Abstract: A brake assembly for an elevator system is provided and includes a guide rail configured to guide movement of an elevator car. Also included is a safety brake operatively coupled to the elevator car and having a brake surface configured to frictionally engage the guide rail. Further included is a safety brake actuation mechanism operatively coupled to the safety brake and configured to actuate the safety brake to a braking position. The mechanism includes a first sensing device disposed on a first side of the guide rail to detect a first condition reading of the elevator car relative to the guide rail. The mechanism also includes a second sensing device disposed on a second, opposite side of the guide rail to detect a second condition reading of the elevator car relative to the guide rail, the first and second condition readings collectively analyzed to determine an overall condition reading.

Abstract: A brake assembly for an elevator system includes a guide rail configured to guide movement of an elevator car. Also included is a safety brake operatively coupled to the elevator car and having a brake surface configured to frictionally engage the guide rail. Further included is a safety brake actuation mechanism operatively coupled to the safety brake and configured to actuate the brake member to a braking position. The safety brake actuation mechanism includes a sensing device disposed at a distance from the guide rail to determine a speed of the elevator car relative to the guide rail. The safety brake actuation mechanism also includes a first rigid plate having an inner edge disposed at a distance from the guide rail that is less than the distance that the sensing device is spaced from the guide rail to prevent the sensing device from contacting debris disposed on the guide rail.

Abstract: An elevator car location sensing system includes at least one first barometric pressure sensor disposed at a sensor position. The first barometric pressure sensor is configured to measure at least one first barometric pressure at the sensor position. An elevator control module is configured to electrically communicate with at least one mobile terminal device that is movable among a plurality of different altitudes. The elevator control module receives a second barometric pressure from the mobile terminal device located at a current altitude, and determines the current altitude based on a comparison between the first barometric pressure and the second barometric pressure.

Abstract: A brake is provided. The brake may include a rotor having a plurality of magnets and a plurality of ferromagnetic poles radially disposed thereabout, and a stator having a plurality of shunts and a plurality of teeth radially disposed thereabout. At least one of the plurality of shunts and the plurality of teeth may be configured to selectively move between an engagement state and a free engagement state. The teeth may be configured to generate magnetic flux with the ferromagnetic poles so as to generate a braking torque during the engagement state. The shunts may be configured to redirect the magnetic flux therethrough and reduce the braking torque between the teeth and the ferromagnetic poles during the free engagement state.

Abstract: A brake (26) for an elevator system (10) and method of using the brake (26) is disclosed. The brake (26) may comprise first and second brake linings (38) configured to be frictionally engageable with a rail (14) of the elevator system (10), a first biasing member (34) configured to urge the first brake lining (38) to engage the rail (14), and a first actuator (30) configured to move the first brake lining (38) to disengage the rail (14) when the first actuator (30) is energized. The brake (26) may be configured to be mounted on an elevator car (16) of the elevator system (10).

Abstract: A brake member actuation mechanism for a safety brake member of a hoisted structure includes a brake actuator (12) formed of a ferro-magnetic material configured to be electronically actuated to magnetically engage a guide rail (14) upon detection of the hoisted structure exhibiting a predetermined condition, wherein the magnetic engagement of the brake actuator and the guide rail actuates movement of the safety brake member into a braking position.

Abstract: A braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure includes a guide rail (14) and a brake member (10). Also included is a brake member actuation mechanism (12) operatively coupled to the brake member and configured to magnetically engage the guide rail to actuate the brake member from a non-braking position to a braking position. Further included is an outer structure having a slot (64) configured to guide the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the slot includes a first angled region and a second angled region that intersect at an outer location. Also included is a spring loaded lever (202) operatively coupled to the outer structure and configured to engage the brake member actuation mechanism during a resetting operation, wherein the spring loaded lever biases the brake member actuation mechanism toward the outer location of the slot of the outer structure to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to housing assembly for a safety actuation device, the assembly including a mounting plate, a first channel wall and a second channel wall extending substantially perpendicular from the mounting plate, the first channel wall including a first channel wall interior surface, and the second channel wall including a second channel wall interior surface, wherein the first channel wall is positioned substantially parallel to the second channel wall to form a channel therebetween, and at least one guide device affixed to the first channel wall interior surface and the second channel wall interior surface.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a battery; a machine having a motor to impart motion to an elevator car; an inverter having a plurality of switches to convert DC power from the battery to AC power for the machine in a motoring mode; a speed sensor coupled to the machine, the speed sensor to generate a speed signal indicative of machine speed; and a controller to apply braking signals to a group of the switches in a braking mode, the braking signals having a duty cycle in response to the speed signal.

