Patents by Inventor Giovanni Hawkins
Giovanni Hawkins 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).
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Publication number: 20250100848Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for auditing straightness of a car guide rail, the arrangement comprising: a car guide rail mounted in an elevator shaft; an elevator car connected to the car guide rail via a guide member, said guide member, in a straightness auditing mode being adapted so that the horizontal distance between the elevator car and the car guide rail to be audited is constant; a plumb line stabilized in the elevator shaft adjacent to the car guide rail; an indicator detachably attached to the elevator car, in vicinity of the plumb line; at least one visual recording device detachably attached to the elevator car, facing the plumb line and the indicator, for recording a displacement of the indicator relative to the plumb line; and a memory for storing recorded relative displacement. The invention also relates to a method for auditing straightness of a car guide rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2024Publication date: March 27, 2025Applicant: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Sami JANHUNEN, Petteri DAMMERT
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Publication number: 20250074746Abstract: Sliding guide shoe for guiding a moving component in an elevator shaft, and an elevator comprising said sliding guide shoe. The sliding guide shoe comprises a frame part, comprising a supporting surface, and a sliding part disposed to be supported by the supporting surface. The supporting surface and the sliding part have contact through contact points where the supporting surface of the frame part is in contact with the outer surface of the sliding part. Said contact points are constituting a minor fraction of the corresponding surface of said outer surface of the sliding part and providing for at least one of the supporting surface and the sliding part capability to bend for absorbing guide rail imperfections.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2024Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Sami JANHUNEN
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Patent number: 12145821Abstract: A people mover includes an endless conveying band and a control system. The control system includes a controller, a detecting arrangement for detecting people on the endless conveying band, and a signaling arrangement for providing visual and/or audio signals to people on the endless conveying band. The controller is configured to: determine based on output of the detecting arrangement, in particular based on signals and/or data generated by the detecting arrangement, whether a distance between detected people on the endless conveying band is below a minimum allowed distance; and present to people on the endless conveying band with a signaling arrangement alarm or instruction signals when a distance between detected people on the endless conveying band is below a minimum allowed distance.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: KONE CORPORATIONInventors: Andrea Zotti Galletti, Benjamin Ekström, Giovanni Hawkins, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan
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Publication number: 20230087024Abstract: A people mover includes an endless conveying band and a control system. The control system includes a controller, a detecting arrangement for detecting people on the endless conveying band, and a signaling arrangement for providing visual and/or audio signals to people on the endless conveying band. The controller is configured to: determine based on output of the detecting arrangement, in particular based on signals and/or data generated by the detecting arrangement, whether a distance between detected people on the endless conveying band is below a minimum allowed distance; and present to people on the endless conveying band with a signaling arrangement alarm or instruction signals when a distance between detected people on the endless conveying band is below a minimum allowed distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: KONE CorporationInventors: Andrea Zotti Galletti, Benjamin Ekström, Giovanni Hawkins, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan
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Publication number: 20230035019Abstract: A method for operating an elevator system that includes an elevator car movable between landings in response to an elevator call registered by an elevator control unit. The method includes determining a special operating mode of the elevator system, the special operating mode being different from a nominal operating mode at least with respect to a characteristic of use of the elevator car, and operating, in the special operating mode, the elevator system so as to reduce a number of passengers entering the elevator car from the landing compared to the nominal operating mode based on the characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: KONE CorporationInventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Andrea Zotti Galletti, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Benjamin Ekström, Aki Haikonen, Klaus Mäkelä, Sakke Ahoniemi
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Patent number: 10850943Abstract: A roller guide assembly for an elevator device, the roller guide assembly comprising a base member having a mounting means for mounting to the elevator device, the base member comprising a shaft support member; a roller wheel for engaging a guide rail to be rolled on the guide rail; a shaft on which the roller wheel is bearing-mounted, the shaft being straight and non-rotatably supported by the shaft support member, and a vibration dampening element, the vibration dampening element comprising an elastomer body arranged between the shaft and the shaft support member for dampening vibration of the roller wheel and for isolating the vibration from the base member. The shaft is attached to the shaft support member by the vibration dampening element forming a single attachment point for the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Timo Lamminmaki, Tapio Siironen, Jani Uskali, Sami Janhunen
