Patents by Inventor Ernest A. Heath

Ernest A. Heath 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).

  • Patent number: 8960372
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an elevator car is operable to selectively lock an elevator car door. The apparatus verifies that the elevator car door is closed, locks the elevator car door, and verifies that a lock is engaged. Once conditions are met, the apparatus signals an elevator controller that the elevator car can move through a hoistway. The apparatus further ensures that passengers can safely disembark from the elevator car by detecting the position of the elevator car relative to a designated landing zone within the hoistway, and confirming the elevator car is stopped at a landing zone prior to disengaging the lock. The apparatus thus ensures that the elevator car door remains closed while the elevator car is in motion or between landing zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest Heath, Anthony Hamlett, Sang Choi, Brian Chapman, Sang Lee, Chet Willoughby, Jie Xu, Houston Patrick
  • Publication number: 20120006629
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an elevator car is operable to selectively lock an elevator car door. The apparatus verifies that the elevator car door is closed, locks the elevator car door, and verifies that a lock is engaged. Once conditions are met, the apparatus signals an elevator controller that the elevator car can move through a hoistway. The apparatus further ensures that passengers can safely disembark from the elevator car by detecting the position of the elevator car relative to a designated landing zone within the hoistway, and confirming the elevator car is stopped at a landing zone prior to disengaging the lock. The apparatus thus ensures that the elevator car door remains closed while the elevator car is in motion or between landing zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Elevator Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest Heath, Anthony Hamlett, Sang Choi, Brian Chapman, Sang Lee, Chet Willoughby, Jie Xu, Houston Patrick
  • Publication number: 20040149521
    Abstract: The invention provides an elevator door sill assembly for use in elevator systems that have sliding doors. The door sill assembly comprises a sill plate, a support sill located below the sill plate having a rail that presents an inboard sliding surface and an outboard sliding surface. The assembly also comprises a first guiding surface that engages that inboard sliding surface and a second guiding surface that engages the outboard sliding surface. The assembly prevents that bottom of the elevator door from swinging while the door slides opened and closed. The sill assembly and guide system may be used with either hoistway doors or elevator car doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Ernest A. Heath, Eugene C. Ulm
  • Patent number: 6684573
    Abstract: An elevator door sill assembly for use in elevator systems that have sliding doors. The door sill assembly comprises a sill plate, a support sill located below the sill plate having a rail that presents an inboard sliding surface and an outboard sliding surface. The assembly also comprises a first guiding surface that engages that inboard sliding surface and a second guiding surface that engages the outboard sliding surface. The assembly prevents that bottom of the elevator door from swinging while the door slides opened and closed. The sill assembly and guide system may be used with either hoistway doors or elevator car doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Thyssen Elevator Capital Corp.
    Inventors: Ernest A. Heath, Eugene C. Ulm
  • Publication number: 20030033754
    Abstract: The invention provides an elevator door sill assembly for use in elevator systems that have sliding doors. The door sill assembly comprises a sill plate, a support sill located below the sill plate having a rail that presents an inboard sliding surface and an outboard sliding surface. The assembly also comprises a first guiding surface that engages that inboard sliding surface and a second guiding surface that engages the outboard sliding surface. The assembly prevents that bottom of the elevator door from swinging while the door slides opened and closed. The sill assembly and guide system may be used with either hoistway doors or elevator car doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Ernest A. Heath, Eugene C. Ulm
  • Patent number: 6220396
    Abstract: The present invention provides a door restrictor apparatus for locking and preventing a sliding door on an elevator car from unauthorized opening. The door restrictor apparatus includes a locking lug mounted on the elevator car, an actuating mechanism having an actuating surface that moves toward and away from a surface on the car door, and a pivotable hook, having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of the door movement is mounted on the door. The hook has a beak end that alternatively passes by or engages the locking lug. The movement of the actuating surface is coupled to the rotation of the pivotable hook by a crank and push rod assembly so that the motion of the actuating surface toward or away from the surface of the car door causes the hook to rotate and vice-versa. A means for biasing the restrictor apparatus is provided to urge the actuating surface to move away from the surface of the door and to urge the pivotable hook to rotate in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Thyssen Dover Elevator
    Inventor: Ernest A. Heath, III
  • Patent number: 4026535
    Abstract: A model aircraft construction jig includes an elongate baseboard, a plurality of fuselage side cramp members, means for fixing the side cramp members on the baseboard, a tail unit locator and means for fixing the tail unit locator on the baseboard. The baseboard has at least one longitudinal guide line defining a reference center line, and the side cramp members are positionally adjustable so as to be arranged in rows spaced at opposite sides of the center line so that clamping faces thereof can engage respective side walls of a fuselage assembled on the center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Inventor: Vernon Ernest Heath
  • Patent number: 3973766
    Abstract: A model aircraft wing construction jig comprises an elongate front assembly rail, a wing rib carrier rod, and a pair of end clamp members which all assemble together to form a jig structure wherein the front assembly rail and wing rib carrier rod extend, in adjustable spaced-apart relationship, between the end clamp members. The front assembly rail has longitudinally-extending jaws to hold therebetween a flat strip of wood with one longitudinal edge portion of said strip forming a tongue protruding from one side of the assembly rail to engage notches in the leading end edges of the wing rib components threadably mounted on the wing rib carrier rod which inserts through accurately located holes preformed in the body of said rib components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Inventor: Vernon Ernest Heath