Monitors Operational Parameter Patents (Class 187/393)
  • Patent number: 9359178
    Abstract: A detector for an electromagnetic brake, for example used in an elevator system, that, by quantitative judgment, determines whether the brake force of the electromagnetic brake is appropriate. Load cells for detecting the recovery forces of brake springs are arranged between brake springs, which energize brake arms with brake shooes installed on them toward the side of brake wheel, and spring sheets, which hold brake springs in a compressive deformed state, and, at the same time, judgment part judges whether the brake force of electromagnetic brake 4 is outside a prescribed normal range based on the outputs of load cells. If the brake force of electromagnetic brake is outside the normal range, judgment part sends a signal, for example to a monitoring center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hideki Arai, Yasunobu Uchino
  • Patent number: 9309089
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a sensor by which vibrations generated during operation of the elevator installation are detectable and an evaluating circuit, which is connected with the sensor and by which the vibrations detected by the sensor can be evaluated. The detected vibrations can be compared by means of the evaluating circuit with a predeterminable operating value and a predeterminable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Mirco Annen, Thomas Neuenschwander, Christian Studer, Hans Kocher
  • Patent number: 9272878
    Abstract: A shaft access enabling device of an elevator system has a shaft access control unit and at least one access monitoring unit, wherein the shaft access control unit controls an operating state of the at least one access monitoring unit and the access monitoring unit monitors at least one shaft access. The shaft access control unit has at least two different operating modes for controlling the operating state of the at least one access monitoring unit and inspects access authorization before changing between the at least two operating modes thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Hans Kocher, Astrid Sonnenmoser, David Michel, Bjarne Lindberg
  • Patent number: 9277279
    Abstract: A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gaughan, Thomas J. Zato
  • Patent number: 9233818
    Abstract: The monitoring of a brake is disclosed. The brake includes first and second braking surfaces and a magnetizing device arranged to move the braking surfaces to an open state, in which the braking surfaces are separated from each other, and to a closed state, in which the braking surfaces are connected to each other. During the monitoring of the brake, the time is measured that elapses from the change in the magnetic field caused by the magnetizing device to the shift of the braking surfaces from one state to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventors: Niko Ekholm, Aapo Jantunen, Johanna Kirjavainen, Juha Toikka, Risto Vilppo
  • Patent number: 9108824
    Abstract: A method and system for remote access to multiple subsystems (102) of an elevator control system (104) are provided. The method includes receiving a request to establish a remote connection at an elevator control subsystem (112) from a remote user system (110). The method also includes determining whether a local connection is established between the elevator control subsystem (112) and service equipment (120). The method further includes establishing the remote connection in response to determining that the local connection is not established between the elevator control subsystem (112) and the service equipment (120). The method additionally includes sending a time since the service equipment (120) was last active and providing an option to complete the remote connection in response to determining that the local connection is established, the elevator control subsystem (112) is operating in a first mode of operation, and a configurable local activity timeout period has not expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: David M. Hughes, Sally Day Mahoney, Donald M. Sakonchick
  • Patent number: 9088199
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a motor includes at least two base units. The base units are arranged along an axis of rotation of the motor. The base units each includes a rotor unit and an armature unit. The rotor unit is formed cylindrical, rotatable about the axis of rotation, and provided with permanent magnets. The armature unit includes a plurality of tripolar armature cores, and a first annular coil and a second annular coil coaxial with respect to the axis of rotation. In each of the at least two base units, the first annular coil is provided in a first annular space, the second annular coil is provided in a second annular space, and opposite currents are applied to the first and second annular coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9067760
    Abstract: A method for communication between an elevator system and a remote control center includes establishing a communication connection in a communication network. A first signal of the elevator system is received by a communication device of the elevator system through a signal network, and a second signal is transmitted by the communication device in the communication network to a computing apparatus of the remote control center. The communication connection is permanently maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Adrian Bunter, Stefano Carriero
