Having Independent Supports Carrying Distinct Loads And Sharing Common Path Patents (Class 187/249)
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Patent number: 12139372Abstract: A transportation system for a building with multiple floors includes a shaft, a traction sheave drive type elevator and a lift. The elevator that vertically conveys persons has an elevator car which is movable in the shaft and at least two counterweights which are movable together with the car in the shaft in a direction of movement opposite to the direction of movement of the elevator car. The elevator car and the counterweights are driven by drive engines with traction sheaves. The lift that vertically conveys objects may be a self-propelled lift. A lift platform of the lift overlaps at least partly a vertical projection of the elevator car, whereby preferably the vertical projection of the lift platform is smaller than the vertical projection of the elevator car.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventor: Donato Carparelli
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Patent number: 11535493Abstract: An elevator system includes first and second elevator cars movable vertically in a first elevator shaft, a closed support belt routed around lower and upper deflection rollers, a drive machine driving the support belt, and an actuable coupling device arranged on each of the first and second elevator cars. The support belt has first and second coupling elements to and from which the coupling devices can be coupled and decoupled whereby a drive connection between the respective elevator car and the support belt can be established and released. A coupled elevator car is moved in the first elevator shaft by the support belt driven by the drive machine. The coupling elements are arranged such that they are not routed around the deflection rollers during movement of the first elevator car from a lower end position to an upper end position or vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventors: Christian Studer, Josef Husmann
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Patent number: 11434107Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car positioned in and movable along the hoistway. The elevator car includes a first sheave and a second sheave spaced apart from the first sheave. The first sheave and second sheave have parallel axes of rotation and each include a traction surface and a gearless prime mover operably connected to the traction surface to drive rotation of the traction surface. A first load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway and a second load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway. The first load bearing member passes laterally under the first sheave, vertically upward between the first sheave and the second sheave, and laterally over the second sheave. The second load bearing member passes laterally under the second sheave, vertically between the second sheave and the first sheave, and laterally over the first sheave.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard L. Hollowell, Kiron Bhaskar
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Patent number: 11414297Abstract: An elevator safety device (120) is configured for restricting the movement of an elevator car (106) of an elevator system (102) along its pathway in order to prevent the elevator car (106) from moving beyond at least one limit position. The elevator safety device (120) is configured for performing at least one learning run (220a, 220b) for setting the at least one limit position.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2018Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Peter Herkel, Mustapha Toutaoui, Ralph S. Stripling, Sven Knuth, Raphael Pecek
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Patent number: 11390491Abstract: A device for unlocking a landing door includes a door leaf that can be moved between an open position and a closed position, a bar arranged on the door leaf to lock the door leaf in the closed position, and an energy accumulator coupled to the door leaf to provide the energy for moving the door leaf into the closed position in the event that the energy supply needed to drive the door leaf fails. The energy accumulator is coupled to the door leaf by an elastic element such that through a displacement of the energy accumulator when the door leaf is in the closed position, the bar is moved to an unlocked position.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventor: Jules Christen
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Patent number: 10899580Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes a frame, a first elevator cab, a second elevator cab, and a plurality of sheaves associated with the first and second elevator cabs, respectively. A suspension assembly suspends the first and second elevator cabs within the frame. The suspension assembly has two ends in a fixed position relative to the frame. The suspension assembly includes a positive drive load bearing member along a first portion of a length of the suspension assembly and at least one other second load bearing member. A machine includes a drive sprocket that moves the positive drive load bearing member to cause movement of the first and second elevator cabs relative to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Enrico Manes, Shihemn Chen, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Xiaodong Luo, Luke A. Mishler, Bruce P. Swaybill, Richard J. Ericson, Loi Cheng, Meghan Mastriano
