Abstract: A safety circuit in an elevator system includes at least one series connection of safety-relevant contacts that are closed during trouble-free operation of the elevator system, wherein in the case of certain operating conditions in which at least one contact is opened, the at least one contact can be bridged by semiconductor switches, and wherein the semiconductor switches are controlled by at least one processor and monitored by at least one monitoring circuit for short circuits. At least one electromechanical relay circuit, having relay contacts connected in series with the contacts of the bridged series connection can be controlled by the at least one processor and the bridgable series connection can be interrupted by the relay contacts in the case of short-circuiting of the semiconductor switches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for displaying floor information of an operating elevator, which provides a user with information on the floor where an elevator car is positioned by operating the current position of the elevator car. The device is not electrically connected to an existing elevator driving system, so that the installation procedure of the display device is simple and easy. In addition, it is possible to realize integration even though every elevator employs protocols different from each other.

Abstract: A regenerative elevator system operates in three modes: motoring, idle and regeneration. During the regeneration mode, the elevator motor operates as a generator, and electrical energy is stored in an energy storage system for later use. The energy storage system may be located in a machine room or hoistway where temperature can vary widely. A thermoelectric thermal management system provides thermoelectric cooling or heating to maintain the energy storage system within a desired operating temperature range.

Abstract: A method and system for remote access to multiple subsystems (102) of an elevator control system (104) are provided. The method includes receiving a request to establish a remote connection at an elevator control subsystem (112) from a remote user system (110). The method also includes determining whether a local connection is established between the elevator control subsystem (112) and service equipment (120). The method further includes establishing the remote connection in response to determining that the local connection is not established between the elevator control subsystem (112) and the service equipment (120). The method additionally includes sending a time since the service equipment (120) was last active and providing an option to complete the remote connection in response to determining that the local connection is established, the elevator control subsystem (112) is operating in a first mode of operation, and a configurable local activity timeout period has not expired.

Abstract: An elevating platform assembly is provided. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment a platform is present and is moveable along a travel distance of a mast. A cylinder is provided and is capable of being actuated. The cylinder is used to move the platform along the travel distance.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling a brake of an elevator. In the method a plurality of optional objectives of operation are determined for the elevator; one or more of these objectives is selected at a time to be implemented as an objective of the operation of the elevator by using selection criterion; references for the energizing current of the brake of the elevator that differ from each other and/or references for the closing current of the brake of the elevator that differ from each other are determined; the brake current reference used at any given time is selected so that the selected brake current reference best corresponds to an objective of the operation of the elevator to be implemented; and also the brake of the elevator is controlled by adjusting the brake current towards the selected brake current reference.

Abstract: A platform includes main transverse beams (“MTBs”), each supported by at least one hoist. It is determined whether a load on any MTB is different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount. An MTB which has a load different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount is selected and then vertically moved with respect to the other MTBs within a predetermined safety limit to transfer load between the selected MTB and the other MTBs while monitoring the loads on each MTB and the position of the selected MTB as vertical movement of the selected MTB proceeds. The monitored loads and position are compared with the safety limit; and the movement of the selected MTB stopped when either the desired load transfer is completed or the safety limit has been met.

Abstract: An elevator system in which a controller monitors whether or not a speed of an ascending/descending body reaches a preset overspeed. At a time of maintenance work, a stopper is interposed between a buffer and the ascending/descending body to limit a lowered position of the ascending/descending body. A stopper detector detects installation of the stopper onto at least one of the buffer and the ascending/descending body. When the stopper is detected by the stopper detector, the controller lowers a set value of the overspeed.

Abstract: A rope sway mitigation device for an elevator system includes a rope tension adjuster connected to a plurality of ropes operably connected to an elevator car. The rope tension adjuster is configured to adjust a tension of at least one individual rope of the plurality of ropes thereby mitigating excitation of natural frequencies of the plurality of ropes during sway of at least one component of the elevator system and or a building in which the elevator system is located. Further disclosed is an elevator system including a rope sway mitigation device and a method of rope sway mitigation in an elevator system.

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.

