Dust mitigation for optical position reference system of an elevator system
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsBrad Guilani, David R. Torlai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A position reference system of an elevator system includes a reference element having a fixed position in a hoistway of the elevator system, and an optical sensor configured to move along the hoistway with an elevator car of the elevator system and configured to transmit a signal to the reference element to determine the position of the elevator car. An airflow duct is configured to move along the hoistway with the elevator car. The airflow duct is configured to passively direct an airflow toward the reference element to prevent accumulation of particles on the reference element.
Claims20
A position reference system of an elevator system, comprising:
- a reference element having a fixed position in a hoistway of the elevator system;
- an optical sensor configured to move along the hoistway with an elevator car of the elevator system and configured to transmit a signal to the reference element to determine the position of the elevator car;
- and
- an airflow duct configured to move along the hoistway with the elevator car, the airflow duct configured to passively direct an airflow toward the reference element to prevent accumulation of particles on the reference element.
An elevator system, comprising:
- a hoistway;
- an elevator car disposed in the hoistway and movable along the length of the hoistway;
- and
- a position reference system disposed in the hoistway and configured to determine a position of the elevator car in the hoistway, the position reference system including:
- a reference element having a fixed position in the hoistway;
- an optical sensor configured to move along the hoistway with the elevator car and configured to transmit a signal to the reference element to determine the position of the elevator car;
- and
- an airflow duct configured to move along the hoistway with the elevator car, the airflow duct configured to passively direct an airflow toward the reference element to prevent accumulation of particles on the reference element.
A method of operating an elevator system, comprising:
- moving an elevator car along a hoistway;
- determining a position of the elevator car in the hoistway via a position reference system including:
- a reference element fixed in the hoistway;
- and
- an optical sensor configured to move along the hoistway with the elevator car and configured to transmit a signal to the reference element to determine the position of the elevator car;
- passively urging an airflow toward the reference element via movement of the elevator car along the hoistway to prevent accumulation of particles on the reference element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.