Patents by Inventor Richard E. Kulak
Richard E. Kulak 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: 11795033Abstract: A method of unlocking an elevator car door or an elevator car includes operating a door operator and moving a movable vane operably coupled to the door operator. If the elevator car is positioned within a landing door zone, the movable vane is moved into contact with an interlock roller. An engagement latch is rotated to disengage from an electrical contact in response to moving the movable vane into contact with the interlock roller.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Patent number: 11661315Abstract: A sill gap monitoring system includes a sensor assembly configured to sense a sill gap between an elevator sill and at least one of a bottom surface of an elevator door and a bottom surface of a gib. The sill gap monitoring system generates an alert when the sill gap is greater than a sill gap limit.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Patent number: 11655122Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a first base configured to be supported on a hoistway door component, The first base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the hoistway door component. A first bumper is supported on the first base such that pivotal movement of the first base changes a position of the first bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A second base is situated to be selectively moved relative to the hoistway door component. A second bumper is supported on the second base such that selective movement of the second base changes a position of the second bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A latch is situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis relative to the first base between a door locking position and a released position.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
-
Patent number: 11254542Abstract: An elevator car door interlock includes a first link assembly and a latch assembly. The first link assembly includes a first intermediate link and a first link. The first intermediate link is movably connected to a first sensing vane. The first link is pivotally connected to a baseplate. The first link has a first link first arm pivotally connected to the first intermediate link, and a first link second arm having a first link first connection that is pivotally connected to a second sensing vane. The latch assembly includes a lock member, a door latch, and a latch link. The door latch is pivotally connected to the baseplate and is arranged to selectively engage the lock member. The latch link extends between and is pivotally connected to the door latch and the first intermediate link.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
-
Patent number: 11247872Abstract: An elevator car door interlock includes a first link assembly having a first intermediate link movably connected to a first vane, and a first link having a first link first end pivotally connected to the first intermediate link and a first link second end pivotally connected to the second vane. A latch assembly includes a door latch pivotally connected to the baseplate wherein responsive to operation of a drive mechanism that is drivably connected to the first link second end, while an interlock roller engages at least one of the first vane and the second vane, the first vane moves towards the second vane and the door latch pivots to unlock an elevator car door.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
-
Publication number: 20210380373Abstract: A method of unlocking an elevator car door or an elevator car includes operating a door operator and moving a movable vane operably coupled to the door operator. If the elevator car is positioned within a landing door zone, the movable vane is moved into contact with an interlock roller. An engagement latch is rotated to disengage from an electrical contact in response to moving the movable vane into contact with the interlock roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Patent number: 11124389Abstract: A method of unlocking an elevator car door or an elevator car is provided including operating a door operator. A link arm of a car door interlock operably coupled to the door operator is rotated. If the elevator car is positioned within a landing door zone, an engagement link coupled to the link arm is configured to pivot relative to the link arm to disengage from an electrical contact. If the elevator car is not positioned within a landing door zone, the engagement link does not pivot relative to the link arm and remains engaged with the electrical contact.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Publication number: 20210261384Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a first base configured to be supported on a hoistway door component, The first base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the hoistway door component. A first bumper is supported on the first base such that pivotal movement of the first base changes a position of the first bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A second base is situated to be selectively moved relative to the hoistway door component. A second bumper is supported on the second base such that selective movement of the second base changes a position of the second bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A latch is situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis relative to the first base between a door locking position and a released position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Michael J. TRACEY, Richard E. KULAK
-
Patent number: 11046557Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a latch situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a door locking position and a released position. At least one base is configured to be selectively movable relative to the pivot axis. A plurality of door movement bumpers are supported on the at least one base. Selective movement of the at least one base relative to the pivot axis adjusts an alignment position of the door movement bumpers.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
-
