Having Means Engaging Cable Attached To Load Support, Or Its Guide, To Slow Load Support Patents (Class 187/350)
  • Patent number: 11814265
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overspeed governor for a lifting gear comprising a sheave driven by a overspeed governor cable and a brake for braking the sheave, wherein the brake comprises at least one eccentric piece, mounted on the sheave in a pivoting manner, wherein the eccentric piece is mounted on a first centrifugal weight in a pivoting manner and mounted on a second centrifugal weight in a pivoting manner, wherein, in the event of a displacement of the first and second centrifugal weights due to centrifugal force, the first and the second centrifugal weights pivot the eccentric piece, the brake comprising a reset unit having a spring system which pulls the centrifugal weights in the direction of the undeflected position thereof, wherein the spring system has a first spring constant up to a switching speed, the spring system has a second spring constant from the electric switching speed of the sheave and the second spring constant is greater than the first spring constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Wittur Holding GmbH
    Inventors: René Holzer, Leopold Latschbacher, Christoph Russwurm
  • Patent number: 11365091
    Abstract: An overspeed protection switch, an overspeed governor assembly and an elevator system are provided by the present disclosure. The overspeed protection switch includes: a trigger device including a trigger member and at least one protrusion, wherein the trigger member is capable of rotating to a triggered position from an untriggered position when being toggled, and the at least one protrusion is connected to the trigger member and rotates together with the trigger member; an actuation device including an action end capable of performing a linear movement; and a reset member which is connected with the action end of the actuation device and is translated with the linear movement of the action end of the actuation device so as to push one of the at least one protrusion to drive the trigger member to return to the untriggered position from the triggered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Zhengbao Shi
  • Patent number: 10773923
    Abstract: In the technical field of elevator systems, so as to provide a measure for preventing an overspeed governor rope inertia from unwantedly engaging a safety gear in an overspeed governor system, which has a governor rope connected to a moving mass of the elevator system, a machinery brake for decelerating the moving mass so as to perform a quick stop of the moving mass, a safety gear mounted to the moving mass, a synchronization linkage for tripping the safety gear and a synchronization linkage blocking device for blocking the synchronization linkage and/or a governor brake for braking the governor rope, it is determined whether a quick stop of the moving mass is performed, and the governor brake or the synchronization linkage blocking device is activated when the quick stop of the moving mass is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikko Puranen, Riku Lampinen, Jarkko Saloranta, Antti I Mäki, Jukka Turpeinen, Samuli Mäntynen
  • Patent number: 10124990
    Abstract: A mechanical brake interrupter for a lift or other similar suspended platform allows for stopping an emergency controlled descent during a power outage when an obstruction is present below. The mechanical brake interrupter includes a manual brake handle, a control collar, a coupling member, and an activation lever. The manual brake handle is used to manipulate a brake line for performing an emergency controlled descent. The coupling member is slidably connected to the control collar, and the activation lever is used to releasably lock the control collar in an armed position and unlock the control collar in an activated position. Rotating the control collar correspondingly rotates the coupling member such that the manual brake handle selectively engages the coupling member when the control collar is in the armed position, and the manual brake handle does not selectively engage the coupling member when the control collar is in the activated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SafeWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Olaf Zwaan, Dirk Miseur, Thijmen Put
  • Patent number: 9975731
    Abstract: A speed limiter for an elevator installation includes a stand, a wheel rotatably mounted on the stand and a non-circularly extending guide surface rotatable with the wheel. A pendulum, which is pivotable relative to the stand, with a pendulum wheel bearing against the guide surface is provided. In addition, a restraining device is provided, which loads the pendulum wheel at least indirectly with a restraining force against the guide surface. A switching vane connected with the pendulum comes into engagement with a blocking dog, which dog is connected at least indirectly with the wheel, when the pendulum is pivoted out to a certain extent in which the pendulum wheel lifts off the guide surface. In addition, an actuating device that triggers the engagement between the switching vane and the blocking dog is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Faruk Osmanbasic, Daniel Meierhans
  • Patent number: 9764927
    Abstract: An elevator has a car, arranged to be moved along at least one guide rail in an elevator guide way, the car having a brake for braking the car movement by gripping the guide rail, the brake having a gripping device configured to grip the guide rail and exert a friction force thereon, and an adjusting device configured to adjust the gripping device with respect to its friction force exerted on the guide rails in case of braking. The adjusting device is configured to adjust the gripping device depending on the car position in the elevator guide way. With the above construction, emergency braking is allowed, particularly in higher and high rise elevators with a stopping distance which is mostly unaffected by the position of the elevator car in the guide way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jaakko Kalliomäki
  • Patent number: 9695011
    Abstract: An elevator car guided at guide rails has a safety brake exerting a braking force on the guide rails in the event of non-compliance of a safety criterion. A housing of the safety brake has a wedge-shaped opening into which the guide rail is introduced, a brake body in the opening between a surface of the housing bounding the opening and a guide surface of the guide rail, an activating mechanism for transmitting an activation force to the brake body to press the brake body against the bounding surface and the guide surface, and a release mechanism connected indirectly or directly with the brake body for keeping the brake body in a rest position against the activation force. The release mechanism includes an articulated arm movable into an extended position for holding the brake body in the rest position and into a folded position for releasing the activation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Schindler Aufzüge AG
