored rates are increased or decreased.

Abstract: The point at which pump out pressure exceeds load is sensed to provide a point for scheduling flow to an actuator in a hydraulic system. Flow is controlled by a stepper motor (28) that moves a flow control valve (27). The steps needed to achieve fixed flow changes are greater for high flow positions. When the pump (21) is turned on, the valve (27) is positioned to bypass flow; the bypass flow is then programmably decreased to the actuator. Reverse flow is regulated by the valve (27) to control actuator retraction. Reverse flow is initiated by opening a check valve (40) with an actuator (50) that opens it first to reduce pressure across the valve, then fully. The flow control valve (27) also operates to relieve excess pressure in the system.

Abstract: The point at which pump out pressure exceeds load is sensed to provide a point for scheduling flow to an actuator in a hydraulic system. Flow is controlled by a stepper motor (28) that moves a flow control valve (27). The steps needed to achieve fixed flow changes are greater for high flow positions. When the pump (21) is turned on, the valve (27) is positioned to bypass flow; the bypass flow is then programmably decreased to the actuator. Reverse flow is regulated by the valve (27) to control actuator retraction. Reverse flow is initiated by opening a check valve (40) with an actuator (50) that opens it first to reduce pressure across the valve, then fully. The flow control valve (27) also operates to relieve excess pressure in the system.