Otis Elevator Company

Contitech Antriebssysteme Gmbh

Hugh James O'Donnell

Ary O Mello

John T Pitts

Pedro S Baranda

Eric G Olsen

John P Wesson

William A Veronesi

Karl M Prewo

Mark Steven Thompson

Richard J Ericson

Kathryn Rauss Sherrick

William C Perron

Hubert Goeser

Dale R Barrett

Douglas E Logan

Hubert E G&ouml;ser

Richard Phillips

Thomas J Hoffman

Bill Perron

Mark R Jaworowski

Bruce P Swaybill

Randy Roberts

Frederick H Barker

Richard L Palinkas

Patricia Derwinski

Richard L Hollowell

Xiaodong Luo

Vincent J Gajewski

Dennis James Rehmer

Mark E Marler

Hubert Göser

James R Irish

Christoph Bederna

David W McKee

Randy G Henley

Ronald Owen Rosenberg

Goldino Alves

Stephan Brocke

Blair J Cohen

Christopher J Elliott

John D Barrett

Kathryn Rauss

Thomas Winkler

Jotti Pierangelo

Knizley James B

John Randazzo

Peter Schreiner

Pierangelo Jotti

Paul Von Hardenberg

Hubert E Goeser

An elevator load bearing assembly () includes a jacket () having different portions comprising different polymer compositions. In a disclosed example, a plurality of tension members () are at least partially surrounded by a first portion () comprising a first polymer composition. A second portion () establishes at least one exterior surface () of the jacket () and comprises a second polymer composition. In one example, a surface-modifying agent is added to alter the composition of at least a portion of the jacket (). In another example, co-extrusion techniques using different polymer compositions establish different portions of the jacket ().

Elevator load bearing assembly having a jacket with multiple polymer compositions

A tension member for an elevator system has an aspect ratio of greater than one, where aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of tension member width w to thickness t (w/t). The increase in aspect ratio results in a reduction in the maximum rope pressure and an increased flexibility as compared to conventional elevator ropes. As a result, smaller sheaves may be used with this type of tension member. In a particular embodiment, the tension member includes a plurality of individual load carrying cords encased within a common layer of coating. The coating layer separates the individual cords and defines an engagement surface for engaging a traction sheave.

Tension member for an elevator

A load bearing member () useful in an elevator system () includes at least one elongated tension member (), a conversion coating () on the elongated tension member (), and a polymer jacket () at least partially surrounding the coated elongated tension member (). In one example, the conversion coating () includes at least one of an oxide, a phosphate, or a chromate.

Elevator load bearing member having a conversion coating on tension member

An illustrative method of making a load bearing member for use in an elevator system includes mechanically roughening at least one surface on an exterior of a jacket of the load bearing member to establish a friction characteristic that facilitates engagement between an elevator system sheave and the roughened surface.

Elevator load bearing member having a jacket with at least one rough exterior surface

An elevator load bearing member assembly includes at least one roughened surface () on a polyurethane jacket (). In one example, mechanical roughening is used to roughen the surface () after the jacket has been extruded onto tension members (). In another example, the temperatures used for molding a jacket () are controlled to induce melt fracture and roughen the surface () during the forming process. Other examples include chemically roughening the jacket surface and using localized heating to roughen the surface. The roughened jacket surface improves friction characteristics of a load bearing member assembly.

An elevator load bearing assembly includes a plurality of cords within a jacket. The cords are spaced from an exterior surface on the jacket such that the spacing remains generally constant along the length of the belt. The jacket has a smooth, uninterrupted exterior surface for contacting sheaves as the belt moves in the elevator system. A method of making the inventive belt assembly is disclosed. The inventive belt assembly minimizes the possibility for generating an annoying, audible sound and vibration during elevator operation.

Elevator belt assembly with noise and vibration reducing grooveless jacket arrangement

An elevator load bearing assembly () includes a plurality of synthetic or polymer cords () within a urethane jacket (). The cords are prestretched and the jacket prevents the stretched cords from relaxing. The inventive arrangement provides a load bearing assembly () that has little or no elastic or construction stretch.

Elevator belt assembly with prestretched cords

A method of making a load bearing member () for an elevator system () includes placing at least one tension member () adjacent one side () of a first layer () of a polymer material. A second layer (), comprising a urethane in a disclosed example, is added adjacent to at least the one side () of the first layer () such that the tension member () is between the first layer () and the second layer (). Such a technique allows for eliminating the bridges typically used to support the tension members in molding devices. Eliminating such bridges eliminates the resulting grooves associated with previous arrangements. Providing a grooveless exterior on the jacket () of the load bearing member () eliminates a significant source of potential vibration and noise in an elevator system.

Method of making a load bearing member for an elevator system

An elevator load bearing assembly () includes a plurality of cords () within a jacket (). The jacket has a plurality of grooves () spaced along the length of the belt assembly. Each groove has a plurality of portions () aligned at an oblique angle (A, B) relative to a longitudinal axis () of the belt (). In one example, the grooves are separated such that there is no longitudinal overlap between adjacent grooves. In another example, transitions () between the obliquely aligned portions are at different longitudinal positions on the belt. Another example includes a combination of the different longitudinal positions and the non-overlapping groove placement.

Elevator belt assembly with noise reducing groove arrangement

A tension member termination device optimized for terminating flexible flat tension members, the device including a socket with a compression portion and a bulbous portion and a compression plate on each side of the compression portion fastenable by fasteners extending through all of these feature. The device provides a pathway for the tension member through the device and upon torquing the fasteners reliably secures the tension member while avoiding deleterious pressure and stress therein. The invention also provides a safety clamp for optional use with the invention.

Traction enhanced controlled pressure flexible flat tension member termination device

An elevator load bearing member assembly includes at least one traction enhancing surface () on a jacket (). In one example, a mechanical removal process is used to strip away at least some of an amide-rich layer from the surface () after the jacket has been extruded onto tension members (). In another example, a chemical removal process is used. Another disclosed example includes disrupting the surface.

Elevator load bearing member having a jacket with at least one traction-enhancing exterior surface

An elevator load bearing assembly includes a plurality of cords within a jacket. The jacket has a plurality of grooves spaced along the length of the belt assembly. In one example, the grooves are separated by varying spacings along the length of the belt. In another example, at least a portion of each groove is aligned at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the belt. Another example includes a combination of the different spacings and the non-perpendicular alignment.

A tension member termination device optimized for terminating flexible flat tension members, the device including a socket with a compression portion and a bulbous portion and a compression plate on each side of the compression plate on each side of the compression portion fastenable by fasteners extending through all of these feature. The device provides a pathway for the tension member through the device and upon torquing the fasteners reliably secures the tension member while avoiding deleterious pressure and stress therein.

A termination assembly for supporting and securing an end section of a belt in an elevator system includes a first support member that is fixed in a selected position within the elevator system. A second support member of one example is at least partially received over the first support member. The first support member includes at least one stop portion extending outward from a body of the first support member. The second support member includes at least one stop portion extending inward from an interior of the second support member. A plurality of motion limiters, which are inserts in one example, are received between the stop portions to limit relative rotary movement between the first and second support members. The load bearing member is received around the exterior of the second support member where it is secured in a selected position.

Assembly for supporting the end of a load bearing member in an elevator system

Growing community of inventors

Longmeadow, MA, United States of America

Hugh James O'Donnell