Abstract: A method for taking an elevator of an elevator group into service mode includes entering in the input device of the elevator group a maintenance signal which comprises an elevator definition part, upon entering of the maintenance signal the elevator identified in the elevator definition part is removed from landing call allocation, the identified elevator is initiated to serve all remaining car calls and then to drive to a maintenance floor and to wait there for maintenance operation.

Abstract: An elevator car (100) defining an interior space (1) for accommodating passengers. The elevator car (100) comprises an openable roof (2), horizontal roof guide rails (13a, 13b) arranged on a top side of the elevator car (100), a support structure (4) pivotably mounted to the guide rails (13a, 13b) by a first joint (5a, 5b), and a working platform (6) pivotably and movably mounted to the support structure (4) by a second joint (7a, 7b) arranged at a distance from the first joint (5a, 5b). The working platform (6) is pivotable between a retracted position, in which said working platform is oriented close to the guide rails (13a, 13b) in the top side of the elevator car, and a deployed position, in which the working platform (6) is in the interior space (1), at a distance from the guide rails (13a, 13b). The first joint (5a, 5b) being arranged movable along the guide rails (13a, 13b).

Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a base, a plurality of interlock bumpers supported on the base, and a latch supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a door locking position and a released position. The plurality of interlock bumpers are supported on the base with a gap between the plurality of interlock bumpers. Each of the interlock bumpers includes a contact surface configured to contact at least one vane supported on an elevator car door. Each of the interlock bumpers remains rotationally fixed relative to the base. The latch includes a latch bumper that is situated relative to the gap such that the at least one vane contacts the latch bumper and urges the latch into the released position when the at least one vane is at least partially in the gap.

Abstract: Elevator cars are provided herein. The elevator cars include a wall panel defining part of a passenger space of the elevator car, two or more receiving rails arranged on an exterior of the wall panel, and an elevator display system having a viewing panel and an enclosure housing a display screen. The viewing panel is mounted to the wall panel on an interior of the wall panel and the enclosure is engageable with the receiving rails on the exterior of the wall panel such that the display screen is movably positioned relative to the viewing panel to be viewable from within the passenger space in an installed position.

Abstract: Elevator access systems and methods including a key extension having a first portion arranged to engage with a key and a second portion and an access mechanism. The access mechanism includes an extension engagement element arranged to receive and fixedly engage with the second portion of the key extension and an opening element operably connected to the extension engagement element such that operation of the extension engagement element causes operation of the opening element.

Abstract: An elevator car (6) defining an interior space (12) for accommodating passengers comprises a support frame (22) positioned on a top side of the interior space (12); a support structure (30) pivotably mounted to the support frame (22); and a working platform (28) pivotably mounted to the support structure (30). The support structure (30) is pivotable with respect to the support frame (22) and the working platform (28) is pivotable with respect to the support structure (30) between a retracted position, in which the working platform (28) and the support structure (30) are oriented close to the support frame (22), and a deployed position, in which the support structure (30) extends away from the support frame (22) towards the interior space (12) and the working platform (28) extends away from the support structure (30).

Abstract: An elevator system is provided, the system includes an elevator car (100, 200, 300) having at least one elevator car door (202), a deterrent system configured to prevent the at least one elevator car door (202) from opening when the elevator car (100, 200, 300) is not in an unlocking zone (218, 318), and a disabling system configured to disable the deterrent system such that the at least one elevator car door (202) may be opened outside of the unlocking zone (218, 318).

Abstract: A thermally actuated lock for an appliance incorporates a fusible material that holds a spring-loaded bolt in retraction. Temperatures that would indicate an appliance fire allow the bolt to extend between the housing and appliance door to lock the appliance door in a closed position.

Abstract: A mechanical hoistway access control device for an elevator landing door includes a first blocking member mounted on a position on a landing door frame above a landing door, and a second blocking member mounted on a position on a car door frame above a car door. The first blocking member is pivotably attached between an upright position and a first horizontal position extending in the door opening direction about a horizontal shaft. The second blocking member is pivotably attached between an upright position and a second horizontal position about a horizontal shaft, the second horizontal position being where the second blocking member protrudes out to the landing door side to block movement of the first blocking member.

Abstract: A door coupling assembly for an elevator system. The coupling assembly includes a first vane, including a first surface extending longitudinally vertically to the elevator car door and a second vane, including a second surface and a third surface extending longitudinally vertically in parallel with the first vane; wherein the second surface is laterally spaced to the first surface by a first vane length, and the third surface is laterally spaced to the first surface by a second vane length.

