Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system, including a hoistway; an elevator car in the hoistway; sensors in the hoistway operationally coupled to the elevator car and configured to capture sensor data indicative of a person being in the hoistway, and a processor configured to determine from the sensor data that the person is in the hoistway; and wherein the elevator car is configured to reduce speed or stop when the processor determines the person is in the hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator system (1) including at least one refuge space (7, 8) and at least one sensor (9). The at least one sensor (9) is configured to detect weight in the at least one refuge space (7, 8) and produce at least one safety signal (21) indicating the presence of weight in the at least one refuge space (7, 8). The system can be used to improve the safety in the at least one refuge space (7, 8) in the event that the usual safety procedures have either failed or not been followed. For example, if for some reason the elevator system (1) has not been placed into a safe state before a maintenance worker (10) accesses the at least one refuge space (7, 8), the system will detect them and can produce at least one safety signal immediately indicating their presence in the at least one refuge space.

Abstract: A frictionless electronic safety actuator (100; 202), for use in an elevator system, includes a magnetic plate (104); an electromagnet (102); a linkage (136); a biasing arrangement (106); and a path-constraining arrangement (112). The linkage (136) is actuatable so as to move a safety brake (204) into frictional engagement with an elevator guide rail (206). The linkage (136) is attached to the magnetic plate (104) and is moveable between a first position in which the linkage (136) is actuated and a second position in which the linkage (136) is not actuated. The biasing arrangement (106) is arranged to apply a biasing force to the magnetic plate (104) to bias the magnetic plate (104) towards the first position.

Abstract: An elevator safety includes a barrier (108) for installation on an external upper surface (106) of an elevator car (102) and a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect a change in the barrier (108) and the system is configured to produce a safety signal when a change in the barrier (108) is detected by the sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect a movement of at least part (316; 426; 548) of the barrier (108). The sensor may be configured to detect a change in the load applied to at least part (626; 726) of the barrier (108). The sensor may be configured to detect a change in resistance in at least part of the barrier (108).

Abstract: A frictionless safety brake actuator, for use in an elevator system, includes at least two stators; a magnet array positioned between the stators; a linkage attached to the magnet array; and a biasing arrangement. The linkage is actuatable to move a safety brake into frictional engagement with an elevator guide rail. The magnet array is moveable between a first position in which the linkage is actuated and a second position in which the linkage is not actuated. The biasing arrangement is arranged to bias the magnet array towards the first position. The magnet array includes a first magnet set and a second magnet set which comprise at least one magnet each and at least three magnets in total. The magnet(s) of the first magnet set is/are arranged alternately with the magnet(s) of the second magnet set in a stack.

Abstract: A buffer device (121) for an elevator system (100), the buffer device (121) including a first contact structure (501) and a second contact structure (503). The first contact structure (501) includes a first contact surface (505), and the second contact structure (503) includes a second contact surface (507). The first contact surface (505) and the second contact surface (507) are arranged for contacting respective vertically offset surfaces of an elevator car (101) or counterweight (109).

Abstract: An elevator safety brake (300) for use in an elevator system, the safety brake includes a safety block (310) substantially made of a polymeric material or a polymer-based composite material. The safety block (310) comprising: an elongate channel (320) defining a channel axis (325), wherein the elongate channel (320) is for receiving an elevator guide rail (330) of the elevator system when in use; and a cavity (340). The safety brake (300) further comprises a first braking component (250, 350) housed in the cavity (340), wherein the first braking component (250, 350) comprises a body (360) and a first braking surface (370). The safety brake (300) further comprises a second braking component (380) comprising a second braking surface (390). The first braking component (250, 350) is arranged on one side of the elongate channel and the second braking component is arranged on the other side of the elongate channel.

