# US 2010/0164151 A1 · Non-linear spring isolation device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0164151 A1 - Document ID: US20100164151A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/530,384 - Filed: 2007-03-29 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-29 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Yu Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100164151A1 ## CPC - B66B 7/08: for connection to the cars or cages, e.g. couplings - B66B 7/048: {including passive attenuation system for shocks, vibrations} - F16F 7/14: of cable support type, i.e. frictionally-engaged loop-forming cables - 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) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract An elevator system includes a car assembly, a drive assembly, and a vibration-damping device (16) arranged at a connection between the top of the car assembly and the drive assembly. The vibration-damping device (16), which includes springs (32, 34, 36) that have varying spring stiffnesses and varying heights, is configured to provide a total spring stiffness between the top of the car assembly and the drive assembly. The total spring stiffness varies as a function of a mass of the car assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator system comprising: a car assembly; a drive assembly; and a vibration-damping device arranged at a connection between a top of the car assembly and the drive assembly; wherein the vibration-damping device, which comprises a plurality of springs that have varying spring stiffnesses and varying heights, is configured to provide a total spring stiffness between the top of the car assembly and the drive assembly, and wherein the total spring stiffness varies as a function of a mass of the car assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs comprises: a first spring set comprising one or more springs each having a first stiffness and a first height; and a second spring set comprising one or more springs each having a second stiffness and a second height; wherein the first height and the second height vary; and wherein the second stiffness and the first stiffness vary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the second stiffness is less than or equal to the first stiffness. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first spring set comprises two springs each having the first stiffness and the first height. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the second spring set comprises one spring having the second stiffness and the second height. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the first height is greater than the second height; and wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the two springs of the first spring set are arranged on either side of the one spring of the second spring set. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising: a shim arranged underneath the one spring of the second spring set. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the car assembly comprises a car and a frame; and wherein the vibration-damping device is arranged at a connection between a top of the frame and the drive assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of springs comprises: a first spring set comprising one or more springs each having a first stiffness and a first height; and a second spring set comprising one or more springs each having a second stiffness and a second height; wherein the first height and the second height vary; and wherein the second stiffness and the first stiffness vary. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the second stiffness is less than or equal to the first stiffness. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first spring set comprises two springs each having the first stiffness and the first height. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the second spring set comprises one spring having the second stiffness and the second height. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the first height is greater than the second height; and wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the two springs of the first spring set are arranged on either side of the one spring of the second spring set. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 further comprising: a shim arranged underneath the one spring of the second spring set. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs are compression springs. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of springs are generally cylindrical. ### Claim 23 A vibration-damping device comprising: a first spring set comprising one or more springs each having a first stiffness and a first height; and a second spring set comprising one or more springs each having a second stiffness and a second height; wherein the first height and the second height vary; wherein the second stiffness and the first stiffness vary; and wherein the first and second spring sets are arranged in parallel for compression at a connection between a top of an elevator car assembly and a drive assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the second stiffness is less than or equal to the first stiffness. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the first spring set comprises two springs each having the first stiffness and the first height. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The device of claim 27, wherein the second spring set comprises one spring having the second stiffness and the second height. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The device of claim 28, wherein the first height is greater than the second height; and wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The device of claim 29, wherein the two springs of the first spring set are arranged on either side of the one spring of the second spring set. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the elevator car assembly comprises a car and a frame; and wherein the first and second spring sets are arranged at a connection between a top of the frame and the drive assembly. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The device of claim 31, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The device of claim 31, wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The device of claim 31, wherein the second stiffness is less than or equal to the first stiffness. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The device of claim 31, wherein the first spring set comprises two springs each having the first stiffness and the first height. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The device of claim 35, wherein the second spring set comprises one spring having the second stiffness and the second height. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The device of claim 36, wherein the first height is greater than the second height; and wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The device of claim 37, wherein the two springs of the first spring set are arranged on either side of the one spring of the second spring set. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The device of claim 38 further comprising: a shim arranged underneath the one spring of the second spring set. ### Claim 40 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23 further comprising: at least one shim arranged underneath the one or more springs of the second spring set. ### Claim 41 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the one or more springs of the first spring set are compression springs. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The device of claim 41, wherein the one or more springs of the first spring set are generally cylindrical. ### Claim 43 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the one or more springs of the second spring set are compression springs. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The device of claim 43, wherein the one or more springs of the second spring set are generally cylindrical.