Patents by Inventor Steffen Grundmann

Steffen Grundmann 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: 9248994
    Abstract: An elevator system has an elevator car which can move vertically along a vertical track having a vertical guide rail, and can move horizontally utilizing a car transfer device. The car transfer device has a horizontal displacement unit into which a vertical guide rail piece can be integrated, the guide rail piece guiding the elevator car in the horizontal displacement unit. The horizontal displacement unit can be positioned so that the guide rail piece forms a section of the vertical guide rail. The elevator car can be fixed on the guide rail piece during the horizontal displacement by a brake device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Steffen Grundmann
  • Publication number: 20150024891
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a car or platform to transport passengers and/or goods as well as a counterweight, which are arranged as traversable or movable along a travel path, and which are coupled and/or with a drive by a suspension element interrelating their motion. The suspension element is guided and/or driven by a traction sheave and/or a drive shaft and/or a deflecting pulley. The suspension element is a sheathed and/or belt-type, with a first layer made of a first plasticizable and/or elastomeric material and a second layer with a connection plane formed between the first and second layers. At least one tension member—rope-type, tissue-type, or comprising a multitude of partial elements—is embedded in an area of the connection plane, a majority of a surface of said at least one tension member directly contacting said first layer. A manufacturing procedure for one of the suspension elements is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Anke Allwardt, Adrian Attinger, Daniel Fischer, Ernst Ach, Phillipe Henneau, Andre' Kreiser, David Risch, Urs Baumgartner, Hans Blochle, Joseph Muff, Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann, Karl Weinberger, Hans Kocher, Guntram Begle, Heinrich Kuttel
  • Patent number: 8813919
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a first elevator car and a second elevator car, each having a respective braking device, and a safety system that monitors the elevator cars. The safety system has for each braking device a braking force regulating device for regulating a braking force of the respective braking device. The safety system activates at least one of the braking devices by the associated braking force regulating device in order to prevent collision of the first elevator car with the second elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Gert Silberhorn, Hans Kocher, Steffen Grundmann
  • Patent number: 8517150
    Abstract: An elevator car with brake equipment, which is arranged in the region of the elevator car, for holding and braking the same, which brake equipment includes: a brake unit which can co-operate with a brake rail, an actuating device which can produce an actuator force FA, and a connecting linkage which connects the actuating device with the brake unit in force-active manner for transmission of the actuator force FA, wherein the brake unit in unloaded setting is in its open setting and the connecting linkage is a pull cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Steffen Grundmann, Gert Silberhorn, Hans Kocher, Michael Stubi, Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Johann Jungbecker, Stefan Johannes Schmitt, Bernward Bayer, Andreas Emmerich, Andreas Pohlmann, Karl-Hermann Tegge
  • Patent number: 8302739
    Abstract: A lift car with a brake device which is arranged in the region of the lift car for holding and braking the latter; the brake device includes a brake unit which can interact with a brake rail, an actuating device which can generate an actuator force, and a connector which connects the actuating device to the brake unit in a force-active manner in order to transmit the actuator force, wherein the brake unit is in its open position in the unloaded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Pohlmann, Bernward Bayer, Andreas Emmerich, Karl-Hermann Tegge, Stefan Johannes Schmitt, Johann Jungbecker, Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Steffen Grundmann, Gert Silberhorn, Hans Kocher, Michael Stübli
  • Patent number: 8267224
    Abstract: The elevator car is arranged movably along guideways and in the special operating mode is decelerated to a standstill and kept at a standstill by a braking device, by a braking force brought about by the braking device together with a brakeway. A required deceleration to bring the elevator car to a standstill within a next-possible exit zone in the special operating mode is calculated, furthermore a stopping of the elevator car is detected if a sudden change in the braking force or the acceleration is established and the braking force of the braking device is set to a holding force when the stopping is established. The special operating mode results in the elevator car coming to a stop directly in the region of an exit zone in a special operating mode and passengers in the car being able to leave the elevator car independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann
  • Patent number: 8157061
    Abstract: An elevator installation has braking equipment for braking and holding an elevator car which moves in vertical direction within guide tracks or rails. The braking equipment consists of at least two brake units each comprising a normal force regulation device that sets a normal force (FN) in correspondence with a normal force value determined by a brake control unit and/or a locking device that locks the brake unit in a set braking position and which preferably maintains the set braking position in the case of an interrupted energy supply. The braking equipment provides a gentle braking or holding of the elevator car, which corresponds with the operational state of the elevator installation, with a low energy requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann, Hans Kocher
