Load bearing member for use in an elevator system having external markings for indicating a condition of the assembly
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsDouglas E. Logan, Leroy H. Favrow, Robert J. Haas, Paul A. Stucky, Neil R. Baldwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load bearing assembly in an elevator system includes a plurality of discernable markings on an external surface of the assembly. A monitoring device includes at least one detector that detects locations of the markings along the length of the assembly. Changes in spacing between markings provides an indication of belt loading conditions and provides an ability to determine a condition of the belt relative to whether a replacement of the belt may be necessary. A variety of markings and a variety of detecting arrangements are disclosed.
Claims31
A load bearing assembly for use in an elevator system, comprising:
- a plurality of elongated load bearing members;
- a jacket at least partially enclosing the load bearing members;
- and
- a plurality of detectable markings longitudinally spaced on at least one side of the jacket, the markings being at a first spacing along the side of the jacket when the assembly is in a first condition, the spacing between at least two of the markings changing responsive to a change in the condition of the assembly.
A method of making a load bearing assembly for use in an elevator system, comprising:
- arranging a plurality of load bearing members in a selected alignment;
- placing the load bearing members at least partially within a jacket;
- and
- placing a plurality of markings longitudinally spaced on at least one side of the jacket such that the markings are spaced at a first spacing when the assembly is in a first condition and the spacing between at least two of the markings changes responsive to a change in the condition of the assembly.
A method of determining a condition of a load bearing assembly in an elevator system having a plurality of load bearing members within a jacket that includes detectable markings on at least one side of the jacket, comprising the steps of:
- determining a current spacing between at least two of the markings;
- and
- determining a current condition of the assembly using the current spacing of the markings.
A device for inspecting a load bearing assembly in an elevator system, comprising:
- a detector that gathers information regarding spacing between external markings on the load bearing assembly;
- and
- a controller that utilizes the spacing information gathered by the detector and makes a detennination regarding a condition of the load bearing assembly.
A device for inspecting a load bearing assembly in an elevator system, comprising:
- a detector that gathers information regarding spacing between at least two of markings on the load bearing assembly;
- and
- a controller that uses the spacing information to make a determination regarding a condition of the load bearing assembly and accounts for a change in a load on the assembly and determines whether a change in spacing between selecting ones of the markings corresponds to the change in the load.
A device forinspecting an elevator system load bearing assembly that has a plurality of tensile members encased within a jacket, comprising:
- a detector that gathers information regarding spacing between external markings on the jacket of the load bearing assembly;
- and
- a controller that utilizes the spacing information gathered by the detector and makes a determination regarding a condition of the load bearing assembly.
A method of making a load bearing assembly for an elevator system, comprising:
- forming at least one load bearing member;
- and
- subsequent to the forming establishing a plurality of markings on an exterior of the load bearing member such that a spacing between the markings provides information regarding a load bearing condition of the load bearing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.