Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of system includes at least one detector that detects a horizontal position of elevator roping at a selected vertical location. The detector provides an indication of the horizontal position at the selected vertical location in two dimensions. A processor determines at least an amplitude and a frequency of sway of the elevator roping in each of the two dimensions at the selected vertical location based on the indication from the detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system, having: a car mover for moving an elevator car along a drive track in a hoistway, the car mover having: motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the motor controlled wheels to move along the drive track; and a parking brake, operationally connected to the car mover and/or elevator car and operationally separate from the motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the parking brake to move between a deployed state and a retracted state, wherein in the deployed state, the parking brake engages the drive track at a location that is spaced apart from the motor controlled wheels to park the car mover and/or elevator car along the hoistway, and in the retracted state, the parking brake is spaced apart from the drive track.

Abstract: A car mover for autonomously moving an elevator car along a lane in a hoistway, including: first and second wheels of the car mover, configured to apply a pinch force against a track therebetween and to rotationally drive along the track, by respective first and second wheel motors of the car mover; and a controller configured to execute: a lateral clearance control self-learning module, wherein based on adjustment data, one or more operational parameters applied by one or more of the first and second wheel motors are adjusted; and a lateral clearance feedback control module, wherein based on one or more of a first lateral clearance adjacent the first wheel on the track and a second lateral clearance adjacent the second wheel on the track, torque applied by one or more of the first and second wheel motors is increased or decreased.

Abstract: A robotic transporter system for elevator cars including: a propulsion system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft; and a robotic transporter configured to move the elevator car within a parking area, the robotic transporter including: an elevator containment slot to receive the elevator car and the propulsion system of the elevator car when the elevator containment slot is aligned with the elevator shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system, having: a car mover for moving an elevator car along a drive track in a hoistway, the car mover having: motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the motor controlled wheels to move along the drive track; and a parking brake, operationally connected to the car mover and/or elevator car and operationally separate from the motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the parking brake to move between a deployed state and a retracted state, wherein in the deployed state, the parking brake engages the drive track at a location that is spaced apart from the motor controlled wheels to park the car mover and/or elevator car along the hoistway, and in the retracted state, the parking brake is spaced apart from the drive track.

Abstract: An elevator system including: an elevator car configured to travel through an elevator shaft; a first guide beam extending vertically through the elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a beam climber system configured to move the elevator car through the elevator shaft, the beam climber system including: a first wheel in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel; a first motor brake mechanically connected to the first electric motor, the first motor brake configured to slow the elevator car; and a brake condition based monitoring system configured to detect when the first motor brake is dragging.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a system for detecting drift of a building includes a detector that detects at least one horizontal position of elevator roping within a hoistway in or on the building at a selected vertical location. A processor determines at least one characteristic of drift of the building based on information from the detector regarding the detected at least one horizontal position, information regarding tension on the elevator roping, information regarding a density of the elevator roping, and a relationship between the selected vertical location and a length of the elevator roping.

Abstract: An elevator system, having: an elevator car, a hoistway, and a pit; a sensor assembly, including a sensor configured to capture and process images; an elevator safety chain; wherein the sensor assembly is configured to: monitor in first sensing mode to detect whether an object is located in a first area of the elevator system; after the object is detected in the first area in the first sensing mode, monitor in a second sensing mode that is more sensitive than the first sensing mode to detect the object in the second sensitivity mode; and upon detecting the object in the second sensitivity mode, the elevator safety chain is opened by the sensor assembly to stop the elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator system including a hoistway; an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway; a landing having a landing door; a sensor assembly configured to monitor a field of view overlapping a door opening of the landing door; the sensor assembly configured to perform at least one of (i) determine a number of objects in the elevator car, (ii) determine a load of objects in the elevator car and (iii) detect a door obstruction.

