Patents by Inventor Reinhard Henkel

Reinhard Henkel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10399823
    Abstract: A conveyor drive unit (1a; 1b), which is configured for driving a conveyor, comprises: a motor (14); an adaptive power supply unit (20), which is configured for supplying electrical energy to the motor (14); a safety chain/circuit (30), comprising at least one safety device (32, 34, 36) and being configured for ensuring a safe operation of the conveyor. The conveyor drive unit (1a; 1b) further comprises an initialization switch (28a; 28b), which is configured for selectively connecting the adaptive power supply unit (20) electrically with the motor (14) for initialization of the adaptive power supply unit (20) without bypassing or deactivating the safety chain/circuit (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Reinhard Henkel
  • Publication number: 20180244502
    Abstract: A conveyor drive unit (1a; 1b), which is configured for driving a conveyor, comprises: a motor (14); an adaptive power supply unit (20), which is configured for supplying electrical energy to the motor (14); a safety chain/circuit (30), comprising at least one safety device (32, 34, 36) and being configured for ensuring a safe operation of the conveyor. The conveyor drive unit (1a; 1b) further comprises an initialization switch (28a; 28b), which is configured for selectively connecting the adaptive power supply unit (20) electrically with the motor (14) for initialization of the adaptive power supply unit (20) without bypassing or deactivating the safety chain/circuit (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Reinhard Henkel
  • Patent number: 8264538
    Abstract: Method for monitoring at least part of a comb-line (18) of a comb plate (14) having a plurality of teeth (16), of a people conveyor (2) having a movable transportation band (4) and the comb plate (14) located at the transition (20) between the movable transportation band (4) and the stationary comb plate (14), wherein the method includes (a) taking a picture of the comb-line (18) with a camera (12); (b) comparing the picture with a reference picture; (c) determining the safety state of the comb-line (18) based on such comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Herbert Horbruegger, Reinhard Henkel
  • Publication number: 20080252724
    Abstract: Method for monitoring at least part of a comb-line (18) of a comb plate (14) having a plurality of teeth (16), of a people conveyor (2) having a movable transportation band (4) and the comb plate (14) located at the transition (20) between the movable transportation band (4) and the stationary comb plate (14), wherein the method includes (a) taking a picture of the comb-line (18) with a camera (12); (b) comparing the picture with a reference picture; (c) determining the safety state of the comb-line (18) based on such comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Herbert Horbruegger, Reinhard Henkel
  • Patent number: 6782989
    Abstract: Process and device for controlling the drive of a conveyor system (10), specifically in the form of an escalator or passenger conveyor, which can be switched from load to no-load operation, comprising a drive motor (26) and a variable frequency converter (42), which is at least controllable with respect to the frequency of its output voltage, wherein, under load, the drive motor (26) is supplied with a line voltage with an essentially constant line frequency and, at no-load, is supplied the output voltage of the variable frequency converter's (42), wherein, prior to a changeover from no-load to load operation, the output frequency of the variable frequency converter (42) is essentially brought with phase accuracy to the line frequency by means of a PLL device (30), and wherein this changeover is brought about as soon as this phase conformance has been realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Stefan Spannhake, Herbert Horbrugger, Reinhard Henkel
  • Patent number: 6626279
    Abstract: A method of controlling the drive of conveyor installation which includes a drive motor (26) and a frequency converter (42) whose output is adjustable, between a load operation and an idle mode, in the form of an escalator (10) or a moving sidewalk, where: in the load operation mode drive motor (26) is supplied with a line voltage at an essentially constant line frequency (fNetz), and in the idle mode with an output voltage of the frequency converter (42); the line voltage and the frequency converter's output voltage are compared with respect to frequency and phase position; the frequency converter (42) is set for an output frequency which has a predetermined spacing (&Dgr;fup, &Dgr;fdown) from the line frequency (fNetz); a demand to switch modes is signalled by a conveyance signal generator (48); and at the point in time (t1, t4), after a demand to switch modes has been signalled, when the output frequency of the converter (42) has reached the predetermined frequency spacing (&Dgr;fup, &Dgr;fdown) from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Reinhard Henkel, Stefan Spannhake, Ralph Stripling, Richard Markus
  • Publication number: 20030000801
    Abstract: Process and device for controlling the drive means of a conveyor system 10, specifically in the form of an escalator or passenger conveyor, which can be switched from load to no-load operation, comprising a drive motor 26 and a variable frequency converter 42, which at is least controllable with respect to the frequency of its output voltage, wherein, under load, the drive motor 26 is supplied with a line voltage with an essentially constant line frequency and, at no-load, is supplied the output voltage of the variable frequency converter's 42, wherein, prior to a changeover from no-load to load operation, the output frequency of the variable frequency converter 42 is essentially brought with phase accuracy to the line frequency by means of a PLL device 30, and wherein this changeover is brought about as soon as this phase conformance has been realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Stefan Spannhake, Herbert Horbrugger, Reinhard Henkel
  • Publication number: 20020162726
    Abstract: A method of controlling the drive of conveyor installation comprising a the drive motor (26) and a frequency converter (42) whose output is adjustable, between a load operation and an idle mode, in the form of an escalator (10) or a moving sidewalk, where: in the load operation mode the drive motor (26) is supplied with a line voltage at an essentially constant line frequency (fNetz), and in the idle mode with an output voltage of the frequency converter (42); the line voltage and the frequency converter's output voltage are compared with respect to frequency and phase position; the frequency converter (42) is set for an output frequency which has a predetermined spacing (&Dgr;fup, &Dgr;fdown) from the line frequency (fNetz); a demand to switch modes is signalled by a conveyance signal generator (48); and at the point in time (t1, t4), after a demand to switch modes has been signalled, when the output frequency of the converter (42) has reached the predetermined frequency spacing (&Dgr;fup, &Dgr;fdown) from t
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Reinhard Henkel, Stefan Spannhake, Ralph Stripling, Richard Markus
  • Patent number: 6267219
    Abstract: An escalator safety system monitors a variety of sensors, contacts, and switches over an electronic safety bus. A plurality of bus nodes are distributed throughout the escalator system and are in constant communication with the bus master over the safety bus. The bus nodes interface with sensors, switches, contacts, detectors, components, and other safety equipment of the escalator system at each location and provide status information back to the bus master. The bus master preferably includes a microprocessor which upon sensing an unsafe condition, sends control signals to an escalator control and a drive and brake system to arrest the escalator in a safe manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Stefan Spannhake, Reinhard Henkel, Jürgen Gewinner