Abstract: An elevator system control box is mounted on an elevator car above or below a car door. The mounting position of the control box makes it possible for a service technician to reach elevator drive system components, such as a travel regulation unit, safety circuits, an optional drive regulation unit, a frequency inverter, etc., mounted in the control box conveniently standing at hand or eye level at a floor with the shaft doors opened.

Abstract: A hoist mechanism for raising and lowering a platform within the interior of a tower and confined within the tower interior. In a first illustrative embodiment, a motor driven worm gear drives rubber coated wheels that are spring loaded to apply pressure to vertical tower members.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a counterweight assembly having a plurality of drive machines having integrally formed drive wheels adapted to frictionally engaged a guide rail for driving the counterweight assembly along the guide rail to effect movement of an elevator car.

Abstract: A hoisting rope for an elevator includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, discrete targets retained within the rope. The targets have a characteristic that may be monitored by a device that is responsive to that characteristic. In a particular embodiment, the targets are formed from a magnetically permeable material and the monitoring device responds to changes in the magnetic field as the target passes the monitoring device. In another embodiment, the targets are formed from material that reflects electromagnetic energy. In this embodiment, the monitoring device emits electromagnetic energy and is sensitive to the energy that is reflected back from the target. A method to inspect the hoisting ropes includes the steps of positioning the monitoring device proximate to the hoisting rope, moving the hoisting rope relative to the device, and monitoring the targets to determine the spacing between targets. Changes in spacing are indicative of stretching of the rope, and thereby degradation of the rope.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a counterweight-drive assembly (24) having a motor and drive pulley (26) mounted thereon to engage a belt (16) for climbing or descending with respect thereto, resulting in raising or lowering of an elevator car (12) coupled to said counterweight-drive assembly (26) via the same belt (16).

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway defined in a surrounding structure, with a front wall that extends along a length of the hoistway. The front wall includes at least one elevator door frame that accommodates an elevator door, with a landing provided frontwardly of the elevator door frame. A recess defined in the front wall extends a predetermined distance along a length of the hoistway from a first end below the elevator door frame to a second end that opens into the landing. A controller is disposed within the recess to provide easy and safe access to the controller from the landing.

Abstract: The system and method for use with a drawworks having a rotatable drum on which a line is wound, wherein the drawworks and the line are used for facilitating movement of a load suspended on the line, includes a drawworks control system for monitoring and controlling the drawworks. A brake arrangement is connected to the rotatable drum for limiting the rotation of the rotatable drum and at least one electrical motor is connected to the rotatable drum for driving the rotatable drum. A load signal representative of the load on the line is produced and a calculated torque value based on the load signal and electrical motor capacity is provided. The drawworks control system provides a signal representative of the calculated torque value to the electrical motor wherein pre-torquing is generated in the electrical motor in response to the signal.

Abstract: A lift system for raising and lowering a carriage may comprise a pin-in-track position indexing apparatus having a position indexing track with first and second inclined branches and at least one guide pin for engaging the position indexing track. The guide pin may be attached to the carriage. Switching apparatus associated with the pin-in-track position indexing apparatus allows the guide pin to follow the first and second inclined branches of the position indexing track. An actuator operatively associated with the pin-in-track position indexing apparatus actuates the pin-in-track position indexing apparatus to raise and lower the carriage.

Abstract: The stator disc (18) of the motor (2) of a disc motor type elevator machinery is s provided with an annular cavity (19a) in which the stator (9) is placed. The stator (9) is attached to one of the walls of the cavity. The rotor (13) is placed in a rotor disc (12). Between at least one (28a) of the walls of the cavity (19a) and the rotor disc (12) there is a sealing (26a) which seals the cavity so as to render it a closed space. The sealing blocks the entry of external particles into the rotor and stator.

Abstract: A lift for inclined or vertical operation has a pair of guide rails that run parallel to one other, on which guide rollers run that are mounted on swivel plates so that they can swivel and contact the rails from opposite sides. At least one guide roller on each swivel plate is designed as a drive roller. The periphery of the drive roller is pressed against a respective engagement area of the rail by a spring force in such a way that the drive force of the drive roller is primarily transferred to the rail by friction.

