Patents Assigned to TK Elevator Innovation and
Operations GmbH
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Patent number: 11261054Abstract: A computer-implemented method of automatically generating and populating one or more car floor buttons on a configuration tool display wherein the configuration tool is in communication with an elevator cabin of an elevator system.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Chih-Hung Aaron King, Sean Luis Stecker, Finley Williamson
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Publication number: 20220052548Abstract: A method of operating an emergency power supply for an elevator cabin includes determining a remaining power supply capacity of an energy storage device of the emergency power supply, determining a power demand of an electrical consumer, and predicting how long the energy storage device is capable of providing the electrical consumer with power, based on the determined remaining power supply capacity and the determined power demand. An emergency power supply for an elevator cabin includes an energy storage device configured to provide emergency power to an electrical consumer in the elevator cabin, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control operation of the energy storage device, determine a remaining power supply capacity of the energy storage device, determine a power demand of the electrical consumer, and predict an amount of time for which the energy storage device is able to power the electrical consumer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2019Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Sergio Roth, Christopher PIMENTEL, Christian SASSO
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Patent number: 11225397Abstract: A safety device for an elevator system may include a safety element that in a release position holds a safety system in a deactivated state and in a blocking position activates the safety system. The safety element may exert a driving force configured to transfer the safety element from the release position into the blocking position. A holding element may exert a holding force on the safety element that counteracts the driving force to hold the safety element in the release position. In the release position of the safety element, the holding force exceeds the driving force by a tolerance amount that is adjustable depending on different operating modes that are possible in the release position of the safety element. The safety device may be configured to transfer the safety element into the blocking position, to reduce the holding force such that the driving force exceeds the holding force.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventor: Christian Schulz
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Publication number: 20210403277Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to an elevator system having at least one movable component and at least one component generating a reference signal. The elevator system includes a controller, an output signal, and a controller tuner. The controller generates a control signal. The output signal is indicative of a movement of the at least one movable component of the elevator system based on the control signal. The controller tuner is communicatively coupled to the controller. The controller tuner receives the output signal and the reference signal to calculate an error signal. The controller tuner uses the error signal to calculate a corrected control signal and transmits the corrected control signal to the controller. The corrected control signal manipulates the control signal generated by the controller to change the movement of the at least one movable component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Gabriel Pascottini Flores, Chih Hung A. King
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Patent number: 11198588Abstract: A counterweight slack detection switch including a body, a first belt guide mounted to the body and configured to engage a first side of a tension member, a second belt guide mounted to the body and configured to engage the first side of the tension member, a lever arm having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to the body, a deflectable member biasing the lever arm relative to the body, a third belt guide mounted to the second end of the lever arm and configured to bias the tension member from a tension position to a slack position, and a switch mounted to the body and configured to contact the tension member when the tension member is in at least one of the tension position and the slack position.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Justin Charles Morse, Jeffrey Duvall, Jonathan Ashley Brothers
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Patent number: 11198590Abstract: A hoisting member for an elevator system includes a core having strength components embedded in a matrix material. A coating can surround the core to protect the core and control the coefficient of friction of the outer surface based on a range of desired friction properties to prevent or inhibit slippage of the hoisting member when used in a traction elevator system. The strength components may be made from carbon nanotube material with the matrix material made from a polymer material. The hoisting member may also include other conductive material or fiber optic material. The hoisting member may also serve as the trailing cable in an elevator system. In doing so the hosting member transmits power and data between the elevator car and the elevator controller thereby eliminating the need for a traditional trailing cable.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Christian Breite, Michael Bray, Thomas Felis
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Patent number: 11198595Abstract: An installation tool configured to install a machine of an elevator system, including a base section including two legs, each leg including a laterally extending gusset attached thereto. A clamp assembly is supported by the base section and includes a first bracket attached to and positioned over the two legs and a second bracket attached to and positioned over the gussets. A first tube is movably carried by the first bracket and a second tube is movably carried by the second bracket. The first and second tubes are movable in the brackets between a retracted position that positions the machine over the base section and an extended position that positions the machine in a cantilevered position adjacent the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Justin Charles Morse, Zachary William Evans, William E. Bowling, Andrew Turner Bottom, Andrew Taylor, Garret Stone
