Improvements in or relating to elevators

Abstract

An elevator 10 has a pair of guide rails 12 supporting a lift car 11. A drive system 13 has a motor 30, winding drum 31, ropes 14 and sheeves 33 mounted on a pivoting balancing frame 34. A fall arrest facility, which is coupled to the balancing frame, is triggered when either the lift car speed exceeds a threshold or the balance frame angle exceeds a predetermined angle. The fall arrest system may include an overspeed detection device engaged with a rack 20 in the guide rails, a pinion wheel 45 and transfer member 51. A roller 54, on tripping arm 52, may rest on cam surfaces 56 in a cavity of the pinion wheel and when the speed exceeds a threshold is thrown to an outer edge with locking surfaces 57. This may raise the tripping arm which may be pivotally connected to link arm 60 thus bringing brake blocks 43 into contact with a rib 18. The fall arrest system may be activated if a loss of tension in the lift ropes is detected.

Description

This invention relates to elevators and, in particular, to an elevator comprising a lift car mounted between two spaced parallel pillars fixed at their upper and lower ends, but not fixed within a shaft. Drive means are provided in the lift car to drive the lift car up and down the pillars on lift ropes. An example of such a lift is described in published International Patent Application No. WO 2020 / 089606. Background to the Invention Australian Patent No. AU2005200669 and International Patent Application No. WO 2020 / 089606 describe a form of elevator that is particularly suitable for installation in domestic dwellings. This form of elevator is relatively lightweight in construction and, in particular, does not require a dedicated lift shaft or a machine room as required by more conventional elevators. Nevertheless, the need for passenger safety is always paramount and, in this regard, enhanced safety features to the elevators described in the above publications are believed to be possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide an elevator configured for installation in a domestic dwelling that offers enhanced safety features over similar elevators that have gone before; or which will at least provide a novel and useful alternative. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the invention provides an elevator comprising: a pair of spaced substantially vertical, substantially parallel, guide rails; a lift car supported between said guide rails; a drive mounted on said lift car configured and operable to drive said lift car up and down said guide rails, said drive comprising:a drive motor having a winding drum; a pair of guide sheeves, a pair of lift ropes, each guide rope being fixed at a first end to said winding drum, passing around one of said guide sheeves, and being fixed at a second end at position at or adjacent to an upper end of a respective one of said guide rails, the guide sheeves being mounted on a pivotal balancing frame; and a fall arrest facility attached to said lift car having a normal operating state when the speed of said lift car is below a pre-determined threshold but triggers and brakes said lift car in the event the speed of the lift car exceeds said threshold, wherein said balancing frame is operatively connected or connectible to said fall arrest facility, the construction and arrangement being such, in the event said balancing frame exceeds a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal axis, said fall arrest facility is caused to trigger. Preferably said fall arrest facility includes braking members configured and positioned to engage braking surfaces on both of said guide rails. Preferably said fall arrest facility comprises an overspeed detection device; and a linkage system connecting said braking members to said overspeed detection device. Preferably said overspeed detection device is engaged with one of said guide rails. Preferably said overspeed detection device is a mechanically configured rotating device engaged with a drive surface on one of said guide rails. Preferably said overspeed detection device includes a toothed pinion wheel rotatable about a pinion wheel axis and said drive surface comprises a gear rack, said overspeed detection device further including a transfer member, the construction and arrangement being such that said pinion is rotatable with respect to said transfer member during normal operation but is locked to said transfer member in the event the fall arrest facility triggers. Preferably said pinion wheel includes a cavity on a surface thereof, said cavity having an inner edge defining one or more cam surfaces, and an outer edge defining one or more locking surfaces, said overspeed detection device further including a tripping arm pivotally mounted on said transfer member and having a contact part in contact with said pinion wheel, the construction and arrangement being such that said contact part is in sliding contact with said cam surfaces during normal operation but displaces into contact with a said locking surface to lock the pinion wheel relative to the transfer member in the event the speed of the lift car exceeds said threshold. Preferably the contact part of said tripping arm comprises a roller. Preferably said transfer member is mounted for rotation about said pinion wheel axis, and wherein said linkage system includes a first