# US 10,479,648 B2 · Automatic elevator inspection systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,648 B2 - Document ID: US10479648B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/593,424 - Filed: 2017-05-12 - Published: 2018-11-15 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-12 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Sandeep Sudi; Daniel M. Tripp, Sr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479648B2 ## CPC - B66B 5/0025: {for maintenance or repair} - B66B 5/0031: {for safety reasons} - B66B 5/0087: {Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks (devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226)} - B66B 9/00: Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures (characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12) - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract Elevator systems and methods of operating elevator systems having an elevator car within an elevator shaft, a counterweight within the elevator shaft and operably connected to the elevator car, an indicator element located in a pit of the elevator shaft, and an inspection system including a detector located on the elevator car and arranged to detect a location of the counterweight in an inspection region within the pit based a relative position between the counterweight and the indicator element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator system comprising: an elevator car within an elevator shaft; a counterweight within the elevator shaft and operably connected to the elevator car; an indicator element located in a pit of the elevator shaft; and an inspection system comprising: a detector located on the elevator car and arranged to detect a location of the counterweight in an inspection region within the pit based a relative position between the counterweight and the indicator element; and a movable frame having a marker that is movable in response to interaction with the counterweight, the marker located proximate the indicator element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, further comprising a counterweight guard located in the pit of the elevator shaft, the counterweight guard having the indicator element located thereon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the movable frame comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the inspection system comprises a contact surface on the first side, wherein the contact surface is arranged to interact with the counterweight and the marker is located on the second side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein a relative position of the marker and the indicator element indicates a distance of travel of the counterweight. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, the inspection system further comprising a support frame upon which the movable frame moves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit in communication with the detector and configured to: analyze an output of the detector; determine if the counterweight has an error; and generate an error notification when an error in the counterweight is determined. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the detector captures images of the indicator element for inspection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the indicator element is at least one of a colored paint, a textured surface, or a reflective surface of at least one an elevator shaft wall or a counterweight guard. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the detector is located on an exterior of the elevator car. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the indicator element is arranged to determine if the counterweight exceeds a minimum counterweight clearance distance. ### Claim 11 A method for inspecting a counterweight of an elevator system comprising: moving a counterweight to a lowest position within an elevator shaft; observing an inspection region using a counterweight inspection system having a detector located on an exterior of an elevator car, the inspection region being a region including an indicator element; determining if an error exists with the counterweight based on the indicator element within the inspection region; and generating an error notification when an error in the counterweight is determined, wherein the inspection system includes a movable frame having a marker positioned relative to the indicator element, wherein the movable frame comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the inspection system comprises a contact surface on the first side, wherein the contact surface is arranged to interact with the counterweight and the marker is located on the second side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising analyzing, with a control unit, an output of the detector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator element is mounted to at least one of a counterweight guard or wall of the elevator shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising capturing images of the marker and the indicator element for inspection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator element is at least one of a colored paint, a textured surface, or a reflective surface of at least one an elevator shaft wall or a counterweight guard. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the detector is located on a bottom of the elevator car. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a relative position of the marker and the indicator element indicates a distance of travel of the counterweight. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator element is arranged to determine if the counterweight exceeds a minimum counterweight clearance distance.