Abstract: Transportation apparatus, such as escalators and moving walks, having controlled stopping characteristics. Deceleration is directly regulated via a deceleration servo loop which provides a current reference signal for an inner current loop. Brake current limiting prior to the controlled stop, as well as mechanically limiting the maximum brake gap, results in faster transient response, and a more linear braking torque versus brake current characteristics. Multiple drive units operate from a common deceleration reference signal, while having independent servo loops each operating from a "local" deceleration signal.

Abstract: Electrical inductive apparatus, such as a transformer, having a core-coil assembly disposed in a tank. The magnetic core of the core-coil assembly includes amorphous metal, and is of the wound, rectangular, jointless construction. A protective and insulative winding tube is disposed about a winding leg of the magnetic core, and an electrical winding is disposed about the winding tube. The winding tube and tank cooperatively support the weight of the electrical winding.

Abstract: A transformer utilizing a rotating flux for saturating the entire core. The transformer uses a core configured such that a vector sum of the induction produced by two windings in the core rotates through 360.degree.. This is accomplished by arranging the component induction vectors to be perpendicular and the source voltages associated with each of the component induction vectors to be 90.degree. out of phase. If the inductions are of equal magnitude and the vector sum is sufficient to saturate the core, rotation of the vector sum saturates the entire core and the transformer experiences a very low or nearly negligible hysteresis losses. Various topological configurations for the core, including a toroid, are described. The transformer windings can be arranged for single, two-phase, three-phase, or multi-phase operation.

Abstract: A method of constructing an electrical transformer having an uncut, unjointed magnetic core, which obtains the advantages of cylindrical winding of electrical conductor about the core legs, without the disadvantages of cylindrical winding associated with space factor. The new and improved method includes winding an electrical conductor about a core leg, using cylindrical winding techniques, to provide an electrical winding section having a circular cross-sectional configuration, and then re-forming the winding to a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration which minimizes the space occupied by the winding in the core window. This enables cylindrical winding techniques to be used to wind a conductor about another winding leg of the magnetic core. The reforming steps redistribute the winding-core space to a location outside the core window, and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, this space is filled with an auxiliary, jointed magnetic core.

Abstract: A voice-controlled elevator security system. Access to an elevator system servicing a plurality of landings of a structure is controlled by comparing a voice signal of a potential user of the elevator system with stored voice signals of all authorized users. The comparison is accomplished by first digitizing the potential user's voice signal and comparing it, on a bit-by-bit basis, with a digital representation of the voice signals of all authorized users. If the comparison satisfies an established criterion, the potential user is determined to be an authorized user. Once this determination has been made, the authorized user can initiate car call signals for those landings to which the authorized user is permitted access. An authorized user can also temporarily modify the previous digital representation of the voice signal when the authorized user is suffering from laryngeal indisposition.

Abstract: Transportation apparatus, such as a moving walk or an escalator, having a continuous handrail driven about a closed loop by a handrail drive. The closed loop includes a longitudinal axis, or axes, which divide a load run on which passengers may grasp the handrail, and a return run. The transportation apparatus includes a drive unit which, in addition to driving the transportation apparatus, also drives the handrail drive via a drive chain or belt. The chain or belt is automatically tensioned, notwithstanding wear thereof, or longitudinal positional adjustment of the apparatus drive unit towards either end of the apparatus, by mounting the handrail drive unit such that it is free to move longitudinally, in either direction of the handrail, restrained only by the drive chain or belt.

Abstract: An escalator having improved brake control, to limit the rate of deceleration immediately following a stop command, and to quickly cause the actual speed of the escalator to closely follow a linearly declining speed ramp of a speed pattern signal. The signal controlling the brake is pulse duration modulated such that the brake responds to the average pulse duration, and braking torque is applied gradually and essentially linearly. The reference speed pattern has a substantially constant portion and a declining ramp portion. To limit the initial deceleration, the constant portion of the speed pattern is controlled to be a function of the actual speed signal, and the declining ramp portion of the reference signal is controlled to start when the actual speed is equal to the constant portion of the reference speed signal.

Abstract: An elevator system in which an elevator car serves the floors of a building under the direction of a car controller. A hall lantern controller and associated hall lamps are located at each floor served by the elevator car. A serial hall lantern riser extends from the car controller past each floor served by the elevator car, with each hall lantern controller being connected to the serial riser. The car controller prepares serial messages for the riser, with each including a command for an identified hall lantern controller. Each hall lantern controller recognizes its own messages, it responds to the associated command, and it sends a serial acknowledgment signal back to the car controller.

Abstract: A traction elevator system having an elevator car driven by a dual converter bank, solid state motor drive. The solid state motor drive includes bank selection circuits, which select the operative converter bank at any instant, and firing circuits for providing firing pulses for the selected converter bank. The energization and deenergization of the bank selection circuits and firing circuits are controlled such that the bank selection circuits are energized before the firing circuits, and, upon loss of power, the bank selection circuits are deenergized after the firing circuits.

