Load bearing member for use in an elevator system having external markings for indicating a condition of the assembly
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsDouglas E. Logan, Leroy H. Favrow, Robert J. Haas, Paul A. Stucky, Neil R. Baldwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load bearing assembly in an elevator system includes a plurality of discernable markings on an external surface of the assembly. A monitoring device includes at least one detector that detects locations of the markings along the length of the assembly. Changes in spacing between markings provides an indication of belt loading conditions and provides an ability to determine a condition of the belt relative to whether a replacement of the belt may be necessary. A variety of markings and a variety of detecting arrangements are disclosed.
Claims19
A load bearing assembly for use in an elevator system, comprising:
- a plurality of elongated load bearing members;
- a jacket at least partially enclosing the load bearing members;
- and
- a plurality of detectable markings longitudinally spaced on at least one side of the jacket, the markings being at a first spacing along the side of the jacket when the assembly is in a first condition, the spacing between at least two of the markings changing responsive to a change in the condition of the assembly.
A method of making a load bearing assembly for use in an elevator system, comprising:
- arranging a plurality of load bearing members in a selected alignment;
- placing the load bearing members at least partially within a jacket;
- and
- placing a plurality of markings longitudinally spaced on at least one side of the jacket such that the markings are spaced at a first spacing when the assembly is in a first condition and the spacing between at least two of the markings changes responsive to a change in the condition of the assembly.
The method of claim 15, including using two lasers to apply pairs of the markings, the lasers being at a controlled spacing.
A method of determining a condition of a load bearing assembly in an elevator system having a plurality of load bearing members within a jacket that includes detectable markings on at least one side of the jacket, comprising the steps of:
- determining a current spacing between at least two of the markings;
- and
- determining a current condition of the assembly using the current spacing of the markings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.