Abstract: A method for initiating a security procedure within a building whereby a virtual key is generated by a certain event and transmitted to a selected person. If the selected person identifies himself by means of the virtual key, a security procedure, for example making an elevator available, is initiated within the building.

Abstract: A support system has a belt-like support, which supports a load and which has at least one rib or groove with wedge-shaped cross-section extending in the longitudinal direction of the support, is driven by a support pulley, which pulley has at least one corresponding groove or rib with wedge-shaped cross-section extending in a circumferential direction, wherein a cavity is present between a rib crest of the wedge-shaped ribs and a corresponding groove base when the support rests on the support pulley.

Abstract: An elevator installation is arranged in a building with at least two elevators, wherein the building is divided into building zones and each elevator has at least one elevator car, each elevator car is independently movable by an associated drive in an associated car zone and each car zone has at least one transfer floor and at least one further transfer floor. A first elevator has at least three elevator cars, which are arranged vertically one above the other and which comprise a middle and two adjacent elevator cars, wherein the middle elevator car is independently movable in a middle car zone and the two adjacent elevator cars are independently movable in two adjacent car zones. The middle car zone and an adjacent car zone serve at least one common floor. In addition, at least one of these car zones is allocated to two building zones.

Abstract: A device for reducing the energy consumption is used in an elevator installation which can be alternatively brought into an operating mode and a standby mode wherein in the standby mode the elevator installation is separated from a main energy source and connected with an auxiliary energy source, by means of which basic functions of the elevator installation are maintained so as to enable later entry into the operating mode. The device includes a detecting unit in order to detect a use criterion describing the current use status of the elevator installation. Moreover, a power-saving unit with a microprocessor is provided in order to bring the elevator installation from the operating mode to the standby mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the use criterion and fulfillment of standby criteria and to bring it from the standby mode to the operating mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the standby criteria.

Abstract: An elevator system has a lower elevator car, an upper elevator car and a common counterweight in an elevator shaft. A support device has a first support strand and a second support strand. Each of the elevator cars is connected with the two support strands. In addition, a drive for driving the elevator cars is arranged in the elevator shaft. The drive includes four drive pulleys, wherein a first drive pulley and a second drive pulley are associated with the first support strand and the third drive pulley and the fourth drive pulley are associated with the second support strand.

Abstract: A system for detecting the position of an elevator car includes a belt at which the elevator car is suspended and a detector for detecting the position of the belt, wherein the belt has on a first side a toothing in which a gearwheel of the detector mechanically positively engages.

Abstract: A method of preventing a collision of two elevator cars of an elevator installation, which cars move substantially independently of one another in a common shaft, and an elevator installation includes a collision protection system that produces a retardation of each moved elevator car by a stopping brake as soon as the effective distance between the elevator cars falls below a critical minimum distance. After retardation of the cars by the stopping brakes, an emergency stop system comes into function. A control system of this emergency stop system ascertains the instantaneous movement state of the elevator cars. With the help of the car brakes, which are associated with the elevator cars, an additional retardation of each moved elevator car is triggered when the movement state thereof fulfils definable emergency stop criteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tread element (20) for a conveyor such as an escalator or moving sidewalk. The tread element (20) comprises a tread plate (22) having a tread surface (22.1) and a strip (30), preferably of a plurality of strip elements (40, 50) on the tread surface (22.1). A fixing arrangement has a first groove element and a second tongue element, one element being attached to the tread plate (22) and the other element to the strip elements. The two elements cooperate to prevent movements of the strip elements (40, 50) relative to the tread element (20) from the tread surface (22.1) away. Interacting stop surfaces on the strip elements and on the tread plate are designed to prevent movements of the strip elements in the direction of mounting, opposite to the direction of mounting and perpendicular to the direction of mounting and in parallel to the tread surface (22.1).

Abstract: An escalator with an endless formation of successive steps, each having a step surface, a front surface or step-riser and each side, a sideways directed cheek. Provided in the area of each cheek is at least one roller that projects transversely sideways, and is guided along laterally mounted, diagonally running roller-rails of the escalator. On each step in the area of the front surface or step-riser at least one emergency guide hook is fastened in such manner that the emergency guide hook of a higher lying upper first step supports itself against an area of the cheek of the next lower lying second step, should the step be eccentrically loaded in the area of the step-tread.

