Abstract: An elevator sheave (20) includes a belt guiding surface (26) having a surface profile along at least a portion of the belt guiding surface. The surface profile preferably is defined by an nth order polynomial equation where n is a number greater than 2. In one example, the reference point (40) is a central point along the width of the belt guiding surface (26). In one example, a central portion (42) of the surface profile preferably is aligned to be generally parallel with the central axis (34) of the sheave body. Some examples have curvilinear side portions (44,46) between the central portion (42) and the edges (28,30) of the sheave. Other examples also include second side portions (48,50) that have linear profiles.

Abstract: Fixtures (22, 27) at a doorway (13) of a landing (14) are formed integrally with a door frame (17, 17a). The fixtures include electronic modules (42, 46, 54) and energy storage devices (43, 47, 55). Power may be supplied by a generator (32) rotated by a pinion (34) in response to a rack (35) on a hoistway door (20), or by electrical contacts (58) disposed on the hoistway side of the door frame which touch contacts (65) on an elevator car door (63) when the door is open, thereby receiving power over a line (66) from the elevator car; or power may be provided by an inductive coupler (70). The fixtures (22, 27) may be within the profile of the door frame (17), or extend outwardly from the profile of the door frame (17a).

Abstract: A method and system determines probable strength degradation in a tensile support in an elevator system by monitoring an electrical characteristic of the tensile support as a whole, such as the total electrical resistance of the tensile support, that varies as the remaining strength in the tensile support varies. As the degradation of strength in a typical tensile support varies along the support, and as the relationship between strength and the electrical characteristic generally exhibits an inherent uncertainty, the overall relationship between strength and the electrical characteristic of the whole tensile support will vary as well. Quantifying the probable strength degradation indicated for each value in a range of a measurable electrical characteristic allows monitoring the strength degradation of the tensile support. The method and system also quantifies the relationship between tensile support degradation and a measurable electrical characteristic to monitor degradation.

Abstract: Fixtures (22, 27) at a doorway (13) of a landing (14) are formed integrally with a door frame (17, 17a). The fixtures include electronic modules (42, 46, 54) and energy storage devices (43, 47, 55). Power may be supplied by a generator (32) rotated by a pinion (34) in response to a rack (35) on a hoistway door (20), or by electrical contacts (58) disposed on the hoistway side of the door frame which touch contacts (65) on an elevator car door (63) when the door is open, thereby receiving power over a line (66) from the elevator car; or power may be provided by an inductive coupler (70). The fixtures (22, 27) may be within the profile of the door frame (17), or extend outwardly from the profile of the door frame (17a).

Abstract: A method and system determines probable strength degradation in a tensile support in an elevator system by monitoring an electrical characteristic of the tensile support as a whole, such as the total electrical resistance of the tensile support, that varies as the remaining strength in the tensile support varies. One example system determines a relationship between strength degradation and various physical factors, such as the rate of degradation for a given load (102), operating environment information for the tensile support (104), and estimated usage data (106), to obtain a map of mean degradation (100). This map of mean degradation (100) is then used to generate one or more maps linking the strength degradation and electrical characteristic.

Abstract: A connector device (40) for making electrically conductive connections with at least one tension member (32) in an elevator load bearing member (30) includes a spacer member (42) that establishes physical spacing between portions (38) of the load bearing member (30). In one example, each portion (38) includes one tension member (32). A holding member (50) secures the portions (38) in a selected position relative to the connector device. At least one electrically conductive connector member (70) makes electrically conductive contact with at least one of the tension members (32) to facilitate a selected electricity-based monitoring technique for accessing the condition of the load bearing member.

Abstract: An elevator sheave (20) includes a belt guiding surface (26) having a surface profile along at least a portion of the belt guiding surface. The surface profile preferably is defined by an nth order polynomial equation where n is a number greater than 2. In one example, the reference point (40) is a central point along the width of the belt guiding surface (26). In one example, a central portion (42) of the surface profile preferably is aligned to be generally parallel with the central axis (34) of the sheave body. Some examples have curvilinear side portions (44, 46) between the central portion (42) and the edges (28, 30) of the sheave. Other examples also include second side portions (48, 50) that have linear profiles.

