Abstract: A method of fault detection of a belt or rope includes interconnecting a plurality of cords of the belt or rope, the cords including a plurality of wires, to form a bridge circuit. A fault detection bridge circuit is subjected to a voltage excitation and outputs a voltage which is indicative of the belt or rope damage but remaining insensitive to other environmental noises.

Abstract: A method of detecting a stuck car or a stuck counterweight in an elevator system having a machine for imparting motion to the car and counterweight includes sensing a car side suspension member tension, T1; sensing a counterweight side suspension member tension, T2; determining a traction ratio in response to a relationship between T1 and T2; and determining a stuck car or a stuck counterweight if the traction ratio violates a limit.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a car, configured to travel through a hoistway; a first stationary drive unit, configured to be mounted in a hoistway, a first movable drive unit, configured to be functionally coupled to the car and to the first stationary drive unit, and a second movable drive unit, configured to be functionally coupled to the car and to the first stationary drive unit.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car for travel in a hoistway; a stator positioned along the hoistway; and a magnetic screw assembly coupled to the car, the magnetic screw assembly coacting with the stator to impart motion to the elevator car; the stator including a service section having a plurality of poles to coact with the magnetic screw assembly; the stator including a transfer station section, the transfer station section of the stator including a plurality of stator permanent magnets.

Abstract: An elevator system includes one or more rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move through the hoistway along the one or more rails. The system includes one or more braking systems having one more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces configured to urge engagement and/or disengagement of the one or more braking surfaces with the rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) load bearing assembly (30) includes a plurality of load bearing members (32-38). At least one of the load bearing members (32-38) has a load carrying capacity that is different than at least one other of the load bearing members (32-38). A disclosed example includes equal numbers of load bearing members (32, 38) having a first load carrying capacity and equal numbers of load bearing members (34, 36) having a second, different load carrying capacities. Another example includes at least three different load carrying capacities. With the disclosed examples, the aggregate load carrying capacity of an elevator load bearing assembly (30) can more closely meet the load carrying requirements for a given elevator system without over-roping the system.

Abstract: An exemplary vertically moveable elevator system component includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a plurality of vertically oriented side portions between the top and bottom portions. At least one of the side portions includes a roller guide support sheet. A first roller guide roller is supported by the sheet such that the first roller is at least partially disposed on a first side of the sheet and an axis of the first roller is generally parallel with the sheet. Second and third rollers are supported by the sheet such that the second and third rollers are on a second, oppositely facing side of the sheet. An axis of each of the second and third rollers is generally perpendicular to the axis of the first roller. The axis of each of the second and third roller remains in a fixed position relative to the sheet.

Abstract: An elevator system includes one or more rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move through the hoistway along the one or more rails. The system includes one or more braking systems having one more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces configured to urge engagement and/or disengagement of the one or more braking surfaces with the rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.

Abstract: A roller apparatus is provided. The roller apparatus may include a bearing wheel configured to rotatably couple the roller apparatus to a roller shaft, and a resilient member radially disposed about the bearing wheel and configured to contact a guiderail at different magnitudes of loads. The resilient member may include a first section of a first diameter and a second section of a second diameter. The first section may be caused to deflect in response to loads within a first load range, while the second section may be caused to deflect in response to loads within a second load range. The resilient member may exhibit a stepwise increase in stiffness with a gradual increase in load.

Abstract: A method of startup from a resting state for a ropeless elevator system and a ropeless elevator system are disclosed. The ropeless elevator system may include a hoistway. The method for startup may include applying a thrust force on the brake, the thrust force generated by a propulsion system, detecting the thrust force on the brake, determining if the thrust force on the brake is greater than or equal to a requisite thrust force for startup, and disengaging the brake if the thrust force on the brake is greater than or equal to the requisite thrust force.

Abstract: An elevator car separation assurance system and method of operation includes determining a position and velocity of each one of a plurality of cars by a safety motion state estimator. A safety assurance module of the system is configured to determine a separation map associated with a first car and an adjacent second car of the plurality of cars. The system is further configured to initiate a first separation assurance-induced event associated with at least one of the first and the second cars and based on the separation map. A recovery manager of the system is configured to detect the first separation assurance-induced event, and upon detection, slow at least a third car of the plurality of cars down.

Abstract: A resistance circuit for monitoring a support structure is provided. The resistance circuit may include a first set of resistors disposed at a belt-side and a second set of resistors disposed at a monitor-side. The first set of resistors may be configured to indicate one or more voltages thereacross corresponding to an effective resistance of the support structure. The first set of resistors may include at least one temperature-dependent resistor. The second set of resistors may be configured to indicate one or more voltages thereacross corresponding to an initial effective resistance of the support structure. The second set of resistors may include at least one switched resistor having an adjustable resistance capable of selectively approximating the initial effective resistance.

