US2002986A - System of control for elevators - Google Patents

Description

y s. N. RUBIN 2,002,986

SYSTEM OF CONTROL FDR ELEVATORS Filed NOV. 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MM 77 M BY fl,

A TTORNEYJ May 28, 1935. s. N. RUBlN 2,902,936

SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR ELEVATORS Filed NOV. 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.

May 28, 1935. s. N. RUBiN SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR ELEVATORS Filed Nov. 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. BY 53 ATTORNEY y 8, 1935. s. N. RUBI N 2,002,986

SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR ELEVATORS Filed Nov. 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zi LANDING H LANDING, L 1 W//////////////////.

e/M BY M If &4

ATTORNEY S. N. RUBIN SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR ELEVATORS May 28, 1935.

Filed Nov. 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mVENfoR. W. M M

ATTORNEY Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR ELEVATORS sylvania Application November 8, 1930, Serial No. 494,280

46 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical control mechanism and has particular application to electrical control systems for a body movable in a guided path such as, for example, an elevator car.

The invention resides in features summarized as follows First:Electro-magnetic induction mechanism comprising electrical conductor means constructed and arranged so that certain portions of its length are rendered non-inductive and certain other portions or zones thereof are rendered inductive and said electrical conductor, by cooperation with a pick-up or search coil, functions in a manner so that for pre-determined positions of the movable body the inductive zone and search coil are brought into co-operative magnetic relation which results in inducing, in said search coil, a very feeble current which, through amplification and rectification by a tube amplifier, results in energization of a control relay.

Second:-Electro-magnetic induction mechanism effective to cause slow-down of the car in successive steps in accordance with the position of the car.

Thirdz-Electro-magnetic induction mechanism effective to cause automatic leveling of the car platform with the landing.

Fourth:Electro-magnetic induction mechanism effective to control a non-directional stop switch.

Fifth:Electro-magnetic induction mechanism having functions as above set forth, and which for elevator use may be of a remote type, that is, located either overhead or in a basement and being driven preferably from the car itself, or it may be of a type in which certain of the elements are located on a guided movable body for co-operation inductively with elements fixed in the path of travel of the body as for example in an elevator hoistway.

Sixth:The embodiment of said electro-magnetic induction mechanism with the functions set forth, into systems of car control circuits for different classes of elevator service one of which is identified as an operatorless intercepting type of elevator in which push-buttons located at the landings and within the car have a function both to dispatch and to intercept the car, and another class having an operator within the car who alone and only from within the car controls car starts, and push-buttons within the car and at the several landings have a function only to intercept the car at their respective landings.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of electromagnetic induction mechanism of a remote type in accordance with the present invention, embodied in a system of car control circuits wherein start of the car is controllable by an operator only from within the car, and stops are controlled from within the car and from landings, and constructed and arranged to cause automatic slowdown in successive steps in accordance with the position of the car and to effect level stops at landings; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electro-magnetic induction mechanism in accordance with the present invention, embodied in a system of car control circuits wherein passenger controlled buttons at the landings and within the car have functions both to dispatch and to intercept the car, constructed and arranged to control a non-directional stop switch; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electro-magnetic induction mechanism of a modified form to cause automatic slow-down of the car in successive steps in accordance with the position of the car; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electro-magnetic induction mechanism having the co-operating elements located on the car and in the hoistway; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4 in modified form, and Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged views somewhat in detail of certain parts of the induction mechanism.

The Fig. l arrangement will now be described and at this point reference will be made also to Figs. 6 and 7 for a more detailed description of the induction mechanism itself since in Fig. 1, such mechanism is illustrated in a more or less diagrammatic manner.

The induction mechanism designated as a whole, IM, consists of a rotatable spider S made up of spacing bars I which connect with a pair of end plates 2, the bars on their outer faces being lined with insulating members 3. A pair of insulated electrical conductor wires 4 and 5 are wrapped in the form of a helix around the periphcry of the spider and may be secured thereto in any well known manner (not shown) The angular pitch line of the helical conductors co-incides with the angular pitch of the threads of a worm drive 6 for one or any desired number of search coils such, for example, as U8, D8, l0, 9 and H which are adapted to be attached to and movable with a nut 52 having axial movement on the worm 5 when the latter is rotated. A collar I3 slidably engages a guide post 14 to prevent rotation of the traveling nut I2.

The pair of conductor wires when assembled form a rotatable helix which throughout its entire length forms a complete electrical circuit for carrying a very small or feeble current at a pressure of say for example 1 volt, from any suitable source of alternating current supply sodesignated, the current supply being transmitted to the helix by way of collector rings and brushes designated as a Whole l5. Certain pre-determined portions of the helix are formed bytwisting the two wires together and such portions of the helix when energized are non-inductive and at pre-determined points on the helix inductive or magnetic zones are formed by spacing the two wires in parallel lanes for a pre-determined distance. One of these inductive zones is designated SDU in Fig. 6.

In order to adjust or vary the effective area of an inductive zone, metallic plates or shields such as 255 of suitable dimensions (see Fig .7) are provided, in which case the shielded area is noninductive; parallel wires as at it and the face of the shield at the point where it embraces the wires may be provided with suitable insulation (not shown) V The spider with the helical winding assembled thereon is rotatable in accordance with the movement of the car by connecting it in any well known manner as for example to a moving part of hoistwa y apparatus (not shown); or it may be directly connected to the car through the intermediary of a tape'and reel, chain and sprocket, or cable and drum connection such as I! for example through suitable gearing i8. With this arrangement it will be noted that by suitable gearing or by suitable spider diameter, or by both methods, the speed of the spider at its periphery can be made to correspond to the linear speed of the car, or it can be made greater or less as may be desired. For example, if level stops are desired it is preferable that the peripheral speed of the spider be greater than the linear speed of the car. The worm ii is rotatable in accordance with movement of the guided movable body or car C by connecting it by a sprocket and chain connection l9 with the spider shaft 2%. The search coils such as US, D8,.9, l0 and ii of Fig. l for example are adapted to be supported by and movable with the trai' elin'g nut l2 so that as the latter advances axially on the worm 6 in accordance with movement of the car but at a much reduced rate, the search coils will, by linear movement, always be in step with or in other words m0ve'co-ordinately with the pitch line of the induction helix so that at pre-determined points of car position the search coils are traversed by pre-determined inductive zones and at other points of car position said coils are traversed by the non-inductive portions of the helix.

When by rotation of the induction helix, and linear movement of a search coil, say D8 for example, the search coil is brought into co-operative relation with a magnetic or inductive zone of the energized helix, a very small or feeble current is induced in said search coil and amplification' of this current by the action of a tube amplifier A8 causes the actuating winding 2i of a relay RDL' (Fig. l) to become energized to actuate its associated contacts to control a car control circuit hereinafter described. In carrying out this arrangement, the actuating winding H is placed in the plate circuit 22 connecting with the positive wire of a or 220'volt direct current supply line designated 23. The grid circuit 25 is biased to zero and the search coil is connected to the grid circuit and said coil may be tuned tobe responsive within a range of from 40 to 500 cycles.