  • Patent number: 9061864
    Abstract: A method for operating an elevator having a car driven by a motor and at least one brake to stop the car, the method including closing a brake, increasing a torque of the motor until the car moves, and registering a value indicative of the motor torque at which the car moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Erich Spirgi, Daniel Bossard, Danilo Peric, Enrique Almada, Urs Ammon, Urs Polin, André Peter, Thomas Eilinger
  • Publication number: 20150129367
    Abstract: A method is provided for condition monitoring of a rope of an elevator including an elevator car and a rope wheel arrangement, which rope is connected to the elevator car and passes around at least one rope wheel included in the rope wheel arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Tapio Tyni, Hannu Lehtinen, Riku Lampinen
  • Publication number: 20150114761
    Abstract: Stall condition in an elevator is potentially dangerous situation if it causes slack to the ropes of the elevator. In such situation a counterweight or elevator car does not move even if the hoisting machine is still operating. This situation may be prevented by stopping the elevator as early as possible after detecting such stall condition. The detection of the stall condition is based on monitoring the torque generated by the hoisting machine of the elevator. When rapid change in the torque is detected a stall condition is suspected. The elevator may be stopped or an alarm may be launched when the stall condition is suspected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jari HELVILÄ, Sakari KORVENRANTA, Petter MARTONEN, Petteri VALJUS, Jukka LAITINEN, Lauri STOLT
  • Publication number: 20150114764
    Abstract: Safety related information for an elevator installation can be transmitted via a serial connection using serialization and deserialization modules. These serialization and deserialization modules can comprise redundant components, such as processors and interfaces, and can be configured to cross check various data inputs and outputs to identify data corruption, component failures, or inconsistencies in data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Taylor, Charlie Thurmond, Fabio Speggiorin
  • Publication number: 20150107941
    Abstract: An active guiding and balance system that retains the active control of an elevator system in the presence of displacement. This active control may be maintained via the use of an actuator that tailors Lorentz force relative to the level of displacement along a non-linear continuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Fernando Boschin, Joao Paulo Da Costa Brusque, Marcelo De Fraga Carvalho, Leoci Rudi Galle, Rory S. Smith
  • Patent number: 9010499
    Abstract: A pair of elevator cars (10, 11) traveling in the same hoistway have their positions sensed (20-23, 29-32) to provide for each a position signal (35, 37) from which velocity signals (64, 65) are derived; lookup tables (66, 61) of safe stopping distance (B, S) for braking and safeties are formed as a function of all possible combinations of velocity (V(U), V(L)) of said cars. Comparison of safe stopping distances for contemporaneous velocities of said cars with actual distance between said cars provides signals (85, 98, 99) to drop the brakes (49, 50) of one or more of the cars, and provides signals (82) to engage the safeties (18, 18a, 19, 19a) of all cars if the cars become closer or if acceleration detectors (117, 118) determine a car to be in freefall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard C. McCarthy, Richard Peruggi, Randall K. Roberts, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, Gilbert W. Wierschke
  • Patent number: 9004231
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a cage, a counterweight which balances the cage and a supporting and/or drive structure at which the cage and the counterweight are suspended. The elevator installation has a sound pick-up designed for detecting solid-borne sound generated at the counterweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Karl Weinberger
  • Patent number: 8997940
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a control unit and at least one elevator cage in a building with a plurality of stories, wherein elevator control units are arranged on at least two stories. A travel request is communicated to the control unit, wherein a destination story is defined either by the input into the elevator control unit or by an input into a control unit, which communicates the input to the control unit, and wherein the at least one input travel destination and the at least one input travel request are executed by the control unit by means of a collect operating mode. Energy consumption values of the elevator installation for journeys are determined by the control unit. A journey is undertaken to that destination story or travel request story for which the at least one energy consumption value of the elevator installation is smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Valerio Villa
  • Publication number: 20150090537
