# US 11,078,043 B2 · Elevator overrun systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,043 B2 - Document ID: US11078043B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/967,863 - Filed: 2018-05-01 - Published: 2018-11-15 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-12 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Jean-Emile Rocher; Gerard Sirigu; Jean Marie Bongibault; Guillaume Trouvain; Arnaud Cazé; Guilhem Fournier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078043B2 ## CPC - 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 1/28: electrical (detecting excessive speed B66B5/04 {; control of electrical motor H02P}) - B66B 5/005: {Safety of maintenance personnel} - B66B 5/0056: {by preventing crushing} - B66B 5/282: {Structure thereof} - 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 overrun systems having a first body arranged to be fixedly mounted to a portion of an elevator system or elevator shaft, a second body positioned within the first body and moveable from a deployed state to a retracted state relative to the first body, and a limit switch located at a distal end of the second body, the limit switch configured to interact with a component of an elevator system to prevent movement of an elevator car. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator overrun system comprising: a first body arranged to be fixedly mounted to a portion of an elevator shaft; a second body movably arranged within the first body and slidable from a deployed state to a retracted state to within the first body; a limit switch located at a distal end of the second body, the limit switch configured to interact with a car switch arranged on an exterior of an elevator car to prevent movement of the elevator car, wherein the car switch is at least one of mechanical and electrical; and a second body contact located at an end of the second body opposite the distal end, wherein the first body includes a lower contact at a first location and an upper contact at a second location, wherein the second body contact is slidable along the first body between contact with the lower contact of the first body in the deployed state and contact with the upper contact of the first body in the retracted state, and wherein the physical position of the limit switch is adjusted within the elevator shaft when transitioning between the deployed state and the retracted state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator overrun system of claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting bracket fixedly connected to the first body, the at least one mounting bracket arranged to mount the first body within the elevator shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The elevator overrun system of claim 1, further comprising a securing element arranged to secure the second body to the first body in at least the deployed state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The elevator overrun system of claim 3, wherein the securing element is one of attached to the first body or attached to the second body. ### Claim 5 An elevator system comprising: a first body arranged to be fixedly mounted to a portion of an elevator shaft of the elevator system; a second body movably arranged within the first body and slidable from a deployed state to a retracted state to within the first body; and a limit switch located at a distal end of the second body, the limit switch configured to interact with a car switch arranged on an exterior of an elevator car to prevent movement of the elevator car, wherein the car switch is at least one of mechanical and electrical; and a second body contact located at an end of the second body opposite the distal end, wherein the first body includes a lower contact at a first location and an upper contact at a second location, wherein the second body contact is slidable along the first body between contact with the lower contact of the first body in the deployed state and contact with the upper contact of the first body in the retracted state, and wherein the physical position of the limit switch is adjusted within the elevator shaft when transitioning between the deployed state and the retracted state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The elevator system of claim 5, wherein the elevator shaft has a pit and a top, the elevator system comprising: a guide rail extending from the pit to the top of the elevator shaft; and at least one mounting bracket fixedly connected to the first body; wherein the elevator car is moveable along the guide rail, and wherein the first body is fixedly mounted to the guide rail by the at least one mounting bracket and the elevator overrun system is positioned at the top of the elevator shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The elevator system of claim 6, wherein the elevator car is moveable to a first level in a normal mode of operation, a second level that is higher within the elevator shaft than the first level in a maintenance mode of operation, and a third level that is higher within the elevator shaft than the second level in the maintenance mode of operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The elevator system of claim 7, wherein the elevator car is prevented from moving to the third level when the elevator overrun system is in the deployed state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The elevator system of claim 6, further comprising a safety chain arranged to prevent movement of the elevator car within the elevator shaft when the safety chain is operated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The elevator system of claim 6, further comprising a counterweight buffer located in the pit of the elevator shaft, wherein when the elevator overrun system is in the retracted state the counterweight buffer is compressed. ### Claim 11 A method of operating an elevator system having an elevator overrun system including a first body arranged to be fixedly mounted to a portion of an elevator shaft, a second body movably arranged within the first body and slidable from a deployed state to a retracted state within the first body, a limit switch located at a distal end of the second body, the limit switch configured to interact with a car switch arranged on an exterior of an elevator car to prevent movement of the elevator car, wherein the car switch is at least one of mechanical and electrical, and a second body contact located at an end of the second body opposite the distal end, wherein the first body includes a lower contact at a first location and an upper contact at a second location, wherein the second body contact is movable along the first body between contact with the lower contact of the first body in the deployed state and contact with the upper contact of the first body in the retracted state, and wherein the physical position of the limit switch is adjusted within the elevator shaft when transitioning between the deployed state and the retracted state, the method comprising: moving the elevator car within the elevator shaft to a first level; operating the elevator overrun system from the deployed state to the retracted state; and moving the elevator car to a third level that is higher in the elevator shaft than the first level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising moving the elevator car to a second level located between the first level and the third level prior to operating the elevator overrun system.