    Inventors: Stefan Hugel, Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 9169104
    Abstract: In this elevator system, a traveling body has arranged upon it a safety gear for braking and holding the traveling body tight on the guiderail, or on a braking rail. The safety gear is connected to a device for actuating the safety gear, which can also actuate the safety gear. The device for actuating the safety gear contains a coupler body, which can be pressed against the elevator hoistway, possibly against the guiderail or braking rail, wherein actuation of the safety gear is effected by a relative movement between the pressed-on coupler body and the safety gear. For this purpose, the coupler body can contain a curved coupler surface, which, in case of need, is brought into engagement with the elevator hoistway, or with the guiderail or braking rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Benoit Legeret, Eric Birrer, Marcus Junig, Philipp Zimmerli
  • Patent number: 8973717
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevator wire rope braking apparatus, and more particularly, to a rope braking apparatus which prevents partial abrasion of the wire rope while increasing braking efficiency by preventing a deviation in the pressure applied to the wire rope by a pressure plate moving in a straight line to apply pressure to the wire rope. Since the pressure application is based not on a hydraulic method but on a purely mechanical structure using only a spring elastic force, environmental pollution caused by hydraulic oil may be prevented and product cost may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Hoo-Geun Bae
  • Patent number: 8869946
    Abstract: An emergency stop device for elevators which actuates when an abnormal speed in both ascending and descending directions of a car is detected by one governor. The emergency stop device includes an endless governor rope to perform circulation movement in synchronization with ascent and descent of the car, a governor in an upper part of the shaft that restrains circulation movement of the governor rope when the abnormal speed is detected via the governor rope, an emergency stop device body in the car that brakes the car when the abnormal speed is detected, a swinging body swingably provided in the emergency stop device body, connected to the governor rope, that rotates when the circulation movement of the governor rope is restrained, thereby causing the emergency stop device body to actuate, and a swinging body rotation mechanism which rotates the swinging body in a prescribed direction when the governor rope between the car and the governor has become slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Okada
  • Patent number: 8863909
    Abstract: A braking device (2) for braking a lift car which moves relative to a lift shaft, having at least one braking module (6) which is provided in order to interact with a device, and having a catch (4) which can be adjusted between two operating positions (36, 360, 38), wherein the catch (4), in a first operating position (36, 360), is connected to the at least one braking module (6) such that the catch (4) transmits a release force (22) to the at least one braking module (6), and wherein the catch (4), in a second operating position (38), is separated from the at least one braking module (6), and the at least one braking module (6) is therefore in contact with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator AG
    Inventors: Frank Dudde, Philllip Federle
  • Publication number: 20140041967
    Abstract: An exemplary braking device for an elevator car includes a first brake member configured to remain fixed relative to an elevator car for applying a braking force to a first side of an element such as a guide rail. A second brake member is moveable relative to the first brake member for applying a braking force to a second side of the element. A brake release member adjacent the first brake member is received against the first side of the element between the first brake member and the first side of the guide rail. The brake release member is moveable relative to the first brake member for selectively releasing the braking device from engagement with the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Wei Wei
  • Patent number: 8550217
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator provided with a safety gear arrangement, the elevator including at least an elevator car arranged to travel back and forth substantially vertically along guide rails, at least two safety gear mechanisms disposed in conjunction with the elevator car and at least one speed limiter, which includes at least a speed limiter pulley, a diverting pulley and a speed limiter rope fitted as a loop around at least the speed limiter pulley and the diverting pulley, the speed limiter rope being connected at least to a first safety gear mechanism. A second safety gear mechanism has been arranged to be triggered after the triggering of the first safety gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Petteri Valjus, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 8511437
    Abstract: An elevator car braking apparatus includes a gear drive assembly for compressing one or more springs which are coupled by a cam follower to one or a pair of brake shoes. When the springs are released from a compressed state, the brake shoes engage and grip hoisting ropes, part of the hoisting apparatus or the car guide rails, within a predetermined time from the start of a brake application cycle. During a brake application cycle, the springs move the cam follower along cam surfaces shaped and disposed to cause the cam follower to move at least one of the brake shoes toward the other brake shoe. The gear assembly includes clutch means for disengaging from and engaging with a gear or axle of the gear assembly during decompression and compression of the springs, respectively. A resilient material in the braking apparatus initially accelerates movement of the cam follower when the springs begin to decompress, and may protect gears of the gear assembly from damage at the end of a brake release cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corp.
