Patents by Inventor Jorma Mustalahti

Jorma Mustalahti 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).

  • Patent number: 7537100
    Abstract: A method for changing the direction of motion of a pallet moving on wheels at an end of a travelator. The method comprises moving the pallet in a traveling direction at a first level, positioning a supporting element in alignment to receive a wheel of the pallet using a positioning device, positively guiding a trailing end of the pallet from the first level to a second level different than the first level by supporting the wheel of the pallet with the supporting element, and moving the pallet in a return direction at the second level. The pallet maintains a substantially constant orientation during the change of direction of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko, Marc Ossendorf
  • Publication number: 20090120733
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement in an elevator without counterweight, which comprises at least a control unit (5), a hoisting machine (3) and a traction sheave (4) connected to it, and an elevator car (1) suspended on hoisting ropes (2) fixed to an essentially immovable place at their first ends and adjustably at their second ends, which elevator car (1) is fitted to travel backwards and forwards in an essentially vertical direction, and which elevator also comprises a tightening element (15) acting on the second end of the hoisting ropes (2). An actively operating actuator (17, 21, 24, 29) is in connection with the tightening element (15), which is fitted by means of feedback to keep the rope tension essentially at a predetermined level either by lightening or tightening the rope tension according to changes in the loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7500549
    Abstract: A people mover, such as a travelator, moving ramp or escalator, comprises a conveyor. The conveyor comprises a frame having a first frame part secured to a fixed structure, and a second frame part mounted to be movable in relation to the first frame part in the longitudinal direction. The first and second frame parts are arranged one after the other. Transport platforms are secured to a first drive element and a second drive element. The drive elements are endless elements. A first tensioning device tensions the first drive element and a second tensioning device tensions the second drive element. Each tensioning device acts between the first frame part and the second frame part. The conveyor additionally comprises mechanical transmission elements between the first and second tensioning devices for keeping the stroke lengths of the first and the second tensioning movements equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Marc Ossendorf
  • Publication number: 20090050414
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for equalizing the rope force of a traction sheave elevator, said elevator comprising at least a hoisting machine (5) and a traction sheave (6) connected to it and an elevator car (1), which is suspended on a set of hoisting ropes (3) and fitted to move along guide rails (4), the rope suspension of said elevator comprising a rope force compensating device (20). The compensating device (20) comprises at least a first tensioning device (21) and a second tensioning device (22). The hoisting ropes in the set of hoisting ropes (3) are secured by one end to a point in conjunction with the first tensioning device (21) and by the other end to a point in conjunction with the second tensioning device (22). The rotary motions of the tensioning devices (21) and (22) are interconnected via a transmission ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko, Pekka Rantanen
  • Publication number: 20090050443
    Abstract: A travelator, moving ramp or escalator for transporting passengers, comprises a conveyor mounted on a frame that is supported on a fixed structure. The frame comprises a number of mutually identical profiled metallic bodies joined together end to end one after the other and containing coupling, supporting and/or guide elements integrated in the profiled metallic body of solid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Marc Ossendorf
  • Patent number: 7493989
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension arrangement for an elevator, which elevator preferably is an elevator without machine room and in which elevator the hoisting machine (4) is connected via a traction sheave (5) to hoisting ropes (3), by means of which the elevator car (1) is moved, and which hoisting machine (4) comprises at least a stator frame (26) secured to a mounting place in the elevator shaft and a traction sheave (5) and a rotor frame (25) forming a fixed assembly, which assembly is mounted with bearings so as to be rotatable with respect to the stator frame, and which hoisting machine (4) is secured to a stiffener (22) bracing the stator frame (26). The stiffener (22) comprises a support for mounting a bearing (23), said support being preferably situated below the traction sheave (5) and extending in a direction towards the hoisting machine, on which support is mounted with a bearing a freely rotating auxiliary diverting pulley (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7484614
    Abstract: A pallet arrangement for a people mover includes a pallet adapted to move on wheels and form part of a moving track. The pallet includes a pallet body having at least two profile sections joined together. A wear surface is coupled to the pallet body and the two profile sections have a form-lock coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Marc Ossendorf, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7484596
    Abstract: An elevator without counterweight, in which elevator the elevator car is guided by guide rails and suspended by means of diverting pulleys on hoisting ropes so that the elevator has rope portions of the hoisting ropes going upwards and downwards from the elevator car and a number of diverting pulleys in the upper and lower parts of the elevator shaft. The elevator has a drive machine placed in the elevator shaft and provided with a traction sheave. The elevator has a compensating device acting on the hoisting ropes for equalizing and/or compensating the rope tension and/or rope elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7481299
    Abstract: An elevator, which preferably is an elevator without counterweight and in which an elevator car is suspended by means of a set of hoisting ropes comprising one rope or a number of parallel ropes. The elevator has a traction sheave that moves the elevator car by means of the hoisting ropes. The elevator comprises rope portions of hoisting ropes going upwards and downwards from the elevator car, and the elevator has a compensating device acting on the hoisting ropes to equalize and/or compensate rope tension and/or rope elongation. The compensating device acting on the hoisting ropes of the elevator comprises at least one slack rope prevention means for preventing uncontrolled slackening of the hoisting ropes and/or uncontrolled motion of the compensating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7481300
