Position indicating apparatus

Claim 2

An elevator apparatus for a structure having a plurality of floors, a single power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, compising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a plurality of position indicating means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors, said indicating means including first and second groups each having a plurality of indicators with each of said indicators representing one of said floors, a first plurality of power conductors with certain of said first conductors electrically connected to selected ones of said indicators in said first and second groups, a second plurality of power conductors each electrically connected to one group of said indicators, and connecting means connected to said first and second pluralities of power conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said single power source in response to the operation of said sensing means to electrically energize one of said indicators in accordance with the position of said car with respect to said floors.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a plurality of switch control means each representing one of said floors and selectively operated in accordance with the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, and said connecting means including a plurality of switch means connected to said single source and electrically coupled to be controlled by said switch control means and providing first and second groups of switch means corresponding respectively to said first and second groups of indicators with certain of said first conductors each connected to one of said first group switch means and to one of said second group switch means, and with one of said second conductors connected to said first group switch means and another of said second conductors connected to said second group switch means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a plurality of first switch control means each representing one of said floors and selectively energized in accordance with the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, said connecting means including a plurality of first switch means connected to said single source and electrically coupled to be controlled by said first switch control means and providing first and second groups of switch means corresponding to said first and second groups of indicators with certain of said first conductors each connected to one of said first group switch means and to one of said second group switch means, and a plurality of second switch control means operatively connected to said single source with one of said second switch control means connected to said first group switch means and another of said second switch control means connected to said second group switch means, said second switch control means providing associated switch means to selectively connect said second conductors to said single source.

Claim 5

An elevator apparatus for a structure having n number of floors, a power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a position means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for providing position signals indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors, said position means including n number of first terminals and n number of second terminals dIvided into a plurality of P number of groups, a conductive means for operatively connecting said first and second terminals to said power source including N number of conductors as determined by the formula N A + P with A equal to n divided by P having the quotient increased to the next whole number if fractionalized and with said second terminals in each of said groups operatively connected to said power source by single conductors and the initial of said first terminals in each of said P groups operatively connected to said source by a single conductor with succeeding corresponding first terminals in each of said P groups operative connected to said source by single conductors, and connecting means connected to said N number of conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said power source in response to the operation of said sensing means to provide a position signal in response to the position of said car with respect to said floors.

Claim 6

An elevator apparatus for a structure having n number of floors, a power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a position means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for providing position signals indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors, said position means including n number of first terminals and n number of second terminals dIvided into a plurality of P number of groups, a conductive means for operatively connecting said first and second terminals to said power source including N number of conductors as determined by the formula N A + P with A equal to n divided by P having the quotient increased to the next whole number if fractionalized and with said second terminals in each of said groups operatively connected to said power source by single conductors and the initial of said first terminals in each of said P groups operatively connected to said source by a single conductor with succeeding corresponding first terminals in each of said P groups operative connected to said source by single conductors, and connecting means connected to said N number of conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said power source in response to the operation of said sensing means to provide a position signal in response to the position of said car with respect to said floors.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said sensing means includes a plurality of switch control means selectively operated in response to the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, and said connecting means includes a plurality of switch means responsive to the selective operation of said switch control means for selectively connecting said N number of conductors to said power source.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said sensing means includes n number of switch control means corresponding to said n number of floors selectively operated in accordance with the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, said connecting means including n number of switch means connected to said source and electrically controlled by said n number of switch control means, said n number of switch means divided into a plurality of P number of groups with the initial switch means in each of said P groups electrically connected to said position means by a single conductor with succeeding corresponding switch means in each of said P groups electrically connected to said position means by single conductors, and a plurality of P number of switch control means having a P number of associated switch means with said P number of switch control means operatively connected to said source by said n number of switch means with the initial of said n number of switch means in said P groups connected to the initial of said P switch control means with succeeding corresponding ones of said n switch means in each of said P groups connected to a corresponding one of said P switch control means, said P number of associated switch means operatively connecting said position means to said source with each of said P switch means connected to said position means by a single conductor.

Claim 9

An elevator apparatus for a structure having a plurality of floors, a single power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a plurality of position indicating means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors including first, second, third and fourth indicators representing four of said floors with said indicators having first, second, third and fourth input terminals respectively and first, second third and fourth output terminals respectively, a first conductor electrically connected to said first and third input terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, a second conductor electrically connected to said second and fourth input terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, a third conductor electrically connected to said first and second ouTput terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, a fourth conductor electrically connected to said third and fourth output terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, and connecting means connected to said first, second, third and fourth conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said single power source in response to the operation of said sensing means to electrically energize one of said indicators in accordance with the position of said car with respect to the plurality of floors.

Claim 10

An elevator apparatus for a structure having a plurality of floors, a single power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a plurality of position indicating means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors including first, second, third and fourth indicators representing four of said floors with said indicators having first, second, third and fourth input terminals respectively and first, second third and fourth output terminals respectively, a first conductor electrically connected to said first and third input terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, a second conductor electrically connected to said second and fourth input terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, a third conductor electrically connected to said first and second ouTput terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, a fourth conductor electrically connected to said third and fourth output terminals and operatively connected to said single power source, and connecting means connected to said first, second, third and fourth conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said single power source in response to the operation of said sensing means to electrically energize one of said indicators in accordance with the position of said car with respect to the plurality of floors.

