Each Moves Distinct Load Support Patents (Class 187/257)
  • Patent number: 10207899
    Abstract: A flexible elevator machine frame is provided. The flexible elevator machine frame includes a first end supportive of a motor, a second end supportive of a brake, a central portion and an adapter assembly. The central portion is interposable between the first and second ends and is configured to accommodate a base traction assembly between the motor and the brake. The central portion includes first and second end sides which are associated with the first and second ends, respectively, and which are configured to be fastened together. The adapter assembly is configured to be fastened between the first and second end sides to accommodate the base and an additional traction assembly between the motor and the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Aurelien Fauconnet, Frederic Beauchaud
  • Patent number: 10005644
    Abstract: An electrical machine for driving a pulley, including: a shaft whereon the pulley is mounted; a motor for driving the shaft; at least one brake; a first front bearing for supporting the motor, the first front bearing being arranged on one side of the pulley, carrying a front ball bearing and being supported by at least one damping element; and a second front bearing arranged on the opposite side, carrying at least one ball bearing and supported by at least one damping element. The machine does not contain a rigid connection between the first front bearing for supporting the motor and the second front bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MOTEURS LEROY-SOMER
    Inventors: Benoit Vincent, Pascal Carriot, Pascal Beynaud
  • Patent number: 8919501
    Abstract: An elevator system which utilizes four or more independently moving cabs in each elevator shaft. The lower cabs are connected to four spatially separated counterweights at four different counterweight connection points. The connection points are horizontally shifted on different cabs 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 two tracks, each track on one side of 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Smart Lifts, LLC
    Inventor: Justin Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8800721
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes an elevator cage carrier movable in a travel space provided for travel of the elevator cage carrier. Moreover, a first elevator cage and a second elevator cage are adjustably arranged at the elevator cage carrier and a drive unit arranged at the elevator cage carrier. In addition, an adjusting device with a first traction means and a second traction means guided in opposite directions around a drive roller, drivable by the drive unit, is provided. In that case the spacing between the first elevator cage and the second elevator cage is adjustable by movement of the elevator cages in opposite directions. An adaptation to different story spacings is thereby possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Elena Cortona, Frankie Schmid
  • Patent number: 8430210
    Abstract: An elevator system which utilizes four or more independently moving cabs in each elevator shaft. The lower cabs are connected to four spatially separated counterweights at four different counterweight connection points. The connection points are horizontally shifted on different cabs 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 two tracks, each track on one side of 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Smart Lifts, LLC
    Inventor: Justin Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8307952
    Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple elevator cars (22, 32) within a hoistway (26). Counterweights (24, 34) are associated with the respective elevator cars (22, 32) by load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, different roping ratios are used for the load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, the lengths of the load bearing members (40, 50) are selected to allow contact between the counterweights (24, 34) within the hoistway (26) and prevent contact between the elevator cars (22, 32). The difference in car and counterweight separation distances is greater than a stroke of a counterweight buffer plus an expected dynamic jump of the elevator cars. A disclosed example includes passages (80) through a portion of at least one of the elevator cars (22) for accommodating the load bearing member (50) of another elevator car (32) located beneath the elevator car (22) with the passages (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Harold Terry, Frank M. Sansevero, Boris Traktovenko, John Milton-Benoit, David Sirag, Arthur Hsu, John Ferrisi
  • Patent number: 8087497
    Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple elevator cars (22, 32) within a hoistway (28). A first compensation member (40) is associated with a first counterweight (24). A second compensation member (50) is associated with a second one of the elevator cars (32). Each compensation member has one end that moves with the associated elevator system component and an opposite end (44, 54) secured in a fixed position within the hoistway. In one example, a compensation member has a linear density that is approximately four times a linear density of a corresponding load bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Richard Fargo