link arm connected to said transfer member and to a first said braking member, said first link arm and said tripping arm being connected to said transfer member on opposite sides of said pinion wheel axis. Preferably the elevator further includes a cross-bar pivotally mounted to said lift car, extending between opposed side edges of said lift car, and having opposed ends, said linkage system including a second link arm connecting one end of said cross bar to said transfer member, wherein the first and second link arms are attached to the transfer member in a manner such that displacement of the first link arm effects displacement of the second link arm in an opposite direction. Preferably the elevator further includes a third link arm connecting a second end of said cross-bar to a second said braking member Preferably said cross-bar extends across said lift car in close proximity to said load balancing frame and includes contact points for engagement by said load balancing frame in the event said load balancing frame exceeds a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal axis. Preferably said cross-bar has rocker arms mounted on both opposed ends for pivotal movement with said cross-bar, a first rocker arm being connected to said second link arm, and a second rocker arm being connected to said third link arm, said rocker arms having cam surfaces for engagement by said load balancing frame. Preferably the elevator further includes back-up means configured and operable to place said fall arrest facility into a triggered configuration independently of the speed of said lift car. Preferably the elevator further includes a cut-out switch configured and operable to cut power to said drive motor in the event of said fall arrest facility triggers. Preferably said transfer member includes an arm engageable with said cut-out switch. Preferably said lift car has vertically extending recesses on opposed side walls, said recesses being configured to accommodate said guide rails. Preferably said recesses are sized to substantially completely accommodate said guide rails. Preferably each said guide rail has a width dimension aligned substantially with a side wall of said lift car, and a depth dimension aligned substantially perpendicular to said width dimension. Preferably said recesses have inwardly turned outer edges when viewed in plan, and wherein the spacing between said outer edges is less than the width dimension of said guide rails. Preferably said recesses are positioned on said side walls substantially mid-way between front and rear walls of said lift car. Alternatively said recesses are positioned at or closely adjacent to junctions between said side walls and a rear wall of said lift car. Preferably each said guide rail includes a strengthening rib projecting from an inner surface thereof substantially parallel to said depth dimension. Preferably said strengthening rib is offset from a centreline of said width dimension. Preferably said braking surface is included in said strengthening rib. Preferably said guide rails are formed from an identical extruded metal section. In a second aspect the invention provides an elevator comprising: a pair of spaced substantially vertical, substantially parallel, guide rails; a lift car supported between said guide rails; a pair of lift ropes supporting said lift car on said guide rails; drive means mounted on said lift car and connected to said lift ropes, said drive means being configured and operable to drive said lift car up and down said rails on said lift ropes; and a fall arrest facility attached to said lift car having a normal operating state when the speed of said lift car is below a pre-determined threshold but triggers and brakes said lift car in the event the speed of the lift car exceeds said threshold, wherein said elevator further includes detection means configured to detect a loss of tension in at least one of said lift ropes and, in the event of a loss of tension, operable to trigger said fall arrest facility. The invention may comprise any novel combination of elements or components claimed or described herein that may combine to provide an elevator and should not be confined to the particular combination or combinations described in the following example. Many variations in the way the present invention can be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the art. The description which follows is intended as an illustration only of one means of performing the invention and the lack of description of variants or equivalents should not be regarded as limiting. Subject to the scope of the appended claims, wherever possible, a description of a specific element should be deemed to include any and all equivalents thereof whether in existence now or in the future. Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1: shows a side view of an elevator according to the invention; Fig 2: shows an isometric view, from the front, of the elevator shown in Fig i; Fig 3: shows a horizontal section of the elevator shown in Figs 1 &2; Fig 4: shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a guide rail incorporated in the elevator shown in Figs 1 to 3; Fig 5: shows a schematic view of a drive arrangement for the elevator shown in Figs 1 to 4; Fig 6: shows an isometric view of parts of a fall arrest system included in the elevator shown in Figs 1 to 5; Figs 7A-7C: show elevational views of a sequence of positions of the fall arrest system shown in Fig 6 between an inoperative state to a fully operative state; Fig 8: shows an elevational view, in larger scale, of part of the braking fall arrest system shown in Figs 6 &7; Fig 9: Fig 10: shows a cross-section of that which is shown in Fig 8; and shows a view along the line x-x in Fig 9. Description of Working Embodiment The drawings show an elevator 10 particularly suitable for retro-fitting into domestic dwellings. A particular feature of such an elevator is that it does not require the provision of a dedicated lift shaft or machine room. In the drawings the lift car is shown in its lowermost position, it being appreciated that, in use, the lift car elevates up the guide rails to a floor (not shown) positioned above. In the example shown the elevator 10 comprises a lift car 11 supported by and between guide rails 12, the guide rails extending from ground level of the lower floor to, or adjacent to, the ceiling level of the floor above. A drive arrangement 13, described in greater detail below, is mounted to the lift car, preferably in the upper confines of the lift car, and propels the lift car up and down the guide rails by means of lift ropes 14. The elevator 10 also includes a fall arrest facility, also to be described in greater detail below, that brakes the lift car to a halt, on the guide rails, in the event the speed of the lift car exceeds a pre-determined threshold; or in the event one of the lift ropes 14 breaks or otherwise becomes slack. The guide rails 12 are preferably formed from the same metal section, typically, but not necessarily, an extruded aluminium section having a width dimension w and a depth dimension d, the width dimension being substantially parallel to the juxtaposed side wall of the lift car when the elevator is assembled, the depth dimension being perpendicular to the width dimension. In the form shown the section comprises a relatively shallow channel having a convex outer surface 15 and a corresponding concave inner surface 16. As shown, the guide rail further includes a strengthening rib 18 projecting from the inner surface 16 which is aligned in the direction of the depth dimension d, but offset from the centreline of width dimension w, and a channel 19 which serves as a mounting channel for a vertically aligned toothed rack 20. Conveniently the guide rail section further includes aperture channels 21 sized to receive joint pins (not shown) so that lengths of guide rail can be joined end to end. Rollers (not shown) are mounted on the lift car and positioned for rolling contact with the inner surfaces 16 of the rails 12 to locate the lift car relative to the rails and ensure a smooth travel up and down the rails. Lift car 10 comprises a front wall 25, rear wall 26 and opposed side walls 27. The front wall 25 is defined, at least in part, by door 28 and the fixed rear wall may be replaced by a further door if through-access is required. In the form shown the door 28 is half-height but may, as an alternative, be full-height. As stated above, the drive system 13 is mounted to the lift car. In the form shown, this is included in an enclosure 29 at the upper end of the lift car but could conceivably be mounted in other positions on the lift car, one option being at the base of the lift car. As can be seen in most clearly in Fig 3, the rails are preferably accommodated in recesses 27b in the side walls 27 of the lift car and, more preferably, entirely accommodated within the recesses. The recesses may include inwardly aligned side edges the spacing between being less than dimension w of the rails so that the risk of trapping between the lift car and the rails is reduced. In the embodiment shown, the recesses are positioned substantially mid-way between the front and rear walls of the lift car but this is by no means essential. As one alternative, the recesses may be positioned at or close to the junctions between the side walls 27 and the rear wall 26 of the lift car. Turning now to Fig 5, an example of drive system comprises a drive motor 30, on the output of which is a winding drum 31. Lift ropes 14 are fixed at their inner ends to the winding drum 31 and are fixed at their outer ends to positions 32 at, or adjacent to, the upper ends of guide rails 12. Intermediate the inner and outer ends, and in a conventional manner, the lift ropes pass around diverter sheeves 33 positioned such that those parts of lift ropes 14 extending above the lift car are housed within the confines of the guide rails 12. The sheeves 33 are preferably mounted on a balancing frame 34 which is pivoted at 35 to the lift car 11. This allows the loads on the lift ropes 14 to equalise and further, as will be described in greater detail below, constitutes part of a detection facility which triggers the fall arrest system in the event one of the ropes 14 breaks or otherwise becomes slack. A particular feature of the fall arrest system is that it is purely mechanical in nature and, while it could operate against one guide rail alone, it is preferable to operate against both guide rails for a balanced operation. As shown the fall arrest system comprises a mechanically operated overspeed detection device (OSDD) 40; one and preferably two, braking members 41 positioned to engage a surface of each guide rail 12; and a system