Abstract: Elevator systems are described. The elevator systems include an elevator car movable along guide rails along an elevator shaft, the car having a platform, a ceiling, and car structural members, with car panels arranged to define a cab, and a car operating panel therein. An overspeed safety system includes first and second safety brakes and electromechanical actuators, with the brakes operable to engage with the guide rails to stop movement of the elevator car. A control system is operably connected to the electromechanical actuators and configured to trigger the electromechanical actuators due to at least a detected overspeed event. The control system is located on top of the ceiling, within the ceiling, beneath the platform, within the platform, behind a car panel, or within the car operating panel.

Abstract: Elevator systems are described. The elevator systems include an elevator car movable along guide rails within an elevator shaft. The elevator car has a car frame with a platform, a ceiling, and car structural members. A distance between the platform and the ceiling is defined as a car height HC. An overspeed safety system is provided and includes first and second safety brakes and first and second electromechanical actuators positioned within the car structural members within the car height HC. The safety brakes are operable to engage with the guide rails to stop movement of the elevator car.

Abstract: A travelling cable end hitch and rail arrangement for an elevator system includes a rail assembly fixed to an elevator car of the elevator system, a movable device positioned at and movable along the rail assembly, and an end hitch portion of a travelling cable of the elevator system secured to the movable device and movable with the movable device along the rail assembly. A method of accessing a travelling cable end hitch of an elevator system includes accessing a travelling cable from inside of an elevator car, pulling the travelling cable upward from inside of the elevator car, moving an end hitch portion of the travelling cable along a rail assembly secured to a bottom of the elevator car via pulling the travelling cable upward, and inspecting the end hitch portion from inside the elevator car when the end hitch portion reaches a first end of the rail assembly.

Abstract: An elevator car is provided and includes a car frame which translates along a guide rail during ascents or descents, a safety disposed along the car frame to selectively engage with the guide rail to selectively permit vertical elevator car movement, an electronic safety actuator (ESA) and a control system. The ESA actuates the safety and includes an ESA body secured to the car frame with horizontal maneuverability and defining a groove through which the guide rail translates during the vertical elevator car movement, a magnetic guide operably disposed within the groove to exert magnetic force on the guide rail and a sensor disposed within the groove to sense horizontal distance between the guide rail and corresponding portions of the ESA body. The control system controls the magnetic guide to exert a magnetic force in accordance with reading of the sensor to maneuver the ESA body horizontally.

Abstract: A tool for adjusting landing door locks in an elevator shaft is provided. The tool includes a first part that is adjustable in length and configured to be mounted in an elevator door opening and a second part movably attached to the first part and configured to simulate an elevator door coupling, the second part moveable along the length of the first part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a brake assembly for providing safety braking to an elevator, the elevator operably disposed against a guide rail, the brake assembly including: a housing including a cavity, the cavity slidingly containing at least one wedge including a first wedge, wherein the at least one wedge slides in the cavity between a first position and a second position, and in the first position the at least one wedge creates minimal frictional resistance to movement against the guide rail which extends through the cavity, and in the second position the at least one wedge frictionally engages the guide rail to resist movement.

Abstract: Elevator car frames are provided. The elevator car frames include a first upright, a second upright, a first support element connected to the first upright, a second support element connected to the second upright, and a retractable crosshead having a first portion and a second portion extending between the first and second support elements, wherein the retractable crosshead is operable between a first state wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected and a second state wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated.

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.

Abstract: Elevator toe guard assemblies are provided. The elevator toe guard assemblies include an elevator car frame, a buffer located within an elevator shaft, and a toe guard mounted to the elevator car frame. The toe guard has a first state being a fully extended state, a second state wherein the toe guard does not contact a pit floor during operation of an elevator car, and a third state wherein at least a portion of the toe guard is moved relative to the elevator car frame during an impact between the buffer and the pit floor.

Abstract: A building settling detection system having at least one sensor configured between a guide rail track of an elevator system and a pit of the elevator system and a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, the controller configured to monitor an output of the at least one sensor and transmit a notification to a remote location when the output of the at least one sensor meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating that the predetermined threshold is met or exceeded.

Abstract: A locking system for an elevator car includes a moveable panel of the elevator car moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position provides access to a region external to the elevator car. Also included is a plate operatively coupled to an exterior surface of the moveable panel. Further included is a magnetic locking member operatively coupled to an exterior surface of a fixed panel of the elevator car in communication with an electrical member, wherein the plate exerts magnetic forces with the magnetic locking member, the magnetic locking member magnetically coupled to the plate in a first electrical condition of the electrical member to maintain the moveable panel in the closed position and decoupled from the plate in a second electrical condition of the electrical member to allow the moveable panel to be moved to the open position.