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Patent number: 10625985Abstract: A pedestrian conveyor includes a torsional vibration damper system, the torsional vibration damper system including a shaft, a cylindrical housing attached to the shaft and being configured to dampen vibrations of the shaft, a first gear, and a second gear.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: KONE CORPORATIONInventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Julian Justin
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Patent number: 10472208Abstract: The invention concerns the automatically detection and analysis of jerks arising when an elevator car starts its ride carrying out a determination of an elevator run sequence by an elevator controller, measuring an elevator car movement with a sensor at a predetermined phase of the elevator run sequence, and determining an elevator car sway from the sensor data, further comparing the determination result with a pre-set criteria, and being followed by outputting the comparison result.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Ari Kattainen, Kenneth Kronkvist, Giovanni Hawkins
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Patent number: 9957136Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator guide rail straightness measuring system, for measuring the straightness of elevator guide rails, which measuring system comprises at least one plumb line mounted vertically in the runway adjacent to the guide rail and at least one sensor arrangement to be mounted on a carrier to travel vertically along the guide rail, which sensor arrangement comprises a frame, at least one guide shoe connected to the frame for sliding/rolling along a guide surface of the guide rail, a bias means for placing and biasing the frame against the guide surface, and at least one sensor means for sensing the position of the plumb line with respect to the frame, such elevator system allows easy and exact measurement of the guide rail straightness. The invention also relates to an elevator having such a system.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Pekka Kilpeläinen
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Publication number: 20180093863Abstract: A roller guide assembly for an elevator device, the roller guide assembly comprising a base member having a mounting means for mounting to the elevator device, the base member comprising a shaft support member; a roller wheel for engaging a guide rail to be rolled on the guide rail; a shaft on which the roller wheel is bearing-mounted, the shaft being straight and non-rotatably supported by the shaft support member, and a vibration dampening element, the vibration dampening element comprising an elastomer body arranged between the shaft and the shaft support member for dampening vibration of the roller wheel and for isolating the vibration from the base member. The shaft is attached to the shaft support member by the vibration dampening element forming a single attachment point for the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Timo LAMMINMAKI, Tapio SllRONEN, Jani USKALI, Sami JANHUNEN
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Patent number: 9624073Abstract: A method for balancing an elevator car including a frame; a cabin box mounted on the frame; and a plurality of elastic members, such as springs, in vertical direction between the frame and the cabin box, via which elastic members the cabin box rests on the frame. The method includes measuring the vertical distance between the frame and the cabin box in several horizontally spaced apart locations with distance sensors; and adjusting the weight distribution of the cabin box by adding and/or removing weight elements on the cabin box. An arrangement for balancing an elevator car is provided to implement the method.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: KONE CORPORATIONInventors: Gabriela Roivainen, Giovanni Hawkins, Mikko Vesterinen
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Patent number: 9540215Abstract: Gliding means are attached to a side frame of the car sling, said gliding means comprising a gliding part supported through elasticity means on a frame part. The side frame is positioned on a guide rail in an elevator shaft so that the gliding part of the gliding means sets on the guide rail. The gliding means is provided with an installation jig comprising a first branch positioned between the gliding part and the guide rail, and a second branch positioned in an open space between the frame part and the gliding part for bypassing the elasticity means. The installation jig is removed when the installation of the car sling and the car has been completed.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Mikko Vesterinen
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Publication number: 20160214833Abstract: The invention concerns the automatically detection and analysis of jerks arising when an elevator car starts its ride carrying out a determination of an elevator run sequence by an elevator controller, measuring an elevator car movement with a sensor at a predetermined phase of the elevator run sequence, and determining an elevator car sway from the sensor data, further comparing the determination result with a pre-set criteria, and being followed by outputting the comparison result.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2015Publication date: July 28, 2016Applicant: Kone CorporationInventors: Ari Kattainen, Kenneth Kronkvist, Giovanni Hawkins
