Abstract: A pitless elevator system removes a car buffer and machine, and other components where so equipped from under the elevator car such that the elevator car can be operated to a clearance between it and a floor of a hoistway of about three inches. The machine may be mounted on board the car or may be located elsewhere and the car buffer located in normal side clearance space. The system further provides a retractable toe guard to allow the car to bottom at the indicated distance from the floor. The system facilitates retrofit applications of elevators without the prior art drawback of digging a pit.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly for an elevator system includes a plurality of rollers and a damping subassembly. The damping subassembly includes a plurality of dampers and a sound isolation mechanism. The sound isolation mechanism interconnects the dampers and provides sound isolation between the rollers and the elevator car. In a particular embodiment, the sound isolation mechanism includes a friction bar that interconnects the rollers and dampers.

Abstract: A two door assembly (10) for an elevator car (11) includes a high speed door (12) and a low speed door (14) that move between an open and closed position to close the entrance (16) of the elevator car. The doors (12, 14) are retained slidably between a header (18) disposed along the top of the car entrance and a door guide (20) disposed along the bottom of the car entrance (16). A drive mechanism (22) moves the high speed and low speed doors (12, 14) between the open and closed positions. A drive arm (24) interconnects the doors to move the low speed door (14) at approximately one-half the speed of the high speed door (12) driven by the drive mechanism (22). One end (38) of the drive arm (24) is connected pivotally to the door guide (20) of the elevator car (11). Each door (12, 14) has a pin (32, 34) extending from a bracket (26, 28) connected to each respective door for sliding engagement with a pair of slots (42, 44) that extend longitudinally along the drive arm (24).

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car with a plurality of roller guide assemblies attached thereto. The roller guide assemblies guide the elevator car vertically within a hoistway along a plurality of guide rails. Each roller guide assembly includes a friction damping subassembly to minimize vibration and lateral movement of the elevator car. The friction damping subassembly includes a grounding bar and a friction damper attaching onto a shaft of each roller in the roller guide assembly. The friction damping subassembly dissipates energy and improves the ride quality of the elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator car door system for opening and closing elevator car doors in an elevator car includes a high performance linear induction motor having a pair of movable motor primaries, each attached to a door hanger for each door, and a stationary motor secondary attached to a header bracket which is secured to the elevator car. Each motor primary includes a primary winding and a backiron spaced apart by a plurality of spacers that establish a magnetic gap therebetween. The motor secondary fits between the primary winding and the backiron as the moving motor primaries travel across the motor secondary, generating thrust.

Abstract: A motor secondary in a linear induction motor used for opening and closing doors in an elevator system includes a secondary guide system having a first secondary guide and a second secondary guide. The first secondary guide is disposed on a bottom longitudinal edge of the motor secondary and the second secondary guide is disposed on a top longitudinal edge of the motor secondary. The guides space apart the motor secondary from the motor primary and establish small and constant running clearances therebetween.

Abstract: A pretensioning system for a relating cable synchronizing movement of elevator car doors includes a compression spring and a spacer disposed on one end of the relating cable. The compression spring is compressed to the length of the spacer disposed internally to the spring to calibrate tension in the relating cable so than a no-slip condition is ensured.

Abstract: A simplified elevator car door lock assembly locks an elevator car door if the car is outside a landing zone and there is an attempt to open those doors. The car doors are connected to the hoistway doors by a pair of vanes mounted on the car door and a pair of rollers mounted on the hoistway door. A third vane is attached to the car door and follows a cam path on the car door to lock the car doors if the car is not in a landing zone. Conversely, the third vane senses if the car is in a landing zone and does not lock the car door if it is moved.

Abstract: A linear induction motor for opening and closing elevator car doors in an elevator system includes a motor primary fixedly attached to a door hanger and a motor secondary flexibly mounted to a header bracket of the elevator car. A pair of swivel joints secure the ends of the motor secondary to the header bracket. The swivel joints compensate for misalignment and twisting of the elevator car doors by allowing multi-dimensional movement of the motor secondary relative to the header bracket.