Abstract: A device for synchronously actuating and locking elevator doors, which are situated essentially one behind the other in the passage direction—such as a car door and a shaft door; the device includes entraining skids that are fastened to a first door by means of an entraining skid support and whose spacing relative to one another can be changed in order to be able to couple the first door to the second door and move the two doors together and the device is coupled to a linear drive unit that moves the doors in the opening and closing directions, characterized in that the entraining skid support has a plurality of first openings that make it possible to mount at least one, preferably both, of the entraining skids on the entraining skid support in different functional positions.

Abstract: In an elevator car door locking apparatus, a doorstop-side blade is disposed on a car door by a linking mechanism, and is displaceable horizontally between a locked position, and an unlocked position that is further away from a door pocket than the locked position. A balance weight is disposed on an opposite side of the pivoting shaft of the link from the doorstop-side blade. The doorstop-side blade comes into contact with a landing door engaging member and displaces, and the balance weight also displaces away from the doorstop-side blade, due to the car door moving toward the door pocket side when a car is in position at a floor.

Abstract: A device for synchronously actuating and locking elevator doors, which are situated essentially one behind the other in the passage direction—such as a car door and a shaft door; the device includes entraining skids that are associated with a first driven door and whose spacing relative to one another can be changed in order to be able to couple the first door to the second door and move them together, characterized in that at least one of the entraining skids is supported in mobile fashion relative to the component, which holds it directly and is preferably embodied in the form of an entraining skid support, and toward the end of the closing movement, is secured so that it disengages from the second door, particularly by coming into contact with a stationary actuating element, which forcibly imparts a lifting movement to the at least one entraining skid.

Abstract: An elevator door assembly includes car and hoistway door subassemblies. The car door subassembly includes: a car door, a door mover, and first and second vanes supported for movement relative to the car door. The hoistway door subassembly includes: a hoistway door; a locking member that selectively locks the hoistway door; and a coupler member associated with the locking member. When the car door is adjacent the hoistway door: the first vane moves into contact with the coupler member and causes the locking member to move into an unlocked position, prior to movement of the car and hoistway doors; and the second vane is retained in a non-blocking position by the coupler member. When the car door is not adjacent the hoistway door, movement of the car door toward the open position moves the second vane into a blocking position in which further movement of the car door is inhibited.

Abstract: An article transfer system that allows the operator to easily notice that abnormality occurs in an abnormality detecting sensor for detecting abnormality and perform remedial work is provided. The article transfer system is adapted to display information indicating that the abnormality occurs on a display device as abnormality occurrence information, receive input of a result of determination by the operator on whether or not the abnormality indicated by the abnormality occurrence information occurs, and display information indicating that the detecting information received from the abnormality detecting sensor is incorrect on the display device when the operator inputs the result of determination that the abnormality indicated by the abnormality occurrence information does not occur with the abnormality detecting sensor detecting the abnormality.

Abstract: A method for providing well access in an elevator well having at least one elevator car moveable in the elevator well, includes the following steps: a well access operating mode of the elevator is activated, in which well access operating mode the elevator car will not respond to any landing calls, group controller commands or to any other remote commands, upon activation of the well access operating mode the car is controlled to travel a set distance up or down, the car is controlled to stop at said distance for a given time, the elevator will automatically exit the well access operating mode and return back to service if within the given time no well entrance, e.g. landing door, is opened. After non authorized activation of the well access operating mode, the elevator is automatically returned to service, which reduces the danger of off-service times of the elevator based on misuse of activation signals.

Abstract: A vertical reciprocating conveyor has a carriage mounted for movement in a support frame between different designated vertical levels, a door assembly mounted on the support frame for gaining access to the carriage when the carriage is at the one designated level. A visual warning barrier is movably mounted between a raised, inoperative position and a lowered, operative position across a doorway formed in the support frame at the one designated level. The visual warning barrier is automatically moved from the raised, inoperative position to the lowered, operative position upon movement of the door assembly to the open position when the carriage is located away from the one designated level.

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: A method of controlling access to an elevator car, in particular to its roof and/or underside, including the steps of switching the elevator control into a maintenance mode which controls the car to travel to a predetermined stop position permitting access, and opening a landing door of the elevator shaft the car is running in. The elevator control is switched into the maintenance mode only if operating a landing call receiving device in a predetermined identification pattern which differs from a call pattern for calling the elevator.