of linkages connecting the braking members 41 to the OSDD 40 such that when the OSDD detects an overspeed and triggers, through the linkages the braking members 41 are moved into braking engagement with the guide rails 12. The braking surfaces of the guide rails are preferably provided by the strengthening ribs 18, the braking members 41 being housed in brake blocks 42 which, in normal operation, slide up and down the ribs 18. As can be seen from Figs 7A - 7C, the brake blocks 42 include angled slots 43 configured such that when the OSDD activates, the braking members 41 are displaced upwardly and inwardly in the angled slots and into engagement with the ribs 18. The OSDD 40 preferably comprises a toothed pinion wheel 45 that engages with the rack 20 on one of the guide rails and thus rotates about pinion wheel axis 44 as the lift moves up and down the guide rails 12. The pinion wheel is fixed to shaft 46, the shaft being journaled in boss 47 fixed to back plate 48. Pivotally mounted over boss 47 is a transfer member 51, a tripping arm 52, sometimes referred to as a nodding donkey, in turn being pivotally mounted to the transfer member 51 at 53. The tripping arm 52 has a contact part, preferably in the form of roller 54, that is positioned to contact the pinion wheel 45 and, in normal operation, the pinion wheel 45 is free to rotate relative to the tripping arm 52 and, in turn, free to rotate relative to the transfer member 51. Turning now to Fig 10, the inner face 55 of the pinion 45 is formed with a cavity that provides an inner edge defining a number, in this case four, cam surfaces 56 and an outer edge in which is formed a corresponding four locking surfaces or apertures 57. The roller 54 is positioned within the cavity above the axis 44 so as to rest on the cam surfaces 56 under gravity as the pinion 45 rotates. However, the cam surfaces are configured such that, when the speed of the pinion 45 exceeds a threshold, due to the lift car exceeding a threshold speed the roller 54 is thrown outwardly, engages one of the locking apertures 57, and locks the pinion 45 to the transfer member 51, an event referred to herein as triggering. Any further pivotal movement of the pinion 45, caused by continuing downward movement of the lift car, thus also effects pivotal movement of the transfer member 51 over the outer surface of boss 47 about axis 44. A linkage system is connected to the transfer member 51. A first link arm 60, which may as shown be a composite of components, connects a first of the braking members 41 to the transfer member 51. The first link arm 60 is connected to the transfer member 51 at 61 on the opposite side of axis 44 to the mounting point 53 of the tripping arm 52. Accordingly, as the mounting point 53 moves downward upon the OSDD triggering, the first link arm 60 is raised, thus drawing first braking member 41 up the slot 43 and into contact with rib 18. The linkage system further includes a cross-bar 65 which extends across and is mounted to the lift car, conveniently along an upper boundary of the lift car, so as to pivot around axis 66. Rocker arms 67a and 67b are fixed to opposite ends of the cross-bar, the rocker arms having cam surfaces 68 on the upper edges thereof. A second link arm 70 connects the transfer member 51 to the cross bar 65 via rocker arm 67a while a third link arm 71 connects an opposite end the cross-bar 65 to a second of the braking members 41 via rocker arm 67b. It will be noted that second link arm 70 is connected to the transfer member 51 on the opposite side of axis 44 to connection 61 resulting in the second link arm 70 falling as the first link arm 60 rises upon the OSDD triggering. It will be further noted that the rocker arms 67a and 67b project from the cross-bar 65 on opposite sides of axis 66 so that as second link arm 70 falls, third link arm 71 rises and, in so doing, draws second braking member 41 up respective slot 43 and into contact with respective rib 18. Another particular feature of an elevator according to the invention is that it includes a provision to trigger the fall arrest system in the event one of the lift ropes 14 breaks or otherwise becomes slack. Again, this facility is entirely mechanical in nature and, in the example shown, is effected by arranging the balancing frame 34 so that it contacts one of cam surfaces 68 when the pivotal movement about pivot 35 becomes excessive due to failure or slackening of a rope 14. Downward displacement of either cam surface 68 pivots the cross-bar 65 in a manner such that both braking members 41 are drawn into contact with ribs 18. The elevator preferably further includes a facility to cut power to the drive motor 31 in the event the fall arrest facility trips. As shown this facility is provided by an arm 75 attached to or forming part of the transfer member 51 which, as the OSDD trips causing the transfer member to pivot, causes arm 75 to engage and activate cut-out switch 76. The elevator 10 preferably further includes a back-up facility to lock the lift car 11 relative to the guide rails 12 independently of the OSDD triggering though excess speed. As an example of such a facility, a solenoid 78 having piston 79 is mounted beneath the OSDD and positioned so that as the solenoid is activated, the piston 79 displaces the tripping arm 52 upwardly so that roller 54 engages in one of the locking apertures 57.

