Abstract: A hydraulic power unit for use in conjunction with an elevator construction having an elevator car operably connected to a pair of hydraulic rams comprises a chassis having a floor and a sidewall forming a hydraulic fluid sump region. The hydraulic rams are mounted to the floor in the sump region. A hydraulic fluid reservoir is supported by the chassis, which also supports a pump/motor unit for the rams. Leveling feet mounted to the chassis allow the power unit to accommodate a variety of conditions in the hoistway pit.

Abstract: A wear detector for a suspension rope having a plurality of load bearing strands covered by a sheath includes a sensor at a surface of the sheath. The sensor senses a characteristic of the rope representing a predetermined amount of wear of the sheath. The sensed characteristic can be electrical contact with the strands, distance from the surface of the sheath to the strands, or change of color of the sheath surface.

Abstract: A hydraulic power unit for use in conjunction with an elevator construction having an elevator car operably connected to a pair of hydraulic rams comprises a chassis having a floor and a sidewall forming a hydraulic fluid sump region. The hydraulic rams are mounted to the floor in the sump region. A hydraulic fluid reservoir is supported by the chassis, which also supports a pump/motor unit for the rams. Leveling feet mounted to the chassis allow the power unit to accommodate a variety of conditions in the hoistway pit.

Abstract: An emergency drive system for elevators allows manual raising and lowering of the elevator in an emergency condition when an emergency brake has been applied to a rotating member of the elevator drive system. A linkage element is pivotally mounted to the brake, and carries a manual drive member having a drag bearing and a pair of guide rollers. A drive line passes about the drive member, guide rollers and a hand crank. Operation of the hand crank creates a tensional imbalance in the drive line, pivots the linkage member to engage the manual drive member with the rotary member. The increased drag to crank rotation resulting from the engagement causes the linkage element to pivot about the manual drive member, backing the brake away from the rotating member and allowing the rotating member to be turned by the manual drive member. The device is self-regulating, permitting only sufficient release of the brake to cause a slow rotation of the rotating member and the elevator car motion.

Abstract: A wear detector for a suspension rope having a plurality of load bearing strands covered by a sheath includes a sensor at a surface of the sheath. The sensor senses a characteristic of the rope representing a predetermined amount of wear of the sheath. The sensed characteristic can be electrical contact with the strands, distance from the surface of the sheath to the strands, or change of color of the sheath surface.

Abstract: A cooling device for a drive fluid of a lifting device which drives a car of a hydraulic elevator. A fan is present in order to cool the drive fluid. The fan is arranged on the car so that it can ventilate the interior of the car and at least part of the lifting device. The cooling device can be used as a main cooling system and as an auxiliary cooling system. It is suitable in particular for hydraulic elevator systems which do not have a hole in the earth to receive the lifting device.

Abstract: A cooling device for a drive fluid of a lifting device which drives a car of a hydraulic elevator. A fan is present in order to cool the drive fluid. The fan is arranged on the car so that it can ventilate the interior of the car and at least part of the lifting device. The cooling device can be used as a main cooling system and as an auxiliary cooling system. It is suitable in particular for hydraulic elevator systems which do not have a hole in the earth to receive the lifting device.

Abstract: An elevator car operating assembly is of a modular construction which allows customization of the assembly for a given installation. An inner frame is provided upon which the car operating controls are mounted. The inner frame is constructed to mount a variety of controls in predetermined positions. The controls are mounted thereon as appropriate for the elevator installation. A circuit board mounts to a rear face of the inner frame, and interfaces with the controls assembled on the inner frame. The circuit board preferably is pre-fabricated to interface with each operating control which can be mounted to the inner frame. An insert is located on a front face of the inner frame. The insert is customized to the installation, and has apertures aligned with the operating controls utilized; the remaining component-mounting apertures on the inner panel are covered by the insert, whereby a finished appearance to the assembly is provided.