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Patent number: 10875743Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car positioned in and movable along the hoistway. The elevator car includes a first sheave and a second sheave spaced apart from the first sheave. The first sheave and second sheave have parallel axes of rotation and each include a traction surface and a gearless prime mover operably connected to the traction surface to drive rotation of the traction surface. A first load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway and a second load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway. The first load bearing member passes laterally under the first sheave, vertically upward between the first sheave and the second sheave, and laterally over the second sheave. The second load bearing member passes laterally under the second sheave, vertically between the second sheave and the first sheave, and laterally over the first sheave.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Richard L. Hollowell, Kiron Bhaskar
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Patent number: 10865071Abstract: A method and system for managing an elevator system (10), includes providing a plurality of elevator cars (14) to travel in a hoistway (11), and selectively introducing and removing at least one of the plurality of elevator cars (14) to and from the hoistway (11) via a loading station (50).Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Randall Keith Roberts, Zbigniew Piech, Adam Marian Myszkowski, Cezary Jedryczka, Wojciech Szelag, Tadeusz Witczak, Enrico Manes, Richard N. Fargo, Bryan Robert Siewert
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Patent number: 10787340Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system for a learn run sequence including the steps of moving, using a linear propulsion system, an elevator car through a lane of an elevator shaft at a selected velocity; detecting, using a sensor system, the location of the elevator car when it moves through the lane; controlling, using a control system, the elevator car, the control system being in operable communication with the elevator car, the linear propulsion system, and the sensor system; and determining, using the control system, a location of each of the car state sensors relative to each other within the lane in response to at least one of a travel time of the elevator car, a velocity of the elevator car, a position of the elevator car, and a height of the elevator car.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: David Ginsberg, Shashank Krishnamurthy, Lei Xing, Penghe Geng, Ankit Anand Gupta, Yogesh Parmod Jadhav, Basavanagouda Goudra, Pramod Mandikal Gurukumar
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Patent number: 10745245Abstract: The present invention provides a governor assembly and an elevator, wherein the governor assembly includes: a support; a first axle rotatably supported by the support; a main pulley rotatably mounted on the first axle relative to the first axle; a first guide pulley near the main pulley; a first safety device actuated by the rotation of the first axle; and a centrifugal tripping mechanism which enables, when a rotating speed of the main pulley exceeds a preset value, the main pulley and the first axle to be coupled and rotate together. The governor assembly according to the present invention is of a compact structure and is applicable to a small mounting space.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Zhengbao Shi, Randall S Dube, Yong Zhao, Min Wang, Zhihuan Man, Ye Li
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Patent number: 10625982Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator arrangement with multiple elevator cars in the same elevator shaft, the arrangement at least an uppermost elevator with its operating system, hoisting machinery and elevator car, and a lowermost elevator with its operating system, hoisting machinery and elevator car, which elevator cars are arranged to run in the same elevator shaft along the same guide rails. The types of the two elevators in the same elevator shaft are mutually different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Markku Haapaniemi, Matti Rasanen, Markku Haivala, Jouni Ratia
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Patent number: 10507395Abstract: Systems and related methods related to structures with large-scale rotatable elements. Some of the present systems comprise: a tower defining a plurality of human-habitable spaces; a tower hub coupled to the tower and having a transverse dimension of at least 50 feet; an observation wheel rotatably coupled to the tower and having a central wheel hub; and one or more bearings disposed between the tower hub and the wheel hub to rotatably support the observation wheel relative to the tower.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Inventors: Haskel Mayer, Cyril Silberman
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Patent number: 10464782Abstract: The disclosure relates to an elevator system consisting of a plurality of elevator carriages, a shaft system, a drive system for separately moving the elevator carriages within the shaft system, as well as a safety system having a plurality of safety nodes designed to bring the elevator system into a safe operating mode if an operating mode of the elevator system, which deviates from the normal operation mode, is detected. The elevator carriages, the shaft system and the drive system form a functional unit. One of the safety nodes is always assigned to one of the functional units, wherein the safety nodes are each connected to at least another safety node through an interface for transmitting data. Each safety node includes at least one sensor, which detects an operating parameter of the corresponding assigned functional unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: thyssenkrupp AGInventors: Eduard Steinhauer, Matthias Glück, Bankole Adjibadji
