Actuated By Presence Of Obstruction In Shaft Patents (Class 187/300)
  • Patent number: 10654686
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a selectively operable safety brake including a magnetic brake operably coupled to a rod and disposed adjacent to a metal component, the magnetic brake configured to move between an engaging position and a non-engaging position, said magnetic brake, when in the engaging position contemporaneously with motion of the machine, moving the rod in to thereby move the safety brake from the non-braking state into the braking state, and an electromagnetic component including a retention apparatus, the electromagnetic component configured to move the magnetic brake from the engaging position to the non-engaging position upon receipt of a resetting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Guohong Hu, Daryl J. Marvin
  • Patent number: 10294073
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an elevator provided with a safety apparatus arrangement, which elevator comprises at least an elevator car traveling along guide rails and a safety brake device, such as a safety gear, for stopping undesired movement of the elevator car, as well as a transmission mechanism for activating the safety gear. The safety apparatus arrangement comprises a tuning apparatus disposed on the elevator car for detecting a presence on the roof of the elevator car, which tuning apparatus comprises means for pre-activating the transmission mechanism when a presence on the roof of the elevator car has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markku Haapaniemi, Matti Rasanen, Markku Haivala, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 9809420
    Abstract: A safety system for an elevator is provided including a safety brake. The safety brake is operatively connectable to one of an elevator car or a counterweight. The safety brake includes a trigger configured to engage the safety when actuated. An actuation device is configured to be mounted to a guide rail. The actuation device includes an actuator movable between a first position and a second position. The actuation device is configured to not actuate the trigger of the safety brake when the actuator is in the first position. The actuation device is configured to actuate the trigger of the safety brake when the actuator is in the second position by physically contacting the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Aurelien Fauconnet, Etienne Delachatre
  • Publication number: 20110253484
    Abstract: An elevator installation can comprise an elevator cage, a counterweight, a first support, a second support, a drive for driving of drive pulleys in common and for movement of the supports, and a monitoring device with two slack support switches. A first slack support switch is arranged in the region of a first fastening point for monitoring the first support. A second slack support switch is arranged diagonally opposite in the region of another fastening point for monitoring the second support. The monitoring device comprises a safety circuit, in which the two slack support switches are so integrated in a safety circuit of the elevator installation that actuation of just one of the two slack support switches interrupts the safety circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Oliver Berner
  • Publication number: 20110083926
    Abstract: An elevator arrangement, comprising an elevator car arranged to move in an elevator shaft or equivalent, preferably along car guide rails, and an element which is disposed in the elevator shaft or equivalent and is shiftable between an activated state and an inactivated state, and an activating device for shifting the said element between the activated and inactivated states. The activating device includes a flexible element, such as e.g. a rope or equivalent, movably attached to a fixed structure of the elevator shaft or equivalent, and the said flexible element is connected to the said shiftable element in a manner permitting the shiftable element to be shifted by means of the flexible element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matti RÄSÄNES, Teemu TOLONEN, Jaakko KAHILA, Mauno MATTILA, Jouni LAPPALAINEN
  • Patent number: 7650969
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a safety device strategically positioned within a hoistway to provide overhead or under car clearance during an inspection procedure, for example. An example safety device includes a triggering member that is selectively moved into a stopping position to engage a safety brake for preventing movement of an elevator car beyond a selected vertical position. The triggering member is selectively moveable in an automated manner between a retracted position and a stopping position. When the triggering member is in a retracted position, it has no effect on normal elevator system operation. When the triggering member is in the stopping position, it provides for maintaining adequate clearance between an elevator car assembly and another surface or structure within an elevator hoistway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Andres Monzon, Fernando Del Rio, Antonio de Miguel, Jose Caballero, Elviro Lorenzo, Francisco Manuel Cervera Morales
  • Patent number: 7448471
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator installation comprising at least one car, which has a safety gear and with which a control unit, a drive and a brake are associated, and further comprising a safety device for avoiding a collision of the car with an obstacle, another car or an end of the shaft, it being possible by means of the safety device to compare an actual distance of the car from an obstacle, another car or an end of the shaft with a minimum distance and a critical distance. If the actual distance goes below the minimum distance, an emergency stop can be triggered. If the actual distance goes below the critical distance, the safety gear of the car can be triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