    Inventor: Walter Glaser
  • Patent number: 8485318
    Abstract: An elevator rope braking system including a base portion and a top portion affixed by at least one mounting structure; an outer housing and a magnetic core arranged on and affixed to the base portion; an armature plate intermediate the top portion and the base portion having an armature extending toward the base portion; and an electromagnetic coil positioned between the outer housing and the magnetic core and operative to provide an electromagnetic force sufficient to move the armature from a first braking position to a second non-braking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Paul J. Doran
  • Publication number: 20130105250
    Abstract: In this speed limiter with cam wheel and pivot lever and pivot roller, a force limiter wheel with a plurality of dogs is provided at the pivot lever instead of a dog entering into the path of ratchet wheel teeth, wherein the force limiter wheel is braked by means of a slip clutch. If in the case of triggering the braking force in the limiter cable exceeds the force of the slip clutch the force limiter wheel rotates at the dog disposed in engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth, in which case the cable pulley rotates therewith and the stress in the limiter cable builds up and the succeeding dog enters into the path of the ratchet wheel teeth and blocks the cable pulley again. The parts participating in the triggering can thereby be protected from excessive action of force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: INVENTIO AG
  • Publication number: 20120312638
    Abstract: An actuator for a speed governor of an elevator system includes a governor wheel equipped with at least two flyweights. The governor wheel can be driven by a governor cable looped around it. An actuator wheel is stationary in a basic position. A coupler engages the actuator wheel when the governor wheel attains an actuation speed and thus couples with the governor wheel so that the actuator wheel is caused to rotate. An elastic material, preferably transmitting a high degree of friction, is provided between the coupler and the actuator wheel. The actuator wheel has a lining or tyre of the elastic material and/or the coupler is equipped with the elastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
    Inventors: Jochen Müller, Christian Schulz
  • Publication number: 20120234632
    Abstract: A braking apparatus main body has: a movable body; and an electromagnetic actuator that displaces the movable body in a direction of contact with and separation from a rotating body that is rotated relative to a hoisting machine main body. An adjusting collar is screwed into an adjusting threaded aperture disposed on the electromagnetic actuator. The adjusting collar is disposed between the hoisting machine main body and the electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator is mounted to the hoisting machine main body by a mounting device in a state in which the hoisting machine main body bears the adjusting collar. A position of the braking apparatus main body relative to the hoisting machine main body is adjusted in a direction in which a distance between the electromagnetic actuator and the rotating body changes by adjusting an amount of thread engagement of the adjusting collar in the adjusting threaded aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8256579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a braking apparatus and an elevator system comprising the braking apparatus for grasping or gripping a hoisting rope of the elevator. The system comprises a pair of brake shoes, a motorized rotatable camshaft with at least one cam surface for pressing against a push plate to compress a spring means and keep the shoes apart or when the motor is disengaged cause the cam shaft to not push on the push plate such that the springs expand cause the brake shoes to come together and grip the hoisting rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Yanhua Jia
  • Publication number: 20120205198
    Abstract: An emergency stop device for elevators which actuates when an abnormal speed in both ascending and descending directions of a car is detected by one governor. The emergency stop device includes an endless governor rope to perform circulation movement in synchronization with ascent and descent of the car, a governor in an upper part of the shaft that restrains circulation movement of the governor rope when the abnormal speed is detected via the governor rope, an emergency stop device body in the car that brakes the car when the abnormal speed is detected, a swinging body swingably provided in the emergency stop device body, connected to the governor rope, that rotates when the circulation movement of the governor rope is restrained, thereby causing the emergency stop device body to actuate, and a swinging body rotation mechanism which rotates the swinging body in a prescribed direction when the governor rope between the car and the governor has become slack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Okada
  • Publication number: 20120061189
    Abstract: A speed limiter for an elevator system includes: at least one speed limiter wheel having a first radial cam with lobes, and at least a second, phase-shifted radial cam with lobes; a first mass, which is rotatably arranged in a first pivot bearing and which together with a first roller rolls on the first radial cam such that the first mass follows a first oscillating motion when the speed limiter wheel rotates; and a second mass, which is rotatably arranged in a second pivot bearing and which together with a second roller rolls on the second radial cam such that the second mass follows a second oscillating motion when the speed limiter wheel rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Marcel Imfeld, Karsten Gensicke