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Patent number: 11198591Abstract: Depth cameras may be placed within an elevator car hoistway to capture depth images of the elevator rope. 3D sensing software may be used to identify the rope within the depth images and assign tracking points to locations along the rope. Tracked images are saved over time and compared to prior tracked images to determine the movement of tracked points between images. Movement of tracked points may be used to determine the velocity, acceleration, frequency of wave motion, and other characteristics of the rope during a period of time. When measured characteristics exceed specified thresholds, the system may take one or more actions to mitigate the undesirable behavior or provide notification of the undesirable behavior.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Michael Palazzola, Jie Xu, Stephen Allen, Peter Feldhusen, Frank Dudde, Alan Parker
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Publication number: 20210362977Abstract: A computer-implemented method of automatically generating and populating one or more car floor buttons on a configuration tool display wherein the configuration tool is in communication with an elevator cabin of an elevator system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2020Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Chih-Hung Aaron King, Sean Luis Stecker, Finley Williamson
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Publication number: 20210339984Abstract: A method may be used to monitor the health of a belt in an elevator system. The belt may include first and second terminal ends, a plurality of conductive load carrier strands that extend between the first and second terminal ends, and a polymer material surrounding the strands. A measuring connection point may be located between a pair of adjacent carrier strands at each terminal end of the belt. The method may involve electrically connecting a measuring apparatus between the pair of strands at the measuring connection point at each terminal end and measuring an electrical characteristic at each connection point between at least one pair of strands. The electrical characteristic measured over the complete width of the belt gives a complete overview of the health of the belt, as a change in the measured electrical characteristic over time will be indicative of damage within one or more strands.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventor: Mark McCarthy
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Patent number: 11117782Abstract: A braking device may be utilized by an elevator system that has a cabin that is movable within an elevator shaft. The braking device may comprise an actuator and a brake. The actuator may be configured to provide an actuating force for the brake as needed. The braking device may include a force measuring assembly for generating a load state value of the cabin. The force measuring assembly may be mechanically coupled to the actuator such that the actuating force is dependent on the load state value. The actuator may be configured such that the greater the load state value the greater the actuating force.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventor: Markan Lovric
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Patent number: 11084689Abstract: A braking device may include first and second brake pads disposed opposite one another about a guide rail, for developing braking forces when the brake pads engage the guide rail. The first brake pad has a wedge shape and may taper in a wedge direction. A front side of the first brake pad facing the guide rail is aligned parallel to the guide rail, and a rear side of the first brake pad is angled corresponding to the wedge shape. The rear side of the first brake pad lies in a sliding manner against a contact surface of a first brake pad seat disposed at an angle corresponding to the first brake pad. In a first setting a locking device unblocks a sliding movement of the first brake pad, and in a second setting the locking device blocks the sliding movement of the first brake pad.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Eduard Steinhauer, Thomas Kuczera, Marius Matz
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Patent number: 11084687Abstract: A method for operating an elevator system having a shaft system and elevator cars that are moved separately between floors in a circulation operation may involve moving the elevator cars upward in a first shaft and moving the elevator cars downward in a second shaft. A number of shaft positions that can be respectively adopted by the elevator cars and that correspond to the number of elevator cars is defined, and synchronization of movement of the elevator cars may be carried out with respect to these defined shaft positions. Further, each of the elevator cars may be moved according to a travel curve. To synchronize the movement of the elevator cars the travel curve for each elevator car may be adapted to account for positions of the elevator cars in the same shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Stefan Gerstenmeyer, Markus Jetter
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Patent number: 11059701Abstract: Climber motors are a form of temporary winch that can be used before a permanent elevator drive system is installed at the top of a hoistway. A mount to be employed with such a climber motor may include a frame having a base, a lower portion, and an upper portion. The upper portion may support a lower plate, which lower plate supports sleeves, which sleeves in turn support an upper plate. The frame and the climber motor may be positioned within an elevator cab such that the sleeves extend upwards through apertures in a canopy of the elevator cab. Once the upper plate is positioned between the sleeves and a crosshead above the elevator cab, the climber motor may be engaged to cause the sleeves to exert an upward force on the crosshead and thereby lift the elevator cab in the hoistway.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventor: William E. Bowling