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Patent number: 10450168Abstract: An illustrative example elevator assembly includes a frame having vertically oriented beams and horizontally oriented beams connected to the vertically oriented beams. A first elevator cab is supported within the frame between the vertically oriented beams. A pantograph linkage includes a plurality of links. The pantograph linkage is supported on one of the horizontally oriented beams. The pantograph linkage is connected with the first elevator cab such that different positions of the first elevator cab relative to the frame correspond to different relative positions of the links. A second elevator cab is suspended by the pantograph linkage beneath the frame. The different relative positions of the links place the second elevator cab in different positions relative to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Enrico Manes, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 10399815Abstract: A method for controlling car separation in a multi-car elevator system, the method including: initiating, by a controller, a change in a profile of a target elevator car; determining that N elevators cars are affected by the change in the profile of the target elevator car, wherein elevator car N is an elevator car farthest from the target elevator car; calculating for each of the N elevator cars an updated profile; for each of the N elevator cars, beginning with the Nth elevator car and ending with the target elevator car, performing: determining if the updated profile for the elevator car will provide separation between the elevator car and a neighboring elevator car; and when the updated profile for the elevator car will provide separation between the elevator car and the neighboring elevator car, executing an elevator car profile update process for the elevator car.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: David Ginsberg, Arthur Hsu, Jose Miguel Pasini
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Patent number: 10329122Abstract: An illustrative example elevator assembly includes a first elevator cab and a second elevator cab. An H frame supports the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab. The H frame has a plurality of vertically oriented beams and at least one horizontally oriented beam extending between the vertically oriented beams. The at least one horizontally oriented beam is spaced from ends of the vertically oriented beams and the H frame does not have any horizontally oriented beam at either end of the vertically oriented beams. At least one linear actuator is coupled with the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab. The linear actuator is configured to selectively cause movement of the elevator cabs relative to the H frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Enrico Manes, Bruce P. Swaybill, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Luke A. Mishler, Xiaodong Luo, Richard J. Ericson, Loi Cheng, Shihemn Chen, Meghan Mastriano
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Patent number: 10246298Abstract: An elevator system (10) is disclosed. The elevator system (10) may comprise a hoistway (18) including first and second hoistway portions (12, 16), a first car (14), a first stationary stator (44a) disposed in the first hoistway portion (12) and a second stationary stator (44b) disposed in the second hoistway portion (16), a first mover (42) mounted on the first car (14), and a first guiderail (62) disposed in the first hoistway (12). The first hoistway portion (12) may be free of other guiderails (62) for the first car (14). The first car (14) may be propelled in the first hoistway portion (12) by only the interaction of the first mover (42) with the first stationary stator (44a). The first car (14) may be propelled in the second hoistway portion (16) by only the interaction of the first mover (42) with the second stationary stator (44b).Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Zbigniew Piech, Tadeusz Witczak
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Patent number: 10196233Abstract: A ropeless elevator system may include a plurality of elevator cars, a first hoistway, a second hoistway, an upper transfer station, and a lower transfer station. Movement of each of the plurality of elevator cars may be controlled according to a predetermined assignment in which: a plurality of floors is divided into a plurality of floor groups, each of the plurality of elevator cars is assigned to at least one of the plurality of floor groups, and each of the plurality of elevator cars is dispatched only to floors within the at least one floor group assigned thereto.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Tadeusz Witczak, Zbigniew Piech
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Patent number: 10183842Abstract: An example elevator system may include a shaft in which a first elevator car and a second elevator car positioned below the first elevator car are separately movable up and down in a vertical direction along a common guideway. The first elevator car may be coupled to a first counterweight by first suspension ropes and by first compensation ropes, and the second elevator car may be coupled to a second counterweight by second suspension ropes and second compensation ropes. Further, first and second ends of the first compensation ropes may be secured to the first counterweight or to the first elevator car. The first compensation ropes may be guided around at least one roller positioned on a bottom surface of the first elevator car or on the counterweight.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AGInventors: Jörg Müller, Holger Zerelles, Bernd Altenburger, Ronald Dietze, Juri Schäfer
