Patents Assigned to Otis Elevator Company
  • Patent number: 11905142
    Abstract: An illustrative example method of controlling an elevator situated in a hoistway of a building includes detecting sway of the building, determining characteristics of the detected sway including a plurality of frequencies and associated periods of the sway, determining an expected sway of an elongated member of the elevator system based on the determined characteristics, and controlling at least one of position and movement of an elevator car in the hoistway based on the expected sway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randy Roberts, George Scott Copeland, Luis C. Encinas Carreno, Patricia Derwinski, Cuauhtemoc Castro
  • Patent number: 11897730
    Abstract: A frictionless safety brake actuator, for use in an elevator system, includes at least two stators; a magnet array positioned between the stators; a linkage attached to the magnet array; and a biasing arrangement. The linkage is actuatable to move a safety brake into frictional engagement with an elevator guide rail. The magnet array is moveable between a first position in which the linkage is actuated and a second position in which the linkage is not actuated. The biasing arrangement is arranged to bias the magnet array towards the first position. The magnet array includes a first magnet set and a second magnet set which comprise at least one magnet each and at least three magnets in total. The magnet(s) of the first magnet set is/are arranged alternately with the magnet(s) of the second magnet set in a stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Javier Muñoz Sotoca
  • Patent number: 11897725
    Abstract: A braking system for an elevator includes an electromagnetic brake operably connected to an elevator car, and a control circuit operably connected to the electromagnetic brake. The control circuit includes a switching mechanism configured to selectively modify a rate of engagement of the electromagnetic brake to selectively modify a rate of deceleration of the elevator car. The switching mechanism has a first position, a second position and a third position, to selectively modify the rate of engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven M. Millett, Ismail Agirman, Amir Lotfi
  • Patent number: 11901121
    Abstract: An electronic safety actuator (1) for an elevator safety brake, includes a first solenoid (2), a magnet (3), movable by the first solenoid (2) between a first position proximate to the first solenoid (2) and a second position distal from the first solenoid (2) a second solenoid (6) and a detector (8). The detector (8) is arranged to apply an electrical signal to one of the first solenoid (2) and the second solenoid (6), and to detect an electrical signal induced in the other of the first solenoid (2) and the second solenoid (6) as a result of the applied electrical signal. There is also provided a method of detecting a condition or state of the first solenoid (2) or the magnet (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Javier Munoz Sotoca
  • Patent number: 11898776
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator cab air purification device includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and at least one air pathway between the inlet and the outlet. A fan module is situated to cause air flow into the housing through the inlet, through the housing, and out of the housing through the outlet. The air flow through the housing includes air flow along the at least one pathway in at least a first direction. An air purifier is situated within the housing and configured to purify air that flows along the at least one pathway before the air exits the housing through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Patricia Derwinski, Cuauhtemoc Castro Inzunza
  • Patent number: 11897726
    Abstract: A conveyance system includes a local gateway configured to communicate with a remote system over a communications network; at least one module in communication with the local gateway; the at least one module including a processor configured to perform local processing of data at the at least one module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Derk Oscar Pahlke
  • Patent number: 11891276
    Abstract: A safety device for an elevator system, and an elevator system. The elevator system includes a guide rope arranged in a hoistway to be used as a guide rail and a running device running along the guide rope, and the safety device includes a body which is connected to the running device, and a first component and a second component which are provided on the body and define a passage for the guide rope to pass through freely when the running device is in normal operation, the first and second components are configured for clamping the guide rope in the passage when a running speed of the running device exceeds a threshold, to restrict the speed of the running device or stop the running device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Fujun Yang
  • Patent number: 11884515
    Abstract: A clamping device and an elevator system. The clamping device includes: a base having a limiting space and an opening communicating with the limiting space; and a clamping arm assembly, which is arranged at the opening of the base and forms a gap with the opening in a stationary state, the gap being smaller than a size of a clamped part; in which the clamp arm assembly has a first damping force that allows the clamped part to enter the limiting space via the opening, and has a second damping force that allows the clamped part to exit the limiting space via the opening; and the second damping force is greater than the first damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Qirui Wang, Zhenyan Tong, Ruili Zhang
  • Patent number: 11885387
    Abstract: A friction material, a preparation method therefor, and a friction part. The friction material contains the following components by weight percentage: 24%-31% of a nitrile rubber, 0.35%-1% of a vulcanizing agent, 0.35%-0.6% of a vulcanization activator, 0.4%-0.8% of a promoter, 0.06%-0.11% of a scorch inhibitor, 1.5%-2.4% of ZnO, 24%-31% of a thermoplastic phenolic resin, 1.5%-2.2% of a plasticizer and 15%-25% of white carbon black, and optionally: 0%-25% of a filler, 0-0.8% of an anti-aging agent, and 0-2.4% of MgO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Ruguang Liu, Guochen Gao
  • Patent number: 11887454
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring an elevator operating environment. The system for monitoring the elevator operating environment includes at least one local monitoring device, a cloud computing platform, and at least one alarm module associated with the local monitoring device, wherein, each of the local monitoring devices is arranged in an operating area and is configured to: determine heat index based on temperature data and humidity data of the operating area, and output a first warning message locally; and transmit the temperature data and humidity data to the cloud computing platform regularly or irregularly, the cloud computing platform is configured to send the temperature data and humidity data to the alarm module regularly or irregularly, and the alarm module is configured to generate a third warning message based on the temperature data and humidity data and present the third warning message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Kin Chun Chan, Siu Pang Ng, Tat Fung Chu
  • Patent number: 11884516