  • Publication number: 20110017552
    Abstract: A lift comprises a first lift cage, a second lift cage and a counterweight, wherein the counterweight, the first lift cage and the second lift cage are coupled together by way of a support means for lifting and holding, wherein the counterweight, the first lift cage and the second lift cage are additionally coupled together by way of a compensation means and wherein the compensation means runs over at least one deflecting roller. The lift further comprises a brake device for application to the deflecting roller of dissipative braking torque which counteracts the rotation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Bjarne Lindberg, Marius Stucheli, Josef Husmann
  • Patent number: 7753174
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator installation with a number of cars in a shaft, with a second car disposed underneath a first car. Associated with each car is a drive with a traction sheave and at least one cable strand, which is led over the traction sheave and by means of which the car is connected to a counterweight. The second car is kept in a suspension ratio of 1:1 and is connected to its counterweight by means of two cable strands associated with different sides of the second car and led over the traction sheave of the second car. A cable guiding device is provided which subjects the two cable strands of the second car to equal loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
    Inventor: Guenter Reuter
  • Patent number: 7661513
    Abstract: An elevator system has a lower elevator car, an upper elevator car and a counterweight. A first drive drives the lower elevator car and a second drive drives the upper elevator car. Two parallelly extending guide rails lying in the region of a vertical center plane guide the elevator cars. A support device for the elevator cars and the counterweight comprises two separate support strands. The lower elevator car is fixed at two substantially diagonally opposite points of a horizontal plane each at a respective end of one of the support strands. The upper elevator car is similarly fixed at two substantially diagonally opposite points of a horizontal plane each at an end of one of the support strands, wherein the two diagonals intersect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Hans Kocher
  • Patent number: 7624846
    Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one drive with at least one drive pulley, an elevator car and at least one counterweight as well as flat-belt-like support for the car and the counterweight. The elevator car and the counterweight have at least one support roller. The flat-belt-like support means together with the drive pulley and the support rollers form at least one 2:1 suspension system for the car and the counterweight. The flat-belt-like support can be a wedge-ribbed belt or a cogged belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Friedrich Ach
  • Publication number: 20090120724
    Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple elevator cars (22, 32) within a hoistway (26). Counterweights (24, 34) are associated with the respective elevator cars (22, 32) by load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, different roping ratios are used for the load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, the lengths of the load bearing members (40, 50) are selected to allow contact between the counterweights (24, 34) within the hoistway (26) and prevent contact between the elevator cars (22, 32). The difference in car and counterweight separation distances is greater than a stroke of a counterweight buffer plus an expected dynamic jump of the elevator cars. A disclosed example includes passages (80) through a portion of at least one of the elevator cars (22) for accommodating the load bearing member (50) of another elevator car (32) located beneath the elevator car (22) with the passages (80).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Harold Terry, Frank M. Sansevero, Boris Traktovenko, John Milton-Benoit, David Sirag, Arthur Hsu, John Ferrisi
  • Publication number: 20090014250
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an elevator which has an improved structure such that a balance weight offsets the weight of a cage, passengers, and cargo to the utmost, according to changes in weight of the passengers and cargo, thus reducing power consumption. In the elevator of the present invention, a gear ratio of a transmission (21) is adjusted in consideration of the number of passengers or the weight of cargo, so that power consumption required for operating the elevator is reduced. Furthermore, in the case of use of an electronic variable capacity hydraulic motor (291), the elevator is controlled depending on changes in weight of passengers and cargo, such that a balance weight (12) offsets the weight of a cage, the passengers and cargo to the utmost, thus reducing power consumption required for operating the elevator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Soon Gil Jang