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Patent number: 10124986Abstract: An elevator controller that enables enhancement in serviceability, avoids a collision between multiple cars that ascend/descend inside a common shaft, and suppresses increase in the number of floors a car cannot reach. The elevator controller includes: multiple cars arranged inside a common shaft such that each car can ascend/descend independently; an occupied area setting mechanism setting, for each of the multiple cars, a maximum area of a travel section necessary for the car to make an emergency stop as an occupied area for the car based on a running speed, a running direction, and a call registration status; and a running speed setting mechanism setting a running speed of a car so a number of floors the car can service is maximized within a range in which the car can make an emergency stop without entering an occupied area set by the occupied area setting mechanism for the other car.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventor: Shingo Kondo
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Patent number: 10106372Abstract: Lift systems may include a first shaft unit and a second shaft unit, each of which may include a number of lift shafts. One or more single-car systems and/or multi-car systems may be disposed in the first shaft unit, whereas one or more shaft-changing multi-car systems may be disposed in the second shaft unit. A transporting operation may be carried out from an initial floor to a destination floor wherein a control unit determines whether to utilize one or more cars from the single car systems, the multi-car systems, the shaft-changing multi-car systems, or some combination thereof depending on factors such as the destination floors of the passengers, traffic density, energy demand, and/or availability of cars.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AGInventors: Markus Jetter, Stefan Gerstenmeyer
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Patent number: 10081513Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system is provided. The method comprising: detecting an occupancy status of the elevator car, the occupancy status comprising at least one of occupied and unoccupied; selecting a motion profile of the elevator car in response to the occupancy status, the motion profile comprising at least one of an unoccupied motion profile, an occupied motion profile, an occupied lateral movement motion profile, a power-save motion profile, and an occupied descent motion profile; and moving the elevator car in accordance with the motion profile selected.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Arthur Hsu, David Ginsberg, Jose Miguel Pasini
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Patent number: 10059518Abstract: In a lift carrier device, a controller causes a first longitudinal drive device and a second longitudinal drive device respectively to be lifted or lowered by a first lift drive device and a second lift drive device, to cause a first article stage and a second article stage to pass by each other in a state where the first article stage and the second article stage have been moved by the first longitudinal drive device and the second longitudinal drive device to positions where the first article stage and the second article stage do not longitudinally overlap each other in plan view.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventor: Michinobu Wakizaka
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Patent number: 10059566Abstract: An elevator system includes a first hoistway having a shuttle section and serviced floors; a second hoistway having a shuttle section and serviced floors; a first elevator car; a second elevator car; a coupler physically connecting the first elevator car and the second elevator car during travel in the shuttle section; an upper transfer station for transferring at least one of the first elevator car and the second elevator car from the first hoistway to the second hoistway; a lower transfer station for transferring at least one of the first elevator car and the second elevator car from the second hoistway to the first hoistway.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Tadeusz Witczak, Zbigniew Piech
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Patent number: 10035683Abstract: An elevator system includes a first elevator car, a second elevator car, a drive-machine, and a suspension apparatus that passes over a traction sheave of the drive-machine to cause the cars to travel one above the other in a travel space. The suspension apparatus is divided into a first set and a second set. A displacement mechanism fixed in the travel space interacts with the second set between the traction sheave and the second car to vary the distance between the cars. This distance can be adjusted independent of the traction sheave. The displacement mechanism can have a pulley arrangement with a displaceable pulley displaced by a displacement drive to vary a length of a section of the second set between the displacement mechanism and the second car.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventors: Adrian Steiner, Christoph Schuler, Nicolas Gremaud, René Strebel, Urs Schaffhauser, Marcel Nicole