Abstract: A hoisting rope for an elevator includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, discrete targets retained within the rope. The targets have a characteristic that may be monitored by a device that is responsive to that characteristic. In a particular embodiment, the targets are formed from a magnetically permeable material and the monitoring device responds to changes in the magnetic field as the target passes the monitoring device. In another embodiment, the targets are formed from material that reflects electromagnetic energy. In this embodiment, the monitoring device emits electromagnetic energy and is sensitive to the energy that is reflected back from the target. A method to inspect the hoisting ropes includes the steps of positioning the monitoring device proximate to the hoisting rope, moving the hoisting rope relative to the device, and monitoring the targets to determine the spacing between targets. Changes in spacing are indicative of stretching of the rope, and thereby degradation of the rope.

Abstract: The elevator machinery (26) comprises a motor (6) and its traction sheave (18). The rotor (17) is disc-shaped and air gap (ag) between it and the stator (14) can turn a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the shaft (13). The stator (14) forms a ringlike sector (28) and is placed in an outer part and the traction sheave (18) is fixed to the rotor, between the stator (14) and the shaft (13). The diameter of the traction sheave is smaller than that of the rotor. The structure of the motor allows the use of traction sheaves (18) of different diameters (2*Rv) with rotors (17) of the same diameter. The motor is very flat. In other words, its length in the axial direction is small.

Abstract: A drive system for lifts uses a single-sided flat permanent magnet linear synchronous motor. A secondary element equipped with permanent magnets is located along the shaft and a primary element provided with coils is mounted to the cage. The primary element moves with the cage along the secondary element arranged along the shaft. The secondary element also serves as guide element for the primary element. Bearings mounted to the primary element maintain a constant air gap between the secondary element and the primary elements. With this compact drive system, the needed energy demand of the weight of the drive can be kept small. In addition, the dimensions of the lift shaft can be reduced to a minimum by the resulting compact mode of construction of the drive particularly when strong permanent magnets are used.

Abstract: Normal power for the fan (22), lights (23), operating car panel (26), and cab controller functions (29) is provided from a voltage regulator (41) driven by a flywheel motor generator (38) which is accelerated when the elevator car (11) is near a landing by power supplied through brushes (34) from power tracks (32) disposed on the building (33). Power for the cab door operator (21) is supplied only directly from the brushes (34). A transceiver (46) provides all operational, safety and emergency phone voice communication with the building, whereby the traveling cable normally used on an elevator car is eliminated. The brushes are extended to engage the power tracks by means of springs (176), and are retracted into a clearance position by means of solenoids (174).

Abstract: A drive frame for a self-propelled elevator travelling on guide rail running surfaces (22) includes a car carrying frame (5,14,16,17,18) on which are mounted driving wheels (1) coupled to a drive unit (24) and supporting wheels (2). The driving wheels (1) are rotatably mounted on axle tubes (3) connected to the drive unit (24) and rocker arms (15) pivotally mounted on frame brackets (5). The supporting wheels (2) are rotatably mounted on an axle (12) mounted on axle carriers (4) extending from the frame brackets (5). The driving wheels (1) and the supporting wheels (2) are drawn into contact with the running surfaces (22) by spring cylinders (8) connected between the axle tubes (3) and the supporting wheel axle (12) and extending through lateral passages (13) formed in a frame crossbeam (14) connected between the frame brackets (5).

Abstract: The elevator machinery (26) comprises a motor (6) and its traction sheave (18). The rotor (17) is disc-shaped and air gap (ag) between it and the stator (14) can turn a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the shaft (13). The stator (14) forms a ringlike sector (28) and is placed in an outer part and the traction sheave (18) is fixed to the rotor, between the stator (14) and the shaft (13). The diameter of the traction sheave is smaller than that of the rotor. The structure of the motor allows the use of traction sheaves (18) of different diameters (2*Rv) with rotors (17) of the same diameter. The motor is very flat. In i.e. other words its length the axial direction is small.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fork-lift truck with a hydraulic drive comprising a hydraulic motor, a power source driving the hydraulic motor and a hydraulic control system driving the power source, characterized in that, the coupling of the hydraulic motor to the power source has arranged a sensor for measuring the pressure difference over the hydraulic motor, where the sensor is connected to a valve short-circuiting the hydraulic control system.

