Inventio Ag

Vincent P Robibero

Philippe Henneau

Kurt Heinz

Urs Lindegger

Robert J Koeppe, Jr

Melanie Jean Smith

Terry D Holmes

James Bibby

Joseph M Racanelli

An elevator suspension member arrangement includes at least two suspension members having electrically conductive cords. A monitoring arrangement generates first and second alternating voltages phase shifted by 180° and includes a plurality of input connectors and output connectors electrically connected to the cords and a voltage analyzer arrangement analyzing a neutral point voltage resulting from applying the voltages to the cords. Each suspension member can have the cords connected in parallel between the input connector and the output connector or have two groups of the cords connected in series between the connectors with the groups connected to an interconnecting connector. A multiplexer arrangement can be used to selectively test each pair of suspension members when the suspension member arrangement includes more than two suspension members.

Elevator with a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an integrity of suspension members

A method for self-testing a monitoring device monitoring an integrity status of an elevator suspension member arrangement includes the monitoring device having a voltage generation arrangement for generating electric voltages and applying the electric voltages to cords in suspension members of the suspension member arrangement. The monitoring device has a voltage analyzer arrangement for detecting a deterioration in the integrity status based on modifications in the applied electric voltages upon transmission through the cords. The method includes the steps of: specifically modifying the generated electric voltages to systematically induce modifications in the applied electric voltages upon transmission through the cords which, under normal operation conditions of the monitoring device, would be interpreted by the monitoring device as indicating the deterioration in the integrity status; verifying whether the deterioration in the integrity status is correctly detected; and initiating a self-test-failure-action if the deterioration in the integrity status is not correctly detected.

Method for self-testing a monitoring device monitoring an integrity status of a suspension member arrangement in an elevator

A method and device detect non-uniform and uniform deterioration states in an elevator suspension member having first and second groups of electrically conductive cords. First ends of the groups are electrically connected to an alternating voltage generator arrangement and second ends are electrically connected to each other through first and second resistors via a neutral point at which electrical resistances of the groups are the same in a non-deteriorated state of the suspension member. The method includes: applying first and second alternating voltages to the first end of the first and second groups, respectively; determining a neutral point voltage between the neutral point and an electrical reference potential; determining difference voltages between first and second difference measurement points located between the second ends of the groups and the respective resistors; and determining the deterioration state based on both the determined neutral point voltage and the determined difference voltage.

Method and device for detecting non-uniform and uniform deteriorations in a suspension member arrangement for an elevator based on AC voltage measurements

Methods and devices detect a deterioration state of a load bearing capacity in an elevator suspension member arrangement having several suspension members, such as belts, including electrically conductive cords incorporated into an elastomer material. Deterioration is determined by applying alternating electric voltages to the cords included in legs of a circuitry. Phase shifts between the alternating voltages, for example by determining sum voltages and/or differential voltages, provide valuable information about a condition of the belt. A fixation arrangement of the suspension member arrangement is adapted to enable or simplify the proposed measurements. Furthermore, counting a number of performed bending cycles provides further information to be taken into account for determining the current deterioration state of the belts. Overall, deteriorations in a suspension member such as broken cords, shunts between cords, connections between cords and ground potential and/or deterioration due to corrosion of cords may be easily detected.

Concepts for detecting a deterioration state of a load bearing capacity in a suspension member arrangement for an elevator

A deterioration state of load bearing capacity in an elevator suspension member having a plurality of electrically conductive cords is detected by: providing a multi-phase alternating current circuitry including electrically conductive legs; applying at least one phase of a multi-phase alternating current to at least one of the cords electrically connected to one of the legs; applying at least another phase of the current to at least another cord and at least one resistor electrically connected to at least another leg; measuring an electric indicator current being at least one of a net sum of all phases of the current and an electric bypass current through a neutral wire being connected in parallel to the circuitry, wherein a peak current in each phase is shifted by a phase angle with respect to a peak current in another phase; and determining the deterioration state based on the measured indicator electric current.

Method and device for detecting a deterioration state of a load bearing capacity in a suspension member arrangement for an elevator

A method and apparatus for using remote monitoring of customer equipment to generate product sales offers includes an equipment database storing parametric data information related to the operating parameters of the equipment and a product database storing product information related to a plurality of devices and service offered by the service company performing the monitoring. The product information includes limits that are compared with values of the parametric data information in an offer generator to generate a sales offer when the value and the limit have a predetermined relationship. The offer is transmitted to the customer on a web page, by regular mail or e-mail, or by a sales staff of the service company.

Apparatus and method for using equipment remote monitoring to generate automated product sales offerings

An escalator step pallet has step tread and front riser portions joined together with side edges. The side edges are provided with a peripheral slot to accept replaceable demarcation inserts which identifies the side edges. The slot on the step pallet is provided with guides extending along its length to accept channels of the demarcation inserts and orient the demarcation inserts on the step pallet. Preferably, a pair of demarcation inserts are provided for each step edge, the first insert extending along the step tread and the second insert extending along the riser. The two inserts may interlock. In addition, each of the inserts is provided with a locking device which mates with a corresponding element on the step pallet to retain the insert in position. The locking device may be for example, a hook arm which engages a projection on the bottom surface of the step pallet. An access slot is provided through the insert and pallet to permit a tool to contact the hook arm to release the lock when removal of the insert is desired.

Escalator step with removable demarcation inserts

A guide rail system for guiding an elevator car or a counterweight in an elevator shaft includes a pair of .OMEGA.-shaped guide rails (1, 2) having adjacent ends connected by a connecting element. The guide rails (1, 2) have a hollow cylinder-shaped rail body (3) with a pair of flat ends (4, 5). The connecting element includes a tube-shaped connecting member (6) inserted into the rail bodies and a base plate (7, 7a, 7b, 7c) placed under the free ends (4, 5) and attached thereto by fasteners (12). A wedge body (10, 10a, 10b) on the base plate (7, 7a, 7b, 7c) extends into an opening (11, 15) formed in the connecting member (6) to expand the connecting member into locking engagement with the guide rails (1, 2).

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Randolph, NJ, United States of America

Vincent P Robibero