Includes Safety Cut Off Switch Actuated By Load Support Speed Sensor Or Governor Patents (Class 187/287)
  • Patent number: 11787662
    Abstract: A governor assembly and an elevator. The governor assembly includes: a body equipping with a trigger wheel and a guide wheel, the trigger wheel and the guide wheel being arranged to be rotatable relative to the body; a guide member extending around the trigger wheel and the guide wheel in sequence; and wherein the cross section of the guide member has a first dimension in the direction facing the trigger wheel or the guide wheel, and has a second dimension in the radial direction of the trigger wheel or the guide wheel, and wherein the first dimension is larger than the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Ming Zhang, Yong Zhao, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11718502
    Abstract: A safety system for a building-related passenger transport system includes a safety unit for receiving safety-relevant signals from components of the passenger transport system and for triggering a safety measure, and an updating unit for receiving updated software via an external interface and for transmitting the updated software to the safety unit via an internal interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser, Axel Hosemann
  • Patent number: 11242220
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Nicolas Fonteneau
  • Patent number: 11198586
    Abstract: A method of measuring braking deceleration of an elevator based on a video of a motion of a hoisting machine taken by a mobile device, the motion of the hoisting machine including a motion of a brake and a motion of a traction sheave, the method including capturing the video, processing the video, and calculating a braking deceleration of the elevator based on the processed video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jiro Murata, Takashi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11078045
    Abstract: An electronic safety actuation device for braking an elevator car includes a safety brake movable between a non-braking position and a braking position, a first electronic safety actuator operably coupled to the safety brake via a first link member, and a second electronic safety actuator operably coupled to the safety brake via a second link member. Operation of the first electronic safety actuator applies a force to the first link member to move the safety brake from the non-braking position to the braking position. Operation of the second electronic safety actuator applies a force to the second link member to move the safety brake from the non-braking position to the braking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin Billard, Daryl J. Marvin, Erik Khzouz, Marcin Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 11046552
    Abstract: A method of avoiding unnecessary safety brake actuation in an elevator system. The method includes determining whether a true overspeed or overacceleration condition of an elevator car is present. The method also includes activating the electronic safety actuator if a true overspeed or overacceleration condition of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandeep Sudi, Joseph Crute, Arthur T. Grondine, Randall S. Dube, Daryl J. Marvin
  • Patent number: 10569992
    Abstract: An elevator apparatus including a car, a brake device configured to brake running of the car, and an unintended car movement protection device. For the unintended car movement protection device, an allowable zone being a zone for allowing movement of the car under a door-open state is set. When the car moves out of the allowable zone under the door-open state, the unintended car movement protection device stops the car by the brake device. Further, the unintended car movement protection device is capable of changing a range of the allowable zone in accordance with a braking capability of the brake device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidetaka Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 10479648
    Abstract: Elevator systems and methods of operating elevator systems having an elevator car within an elevator shaft, a counterweight within the elevator shaft and operably connected to the elevator car, an indicator element located in a pit of the elevator shaft, and an inspection system including a detector located on the elevator car and arranged to detect a location of the counterweight in an inspection region within the pit based a relative position between the counterweight and the indicator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandeep Sudi, Daniel M. Tripp, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10368783
    Abstract: A monitoring system is provided that includes a three dimensional position determination system for determining the three dimensional coordinates of one or more mobile units. The system includes at least one zone in which the system is arranged to raise an alarm when the rate of change of a vertical coordinate of a mobile unit is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Sonitor Technologies AS
    Inventors: Wilfred Edwin Booij, Oystein Haug Olsen
  • Patent number: 10329120
    Abstract: An elevator governor rotor comprises a central axis and a plurality of pairs of lobes. Each pair of lobes comprises an inner lobe and an outer lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Randall S. Dube
