With Separate Biasing Means Maintaining Cable Tension Patents (Class 187/264)
  • Patent number: 7575098
    Abstract: A lift system and method for lifting or lowering items from one level to another within a building is accomplished by providing a lift platform. An upper level support structure having an opening is configured to allow passage of the platform through the opening. The opening is suspended above a generally open area of a lower level. An upper level frame is coupled to the support structure. A winch having a motor that rotates a drum is supported by the upper level frame. A length of cable secures at one end to the winch and at the other end to the platform through a biasing member. Operation of the winch rotates the drum to wind or unwind the cable to raise or lower the platform through the open area of the lower level without any laterally adjacent support or guidance structure within the open area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Inventor: Jason Hartley
  • Publication number: 20090095574
    Abstract: A restraint device is disclosed that limits the movement of the cable or rope relative to the traction, thus reducing or eliminating the popping noise associated with the cable or rope snapping back against the traction sheave. In one embodiment, the restraint device comprises a molded component that is fitted to encompass the region of the sheave where separation of the wire rope from the sheave is most likely to occur. The restraint device may be mounted so that it is removable and replaceable with minimal dismantling of the hoist containing the sheave. The restraint device may be reversible so that one restraint device may by used for at least two cycles before being replaced. Indication of the need for replacement may be provided by including a second color material at the depth where wear reaches the allowable limit, thereby providing a visual signal to initiate replacement as seen during service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: SafeWorks, LLC
    Inventors: David Arevalo Romo, Christopher Gavin Brickell, John Jerome Haigh
  • Publication number: 20090050414
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for equalizing the rope force of a traction sheave elevator, said elevator comprising at least a hoisting machine (5) and a traction sheave (6) connected to it and an elevator car (1), which is suspended on a set of hoisting ropes (3) and fitted to move along guide rails (4), the rope suspension of said elevator comprising a rope force compensating device (20). The compensating device (20) comprises at least a first tensioning device (21) and a second tensioning device (22). The hoisting ropes in the set of hoisting ropes (3) are secured by one end to a point in conjunction with the first tensioning device (21) and by the other end to a point in conjunction with the second tensioning device (22). The rotary motions of the tensioning devices (21) and (22) are interconnected via a transmission ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko, Pekka Rantanen
  • Patent number: 7481299
    Abstract: An elevator, which preferably is an elevator without counterweight and in which an elevator car is suspended by means of a set of hoisting ropes comprising one rope or a number of parallel ropes. The elevator has a traction sheave that moves the elevator car by means of the hoisting ropes. The elevator comprises rope portions of hoisting ropes going upwards and downwards from the elevator car, and the elevator has a compensating device acting on the hoisting ropes to equalize and/or compensate rope tension and/or rope elongation. The compensating device acting on the hoisting ropes of the elevator comprises at least one slack rope prevention means for preventing uncontrolled slackening of the hoisting ropes and/or uncontrolled motion of the compensating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7383924
    Abstract: Rubber vibration isolators are held between a base frame supporting a driving device and an upper deflecting sheave, and a support connected to car guide rails and a counterweight guide rail. The rubber vibration isolators are held between a horizontal member and vertical members of a support frame supporting lower deflecting sheaves. Transmission of vibrations generated by the driving device, the upper deflecting sheave, and the lower deflecting sheaves to the side walls of an elevator shaft can be intercepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Izumi, Kan Kawasaki, Ikuo Asami, Takashi Ishii, Takanori Urata, Shun Fujimura, Masayuki Higashi, Masahiro Kuramitsu
  • Publication number: 20080017454
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a car with an empty weight MK, which car can move a rated load MLmax, a counterweight, which is coupled with the car by a support device so that it rises when the car lowers and lowers when the car rises, as well as a drive device which can apply a maximum traction force MFmax to the support means. According to the present invention the drive device is selected in such a manner that the maximum traction force MFmax is at least greater than half the rated load MLmax (MFmax>0.5×MLmax) and the weight MG of the counterweight is optimized in such a manner that it is substantially equal to the empty weight MK and the difference between the rated load MLmax of the car and the maximum traction force MFmax of the selected drive device (MG?MK+(MLmax?MFmax)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 7261187
