Abstract: A shaker apparatus having a platform for carrying a load, a supporting base disposed beneath said platform, drive means carried by the base and operatively connected with the platform to provide horizontal shaking of the platform in an orbital motion with respect to the base, eccentric idler devices connecting the base to the platform for maintaining the platform in a substantially planar orbit substantially parallel to the base during the horizontal shaking of the platform and to eliminate backlash, and alignment elements associated with the eccentric idler devices to prevent the transmission of rigid, non-yielding force loadings between the platform and the base through one of the eccentric idler devices when the force loadings are generated at another of the eccentric idler devices or by the drive means. A second embodiment includes alignment and support structure to prevent transmission of rigid, non-yielding force loadings and to support the platform.

Abstract: An elevator system in which hall calls from an independent inconspicuous riser (IR) are handled by the same dispatcher as hall calls from the normal hall call riser. Each floor of the building is assigned its own unique timing scan slot position for detecting normal hall calls, with the number of scan slots being at least twice the number of floors in the building. IR calls appear in scan slot positions for floors which are not in the actual building, and the dispatching function treats the building as though it had twice its actual number of floors. A car on IR duty translates its advanced car position into the imaginary portion of the building, before sending its advanced position signal to the dispatching function. When a car on IR duty receives an assignment from the dispatching function, its associated car controller translates an assignment for a fictitious floor to an actual floor of the building, and it utilizes its actual advanced car position in the process of serving the IR call.

Abstract: A PWM inverter in which the maximum three-phase RMS pole-to-pole output voltage is increased, to more efficiently utilize a fixed DC power supply, by generating substantially sinusoidal changing pole voltages having no values within predetermined zones adjacent to each power supply limit, and by switching each pole voltage to a power supply limit for a predetermined number of electrical degrees during each half cycle, resulting in step changes in the pole voltage waveforms from the substantially sinusoidal changing waveform to a fixed power supply limit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively controlling the energization of a plurality of lamps in an elevator system, utilizing a microcomputer based lamp controller, and for detecting failure of the lamps while utilizing a minimum number of communication lines. A first communication line synchronizes signals which are placed on the remaining communication lines. Signals indicating the need for lamp energization are detected by the lamp controller. When such signals are recognized by the lamp controller, the lamp controller prepares and places signals on a second communication line which requests lamp energization of the associated lamps, and it stores indications of the requests. Signals responsive to the detection of actual energization of a lamp are placed on a third communication line and directed to the lamp controller.

Abstract: An elevator system in which an elevator car serves the floors of a building under the direction of a car controller. A hall lantern controller and associated hall lamps are located at each floor served by the elevator car. A serial hall lantern riser extends from the car controller past each floor served by the elevator car, with each hall lantern controller being connected to the serial riser. The car controller prepares serial messages for the riser, with each including a command for an identified hall lantern controller. Each hall lantern controller recognizes its own messages, it responds to the associated command, and it sends a serial acknowledgment signal back to the car controller.

Abstract: An elevator system, and method of monitoring same, which includes a plurality of elevator cars under the group supervisory control of at least first and second processors, which all share a common memory over a system bus. The first processor periodically monitors its own status, and it sets a predetermined location of the shared memory each time it finds its status to be normal. The second processor periodically checks the predetermined location, and upon finding it set, it resets it. The second processor also monitors its own status. The second processor triggers a retriggerable hardware timer each time it determines that the first processor and itself are both operating normally, with the trigger rate preventing the timer from reaching the end of a predetermined timing period. When the second processor finds the status of either processor to be abnormal, it terminates its triggering of the timer. The timer then provides a signal at the end of its timing period, which reinitializes both processors.

Abstract: A digital tachometer in which first pulses are produced at a rate proportional to the speed of a device. Second pulses are produced at a constant rate which exceeds the maximum rate of the first pulses, and a binary counter provides a binary count of the second pulses produced between two consecutive first pulses. A look-up table memory provides several blocks of addressable storage locations containing digital representations of speed. The MSB of the binary count selects a specific block of the memory, and the address of the selected block is derived from the binary count.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a desired terminal slowdown speed pattern as an elevator car approaches a terminal floor in the terminal slowdown zone. Markers are fixedly spaced in the zone, with their spacing being a direct function of their distance from the terminal floor. The markers are detected as the elevator car proceeds past them towards the terminal floor, and a train of signals T are produced having values responsive to the marker-to-marker time, i.e., the elapsed time between successive detections of markers. The velocity V of the elevator car is also detected, and the terminal slowdown speed pattern is provided as a function of the product of V and T, as scaled by a constant which includes the square root of the desired deceleration rate.

Abstract: A speed pattern generator, and method of generating a speed pattern, for use by an elevator car during a run to a target floor. The speed pattern includes a time based portion and a distance-to-go based portion. Calculations during the time based portion are minimized by calculating spaced points or decision speeds on the acceleration portion of the desired speed pattern. The points selected are those points at which decisions must be made as to whether the acceleration portion of the pattern should be continued. The pattern is changed at a predetermined jerk limited rate between the decision points, until a decision is made which indicates acceleration should be reduced to zero, either because the maximum desired magnitude of the speed pattern is being approached, or because the advanced floor position (AVP floor) of the elevator car has reached the target floor.