Abstract: An elevator system, having: a car that operates normal and inspection modes; a sensor assembly; a safety chain; wherein while in the normal mode, the sensor assembly: monitors in a first sensing mode to detect whether an object is within a first area, and then monitors in a second sensing mode that is more sensitive than the first sensing mode to again detect the object; and upon determining that the object is potentially human, the safety chain is opened; and while in the inspection mode, the sensor assembly: bypasses the first sensing mode and monitors in the second sensing mode to detect whether the object is located in the first area; and upon detecting that the object is located in the first area, the safety chain is opened.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway; an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway; a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway; a pit safety interface located in the pit; a pit emergency switch located in the pit; a reset device located outside the hoistway; a safety chain contact that is part of a safety chain of the elevator system; and a sensor assembly configured to initiate opening the safety chain contact to disable motion of the elevator car upon detection of a person in the pit and the pit safety interface not being activated.

Abstract: An elevator system, having: a hoistway, a pit; a car; a sensor assembly, configured to capture and process images, configured to form a VSN around a first area that is exterior to the car, a safety chain configured to: monitor a change in positioning of a stationary object that is external to the car to determine a measured speed of the car, and upon detecting that an object has breached the VSN, the sensor assembly is configured to: select a first response protocol, from a set of response protocols that are correlated to different measured speeds of the car; and execute the first response protocol.

Abstract: A safety net system is provided for an elevator system that includes an elevator pit and a ladder adjacent to an elevator pit wall for accessing the elevator pit. The safety net system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is arranged in a plane between the ladder and the elevator pit wall and is configured to perform sensing to sense an object disposed along the plane and to generate data corresponding to results of the sensing. The processor is operably coupled to the sensor and is configured to analyze the data and to determine whether the data is indicative of a person standing on the ladder based on analysis results.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for detecting the presence of a human within an elevator system includes a sensor and a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a connecting member affixed to the sensor and a mounting bracket movably coupled to the connecting member via an interface. The interface includes a tooling identifying relative positions of the sensor to the mounting bracket.

Abstract: An assembly associated with detection of a human within an elevator hoistway includes a sensor assembly and a position indicator affixed to the sensor assembly and operable to emit a visual light pattern. The position indicator is movable with the sensor assembly to indicate to a user when the sensor assembly is in a desired mounting position.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a tie-down compensation of an elevator system includes positioning one or more sensor assemblies in a hoistway of the elevator system. The sensor assemblies are configured to monitor a position of the tie-down compensation in the hoistway. The tie-down compensation has a compensation member of the elevator system routed therethrough. A distance between a fixed location in the hoistway and the tie-down compensation is measured via the sensor assemblies, and the measured distance is compared to a threshold distance. One or more actions is taken based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An elevator system, having: a hoistway, a pit and an elevator car; a sensor assembly, wherein the sensors are distributed about the elevator car and configured to form a virtual safety net (VSN) around at least a portion of a first area that is exterior to the elevator car; and an elevator safety, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to: monitor for a breach of the VSN by an object that is potentially human; and upon detecting the breach of the VSN by the object, opening the elevator safety chain and stoping the elevator car.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for an elevator system that includes at least one elevator car including a floor and a plurality of walls, and at least one seat assembly supported on at least one of the plurality of walls or on the floor. A detector is configured to detect when a passenger is on the at least one seat assembly. A passenger retention member is configured to resist movement of a passenger relative to the at least one seat assembly. An indicator is configured to provide an indication regarding a condition of the passenger retention member when the detector detects a passenger on the at least one seat assembly.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The car is adapted to move vertically within a hoistway and defines a passenger compartment adapted to be occupied by at least one passenger. The sensor is configured to measure air pressure in the passenger compartment. The controller is configured to control travel of the elevator car, receive a plurality of pressure signals from the sensor indicative of changing air pressure in the passenger compartment over a prescribed time period, and execute a preprogrammed application configured to apply a current car velocity and the changing air pressure to a preprogrammed ear pressure table. Upon application, the controller outputs a command to reduce the current car velocity if application of the preprogrammed ear pressure table determines a differential ear pressure would otherwise exceed a preprogrammed threshold.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway; an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway; a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway; a safety chain configured to enable or disable motion of the elevator car; and a sensor assembly configured to initiate opening the safety chain to disable motion of the elevator car upon detection of a person in the pit.