Elevator system
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsAndrew F. Kirsch, Robert W. Koob
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elevator system including apparatus for detecting mechanical damage to the elevator system, such as might be caused by an earthquake. A cable strung in the hoistway is reeved about a plurality of sheaves carried by the counterweight. Normal operation of the counterweight maintains a predetermined tension in the cable, which predetermined tension is used to maintain a switch in a first condition. Abnormal movement of the counterweight outside of its vertical travel path changes the tension in the cable and operates the switch to a second condition which modifies the operation of the elevator system.
Claims7
An elevator system, comprising:
- a building having a plurality of floors and a hoistway,
- an elevator car,
- a counterweight,
- means mounting said elevator car and said counterweight for guided vertical movement in the hoistway of said building, in adjacent vertical travel paths,
- motive means for driving said elevator car and said counterweight in their respective travel paths,
- cable guide means fixed to said counterweight,
- a cable strung in said hoistway, with said cable being reeved about the cable guide means on said counterweight,
- tension means providing a predetermined tension in said cable when the counterweight is mounted to operate in its normal vertical travel path, with said tension changing in response to an abnormal lateral deviation of said counterweight from its vertical travel path,
- and detector means responsive to the tension in said cable,
- said detector means modifying the operation of said motive means in response to a predetermined change in the tension in said cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.