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring and supervising the lubricant content of elevator ropes in an elevator, which includes at least a hoisting machine provided with a drive motor, the hoisting machine including at least a traction sheave, around which one or more elevator ropes are fitted side-by-side, which ropes move under the effect of friction along with the rotational movement of the traction sheave and at the same time move the elevator car. The lubricant content is monitored and supervised by the aid of a magnetic measuring device disposed in the immediate proximity of the traction sheave and the elevator ropes by collecting in the measuring device the metal dust detaching in connection with wear of the traction sheave and of the elevator ropes during operation of the elevator and by letting the metal dust switch on an alarm about a lubricant content of the elevator ropes that is too low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventor: Esa Putkinen
  • Patent number: 8991562
    Abstract: A contacting device for electrically contacting tensile carriers of a suspension in an elevator system includes a housing having a recess in which an exposed segment of the suspension can be received so that the housing at least partially encloses the exposed segment of the suspension. Raised areas and recesses are alternatingly disposed on an inner side of the housing, wherein a raised area and a recess face each other in a state of use. At least one contact element is disposed in a recess of the housing, wherein the at least one raised area can be pressed against a tensile carrier of the suspension, such that the tensile carrier is brought into electrical contact with the contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Arnold Odermatt, Christoph Bissig, Hans Kocher
  • Publication number: 20150083528
    Abstract: A method and a safety arrangement are provided for monitoring the movement of an elevator component, more particularly of an elevator car or of the automatic door of an elevator. In the method, a setup drive of an elevator component is run, and the speed and/or acceleration of the elevator component is measured during the setup drive, a threshold value for the speed and/or acceleration of the elevator component is formed on the basis of the measuring data obtained in the setup drive, the speed and/or acceleration of the elevator component is measured, and if the measured speed and/or acceleration exceeds the aforementioned threshold value, a monitoring signal for bringing the elevator to a safe state is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari KATTAINEN, Antti HOVI
  • Patent number: 8985280
    Abstract: In a method for limiting loading of an elevator assembly, a limit value for a maximum permitted loading is set for one or more parts of the elevator assembly, and a loading of the one or more parts of the elevator assembly is determined. A movement magnitude value of the elevator car in the movement profile of the elevator car is modified to limit the loading of the one or more parts of the elevator assembly if the loading of the one or more parts of the elevator assembly exceeds the limit value for the maximum permitted loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Tuukka Kauppinen, Joakim Modeen, Tomi Sipilä
  • Patent number: 8973715
    Abstract: An elevator installation has a guide rail of a predetermined length and a movable body configured to move along the guide rail up and down a hoistway. A proximity sensor is mounted on the movable body to be in a predetermined proximity of the guide rail. The proximity sensor is configured to detect whether or not the proximity sensor is at the predetermined distance to the guide rail. A controller coupled to the proximity sensor acts upon an indication that the proximity sensor is not at the predetermined distance to the guide rail to switch the elevator installation to a secure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Quinn
  • Publication number: 20140353090
    Abstract: A device for detecting the position of an elevator car (40) by a sensor and evaluation unit (20, 22, 24), accommodated in a sensor housing (10), which can be arranged on the elevator car, is designed for interaction with a strip (14) having a length and/or position coding and which is connected to a switching unit (12) that has a safety switch (30) and/or an interrupter contact for an emergency function, especially an emergency stop of the elevator car, the sensor and evaluation unit being designed for generating a position and/or speed signal from the length or position coding and for generating or receiving an elevator car status signal (62) that corresponds to an opening status of an elevator car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Frank Müller, Heiko Essinger
  • Publication number: 20140339024
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method for monitoring the operational condition of an automatic door in an elevator, particularly a passenger and/or goods elevator, or in a building, the arrangement includes an automatic door which includes one or more door leaves, which slide horizontally in their location, a door operator, which includes a door motor and a door mechanism for moving the door leaf horizontally in its location, a closing device for closing the automatic door, a control system for the door operator for controlling the door motor, a device configured to define the operational condition of the closing device and the door mechanism of the automatic door, the device configured to define the operational condition of the closing device and the door mechanism of the automatic door includes a mechanism configured to determine the mechanical energy of the shaft in the door motor of the automatic door during an operating cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Tapio TYNI, Pekka Perälä, Jouko KINNARI