  • Patent number: 10189676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for performing a rescue run with an elevator. In the method information is received from the sensors measuring the operation of the elevator about the points being measured with the sensors in question, one or more rescue run functions are selected on the basis of information received from the sensors, and also a rescue run, including the selected one or more rescue run functions, is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Hovi, Ari Kattainen, Ari Ketonen
  • Patent number: 10023429
    Abstract: A brake unit for a safety brake of an elevator system has a rolling element on a rolling disk, which rolling element rolls on a stationary rolling track of a braking and guiding rail at least in some sections in the event of an activation of the safety brake. A brake lining of the brake unit interacts with a stationary braking track on the rail as a result of the rolling of the rolling element on the rolling track. At least one marking element on the rolling element produces a start marking and an end marking on the rolling track and/or the braking track when the rolling element rolls on the rolling track. Then the braking distance of the associated elevator car can be determined from the distance between the start marking and the end marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Faruk Osmanbasic, Daniel Meierhans
  • Patent number: 9988240
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the movement of an elevator is provided. The elevator controller directs the operation of the elevator and receives information from the elevator system to calculate a brake profile. The elevator system transmits the brake profile to a master controller. The master controller selectively actuates the brakes to apply a braking force configured to generate the brake profile. The system and method may include local controllers, each configured to actuate a respective brake, wherein the master controller selectively directs the local controllers to generate a brake force commensurate with the braking profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG, ThyssenKrupp AG
    Inventors: John Keith Anderson, Frank P. Dudde, Peter P. Feldhusen, Michael A. Palazzola, Jie Xu, Alan M. Parker, William D. Delk, Olivia Stone
  • Patent number: 9982443
    Abstract: A suspension work platform hoist system for raising and lowering a work platform is provided. The system incorporates at least one hoist attached to the work platform and in electrical communication with a hoist control system has a data transmitter to transmit data to a remote location, a data receiver to receive data from the remote location, and/or a monitoring and diagnostic system to monitor and record at least one of a plurality of operating characteristics of the hoist. The hoist control system may further include a safety lock out system that requires authentication of an operator prior to the hoist control system causing movement of the hoist system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SKY CLIMBER LLC
    Inventors: George M. Anasis, Robert E. Eddy, Gary E. Ingram, Jean-Francois DeSmedt, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 9809418
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of operating an elevator system is provided. The method includes detecting, using a controller, when an external power source is unavailable. The method also includes controlling, using the controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system. The controlling comprises operating at least one of an elevator car, a drive unit, an inverter and a brake. The method further includes detecting, using the controller, an original direction of travel of the elevator car. The method yet further includes detecting, using the controller, a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode. The method includes determining, using the controller, a target floor. The method also includes adjusting, using the controller, a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Prasanna Nagarajan, Amir Lotfi, Edward Piedra
  • Patent number: 9708157
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling speed of an elevator car in an elevator system is disclosed. The elevator car may have a speed governor adapted to trip when an electrical tripping point of the speed governor is reached. The elevator system may also have a control system for controlling operation of the elevator car, the control system providing a speed reducing switch adapted to trip when a software tripping point of the speed reducing switch is reached, the software tripping point being reached before the electrical tripping point of the speed governor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph L. Della Porta, Barry G. Blackaby
  • Patent number: 9469504
    Abstract: A braking method for a passenger transportation system, which system is embodied as an elevator, escalator, or moving walk, is initiated upon the occurrence of a technical problem in the passenger transportation system. An activation signal activates a service brake of the passenger transportation system and an emergency stop is initiated. In addition to the activation of the service brake, the activation signal is immediately fed to a brake control of the passenger transportation system, so that, upon the occurrence of the activation signal, the brake control switches a drive machine of the passenger transportation system into a motor-brake operating mode. The drive machine is only switched by the brake control into a braking-torque-free state when a braking effect of the service brake on moving components of the passenger transportation system is detected and transmitted to the brake control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Roman Hopp
  • Patent number: 8939262