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Patent number: 10023436Abstract: A drive unit for an elevator installation having a first traveling body and a second traveling body, which traveling bodies are supported by a support device, drives the support device and thus the two traveling bodies. The two traveling bodies each have at least one first support roller by which the support device supports the traveling bodies, at least partially. The drive unit includes at least one first and one second roller arranged on a common axis of rotation of the drive unit, wherein at least one of the first or second rollers is a drive unit roller for driving the support device. On the way from the first traveling body to the second traveling body, the support device is guided over the first drive unit roller and over the second drive unit roller. The guidance is hereby such that the circumferential speeds of the two drive unit rollers vary.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventor: Christoph Liebetrau
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Patent number: 10017354Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car to travel vertically in a first lane and a second lane; a propulsion system to impart force to the elevator car; a transfer station to move the elevator car horizontally from the first lane to the second lane; and a control system to supervise travel of the elevator car, the control system to supervise a first intersection between the first lane and the transfer station such that no more than one of vertical elevator car travel and horizontal elevator car travel is permitted at the first intersection at a given time.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: David Ginsberg, Arthur Hsu, Jose Miguel Pasini
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Patent number: 10005643Abstract: An elevator system has a car assembly including a first elevator car, a second elevator car, a counterweight, and a drive machine unit having a traction sheave and a traction device guided over the traction sheave. The traction device is connected to the car assembly and the counterweight on opposite side of the traction sheave. An adjustment mechanism enables the second elevator car to be adjusted in relation to the first elevator car within the car assembly. The adjustment mechanism has an adjustment device, a first adjustment traction device and a second adjustment traction device. The first adjustment traction device and the second adjustment traction device are guided over the adjustment device. The first adjustment traction device and the second adjustment traction device are connected to the second elevator car on one side of the adjustment device and to the counterweight on the other side.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventor: Heinz Widmer
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Patent number: 9994425Abstract: A motor for use with an elevator system may include a housing, a motor shaft surrounded by the housing and having at least a first end extending outward from the housing, a motor body arranged around a central portion of the motor shaft and positioned within the housing, at least one sheave positioned at the first end of the motor shaft and rotatable with the motor shaft, and a braking system positioned at a first end of the housing. The braking system may include a brake rotor connected to and rotatable with the motor shaft and closing an axial opening at the first end of the housing, a brake shoe positioned at the first end of the housing, and a brake actuator configured to selectively move the brake shoe between a brake position in which the brake shoe is in contact with the brake rotor to resist rotation of the motor shaft and a rotation position in which the brake shoe is free from contact with the brake rotor.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG, ThyssenKrupp AGInventors: Frank Dudde, Peter Feldhusen
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Patent number: 9994424Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator system comprising a first elevator car, a second elevator car, a rotatable rope wheel mounted on a fixed location, and a roping suspending the first and second elevator car on opposite sides of the rope wheel, the roping comprising at least one rope passing over the rope wheel, and connected on the first side of the rope wheel to the first elevator car and on the second side to the second elevator car. Said rope comprises at least one load bearing member oriented parallel with the longitudinal direction of the rope made of composite material comprising reinforcing fibers embedded in polymer matrix, which reinforcing fibers are carbon fibers oriented parallel with the longitudinal direction of the rope.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Petri Kere, Marja-Liisa Siikonen, Mirko Ruokokoski, Petteri Valjus, Raimo Pelto-Huikko
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Patent number: 9988243Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car carrier moveable in a travel space to a plurality of floors. The elevator car carrier has a first elevator car and a second elevator car adjustably arranged thereon, as well as a drive unit. An adjustment device includes a first traction device and a second traction device, which traction devices are wound in the opposite sense onto drums of the drive unit. The distance between the first elevator car and the second elevator car can be adjusted by a rotation of the drums to adapt to varying floor distances.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventors: Elena Cortona, Frankie Schmid
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Patent number: 9821235Abstract: Systems and related methods related to structures with large-scale rotatable elements. Some of the present systems comprise: a tower defining a plurality of human-habitable spaces; a tower hub coupled to the tower and having a transverse dimension of at least 50 feet; an observation wheel rotatably coupled to the tower and having a central wheel hub; and one or more bearings disposed between the tower hub and the wheel hub to rotatably support the observation wheel relative to the tower.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Inventors: Haskel Mayer, Cyril Silberman