  • Patent number: 8887873
    Abstract: In an elevator device, a signal diagnosis device includes: a signal input section to which a sensor signal from a sensor is input; a disconnection detecting section for outputting a diagnosis signal for detecting disconnection to the sensor and detecting a state of a signal turned back at the sensor to be input so as to detect whether or not disconnection of the signal from the sensor occurs; a switch for turning ON/OFF an input of the signal to the disconnection detecting section; and a disconnection-detection diagnosis section for operating the switch to diagnose whether or not the disconnection detecting section functions normally. Further, a car is stopped when occurrence of the disconnection is determined by the signal diagnosis device or when an abnormality is detected by the disconnection-detection diagnosis section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Washio, Rikio Kondo, Masunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 8869945
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety arrangement of an elevator system and to a method for ensuring safety in an elevator system. The safety arrangement comprises at least one mechanical stopping appliance and the control of the safety arrangement comprises at least one limit value that sets the speed, deceleration or permitted vertical distance from the door zone of the elevator car. In the method for ensuring safety in an elevator system at least one mechanical stopping appliance is fitted to the safety arrangement of the elevator system and at least one limit value that sets the speed, deceleration or permitted vertical distance from the door zone of the elevator car is set for the control of the safety arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Härkönen, Sakari Korvenranta, Ari Kattainen, Timo Syrman, Hannu Ahrnberg, Risto Jokinen
  • Patent number: 8863908
    Abstract: A movement of an elevator cage is detected by an elevator control on the basis of signals of a rotary encoder, coupled with a rotational movement of the drive motor or the drive pulley. Before movement of the cage begins, a movement plot in the form of a trip/speed profile is calculated for travel of the elevator cage from an instantaneous elevator cage position to a destination stopping point position. An anticipated slip between the drive pulley and a support means is included in the calculation of the trip/speed profile, and during the travel of the elevator cage a rotational movement of the drive motor and thus of the drive pulley is controlled by the elevator control in dependence on the calculated trip/speed profile and on signals of the rotary encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Valerio Villa, Yong Qi Cui
  • Patent number: 8857571
    Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one elevator car and at least one counterweight, which can be moved in opposite directions from each other on at least one guide track in an elevator shaft by a support apparatus guided over a traction sheave of a drive. At least one monitoring device detects a slackening of the support apparatus, wherein the monitoring device is disposed at a deflection roller for the support apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Philippe Henneau
  • Patent number: 8851239
    Abstract: A tension member monitoring device is provided with at least one contact sensor (21) and a defect determining device (20). The contact sensor (21), which is arranged next to a corresponding tension member (3) without touching the tension member (3), is configured to output a contact signal when contacted. The defect determining device (20), which receives the contact signal, is configured to determine whether there is a defect in the tension member (3), based on the contact signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Masanori Nakamori
  • Publication number: 20140262629
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes a controller that is configured to determine a condition of at least one elevator system component. A message transceiver is coupled with the controller. The message transceiver is configured to send a notification message to a remotely located mobile station that includes an indication of the condition determined by the controller. The message transceiver is configured to receive a response message from the remotely located mobile station that indicates how the controller can address the determined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Mustapha Toutaoui
  • Patent number: 8827044
    Abstract: An elevator system 40 includes an over-acceleration and over-speed protection system capable of triggering a machine room brake and a safety trigger when over-speed or over-acceleration conditions are detected. The system includes a speed detector 42 and an acceleration detector 44. Based upon sensed speed and sensed acceleration, the controller 48 calculates a filtered speed of an elevator mass such as an elevator car 16 or counterweight, and compares the filtered speed to the threshold speed to determine whether an over-speed condition has been reached. The controller 48 activates a machine room brake when an over-speed condition exists, and engages an elevator safety 70A, 70B when it determines that the elevator mass is still in an over-speed condition after the machine room brake has been activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Daryl J. Marvin, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, James M. Draper, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