Abstract: A friction wheel drive apparatus for a self-propelled elevator car movable in an elevator shaft can be mounted on the top side or bottom side of the car. The drive apparatus is connected with a counterweight by a force transmission device for balancing the car weight and a portion of the conveyed load. The force transmission device is fastened to and guided at the drive apparatus such that a force generated by the counterweight, the weight of the car and the weight of the conveyed load is applied as a contact pressure to urge a friction wheel of the drive apparatus against a travel track surface.

Abstract: A linear motor elevator includes a linear motor that is permitted motion within the hoistway. The linear motor is mounted in a manner permitting motion of the entire linear motor, including stator, through the hoistway. As a result, the length of the hoistway and the run of the elevator may extend beyond the length of the stator. In a particular embodiment, the linear motor is connected to a car in a configuration permitting the car to travel at approximately twice the speed of the linear motor within the hoistway. The moving element of the linear motor is connected to the car to permit the car and moving element to travel at the same speed relative to the hoistway. As a result, the moving element moves relative to the stator at half the speed of the car speed and the height of the hoistway may be approximately double the height of the stator.

Abstract: An elevator mechanism is disposed in the rear portion for rotating the rear panel of the vehicle and includes two pairs of links pivotally coupled in parallel between two couplers and a support of the vehicle so as to stably support the coupler. An actuator is coupled between the support and the coupler for moving the coupler upward and downward. A panel is pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the coupler and an actuator is coupled between the bottom of the panel and the middle portion of the coupler for rotating the panel about the upper portion of the coupler.

Abstract: A lift for inclined or vertical operation has a pair of guide rails that run parallel to one other, on which guide rollers run that are mounted on swivel plates so that they can swivel and contact the rails from opposite sides. At least one guide roller on each swivel plate is designed as a drive roller. The periphery of the drive roller is pressed against a respective engagement area of the rail by a spring force in such a way that the drive force of the drive roller is primarily transferred to the rail by friction.

Abstract: An elevator suspended by ropes is provided with a rotating elevator motor placed in a counterweight of the elevator. The motor has a traction sheave. A gear system is not necessarily needed, because the structure and placement of the motor allow the use of a motor having a large diameter and a high torque. Because the length of the motor remains small, the motor and counterweight can be accommodated in a space normally reserved for a counterweight in the elevator shaft. The motor shaft lies in the counterweight substantially midway between the guide rails. The number of ropes is equal on both sides of a plane going through a center of the guide rails.

Abstract: An air gap adjusting apparatus for a cylindrical linear motor of an elevator includes a cylindrical upper plate having an internally threaded portion at an inner edge thereof and fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the rotor, a plurality of adjusting units pivotably mounted on the plate member, for adjusting an air gap between an inner surface of the rotor and the outer surface of the stator, and an inverted cone-shaped hollow tapered guide member having a threaded lower portion engaging the plate member and displacing the plurality of adjusting units for thereby adjusting an air gap between an inner surface of the rotor and the outer surface of the stator.

Abstract: A vertically carrying apparatus comprising a carrying capsule that has a space for accommodating an object which is to be carried, the capsule incorporating a horizontal superconducting coil, and armature coils that are vertically arranged side by side outside the carrying capsule, wherein upward thrust force is obtained by a correlation between a persistent current that flows in the superconducting coil and magnetic fields that are produced around the armature coils.The vertically carrying apparatus further comprises a coil support device which includes the superconducting coil, a coil support member that supports the superconducting coil, a helium vessel that accommodates the superconducting coil and the coil support member and that also supports the coil support member through an oscillation preventing member, and a vacuum vessel that accommodates and supports the helium vessel.

Abstract: An adjusting device for aligning a drive pulley for an elevator leg or similar belt conveyor. The driving mechanism, normally perpendicular to the axis of the pulley, is pivotally mounted so that the drive shaft may be slightly tilted. The bearing block opposite the driven part of the shaft is mounted on shims to allow the movement of the axis of the shaft.