Abstract: An elevator door guide (16) includes at least one elevator door guide member (30, 32) having a first channel (18) and a second channel (64) each for at least partially establishing a direction of door movement. The first channel (18) is open in a first direction (24) and the second channel (64) is open in a second direction (66). In one example, the channel (18) at least partially establishes a direction of door movement and a passage (26) extends through the elevator door guide (16) in a direction (28) that is transverse to the direction of door movement.

Abstract: An elevator door guide (16) includes at least one elevator door guide member (30, 32) having a first channel (18) and a second channel (64) each for at least partially establishing a direction of door movement. The first channel (18) is open in a first direction (24) and the second channel (64) is open in a second direction (66). In one example, the channel (18) at least partially establishes a direction of door movement and a passage (26) extends through the elevator door guide (16) in a direction (28) that is transverse to the direction of door movement.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a roller (16) having a hardness that varies responsive to a magnetic field (20). The roller (16) rolls along a guide rail (28) to maintain a desired orientation of the elevator car (12). In one example, the roller (16) includes a membrane (30) defining a generally annular chamber (36) containing fluid (22) that changes viscosity responsive to changes in the magnetic field (20). The rollers (16) are associated with at least one magnetic field generator (18) that generates a magnetic field (20) of a selected strength. Varying the magnetic field varies the hardness of each roller (16) to control vibrations of the elevator car (12) to improve ride quality.

Abstract: An elevator door moving arrangement includes a door mover (40) and an interlock device (42) supported near a lower edge (44) of cabin doors (26). The strategic position of the door mover (40) and the interlock device (42) minimizes the distance between the sill member (34, 78) and the operative components for moving the doors. In one example, the entire door mover assembly and the interlock are located beneath a sill member (34), which is beneath the bottom edge of the doors (26).

Abstract: An elevator system roller guide device (26) includes a plurality of rollers (32) that roll along a guide rail (28). Dampers (40) that have a selectively variable stiffness dampen lateral movements between the rollers (32) and roller guide device base (30) as the elevator car assembly (20) moves through a hoistway. In one example, the dampers include a magneto-rheo-logical fluid. A controller (50) selectively controls a magnetic field generated by an electromagnet (52) to selectively control the viscosity of the magneto-rheo-logical fluid and the stiffness of the dampers (40).

Abstract: An elevator system includes a roller (16) having a hardness that varies responsive to a magnetic field (20). The roller (16) rolls along a guide rail (28) to maintain a desired orientation of the elevator car (12). In one example, the roller (16) includes a membrane (30) defining a generally annular chamber (36) containing fluid (22) that changes viscosity responsive to changes in the magnetic field (20). The rollers (16) are associated with at least one magnetic field generator (18) that generates a magnetic field (20) of a selected strength. Varying the magnetic field varies the hardness of each roller (16) to control vibrations of the elevator car (12) to improve ride quality.