# US 11,111,105 B2 · Compliant shear layer for elevator termination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,105 B2 - Document ID: US11111105B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/415,980 - Filed: 2017-01-26 - Published: 2018-07-26 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-26 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt; Joseph C. Rampone; Daniel A. Mosher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111105B2 ## CPC - B66B 7/085: {Belt termination devices} - B66B 7/062: {Belts} - B66B 7/08: for connection to the cars or cages, e.g. couplings - 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 A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system includes a housing and a wedge assembly located in the housing. The wedge assembly includes a wedge interactive with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member and a compliant shear element secured to the wedge or the suspension member and configured to reduce shear loads on the suspension member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system comprising: a housing; and a two wedge assemblies disposed in the housing and located at opposing sides of the suspension member, each wedge assembly including: a wedge interactive with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member; and a compliant shear element secured to the wedge or the suspension member and configured to reduce shear loads on the suspension member; wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge via two or more tabs disposed at one of the compliant shear element or a wedge inner surface of the wedge, the two or more tabs engageable with two or more slots in the other of the wedge inner surface or the compliant shear element; wherein the compliant shear element is formed from one of a thermoplastic urethane or elastomeric material; wherein the compliant shear element includes a plurality of friction-enhancing features to produce a desired frictional force between the compliant shear element and the suspension member, the plurality of friction-enhancing features including a plurality of faceted elements arrayed across a lateral width of the compliant shear element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The termination device of claim 1, wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge inner surface and is configured to abut the suspension member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The termination device of claim 2, wherein the wedge assembly includes a wedge outer surface opposite the wedge inner surface, the wedge outer surface abutting a housing inner surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The termination device of claim 1, wherein the compliant shear element is secured to one of the wedge or the suspension member via one or more of an adhesive, a mechanical fastener or a mechanically interlocking feature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The termination device of claim 1, wherein the compliant shear element has a stiffness in the range of 0.025 and 1.0 Giga Pascals. ### Claim 6 An elevator system comprising: a hoistway; an elevator car disposed in the hoistway; a suspension member 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 suspension member end of the suspension member, the termination device including: a housing; and a two wedge assemblies disposed in the housing and located at opposing sides of the suspension member, each wedge assembly including: a wedge interactive with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member; and a compliant shear element secured to the wedge or the suspension member and configured to reduce shear loads on the suspension member; wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge via two or more tabs disposed at one of the compliant shear element or a wedge inner surface of the wedge, the two or more tabs engageable with two or more slots in the other of the wedge inner surface or the compliant shear element; wherein the compliant shear element is formed from one of a thermoplastic urethane or elastomeric material; wherein the compliant shear element includes a plurality of friction-enhancing features to produce a desired frictional force between the compliant shear element and the suspension member, the plurality of friction-enhancing features including a plurality of faceted elements arrayed across a lateral width of the compliant shear element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The termination device of claim 6, wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge inner surface and abuts the suspension member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The termination device of claim 7, wherein the wedge assembly includes a wedge outer surface opposite the wedge inner surface, the wedge outer surface abutting a housing inner surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The termination device of claim 6, wherein the compliant shear element is secured to the wedge via one or more of an adhesive, a mechanical fastener or a mechanically interlocking feature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The termination device of claim 6, wherein the compliant shear element has a stiffness in the range of 0.025 and 1.0 Giga Pascals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The elevator system of claim 6, wherein the suspension member includes: a plurality of tension elements extending along a length of the suspension member, each tension element including a plurality of fibers extending along the length of the suspension member bonded into a polymer matrix; and a jacket substantially retaining the plurality of tension members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The elevator system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from one or more of carbon, glass, polyester, nylon, or aramid material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The elevator system of claim 11, wherein the compliant shear element is configured to reduce shear forces between the plurality of tension elements and the jacket.