Patent number: 11040858Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a latch situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a door locking position and a released position. At least one coupling bumper is situated for movement with the latch between the door locking and released positions. The coupling bumper is selectively moved relative to the pivot axis into an alignment position where the coupling bumper is positioned to cooperate with a door coupler. At least one stationary support is situated to contact the coupling bumper when the latch is in the released position where the stationary support bears a load associated with moving an associated door.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Patent number: 11034548Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a first base configured to be supported on a hoistway door component, The first base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the hoistway door component. A first bumper is supported on the first base such that pivotal movement of the first base changes a position of the first bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A second base is situated to be selectively moved relative to the hoistway door component. A second bumper is supported on the second base such that selective movement of the second base changes a position of the second bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A latch is situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis relative to the first base between a door locking position and a released position.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
-
Patent number: 10882720Abstract: An elevator car door interlock for unlocking an elevator car door of an elevator car is provided including a lock member (54) including an electrical contact (72). A rotatable link arm (58) has a sensing mechanism (52, 62) configured to detect a position of the elevator car door. An engagement latch (64) is pivotally mounted to the rotatable link arm. The engagement latch is engaged with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is locked. The engagement latch is rotated out of engagement with the electrical contact when the elevator car door is unlocked.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Publication number: 20200262683Abstract: A method of unlocking an elevator car door or an elevator car is provided including operating a door operator. A link arm of a car door interlock operably coupled to the door operator is rotated. If the elevator car is positioned within a landing door zone, an engagement link coupled to the link arm is configured to pivot relative to the link arm to disengage from an electrical contact. If the elevator car is not positioned within a landing door zone, the engagement link does not pivot relative to the link arm and remains engaged with the electrical contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Patent number: 10710843Abstract: A lock assembly for an elevator car door is provided including a car mechanism configured to move from a first position to a second position upon detection of a known condition. A contactor is mounted adjacent a lower portion of the elevator car door and is operably coupled to the car door mechanism. The contact is movable in response to movement of the car door mechanism to lock and unlock a portion of the elevator car door.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Publication number: 20200148508Abstract: A sill gap monitoring system includes a sensor assembly configured to sense a sill gap between an elevator sill and at least one of a bottom surface of an elevator door and a bottom surface of a gib. The sill gap monitoring system generates an alert when the sill gap is greater than a sill gap limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Publication number: 20200122978Abstract: An elevator car door interlock includes a first link assembly having a first intermediate link movably connected to a first vane, and a first link having a first link first end pivotally connected to the first intermediate link and a first link second end pivotally connected to the second vane. A latch assembly includes a door latch pivotally connected to the baseplate wherein responsive to operation of a drive mechanism that is drivably connected to the first link second end, while an interlock roller engages at least one of the first vane and the second vane, the first vane moves towards the second vane and the door latch pivots to unlock an elevator car door.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
-
Patent number: 10569994Abstract: A sill gap monitoring system includes a sensor assembly configured to sense a sill gap between an elevator sill and at least one of a bottom surface of an elevator door and a bottom surface of a gib. The sill gap monitoring system generates an alert when the sill gap is greater than a sill gap limit.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
-
Publication number: 20200055705Abstract: An elevator car door interlock includes a first link assembly and a latch assembly. The first link assembly includes a first intermediate link and a first link. The first intermediate link is movably connected to a first sensing vane. The first link is pivotally connected to a baseplate. The first link has a first link first arm pivotally connected to the first intermediate link, and a first link second arm having a first link first connection that is pivotally connected to a second sensing vane. The latch assembly includes a lock member, a door latch, and a latch link. The door latch is pivotally connected to the baseplate and is arranged to selectively engage the lock member. The latch link extends between and is pivotally connected to the door latch and the first intermediate link.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
-
Patent number: 10486940Abstract: An elevator system includes a lane and at least one rail extending along the lane. The at least one rail includes a first end portion and a second end portion. A transfer station is arranged at one of the first end portion and the second end portion, and an alignment system is arranged at the transfer station. The alignment system includes at least one guide member configured and disposed to establish a desired alignment between an elevator car and the at least one rail.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Bruce P. Swaybill, Zbigniew Piech, Richard J. Ericson, Richard E. Kulak
-
Publication number: 20190337766Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a first base configured to be supported on a hoistway door component, The first base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the hoistway door component. A first bumper is supported on the first base such that pivotal movement of the first base changes a position of the first bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A second base is situated to be selectively moved relative to the hoistway door component. A second bumper is supported on the second base such that selective movement of the second base changes a position of the second bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A latch is situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis relative to the first base between a door locking position and a released position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Michael J. TRACEY, Richard E. KULAK