Abstract: A method of modernizing an elevator installation that comprises a first elevator car movable in a shaft by a first drive includes installing at least one second drive without changing the first drive. In addition, at least one second elevator car is installed in the shaft and connected with the second drive. Moreover, a control unit is installed or configured in such a manner that it controls the first drive and the second drive.

Abstract: An elevator support, such as a cable or a belt connected with an elevator car or counterweight, has load-bearing synthetic material strands, which are reinforced by the introduction of a second phase and have a higher modulus of elasticity than that of the unreinforced strands.

Abstract: A guide device for an elevator car has a guide shoe that is displaceable by a linear guide that is arranged on the elevator car. Should the elevator car in an extreme situation travel beyond the uppermost floor, the guide shoe is arrested by a projecting console, and the elevator car travels past the console. The linear guide permits the guide shoe to execute a movement relative to the elevator car. Thus, the elevator car, or parts thereof, utilizes the hoistway headroom that is provided for the drive unit or other hoistway equipment. The counterweight can be provided with the displaceable guide shoe for utilizing the hoistway pit in a similar manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring device for a elevator system, including an optical sensor unit, which receives light emitted by a external light source existing in the vicinity of the elevator system and which transforms the light into contrast information and an evaluation unit, which evaluates the contrast information in order to monitor the elevator system. The present invention relates further to a method for monitoring a elevator system, including the steps of receiving light emitted by a external light source existing in the vicinity of the elevator system, transforming the light into contrast information, evaluation of the contrast information in order to monitor the elevator system, recognizing a situation of the elevator system and triggering of a reaction adapted to the situation.

Abstract: A method of assigning a user to an elevator system with several elevators wherein a user issues a destination call, at least one elevator is determined to serve the destination call and is announced to the user by an acoustic signal that identifies the elevator. All of the signals that designate the different elevators are exclusively formed by one single single-frequency signal tone, the various signals that identify the individual elevators being distinguishable to the user by a predefined signal duration and/or at least one predefined signal interruption. The invention further relates to an elevator system that is equipped for this method.

Abstract: A door system has an axis, a door attached at a first end to the axis for winding and unwinding upon the axis, and a tensioned member surrounding and partially engaging an outer layer of the door wound upon the axis. The tensioned member exerts a radial force to the outer layer of the door wound upon the axis, thereby ensuring that the door is consistently wound tightly upon the axis and permitting the fast unrolling of the door from the axis. Although the tensioned member exerts a radial force upon the door, it imparts no significant lateral forces to the door. Accordingly, the door can have a simple construction with material, cost and space savings.

Abstract: An elevator comprises an elevator car and support belts that form a 4:1 suspension for the elevator cabin and that are looped several times beneath the elevator car. Several parallel, flat belts are used and the rollers of at least one fixed roller group that diverts the belts are positioned in such a way that the belt sections of the parallel belts lie vertically above one another in the vicinity of the belt diversion.

Abstract: An emergency device for installing in an elevator car of an elevator installation, with an emergency control region, which is to be opened from the interior of the elevator car by an emergency key, wherein a key switch is arranged in the emergency control region so as to transfer the elevator installation to an emergency operation by the same emergency key. Mounted in the elevator car is a key mechanism which has a mechanical profile insert with a key slot and is designed so that through insertion of the emergency key into the key slot and turning the emergency control region is mechanically unlocked. The key switch includes an electromechanical key insert with a key slot and is so designed that through insertion of the emergency key into the key slot and turning the elevator installation can be switched over to the emergency operation.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to an area accessible by persons, particularly to a space closed by a door, includes providing a first mobile communications unit on which at least one access code is filed, at least one second mobile communications unit and a receiver unit for receiving the access code. The access code is transmitted by the first communications unit to the second communications unit. The access code is transmitted to the receiver unit by this second communications unit. After a successful checking of the access code by the receiver unit the door access is freed.

Abstract: Lighting equipment of an elevator car and a method for guidance of persons in an elevator provides a floor indication that communicates to the passenger, in a simple and clear manner, reaching of his or her destination floor, even in high buildings with numerous floors. The lighting equipment has a light source and a control of the light source, which produces a color effect relative to the floor indication.