Patents by Inventor Richard N. Fargo

Richard N. Fargo 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: 10407275
    Abstract: A sensor system for a passenger conveyance system includes a multiple of 3D sensors mounted to a movable structure within a vertical shaft and/or a horizontal shaft and a processing module in communication with the multiple of 3D sensors, the processing module operable to identify an obstruction within the horizontal or vertical shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Yehia F Khalil, Richard N Fargo, Randall Roberts, Randall S Dube, Gary L Nuschler, Peter DePaola, Jr., Arthur Hsu, Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Bruce P Swaybill, Alan Matthew Finn, Richard J Ericson
  • Patent number: 10370222
    Abstract: A ropeless elevator system includes a first lane, a second lane disposed adjacent to the first lane, and an elevator car moveable within each of the first lane and the second lane. A transfer system is configured to facilitate movement of the elevator car from one of the first lane and the second lane to the other of the first lane and the second lane. The transfer system includes a first transfer assembly arranged in at least one of the first and second lanes. The first transfer assembly is configured to guide the elevator car out of the one of the first and second lanes. A transfer station includes a second transfer assembly configured to receive the elevator car from the first transfer assembly. The second transfer assembly extends between the first and second lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Publication number: 20190177114
    Abstract: A safety actuation device for an elevator system including an elevator car and a guide rail includes a safety brake disposed on the car and adapted to be forced against the guide rail when moved from a non-braking state to a braking state. An electronic safety actuator is operably connected to the safety brake. The electronic safety actuator includes at least one sensor configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with a ride quality of the elevator car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Publication number: 20190100409
    Abstract: A method of pressurizing an elevator (112) includes pressurizing a lobby (102) to a pressure (P2) different from ambient pressure (P1) at the elevation of the lobby (102). Pressurizing the lobby (102) can generally include pressurizing the lobby (102) to a pressure (P2) between the ambient pressure (P1) at the elevation of the lobby (102) and an ambient pressure (P6) at a destination elevation. This can allow for at least some equalization of the inner ears of passengers to take place while passengers are waiting to pass from the lobby (102) into the elevator cab (112), or waiting to pass from the lobby (102) into the ambient pressure (P1) of the building outside the lobby (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Patent number: 10246299
    Abstract: An elevator system is provided that includes a car guiderail, a first counterweight guiderail, a second counterweight guiderail, an elevator machine, a first guiderail mount and a second guiderail mount. The elevator machine includes a frame, a motor, a brake and a sheave. The first guiderail mount structurally connects the frame to the first and the second counterweight guiderails. The second guiderail mount structurally connects the frame to the car guiderail independent of the first guiderail mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Robert Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20190071281
    Abstract: A load bearing member (30) for a lifting and/or hoisting system includes a plurality of tension members (32) arranged along a width of the load bearing member. Each tension member includes a plurality of load carrying fibers (34) arranged to extend in a direction parallel to a length of the load bearing member and a matrix material (36) in which the plurality of load carrying fibers are arranged. The load bearing member further includes a lateral layer (40, 42) and a jacket material (50) at least partially encapsulating the plurality of tension members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Wenping Zhao, Daniel A. Mosher, John P. Wesson, Paul Papas, Gopal R. Krishnan, Brad Guilani, Richard N. Fargo
  • Patent number: 10214387
    Abstract: An illustrative example method of making a magnetic drive component includes inserting a plurality of metal teeth into a metal tube. The teeth respectively have a first portion received against an inner surface of the tube. The teeth respectively have a second portion and a third portion spaced apart and projecting toward a center of the tube. The method includes securing the plurality of teeth to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Publication number: 20190010016
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a car disposed in and constructed and arranged to move along a hoistway that includes a centerline and is defined by a stationary structure. A plurality of position sensors of a position detection assembly are configured to be stationary with respect to the stationary structure and are spaced along the hoistway. The plurality of position sensors are configured to measure a magnetic field characteristic associated with the car, and thereby provide continuous car position data to the elevator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Zbigniew Piech, Wojciech Szelag, Cezary Jedryczka, Richard N. Fargo, Dang V. Nguyen, Peter DePaola, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10160620
    Abstract: A load bearing member is provided including at least one load bearing segment having a plurality of load carrying fibers arranged within a matrix material. At least a portion of the load bearing member has a radius of curvature when the load bearing member is untensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel A. Mosher, Richard N. Fargo, John P. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20180362290
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car; a guide rail; and a linear synchronous reluctance motor including: a primary circuit having a plurality of primary poles and windings about the primary poles; a secondary circuit having a plurality of secondary poles; the primary circuit coupled to one of the elevator car and the guide rail, the secondary circuit coupled to the other of the elevator car and the guide rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Publication number: 20180330858
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a method of making a rotary magnetic drive member includes establishing a helical magnet on a rod using an additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jagadeesh Kumar TANGUDU, Michael A. KLECKA, Richard N. FARGO
