Abstract: Elevator systems are described. The systems include an elevator car movable along an elevator shaft having a pit floor. A car apron assembly is provided that includes an apron frame movably mounted to the elevator car, the apron frame having a frame base, a support arm, and an apron stop at an end of the support arm opposite the frame base, and a semi-rigid curtain extending between a car sill and the frame base. A shaft stop is arranged within the elevator shaft to interact with the apron stop. The curtain transitions from a deployed state to a compressed state when the apron stop contacts the shaft stop, and when in the deployed state the curtain extends below the elevator car to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car when the elevator car is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing.

Abstract: Elevator safety brake and/or safety actuator health monitoring systems and methods including an elevator car moveable within an elevator shaft along a guide rail, and a first safety brake assembly arranged on the elevator car and configured to engage with the guide rail to provide emergency braking to the elevator car. The first brake assembly includes a first safety brake and an electronic safety actuator operably connected to the first safety brake. A health monitoring element is in communication with the electronic safety actuator. The health monitoring element is configured to record information associated with operation of the first safety brake assembly, compare the recorded information against at least one predetermined threshold, and when the recorded information exceeds the at least one predetermined threshold, generate a notification that maintenance is required.

Abstract: An elevator system (10) includes a hoistway (14) having a plurality of landing floors (34) each landing floor (34) having a landing floor door (36). An elevator car (12) is positioned in and drivable along the hoistway (14). A controller (38) restricts operation of the landing floor doors (36) based on a position of the elevator car (12) along the hoistway (14). A method of operating an elevator system (10) includes driving an elevator car (12) along a hoistway (14) of the elevator system (10) and determining a position of the elevator car (12) in the hoistway (14). Operation of a plurality of hoistway landing floor doors (36) is controlled based on the position of the elevator car (12) in the hoistway (14).

Abstract: A landing door locking mechanism of an elevator system includes a body housing key-engagement elements and having a first end and a second end, the key-engagement elements located at the first end and a keyway structure, wherein in a first position the first end of the body is exposed such that a key may be inserted into a keyway of the keyway structure and interact with the key-engagement elements. A biasing mechanism is configured to bias a moveable portion of the body toward a second position, wherein in the second position a key cannot interact with the key-engagement elements and a solenoid is configured to apply a force on the moveable portion of the body when the solenoid is energized such that the moveable portion of the body is moved from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: Access prevention systems of elevator landing door locks including a landing door lintel for a landing door of an elevator system, a lock mechanism mounted to the lintel and arranged to enable unlocking of the elevator landing door, and an indicator feature on the lintel and aligned with the lock mechanism to indicate a location of a blocked locking mechanism, wherein the indicator feature is at least one of frangible or breakable to permit access to the lock mechanism when the indicator feature is broken.

Abstract: An elevator system is provided including a hoistway having a plurality of landings. An elevator car is configured to move within the hoistway between the plurality of landings. A plurality of guide rails guide movement of the elevator car and a counterweight within the hoistway. Each guide rail includes a base and a blade. A machine assembly is mounted within the hoistway and includes a traction sheave rotatable about an axis. The traction sheave is configured to drive movement of the elevator car between the plurality of landings. At least one of the plurality of guide rails is arranged in an overlapping configuration with the machine assembly such that a plane defined by the base of the guide rail is parallel to the axis and intersects a portion of the traction sheave.

Abstract: An elevator system is provided, the system includes an elevator car (100, 200, 300) having at least one elevator car door (202), a deterrent system configured to prevent the at least one elevator car door (202) from opening when the elevator car (100, 200, 300) is not in an unlocking zone (218, 318), and a disabling system configured to disable the deterrent system such that the at least one elevator car door (202) may be opened outside of the unlocking zone (218, 318).

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car suspended in the hoistway via one or more suspension members. A counterweight is suspended in the hoistway via the one or more suspension members to balance operation of the elevator car. A machine is positioned at the hoistway to drive the one or more suspension members along the hoistway, driving motion of the elevator car and/or counterweight along the hoistway. A suspension member termination is supported at the machine, to secure an end of the one or more suspension members. A drive system for an elevator includes one or more elevator suspension members and a machine interactive with the one or more elevator suspension members to drive motion of an elevator car. A suspension member termination is supported at the machine to secure an end of the one or more suspension members at the machine.

Abstract: A safety gear alignment system for an elevator system includes an elevator shaft and an elevator car having an interior region and disposed in and moveable within the elevator shaft. Also included is an upright structure operatively coupled to the elevator car, the upright structure defining at least one aperture. Further included is a safety gear member having a brake and a frame, the frame operatively coupled to the upright structure. Yet further included is at least one access region defined by the frame of the safety gear member, the access region accessible from the interior region of the elevator car and wherein measurement between the frame and a guide rail of the elevator shaft is made for alignment of the safety gear member relative to the guide rail.

Abstract: Elevator systems are described. The systems include an elevator car movable along an elevator shaft having a pit floor. A car apron assembly is provided that includes an apron frame movably mounted to the elevator car, the apron frame having a frame base, a support arm, and an apron stop at an end of the support arm opposite the frame base, and a semi-rigid curtain extending between a car sill and the frame base. A shaft stop is arranged within the elevator shaft to interact with the apron stop. The curtain transitions from a deployed state to a compressed state when the apron stop contacts the shaft stop, and when in the deployed state the curtain extends below the elevator car to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car when the elevator car is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing.