    Abstract: A deflecting module has deflecting elements that are displaceable relative to one another. The deflecting elements are mutually supported, wherein at each side the outermost deflecting element is carried by a bearing plate. Each deflecting element has a housing which carries an axle and, for the mutual displaceability, has on one side a groove and on the other side a cog. A deflecting roller is rotatably arranged on the axle for guiding and deflecting elevator car and counterweight support elements, for example a flat belt, and producing a change of direction of the support elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Heinrich Kuttel
  • Patent number: 7225901
    Abstract: An elevator, preferably an elevator without machine room, in which the hoisting machine (10) engages the hoisting ropes (3) by means of a traction sheave (11), the elevator car (1) being at least partially supported by the hoisting ropes serving as a means of moving the elevator car (1). The elevator car is suspended on the hoisting ropes (3) by means of at least one diverting pulley (13,14) from whose rim the hoisting ropes go upwards from both sides and at least one diverting pulley (7,5) from whose rim the hoisting ropes go downwards from both sides of the diverting pulley. The traction sheave (11) engages the rope portion between these diverting pulleys (13,5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 7207421
    Abstract: An elevator in which the elevator car is suspended by means of hoisting ropes consisting of a single rope or several parallel ropes, said elevator having a traction sheave which moves the elevator car by means of the hoisting ropes. The elevator has rope portions of the hoisting ropes going upwards and downwards from the elevator car, and the rope portions going upwards from the elevator car are under a first rope tension (T1) which is greater than a second rope tension (T2), which is the rope tension of the rope portions going downwards from the elevator car, and that the elevator comprises a compensating system for keeping the ratio (T1/T2) between the first and the second rope tensions substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 7178637
    Abstract: The invention provides an elevator apparatus comprising a cage 1 disposed inside a path of upward or downward movement vertically movably, a counterweight 2 vertically movable with the upward or downward movement of the cage 1, and a lift drive mechanism for driving the cage 1 upward or downward. The drive mechanism comprises a sheave 42 disposed inside the path, ropes 3 extending along a route around the sheave 42, and a drive device 5 in engagement with the ropes 3. The drive device 5 comprises a belt transmission provided alongside the ropes 3 and revolvingly movable along the rope extension route, a mechanism for pressing a belt surface of the belt transmission into contact with the ropes 3, and a drive motor for driving the belt transmission. The cage can be driven upward or downward without using any traction sheave, while the cage can be reduced in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Asano, Yosuke Goda, Kenichi Yamamoto, Mamoru Harada
  • Patent number: 7025177
    Abstract: An elevator system without a machine room is disclosed. In this elevator system without a machine room according to the present invention, a built-in winding apparatus is installed in the interior of a hoistway for moving an elevator car. In addition, the elevator system without a machine room according to the present invention is characterized in that a movement stroke of a counterweight is shorter than a movement stroke of an elevator car, and a reinforcing installation member is installed across an upper portion of a pair of counterweight guide rails which corresponds to an upper counterweight moving distance, and a pair of counterweight guide rails are integral with the reinforcing installation member, and the built-in winding apparatus is installed on the reinforcing installation member in such a manner that the elevator car is moved by a driving force transferred by a motor roping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: LG Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun Ho Yang, Kye Young Lim, Jong Hoon Park, Joon Tae Yeom, Gwang Nam Lee, Jong Ho Suh
  • Patent number: 6966408
    Abstract: An autobalancing roping and drive arrangement for elevators which continuously balances the weight of an elevator cab and the weight of a counterweight such that the force on the drive motor necessary to move the cab from floor to floor is minimized. A weighting device connected to a drive sheave imparts a downward force on the drive sheave and creates a tension in a force section, causing traction contact between the drive sheave and the drive rope. The tension in the force section includes a downward vertical component of force. This component and the weight of the counterweight combine to create a downward force on one side of the suspension sheave section. The downward force balances the downward force created by the weight of the cab on the opposite side of the suspension sheave section. The tension in the force section automatically compensates for the difference in weight between the cab and the counterweight and thereby maintains the elevator in balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Thyssen Elevator Capital Corp.
