Plural Gripping Contact Components Engaging Common Rail Patents (Class 187/370)
  • Patent number: 11535492
    Abstract: An overspeed safety braking mechanism for lift cars and elevator systems is described herein. The safety mechanism may comprise a safety kit secured to an overhead portion of a lift car, and configured to engage a cable to prevent a downward movement of the lift car. Engagement of the cable may occur when a threshold speed is reached. The overhead portion of the lift car is detachable upon a predetermined upward force resulting from an engagement of the safety cable from the safety kit. A primary brake system may be positioned beneath the safety kit, on or near a lift platform, configured to engage the safety cable in response to an activation of the safety kit and a detection of the threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Safeworks, LLC
    Inventors: David Arevalo Romo, Gregory Scott McDonald
  • Patent number: 10889470
    Abstract: An automatic rope tension equalizer system includes first, second, and third plungers, first, second, and third cam assemblies, and a hitch plate with first, second, and third cavities. The first, second, and third plungers are at least partially situated in the first, second, and third cavities, respectively. Each cam assembly has a cam and a rod extending therefrom. The cam of the first cam assembly engages the first plunger, the cam of the second cam assembly engages the second plunger, and the cam of the third cam assembly engages the third plunger. A network connects each cavity to each other cavity, and fluid in the network automatically equalizes pressure on the first, second, and third plungers, thereby affecting positioning of the first, second, and third plungers and, through each cam, tension on each rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: thyssenkrupp Elevator Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Duvall
  • Patent number: 10737907
    Abstract: A stabilization apparatus of an elevator car includes: a base fixedly mounted with respect to the elevator car; an upper swing arm and a lower swing arm disposed in parallel basically, first ends thereof being pivotably fixed to the base; a guide rail friction member capable of generating, with the guide rail, a frictional force for keeping static with respect to the guide rail, and having a first connecting shaft and a second connecting shaft for being connected to the upper swing arm and the lower swing arm respectively; and a damper having at least one end connected to the upper swing arm or the lower swing arm, wherein the damper is configured to at least partially prevent the upper swing arm and the lower swing arm from relatively swinging, with the first connecting shaft and/or the second connecting shaft as a swinging pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Junjie Guo, YuHang Ou, XiaoBin Tang, Xiaokai Gong
  • Patent number: 10183838
    Abstract: A movable platform having a fall prevention device is arranged in a shaft of an elevator system and is operated by a corresponding method for securing the movable platform. The movable platform includes a complete machine room used in an expandable elevator for a building under construction. The movable platform can be moved vertically along guide rails. In order to secure the movable platform during movement, the fall prevention device includes at least one arresting device that is arranged on the movable platform and which can be brought into engagement with the guide rail if necessary. A locking element arranged on the movable platform interacts with a safety component arranged along the movement path, and can, if necessary, actuate the arresting device together with an arresting braking system of an elevator car attached to the movable platform, the locking element thus blocking a possible downward motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Stefan Weber, Pascal Bläsi
  • Patent number: 9784001
    Abstract: An assembly of a sling detachably attached to an adjustment device for suspending one structure relative to another structure. The adjustment device comprises a pair of elongate spaced apart plates which are attached to each other and to a hook, for attachment to one of the structures, at the first end portion. Each plate has a plurality of pairs of longitudinally spaced aligned holes for receiving a pin for connecting one end of a sling to the adjustment device at a selected incremental one of the plurality of pairs of holes. The other end of the sling is connected to the other structure to adjust the distance over which the one structure is suspended relative to the other structure. To allow greater adjustability, two or more of the adjustment devices are joined end-to-end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Paul Kristen, Inc
    Inventor: Paul Apostolopoulos
  • Patent number: 9586792
