Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a tension member extending along a length of the belt, the tension member including a plurality of fibers bonded in a first polymer matrix, the plurality of fibers extending parallel to and discontinuous along a length of the belt and arranged with one or more lengthwise extending gaps between lengthwise adjacent fibers. A jacket substantially retains the tension member. A method of forming a tension member for an elevator system belt includes arranging a plurality of fibers into a fiber bundle. The plurality of fibers extend parallel to a length of the belt and have one or more lengthwise extending gaps between lengthwise extending fibers. The plurality of fibers is bonded to a first polymer matrix.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car extending longitudinally along a length of the belt. An inner belt layer formed from a first material is bonded to the plurality of tension elements at a first side of the belt. The inner belt layer forms an inner belt surface interactive with a traction sheave of an elevator system. An outer belt layer formed from a second material is bonded to the plurality of tension elements at a second side of the belt. The plurality of tension elements are located between the first side and the second side.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a tension member extending along a length of the belt, the tension member including a plurality of fibers bonded in a first polymer matrix, the plurality of fibers extending parallel to and discontinuous along a length of the belt and arranged with one or more lengthwise extending gaps between lengthwise adjacent fibers. A jacket substantially retains the tension member. A method of forming a tension member for an elevator system belt includes arranging a plurality of fibers into a fiber bundle. The plurality of fibers extend parallel to a length of the belt and have one or more lengthwise extending gaps between lengthwise extending fibers. The plurality of fibers is bonded to a first polymer matrix.

Abstract: A pressure vessel assembly includes a plurality of lobes, each lobe having at least one vertically arranged interior wall, the lobes positioned in a side by side arrangement such that a first interior wall of a first lobe is positioned adjacent a second interior wall of a second lobe, the first interior wall having a first wall top and bottom side, the second interior wall having a second wall top and bottom side, the first wall top side joined to the second wall top side and the first wall bottom side joined to the second wall bottom side. Also included are first and second end wall surfaces of each of the plurality of lobes. Further included is a plurality of end caps, each of the end caps joined to the end wall surfaces of the lobes, each of the end caps joined to at least one adjacent end cap.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of tension elements extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, and a jacket at least partially encapsulating the plurality of tension elements. The jacket defines a traction surface of the belt configured to be interactive with a drive sheave and a back surface opposite the traction surface. The jacket is formed from a first material. One or more material strips are located at one or more of the traction surface or the back surface to improve one or more operational characteristics of the belt. The one or more material strips formed from a second material different from the first material.

Abstract: People conveyors and components for people conveyors are described. The components include a toothed surface having at least one tooth. The at least one tooth having an engagement surface and a surface pattern comprising pattern channels formed into the engagement surface.

Abstract: A heating circuit assembly and method of manufacture includes an electrically conductive heating element having a pattern. An electrically non-conductive substrate is additive manufactured and secured to the element for structural support. The substrate has a topology that generally aligns with the pattern of the element thereby reducing the assembly weight and minimizing substrate material waste.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an elevator system. The elevator system comprises a car, a counterweight, at least one belt connecting the car and counterweight, and at least one sheave having a surface that engages with the belt. At least part of the surface of the sheave that interfaces with the belt has a plurality of features for reducing unwanted noise created due to the interaction between the belt and the sheave surface.

Abstract: A servicing device for a belt of an elevator system is provided including a housing and a guide member coupled to the housing. The guide member and the housing are disposed on opposite sides of the belt. At least one reservoir is disposed within the housing. The at least one reservoir contains one or more restoring materials. An applicator is configured to apply the one or more restoring materials to an adjacent surface of the belt. Application of the one or more restoring materials is configured to modify the geometry of the belt such that the modified geometry is substantially identical to the original geometry of the belt.

Abstract: An illustrative example method of making an elongated load bearing member includes providing a plurality of tension elements. A plurality of weave fibers are woven together with the tension elements to thereby establish a weave. A traction surface is established on at least one side of the load bearing member. The traction surface is defined by the weave fibers. Coating the weave fibers with a compressible coating provides an exterior surface texture defined at least in part by the weave fibers.

Abstract: A belt for an elevator system and a method for making the same is provided. The belt includes a plurality of tension members that extend along a length of the belt and a jacket. The jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The jacket maintains a desired spacing and alignment of the tension members relative to each other. The jacket includes a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. The jacket defines at least one exterior, traction surface of the belt. The first fibers are at least partially disposed between the tension members and the traction surface of the belt. The second fibers are fill fibers. The first fibers have at least one property that distinguishes them from the second fibers.