    Inventor: Robert H. Sweet
  • Patent number: 6896105
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway including a hoistway wall and a bottom portion, the hoistway wall including a protrusion projecting from the hoistway wall inside the hoistway, a vertical moving member ascending and descending the hoistway without interfering with the protrusion, and a control panel for controlling the movement of the vertical moving member, the control panel being disposed within the hoistway and in an overlapping relationship with a projected region of the protrusion, projected in the direction of movement of the vertical moving member. The space within the hoistway is efficiently utilized and easy maintenance of the elevator system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 6851519
    Abstract: An elevator the drive unit is arranged laterally in a top section of an elevator shaft and, as seen from a shaft door opening, at a side wall of the elevator shaft. At least one cable is guided over deflecting rollers of a support frame of the elevator car and over deflecting rollers of the counterweight and serves as a support and drive cable for the elevator car or the counterweight. The cable is guided over a drive pulley of the drive unit and is arranged transversely to the side wall. The support frame is constructed as a rucksack frame with an upright frame guided by guide rails and a horizontal base frame on which the elevator car is arranged. On travel to the uppermost stopping point, the upper part of the elevator car travels past the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Ernst Ach, Donato Carparelli, Guntram Begle
  • Patent number: 6848543
    Abstract: An elevator system (1) includes a guide rail bracket (10) attached to a single hoistway wall (20). Car guide rails (5) and counterweight guide rails (6) are fixed to the bracket (10). The counterweight guide rails (6) are positioned in between the car guide rails (5) so that the counterweight (11) can translate therebetween. The elevator car (8) is supported by rope (4) and sheave (2, 3) members coupled to a traction drive (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Leandre Adifon, Pedro Baranda, Marc Chevilliard, Jean Marc Ferrary, Ron Laliberte, Pascal Rebillard, Fernando Rico, Armando Servia, Alberto Vecchiotti
  • Publication number: 20040262087
    Abstract: A transmission belt for driving and/or supporting an elevator car has a longitudinally extending body including an area tensile layer reinforced by chemical fibers. The belt can have a flat friction layer or a friction layer including alternating longitudinally extending wedge-shaped ribs and grooves. Transverse grooves can be formed across the width of the longitudinally grooved friction layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Ernst Friedrich Ach
  • Publication number: 20040216958
    Abstract: A wedge-ribbed belt supports an elevator car by underlooping and engages a drive pulley of a drive mounted at the head of an elevator shaft. The belt has a running surface facing the drive pulley with a plurality of ribs and grooves extending in parallel in a longitudinal direction of the belt. The ribs and grooves can be triangular-shaped or trapezium-shaped in cross section. A plane of the drive pulley is arranged vertically and at right angles to a car wall at a counterweight side of the elevator car and approximately in a middle of a car depth with a vertical projection of the drive pulley onto the counterweight side being outside a vertical projection of the counterweight side. A part of a vertical projection of the drive motor is superimposed on the vertical projection of the counterweight side of the elevator car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Ernst Friedrich Ach
  • Publication number: 20040216959
    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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Ernst Friedrich Ach
  • Publication number: 20040206579
    Abstract: A tension member for an elevator system has an aspect ratio of greater than one, where aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of tension member width w to thickness t (w/t). The increase in aspect ratio results in a reduction in the maximum rope pressure and an increased flexibility as compared to conventional elevator ropes. As a result, smaller sheaves may be used with this type of tension member. In a particular embodiment, the tension member includes a plurality of individual load carrying cords encased within a common layer of coating. The coating layer separates the individual cords and defines an engagement surface for engaging a traction sheave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Pedro S. Baranda, Ary O. Mello, Hugh J. O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20040206580