Abstract: An elevator car panel configured to open and methods of opening the same. The elevator car panel includes a handrail configured on a first side of the elevator car panel and a locking mechanism configured on a second side of the elevator car panel, the second side opposite the first side. The handrail is operably connected to the locking mechanism such that movement of the handrail from a first position to a second position operates the locking mechanism to transition from a locked position to an unlocked position and, when in the unlocked position, the elevator car panel is openable.

Abstract: A hoistway door locking system includes an elevator shaft. Also included is an elevator car disposed within the elevator shaft and moveable therein between a plurality of access openings located at a plurality of levels of the elevator shaft. Further included is a plurality of locking mechanisms, at least one of the plurality of locking mechanisms being located at each of the plurality of access openings, wherein each of the plurality of locking mechanisms is operable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, and wherein only a single locking mechanism may be in the unlocked condition at a specific time, the unlocked condition occurring upon alignment of the elevator car and the respective access opening having the single locking mechanism.

Abstract: Elevator inspection systems having an elevator car moveable within an elevator shaft, a camera mounted to the elevator car and operable to inspect components of an elevator system, at least one hidden-component located within the elevator shaft, wherein the at least one hidden-component is a component of the elevator system that is located such that the camera cannot achieve direct, line-of-sight inspection of the hidden-component, and at least one mirror fixedly mounted to the elevator shaft and positioned such that when the camera views the at least one mirror, the camera can capture a reflected image of the at least one hidden-component.

Abstract: Guide rails connectors and methods of making the same are provided. A guide rail connector (208) includes a base (222) having a first end (232) and a second end (234) and defining a surface therebetween, a blade portion (224) extending from the surface of the base (222) and defining a height from the base (222), wherein a first height at the first end (232) is less than a second height at the second end (234), the blade portion (224) having a constant blade width extending from the first end (232) to the second end (234), a first attachment portion (228) extending from the first end (232) of the base (222), and a second attachment portion (230) extending from the second end (234) of the base (222). The base (222) defines a transitional base (226) relative to the blade portion (224), extending from the first end (232) to the second end (234), wherein the transitional base (226) has a variable cross-section extending from the first end (232) to the second end (234).

Abstract: A flexible elevator machine frame is provided. The flexible elevator machine frame includes a first end supportive of a motor, a second end supportive of a brake, a central portion and an adapter assembly. The central portion is interposable between the first and second ends and is configured to accommodate a base traction assembly between the motor and the brake. The central portion includes first and second end sides which are associated with the first and second ends, respectively, and which are configured to be fastened together. The adapter assembly is configured to be fastened between the first and second end sides to accommodate the base and an additional traction assembly between the motor and the brake.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically checking an operational status of electrical components of an elevator system, the methods including setting a first power state of all addressed electrical components of the elevator system, measuring a control value power consumption with a power consumption counter, switching a first addressed electrical component into a second power state, monitoring a power consumption associated with the first addressed electrical component, comparing the power consumption associated with the first addressed electrical component with the control value power consumption, and when the power consumption associated with the first addressed electrical component is not greater than the control value power consumption, performing a detected failure operation.

Abstract: A runby monitoring system for an elevator system includes a sensor fixed in a hoistway of the elevator system, and a sensed element located at a moving component of the elevator system. The sensor is configured to detect a presence of the sensed element when the sensed element is substantially aligned with the sensor in the hoistway. The detection of the presence of the sensed element at an expected elevator system operational point is indicative of a clearance between the moving component of the elevator system and a lowermost extent of the hoistway within a preselected range.

Abstract: An elevator electrical safety actuation system and method are provided. The system includes an actuation device configured to operate a brake device. The actuation device includes a locking mechanism (542), a first portion (534) configured to be engaged and retained by the locking mechanism (542) in a first portion-first state and moveable to a second state wherein the first portion is not retained by the locking mechanism (542), a second portion (536) in contact with the first portion (534) when the second portion (536) is in a second portion-first state and the first portion (534) is in the first portion-first state, the second portion (536) moveable to a second portion-second state, wherein the second portion (536) is operably connected to the brake device, and a resetting mechanism (546) configured to force the first portion (534) from the first portion-second state to the first portion-first state.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car within an elevator hoistway; a camera; a network; and an image analysis system in communication with the camera over the network; the camera providing a reference image to the image analysis system; the camera providing a current image to the image analysis system; the image analysis system comparing the current image to the reference image to detect a difference between the current image to the reference image; the image analysis system initiating a maintenance notification to a user device in response to the comparing.