  • Patent number: 7296662
    Abstract: A passenger flow arrangement for use in moving passengers between two floors in elevator-like cabs allow the passenger to continue to face in a forward direction and exit the vehicle after having entered in the forward direction. In one aspect of this invention, a cab door on one side of the cab opens at a first of the floors, and a door on an opposed side of the cab opens at a second of the floors. In other arrangements, there are cab doors at each side of the cab, and one of the cab doors opens as an entrance door while the other opens as an exit door. Appropriate signals such as signs or door opening timing prompt the passengers to face and move in the appropriate directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Richard N. Fargo
  • Patent number: 7191874
    Abstract: The present invention provides a carrying apparatus that prevents an elevating motor and the like from projecting from a stacker crane to hinder the stacker crane from interfering with walls of an automatic warehouse. A traveling vehicle 2 of a stacker crane comprises traveling driving means 20, 20 for wheels 9, and elevation driving means 35 for elevating and lowering a platform 4. Both driving means 20, 35 are arranged so that a longitudinal direction of both driving means 20, 35 is almost parallel with a direction in which the traveling vehicle 2 runs. The traveling vehicle 2 comprises a pair of frames 17, 17 spaced at a predetermined distance from each other and a plurality of connecting members that connect both frames 17, 17 together. Both driving means 20, 35 are arranged outside the respective frames 17. Wheels 9, 9 are arranged in the front and rear, respectively, of the traveling vehicle 2. The traveling driving means 20 is connected to each wheel 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akito Tai, Yuji Imamura, Fumiki Goto
  • Patent number: 7097000
    Abstract: An elevator apparatus comprises two (2) or more sets of elevators with one (1) piece of an elevating passage. Each of the elevators has an elevator car and a hoist, which is connected to the elevator car through a rope. Each the hoist has a sheave, a motor and a brake. The hoist of one of the elevators is projected above the elevator car of the other elevator. Also, open/close doors of the one elevator and those of the other elevator are disposed, so that they shift in front and behind. Door cases of the juxtaposing elevators are disposed to overlap with each other in front and behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Teramoto, Naoaki Noguchi, Atsushi Arakawa, Atsuya Fujino
  • Publication number: 20030075388
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator system for the transport of loads and/or persons in an elevator shaft with at least two elevator cars which can be moved in the elevator shaft and are connected to a counterweight via carrying means, wherein a drive is associated with each car. In order to develop the elevator system further in such a manner that it can be produced inexpensively and has an improved transport capacity it is suggested in accordance with the invention that at least one common track section and, in addition, separate track sections arranged next to one another be associated with at least two cars in sections along the elevator shaft, wherein the cars can be moved not only in the same direction but also in directions opposite to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Thyssen Aufzugswerke GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Reuter, Wolfgang Meissner, Helmut Schlecker, Walter Nuebling, Martin Kleine-Doepke
  • Patent number: 6520295
    Abstract: A piston-type passenger conveying system includes at least three cabs to move between two floors. A control moves the cabs such that a cab is always waiting at each of said floors, and another cab is always moving to a floor. In this way, the system achieves the passenger flow benefits of an escalator with the inherent benefits of an elevator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Frank Sansevero, Gordon D. Row, Gregg Draudt, Jared Judson, Daniel E. Rush, Richard N. Fargo
  • Patent number: 6062344
    Abstract: In an elevator system, first and second car carrying bases move up and down along first and second segments of a hoistway, respectively. First and second support members are located on the first and second car carrying bases, respectively. A car is moved up and down within the hoistway while being selectively supported by the first or second car carrying base. The first and second car carrying bases are arranged so as not to overlap each other when projected on a horizontal plane. Each car support member can shuttle between a support position and a nonsupport position, the support position being a position at which the car support member supports the car by projecting into a moving path of the car and the nonsupport position being a position at which the car support member is retracted from and is outside of the moving path of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sueo Okabe, Toshiaki Ishii