    Abstract: An elevator in which a dimension of an elevator shaft does not need to be increased when enlarging a hoist, and a position where a cage is suspended by a hoist cable can be flexibly selected. In an elevator according to the present invention, a hoist 10 is disposed such that a rotational axis thereof is vertically extended. Thus, when an axial dimension of the hoist 10 is increased to enlarge the hoist 10, a dimension of an elevator shaft does not need to be increased. Since a driving shaft 10a of the hoist 10 is vertically extended, an area occupied by the hoist is remarkably reduced when viewed in a horizontal cross-sectional view of the elevator shaft. Thus, the freedom to dispose the hoist 10 is enhanced so that a position where a cage 3 is suspended by a hoist cable 14 can be flexibly selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Ishii, Hiroshi Sano, Kan Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20040129501
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gearless cable lift with a drive disk mechanism which is dually wound by several bearer cables, comprising a counter disk (3), an elevator car (6), guide tracks for the elevator car (6) and a counter weight, especially for installation with a machine room. According to the invention, the bearer cables are guided in semicircular grooves and the ratio of the drive disk diameter to the nominal diameter of the bearing cables is 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Horst Wittur, Dietmar Kuntscher, Klaus Fichtner
  • Publication number: 20040108170
    Abstract: An elevator installation and a method of arranging a drive motor for moving a car and a counterweight in a shaft includes mounting the drive motor on a crossbeam fastened at end regions to a pair of counterweight guides and fastened at a center region to at least one car guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Johannes Kocher, Marco Hoerler, Michael Schmid
  • Publication number: 20040104079
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a drive unit moving a car and a counterweight in an elevator shaft. The drive unit has a drive motor and a brake coupled to a drive shaft and mounted on a crossbeam in the elevator shaft or on the shaft ceiling. The drive unit has two spaced-apart drive zones and the drive motor is arranged to the left or the right of the two drive zones with the brake on the same side or the opposite side of the drive zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20040079590
    Abstract: An autobalancing roping and drive arrangement for elevators which continuously balances the weight of an elevator cab and the weight of a counterweight such that the force on the drive motor necessary to move the cab from floor to floor is minimized. A weighting device connected to a drive sheave imparts a downward force on the drive sheave and creates a tension in a force section, causing traction contact between the drive sheave and the drive rope. The tension in the force section includes a downward vertical component of force. This component and the weight of the counterweight combine to create a downward force on one side of the suspension sheave section. The downward force balances the downward force created by the weight of the cab on the opposite side of the suspension sheave section. The tension in the force section automatically compensates for the difference in weight between the cab and the counterweight and thereby maintains the elevator in balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Robert H. Sweet
  • Publication number: 20040045772
    Abstract: An elevator having a car and a suspension member or respectively hoisting member for carrying an operating weight. Furthermore, a power transmission is intended for moving the suspension member and the hoisting member over at least one moving surface of the power transmission. The power transmission and the suspension member or respectively hoisting member are rope-shaped and/or belt-shaped. Also, the power transmission and the suspension member or respectively hoisting member are physically separated from each other. The power transmission and the suspension member or respectively hoisting member are stretched against at least one supporting body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Peter Spiess, Gert Silberhorn, Andreas Gaussmann, Peter Hitz, Dieter Mehr, Johannes Kocher
  • Patent number: 6640935
    Abstract: An elevator including a cage for accommodating passengers configured to move up and down in a shaft along a guide rail, a support base attached to a lower portion of the cage, a plurality of car sheaves rotatably secured to the support base through respective axles, a cable placed around the car sheaves and configured to suspend the cage, and at least one damper coupled to the cage and configured to attenuate vibration transferred from the cable to the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shin Murakami, Shigeo Nakagaki, Yoshiaki Fujita
  • Publication number: 20030188930
