James Eugene Draper

US Patent:

6457569, Oct 1, 2002

Filed:

Oct 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/428023

Inventors:

James M. Draper - East Hartland CT
Richard E. Kulak - Bristol CT

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B60T 832

US Classification:

188180, 188185, 187351

Abstract:

A rotary actuated overspeed safety device is provided for elevators. The overspeed safety device comprises a pair of pivotally mounted counterweights linked by a pivotally attached coupling rod and a wheel that rollably engages a guide rail. The counterweights are pivotally mounted to the wheel in a parallel plane configuration. Centrifugal force causes the pivotally mounted counterweights to pivot outward toward an actuator as the wheel spins. The overspeed safety device is triggered when the pair of pivotally mounted counterweights engages an actuator. The actuator is a housing that is engagably connected to an elevator safety.

US Patent:

8631909, Jan 21, 2014

Filed:

Mar 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/256900

Inventors:

James M. Draper - East Hartland CT, US
Greg A. Schienda - Plantsville CT, US
Harold Terry - Avon CT, US
Daryl J. Marvin - Farmington CT, US
Anthony Cooney - Unionville CT, US
Jose M. Carballo - Tampa FL, US

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 5/04

US Classification:

187373

Abstract:

An electromagnetic safety trigger includes a link kinematically connected to a safety A, B of an elevator system mass, such as an elevator car or counterweight. An electromagnet mounted on a linear actuator is magnetically coupled to the link , and a spring is connected between the link and the elevator mass. The electromagnet can be triggered to release the link , which allows the spring to move the link to engage the safety A, B.

US Patent:

20120000729, Jan 5, 2012

Filed:

Mar 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/256895

Inventors:

Daryl J. Marvin - Farmington CT, US
Greg A. Schienda - Plantsville CT, US
Harold Terry - Avon CT, US
James M. Draper - East Hartland CT, US
Anthony Cooney - Unionville CT, US
Jose M. Carballo - Tampa FL, US

Assignee:

OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 5/06

US Classification:

187287

Abstract:

An elevator system includes an over-acceleration and over-speed protection system capable of triggering a machine room brake and a safety trigger when over-speed or over-acceleration conditions are detected. The system includes a speed detector and an acceleration detector . Based upon sensed speed and sensed acceleration, the controller calculates a filtered speed of an elevator mass such as an elevator car or counterweight, and compares the filtered speed to the threshold speed to determine whether an over-speed condition has been reached. The controller activates a machine room brake when an over-speed condition exists, and engages an elevator safety A, B when it determines that the elevator mass is still in an over-speed condition after the machine room brake has been activated.

US Patent:

20120000731, Jan 5, 2012

Filed:

Mar 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/256886

Inventors:

Greg A. Schienda - Plantsville CT, US
Daryl J. Marvin - Farmington CT, US
Harold Terry - Avon CT, US
James M. Draper - East Hartland CT, US
Anthony Cooney - Unionville CT, US
Jose M. Carballo - Tampa FL, US

Assignee:

OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 5/06

US Classification:

187305

Abstract:

An elevator system includes an electronic system capable of triggering a machine room brake and an electromagnetic safety trigger with low hysteresis and with minimal power requirements that can be released to engage safeties A, B when car over-speed and/or over-acceleration is detected. The electromagnetic trigger may be reset automatically and may be released to engage the safeties A, B during the reset procedure. The system includes an over-speed and over-acceleration detection and processing system that is configured to decrease response time and to reduce the occurrence of false triggers caused by conditions unrelated to passenger safety, such as passengers jumping inside the elevator car

US Patent:

20120222918, Sep 6, 2012

Filed:

Dec 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/509288

Inventors:

Justin Billard - Amston CT, US
James M. Draper - Woodstock CT, US
Anthony Cooney - Unionville CT, US

International Classification:

B66B 5/18

US Classification:

187359

Abstract:

An exemplary elevator braking device comprises a brake housing. A plurality of rollers are supported by the brake housing. The rollers are arranged to be positioned on opposite sides of a guiderail. The rollers are selectively moveable between a first position in which the rollers are spaced apart a first distance and a second position in which the rollers are spaced apart a second, smaller distance so that the rollers engage and roll along opposite sides of the guiderail. At least one biasing member is supported by the brake housing. The biasing member is associated with at least one of the rollers and biases the associated roller toward the other roller in the second position. A plurality of braking surfaces are supported by the brake housing. At least one braking surface is associated with each of the rollers. Each braking surface engages a periphery of the associated roller that faces the side of the guiderail. Friction between the periphery of the associated roller and the braking surface provides a stopping force.

US Patent:

20140008157, Jan 9, 2014

Filed:

Mar 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

14/006461

Inventors:

Harold Terry - Avon CT, US
Leandre Adifon - Farmington CT, US
Richard N. Fargo - Plainville CT, US
David J. Lanesey - Harwinton CT, US
Anthony Cooney - Unionville CT, US
James M. Draper - East Hartford CT, US
Jamie A. Rivera - Bristol CT, US
Justin Billard - Amston CT, US
Zbigniew Piech - Cheshire CT, US

Assignee:

OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY - FARMINGTON CT

International Classification:

B66B 5/18

US Classification:

187359

Abstract:

An elevator system includes one or more rails fixed in a hoistway and an elevator car configured to move through the hoistway along the one or more rails. The system includes one or more braking systems having one more braking surfaces secured to the elevator car and frictionally engageable with one or more rails of the elevator system. One or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more braking surfaces configured to urge engagement and/or disengagement of the one or more braking surfaces with the rail to stop and/or hold the elevator car during operation of the elevator system.

US Patent:

51562391, Oct 20, 1992

Filed:

Dec 17, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/809682

Inventors:

Richard J. Ericson - Southington CT
James M. Draper - Woodstock CT

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 500

US Classification:

187 73

Abstract:

Movement of an elevator cab drive sheave is controlled by a disc brake/load weighing assembly which is operably connected to the output shaft and sheave of the elevator drive machine. The disc brake assembly acts as the operating brake for normal operation of the elevator, and can also serve as an upward or downward safety brake. The brake assembly can be retrofitted onto an existing elevator system, and its operation is not affected by any gear degradation in the machine drive gears. The brake when it is set acts to impart movement to a torque arm which is operably connected to a load cell mounted on the machine bedplate. The load imparted to the load cell is proportional to the weight of the cab and its occupants. The load cell is connected to the elevator controller and imparts a load signal to the controller each time the cab stops.

US Patent:

62960806, Oct 2, 2001

Filed:

Jun 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/598598

Inventors:

James M. Draper - East Hartland CT
Richard E. Kulak - Bristol CT

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 504

US Classification:

187376

Abstract:

In an elevator safety braking device, a variable traction mechanism in a rotary actuator allows the drive wheels of the rotary actuator to operate at a reduced preload during normal elevator operation. When engaging, a higher preload is necessary. In the event of safety braking, the variable traction mechanism increases the preload on the drive wheel to ensure timely and proper safety engagement. The variable traction mechanism therefore allows the drive wheels to be subjected to a reduced preload during normal operation, thus relaxing the design criteria for the drive wheels while maintaining reliability.