Patents Examined by Minh Truong
  • Lubrication system for a drive device of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10480637
    Abstract: A drive device for a motor vehicle having a drive assembly that is operatively connected or can be operatively connected to an input shaft of a gearbox. A gear set of the gearbox can be supplied with lubricant by a primary lubricant pump. The primary lubricant pump is coupled to an output shaft of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Ivo Greiter
  • Over-speed detection device for stairlifts
    Patent number: 10479649
    Abstract: An over-speed detection device (OSDD) and over-speed governor (OSG) for a stairlift is tripped by flyweights which displace from a rotational axis of the OSDD/OSG when subjected to an over-speed. The outward displacement of the flyweights is converted into an axial displacement to effect triggering of the OSG. This ensures that the tripping speed is independent of the angle if inclination of the stairlift rail. The OSDD/OSG may be mounted so that it takes its drive from a convex surface of the rail in negative transition bends. This ensures that the speed of the OSDD/OSG is maintained close to the tripping speed even when the carriage is slowed to traverse the negative transition bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Stannah Stairlifts Limited
    Inventor: Martin John Colenutt
  • Elevator car arrangement and method for dampening vibrations
    Patent number: 10464784
    Abstract: An elevator car arrangement includes an elevator car body and an elevator car sling. The elevator car arrangement further includes a hanging damper arranged to connect the elevator car body and the elevator car sling together for dampening vibrations coming from guide rails through the elevator car sling to the elevator car body. The hanging damper includes a first part connected to a bottom part of the elevator car body; a second part connected to the elevator car sling; and a damping element arranged to dampen vibrations coming from the second part to the first part. A method for dampening vibrations coming from guide rails through the elevator car sling to the elevator car body is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Johannes De Jong, Gabriela Roivainen, Jussi Perälä, Jouni Ratia
  • Guide rail support configured to account for building settling
    Patent number: 10457523
    Abstract: A guide rail support of an elevator includes a guide rail bracket having a first side, a second side, a first mounting portion, and a second mounting portion. The first mounting portion is attachable to an elevator shaft and the guide rail bracket has inclined apertures in the second mounting portion. An adjustment bracket is configured to contact the second side at the second mounting portion, the adjustment bracket having inclined apertures configured to align with the inclined apertures of the guide rail bracket to define stem apertures. First and second rotating members are installed through the stem apertures. Each rotating member has (i) a rotating head that movably engages with a guide rail, (ii) an integrally formed stem configured to pass through a respective stem aperture, and (iii) a middle defining a length that is greater than a thickness of the guide rail bracket and the adjustment bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Aurelien Fauconnet, Frederic Beauchaud
  • Arrangement for releasing the operating brake of an elevator
    Patent number: 10450164
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for releasing the operating brake of an elevator in an emergency situation and for driving an elevator car of the elevator to a floor level, comprising at least one electric operating brake of the elevator as well as a brake release lever, which brake release lever is connected with the brake via a mechanical transmission means, which arrangement further comprises an overspeed governor connected with a gripping device of the elevator car. According to the invention in between the brake release lever and the brake a coupling device is arranged, which coupling device is controlled by the overspeed governor. Via this means the car velocity is controlled also during release of trapped passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Olli Pokkinen, Teppo Vuorio, Arto Nakari
  • Electrically insulating suspension device mounting fixture
    Patent number: 10450166
    Abstract: An elevator system has a car and a suspension device, wherein the car is least partially carried by the suspension device. The suspension device includes several electrically conductive tension members that are arranged parallel to one another and are essentially enclosed by a jacket. The suspension device is attached to suspension device mounting fixtures, wherein the suspension device mounting fixtures each include a housing and a clamping element. The housing and the clamping element have clamping surfaces between which the suspension device is clamped. The clamping element and/or the housing is made of an electrically insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Florian Dold
  • Middle-drive type elevator
    Patent number: 10450167