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Patent number: 9792811Abstract: Access rights are controlled in a cyclically operated transport system having spatially-defined embarkation and disembarkation areas. The access to the transport system occurs without access monitoring in the embarkation areas, but the access rights of the persons on board the transport system are read remotely during travel by an externally mounted, stationary reading device. If the number of detected valid access rights is less than the number of persons on board the transport system, and/or if a discrepancy exists between the number of detected valid access rights per access right category and the number of persons on board the transport system per access right category, then the access rights are monitored after disembarkation in order to identify the person or persons without access rights.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: SKIDATA AGInventor: Erich Kranzinger
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Patent number: 9783391Abstract: An elevator installation includes a shaft in which at least two elevator cars are arranged one above the other and are capable of travel upward and downward in a vertical direction separately from one another, wherein each elevator car is assigned a travel drive. The elevator cars are capable of travel with large and small spacings to one another without the risk of collision by coupling at least two elevator cars together by way of a variable-length, releasable coupling device, wherein the spacing between the coupled-together elevator cars can be varied, in a manner dependent on the relative speed between the two elevator cars, with the aid of at least one of the travel drives.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AGInventors: Holger Zerelles, Bernd Altenburger, Ronald Dietze, Juri Schäfer
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Patent number: 9738489Abstract: A method of controlling an elevator installation with several elevator cages per elevator shaft, wherein a destination call to a desired destination story is actuated on a call input story by at least one passenger and at least one most favorable call allocation for transport of the passenger by the elevator cage from a start story to a destination story, is determined for the destination call by at least one destination call control. If at least one disadvantage parameter is set, at least one disadvantage-free call allocation for transport of the passenger by the elevator cage from a start story to a destination story is determined by the destination call control, in which it is possible the start story and call input story or the destination story and desired destination correspond.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Inventio AGInventor: Lukas Finschi
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Patent number: 9708155Abstract: An elevator control of a one-shaft multicar system includes: a collision predictor predicting occurrence of a collision of cars against each other in a same shaft in a case a predetermined collision prediction implementation condition is held; a waiting-with-door-open determination mechanism determining whether or not a car is caused to be on standby with the door thereof kept open in a case the collision predictor predicts the collision of cars against each other in the same shaft; a waiting-with-door-open floor determination mechanism determining a waiting-with-door-open floor of the car in a case the waiting-with-door-open determination mechanism determines the car is caused to be on standby with the door thereof kept open; and a controller causing at least either of the cars, for which occurrence of a collision is predicted, to be on standby with the door thereof kept open at the waiting-with-door-open floor determined by the waiting-with-door-open floor determination mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Sakurako Tokura, Shingo Kobori
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Guide rail rope deflection inhibition mechanism and method for parallel soft cable suspension system
Patent number: 9689257Abstract: A guide rail rope deflection inhibition mechanism and method for a parallel soft cable suspension system in ultradeep vertical shaft construction. The guide rail rope deflection inhibition mechanism comprises a T-shaped installation support base, a rotating frame, a hydraulic support rod, and a chuck. The T-shaped installation support base comprises a vertical support rod and a horizontal support rod. The hydraulic support rod comprises an upper hydraulic support rod and a lower hydraulic support rod. The rotating frame comprises an upper Y-shaped frame and a lower Y-shaped frame. The chuck comprises an upper chuck and a lower chuck. The guide rail rope deflection inhibition method treats two guide rail rope deflection inhibition mechanisms as one group, and arranges at least two groups along the vertical direction on the shaft wall.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Guohua Cao, Jinjie Wang, Zhencai Zhu, Weihong Peng, Yandong Wang, Lei Zhang, Gang Shen, Shanzeng Liu -