Each shield is bent to embrace the The actuating winding 2i in the plate circuit is preferably shunted by a condenser 26 which smooths out the pulsations of the plate current. With this arrangement of the search coil and actuating winding or relay in association with the tube amplifier andin combination with the induction mechanism hereinbefore described, no current flows in the plate circuit and consequently the actuating winding it remains de-lenergized whenever the non-inductive or twisted wire portions or shielded portions of the induction helix when energized are traversing the search coil; however, when the search coil 'is transversed by or is in co-operative relation with the inductive zone of the helix when energized, a feeble or small current inducedin the search coil energizes the grid thus bringing the plate circuit into action in a well known manner to cause energization of the actuating winding 25.

The linear movable search coils such as D8, U8, 9, ill and ii serve as a tell-tale for car, position and they move upwardly when the car is ascending and downwardly when the car is descending. Looking down on the spider it rotates in a counter-clockwise direction when the car is'ascending and in a. clockwise direction when the car is descending. I

The induction mechanism as arranged in Fig. 1, is for a three floor run of the car, and the induction helix is providedwith up and down slowdown inductive zones designated SDU and SDD, and also a leveling inductivezone L for the second or intermediate landing, and for the top and bottom landings there is one slot -down inductive zone for each, designated respectively SDU and SDD, and also, one leveling inductive zone for each, designated L.

The search coils D8 and U8 in efiect control th automatic leveling of the car at landings in case of over-run and under-run and maintain the car level during loading and unloading in which case twist or untwist of the hoisting cables may result in movement of the car from a level with the landing. The search coils l0 and 9 control first and second steps of slow-down for the car when ascending and the search coils 50 and H control said first and secondstep of slow-down for the carwhen descending.

In the Fig. l embodiment of the induction control mechanism into an elevator control system, the induction mechanism is rendered effective to carry out its intended functions only forpredetermined points or landings for which push-buttons both within the car and at the landings are actuated. The car push -buttons are designated Cl,

C2 and C3 there being one for each landing, and the hall push-buttons are designated hi, hi. and b3, there being one for each landing. Said pushbuttons, in conjunction with any suitable type'of intercepting selector such as I for example, render said induction mechanism eifectiver to cause automatic slow-down of the car and to effect a level stop at any landing orlandings for which push-buttons are actuated or in other words for which calls are registered, by their control of an intercepting contactor I which by closing its back-contacts 2'! completes an energizing circuit for the helical conductor wires 5 and 5 by Way of the collector rings and brushes l5.

The particular type of intercepting selector as illustrated and described herein and associated intercepting circuits as controlled by said selector and the push-buttons is the invention of Ernest L. Gale, covered by patent application Serial Number 472,003, filed July 31st, 1930, entitled, System of control for elevators, and assigned to the Gurney Elevator Company. However, it will be understood that the induction mechanism is capable of general application in conjunction with both intercepting and non-intercepting types of selector of any desired and well known type.

Other elements which make up the system comprise an electrical hoisting motor M which may be of the type having multi-speed regulation through control by I'hEOSJEll], multi-voltage, variable voltage otherwise known as the W ard-Leonard system or by any other suitable method, the Ward-Leonard system being illustrated herein simply for illustrative purposes in which case the armature oi the hoisting motor and that of the motor generator G are electrically connected by a loop circuit designated 23. According to the method of the W ard-Leonard system, speed varia tion of the hoisting motor is obtained by variation of a resistor 29 in the circuit of a shunt field winding SF of the generator G, and this resistor may be in sections to be short-circuited in successive steps by fast slow speed contactors 30 and 3! having operating windings 32 and 33 respectively controlled from contacts 34 and 35 respectively oi the car switch OS, to operate in the order as named to close circuit their respective contacts 36 and 3'1. These fast and slow-speed contactors 30 and 3i are made self-holding by the provision of self-holding contacts 38 and 39 for holding circuits or: and 4| respectively. The selfholding circuit 4% includes two sets of normally closed contacts 52 and 43 of slow-down cont actors SLD' and SLU respectively said slowdown contaotors having operating windings i l and 45. The self-holding circuit 4! includes the normally closed contacts 46 or" a. slow-down contactor '3 having an operating winding 48.

When the car is ascending and approaches within a pre-determined distan e of a landing for which a button is actuated, the intercepting selector I functions in a manner to render the induction mechanism EM eifective, by closing at contac s ill of contactor i, an energizing circuit 49 for the helical winding so that as rotation of the latter causes an inductive zone SDU correspondin to landing to traverse the search coils ii) and E3 in successive order, the induction action thus effected combined with the action of an amplifier tube such as A for example fully described hereiibefore, (one of which is provided for each of the search coils, D8, U3, 9, l0 and l I), causes energization successively of windings 48 and 45 of slot -down contactors 4'! and SLU which open the self holding circuits di and 42 at contacts 46 and 43 respectively causing the slowdown oontactors 3i and 39 to open-circuit their contacts 3'! and 36 successively in the order named, thus to cause automatic slow-down of the car by reinserting in successive steps the resistor 29 in the field-circuit of the generator.

When the car is descending, inductive zones SDD corresponding to landings for which car or hall push buttons are actuated function in conjunction with contactors 4'! and SLD to control saidslow-down contactors 3i and 38 to cause automatic slow-down of the car in the same mannor as above described. Contacts and 206 controllable by the contactors EU and RD respectiveiy but shown disassociated therefrom for convenience, are included in the circuits of the operating windings 45 and er respectively so that said winding 45 becomes eiiective only when the car is ascending and said winding M becomes effective only when the car is descending.

Other elements of the control system comprise floor-relays FRI, FR2, PR3, having windings 1G2 each responsive to actuation of its associated car or hall push-button to register a call at any time regardless of direction of car movement or position of the car at the time the buttons are actuated and each relay winding 532 is made selfholding by the provision of self-holding contacts 503 and circuit HM, so that a call once registered is maintained until response of the car thereto at which time each floor-relay is automatically re-set by operation of associated re-set relays RS5, RS2, R53 to open-circuit their contacts I85 in the holding circuit of said floor-relay windings; elastic-responsive reversing switches U and D which reverse direction of current now in the generator field winding ther by to reverse direction of current flow in the armature of the hoisting motor; up and down relays EU and RD responsive directly to operation of the car switch to control the reversing switches U and D; leveling relays, RUL and R'DL controllable by the induction mechanism, etc. to control the automaticleveling operation of the car directly through control of the reversing switches U and D; auxiliary relays R and RD, and a time switch TS.