Abstract: A safety system for an elevator has a bar mounted on a landing door, the bar being adapted to extend into a passageway of the landing door, and a holding member adapted to prevent the bar from extending into the passageway of the landing door when a car door is positioned correctly behind the landing door. The bar is adapted to extend into the passageway when the landing door is opened and when the holding member does not prevent the bar from extending into the passageway of the landing door.

Abstract: A circuit (34) for resetting a component (21) within an elevator safety chain (23). The reset circuit (24) comprises a first reset switch (31), a second reset switch (32) and a door contact (33). This first reset switch is mountable within an elevator shaft (2) and the second reset switch (32) is mountable outside the elevator. Preferably, the second reset switch (32) is hidden from members of the general public but is accessible to an elevator technician. The door contact (33) is mountable alongside the landing door (13). The first reset switch (31), the second reset switch (32) and the door contact (33) are arranged in series so that all must be closed to reset the component (21) whereby, upon activation, the first reset switch (31) remains closed for a first predetermined time period (?t1) after which it returns to its open state.

Abstract: A device for inhibiting the closing of a door that controls entry of an enclosure includes a first magnet disposed on a driven portion of the device and a second magnet disposed on a fixed portion of the enclosure. The first magnet and the second magnet are configured to be in register with each other as the door moves toward a closed position such that if the first magnet and the second magnet are in register with each other, a pole of the first magnet is in close proximity of a pole of the second magnet such that the first magnet and the second magnet react to each other to inhibit motion of the door towards the closed position.

Abstract: In a method for suppressing drifting of an elevator car away from a stopping floor, an operating condition of one or more machinery brakes of a hoisting machine of an elevator is monitored, and one or more machinery brakes are used to stop the elevator car from leaving a door zone of a stopping floor when at least one of the door of the elevator car and the landing door are open. Start of a next run of an elevator car that has left the door zone of the stopping floor is prevented when the at least one of the door of the elevator car and the landing door are open, and information about the preventing of the next run is recorded in a non-volatile memory of an elevator control unit.

Abstract: In an elevator control system, an evacuation operation control section outputs a command for evacuation operation by an elevator in case of fire. Moreover, in case of fire, the evacuation operation control section controls opening and closing of a fire door adjacent to an elevator landing based on information from a passenger detector for detecting a passenger at the elevator landing and information on a fire situation in a vicinity of the elevator landing.

Abstract: A safety arrangement of an elevator includes a mechanical safety device (3, 4, 11) that ensures the safety of the elevator hoistway (2) and that can be moved into a use position (2), and which safety arrangement of an elevator includes a detector (5) of intrusion into the elevator hoistway, which detector is fitted to receive measuring data (6) from the sensors (7) that determine the status of the entrances (9, 10) of the elevator hoistway, and also to determine intrusion into the elevator hoistway (2) from the measuring data received, and after verifying an intrusion to switch into an operating mode (8) in which driving with the elevator is prevented.

Abstract: An evacuation support apparatus for an elevator causes an elevator to perform an evacuation operation for conveying people stranded in a building including a plurality of floors to an evacuation floor in an emergency. Further, the evacuation support apparatus for an elevator includes rescue floor setting means for setting the floor determined based on a predetermined condition as a rescue floor, the floor being selected from the plurality of floors, and response floor setting means for registering a call only for the floor on which a call input device for specific persons is operated in a case of the evacuation operation as the call for an evacuation response floor, the call input device for specific persons and a call input device for general persons being provided on each of the plurality of floors. The elevator includes a common car which moves in a reciprocating manner between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor in the case of the evacuation 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: Controlling the movement of elevator cars (22, 24) within a single hoistway (26) prevents the cars from becoming too close while servicing assigned stops. Example control techniques include controlling door operation of at least one of the elevator cars (22, 24) to effectively slow down a follower car or speed up a leader car for increasing a distance between the cars in an area within the hoistway (26) where the cars would otherwise be too close to each other.

Abstract: Provided, on each floor of a building, are an elevator installation zone, in which an elevator is installed, a neighboring zone which neighbors the elevator installation zone, and is in communication with the elevator installation zone through a first communication port, and an external zone which is in communication with the neighboring zone through a second communication port different from the first communication port. The first communication port is opened and closed by a first fire door, and the second communication port is opened and closed by a second fire door. A fire evacuation support system manages an operation of the elevator based on information from a plurality of fire detectors provided on each floor when a fire occurs in the building.

