Patents Examined by Lawrence E. Colbert
  • Patent number: 5192836
    Abstract: An elevator car suitable for use by physically handicapped passengers can be selected from a group of elevator cars under the control of a group control wherein call registering and indicating devices positioned at the floors served by the cars include an additional key for activating a switching circuit. The switching circuit is connected to a car load memory and a memory for storing the alighting calls for target floors where passengers are to leave the cars. A first condition is satisfied when there is no alighting call for a car, no exiting passenger to interfere with an entering wheelchair, and a second condition is satisfied when the load, number of passengers, in a car is smaller than a certain load limit value indicating sufficient space for the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Joris Schroder, deceased
  • Patent number: 5183980
    Abstract: A linear motor elevator includes: a multitude of primary side coils mounted on the hoist way along the whole hoist path, and vertical columns of permanent magnets constituting the secondary side magnets mounted on the elevator car. The polarity of the permanent magnets alternate both horizontally across the columns and vertically along respective columns. When the elevator car is displaced horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the hoisting direction of the elevator car, a circulating current producing a magnetic flux that counterbalances the variation of the flux caused by the displacement flows through each primary side coils opposing the permanent magnets on the elevator car. Thus, the position of the elevator car within the hoist way is automatically adjusted in accordance with the null-flux method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Okuma, Takeshi Furuhashi, Hiroyuki Ikejima, Toshiaki Ishii
  • Patent number: 5170865
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an elevator door comprises a motor which closes and opens the door of an elevator and applies to the door torque necessary for maintaining a closed state of the door, an inverter apparatus for controlling the driving of the motor, a polarity deciding device for deciding the polarity of a slip frequency signal output from the inverter apparatus, and a driving stop device for causing the inverter apparatus to stop the driving of the motor when the polarity deciding device detects the inversion of the polarity of the slip frequency signal during the time that a closed state of the door is maintained by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamoto Mizuno, Terumi Hirabayashi, Masanori Tawada, Toshiyuki Kodera
  • Patent number: 5170021
    Abstract: Hydraulic elevator system with a hydraulic actuator equipped with a piston, movable in both directions, to raise and lower a cab, a tank of hydraulic fluid and a pump for fluid, a bypass shutter, to control ascent of the piston, and a down shutter to control its descent, a microprocessor for controlling the valves. To compensate variations in load, temperature and pressure of the hydraulic fluid, solenoid valves are provided, driving the shutters, with on/off pulses of variable duration, depending on the information on the behavior and conditions of the system, obtained by feedback of pressure and temperature of the hydraulic fluid and the position and velocity of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: G.M.V. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Angelo Martini
  • Patent number: 5168133
    Abstract: During up-peak, a dispatcher selecting method chooses among three dispatching algorithms: (i) an up-peak sectoring scheme triggered when two cars leave the lobby fully loaded, (ii) static sectoring, and (iii) dynamic sectoring, in response to any of three criteria: car load, floor population, and average waiting time, allowing a group of elevators to be operated under any three of the dispatching algorithms, not locked into any two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Zuhair S. Bahjat, Joseph Bittar
  • Patent number: 5168131
    Abstract: A control for an elevator system having a single hoistway and a single cab movable by a reversible motor vertically within the hoistway for servicing a plurality of floors. The control includes a call station located at each floor and having a hall call pushbutton, an arrival light and an in-use light, and a plurality of pushbuttons are located in the cab, with one being associated with each floor. A microprocessor is coupled to each of the hall call pushbuttons, in-use lights, arrival lights and cab pushbuttons and is programmed to respond to call signals for actuating a first switching circuit for energizing the motor for movement in a cab raising direction or a second switching circuit for energizing the motor for movement in a cab lowering direction in response to signals from the hall call pushbuttons or cab pushbuttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Cheney Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Smith, John F. Prendergast, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5168136
    Abstract: A computer controlled elevator system (FIG. 1 ) using prediction methodology to enhance the system's elevator service, having "learning" capabilities to adapt the system to changing building operational characteristics, including signal processing means for computing the "best" prediction model to be used for prediction, the best factoring coefficients for combining real time and historic predictors associated with the best prediction model, the best data and prediction time interval lengths to be used, and the optimal number of look-ahead intervals or steps (for real time predictions) or look-back days (for historic predictions) to the extent applicable to the prediction model, etc. Using the algorithm(s) of the invention the best prediction methodology and associated parameters are selected by running on site simulations based on exemplary values and comparing the prediction results to recorded data indicative of the actual events that have occurred in the system over a past appropriate period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Kandasamy Thangavelu, V. Sarma Pullela