Claims

1. An elevator comprising:a pair of spaced substantially vertical, substantially parallel, guide rails;a lift car supported between said guide rails;a drive mounted on said lift car configured and operable to drive said lift car up and down said guide rails, said drive comprising:a drive motor having a winding drum; a pair of guide sheeves, a pair of lift ropes, each guide rope being fixed at a first end to said winding drum, passing around one of said guide sheeves, and being fixed at a second end at position at or adjacent to an upper end of a respective one of said guide rails, the guide sheeves being mounted on a pivotal balancing frame; anda fall arrest facility attached to said lift car having a normal operating state when the speed of said lift car is below a pre-determined threshold but triggers and brakes said lift car in the event the speed of the lift car exceeds said threshold, wherein said balancing frame is operatively connected or connectible to said fall arrest facility, the construction and arrangement being such, in the event said balancing frame exceeds a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal axis, said fall arrest facility is caused to trigger.

2. An elevator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fall arrest facility includes braking members configured and positioned to engage braking surfaces on both of said guide rails.

3. An elevator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said fall arrest facility comprises an overspeed detection device; and a linkage system connecting said braking members to said overspeed detection device.

4. An elevator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said overspeed detection device is engaged with one of said guide rails.

5. An elevator as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said overspeed detection device is a mechanically configured rotating device engaged with a drive surface on one of said guide rails.

6. An elevator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said overspeed detection device includes a toothed pinion wheel rotatable about a pinion wheel axis and said drive surface comprises a gear rack, said overspeed detection device further including a transfer member, the construction and arrangement being such that said pinion is rotatable with respect to said transfer member during normal operation but is locked to said transfer member in the event the fall arrest facility triggers.

7. An elevator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pinion wheel includes a cavity on a surface thereof, said cavity having an inner edge defining one or more cam surfaces, and an outer edge defining one or more locking surfaces, said overspeed detection device further including a tripping arm pivotally mounted on said transfer member and having a contact part in contact with said pinion wheel, the construction and arrangement being such that said contact part is in sliding contact with said cam surfaces during normal operation but displaces into contact with a said locking surface to lock the pinion wheel relative to the transfer member in the event the speed of the lift car exceeds said threshold.

8. An elevator as claimed in claim 7 wherein the contact part of said tripping arm comprises a roller.

9. An elevator as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said transfer member is mounted for rotation about said pinion wheel axis, and wherein said linkage system includes a first link arm connected to said transfer member and to a first said braking member, said first link arm and said tripping arm being connected to said transfer member on opposite sides of said pinion wheel axis.

10. An elevator as claimed in claim 9 further including a cross-bar pivotally mounted to said lift car, extending between opposed side edges of said lift car, and having11. opposed ends, said linkage system including a second link arm connecting one end of said cross bar to said transfer member, wherein the first and second link arms are attached to the transfer member in a manner such that displacement of the first link arm effects displacement of the second link arm in an opposite direction.

12. An elevator as claimed in claim 10 including a third link arm connecting a second end of said cross-bar to a second said braking member13. An elevator as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cross-bar extends across said lift car in close proximity to said load balancing frame and includes contact points for engagement by said load balancing frame in the event said load balancing frame exceeds a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal axis.

14. An elevator as claimed in claim 12 wherein said cross-bar has rocker arms mounted on both opposed ends for pivotal movement with said cross-bar, a first rocker arm being connected to said second link arm, and a second rocker arm being connected to said third link arm, said rocker arms having cam surfaces for engagement by said load balancing frame.

15. An elevator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including backup means configured and operable to place said fall arrest facility into a triggered configuration independently of the speed of said lift car.

