Abstract: When a long-period-earthquake occurs, an elevator is controlled to ensure that an abnormality is positively judged and that the elevator can be safely and promptly returned to a normal operation. For this purpose, by providing a usual seismic sensor and a long-period seismic sensor that detects long-period components of the shakes of a building, which are not detected by the usual seismic sensor, at two stages, an earthquake emergency return operation is performed when the seismic sensor has gone into action and when a first level has been detected by the long-period seismic sensor, a long-period-earthquake emergency return operation, which involves giving a notice to outside the elevator and inside a car, is performed.

Abstract: An exciting voltage arithmetic portion calculates an exciting voltage of an electromagnet using a signal of a gap sensor. On the other hand, a sensorless exciting voltage arithmetic portion calculates an exciting voltage of the electromagnet using a signal of the current sensor. The exciting voltage adjusting portion adjusts a mixing ratio between an output value of an exciting voltage arithmetic portion and an output value of the sensorless exciting voltage arithmetic portion corresponding to a gap length. The excitation of the electromagnet is controlled according to an output value of the exciting voltage adjusting portion so as to reduce influences of noises on the gap sensors thereby always achieving a stable levitation control.

Abstract: A lift drive unit has at least one monitoring device for monitoring unallowed raising of a lift cage. The drive unit has a motor unit and a deflecting unit. If a counterweight supported by the deflecting unit, for example rests on a shaft pit buffer, the deflecting unit is unloaded and is raised by way of a spring element of the monitoring device. A sensor of the monitoring device detects the movement of the deflecting unit and switches off the motor of the drive unit via a safety circuit.

Abstract: An emergency stop system for an elevator includes a state sensor for detecting an operation of a car, a brake device for braking the car, a brake controller for outputting a signal for operating the brake device based on a signal detected by the state sensor, and an uninterruptible power supply device for supplying electric power to the sensor, the brake device, and the controller. The controller has a signal processing/calculating unit for calculating the deceleration of the car based on the signal detected by the sensor, a command value calculating unit for calculating a command value for operating the brake device based on the deceleration of the car calculated by the processing/calculating unit, and a power monitoring device for monitoring state of the uninterruptible power supply device. At least one of the sensor, the processing/calculating unit, and the calculating unit includes independent systems.

Abstract: An elevator system and a method for maintenance of such an elevator system include a device for receiving a plurality of sensor signals. The device is mounted on at least one elevator car or at least one counterweight of the elevator system. The device includes at least one processor and at least one computer-readable data store in at least one device housing. A first sensor for generating a sensor signal is a position sensor and/or a speed sensor and/or an acceleration sensor which is mounted in and/or on the device housing.

Abstract: Since the elevator type is varied, a set value used for judging car oscillation must be set for each elevator, which requires much time and labor. Also, if the criteria of all elevators are represented by one set value to eliminate the time and labor required for the setting, variations in detection occur. A car oscillation detecting device includes a means in which a set value, which is used as a criterion for judging car oscillation, is stored in advance as a table or a relational expression in which an elevator specification is used as a parameter, and the set value is selected automatically by using the information of the elevator specification, by which the time and the labor for setting are eliminated. Further, since the set value is a value suitable for that elevator, variations in detection can be restrained, and hence the reliability is high.

Abstract: An elevator drive has a brake device with compression springs to actuate brake levers, and brake linings on a brake drum creating a braking force. A sensor is provided to detect the movement of a brake magnet armature tappet. A bracket is attached to the brake magnet tappet on one end and a distance piece carrying the sensor housing is arranged on the other end. A restoring lug is attached to the existing mechanical indicator. A monitor evaluates the sensor signal and turns off the elevator drive in the event of dangerous operational states via a safety circuit. The system allows the state of the brake device to be monitored. The more the brake linings wear off due to abrasion, the smaller the distance between the armature and the brake magnet housing. If the armature is in contact with the brake magnet housing, the braking ability of the brake linings is completely void.

