Patents by Inventor James M. Draper
James M. Draper 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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Patent number: 11745981Abstract: An elevator car or counterweight, comprising a frame, the frame including an upright structure in which a safety brake is mounted so as to allow for lateral movement of the safety brake relative to the upright structure; at least a first vertically or obliquely extending cantilever spring; wherein a first end of the first cantilever spring is mounted to the upright structure; and wherein the first cantilever spring is arranged such that a point remote from the first end provides a biasing force to the safety brake when the safety brake moves away from a default position. As the safety brake is mounted to allow for lateral movement relative to the frame, the safety brake essentially floats relative to the car or counterweight.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Javier Muñoz Sotoca, Tanjil Mustafa, James M. Draper
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Patent number: 11124386Abstract: An adjacent safety configuration for an elevator includes a second pair of safeties displaced from a first pair of safeties by at least 0.1 seconds of travel time at a rated speed of the elevator. An adjacent safety configuration for an elevator including a second pair of safeties displaced from the first pair of safeties to provide a predetermined time period before the second pair of safeties pass over a point on a guide rail previously passed over by the first pair of safeties to permit the guide rail surface to decrease by a predetermined temperature. A method of spacing an adjacent safety configuration for an elevator system including de-rating a pair of trailing safeties with respect to a pair of leading safeties as a function of a rated speed of the elevator and a spacing between the pair of trailing safeties and the pair of leading safeties.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard N. Fargo, Duan Liang, Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, James M. Draper, Xiaodong Luo, Joe J. Liou
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Publication number: 20200354192Abstract: An elevator car or counterweight, comprising a frame, the frame including an upright structure in which a safety brake is mounted so as to allow for lateral movement of the safety brake relative to the upright structure; at least a first vertically or obliquely extending cantilever spring; wherein a first end of the first cantilever spring is mounted to the upright structure; and wherein the first cantilever spring is arranged such that a point remote from the first end provides a biasing force to the safety brake when the safety brake moves away from a default position. As the safety brake is mounted to allow for lateral movement relative to the frame, the safety brake essentially floats relative to the car or counterweight.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Javier Muñoz Sotoca, Tanjil Mustafa, James M. Draper
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Patent number: 10407278Abstract: The present invention provides a safety device for elevators, which belongs to the field of elevator safety technologies. The safety device for elevators includes a housing; a safety piece having a guide rail groove, the safety piece being disposed in the housing; and asymmetric active and counter wedges that are slidably disposed on the safety piece at both sides of the guide rail groove, respectively. Moreover, the device further includes a U-shaped elastic element and a blocking piece that are disposed on the safety piece. The safety device for elevators can provide a relatively stable arresting force, is reliable in repetitive work, achieves high safety, is relatively easy as well as fast and efficient in restoration, and is especially suitable for high-speed elevators.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Lifeng Zhang, James M. Draper, Byeongsam Yoo, Min Wang
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Patent number: 9821983Abstract: An exemplary elevator braking device comprises a brake housing. A plurality of rollers are supported by the brake housing. The rollers are arranged to be positioned on opposite sides of a guiderail. The rollers are selectively moveable between a first position in which the rollers are spaced apart a first distance and a second position in which the rollers are spaced apart a second, smaller distance so that the rollers engage and roll along opposite sides of the guiderail. At least one biasing member is supported by the brake housing. The biasing member is associated with at least one of the rollers and biases the associated roller toward the other roller in the second position. A plurality of braking surfaces are supported by the brake housing. At least one braking surface is associated with each of the rollers. Each braking surface engages a periphery of the associated roller that faces the side of the guiderail.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Justin Billard, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney
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Publication number: 20170261058Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elevator safety spring is provided. The method includes determining a plurality of dimensional parameters of the elevator safety spring. The method also includes selecting a plurality of dimensions within the dimensional parameters. The method further includes manufacturing the elevator safety spring based on the selected parameters, the elevator safety spring having an I-beam cross-section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Shihemn Chen, Joe J. Liou, Andrzej Ernest Kuczek, Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, Xiaodong Luo, David R. Polak, James M. Draper, John J. Kriss, Duan Liang, Patricia L. O'Coin, Aayush Desai
