Having Specific Stationary Guiding Structure For Counterbalance Means Or Load Support Patents (Class 187/406)
  • Patent number: 7886879
    Abstract: A method for creating a temporary safety space within an elevator hoistway by preventing upward or downward movement of a car or counterweight along guide rails. The method includes the steps of providing engagement members on the guide rails and extending support struts from the car or counterweight to either side of a guide blade of the guide rail, whereby upward or downward movement of the car or counterweight along the guide rail is prevented when the extended support struts bear against the engagement members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kocher, Eamon Mc Govern
  • Patent number: 7874404
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway defined by a surrounding structure. An elevator car and counterweight are located in the hoistway, and a drive motor is located between the elevator car and a sidewall of the hoistway. The drive motor drivingly couples and suspends the elevator car and counterweight via at least one flat rope or belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Frank W. Adams, Leandre Adifon, Pedro Baranda, Marc Chevilliard, Jean-Noel Cloux, Masashi Kawarasaki, Yutaka Matsumoto, Jean-Pierre Menard, Jean-Pierre Pougny, Bruce St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 7832712
    Abstract: A pulley suspension assembly for assisting a user to vertically transport a cable to an elevated location may include a base member adapted to be positioned at the elevated location. A plurality of prongs may be statically coupled the base, extended upwardly therefrom, and seated adjacent to a rear edge thereof. A rectilinear guide rail may be statically mated to the prongs and spanned therebetween. Additionally, a plurality of stabilizing brackets may be statically affixed to the top surface and front of the base member. Further, a rectilinear shaft may be connected to the brackets and spanned therebetween. A plurality of pulleys may be journaled about the rectilinear shaft and rotatable thereabout. Such pulleys may be uniformly juxtaposed side-by-side and freely reciprocated along the shaft while rotating about the fulcrum axis. Anchor cables may be included and engaged with the prongs and an existing support surface at the elevated location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Andrew Clarke
  • Patent number: 7802658
    Abstract: An elevator may include an elevator car, two or more diverting pulleys on the elevator car, one or more hoisting ropes, a traction sheave, and a compensating device. The hoisting ropes may include first, second, third, and fourth rope portions. The first rope portions may extend upward from at least one diverting pulley and the second rope portions may extend downward from at least one diverting pulley. The first rope portions may be under a first tension caused by the compensating device acting on the third rope portion and the second rope portions may be under a second tension caused by the compensating device acting on the fourth rope portion. The first tension to the second rope tension may be maintained substantially constant and may be independent of a load of the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7770331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stand alone system for generating electrical power using hydraulic supports on which a weighted object is mounted. A pump injects fluid into the supports to raise the weighted object and thereby store energy in the elevated object. A valve can be opened to deliver fluid under pressure to a turbine or hydraulic motor driven generator to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: John J. Halloran
  • Patent number: 7757818
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator installation and a method for mounting a drive unit of an elevator installation. The elevator installation comprises a car and a counterweight in a shaft and a drive unit mounted on a crossbeam or the shaft roof. The drive unit has two spaced-apart drive zones. The drive zones are in that case integrally integrated in the drive shaft and directly machined therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20100175952
    Abstract: A method of controlling noise noticeable within an elevator car (22) includes intentionally introducing noise into the elevator car (22) at a noise level that depends on the position of the car within a hoistway (24). A disclosed example includes using existing elevator system components for generating compensating noise at different levels corresponding to different positions of the car within the hoistway. One disclosed example includes increasing introduced noise as the car descends further away from a machine responsible for moving the car. The introduced noise reduces or eliminates changes in noticeable noise within the elevator car as the car moves relative to the machine. The disclosed examples have particular usefulness in machine roomless elevator systems although they are not necessarily limited to such systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Vijay Jayachandran
  • Publication number: 20100084224
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a car (2) and a counterweight (4) configured to travel along guide rail units (6; 8) and a machine (12) being positioned above the car (2) and configured to drive a tension member (10). In addition, the machine (12) is mounted on an overhead structure (20) and the overhead structure (20) is supported only by the guide rail units (6; 8). This mounting arrangement avoids contact between the overhead structure and the elevator hoistway in the building, and isolates transfer of vibration and noise and improves the load bearing conditions of the walls of the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Zhiying Hao
  • Patent number: 7686697