Patent number: 9643818Abstract: An elevator installation has an elevator car carrier that can be displaced in a travel space, a first elevator car arranged on the carrier in an adjustable manner, and a second elevator car arranged on the carrier. A drive unit on the carrier drives a traction device to adjust the first elevator car relative to the carrier. The traction device forms a closed loop and is guided over a drive roller and at least one guide roller, which rollers are arranged on the carrier. The guide roller is displaceable on the carrier to set tensioning of the traction device.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: SCHINDLER AUFZÜGE AGInventor: Fuat Sen
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Patent number: 9592997Abstract: A guide rail installation arrangement and a method for installing guide rails are disclosed. The guide rail installation arrangement for installing guide rails in an elevator shaft includes at least one vertically moveable working platform within the elevator shaft for reaching the installation height and a material hoist for moving guide rail sections for installing the guide rail sections. The guide rail installation arrangement further includes a transport frame for transporting guide rail sections vertically within the elevator shaft and a frame hoist that is attachable to the transport frame for vertically moving the transport frame and for optionally moving the guide rail sections for loading the guide rail sections into the transport frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: KONE CORPORATIONInventor: Antti Mertala
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Patent number: 9403607Abstract: A method of mounting cars on a free standing space elevator tower. The actively stabilized space elevator tower has a segmented elevator core structure, each segment being formed of at least one pneumatically pressurized cell. The method of mounting the elevator cars allows the cars to ascend or descend on the outer surface of the elevator core structure or in a shaft on the interior of the elevator core structure. The elevator cars grip the structure without use of a track and are able to pass other cars enabling bi-directional traffic flow using a twisting motion. The freestanding tower can be used for launch activities, tourism, observation, wind-energy generation, scientific research, and communications.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Thoth Technology, Inc.Inventor: Brendan Mark Quine
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Patent number: 9394139Abstract: In a multi-car elevator, when two adjacent cars travel in a like direction, an elevator controlling apparatus: determines a shortest stopping position that is a stopping position at which a leading car stops in a shortest stopping distance from its present position; determines an estimated stopping position that is a stopping position of a trailing car if the trailing car is stopped urgently when the trailing car deviates from a speed change path for stopping using decelerating control by the elevator controlling apparatus from its present position and approaches the leading car; and controls a separating distance between the leading car and the trailing car such that the estimated stopping position is before the shortest stopping position.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takuo Kugiya, Masayuki Kakio, Kiyoshi Funai, Masafumi Iwata
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Patent number: 9365392Abstract: An elevator system which utilizes a plurality of independently moving cabs in each elevator shaft. The lower cabs are connected to spatially separated counterweights in order to prevent interference between cables, pulleys and counterweights. The top cab may be connected to one or two counterweights by connection points on the roof of the cab. The cabs are mounted on tracks, to guide each cab through the elevator shaft. The system includes a motor attached to each of the cabs by lift cables to facilitate the independent movement of all cabs. Existing buildings can be retrofit for compatibility with the present invention. A system and method for controlling the motions of all cabs comprising determining and selecting an optimal cab and a best hoistway range to service passenger requests.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Smart Lifts, LLCInventor: Justin Jacobs
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Patent number: 9205978Abstract: A system for the transfer, storage and distribution of intermodal containers of a plurality of lengths. The system comprises a first storage area comprising a first plurality of shafts arranged in a grid pattern along a first and second axis, a plurality of gantry cranes slidably disposed along the first axis and extending beyond the storage area, a roof structure disposed at a distance above the plurality of shafts, and a plurality of overhead cranes slidably associated with the plurality of tracks. The shafts disposed in rows along the first axis are configured to store intermodal containers of a plurality of lengths. The shafts disposed in a given row along the second axis are configured to store intermodal containers of a corresponding length. The plurality of gantry cranes are each configured to attach to and transport an intermodal container from a first location to one of a plurality of platforms slidably disposed along the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: SUPERDOCK, LLCInventors: David Alba, Samuel Alba
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Patent number: 9174822Abstract: An elevator has an elevator car supporting frame that can travel in a travel space provided for a journey of the elevator car supporting frame. The elevator installation is also provided with a first elevator car and a second elevator car arranged on the elevator car supporting frame. Furthermore, a hydraulic moving element is arranged in a lower end region of the travel space. In this way, the first elevator car can be moved in relation to the second elevator car, by the moving device, in the lower end region of the travel space.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Inventio AGInventors: Elena Cortona, Frankie Schmid