    Abstract: A traction-type elevator assembly includes an elevator car with a pair of secondary drive sheaves mounted below a floor of the car and connected for corotation by a common axle. The elevator assembly also includes a symmetrical roping configuration wherein a suspension rope has opposite ends anchored at a top of an elevator hoistway and extends on opposite sides of the car engaging the secondary drive sheaves. The rope engages a driving machine sheave, a turning sheave and a pair of diverting sheaves mounted in the hoistway, as well as engages a pair of counterweight sheaves for supporting a counterweight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Lauch
  • Publication number: 20030075389
    Abstract: An elevator has a rope connected at a first end thereof to a top of a car and at a second end thereof to a top of a counterweight and guided and driven by a sheave that is rotated by a motor. A compensating rope suspends between the car and the counterweight. The compensating rope has a curving portion, a first linear portion on the car side of the curving portion, and a second linear portion on the counterweight side of the curving portion for compensating an imbalance of weight between a portion of the rope on the car side of the sheave and a portion of the rope on the counterweight side of the sheave. A first guide is arranged to guide the first linear portion and the second linear portion, and a second guide is arranged below the first guide and positioned between lines extending from the first linear portion and the second linear portion for guiding the curving portion of the compensating rope. A frame is arranged in a pit of an elevator shaft for supporting the first guide and the second guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Motoharu Otsuka, Hidehiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20030051948
    Abstract: A traction arrangement for propelling an elevator cab within an elevator system includes a traction device. The traction device applies a load normal to a driving sheave that biases the elevator rope or belt against the sheave. The tension device preferably includes a plurality of rolling members that move about their axes responsive to relative movement between the driving sheave and the rope or belt. A traction belt rides upon the rolling members and the traction belt engages the rope or belt to bias it against the driving sheave with a preferably distributed force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Slawomir Drabot, Michael Flynn, Simon Shang
  • Patent number: 6527088
    Abstract: A vertically extended loading and unloading apparatus spans between the floors of a building. The apparatus includes a frame that is generally vertically positioned, the frame extending between at least two floors of a building so that articles to be loaded or unloaded between floors can be transported vertically using the frame. A carriage is movably mounted to the frame, the carriage having an interior and an upper planar load carrying horizontal surface and a plurality of inclined side walls that extend from the load carrying horizontal surface downwardly. A motor drive mounted inside the carriage interior engages a static belt that is wound upon the motor drive and anchored at the top and bottom of the frame. The cable extends horizontally to engage the motor drive and a gear provided on the motor drive within the carriage interior. Rotation of the gear in the opposite directions defines either upward or downward movement of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: David W. Fowler
  • Patent number: 6499566
    Abstract: A trailing rope tensioning device for an elevator installation engages a trailing rope that extends from a first hitch point of a car frame to a second hitch point of a counterweight frame. The tensioning device has two tensioning pulleys that are arranged offset relative to a vertical direction of travel of the elevator and a transverse horizontal direction. This arrangement of the tensioning pulleys makes it possible to use relatively large tensioning pulleys resulting in a lower number of revolutions per unit of distance traveled, which brings about a reduction in noise from the bearings rotatably mounting the pulleys. Larger diameters of trailing rope and, as a result, fewer trailing ropes can be used. Furthermore, the tensioning pulleys can be standardized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Ach
  • Patent number: 6488125
    Abstract: An elevator has a rope connected at a first end thereof to a top of a car and at a second end thereof to a top of a counterweight and guided and driven by a sheave that is rotated by a motor. A compensating rope suspends between the car and the counterweight. The compensating rope has a curving portion, a first linear portion on the car side of the curving portion, and a second linear portion on the counterweight side of the curving portion for compensating an imbalance of weight between a portion of the rope on the car side of the sheave and a portion of the rope on the counterweight side of the sheave. A first guide is arranged to guide the first linear portion and the second linear portion, and a second guide is arranged below the first guide and positioned between lines extending from the first linear portion and the second linear portion for guiding the curving portion of the compensating rope. A frame is arranged in a pit of an elevator shaft for supporting the first guide and the second guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Motoharu Otsuka, Hidehiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6431321