The intercepting selector I in general consists of brushes 5i), 5! and 52 adapted to move in accerdance with the position of the car by connecting them for example with the traveling guide l3. The brushes 5!) and 55 may be termed up and down and each co-operates with its associated row of fixed segments designated 53 and 54. Each row of segments comprises the two sets one set designated and the other 53', and the other row comprises the two sets one set designated 54 and the other it the two sets of each row are arranged in alternate order for successive engagement by their associated brushes.

The brush 52 co-operates with a row of fixed segments 55 to control circuits for the windings 255 of the re-set relays RS1, RS2 and RS? Operation of the parts through a complete cycle of operation will now be described.

With the parts as illustrated, car is at the first landing at rest. The car be started upwardly by moving the car switch segn 3:. t 56 to engage contact to cause operation of relay RU which closes its contacts 5'5 and The contacts 5'1 complete an energizig circuit for a winding 5?} of the up reversing s1 tch U which operates in a well known manner to cause start of the car by closing an energi g circuit for the generator shunt field inding SF and whic circuit at this time includes the two sections of the resistor 20, which results in slow-speed movement of the car upwardly. Movement of the car switch segment 56 to engage contacts 35 and 35 results in successive energization oi circuits 68 and St for windings (-32 and 33 of the fast and slow speed ccntactors which results in operation of said switches to close circuit their contacts 3% and 37 to short-circuit resistor 29 in access sive steps to cause the car to accelerate to iull speed operation.

The relay RU is made self-holding by providing the self-holding contacts 58 for the winding 62, and the fast and slow speed contactors 3-3 and 31 are made self-holding time provision of the self-holding contacts and 39, so that in effect, when the car switch has functions to start and cause acceleration of the car, be immediately returned to its normal position as shown, and the car will continue its travel at full speed rate until intercepted in response to calls registered by the car or hallpush-buttons. A completed circuit for the winding 62 may be traced as follows;from a plus wire 63 to wire 6 by way of segment 56 and contact 55, through winding 52 to wire $5 which connects with minus line.

A self-holding circuit for winding 62 may be traced as follows;from a plus wire 63, through normally closed contacts El of auxiliary relay RU", wire 58, contacts 58, wire 69 which forms a junction withwire Ed and so on through winding 62 to the minus line by way of wire 65.

A circuit for the reversing switch winding 5Q may be traced as follows;frcm the plus wire 63, wire iii, contacts 5?, wire 5%, through winding 5e, and thence to the minus line of wire ii.

A completed circuit for the winding 32 may be traced as follows;-r"rom the plus wire 63, wire 55 by way of segment and contact 34, through winding 32 and thence to minus line-by wire l3.

A completed holding circuit forthewinding 32 may be traced as iollows; from a plus wire 63, wire lii including contacts 32 and 63 in series, contacts 38 to a junction "id with wire 5%! and so on through winding 32 to the minus line by wire 13. a

A completed circuit for the winding 33 of the fast and slow speed contactor 3i may be traced as fol1ows;r"rorn the plus wire 63, wire 55 by way of segment 55 and contact Sithrough winding 33 and thence to minus line by wire 73.

A completed holding circuit for the winding 33 may be traced as fo1lows;from the plus wire 63, contacts' lfi, wire ii, contacts 39, wire ii to junction ii with wire 6i, through winding 33 and thence to the minus line by wire l3.

Operation of the relay RU causes closure of its two additional pair of contacts it and 7?. Closure of contacts and ii causes energization of windings 1'8 and '59 of the cont ctors I and TS respectively which results in operation of the contactor I to open-circuit its back-contacts 2'] which renders the helical winding of the. induction mechanism and likewise its associated search coils, etc. ineffective by opening the energizing circuit 59 for said helical winding at the contacts 2?. Operation of contactor TS against the action of-a dashpot 863, causes a delayed opening of contacts 89 to insure closure first of self-holding contacts 81' for the winding l8.

The contacts it and 35 in. series complete an initial energizing circuit for the winding id of the intercepting contactor I, which circuit may be traced as iollows;frorn a plus wire 68, to junction 5, wire 82, contacts 8 5, wire 63, to junction 83', wire as, traveling brush a segment 53, to wire contacts iii, wire 85, through winding 38 and thence to the minus line by way of wire 85. Operation of contactor I closes top contacts 8? to complete a holding-circuit for said winding it, said holding-circuit being the same as just traced for said winmng, excepting that it by-passes the time opening contacts 89, said by-pass circuit being traced as follows; from junction 86, wire 83, holding contacts 8?,

" wire 89 to the junction 33 with wire fi l and so intercepting contactor I. With the car now ascending the helical winding is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the top; the nut i2 is traveling upwardly carrying with it the search coils U8, D8, Q, Hi and ii in proper relation with the helical winding so as to be traversed by the latter. The brushes 5%, 5i and 52 being operably connected with the traveling nut will now move upwardly in accordance with movement of the car.

' Assume now that a passenger at the second landing actuates the push-button 7L2 thereat to register a call on the floor-relay PR2 say for example prior to the start of the car from the first landing; Actuation of the floor-relay conditions a circuit 9 for winding is by opening it at contacts 9! so that when the'car is at a pre-determined distance from the second landing to disengage brush 5d from segment 53 and engage it with segment 53', the winding i3 is de-energized because of said open-circuit at contacts 9!. The winding F8 be ing de-energized results in rendering the induction mechanism IM, etc. effectiveas by closure of the contacts 27 to complete an energizing circuit id for the helical induction winding to function to cause automatic slow-down or" the car in successive steps and bring the car to a stop substantially level with the second landing.

When the car is at said pre-determined distance from the second landing, the leveling inductor L on the helix, which corresponds to the second landing, has already traversed the search coils i l, iii and 8 in the or .er named, but without effect because the operation of the intercepting selector I is timed to control the contactor I so that it will not close its back-contacts 21 to energize the helical winding until after the said inductive zone L on the helix has traversed and cleared said search coils. However, energization of the helical winding is effective in time so that the inductive zone SDU on the helix which corthe self-holding circuit for the search coils id and 9 in the order named, will momentarily induce a current in each'coil which results in causing automatic slow-down or the car in successive steps in a manner described in some detail hereinbefore and which needs no further description at this point.

It will be mentioned here, that the very feeble current induced in each of the search coils ill and 9, is amplified by its associated tube ampliiier All? and A53 respectively to cause energization or the windings 58 and at by way of their plate circuits 9i and @2 respectively.

