Abstract: Disclosed is a method of retrofitting a legacy hoist machine including: attaching a primary brake assembly to an end surface of a machine shaft, and configuring a controller to: control the primary brake assembly to provide service braking; and control a brake drum assembly as a secondary brake assembly to thereby apply emergency braking.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator system component include one or more metallic cord tension elements extending along a length of the belt, and one or more non-metallic tension elements extending along a length of the belt. Each non-metallic tension element is formed from a non-metallic material. The one or more metallic cord tension elements and the one or more non-metallic tension elements are arrayed laterally across a lateral width of the belt. The belt may be used in an elevator system including a hoistway, a drive machine having a traction sheave coupled thereto, an elevator car movable within the hoistway. The belt is operably connected to the elevator car and interactive with the traction sheave to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway.

Abstract: A method of wear detection of a supporting structure of an elevator system includes measuring an electrical resistance of at least one tension member of a supporting structure via a monitoring system, the supporting structure operably connected to an elevator car and one or more sheaves of an elevator system. A threshold resistance is determined utilizing one or more indicators of an actual traffic pattern of the elevator car. The measured electrical resistance is compared to the threshold resistance, the result of the comparison indicative of wear of the at least one tension member.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator system component include one or more metallic cord tension elements extending along a length of the belt, and one or more non-metallic tension elements extending along a length of the belt. Each non-metallic tension element is formed from a non-metallic material. The one or more metallic cord tension elements and the one or more non-metallic tension elements are arrayed laterally across a lateral width of the belt. The belt may be used in an elevator system including a hoistway, a drive machine having a traction sheave coupled thereto, an elevator car movable within the hoistway. The belt is operably connected to the elevator car and interactive with the traction sheave to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling speed of an elevator car in an elevator system is disclosed. The elevator car may have a speed governor adapted to trip when an electrical tripping point of the speed governor is reached. The elevator system may also have a control system for controlling operation of the elevator car, the control system providing a speed reducing switch adapted to trip when a software tripping point of the speed reducing switch is reached, the software tripping point being reached before the electrical tripping point of the speed governor.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling speed of an elevator car in an elevator system is disclosed. The elevator car may have a speed governor adapted to trip when an electrical tripping point of the speed governor is reached. The elevator system may also have a control system for controlling operation of the elevator car, the control system providing a speed reducing switch adapted to trip when a software tripping point of the speed reducing switch is reached, the software tripping point being reached before the electrical tripping point of the speed governor.

Abstract: A wireless communications system for use with an elevator system in a building includes a first transceiver connected to an elevator controller and a second transceiver located remotely within the building. The first and second transceivers each have antennas which allow wireless transmission of data between the transceivers. A building monitoring center is hard-wired to the second transceiver to allow personnel to monitor and interact with each elevator controller. A third transceiver and antenna are located outside of the building and are connected to a central monitoring station to allow remote monitoring and interaction with each elevator controller. The wireless communications system can be used with a network of elevators where each elevator has a unique electronic address to allow discreet wireless communications with a specific elevator.

Abstract: An elevator rescue system includes a power source of back-up electrical power. A manually-operated, rescue enable switch switchably permits the transmission of electrical power from the power source to a motor brake coil of an elevator car during a rescue operation such that the energized coil releases the motor brake to move the car to a desired landing. A speed detector measures the speed of the elevator car and thereupon generates a speed control signal corresponding to the speed of the car. An overspeed detection circuit has a first input for being actuated when receiving electrical power from the power source, a second input for receiving the speed control signal, and an output for transmitting electrical power to the motor brake coil when the speed control signal is below a predetermined value and for automatically stopping the transmission of electrical power when the speed control signal becomes higher than a predetermined value. A manually-operated brake release switch has an input and an output.

Abstract: An elevator rescue system includes a power source of back-up electrical power. A manually-operated, rescue enable switch switchably permits the transmission of electrical power from the power source to a motor brake coil of an elevator car during a rescue operation such that the energized coil releases the motor brake to move the car to a desired landing. A speed detector measures the speed of the elevator car and thereupon generates a speed control signal corresponding to the speed of the car. An overspeed detection circuit has a first input for being actuated when receiving electrical power from the power source, a second input for receiving the speed control signal, and an output for transmitting electrical power to the motor brake coil when the speed control signal is below a predetermined value and for automatically stopping the transmission of electrical power when the speed control signal becomes higher than a predetermined value. A manually-operated brake release switch has an input and an output.

Abstract: To sense the level of light in the passenger compartment 7 of an elevator cab 8, light at the proximal end of an optical fiber 4 is monitored by an optical detector 25 feeding a variable voltage divider 18, which allows setting a trip point at a desired level of light within the passenger compartment, thereby providing a signal indicating whether the light is adequate or not to a remote elevator monitoring apparatus 23. The trip point may be selected on installation by adjusting a potentiometer while watching an optical indication 17 of reaching the trip point, or it may be determined by software routines.

Abstract: A method which provides for level monitoring of an elevator car within a hoistway at a plurality of floors by providing a plurality of sensed signals which is indicative of an elevator position of the elevator car relative to a plurality of targets having a plurality of light absorptive surfaces and a plurality of light interactive regions, the plurality of targets mounted within the hoistway at the plurality of floors. The plurality of sensed signals is processed to provide a leveling variable, a floor number variable and a direction of travel variable which indicate a direction of travel of the elevator car within the hoistway. The leveling variable, floor number variable and direction of travel variable are stored at a remote elevator monitoring central processor.

Abstract: A master data processor (18) may send data indicative of equipment condition through a modem (24) to a modem (26) of a data processor (28) in a local monitoring center (over telephone lines) whenever they occur in response to a seize mode (59) or between established times of day (64, 68, 69), or whenever the telephone line becomes free (65)if the data messages amount to alarm conditions (65). Calls can be received at the local monitoring center 14 between said preestablished times (79-82) after a predetermined number of rings (83, 85).

Abstract: A fire and security system includes a hierarchical architecture with a central control processor monitoring each of a plurality of multi detector-occupancy-temperature-smoke (MDOTS) sensors mounted in each of the monitored spaces of the building, the MDOTS sensors connected in multi drop fashion in sensor loop networks which are connected to one of a plurality of master controls, each master control monitoring the sensor outputs from one or more sensor loops and reporting the alarm status of any one sensor to the central.

Abstract: A theft alarm system for use in combination with a digital signal PBX telephone system, includes a plurality of electronic tethers connected to individual pieces of protected equipment. Removal of the tether is automatically detected by a local security monitor which reports the condition to a central security controller via the PBX system. The security controller then provides dial-up reporting of the theft and/or sets an audible alarm at the equipment site.