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: An elevator car for an elevator system includes one or more elevator car walls and an access door openable from inside the elevator car to provide access to one or more elevator system components located outside of the elevator car. The access door is openable such that inspection, maintenance and/or repair is performed on the one or more elevator system components from inside of the elevator car. An elevator system includes a hoistway and one or more elevator system components fixed in the hoistway. An elevator car is suspended in the hoistway and is drivable along the hoistway. The elevator car includes an access door openable from inside the elevator car to provide access to the one or more elevator system components in the hoistway, such that inspection, maintenance and/or repair is performed on the one or more elevator system components from inside of the elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car suspended in the hoistway via a suspension member and drivable along the hoistway. The elevator car includes an elevator car panel and a battery pocket positioned in the elevator car panel. A battery is removably positioned in the battery pocket. The battery and the battery pocket are configured such that inspection, maintenance and/or repair of the battery is performed without entry into the hoistway of the elevator system. A method of servicing an elevator system includes driving an elevator car along a hoistway and stopping the elevator car near a selected elevator landing floor. A battery is at least partially removed from a battery pocket at the elevator car via a technician located at the selected elevator landing floor for inspection, maintenance, replacement and/or repair.

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 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: 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 guide rail cleaning system is provided having at least one cleaning member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the cleaning member having a cleaning surface, wherein, in the first position, the cleaning surface is configured to not be in contact with a guide rail, and in the second position, the cleaning surface is in contact with the guide rail.

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 is provided including a hoistway having a plurality of landings. An elevator car is configured to move within the hoistway between the plurality of landings. A plurality of guide rails guide movement of the elevator car and a counterweight within the hoistway. Each guide rail includes a base and a blade. A machine assembly is mounted within the hoistway and includes a traction sheave rotatable about an axis. The traction sheave is configured to drive movement of the elevator car between the plurality of landings. At least one of the plurality of guide rails is arranged in an overlapping configuration with the machine assembly such that a plane defined by the base of the guide rail is parallel to the axis and intersects a portion of the traction sheave.

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: Panel securing assemblies for an elevator car and elevator cars having panel securing assemblies that include a body with a first end and a second end, a fastener attachment structure located at the first end and configured to engage with a wall panel and a frame of an elevator car, and an engagement attachment structure located at the second end and configured to engage with the frame of the elevator car. The body defines a corner surface within the elevator car when installed to the wall panel and frame.

Abstract: An accessible buffer assembly for a buffer of an elevator shaft is provided. The assembly includes a mounting frame configured in a pit of an elevator shaft and a buffer movably attached to the mounting frame and configured to provide a safety feature to the elevator car. A handle is operably connected to the buffer and configured to move the buffer. The buffer is movable from a first position to a second position, the first position being a secured, operational position of the buffer to provide the safety feature, and the second position being an inspection position wherein the buffer is removed from the first position.

Abstract: Methods and system for operating an elevator include receiving input regarding a maintenance action at an access control module, the input including a first predetermined maintenance position, the first predetermined maintenance position being a position of the elevator car within an elevator shaft relative to a landing, conveying an elevator car to the first predetermined maintenance position, disabling an access prevention device of a landing door lock, and opening a landing door at the landing to enable access to the elevator car positioned at the first predetermined maintenance position.

Abstract: An elevator car is provided having a floor, an elevator car door, and a sill, wherein a gap forms between the sill and a landing when the elevator car is positioned at the landing. A recuperator is connected below the elevator car, wherein at least a portion of the recuperator is configured to automatically move from a first position to a second position such that the at least a portion of the recuperator spans the gap. The recuperator is configured such that the at least a portion of the recuperator moves from the first position to the second position when the elevator car door opens and the at least a portion of the recuperator moves from the second position to the first position when the elevator car door closes.

Abstract: An elevator car (12) for an elevator system (10) comprises: at least one side wall (38); at least one movable panel (60) forming at least a portion of the at least one side wall (38). The movable panel (60) is movable between a maintenance position, in which the panel allows access to components (28, 30, 32) of the elevator system (10), and an operational position, in which the movable panel (60) prevents access to said components (28, 30, 32). The at least one movable panel (60) comprises at least one handrail element (64), the handrail element (64) including a locking mechanism (54) which is configured to selectively lock the movable panel (60) in the operational position.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system (10) includes identifying one or more components (46, 48, 50, 52) in an elevator hoistway (14) requiring periodic maintenance and/or inspection and programming hoistway component locations of the one or more components into an elevator car control system. The elevator car (12) is driven to a programmed hoistway component location of a selected component of the one or more components utilizing the hoistway component location programmed into the elevator car control system. The selected component is accessed from inside the elevator car (12) to perform maintenance and/or inspection of the selected component.

Abstract: An elevator system (100) includes an elevator car (102) that is configured to travel along a guide rail (104), and a braking assembly (116) coupled to the elevator car (102). The braking assembly (116) is configured to selectively operate in a disengagement mode that allows the elevator car (102) to travel along the guide rail (104), and an engagement mode that inhibits the elevator car (102) from traveling along the guide rail (104). The electronic braking assembly controller (128) is in signal communication with the braking assembly (116) and is configured to generate an electronic braking signal that activates the engagement mode of the braking assembly (116). When the engagement mode is activated, the elevator car (102) decelerates without exceeding a predetermined g-force (g) threshold regardless as to whether a load applied to the elevator car (102) changes such that the elevator car (102) is stopped at a floor landing (106).

Abstract: Access prevention systems for locks of elevator systems, the access prevention systems including a lock housing defining a cavity and having a lock aperture enabling access into the cavity, a locking element attached to the lock housing and accessible through the lock aperture and the cavity, and an access prevention device operable between (i) a first state wherein a portion of the access prevention device obstructs access to the locking element through at least one of the cavity and the lock aperture and (ii) a second state wherein the access prevention device does not obstruct access to the locking element.

Abstract: An electronic car operation panel (COP) module including a display screen and an input sensor configured to detect a service query includes an electronic memory unit that stores service/maintenance information. An electronic COP controller unit includes a microprocessor configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the electronic memory unit to retrieve the service/maintenance information in response to the service query. The electronic COP controller unit is further configured to output an electronic display signal indicative of the service/maintenance information. The COP module is further configured to display the service/maintenance information in response to receiving the electronic display signal.