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Publication number: 20170240381Abstract: An elevator system includes one or more rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move through the hoistway along the one or more rails. The system includes one or more braking systems having one more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces configured to urge engagement and/or disengagement of the one or more braking surfaces with the rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Harold Terry, Leandre Adifon, Richard N. Fargo, David J. Lanesey, Anthony Cooney, James M. Draper, Jamie A. Rivera, SR., Justin Billard, Zbigniew Piech
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Patent number: 9663327Abstract: An elevator system includes one or more rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move through the hoistway along the one or more rails. The system includes one or more braking systems having one more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces configured to urge engagement and/or disengagement of the one or more braking surfaces with the rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Harold Terry, Leandre Adifon, Richard N. Fargo, David J. Lanesey, Anthony Cooney, James M. Draper, Jamie A. Rivera, Justin Billard, Zbigniew Piech
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Publication number: 20170066628Abstract: The present invention provides a safety device for elevators, which belongs to the field of elevator safety technologies. The safety device for elevators includes a housing; a safety piece having a guide rail groove, the safety piece being disposed in the housing; and asymmetric active and counter wedges that are slidably disposed on the safety piece at both sides of the guide rail groove, respectively. Moreover, the device further includes a U-shaped elastic element and a blocking piece that are disposed on the safety piece. The safety device for elevators can provide a relatively stable arresting force, is reliable in repetitive work, achieves high safety, is relatively easy as well as fast and efficient in restoration, and is especially suitable for high-speed elevators.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Lifeng Zhang, James M. Draper, Byeongsam Yoo, Min Wang
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Publication number: 20170057783Abstract: An adjacent safety configuration for an elevator includes a second pair of safeties displaced from a first pair of safeties by at least 0.1 seconds of travel time at a rated speed of the elevator. An adjacent safety configuration for an elevator including a second pair of safeties displaced from the first pair of safeties to provide a predetermined time period before the second pair of safeties pass over a point on a guide rail previously passed over by the first pair of safeties to permit the guide rail surface to decrease by a predetermined temperature. A method of spacing an adjacent safety configuration for an elevator system including de-rating a pair of trailing safeties with respect to a pair of leading safeties as a function of a rated speed of the elevator and a spacing between the pair of trailing safeties and the pair of leading safeties.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard N. Fargo, Duan Liang, Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, James M. Draper, Xiaodong Luo, Joe J. Liou
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Patent number: 8939262Abstract: An elevator system includes an electronic system capable of triggering a machine room brake and an electromagnetic safety trigger with low hysteresis and with minimal power requirements that can be released to engage safeties, when car over-speed and/or over-acceleration is detected. The electromagnetic trigger may be reset automatically and may be released to engage the safeties, during the reset procedure. The system includes a processing system that is configured to decrease response time and to reduce the occurrence of false triggers caused by conditions unrelated to passenger safety, such as passengers jumping inside the elevator car.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2009Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Greg A. Schienda, Daryl J. Marvin, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
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Patent number: 8827044Abstract: An elevator system 40 includes an over-acceleration and over-speed protection system capable of triggering a machine room brake and a safety trigger when over-speed or over-acceleration conditions are detected. The system includes a speed detector 42 and an acceleration detector 44. Based upon sensed speed and sensed acceleration, the controller 48 calculates a filtered speed of an elevator mass such as an elevator car 16 or counterweight, and compares the filtered speed to the threshold speed to determine whether an over-speed condition has been reached. The controller 48 activates a machine room brake when an over-speed condition exists, and engages an elevator safety 70A, 70B when it determines that the elevator mass is still in an over-speed condition after the machine room brake has been activated.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Daryl J. Marvin, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
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Patent number: 8631909Abstract: An electromagnetic safety trigger 46 includes a link 72 kinematically connected to a safety 70A, 70B of an elevator system mass, such as an elevator car or counterweight. An electromagnet 76 mounted on a linear actuator 74 is magnetically coupled to the link 72, and a spring 78 is connected between the link 72 and the elevator mass. The electromagnet 76 can be triggered to release the link 72, which allows the spring 78 to move the link 72 to engage the safety 70A, 70B.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2009Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: James M. Draper, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, Daryl J. Marvin, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