  • Patent number: 5168135
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for elevator group control, capable of improving the transport efficiency without severely lowering the overall quality of service, even when the traffic demand to a particular floor sharply increased in a particular period of time. In the apparatus, the elevator cars of the elevator system are controlled according to the hall call allocation control based on the transport efficiency of the elevator system, such that in a case the response elevator car having an ultimate destination floor is additionally allocated to another floor which is located in an opposite direction from an ultimate destination of the response elevator car, the responds elevator car is controlled to reverse a direction of motion to serve said another floor and then to reverse the direction of motion again to move to the ultimate destination floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Susumu Kubo, Masumi Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 5162623
    Abstract: An elevator monitor and control system includes at least one elevator control apparatus, a monitor panel, and a power line interconnecting the elevator control apparatus and the monitor panel. The monitor panel includes an inverter power source backed up by a battery. Each elevator control apparatus includes a first power source for supplying normal power to an internal circuit of the elevator control apparatus, a second power source connected to the power line for supplying power to the elevator control apparatus upon the failure of the first power source, and a control circuit for determining which of the first and second power sources should supply power. A signal conversion control circuit disposed within each of the monitor panels and the elevator control apparatus exchanges data concerning car position, elevator control and the like between the monitor panel and the elevator control apparatus by series transmission through the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenzo Tachino
  • Patent number: 5159162
    Abstract: An elevator control device includes an operation control device for controlling the speed of a car by a regular-speed command when the car is in a normal operation, and the operation control device generates a readjusting-speed command for retaining the car in a predetermined range when a stop position of the car at rest deviates from the predetermined range. The elevator control device also includes a readjusting-speed command reducing device for reducing a readjusting-speed command value to zero at a predetermined rate while an opened door of the car is closing, and switching device for switching to a regular-speed command from a readjusting-speed command when the door of the car is completely closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenzo Tatino
  • Patent number: 5159163
    Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system includes the steps of specifying and storing at least one profile describing at least one elevator operational characteristic, including an elevator security function specifying a landing or landings for which hall calls are not to be responded to and a landing or landings for which car calls are not to be responded to. The profile has a start time, an end time, and a day or days of the week specified therefor during which time the profile is to be activated. A next step repetitively determines a current time and a current day of the week and compares the current time and current day of the week to the specified start time, end time, and day or days of the week associated with the at least one stored profile. Responsive to an equality condition, the method includes a further step of transmitting information to a controller of at least one elevator car within a group of elevator cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Zuhair S. Bahjat, Michael Appelt, Stephanie A. Szekeres
  • Patent number: 5157228
    Abstract: Automatic and manual adjustment of a new elevator system installation is accomplished by means of a service tool for interacting with software resident in the elevator system whereby various control parameters such as the feed forward gain of the drive system, the start time delay for delaying initiation of a start torque profile for bypassing the velocity loop during starting, the polarity of the feedback signals, e.g., armature current, velocity, motor field current, and other parameters, may be adjusted automatically, while others, such as the impedance of an elevator brake, may be adjusted by a technician responding to automatic prompts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Bernd L. Ackermann, Peter L. Herkel, Herbert K. Horbruegger, Mustapha Toutaoui
  • Patent number: 5157267
    Abstract: An engine starter system for driving an engine starter with electric power from a battery mounted on a motor vehicle has a boost controller for boosting electric power from the battery and a large-capacitance capacitor which is charged by the electric power which is boosted by the boost controller. The engine starter is driven by the electric energy which is stored in the capacitor at a voltage higher than the voltage of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Shirata, Yoshinobu Tsuchiya, Ken Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 5155374
