US2664971A - Control for operating elevator systems - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5, 1954 H, C, CRANE CONTROL FOR OPERATING ELEVATOR SYSTEMS Filed May 6, 1952 INVNYOR,

HARQLD c. CQANG, E2 5% RTTY Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT YOFFICE Harold C. Crane, Toronto, OntariogCanada Application May 6, 195.2, Serial`No.286,227

1 '22 Claims.

This invention relates to a control for an elevator system serving a plurality of floors of a building.

In known elevator systems, during periods of heavy traina such as the evening departure traffic peak, service is apt to beslow. Various controls have been devised to improve service during these periods. For example, some controls measure the time from which a signal is made, and i1" a predetermined time elapses and the signal remains unanswered that signal is answered in priority to others which were subsequently made. Other-controls assign a zone o iloors and a quota of signals to each car. In the known systems, however, service may be slow due to the fact that each car ofthe elevator system makes a large number of stops, frequently picking up only one passenger at a stop.

It is an object of the invention to improve service in an elevator system when signals for a car are made from several floors.

lt is anotherobject of the invention to reduce the number ofstops made by a car vof an elevator system and to increase the average number of passengers pick-ed up at each stop. Y

...In the embodimentV of the invention hereinafter described in greater detail, the car stopping means of an elevator system are operated in the sequence in which signals are made from the various floors, but when a predetermined number of means Vis rendered inoperative when a car is Thus, only a prestopped at its associated floor. determined number rof ear stopping means is in operation at one time, and the car stopping means that ar-e in operation are those for the oors from which the earliest signals were made. Later signals are held in abeyance on signal registers which are coupled together to register the signals in the order in which they are made, and thesignal registers operate the car stopping means for their associated floors only as 'prior'operated car stopping means are rendered inoperative. Since only a predetermined number of car stopping means is in operation at one time, the number of stops made by a car can be held to, say, two or three for each trip in a given direction, and since the earliest made signals are answered iirst the number oi passengers picked up at each stop is greater on the average than in systems having conventional controls. in modern elevator systems, it takes about siX seconds for deceleration,

door time, and subsequent acceleration, so that if three or four stops are eliminated the round trip time is'reduced by 20 to 25 seconds, or by, say, 25%. Furthermore, since in accordance with this inventon'the number of Acar stopping means in operation at a given time is reduced, a car will, on the average, reverse Vat a lower door than it does When all the car stopping means for which signals have been made are in operation at the same time. In the result, since a car makes more trips per hour the system can handle a higher peak rate '0f traic, or can handle the same traflic with the average number of passengers in a car reduced about 35 Also in the `embodiment' hereinafter described, a plurality of -iloors of a building are provided with signal` registers responsive to signals from the signalling means for their associated iioors to register the signals,` and the signal registers are coupled 'together to register the signals in a predetermined sequence and to operate the car stopping means for their associated floors in a predetermined sequence, but only a predetermined number of car stopping means can be operated at one time. vFor registering the signals each vsignal register preferably has an arm movable to a plurality of positions, and the means coupling the signal registers together controls the positions of the arms, thus controlling the sequenee in which the signals are recorded on the registers and controllingthe sequence in which the car stopping means are operated.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means operable to reverse an ascending car inresponse'to the time of ascent of a car and/or in response tothe number of signals that have been made from the signalling means.` A still furtherl feature is the provision of means responsive to the number 'of signals made to vary the interval between cars;

l The single ligure of the drawings illustrates one embodiment of the invention. The embodiment illustrated employs. a stepping switch for each floor above; the ground iloor of the building,

f each stepping switch constituting a signal register. -F'or the purpose of this description it will be assumed that the building has ten doors above the ground floor, but-for simplicity the connections for only a single upper iioor are shown, the connections for the other upper floors being similar. Additional connections common to all floors are also shown. Connections for only the down button vare shown, vsince normally it is not necessary to give priority vto up signals at the various iloors.