16. An elevator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including a cutout switch configured and operable to cut power to said drive motor in the event of said fall arrest facility triggers.

17. An elevator as claimed in claim 15 when dependant on any one of claims 7 to 13 wherein said transfer member includes an arm engageable with said cut-out switch.

18. An elevator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said lift car has vertically extending recesses on opposed side walls, said recesses being configured to accommodate said guide rails.

19. An elevator as claimed in claim 17 wherein said recesses are sized to substantially completely accommodate said guide rails.

20. An elevator as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein each said guide rail has a width dimension aligned substantially with a side wall of said lift car, and a depth dimension aligned substantially perpendicular to said width dimension.

21. An elevator as claimed in claim 19 wherein said recesses have inwardly turned outer edges when viewed in plan, and wherein the spacing between said outer edges is less than the width dimension of said guide rails.

22. An elevator as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein said recesses are positioned on said side walls substantially mid-way between front and rear walls of said lift car.

23. An elevator as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein said recesses are positioned at or closely adjacent to junctions between said side walls and a rear wall of said lift car.

24. An elevator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each said guide rail includes a strengthening rib projecting from an inner surface thereof substantially parallel to said depth dimension.

25. An elevator as claimed in claim 24 wherein said strengthening rib is offset from a centreline of said width dimension.

26. An elevator as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25 wherein said braking surface is included in said strengthening rib.

27. An elevator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said guide rails are formed from an identical extruded metal section.

28. An elevator comprising:a pair of spaced substantially vertical, substantially parallel, guide rails;a lift car supported between said guide rails;a pair of lift ropes supporting said lift car on said guide rails;drive means mounted on said lift car and connected to said lift ropes, said drive means being configured and operable to drive said lift car up and down said rails on said lift ropes; anda fall arrest facility attached to said lift car having a normal operating state when the speed of said lift car is below a pre-determined threshold but triggers and brakes said lift car in the event the speed of the lift car exceeds said threshold, wherein said elevator further includes detection means configured to detect a loss of tension in at least one of said lift ropes and, in the event of a loss of tension, operable to trigger said fall arrest facility.Application No: GB2404734.2Examiner: Mr Tony WalbeoffClaims searched: 1-27Date of search: 30 September 2024Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance A - US 943523 A (JOHN) See balance frame 11, ropes 6 and fall arrest brakes 16. A - CN 205932808 U (SHAANXI XIAOXI ELECTROMECHANICAL TECH CO LTD) See figures, noting balance beam. A - RU 2403203 C2 (VITTUR AG) See figure 2, noting balance frame with balance bar 10. A - CN 109592540 A (SHANDONG BUNSE ELEVATOR CO LTD) See figures 2-4 noting drive 5, 14 and fall arrest rods 7. A - GB 286243 A (WAYGOOD OTIS LTD) See figures, noting ropes 24. A - US 516343 A (BLAKE) et al. See figures, noting balance frame 11.Categories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:International Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From B66B 0005 / 04 01 / 01 / 2006 B66B 0011 / 00 01 / 01 / 2006Application No: GB2404734.2Examiner: Mr Tony WalbeoffClaims searched: 28Date of search: 8 April 2025Patents Act 1977Further Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance v A 28. JP 2010275078 A (MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP) See figure 1 and paragraphs 31, 66&67, noting OSD and lift rope tension monitoring. A - JP 2010037060 A (TOSHIBA ELEVATOR CO LTD) See figures and paragraphs 17, noting fall arrest brakes 5, 105. A - CN 209455892 U (SHANDONG BUNSE ELEVATOR CO LTD) see figures, noting rails 1, ropes 6, drive 5, fall arrest 7, 8. A - US 2023 / 0060525 Al (BERGMAN) See figure 1 and paragraph 27, noting speed monitoring and fall arrest. A - CN 114030969 A (ZHEAO ELEVATOR CO LTD) See figures and paragraphs 51&52, noting tension loss and overspeed detection.Categories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:International Classification:________________________________________________Subclass Subgroup Valid FromSubclass Subgroup Valid From B66B 0005 / 04 01 / 01 / 2006 B66B 0011 / 00 01 / 01 / 2006

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