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an electronic system capable of triggering a machine room brake and an electromagnetic safety trigger with low hysteresis and with minimal power requirements that can be released to engage safeties, when car over-speed and/or over-acceleration is detected. The electromagnetic trigger may be reset automatically and may be released to engage the safeties, during the reset procedure. The system includes a processing system that is configured to decrease response time and to reduce the occurrence of false triggers caused by conditions unrelated to passenger safety, such as passengers jumping inside the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Greg A. Schienda, Daryl J. Marvin, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
  • Publication number: 20150014100
    Abstract: An elevator governor to actuate an emergency stop device when a car descends, with a door kept open, includes: a pendulum which moves to a radially outer side of a sheave based on rotational speed of the sheave; a rope constraining mechanism which constrains a governor rope when the pendulum has moved when the car is descending; a protruding body provided in the pendulum; a cam, controlled by a cam moving mechanism, configured to move between a protruding position to contact the protruding body and a retracted position to not contact the protruding body, when the car door is open. A cam surface, when the cam is in the protruding position, moves the pendulum to the radially outer side of the sheave over a moving distance, and the cam moving mechanism moves the cam to the protruding position in the process of movement of the cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Niikawa
  • Patent number: 8930093
    Abstract: A forklift truck includes a truck body, a fork, a mast, tilting and lifting mechanisms, tilt and lift levers, tilting and lifting operation detectors, a lifted height detector, a load detector, an auxiliary switch, a tilt angle detector and a controller. The controller controls the lifting and tilting mechanisms based on signals from the tilting and lifting operation detectors and the auxiliary switch. The controller controls the lifting and tilting mechanisms to cause the fork to be lifted and tilted to horizontal position of the fork if a load is present on the fork, the fork is in a lower lift region where the lifted height of the fork is at or lower than a first threshold value, the lift lever is placed in operative position to lift the fork, the auxiliary switch is in operative position and the fork is not in the horizontal position of the fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Takashi Nishiwaki, Junichi Kuwayama, Tadashi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8827044
    Abstract: An elevator system 40 includes an over-acceleration and over-speed protection system capable of triggering a machine room brake and a safety trigger when over-speed or over-acceleration conditions are detected. The system includes a speed detector 42 and an acceleration detector 44. Based upon sensed speed and sensed acceleration, the controller 48 calculates a filtered speed of an elevator mass such as an elevator car 16 or counterweight, and compares the filtered speed to the threshold speed to determine whether an over-speed condition has been reached. The controller 48 activates a machine room brake when an over-speed condition exists, and engages an elevator safety 70A, 70B when it determines that the elevator mass is still in an over-speed condition after the machine room brake has been activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Daryl J. Marvin, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
  • Patent number: 8668055
    Abstract: An elevator load receiving apparatus or a compensating weight connected thereto by a suspension device is released from a safety device in a stopping position after downward travel, the load receiving apparatus and the compensating weight being moved by a drive unit including a reversible electric motor and a traction sheave engaging the suspension device. Many safety devices, after stopping must be moved counter to the travelling direction of the load receiving apparatus before stopping in order to release (moved upwards in the case of stopping after downward travel). The safety device is easily released by activating the drive unit for a time (tmax1) or a certain distance (smax) with a predetermined torque (Mmax) counter to the direction of release and subsequently activated as abruptly as possible with the predetermined torque in the direction of release. This method can be used to release the compensating weight from its stopped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Erich Spirgi
  • Publication number: 20130306409
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes an elevator car. A first governor sheave is supported on the elevator car for movement with the elevator car. The first governor sheave is supported for rotational movement relative to the elevator car responsive to movement of the elevator car. A first governor tripping mechanism is supported on the first governor sheave. The first governor tripping mechanism provides an indication to perform a first governor function for controlling the speed of the elevator car responsive to the elevator car moving at a speed above a first threshold speed. A second governor sheave is supported on the elevator car for movement with the elevator car and for rotational movement relative to the elevator car responsive to movement of the elevator car. A second governor tripping mechanism is supported on the second governor sheave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Randall S. Dube
