Abstract: An exemplary method is useful for controlling movement of an elevator car in an elevator system that includes a machine that selectively moves the elevator car and a machine brake that selectively resists movement of the elevator car. The method includes determining whether the elevator car is near a landing and determining whether a door of the elevator car is open. A desired operation includes desired movement of the elevator car while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open. A determination is made whether the elevator car moves other than according to the desired movement. The machine brake is applied for stopping movement of the elevator car responsive to elevator car movement other than the desired movement while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open.

Abstract: An elevator control system includes a control power supply, a computing core in communication with the control power supply, a communication power supply in communication with the computing core, and a sleep monitor in communication with the control power supply, the computing core, and the communication power supply. The sleep monitor is disposed to selectively turn on/off the control power supply and the computing core, and the sleep monitor is disposed to selectively change an operating state of the communication power supply to a low voltage state.

Abstract: An elevator safety system including a controller, and a hoistway safety node arranged at a pit portion of an elevator hoistway. The hoistway node is operatively connected to one of a pit safety device and a lower hoistway device arranged at the elevator pit. A first bus links the hoistway node and the controller. The first bus passes communication signals directly from the hoistway node to the controller. A car node is arranged in an elevator car. The car node is operatively connected to a car safety device arranged at the elevator car. A second bus links the car node and the controller. The second bus passes communication signals directly from the car node to the controller.

Abstract: An elevator car includes a foldable handrail mounted on top of the car. Safety switches are associated with the foldable handrail including a first safety switch and a second safety switch. The first safety switch is closed only when the handrail is folded in a fully retracted position. The second safety switch is closed when the handrail is unfolded in a fully deployed position. A safety chain is associated with the first and second safety switches for supplying power to an elevator drive system in a normal operation or an inspection operation depending on the state of the first and second safety switches.

Abstract: An exemplary safety circuit includes a plurality of contacts that are configured to establish a conductive path across the contacts when the contacts are in electrically conductive contact with each other. The contacts selectively interrupt the conductive path across them when the contacts are separated. A controller selectively introduces a voltage pulse across the contacts at a voltage level that is effective to overcome an electrical resistance of any contamination on at least one of the contacts. The controller introduces the voltage pulse at least when the contacts are expected to be in contact to establish the conductive path.

Abstract: Automatic door systems and methods capable of determining proper functionality thereof are provided. The door systems are provided with a healthcheck module which automatically determines functionality of the door system by initially monitoring a first output signal provided by a first sensor and a second output signal provided by a second sensor. More specifically, the healthcheck module correlates the first output signal with the second output signal and operates one or more doors of a door system according to the correlation. The healthcheck module then monitors the second output signal provided by the second sensor to determine the ability of the one or more doors to close, and determines functionality of the door system accordingly.

Abstract: The elevator has a car movable vertically within a shaft between lower and upper end positions and a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car. A limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions. The limit switch forms part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards that end position in an inspection operation. Thus movement of the car is prevented only in that direction when the car is in the selected distance range in an inspection operation.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting a misaligned or missing step of a conveyor are disclosed. The missing step detector includes various sensors for detecting the drive speed of the conveyor and for detecting the presence of pallets or steps. The sensor output signals are correlated to determine fixed values characteristic of the specific conveyor in question. Using the fixed values as reference, the missing step detector is able to effectively monitor the conveyor for misaligned or missing steps independent of conveyor speed and time.

Abstract: The elevator has a car movable vertically within a shaft between lower and upper end positions and a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car. A limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions. The limit switch forms part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards that end position in an inspection operation. Thus movement of the car is prevented only in that direction when the car is in the selected distance range in an inspection operation.

Abstract: An elevator rescue system for moving an elevator car to a disembarkation position in a rescue operation comprises a rescue device (16) coupled to a brake system (4) of an elevator, the rescue device (16) comprising a rescue power source (22), wherein the rescue device (16) is disposed near the brake system (4) of the elevator; an operation panel (26) comprising a manual rescue operation switch (28), the operation panel (26) being disposed remotely from the rescue device (16); and a rescue operation signal transmission path (32) between the rescue device (16) and the operation panel (26).