Abstract: Transportation apparatus for transporting passengers between spaced landings, including a conveyor, a conveyor drive unit, a handrail, a handrail drive unit, and a handrail drive pulley. The conveyor drive unit includes first and second spaced sprockets, and a drive chain reeved about the sprockets which drives the conveyor. The handrail drive pulley and a predetermined one of the sprockets are separately journaled for independent rotation about a common axis, with a drive belt linking the handrail drive pulley and predetermined rotational elements of the handrail drive unit. The pulley is selectively engageable with the predetermined one of the sprockets, to drive the handrail in synchronism with the conveyor when they are engaged, and enabling the frictional forces resisting the movement of the handrail to be directly measured when they are not engaged.

Abstract: A guide rail clamping assembly for elevator guide rails in which an intermediate mounting member having tapped openings and bolts attach rail clips to the guide rails, while thereafter permitting this whole assembly to be positionally adjusted as a unit. The bolts extend through openings in still another mounting member, and nuts engage the bolts to fix the unit to the associated building once it is correctly positioned. Each rail clip has first and second ends, with the first end being adapted to overlap a flange of the guide rail. An elongated opening extends between the ends of each rail clip, and the second end defines a notch. The intermediate mounting member has first and second ends, each of which defines a projection which is adapted to successively cooperate with an elongated slot during assembly of the guide rail, and with the notch during the clamping of the rail clip to the guide rail flange.

Abstract: An escalator having a conveyor constructed of rigid, pivotally interconnected toothed links, step axles, steps on the step axles, axle rollers on the axles, and step rollers on the steps. The guide arrangement for the conveyor includes a truss having axle and step roller guides. The guide portion of the truss includes movable, free-floating, self-adjusting, upper and lower turnarounds guided for rectilinear movement, and a fixed intermediate portion. Sliding joints which permit mis-alignment without binding interconnect the movable and fixed portions of the axle and step roller guides.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for correcting a software clock remote from an accurate clock, which include determining the error between the remote software clock and accurate clock, and in addition to periodically downloading the correct time to the software clock, a correction factor is also downloaded which attempts to correct the error.

Abstract: An elevator cab having a plurality of retractable pad buttons which are actuatable between retracted and advanced positions. In the retracted position, a head portion of the pad button is flush with the inner surface of a wall member of the cab, and in the extended position the head portion extends into the cab to provide buttons for supporting protective pads.

Abstract: An escalator in which the lateral edge of each step is provided with a resilient, cleated demarcation strip. The outermost cleat of the demarcation strip is flexibly and integrally hinged to the remaining portion of the demarcation strip, and is movable from an unbiased position towards, and away from the adjacent skirt panel, to first and second stops, respectively. The first and second stops assure long life in flexure, and the first stop limits the forces which can be applied to the skirt via the cleat. In another embodiment of the invention, the surfaces of the step-skirt demarcation strips which are exposed to the passengers are provided with a surface configuration which resists sliding movement of an object towards the skirt panel.

Abstract: Electrostatic powder coating apparatus having an outer filter belt from which excess powder is removed by an elongated pick-up tube which extends across the width of the belt. The ends of the filter belt, instead of being joined, are overlapped, such that the uppermost end of the belt faces the direction which is opposite to the travel direction of the belt, avoiding interference with the powder pick-up tube.

Abstract: An elevator system, and method of monitoring same, which includes a plurality of elevator cars under the group supervisory control of at least first and second processors, which all share a common memory over a system bus. The first processor periodically monitors its own status, and it sets a predetermined location of the shared memory each time it finds its status to be normal. The second processor periodically checks the predetermined location, and upon finding it set, it resets it. The second processor also monitors its own status. The second processor triggers a retriggerable hardware timer each time it determines that the first processor and itself are both operating normally, with the trigger rate preventing the timer from reaching the end of a predetermined timing period. When the second processor finds the status of either processor to be abnormal, it terminates its triggering of the timer. The timer then provides a signal at the end of its timing period, which reinitializes both processors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for winding an electrical conductor about the leg of a magnetic core. A single set of drive rolls and a single set of ironing rolls cooperatively tightly wrap the conductor about the leg of the magnetic core.

Abstract: Continuously self-adjusting handrail apparatus for transportation apparatus, such as escalators and walks, in which the handrail guide automatically responds to forces therein to reduce the magnitude of load induced forces which tend to dislodge the handrail from its guide. The curved guide section adjacent each newel of an associated balustrade is arranged to change its curvature and increase or decrease its length, as required, in response to such forces, with the forces being such that when one section increases its length, the other section reduces it length.

Abstract: A method of constructing a top-loaded padmounted distribution transformer in which closing of the transformer tank by welding on a top cover is one of the final manufacturing operations. Weld damage to the painted surfaces, which occurs when the cover is welded to the tank, is confined to areas outside of the terminal cover which may be repaired by production line painting techniques, utilizing the terminal cover to "mask" components on the terminal wall.