  • Patent number: 8800723
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solution for optimizing the transport capacity of an elevator system. For optimizing the transport capacity the elevator system dynamically locks floors served by it on the basis of defined locking rules. When a floor is locked, that floor can not be considered a designation floor or receive elevator calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes De Jong, Maarten Van Dijk, Marja-Liisa Siikonen
  • Publication number: 20140209414
    Abstract: Diverting pulley arrangement, more particularly a diverting pulley arrangement of an elevator, which arrangement includes an axle, at least one diverting pulley that rotates while supported on the axle, a faceplate structure, in relation to which and supported by which the diverting pulley is arranged to rotate on the first side of the faceplate structure, which axle is locked so that it does not rotate by the aid of a locking element that moves in relation to the faceplate structure, which locking element is on the second side of the faceplate structure. When it starts to rotate, the end of the axle forces the locking element to displace out of its position and to trip a safety switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Jussi PAASISALO, Jani NIEMINEN, Jari ÖSTERMAN, Jukka PENTTILÄ, Joni KIISKI
  • Patent number: 8789660
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car and also a motor drive for moving the elevator car according to a movement profile to be determined for the movement of the elevator car. The loading of the motor drive is arranged to be limited to the limit value for the maximum permitted loading by changing the value of a movement magnitude of the elevator car in the movement profile of the elevator car when the position of the elevator car changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Asmo Tenhunen
  • Publication number: 20140202798
    Abstract: A monitoring arrangement of an elevator and to a method for monitoring an elevator. The monitoring arrangement of an elevator comprises a drop-out safety device of the elevator, an elevator component, which is in operational connection with the drop-out safety device of the elevator, a measuring device, with which the operation of the aforementioned elevator component is measured, and also a monitoring unit, comprising an input for the measuring data of the aforementioned measuring device as well as a memory for setting one or more boundary conditions to be connected to the safe operation of the elevator component. The monitoring unit is configured to receive measuring data from the aforementioned measuring device and also to determine that the operating safety of a drop-out safety device of the elevator is endangered if the measuring data received does not fulfill the boundary conditions set for the safe operation of the elevator component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari KATTAINEN, Pekka HYTTI, Jyrki LAAKSONHEIMO
  • Publication number: 20140182974
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method in rope condition monitoring of an elevator, in which method at least the following steps are performed: electrical resistance between a first point and a second point of elevator suspension and/or transmission ropes is measured first time, a threshold value is determined based on the measurement, the elevator is used for transporting passengers and/or goods, electrical resistance between the first point and the second point of said suspension and/or transmission ropes is measured second time, and results of said second time measurement are compared with said threshold value, and if said second time measurement meets said threshold value, predetermined actions are carried out. The invention also relates to an arrangement in rope condition monitoring of an elevator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Mikko PURANEN, Riku LAMPINEN, Antti SAARELAINEN
  • Publication number: 20140182975
    Abstract: A rope terminal assembly of an elevator fixing an elevator rope to a fixing base such as an elevator unit, the elevator being suitable for transporting passengers and/or goods, includes an elevator rope, whose width is larger than its thickness in a rope transverse direction, with at least one end having an end face, a rope end block attached to the rope end, one or more wedge elements, a wedge housing, where the terminal assembly includes a rope gap through which the elevator rope passes and the wedge element is arranged to wedge between the rope and the wedge housing thus locking the elevator rope in the gap, and the rope end block is attached on the end face side of the elevator rope with respect to the wedge element, and an elevator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Antti IKONEN, Jani LUOMA, Pekka HALLIKAINEN, Raimo PELTO-HUIKKO
  • Patent number: 8763760
