Patents by Inventor Javier Munoz Sotoca

Javier Munoz Sotoca 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: 20220177267
    Abstract: A user input device (202), for providing an input to an elevator controller is disclosed. The user input device (202) includes a plurality of input regions (204A-204F) each of which correspond to a different input command; and a single touchless sensor (216) arranged to detect the presence of an object in any of the plurality of input regions (204A-204F).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Javier Munoz Sotoca, Borja de Diego Restrepo, Marcos Garcia Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20220144588
    Abstract: An adjustable force safety brake for use in an elevator system. The adjustable force safety brake includes a safety block, first and second braking elements housed in the safety block and an electromagnet. The safety block includes a channel arranged to receive a guide rail of an elevator system in use. The first braking element is configured to move from an initial position into a position of engagement with the guide rail received in the channel to create a braking force, and the second braking element is configured to create an additional braking force on the guide rail when the first braking element is in the position of engagement. The electromagnet is operable to selectively produce a magnetic force which acts on the second braking element in a sideways direction away from the channel so as to reduce the additional braking force on the guide rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Javier Muñoz Sotoca
  • Publication number: 20220106164
    Abstract: A safety brake device, for use in a conveyance system including a guide rail and a component moveable along the guide rail, comprises a safety brake moveable between a non-braking position where the safety brake is not in engagement with the guide rail and a braking position where the safety brake is engaged with the guide rail. The safety brake device also comprises an actuator for the safety brake, and the actuator comprises a mounting portion for mounting the actuator to the component, a pad arranged to be moveable relative to the mounting portion between a first position spaced from the guide rail and a second position in contact with the guide rail, and at least one biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to move the pad from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Javier Munoz Sotoca, Ruben Marante-Chasco
  • Patent number: 11235950
    Abstract: An elevator safety gear actuation device for actuating an elevator safety gear comprises a first member and a second member. The first and second members are arranged opposite to each other defining a gap configured for accommodating a guide member extending in a longitudinal direction. At least one of the engagement members comprises an engagement element which is movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The first engagement element comprises at least one permanent magnet which is configured for being magnetically attracted and attaching to the guide member extending through the gap when the engagement element is arranged in the engaged position. The second member comprises at least one additional permanent magnet which is configured for being magnetically attracted to the guide member extending through the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Ruben Sanchez Munoz, Javier Munoz Sotoca
  • Publication number: 20210155447
    Abstract: An elevator system (1, 1?) includes a portable emergency stop switch (2, 2?), arranged to transmit a signal (4) when activated, a signal receiver (6, 6?), arranged to receive the signal (4, 4?) transmitted by the portable emergency stop switch (2, 2?); and an elevator safety actuator (8, 8?) and an elevator safety brake (10, 10?). In response to receipt of the signal (4, 4?), the signal receiver (6, 6?) is arranged to trigger the elevator safety actuator (8, 8?) to deploy the elevator safety brake (10, 10?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: Javier Munoz Sotoca
  • Publication number: 20200402695
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator device comprises a fixed part, a first movable part and a second movable part each arranged to move with respect to the fixed part along an actuation direction. A conductive coil (20) is wrapped around a core (28) and is housed within the fixed part (4). The first movable part (6) is coupled to the fixed part (4) by at least one restorative component (10) such that, in a working position, the first movable part (6) is separated from the fixed part (4) along the actuation direction (22) by a first actuation distance (d1). The second movable part (8) is coupled to the first movable part (6) by at least restorative component (16) such that, in the working position, the second movable part (8) is separated from the first movable part (6) along the actuation direction (22) by a second actuation distance (d2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Javier Munoz Sotoca
  • Publication number: 20200354192
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Javier Muñoz Sotoca, Tanjil Mustafa, James M. Draper
  • Publication number: 20200346895
    Abstract: A safety brake for an elevator system including a car and a guide rail is provided. The safety brake is adapted to limit movement of the car in a first direction (D1) along the guide rail when in a braking state and comprises: first and second braking members adapted to be wedged against the guide rail when in a braking state; and an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the safety brake is configured such that: the first and second braking members are biased towards one another in a second direction (D2) substantially perpendicular to the first direction (D1); the first and second braking members are held in a non-braking state spaced apart from one another and the guide rail when the electromagnetic actuator is in a first state; and when the electromagnetic actuator is in a second state, the first and second braking members are moved into the braking state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Javier Munoz Sotoca
  • Publication number: 20200325002
    Abstract: A guide rail (1, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) for an elevator car (82) or counterweight, wherein the guide rail (1, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) comprises a pattern (6, 46, 56, 66, 76) formed directly on the guide rail (1, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) and extending along the length of the guide rail (1, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81), suitable for being detected by a sensor (84).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventor: Javier Munoz Sotoca
  • Publication number: 20200207581
    Abstract: An actuation device (24) for an elevator safety device (20) configured for moving in a longitudinal direction along a guide member (14, 15) of an elevator system (2), comprises a base (25) and a lever (26). The lever (26) is pivotably supported by the base (25) in a configuration allowing the lever (26) to pivot between an engaged position, in which at least a portion of the lever (26) or an element (27, 46) moving concurrently with the lever (26) contacts the guide member (14, 15); and a disengaged position, in which neither the lever (26) nor an element (27, 46) moving concurrently with the lever (26) contacts the guide member (14, 15). The lever (26) is also shiftable with respect to the base (25).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: Javier Munoz Sotoca
  • Publication number: 20190330021
    Abstract: An elevator safety gear actuation device for actuating an elevator safety gear comprises a first member and a second member. The first and second members are arranged opposite to each other defining a gap configured for accommodating a guide member extending in a longitudinal direction. At least one of the engagement members comprises an engagement element which is movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The first engagement element comprises at least one permanent magnet which is configured for being magnetically attracted and attaching to the guide member extending through the gap when the engagement element is arranged in the engaged position. The second member comprises at least one additional permanent magnet which is configured for being magnetically attracted to the guide member extending through the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ruben Sanchez Munoz, Javier Munoz Sotoca