Otis Elevator Company

Kyle B Martin

Wenping Zhao

Daniel A Mosher

Chen Qian Zhao

Randy Roberts

David J Lanesey

Brad Guilani

James Leo Hubbard

Mark Steven Thompson

Justin Billard

Kiron Bhaskar

Hong Yang

Peter Keyo

David Wayne Mckee

Russell Bruce Gottlieb

A method of making an elevator load bearing member includes unidirectional weaving a plurality of load bearing fibers including at least a first material and a second material. A melting point of the first material is higher than a melting point of the second material. The method includes bonding the load bearing fibers together by at least partially melting at least some of the second material and coating the plurality of load bearing fibers.

Elevator load bearing member including a unidirectional weave

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator tension member monitor includes an optoelectronic detector configured to be situated near the elevator tension member. The optoelectronic detector provides an output corresponding to a profile of the elevator tension member. A processor receives the output from the optoelectronic detector and determines whether there are any anomalies in the profile of the elevator tension member. The processor reports any determined anomaly in the profile of the elevator tension member.

Elevator tension member monitor

A health monitoring system for an electrically-conductive tension member of an elevator system belt includes a transmitter including a transmitter coil configured for placement at the tension member, a receiver configured to be positioned at the tension member, and a controller operably connected to the transmitter and the receiver. The controller is configured to direct an alternating current through the transmitter coil resulting in the generation of a magnetic field and eddy currents at the transmitter coil, evaluate fluctuations in the magnetic field detected at the receiver. The fluctuations are indicative of wear or damage to the tension member.

Health monitoring of elevator system tension members

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator sheave wear monitoring device includes at least one detector situated to detect a position of elevator roping that is indicative of a condition of a sheave that the roping at least partially wraps around, the at least one detector providing an output corresponding to the detected position of the elevator roping and indicating an amount of wear of the sheave that exceeds at least one threshold.

Elevator sheave wear detection

According to an embodiment, an elevator system including: a beam climber system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft by climbing a first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the beam climber system including: a first wheel; a second wheel; a first traction belt wrapped around the first wheel and the second wheel, the first traction belt being in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel, wherein the first traction belt is configured to rotate when the first wheel rotates.

Ropeless elevator propulsion system

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator load bearing member includes a unidirectional weave of a plurality of load bearing fibers including at least a first material and a second material. A melting point of the first material is higher than a melting point of the second material. The plurality of load bearing fibers are bonded together by at least some of the second material that is at least partially melted. A coating covers the plurality of load bearing fibers.

A method of imprinting a belt sheave without removal of an associated belt includes placing a knurling wheel of a tool against a circumferentially extending section of a sheave not in contact with the belt. The sheave is then rotated to induce rotation of the knurling wheel. A jack screw of the tool is actuated to bias the knurling wheel against the sheave for production of imprints upon the sheave.

Sheave knurling tool and method of operating

A belt for an elevator system includes a plurality of tension members arranged along a belt width and extending longitudinally along a length of the belt. Each tension member includes a core member formed from a plurality of load carrying fibers, and a plurality of overwrap members surrounding the core member. A jacket material at least partially encapsulates the plurality of tension members. An elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car positioned in the hoistway and movable therein, and a belt operably connected to the elevator car to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway. The belt includes a plurality of tension members arranged along a belt width and extending longitudinally along a length of the belt. Each tension member includes a core member formed from a plurality of load carrying fibers, and a plurality of overwrap members surrounding the core member.

Tension member for elevator system belt

An illustrative example embodiment of elevator sheave liner includes a rigid central portion made of a first material and a resilient outer portion made of a second material. The central portion defines a traction surface that is configured to receive an elevator tension member. The outer portion defines an engagement surface that is configured to secure the sheave liner to an elevator sheave.

Elevator sheave liner

A tension element of an elevator system tension member includes a plurality of first polymer fibers of a first material extending along a length of the tension element, and a plurality of second polymer fibers of a second material different from the first material. The plurality of second polymer fibers have a melting point lower than that of the plurality of first polymer fibers. The plurality of second polymer fibers are fused to the plurality of first polymer fibers to serve as a matrix for the plurality of first polymer fibers.

Composite elevator system tension member

An illustrative example assembly for determining a load on an elevator car includes a plurality of terminations respectively configured for securing an end of a load bearing member. A plurality of strain gages are respectively secured to a portion of respective ones of the plurality of terminations so that each of the terminations includes at least one of the strain gages. A load determining processor receives indications from the plurality of strain gages and determines a load on the elevator car based on the received indications.

Elevator termination assembly that provides an indication of elevator car load

An illustrative example elevator traveling cable includes a plurality of conductors configured for conducting at least one of electrical energy and communication signals. A jacket covers the plurality of conductors. At least one load bearing member supports a weight of the traveling cable and comprises liquid crystal polymer.

Lightweight elevator traveling cable

A sheave knurling tool is adapted to knurl a sheave while carrying a belt and coupled to a drive unit for rotation. The sheave knurling tool may include a body, an arm, a jack, and a knurling wheel. The body is detachably coupled to a support structure of the drive unit. The arm is pivotally engaged to the body about a pivot axis. The jack is adjustably coupled to, and extends between, the body and the arm. The knurling wheel is carried by the arm, and the jack is constructed and arranged to pivot the arm toward the sheave thereby exerting a biasing force of the knurling wheel against the sheave.

A traction sheave for an elevator system includes an outer sheave surface having a distance from a sheave axis that varies along a width of the traction sheave. The outer sheave surface includes a first portion having a first coefficient of friction and one or more second portions having a second coefficient of friction less than the first coefficient of friction. An elevator system includes an elevator car, a motor and a traction sheave operably connected to the motor to drive rotation of the traction sheave. The traction sheave includes an outer sheave surface having a distance from a sheave axis that varies along a width of the traction sheave. The outer surface includes a first portion having a first coefficient of friction and one or more second portions having a second coefficient of friction less than the first coefficient of friction.

Traction sheave for elevator system

A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of wires arranged into a plurality of cords. The plurality of cords includes one or more inner cords located at an innermost portion of the belt relative to a lateral end of the belt and one or more outer cords located laterally outboard of the one or more inner cords. The one or more outer cords have a construction distinct from the one or more inner cords. A jacket substantially retains the plurality of cords.

Growing community of inventors

Avon, CT, United States of America

Kyle B Martin