Abstract: A power system (10) operates a plurality of hoist motors (18a, 18b, 18c), each of which controls movement of one of a plurality of elevators (12a, 12b, 12c). The power system (10) includes a power bus (11) and a converter (22) connected across the power bus (11) for converting alternating current (AC) power from an AC power source (20) to direct current (DC) power and delivering the DC power to the power bus (11). The power system (10) also includes a plurality of inverters (26a, 26b, 26c) connected across the power bus (11). Each inverter (26a, 26b, 26c) is connected to a hoist motor (18a, 18b, 18c) and is operable to drive the hoist motor (18a, 18b, 18c) when the hoist motor (18a, 18b, 18c) is motoring by converting the DC power from the power bus (11) into AC power. Each inverter (26a, 26b, 26c) is further operable to convert AC power produced by the hoist motor (18a, 18b, 18c) when the motor is generating to DC power and to deliver the DC power to the power bus (11).

Abstract: Provided is an elevator apparatus including a first electromagnetic switch and a second electromagnetic switch provided between a first electromagnetic coil and a second electromagnetic coil of a first brake device and a second brake device and a power source. The brake control section includes: a first electromagnetic coil control switch provided between the first electromagnetic coil and a ground section; a second electromagnetic coil control switch provided between the second electromagnetic coil and the ground section; a first processing section for opening and closing the first electromagnetic switch and the first electromagnetic coil control switch in response to a braking operation command issued from an operation control section; and a second processing section for opening and closing the second electromagnetic switch and the second electromagnetic coil control switch in response to the braking operation command.

Abstract: An elevator derailment detection system (51) is disclosed which provides for accurate detection of the derailment of a movable element (30, 32), such as a counterweight (32) or an elevator car (30), within a hoistway (22) even when the building (24) within which the elevator (20) is installed is of a substantial height and may be experiencing a significant degree of sway due to high winds, earthquakes, or other causes. By mounting an electric conductor (52) such as a sensing wire of the system (51) at spaced intervals (76) along the length of the hoistway (22), the electric conductor (52) in turn sways with the building (24). Accordingly, contact of the electrical conductor with sensors attached to a movable element within the hoistway, such as the counterweight, is limited to derailment situations and not normal building sway, and false trips are significantly reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically equalizing the uneven tension between ropes of an elevator in combination with a load cell to determine elevator load. The load of an elevator car having multiple tension members is automatically balanced while load is measured using a single load cell. The incorporation of a load cell with an autobalancing system allows for an accurate measure of an elevator load to be taken while providing the benefits of having uniform rope lengths in the elevator system. The apparatus may have various arrangements, including an in-line configuration and a grouped configuration. The apparatus may also dampen the vibration energy that is usually imparted to an elevator car.

Abstract: An industrial vehicle having a hybrid system controls a distribution of power generated by an engine and power generated by an electric motor. The vehicle includes an engine for supplying power to one of a running unit and a loading-and-unloading unit; a first motor for supplying power to one of the running unit and the loading-and-unloading unit; a second motor for supplying power to the running unit; a required-power calculating unit for calculating running power, and loading-and-unloading power; a clutch unit for controlling the power transmitted from the engine to the running unit; and a power-distribution calculating unit for selecting a destination to be supplied with power from the engine and the first motor based on the control status of the clutch unit, and for calculating a distribution of power which the engine, the first motor, and the second motor supply based on the calculating running power and loading-and-unloading power.

Abstract: A system continuously drives an elevator hoist motor during normal and power failure conditions. A regenerative drive delivers power from a main power supply to the hoist motor during normal operation. A rescue operation circuit includes a backup power supply and is operable in the event of a failure of the main power supply to disconnect the regenerative drive from the main power supply and connect the back up power supply to the regenerative drive to provide substantially uninterrupted power to the hoist motor.

Abstract: A method and also a control and data-transmission system is presented, with which the installation location of at least one safety bus component connected to the control and data-transmission system (10) can be checked. For this purpose, in two separate communications cycles, a respective position identifier, which had been allocated to the safety bus components (60) in a prior configuration process, is transmitted to each safety bus component via a non-safety communications control device (30). The safety bus components compare the position identifiers received in the two communications cycles to the contents of a memory, in which a reference position identifier has already been stored or which is still empty.