    Abstract: An emergency stop device for an elevator, including: a supporting member; a receiving-side braking member provided to the supporting member; a pressing-side braking member for gripping a guide rail together with the receiving-side braking member by being displaced upward with respect to the supporting member while being guided by an inclined guide portion of the supporting member; and an adjusting elastic member for generating an elastic restoring force acting against the upward displacement of the pressing-side braking member. A magnitude of a gripping force, which is generated when the guide rail is gripped between the receiving-side braking member and the pressing-side braking member, increases as the pressing-side braking member is displaced upward with respect to the supporting member. A magnitude of the elastic restoring force of the adjusting elastic member increases as the pressing-side braking member is displaced upward with respect to the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naohiro Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8746416
    Abstract: A linear guide with a guide carriage longitudinally movably arranged on a guide rail, which is preferably U-shaped and a braking device effectively arranged between the guide rail and the guide carriage. An actuator for actuating the braking device is provided and the actuator has an electro-active polymer effectively arranged in the longitudinal axis of the linear guide which engages around the guide rail for actuating the braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Glück, Gabor Kovacs
  • Patent number: 8302739
    Abstract: A lift car with a brake device which is arranged in the region of the lift car for holding and braking the latter; the brake device includes a brake unit which can interact with a brake rail, an actuating device which can generate an actuator force, and a connector which connects the actuating device to the brake unit in a force-active manner in order to transmit the actuator force, wherein the brake unit is in its open position in the unloaded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Pohlmann, Bernward Bayer, Andreas Emmerich, Karl-Hermann Tegge, Stefan Johannes Schmitt, Johann Jungbecker, Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Steffen Grundmann, Gert Silberhorn, Hans Kocher, Michael Stübli
  • Patent number: 8020671
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a guide rail and brake equipment for guiding, holding and braking the elevator installation. The brake equipment has a brake lining which co-operates with a brake surface, advantageously with the brake surface of the guide rail, for the purpose of the braking and holding. The brake surface has at least one longitudinal wedge groove or wedge elevation which is oriented in the braking direction and on which the brake lining acts in case of need. An amplification of the braking force is achieved by the longitudinal wedge groove or wedge elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Hans Kocher, Josef A. Muff
  • Patent number: 7374021
    Abstract: A combined elevator guiding and braking device (30) includes movable members (34) positioned symmetrically about opposite sides of guide rail (24). Guide members (40) are supported on the movable members (34) for following along the guide rail (24) under normal elevator system operation. When a safety braking function is required, braking members (44) engage the surfaces on the guide rail (24) when the movable members (34) move into a second operating position to achieve the braking function. The inventive arrangement integrates the car guiding and safety braking functions into a single device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Luis Martí, Mikel Azurza
  • Patent number: 7278517
    Abstract: A device provides an elevator installation with a shortened car travel path to establish a temporary protective space below and/or above the car upon activation of the car safety brake device. The speed limiter cable is limited, independently of the speed limiter, in a travel path by a switchable stop device. This limitation causes an actuation of the car safety brake device in the corresponding travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Hubert Gut
  • Patent number: 7131517
    Abstract: A bi-directional safety mechanism used in an elevator safety device and which produces a gradual catch on a guide rail. The bi-directional safety device has a roller and two hinged rectangular frames, each having a friction element. One hinged rectangular frame is disposed above the roller and the other hinged rectangular frame is disposed below the roller with both hinged rectangular frames on the same side of the guide rail. In addition, a set of fixed brakes are disposed on the other side of the guide rail and opposite to the hinged rectangular frames, preventing this system from marking the guide rail during the braking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Dynatech Dynamics & Technology, S.L.