    Abstract: A trailing rope tensioning device for an elevator installation includes at least one damper having at least one piston slidably received in a cylinder. The piston divides the cylinder into two chambers filled with a working fluid and connected together by a throttled connecting line as well as a channel fitted with a non-return valve. Attached to the piston is a fixed piston rod extending through the cylinder and emerging from ends of the cylinder. This arrangement requires no externally active container for damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Ach
  • Patent number: 6401871
    Abstract: A tension member for an elevator system has an aspect ratio of greater than one, where aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of tension member width w to thickness t (w/t). The increase in aspect ratio results in a reduction in the maximum rope pressure and an increased flexibility as compared to conventional elevator ropes. As a result, smaller sheaves may be used with this type of tension member. In a particular embodiment, the tension member includes a plurality of individual load carrying ropes encased within a common layer of coating. The coating layer separates the individual ropes and defines an engagement surface for engaging a traction sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Pedro S. Baranda, Ary O. Mello, Hugh J. O'Donnell, Karl M. Prewo
  • Patent number: 6390242
    Abstract: A tension member for an elevator system has an aspect ratio of greater than one, where aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of tension member width w to thickness t (w/t). The increase in aspect ratio results in a reduction in the maximum rope pressure and an increased flexibility as compared to conventional elevator ropes. As a result, smaller sheaves may be used with this type of tension member. In a particular embodiment, the tension member includes a plurality of individual load carrying ropes encased within a common layer of coating. The coating layer separates the individual ropes and defines an engagement surface for engaging a traction sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Pedro S. Baranda, Ary O. Mello, Hugh J. O'Donnell, Karl M. Prewo
  • Patent number: 6386324
    Abstract: A tension member for an elevator system has an aspect ratio of greater than one, where aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of tension member width w to thickness t (w/t). The increase in aspect ratio results in a reduction in the maximum rope pressure and an increased flexibility as compared to conventional elevator ropes. As a result, smaller sheaves may be used with this type of tension member. In a particular embodiment, the tension member includes a plurality of individual load carrying ropes encased within a common layer of coating. The coating layer separates the individual ropes and defines an engagement surface for engaging a traction sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Pedro S. Baranda, Ary O. Mello, Hugh J. O'Donnell, Karl M. Prewo
  • Patent number: 6382360
    Abstract: An elevator apparatus is provided with an elevator path having a restricted height. Under a roping ratio of 1:1, a thin driving unit having a traction sheave 1 and a driving mechanism 2 is positioned between an inner wall 3a of the elevator path 3 and a space occupied by an elevator car 4 rising and falling in the elevator path 3. One end of a suspension rope 7 is fixed to the elevator car 4 in a position below a ceiling 4c of the elevator car 4. With the arrangement, the car 4 can move close to the ceiling 4c of the elevator car 4 effectively. Further, it is possible to reduce respective heights of the elevator path 3 and a building equipped with the elevator apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Tadashi Munakata, Kosei Kamimura, Yasuyuki Wagatsuma, Hisao Yamamoto, Koji Yajima
  • Patent number: 6364062
    Abstract: An elevator guide system for flat rope tracking prevents the flat rope from hitting the shoulders on a rotating sheave to prevent premature degradation emitting objectionable sounds. The rope guide system includes one or more guide bodies having channels generally aligned with sheave grooves to which each block is adjacently positioned using a frame-mount. The guide bodies align the flat belt on entry into and exit from a sheave. The guide bodies may have a planar back surface, or a circular back surface, with the channel sidewalls disposed thereon and extending outwardly at right angles therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Ericson, John T. Pitts, John P. Wesson
  • Patent number: 6364063