  • Publication number: 20120006630
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator governor device includes a sheave that is configured to move responsive to movement of a rope that moves with an elevator car. A stop member selectively moves into an engaged position in which the stop member is positioned to engage a portion of the rope to prevent movement of the rope. The stop member has a generally cylindrical outer surface for engaging the rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Min Allan Wang, Li Haiyun
  • Patent number: 8006806
    Abstract: According to an emergency brake device for an elevator, a brake body is capable of coming into and out of contact with an outer periphery of a sheave which is rotatable, and is capable of being displaced to a rotation direction of the sheave while maintaining a contact with the outer periphery of the sheave. Further, the brake body is arranged between the sheave and a gripper metal. The gripper metal includes an inclined portion which is caused to incline with respect to the outer periphery of the sheave. When the brake body is displaced in the rotation direction of the sheave, the brake body is meshed between the outer periphery of the sheave and the inclined portion. To the brake body, a connecting portion capable of being displaced with respect to the sheave is connected. The connecting body is displaced in a direction in which the brake body comes into and out of contact with the outer periphery of the sheave by a brake drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ito
  • Publication number: 20110203878
    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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigenobu Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20110186385
    Abstract: In a speed governor for an elevator, a clutch mechanism is provided between a governor sheave and a rotary body. An actuator performs switching between transmission and interruption of rotation by the clutch mechanism according to whether or not energization from a DC generator, which generates a current by rotation of the governor sheave, is performed. A rectifier circuit allows the current to flow from the DC generator to the actuator only when a rotating direction of the governor sheave is a predetermined one of a first direction and a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mineo Okada
  • Publication number: 20110147133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a braking apparatus and an elevator system comprising the braking apparatus for grasping or gripping a hoisting rope of the elevator. The system comprises a pair of brake shoes, a motorized rotatable camshaft with at least one cam surface for pressing against a push plate to compress a spring means and keep the shoes apart or when the motor is disengaged cause the cam shaft to not push on the push plate such that the springs expand cause the brake shoes to come together and grip the hoisting rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Yanhua Jia
  • Publication number: 20110127116
    Abstract: Provided is a governor for elevator which permits easy assembling adjustment work due to a simple construction, has a high degree of freedom in the arrangement of fly-weights, an overspeed switch and a rope grasping mechanism and the set mass of the fly-weights, enables the arrangement of the fly-weights and the like, the mass of the fly-weights and the like to be determined specifically for each of the first overspeed detection speed and the second overspeed detection speed, and can detect each of the first overspeed detection speed and the second overspeed detection speed with good accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Niikawa
  • Publication number: 20100288587
    Abstract: An elevator rope braking system including a base portion and a top portion affixed by at least one mounting structure; an outer housing and a magnetic core arranged on and affixed to the base portion; an armature plate intermediate the top portion and the base portion having an armature extending toward the base portion; and an electromagnetic coil positioned between the outer housing and the magnetic core and operative to provide an electromagnetic force sufficient to move the armature from a first braking position to a second non-braking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Paul J. Doran
  • Patent number: 7819229
    Abstract: An apparatus in an elevator for detecting and stopping an uncontrolled movement of the car when a machine brake intended to keep the elevator car immovable is on. The apparatus comprises a motion detector (1) for detecting movement of the car (2) and the length of the movement when the machine brake is on (10), a stopping device (3) for stopping an uncontrolled movement of the car, and limit and control means (4) for defining an allowed car movement and controlling the operation of the stopping device according to information obtained from the motion detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Hänninen, Seppo Ketoviita
  • Patent number: 7650972
