Abstract: A method and system for managing an elevator system (10), includes providing a plurality of elevator cars (14) to travel in a hoistway (11), and selectively introducing and removing at least one of the plurality of elevator cars (14) to and from the hoistway (11) via a loading station (50).

Abstract: A method includes determining that an elevator car is arriving at a landing at which re-leveling is anticipated; upon the elevator car arriving at the landing at which re-leveling is anticipated, initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation to reduce elevator car sag at the landing; monitoring transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over a period of time; terminating the at least one of the brake cycling operation and the power cycling operation upon at least one of (i) the transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over the period of time being less than a threshold and (ii) the elevator car sag at the landing meeting a sag threshold.

Abstract: An elevator system (100) includes an elevator drive system (101) including a tension member (103) supporting an elevator car (106) under tension and a monitoring system (102). The monitoring system includes a vibration sensor (111) for detecting vibration of at least one of the tension member and the elevator car and an analysis unit (112) for determining a level of wear and life of the tension member based on the vibration of the tension member detected by the vibration sensor.

Abstract: A system for determining stiffness of an elevator system tension member includes a landing floor indicator to transmit a landing floor signal of an elevator car to a stiffness estimator, and a car position encoder to transmit a car position signal of the elevator car in a hoistway to the stiffness estimator. A machine position encoder transmits a machine position signal to the stiffness estimator. The tension member is operably connected to the machine to move the elevator car along the hoistway. A load weight sensor is located at the elevator car to transmit a load weight signal of the elevator car to the stiffness estimator. The stiffness estimator utilizes at least the landing floor signal, the car position signal, the machine position signal and the load weight signal to calculate an estimated stiffness of the tension member.

Abstract: A method includes determining that an elevator car is arriving at a landing at which re-leveling is anticipated; upon the elevator car arriving at the landing at which re-leveling is anticipated, initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation to reduce elevator car sag at the landing; monitoring transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over a period of time; terminating the at least one of the brake cycling operation and the power cycling operation upon at least one of (i) the transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over the period of time being less than a threshold and (ii) the elevator car sag at the landing meeting a sag threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to determining that an elevator car of an elevator system is approaching a landing, obtaining, by a controller, a value for at least one parameter associated with the elevator system based on the determination that the elevator car is approaching the landing, determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within a threshold distance, determining, by the controller, when to engage in at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation based on the value for the at least one parameter and based on determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within the threshold distance, and initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation at a time corresponding to the determination of when to engage in the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation.

Abstract: A structural health monitoring system is provided. The system includes a drive system having a first drive member a second drive member 38 operationally connected to the first drive member, and a tension member 39 operationally connecting the first drive member to the second drive member. At least one sensor 50 is configured to monitor a characteristic of at least one of the first drive member and the second drive member. A processor 54, in communication with the at least one sensor, is configured to determine if the structural health of the tension member is compromised based on the monitored characteristic. The processor is further configured to perform a safety response action when the structural health of the tension member is determined to be compromised.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system includes detecting a building sway which causes sway of elevator suspension or compensation members. An elevator control system is switched into a building sway mode, and operation of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is changed via the building sway mode to mitigate vibratory effects of the building sway on the one or more elevator cars.

Abstract: A method and system for managing an elevator system (10), includes providing a plurality of elevator cars (14) to travel in a hoistway (11), and selectively introducing and removing at least one of the plurality of elevator cars (14) to and from the hoistway (11) via a loading station (50).

Abstract: An elevator system includes a first elevator car (14A) supported for vertical movement in a lane (11, 13, 15, 17) of a hoistway (11). A second elevator car (14B) is configured to operate and move vertically in the lane (11, 13, 15, 17) below the first elevator car (14A) independently thereof. At least one buffering device (34) is supported on at least one of the elevator cars (14) to absorb energy upon contact between each buffering device (034) and the other elevator car (14).