  • Publication number: 20110259674
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a first elevator car and a second elevator car, each having a respective braking device, and a safety system that monitors the elevator cars. The safety system has for each braking device a braking force regulating device for regulating a braking force of the respective braking device. The safety system activates at least one of the braking devices by the associated braking force regulating device in order to prevent collision of the first elevator car with the second elevator car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Gert Silberhorn, Hans Kocher, Steffen Grundmann
  • Publication number: 20110042168
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lift system having a lift car (4) which can move vertically and horizontally, wherein vertical movement takes place along a vertical track (3) having a vertical guide rail (5), and horizontal movement is carried out by utilizing a car transfer device (13). The car transfer device has a horizontal displacement unit (16) into which a vertical guide rail piece (18) can be integrated, said guide rail piece guiding the lift car (4) in the horizontal displacement unit (16). The horizontal displacement unit can be positioned in such a manner that the guide rail piece (18) forms a section of the vertical guide rail (5). The lift cabin (4) can be fixed on the guide rail piece (18) during the horizontal displacement by means of a brake device (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: Steffen Grundmann
  • Publication number: 20100187047
    Abstract: The elevator car is arranged movably along guideways and in the special operating mode is decelerated to a standstill and kept at a standstill by a braking device, by a braking force brought about by the braking device together with a brakeway. A required deceleration to bring the elevator car to a standstill within a next-possible exit zone in the special operating mode is calculated, furthermore a stopping of the elevator car is detected if a sudden change in the braking force or the acceleration is established and the braking force of the braking device is set to a holding force when the stopping is established. The special operating mode results in the elevator car coming to a stop directly in the region of an exit zone in a special operating mode and passengers in the car being able to leave the elevator car independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann
  • Publication number: 20100133046
    Abstract: An elevator system with a car or platform to transport passengers and/or goods as well as with a counterweight, which are arranged as traversable or movable along a travel path, and which are coupled and/or with a drive by a suspension element interrelating their motion. The suspension element is guided and/or driven by a traction sheave and/or a drive shaft and/or a deflecting pulley. The suspension element is sheathed and/or belt-type, with a first layer made of a first plasticizable and/or elastomeric material, containing a first exterior surface, and with at least one tension member—rope-type, tissue-type, or comprising a multitude of partial elements—that is embedded in the first layer of the suspension element. A manufacturing procedure for one of the suspension elements is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Anke Allwardt, Adrian Attinger, Daniel Fischer, Ernst Ach, Phillipe Henneau, Andre' Kreiser, David Risch, Urs Baumgartner, Hans Blochle, Joseph Muff, Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann, Karl Weinberger, Hans Kocher, Guntram Begle, Heinrich Kuttel
  • Publication number: 20100089705
    Abstract: An elevator car with brake equipment, which is arranged in the region of the elevator car, for holding and braking the same, which brake equipment includes: a brake unit which can co-operate with a brake rail, an actuating device which can produce an actuator force FA, and a connecting linkage which connects the actuating device with the brake unit in force-active manner for transmission of the actuator force FA, wherein the brake unit in unloaded setting is in its open setting and the connecting linkage is a pull cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Steffen Grundmann, Gert Silberhorn, Hans Kocher, Michael Stubi, Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Johann Jungbecker, Stefan Johannes Schmitt, Bernward Bayer, Andreas Emmerich, Andreas Pohlmann, Karl-Hermann Tegge
  • Publication number: 20100038184
    Abstract: A lift car with a brake device which is arranged in the region of the lift car for holding and braking the latter; the brake device includes a brake unit which can interact with a brake rail, an actuating device which can generate an actuator force, and a connector which connects the actuating device to the brake unit in a force-active manner in order to transmit the actuator force, wherein the brake unit is in its open position in the unloaded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Emmerich, Bernward Bayer, Karl-Hermann Tegge, Stefan Johannes Schmitt, Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Andreas Pohlmann, Johann Jungbecker, Steffen Grundmann, Gert Silberhorn, Hans Kocher, Michael Stübli
  • Patent number: 7503434