    Abstract: An elevator may include an elevator car, hoisting ropes, traction sheave, and compensating device. The hoisting ropes may support the elevator car. The traction sheave may move the elevator car using the hoisting ropes. The elevator may include rope portions of the hoisting ropes going upwards and downwards from the elevator car. A rope portion going from the traction sheave in a direction of the rope portions going upwards from the elevator car may be under a first rope tension. A rope portion going from the traction sheave in a direction of the rope portions going downwards from the elevator car may be under a second rope tension. The compensating device may do one or more of the following: equalize rope tension, compensate the rope tension, equalize rope elongation, compensate the rope elongation, and render a ratio of the first rope tension to the second rope tension substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Publication number: 20090294220
    Abstract: An elevator car braking apparatus includes a gear drive assembly for compressing one or more springs which are coupled by a cam follower to one or a pair of brake shoes. When the springs are released from a compressed state, the brake shoes engage and grip hoisting ropes, part of the hoisting apparatus or the car guide rails, within a predetermined time from the start of a brake application cycle. During a brake application cycle, the springs move the cam follower along cam surfaces shaped and disposed to cause the cam follower to move at least one of the brake shoes toward the other brake shoe. The gear assembly includes clutch means for disengaging from and engaging with a gear or axle of the gear assembly during decompression and compression of the springs, respectively. A resilient material in the braking apparatus initially accelerates movement of the cam follower when the springs begin to decompress, and may protect gears of the gear assembly from damage at the end of a brake release cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corp.
    Inventor: Walter Glaser
  • Patent number: 7607518
    Abstract: According to an emergency brake device for an elevator, a brake body is capable of coming into and out of contact with an outer periphery of a sheave which is rotatable, and is capable of being displaced to a rotation direction of the sheave while maintaining a contact with the outer periphery of the sheave. Further, the brake body is arranged between the sheave and a gripper metal. The gripper metal includes an inclined portion which is caused to incline with respect to the outer periphery of the sheave. When the brake body is displaced in the rotation direction of the sheave, the brake body is meshed between the outer periphery of the sheave and the inclined portion. To the brake body, a connecting portion capable of being displaced with respect to the sheave is connected. The connecting body is displaced in a direction in which the brake body comes into and out of contact with the outer periphery of the sheave by a brake drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ito
  • Patent number: 7607516
    Abstract: An elevator governor includes a selectively powered switch (60) that is activated when an elevator car moves at a speed that exceeds a selected limit. The speed limit is lower than normally expected car speeds during normal elevator operation. The switch (60) is activated by a moving member (66) that moves into a switch-activation position responsive to movement of a rotating member (36) that corresponds to movement of an elevator car. The arrangement allows for a primary governor to prevent elevator speeds from exceeding a first selected limit and a secondary governor to prevent elevator speeds from exceeding a second, lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Andres Monzon Simon, Fernando Del Rio Sanz
  • Publication number: 20090260926
    Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement in the supply of rope to the speed limiter of an elevator. The arrangement comprises at least a braking device for braking the rope being supplied to the speed limiter. As new rope is being fed to the speed limiter, the new rope has been fitted to run via the braking device and under a diverting pulley in the lower part of the elevator shaft and passed further from the diverting pulley over an upper speed limiter pulley to act on the safety gear of the elevator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Gert VAN DER MEIJDEN, Jos VAN DEN HEUVEL
  • Publication number: 20090159373
    Abstract: A magnetic descent control device is disclosed. The device comprises an input shaft affixed to a rotating driven sheave acting as a drive assembly, which grips a cable guiding the descent path of a body carrying cage. The input shaft has a shoulder upon which rests a rotor. The rotor is encased within a front and back enclosure of conductive material. Disposed along at least one surface of the rotor and/or at least one of the conductors, is a series of magnets such that rotation of the rotor relative to the conductors creates relative motion between the magnets' magnetic field and the conductor inducing eddy currents in the conductor that oppose the magnetic field creating a rotational braking force. As a result, very precise and/or controllable descent may be obtained over a broad range of descent angles and/or distances with little or no mechanical wear or risk of overheating. Preferably, the sheave gripping the cable may have a circumferential groove to better improve traction and grip of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: RAPID EGRESS DESCENT SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Hartman, Dan S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090101449
