Abstract: The position of an object which is moved along a prescribed path, for example an elevator cage, is continuously and accurately monitored by coupling an acoustic signal generator carried by the object to an acoustic signal conductor which extends along the path, the acoustic signal conductor being characterized by the velocity of sound propagation therealong being uniform and constant. The position of the object is calculated by processing signals generated by transducers located at the opposite ends of the acoustic signal conductor, the signal processing determining the delay between receipt of a sound signal originating at the object at the opposite ends of the conductor.

Abstract: A remote controller linkage is established to an elevator system having one or more elevators and using a data transmission network (21) comprising at least one serial communication bus for the transmission of control signals between the operating and/or other devices belonging to the system, car calls, landing calls and other information obtained from and/or generated by the devices included in the elevator system. At least one of the serial communication buses belonging to the data transmission network (21) of the elevator system is connected to a functional unit (3,7,10,13) fitted to receive messages sent to it by a remote controller (1,22). On the basis of the message received, the functional unit (3,7,10,13) transmits into the serial communication bus a message containing at least one control, call or other datum and the bus address of the transmitting functional unit (3,7,10,13).

Abstract: In a system for starting elevator machinery driven by a synchronous motor, current is fed to the motor by a frequency converter and a traction sheave is connected to the motor to move the elevator car with hoisting ropes. The angle of the magnetic field of the stator is determined when the elevator stops. When the motor is started again, a new value of the angle of the magnetic field of the stator is determined on the basis of the change in the load signal. The frequency converter is adjusted so that a magnetic field whose direction corresponds to the new angle of the magnetic field of the stator is generated in the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning and illuminating elevator car call button switches includes an individual switch and illumination circuit for each floor served by the car and a control circuit connected in a row/column matrix with the individual circuits for scanning for actuated switches and illuminating push buttons associated with registered calls. Each individual circuit has a switch module which responds to scanning signals from the control circuit by generating a switch actuated signal when the call button switch located therein is actuated. The control circuit generates illumination signals to each individual circuit for which a call has been registered to activate LED's and light the associated push button. The control circuit generates the scanning signal, reads the switch actuated signals and generates the illumination signals during separate timed cycles.

Abstract: An electrical branch bypass arrangement includes a first branch, a second branch and means for opening the first branch and for bypassing the second branch. Preferably, the means includes a plurality of plugs mechanically bundled together so that each of the plugs is spatially fixed with respect to one another and all of the plugs are movable as a unit.

Abstract: A multicar elevator system for servicing a plurality of floors in a building includes a plurality of elevator cars for servicing selected floors of the building; a controller for dispatching the plurality of elevator cars; input means for providing a transfer floor position signal to the controller; and an adjustable transfer floor for facilitating transfer of passengers between the plurality of elevator cars, wherein the controller adjusts the location of the adjustable transfer floor in response to the transfer floor position signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a speed limiter in an elevator installation includes a drive wheel engaging a cable groove of a cable guide roller in the speed limiter. The drive wheel is rotated by rotational device having a speed control for linearly increasing the speed of rotation of the cable guide roller until the speed limiter is triggered. The rotation of the drive wheel is detected by an evaluating device attached to the rotational device and having an opti-electronic system for generating a light beam toward reflectors on the drive wheel and detecting reflected light beams. The triggering instant of the speed limiter is detected by an acceleration sensor connected to the evaluating device which then calculates the triggering speed from the speed of the drive wheel at the triggering instant.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an elevator brake assembly (1) includes a control circuit (CM) for selectively connecting an electrical power supply (28) to a brake armature coil (9) to move an armature plate (4) between a brake actuated rest position against a brake friction lining (5) and a brake released hold position adjacent a brake housing (2). The control circuit (CM) applies a first voltage to the coil (9) to move the armature plate (4) against a force applied by a spring (3) from the rest position to the hold position in response to a signal on a brake pick signal line (BP). The control circuit (CM) applies a second voltage to the coil (9) to control the movement of the armature plate (4) by the spring (3) from the hold position to the rest position in accordance with a predetermined velocity versus distance curve to achieve minimum impact on the lining (5) at the rest position.

Abstract: A group controller for controlling elevator cars in a building having a plurality of floors includes a traffic and traffic rate estimator for providing fuzzy estimates of traffic and traffic rate; a closed loop fuzzy logic controller for providing a control parameter in response to the fuzzy estimates of traffic and traffic rate and in response to an elevator control system output variable, the closed loop fuzzy logic controller having membership functions for fuzzy sets of the control parameter; an adaptive controller for modifying the membership functions of the fuzzy sets of the control parameter in response to the elevator control system output variable; and an elevator dispatcher for controlling the operation of the elevator cars during single source traffic conditions in response to the control parameter.

Abstract: A system for regional and local supervision and monitoring of elevator equipment, that includes a modular system containing a service center set of equipment and an on-site set of equipment connected to at least one building. Communication between these sets of equipment is implemented using a remote communication link. A connection from an elevator car to a service center and from a service center to an elevator car is provided through the on-site equipment. A connection between an elevator car and a preselected service point can be established by the on-site equipment.