Abstract: A structural health monitoring system is provided. The system includes a drive system having a first drive member a second drive member 38 operationally connected to the first drive member, and a tension member 39 operationally connecting the first drive member to the second drive member. At least one sensor 50 is configured to monitor a characteristic of at least one of the first drive member and the second drive member. A processor 54, in communication with the at least one sensor, is configured to determine if the structural health of the tension member is compromised based on the monitored characteristic. The processor is further configured to perform a safety response action when the structural health of the tension member is determined to be compromised.

Abstract: An elevator system (100) includes an elevator drive system (101) including a tension member (103) supporting an elevator car (106) under tension and a monitoring system (102). The monitoring system includes a vibration sensor (111) for detecting vibration of at least one of the tension member and the elevator car and an analysis unit (112) for determining a level of wear and life of the tension member based on the vibration of the tension member detected by the vibration sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to determining that an elevator car of an elevator system is approaching a landing, obtaining, by a controller, a value for at least one parameter associated with the elevator system based on the determination that the elevator car is approaching the landing, determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within a threshold distance, determining, by the controller, when to engage in at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation based on the value for the at least one parameter and based on determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within the threshold distance, and initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation at a time corresponding to the determination of when to engage in the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation.

Abstract: A system for releveling an elevator car floor with a landing floor includes a load weight sensor to sense a load weight of an elevator car at a landing floor, and a releveling controller operably connected to the load weight sensor to calculate a corrective velocity for the elevator car based on the load weight and estimates of the effective stiffnesses at the landing floor. A machine is operably connected to the releveling controller with both feedback and feedforward control and the elevator car to apply the corrective velocity to the elevator car thereby reducing a mismatch between the elevator car and the landing floor.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to detecting motion of a building housing a multi-deck elevator system, determining, by a processing device, that the detected motion of the building is greater than a threshold, and controlling access to at least one deck of the elevator system based on determining that the detected motion of the building is greater than the threshold such that the at least one deck still is enabled to traverse a hoist-way of the elevator system.

Abstract: A system for determining stiffness of an elevator system tension member includes a landing floor indicator to transmit a landing floor signal of an elevator car to a stiffness estimator, and a car position encoder to transmit a car position signal of the elevator car in a hoistway to the stiffness estimator. A machine position encoder transmits a machine position signal to the stiffness estimator. The tension member is operably connected to the machine to move the elevator car along the hoistway. A load weight sensor is located at the elevator car to transmit a load weight signal of the elevator car to the stiffness estimator. The stiffness estimator utilizes at least the landing floor signal, the car position signal, the machine position signal and the load weight signal to calculate an estimated stiffness of the tension member.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to detecting motion of a building housing a multi-deck elevator system, determining, by a processing device, that the detected motion of the building is greater than a threshold, and controlling access to at least one deck of the elevator system based on determining that the detected motion of the building is greater than the threshold such that the at least one deck still is enabled to traverse a hoist-way of the elevator system.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes a first mass that is moveable within a hoistway. A second mass is moveable within the hoistway. A plurality of elongated members couple the first mass to the second mass. At least one damper is positioned to selectively contact at least one of the elongated members if sway occurs. A sensor is associated with the damper. The sensor detects contact between the damper and the at least one of the elongated members. A controller adjusts at least one aspect of elevator system operation responsive to the detected contact.

Abstract: An exemplary device for use in an elevator system includes at least one friction member that is selectively moveable into a damping position in which the friction member is useful to damp movement of an elevator car associated with the device. A solenoid actuator has an armature that is situated for vertical movement. The armature moves upward when the solenoid is energized to move the friction member into the damping position. The armature mass urges the armature in a downward vertical direction causing the friction member to move out of the damping position when the solenoid is not energized.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system includes detecting a building sway which causes sway of elevator suspension or compensation members. An elevator control system is switched into a building sway mode, and operation of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is changed via the building sway mode to mitigate vibratory effects of the building sway on the one or more elevator cars.