Abstract: A frictionless electronic safety actuator (100; 202), for use in an elevator system, includes a magnetic plate (104); an electromagnet (102); a linkage (136); a biasing arrangement (106); and a path-constraining arrangement (112). The linkage (136) is actuatable so as to move a safety brake (204) into frictional engagement with an elevator guide rail (206). The linkage (136) is attached to the magnetic plate (104) and is moveable between a first position in which the linkage (136) is actuated and a second position in which the linkage (136) is not actuated. The biasing arrangement (106) is arranged to apply a biasing force to the magnetic plate (104) to bias the magnetic plate (104) towards the first position.

Abstract: A frictionless safety brake actuator, for use in an elevator system, includes at least two stators; a magnet array positioned between the stators; a linkage attached to the magnet array; and a biasing arrangement. The linkage is actuatable to move a safety brake into frictional engagement with an elevator guide rail. The magnet array is moveable between a first position in which the linkage is actuated and a second position in which the linkage is not actuated. The biasing arrangement is arranged to bias the magnet array towards the first position. The magnet array includes a first magnet set and a second magnet set which comprise at least one magnet each and at least three magnets in total. The magnet(s) of the first magnet set is/are arranged alternately with the magnet(s) of the second magnet set in a stack.

Abstract: An electronic safety actuator (1) for an elevator safety brake, includes a first solenoid (2), a magnet (3), movable by the first solenoid (2) between a first position proximate to the first solenoid (2) and a second position distal from the first solenoid (2) a second solenoid (6) and a detector (8). The detector (8) is arranged to apply an electrical signal to one of the first solenoid (2) and the second solenoid (6), and to detect an electrical signal induced in the other of the first solenoid (2) and the second solenoid (6) as a result of the applied electrical signal. There is also provided a method of detecting a condition or state of the first solenoid (2) or the magnet (3).

Abstract: A safety brake device, for use in a conveyance system including a guide rail and a component moveable along the guide rail, comprises a safety brake moveable between a non-braking position where the safety brake is not in engagement with the guide rail and a braking position where the safety brake is engaged with the guide rail. The safety brake device also comprises an actuator for the safety brake, and the actuator comprises a mounting portion for mounting the actuator to the component, a pad arranged to be moveable relative to the mounting portion between a first position spaced from the guide rail and a second position in contact with the guide rail, and at least one biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to move the pad from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An elevator car or counterweight, comprising a frame, the frame including an upright structure in which a safety brake is mounted so as to allow for lateral movement of the safety brake relative to the upright structure; at least a first vertically or obliquely extending cantilever spring; wherein a first end of the first cantilever spring is mounted to the upright structure; and wherein the first cantilever spring is arranged such that a point remote from the first end provides a biasing force to the safety brake when the safety brake moves away from a default position. As the safety brake is mounted to allow for lateral movement relative to the frame, the safety brake essentially floats relative to the car or counterweight.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator device comprises a fixed part, a first movable part and a second movable part each arranged to move with respect to the fixed part along an actuation direction. A conductive coil (20) is wrapped around a core (28) and is housed within the fixed part (4). The first movable part (6) is coupled to the fixed part (4) by at least one restorative component (10) such that, in a working position, the first movable part (6) is separated from the fixed part (4) along the actuation direction (22) by a first actuation distance (d1). The second movable part (8) is coupled to the first movable part (6) by at least restorative component (16) such that, in the working position, the second movable part (8) is separated from the first movable part (6) along the actuation direction (22) by a second actuation distance (d2).

Abstract: A buffer device (121) for an elevator system (100), the buffer device (121) including a first contact structure (501) and a second contact structure (503). The first contact structure (501) includes a first contact surface (505), and the second contact structure (503) includes a second contact surface (507). The first contact surface (505) and the second contact surface (507) are arranged for contacting respective vertically offset surfaces of an elevator car (101) or counterweight (109).