Abstract: A guidance mechanism for an elevator car is constructed and arranged to move along a lane defined at least in-part between two opposing first and second lane structures of a stationary structure. The guidance mechanism includes a first support structure supported by the first lane structure. The first support structure includes a first retainer face disposed between the elevator car and the first lane structure that substantially faces the first lane structure, and is spaced from the first lane structure. A first retention device of the mechanism is disposed, at least in part, between the first retainer face and the first lane structure. The first retention device is supported by the elevator car and is constructed and arranged to contact the first retainer face for limiting lateral movement of the elevator car away from the first lane structure and toward the second lane structure.

Abstract: An adjacent safety configuration for an elevator includes a second pair of safeties displaced from a first pair of safeties by at least 0.1 seconds of travel time at a rated speed of the elevator. An adjacent safety configuration for an elevator including a second pair of safeties displaced from the first pair of safeties to provide a predetermined time period before the second pair of safeties pass over a point on a guide rail previously passed over by the first pair of safeties to permit the guide rail surface to decrease by a predetermined temperature. A method of spacing an adjacent safety configuration for an elevator system including de-rating a pair of trailing safeties with respect to a pair of leading safeties as a function of a rated speed of the elevator and a spacing between the pair of trailing safeties and the pair of leading safeties.

Abstract: An elevator car is constructed and arranged to move along a hoistway. The car includes a cab support from below by a platform. A vertical member is connected to the platform via a flex joint and extends upward from platform for further elevator cab support. The flex joint facilitates cab isolation from vibration and noise.

Abstract: A ropeless elevator system, a propulsion system, and a method for operating a ropeless propulsion system are disclosed. The ropeless elevator system may include an elevator car, a hoistway in which the elevator car travels, and a ropeless propulsion system. The ropeless propulsion system may include electrical windings energized by a power source, the electrical windings affixed to a stationary structure, the stationary structure associated with the hoistway, and a magnet, the magnet affixed to a moving structure, the moving structure associated with the elevator car, and interaction between the electrical windings and the magnet generates a thrust force on the elevator car traveling in the hoistway.

Abstract: A ropeless elevator system includes a first lane, a second lane disposed adjacent to the first lane, and an elevator car moveable within each of the first lane and the second lane. A transfer system is configured to facilitate movement of the elevator car from one of the first lane and the second lane to the other of the first lane and the second lane. The transfer system includes a first transfer assembly arranged in at least one of the first and second lanes. The first transfer assembly is configured to guide the elevator car out of the one of the first and second lanes. A transfer station includes a second transfer assembly configured to receive the elevator car from the first transfer assembly. The second transfer assembly extends between the first and second lanes.

Abstract: An electrical inspection system for an elevator load bearing member includes an electrically conductive, low resistance wrap located at the load bearing member, contacting the load bearing member around a circumference of the load bearing member. An inspection unit is configured to apply an electrical current through the load bearing member and determine an electrical resistance of the load bearing member, and is electrically connected to the load bearing member at the wrap to distribute electrical current uniformly therethrough. A method of determining an electrical resistance of a load bearing member of an elevator system includes applying an electrically conductive low electrical resistance wrap entirely around a circumference of the load bearing member. An inspection unit is connected to the load bearing member at the wrap. An electrical current is applied through the wrap into the load bearing member to determine an electrical resistance of the load bearing member.

Abstract: A guide rail (14) for an elevator system (10) includes a base (20) connectable with a wall of a hoistway (12) of the elevator system (10) and a web section (24) connected to and extending from the base (20). A tip section (26) is located at an end of the web section (24) and is operably connectable to an elevator car (16) of the elevator system (10). The base (20), the web section (24) and the tip section (26) are formed of one or more thicknesses (28) of sheet metal material. An elevator system (10) includes an elevator car (16) located in a hoistway (12) and a guide rail (14) extending along the hoistway (12) and operably connected to the elevator car (16) for guiding the elevator car (16) along the hoistway (12). The guide rail (14) is configured such that braking forces applied to the guide rail (14) by a braking mechanism (36) successfully reduce the speed of the elevator car (16) without resulting in failure of the guide rail (14).

Abstract: A method of detecting a stuck car or a stuck counterweight in an elevator system having a machine for imparting motion to the car and counterweight includes sensing a car side suspension member tension, T1; sensing a counterweight side suspension member tension, T2; determining a traction ratio in response to a relationship between T1 and T2; and determining a stuck car or a stuck counterweight if the traction ratio violates a limit.