Abstract:
A guide assembly (60) for guiding movement of an elevator car (30) is provided including a first (66) and second (68) guide support coupled to the elevator car (30). The first guide support (66) and the second guide support (68) are separated from one another by a gap (G) wider than an adjacent primary portion (42) of a propulsion system (40) of the elevator car (30). A pair of first guides (70) is mounted to the first (66) and second (68) guide support, respectively. The first guides (70) are substantially parallel and are configured to guide movement of the elevator car (30) in a first direction to maintain a clearance between the primary (42) and secondary (44) portions of the propulsion system (40) of the elevator car (30). A second guide (72) is mounted to one of the first (66) and second (68) guide support. The second guide (72) is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first guides (70). The second guide (72) is configured to guide movement of the elevator car (30) in a second direction.
Abstract:
A method and system for managing an elevator system (10), includes providing a plurality of elevator cars (14) to travel in a hoistway (11), and selectively introducing and removing at least one of the plurality of elevator cars (14) to and from the hoistway (11) via a loading station (50).
Abstract:
An elevator system (20) is disclosed. The elevator system (20) includes a hoistway (22, 26, a transfer station (34, 36, 42), and a propulsion system (50). The propulsion system (50) may include a moving part (52) mounted on the elevator car (24), and a stationary part (54). An interaction of the moving part (52) and the stationary part (54) may generate a thrust force to move the elevator car (24) in a vertical direction within the hoistway (22, 26) and the transfer station (34, 36, 42). The stationary part (54) may include a first section (80) disposed in the hoistway (22, 26), and a second section (26) disposed in the transfer station (34, 36, 42), the second section (82) having thrust force generation characteristics different from thrust force generation characteristics of the first section (80).
Abstract:
An elevator system (10) is disclosed. The elevator system (10) may comprise a hoistway (18) including first and second hoistway portions (12, 16), a first car (14), a first stationary stator (44a) disposed in the first hoistway portion (12) and a second stationary stator (44b) disposed in the second hoistway portion (16), a first mover (42) mounted on the first car (14), and a first guiderail (62) disposed in the first hoistway (12). The first hoistway portion (12) may be free of other guiderails (62) for the first car (14). The first car (14) may be propelled in the first hoistway portion (12) by only the interaction of the first mover (42) with the first stationary stator (44a). The first car (14) may be propelled in the second hoistway portion (16) by only the interaction of the first mover (42) with the second stationary stator (44b).
Abstract:
An exemplary elevator guiderail includes a metal sheet bent into a configuration that establishes at least one mounting portion configured to facilitate mounting the guiderail within an elevator hoistway. At least one guiding portion is configured to guide movement of an elevator car along the guiderail. The metal sheet includes an exterior surface treated to resist corrosion. A cover over at least some of the guiding surface has an exterior that is different than the exterior surface of the metal sheet. The cover is configured to establish a coefficient of friction to facilitate brake engagement with the cover for resisting movement of an elevator car along the guiderail.
Abstract:
An elevator system includes one or more rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move through the hoistway along the one or more rails. The system includes one or more braking systems having one more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces configured to urge engagement and/or disengagement of the one or more braking surfaces with the rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.
Abstract:
A braking mechanism (38) for an elevator car (16) includes a brake member (40, 66) operably connected to the elevator car (16). The brake member (40, 66) is at least partially insertable into a plurality of recesses (28) located at a guide rail (14) for the elevator car (16), to prevent movement of the elevator car (16) along the guide rail (14). An actuator (46) is operably connected to the brake member (40, 66), and is configured to move the brake member (40, 66) toward the guide rail (14) and at least partially into the plurality of recesses (28) for engagement therewith.
Abstract:
A drive system for a gearless elevator in which the first sheave and the second sheave both have drive motors driving a set of ropes in a double wrap traction arrangement driven by both motors to raise and lower the elevator car. The drive system further includes a dynamic braking system having a matrix switching unit for connecting and disconnecting the drive motors from a source of drive power to a resistive bank for receiving electrical energy from the drive motors during dynamic braking.
Abstract:
Heat in a drive system including a motor (111) and a drive (113) is removed using heat pipes (117, 118) in heat exchanging contact with the motor and the drive. The heat conducting element have at least one portion for receiving heat from the motor or the drive, and another portion to transfer heat to a heat exchange device that is spaced from the motor and drive. The heat conducting element may be a heat pipe or a heat spreader element.
Abstract:
An exemplary elevator brake device includes a permanent magnet. A core supports the permanent magnet. A first plate is positioned near one side of the core with a first gap between the first plate and the core. A second plate is positioned near another side of the core with a second gap between the second plate and the core. The first and second plates remain fixed relative to each other and are arranged such that relative movement is possible between the core and the plates. An electromagnet selectively influences an amount of magnetic flux across the first and second gaps, respectively, to control a braking force of the brake.