Patents by Inventor Randy Roberts
Randy Roberts 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).
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Publication number: 20220033224Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a cab configured to accommodate at least one passenger or item inside the cab. A motorized module includes a base, a connector supported on the base and at least one drive member supported on the base. The connector is configured to selectively establish a releasable connection between the motorized module and the cab. The drive member is configured to engage a vertical surface, climb along the vertical surface to selectively cause vertical movement of the base, and selectively prevent movement of the base when the drive member remains in a selected position relative to the vertical surface. At least one motor is associated with the drive member to selectively cause the drive member to climb along the vertical surface. The motorized module is vertically movable independent of the cab when the motorized module is released from the cab.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Kiron BHASKAR, Sam Thieu WONG, Bruce P. SWAYBILL, Randy ROBERTS, Meghan MASTRIANO, Brad GUILANI
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Patent number: 11235948Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling elevators including detecting a landing stop for an elevator car, measuring load information associated with the stop, controlling stopping of the elevator at the landing using a machine based on at least one of the detected landing and the measured load information and performing dynamic compensation control of a motion state of the elevator with a computing system and the elevator machine. The dynamic compensation control includes receiving motion state information related to at least one motion state of the elevator car at the computing system, receiving the landing and load information at the computing system, applying a filter to the received information and generating a first control signal, and producing a control output from the first control signal to control the elevator machine to minimize oscillations, vibrations, excessive position deflections, and/or bounce of the elevator car at the detected landing.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Edward Piedra, Randy Roberts, David Ginsberg, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Konda Reddy Chevva, XiaoBin Tang
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Publication number: 20220024715Abstract: A system for detecting a dragging brake of 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; at least one brake configured to slow the elevator car to a stop; and a brake condition based monitoring system configured to determine a brake health of the at least one brake.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2020Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventor: Randy Roberts
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Patent number: 11198589Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes a hoistway that establishes a vertical pathway. The hoistway has an interior border established by a plurality of stationary boundaries. The interior border defines a first area. An elevator car is within the hoistway and has an exterior border that defines a second area that is smaller than the first area. At least one hoistway liner assembly is situated in the hoistway. The hoistway liner assembly includes a plurality of bumpers that collectively establish a protected area that is smaller than the first area and larger than the second area such that the elevator car can move through the protected area. The protected area prevents contact between the load bearing assembly and the interior border of the hoistway.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: George Scott Copeland, Patricia Derwinski, Richard K. Pulling, Randy Roberts
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Publication number: 20210331896Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator compensation assembly includes a tie down mechanism and at least one compensation sheave that has an outer surface configured to engage at least one compensation rope member. At least one damper is associated with the tie down mechanism for resisting movement of the tie down mechanism in at least one direction. At least one detector detects movement of the tie down mechanism along the direction and provides an output indicating at least one characteristic of the detected movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2020Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Yisug KWON, Randy ROBERTS
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Publication number: 20210221647Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator includes an elevator car and a drive mechanism connected with the elevator car. The drive mechanism moves with the elevator car in a vertical direction. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive member that is configured to engage a vertical structure near the elevator car, selectively climb along the vertical structure to cause movement of the elevator car, and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car when the drive member remains in a selected position relative to the vertical structure. A biasing mechanism urges the drive member in a direction to engage the vertical structure. The biasing mechanism applies a biasing force based upon a condition of the elevator car. The biasing force changes based upon a change in the condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Sam Thieu WONG, Kiron BHASKAR, Bruce P. SWAYBILL, Randy ROBERTS, Meghan MASTRIANO
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Publication number: 20210139272Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventor: Randy Roberts
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Patent number: 10997873Abstract: An elevator simulator is provided. Aspects includes an elevator car and a simulation control element associated with the elevator car and being configured to perform an elevator ride simulation for the elevator car. Aspects also include a simulation controller configured to perform the elevator car simulation by operating the simulation control element to simulate an elevator ride for the elevator car.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventor: Randy Roberts
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Publication number: 20200407191Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventor: Randy ROBERTS
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Publication number: 20200283268Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes a hoistway that establishes a vertical pathway. The hoistway has an interior border established by a plurality of stationary boundaries. The interior border defines a first area. An elevator car is within the hoistway and has an exterior border that defines a second area that is smaller than the first area. At least one hoistway liner assembly is situated in the hoistway. The hoistway liner assembly includes a plurality of bumpers that collectively establish a protected area that is smaller than the first area and larger than the second area such that the elevator car can move through the protected area. The protected area prevents contact between the load bearing assembly and the interior border of the hoistway.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: George Scott COPELAND, Patricia DERWINSKI, Richard K. PULLING, Randy ROBERTS
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Publication number: 20200255260Abstract: An illustrative example method of controlling an elevator situated in a hoistway of a building includes detecting sway of the building, determining characteristics of the detected sway including a plurality of frequencies and associated periods of the sway, determining an expected sway of an elongated member of the elevator system based on the determined characteristics, and controlling at least one of position and movement of an elevator car in the hoistway based on the expected sway.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Randy Roberts, George Scott Copeland, Luis C. Encinas Carreno, Patricia Derwinski, Cuauhtemoc Castro