    Inventor: Francisco de Asis Mateo Mur
  • Patent number: 7128189
    Abstract: A tripping device for engaging an elevator lift cage safety brake has actuating levers arranged at a rotary axle for engaging safety brake wedges of the safety braking device. Each actuating lever has a longitudinal slot matched to the diameter of the rotary axle, wherein the actuating lever is freely movable in the direction of the rotary axle and in the direction of the length of the actuating lever. A torsion spring fixes the actuating lever about the rotary axle. One spring end presses the actuating lever downwardly, wherein the movement of the actuating lever is limited by a lower abutment. The other spring end is detachably connected to a support. An upper abutment limits the movement of the actuating lever upwardly. The lower abutment and the upper abutment are each held at a respective end of a T-shaped shackle, wherein the shackle is fixedly connected to the rotary axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Julien Maury, Stefan Hugel, Peter Aeschlimann
  • Patent number: 6823969
    Abstract: A braking device acts on a guide rail and consists of a housing that is arranged at an elevator car yoke and serves as a support for spring packets and/or for adjusting packets. The housing also serves as a support and guide for chock guide elements that in turn retain and guide brake chocks with brake linings. Pushrods engage at one end at the brake chocks, and at the other end are pivotably connected to an actuating fork. Upon braking of the elevator car, the actuating fork is moved at the pushrod end in the direction of the braking device. The guided brake chocks with the brake linings slide in the braking device. At the same time the brake linings are moved at the guide leg of the guide rail. The brake chocks are moved in the braking device and the spring and adjusting packets are stressed, whereby a braking force for stopping an elevator car or a counterweight is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Oliver Simmonds, Stefan Hugel, Julien Maury, Peter Möri, Peter Aeschlimann
  • Patent number: 6758310
    Abstract: A safety brake for the load receiving portion of an elevator includes a fixing device that is displaceable relative to the load receiving portion in the direction of the guide rail between two abutments fastened to the load receiving portion. The unlocking of the safety brake after a braking process is achieved by moving the load receiving portion with the assistance of the elevator drive unit oppositely to the direction of movement before the braking process, so that one of the abutments fastened to the load receiving portion strikes the fixing device to unlock it from the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Josef A. Muff, Karsten Gensicke, Reinhard Wöbcke
  • Patent number: 6371261
    Abstract: An elevator safety brake for stopping an elevator car is provided with a brake shoe having a molybdenum alloy friction surface for contacting an elevator guide rail surface to provide a stopping force. The molybdenum alloy contains 99.4 weight percent molybdenum, 0.5 weight percent titanium and 0.1 weight percent zirconium. The friction surface of the brake formed from the alloy exhibits a consistent high friction and low wear suitably accommodating high speed, high load elevators installed in very tall buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Thompson, James T. Beals, Philip H. McCluskey, David W. McKee, Michael C. Lang, Fred J. Lussier, Joseph A. L. LeDoux, Dat T. Nguyen, Paul Bennett
  • Publication number: 20010047910
    Abstract: A safety device to arrest movement of an elevator car guided by non-metallic guide rails employs a friction surface mounted on a wedge. The wedge is located in proximity to an angular horizontal locator when in the unengaged position. Upon activation of the wedge during an overspeed condition the horizontal locator urges the friction surface of the wedge into contact with the guide rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Applicant: Otis Elevator
    Inventors: FREDERICK H. BARKER, RICHARD E. PERUGGI
  • Patent number: 6176350
    Abstract: A progressive safety gear for elevators, having a console which encompasses one guide rail for an elevator car and is positioned in a transverse direction to the guide rail. Two brake shoes are mounted on the console so as to be positioned one on each side of the guide rail. One of the brake shoes functions as a passive brake shoe and other as an active brake shoe. The active brake shoe is supported on an eccentric which is fastened to a cam so that they rotate together. The cam and the eccentric are able to rotate about a common pivot. The cam and the eccentric together form a single-part actuating element. Moving the elevator car in the direction opposite to the direction of engagement causes the cam to rotate backwards, which in combination with the vertical play on the passive brake shoe enables the engaged safety gear to be easily and safely released again. An alternative version is provided which has a multi-part actuating element with an adjustable angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Autzugstechnologie Schlosser GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Schlosser
  • Patent number: 6053287
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving a car along a travel path along guide rails includes a linear drive having a fixed first platform attached to the car and connected by springs with a movable second platform. Holding-units are attached to both platforms for engaging the guide rails and operating-units are connected between the platforms for relative movement. The holding-units and the operating-units include piezoelectric actuators that are selectively energized to move the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Invento AG
    Inventors: Karl Weinberger, Gert Silberhorn, Jean Marie Rennetaud