    Abstract: An amusement ride includes a support structure and at least one vehicle movably supported on the support structure for carrying one or more passengers at least partially along a length of the support structure. The vehicle is moved along the support structure by a drive mechanism and decelerated by a braking mechanism. A cable connects the vehicle with the drive mechanism and/or the braking mechanism and is guided by a guide mechanism which is constructed for passage by the vehicle as the vehicle moves along the support structure. The guide mechanism includes two guide wheels in spaced-apart confronting relationship for allowing the cable to pass in-between the guide wheels, with the cable partially running over one guide wheel, when the vehicle moves along a first section of the support structure, and partially running over the other guide wheel, when the vehicle moves along a second section of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Ronald Bussink Amusment Design GmbH
    Inventor: Ronald Alexander Bussink
  • Patent number: 7681691
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting planar objects which includes an extendable rectilinear elongated frame formed of at least two spaced U-beams, each U-beam defining a longitudinal runway and having an elongated area removed from a forward face below a midpoint of the frame. The removed elongated area defines an entranceway to the longitudinal runway. The entranceway is dimensioned to receive the planar object for placement on a transport carriage while maintaining a top portion of the planar object within the longitudinal runway. The carriage is configured to laterally span the two spaced U-beams such that a portion of the carriage and a portion of the planar object are confined within each interior longitudinal runway at least during transport. A skid is perpendicularly joined to a forward face of the carriage at about its bottom edge. The skid is configured to support the planar object during placement and lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventor: William Miller
  • Patent number: 7665583
    Abstract: An elevator installation with an elevator shaft and an elevator car which is connected with a counterweight such that on movement of the elevator car the counterweight executes an opposite movement and the elevator car moves past the counterweight in a proximity region in the elevator shaft. Provided in the proximity region is an enlargement of the cross-section of the elevator shaft so as to reduce a pressure shock which builds up in the proximity region when the elevator car moves past the counterweight. Noise and vibrations can thereby be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Erwin Kuipers
  • Publication number: 20100018809
    Abstract: An elevator arrangement, comprising at least one elevator shaft, a working platform, elevator car or equivalent arranged to move in the elevator shaft, a power source for moving the said working platform or equivalent e.g. by means of ropes, chains, belts or equivalent, characterized in that the vertical range of movement of the said working platform or equivalent in the elevator shaft has been temporarily delimited in such manner that its movement can only take place in a section of the elevator shaft, by means of a structure (1), preferably a beam, which is mounted in the elevator shaft in the path of the said working platform, elevator car or equivalent, said structure (1) being fitted in the elevator shaft below the said working platform, elevator car or equivalent at a distance from the bottom of the elevator shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Peacock, Zhizhong Yan
  • Patent number: 7647734
    Abstract: A link-fuse joint resists bending moments and shears generated by seismic loading. A joint connection includes a first plate assembly having a first connection plate including a first diagonal slot formed therethrough. A second plate assembly has a second connection plate including a second diagonal slot formed therethrough. The second diagonal slot is diagonally opposed to the first diagonal slot. The second connection plate is position such that at least a portion of the second diagonal slot aligns with a portion of the first diagonal slot. A pin is positioned through the first diagonal slot and the second diagonal slot. The joint connection accommodates a slippage of at least one of the first and second plate assemblies relative to each other when the joint connection is subject to a seismic load and without significant loss of clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP
    Inventor: Mark P. Sarkisian
  • Patent number: 7621377
    Abstract: An elevator has a car traveling along guide rails within a hoistway and a main drive propelling the car. A sensor mounted on the car measures a vertical travel parameter of the car, a comparator compares the sensed car travel parameter with a reference value derived from the main drive, and an auxiliary motor mounted on the car exerts a vertical force on at least one of the guide rails in response to an error signal output from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Josef Husmann
  • Patent number: 7562745
    Abstract: An elevator in which a driving apparatus, a traction sheave, and a counterweight-side rope hitching portion are arranged above one rail of the right and left cage-side guide rails, while a cage-side rope hitching portion and a speed governor are arranged above the other rail of the right and left cage-side guide rails. Since a control panel is arranged along a rear inner wall surface of the machine room, a large operation space can be secured in a center part of the floor of the machine room. Further, since a machine beam can be extended at full length in the back and forth direction in the machine room, no additional building-side receiving beam is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ishii, Kazuaki Miyakoshi, Shigeru Takaishi, Hiroshi Sano, Kan Kawasaki, Ikuo Asami, Kazuhiro Izumi, Takanori Urata, Shun Fujimura, Masayuki Higashi, Satoshi Takasawa, Masahiro Kuramitsu