Abstract: A circuit (34) for resetting a component (21) within an elevator safety chain (23). The reset circuit (24) comprises a first reset switch (31), a second reset switch (32) and a door contact (33). This first reset switch is mountable within an elevator shaft (2) and the second reset switch (32) is mountable outside the elevator. Preferably, the second reset switch (32) is hidden from members of the general public but is accessible to an elevator technician. The door contact (33) is mountable alongside the landing door (13). The first reset switch (31), the second reset switch (32) and the door contact (33) are arranged in series so that all must be closed to reset the component (21) whereby, upon activation, the first reset switch (31) remains closed for a first predetermined time period (?t1) after which it returns to its open state.

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: An actuator used in a safety stop device for an elevator has: a movable portion displaceable between an actuation position where the safety stop device for the elevator is actuated and a normal position where the actuation of the safety stop device is released; and an electromagnetic coil for displacing the movable portion when a current flows through the electromagnetic coil. A device for inspecting operation of the actuator has a feeder circuit for supplying an amount of electricity required for a semi-operation which is less than that required for a full operation for displacing the movable portion from the normal position and the actuation position to the electromagnetic coil.

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: In an elevator control apparatus, the presence/absence of an abnormality in an elevator is monitored by an abnormality monitoring portion. The abnormality monitoring portion makes a determination on the presence/absence of an abnormality in the elevator based on information from a sensor, and outputs a signal for stopping a car upon detecting an abnormality. The history of information on the result of determination by the abnormality monitoring portion is recorded in a history information recording portion.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device for braking the running of a car is controlled by a brake control device. The brake control device monitors a speed of the car and a degree of deceleration of the car at a time of emergency braking of the car. When the degree of deceleration of the car reaches a preset target deceleration, the brake control device generates a target speed pattern for decelerating the car from a speed of the car at that time.

Abstract: In an elevator control system, an evacuation operation control section outputs a command for evacuation operation by an elevator in case of fire. Moreover, in case of fire, the evacuation operation control section controls opening and closing of a fire door adjacent to an elevator landing based on information from a passenger detector for detecting a passenger at the elevator landing and information on a fire situation in a vicinity of the elevator landing.

Abstract: An elevator evacuation apparatus is described, which enables a person(s) trapped in a stopped elevator car to pull a emergency cable outside a car window to activate a cam based pulley and gear mechanism which in turn intermittently releases and actuates a brake, thereby slowly lowering the stopped car until arriving at a correct floor. A number of embodiments are possible.

Abstract: An elevator escape arrangement includes a hinged window on a car; an escape rope passed by the window; a spring biased linking mechanism interconnected the window and a door; and a drive assembly including a first shaft, a detent block on the first shaft and between two brake bars, a cam-like member engaged with a drive sheave, a pulley on the first shaft with the escape rope run, a first gear on the first shaft, a second gear meshed with the first gear, and a second shaft passed through the second gear and the cam-like member. In case of emergency with the car stuck between two floors, the car and a counterweight balanced, and the brake activated, opening the window will cause the linking mechanism to lock the door, pulling the escape rope will unbalance and move the car, and closing the window will unlock the door for escape therethrough.

Abstract: An elevator car (2) comprises a cover (14; 40) extending over at least a portion of the top surface of the car (24). The cover (14; 40) is mounted on a resilient support (28, 42). The car (2) further comprises means (32; 44) for detecting displacement of the cover corresponding to the weight of a person being applied to the cover. If such displacement is detected, normal operation of the car (2) is prevented.

Abstract: An assistant ceiling device designed to shield an escape hatch installed to a ceiling of an elevator cab is provided. The assistant ceiling device includes two elongated rail guides and a rectangular assistant ceiling plate. Each guide is installed at either side of the emergency escape hatch and has a length longer than that of the emergency escape hatch and shorter than that of the ceiling of the elevator cab. The assistant ceiling plate is laid on the rail guides to shield the emergency escape hatch. Each guide has a latching jaw so as to allow the assistant ceiling plate to be installed to the rail guides by laying both sides of the ceiling plate on the latching jaws.

