# US 11,999,590 B2 · Modular elevator sheave assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,590 B2 - Document ID: US11999590B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/567,524 - Filed: 2022-01-03 - Published: 2023-07-06 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-03 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Jun Ma; Alexander Serkh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999590B2 ## CPC - B66B 15/04: Friction sheaves; "Koepe" pulleys - B29C 70/68: by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers {, e.g. foam blocks (mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70)} - B29L 2031/748: {Machines or parts thereof not otherwise provided for (conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; driving belts B29L2031/7094; bearings B29L2031/04)} - 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) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator sheave assembly includes a plurality of polymer rings that are secured together. The plurality of polymer rings includes at least two polymer rings that each have an outer circumferential surface that defines a portion of a belt guiding surface adjacent a flange at a longitudinal end of the sheave assembly. The at least two polymer rings each include a bearing supported inside the ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator sheave assembly, comprising: a plurality of polymer rings that are secured together, the plurality of polymer rings including at least two polymer rings that each have an outer circumferential surface; wherein the at least two polymer rings comprise a first polymer end ring where the outer circumferential surface has a first profile that defines a first portion of a first belt-guiding surface adjacent a first flange at one longitudinal end of the elevator sheave assembly, and a second polymer end ring where the outer circumferential surface has a second profile that defines a first portion of a second belt-guiding surface adjacent a second flange at an opposite longitudinal end of the elevator sheave assembly; and at least one polymer intermediate ring having one inner lateral edge associated with the first polymer end ring and an opposite inner lateral edge associated with the second polymer end ring, the at least one polymer intermediate ring including an outer circumferential surface having a third profile having a first portion associated with the first belt-guiding surface and a second portion associated with either the second belt-guiding surface or another belt-guiding surface between the third profile and the second belt-guiding surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two polymer rings each include a bearing supported inside an associated polymer ring, and wherein a polymer of each of the at least two polymer rings is over-molded onto a portion of the bearing to maintain the bearing within the associated polymer ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the at least two polymer rings includes only a single bearing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 3, wherein the single bearing is situated at a position corresponding to a concentration of a load on the ring. ### Claim 5 An elevator sheave assembly, comprising a plurality of polymer rings that are secured together, the plurality of polymer rings including at least two polymer rings that each have an outer circumferential surface that defines a portion of a belt guiding surface adjacent a flange at a longitudinal end of the elevator sheave assembly, the at least two polymer rings each including a bearing supported inside a respective polymer ring, and wherein the at least two polymer rings are a first polymer end ring and a second polymer end ring; the first polymer end ring is at a first longitudinal end of the polymer sheave assembly; the outer circumferential surface of the first polymer end ring has a first profile that defines a first portion of a first belt-guiding surface; the second polymer end ring is at a second longitudinal end of the polymer sheave assembly; the outer circumferential surface of the second polymer end ring has a second profile that defines a first portion of a second belt-guiding surface; the plurality of polymer rings includes at least one polymer intermediate ring situated between and connected to the first and second polymer end rings; and the at least one polymer intermediate ring includes an outer circumferential surface having a profile that defines a second portion of the first belt-guiding surface and a second portion of the second belt-guiding surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one polymer intermediate ring comprises a plurality of polymer intermediate rings including a first intermediate ring that is received adjacent and connected to the first polymer end ring and a second intermediate ring that is received adjacent and connected to the second polymer end ring; the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the first intermediate ring defines the second portion of the first belt-guiding surface; and the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the second intermediate ring defines the second portion of the second belt-guiding surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 6, wherein the first intermediate ring is connected to the second intermediate ring; the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the first intermediate ring defines a first portion of a third belt-guiding surface; and the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the second intermediate ring defines a second portion of the third belt-guiding surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 7, wherein the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the first intermediate ring is the same as the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the second intermediate ring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of polymer intermediate rings includes at least one third intermediate ring between and connected to the first and second intermediate rings; the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the first intermediate ring defines a first portion of a third belt-guiding surface; the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the second intermediate ring defines a first portion of a fourth belt-guiding surface; and the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the at least one third intermediate ring defines a second portion of the third belt-guiding surface and a second portion of the fourth belt-guiding surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one third intermediate ring comprises two third intermediate rings; the two third intermediate rings are connected together at a longitudinal center of the elevator sheave assembly; and the profiles of the outer circumferential surfaces of the two third intermediate rings define a fifth belt-guiding surface at the longitudinal center of the elevator sheave assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 5, comprising connectors that secure the at least one polymer intermediate ring to the first polymer end ring and the second polymer end ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 11, wherein the connectors comprise separate pieces received at least partially into lateral surfaces on the at least one polymer intermediate ring and the first and second polymer end rings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 11, wherein the connectors are formed as part of the at least one polymer intermediate ring or the first and second polymer end rings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The elevator sheave assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second polymer end rings include at least one of projections extending from a lateral surface and recesses in the lateral surface; the at least one polymer intermediate ring includes at least one of recesses in lateral surfaces on the at least one polymer intermediate ring and projections extending from the lateral surfaces on the at least one polymer intermediate ring; and the projections and the recesses cooperate to connect the at least one polymer intermediate ring to the first and second polymer end rings. ### Claim 15 A method of making an elevator sheave assembly, the method comprising: situating a first polymer end ring at a first longitudinal end of the sheave assembly, the first polymer end ring including an outer circumferential surface having a first profile that defines a first portion of a first belt-guiding surface; connecting at least one polymer intermediate ring to the first polymer end ring, the at least one polymer intermediate ring including an outer circumferential surface having a profile that defines a second portion of the first belt-guiding surface; and connecting a second polymer end ring to the at least one polymer intermediate ring to situate the second polymer end ring at a second longitudinal end of the sheave assembly, the second polymer end ring including an outer circumferential surface having a second profile that defines a first portion of a second belt-guiding surface, the at least one polymer intermediate ring profile defining a second portion of the second belt-guiding surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one polymer intermediate ring comprises a plurality of polymer intermediate rings including a first intermediate ring and a second intermediate ring; and the method comprises connecting the first intermediate ring to the first polymer end ring, connecting the second intermediate ring to the second polymer end ring, and connecting the first intermediate ring to the second intermediate ring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the first intermediate ring defines the second portion of the first belt-guiding surface; the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the first intermediate ring defines a first portion of a third belt-guiding surface; the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the second intermediate ring defines the second portion of the second belt-guiding surface; and the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the second intermediate ring defines a second portion of the third belt-guiding surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first profile is the same as the second profile; and the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the first intermediate ring is the same as the profile of the outer circumferential surface of the second intermediate ring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising over-molding the material of the first polymer end ring onto a bearing; and over-molding the material of the second polymer end ring onto a bearing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, comprising situating the bearing of each of the polymer end rings in a position corresponding to a concentration of a load on the polymer end ring.