    Abstract: Disclosed are an elevator drive, a clamping arrangement for an elevator machine, a braking mechanism for an elevator system, and a rotor fixture for an elevator machine. The inventive elevator drive is subdivided into a number of segments, to each of which a converter is assigned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Olaf Breidenstein, Jochen Schulze, Eberhard Vogler, Andreas Wilhelm, Torsten Gessner, Gunther Herrmann, Markus Jetter, Nis-Anton Mollgaard, Uwe Resag
  • Publication number: 20090032341
    Abstract: According to an emergency brake device for an elevator, a brake body is capable of coming into and out of contact with an outer periphery of a sheave which is rotatable, and is capable of being displaced to a rotation direction of the sheave while maintaining a contact with the outer periphery of the sheave. Further, the brake body is arranged between the sheave and a gripper metal. The gripper metal includes an inclined portion which is caused to incline with respect to the outer periphery of the sheave. When the brake body is displaced in the rotation direction of the sheave, the brake body is meshed between the outer periphery of the sheave and the inclined portion. To the brake body, a connecting portion capable of being displaced with respect to the sheave is connected. The connecting body is displaced in a direction in which the brake body comes into and out of contact with the outer periphery of the sheave by a brake drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazumasa ITO
  • Patent number: 7419033
    Abstract: An emergency brake device for an elevator includes a brake shoe portion provided inside a sheave 1 or deflector sheave of an elevator and having a brake shoe 5a at a lower end of the brake shoe portion, the brake shoe generating a braking force due to friction upon abutting an inner wall of an outer peripheral frame of the sheave or deflector sheave at a time of braking, the brake shoe portion having built therein spring mechanisms 51, 52 provided between the brake shoe and king pins 5f1, 5f2, which are offset in a rotation direction of the sheave or deflector sheave with respect to a centerline passing through a rotation shaft of the sheave or deflector sheave and are fixed on a bearing 1b side of the rotation shaft, the spring mechanisms each absorbing a force generated between the brake shoe and the king pin due to the braking force and being connected to the king pin at one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishiki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ito
  • Publication number: 20080149428
    Abstract: An elevator installation is arranged in a building with at least two elevators, wherein the building is divided into building zones and each elevator has at least one elevator car, each elevator car is independently movable by an associated drive in an associated car zone and each car zone has at least one transfer floor and at least one further transfer floor. A first elevator has at least three elevator cars, which are arranged vertically one above the other and which comprise a middle and two adjacent elevator cars, wherein the middle elevator car is independently movable in a middle car zone and the two adjacent elevator cars are independently movable in two adjacent car zones. The middle car zone and an adjacent car zone serve at least one common floor. In addition, at least one of these car zones is allocated to two building zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Hans Kocher, Stephan Jans, Jean-Philippe Escher
  • Publication number: 20080116015
    Abstract: Brake equipment, for an elevator installation, includes: a static element; a movable element movable relative to the static element in a first degree of freedom, wherein selectably a first frictional contact is produced in a first contact surface between the static element and the movable element by a controllable normal force acting in a second degree of freedom, and a first friction force opposes movement of the movable element relative to the static element; and a relative element, wherein a second frictional contact is produced in a second contact surface between the movable element and the relative element by the normal force, and a second friction force opposes movement of the movable element relative to the relative element. The relative element is movable in the first degree of freedom relative to the static element between a normal position and a braking position and is resiliently biased into the normal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20080083588
    Abstract: A self powered, self hoisting elevator apparatus for lifting objects from a lower supporting surface to or nearer to an origin at a predetermined height in a multistory structure comprises a light weight housing of sufficient strength for receiving and supporting the objects to be lifted. A cable is wound at least partially onto a rotatable member supported by the housing, the cable having a predetermined length sufficient to reach at least from the origin to the lower supporting surface and having a free end for securing the cable to a fixed anchorage proximate to the origin, the rotatable member rotating in a first direction when the housing is descending toward the lower supporting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: LIFE-PACK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Leon
  • Publication number: 20070272494
    Abstract: The invention is an elevator comprising a movable component, a vertical track mounted along an elevator shaft, a driven frictional engagement device for frictional engagement with one side of the track with a coefficient of friction, and a connected support disposed on an opposite side of the track. The frictional engagement device is pivotally mounted on a lever which pivotally supports an effective weight of the movable component whereby the lever makes an angle ?1 with the horizontal. The tangent of the angle ?1 is less than or equal to the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: HANS KOCHER