  • Patent number: 7562744
    Abstract: An elevator is provided comprising a number of diverting pulleys in the upper part of an elevator shaft or equivalent, a number of diverting pulleys in the lower part of the elevator shaft and a number of diverting pulleys on the elevator car. In various embodiments, at least some of the diverting pulleys are pre-rigged and brought into the elevator shaft together with the car, and the hoisting ropes are stretched to their proper length when the diverting pulleys in the upper and lower parts of the shaft are mounted in place. In various embodiments, the elevator may be an elevator without counterweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Publication number: 20090173583
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroaki ITO
  • Patent number: 7546902
    Abstract: Accordingly, embodiments of the inventive disclosures made herein comprise a personnel lift apparatus for raising or lowering a standing person between two or more elevations or from a base elevation to a raised elevation. A moveable lift platform rides within a track provided on a pair of substantially upright side rails. The platform is connected by a flexible metallic cable to an electrically operated winch. The personnel lift eliminates steps and ladders on recreational items or any equipment requiring climbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Larry Victor Schwertner
  • Publication number: 20090133970
    Abstract: In an elevator including a guide apparatus which levitates the car from a guide rail by an effect of magnetic force and non-contactly runs and guides the car, the guide apparatus is controlled in a manner to generate magnetic force with respect to at least two of movement axes of the car. In this case, control is executed with respect to only some of the movement axes at a time of start of guide, and then control is executed with respect to the other movement axes after passing of a predetermined time from the start of the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroaki ITO
  • Patent number: 7523810
    Abstract: The invention relates to an Elevator car (3) guiding device for an elevator without a machine room and with a drive motor (5) mounted on a top side wall of the shaft, wherein the elevator car (3) is guided by means of opposed top and bottom guide elements (9) integral therewith and sliding or rolling on car guide rails (11), characterized in that at least the top car guide element (9) standing in the vertical projection of the drive motor (5) or of the bracket thereof is attached to the car (3) at a lower height than the opposite guide element (9), so as to enable the translation of the car (3) in the shaft (7) at a higher height where the upper part (29) of the car can stand opposite the drive motor (5) or the bracket thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jean-Noël Cloux, Thomas Coquerelle, Pascal Rebillard, Frédéric Beauchaud, Michel Beeuwsaert, Loïc Duchamp
  • Publication number: 20090065309
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroaki ITO
  • Patent number: 7481300
    Abstract: An elevator roping arrangement includes: hoisting ropes; diverting pulleys; and a fixing and support arrangement. First and fourth diverting pulleys are disposed on the elevator car, while second and third diverting pulleys are disposed in an upper part of an elevator shaft. The hoisting ropes pass from a traction sheave to the diverting pulleys. The fixing and support arrangement is disposed at a top end of elevator car guide rails and includes two support beams. Each support beam is fixed at a first end to a wall of the shaft, extends from the first end to a second end away from the wall, and is fixed to a guide rail between the ends. A vertical plane is defined between the guide rails. At least one of the diverting pulleys is on an opposite side of the plane from the wall, and is disposed at a distance from the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7469774
    Abstract: A belt end connection for fastening a support belt end in an elevator installation and a method for protecting and checking a belt end connection in an elevator installation includes a twisting prevention device that prevents twisting of the belt end connection about the longitudinal axis thereof. A wedge retains the support belt end in a wedge pocket and is secured by a loss prevention device against slipping out of the wedge pocket. The twisting prevention device and/or the loss prevention enable efficient protection of the support belt and/or of the belt end connection against damage and make possible efficient checking and control of the belt end connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Ach
  • Publication number: 20080302610
    Abstract: An elevator has at least two elevator cars, which are disposed one above the other in a shaft, which cars are vertically movable and which each have a drive, a counterweight and a traction device, wherein one drive is fixed at a first shaft wall and a second drive is fixed at an opposite second shaft wall and each drive has at least one drive pulley. At least one first deflecting roller is associated with each drive and is positioned the shaft wall that is opposite the drive and above the counterweight associated with the drive. The traction device is led from the counterweight over the deflecting roller to the drive pulley and from there to the elevator car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Hans Kocher
  • Publication number: 20080277207