  • Publication number: 20180305183
    Abstract: An elevator component separation assurance system includes a controller, and a brake controller. The controller includes an electronic processor, a computer readable storage medium, a safety motion state estimator, and a safety assurance module. The safety motion state estimator is configured to identify velocity and position of each one of a plurality of elevator components. The safety assurance module is configured to select a separation map from a plurality of pre-pre-programmed separation maps for each one of an adjacent component pair of the plurality of elevator components for initiating a Ustop that maintains elevator component separation. The brake controller is carried by each one of the plurality of elevator components, and is configured to actuate a secondary brake upon detection of a loss of communication with at least a portion of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Richard N. Fargo, David Ginsberg
  • Patent number: 10087044
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a first propulsion system for imparting linear motion to an elevator car. The elevator system includes a controller generating control signals for the first propulsion system. The elevator system includes a brake for holding the elevator car. The elevator system includes an energy storage unit. The elevator system includes a second propulsion system. The controller is configured to at least one of (i) access the energy storage unit to power at least one of the first propulsion system and second propulsion system upon a fault during upward travel of the elevator car (ii) power the second propulsion system upon a fault in the first propulsion system during upward travel of the elevator car and (iii) delay applying the brake until the elevator car speed is less than a threshold upon a fault during upward travel of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Publication number: 20180269765
    Abstract: A Halbach array assembly has a magnetic layer that includes a plurality of permanent magnets and a structural layer attached to a top side of the magnetic layer. The structural layer includes a plurality of rods that support the magnetic layer. The Halback array assembly further includes a plurality of clamps that attach to the structural layer, providing an attachment point for the Halbach array assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Wojciech Szelag, Cezary Jedryczka, Adam Marian Myszkowski, Zbigniew Piech
  • Publication number: 20180237265
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator rope tensioning assembly includes a tensioning sheave configured to guide movement of a compensation rope. A tensioning mass is coupled with the tensioning sheave to provide weight urging the sheave in a tensioning direction. A rail structure guides vertical movement of the tensioning mass. A frictional damper continuously resists vertical movement of the tensioning mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Randy Roberts
  • Publication number: 20180237263
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator brake device includes a housing that supports a brake member. The brake member has a braking surface. The brake member is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A plurality of buckling beams are situated to urge the brake member to apply a braking force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Patent number: 10035684
    Abstract: An elevator car separation assurance system and method of operation includes determining a position and velocity of each one of a plurality of cars by a safety motion state estimator. A safety assurance module of the system is configured to determine a separation map associated with a first car and an adjacent second car of the plurality of cars. The system is further configured to initiate a first separation assurance-induced event associated with at least one of the first and the second cars and based on the separation map. A recovery manager of the system is configured to detect the first separation assurance-induced event, and upon detection, slow at least a third car of the plurality of cars down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Richard N. Fargo, David Ginsberg
  • Publication number: 20180170714
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes a first vertical pathway, a second vertical pathway, and a transfer space situated to allow movement between the vertical pathways. An elevator car is selectively moveable along the respective vertical pathways and through the transfer space. At least one blocker has a passage condition and a blocking condition. The passage condition allows the elevator car to move from one of the vertical pathways into the transfer space when the transfer space is configured to receive the elevator car from the one of the vertical pathways. The blocking condition prevents the elevator car from moving from the one of the vertical pathways into the transfer space when the transfer space is not configured to receive the elevator car from the one of the vertical pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Richard J. Ericson, Richard N. Fargo, Enrico Manes, Bruce P. Swaybill
  • Patent number: 9975735
    Abstract: An elevator car is constructed and arranged to move along a hoistway. The car includes a cab support from below by a platform. A vertical member is connected to the platform via a flex joint and extends upward from platform for further elevator cab support. The flex joint facilitates cab isolation from vibration and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Richard N. Fargo, Walter Thomas Schmidt, YiSug Kwon
  • Publication number: 20180127241
    Abstract: A suspension member for suspending and/or driving an elevator car of an elevator system includes a plurality of tension members extending along a length of the suspension member including a plurality of fibers extending along the length of the suspension member bonded into a polymer matrix. A jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The suspension member is configured to be deformed at a suspension member end to allow for installation of the suspension member end into a termination assembly of the elevator system. A method of installing a suspension member of an elevator system into a termination assembly includes deforming a suspension member end and reforming it to a selected shape, inserting the suspension member end into the termination assembly and curing and/or hardening it, and applying a load thereto or to the socket or the wedge to secure the suspension member end in the termination assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Mark R. Gurvich, Richard J. Ericson, Douglas E. Logan, John P. Wesson, David Wayne Mckee, Wenping Zhao