Abstract: The isolation system and method comprise suspending an elevator platform from an upper portion of an elevator sling with upper tension members. In addition to being suspended from the sling by upper tension members, the elevator car platform may be secured to a lower portion of the sling from with lower tension members. The tension members preferably have an in-use frequency of vibration below the frequencies of the elevator system vibrations. In an alternative embodiment, upper vibration attenuating tension members may be used to suspend the elevator car platform and the platform may be secured to the lower portion of the sling with standard isolation mounts instead of lower tension members. The tension members employed by the present invention may be manufactured from cables containing aramid fibers, such as Kevlar® rope.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for inspecting and calculating the residual strength of an aramid fiber cable driving an elevator to determine when such cable is in need of replacement. The apparatus includes a transmitter for introducing an acoustic wave that will travel along the aramid fiber cable and a receiver for receiving the acoustic wave after its has traversed a designated section of the cable. The transmitter and receiver provide signals indicating the times the wave was sent by the transmitter and thereafter received by the receiver. From these signals, a program in the system calculates the wave velocity and the modulus, and the residual strength of the aramid cable.

Abstract: An electromechanical interlock for a swinging elevator door is disclosed. The interlock comprises a pivotal hook member that may be attached to a swinging elevator door. The hook has a beak end and may pivot between a locked and an unlocked position. Disposed on the beak end is an electrical conductor. When the interlock is in the locked position, the beak end engages a lug and the conductor contacts electrical contacts to complete an electrical circuit. A solenoid pivots the hook from a locked position to an unlocked position. The electromechanical interlock may be adapted for use with sliding elevator doors as well as swinging doors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing unused power available in an elevator that is not fully loaded to improve the traffic handling capacity of an elevator system. The present invention can be used to provide an optimized velocity profile for the elevator based on the pre-designed power of the drive motor and the actual load in the elevator. By using the surplus power available the method and apparatus of the invention can achieve velocities higher than the design velocity of the system. The method also utilizes surplus torque available to the motor during a trip to produce an optimized velocity profile that has a short trip time, yet does not exceed the torque deliverable by the motor and does not exceed acceptable discomfort levels to the passengers or mechanical limitations on the system.

Abstract: A programmable switching device that employs a Hall Effect sensor and a moving magnet is disclosed. The Hall Effect sensor is electrically connected to a programmable microprocessor that is programmed to detect changes in Hall Effect voltages at the sensor. The programmable switching device may also be configured as a rotary switching device. By using a plurality of magnets and Hall Effect transducers and orienting some magnets with their polarities in different directions, a temper-proof switch can be achieved. The programmable switching device may be connected to a serial bus that is interfaced with an elevator controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for use in elevator systems for assigning new hall calls to one of a plurality of available elevator cars. According to the invention, a call cost is calculated for each car for accepting the new hall call. The call cost is a function of the estimated time to the desired destination of the passenger requesting the new hall call and of the delay that other passengers who are using the elevator car will experience. In one embodiment, a destination is inferred for the passenger requesting the new hall call. In another embodiment, the passenger requesting the hall call may input a desired destination at the time the hall call request is made. The elevator system of the present invention allows for use of both standard up/down hall call entry devices and destination entry devices that allow a particular destination to be entered by a passenger at the time a hall call is requested.

Abstract: A jacket-assembly is sealed to a hydraulic elevator jack to protect the jack from corrosion. The jacket-assembly is preferably manufactured from a non-galvanic, non-corrosive material, such as high density polyethylene tubing. The jacket may be manufactured from any non-galvanic, non-corrosive material that is strong enough and flexible enough to be factory-installed on the jack. The jacket is preferably hermetically sealed to the jack. The jacket-assembly may contain a bulkhead mounted on the hydraulic elevator jack having an O-ring groove. An O-ring can be used to effect a hermetic seal between the bulkhead and the jacket. The bulkhead may be mounted on the jack with any conventional means, such as a weld. In one embodiment, a moisture sensor may be placed inside the jacket.