Abstract: An elevator system in which a count is maintained to enable a car to be leveled in the correct travel direction in the event the car stops outside the landing zone of a target floor. The count is incremented each time the advanced car position changes floors, and it is decremented each time the car is level with a floor during the run. If the car lands outside the landing zone, a zero count indicates the car overshot the floor, while a non-zero count indicates undershoot. The count, along with the travel direction of the run, which is stored in memory, thus determines the leveling direction to level the car with the target floor.

Abstract: An elevator system having an elevator car, a DC drive motor for driving the elevator car, an adjustable voltage DC source for the drive motor, overvoltage and overacceleration detectors responsive to the armature voltage of the drive motor, test apparatus for testing the operability of the detectors during each run of the elevator car, and a protective circuit. The protective circuit initiates an emergency stop of the elevator car in response to overvoltage, or overacceleration, and it prevents the elevator car from starting a new run when the test apparatus detected a malfunction during the prior run.

Abstract: A method of reinitializing an elevator system upon the return to service of an elevator car following the occurrence of an event which could result in the car stopping in the hatch without regard to floor level. The method includes the steps of determining if the elevator car is within a predetermined small distance from any floor, and if it is, the advanced car position is set to that floor. If the elevator car is not within this predetermined distance from a floor, the advanced car position is set to the closest floor in a predetermined travel direction, such as the travel direction of the car at the time of the event which terminated normal operation. The car is then moved to a predetermined floor, which is the floor of the advanced car position when there are no registered hall calls, and the floor of a predetermined car call, or hall call, where there is a registered call.

Abstract: An elevator system which develops information relative to car location in the associated building from an extensible coded tape in the hoistway. The tape is tensioned and then fixed at predetermined locations such that predetermined positional relationships between the tape and the hoistway remain fixed, notwithstanding compression of the building and temperature induced dimensional changes of the tape.

Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car and a drive machine having a DC drive motor, a dual converter, and a phase controller for providing gate drive signals for the dual converter. A reference signal relates to the desired motor armature current is developed in response to the operation of the elevator system. The reference signal indicates when the current source should be switched from one converter bank to the other converter bank. The switching is accomplished by a method which includes retarding the firing angle of the gate drive signals applied to the operative converter, until current is extinguished, applying the gate drive signals to the other converter bank, and advancing the firing angle towards rectification to initiate current flow in the on-coming converter. The rate at which the firing angle is advanced towards rectification is a function of the control signal.

Abstract: An elevator system having a plurality of cars under group supervisory control by a programmable dispatcher. A monitor detects dispatcher failure via a plurality of tests which includes timing each hall call, and performing predetermined checks, tests and comparisons for each call related to actual system operating conditions.

Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car, and control apparatus for controlling its speed, including a floor selector and a speed pattern generator. The speed pattern generator provides a running speed pattern, and a slowdown speed pattern. A smooth transfer from the running speed pattern to the slowdown speed pattern is achieved by the generation of first and second deceleration signals, and a transfer signal. When the floor selector issues a slowdown signal, the slowdown speed pattern is initiated and the first deceleration signal causes the running speed pattern to have a zero rate of change. First and second different relationships between the running speed pattern and the slowdown speed pattern then successively cause the issuance of the second deceleration signal and the transfer signal, with the second deceleration signal causing the running speed pattern to have a predetermined constant rate of change, less than that of the slowdown speed pattern, such that the patterns intersect.

Abstract: An elevator system which improves service to floors located below the main floor, i.e., basement and subbasement floors, by treating up and down hall calls originating from these floors as separate up and down basement zones. A hall call is allocated to a suitably conditioned busy car, if such a car can be found, and if the hall call cannot be so allocated, a demand is created for the zone associated with the call. Non-busy cars which are available for assignment are assigned to demands in a predetermined zone priority order, with the up basement zone being higher in this priority order than the down basement zone.

Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car, and control apparatus for controlling its speed, including a speed pattern generator. The speed pattern generator provides a running speed pattern, and a slowdown speed pattern, wherein the deceleration rate of the slowdown speed pattern may be different than the acceleration and deceleration rates of the running speed pattern. Bumpless transfer from the running speed pattern to the slowdown speed pattern is achieved by forcing the slowdown speed pattern to match the magnitude of the running speed pattern just prior to transfer, and by initiating transfer when the rate of change of the running speed pattern equals the rate of change to be followed by the slowdown speed pattern after it is no longer forced to match the magnitude of the running speed pattern.

Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car, and control apparatus for controlling the speed of the elevator car, including a speed pattern generator. The speed pattern generator provides a running speed pattern and a slowdown speed pattern, and it forces the slowdown speed pattern to match the running speed pattern prior to transfer between the speed patterns, to achieve a stepless transfer therebetween. It also automatically adjusts the deceleration rate of the slowdown speed pattern prior to transfer, such that by maintaining the deceleration rate at its value at the time of transfer, the elevator car will be decelerated at a constant rate, and the slowdown speed pattern will have a predetermined value when the elevator car is at a predetermined location relative to the target floor, enabling stepless transfer at this predetermined location from the slowdown speed pattern to a landing speed pattern which is initialized to the predetermined value.

Abstract: An elevator system including a plurality of elevator cars capable of individual, independent control, and a system processor which places the plurality of elevator cars under group control. A monitor responsive to the calls for elevator service, and the resetting thereof when a call has been served, removes the elevator cars from group control to allow them to operate upon independent control, when a call for elevator service exists for a predetermined period of time during which no call resets were generated.