Abstract: An accessible buffer assembly (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for a buffer (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) of an elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606) is provided. The assembly (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) includes an elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606) having an access panel (104) and a buffer (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) movably attached to the elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606) and configured to provide a safety feature to the elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606). The buffer (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) is movable from a first position to a second position, the first position being a secured, operational position of the buffer to provide the safety feature, and the second position being an inspection position that is removed from the first position.

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: A service access assembly for an elevator car includes an elevator car 10 having an interior region 18. Also included is at least one upright structure 26 operatively coupled to the elevator car proximate one of a plurality of side walls 16 of the elevator car, the upright structure extending in a longitudinal direction from the car floor 14 to the car roof 12. Further included is an access opening defined by the upright structure, the access opening accessible to the interior region of the elevator car for service activity by a user located in the interior region. Yet further included is at least one piece of equipment (22, 24) operatively coupled to the upright structure and partially protruding through the access opening.

Abstract: An elevator car for an elevator system includes a floor and one or more elevator car side walls. At least one elevator car side wall is configured to be linearly translatable at least partially across the floor from an operational position to a maintenance position to allow for inspection and/or maintenance of elevator system components from inside of the elevator car when the elevator car side wall is at the maintenance position. A method of operating an elevator system includes driving an elevator car along a hoistway, stopping the elevator car at a first selected location along the hoistway and linearly translating a side wall of the elevator car at least partially across a floor of the elevator car from an operational position to a maintenance position, defining a maintenance area between the side wall and the hoistway. Maintenance operations on elevator system components are performed from the maintenance area.

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 testing arrangement (36) for testing the operability of at least one safety sensor (21, 22, 23, 26, 28) connected to the safety chain (30) of an elevator system (1), the testing arrangement (36) comprises: at least one test circuit (34) for testing the operability of the at least one safety sensor (21, 22, 23, 26, 28); and at least one testing relay (32, 33). The testing relay (32, 33) is switchable between an operational position and a test position and it is configured for electrically connecting the at least one safety sensor (21, 22, 23, 26, 28) to the safety chain (30) in the operational position and for electrically connecting the at least one safety sensor (21, 22, 23, 26, 28) to the test circuit (34) in the test position.

Abstract: A hoistway landing door locking system includes an elevator shaft and 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. Also included is a mechanical locking assembly disposed proximate at least one of the access openings, the mechanical locking assembly operable to switch the access opening between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. Further included is an electromagnetic locking assembly operable between an energized condition and an unenergized condition, wherein the energized condition is required to switch the mechanical locking assembly from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.

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: An elevator system is provided including a hoistway having a plurality of landings including a top landing and a bottom landing. An elevator car including a car floor and a car roof is configured to move within the hoistway between the plurality of landings. A counterweight is configured to move within the hoistway. At least one tension member couples the elevator car and the counterweight. A support member is mounted within the hoistway. The support member includes a deflector sheave configured to receive the at least one tension member and prevent direct contact between the tension member and the support member. A machine assembly is mounted to the support member. When the elevator car is parked at a desired landing, the machine assembly is accessible from an interior of the elevator car.

Abstract: An exemplary method is useful for controlling movement of an elevator car in an elevator system that includes a machine that selectively moves the elevator car and a machine brake that selectively resists movement of the elevator car. The method includes determining whether the elevator car is near a landing and determining whether a door of the elevator car is open. A desired operation includes desired movement of the elevator car while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open. A determination is made whether the elevator car moves other than according to the desired movement. The machine brake is applied for stopping movement of the elevator car responsive to elevator car movement other than the desired movement while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open.

Abstract: An exemplary enclosure for housing electronics useful with an elevator system includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall adjacent the first sidewall. A third sidewall is at an oblique angle relative to the first sidewall. The third sidewall provides a support surface for supporting electronics inside the enclosure. The first and second sidewalls are moveable relative to the third sidewall to provide a single opening facing the support surface.

Abstract: An exemplary method is useful for controlling movement of an elevator car in an elevator system that includes a machine that selectively moves the elevator car and a machine brake that selectively resists movement of the elevator car. The method includes determining whether the elevator car is near a landing and determining whether a door of the elevator car is open. A desired operation includes desired movement of the elevator car while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open. A determination is made whether the elevator car moves other than according to the desired movement. The machine brake is applied for stopping movement of the elevator car responsive to elevator car movement other than the desired movement while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open.

Abstract: An elevator car includes a foldable handrail mounted on top of the car. Safety switches are associated with the foldable handrail including a first safety switch and a second safety switch. The first safety switch is closed only when the handrail is folded in a fully retracted position. The second safety switch is closed when the handrail is unfolded in a fully deployed position. A safety chain is associated with the first and second safety switches for supplying power to an elevator drive system in a normal operation or an inspection operation depending on the state of the first and second safety switches.

Abstract: The elevator has a car movable vertically within a shaft between lower and upper end positions and a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car. A limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions. The limit switch forms part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards that end position in an inspection operation. Thus movement of the car is prevented only in that direction when the car is in the selected distance range in an inspection operation.

Abstract: The elevator has a car movable vertically within a shaft between lower and upper end positions and a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car. A limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions. The limit switch forms part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards that end position in an inspection operation. Thus movement of the car is prevented only in that direction when the car is in the selected distance range in an inspection operation.

Abstract: A safety device for an elevator system includes a retractable element mounted on a support. The retractable element has a stopping position in which a catch portion of the retractable element projects from the support to engage a triggering member of a safety brake associated with an elevator car as the elevator car traveling in a selected direction approaches a selected vertical position, and a retracted position. An actuator selectively controls the position of the retractable element. A position sensor is responsive to the position of the retractable element to make sure that it is in its stopping position when needed.

Abstract: An exemplary enclosure for housing electronics useful with an elevator system includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall adjacent the first sidewall. A third sidewall is at an oblique angle relative to the first sidewall. The third sidewall provides a support surface for supporting electronics inside the enclosure. The first and second sidewalls are moveable relative to the third sidewall to provide a single opening facing the support surface.

Abstract: An electric safety switch (3) resetting device (1) for the car safety device (5) of elevators includes a switch (3) shaped as a box attached to the lower skirt (9) of the car frame, near the car safety blocks (11). A mobile upper tongue (13) is engaged with a car safety block triggering lever (15), which tongue (13) can trigger the switch (3) under the action of said triggering lever (15) and reset it in the opposite direction when operated by the maintenance operator. A connecting rod arrangement (29) hinged to the tongue (13) can be remotely actuated by the operator using an actuator (35) while standing at the landing opening near the arrested elevator car, to drive said tongue (13) to a position that will reset the switch (3).

Abstract: The safety device for an elevator system comprises a retractable element mounted on a support. The retractable element has a stopping position in which a catch portion of the retractable element projects from the support to engage a triggering member of a safety brake associated with an elevator car as the elevator car traveling in a selected direction approaches a selected vertical position, and a retracted position. An actuator selectively controls the position of the retractable element. A position sensor is responsive to the position of the retractable element to make sure that it is in its stopping position when needed.

Abstract: The elevator has a car movable vertically within a shaft between lower and upper end positions and a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car. A limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions. The limit switch forms part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards that end position in an inspection operation. Thus movement of the car is prevented only in that direction when the car is in the selected distance range in an inspection operation.