  • Patent number: 8584812
    Abstract: A brake monitor for monitoring a brake system of an elevator system that includes a drive and a drive controller checks for a travel signal generated by the elevator system. If a brake-release signal is not received within a time-window after the occurrence of the travel signal, the brake monitor activates a relay circuit for interrupting a safety circuit of the elevator system or for interrupting a control voltage of the drive controller so that the elevator system can be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Andreas Dorsch, Philippe Henneau
  • Patent number: 8463462
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may he useful for testing braking systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. A system is disclosed that allows for built in testing. For example, a method if provided comprising sending, from a brake controller, a test command set to at least one of an electromechanical actuator (EMAC) and a brake servo valve (BSV) in response to a landing gear retraction, receiving, at the brake controller, feedback from the at least one of the EMAC and the BSV in response to the test command set, and comparing, at the brake controller, the feedback with a predetermined signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8453799
    Abstract: An actuator for a speed governor of an elevator system includes a governor wheel equipped with at least two flyweights. The governor wheel can be driven by a governor cable looped around it. An actuator wheel is stationary in a basic position. A coupler engages the actuator wheel when the governor wheel attains an actuation speed and thus couples with the governor wheel so that the actuator wheel is caused to rotate. An elastic material, preferably transmitting a high degree of friction, is provided between the coupler and the actuator wheel. The actuator wheel has a lining or tire of the elastic material and/or the coupler is equipped with the elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator AG
    Inventors: Jochen Müller, Christian Schulz
  • Patent number: 8407876
    Abstract: A modernization method for converting a hydraulically actuated elevator system into an elevator system driven by a drive machine having a drive sheave makes it possible to convert and retain some essential elements of the existing elevator system. Car support rollers are arranged beneath an underside of an elevator car in the area of points of the underside of the elevator car located opposite each other and are connected to the elevator car. Furthermore, a support is guided along the underside of the elevator car and about the car support rollers. The support is also guided about the drive sheave so that the support can be driven by the drive sheave of the drive machine in order to raise and lower the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20120312638
    Abstract: An actuator for a speed governor of an elevator system includes a governor wheel equipped with at least two flyweights. The governor wheel can be driven by a governor cable looped around it. An actuator wheel is stationary in a basic position. A coupler engages the actuator wheel when the governor wheel attains an actuation speed and thus couples with the governor wheel so that the actuator wheel is caused to rotate. An elastic material, preferably transmitting a high degree of friction, is provided between the coupler and the actuator wheel. The actuator wheel has a lining or tyre of the elastic material and/or the coupler is equipped with the elastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
    Inventors: Jochen Müller, Christian Schulz
  • Publication number: 20120193171
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring arrangement, an elevator system and also a monitoring arrangement for measuring the movement of an elevator car. The measuring arrangement includes identifiers disposed at set points in the elevator hoistway, each of which identifiers contains at least one property to be measured, which property to be measured is made to be variable in the direction of movement of the elevator car. The measuring arrangement includes at least one measuring apparatus, fitted in connection with the elevator car and arranged to move along with the elevator car in the elevator hoistway. The measuring apparatus is arranged to separately read the property to be measured of each aforementioned identifier after the measuring apparatus has moved in the elevator hoistway to the reading point individual for the identifier to be read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Petteri KANGAS
  • Patent number: 8181749
    Abstract: In a speed governor for an elevator, a clutch mechanism is provided between a governor sheave and a rotary body. An actuator performs switching between transmission and interruption of rotation by the clutch mechanism according to whether or not energization from a DC generator, which generates a current by rotation of the governor sheave, is performed. A rectifier circuit allows the current to flow from the DC generator to the actuator only when a rotating direction of the governor sheave is a predetermined one of a first direction and a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Mineo Okada
  • Publication number: 20120000729