    Inventor: Walter Nuebling
  • Patent number: 7278517
    Abstract: A device provides an elevator installation with a shortened car travel path to establish a temporary protective space below and/or above the car upon activation of the car safety brake device. The speed limiter cable is limited, independently of the speed limiter, in a travel path by a switchable stop device. This limitation causes an actuation of the car safety brake device in the corresponding travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Hubert Gut
  • Patent number: 7225899
    Abstract: A stair lift for lifting and lowering at least one person on a rail on a stairway. There is a carriage mountable to the rail, the carriage having a track engaging drive, and a motor to power the drive, the powered drive causing the carriage to move along the rail. There is a central support post mounted on the carriage and an offset arm connected to the seat support post. The offset arm is mounted to the carriage in one of a left side or a right side position. A seat is mounted on the offset arm, and a notched plate secures the seat in position on the offset arm in either the left side or right side position and permits the seat to swivel between a sideways facing position and an upward facing position to facilitate the person getting into and out of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Rutherford Independence Limited
    Inventors: Gordon Molnar, Peter Shaw
  • Patent number: 7201256
    Abstract: An elevator installation with an elevator case, an elevator shaft, and a drive unit. The elevator cage is installed in the elevator shaft to be movable and is controllable by the drive unit so that the elevator cage can be stopped in different positions in the elevator shaft. The elevator shaft is equipped with a detecting device which detects whether a person is standing in a critical zone in the elevator shaft or is about to go into this. The detecting device is connected with the drive unit so that the elevator installation can be transferred to a special mode of operation in case a person is standing in the critical zone or is about to go into this. The drive unit includes special control equipment which in the special mode of operation stops the elevator cage before it moves into the critical zone. In that case the detecting device and the special control equipment are designed to be operationally safe in order to prevent movement of the elevator cage into the critical zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Romeo Deplazes, Philipp Angst
  • Patent number: 6991067
    Abstract: An obstruction sensing system is provided for a lift vehicle (10) with a lift platform (20). The system includes a plurality of sensors (32) mounted to the lift platform (20) and a control system (18) coupled with a drive system of the lift vehicle. The sensors collectively detect a profile of an area on a sensor side of the platform, and the control system generates a signal according to the profile detected by the plurality of sensors. The profile detected by the sensors may be compared with a stored plurality of area profiles by the control system based on a position of the lift platform or profiles of substantially symmetrical areas may be compared. If an obstruction is sensed during platform descent, further descent is halted and an alarm is sounded. The system also includes structure for overriding the disabling function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: JLG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude R. Dube, Brandon F. Tucker
  • Patent number: 6945363
    Abstract: A method for monitoring shaft doors of a elevator installation uses at least one contactlessly acting shaft door monitoring sensor to emit a beam of electromagnetic waves, wherein at least during specific detection phases the beam extends over several floors and is detected by a receiver. The beam is influenced by a shaft door panel not being completely closed and/or a shaft door lock not being disposed in the locking setting such that a disturbance signal is generated to the elevator control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Philipp Angst, Urs Baumgartner
  • Publication number: 20040222046
    Abstract: A device provides an elevator installation with a shortened car travel path to establish a temporary protective space below and/or above the car upon activation of the car safety brake device. The speed limiter cable is limited, independently of the speed limiter, in a travel path by a switchable stop device. This limitation causes an actuation of the car safety brake device in the corresponding travel direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Hubert Gut
  • Publication number: 20040173414
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lift installation (20) comprising a lift cage (21), a lift shaft (22) and a drive unit (25), the lift cage (21) being moveably installed in the lift shaft (22) and controlled by the drive unit (25) in such a way that it (21) can stop at various positions in the lift shaft (22). Said lift shaft (22) is provided with a detection device (29) for detecting whether a person is in a critical area (32, 33) of the lift shaft (22) or whether the person is about to arrive into one such area. The detection device (29) is connected to the drive unit (25) in such a way that the lift installation (20) can be switched into a special operating mode if a person is in the critical area (32, 33) or about to arrive into the same. The drive unit (25) comprises a special control device (30) which, when the lift installation is in the special operating mode, stops the lift cage (21) before it arrives in the critical area (32, 33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Romeo Deplazes, Philipp Angst