    Abstract: A machineroom-less elevator in which a counterweight is vertically moved behind a cage, with the cage and the counterweight being suspended in a jig back manner through a first and second diverting sheaves. In this machineroom-less elevator, a sufficiently large vertical stroke of the counterweight can be secured, while a durability of a hoist rope is improved. In addition, since no tensile difference is generated in respective parts of the hoist rope, vertical vibrations of the cage are prevented when the cage restarts a vertical movement. A traction sheave is disposed on one of right and left sidewalls of an elevator shaft. A first diverting sheave is disposed below and sufficiently apart from the traction sheave, and a second diverting sheave is disposed on a top of a rear wall of the elevator shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: TOSHIBA ELEVATOR KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kan Kawasaki, Ikuo Asami, Takashi Ishii, Shun Fujimura, Satoshi Takasawa
  • Publication number: 20080257655
    Abstract: A magnet unit includes a first magnetic pole (7a), a second magnetic pole (7b) and a third magnetic pole (7c) at a center between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the second magnetic pole (7b), providing an E-shaped configuration. In the magnet unit, a first magnet is defined between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71aa, 73aa) with each other through a permanent magnet (72a), while a second magnet is defined between the second magnetic pole (7b) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71ba, 73ba) with each other through a permanent magnet (72b). With this configuration, it is possible to reduce a deviation in the length of respective magnetic paths from the permanent magnets (72a, 72b) up to their respective magnetic poles. By controlling exciting currents to the respective magnetic poles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ito, Mimpei Morishita, Yosuke Tonami
  • Publication number: 20080210495
    Abstract: A guide rail for an elevator system includes a plastic layer covering over at least guiding surfaces of a blade portion. The plastic layer is applied to protect selected surfaces during shipment and storage, for example. At an appropriate time during installation, the plastic layer is removable to expose the protected guiding surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Patent number: 7398863
    Abstract: A safety device brakes an elevator car with a guide rail exhibiting an oblong guide flange. The safety device includes a base carrying a retaining element and an abutment with the guide flange positioned therebetween. A mechanism squeezes, when braking, a braking element blocking roller between the guide flange and the abutment. The mechanism, co-operating with an electromagnet, moves the braking element in a controlled way between different positions associated with different operating conditions of the safety device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Christoph Liebetrau, Ruedi Stocker, Esben Rotboll
  • Patent number: 7383924
    Abstract: Rubber vibration isolators are held between a base frame supporting a driving device and an upper deflecting sheave, and a support connected to car guide rails and a counterweight guide rail. The rubber vibration isolators are held between a horizontal member and vertical members of a support frame supporting lower deflecting sheaves. Transmission of vibrations generated by the driving device, the upper deflecting sheave, and the lower deflecting sheaves to the side walls of an elevator shaft can be intercepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Izumi, Kan Kawasaki, Ikuo Asami, Takashi Ishii, Takanori Urata, Shun Fujimura, Masayuki Higashi, Masahiro Kuramitsu
  • Patent number: 7377366
    Abstract: An elevator system includes guide rail mounted machine (16) and a sheave assembly (32) that accommodates a guide rail (38) within a hoistway. The inventive sheave assembly includes individual sheave portions (54) rotatable along a common axis. At least two of the sheave portions are spaced apart along a shaft (50) and a portion of the guide rail extends toward the axis beyond a plane formed tangent to the outside diameter of the sheave portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Franck Det, Davy Depee, Jean-Noël Cloux, Michel Beeuwsaert, Raphaël Picard, Pascal Rebillard, Fernando Rico, David Pillin, Hugues Fanielle, Jacobus Benjamin Legez
  • Publication number: 20080053756
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a car and with a counterweight in an elevator shaft, the car and the counterweight being guided by two guide rails. The elevator shaft is bounded by shaft walls and shaft doors, which define a cross-section of the elevator installation. The invention the cross-section of the elevator installation is constructed in such a manner that it substantially corresponds with a sum of the cross-sectional area of the car, the cross-sectional area of the counterweight and the safety areas between the car and the wall, the counterweight and the wall, as well as the counterweight and the car. The cross-sectional area of the car is accordingly maximized and a transport area available for transport of persons or goods is correspondingly enlarged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Nicolas Gremaud
  • Patent number: 7331424
    Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, multiple cars are raised and lowered within a hoistway. The cars within the hoistway are adjacent to each other when located at the same height. If at least one of the cars is defined as a first car and a car adjacent to the first car is defined as a second car, the first car includes, in a face facing the second car a recess when projected onto a horizontal plane. At least a part of a car guide shoe is disposed in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 7303050
    Abstract: A sound-damping and/or vibration-damping fastening element for elevator guide rails includes an anchor rail connected by a damping medium with a support rail. The anchor rail supports the elevator guide rail and is partially embedded in the damping medium. The anchor rail extends parallel to the longitudinal extent of the support rail and the anchor rail and the support rail are spaced apart by at least one slot filled by the damping medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Inventio Ag