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: A guide apparatus includes a pair of guide rails, magnet units, pedestals, a sensor unit, a magnetic guide control apparatus as a control unit, and projected parts. The magnet unit includes electromagnets and permanent magnets and magnetic poles thereof are opposed to a blade of the guide rail from three directions with a gap. The projected parts are formed with side parts of a tip part of a central magnetic pole opposite to a tip surface of the blade of the guide rail among the magnetic poles of the magnet unit being brought closer to the guide rail than a center section thereof.

Abstract: A power supplying system for an elevator includes: a first electric storage apparatus for storing thereinto electric power derived from a commercial power supply; a charging apparatus for charging the electric power derived from the commercial power supply to the first electric storage apparatus and for controlling a current when the electric power is charged into the first electric storage apparatus; a second electric storage apparatus for storing thereinto electric power used to operate an appliance of an elevator; and a power supplying apparatus for supplying the electric power derived from the first electric storage apparatus to the second electric storage apparatus.

Abstract: An elevator drive has a brake device with compression springs to actuate brake levers, and brake linings on a brake drum creating a braking force. A sensor is provided to detect the movement of a brake magnet armature tappet. A bracket is attached to the brake magnet tappet on one end and a distance piece carrying the sensor housing is arranged on the other end. A restoring lug is attached to the existing mechanical indicator. A monitor evaluates the sensor signal and turns off the elevator drive in the event of dangerous operational states via a safety circuit. The system allows the state of the brake device to be monitored. The more the brake linings wear off due to abrasion, the smaller the distance between the armature and the brake magnet housing. If the armature is in contact with the brake magnet housing, the braking ability of the brake linings is completely void.

Abstract: A device for reducing the energy consumption is used in an elevator installation which can be alternatively brought into an operating mode and a standby mode wherein in the standby mode the elevator installation is separated from a main energy source and connected with an auxiliary energy source, by means of which basic functions of the elevator installation are maintained so as to enable later entry into the operating mode. The device includes a detecting unit in order to detect a use criterion describing the current use status of the elevator installation. Moreover, a power-saving unit with a microprocessor is provided in order to bring the elevator installation from the operating mode to the standby mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the use criterion and fulfillment of standby criteria and to bring it from the standby mode to the operating mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the standby criteria.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes an elongated member (30, 32, 34) that may sway under certain conditions. An exemplary method of controlling the elevator system (20) includes selectively controlling an elevator car dispatching schedule when a condition exists that is conducive to sway of one of the elongated members (30, 32, 34). The control over the elevator car dispatching schedule controls the time that the elevator car is in a predetermined critical zone while the condition exists such that the time does not exceed a selected amount.

Abstract: An evacuation support system for a double-deck elevator allows people stranded in a building to evacuate to an evacuation floor upon an occurrence of a fire in the building including a plurality of floors. The evacuation support system includes an evacuation support apparatus including a rescue floor setting mechanism, and a double-deck elevator including a connected car including an upper car and a lower car which are vertically connected to each other. The rescue floor setting mechanism determines two adjacent floors among respective floors satisfying a predetermined condition as candidate rescue floors and sets, based on a floor on which the fire occurs, at least any one of the candidate rescue floors as the rescue floor. The double deck elevator performs an evacuation operation for moving the connected car in a reciprocating manner between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor based on a command from the evacuation support apparatus.

Abstract: An edge device for an elevator door includes an elongate array of infrared transmitters and/or receivers and a proximate elongate array of illuminable elements, both arrays extending for a substantial part of the length of the door. The illuminable elements are adapted to be illuminated when the door is in motion. The two arrays are disposed in a common carrier structure, being either vertically interleaved or extending vertically in parallel with each other.

Abstract: In an elevator including a guide apparatus which levitates the car from a guide rail by an effect of magnetic force and non-contactly runs and guides the car, the guide apparatus is controlled in a manner to generate magnetic force with respect to at least two of movement axes of the car. In this case, control is executed with respect to only some of the movement axes at a time of start of guide, and then control is executed with respect to the other movement axes after passing of a predetermined time from the start of the guide.