    Abstract: An elevator roping arrangement includes: hoisting ropes; diverting pulleys; and a fixing and support arrangement. First and fourth diverting pulleys are disposed on the elevator car, while second and third diverting pulleys are disposed in an upper part of an elevator shaft. The hoisting ropes pass from a traction sheave to the diverting pulleys. The fixing and support arrangement is disposed at a top end of elevator car guide rails and includes two support beams. Each support beam is fixed at a first end to a wall of the shaft, extends from the first end to a second end away from the wall, and is fixed to a guide rail between the ends. A vertical plane is defined between the guide rails. At least one of the diverting pulleys is on an opposite side of the plane from the wall, and is disposed at a distance from the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7472534
    Abstract: A method for ensuring tightness of two or more hoisting ropes in an elevator may include: installing the two or more hoisting ropes in the elevator; running the elevator to verify proper operation of the elevator; and tightening the two or more hoisting ropes after running the elevator to verify proper operation. An elevator may include two or more hoisting ropes. The tightness of the two or more hoisting ropes may be ensured by the method discussed above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Publication number: 20080314691
    Abstract: In the elevator of the invention, the hoisting rope is roped to meet the traction sheave in two different rope grooves, which have differ from each other in respect of their holding properties. In the traction sheave of the invention, at least two adjacent rope grooves have cross-sectional shapes differing from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7461721
    Abstract: An elevator hoisting rope set (3) suspends a counterweight (2) and an elevator car (1). The elevator has one or more rope pulleys provided with rope grooves, one of said rope pulleys being a traction sheave (7) that moves the hoisting ropes (3). At least the traction sheave (7) has against the hoisting rope (3) a coating adhesively attached to it and increasing the coefficient of friction. At least the traction sheave (7) and the hoisting ropes (3) together form a material pair in which the hoisting ropes (3) bite into the traction sheave (7), maintaining a grip sufficient for the operation of the elevator even in an exceptional situation where the coating (102) increasing the coefficient of friction on the surface of the traction sheave (7) is lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7448474
    Abstract: Method for making an elevator, wherein the roping is selected according to the weight of the elevator car using the same drive machine, traction sheave and rope sheave regardless of the roping. For heavy elevators, Single Wrap roping is used, wherein the hoisting ropes are passed around the traction sheave and the rope sheave guides the ropes and dampens their vibrations, while for light elevators Double Wrap roping is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Petteri Valjus
  • Publication number: 20080264729
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator and an elevator brake, which elevator contains at least a hoisting machine (5) equipped with a traction sheave (6), a brake (10) affecting the rotational movement of the traction sheave and provided with at least one brake shoe (12) and a braking surface (11a), and hoisting ropes (3), which are fitted to move by means of the traction sheave (6) an elevator car (1) that moves along guide rails (4). In an emergency braking situation when the elevator car (1) is moving in the upward direction, the brake shoe (12) of the brake (10) is arranged to move in the direction of rotation of the braking surface (11a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7441644
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting passengers in a transport direction such as, for example, a travelator, moving ramp, or escalator, is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor mounted on a first frame adapted to be supported on a fixed structure. The first frame includes two elongated first frame parts which include guide tracks for guiding the conveyor. The first frame parts may be profiled metallic bodies of solid material joined together end to end one after the other. The profiled metallic bodies include one or more extruded profiles. A handrail is provided and includes a handrail frame and an endless handrail belt mounted on the handrail frame. The endless handrail belt is arranged as a loop having an upper handhold portion that a passenger can grip with a hand for support and a lower return portion disposed inside the first frame. A number of suspenders are fastened to the first frame at a distance from each other to support the return portion of the handrail belt inside the profiled metallic bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Marc Ossendorf
  • Patent number: 7438174
    Abstract: A people mover includes a conveyor and a protective skirting made from an extruded metal profile. The protective skirting is located adjacent to a side of the conveyor, with a narrow gap located between the protective skirting and the side to prevent objects from entering the gap when the conveyor is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Marc Ossendorf
  • Patent number: 7424944
    Abstract: A conveyor for use in a travelator for transporting passengers in a transport direction. The conveyor comprises a frame; a plurality of shafts mounted on the frame substantially transversely to the transport direction, each of the plurality of shafts being substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another. A belt pulley pack is mounted on each of the shafts, each belt pulley pack comprising a plurality of belt pulleys mounted adjacent to one another. Each belt pulley comprises a mold-cast object comprising: a first side having a first aligning and coupling element formed therein; a second side opposite to the first side, the second side having a second aligning and coupling element fitted to match the first aligning and coupling element, so that the first and second aligning and coupling elements of adjacent belt pulleys align and couple the adjacent belt pulleys together in a shape-locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7413068
    Abstract: A first handrail (2) of the travelator, moving ramp or escalator comprises an endless moving first handrail belt (3) formed as a loop and having a first handhold portion (4) that the passenger can grasp with a hand for support. The first handhold portion (4) has a posterior end (5) posterior in the conveying direction. To support and guide the handrail belt (3), the handrail (2) comprises a first handrail frame (6) having a first side (7). A second handrail (8) is placed after the first handrail in the conveying direction and alongside the conveyor on the same side with the first handrail and extending in a direction parallel to the first handrail (2). The second handrail (8) comprises a second moving endless handrail belt (9) formed as a loop and having an upper second handhold portion (10) that the passenger can grasp with a hand for support. The second handhold portion (10) has an anterior end (11) anterior in the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7410043
    Abstract: An arrangement for coupling a pallet in a conveying device includes a pallet having wheels and forming a part of a transport track of the conveying device, and a drive element. A coupling piece is adapted to be connected to the pallet and a fastening parties connects the drive element to the coupling piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Marc Ossendorf