Abstract: A control or detection arrangement for escalators, moving walks and the like includes a detector, an encoder unit connected to the detector, a wireless transmitter connected to the encoder unit, a wireless receiver, a decoder unit connected to the wireless receiver, and a microprocessor connected to the decoder unit. When an unsafe condition is detected by the detector, the encoder unit generates a trigger signal having at least one unique identifier for the detector. When received, the signal is passed by the decoder to the microprocessor which causes generation of a command signal to, for example, stop motion of the escalator. Alternatively, the inventive arrangement operates according to continuous or periodic transmission modes, which permit the arrangement to monitor operability of the detector, encoder unit, transmitter, receiver and the decoder unit.

Abstract: A door guide assembly for an elevator cab includes a gib bracket and a sill having a guide groove in the face of the sill. The guide bracket extends down from the door and into the guide groove to guide the motion of the door. The guide groove includes a narrow opening and an expanded section inward of the opening. Engagement between the narrow opening and the gib bracket prevents excessive vertical movement of the door and engagement between the expanded section and the gib bracket prevents excessive lateral motion of the door.

Abstract: An overlay for a elevator guide rail extends over the joints between segments to provide a seamless engagement surface for the guide rail. The overlay separates the engagement surface from the joints between adjacent segments to minimize vibration and improve the comfort of the ride. In one embodiment, an elevator includes a guide rail having a support formed from multiple segments joined end to end and an overlay encompassing a portion of the support. The overlay defines the engagement surface for the guide shoes of the elevator.

Abstract: An overlay for a elevator guide rail extends over the joints between segments to provide a seamless engagement surface for the guide rail. The overlay separates the engagement surface from the joints between adjacent segments to minimize vibration and improve the comfort of the ride. In one embodiment, an elevator includes a guide rail having a support formed from multiple segments joined end to end and an overlay encompassing a portion of the support. The overlay defines the engagement surface for the guide shoes of the elevator.

Abstract: A brake mechanism for slowing elevator car doors in an elevator system during an emergency power outage or electrical control malfunction includes a brake shoe activated by a solenoid. During normal operation of the elevator car doors, the solenoid is in activated mode and maintains the brake shoe spaced away from the door pulley. During a power outage or electrical controls malfunction, the solenoid is deactivated and, in cooperation with a compression spring, forces the shoe brake to engage the door pulley to slow down the movement of elevator car doors.

Abstract: A balustrade for a passenger conveying device is provided comprising a handrail, a plurality of balustrade panels, a base, and a clamp. The balustrade panels support the handrail. The base includes a skirt panel, apparatus for supporting the balustrade panels, and an inner decking for enclosing a portion of the support apparatus. The clamp, which includes a fastener and a biasing apparatus, attaches the inner decking to the skirt panel.

Abstract: An escalator combplate is equipped with a stop switch that will interrupt the power to the escalator when objects trapped between the stop treads and combplate impose a predetermined lifting force on the combplate. The necessary lifting force is determined by code requirements, and the combplate is subjected to an upward spring force which equals the code-dictated lifting force. While the combplate is being lifted by the spring force, the stop switch or switches are set so that they will actuate at the calibrated position of the combplate. The spring force is then removed to allow the combplate to settle back to its normal operating position.

Abstract: Escalator steps are attached to their step axles by means of C-shaped clamps which are pivotally mounted on the steps and rotatable thereon to clamping positions where they embrace and clamp the step axles to the steps. One end of the clamp is then bolted to the step so that the clamp pivot pin and bolt will secure the clamps against the step axles. A cam profile is formed on a finger on the clamp, which cam profile guides the step axles into engagement with the step and clamp. A wrench-guiding tube is fixed to the step above the clamp bolt to hold the latter on the step and to ensure engagement between the bolt and an Allen wrench or other tool inserted through the step tread to bolt the clamp in place.

Abstract: A handrail entry guard is provided having a pair of symmetrically opposed elastomeric halves for substantially surrounding a handrail of a balustrade when the guard is in a normal position. Each half includes a rear edge, a forward edge, and a top surface. The forward edge extends from the top surface to the rear edge along an arcuate path.

Abstract: A power switch assembly is operably connected to the combplate of an escalator for selectively shutting off the escalator in the event of entrapment of some object between the steps and combplate. When an object becomes wedged between the steps and combplate, the latter will be lifted or pushed upwardly away from the steps. The upward movement of the combplate operates a power interruption switch to stop further movement of the steps and handrail. The combplate is supported on the truss by spring assemblies which serve to effectively lower the weight of the combplate so that upward movement of the latter is more readily accomplished. The assembly can be retrofitted onto older existing escalators with heavier combplates than are found in newer equipment.