Abstract: In a vibration damping device for an elevator, an actuator for generating a vibration damping force acting on an elevator car is provided in parallel with a spring for urging a guide roller against a guide rail. The actuator is controlled by a controller. The controller determines the vibration damping force to be generated by the actuator based on information from a car frame acceleration sensor for detecting horizontal acceleration of a car frame and a car cage acceleration sensor for detecting horizontal acceleration of a car cage.

Abstract: An elevator apparatus is equipped with an elevator component that is operated during operation of an elevator, a detector for measuring a change in a physical quantity other than temperature as to the elevator component, and a control device for controlling the operation of the elevator based on information from the detector. The elevator component is, for example, a hoisting machine for moving a car of the elevator. The hoisting machine has a motor, and a driving sheave that is rotated by the motor. The detector measures a strain of a frame of the motor as the physical quantity other than temperature. The control device determines based on the strain of the frame of the motor whether or not there is an abnormality in the operation of the elevator, and controls the operation of the elevator. It is therefore possible to determine easily and more reliably whether or not there is an abnormality in the operation of the elevator, without the need to directly measure the temperature of the motor (6).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevator condition monitoring system, which comprises at least a control unit (104) and a sensor arrangement (250) connected to the control unit, while the elevator comprises an elevator car (100), an elevator drive machine (109) and a control system (110) including the required safety circuit and actuators. The control unit of the condition monitoring system and the sensor arrangement connected to the control unit have been fitted in conjunction with the elevator car. The sensor arrangement comprises at least a sensor which measures the current of the safety circuit and is galvanically separated from the elevator safety circuit and connected to the safety circuit without interrupting the safety circuit wiring.

Abstract: An elevator includes guide rails laid in an elevator shaft vertically, an elevator car moving up and down along the guide rails, guiding units provided on the elevator car for guiding it, the guiding unit having a magnet unit including cores and coils forming electromagnets to generate a magnetic force against the guide rail through an air gap and a controller for controlling the magnetic force by maneuvering an exciting current for exciting the electromagnets. The controller controls the magnetic force so as to make the guiding units in non-contact with the guide rails when the elevator car is traveling and brings the guiding units into contact with the guide rails when the elevator car is stopped, so that the guiding units attract and fix the guide rails while the elevator car is stopped.

Abstract: A vibration damped elevator system is provided that includes a damper or dampers attached to the elevator cable. The damping coefficients of the damper or dampers are chosen to provide optimum dissipation of the vibratory energy in the elevator cable. A method of determining the optimum placement of the damper or dampers and their respective damping coefficients is also provided.

Abstract: A remote alarming system for an elevator includes: an elevator control device; a wireless alarming device provided independently of the elevator control device, for transmitting failure information of an elevator from the elevator control device through wireless communication; a management device remotely provided from a building in which the elevator is installed, and which performs wireless communication; and a portable terminal which performs the wireless communication with the wireless alarming device and the management device via a base station.

Abstract: Load measuring equipment has a small-area load sensor arranged between a support and a first damping body for vibration damping of parts relative to the support. The support may be a bracket and the parts may be a lift drive engine. The force on the sensor, which may be the force emanating from an engine foot of the drive engine made up of cage weight, cage load, weight of the counterweight, weight of the support cables and weight of the drive unit, is a small portion of the force on the support, such as the bracket. The ratio of the area of the first damping body to the load sensor determines the ratio of the force acting on the damping body to the force acting on L, and sensed by Z the load sensor.

Abstract: In a control operation performed at time of an earthquake or strong wind, when a running elevator is stopped at a nearest floor, the natural frequency of the transverse vibration of a rope is prevented from resonating with the natural frequency of the building, and thereby an increase in transverse vibration of the rope is restrained. In the control operation, when a shake of the building caused by earthquake or strong wind is detected, a running elevator is stopped at the nearest floor, or an elevator passing through an express zone is stopped emergently and runs at a low speed to the nearest floor, the natural frequency of the transverse vibration of the rope is compared with the natural frequency of the building, and the car stop position is selected at a non-resonance position to prevent the natural frequency of the transverse vibration of the rope from resonating with the natural frequency of the building.