    Abstract: A health monitoring system for an electrically-conductive tension member of an elevator system belt includes a transmitter including a transmitter coil configured for placement at the tension member, a receiver configured to be positioned at the tension member, and a controller operably connected to the transmitter and the receiver. The controller is configured to direct an alternating current through the transmitter coil resulting in the generation of a magnetic field and eddy currents at the transmitter coil, evaluate fluctuations in the magnetic field detected at the receiver. The fluctuations are indicative of wear or damage to the tension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kyle B. Martin
  • Patent number: 11876384
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a wireless power transfer device includes an inductor panel and a capacitor panel adjacent the inductor panel. The capacitor panel includes a first conductive plate adjacent one side of the inductor panel, a dielectric layer adjacent the first conductive plate, and a second conductive plate adjacent the dielectric layer on an opposite side of the dielectric layer from the first conductive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Ben Guo, Antonio Martins
  • Patent number: 11873193
    Abstract: Elevator systems include an elevator car configured to travel along an elevator shaft, the elevator car having a car door and a car sill. One or more landings are arranged along the elevator shaft, the landings each having a landing door and a landing sill. An elevator coupling is provided that includes a car door coupling operably coupled to the car door and a landing door coupling operably coupled to the landing door. The car door coupling and the landing door coupling are selectively operable to drive operation of the car door and the landing door simultaneously and a sill gap between the car sill and the landing sill is less than 25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Wei Wei
  • Patent number: 11873191
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator propulsion device includes at least one drive member configured to engage and climb along a vertical structure, a motor module including at least one motor configured to cause movement of the drive member and corresponding movement of an elevator cab, and a power supply including at least one energy source that is configured to provide power to the motor. The power supply is situated adjacent the motor module such that a mass of the at least one energy source provides a noise barrier to reduce transmission of noise from the motor into the elevator cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: George Scott Copeland
  • Patent number: 11866298
    Abstract: An elevator counterweight assembly (11) includes a counterweight structure (38), at least one safety brake (12a, 12b) mounted on the counterweight structure (38), and a safety actuation mechanism (16) including a connection (17) for a suspension member (18). The safety actuation mechanism (16) is configured to move, relative to the counterweight structure (38), between a normal position, and a safety position. In the safety position the safety actuation mechanism (16) is arranged to actuate the at least one safety brake (12a, 12b) and thereby brake the counterweight structure (38). The counterweight assembly (11) also includes a mechanical actuator (22), configured, when actuated, to apply a force to the safety actuation mechanism (16) and thereby move the safety actuation mechanism (16) from the normal position to the safety position, e.g. for the purposes of a handover test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Aurelien Fauconnet, Franck Rivoiret
  • Patent number: 11866300
    Abstract: A tension member for a lifting and/or hoisting system includes a core including a plurality of load carrying fibers arranged in a matrix material, and an outer layer secured to the core including a plurality of outer fibers arranged around a perimeter of the core. The outer layer includes one or more outer fibers arranged off-axis relative to the load carrying fibers of the core. A method of forming a tension member for an elevator system includes arranging a plurality of load carrying fibers along a length of the tension member, retaining the plurality of load carrying fibers in a matrix material to define a core, and enclosing the core in an outer layer including a plurality of outer fibers arranged around a perimeter of the core. The outer layer includes one or more outer fibers arranged off-axis relative to the load carrying fibers of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Alan Eastman, Daniel A. Mosher, Wenping Zhao
  • Patent number: 11866295
    Abstract: An elevator system control system is provided and includes a sensor system configured to sense elevator car conditions, a safety system signaling element to generate a safety signal indicative of an incident and a control system configured to react to the safety system signal. When the control system receives the safety signal indicating that an incident has occurred that requires engagement of at least one of primary and secondary brakes, the control system controls a deceleration rate during the incident by operating the primary brake, determining whether the deceleration rate is within a target range and adjusting the deceleration rate based on signals from the sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Prasanna Nagarajan, David Ginsberg, Shashank Krishnamurthy, Daryl J. Marvin, Ronnie E. Thebeau
  • Patent number: 11858780
    Abstract: A governor assembly, an elevator safety device, and an elevator system. The governor assembly includes: a bracket; a rotatable rope sheave mounted on the bracket; and a centrifugal mechanism associated with the rope sheave, a plurality of centrifugal members being capable of unfolding under an inertial force associated with the speed of the rope sheave; the centrifugal mechanism includes: a plurality of centrifugal members pivotally connected to the rope sheave; and a retaining mechanism by which the plurality of centrifugal members are retained in a contraction position; the retaining mechanism is configured to retain the plurality of centrifugal members in the contraction position when the speed of the rope sheave increases to a first threshold with an acceleration smaller than a first acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Decheng Meng, Yong Zhao
  • Patent number: 11858777
    Abstract: An elevator car includes one or more sidewalls defining an interior space for accommodating passengers; and an electrical box (25) mounted to a sidewall by a mount (30). The mount (30) is arranged to allow the electrical box (25) to vertically translate between a first position and a second position relative to the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Aurelien Fauconnet, Franck Rivoiret, Fabrice Boniface, Morgane Appourchaux
  • Patent number: 11858781
    Abstract: A frictionless electronic safety actuator (100) for use in an elevator system, which includes at least one electromagnet (110), and a magnetic plate (120) attached to a connection arrangement (190). The connection arrangement (190) is configured to connect the magnetic plate (120; 220) to a linkage (80) that is actuatable so as to move a safety brake (24) into frictional engagement with an elevator guide rail (20). The at least one electromagnet (110) is operable to selectively produce a magnetic force which acts upon the magnetic plate (120) to displace the magnetic plate (120) and thereby move the connection arrangement (190) to actuate the linkage (80) without the magnetic plate (120) coming into frictional engagement with the elevator guide rail (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yu Pu, Yingxin Gao, Ruben Marante-Chasco