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Patent number: 11059699Abstract: An elevator sheave assembly with independently rotating sheaves includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of sheave subassemblies independently rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Each of the plurality of sheave subassemblies includes a sheave having a running surface configured for frictional tractive engagement with a tension member, and at least one bearing rotatably connecting the sheave to the shaft. The elevator sheave assembly further includes a bearing spacer arranged between adjacent sheave subassemblies of the plurality of sheave subassemblies on the shaft to isolate rotation of the adjacent sheave subassemblies relative to one another. Each of the plurality of sheave subassemblies is independently rotatable such that the tension member associated with each of the plurality of sheave subassemblies operates on its own independently rotating sheave.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Jeffrey Duvall, William Delk, Justin Morse
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Patent number: 11046555Abstract: An elevator system may include a car that is movable in an elevator shaft. The car may include a frame and a cabin. The elevator system may also comprise a first linear motor with a first primary part and a first secondary part. The first primary part of the first linear motor may be arranged on a first rail that is disposed in the elevator shaft. The frame may also include a first drive beam on which the first secondary part is disposed. The frame may further include a first lower beam for supporting the cabin and a first connecting segment that connects the first lower beam to the first drive beam.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2016Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Philippe Gainche, Michael Kirsch, Christoph Pawelski, Christoph Klotzbach
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Patent number: 11034544Abstract: An elevator installation may include at least one car that is displaceable in an elevator shaft; a first supply unit for supplying the car with energy, material, and/or data; and an interchange arrangement for interchanging the first supply unit to the car whereby the first supply unit is removed from or attached to the car during ongoing operation of the elevator installation. The interchange arrangement may be configured to remove and/or attached one or more supply units from the car during a regular door-opening cycle where the car stops at a floor of a building in which the elevator installation is installed. A duration of time required to remove the first supply unit from the car, or alternatively add the first supply unit to the car, is less than a duration of time required for a regular door-opening cycle.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventor: Martin Madera
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Patent number: 11034547Abstract: An elevator system may comprise a vertical guide rail, a horizontal guide rail, a shaft relative to which at least one of the first or second guide rail is kept stationary, a rotatable rail segment, a car that is movable along the guide rails and switchable between the first and second guide rails via the rail segment, and locking devices configured to selectively secure an orientation of the car and/or the rail segment. A method for operating the elevator system may involve positioning the car into a transfer position on the rail segment while the rotatable rail segment is aligned with the first guide rail, rotating the rail segment into alignment with the second rail segment whereby movement of the rail segment is braked by a rotary brake, and securing the rotational position of the rail segment relative to the shaft with one of the locking devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Philippe Gainche, Marius Matz, Martin Madera
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Publication number: 20210171319Abstract: An elevator system includes a first and second elevator shaft, a first vertical guide rail disposed in the first shaft, a second vertical guide rail disposed in the second shaft, a plurality of elevator cars movable within the shafts along the guide rails, and a repositioning assembly configured to transfer the plurality of elevator cars from the first elevator shaft to the second elevator shaft. The repositioning assembly includes a repositioning track extending between the first and second shafts, and a repositioning carrier that is movable along the repositioning track, and configured to transfer the cars from a first repositioning position in the first elevator shaft to a second repositioning position in the second elevator shaft. The elevator system also includes an adjusting assembly configured to adjust the position of at least one of the first or second repositioning positions at least transversely to the repositioning direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventors: Martin Madera, Ionel Stanica, Mike Obert, Martin Krieg, Sebastian Griesardt
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Publication number: 20210163257Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating an elevator system having a plurality of elevator cars that are simultaneously and individually moveable in an elevator shaft between a plurality of floors. A predetermined travel route is assigned to an elevator car or a plurality of elevator cars. This travel route is defined by a sequence of stopping points that is fixed in advance for the respective elevator car and at which stopping points the respective elevator car is intended to make a planned stop. The elevator cars to which a travel route is assigned are then moved in accordance with the travel route assigned to the respective elevator car. Further disclosed is an elevator controller and to an elevator system for carrying out such a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2019Publication date: June 3, 2021Applicant: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbHInventor: Matthias Glück