Abstract: A hoist motor (12) for an elevator (14) is continuously driven from an irregular power supply (16). A regenerative drive (10) delivers power between the power supply (16) and the hoist motor (12). A controller (11) measures a power supply voltage in response to a detected change in the power supply voltage and controls the regenerative drive (10) to adjust a nominal motion profile of the elevator (14) in proportion with an adjustment ratio of the measured power supply voltage to a normal power supply voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining weight of a payload lifted by a rig of a load lifting machine. The weight is determined from at least one parameter being or indicative of the force or pressure existing in or applied by the rig while the payload is lifted and a compensation for friction and/or other losses in the rig 14.

Abstract: A system and method for minimizing compensation rope sway by altering the natural frequency of compensation ropes using servo actuators. The rope sway may be minimized by moving the compensation sheave to adjust the tension of the compensation rope or adjusting the position of the termination of a compensation rope to account for changes in the position of a structure. Servo actuators may also be used to re-level the elevator car to account for rope stretch.

Abstract: In an elevator device, a signal diagnosis device includes: a signal input section to which a sensor signal from a sensor is input; a disconnection detecting section for outputting a diagnosis signal for detecting disconnection to the sensor and detecting a state of a signal turned back at the sensor to be input so as to detect whether or not disconnection of the signal from the sensor occurs; a switch for turning ON/OFF an input of the signal to the disconnection detecting section; and a disconnection-detection diagnosis section for operating the switch to diagnose whether or not the disconnection detecting section functions normally. Further, a car is stopped when occurrence of the disconnection is determined by the signal diagnosis device or when an abnormality is detected by the disconnection-detection diagnosis section.

Abstract: Passive infrared detectors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) carried by an elevator car (14) detect the presence of persons on top of or in the hoistway (12) below the elevator car (14). The passive infrared detectors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) can also be used to detect open landing doors with no elevator present.

Abstract: An elevator system in which a controller monitors whether or not a speed of an ascending/descending body reaches a preset overspeed. At a time of maintenance work, a stopper is interposed between a buffer and the ascending/descending body to limit a lowered position of the ascending/descending body. Stopper detection means detects installation of the stopper onto at least one of the buffer and the ascending/descending body. When the stopper is detected by the stopper detection means, the controller lowers a set value of the overspeed.

Abstract: A signal correction arithmetic unit is provided in a control apparatus to control a magnetic force of a magnetic guide unit. The signal correction arithmetic unit differentiates detection signals of two gap sensors, and integrates and outputs a differential signal with a smallest absolute value. The output signal is used for magnetic control.

Abstract: The invention describes an over-speed governor (21) for a stairlift (10) which not only triggers upon the carriage (12) exceeding a pre-determined speed, but also triggers in the event the chair (11) departs from the horizontal by more than a predetermined angle. The speed determining function is preferably electronic and the governor operates in both directions without adaptation. Other aspects are described including a trip speed check facility.

Abstract: In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process for determining the safety of an elevator is described. The process may be implemented to collect, by an acceleration sensor, an operational measurement of the elevator in operation, wherein the operational measurement comprises a velocity measurement of the elevator. The process may be implemented to determine, by a processor, an operational status of the elevator by evaluating the operational measurement. The process may further be implemented to generate, by the processor, a warning signal when the operational status indicates that the elevator is operating abnormally.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator safety device includes a housing. A brake member is moveably supported by the housing for selective movement between a disengaged position and a braking position. A sensor is supported by the housing and detects movement of the brake member into the braking position.

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.

Abstract: An elevator (49) includes remote elevator monitoring equipment (50) (REM) connected by a communication linkage (52) to a central elevator monitoring and control station (51). Main, drive, and door controllers (56-58) are interconnected (5961) with the REM. Power-on-reset (POR) of controllers is caused internally (150) or by remotely-operable relays (63-65). An elevator expert at the remote station may order a POR (108), disable components (120), try various fixes (124), and/or order maintenance (115, 135) with instructions. In another embodiment, the controller (56a, 56b) includes elevator diagnostics (150) which can recognize an elevator malfunction and either cause a relay (63) to interrupt power for an interval or cause a reboot.

Abstract: An elevator includes a car follower associated with each of a pair of guide rails, and carrying electromagnets which are spaced from electromagnets on an elevator car. The electromagnets on the car and car follower create a repulsive force tending to center the car between the car follower electromagnets associated with the two guide rails. Preferably, the car follower electromagnets are interconnected into a single car follower such that they move together.