Abstract: An elevator safety brake (300) for use in an elevator system, the safety brake includes a safety block (310) substantially made of a polymeric material or a polymer-based composite material. The safety block (310) comprising: an elongate channel (320) defining a channel axis (325), wherein the elongate channel (320) is for receiving an elevator guide rail (330) of the elevator system when in use; and a cavity (340). The safety brake (300) further comprises a first braking component (250, 350) housed in the cavity (340), wherein the first braking component (250, 350) comprises a body (360) and a first braking surface (370). The safety brake (300) further comprises a second braking component (380) comprising a second braking surface (390). The first braking component (250, 350) is arranged on one side of the elongate channel and the second braking component is arranged on the other side of the elongate channel.

Abstract: A safety brake system (40; 240) for use in a conveyance system. The safety brake system (40; 240) includes a guide rail (20) and a conveyance component moveable along the guide rail (20). The safety brake system (40; 240) includes a safety brake (42; 242), a linkage mechanism (56; 256) and an actuator (44; 144; 244) for the safety brake (42; 242). The safety brake (42; 242) is moveable between a non-braking position where the safety brake (42; 242) is not in engagement with the guide rail (20) and a braking position where the safety brake (42; 242) is engaged with the guide rail (20). The actuator (44; 144; 244) is configured to be mounted to the conveyance component and positioned between first and second ferromagnetic components. The actuator includes an array of magnetic components including a first magnetic component adjacent to and arranged between two second magnetic components.

Abstract: A sheave (100) for a passenger conveyor system is provided. The sheave (100) comprises a sheave axis (150) about which the sheave (100) rotates; a cylindrical sleeve (105); and a bearing (120a, 120b) centred on and arranged to rotate about the sheave axis (150). The cylindrical sleeve (105) includes an outer surface (110) including a groove (155) arranged to receive a belt; and an inner surface (115) defining a cylindrical cavity (122) centred on the sheave axis (150). The bearing (120a, 120b) includes an outer race (125a), an inner race (130a) and one or more rolling elements (135a) therebetween, wherein the outer race (125a) comprises a protrusion (140) arranged to hold the bearing (120a, 120b) within the cylindrical cavity (122) due to engagement between the protrusion (140) and the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve (115).

Abstract: A safety brake for an elevator system including a car and a guide rail is provided. The safety brake is adapted to limit movement of the car in a first direction (D1) along the guide rail when in a braking state and comprises: first and second braking members adapted to be wedged against the guide rail when in a braking state; and an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the safety brake is configured such that: the first and second braking members are biased towards one another in a second direction (D2) substantially perpendicular to the first direction (D1); the first and second braking members are held in a non-braking state spaced apart from one another and the guide rail when the electromagnetic actuator is in a first state; and when the electromagnetic actuator is in a second state, the first and second braking members are moved into the braking state.

Abstract: An electronic safety actuator (1) for an elevator safety brake, includes a first solenoid (2), a magnet (3), movable by the first solenoid (2) between a first position proximate to the first solenoid (2) and a second position distal from the first solenoid (2) a second solenoid (6) and a detector (8). The detector (8) is arranged to apply an electrical signal to one of the first solenoid (2) and the second solenoid (6), and to detect an electrical signal induced in the other of the first solenoid (2) and the second solenoid (6) as a result of the applied electrical signal. There is also provided a method of detecting a condition or state of the first solenoid (2) or the magnet (3).

Abstract: An elevator system (2, 102) includes an elevator car (4, 104), a tag detection device (16, 116) arranged to detect the presence of tags (18, 20; 118, 120) in the elevator car (4, 104) and a control system (13). The control system (13) is arranged to determine if the tag detection device (16, 116) detects at least one of a set of associated tags (18, 20; 118, 120) 10 present in the elevator car (4, 104) and, if at least one of the set of associated tags (18, 20; 118, 120) is detected in the elevator car (4, 104), to prevent at least one travel operation of the elevator car (4, 104) until all or none of the set of associated tags (18, 20; 118, 120) is detected to be present in the elevator car (4, 104).