Otis Elevator Company

Charles S Darling

Richard N Fargo

Patricia Derwinski

Minglun Qiu

Richard S Blakelock

Brian K Meek

Scott E McCullough

Anying Shen

Thomas Swyst

Frank M Sansevero

John M Milton-Benoit

Michael P Flynn

Jay S Lengacher

Bernward Engelke

Jorg Ostermeier

Carla Majuntke

Ernst Führing

Ken Woronoff

Stanley P Urban

Scott E Mccullough

An exemplary elevator system includes an elevator car having an integrated cabin and car frame structure including a platform thickness between a floor surface in the cabin and a lowermost surface on a support beam used for supporting the car beneath the floor surface. A sheave assembly is supported beneath the floor surface. The sheave assembly includes a plurality of sheaves and a plurality of subframe beams. The sheaves and subframe beams fit within the platform thickness such that the subframe beams and the sheaves are no lower than the lowermost surface on the support beam. A plurality of isolation members are between the sheave assembly and the elevator car for isolating an interior of the cabin from vibrations associated with movement of the sheaves.

Underslung elevator car configuration

An exemplary elevator system includes an elevator car () having an integrated cabin and car frame structure including a platform thickness (T) between a floor surface in the cabin and a lowermost surface on a support beam used for supporting the car beneath the floor surface. A sheave assembly () is supported beneath the floor surface. The sheave assembly includes a plurality of sheaves and a plurality of subframe beams. The sheaves and subframe beams fit within the platform thickness (T) such that the subframe beams and the sheaves are no lower than the lowermost surface on the support beam. A plurality of isolation members are between the sheave assembly and the elevator car for isolating an interior of the cabin from vibrations associated with movement of the sheaves ().

An escalator drive assembly includes a backup member () that facilitates controlling movement of the escalator () even when the normal drive assembly operation is interrupted. A backup member () in the form of a flange () is associated with a drive pulley () and normally rotates in unison with the drive pulley (). When there is a failure in the normal operation of the drive mechanism, however, there is a resulting relative movement between the backup member () and the drive pulley (). Such relative motion preferably activates a switch () that provides a signal that indicates a failure of the normal operation of the drive mechanism. The backup member () facilitates providing an indication of a failure and control over movement of the escalator () even when the normal drive assembly is not operating as intended.

Escalator drive mechanism with failure detection and backup

An escalator drive machine includes a motor output sheave connected to a drive motor through a belt reduction assembly including a main output sheave. A drive belt extends from the belt reduction assembly and is guided along a plurality of guide sheaves to engage the step chain and propel the escalator tread plates. In addition, by locating a pinch roller adjacent the handrail, the drive belt and handrail can be pinched together to provide a motive force to the handrail. The drive belt thereby synchronously drives the handrail. In another embodiment the drive machine includes a counter-rotating motor to drive a drive belt on each side of the escalator system.

Escalator drive machine

Escalator handrail entry

Growing community of inventors

Kensington, CT, United States of America

Charles S Darling