Patents by Inventor Alan Stover Githens

Alan Stover Githens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Asymmetric and steered sheaves for twisted multi-belt elevator systems
    Patent number: 9932205
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car located in a hoistway. One or more belts are operably connected to the elevator car to drive and/or support the elevator car along the hoistway. The one or more belts are routed over one or more sheaves. The one or more sheaves include an outer surface rotatable about a central axis and a flange located at at least one lateral end of the sheave. The sheave further includes a tracking compensator to limit lateral motion of the belt along the outer surface to prevent the belt from contacting the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Alan Stover Githens
  • ASYMMETRIC AND STEERED SHEAVES FOR TWISTED MULTI-BELT ELEVATOR SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20170129743
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car located in a hoistway. One or more belts are operably connected to the elevator car to drive and/or support the elevator car along the hoistway. The one or more belts are routed over one or more sheaves. The one or more sheaves include an outer surface rotatable about a central axis and a flange located at at least one lateral end of the sheave. The sheave further includes a tracking compensator to limit lateral motion of the belt along the outer surface to prevent the belt from contacting the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Alan Stover Githens
  • Asymmetric and steered sheaves for twisted multi-belt elevator systems
    Patent number: 9643819
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car located in a hoistway. One or more belts are operably connected to the elevator car to drive and/or support the elevator car along the hoistway. The one or more belts are routed over one or more sheaves. The one or more sheaves include an outer surface rotatable about a central axis and a flange located at at least one lateral end of the sheave. The sheave further includes a tracking compensator to limit lateral motion of the belt along the outer surface to prevent the belt from contacting the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Alan Stover Githens
  • ASYMMETRIC AND STEERED SHEAVES FOR TWISTED MULTI-BELT ELEVATOR SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20160039639
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car located in a hoistway. One or more belts are operably connected to the elevator car to drive and/or support the elevator car along the hoistway. The one or more belts are routed over one or more sheaves. The one or more sheaves include an outer surface rotatable about a central axis and a flange located at at least one lateral end of the sheave. The sheave further includes a tracking compensator to limit lateral motion of the belt along the outer surface to prevent the belt from contacting the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Alan Stover Githens