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Publication number: 20160090274Abstract: A method for balancing an elevator car including a frame; a cabin box mounted on the frame; and a plurality of elastic members, such as springs, in vertical direction between the frame and the cabin box, via which elastic members the cabin box rests on the frame. The method includes measuring the vertical distance between the frame and the cabin box in several horizontally spaced apart locations with distance sensors; and adjusting the weight distribution of the cabin box by adding and/or removing weight elements on the cabin box. An arrangement for balancing an elevator car is provided to implement the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: KONE CORPORATIONInventors: Gabriela ROIVAINEN, Giovanni HAWKINS, Mikko VESTERINEN
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Publication number: 20150353322Abstract: Loose joints and other defects, such as manufacturing, installation, wearing and other similar defects, are hard to find. Especially in case of passenger elevator it is crucial to find these defects in order to produce safe elevators. Testing can be done using a special test signal that is formed by combining an excitement signal with movement control signal. The test signal causes purposively pulsating or oscillating movement of the elevator car that deviates from the ordinary movement of the elevator. This movement causes noises from loose joints and other defects. The sources of these noises can then be located and the defects can be fixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Applicant: KONE CORPORATIONInventors: Gabriela ROIVAINEN, Giovanni HAWKINS, Panu IHALAINEN, Samuli MÄNTYNEN
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Publication number: 20150217972Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator guide rail straightness measuring system, for measuring the straightness of elevator guide rails, which measuring system comprises at least one plumb line mounted vertically in the runway adjacent to the guide rail and at least one sensor arrangement to be mounted on a carrier to travel vertically along the guide rail, which sensor arrangement comprises a frame, at least one guide shoe connected to the frame for sliding/rolling along a guide surface of the guide rail, a bias means for placing and biasing the frame against the guide surface, and at least one sensor means for sensing the position of the plumb line with respect to the frame, such elevator system allows easy and exact measurement of the guide rail straightness. The invention also relates to an elevator having such a system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Pekka KILPELÄINEN
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Publication number: 20150075113Abstract: Gliding means are attached to a side frame of the car sling, said gliding means comprising a gliding part supported through elasticity means on a frame part. The side frame is positioned on a guide rail in an elevator shaft so that the gliding part of the gliding means sets on the guide rail. The gliding means is provided with an installation jig comprising a first branch positioned between the gliding part and the guide rail, and a second branch positioned in an open space between the frame part and the gliding part for bypassing the elasticity means. The installation jig is removed when the installation of the car sling and the car has been completed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: Kone CorporationInventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Mikko VESTERINEN
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Patent number: 7264087Abstract: Method and system of controlling a counterweightless elevator system provided with an elevator car and a variable speed drive with an electric motor. The elevator car load is weighed, and the elevator system is controlled in order to reduce the physical/electrical dimensions of the system. The total mass of the elevator is defined by the equation Mtotal=Mcar (mass of the car)+A*Maxpayload, wherein Mcar is the mass of the car, A is a coefficient and Maxpayload is the maximal payload. If the payload supercedes A*Maxpayload the elevator is controlled so that the speed and/or acceleration of the motor is reduced, and/or the idle time of the elevator is increased.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2005Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Kone CorporationInventor: Giovanni Hawkins
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Publication number: 20060131109Abstract: Method and system of controlling a counterweightless elevator system provided with an elevator car and a variable speed drive with an electric motor, wherein the elevator car load is weighed, and wherein the elevator system is controlled in order to reduce the physical/electrical dimensions of the system. The total mass of the elevator is defined by the equation Mtotal=Mcar (mass of the car)+A*Maxpayload, wherein Mcar is the mass of the car, A is a coefficient and Maxpayload is the maximal payload. If the payload supercedes A*Maxpayload the elevator is controlled so that the speed and/or acceleration of the motor is reduced, and/or the idle time of the elevator is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2005Publication date: June 22, 2006Applicant: KONE CORPORATIONInventor: Giovanni Hawkins
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Publication number: 20040107786Abstract: A gear box 1 has an input shaft 2, an output shaft 4 and a counter-shaft 6. A headcut gear 8 mounted on the input shaft 2 intermeshes with a first counter-shaft 10 mounted on the counter-shaft 6. A second counter-shaft gear 12, intermeshes with a corresponding gear 16, mounted on the output shaft 4. The first two counter-shaft gears 10, 12 are interlocked by virtue of inter-engaging means comprising, for instance, a protrusion 24 from one of the two gears and a protrusion receiving recess 30 in the other of the two gears 10,12. Interlocking the two gears 10,12 prevents one rotating relative to the other in the event, say, of a torque spike.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Alan Mawson, David Taylor, Derek Corns, Giovanni Hawkins