    Inventor: Martin Rogger
  • Patent number: 7281608
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rack serving device (1) with a load-bearing means (4) displaceable in the height direction of a mast (2), the mast (2) being guided by means of bogie assemblies (7, 8) on bottom and top guide tracks and mounted so as to be displaceable along the guide tracks by means of a bottom and top friction-locking displacement drive (13, 14). The bottom and the top adjusting mechanisms are guided by means of height and lateral guide elements on the guide track and are designed to be displaceable relative to the guide tracks by means of a drive system (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: TGW Transportgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Hansl, Thomas Schwingshandl, Wolfgang Ensinger, Herbert Aschauer
  • Patent number: 7234566
    Abstract: Inserts (10 or 10A) for mounting rails (302) for rollers (301) on a cab in a shaft (300) of an elevator are described. Also, insert 10A is particularly useful for mounting flooring in the elevator shaft (300). The insert can be used as a support for a hoist or winch (310).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: The Vertical Solutions Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John Scott Simmons
  • Patent number: 7225902
    Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a car that is raised and lowered within a hoistway has a car frame and a cage supported on the car frame. Chamfered portions are provided at corner portions of the cage. The car frame has vertical columns arranged along the chamfered portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 7204348
    Abstract: An assembly arrangement for a lift construction supports the lift drive at the upper end of both a support column and lift cage and counterweight guide rails, allowing the lift drive load to be transferred to the floor of the lift by each of the supporting members. The support of the lift drive upon the rails may be accomplished through setting screws that allow the load applied to the rails to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Hanspeter Bloch, Mario Heggli, Roland Delvento
  • Patent number: 7165656
    Abstract: Elevator, preferably an elevator without machine room, comprising at least an elevator car (101) moving along guide rails (1), a counterweight (102) moving along guide rails (2) and an elevator motor (106) driving them, wherein the guide rails are fixed in place by means of guide fixing brackets (112). The width of the guide fixing bracket (112) in the vicinity of the car guide rails (1) is substantially equal to the width of the car guide rail plus the thickness of the rail clips in the guide fixing bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Petteri Valjus, Aripekka Anttila, Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7150342
    Abstract: A structural system for elevator assemblies includes a horizontal compression member positioned near the top of the elevator hoistway for reacting to inwardly directed tension loads and moment forces applied to the hoistway wall and connection components resulting from the elevator vertical load. The horizontal compression member includes a rigid member positioned in a compression state between mounting structures for elevator ropes and elevator machine components such that the compression member reacts and counters inwardly directed horizontal forces and resultant moment forces caused by a centralized, downward vertical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Leandre Adifon, Richard N. Fargo, Thomas E. Landry, James A. Rivera, Bruce St. Pierre, Bruce P. Swaybill
  • Patent number: 7147086
    Abstract: A guide rail arrangement for avoiding the costly and time-consuming aligning of the guide rails for a counterweight and an elevator car includes guide rails fastened to a mounting bracket connected with the shaft wall at the door side. The guide rails of two counterweights are held by double claws that are fastened to the mounting bracket by only one screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Friedrich Ach
  • Patent number: 7137485
    Abstract: A procedure and an apparatus for plumbing and installing the shaft equipment for an elevator uses a plumbing jig. The plumbing jig is mounted in the upper part of the elevator shaft from the top floor, plumb lines are attached to the plumbing jig from the top floor and, using the plumb lines attached to the plumbing jig, the shaft equipment is positioned, whereupon the shaft equipment is fixed in place. The apparatus includes supporting elements that can be fixed to the elevator shaft, a plumbing jig that can be attached to the supporting elements and mounted substantially from the top floor, and plumb lines that can be suspended from the plumbing jig and extend into the elevator shaft below the plumbing jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Håkan Bärneman, Gert Van Der Meijden
  • Patent number: 7093691
    Abstract: A lift assembly includes a first platform provided with a top surface, a pair of opposed sides, and wheels and brackets connected to one of the sides for rotating the assembly. A plurality of rectilinear support shafts have opposed end portions conjoined to the platform and extending upwardly therefrom, and are spaced at opposed corners of the platform. Inverted U-shape guide rails are telescopically engageable along a length of the support shafts and have a pair of rectilinear regions slidably positionable about the support shafts. A second platform is provided with top and bottom surfaces, and apertures formed at opposed corners thereof that are vertically registered with the support shafts. A lifting mechanism is included for vertically biasing the second platform and the guide rails along the support shafts. The lifting mechanism is connected to the top surface of the first platform and the bottom surface of the second platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventors: Barry Vaughan, Alvin Vaughan
