Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining an efficient hydraulic pump speed of a hydraulic pump configured for use with a hydraulic system of a material handling vehicle having a fork assembly configured to perform a hydraulic function on a load on the fork assembly. In some configurations, the systems and methods may comprise measuring a height of the fork assembly using a height sensor. The systems and methods may further comprise measuring a temperature of hydraulic oil within the hydraulic system using a temperature sensor. The systems and methods may further comprise measuring a weight of the load using a weight sensor. The systems and methods may further comprise determining a hydraulic pump speed based on at least one of the height of the fork assembly, the temperature of the hydraulic oil, and the weight of the load.

Abstract: An illustrative example elevator system includes an elevator car and a valve assembly that selectively directs fluid flow to control movement of the elevator car. At least one sensor provides an indication of a current status of the elevator car, which includes at least a position of the elevator car or a speed of the elevator car. A processor receives the indication from the at least one sensor and adjusts operation of the valve assembly when the current status of the elevator car is different than a predetermined desired status.

Abstract: An article transfer system that allows the operator to easily notice that abnormality occurs in an abnormality detecting sensor for detecting abnormality and perform remedial work is provided. The article transfer system is adapted to display information indicating that the abnormality occurs on a display device as abnormality occurrence information, receive input of a result of determination by the operator on whether or not the abnormality indicated by the abnormality occurrence information occurs, and display information indicating that the detecting information received from the abnormality detecting sensor is incorrect on the display device when the operator inputs the result of determination that the abnormality indicated by the abnormality occurrence information does not occur with the abnormality detecting sensor detecting the abnormality.

Abstract: A lift device of platform type for miscellaneous loads, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a pair of vertical uprights (2) to rest on the floor, a load carrying platform (4) slidable along said uprights (2), a drive system for said platform comprising actuators associated with the two uprights (2), and a torsion bar (6) applied to said platform to ensure that this latter is also horizontal when an unbalanced load is present, characterised in that at least one sprocket wheel (14) is applied to said torsion bar (6) and cooperates with a stop pawl (16) elastically engaging the teeth of said sprocket wheel (14) and disengageable from it during the descent phase of said platform (4).

Abstract: An encoder failure in an elevator drive system is detected and managed. A velocity of the elevator drive system is provided by an encoder signal (60) and compared with a minimum velocity threshold (62). An encoder fault timer is incremented when the velocity is less than the minimum velocity threshold (64). The elevator drive system is disabled when the encoder fault timer reaches a fault threshold time (66).

Abstract: A brake device of an elevator car with a brake unit that is mounted on the elevator car. The brake drive includes a flexible tension member that passes around two tension-members reversing-sheaves. One end of the tension members extends parallel to the travel path of the elevator car and is coupled to an actuating element of the brake unit, and thereby also to the elevator car, so that in normal operation the tension member moves synchronously with the elevator car. A blocking device, at least on overspeed of the elevator car, brakes the tension member, as a consequence of which the tension member, via the actuating element, activates the brake unit. A monitoring device detects failure of the coupling between the tension member and the elevator car.

Abstract: In an emergency brake device for an elevator, a pair of pivot levers are pivotably provided to a car. Each pivot member is provided with each of a plurality of wedges that can be brought into and out of contact with a car guide rail as the pivot member pivots. A connecting member is connected between the pivot levers. The car is mounted with an electromagnetic actuator for displacing the connecting member in a reciprocating manner so as to pivot the pivot levers in a direction for bringing each wedge into and out of contact with the car guide rail. The electrical actuator is actuated when inputted with an actuating signal from an output portion mounted in a control panel.

Abstract: A method and detection system monitors the speed of an elevator car and, in case of excess speed caused by brake failure of a motor brake or shaft fracture of a drive pulley shaft, a safety circuit is opened and the detection system is transferred from a normal operational state (State 1) to a retardation state (State 2) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car is retarded after defined speed presets. After a successful retardation, the detection system is transferred to a state of standstill monitoring (State 3) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car leaves its standstill position. If the presets of State 2 or State 3 are not fulfilled, the detection system is transferred to a braking state of the brake (State 4) in which a brake which fixes the elevator car is activated.