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Patent number: 9132991Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car support displaceable in a travel area provided for the travel of the elevator car support, and a first elevator car and a second elevator car, each car adjustably disposed on the elevator car support. A drive unit is further disposed on the elevator car support. A belt is also provided. The first elevator car and the second elevator car are thereby adjustable in opposite directions by the drive unit by the belt relative to the elevator car support.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Inventio AGInventor: Josef Husmann
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Patent number: 9033110Abstract: An elevator installation includes at least one elevator cage carrier in a travel space, a first elevator cage arranged at the elevator cage carrier, a second elevator cage arranged at the elevator carrier and at least one adjusting device for adjustment of the first and second elevator cages relative to the elevator cage carrier. The adjusting device includes at least one first rack connected at least indirectly with the first elevator cage, at least one second rack connected at least directly with the second elevator cage and at least one pinion engaged in the first and second racks. The first and second racks are so arranged with respect to the pinion that rotation of the pinion moves the first and second elevator cages in opposite directions.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Inventio AGInventor: Josef Husmann
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Patent number: 9027713Abstract: An elevator installation includes an elevator cage carrier with a first elevator cage and a second elevator cage. A hydraulic adjusting element for the first elevator cage is provided, which serves for adjusting the first elevator cage relative to the elevator cage carrier. In addition, a hydraulic adjusting element for the second elevator cage is also provided, which serves for adjusting the second elevator cage relative to the elevator cage carrier. In that case a stroke of the hydraulic adjusting element for the first elevator cage for adjusting the first elevator cage in a first adjustment direction is converted into a stroke of the hydraulic adjusting element for the second elevator cage for adjusting the second elevator cage in an opposite adjustment direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Inventio AGInventor: Josef Husmann
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Patent number: 9016438Abstract: A carrying device (1b) for relocating an elevator car (1c) of an elevator, which carrying device is movable in at least one direction (V) not corresponding to a longitudinal direction (B) of an elevator shaft in which the elevator car (1c) is moved in operation, wherein the elevator car (1c) is movable in the longitudinal direction (B) of the elevator shaft from an operating position into a receiving position in the carrying device (1b) and, in the receiving position, is connected to the carrying device (1b) and movable in the at least one direction (V) commonly with the carrying device (1b).Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator AGInventor: Stefan Altenburger
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Patent number: 9010499Abstract: A pair of elevator cars (10, 11) traveling in the same hoistway have their positions sensed (20-23, 29-32) to provide for each a position signal (35, 37) from which velocity signals (64, 65) are derived; lookup tables (66, 61) of safe stopping distance (B, S) for braking and safeties are formed as a function of all possible combinations of velocity (V(U), V(L)) of said cars. Comparison of safe stopping distances for contemporaneous velocities of said cars with actual distance between said cars provides signals (85, 98, 99) to drop the brakes (49, 50) of one or more of the cars, and provides signals (82) to engage the safeties (18, 18a, 19, 19a) of all cars if the cars become closer or if acceleration detectors (117, 118) determine a car to be in freefall.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Richard C. McCarthy, Richard Peruggi, Randall K. Roberts, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, Gilbert W. Wierschke
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Publication number: 20150083524Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods regarding transit and movement of people. The Articulated Funiculator is a continuous and connected system of trains that moves people in mass. The trains lie horizontal at specific floor levels (designated as stations) in tall buildings or underground levels (designated as stations) in mining operations and underground subway stations. The Articulated Funiculator transitions from horizontal alignments at the stations to vertical, slanted or curved alignments between the stations, albeit the passengers remain horizontal in a standing position. The Articulated Funiculator captures the energy from the braking, dynamic braking of the trains and stores it. The stored energy is then used to accelerate the Articulated Funiculator. This re-use of energy makes the Articulated Funiculator sustainable.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2012Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventor: Fritz King