Abstract: An elevator load bearing member (30) monitoring device includes a controller (42) that applies a selected electrical signal to tension members (32) of the load bearing member (30). In one example, connectors (40) are associated with ends of the load bearing member (30) to establish an electrical interface between the controller (42) and the tension members (32). The connectors (40) facilitate establishing electrical circuit loops along the tension members (32) such that only non-adjacent tension members are energized at a selected time. A variety of circuit configurations are disclosed. The applied electrical signal in one example has a potential that is negative compared to a ground potential of a hoistway in which the elevator belt is used. In another example, the electrical signal comprises a plurality of pulses and has a duty cycle that is on the order of about one percent.

Abstract: An elevator support monitoring device in an elevator system and a method for monitoring the elevator support means monitor a characterizing property, preferably an electrical resistance, of the elevator support or of a tension support of the elevator support and a sudden change in the characterizing property is detected. A state of the elevator support is determined by evaluating several consecutive, sudden changes in the characterizing property.

Abstract: An elevator drive with a brake device has compression springs that act on brake levers, whereby brake linings generate a brake force on a brake drum. The more the brake linings wear due to abrasion, the smaller the distance of the plunger from the brake magnet housing becomes. Should the plunger come into contact with the brake magnet housing, the braking capacity of the brake linings is completely eliminated creating an operating condition that is dangerous for elevator users. A switch is provided that detects a minimum distance. The switch can be arranged on the plunger of the brake magnet and detect the minimum distance to the brake magnet housing or, in the case of a retrofit, the switch can be arranged on the brake magnet rod and, for example, detect the distance of the second joint from the brake magnet housing, and at the minimum distance the switch switches.

Abstract: An elevator installation and a method for arranging a load sensor in the elevator installation includes a car, a support device for supporting the car, the load sensor and a deflecting roller unit. The deflecting roller unit is arranged at the car and has at least two deflecting rollers which are rotatable about a common axle. The load sensor is arranged on the common axle between the two deflecting rollers.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the operating state of an elevator drive having a brake includes the mounting of a sensor on a movable brake part. The sensor generates an output proportional to the extent of relative movement between the brake part upon which it is mounted and a fixed brake part. The sensor output is monitored to provide an indication of the operating state of the drive and may be combined with other data to provide indications of a variety of drive states.

Abstract: An elevator load bearing member (30) monitoring device includes a controller (42) that applies a selected electrical signal to tension members (32) of the load bearing member (30). In one example, connectors (40) are associated with ends of the load bearing member (30) to establish an electrical interface between the controller (42) and the tension members (32). The connectors (40) facilitate establishing electrical circuit loops along the tension members (32) such that only non-adjacent tension members are energized at a selected time. A variety of circuit configurations are disclosed. The applied electrical signal in one example has a potential that is negative compared to a ground potential of a hoistway in which the elevator belt is used. In another example, the electrical signal comprises a plurality of pulses and has a duty cycle that is on the order of about one percent.

Abstract: An encoder failure in an elevator drive system is detected and managed. A velocity of the elevator drive system is provided by an encoder signal (60) and compared with a minimum velocity threshold (62). An encoder fault timer is incremented when the velocity is less than the minimum velocity threshold (64). The elevator drive system is disabled when the encoder fault timer reaches a fault threshold time (66).

Abstract: A magnetic guide apparatus includes at least two gap sensors which are disposed with a predetermined interval in a direction of movement of a moving body, and detect a gap between a magnet unit and a guide rail, a signal correction unit which determines variation amounts of detection signals which are output from the gap sensors, relatively varies weight coefficients for the respective detection signals on the basis of the variation amounts, and outputs, as a signal for magnetic control, a signal which is obtained by adding the detection signals which are multiplied by the weight coefficients, and a control unit which controls the magnetic force of the magnet unit on the basis of the signal for magnetic control, which is output from the signal correction unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator system having an elevator car, a load carrier for holding and/or moving the elevator car, and a detector device for detecting a condition of the load carrier, the detector device having an ultrasonic emitter for generating and coupling ultrasonic waves into the load carrier and for generating ultrasonic waves in the load carrier, and an ultrasonic receiver for detecting ultrasonic waves of the load carrier.

Abstract: A determination of the loading state of an elevator system and also a method for determining the loading state of an elevator system is described. The elevator system includes an elevator car and also a motor drive for moving the elevator car. The loading state of the elevator system is determined on the basis of the position deviation of the elevator motor that occurs during the determination of the loading state.