When the car platform enters the leveling zone which we will say for example extends it inches above and 58 inches below the landing, the leveling search coil U3 is traversed by the inductive zone L of the helix which results through amplification of a feeble current induced in search coil U8 in causing energization of the actuatlng winding 93 of the up leveling contactor RUL, said winding 93 being connected in the plate circuit of its associated tube amplifier A3, by

way of wire 95. a

The contactor RUL operates to cause a contact disk 8% to engage a pair or" contacts 95 and Q5". The contacts 95 and 95 and disk Q 3 complete parallel circuits, one to energize a winding 9? to cause it to operate to open contacts 6?, to open at such point the self-holding circuit for the winding of the contactor RU which now opens its contacts 52' to open at that point the energizing circuit heretofore traced for the winding 59 of the reversing switch U; and contact 95 and disk 84 complete another energizing circuit for said winding 59 which circuit by-passes contacts and since said by-pass circuit is closed before said contacts 5? are opened, the continuity of the energizing circuit for the reversing switch winding 58 is ma ntained without interruption, during its transfer from the contactor RU to the leveling contactor RUL.

The circuit completed by contact 95' and disk 94 may be traced as follows;from a plus wire 63, disk 95, contact 95, wire 98, through winding 91, and to the minus line by wire 99.

The Icy-pass circuit around contacts 51 may be traced as follows ;-plus wire 63, disk 94, contact 95, wire we to a junction IIII with wire 58, thence through reversing switch winding 58 and by wire ii to the minus line.

The search coil U8 and inductive zone L by such co-o aeration in eiiect continue movement of the car upwardly until the platform is substantially level with the landing, at which time the inductive zone L of the helix has passed out of inductive range with respect to the search coil U8 and assumes a neutral position with respect to both the up and down search coils U8 and D3. The instant that the search coil U8 and the inductive zone L are out of inductive relation,

current flow in the search coil U8 ceases and thereby causes de-energization of the winding 93 and the contactor RUL will now operate and open-circuit at the contacts 35 and disk 94 the energizing circuit for the reversing switch winding 59 and the reversing switch will now open to effect stop of the car.

If the car in coming to a stop at the second landing should over-run said landing, the inductive zone L and the search coil D8 are thereby brought into ec-operative relation, which results through induction of a feeble current in said search coil, in causing energization of the Winding 2i of the contactor RDL which operates to complete at contact E63 and disk I64 an energizing circuit i for a winding I62 of the down reversing switch which will now close to cause movement of the car downwardly. When the car is substantially level with the landing, the search coil D8 and the inductive zone L are out of cooperative relation which results in de-energization of the winding 2i which opens its contacts Hi l and I03 thus to de-energize the winding I02 of the reversing switch D to cause stop of the car.

If it may be desired to render the leveling operation of the car inefiective while a hoistway door is open, this result may be accomplished in one way as for example by including the well known door controlled contacts (not shown) in series with each other in the circuit 49 of the helical winding so that with the car stopped at a landing said helical winding is de-energized by opening the hoistway door at said landing and will be energized again by closing the door and will remain energized until startof the car in which case said winding is again pie-energized by opening of contacts 21 of the selector I.

However, if it may be desired to have the leveling operation effective with the hoistway door open at the landing stopped at, the circuit remains as illustrated with the door contacts omitted and in such case the helical winding remains energized because of the contacts 27 being closed, throughout the stopping period of the car and until the car is re-started by operation of the car switch and by so maintaining the helical winding energized the leveling operation remains effective which in effect means that the car will be maintained level with the landing during loading and unloading which may cause lengthening or shortening of the hoistway cables with consequent tendency of the car platform to move in one direction or the other away from a level position with the landing.

For example if the car platform should tend to move away from the landing in either direction by reason of lengthening or shortening of the hoisting cables due to loading or unloading, the inductive zone L is thus brought into co-operative relation with either of the search coils U8 or D8 depending on such direction of movement of the car away the landing, with the result that the con actor RUL or RDL will be caused to operate to return the car to a level with the landing and stop it thereat.

Having thus described the manner in which the induction mechanism through the co-operation of the search coils I9 and Q wi h the induction zone SDU of the helical winding causes automatic slow down of the car in successive steps when ascending, it is thought obvious without any further detailed description, that the same result is accomplished when the car is descending but takes place wh n the car is at a diiferent point relatively to the landing by the co-operation Or the search coils it? and II with the induction zone SDD.

In the Fig. 2 arrangement of the induction mechanism IM, it has a function to cause automatic stop of the car through control of a nondirectional stop switch SS, at pre-selected landings in response to actuated car and hall pushbuttons Ci C2, C3, and hi, 712 and b3 which control associated floor relays l- Rl, PR2 and FR3 by energization of their associated windings I06 to register calls at any time regardless of directicn of movement of the car or the position of the car at the time the push-buttons are actuated. Each fioor-relay is provided with holding contacts ill? for its winding 185 to maintain a call registered after its push-button is released and until response of the car thereto at which time the fioor-relay corresponding to the landing stopped at is automatically re-set by its associated re-set contactor 698 having a re-set winding I98.

The induction 1:. echanism when used to control automatic stop of the non-directional stop switch is made up by providing on the helical winding at suitable points thereon corresponding to stopping distances from the landings, up and down stop control inductive zones such for example as SU and SD respectively for each intermediate landing, and for each end landing there is only one inductive zone each, an SU inductive zone for the top landing and an SD inductive zone for the bottom landing. Only a single search coil I69 is used, operatively connected to the traveling nut l2 for axial movement therewith in accordance with movement of the car. The driving connections from the car to the rotatable spider having the helical winding assembled thereon, and to the worm G may be the same as in the Fig. 1 arrangement, so that the helical winding as it rotates traverses the li r moving search coil I 09.

The search coil circuit connection ill) with the tube amplifier A is the same as a search coil connection in Fig. l and an actuating winding III of the stop switch is connected in the plate circuit I I2.

Each floor-relay is provided with top contacts I I3 which in conjunction witha directional selector which maybe of any well known type but which herein is in the form of a commutating machine designated DS, and controls start of the car toward a landing for which a push-button is actuated, through control of direction contactors EU and RD having actuating windings H t and H and said direction switches maintain direction for car travel until a farthest point of dispatch is reached.

The car C iscontrolled automatically to be intercepted at any landings toward which it is moving and for which calls are registered either from within the car or from the landings, by a system of intercepting circuits in conjunction with an intercepting selector which may be of any desired type and which as illustrated herein is in the form of a commutating machine designated IS. The intercepting selector consists of the three rows of fixed segments I Hi, i l? and E E8, and co-operative brushes H6, H1 and H8 movable in accordance with car position by means of a mechanical connection 2E9 with the guide member l3, successively to engage their associated segments.

The floor-relay such as EH2 for an intermediate landing is provided' with two sets of intercepting or stop control contacts H9 and l2il for up and down directions respectively. The floorrelay PR3 for the top landing is provided with one up set i l and the floor-relay for the bottom landing is provided with one down set i211.

