Elevator overtravel testing systems and methods

A method for operating an elevator system comprising:

• measuring a landing position of an elevator car relative to a landing in an elevator shaft;
• driving the elevator car upward along a guide rail above the landing, the guide rail having an overtravel feature located a first distance from a top surface of the guide rail;
• measuring a movement of the elevator car as it is driven upward along the guide rail;
• detecting an interaction of the elevator car with the overtravel feature to measure a second distance, wherein the second distance is a measured distance of movement of the elevator car from the landing position to the interaction with the overtravel feature;
• calculating an overtravel distance based on the first and second distances;
• comparing the calculated overtravel distance with a predetermined overtravel setpoint;
• and
• generating a failure indicator when the calculated overtravel distance is less than the overtravel setpoint.

An elevator system comprising:

• a first guide rail and a second guide rail;
• an overtravel feature on at least one of the first guide rail or the second guide rail, the overtravel feature located a first distance from a top surface of the respective guide rail;
• an elevator car moveable along the first and second guide rails, the elevator car including a car guidance element;
• and
• a control unit configured to perform an overtravel distance test, the control unit configured to:
• measure a landing position of the elevator car relative to a landing in an elevator shaft;
• drive the elevator car upward along the first and second guide rails above the landing;
• measure a second distance, the second distance being a distance of travel of the elevator car between the landing position and a location of the overtravel feature by detecting an interaction of the elevator car with the overtravel feature;
• add the first distance and the second distance to calculate a measured overtravel distance;
• compare the measured overtravel distance with a predetermined overtravel setpoint which is a predetermined minimum distance that the elevator car can travel beyond a terminal landing within an elevator shaft and generate a failure indicator when the calculated measured overtravel distance is less than the overtravel setpoint.