Abstract: A system and a method for the adaptation of parameters in a transport system involve a power model which describes power flow in the transport system by means of transport system parameters, which include input parameters and status parameters. The system and method also involve the determination of at least a first and a second input parameter, and the power model is updated on the basis of at least the first input parameter. At least one transport system status parameter is adjusted using at least the updated power model and the second input parameter thus determined.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for handling power outages in a multiple car elevator system in a building having a plurality of floors. The system includes an energy calculator connected to the elevators, and determines a total energy of the elevator system, a total energy required to handle a power outage, a plan to prepare for a power outage and a plan to handle a power outage. The system also includes a movement controller connected to the elevator(s) and the energy calculator. The movement controller receives the plan to prepare and the plan to handle from the energy calculator, and the movement controller executes the plan to prepare if there is no power outage and the movement controller executes the plan to handle if there is a power outage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the movement and/or the position of an elevator car include a first monitoring unit for analyzing first signals of a first sensor device for obtaining information about the movement and/or the position of the elevator car, for detecting a possible faulty behavior of the elevator system, and for initiating corresponding safety measures. A second sensor device, which does not operate on the principle of the first sensor device, registers changes of the movement state of the elevator car and emits corresponding second signals to a second monitoring unit that analyzes the second signals and detects changes of the movement state of the elevator car. A fault signal is generated if the movement signals that are obtained from the first monitoring unit are incoherent with the changes of the movement state of the elevator car that are detected by the second monitoring unit.

Abstract: An elevator evacuation support apparatus evacuates building occupants that have been left inside a building to a refuge floor in an emergency by managing operation of an elevator in which a plurality of floors function as service floors. The elevator evacuation support apparatus has an evacuating operation implementing portion, an evacuating operation time calculating portion, and an evacuating operation determining portion. The evacuating operation implementing portion designates at least one of the service floors as a rescue floor, and implements an evacuating operation for the elevator for transporting the building occupants from the rescue floor to the refuge floor. The evacuating operation time calculating portion receives urgency level information that indicates a degree of urgency, and calculates an estimated amount of time for continuing the evacuating operation as an evacuating operation time based on the urgency level information.

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.

Abstract: An elevator speed governor for an elevator in which an elevator car (1) is attached to one end of a rope (2) having a counterweight (3) on the other end and driven by a motor (5) via the rope (2) comprises a motor current detector (15) that detects a motor current of the motor (5), a target speed determining section (11) that determines a target speed in accordance with the motor current detected by the motor current detector (15), and a motor control section (13) that controls the motor (5) so that the elevator car (1) moves at the target speed determined by the target speed determining section (11).

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.

Abstract: The elevator alert includes an elevator pit can (10) and a float switch (240) disposed therein. The float switch (240) produces an alarm-activating signal when the pit can (10) is nearly full and overflow of oil into the pit is imminent. An alarm control unit (200) takes alarm-activating signals from one or more float switch-equipped pit cans (10) to operate a relay (405a, 405b) to drive various kinds of alarms and/or elevator controls. A loudspeaker (210) on the pit can (10) emits an audible alarm when the float switch (240) is closed. Optionally, a remote alarm (300) is provided, the remote alarm (300) being activated when the remote alarm float switch (250) is closed. Users of the elevator, such as passenger or building occupants, would hear the audible alarm and call maintenance to thereby prevent an oil spill. The device can be retrofit to existing elevator pit cans.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake control device has a first brake control portion for operating a brake device upon detection of an abnormality to stop a car as an emergency measure, and a second brake control portion for reducing a braking force of the brake device when a degree of deceleration of the car becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value at a time of emergency braking operation of the first brake control portion. The second brake control portion detects emergency braking operation of the brake device independently of the first brake control portion.

Abstract: An elevator system comprises an elevator car and a counterweight fixed to a traction means. A drive pulley moves the traction means. A bottom tensioning means is fixed to the counterweight and to the elevator car. A tensioning means weight tensions the bottom tensioning means. In an end position of the counterweight, the elevator car can continue to move when the traction means is moved further by the drive pulley. This moves the tensioning means weight at half the speed of the elevator car, for example. A measuring device is provided for the tensioning means weight for detecting such a motion of the tensioning means weight. This allows a triggering of an emergency stop of the elevator car.