Otis Elevator Company

Greg A Schienda

Harold Terry

Daryl J Marvin

Anthony Cooney

James M Draper

Jose M Carballo

Richard C McCarthy

Frank M Sansevero

Randall Keith Roberts

Richard E Peruggi

Gilbert W Wierschke

Richard C Mccarthy

A pair of elevator cars () traveling in the same hoistway have their positions sensed (--) to provide for each a position signal () from which velocity signals () are derived; lookup tables () 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 () to drop the brakes () of one or more of the cars, and provides signals () to engage the safeties () of all cars if the cars become closer or if acceleration detectors () determine a car to be in freefall.

Multi-car elevator hoistway separation assurance

An elevator system includes an electronic system capable of triggering a machine room brake and an electromagnetic safety trigger with low hysteresis and with minimal power requirements that can be released to engage safeties, when car over-speed and/or over-acceleration is detected. The electromagnetic trigger may be reset automatically and may be released to engage the safeties, during the reset procedure. The system includes a processing system that is configured to decrease response time and to reduce the occurrence of false triggers caused by conditions unrelated to passenger safety, such as passengers jumping inside the elevator car.

Elevator over-acceleration and over-speed protection system

An elevator systemincludes 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 detectorand an acceleration detector. Based upon sensed speed and sensed acceleration, the controllercalculates a filtered speed of an elevator mass such as an elevator caror counterweight, and compares the filtered speed to the threshold speed to determine whether an over-speed condition has been reached. The controlleractivates a machine room brake when an over-speed condition exists, and engages an elevator safetyA,B when it determines that the elevator mass is still in an over-speed condition after the machine room brake has been activated.

Over-acceleration and over-speed detection and processing system

An electromagnetic safety triggerincludes a linkkinematically connected to a safetyA,B of an elevator system mass, such as an elevator car or counterweight. An electromagnetmounted on a linear actuatoris magnetically coupled to the link, and a springis connected between the linkand the elevator mass. The electromagnetcan be triggered to release the link, which allows the springto move the linkto engage the safetyA,B.

Electromagnetic safety trigger

The device for controlling movement of a plurality of elevator cars in a single hoistway includes a door monitor module () that facilitates controlling movement of elevator cars (). The door monitor module () is configured to determine when at least one door () along a hoistway () is open. The door monitor module () places a first relay () in a selected operative state if a first elevator car () is stopped at a landing corresponding to the at least one open door. The door monitor module () places a second relay () in a selected operative state if a second elevator car () is stopped at a landing corresponding to the at least one open door. The door monitor module () is also configured to place both relays () into the selected operative state if neither of the elevator cars () is stopped at a landing corresponding to an open door () along a hoistway ().

Control device for operating two elevator cars in a single hoistway

An elevator system () includes a hoistway () having a plurality of cars () traveling therein, the hoistway includes a steel tape (), each car having two tape readers () which feed corresponding position detectors () to provide independent position signals (). A group controller () assigns calls in a fashion to avoid collisions. Controllers () for each car communicate with each other and when deemed necessary, either lower the speed, acceleration, deceleration of one or both of the cars, or stop (with or without reversing) one or both of the cars. Independent processors () will drop the brake () of either or both cars if they come within a first distance of each other, or will engage the safeties () of either or both cars if they come within a lesser distance of each other.

Growing community of inventors

Plantsville, CT, United States of America

Greg A Schienda