US3674113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic elevator stopping apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-13
•
Granted: 1972-07-04
•
Expires: 1990-03-13
Abstract
Abstract Automatic elevator control signals are provided by a system of switches and wire mounted cams. A cable extends along the length of the elevator shaft and passes through a switch box mounted on the elevator. Mounted on the cable are a separate pair of bullet shaped cams for each floor serviced by the elevator. These campairs cooperate with a star switch mounted in the switch box; and, depending upon the direction of the elevator motion, the first cam in each pair turns the star switch one increment as the elevator approaches a floor. And the star switch provides elevator control circuits with floor registration and slowdown information. If the star switch gets out of step with the elevator''s location, a specially modified rack and pinion correct the position of the star switch when the elevator reaches either end of the shaft. Cams which are tapered at both ends are also mounted on either the bullet cam cable or a separate cable. These double-tapered cams cooperate with up and down leveling switches mounted in the switch box for providing leveling control.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney Richmon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:17
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B1/00; B66B1/34; B66B1/46; B66B1/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A system for automatically controlling the motion of a body moving in either direction along a track past a plurality of stations including end stations and at least one intermediate station so as to position said body at selected such stations comprising: a plurality of control cams arranged in a line there being at least two control cams for each of said intermediate stations and at least one control cam for each of said end stations, said control cams being formed such that some of said control cams actuate a switch means while other of said control cams do not actuate said switch means when said body travels in one direction along said track and the reverse is true when said body travels in the other direction along said track; switch means arranged to be selectively actuated by said plurality of control cams when there is relative motion between said switch means and said plurality of control cams in a direction along said linear arrangement of control cams said selective actuation depending upon the direction of relative movement; and, motion means for moving said plurality of control cams and said switch means relative to one another in a direction along said linear arrangement of control cams at a velocity proportional to the velocity that said body moves along said track whereby said switch means is actuated by said plurality of control cams so as to provide information as to the location of said body along said track.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
247 words
A system for automatically controlling the motion of a body moving in either direction along a track past a plurality of stations including end stations and at least one intermediate station so as to position said body at selected such stations comprising: a plurality of control cams arranged in a line there being at least two control cams for each of said intermediate stations and at least one control cam for each of said end stations, said control cams being formed such that some of said control cams actuate a switch means while other of said control cams do not actuate said switch means when said body travels in one direction along said track and the reverse is true when said body travels in the other direction along said track; switch means arranged to be selectively actuated by said plurality of control cams when there is relative motion between said switch means and said plurality of control cams in a direction along said linear arrangement of control cams said selective actuation depending upon the direction of relative movement; and, motion means for moving said plurality of control cams and said switch means relative to one another in a direction along said linear arrangement of control cams at a velocity proportional to the velocity that said body moves along said track whereby said switch means is actuated by said plurality of control cams so as to provide information as to the location of said body along said track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of control cams are mounted on a cable, said cable being mounted so that said plurality of control cams selectively activate said switch means when there is relative motion between said switch means and said plurality of control cams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said track is an elevator shaft; said stations are floors; said control cams are arranged in a line along said elevator shaft; said switch means is fixedly attached to said elevator; and said motion means is an elevator lift motor which moves the elevator up and down.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A control system as in claim 3 wherein cooperation between said switch means and said control cams provides sufficient information for determining the floor at which said elevator is located and for determining the slowing point at which said elevator should slow down to stop at a selected floor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A control system as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said switch means includes a flexible arm for contacting said control cams; and, said control cams have tapered ends and blunt ends; whereby the switch arm will flex without actuating said switch upon contacting a tapered end of said control cams but will actuate said switch means upon contacting a blunt end of said control cams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A control system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said switch means includes a switch which is rotatable about an axis and has a plurality of arms, each arm comprising parallel flexible members; and, wherein said plurality of control cams are mounted on a cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said control cams having tapered ends are cylindrical in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A control system aS claimed in claim 7 wherein: said blunt ends of said control cams are recessed; and, said parallel members of said arms have protrusions which are positioned on said parallel members so that they engage said recessed blunt ends of said control cams upon initial contact of said arms with said blunt ends of the control cams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A control system as claimed in claim 8 wherein: said switch means rotates in definite increments; and, each said parallel flexible member of said switch arms have both an initial contact protrusion and a safety contact protrusion, said protrusions being so positioned on said members that said blunt end of a control cam makes initial contact with said initial contact protrusion and secondary contact with said safety protrusion to ensure that said switch rotates the desired increment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A control system as claimed in claim 9 and further including a guide means for guiding said linear arrangement of control cams between the parallel flexible members of said switch arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A control system as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said control cams have one blunt end and one tapered end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A control system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said guide means is a block positioned so that said parallel flexible members of each arm pass on either side of said block as said switch rotates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