Abstract: A stopping apparatus for preventing drift of an elevator car stopped at a floor is actuated by a car door panel. The apparatus includes an axle rotatably mounted on the car floor, a radially extending operating arm for contact with an edge of the car door panel, at least one radially extending stop arm and a return spring for retracting the stop arm when the car door panel is closed. As the car door panel is opened, the stop arm is rotated adjacent a stop on the wall of the elevator shaft in which the car travels. If the stop is a recess formed in the shaft wall, a free end of the stop arm cooperates with the recess to prevent drift. If the stop is a floor door threshold, two stop arms are provided to prevent drift superposed above and below the threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting the oscillation amplitude of elevator suspension and compensation elements in an elevator system. The elevator system includes a counterweight movable in guide rails with a suspension element connected to a top of the counterweight and a compensation element connected to a bottom of the counterweight. One or more limiting frames may be employed in the elevator system and each limiting frame surrounds each of the counterweight, guide rails, suspension elements, and compensation elements. Each limiting frame may be attached to the guide rails to limit lateral deflections of the suspension and compensation elements. The limiting frame may include two separate portions which are spring biased together on a stop portion located behind the guide rails, such that excessive deflection of the suspension and compensation elements cause the spring biased portions to separate and activate a safety switch.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring an elevator brake includes at least one sensor and a monitoring circuit. The elevator brake has a rotating brake drum upon which a pair of brake shoes are pressed during braking. The sensor is embedded in a carrier which is mounted on the brake shoe and extends into a brake lining on the shoe. The sensor has a pair of connecting wires each formed into a generally U-shaped loop extending toward the brake drum. The sensor can be a temperature dependent resistor wherein the temperatures in the brake lining, caused by excessive braking processes, can be detected electrically. The thickness of the brake lining decreases due to wear until the brake drum connects the loops upon braking, whereby the sensor is short-circuited which condition can be detected electrically. In the case of brake lining breaks, an infinite resistance occurs between the connecting wires which can likewise be detected electrically.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and signaling the function and the status of an electronically actuated two-circuit safety disk brake for elevators includes an axially moveable spring centering bolt and a sliding block attached to each of a pair of brake shoes for actuating position sensors. A force imbalance due to breakage of a brake pressure spring displaces the spring centering bolt from its neutral position and actuates a microswitch of a first position sensor by way of sliding block attached to the bolt to generate a signal to a monitoring circuit. A double switching arm formed on the sliding blocks attached to the brake shoes signals not only the normal closure and opening movements of the brake, but causes, on exceeding an admissible wear of the brake lining for the first time, an alarm switching cycle of a microswitch of a second position sensor.

Abstract: An additional emergency brake apparatus is provided for an elevator installation which contains a car, counterweight, hoist ropes, drive sheave, motor, brake and elevator car safety. This additional emergency brake apparatus acts directly at the drive sheave and is intended to accomplish emergency braking in the upward direction of travel of the car, because in this travel direction the elevator car safety cannot be used for a number of reasons. A star-shaped brake element located at the shaft of the drive sheave is permanently pressed by a cup spring against an annular end surface of the drive sheave and normally rotates together with the shaft of the drive sheave. In the event of overspeed in the upward travel direction of the car, a tripping mechanism displaces an arresting bolt between the spokes of the star-shaped brake element, blocks the latter and thus produces an appropriate braking torque by means of braking plates bearing at the annular end surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing the tractive force between the wire hoist ropes and the drive sheave of a traction elevator system which includes an elevator car and a counterweight. The drive sheave is disposed between first and second idler or secondary sheaves, and the car and counterweight are roped via successive first and second 180 degree wraps about the drive sheave, with the first 180 degree wrap including the drive sheave and one of the idler sheaves, and the second 180 degree wrap including the drive sheave and the remaining idler sheave. The drive sheave is thus roped with a wrap of approximately 360 degrees, which remains constant regardless of the spacing between the elevator car and counterweight.

Abstract: A coupling for positively engaging solid and hollow driving and driven shafts, and for achieving shaft concentricity. Inclined and straight registering surfaces in the two shafts are coupled with keys having mating surfaces, with the keys being independently axially movable by bolts engaged with tapped openings in one of the shafts.