Abstract: An exemplary door frame assembly that is useful in an elevator system includes a plurality of door frame members including a header, a sill and a plurality of jambs. The door frame members are configured to be secured into a desired position along a hoistway. At least one guide rail bracket is supported by at least one of the door frame members. The guide rail bracket is moveable relative to the door frame member between a handling position in which the guide rail bracket is generally parallel to at least one of the header or the sill and a deployed position in which the guide rail bracket is generally perpendicular to the at least one of the header or sill.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator door frame includes a sill member and a header member. A plurality of jamb members are generally perpendicular to the sill member and the header member. A plurality of guide rail brackets are supported on at least one of the sill member, the header member or one of the jamb members. The guide rail brackets are configured to receive a portion of a guide rail.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a selectively operable safety brake including a magnetic brake operably coupled to a rod and disposed adjacent to a metal component, the magnetic brake configured to move between an engaging position and a non-engaging position, said magnetic brake, when in the engaging position contemporaneously with motion of the machine, moving the rod in to thereby move the safety brake from the non-braking state into the braking state, and an electromagnetic component including a retention apparatus, the electromagnetic component configured to move the magnetic brake from the engaging position to the non-engaging position upon receipt of a resetting signal.

Abstract: A feedback system for a motor of an elevator system is provided. The feedback system may include a first sensor and a processing circuit. The first sensor may be disposed in proximity to a drive component of the elevator system and configured to detect a change in position of the drive component. The processing circuit may be configured to receive a first data signal from the first sensor corresponding to the change in position of the drive component and generate a feedback signal for controlling the motor based on the first data signal.

Abstract: A ropeless elevator system (80) is disclosed. The ropeless elevator system (80) includes a plurality of hoistways (22, 26, 72) in which a plurality of elevator cars (24) circulate to a plurality of floors. Each hoistway (22, 26, 72) is assigned to a single direction of travel for the elevator cars (24). The single direction of travel is either upward or downward. A first quantity of upward hoistways (86) is unequal to a second quantity of downward hoistways (88), and a speed of each of the plurality of elevator cars (24) in the upward hoistways (86) is greater than a speed of each of the plurality of elevator cars in the downward hoistways (88).

Abstract: An exemplary elevator control system includes an elevator drive. A safety chain is configured to monitor at least one condition of a selected elevator system component. A first switch is operable to interrupt power supply to the elevator drive. The first switch is controlled by the safety chain depending on the monitored condition. A second switch is in series with the first switch. The second switch is operable to interrupt power supply to the elevator drive. The second switch is controlled by the safety chain depending on the monitored condition. A monitoring device is configured to determine when the first and second switches should be in a power supplying condition for supplying power to the elevator drive. One such circumstance is when it is desirable to cause movement of the elevator car. The monitoring device determines that the first switch is in the power supplying condition for allowing the safety chain to control the second switch for supplying power to the elevator drive.

Abstract: A device for a friction force provider for an emergency safety actuator for an elevator is disclosed. The friction force provider may include a housing having a first end and an opposing second end, where the first end may define an opening. The friction force provider may further include a primary magnet positioned within the housing and configured to move between an armed position and a working position. The primary magnet may be configured to create a force on a rail of an elevator system in the working position and be held within the housing in the armed position.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a primary source of electrical power; a power unit having a power supply, the power supply producing DC power from the primary source of electrical power; and a rescue storage device providing power to the elevator system when the primary source of electrical power is unavailable; the rescue storage device coupled to an output of the power supply to provide additional DC power with the DC power when the primary source of electrical power is available and an increased power requirement is present.

Abstract: A braking device is operable to aid in braking a hoisted object relative to a guide member. The braking device includes a mounting structure connected to the hoisted object, and first and second brake pads positioned on the mounting structure on opposing sides of a passageway through which the guide member extends. The first and second brake pads each include a contact surface that is operable to frictionally engage the guide member. The second brake pad engages the mounting structure in a manner that enables the second brake pad to move relative to the mounting structure between a non-braking position and a braking position. The braking device includes a brake initiator that is selectively operable to initiate movement of the second brake pad from the non-braking position toward the braking position by selectively actuating an actuatable portion of the brake initiator from a non-deployed position to a deployed position.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a battery; a machine having a motor to impart motion to an elevator car; an inverter having a plurality of switches to convert DC power from the battery to AC power for the machine in a motoring mode; a speed sensor coupled to the machine, the speed sensor to generate a speed signal indicative of machine speed; and a controller to apply braking signals to a group of the switches in a braking mode, the braking signals having a duty cycle in response to the speed signal.

Abstract: An exemplary device for determining a position of a component moved by operation of a motor includes a rotating member that rotates responsive to operation of the motor. At least one accelerometer is supported on the rotating member. The accelerometer provides at least one of an indication of a tangential force that is tangential to a direction of rotation of the rotating member and a radial force that is perpendicular to the tangential force. A controller determines the position of the component based upon the force indication from the accelerometer.