    Abstract: Elevator rope arrangement in which the elevator car and counterweight, travelling along guide rails in an elevator shaft, are supported by suspension ropes, which are attached to the top part of the elevator car and passed via at least one diverting pulley to the counterweight. Separate hoisting ropes are attached to the lower part of the elevator car and passed to lower part of the counterweight via at least one diverting pulley. The hoisting rope is a substantially thin rope made of synthetic fiber and having a sheath of plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Simo Mäkimattila
  • Patent number: 6364061
    Abstract: A tension member for an elevator system has an aspect ratio of greater than one, where aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of tension member width w to thickness t (w/t). The increase in aspect ratio results in a reduction in the maximum rope pressure and an increased flexibility as compared to conventional elevator ropes. As a result, smaller sheaves may be used with this type of tension member. In a particular embodiment, the tension member includes a plurality of individual load carrying ropes encased within a common layer of coating. The coating layer separates the individual ropes and defines an engagement surface for engaging a traction sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Pedro S. Baranda, Ary O. Mello, Hugh J. O'Donnell, Karl M. Prewo
  • Publication number: 20010025743
    Abstract: A trailing rope tensioning device for an elevator installation engages a trailing rope that extends from a first hitch point of a car frame to a second hitch point of a counterweight frame. The tensioning device has two tensioning pulleys that are arranged offset relative to a vertical direction of travel of the elevator and a transverse horizontal direction. This arrangement of the tensioning pulleys makes it possible to use relatively large tensioning pulleys resulting in a lower number of revolutions per unit of distance traveled, which brings about a reduction in noise from the bearings rotatably mounting the pulleys. Larger diameters of trailing rope and, as a result, fewer trailing ropes can be used. Furthermore, the tensioning pulleys can be standardized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventor: Ernst Ach
  • Publication number: 20010025744
    Abstract: A trailing rope tensioning device for an elevator installation includes at least one damper having at least one piston slidably received in a cylinder. The piston divides the cylinder into two chambers filled with a working fluid and connected together by a throttled connecting line as well as a channel fitted with a non-return valve. Attached to the piston is a fixed piston rod extending through the cylinder and emerging from ends of the cylinder. This arrangement requires no externally active container for damping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventor: Ernst Ach
  • Patent number: 6193017
    Abstract: A traction-sheave elevator is provided without a counterweight. The elevator includes an elevator car that is guided in an elevator shaft. A rope is used to carry the car. The elevator further include at least two motor-driven traction-sheaves that are connected one behind the other relative to the rope. The rope wraps around each traction-sheave to define a relative angle of wrap greater than 180°. A tensioning device is connected downstream of the traction-sheaves for self-adjustably applying a requisite tension to the rope after the rope comes off the second traction-sheave. Additionally, a braking device is provided for at least one of the traction-sheaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Blain Hydraulics GmbH
    Inventor: Regina Köster
  • Patent number: 6012552
    Abstract: A grocery lift for lifting and lowering grocery loads. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart elongate guide rails with a support chassis interposed between the guide rails. The support chassis is mounted to each of the guide rails to permit riding of the support chassis along the guide rails between the top and bottom ends of the guide rails. An upper pulley is provided and is adapted for mounting to the support structure between the guide rails. A winch is provided adjacent the bottom ends of the guide rails. A flexible elongate member is looped around the upper pulley with one end of the flexible elongate member coupled to the support chassis and another end of the flexible elongate member coupled to the winch to permit winding and unwinding of the flexible elongate member about the winch. A support platform is pivotally coupled to the front surface of the support chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: Ron Del Rio
  • Patent number: 5957242
