# US 11,078,046 B2 · Elevator system suspension member termination with containment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,046 B2 - Document ID: US11078046B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/842,192 - Filed: 2017-12-14 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt; Daniel A. Mosher; Joseph C. Rampone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078046B2 ## CPC - B66B 7/085: {Belt termination devices} - B66B 7/062: {Belts} - 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 A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system includes a housing and a wedge located in the housing. The wedge extends across a width of the suspension member and at least partially across a thickness of the suspension member. The wedge is interactive with the suspension member to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member. The wedge includes a wedge lip configured to contain the suspension member within a lateral extent of the wedge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system comprising: a housing; and two opposing wedges disposed in the housing and configured such that the suspension member is receivable therebetween, each wedge extending across a width of the suspension member and at least partially across a thickness of the suspension member, each wedge interactive with the suspension member to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member, each wedge including a wedge lip disposed at a lateral end of each wedge configured to contain the suspension member within a lateral extent of each wedge by at least partially overlapping a lateral end of the suspension member; wherein a first wedge lip of a first wedge of the two opposing wedges is configured to overlap a second wedge lip of a second wedge of the two opposing wedges. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The termination device of claim 1, wherein each wedge is formed from a first material and at least one of the first wedge lip and the second wedge lip is formed from a second material softer than the first material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The termination device of claim 1, wherein the wedge lip is compressible. ### Claim 4 A termination assembly of a belt for an elevator system, comprising: the belt including: a plurality of tension members extending along a length of the belt; and a jacket at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members; a termination device including: a housing; and two opposing wedges disposed in the housing such that the belt is disposed between the two opposing wedges, each wedge extending across a lateral width of the belt and at least partially across a thickness of the belt, each wedge interactive with the belt to apply a clamping force to the belt in response to an axial load acting on the belt, each wedge including a wedge lip disposed at a lateral end of each wedge configured to contain the belt within a lateral extent of each wedge by at least partially overlapping a lateral end of the belt; wherein a first wedge lip of a first wedge of the two opposing wedges is configured to overlap a second wedge lip of a second wedge of the two opposing wedges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The termination assembly of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first wedge lip and the second wedge lip is compressible. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The termination assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of tension members are formed from a plurality of fibers bonded to a polymer matrix. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The termination assembly of claim 4, wherein the jacket is formed from an elastomeric material. ### Claim 8 An elevator system comprising: a hoistway; an elevator car disposed in the hoistway; a belt operably connected to the elevator car to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway; and a termination device disposed in the hoistway and operably connected to a belt end of the belt, the termination device including: a housing; and two opposing wedges disposed in the housing such that the belt is disposed between the two opposing wedges, each wedge extending across a lateral width of the belt and at least partially across a thickness of the belt, each wedge interactive with the belt to apply a clamping force to the belt in response to an axial load acting on the belt, each wedge including a wedge lip disposed at a lateral end of each wedge configured to contain the belt within a lateral extent of each wedge by at least partially overlapping a lateral end of the belt; wherein a first wedge lip of a first wedge of the two opposing wedges is configured to overlap a second wedge lip of a second wedge of the two opposing wedges. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The elevator system of claim 8, wherein the termination device is located at the elevator car or a counterweight of the elevator system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The elevator system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first wedge lip and the second wedge lip is compressible.