Patents by Inventor Philippe Gainche

Philippe Gainche 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: 11046555
    Abstract: An elevator system may include a car that is movable in an elevator shaft. The car may include a frame and a cabin. The elevator system may also comprise a first linear motor with a first primary part and a first secondary part. The first primary part of the first linear motor may be arranged on a first rail that is disposed in the elevator shaft. The frame may also include a first drive beam on which the first secondary part is disposed. The frame may further include a first lower beam for supporting the cabin and a first connecting segment that connects the first lower beam to the first drive beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Gainche, Michael Kirsch, Christoph Pawelski, Christoph Klotzbach
  • Patent number: 11034547
    Abstract: An elevator system may comprise a vertical guide rail, a horizontal guide rail, a shaft relative to which at least one of the first or second guide rail is kept stationary, a rotatable rail segment, a car that is movable along the guide rails and switchable between the first and second guide rails via the rail segment, and locking devices configured to selectively secure an orientation of the car and/or the rail segment. A method for operating the elevator system may involve positioning the car into a transfer position on the rail segment while the rotatable rail segment is aligned with the first guide rail, rotating the rail segment into alignment with the second rail segment whereby movement of the rail segment is braked by a rotary brake, and securing the rotational position of the rail segment relative to the shaft with one of the locking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Gainche, Marius Matz, Martin Madera
  • Patent number: 10981751
    Abstract: A guide rail for an elevator system may include at least one rail element that is fastened by at least one fastening means to at least one shaft wall of the elevator system. The at least one rail element may be mounted in a movable manner in relation to at least one shaft wall. The at least one rail element can be moved in relation to the at least one shaft wall such that a space behind the at least one rail element and the shaft wall is accessible for inspection purposes. In some cases, the fastening means includes a hinge by which the rail element can swivel relative to the shaft wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Gainche, Thomas Kuczera
  • Patent number: 10723591
    Abstract: A guide rail for an elevator system may comprise at least two rail elements that together form a guide rail portion having a functional running track that extends in a travel direction. Each of the rail elements may be connected to a shaft wall of the elevator system. Furthermore, the at least two rail elements may be adjacent and spaced such that the at least two rail elements can thermally expand freely in the travel direction. Additionally, the at least two rail elements in a region of the functional running track may have mutually opposite borders that have complementary profiles. An arbitrary cross section of the guide rail portion perpendicular to the travel direction in the region of the functional track may run through at least one of the two adjacent rail elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR INNOVATION AND OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Kirsch, Walter Hoffmann, Thomas Kuczera, Philippe Gainche, Mike Obert, Markan Lovric, Martin Madera, Martin Krieg
  • Patent number: 10696521
    Abstract: An elevator system, including at least one first guide rail, which is oriented in a first, in particular vertical, direction, at least one second guide rail, which is oriented in a second, in particular horizontal, direction, a plurality of rotatable rail segments, wherein at least one thereof is transferable between an orientation in the first direction and an orientation in the second direction, at least one elevator cab, which is transportable along the guide rails and which, via the rotatable rail segments, is transferable between the different guide rails, at least one third guide rail, which is oriented in a third, in particular horizontal, direction, and wherein at least one of the rotatable rail segments is transferable between an orientation in the first or second direction into an orientation in the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Philippe Gainche
  • Patent number: 10351390
    Abstract: An elevator system may include at least two elevator shafts along with an elevator car with a cab and a chassis device. The cab may be mounted rotatably about a horizontal rotational axis relative to the chassis device. A vertically extending rail, along which the elevator car is movable, may be disposed in each elevator shaft. Each of the rails may include a rotatable segment such that the rotatable segments are alignable with respect to one another so that the elevator car is movable along the segments between the elevator shafts. A first device may lock the cab relative to the chassis device, and a second device may hold the cab relative to the elevator shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Philippe Gainche, Michael Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20170225927
    Abstract: An elevator system may include an elevator car that can be moved in an elevator shaft. The elevator car may comprise a chassis element. A rail, which in some cases is arranged as a guide rail, may be arranged in the elevator shaft. The elevator system may further comprise a linear motor with a primary part and a secondary part. The primary part of the linear motor may be arranged on the rail. The secondary part of the linear motor may be arranged on the chassis element, and the secondary part may at least partially enclose the primary part of the linear motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicants: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG, ThyssenKrupp AG
    Inventors: Michael Kirsch, Philippe Gainche, Friedrich Löser, Christoph Pawelski
  • Patent number: 6139094
    Abstract: A rocker joint assembly provides adjustability in the Z-axis and Y-axis of a body-in-white structure. The individual components of the assembly includes a vertical pillar and a rocker member that cooperate with a main beam of a frame. The several components can be formed from extrusions or sheet product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Jan L. Teply, Jonathan Vallis, Philippe Gainche