    Abstract: An adjustment device for controlling the electric drive of an elevator in connection with a voltage reduction of the supplying network is disclosed. The electric drive of an elevator includes an electric motor and a power supply apparatus of for adjusting the supply voltage of the electric motor. The adjustment device includes a device configured to control the power supply apparatus and also a speed regulator for adjusting the speed of the electric motor. The adjustment device is arranged to determine the output voltage of the power supply apparatus of the electric motor in relation to the permitted maximum value of the output voltage, and the adjustment device is arranged to interrupt the operation of the speed regulator but to continue the operation of the power supply apparatus of the electric motor when the output voltage of the power supply apparatus of the electric motor reaches the permitted maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Lauri Stolt, Antti Kallioniemi, Tuukka Kauppinen
  • Patent number: 8763763
    Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a speed governor is disposed in an upper portion of a hoistway, and a tensioning sheave is disposed in a lower portion of the hoistway. A speed governor rope that is moved in response to movement of a car is wound around a speed governor sheave of the speed governor and the tensioning sheave. The tensioning sheave is rotated in response to movement of the speed governor rope. A rotation detector that generates a signal that corresponds to rotation of the tensioning sheave is disposed on the tensioning sheave. Information from the rotation detector is sent to a controlling apparatus. The controlling apparatus detects a position of the car based on the information from the rotation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenobu Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8757328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to devices for starting up an electric drive of an elevator. In the method a sensor that detects the direction of movement of the elevator car is fitted into the elevator system, the elevator car is brought into a state of movement, the direction of movement of the elevator car is detected from the measuring signal of the aforementioned sensor that detects the direction of movement of the elevator car and also the drive direction of the electric drive is connected in the control of the electric drive to the detected direction of movement of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Lauri Stolt
  • Patent number: 8746411
    Abstract: An exemplary method of controlling elevator car position includes determining that an elevator car requires re-leveling and determining whether a vibration damper is activated. A gain for controlling operation of a motor responsible for moving the elevator car for the re-leveling is adjusted if the vibration damper is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Randall Keith Roberts, Leandre Adifon
  • Patent number: 8746413
    Abstract: A control arrangement (100) for an elevator brake, comprises a control circuit (110) adapted to generate, according to a demand for releasing a first braking member of the elevator brake, a first actuating signal and to generate, according to a demand for releasing a second braking member of the elevator brake, a second actuating signal; a first terminal (112) for outputting the first actuating signal to a first electromagnetic actuating means (26) of the elevator brake, a second terminal for outputting the second actuating signal to a second electromagnetic actuating means (30) of the elevator brake; the control arrangement (100) being adapted to allow at least the following modes of operation: A) a normal operation mode in which the first and the second actuating signals are supplied synchronously to the first and second electromagnetic actuation means (26, 30), respectively, and B) a single braking member test operation mode, in which one of the first and second actuating signals is supplied to the respect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Helmut Lothar Schroeder-Brumloop, Pascal Rebillard, Gerard Sirigu, Olivier Stanislas Dukacz, Ralph S. Stripling, Juan Antonio Illan, Jose Sevilleja-Perez, Juan Martin
  • Patent number: 8739937
    Abstract: A fixing point arranged at a guide rail consists substantially of a slide, which is movable along the guide rail and which is guided by guide shoes at the free limb of the guide rail and carries a yoke. A bracket, at which a damping element is supported, is arranged at the guide rail. The end of a belt is held by a connecting element, which in turn is suspended by a tie rod and nuts at the yoke. In the case of an emergency stop situation in which the brake of the drive unit retards the elevator car to standstill, the retardation forces arising in that case are transmitted by belt, connecting element and tie rod to the yoke, wherein the retardation forces produce a displacement of the slide downwardly into the spring-stressed position against the damping capability of the damping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Dave Mauldin
  • Patent number: 8720649
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator system and also to a method for detaching an elevator car and/or a counterweight from a safety gear. In the method torque pulses are produced with the hoisting machine of an elevator, for detaching a gripped stuck elevator car and/or a gripped stuck counterweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Risto Jokinen
  • Patent number: 8708107