A control system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said control system further comprises a leveling means for providing one signal signifying that said elevator is located on one side of a selected floor and another signal signifying that said elevator is located on the other side of said selected floor; whereby, sufficient information is provided to correct the position of said elevator to correspond with the position of said floor and finally stop said elevator at said floor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said leveling means comprises: cylindrical leveling cams being tapered at both ends arranged linearly along said elevator shaft, at least one for each floor; two leveling switches, spaced at least one leveling cam length apart, fixedly attached to said elevator; said leveling switches and leveling cams being so arranged relative one to the other that a cam is positioned between said switches when said moving body is at a floor and motion of the elevator in either direction from a floor brings one of said switches in contact with a tapered end of the cam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said leveling cams are linearly arranged along the same line as said control cams.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system as claimed in claim 13 wherein is further included a correction means for correcting an improper position of said switch means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A control system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said correction means includes a correction actuating means fixedly located at an end of the normal operating range of said elevator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A control system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said correction means further includes: a pinion gear having at least one tooth partially cutaway connected to said rotatable switch means; and, a linkage means providing linkage between said actuating means and said pinion gear.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein is further included a correction means for correcting an improper position of said switch means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said correction means includes a correction actuating means fixedly located at an end of the normal operating range of said elevator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A control system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said correction means further includes: a pinion gear having at least one tooth partially cutaway connected to said rotatable switch means; and, a linkage means for providing linkage between said actuating means and said pinion gear.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
112 words
A control system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said control system further comprises a leveling means which includes: cylindrical leveling cams being tapered at botH ends and arranged linearly along said elevator shaft, at least one for each floor; two leveling switches, spaced at least one leveling cam length apart and fixedly attached to said elevator; said leveling switches and said leveling cams being so arranged relative one to the other that a cam is positioned between said switches when said elevator is at a floor but motion of the elevator in either direction from a floor brings one of said switches in contact with a tapered end of the cam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said leveling cams are linearly arranged along the same line as said control cams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system as claimed in claim 22 wherein is further included a correction means for correcting an improper position of said switch means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A control system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said correction means includes a correction actuating means fixedly located at an end of the normal operating range of said elevator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said correction means further includes: a pinion gear having at least one tooth partially cut away connected to said rotatable switch means; and, a linkage means for providing linkage between said actuating means and said pinion gear.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
76 words
A switch and cam system of the type in which a switch is actuated by contact with cams comprising: cams arranged in a line; a rotatable switch having a plurality of flexible arms, each arm comprising parallel flexible members; moving means for causing relative movement between the cams and said rotatable switch in a direction along the line of said cams; whereby said switch arms sequentially contact said cams and thereby cause said switch to rotate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
76 words
A switch and cam system of the type in which a switch is actuated by contact with cams comprising: cams arranged in a line; a rotatable switch having a plurality of flexible arms, each arm comprising parallel flexible members; moving means for causing relative movement between the cams and said rotatable switch in a direction along the line of said cams; whereby said switch arms sequentially contact said cams and thereby cause said switch to rotate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said cams have tapered ends and blunt ends, whereby said switch arms will flex without rotating said switch upon contacting a tapered end of said cams but will rotate said switch upon contacting a blunt end of said cams.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said cams having tapered ends are cylindrical in shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 29 wherein: said blunt ends of said cams are recessed; and, said parallel flexible members of said arms have protrusions which are positioned on said arm members so that they engage said recessed blunt ends of said cams upon initial contact of said arms with the blunt ends of said cams.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 30 wherein: said switch rotates in definite increments; and, said parallel flexible members of said switch arms have both an initial contact protrusion and a safety contact protrusion, said protrusions being so positioned on said members that said blunt ends of said cams make initial contact with said initial contact protrusion and secondary contact with said safety protrusions to ensure that said switch rotates the desired increment.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 31 and further including a guide means for guiding said line of cams between the parallel flexible members of said rotating switch.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 32 wherein said guide means is a block positioned so that said parallel flexible members of each arm pass on either side of said block as said rotatable switch rotates.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
60 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 27 wherein: said cams have blunt ends which are recessed; and, said parallel flexible members of said arms have protrusions which are positioned on said arm members so that they engage said recessed blunt ends of said cams upon initial contact of said arms with said blunt ends of said cams.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
76 words
A switch and cam system as claimed in claim 34 wherein: said switch rotates in definite increments; and, said parallel flexible members of said switch arms have both an initial contact protrusion and a safety contact protrusion, said protrusions being so positioned oN said members that said blunt ends of said cams make initial contact with said initial contact protrusions and secondary contact with said safety protrusions to ensure that said switch rotates the desired increment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2938603A
Cited
US3211258A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |