Elevator load bearing assembly having a detectable element that is indicative of local strain

A method of inspecting a load bearing member in an elevator system where the load bearing member includes a plurality of load bearing strands of a first material and at least one element of a second material that has a characteristic that distinguishes the second material from the first material and is arranged along the load bearing member such that the element has a repeated configuration along a length of the load bearing member when the load bearing member is in a first condition, comprising the steps of:

• (A) inspecting the configuration of the second material element in a portion of the length of the load bearing member;
• (B) determining a characteristic of the configuration of the second material element along the portion of the length;
• and
• (C) determining a condition of at least one of the load bearing strands in the portion of the length based upon the determination of step (B).

A method of assembling a load bearing member for use in an elevator system where the load bearing member has a plurality of fibers of a first material and at least one element of a second material having a characteristic that distinguishes the second material from the first material, comprising the steps of:

• combining a set of the fibers of the first material with the element of the second material to form a first strand;
• arranging a remainder of the fibers of the first material into at least a second strand;
• and
• winding the first strand together with at least the second strand to form a cord such that the element of second material has a geometry that repeats along a length of the cord and such that the geometry of the element of the second material changes along a portion of the length of the load bearing member responsive to a strain on the portion of the load bearing member.

A method of inspecting a load bearing member in an elevator system where the load bearing member includes a plurality of strands of a first material and at least one element of a second material that has a characteristic that distinguishes the second material from the first material and is arranged along the load bearing member such that the element has a repeated configuration along a length of the load bearing member when the load bearing member is in a first condition, comprising the steps of:

• (A) obtaining an image of the second material element in a portion of the length of the load bearing member;
• (B) determining a characteristic of the configuration of the second material element along the portion of the length based upon the obtained image;
• and
• (C) determining a condition of the portion of the length based upon the determination of step (B).

A method of assembling a load bearing member for use in an elevator system, comprising:

• providing a plurality of fibers of a first material;
• providing at least one element of a second material having a characteristic that distinguishes the second material from the first material and that is the same along an entire length of the element;
• arranging a plurality of fibers of the first material together to form a plurality of strands;
• and
• arranging the element of the second material as part of at least one of the strands such that the element of the second material has a repeated configuration along a length of the load bearing member and such that the configuration changes along a portion of the length of the load bearing member responsive to a strain on the portion of the load bearing member.

A method of inspecting a load bearing member in an elevator system where the load bearing member includes a plurality of load bearing strands of a first material and at least one element of a second material that has a characteristic that distinguishes the second material from the first material and is the same along an entire length of the element, the element is arranged along the load bearing member such that die element has a repeated configuration along a length of the load bearing member when the load bearing member is in a first condition, comprising the steps of:

• (A) inspecting the configuration of the second material element in a portion of the length of the load bearing member;
• (B) determining a characteristic of the configuration of the second material element along the portion of the length;
• and
• (C) determining a condition of at least one of the load bearing strands in the portion of the length based upon the determination of step (B).

A method of assembling a load bearing member for use in an elevator system, comprising:

• providing a plurality of fibers of a first material;
• providing at least one element of a second material having a characteristic that distinguishes the second material from the first material and is the same along an entire length of the element;
• combining a set of the fibers of the first material with the element of the second material to form a first strand;
• arranging a remainder of the fibers of the first material into at least a second strand;
• and
• winding the first strand together with at least the second strand to form a cord such that the element of second material has a geometry that repeats along a length of the cord and such that the geometry of the element of the second material changes along a portion of the length of the load bearing member responsive to a strain on the portion of the load bearing member.