The intercepting selector IS in conjunction with said stop contacts on the floor-relays and associated intercepting circuits, control an intercepting contactor I having an actuating winding E8, to de-energize the latter winding to cause opening of one of two energized circuits for either the up or down reversing switch windings I2! or I22 which is effected by opening contacts I23 of the intercepting contactor I, and this operation is effected at a point substantially mid-way between landings as the car is approaching the landing for which a call is registered. Such opening of one of the parallel circuits for a reversing switch winding transfers control of the reversing switch winding to the other parallel circuit for said winding and this circuit is controlled by the non-directional stop switch SS which in turn is controlled by the induction mechanism IM, and search coil 39, etc. to effect the final stop of the car at the landing. Hence when car reaches a pre-determined distance from the landing or in other words the stopping distance, the search coil I09 is at. such time traversed by an induction and intercepting the car in response to car and hall push-buttons are elements which of themselves and in combination form the subject matter of the patent application by Ernest L. Gale, hereinbefore referred to.

Thelpresent invention which as to one of its features resides in the control of a non-directional stop switch by induction mechanism, and

in the embodiment thereof into a push-button or selective control system in' which the push-- buttons within the car and at a landing have a dual function both to start the car as well as intercept it, is not limited in its use to any particular type or arrangement of selectors, etc.

Other elements of the system comprise the electro-magnetically operable up and down reversing switches U and D having the operating windings l2! and I22 respectively, a hoisting motor M which merely for illustration is of the rheostat controlled type, and a time-controlled contactor TS which controls duration of car stop and effects restart of the car.

Operation of the elements through a complete cycle of operation will now begiven.

With the elements in the position as illustrated, the car is at rest at the second landing with no calls registered. Assume now that a passenger at the third landing presses the third landing button h3 which causes the floor-relay FR3 to close its two sets of top contacts and open its stop contacts l 59 and in this manner register the call. The relay remains self-holding because of the holding circuit being closed at the contacts Nil all of which is well known and therefore requires no detailed tracing of circuits;

The starting contacts H3 are now closed and complete an energizing circuit for the winding N4 of the up directional contactor RU which closes its two sets of contacts E25 and I26. The contacts I26 and contacts l2? in series now complete an energizing circuit for the winding l8 of the intercepting contactor I which closes its two sets of contacts 128 and E28 and opens its back-contacts l29 which forms an open-circuit in the wire I39 which forms a circuit for the helical winding. The contacts 523 by-pass the contacts in which are opened by energization of a winding I29 controlled by closure of reversing switch contacts HE, and in such manner the winding H3 is rendered self-holding and the holding circuit is controlled by the intercepting selector IS.

, Operation of contactor I in effect causes start of the car by closing its contacts l28 to complete an energizing circuit for the winding l 2i of the reversing switch U. When the reversing switch operates it closes contacts lti whichin conjunction with normally closed contacts 932 of the stop switch SS completes a second energizing circuit for the winding iii.

A completed circuit for the winding H4 may be traced as follows:from a plus wire N3 contacts H3, wire I33, to traveling brush E36, an up segment l35 corresponding to the third landing, a common wire 936, through winding H 3 and wire 53? to the minus line.

A completed circuit for the winding l8 may be traced as follows; from a plus wire I53, contacts E2? of time-switch TS, wire lSB, contacts I26, wire ISQ, brush HG, segment H6, wire 549, through winding 18, and wire lil to the minus line. The by-pass circuit for the winding l8, around contacts l2? starts from a junction I63 with wires: I63, wire M2, self-holding contacts I23, wire Hi3, junction 938 with wire 838, and so on as heretofore traced. This self-holding circuit it will be noticed is subject to control by the intercepting selector IS.

One completed circuit for the winding E2! of the reversing switch U may be traced as follows ;-from the plus wire E63, wire M l, contacts 528, wire M5, contacts 525, wire M5, through the winding l2l, and wire it? to the minus line.

A second completed circuit for the winding 12 I may be traced as follows;from a plus wire I63,"

Ill

wire I48, contacts I32 of stop switch SS, wire I49, contacts I3I, wire I50 which forms a junction with wire W5 and so on through the wind- IZI to the minus line.

From the above tracing of circuits it will be observed that there are now two completed parallel cir uits for the winding I2I of the up reversing switch J, one of which is controlled by the intercepting selector IS and the other controlled by the automatic stop switch SS subject to the control of the induction mechanism IM.

A completed circuit for the winding I29 of the time switch may be traced as follows;frorn a plus wire I 33, wire I5l, reversing switch contacts H39, wire IE2, through winding i253, and to the minus line by wire I53.

We now have the car moving upwardly and when it has reached a point substantially midway between the second and third landing, the brush SE6 engages a dead zone I54 and the brush iii and segment Ill and the back-contacts N9 of the third landing floor-relay F 33 control a by-pass feed around said dead zone for the winding l8, and since this by-pass is open-circuited at the contacts H9, because of the registered call, this results in ole-energization of the wind ng i8, which by opening its contacts I28 opens one of the feeds for the reversing switch winding PM but the latter winding remains energized because of the other energizing circuit therefor controlled by the contacts I32 of the stop switch SS.

The contactor I closes its contacts I29 to complete an energizing circuit designated I30 for the helical winding said circuit preferably being con trolled also by contacts i5 5 of. the time switch TS, said contacts being closed at this time and their opening being delayed so that the helical winding may not remain energized indefinitely after having performed its function of causing stop of the car at the landin The circuit for the helical winding may be connected with any suitable A. C. source of supply of relatively low voltage say one volt for example at cycles ranging anywhere from 40 to 550.

We now have the reversing switch winding l2I under the control of the stop switch and as the car continues its travel toward the third landing and reaches a point corresponding to the stopping point, the search coil I09 is traversed by the induction zone SU for a relatively short period so that the induction period is only of momentary duration, resulting in momentary energization of the stop switch winding III to cause it to open its contacts I 32 to open at such point the sole energizing circuit for the reversing switch winding I21 thereby to cause opening of. the reversing switch U and in this manner cut oil the power to the hoisting motor to cause the car to stop at the third landin When the reversing switch opens, it opens contacts we thus to de-energize the winding I29 of the time switch and at a predetermined time thereafter contacts 255 open to deenergize the helical winding, and contacts i 2'! re-close to automatically re-start the car only if a call remains registered.

In the Fig. 3 arrangement the induction mechanism 1M comprises the helical winding and only a single search coil I58 adapted to be driven from the car in exactly the same manner as in Fig. 2.

The helical winding is provided with three up inductive zones and three down inductive zones for each intermediate landing and for each end landing there is provided only one set of inductive zones for each.

The inductive zones Sill, SDZ and S, control the first and second steps of slow-down and final stop (nondewing) for l dings for down direction or" car travel, and inductive zones SUI, SU2 and S control the first and second steps of slowing down and final stop (non-leveling) for up direction or car travel. This arrangement of three inductive zones, say SUS, SU2 and S for the third landing for example as they traverse the single search coil I56 in succession, will by induction in the search coil cause it to energize an actuatirn winding I57 to cause it to impart successive impulses, (three in number according to the present arrangement of inductive zones) to a movable brush I58 through the intermediary of a dog and ratchet-wheel connection i59, against the action or". a brush return spring I60. With the brush in normal position as illustrated said three successive impulses will cause it successively to engage the three fixed contacts to segments 52 and thereby to complete energizing circuits Il5, H6 and IT! for the operating windings lEI, m2 and HI, all of said circuits being fed from a common wire I78 connected to the brush I58 and controlled by reversing switch contacts I72.

The circuit-control mechanism of the impulse device as a whole designated ID in effect causes successive opening of slow-down contactors 3i and by energizing the windings l 6! and 132 successively in tn order named and by so doing inomentariiy opt re the salt-holding circuits I73 and Hit at the contacts 2 o and respectively, and in addition the fir stop of the car by energizing the winding H I of the stop switch SS and by so doing momentarily opening the stop switch contacts thereby to open a self holding circuit I6? for a winding 59 or I92 of whichever reversing switch be closed at the time.

Of course it will be obvious that slowdown inductive zones may be incr ased or reduced in number to suit the particular needs and the number of contacts or segments, etc. will be changed accordingly, it being understood that the arrangement effecting slot down in only two steps is merely for illustration.

While the impulse device is in operation a win ing IE8 is energized by the circuit 3'58 controlled by the reversing switch, to actuate a stop member I69 through intermediary or" a resilient member I80 to retain it in engagement with the ratchet wheel I to prevent return movement thereof to normal position by the action of the spring :30 until the complete cycle of operation is completed and at such time whichever reversing switch opens to stop the car, will by opening its contacts I12, thereby deenergize said winding i663 to permit a spring Il3 to disengage stop member from the ratchet wheel and the latter will then be returned to its normal position as illustrated by the action of the spring I65.

In the Fig. i arrangement the induction mechanism is of the type which may be termed the hoistway type as contra-distinguished from the type illustrated Figs. 1 and 2 which may be termed the remote type. The induction mechanism as to function is arranged to control successive slow-down and level stop the same as in l and for this purpose there may be two independent verti al lanes I8I and 8 in the elevator hoistway the lane IBi consisting of a pair of conductors 4 and 5, twisted together to form non inductive zones and having up and down inductive zones formed as in Fig. 1, said zones cooperating with a single search coil 183 on the car, to cause automatic slow-down in two successive steps through control of an impulse device (not shown) but such as is illustrated in Fig. 3 for example. The lane E82 consists of a pair of conductors i and having twisted portions to form non-inductive zones and the wires are separated at predetermined points in the run or" the wires to form inductive zones to be traversed by search coils U8 and D8 on the car to control the leveling operation of the car at the various landings designated Ll L2 and L3.

When located in the hoistway and in order to meet the requirements of regulations in certain localities as to fire hazard, the two lanes of wires may be contained within suitable separate conduits, a section of which for one lane is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which case a conduit contain ing the twisted portion of the conductors is designated 35 and at points where the inductive zones are formed the two conductor wires and 5 extend through parallel conduits l8? and I88 which terminate in junction boxes i8Q.

It will be mentioned here that the induction mechanism, etc. according to the present invention, insofar as the flux producing element i. e.; the helical Winding is concerned, is lacking in the use of a magnetic core which feature distinguishes it from other known induction controlled systems used both for elevator and railway train control. The helical conductor may be made up of relatively small gauge conductor wires and the inducing current may be very feeble but the pick-upcurrent in the search coil through amplification causes a relatively snappy or undelayed operation or" the relay.

Although I have illustrated and described herein the induction mechanism and various embodiments thereof for dilierent functions relating to the control circuits for elevators, it may however in principle have a general application to the control of elevator accessories such for example as floor-larterns, car signals, dispatcher signals,

Without limiting myself to precise details and,

arrangements of parts, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: v

l. The method of controllinga circuit con trolier in accordance with position of a car movable in apre-determined path which consists in energizing an electrical inductor when the car is at'pre-selected points, traversing said inductor by a search coil movable in accordance with the car, and utilizing current induced in said search coil by said inductor to close a car running circuit to reverse movement of the car and return it to alanding when, if during loading and unloading it should move in either direction away from a level therewith.

2. The method of controlling a circuit-controller in accordance with position of a body movable in'a pre-determin-ed path which consists in traversing electrical conductors by a search coil movable in accordance with movement of the body, rendering said conductors when energized non-inductive bytwisting them together fora portion of theirv length, rendering said conductors capable of inducing current in said search coil when the latter traverses certain other portions thereof, and utilizing current so induced in said search coil to actuate said circuit-controller.

3. The method of controlling a circuit-controller in accordance with position of a body 'movable in a pro-determined path which consists in traversing electrical conductors by a search coil movable in accordance with movement of the body, twisting said conductors together to render them inefiective though energized to induce current in said search coil as it traverses pre-determined portions of the energized conductor, forming said conductors in parallel lines to render them capable of inducing current in said search coil when the latter traverses certain other portions thereof, and utilizing current so induced in said search coil to actuate said circuit-controller. I

4. The method of controlling a circuit controller in accordance with position of an elevator car which consists in energizing inductive means when the car is at pre-determined points in its travel, in response to actuated control means for each of a plurality of landings, said control means located both within the car and at each of said landings, traversing said inductive means by a search coil movable in accordance with the car, and utilizing current'induced in said search coil by said inductive means to control said circuitcontroller.

5. In combination, an elevator car, a control circuit including a circuit controller, a plurality of control means one for each of a plurality of landinga'induction mechanism to control said circuit-controller comprising an inductor, and a selector operable jointly with said control means to render said inductor effective by energizing same at pre-determined points in the travel of the car in response to actuated control means.

6. In combination, an elevator car, a plurality of control means, one for each or" a plurality of landings, induction controlled slow-down circuitcontrolling mechanism, and a selector operable jo'mtly with said control means to render said induction mechanism effective to cause slow-down of the car at any landings for which control means are actuated.

7. In combination, an elevator car, a plurality;

of control means, one for each of a plurality of landings, induction controlled slow-down and levelling circuit-controlling mechanism, and a selector operable jointly with said control means to render said induction mechanisrn efiective to cause slow-down and stop of the car level with any landings for which control means are actuated.

8. In combination, an elevator car, a plurality of control means, one for each of a plurality of landings, induction controlled stop control means, and a selector operable jointly with said control means to render said induction mechanism effective to cause stop of the car at any landings for which control means are actuated.