    Abstract: An engine starter system includes a switching-over circuit arrangement for selectively connecting a large-capacity capacitor parallel or in series to a battery. Normally, the capacitor is connected parallel to the battery and charged thereby. When starting an engine with a starter, the charged capacitor is connected in series to the battery, and the voltage of the capacitor and the voltage of the battery are added and applied to the starter to energize a starter motor for starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Shirata, Yoshinobu Tsuchiya, Ken Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 5155305
    Abstract: The invention concerns an open-look speed control device for an induction motor to drive an elevator cabin, approaching a premarked where braking must be initiated point in advance of stopping at a marked point at a floor level to be approached at a creep speed, and for a VVVF inverter, which supplies current to the induction motor.The current supplied to the induction motor, is measured when the cabin travels at constant speed prior to reaching the premarked point.A slippage compensation unit determines a pertinent slippage frequency from the measured active current, and from it derives the frequency specification for the upcoming creep phase. A memory stores a function that indicates creep time as a function of the measured active current.A computer unit calculates a delay time for the next run from the measured creep time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Herbert K. Horbruegger, Jost-Ingo Eichberger
  • Patent number: 5155373
    Abstract: An engine starter system for driving an engine starter with electric power from a battery mounted on a motor vehicle has a pair of large-capacitance capacitors which are selectively connected to the battery and the starter. One of the capacitors is connected to the battery and charged thereby when the detected voltage across the one capacitor is lower than a predetermined voltage, and the other capacitor which is charged sufficiently enough is connected to the starter. Electric energy whose voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage is therefore continuously supplied to the starter to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Tsuchiya, Ken Kurabayashi, Akihiro Shirata
  • Patent number: 5153390
    Abstract: In an elevator system, primary marking means, placed near every floors and secondary marking means placed near alternate floors are read by a scanner. Upon scanning, a marking number signal is provided indicating whether a primary marking means and secondary marking means, or only a primary marking means, is read at a floor level. As the car moves in the hoistway, current position, direction of the elevator car, and the marking number signal is continuously updated and stored in non-volatile memory. Upon recovery from a loss of power, the car is moved to the next floor in the direction it was moving prior to loss of power. By comparing the marking number signal stored in non-volatile memory before power was lost with the marking number signal generated after regaining power, the stored position can be confirmed to be correct or, if incorrect, incremented or decremented by one floor, depending upon whether the car was moving up or down respectively, to identify the actual car position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: William F. Barkman, Jeremy B. Kezer, Julian H. Shull
  • Patent number: 5153389
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake for arresting the rotation of a driving shaft of an elevator includes a pair of brake shoes and a pair of plungers operated by separate solenoidal coils. Each plunger is in communication with a corresponding break shoe. A brake coil exciting circuit is provided for exciting the brake coils and differentiating the timing at which the excitations of the brake coils are attenuated, so that the brake shoes can be applied to the driving shaft intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Nomura
  • Patent number: 5151562
    Abstract: A system for reducing horizontal deviations of elevators in which a cage ascends or descends in an ascending/decending path while engaged with guide rails through guide shoes is provided. The system includes a displacement device, disposed between the cage and the guide shoes, for displacing the cage relative to the guide rails in a horizontal direction. A position detecting device is provided for detecting a position of the cage in an ascending/descending direction, storage device for storing error data corresponding to guide rail installation errors with respect to positions of the cage in the ascending/descending direction and control device for controlling the displacement device to correct positional deviations of the cage in the horizontal direction resulting from the guide rail installation errors in accordance with the error data stored in the storage device, the error data corresponding to the position detected by the position detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Fujita, Hisao Kato
  • Patent number: 5151610
    Abstract: Each vertically rotating blade of a wind-driven main rotor carries a secondary rotor oriented to be driven by the wind during its circular motion about the main rotor axis. The secondary rotors are thus exposed to a much increased relative wind speed and transmit torque to a rotary energy-producing device, such as an electric generator directly coupled to the shaft of the secondary rotor without the necessity of a speed-up transmission. Each secondary rotor may be located, in line with the chords of the main rotor blade, anywhere along said blade but, preferably, in the vicinity of the blade tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Inventor: Jean St-Germain