Patents by Inventor Michael J. Tracey

Michael J. Tracey 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: 20190337767
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a latch situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a door locking position and a released position. At least one base is configured to be selectively movable relative to the pivot axis. A plurality of door movement bumpers are supported on the at least one base. Selective movement of the at least one base relative to the pivot axis adjusts an alignment position of the door movement bumpers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. TRACEY, Richard E. KULAK
  • Publication number: 20190300336
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes at least one elevator car that is moveable along a hoistway. An elevator controller is configured to respond to a communication from a portable device indicating a desire for the at least one elevator car to be placed in a maintenance mode and indicating a location of desired hoistway access. The controller automatically moves the elevator car to a determined positon based on the communication. That position corresponds to the location of the desired hoistway access. The controller performs at least one automated procedure to place the elevator car in the maintenance mode. The controller provides an indication to the portable device that the elevator car is in the determined position and that the automated procedure has been completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Tadeusz Pawel WITCZAK, Michael J. TRACEY
  • Publication number: 20180265334
    Abstract: An elevator car door interlock for unlocking an elevator car door of an elevator car is provided including a lock member (54) including an electrical contact (72). A rotatable link arm (58) has a sensing mechanism (52, 62) configured to detect a position of the elevator car door. An engagement latch (64) is pivotally mounted to the rotatable link arm. The engagement latch is engaged with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is locked. The engagement latch is rotated out of engagement with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20180229972
    Abstract: A lock assembly for an elevator car door is provided including a car mechanism configured to move from a first position to a second position upon detection of a known condition. A contactor is mounted adjacent a lower portion of the elevator car door and is operably coupled to the car door mechanism. The contact is movable in response to movement of the car door mechanism to lock and unlock a portion of the elevator car door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20170029246
    Abstract: A sill gap monitoring system includes a sensor assembly configured to sense a sill gap between an elevator sill and at least one of a bottom surface of an elevator door and a bottom surface of a gib. The sill gap monitoring system generates an alert when the sill gap is greater than a sill gap limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20150014101
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a door drive mechanism for actuating a door of an elevator car laterally between open and closed positions is provided. The door is mounted on the car for lateral movement relative to the car, and is connected to the car by at least one pivotable arm. The door drive mechanism includes a linear door drive mechanism and at least door drive mount. The door drive mechanism is configured to be mounted on the car. The door drive mount is configured to be attached to the door and is in communication with the linear door drive mechanism. The linear door drive mechanism is operable to selectively drive the door drive mount, the attached door, and the pivot arm between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20080156591
    Abstract: A device (40) for providing information regarding the position of an elevator car door (34) relative to a hoistway door (30) includes a reflector (42) supported on the hoistway door (30). A sensor (44) supported on an elevator car door (34) includes a plurality of sensing elements (46-50) for emitting radiation toward the reflector (42). Received radiation reflected from the reflector (42) provides an indication of the position of the car door (34) relative to the hoistway door (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 6446759
    Abstract: A coupling (8) for engaging an elevator car door (16) and a landing door (20) includes a fixed vane (36) and a movable vane (38). The movable vane is positioned by an engagement link (42) in response to movement of the car door (16) and the presence or absence of a corresponding landing door roller (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 5881844
    Abstract: A secondary positioning system for elevator car doors includes three sensors positioned in register with a plurality of openings formed within a door hanger. The unique spacing between the sensors in combination with unique spacing between each of the openings within the door hanger, allows determination of fully closed, fully opened, and intermediate positions and direction of elevator car doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Garnett Thompson, Richard N. Fargo, David K. Gentzler, Bennie Murah, James P. Towey, Jr., Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 5862887
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Bruce P. Swaybill, William L. King, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey, K. Narasimha Reddy, James A. Rivera
  • Patent number: 5841082
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: James A. Rivera, Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 5819877
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: James A. Rivera, Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey, Valery G. Sheynkman, Duane R. Stupienski, Blair J. Cohen
  • Patent number: 5756946
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, James A. Rivera
  • Patent number: 5701973
    Abstract: Disclosed is a door operator mounted in a space between a cab fascia and a sill edge plane. A feature of the door operator is a drive unit connected to a drive pulley, the drive unit being mounted in a central portion of the door operator, wherein the drive pulley provides a drive force to a linear transmission element. Another feature of the door operator is a modular mounting plate, wherein the door operator is mounted to the mounting plate, and in turn, the mounting plate is mounted in the space between the cab fascia and the sill edge plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 5659160
    Abstract: Disclosed is a door operator mounted in a space between a cab fascia and a sill edge plane. A feature of the door operator is a drive unit having a drive shaft, the drive unit being mounted in a central portion of the door operator, wherein drive pulleys are fastened to the drive shaft, thereby providing a drive force to linear transmission elements disposed about each of the drive pulleys. Another feature of the door operator is a modular mounting plate, wherein the door operator is mounted to the mounting plate, and in turn, the mounting plate is mounted in the space between the cab fascia and the sill edge plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Tracey