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 elevator apparatus, first and second raised/lowered bodies are raised and lowered by hoisting machines. The second raised/lowered body has a raised/lowered main body and a rocking member rockably connected to the raised/lowered main body. The raised/lowered main body is suspended by a main rope via the rocking member. The main rope has a first rope end connected to the rocking member on one side of a rocking center of the rocking member and a second rope end connected to the rocking member on another side of the rocking center.

Abstract: An electronic unintended movement governor is disclosed, which includes an input for car position data, a device for determining the speed of the elevator car, a plurality of limit values for permitted movement of the elevator car, such as the limit value of the maximum permitted speed of the elevator car, and which unintended movement governor also provides overspeed monitoring for controlling at least one stopping appliance of the elevator car when the speed of the elevator car exceeds the limit value of the maximum permitted speed. The unintended movement governor includes at least two separate controls for controlling a stopping appliance of the elevator car. Additionally, a method for controlling the aforementioned electronic unintended movement governor is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for stopping elevators especially when using at least one three-phase motor operated by a static frequency converter. According to the invention, a brake relay controls the brake of the motor such that releasing of the brake relay causes the motor to be decelerated while the brake relay is coupled to a protective circuit in such a way that the control pulses required for generating the driving motor field are safely blocked when the brake relay is released.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device stops a car from running. The brake device has a power shutoff portion for shutting off a supply of power to a brake opening coil in response to a brake actuation command, and a current adjusting portion for supplying the brake opening coil with power while adjusting an amount of current in response to a deceleration reduction command from a brake control portion. The current adjusting portion can supply the brake opening coil with power even when the supply of power to the brake opening coil is shut off by the power shutoff portion.

Abstract: A platform includes main transverse beams (“MTBs”), each supported by at least one hoist. It is determined whether a load on any MTB is different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount. An MTB which has a load different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount is selected and then vertically moved with respect to the other MTBs within a predetermined safety limit to transfer load between the selected MTB and the other MTBs while monitoring the loads on each MTB and the position of the selected MTB as vertical movement of the selected MTB proceeds. The monitored loads and position are compared with the safety limit; and the movement of the selected MTB stopped when either the desired load transfer is completed or the safety limit has been met.

Abstract: An actuator used in a safety stop device for an elevator has: a movable portion displaceable between an actuation position where the safety stop device for the elevator is actuated and a normal position where the actuation of the safety stop device is released; and an electromagnetic coil for displacing the movable portion when a current flows through the electromagnetic coil. A device for inspecting operation of the actuator has a feeder circuit for supplying an amount of electricity required for a semi-operation which is less than that required for a full operation for displacing the movable portion from the normal position and the actuation position to the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a mode switch configured to select one of a plurality of operation modes based on a state of the elevator cage, and a blower controller configured to control a blower to adjust pressure inside an elevator cage according to the selected operation mode.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, a device, a computer program and a system for detecting the arrival in the elevator car/departure from the elevator car of elevator passengers. In the method the vertical acceleration values of the elevator car are received from the acceleration sensor and the passengers arriving in the elevator car and/or leaving the elevator car are detected on the basis of the vertical acceleration measurements of the acceleration sensor.

Abstract: An elevator control system is equipped with an evacuation operation control portion. In the event of a fire, the evacuation operation control portion determines, based on information on the fire and an elevator, whether or not the evacuation operation of the elevator can be performed. When it is determined that the evacuation operation can be performed, the evacuation operation control portion outputs a command to perform the evacuation operation to an elevator control device. Further, a condition for determining whether or not the evacuation operation can be performed is set in the evacuation operation control portion.