Abstract: A rescue braking system provides a smoother elevator car movement by mechanically lifting or applying the brake. The rescue braking system incrementally adjusts the force applied to the brake based on the speed and location of the elevator car. Therefore, it can effectively eliminate the jerky vibration and noises caused by the fully on-off brake systems and make the passengers feel more comfortable when the elevator car drifts to the nearest floor door.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevator system for use during an emergency. The elevator system comprises two elevator shafts constructed adjacent to each other. Each elevator shaft houses an elevator car. The elevator system operates without the use of a building's power source by incorporating a primary pulley system to move the elevator cars. Generally, the elevator cars work in tandem such that as one elevator car goes up its respective elevator shaft, the other elevator car will go down its respective elevator shaft. Moreover, a secondary pulley system and a gear system are employed to also facilitate movement of the elevator cars without using the building's power supply.

Abstract: An elevator monitoring unit and a procedure for maintenance of an elevator monitoring unit include arranging the elevator monitoring unit on at least one door post element which is integrated into the door post, and the door post element is parallel-shifted, to a large extent horizontally, for the purpose of maintenance, repair and diagnostics or is tiltable around a horizontal axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety lock (1) for an elevator landing door detecting intrusion of a person in the shaft through the landing door, activating a bistable switch (21) through its spindle lever (11) putting the elevator into safe operation when the landing door is opened by turning the corresponding key, it being impossible to reset the switch (21) manually from the inside of the shaft, which comprises a device (17) fixing the lock in the open position with the door open, that is released when the door is closed such that the switch (21) can be reset by turning the lock (1) in the closing direction of the door in which the key is turned in the opposite direction to the opening direction, the switch (21) being reset mechanically by a mechanical means connected to the spindle lever (11).

Abstract: A device for connecting a car door with a shaft door and for emergency unlocking of a car door consists of an entrainer arranged at the car door, which entrainer detachably connects, together with a roller pair arranged at the shaft door, the car door with the shaft door, and of a first locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the car door and of a second locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the shaft door. When the doors are closed and locked the entrainer is closed and can freely move between the two rollers of the roller pair when the elevator car is traveling between two floors or past a floor not to be served. The first locking mechanism is controlled directly.

Abstract: A method and system for supervising the safety of an elevator having a car driven by a drive within a hoistway wherein a travel parameter (XABS,X?Acc,X?IGB) of the car is sensed and continually compared with a similarly sensed travel parameter (X?IG) of the drive. If the comparison shows a large deviation between the two parameters, an emergency stop is initiated. Otherwise one of the travel parameters (XABS,X?Acc X?IGB; X?IG) is output as a verified signal (X;X?). The verified signal is then compared with predetermined permitted values. If it lies outside the permitted range then an emergency stop is initiated.

Abstract: An elevator escape arrangement includes a hinged window on a car; an escape rope passed by the window; a spring biased linking mechanism interconnected the window and a door; and a drive assembly including a first shaft, a detent block on the first shaft and between two brake bars, a cam-like member engaged with a drive sheave, a pulley on the first shaft with the escape rope run, a first gear on the first shaft, a second gear meshed with the first gear, and a second shaft passed through the second gear and the cam-like member. In case of emergency with the car stuck between two floors, the car and a counterweight balanced, and the brake activated, opening the window will cause the linking mechanism to lock the door, pulling the escape rope will unbalance and move the car, and closing the window will unlock the door for escape therethrough.

Abstract: A shaft monitoring system for an elevator installation includes a contactless sensor enabling recognition from the elevator car whether a shaft door lock and a shaft door leaf are in a correct locked setting. A securing device mechanically secures the shaft door lock in order to prevent opening of the shaft door and is mechanically and/or electromagnetically actuatable from the elevator car. The contactless sensor includes an active sensor part arranged at the car door and a passive sensor part arranged at the shaft door lock to be monitored. The active sensor part interacts with the passive sensor part as soon as the elevator car stops behind the shaft door and the shaft door leaf and the shaft door lock are disposed in the correct locked setting. The active sensor part also can transiently interact with the passive sensor part when the elevator car moves past the shaft door.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to an elevator car, in particular to its ceiling and/or underside, including the steps of switching the elevator control into a maintenance mode which controls the car to travel to a predetermined stop position permitting access, and opening a landing door of the elevator shaft the car is running in. The elevator control is switched into the maintenance mode only if operating a landing call receiving device in a predetermined identification pattern which differs from a call pattern for calling the elevator.

Abstract: An elevator installation with an elevator car moveable in an elevator hoistway by means a drive unit is controlled by a control unit. Sensors monitor the status of the elevator installation and are each connected via an assigned bus node to a data bus and thereby connected to the control unit. In order to obtain improved operational safety and improved availability, each sensor controls a voltage supply of the associated bus node.