  • Patent number: 7025177
    Abstract: An elevator system without a machine room is disclosed. In this elevator system without a machine room according to the present invention, a built-in winding apparatus is installed in the interior of a hoistway for moving an elevator car. In addition, the elevator system without a machine room according to the present invention is characterized in that a movement stroke of a counterweight is shorter than a movement stroke of an elevator car, and a reinforcing installation member is installed across an upper portion of a pair of counterweight guide rails which corresponds to an upper counterweight moving distance, and a pair of counterweight guide rails are integral with the reinforcing installation member, and the built-in winding apparatus is installed on the reinforcing installation member in such a manner that the elevator car is moved by a driving force transferred by a motor roping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: LG Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun Ho Yang, Kye Young Lim, Jong Hoon Park, Joon Tae Yeom, Gwang Nam Lee, Jong Ho Suh
  • Patent number: 7000736
    Abstract: An elevator pit assembly for mounting and supporting car and counterweight rails, preferably in a tri-rail configuration, has first and second plates joinable in alternative right-angle configurations. The first plate accommodates a rail assembly having car and counterweight rails and a spaced lone counterweight rail, while the second plate accommodates a lone car rail. The plates may be bolted together through flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Kevin M. Rice, William R. Eaton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6991069
    Abstract: A cable elevator includes a car which travels on first parallel guides and a counterweight which travels on second parallel guides, the guides being located in a respective first and second parallel planes. Drive machinery is arranged on an engine mount between the guides, the first guides extending upward past the mount, the second guides ending at the mount. Laterally spaced lower guide elements and laterally spaced upper guide elements are fixed to the car and engage the first guides. A support cable is fixed to the underside of the car so that the car can pass the drive machinery vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Ach
  • Patent number: 6991070
    Abstract: A lift guide joint system for joining two guides having a joint-bridge plate connected to each side of the two guides is disclosed. The joint-bridge plate has a central body placed on an upper surface of the wings of the two guides. An upper flap of the joint-bridge plate extends along the blade-head portion of the guides and a lower flap of the joint-bridge extends along the wing portion of the guides. The central body is screwed to the wing portions so that the upper flap presses against the blade-head in order to align the two guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: S.A. de Vera (savera)
    Inventor: Jesús Sanz Gamboa
  • Patent number: 6920963
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting people by a spreader having a vertically moveable head beam with a pair of horizontally extendable long bars includes a pair of personnel cages carried by a pair of cantilever beams extending from a housing. The personnel cages can be mounted to free ends of the long bars and be moved vertically with respect to the spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: FM Patentverwertung KG
    Inventor: Heide Faller
  • Patent number: 6854564
    Abstract: An elevator system is provided for the transport of loads and/or persons in an elevator shaft. At least two elevator cars can be moved in the elevator shaft and are connected to a counterweight. A drive is associated with each car. At least one common track section and, in addition, separate track sections arranged next to one another are associated with at least two cars. The common track section and the separate track sections are arranged in sections along the elevator shaft. The cars can be moved not only in the same direction but also in directions opposite to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
    Inventors: Guenter Reuter, Wolfgang Meissner, Helmut Schlecker, Walter Nuebling, Martin Kleine-Doepke
  • Publication number: 20040262095
    Abstract: A sound-damping and/or vibration-damping fastening element for elevator guide rails includes an anchor rail connected by a damping medium with a support rail. The anchor rail supports the elevator guide rail and is partially embedded in the damping medium. The anchor rail extends parallel to the longitudinal extent of the support rail and the anchor rail and the support rail are spaced apart by at least one slot filled by the damping medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Martin Rogger
  • Patent number: 6830133
    Abstract: An apparatus for quickly, easily and adjustably connecting elevator car and counterweight guide rail support brackets to the walls of an elevator hoistway and also to either vertically or horizontally extend structural beams that are disposed within the elevator hoistway. Installation of the apparatus requires no welding operations to be performed in order to connect the brackets to the walls or to the beams. The apparatus uniquely includes cooperating support and connector brackets each of which has a plurality of strategically arranged, indexable connector holes that permit the necessary degree of adjustment of the brackets to properly position the guide rails within the hoistway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Terryle L. Sneed