  • Patent number: 7080717
    Abstract: In an elevator emergency braking apparatus, a braking device main body has a main body braking surface facing a main rope and positioned at a first side of a main rope array, and a tapered surface facing the main body braking surface on an opposite side of the main rope array. An intermediate braking piece is disposed between mutually-adjacent main ropes inside the braking device main body. The intermediate braking piece is displaceable in a direction to be placed separably in contact with the main body braking surface. A wedge member is disposed between the tapered surface and the main rope array. The wedge member is separated from the main ropes during normal operation, and wedged between the tapered surface and the main ropes during braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ito
  • Patent number: 7073632
    Abstract: A safety system for an elevator car which will prevent movement of the elevator car should the car drift beyond a predetermined distance from the hoistway sill with the car door in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Invento AG
    Inventor: Matthew Martin
  • Publication number: 20040251088
    Abstract: An adjustable brake is provided that applies a braking force directly to an elevator sheave over which a cable suspends an elevator car and a counterweight. The brake includes a pair of calipers that apply a braking force to either longitudinal end of the sheave. The brake is spring set and may be released using, for example, electromagnetic, hydraulic or pneumatic forces. The calipers are mounted to and movable along a rail to enable adjustment of the location of the calipers. Further, the calipers are coupled together using one or more pins and are movable along the pins to enable adjustment of spacing between the calipers. The brake is particularly adapted for use with existing elevators because the brake does not require modification to the existing elevator sheave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Gilles Ferrand, Bruno Pitto
  • Publication number: 20040149524
    Abstract: A lower rate of wear of brake blocks and a speed limiter cable for a lift speed limiter brake apparatus and thus a longer service life can be achieved with a cable brake having brake blocks of different materials. In a preferred embodiment, one of the brake blocks is of aluminium-bronze and the other brake block is of nodular cast iron or soft cast iron. In further embodiments, one or both of the brake blocks may be formed of a ceramic-containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Mori, Walter Windlin
  • Patent number: 6691834
    Abstract: A centrifugally activated device for controlling the speed of movement of an elevator cab includes the capability of controlling upward and downward movement. A first stopping device is associated with at least one elevator sheave. A second stopping device preferably is supported on an opposite side of the same sheave. The second stopping device preferably includes centrifugally activated components such as a latch member that moves from a first position into a second, stopping position responsive to an undesirably high speed of upward movement of the elevator cab. The centrifugally activated components preferably include a latch member that is rotatably supported on the sheave and has an engaging member at one end that engages a cooperating stop surface near the sheave to prevent the sheave from further rotation upon the sheave reaching an undesirably high rate of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Luis Martí Sánchez, Fernando Del Rio Sanz, Fernando Santos Cosgaya
  • Patent number: 6631790
    Abstract: A method for braking a traction sheave elevator stops the elevator in the event of an emergency by the braking of the elevator using a braking device not comprised in the drive machine. A traction sheave elevator is provided with a braking device not comprised in the drive machine and designed to improve the efficiency of emergency stopping. The maximum force decelerating the elevator and generated by the braking device equals about half the weight of the nominal load of the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kone Corp.
    Inventors: Seppo Mattlar, Petteri Valjus, Johannes De Jong
  • Patent number: 6619435
    Abstract: A device for preventing uncontrolled acceleration of an elevator car installed in an elevator installation. The device has a limiting cable guided over rollers in a direction of movement of the elevator car. A braking device which is joined to the elevator car is connected to the limiting cable by a release and brakes the elevator car in both a downward and upward direction when the limiting cable transmits a predetermined release force to the release. A speed limiter is connected to one of the rollers and stops the roller when the traveling speed of the elevator car exceeds a predetermined limiting speed either in a downward or upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Franz Watzke, Hartmut Liebig
  • Patent number: RE38835
    Abstract: A brake release mechanism for an elevator machine includes apparatus to reduce the braking force on the machine shaft. The apparatus may be actuated from a position located remotely from the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jose Sevilleja, José M. Sandoval