# US 11,111,106 B2 · Suspension member equalization system for elevators

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- Number: US 11,111,106 B2
- Document ID: US11111106B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/608,302
- Filed: 2018-04-20
- Published: 2020-03-26
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-26
- Applicants: Tim Ebeling
- Inventors: Tim Ebeling
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111106B2

## CPC

- B66B 7/10: for equalising rope or cable tension
- B66B 7/08: for connection to the cars or cages, e.g. couplings
- 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 suspension member equalization system is provided. The suspension member equalization system includes cylinder assemblies configured to receive rods extending from suspension member sockets. The cylinder assemblies have slidable pistons. A manifold block is in fluid communication with the cylinder assemblies. An incompressible fluid is in simultaneous communication with the cylinder assemblies and the manifold block. An upper swash plate is received within a cavity formed in a lower portion of each of the cylinder assemblies and in contact with the cylinder assemblies. A lower swash plate is received within an annular recess of each of the upper swash plates in a manner such that the upper swash plate is rotatable relative to the lower swash plate. The pistons within the cylinder assemblies are configured for movement such as to seek an approximately equal pressure, thereby approximating equal tension in each of the suspension members.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A suspension member equalization system configured for use with a plurality of suspension members in an elevator system, the suspension member equalization system comprising:
a plurality of cylinder assemblies, each configured to receive a rod extending from a suspension member socket, the suspension member socket connected to a suspension member, each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies having a slidable piston;
a manifold block in fluid communication with the plurality of cylinder assemblies,
an incompressible fluid in simultaneous communication with the plurality of cylinder assemblies and the manifold block;
an upper swash plate received within a cavity formed in a lower portion of each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies and in contact with each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies; and
a lower swash plate received within an annular recess of each of the upper swash plates in a manner such that the upper swash plate is rotatable relative to the lower swash plate;
wherein the pistons within each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies are configured for movement such as to seek an approximately equal pressure, thereby approximating equal tension in each of the plurality of suspension members.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 1, wherein each of the cylinder assemblies includes an cylinder port configured to connect a conduit with the manifold block.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 2, wherein each of the cylinder ports are in fluid communication with an internal passage fluidly connected to an internal cavity configured to receive the slidable piston.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 1, wherein each of the cylinder assemblies is radially centered about the rod.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of spaced apart projections extend outwardly from a lower partition of each of the cylinder assemblies, the projections configured to define a location for the introduction of force into the cylinder assemblies.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 5, wherein the projections have the form of a cube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 5, wherein the projections are spaced-apart on a consistent radius by equal 120° angles.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 5, wherein the projections are received by a race disposed in the upper swash plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 8, wherein the race in the upper swash plate is configured to prevent sliding of the cylinder assembly in a radial direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 8, wherein the lower swash plate is configured to receive the rod extending therethrough and further configured to seat against a mounting plate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 8, wherein the upper swash plate includes a hollow socket.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 10, wherein the cylinder assembly has a diameter in a range of from about 2.0 inches (5.08 cm) to about 4.0 inches (10.15 cm).

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 10, wherein the incompressible fluid is hydraulic fluid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 1, wherein the manifold block includes a plurality of manifold ports, wherein each of the manifold ports is configured to be in fluid communication with a conduit extending to a cylinder assembly.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 1, wherein the manifold block includes a manifold cavity, configured to store incompressible fluid.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The suspension member equalization system of claim 15, wherein the manifold block includes a connector port configured for fluid communication with the manifold cavity.

### Claim 17

A method of using a suspension member equalization system for equalizing tension in a plurality of elevator suspension members, the method comprising the steps of:
disposing each of a plurality of upper swash plates into each of a plurality of cavities formed within each of a plurality of cylinder assemblies;
disposing each of a plurality of lower swash plates into portions of each of the plurality of upper swash plates in a manner such that each of the plurality of upper swash plates and each of the plurality of lower swash plates are rotatable relative to each other;
extending each of a plurality of rods through each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies, through each of the plurality of upper swash plates and through each of the plurality of lower swash plates, each of the plurality of rods extending from each of a plurality of suspension member sockets, each of the suspension member sockets connected to each of a plurality of suspension members, each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies having a slidable piston;
fluidly connecting a manifold block to each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies with an incompressible fluid; and
providing tension in the plurality of suspension members and allowing the sliding pistons to seek an approximately equal pressure, thereby approximating equal tension in each of the plurality of suspension members.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein each of the cylinder assemblies is radially centered about each of the plurality of rods.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein a plurality of spaced apart projections extend outwardly from a lower partition of each of the cylinder assemblies, the plurality of projections configured to define a location for the introduction of force into the cylinder assemblies.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of projections are received by a race disposed in the upper swash plate.