Claim 11

An elevator apparatus for a structure having a plurality of floors, a power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, including first, second, third and fourth relays each corresponding to one of said floors and selectively energized in accordance with the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a plurality of position indicating means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors including first, second, third and fourth indicators representing four of said floors with said indicators having first, second, third and fourth input terminals respectively and first, second, third and fourth output terminals respectively, a first conductor electrically connected to said first and third input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a second conductor electrically connected to said second and fourth input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a third conductor electrically connected to said first and second output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a fourth conductor electrically connected to said third and fourth output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, and connecting means connected to said first, second, third and fourth conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said power source in response to the operation of said sensing means and including first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sets of contacts each connected to said source with said first and fifth contacts controlled by said first relay, said second and sixth contacts controlled by said second relay, said third and seventh contacts controlled by said third relay, and said fourth and eighth contacts controlled by said fourth relay, said first and third contacts further electrically connected to said first conductor, said second and fourth contacts electrically connected to said second conductor, said fifth and sixth contacts electrically connected to said third conductor, and said seventh and eighth contacts electrically connected to said fourth conductor to electrically energize one of said indicators in accordance with the position of said car with respect to the plurality of floors.

Claim 12

An elevator apparatus for a structure having a plurality of floors, a power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, including first, second, third and fourth relays each corresponding to one of said floors and selectively energized in accordance with the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a plurality of position indicating means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors including first, second, third and fourth indicators representing four of said floors with said indicators having first, second, third and fourth input terminals respectively and first, second, third and fourth output terminals respectively, a first conductor electrically connected to said first and third input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a second conductor electrically connected to said second and fourth input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a third conductor electrically connected to said first and second output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a fourth conductor electrically connected to said third and fourth output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, and connecting means connected to said first, second, third and fourth conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said power source in response to the operation of said sensing means and including first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sets of contacts each connected to said source with said first and fifth contacts controlled by said first relay, said second and sixth contacts controlled by said second relay, said third and seventh contacts controlled by said third relay, and said fourth and eighth contacts controlled by said fourth relay, said first and third contacts further electrically connected to said first conductor, said second and fourth contacts electrically connected to said second conductor, said fifth and sixth contacts electrically connected to said third conductor, and said seventh and eighth contacts electrically connected to said fourth conductor to electrically energize one of said indicators in accordance with the position of said car with respect to the plurality of floors.

Claim 13

An elevator apparatus for a structure having a plurality of floors, a power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, including first, second third and fourth relays each corresponding to one of said floors and selectively energized in accordance with the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a plurality of position indicating means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors including first, second, third and fourth indicators representing four of said floors with said indicators having first, second, third and fOurth input terminals respectively and first, second, third and fourth output terminals respectively, a first conductor electrically connected to said first and third input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a second conductor electrically connected to said second and fourth input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a third conductor electrically connected to said first and second output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a fourth conductor electrically connected to said third and fourth output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, and connecting means connected to said first, second, third and fourth conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said power source in response to the operation of said sensing means and including first, second, third and fourth sets of contacts each electrically connected to said source and controlled by said first, second, third and fourth relays respectively, said first and third contacts further connected to said first conductor and said second and fourth contacts connected to said second conductor, a fifth relay electrically connected to said first and second contacts and a sixth relay electrically connected to said third and fourth contacts, and a fifth set of contacts connected to said third conductor and electrically controlled by said fifth relay and a sixth set of contacts connected to said fourth conductor and electrically controlled by said sixth relay to electrically energize one of said indicators in accordance with the position of said car with respect to the plurality of floors.

Claim 14

An elevator apparatus for a structure having a plurality of floors, a power source, an elevator car, means mounting said car for movement relative to the structure to serve said floors, comprising control means for moving said car and for stopping said car at floors, said control means including means for sensing the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, including first, second third and fourth relays each corresponding to one of said floors and selectively energized in accordance with the relative position of said car with respect to said floors, a plurality of position indicating means remotely located with respect to said sensing means for indicating the position of said car with respect to said floors including first, second, third and fourth indicators representing four of said floors with said indicators having first, second, third and fOurth input terminals respectively and first, second, third and fourth output terminals respectively, a first conductor electrically connected to said first and third input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a second conductor electrically connected to said second and fourth input terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a third conductor electrically connected to said first and second output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, a fourth conductor electrically connected to said third and fourth output terminals and operatively connected to said power source, and connecting means connected to said first, second, third and fourth conductors for selectively electrically connecting predetermined ones of said conductors to said power source in response to the operation of said sensing means and including first, second, third and fourth sets of contacts each electrically connected to said source and controlled by said first, second, third and fourth relays respectively, said first and third contacts further connected to said first conductor and said second and fourth contacts connected to said second conductor, a fifth relay electrically connected to said first and second contacts and a sixth relay electrically connected to said third and fourth contacts, and a fifth set of contacts connected to said third conductor and electrically controlled by said fifth relay and a sixth set of contacts connected to said fourth conductor and electrically controlled by said sixth relay to electrically energize one of said indicators in accordance with the position of said car with respect to the plurality of floors.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first, second, third and fourth input terminals include first, second, third and fourth diodes, respectively.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first, second, third and fourth contacts are electrically connected to said first and second conductors through first, second, third and fourth diodes respectively and further electrically connected to said fifth and sixth relays through fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth diodes respectively.