9. In combination, a body movable in a predetermined path, power mechanism to move said body, multiple electrical control devices operable successively, to control said power mechanism to reduce the speed thereof, induction mechanism to control said multiple devices to c'ausereduction in speed of said movable body, and selective means comprising selectively operable manual switches and a switch controllable by said body, operating jointly to render said induction mechanism effective at pre-determined points in its path of travel.

10. In combination, a body movable in a predetermined path, power mechanism to move said body, multiple electrical devices operable successively to control said power mechanism to regulate the speed thereof, induction mechanism operable in accordance with position of said movable body to control said multiple devices to cause reduction in speed of said movable body, and selective means comprising a manual control at pro-determined points in the path of travel of said body and a selector actuated in accordance with position of said body, operable jointly with said selective means, to render said induction mechanism efiective at points for which said manual controls are actuated.

11. In combination, an elevator car, a plurality of control means, one for each of a plurality of landings, having combined starting and intercepting functions, a car running circuit responsive to actuated control means to cause the car to start, a car stopping circuit, induction mechanism to control said stopping circuit, and a car controlled selector operable jointly with said con trol means to render said induction mechanism efi'ective to control said stopping circuit to cause stop of the car at landings for which control means are actuated.

12. In combination, an elevator car, a plurality of control means one for each of a plurality of landings, a car start circuit, means only within the car to control same to cause start of the car,

\ a stop circuit, induction mechanism to control said stop circuit, and a selector operable jointly with said control means to render said induction mechanism effective to control said stop circuit to cause stops at landings for which said controls are actuated.

13. In combination, an elevator car, a plurality of control means one for each of a plurality of landings, start control means controllable only from within the car to start the car, slow-down and stop circuits, induction mechanism to control said circuits, and a car controlled selector operable jointly with said control means to render said induction mechanism effective to control said slow-down and stop circuits at pro-determined points in the travel of the car to cause slow-down and stop at landings for which control means are actuated.

14. In combination, an elevator car, a plurality of control means one for each of a plurality of landings, start control means controllable only from within the car, slow-down and leveling circuits, induction mechanism to control said circuits, and a car actuated selector operable jointly with said control means to render said induction mechanism effective to control said slow-down and leveling circuits at pre-determined points in the travel of the car to cause slow-down of the car and effect stop thereof substantially level with the landing in the event of it over-running or under-running same.

15. In combination, an elevator car, and induction mechanism actuated in accordance with positions thereof, said mechanism located remotely from the car, and comprising a rotatable supporting structure for an electrical conductor wound in helical form.

16. In combination, an elevator car, and induction mechanism comprising an inductor in the form of a helix and being rotatable bodily, and a coil having current induced therein by said inductor, said inductor and coil being located remotely from the car and arranged so that one is traversed by the other in accordance with position of the car and current inducing means movable in synchronism with the car and in cooperative relation to said conductor.

17. In combination, an elevator car, and induction mechanism comprising a plurality of inductors and a coil having current induced therein by said inductors, said inductors arranged in a helical path and one of said elements traversing the other in accordance with position of the car.

In combination, an elevator car, induction control mechanism remote from the car comprising an inductor arranged in the form of a helix to be traversed by current inducing means operatively connected with the motive means for the car. I

19. In combination, an elevator car, induction control mechanism remote from the car, comprising inductor means arranged in a helical path and rotatable as a unit in accordance with movement of the car, and a current pick-up coil having linear movement in accordance with movement of the car, said coil by its linear movement being traversed by said inductor means.

20. In combination, an elevator car, induction control mechanism having a portion thereof arranged in the form of a helix and rotatable in accordance with movement of the car, said helix having peripheral speed at a rate corresponding at least to thelinear speed of the car and means movable in synchronism with the car and in cooperative relation to said helix to receive an induced current charge from the latter.

21. In combination, an elevator car, induction control mechanism having an inductor arranged in a helical path and rotatable in accordance with movement of the car, said inductor having peripheral speed at a rate corresponding at least to the linear speed of the car, and current inducing means having linear movement in accordance with movement of the car, said movement being at a reduced rate from that of the car, said inductor and inducing means oo-operating in a manner so that one traverses the other.

22. An electrical circuit comprising an energized electrical conductor rendered non-inductive for a portion of its length, and having another portion thereor" rendered inductive by forming separated parallel lanes for the flow of current, and a pick-up coil adapted to traverse said inductor, said coil being energized by induction only while it traverses said parallel lanes and becoming ole-energized by traversing said non-inductive portion.

23. An electrical circuit comprising a pair of energized electrical conductors twisted together for a portion of their length to render such portion non-inductive, and having another portion constructed to form an inductive zone by separating said pair of conductors to form parallel lanes for thefiow of current, and a pick-up coil adapted to traverse said pair of conductors, said coil being energized by induction only while it traverses said conductors at the point of separation and being deenergized by moving out of the area of separation and while traversing said twisted portion of the conductors.

24. An electrical circuit comprising an inductive zone formed by a pair of energized conductors separated to form parallel lanes for a predetermined portion of their length the inductive zone terminated at both ends by twisting said wires together, means to render any portion of said zone ineffective and a search coil adapted to traverse said zoneand by so doing become energized by traversing; the effective area thereof and become de-energized when traversing the area rendered ineffective by said means.

25. In combination, an elevator car, a car .control circuit including a circuit controller, a control means at a landing, induction mechanism to control said circuit controller comprising an inductor, and a selector operable jointly with said control means to render said inductor efiective by energizing same at a pre-determined point in the travel of the car in response to actuation of said control means and a current inducing coil cooperating with said inductor to efiect actuation of the circuitcontroller.

26. In combination, an elevator car, induction control mechanism comprising an energized conductor arranged in a substantially vertical lane the hoistway and a pick-up coil on the car to traverse said conductor, said conductor having portions of its length rendered non-inductive control mechanism comprising energized conductors arranged in a substantially vertical lane in the hoistway and a pick-up coil on the car to traverse said conductors, portions of said condu'c'tors being rendered non-inductive bytwisting said conductors together, and other portions thereof arranged to form inductive zones by separating said conductors to form substantially parallel lanes. g

28. In combination an elevator car, induction mechanism comprising electrical conductors extending in a substantially vertically lane in the hoistway', said conductors being rendered noninductive for a pre-determined portion of their length by twisting them together, and being rendered inductive at pits-determined portions of ,theirlength by separating them to form parallel paths for the flow of current, and a current pickup coil on'the car to traverse said conductors throughout the entire travel of the car.