Abstract: An electrical connector device (40) for use with an elevator load bearing member (30) assembly includes at least one electrical connector member (42) for making electrically conductive contact with at least one tension member (32). A clamping member (45) supports the electrical connector member and facilitates manipulating the connector member to pierce through a coating (34) over the tension members (32). The clamping member (45) in one example has first (46) and second (48) portions received on opposite sides of the load bearing member (30). An adjuster (50) facilitates adjusting the relative positions of the clamping member portions to urge the electrical connector member through the coating and into electrically conductive contact with the tension member.

Abstract: An elevator load bearing member (22) monitoring device (20) has a controller (30) that applies a first signal (40) and a second signal (50) to at least one tension member (24) in the belt. The first signal (40) in one example has a plurality of pulses (42) of a selected amplitude and duration. The second signal (50) includes a series of pulses (52) having a second, shorter duration and lower amplitude. The first signal is useful for providing information regarding a wear condition of the load bearing member. The controller utilizes a response to the second signal to determine a failure condition such as a broken load bearing member.

Abstract: A device (30) for making electrically conductive contact with at least one tension member in an elevator belt (22) also provides a restraining feature to support loads on the belt. A connector portion (32) is secured to the belt. In one example, the connector portion (32) includes clamping members (40, 42) that are received on opposite sides of the belt. One of the clamping members supports a plurality of electrically conductive connector members (52) that establish electrical contact with selected tension members (24) within the belt (22). A plurality of load transferring members (66) are supported by the other clamping member in one example. A restraining portion (34) is adapted to be secured in a fixed position relative to a selected structure (36) within the elevator system.

Abstract: A method and system determines probable strength degradation in a tensile support in an elevator system by monitoring an electrical characteristic of the tensile support as a whole, such as the total electrical resistance of the tensile support, that varies as the remaining strength in the tensile support varies. One example system determines a relationship between strength degradation and various physical factors, such as the rate of degradation for a given load (102), operating environment information for the tensile support (104), and estimated usage data (106), to obtain a map of mean degradation (100). This map of mean degradation (100) is then used to generate one or more maps linking the strength degradation and electrical characteristic.

Abstract: Fixtures (27) at a doorway of a landing are formed integrally with a frame (17). Power is provided by an inductive coupler (32) having a core (70) and primary (75). The core is thin ferrite and extend significantly beyond the coils in the plane the coils are wound, to provide en extremely low resistance path for the efficient transfer of AC power.

Abstract: An elevator system has on each floor hall call buttons that are inter-connected with piconet modules (15), such as modules conforming to BLUETOOTH™ specifications; similar piconet modules (16) may be associated with hall fixtures such as lanterns and gongs; similar piconet modules (50) may be associated with hoistway doors, on each floor, so as to form a wireless communication system with a similar piconet module (19) at the controller (18); and a piconet module (40) may be associated with the car operating panel. A module (43) may be interconnected with the car door lock switch; a module (44) may be interconnected with a safety switch; modules (48) and (49) may be interconnected with lower and upper limit switches; and a module (49) may be interconnected with an overspeed detector, so as to form a safety chain.

Abstract: An elevator safety chain includes a plurality of passive radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) (15-18, 22, 34-36 and 63), which are associated, respectively, with hoistway door locks, upper hoistway limits, lower hoistway limits, overspeed detection, car door lock, emergency stop switch, and inspection switch. RFlDs may be associated with car the call buttons (34) and/or hall call buttons (14, 19). The RFIDs may have a switch (43, 44) in the frequency-determining circuitry (40, 41) which defeats the RFID's ability to respond, or a switch (48) which alters the responding frequency. The RFIDs may sense safe or unsafe conditions, or call requests, by either the presence of absence, or vice versa, of adjacent magnetic reluctance (51, 62, 71).