Elevator load bearing assembly having a ferromagnetic element that provides an indication of local strain
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsPaul A. Stucky, Neil R. Baldwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An elevator load bearing assembly, such as a polymer cord, reinforced belt, includes at least one element of a ferromagnetic material associated with each cord that comprises one or more non-ferromagnetic materials. The ferromagnetic element is associated with the cord such that a physical characteristic of the ferromagnetic element changes responsive to strain on the non-ferromagnetic fibers. In one example, the ferromagnetic element is a steel wire that breaks in areas that are strained, caused by bending fatigue, for example. Detecting a number of changes (i.e., breaks) in the ferromagnetic element along the length of the load bearing assembly provides an indication of the belt condition.
Claims14
A load bearing assembly for use in an elevator system, comprising:
- a plurality of non-ferromagnetic fibers wound in a generally helical arrangement and arranged into at least one cord;
- and
- at least one ferromagnetic element that is wound with the non-ferromagnetic fibers and is part of the cord such that a physical characteristic of the ferromagnetic element changes responsive to strain on at least some of the non-ferromagnetic fibers and thereby provides an indication of a condition of the assembly.
A method of assembling a load bearing assembly for use in an elevator system, comprising:
- winding a plurality of non-ferromagnetic fibers in a generally helical arrangement to form at least one cord;
- and
- winding a ferromagnetic element with the non-ferromagnetic fibers to be part of the cord such that a physical characteristic of the ferromagnetic element changes responsive to strain on at least some of the non-ferromagnetic fibers and thereby provides an indication of a condition of the assembly.
A method of determining a condition of a load bearing assembly that has a plurality of non-ferromagnetic fibers arranged into at least one cord, comprising the steps of:
- arranging a ferromagnetic element in a selected relationship with the cord such that a physical characteristic of the ferromagnetic element changes responsive to strain on at least some of the non-ferromagnetic fibers;
- determining a number of changes in the physical condition of the ferromagnetic element along a length of the assembly;
- and
- determining a condition of at least some of the non-ferromagnetic fibers using the determined number of changes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.