-29. In combination, an elevator car, and induction control mechanism comprising an electrical conductor in the form of a helix and having rotary motion so that its peripheral speed corresponds at least to the linear speed of the car and a pick-up coil mounted in cooperative relation to said conductor and having linear movement at a rate proportionate to the linear speed of the car. I

30. Leveling mechanism for elevators comprising in combination, an elevator car operating means therefor including a circuit controller, an electrical conductor, a source of current supply for said conductor, a pick-up coil, said conductor and pick-up'oil brought into inductive relation when the car reaches a pre-determined distance from a landing thereby to induce current in said pick-up coil and control operation of said circuit controller to cause movement of the car toward said landing, said conductor and pick-up coil going out of inductive relation when the car is level with the landing thereby to cause de-energiza- I tion of said pick-up coil to cause automatic stop ing in combination, an elevator car operating means therefor including a circuit controller, an

electrical conductor, a source of current, supply for said conductor, two picloup coils one being brought into inductive relation with said conductor as the'car approaches a landing from one direction and the other brought into inductive relation with said conductor as the car approaches said landing from the other direction, each coil by being so brought into inductive relation with said conductor having current induced therein to control operation of said circuit controller and cause movement of the car toward said landing and whichever coil is effective, when the car is substantially level with said landing, being brought out of inductive relation with said conductor thereby to de-energize such coil to control and cause stop of the car, both of said coils being in non-inductive relation with said conductor when the car is substantially level with thelanding. a 1

V 32. The methodof controlling the leveling of an elevator car with a landing which consists I in bringing a pick-up coil into inductive relation with an energized electrical conductor when. the car reaches a ore-determined distance from a landing, utilizing current induced in said coil to control a car running circuit and cause continuation of car movement toward said landing, bringing said pick-up coil out of inductive relation with said electrical conductor when the car is substantially level with said landing to cause deenergization of said pick-up coil, thereby opening the car running circuit to stop the car at said landing.

33. In combination, an elevator car, induction mechanism comprising conductors arrangedin the form of ahelix and having a portion thereof rendered non-inductive by twisting the conduc tors together, and means to rotate said helix bodily in accordance with movement of the car and means cooperatively associated with said conductors inductively charged thereby and controlling eflective operation of motive means for moving the car in each direction.

' 34. Incombination, an elevator car, induction mechanism comprising conductors arranged in the form or" a helix, having a portion thereof rendered inductive by separating said conductors to form parallel lanes, having another 'portion thereof rendered non-inductive by twisting said conductors together, and means to rotate said helix bodily in accordance with movement of the car and means cooperatively associated with said conductors inductively charged thereby and controlling effective operation of motive means for moving the car in each direc- 35. In combination, an elevator car, induction mechanism comprising an electrical conductor in the form of a helix, means to rotate said helix bodily in accordance with position or the car, and collector rings and brushes to connect said helix with a source of current supply and means cooperatively associated with said'conductor inductively charged thereby and controlling effective operation of motive means for moving the car in each direction.

36. In combination, an elevator car, a rotatable conductor in the form of a helix, a worm shaft, a driving connection between saidcar, helix and worm shaft, a current pick-up coil movable by said worm, in working relation with said helix at all times throughout entire car travel, and collector rings and brushes to connect said helix with a source of current supply, said conductor efiective toinduce current in'sald coil at predetermined points of car position and ineffective during certain portions of car position.

3'7. The method of operating circuit control means for an elevator car, which consists in energizing an electrical conductor at selected positions of the car in its travel path by one of a plurality of selectively actuable means, relatively moving said conductor into and out of inductive relation with respect to pick-up, and means adapted to receive an induced current charge from said conductor in accordance with car movement, and utilizing the current induced in said means to govern the efiective operation of said car circuit control means.

38. In combination, a body movable in a predetermined path, power mechanism to move the body, control means to set said body in motion, multiple control devices operable successively to reduce the speed of and to stop said body, induction mechanism to energize said multiple control devices to cause stop of said body, and selective means operable at any time to render said induction mechanism efiective to cause successive operation of said multiple control devices at predetermined points in the path of movement of said body.

39. In combination, an elevator car, power mechanism for operating the same, control means for the car including plural speed modifying devices, an inductor, plural pick-up coils movable inductively with respect to said inductor, and circuit connections between the respective pickup coils and said speed modifying devices for operating said devices in response to electrical energy induced in said coils from said inductor.

40. In combination, an elevator car, power mechanism for operating the same, control means for the car including plural devices for successively reducing the speed of the car and leveling the car at a landing, an inductor, plural pick-up coils successively movable into inductive relation with said inductor in response to car movement, and circuit connections between the respective pick-up coils and said devices for reducing the speed of and leveling the car for operating said devices in response to electrical energy induced in said coils from said inductor.

41. In an induction control system for elevator cars, a single inductor circuit and a plurality of pick-up coils movable successively into inductive relation with respect to said inductor circuit in response to car movement to efiect slow-down and stop of the car.

42. In an induction control system for elevator cars, a single inductor circuit having plural inductive portions separated by non-inductive portions, plural pick-up coils movable successively into inductive relation with each of said inductive portions of the inductor circuit in response to car movement, and means for selectively controlling car movement in response to electrical energy induced in said pick-up coils.

43. In combination, an elevator car and control means therefor including induction mechanism comprising an inductor circuit arranged in the form of a helix and including inductive and noninductive areas, means for rotating said helix in response to car movement, a pick-up coil movable rectilinearly in response to car movement, and means for timing the movements of the helix and said coil whereby the inductive and non-inductive areas of the helix are successively presented in operative relation to said coil.

44. In combination, an elevator car and control means therefor including induction mechanism comprising an inductor circuit arranged in the form of a helix and including inductive and non-inductive areas, means for rotating said helix in response to car movement, a pick-up coil movable in response to car movement, and means for correlating the movements of the helix and coil in response to car movement whereby the inductive and non-inductive areas of the helix are successively presented in operative relation with respect to said coil.

45. A control system adapted to be operated in conjunction with a traveling conveyance comprising a conveyance, operating means therefor, means for creating a magnetic field along the path of travel of the conveyance, means for neutralizing the magnetic field at predetermined points, magnetically sensitive means carried by the conveyance in operative relation to the magnetic field along the control means connected to said magnetically sensitive means and adapted to be actuated by changes produced therein.

46. A control system for a traveling conveyance moving along a predetermined path comprising a conveyance, means for operating the conveyance, an electrical conductor disposed along the path of the conveyance, a source of current connected to said conductor for creating a magnetic field about the conductor, a second conductor adjacent said first mentioned conductor and carrying a current equal and opposite to the current in said first mentioned conductor to neutralize the magnetic effect of the current flowing in said first mentioned conductor, said conductors being separated at predetermined points along the path of the conveyance, inductive means carried by the conveyance in inductive relation to said conductors and adapted to have a current induced therein at the points of separation of the conductors, and control means for the conveyance operating means operatively connected to said inductive means.

SAMUEL N. RUBIN.

path of the conveyance, and

Images