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).

  • Publication number: 20230087024
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Zotti Galletti, Benjamin Ekström, Giovanni Hawkins, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan
  • Publication number: 20230035019
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Andrea Zotti Galletti, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Benjamin Ekström, Aki Haikonen, Klaus Mäkelä, Sakke Ahoniemi
  • Patent number: 10850943
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Timo Lamminmaki, Tapio Siironen, Jani Uskali, Sami Janhunen
  • Patent number: 10625985
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Julian Justin
  • Patent number: 10472208
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Kenneth Kronkvist, Giovanni Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9957136
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Pekka Kilpeläinen
  • Publication number: 20180093863
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Timo LAMMINMAKI, Tapio SllRONEN, Jani USKALI, Sami JANHUNEN
  • Patent number: 9624073
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriela Roivainen, Giovanni Hawkins, Mikko Vesterinen
  • Patent number: 9540215
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Mikko Vesterinen
  • Publication number: 20160214833
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Kenneth Kronkvist, Giovanni Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20160090274
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriela ROIVAINEN, Giovanni HAWKINS, Mikko VESTERINEN
  • Publication number: 20150353322
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriela ROIVAINEN, Giovanni HAWKINS, Panu IHALAINEN, Samuli MÄNTYNEN
  • Publication number: 20150217972
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Pekka KILPELÄINEN
  • Publication number: 20150075113
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni HAWKINS, Mikko VESTERINEN
  • Patent number: 7264087
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Giovanni Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20060131109
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Giovanni Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20040107786
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Alan Mawson, David Taylor, Derek Corns, Giovanni Hawkins