Otis Elevator Company

Helmut L Schroder-Brumloop

Rudiger Lob

Armando Servia

Sven-Oliver Rainer Kersten

Alan Matthew Finn

Richard J Ericson

Peter L Herkel

Pascal Rebillard

Michael Mann

Mustapha Toutaoui

Hans-Kilian Josef Spielbauer

Uwe Schonauer

Jean-Noel Cloux

Michael T Barten

Herbert Horbrugger

Jean Marc Ferrary

Andreas O Belkner

Jean-Pierre Pougny

An elevator system includes an electronic driver which transmits a multi-phased electric current through a relay to a motor driving an elevator car. Under normal operating conditions, the motor uses the current from the driver to move the elevator car in a hoistway. When electric power fails, the elevator car is moved by gravity for any necessary rescue or maintenance operations, and consequently moves the motor. The movement of the motor generates a multi-phased electric current therein. The generated current is utilized to power a display panel of a movement indicator, which is automatically connected to the motor by the relay when power fails in the elevator system. The powered display panel informs the operator of the direction and speed of travel of the elevator car.

Speed and direction indicator for elevator systems

An elevator system includes a counterweight-drive assembly (26) having a motor (32) and drive pulley (36) mounted internally to engage a drive belt (42) for climbing or descending with respect thereto, resulting in raising or lowering of an elevator car (12) coupled to said counterweight-drive assembly (26).

Belt-climbing elevator having drive in counterweight

A passenger conveyor system, such as an elevator or shuttle system, includes a drive system formed from a plurality of sequentially connected belts driven by a machine. Each of the belts is engageable with a car to move the car along a portion of the path, and adjacent belts are interconnected by a transmission. In a particular embodiment, the passenger conveyor system includes a counterweight that is also engaged with the plurality of belts. In another particular embodiment, the passenger conveyor system includes a first portion in which the belt driven car moves vertically and a second portion in which the belt driven car moves horizontally.

Modular drive mechanism for a passenger conveyor

A method for detecting if an elevator door is blocked comprises the steps of: initiating a movement of the elevator door; starting a timer count upon the initiation of the movement of the door; determining if the timer count has expired before a door position reference switch is actuated; and determining that the elevator door is blocked if the timer count has expired before the door position reference switch is actuated.

Blocked door detection for an elevator system

An apparatus for determining if an elevator car is level with respect to a landing comprises: a first magnet disposed proximate to the landing; a second magnet disposed proximate to the landing; a sensor for providing a level signal in response to detecting a minimum flux region formed by the first and second magnets; and a processor for determining if the elevator is level with respect to the landing in response to the level signal. Each magnet has a first and second magnetic pole. The first and second magnets are adjacently aligned such that the first magnetic pole of the first magnet is adjacent to the first magnetic pole of the second magnet, and the second magnetic pole of the first magnet is adjacent to the second magnetic pole of the second magnet.

Differential magnetic alignment of an elevator and a landing

An acoustic signal in an elevator door system is provided if a door close signal is present and a door has not closed within a determined time. A switching frequency of a pulse width modulation signal is reduced such that a motor is caused to provide the acoustic signal.

Generation of an elevator door close warning

An automatic sliding door operator includes a top door operator and a bottom door operator, each operator having a motor driven sprocket driving a tooth belt to which the sliding doors are attached, the motors being separately driven in a position-synchronized fashion in response to related encoders connected with each motor to provide positional information.

Double-drive automatic sliding door operator

An elevator drive circuit is used for maintaining the voltage across first and second serially connected capacitors having first and second ends. The circuit comprises an active stabilizer for substantially maintaining a predetermined value of the voltage at a connection node of the capacitors. The active stabilizer provides compensation in response to deviations from the predetermined value of the voltage at the connection node.

Active stabilization of serially connected capacitors in high voltage

An apparatus for controlling an elevator door includes a three phase AC motor that receives control signals from a controller. The signals are issued at control points along a speed versus distance profile map that represents the control points as a percentage of the total distance to be travelled by the elevator. The total distance of door travel in one direction is measured be counting the number of pulses generated by an incremental encoder during a training run wherein the door is moved between its extreme positions at a constant speed. The number of pulses counted is then normalized to represent 100% of the distance traveled. During operation, the pulses are counted whenever the elevator door is in motion and control signals are issued based upon the number of pulses counted.

Method for controlling elevator doors

An input voltage U.sub.IN to a voltage level converter 10 having a high input impedance charges a storage element which periodically discharges current to an LED 16 which periodically provides a light pulse for generating a level converted version of the input voltage U.sub.IN. A resistor R.sub.p 22 connected to the storage element allows the storage element to discharge noise voltage spikes in the input voltage U.sub.IN.

Level conversion of AC or DC voltage with noise rejection and low power

The DC link current from one leg of a DC link of an inverter is provided to a primary winding of an AC current transformer, and a voltage across the secondary winding of the current transformer is integrated for providing an envelope indicative of the DC link current.

Low cost current sensor for fast-switching inverter applications

Drivers for field-controlled switches are powered and switched on and off by the same combined command and power signal which consists of a command signal modulated by a clock signal forming a command envelope including a train of clock pulses. The invention prevents power from being lost by refreshing power during the PWM low state, such that the command high state pulses need not be used for restoring power. Power and a command to a field-controlled driver is provided by a combined command power signal consisting in the on-state of clock pulses, the groups being a function of switch signal pulse width, and in the off-state of absence of clock pulses. During the off-state of the driver, power is refreshed. In addition, by integration the clock pulses a dead time occurs within the driver circuit, while the driver is being switched on with different time constants.

Growing community of inventors

Berlin, Germany

Helmut L Schroder-Brumloop