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Publication number: 20140008157Abstract: An elevator system includes one or more rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move through the hoistway along the one or more rails. The system includes one or more braking systems having one more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces configured to urge engagement and/or disengagement of the one or more braking surfaces with the rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2011Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Harold Terry, Leandre Adifon, Richard N. Fargo, David J. Lanesey, Anthony Cooney, James M. Draper, Jamie A. Rivera, Justin Billard, Zbigniew Piech
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Publication number: 20120222918Abstract: An exemplary elevator braking device comprises a brake housing. A plurality of rollers are supported by the brake housing. The rollers are arranged to be positioned on opposite sides of a guiderail. The rollers are selectively moveable between a first position in which the rollers are spaced apart a first distance and a second position in which the rollers are spaced apart a second, smaller distance so that the rollers engage and roll along opposite sides of the guiderail. At least one biasing member is supported by the brake housing. The biasing member is associated with at least one of the rollers and biases the associated roller toward the other roller in the second position. A plurality of braking surfaces are supported by the brake housing. At least one braking surface is associated with each of the rollers. Each braking surface engages a periphery of the associated roller that faces the side of the guiderail.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2009Publication date: September 6, 2012Inventors: Justin Billard, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney
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Publication number: 20120000731Abstract: An elevator system 40 includes an electronic system 48 capable of triggering a machine room brake and an electromagnetic safety trigger 46 with low hysteresis and with minimal power requirements that can be released to engage safeties 70A, 70B when car over-speed and/or over-acceleration is detected. The electromagnetic trigger 46 may be reset automatically and may be released to engage the safeties 70A, 70B during the reset procedure. The system includes an over-speed and over-acceleration detection and processing system that is configured to decrease response time and to reduce the occurrence of false triggers caused by conditions unrelated to passenger safety, such as passengers jumping inside the elevator car 16.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2009Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Greg A. Schienda, Daryl J. Marvin, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
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Publication number: 20120000729Abstract: An elevator system 40 includes an over-acceleration and over-speed protection system capable of triggering a machine room brake and a safety trigger when over-speed or over-acceleration conditions are detected. The system includes a speed detector 42 and an acceleration detector 44. Based upon sensed speed and sensed acceleration, the controller 48 calculates a filtered speed of an elevator mass such as an elevator car 16 or counterweight, and compares the filtered speed to the threshold speed to determine whether an over-speed condition has been reached. The controller 48 activates a machine room brake when an over-speed condition exists, and engages an elevator safety 70A, 70B when it determines that the elevator mass is still in an over-speed condition after the machine room brake has been activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2009Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Daryl J. Marvin, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
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Publication number: 20120000732Abstract: An electromagnetic safety trigger 46 includes a link 72 kinematically connected to a safety 70A, 70B of an elevator system mass, such as an elevator car or counterweight. An electromagnet 76 mounted on a linear actuator 74 is magnetically coupled to the link 72, and a spring 78 is connected between the link 72 and the elevator mass. The electromagnet 76 can be triggered to release the link 72, which allows the spring 78 to move the link 72 to engage the safety 70A, 70B.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2009Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: James M. Draper, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, Daryl J. Marvin, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
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Patent number: 6457569Abstract: A rotary actuated overspeed safety device is provided for elevators. The overspeed safety device comprises a pair of pivotally mounted counterweights linked by a pivotally attached coupling rod and a wheel that rollably engages a guide rail. The counterweights are pivotally mounted to the wheel in a parallel plane configuration. Centrifugal force causes the pivotally mounted counterweights to pivot outward toward an actuator as the wheel spins. The overspeed safety device is triggered when the pair of pivotally mounted counterweights engages an actuator. The actuator is a housing that is engagably connected to an elevator safety.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1999Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: James M. Draper, Richard E. Kulak
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Patent number: 6296080Abstract: In an elevator safety braking device, a variable traction mechanism in a rotary actuator allows the drive wheels of the rotary actuator to operate at a reduced preload during normal elevator operation. When engaging, a higher preload is necessary. In the event of safety braking, the variable traction mechanism increases the preload on the drive wheel to ensure timely and proper safety engagement. The variable traction mechanism therefore allows the drive wheels to be subjected to a reduced preload during normal operation, thus relaxing the design criteria for the drive wheels while maintaining reliability.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2000Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: James M. Draper, Richard E. Kulak