Abstract: In an emergency stop system for an elevator, a governor sheave that moves in synchronism with the raising and lowering of a car is wound around a governor sheave. The car is mounted with a safety device for braking the car through displacement of the car, which is connected to the governor rope, with respect to the governor rope. A control device outputs an activation signal upon detecting an abnormality in the speed of the car. A rope catching device is provided in the vicinity of the governor sheave. The rope catching device has an electromagnetic actuator that is activated upon input of the activation signal, and a restraining portion for restraining the governor rope upon the activation of the electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an elevator has a speed command issuing portion, a movement control portion, and an acceleration limiting portion. The speed command issuing portion calculates a speed command for controlling a speed of a car. The movement control portion controls a movement of the car based on the speed command. The acceleration limiting portion compares drive information corresponding to an output of a drive device during the movement of the car with a preset limit value to determine whether or not an acceleration of the car can be increased. The speed command issuing portion calculates, based on information from the acceleration limiting portion, a speed command to stop the acceleration from increasing when the drive information reaches the limit value.

Abstract: An elevator governor includes a selectively powered switch (60) that is activated when an elevator car moves at a speed that exceeds a selected limit. The speed limit is lower than normally expected car speeds during normal elevator operation. The switch (60) is activated by a moving member (66) that moves into a switch-activation position responsive to movement of a rotating member (36) that corresponds to movement of an elevator car. The arrangement allows for a primary governor to prevent elevator speeds from exceeding a first selected limit and a secondary governor to prevent elevator speeds from exceeding a second, lower limit.

Abstract: A brake mechanism (10) for an elevator (2) is activated in response to an electronic control signal to prevent movement of an elevator car (16) under predetermined conditions. The brake mechanism is preferably a safety mechanism (10) and does not require a governor sheave, a governor rope, or a tension sheave. The safety mechanism in one disclosed example utilizes a solenoid actuator (22b) and an electric motor (40) and gear box assembly (42) to move safety wedges (18) into engagement with a guide rail (20) to stop the elevator car (16). The safety wedges (18) are held in a non-deployed position during normal elevator operation. If there is a power loss or if elevator car speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, an electronic control signal activates the safety mechanism (10) causing the solenoid to release, which causes the safety wedges (18) move in a direction opposite to that of a safety housing (12) mounted for movement with the elevator car (16).

Abstract: A method for tripping safety gear of an elevator, at a speed lower than a gripping speed of the elevator may include: slowing a rope sheave of an overspeed governor of the elevator using a device adapted to slow the rope sheave; disconnecting an actuator connected to the overspeed governor from movement of the rope sheave when the device slows the rope sheave; and tripping the safety gear in an overspeed situation using a rope driving the overspeed governor via the rope sheave. An appliance for tripping safety gear of an elevator may include: an overspeed governor; a rope sheave of the overspeed governor; a device adapted to slow the rope sheave; and an actuator connected to the overspeed governor that is arranged to disconnect from movement of the rope sheave when the device adapted to slow the rope sheave acts to slow the movement of the rope sheave.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator installation comprising at least one car, which has a safety gear and with which a control unit, a drive and a brake are associated, and further comprising a safety device for avoiding a collision of the car with an obstacle, another car or an end of the shaft, it being possible by means of the safety device to compare an actual distance of the car from an obstacle, another car or an end of the shaft with a minimum distance and a critical distance. If the actual distance goes below the minimum distance, an emergency stop can be triggered. If the actual distance goes below the critical distance, the safety gear of the car can be triggered.

Abstract: A method for preventing an inadmissibly high speed of a load receiving unit of an elevator, including the steps of supplying information about an actual position and an actual speed of the load receiving unit in an area of an entire travel way of the load receiving unit to a speed monitoring device by at least one measuring system, continuously comparing the actual speed with a speed limit value by the speed monitoring device, and activating braking measures if the speed of the load receiving unit exceeds a speed limit value. At least three different braking measures are successively triggered by the speed monitoring device.

Abstract: A hoisting machine includes a stationary part having a shank and a stationary frame integrally formed with the shank, and a motor stator provided to the stationary frame. A rotary part includes a rotary frame rotatably supported to the shank through a bearing and facing the stationary frame, a sheave integrally formed with the rotary frame on the side opposite to the stationary frame, a motor rotator arranged at the outer periphery of the rotary frame and facing the motor stator, and a brake wheel integrally formed with the rotary frame and having a larger diameter than that of the sheave. A braking device is mounted to the stationary frame and coming in contact with the brake wheel for braking operation.