Abstract: An elevator system, having a three phase rectifier (20) which converts energy from a three phase AC main (21) to provide DC power on a bus (19) to a three phase inverter (18) that drives a three phase inductive hoist motor (17), utilizes regenerated energy applied (46, 47) to a boost regulator (52) to drive (54, 55) a flywheel motor generator (26) to store the regenerated energy in the form of inertia therein. When the flywheel motor generator reaches a limiting speed, any continued regenerated energy is dumped (59, 60) in an energy dissipating device (61). During periods of high demand, the inertial energy stored in the flywheel motor generator is utilized (67, 68) to add energy to the DC bus to provide additional current to the three phase inverter for driving the hoist motor. The control is provided by software embedded in an elevator computer (such as used for dispatching and motion control).

Abstract: An assembly for a no-contact power reversing system for an elevator car gate comprises a lost-motion linkage comprising inner and outer telescoping members, the inner member having an upper extension which stabilizes and protects the electrical cable leading to the scanner unit of the device during retraction and extension of the scanner unit mounting as the gate approaches and leaves full closed position. The linkage and associated parts mounted in such a way that the scanner unit is protected against pilferage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the speed of an a.c. elevator motor (10) by means of a frequency converter (8) consisting of a rectifier bridge (12) and an inverter bridge (14) with an intermediate circuit between them. The frequency of the frequency converter is adjusted until it corresponds to a frequency reference (f.sub.ref) corresponding to the speed reference (v.sub.ref,v.sub.ref ') of the motor. The velocity of the motor (v.sub.real) is measured to form a speed feedback signal. According to the invention, the apparatus has elements (24,26) for correcting the speed reference (v.sub.ref) on the basis of the change occurring in the voltage (U.sub.c) of the intermediate circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a door operator mounted in a space between a cab fascia and a sill edge plane. A feature of the door operator is a drive unit connected to a drive pulley, the drive unit being mounted in a central portion of the door operator, wherein the drive pulley provides a drive force to a linear transmission element. Another feature of the door operator is a modular mounting plate, wherein the door operator is mounted to the mounting plate, and in turn, the mounting plate is mounted in the space between the cab fascia and the sill edge plane.

Abstract: In a lift installation in which a multi-beam curtain (primary beam) extends across a lift car door opening, auxiliary transmitters direct secondary beams towards a detection zone in front of landing doors. The multi-beam curtain is intercepted by a passenger entering the lift to prevent premature door closure. However, premature closure is also prevented when a passenger stands in front of the landing doors, thereby causing some of the secondary beam to be reflected onto auxiliary receivers. This provides a low cost solution to the problem of non-detection of an obstruction in the closing path of the landing doors, but not intercepting the primary beam system and also provides an increase in the passenger convenience of the lift, as the doors are held open for a passenger approaching the lift, but not yet interrupting the primary beams.

Abstract: An elevator control system employs dynamic braking and achieves reduced energy consumption as compared to known elevator control systems. A synchronous motor using a permanent magnet is used as a hoist machine. A contactor short circuits the input terminals of the synchronous motor via a resistor. If an emergency stop is triggered while an elevator car is opened for passengers to enter or exit, the contactor short circuits the input terminals of the synchronous motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting weak beams in an beam detection system includes a plurality of emitters for radiating beams of energy, a plurality of detectors for providing detector signals in response to the beams of energy radiated by said plurality of emitters and means for detecting if the beams radiated by said plurality of emitters are weak. If weak beam is detected, the beam is determined inoperative by the obstruction detection system and is not considered in subsequent obstruction detection.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing an evacuation journey of an elevator car includes at least one brake control apparatus mounted on the car and an evacuation drive. In the case of an interruption in the normal travel of the car, an evacuation journey is initiated by an evacuation control in the evacuation drive. The elevator brake is released and the evacuation control moves the car to the next floor at a reduced speed. On reaching the next floor, a brake pawl of the brake control apparatus pivots into a switching opening or runs up onto a switching cam and thus initiates the final braking of the car by actuation of a brake control contact. Upon arrival in the door zone, the car and floor doors are pushed partially open by a spring so that confined passengers can further open the doors and release themselves.

Abstract: Elevator installation. This device enables an implicit input of destination calls in elevator installations, with an information transmitter, after a corresponding enquiry, sending data to a recognition device, wherein the data can contain direct information about the desired destination floor or serve for the identification of the elevator user and thus enable access to the information, filed in a storage device, about the destination floor, with the storage device being accommodated in a processing unit of an elevator control. The communication between the recognition device and the information transmitter takes place via radio frequencies and with the aid of the obtained data, the destination floor is determined in the processing unit and conveyed to the lift control, with the allocation being communicated to the passenger on a display device, with the process of the call entry taking place automatically, contactless and independent of the orientation of the information transmitter, i.e.

Abstract: The dangers of excessive battery current and battery heating are effectively prevented by maintaining a heat sensitive cut-off device in the cut-off state as long as an over-current situation exists. An inside case positioned in the enclosed space between the batteries and the outside shell houses both the cut-off device and a parallel connected heating resistor. Double insulation allows the heating resistor to efficiently transfer Joule heat to the adjacent cut-off device. Effective use of space and heat transfer properties also reduces post-cut-off battery current and results in no battery pack volume increase.