Abstract: Elevator systems are provided. The systems include an elevator car movable along an elevator shaft, the shaft having a pit floor and a shaft top, the elevator car having an elevator car door sill, a plurality of landings arranged along the elevator shaft, wherein each landing has a landing door, and a car apron assembly. The car apron assembly includes a semi-rigid curtain attached to the elevator car door sill at a first end of the semi-rigid curtain. The semi-rigid curtain folds from a deployed state to a folded state when contacting the pit floor, and, when in the deployed state, the semi-rigid curtain extends below the elevator car to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car when the elevator car is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing.

Abstract: Elevator safety brake and/or safety actuator health monitoring systems and methods including an elevator car moveable within an elevator shaft along a guide rail, and a first safety brake assembly arranged on the elevator car and configured to engage with the guide rail to provide emergency braking to the elevator car. The first brake assembly includes a first safety brake and an electronic safety actuator operably connected to the first safety brake. A health monitoring element is in communication with the electronic safety actuator. The health monitoring element is configured to record information associated with operation of the first safety brake assembly, compare the recorded information against at least one predetermined threshold, and when the recorded information exceeds the at least one predetermined threshold, generate a notification that maintenance is required.

Abstract: A hoistway door locking system includes an elevator shaft. Also included is an elevator car disposed within the elevator shaft and moveable therein between a plurality of access openings located at a plurality of levels of the elevator shaft. Further included is a plurality of locking mechanisms, at least one of the plurality of locking mechanisms being located at each of the plurality of access openings, wherein each of the plurality of locking mechanisms is operable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, and wherein only a single locking mechanism may be in the unlocked condition at a specific time, the unlocked condition occurring upon alignment of the elevator car and the respective access opening having the single locking mechanism.

Abstract: A rail clip assembly for mounting a guide rail section to a support bracket includes a rail clip having a base and an arm extending at an angle to the base. At least one contact assembly is mounted to the rail clip. The contact assembly contacts an adjacent surface of the guide rail section at a point.

Abstract: An elevator system is provided including a hoistway having a plurality of landings. An elevator car is configured to move within the hoistway between the plurality of landings. A plurality of guide rails guide movement of the elevator car and a counterweight within the hoistway. Each guide rail includes a base and a blade. A machine assembly is mounted within the hoistway and includes a traction sheave rotatable about an axis. The traction sheave is configured to drive movement of the elevator car between the plurality of landings. At least one of the plurality of guide rails is arranged in an overlapping configuration with the machine assembly such that a plane defined by the base of the guide rail is parallel to the axis and intersects a portion of the traction sheave.

Abstract: Access prevention systems of elevator landing door locks including a landing door lintel for a landing door of an elevator system, a lock mechanism mounted to the lintel and arranged to enable unlocking of the elevator landing door, and an indicator feature on the lintel and aligned with the lock mechanism to indicate a location of a blocked locking mechanism, wherein the indicator feature is at least one of frangible or breakable to permit access to the lock mechanism when the indicator feature is broken.

Abstract: An elevator system is provided, the system includes an elevator car (100, 200, 300) having at least one elevator car door (202), a deterrent system configured to prevent the at least one elevator car door (202) from opening when the elevator car (100, 200, 300) is not in an unlocking zone (218, 318), and a disabling system configured to disable the deterrent system such that the at least one elevator car door (202) may be opened outside of the unlocking zone (218, 318).

Abstract: A landing door locking mechanism of an elevator system includes a body housing key-engagement elements and having a first end and a second end, the key-engagement elements located at the first end and a keyway structure, wherein in a first position the first end of the body is exposed such that a key may be inserted into a keyway of the keyway structure and interact with the key-engagement elements. A biasing mechanism is configured to bias a moveable portion of the body toward a second position, wherein in the second position a key cannot interact with the key-engagement elements and a solenoid is configured to apply a force on the moveable portion of the body when the solenoid is energized such that the moveable portion of the body is moved from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An elevator system (10) includes a hoistway (14) having a plurality of landing floors (34) each landing floor (34) having a landing floor door (36). An elevator car (12) is positioned in and drivable along the hoistway (14). A controller (38) restricts operation of the landing floor doors (36) based on a position of the elevator car (12) along the hoistway (14). A method of operating an elevator system (10) includes driving an elevator car (12) along a hoistway (14) of the elevator system (10) and determining a position of the elevator car (12) in the hoistway (14). Operation of a plurality of hoistway landing floor doors (36) is controlled based on the position of the elevator car (12) in the hoistway (14).

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car (12) suspended in the hoistway via one or more suspension members (46). A counterweight (22) is suspended in the hoistway via the one or more suspension members (46) to balance operation of the elevator car (12). A traction sheave (24) is located in the hoistway to drive the one or more suspension members (46) along the hoistway via traction with frictional contact between the traction sheave (24) and the one or more suspension members (46), thus driving motion of the elevator car (12) and/or counterweight (22) along the hoistway. One or more diverters (66) are positioned in the hoistway in operable contact with the one or more diverters (66). The one or more diverters (46) are configured and positioned to define a wrap angle (68) of the one or more diverters (66) about the traction sheave (24); the wrap angle (68) being between 180 degrees and 360 degrees.