Abstract: In an elevator operation control device, a plurality of operation control profiles for prescribing values regarding operation of an elevator, for example, a speed of a car are registered in an operation control device body. The operation control device body collects values such as the activation frequency of the car and the like as information on a condition of use of the elevator. The operation control device body also selects one of the operation control profiles in accordance with the information on the condition of use, and controls the operation of the elevator based on the selected operation control profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a braking unit of a rope transport installation and braking unit. The command signals of a first brake are modulated, until the installation is stopped, by a first modulation circuit integrated in the control unit to automatically regulate the running speed of the rope according to a first predetermined deceleration setpoint curve activated by a braking order. The command signals of a second brake are simultaneously modulated by a second modulation circuit integrated in the control unit to automatically regulate the running speed of the rope according to a second predetermined deceleration setpoint curve activated by the braking order, the instantaneous value of the second setpoint curve being at all times greater than the value of the first setpoint curve.

Abstract: Since there are a variety of models of elevators, it is extremely time consuming to set by each elevator a specified value for judging car sway. Also, when one specified value is made to represent criteria for all elevators in order to save time for the setting, detection results may vary. Specified values as judgment criteria for car sway are prestored as a table or a relational expression that employ elevator specifications as parameters and a means for automatically selecting a specified value by using information on the elevator specifications is provided, which saves time for the setting. Since the set specified value is suitable for that particular elevator, variation in detection results is suppressed to realize a highly reliable car sway detector.

Abstract: In an elevator control apparatus, a control apparatus main body includes a program storage portion for storing a program concerning operational control of an elevator and a processing portion for performing a plurality of calculation processings based on the program. Further, the control apparatus main body writes pieces of processed information corresponding to the calculation processings, respectively, into the RAM when the calculation processings are performed, and monitors whether or not a sequence of performance of the calculation processings is normal by reference to a pattern of the pieces of the processed information written into the RAM.

Abstract: A passenger or cargo elevator is disclosed that relies on pull chains in a closed system in which the chains are used both to pull the elevator car and also to pull the counterweights. In this way, it is possible not only to use counterweights that exceed the actual weight of the elevator car, but also additional counterweights of up to 50% of the load to be lifted may be employed without incurring the problem of the chains being jerked suddenly owing to inertia during braking. The pulling motor devices, such as planetary-type speed reducers, are coupled to servomotors which can be used to program the characteristics of the movements required by the elevator. The control system includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a servomotor controller which, together with the coders of the servomotors, provide position, speed, and torque characteristics for operation of the system.

Abstract: A method and a system for the positioning of the elevator car and the door of the elevator in the condition monitoring system are provided. In the method the accelerations of the elevator car and the door of the elevator are measured with a sensor. By integrating the acceleration information two times in relation to time the position information is determined. When the condition monitoring system detects a fault, forecasts a malfunction occurring in the future or detects a significant change in the operation of the elevator or in the measuring signals related to the elevator, it is possible to attach to this information the location of the fault or event i.e. the position of the elevator or the position of a door of a certain floor level on the slide path. The position information can be synchronized to a separate reference point by means of a positioned switch by making an adjustment to the position information at the reference point.

Abstract: A forward-control counterweight fork-lift truck has a liftable and tiltable load-lifting device (1), a traction drive and operating drives for the movement of the load-lifting device (1). A calculation model (D) is stored in a control device (SE), to which directly or indirectly acting sensors (S) are connected for detecting the lifting load (L), the lifting height (H), the tilting angle (WM), the load torque (M), the direction of travel (R), the driving speed (V), and the steering angle (WL). The control device (SE) is designed to determine a driving and load state (Z) based on the detected physical variables (L, H, WM, M, R, V, WL) and the stored calculation model (D) and is operatively connected to the traction drive and the operating drives. Depending on the driving and load state (Z) determined, the operating speed, starting and braking acceleration, and driving speed are each reduced.