    Abstract: An elevator system 40 includes an over-acceleration and over-speed protection system capable of triggering a machine room brake and a safety trigger when over-speed or over-acceleration conditions are detected. The system includes a speed detector 42 and an acceleration detector 44. Based upon sensed speed and sensed acceleration, the controller 48 calculates a filtered speed of an elevator mass such as an elevator car 16 or counterweight, and compares the filtered speed to the threshold speed to determine whether an over-speed condition has been reached. The controller 48 activates a machine room brake when an over-speed condition exists, and engages an elevator safety 70A, 70B when it determines that the elevator mass is still in an over-speed condition after the machine room brake has been activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Daryl J. Marvin, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
  • Patent number: 8069956
    Abstract: An elevator governor capable of setting first overspeeds different between a rising time and a descending time by a simple configuration and at a low cost without the need for electric power supply from the outside. For this purpose, a weight that is moved in a predetermined direction by receiving a centrifugal force according to a travel speed at the rising time and the descending time of a car, an elastic body urged by movement of the weight having received the centrifugal force, and an actuating device actuates a stop switch when the weight having received the centrifugal force moves to a predetermined position against an urging force of the elastic body are provided, and also a switching device driven by the rising/descending operation of the car is provided. By the switching device, the length of the elastic body at the time when the actuating devices actuates the stop switch is switched to a length different according to the rising/descending direction of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Mineo Okada
  • Patent number: 7954603
    Abstract: A building is provided with a plurality of service zones each including a plurality of floors, and elevators each assigned to the floors included in a corresponding one of the service zones as service floors. The service zones are provided such that the floors included in each of the service zones are at least partially different from the floors included in each of the other service zones. In an event of a fire in the building, an evacuation control apparatus for the elevators controls the elevators to convey those stranded in the building to a common evacuation floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Hikita, Kiyoji Kawai
  • Patent number: 7954607
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an appliance for monitoring the safety of a transport system. The transport system includes a transport appliance and also a synchronous motor for moving the transport appliance. In the method, the motion information of the transport appliance is determined with two channels, and if the determined motion informations deviate from each other by more than the set limit value, an emergency stop is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Kallioniemi, Lauri Stolt
  • Patent number: 7946393
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator unit including an elevator car which is movable in an elevator shaft and is equipped with a braking device and a catching device encompassing catching elements. The elevator unit further includes a system for detecting signals used for determining an absolute position of the elevator car, a control circuit for detecting signals used for determining the speed or deceleration of the elevator car, and a circuit for evaluating the signals of the detection system and the control circuit. Based on the input signals, the evaluation circuit evaluates whether the speed of the elevator car lies within a predefined interval in the determined position and causes the braking device to be actuated via a first output of the evaluation circuit and/or the catching device to be triggered via a second output of the evaluation circuit according to the result of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Thumm
  • Patent number: 7905328
    Abstract: A brake device of an elevator car with a brake unit that is mounted on the elevator car. The brake drive includes a flexible tension member that passes around two tension-members reversing-sheaves. One end of the tension members extends parallel to the travel path of the elevator car and is coupled to an actuating element of the brake unit, and thereby also to the elevator car, so that in normal operation the tension member moves synchronously with the elevator car. A blocking device, at least on overspeed of the elevator car, brakes the tension member, as a consequence of which the tension member, via the actuating element, activates the brake unit. A monitoring device detects failure of the coupling between the tension member and the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Walter Windlin, Stefan Hugel
  • Patent number: 7896136
    Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device is controlled by a brake control device. The brake control device has a first brake control portion for operating the brake device to stop a car as an emergency measure upon detection of an abnormality, and a second brake control portion for reducing a braking force of the brake device when a deceleration of the car becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value during emergency braking operation of the first brake control portion. The second brake control portion controls the brake device independently of the first brake control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masunori Shibata, Takaharu Ueda, Satoru Takahashi, Ken-Ichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7891466
    Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device stops a car from running. The brake device has a brake control portion for controlling a braking force generated at a time of emergency braking to adjust a deceleration of the car, and a timer circuit for invalidating the control of the braking force performed by the brake control portion after a lapse of a predetermined time from a moment when an emergency braking command is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ken-Ichi Okamoto, Satoru Takahashi, Takaharu Ueda, Masunori Shibata
  • Publication number: 20110036667
    Abstract: An elevator apparatus includes a safety circuit section including a plurality of abnormality detection means, a safety control device, failure detection means, and circuit changeover means. The safety control device controls electric power supply to a driving device and a brake device in accordance with a content of an abnormality detected by the abnormality detection means. The failure detection means detects a failure of the safety control device. When the failure of the safety control device is detected, the circuit changeover means forms a failure-time circuit in which the electric power supply to the driving device and the brake device is interrupted directly by the abnormality detection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaharu Ueda, Satoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7775330
    Abstract: An electronic unintended movement governor is disclosed, which includes an input for car position data, a device for determining the speed of the elevator car, a plurality of limit values for permitted movement of the elevator car, such as the limit value of the maximum permitted speed of the elevator car, and which unintended movement governor also provides overspeed monitoring for controlling at least one stopping appliance of the elevator car when the speed of the elevator car exceeds the limit value of the maximum permitted speed. The unintended movement governor includes at least two separate controls for controlling a stopping appliance of the elevator car. Additionally, a method for controlling the aforementioned electronic unintended movement governor is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Petteri Valjus
  • Patent number: 7775329
    Abstract: A method and detection system monitors the speed of an elevator car and, in case of excess speed caused by brake failure of a motor brake or shaft fracture of a drive pulley shaft, a safety circuit is opened and the detection system is transferred from a normal operational state (State 1) to a retardation state (State 2) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car is retarded after defined speed presets. After a successful retardation, the detection system is transferred to a state of standstill monitoring (State 3) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car leaves its standstill position. If the presets of State 2 or State 3 are not fulfilled, the detection system is transferred to a braking state of the brake (State 4) in which a brake which fixes the elevator car is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Eckenstein, Carlos Latorre Marcuz, Eric Birrer, Karsten Gensicke
  • Patent number: 7753176
    Abstract: In an emergency stop system for an elevator, a governor sheave that moves in synchronism with the raising and lowering of a car is wound around a governor sheave. The car is mounted with a safety device for braking the car through displacement of the car, which is connected to the governor rope, with respect to the governor rope. A control device outputs an activation signal upon detecting an abnormality in the speed of the car. A rope catching device is provided in the vicinity of the governor sheave. The rope catching device has an electromagnetic actuator that is activated upon input of the activation signal, and a restraining portion for restraining the governor rope upon the activation of the electromagnetic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kigawa, Tsunehiro Higashinaka, Mineo Okada
  • Patent number: 7735610
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a braking unit of a rope transport installation and braking unit. The command signals of a first brake are modulated, until the installation is stopped, by a first modulation circuit integrated in the control unit to automatically regulate the running speed of the rope according to a first predetermined deceleration setpoint curve activated by a braking order. The command signals of a second brake are simultaneously modulated by a second modulation circuit integrated in the control unit to automatically regulate the running speed of the rope according to a second predetermined deceleration setpoint curve activated by the braking order, the instantaneous value of the second setpoint curve being at all times greater than the value of the first setpoint curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Pomagalski S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Huard, Daniel Michel, Jean-Christophe Chouvellon
  • Patent number: 7730998
    Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device stops a car from running. The brake device can adjust the magnitude of part of a total braking force generated at a time of emergency braking of the car. As an example of the brake device, the brake device has a nonadjustable brake portion for immediately generating a braking force without making an adjustment thereof at the time of emergency braking of the car, and an adjustable brake portion for generating a braking force while making an adjustment thereof at the time of emergency braking of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Takahashi, Ken-Ichi Okamoto, Takaharu Ueda, Masunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 7669695