  • Patent number: 5857545
    Abstract: An elevator system has a plurality of elevator cars traveling upwardly in one hoistway and downwardly in an adjacent hoistway, the cars being propelled in a series of overlapping segments, each segment including a pair of couplers roped to counterweights and driven by elevator traction machines. A variant uses a closed loop rope with a pair of couplers to transfer elevator cars from a counterweighted coupler of one segment to a counterweighted coupler of an adjacent segment. An upper passenger landing moves cars on overhead trolleys and a lower passenger landing moves cars on dollies to take them from a hoistway through unloading and loading stations and back to another hoistway. The elevator car roller guides are releasable to permit lateral movement of cars to and from landings. A latched spring buffer and/or a LEM decelerate and accelerate unbalanced counterweights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: David W. Barrett, John F. Cassidy, Jr., George A. L. David, Ernest P. Gagnon, Richard E. Peruggi
  • Patent number: 5699879
    Abstract: An elevator system is shown that includes an elevator shaft (12) in which an elevator car (C) is movable along vertical axis (14). Car (C) is connected by drive ropes (26-1 through 26-4) to counterweight (CW) movable along vertical axis (20). A drive motor (M) having motor shaft sections (S-1 and S-2) extending from opposite ends of the motor is located above the elevator car for simultaneously moving car (C) and counterweight (CW) in opposite directions. First and second non-parallel drive shafts (32 and 34) are coupled to the respective motor shaft sections (S-1 and S-2) by bevel gears (36 and 38) respectively. The first drive rope (26-1) extends obliquely over the elevator car (C) between drive sheave (40) and idler sheave (44), and the second drive rope (26-2) extends obliquely over the elevator car between drive sheave (42) and idler sheave (46). The third drive rope (26-3) extends obliquely over elevator car (C) between sheaves (54) and (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Masami Sakita
  • Patent number: 5584364
    Abstract: An elevator system is shown which includes first and second horizontally spaced elevator shafts. First and second independently operated elevator cars are located in the first shaft, and third and fourth elevator cars are located in the second shaft. The second and fourth elevator cars are interconnected by a first drive rope, and the first and third elevator cars are interconnected by a second drive rope. A first drive motor is connected to the first drive rope for simultaneously moving the second and fourth elevator cars in opposite directions, and a second drive motor is connected to the second drive rope for simultaneously moving the first and third elevator cars in opposite directions. The upper-most elevator cars in each shaft are provided with vibration dampers through which the drive ropes for the lower most elevator cars in each shaft extend for damping vibration of the drive ropes extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Masami Sakita
  • Patent number: 5566784
    Abstract: An elevator system employing a self-propelled elevator car is disclosed. One embodiment of the elevator system includes an elevator car (10) arranged for travel along a hoistway (12), a plurality of electric motors (16) disposed on the elevator car (10), a plurality of traction rollers (22) fixed to torque output shafts (20) of the electric motors (16) respectively, a pair of guide rails (14), which are in engagement with the traction rollers (22), extending along the hoistway (12). According to the invention, firstly, because the elevator car (10) is self-propelled by the electric motors (16) disposed on the elevator car (10), neither rope nor counterweight is necessary unlike some existing elevators. Secondly, the torque provided by each of the electric motors (16) is directly transmitted to the guide rails (14) via each of the traction rollers (22). Thus, on the one hand, there is a less complicated torque transmission mechanism with the elevator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Rennetaud
  • Patent number: 5450929
    Abstract: A maintenance elevator 40 is employed in the case of an emergency situation such as a failure of the carriage 16 or in carrying out regular maintenance and checkup operations. An operator can get on the maintenance elevator 40 brought to a stop at its lowermost position. The maintenance elevator 40 is moved upward along a post 12 and is brought to a stop at any position in which, for example, a gangway 57 formed integrally with the elevator 40 is opposed to the carriage 16. Movement of the operator between the maintenance elevator 40 and the carriage 16 can be done by utilizing the gangway 57. Transfer from the maintenance elevator to the carriage and vice versa can be always made in an easy and safe manner by using the gangway. Provision of all the gangways at the maintenance elevator side realizes weight reduction at the carriage side, good energy saving, and cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ohgita, Tomokatsu Sugawara