Abstract: An elevator apparatus has a car suspended by a main rope through the intermediation of a shackle spring. The car is equipped with a displacement sensor for measuring the displacement amount of the main rope with respect to the car. The displacement sensor is electrically connected to an abnormality control device mounted on the car. The abnormality control device obtains the magnitude of the tension of the main rope based on information from the displacement sensor, and selectively outputs a braking command signal to one of the following devices: an operation control device, a brake device, and an emergency stop device, according to the magnitude of the tension of the main rope.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device for braking the running of a car is controlled by a brake control device. The brake control device monitors a speed of the car and a degree of deceleration of the car at a time of emergency braking of the car. When the degree of deceleration of the car reaches a preset target deceleration, the brake control device generates a target speed pattern for decelerating the car from a speed of the car at that time.

Abstract: An elevator installation includes a device for monitoring the state of support belts. An elevator car and a counterweight are connected by the support belts and are movable in a vertical shaft in opposite sense along guide tracks. The monitoring device is fastened to the guide track by a support and has a guide device, preferably a guide roller, which guides the support belt along a scanning surface the monitoring device. The scanning surface and the support belt are protected simply and effectively against damage.

Abstract: An elevator operation control device has a component temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of a drive device, and a component-protective operation control portion for restraining an elevator from operating in accordance with the temperature detected by the component temperature detecting portion. Upon detecting a rise in the temperature of the drive device, the component-protective operation control portion changes operation control parameters of the elevator to restrain the elevator from operating and thus stops the rise in the temperature of the drive device before a protection circuit stops the elevator from operating.

Abstract: The present invention presents an arrangement and a method for monitoring a safety circuit. The system comprises a control appliance and the safety circuit comprises at least one serial circuit of two or more switches. The arrangement according to the invention comprises first means for measuring the status of at least one switch, as well as means, in connection with the first means, for conveying the status information of the switch to the control appliance. In the method according to the invention the status information of at least one switch is measured with the first means and the status information of the switch is sent to the control appliance using the first means for conveying the status information of the switch to the control appliance.

Abstract: Equipment for producing shaft information consists of a housing, a base, a first cover, a sliding guide with a code carrier and an electronic circuitboard with a sensor for detection of a code on a code carrier and electronic circuits for evaluation of the detected code. The housing has channels of different functions. The sliding guide can be inserted into a sliding guide channel. On movement of the lift cage the code carrier slides in the sliding guide past the sensor.

Abstract: A control device for a rotating machine driving an elevator suppresses increases in the moving time of the elevator while securing control and stability in accordance with moving direction and load of a car of the elevator. A control device for controlling speed of the rotating machine without using a speed sensor includes a speed command signal generator for generating a rotational speed command for the rotating machine; and a speed sensor-less controller for controlling a voltage applied to the rotating machine without using a speed sensor, based on the rotational speed command from the speed command signal generator. In the control device, the speed command signal generator changes an acceleration running curve in a deceleration interval in accordance with the moving direction and the load of the car of the elevator to generate the rotational speed command.

Abstract: A power supply for an elevator drive includes a voltage input, a comparator for comparing the input voltage with a predetermined threshold, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding connected to the elevator drive. The transformer has a single tapped primary winding. When the input voltage exceeds the predetermined threshold input, the comparator output causes power to be supplied to the primary winding via one of an end of the winding or the tapping of the winding, and when the input voltage is below the predetermined threshold, input power is supplied to the primary winding via the other of the end of the primary winding and the tapping of the winding.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for handling power outages in a multiple car elevator system in a building having a plurality of floors. The system includes an energy calculator connected to the elevators, and determines a total energy of the elevator system, a total energy required to handle a power outage, a plan to prepare for a power outage and a plan to handle a power outage. The system also includes a movement controller connected to the elevator(s) and the energy calculator. The movement controller receives the plan to prepare and the plan to handle from the energy calculator, and the movement controller executes the plan to prepare if there is no power outage and the movement controller executes the plan to handle if there is a power outage.