  • Patent number: 6615953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a building elevator having an elevator mast, which can be set up vertically, and having an elevator car which can be moved in the vertical direction along the elevator mast and has a least one motor drive with control means, and said building elevator is intended to be developed further such that it is ensured, in the simplest possible manner, that it is not possible for any individual or objects to be situated beneath the elevator car during the downward travel of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Herman Steinweg GmbH & Co. KG Baumaschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Klaus Steinweg
  • Publication number: 20020084148
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an arrangement for a hoist to secure safety zones in case persons should be outside the hoist cage in a hoist shaft, comprising a means of identifying risk situations and mechanical means of limitation that can enter into the path of the hoist cage arranged at a distance from the upper and lower end limits of the hoist cage during normal operation in order to form an upper and a lower safety end limit, mechanically securing the said safety zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: Alimak AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Nygren
  • Publication number: 20010022253
    Abstract: An elevator, particularly a friction driven elevator, with a cage guided in an elevator shaft and with a driving motor with associated control cabinet. According to the invention, in case of need and to provide access to the driving motor and/or control cabinet, a closed power unit space is provided which can be temporarily set up in the elevator shaft, whereby the operation of the cage in both portions of the elevator shaft which are situated below or above the temporarily set up power unit space remains unaffected. In the region of the power unit disposed in the shaft, the control cabinet is disposed in the shaft alongside the path on which the cage travels and there is provided at least one plate which, in order to form a negotiable platform and/or a protective roof, can be moved into a horizontal position associated with the control cabinet. Advantageously, in normal operation of the elevator, the plate serves as a cover for the control cabinet and is rotatably articulated on the control cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: GUNTER REUTER, HANS FERDINAND FRHR. V. SCHOLLEY, EBERHARD VOGLER, HANS UNTERGASSER
  • Patent number: 6068088
    Abstract: A wafer lifter basket assembly includes a wafer lifter basket and a base, the base including a bracket and a bracket holder. The wafer lifter basket is mounted to the bracket, and the bracket holder is releasably connected to the bracket holder via spring-loaded plungers, which release upon the wafer lifter basket encountering a force of at least a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Warren Scott Brooks, Steven Todd Drexler, Kristen Erikson Jewell
  • Patent number: 6068089
    Abstract: A wafer lifter basket assembly includes a wafer lifter basket and a base, the base including a bracket and a bracket holder. The wafer lifter basket is mounted to the bracket, and the bracket holder is releasably connected to the bracket holder via spring-loaded plungers, which release upon the wafer lifter basket encountering a force of at least a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Warren Scott Brooks, Steven Todd Drexler, Kristen Erikson Jewell
  • Patent number: 5806633
    Abstract: The elevator safety device creates a false pit beneath the elevator frame using left and right laterally-spaced, fixed stop members fixedly attached to the car frame, and left and right laterally-spaced safety columns affixed to the pit floor and pivotable between an extended position in vertical alignment with the left and right stop members, respectively, and a retracted position clear of the car, the frame, and the left and right stop members. The safety columns are bumper-type devices designed to support full car weight should the need arise, and provides the ASME A17.1 minimum depth of pit for the refuge area. Actuators are operatively connected to the safety columns to pivot them between their extended and retracted positions. A pressure-sensitive detector located on the pit floor below the car detects the presence of a person on the pit floor. The actuators are electronically activated to pivot the safety columns from their retracted to their extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Henry J. Macuga
  • Patent number: 5653568
    Abstract: A safety guard uses a strip switch to prevent injury at pinch points on either lift gates or pedestrian-operated industrial trucks. A strip switch is provided at the pinch point between the lift gate and the truck bed or vehicle body to stop or reverse operation of the lift gate when contacted by body parts or items improperly loaded on the lift gate. A strip switch may also be located adjacent the portions of a pedestrian-operated lift truck. The strip switch is disposed located about a portion of the perimeter of the pedestrian-operated lift truck adjacent the operator. Upon contacting the strip switch, the pedestrian-operated lift truck may be stopped or reversed to permit the operator to free his foot from the potential pinch point where injury can occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: Harold Josephs