Abstract: A device and method for automatically adjusting safety control parameters of a conveyor are disclosed. The safety device may include various sensors and a safety control module. The safety control module may be preprogrammed with a learn-run method configured to learn operational and mechanical characteristics of a conveyor, validate the operational characteristics of the conveyor based on predefined nominal specifications, and determine a safety function with calibrated safety control parameters by which to monitor conveyor operation.

Abstract: The elevator has a car movable vertically within a shaft between lower and upper end positions and a drive system coupled to a traction system for controlling movement of the car. A limit switch which is open when the car is in a selected distance range from one of the end positions. The limit switch forms part of a power line supplying power to the drive system for controlling movement of the car in a direction towards that end position in an inspection operation. Thus movement of the car is prevented only in that direction when the car is in the selected distance range in an inspection operation.

Abstract: Transport system (2), comprising a controller, a drive motor and a safety switch (18) that is connected to a safety-related part (8, 10) of the transport system (2) and is able to distinguish between a safe state of the transport system (2) and an unsafe state of the transport system (2), where the safety switch is connected to the controller in order to interrupt the power to the drive motor in an unsafe state, characterized by the fact that the safety switch (18) is realized so that it is able to also detect a warning state in addition to the safe state and the unsafe state.

Abstract: Transport system (2), comprising a controller, a drive motor and a safety switch (18) that is connected to a safety-related part (8, 10) of the transport system (2) and is able to distinguish between a safe state of the transport system (2) and an unsafe state of the transport system (2), where the safety switch is connected to the controller in order to interrupt the power to the drive motor in an unsafe state, characterized by the fact that the safety switch (18) is realized so that it is able to also detect a warning state in addition to the safe state and the unsafe state.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electronic safety system for elevators for preventing unsafe elevator operation has a central controller which monitors a variety of sensors, contacts, and switches over an electronic safety bus. A plurality of bus nodes are distributed throughout the elevator system and are in constant communication with the central controller over the safety bus. The bus nodes interface with sensors, switches, contacts, detectors, components, and other safety equipment of the elevator system at each location and provide status information back to the controller. The controller consists of a microprocessor board with an input/output port in communication with the safety bus and bus nodes. Upon sensing an unsafe condition, the controller sends control signals to an elevator control system and a drive and brake system to arrest the elevator car in a safe manner.

Abstract: An electronic overspeed governor for preventing elevator overspeed by enabling safety devices. The electronic overspeed governor includes a microprocessor assembly designed to interface with existing sensors, detectors, components, and safety equipment of current operational and production elevator systems. The microprocessor assembly receives very accurate position measurements from a position measurement system. The microprocessor receives configuration information from a rom which contains data specific to the particular model of elevator and other installation specific parameters. The software calculates elevator speed based on successive position data. If an overspeed or near overspeed condition occurs, the microprocessor generates the appropriate outputs to be conveyed to the elevator safety system. The safety system activates devices to arrest the overspeed condition.

Abstract: An elevator drive fault detector for detecting operational faults in an elevator drive having an inverter and only one circuit breaker includes a current sensor, a monitoring device, a control device and an operational control system. The current sensor provides a current sensor signal. The monitoring device determines if an operational fault exists in response to the current sensor signal and provides an operational signal. The monitoring device disables the operational signal if the monitoring device determines that an operational fault exists or if the elevator drive fault detector performs a system check operation. The operational control system provides both the run command and an operational check signal and is responsive to the operational signal such that if the operational signal is disabled then the operational control system opens the one circuit breaker and disables the run command such that the control device disables a PWM signal.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a leveling time of an elevator car is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: moving the elevator car in a hoistway; transmitting a first signal by a first sensor in response to moving the elevator car in the hoistway; beginning a time measurement in response to detecting the first signal; transmitting a second signal by a second sensor in response to moving the elevator car in the hoistway, the second sensor being disposed a predetermined distance from the first sensor; ending the time measurement in response to detecting the second signal; determining a time measurement value in response to ending the time measurement; determining a leveling speed of the elevator car by dividing the predetermined distance between the first sensor and the second sensor by the time measurement value; and adjusting the leveling time in response to determining the leveling speed.