Abstract: A device for producing information related to a position of an elevator car in an elevator shaft includes a toothed belt having a plurality of teeth spaced along a length of the belt and mounted in an elevator shaft, an encoder mounted on the elevator car and having a toothed wheel for engaging the teeth, and guide rollers mounted on the elevator car and engaging the toothed belt to urge the plurality of teeth into engagement with the toothed wheel.

Abstract: An elevator including a cage configured to ascend and descend along a guide rail in an elevator shaft, a drive unit configured to move the cage up and down, and an emergency stop device configured to urgently stop the cage when the cage descends at an extraordinary speed. The emergency stop device including an emergency stop mechanism provided at a lower end portion of the cage and configured to engage the guide rail, thereby urgently stopping the cage, a link mechanism provided at the lower end portion of the cage so as to be located close to the emergency stop mechanism and configured to actuate the emergency stop mechanism on receiving an external input, and a speed detector configured to detect the descent of the cage at the extraordinary speed and correspondingly to apply the external input to the link mechanism.

Abstract: A machineroomless elevator system (10) has a controller (32)and a governor (38) positioned in the hoistway (12) at the top floor level (28), such that the controller (32) and the governor (38) are both positioned between the front wall (14) of the hoistway (12) and an elevator car guide rail (34) positioned on a sidewall (18) of the hoistway (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure and an apparatus intended to be used in elevator installation to install the overspeed governor (28) for the time it takes to install the elevator. According to the invention, when the elevator is being installed, at least one suspension element (17) is fastened to the upper part of the elevator shaft (2), an element (30) supporting the overspeed governor (28) is fitted to the suspension element and the position of the overspeed governor (28) at least in the vertical direction is so adjusted that it corresponds to the final placement of the overspeed governor (28). After the elevator guide rails (56) have been installed, the overspeed governor is removed from the suspension element (17) and fixed to a guide rail.

Abstract: A hydraulic elevator includes a car supported by at least one jack, and a fluid line for venting hydraulic fluid from the jack for lowering the car. An overspeed valve, disposed in the fluid line, comprises a housing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. A piston is mounted on a stem disposed inside of the housing so as to be axially moveable, relative to the stem and housing, between an open position, allowing fluid communication between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, and a closed position, in which the piston at least essentially blocks fluid communication between said inlet and outlet chambers. A pressure chamber is formed behind the rearward end of the piston, and a conduit, preferably formed in the piston, allows fluid from the inlet chamber to flow into the pressure chamber. A spring, together with the pressure downstream of the valve, urge the piston towards its open position, whereas fluid in the pressure chamber urge the piston towards its closed position.

Abstract: This invention includes a brake system for a hydraulic ram or another cylinder, that can be employed as an emergency brake for a lifting elevator. When actuated, the brake arms contact the ram circumferentially to slow and stop the falling ram. The brake arms are preferably lined with an able material that frictionally engages the ram to stop the downward motion of the ram. The brake system may be actuated by loss of hydraulic pressure, by an electronic signal from a hydraulic pressure detector, by down overspeed sensor or by an uncontrolled down motion detector. According to another aspect of the present invention, a controller, which is preferably a programmed control system, compares the actual motion of the elevator as sensed by a detector to a desired motion. Under certain conditions, if the actual motion differs from the desired motion, the controller actuates the brake.

Abstract: In the energy conservation type hydraulic elevator, a load carrying elevator and a balancing elevator are each provided on a respective hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinders are connected to one another by a fluid circuit. The balancing elevator is weighted so as to minimize the power input required of a hydraulic pump in the fluid circuit. In the speed control method of a hydraulic elevator, a negative pressure is first produced in a fluid path connecting a hydraulic pump and a control valve. Descent of the elevator is then permitted to start by opening a control valve, allowing hydraulic fluid to flow from a cylinder, by way of a hydraulic pump, to an oil tank. The hydraulic pump and a motor rotate with the hydraulic fluid, and the motor is rotated at a synchronous number of revolutions by switching on an inverter power source when the number of revolutions has reached the synchronous number of revolutions of the motor.

Abstract: A drive system for an hydraulic elevator operated at a constant output power for any load during elevator car travel in the upward direction. The maximum nominal speed in the upward direction is selected for a load which typically occurs most frequently and the drive is designed accordingly. The car speed is reduced correspondingly for higher loads and increased correspondingly for lower loads. The variable car speed is achieved either through the use of an adjustable pump of variable displacement volume controlled by a pressure regulating valve or through the use of a positive displacement pump of constant displacement volume which is driven by a frequency regulated electrical motor.