Abstract: A suspension member for suspending and/or driving an elevator car of an elevator system includes a plurality of tension members extending along a length of the suspension member including a plurality of fibers extending along the length of the suspension member bonded into a polymer matrix. A jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The suspension member is configured to be deformed at a suspension member end to allow for installation of the suspension member end into a termination assembly of the elevator system. A method of installing a suspension member of an elevator system into a termination assembly includes deforming a suspension member end and reforming it to a selected shape, inserting the suspension member end into the termination assembly and curing and/or hardening it, and applying a load thereto or to the socket or the wedge to secure the suspension member end in the termination assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary elongated elevator load bearing member includes a plurality of tension elements that extend along a length of the load bearing member. A plurality of weave fibers transverse to the tension elements are woven with the tension elements such that the weave fibers maintain a desired spacing and alignment of the tension elements relative to each other. The weave fibers at least partially cover the tension elements. The weave fibers are exposed and establish an exterior, traction surface of the load bearing member.

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 method of fault detection of a belt or rope includes interconnecting a plurality of cords of the belt or rope, the cords including a plurality of wires, to form a bridge circuit. A fault detection bridge circuit is subjected to a voltage excitation and outputs a voltage which is indicative of the belt or rope damage but remaining insensitive to other environmental noises.

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 method for applying a coating to a substrate includes obtaining a fluorinated polymer compound, where the fluorine is chemically or covalently bonded to the polymer molecule; and coating the surface of the substrate with the fluorinated polymer compound.

Abstract: A method of fault detection of a belt or rope includes interconnecting a plurality of cords of the belt or rope, the cords including a plurality of wires, to form a bridge circuit. A fault detection bridge circuit is subjected to a voltage excitation and outputs a voltage which is indicative of the belt or rope damage but remaining insensitive to other environmental noises.

Abstract: A composite pressure vessel assembly includes a plurality of lobes, each of the lobes having at least one interior wall and at least one curved wall, the plurality of lobes being positioned in a side by side arrangement and extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end. Also included is a plurality of end caps disposed at the ends of the lobes, wherein the plurality of lobes and end caps are formed of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer. A method of manufacturing a composite pressure vessel assembly is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of lobes consisting of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer. The method also includes forming a main body with the plurality of lobes, the lobes disposed in a side by side arrangement.

Abstract: A belted elevator system (10) includes a hoistway (14) and an elevator car (12) suspended in the hoistway (14) via a suspension member (16) and drivable along the hoistway (14). The suspension member (16) is routed over a plurality of sheaves (18). A sheave (18) of the plurality of sheaves includes a shaft (36) defining a central axis of the sheave (18), the sheave (18) rotatable about the central axis. A sheave outer member (38) is operably connected to the shaft (36) and rotatable about the central axis. The sheave outer member (38) includes a sheave outer surface (44) interactive with the suspension member (16). The sheave outer member (38) is formed from a molded plastic material.

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 method of fault detection of a belt or rope includes connecting a fault detection unit to at least a portion of a belt or rope including a plurality of wires arranged in a plurality of strands and/or cords. At least the portion of the belt or rope is subjected to an AC voltage of high frequency range and an electrical impedance of the portion of the belt or rope is measured via the fault detection unit. Using at least the measured electrical impedance of the portion of the belt or rope, a fault condition of the belt or rope is determined.

Abstract: Elevator coated ropes or belts are disclosed. The coated rope or belt may include at least one cord and a jacket retaining the at least one cord. The cord may include a plurality of filaments. The filaments are free of second-order helical structure. In a first embodiment, the filaments includes at least one inner filament and a plurality of outer filaments surrounding the at least one inner filament. The outer filaments are bunched together by forming a first-order helical structure through the length of the cord. In a second general embodiment, the filaments are free of both first- and second-order helical structures. The filaments are bunched together by a restraining loop or adhesive at one or more locations along the length of the cord. Methods of making the tension cord are also disclosed.

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: 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 method for constructing an interface between a sheave and a coated belt or rope of an elevator system, includes determining the surface energy of a surface of a coated belt or rope; and selecting a sheave such that the sheave has a work of adhesion between the coated belt or rope and the sheave, the work of adhesion meeting a defined relationship with a work of adhesion threshold.

Abstract: A method of forming a belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes arraying a plurality of tension elements longitudinally along a belt and interlacing a plurality of warp fibers and a plurality of weft fibers 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. The coating includes a base coating material and at least one additive mixed with the base coating material to improve an operational characteristic of the belt.

Abstract: An exemplary elongated elevator load bearing member of a traction elevator system includes a plurality of tension elements. A plurality of weave fibers transverse to the tension elements are woven with the tension elements. The weave fibers define at least one traction surface of the load bearing member.

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: 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.