Abstract: A belt (30) for suspending and/or driving an elevator car (14) includes a plurality of tension elements (32) extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, at least one tension element of the plurality of tension elements having one or more tension element coating layers (46) applied thereto. A plurality of fibers are interlaced with the plurality of tension elements forming a composite belt structure. A belt coating (44) at least partially encapsulates the composite belt structure.

Abstract: A load bearing member (30) for a lifting and/or hoisting system includes a plurality of tension members (32) arranged along a width of the load bearing member. Each tension member includes a plurality of load carrying fibers (34) arranged to extend in a direction parallel to a length of the load bearing member and a matrix material (36) in which the plurality of load carrying fibers are arranged. The load bearing member further includes a lateral layer (40, 42) and a jacket material (50) at least partially encapsulating the plurality of tension members.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car, one or more sheaves, and one or more belts operably connected to the car and interactive with the one or more sheaves for suspending and/or driving the elevator car. The one or more belts include a plurality of wires arranged into one or more cords, and a jacket substantially retaining the one or more cords. A cord ratio, between a smallest sheave diameter (D) of the one or more sheaves of the elevator system that are interactive with the belt and a largest cord diameter (dc) of the one or more cords, (D/dc) is less than about 55. A wire ratio, between the smallest sheave diameter (D) and the largest wire diameter (dw) of the plurality of wires, (D/dw) is between about 160 and about 315.

Abstract: A pressure vessel configured to store a pressurized fluid is provided including a plurality of lobes. Each lobe includes at least one vertically arranged interior wall. The plurality of lobes are positioned in a side by side configuration such that a first interior wall of a first lobe is positioned adjacent a second interior wall of a second adjacent lobe. The first interior wall and the second interior wall are configured to contact one another at a first point of tangency. A first tangent intersects the first lobe at the first point of tangency and a second tangent intersects the second lobe at the first point of tangency. The first tangent and the second tangent are separated by about 120 degrees.

Abstract: A load bearing member is provided including at least one load bearing segment having a plurality of load carrying fibers arranged within a matrix material. At least a portion of the load bearing member has a radius of curvature when the load bearing member is untensioned.

Abstract: A composite pressure vessel assembly includes a first and second vessels aligned side-by-side. Each vessel has a liner defining respective chambers. First and second mid-layers of the assembly cover the respective liners with portions of the respective mid-layers being in contact with one-another. An outer layer of the vessel assembly is in contact with and substantially envelops both mid-layers except for the mid-layer portions.

Abstract: An illustrative method of making an elevator load bearing member having at least one elongated tension member at least partially covered by a jacket includes mixing a flame retardant with a polymer material. The flame retardant is selected from a group consisting of (i) a halogen-free melamine based intumescent comprising melamine cyanurate, melamine-phosphate, melamine pyrophosphate or melamine polyphosphate in an amount up to about 20% by weight of the thermoplastic polymer or (ii) a filled polymer having a nanoscale filler chemically bonded to a matrix phase. Applying the mixed flame retardant and polymer material to the tension member forms a jacket of a desired shape.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of tension elements extending longitudinally along a length of the belt and a plurality of fibers interlaced with the plurality of tension elements forming a composite belt structure. A coating at least partially encapsulates the composite belt structure to improve two or more operational characteristics of the belt. A method of forming a belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes forming a plurality of tension elements and arraying the plurality of tension elements longitudinally along a belt. A plurality of fibers are interlaced with the plurality of tension elements to form a composite belt structure. A coating is applied to at least partially encapsulate the composite belt structure to improve at least two operational characteristics of the belt.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of cords. Each cord includes a plurality of wires and at least one yarn thread disposed at an outer periphery of the plurality of wires. An elastomeric jacket substantially retains the plurality of cords. The at least one yarn thread is configured to promote adhesion of the elastomeric jacket to the plurality of cords and reduce fretting of the plurality of wires. A method of forming a belt includes arranging a plurality of wires into a cord, arranging one or more yarn threads at an outer periphery of the plurality of wires, arranging a plurality of cords into a selected arrangement and applying an elastomeric jacket to the cords to retain the cords. The one or more yarn threads are configured to promote adhesion of the elastomeric jacket to the cords and reduce fretting of the wires.