    Abstract: A door controller and a method for inputting or adjusting one or more reference positions into the door controller have the controller connected to a door drive for moving a door and utilize a pulse encoder for monitoring a position of the door and a non-volatile memory for storing the reference position. In a learning mode a control force signal to the drive is reduced. Then the door is moved to the reference position and finally the reference position as recorded by the pulse encoder is registered in the memory of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Steffen Grundmann
  • Patent number: 7453169
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply wherein an isolation device is automatically tested during normal operation to ensure that it is capable of effectively isolating the input from an auxiliary power supply during emergency operation. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input for coupling to a main power supply, an output for connection to an electrical load, an auxiliary power supply and a selective isolation device configured to isolate the auxiliary power supply from the input during emergency operation. First components establish a reverse polarity across the isolation device for a test period during normal operation, and second components monitor a voltage proportional to the input voltage to the isolation device and output an error signal if the monitored voltage remains or rises above a first reference value during the test period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Steffen Grundmann, Nicolas Gremaud
  • Patent number: 7445090
    Abstract: A device and a method for informing passengers of an elevator installation in a building includes at least one information display at at least one start floor and/or at least one second information display in at least one car. The first information display indicates the arrival time of a car at a start or destination floor and the second information display indicates the arrival time of the car at a destination floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Christian Bodmer, Steffen Grundmann, Lukas Finschi, Kurt Steinmann, Philipp Wyss
  • Patent number: 7414334
    Abstract: A circuit for the limitation of over-voltages in energy storage modules having a series circuit of energy storage elements connected between a first potential and a second potential includes voltage-limiting elements associated with combinations of the energy storage elements. Where “M” is the maximum number of directly interconnected energy storage elements of a predetermined combination, wherein for M?2 a voltage-limiting element is connected in parallel with each combination and a respective voltage-limiting element is connected in parallel with a first energy storage element connected to the first potential and with an nth energy storage element connected to the second potential. For M>2 a respective voltage-limiting element is connected in parallel with each sub-combination of at least two directly interconnected energy storage elements of the combination having an energy storage element connected to the first potential or to the second potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Steffen Grundmann
  • Publication number: 20080067011
    Abstract: In this lift installation, lift braking equipment (11) brakes and holds a lift cage (2). The lift braking equipment (13) consists of a number of brake units (12) which when required are brought into engagement with brake tracks (6), wherein the brake unit (12) for this purpose presses at least one brake plate (14) against the brake track (6) and produces a braking force (FB). According to the invention, for checking the braking equipment (11) an effective coefficient of friction (?e), which is generated during pressing of the brake plate (14) against the brake track (6), of the brake unit is ascertained. Moreover, a placing in operation with use of this checking method is illustrated and equipment for performing this placing in operation is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann
  • Publication number: 20060180406
    Abstract: An elevator installation has braking equipment for braking and holding an elevator car which moves in vertical direction within guide tracks or rails. The braking equipment consists of at least two brake units each comprising a normal force regulation device that sets a normal force (FN) in correspondence with a normal force value determined by a brake control unit and/or a locking device that locks the brake unit in a set braking position and which preferably maintains the set braking position in the case of an interrupted energy supply. The braking equipment provides a gentle braking or holding of the elevator car, which corresponds with the operational state of the elevator installation, with a low energy requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann, Hans Kocher
  • Publication number: 20060108875
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply wherein an isolation device is automatically tested during normal operation to ensure that it is capable of effectively isolating the input from an auxiliary power supply during emergency operation. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input for coupling to a main power supply, an output for connection to an electrical load, an auxiliary power supply and a selective isolation device configured to isolate the auxiliary power supply from the input during emergency operation. First components establish a reverse polarity across the isolation device for a test period during normal operation, and second components monitor a voltage proportional to the input voltage to the isolation device and output an error signal if the monitored voltage remains or rises above a first reference value during the test period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Steffen Grundmann, Nicolas Gremaud