# US 11,078,048 B2 · Elevator sheave cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,048 B2 - Document ID: US11078048B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/260,627 - Filed: 2019-01-29 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-29 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Ethan Kent Grainger; James O'Neal Creel, Jr.; Ronnie D. Forrest, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078048B2 ## CPC - B66B 7/1276: {Cleaning means} - B66B 15/04: Friction sheaves; "Koepe" pulleys - 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 An illustrative example elevator sheave cleaner includes a base configured to be situated on a first side of load bearing members that wrap at least partially around a sheave. A plurality of fingers extend from the base and are configured to be received between adjacent load bearing members. A plurality of cleaning pads are respectively supported by the fingers and spaced from the base. The cleaning pads are configured to contact and clean a surface of the sheave when the cleaning pads are on a second, opposite side of the load bearing members. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator sheave cleaner, comprising: a base configured to be situated on a first side of load bearing members that wrap at least partially around a sheave; a plurality of fingers extending from the base, the fingers being configured to be received between adjacent ones of the load bearing members; and a plurality of cleaning pads, each of the cleaning pads being supported by a respective one of the fingers and spaced from the base, the cleaning pads being configured to contact and clean a surface of the sheave when the cleaning pads are on a second, opposite side of the load bearing members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 1, wherein the fingers include a first portion oriented supported on the base and a second portion oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first portion; and each of the cleaning pads is supported on the second portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 2, wherein the base has a length; the base is configured to have the length oriented parallel with an axis of rotation of the sheave; and the cleaning pads are oriented at an oblique angle relative to the axis of rotation when the cleaning pads contact the surface of the sheave. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 2, wherein each cleaning pad comprises a rigid pad support and a flexible pad; and each rigid pad support is secured to the second portion of the finger supporting the cleaning pad. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 4, wherein each flexible pad comprises a sponge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 4, wherein the fingers comprise a first material; the rigid pad supports comprise a second material; and the first material is different than the second material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 2, wherein at least some of the cleaning pads are oriented at the oblique angle in a first direction; at least one of the cleaning pads is oriented at the oblique angle in a second direction; and the first direction is different than the second direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a first portion configured to be secured in a selected position near the sheave and a second portion that supports the fingers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the base includes a plurality of slots that are each configured to receive at least a portion of a mounting member associated with an elevator machine frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 1, wherein the fingers comprise a flat surface parallel with a cleaning surface on the cleaning pads and a rib transverse to the flat surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 1, comprising a plurality of fasteners that secure the fingers to the base such that the fingers are selectively removable from the base. ### Claim 12 An elevator sheave cleaner, comprising: a base configured to be situated near a sheave; a plurality of fingers extending from the base, the fingers including a first portion supported on the base and a second portion oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first portion; and a plurality of cleaning pads, each of the cleaning pads being supported by a respective one of the second portions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 12, wherein the fingers are configured to be received between adjacent load bearing members that at least partially wrap around the sheave. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 13, wherein the base is configured to be received on a first side of the load bearing members when the base is situated near the sheave; and the cleaning pads are received against a surface of the sheave on a second, opposite side of the load bearing members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 12, wherein each cleaning pad comprises a rigid pad support and a flexible pad; and each rigid pad support is secured to the second portion of the finger supporting the cleaning pad. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 15, wherein each flexible pad comprises a sponge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 15, wherein the fingers comprise a first material; the rigid pad supports comprise a second material; and the first material is different than the second material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 12, wherein at least some of the cleaning pads are oriented at the oblique angle in a first direction; at least one of the cleaning pads is oriented at the oblique angle in a second direction; and the first direction is different than the second direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 12, wherein the fingers comprise a flat surface parallel with a cleaning surface on the cleaning pads and a rib transverse to the flat surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The elevator sheave cleaner of claim 12, comprising a plurality of fasteners that secure the fingers to the base such that the fingers are selectively removable from the base.