    Abstract: A middle-drive type elevator has a lift car, tractor, wire rope, guide pulley and counterweight device. The tractor is installed between the lift car and guide pulley. Both the tractor and guide pulley are disposed above the lift car. The tractor is located below the guide pulley. One end of the wire rope connects to the top of the counterweight device, and the other end connects to the top of the lift car after passing through the guide pulley and a traction wheel on the tractor successively. To make the tractor arranged in the middle, the guide pulley bears the majority of the weight of the lift car and counterweight device, while the tractor only bears the minority of the weight of the lift car and counterweight device. It can effectively reduce the load borne by the tractor and greatly improve the service life of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI YANGTZE 3-MAP ELEVATOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiyong Yang
  • Elevator structure and brake system therefor
    Patent number: 10435273
    Abstract: A braking system and method for an apparatus or vehicle moved along a pathway by an apparatus drive mechanism, for halting the movement of the apparatus or vehicle in the event that the drive mechanism loses power or malfunctions. A conveyance system includes a pathway, an moving apparatus moving along the pathway, the apparatus drive mechanism, a brake rail along the pathway having along one edge a multiplicity of regularly spaced teeth with gaps between successive teeth, and a brake device mounted securely to the apparatus. The brake device includes a rotatably driven rotor having outer helical threads for running the gaps in the brake rail with successive turns of the driven rotor without touching the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FEDERAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Anderson, Thomas R Aultz, Timothy J Beitz, Scott Kim Thompson
  • System and method for improving lift cylinder buckling resistance
    Patent number: 10435280
    Abstract: A lift truck can include a mast and a lift cylinder. The lift cylinder can include a piston rod and a cylinder housing. The lift truck also can include a piston rod retention mechanism that restricts movement of the lift cylinder in a direction lateral to an axial direction when the mast is in an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Fernando D Goncalves, William Doak, Paul F Finnegan
  • Elevator system
    Patent number: 10427912
    Abstract: An example elevator system may include at least one elevator cage that is displaceable in an elevator shaft, a connection means that has a first elevator cage-side end and a second end, and a suspension disposed on the elevator cage. The connection means may include, for instance, a balance chain or belt. The first end of the connection means may be fastened to the suspension on the elevator cage. Further, the example elevator system may include a support unit that exerts a force on the suspension that counteracts a force acting on the suspension due to a mass of the connection means. The support unit may include a rope, a deflection roller, and a counterweight, wherein the rope is fastened to the counterweight and the suspension and is guided over the deflection roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AG
    Inventors: Bernd Altenburger, Holger Zerelles, Darrell Hertel
  • Mount for lubricant dispenser
    Patent number: 10429005
    Abstract: These objects are attained in a mount for a lubricant dispenser and that has a protective casing forming a cavity adapted to hold the dispenser and having a lower edge and a bracket having a lower generally horizontal leg on which the lower edge of the casing sits. An outlet fitting is provided on the lower leg positioned to received lubricant from the dispenser in the cavity of the casing sitting on the lower leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PERMA-TEC GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Shalin Patel
  • Lubrication system for high speed gearbox operating in zero gravity
    Patent number: 10428928
    Abstract: A system has an input shaft driving a first gear and supported by at least one input shaft bearing. The first gear drives at least a second gear. The second gear drives an output shaft. The output shaft is supported by at least one output shaft bearing. A gear bearing also supports at least one of the first and second gears. Lubricant movement structure is associated with at least one of the first and second gears for moving lubricant in an axial and in a radial direction to drive the lubricant toward at least one of the shaft bearing and the gear bearing. A spacecraft is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Roger Corallo
  • Rail road track lubrication apparatus and method
    Patent number: 10421469
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying lubricant to a rail road track. The apparatus comprising a control module; a housing; a lubricant distribution block; and a plurality of tubes for connecting the control module to the housing wherein the housing houses the lubricant distribution block. The control module is positionable in close proximity to the rail road track and the housing is positionable adjacent to and along a section of rail road track to be lubricated. The lubricant is stored in a vessel in the control module and pumped from the control module to a lubricant distribution nozzle connected to the housing and wherein sliding the lubricant distribution nozzle along the section of rail road track in a first or second direction distributes lubricant along the section of rail road track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: RBL, INC.