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Patent number: 10669124Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes a hoistway that establishes a vertical pathway. The hoistway has an interior border established by a plurality of stationary boundaries that each have a height aligned with a vertical length of the hoistway. Each of the stationary boundaries has a width generally perpendicular to the height. An elevator car is within the hoistway. At least one vertically extending load bearing assembly includes a plurality of elongated load bearing members extending along a vertical path and facilitating movement or support of the elevator car. At least one hoistway liner assembly is situated in the hoistway. The hoistway liner assembly includes a plurality of bumpers that each have an axis that is generally perpendicular to the vertical length of the hoistway. The axes of at least two of the bumpers are non-parallel.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: George Scott Copeland, Patricia Derwinski, Richard K. Pulling, Randy Roberts
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Publication number: 20200035129Abstract: An elevator simulator is provided. Aspects includes an elevator car and a simulation control element associated with the elevator car and being configured to perform an elevator ride simulation for the elevator car.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2018Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventor: Randy Roberts
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Patent number: 10494228Abstract: Elevator car guiding devices including a roller guide frame including a mounting base to be mounted to an elevator car, a first roller supported on the mounting base, the first roller having a first roller wheel configured to engage with and rotate along a guide rail and prevent movement of the elevator car in a first direction, a second roller supported on the mounting base, the at least one second roller having a second roller wheel configured to engage with and rotate along the guide rail and prevent movement of the elevator car in a second direction, and a motion state sensing assembly mounted to the roller guide frame and configured to measure a motion state of the elevator car within an elevator shaft of the elevator system.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Bruce P. Swaybill, Randy Roberts, Patricia Derwinski, Philip R. James
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Publication number: 20190290287Abstract: A compressive brace for intraarticular needle procedures that provides constant radial compression. One embodiment comprises a non-pneumatic releasable compressive planar device or tubular sleeve, a method to apply tension to the device or sleeve comprising a non-stretchable material or stretchable elastomeric material with fasteners or external compression straps or both resulting in fluid displacement and increased intraarticular fluid pressure, a design that displaces fluid within the joint to low pressure areas to be readily accessible by needle or catheter via specific anatomic portals so that the joint can be completely aspirated, tension and pressure can be released so that fluid can be easily removed or injected into the joint, and integration of the device into arthrocentesis, surgical, diagnostic, and joint therapy kits. Some embodiments define a window or aperture to allow pooling of fluid and to introduce needles and catheters.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Wilmer L Sibbitt, Jr., Philip Arthur Band, Randy Robert Sibbitt
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Publication number: 20190247567Abstract: Percutaneous musculoskeletal lavage devices, and procedures for simultaneous therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, performed with a needle or catheter and various combinations of a syringe, reciprocating syringe, stop-cock, check valves, depth indicator, compressive sleeve or brace, and specialty catheters, provided individually or in a kit. The lavage fluid can be analyzed for factors of medical interest and used to determine personalized treatment, and has intrinsic medical benefit by virtue of clearing the tissues of noxious substances in an enhanced fashion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Wilmer L Sibbitt, Jr., Philip Arthur Band, Randy Robert Sibbitt
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Publication number: 20190002235Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a dynamic compensation control system of an elevator system are provided. The methods and systems include monitoring a first motion state sensor signal generated by a first motion state sensor, the first motion state sensor associated with an elevator machine, monitoring a second motion state sensor signal generated by a second motion state sensor, the second motion state sensor located on an elevator car, determining an operational status of the second motion state sensor based on an analysis of the first motion state sensor signal and the second motion state sensor signal, and when it is determined that a failure status of the second motion state sensor is present, the method further comprises deactivating a dynamic compensation control mode of operation of the elevator system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Randy Roberts, Edward Piedra, Bruce P. Swaybill
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Publication number: 20180290862Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes a hoistway that establishes a vertical pathway. The hoistway has an interior border established by a plurality of stationary boundaries that each have a height aligned with a vertical length of the hoistway. Each of the stationary boundaries has a width generally perpendicular to the height. An elevator car is within the hoistway. At least one vertically extending load bearing assembly includes a plurality of elongated load bearing members extending along a vertical path and facilitating movement or support of the elevator car. At least one hoistway liner assembly is situated in the hoistway. The hoistway liner assembly includes a plurality of bumpers that each have an axis that is generally perpendicular to the vertical length of the hoistway. The axes of at least two of the bumpers are non-parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: George Scott COPELAND, Patricia DERWINSKI, Richard K. PULLING, Randy ROBERTS
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Publication number: 20180273343Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling elevators including detecting a landing stop for an elevator car, measuring load information associated with the stop, controlling stopping of the elevator at the landing using a machine based on at least one of the detected landing and the measured load information and performing dynamic compensation control of a motion state of the elevator with a computing system and the elevator machine. The dynamic compensation control includes receiving motion state information related to at least one motion state of the elevator car at the computing system, receiving the landing and load information at the computing system, applying a filter to the received information and generating a first control signal, and producing a control output from the first control signal to control the elevator machine to minimize oscillations, vibrations, excessive position deflections, and/or bounce of the elevator car at the detected landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Edward Piedra, Randy Roberts, David Ginsberg, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Konda Reddy Chevva, XiaoBin Tang
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Patent number: 10070074Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide infrared imaging systems with improved electronics architectures. In one embodiment, an infrared imaging system is provided that includes an infrared imaging sensor for capturing infrared image data and a main electronics block for efficiently processing the captured infrared image data. The main electronics block may include a plurality of vector processors each configured to operate on multiple pixels of the infrared image data in parallel to efficiently exploit pixel-level parallelism. Each vector processor may be communicatively coupled to a local memory that provides high bandwidth, low latency access to a portion of the infrared image data for the vector processor to operate on. The main electronics block may also include a general-purpose processor configured to manage data flow to/from the local memories and other system functionalities. The main electronics block may be implemented as a system-on-a-chip.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Pierre Boulanger, Randy Roberts