    Abstract: A machine frame with two side members at its ends comprises support arms, which are pivotably mounted in semi-circular cut-out bearing supports. The bearing supports may be arranged on differently high pedestals, which may result in different inclined positions for the machine frame with respect to a machine room floor. The inclined position may provide for a variable looping angle .beta. at the drive pulley and variable cable spacing between the cage cables and the counterweight cables. Furthermore, the deflecting roller may be mounted in laterally displaceable bearing plates. The deflecting roller may be inserted above or below a pair of side members. The position of the deflecting roller with respect to the side members may also have an effect on the looping angle .beta. and the cable spacing. The combination of these adjustment possibilities enables the substantially universally adaptability of the machine frame to different elevator systems and applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Christian Suter, Jules Christen
  • Patent number: 5921352
    Abstract: A traction drive elevator system includes a device to enhance the traction forces between the ropes as the traction sheave. As a result, the traction force is the sum of the traction force caused by the tension in the ropes and the traction force caused by the traction enhancement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Alfonso Garrido, Jose Sevilleja
  • Patent number: 5861084
    Abstract: Tension of compensating ropes in an elevator system is electively changed to minimize horizontal vibration of the compensating ropes in tall buildings. The tension of compensating ropes is changed by a tensioning mechanism either when the horizontal movement of the compensating ropes exceeds a preset limit or when the building sway exceeds a predetermined amount. Additionally, the tension of compensating ropes can be changed when the elevator car is parked within certain predetermined top floors. The tension can be applied to a compensating sheave supporting the compensating ropes by a tensioning mechanism such as a hydraulic jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Frederick H. Barker, Peter O. Erlandsen
  • Patent number: 5513724
    Abstract: The invention relates to a compensation system in an elevator comprising an elevator car (2), a counterweight (3), a set of elevator suspension ropes (11) on which the elevator car (2) and the counterweight (3) are suspended, a traction sheave (5) whose motion is transmitted via the suspension ropes (11) to the elevator car (2) and to the counterweight (3), and a set of compensating ropes (4) and at least one diverting pulley (15) belonging to the suspension rope system (11) and at least one buffer arrangement (9) for the counterweight (3). The suspension ratio of the compensating rope (4) is the same as that of the suspension ropes (11), or multiplied by a coefficient. The rope suspension ratio on the side of the elevator car (2) is the same as or different than on the side of the counterweight (3). For the compensation of the elongation of the suspension and compensating ropes (11 and 4) of the elevator, a buffer (23) below the counterweight (3) has a provision for vertical adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Kone Oy
    Inventor: Johannes De Jong
  • Patent number: 5437347
    Abstract: The invention deals with a cable tensioning system for elevators with separate drive cable and support cable lines 10, 11, which both engage at an elevator cabin 12 and also at a counterweight 13, characterized in that the cable tensioning system comprises a rocker 20 configured as a lever and supported at the counterweight 13 or the elevator cad 12, at which rocker the support cable 11 and the drive cable 10 are fastened to be spaced from each other, that the spacing ratio a: b of the attachment points 31, 32 of the cable lines 10, 12 at the rocker 20 from the support point 21 of the rocker 20 at the counterweight 13 or the elevator cab 12 define the cable tension or pull ratio required for the driving capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: C. Haushahn GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Joachim Biewald, Volker Scheub, Helge Holler, Karl Fenkl, Stefan Hugel, Wolfgang Barth, Hans-Georg Grell, Martin Grosser, Hermann Moll, Horst Pollmann, Peter Schneider
  • Patent number: 5398781
    Abstract: The invention deals with a cable tensioning system for elevators with separate drive cable and support cable lines 10, 11, which both engage at an elevator cabin 12 and also at a counterweight 13, characterized in that the cable tensioning system comprises a rocker 20 configured as a lever and supported at the counterweight 13 or the elevator cab 12, at which rocker the support cable 11 and the drive cable 10 are fastened to be spaced from each other, that the spacing ratio a:b of the attachment points 31, 32 of the cable lines 10, 12 at the rocker 20 from the support point 21 of the rocker 20 at the counterweight 13 or the elevator cab 12 define the cable tension or pull ratio required for the driving capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: C. Haushahn GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Joachim Biewald, Volker Scheub, Helge Holler, Karl Fenkl, Stefan Hugel, Wolfgang Barth, Hans-Georg Grell, Martin Grosser, Hermann Moll, Horst Pollmann, Peter Schneider