    Abstract: A fire evacuation operation system for group-controlled elevators that enables a large number of people to evacuate a building in a short time is provided. Safe elevators are provided for evacuation of the building according to the position of the floor on which the fire breaks out. The fire evacuation operation system includes an evacuation operation propriety judging unit that judges whether an evacuation operation is improper or possible, a rescue floor setting unit that sets a rescue floor, and an evacuation operation instruction unit that assists people who are present in the building to evacuate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Hikita, Kiyoji Kawai
  • Publication number: 20090314586
    Abstract: An elevator governor capable of setting first overspeeds different between a rising time and a descending time by a simple configuration and at a low cost without the need for electric power supply from the outside. For this purpose, a weight that is moved in a predetermined direction by receiving a centrifugal force according to a travel speed at the rising time and the descending time of a car, an elastic body urged by movement of the weight having received the centrifugal force, and an actuating device actuates a stop switch when the weight having received the centrifugal force moves to a predetermined position against an urging force of the elastic body are provided, and also a switching device driven by the rising/descending operation of the car is provided. By the switching device, the length of the elastic body at the time when the actuating devices actuates the stop switch is switched to a length different according to the rising/descending direction of the car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mineo Okada
  • Publication number: 20090288920
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic unintended movement governor, which comprises an input for car position data, means for determining the speed of the elevator car, a plurality of limit values for permitted movement of the elevator car, such as the limit value of the maximum permitted speed of the elevator car, and which unintended movement governor also comprises overspeed monitoring for controlling at least one stopping appliance of the elevator car when the speed of the elevator car exceeds the limit value of the maximum permitted speed. The unintended movement governor comprises at least two separate controls for controlling a stopping appliance of the elevator car. Additionally, the invention relates to a method for controlling the aforementioned electronic unintended movement governor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Petteri Valjus
  • Patent number: 7607516
    Abstract: An elevator governor includes a selectively powered switch (60) that is activated when an elevator car moves at a speed that exceeds a selected limit. The speed limit is lower than normally expected car speeds during normal elevator operation. The switch (60) is activated by a moving member (66) that moves into a switch-activation position responsive to movement of a rotating member (36) that corresponds to movement of an elevator car. The arrangement allows for a primary governor to prevent elevator speeds from exceeding a first selected limit and a secondary governor to prevent elevator speeds from exceeding a second, lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Andres Monzon Simon, Fernando Del Rio Sanz
  • Patent number: 7575099
    Abstract: A brake mechanism (10) for an elevator (2) is activated in response to an electronic control signal to prevent movement of an elevator car (16) under predetermined conditions. The brake mechanism is preferably a safety mechanism (10) and does not require a governor sheave, a governor rope, or a tension sheave. The safety mechanism in one disclosed example utilizes a solenoid actuator (22b) and an electric motor (40) and gear box assembly (42) to move safety wedges (18) into engagement with a guide rail (20) to stop the elevator car (16). The safety wedges (18) are held in a non-deployed position during normal elevator operation. If there is a power loss or if elevator car speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, an electronic control signal activates the safety mechanism (10) causing the solenoid to release, which causes the safety wedges (18) move in a direction opposite to that of a safety housing (12) mounted for movement with the elevator car (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Robin Mihekun Miller, Richard E. Peruggi, Samuel Wan, Anthony Cooney, Adriana Bacellar, Pei-Yuan Peng
  • Patent number: 7533763
    Abstract: A safety system for supervising safety of an elevator may include a safety space in an elevator shaft, elevator buffers in the elevator shaft, or both; measuring means for continuous measurement of absolute position of an elevator car; and a safety device. If the safety system includes the safety space, its size may be reduced. If the safety system includes the elevator buffers, their size may be reduced. The safety device may be adapted to receive data about the absolute position of the elevator car; calculate a velocity of the elevator car at each instant of time using the absolute position; monitor the calculated velocity in order to ensure that the calculated velocity remains within an allowed motion limit curve; and control at least one stopping device for stopping uncontrolled motion of the elevator car if the calculated velocity exceeds the allowed motion limit curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Timo Laasonen, Matti Räsänen