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a lifting system (11) for lifting loads, particularly vehicles, in which for lifting a load (14), the lifting movement is initiated by a starting phase, and lifting devices (12) are individually driven in the starting phase. Load holding means (18) of the lifting devices (12) are raised until a pre-set minimum load is detected by the pressure sensor (24), and the load holding means (18) are raised by a pre-selectable displacement distance in a load recognition phase of the lifting process following the starting phase, and after the pre-selected displacement distance is passed through, a load inquiry is carried out and the determined load is stored as a reference value for the further lifting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Walter Finkbeiner GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Finkbeiner
  • Patent number: 8678143
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes at least one car or floor door and at least one acceleration sensor mounted on the door. The sensor generates measurements that are transmitted wirelessly to a communications module for determining maintenance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Adrian Bünter
  • Patent number: 8675211
    Abstract: A fork light barrier (1), provided with at least one first, one second, and one third light sensor (FT1 to FT3), which are arranged along an axis (X), wherein the second light sensor (FT2) lies between the first light sensor (FT1) and the third light sensor (FT3). The fork light barrier is advantageously incorporated into a position determining device and/or method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sartorius Weighing Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Wagener
  • Patent number: 8668055
    Abstract: An elevator load receiving apparatus or a compensating weight connected thereto by a suspension device is released from a safety device in a stopping position after downward travel, the load receiving apparatus and the compensating weight being moved by a drive unit including a reversible electric motor and a traction sheave engaging the suspension device. Many safety devices, after stopping must be moved counter to the travelling direction of the load receiving apparatus before stopping in order to release (moved upwards in the case of stopping after downward travel). The safety device is easily released by activating the drive unit for a time (tmax1) or a certain distance (smax) with a predetermined torque (Mmax) counter to the direction of release and subsequently activated as abruptly as possible with the predetermined torque in the direction of release. This method can be used to release the compensating weight from its stopped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Erich Spirgi
  • Publication number: 20140027210
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator control system includes an elevator drive. A safety chain is configured to monitor at least one condition of a selected elevator system component. A first switch is operable to interrupt power supply to the elevator drive. The first switch is controlled by the safety chain depending on the monitored condition. A second switch is in series with the first switch. The second switch is operable to interrupt power supply to the elevator drive. The second switch is controlled by the safety chain depending on the monitored condition. A monitoring device is configured to determine when the first and second switches should be in a power supplying condition for supplying power to the elevator drive. One such circumstance is when it is desirable to cause movement of the elevator car. The monitoring device determines that the first switch is in the power supplying condition for allowing the safety chain to control the second switch for supplying power to the elevator drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Kyle W. Rogers, Daryl J. Marvin
  • Patent number: 8622177
    Abstract: A control system is provided and includes energy accumulators (20; 120) coupled to a first inverter (10) and controlled through a second inverter (12). These accumulators (20; 120) are adapted to store the energy generated by an electrical machine (3) associated with the elevator apparatus (1), and the energy coming by a source and optionally not used by the machine (3), as well as to deliver the stored energy towards the machine (3) when this requires energy with a power higher than a threshold. The system is arranged to automatically cause the lifting of the car (2) up to the highest floor when preset conditions occur in a time interval of inactivity of the elevator apparatus (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Brea Impianti S.U.R.L.
    Inventor: Sebastiano Acquaviva
  • Patent number: 8613344
    Abstract: Power distribution is managed between a regenerative drive (10) connected to an elevator hoist motor (12), and a primary power supply (20) and electrical energy storage (EES) system (36) connected to the regenerative drive. A state-of-charge (SOC) of the EES system and a primary current flow between the primary power supply and the regenerative drive are measured. A direction and magnitude of secondary current flow between the EES system and the regenerative drive is then controlled as a function of the primary current flow and the SOC of the EES system. SOC of the EES system is maintained in a limited range except as necessary to maintain primary current flow below a threshold current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: William A. Veronesi