    Inventors: Roy L. Nelson, Robert G. Pieper
  • Elevator car and elevator
    Patent number: 10421641
    Abstract: An elevator car includes a car box. The car box includes a frame structure that includes a floor element, vertical beams connected to the floor element, and roof beams connected to the vertical beams. The car box further includes walls, each including wall elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another. The car box includes a roof including roof elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another. The car box includes and interior bounded by at least the floor element, the walls, and the roof. At least on set of elements, of the roof elements and the wall elements, includes elements associated with separate, respective integrated functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Manner, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Seppo Kolehmainen, Jouni Lappalainen, Razvan Albu, Tuuli Somma, Petri Koli
  • Lubricant container
    Patent number: 10408381
    Abstract: A container for collecting a lubricant including a housing having a longitudinal axial extension between a first end connectable to a source of lubricant and a longitudinally opposite second end, a cap attached to the second end, a piston slidably movable inside the housing between the first end and the second end of the housing. The cap is attached to the second end of the housing by a snap connection for blocking the axial translation between cap and the housing, the cap and the housing having respectively a first flat surface and a second flat surface contacting each other for preventing rotation of the cap around a longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Jacob Djernes Madsen, Kenneth Stoltenberg Larsen
  • Elevator arrangement
    Patent number: 10399819
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an elevator arrangement, which comprises at least two elevator cars that are connected to each other with suspension ropes or corresponding and are configured to move simultaneously with each other and reciprocally in an elevator hoistway, and a hoisting machine provided with at least one traction sheave or corresponding. The arrangement comprises at least one compensation means for compensating positioning inaccuracies caused by loading of the elevator cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Matti Räsänen
  • Pneumatic vacuum elevator cabin guides
    Patent number: 10351388
    Abstract: A first adjustable cabin rail guide is moveably attached to a structural member of an elevator cabin. A second adjustable cabin rail guide is similarly moveably attached to a structural member of an elevator cabin. The first and second adjustable cabin rail guides cooperate together to reduce sound and increase operational efficiency. A piece of textile or similar material is attached to a tube forming the friction portion of the guide. The use of textile thereby reduces the sound of the travel upon the rail associated with the inner portion of the elevator cylinder as the cabin transits therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventors: Carlos M. Ascua, Juan Carlos de Ledebur
  • Plate-link chain
    Patent number: 10344823
    Abstract: A plate-link chain, in particular for a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle, having plate links which are connected to each other in an articulated manner by pairs of rocker pressure members, each including two rocker pressure members. The plate links and the rocker pressure members are designed in such a way as to bear against each other at respective flat contact surfaces so that the load on plate-link bands of the plate links is nearly torque-free during operation of the plate-link chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Götz
  • Elevator systems
    Patent number: 10336578
    Abstract: An elevator system comprising an elevator cabin, and a traction wire rope for driving the elevator cabin and/or a safety wire rope, wherein the elevator system further comprises an upper transverse element provided above the elevator cabin and adapted to be guided along the traction wire rope and/or the safety wire rope, and a support structure which is adapted to support the upper transverse element and substantially impede its movement in a downwards direction and in a horizontal direction, and to allow movement of the upper transverse element in an upwards direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: AIP APS
    Inventor: Carlos Legua
  • Vibration damper for elevator linear propulsion system
    Patent number: 10329123
    Abstract: An elevator system may include a stationary support structure defining a hoistway; a car disposed in the hoistway; a linear propulsion assembly for applying a force to the car, the assembly including a first rail engaged to one of the support structure and the car, a plurality of magnets mounted to the first rail, a second rail co-extending with and spaced laterally from the first rail and engaged to the other of the support structure and the car, and a plurality of electric coils mounted to the second rail; and, a damper engaged to at least one of the first and second rails for dissipating vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Arthur Blanc