The stepping switch for each upper floor is of conventional construction and is illustrated diagrammatically. The switch has four groups or" contacts, known in the stepping switch art as levels,y designated in the drawings as level A, level B, level C and level D. Each level: has a dummy contact, hereinafter called the normal contact, and, for a building having ten upper floors, each level has ten additional contacts. The additional contacts for level A are designated AI, A2 AIO, those for level B are designated B, B2 BIO, and so on. The normal contacts are designated AN, BN, CN and DN. For each level, the stepping switch has a' f wiper, the wipers being designated WA for levelv A, WB for level B, WC for levelC, and WD for level D. The wipers are mounted for synchronous rotation (counterclockwise, as illustrated) on a common shaft I2, and each wiper has three arms 120 apart. In the drawings, the wipers are'shown in what will be called the normal position, whichV is taken up when-no down signal is registered for the associated oor; in thisposition, an arm of each wiper rests on anormal contact. ,If ,arwipeiy is rotated i209, the, arm which i'ormerlyrested onu the normal Acontact moves overall the contacts of `its level, coming to rest beyond the-first contact, and.r another arm of the wiper comes to rest on thenormal contact. As will be Iseen below, ,if the first down signal in thebuilding is Inade athsay, the i'ifth floor, the stepping switch forthe fifth iioor moves to what will be `called thefijst position, with an arm of wiper WA at contact AI, onarm oi wiper vWB at contact B I, andso Yon.v If the down signal for the `iifth iioor. remains` unanswered, andk agdown ysignal is next made at the seventh floor, the stepping switch forptheseventh floor moves to the. second position, with an arm of its ywiper WA atits contact lA`2, an arm of .its wiper WB at its contact B2, and vso ,.on.` r ASimilarly if unanswered down signals areY made ,at all ten floors, the stepping switchfor theiioor at which a down signal Vwas rlastumade ytakes up the tenth position with its wipers onuits contacts AIG, BIO, ,CIG andv DIIl.Y Thus, the order in which the lsignals are made ,at thevarious floors isreilected inthe positions taken by the stepping switches associated with the floorsto register the signals, and suitable connectionsare f.

made ateach position to give the first registered signals the highestpriority.- Only thel two (.for example) longest registered signals are Apassed on to car stopping`v means `which stopqthe next cars at thefloors ,from which-.the signalscame, and the.remainder. of theY signals f are `held qinsuspense in the order in which they werev regis-. tered. As soon as the signal fonl one -iloor is answered, the stepping Vv switch for. that-'oorgreturns to the normal positionto awaita-further downsignaLand Vthe stepping switches which had occupied higher' numberedfpositions move one step to lower numbered posi-tions. Thus-if Xsignals are, waitingtobe answered, the stepping switch for the ioorior which lthelast signalwasregistered always occupies vthe positact I4 re-closes. On there-closing of the contact I4, a ratchet (not shown) rotates the wipers counterclockwise one step to the next position. If voltage is still being supplied across the solenoid I3 and the contact I4, the operation repeats and the switch takes another step.

The solenoid I3 and contact I4 are connected between a negative supply line I5 and a single pole double throw switch IS. The switch I6 is operated by a cam I'I mounted on the shaft I2, and the cam is rotatable synchronously with the wipers WA, WB, WC and WD. When the wipers are in the normal position, the cam I'I holds the "switch I6 in what will be called its normal position, in which it is connected through the down buttonV I8 at the associated floor to a positive supply line I9. When the down button I8 is pressed, the solenoid I3 is energized and the stepping switch takes a step, moving the wipers to the tenth position contacts AIO, BIO, CIOand DIO Vand rotating the Icam I'l, permitting the switch I6 to move to its other position, where a normally open reset contact 20 breaks the circuit from the line I9 via the switch I'to the solenoid` I3. .i

Let it Ybehas'sumed that the down button at only the iifthfloor` has been pressed, so that the steppingswitches for all other iioors are inthe normal position. As described in the preceding paragraph, in response to asignal from the down button at the fifth floor, the stepping switch for the Vfiithfloor moves to the tenth position. ,The contacts A2 to AID are connected tovthepositive line I9 through connections AA and through normally closed relay contacts RI to R0 respectively. The connectionsvAA connect the contacts A2,` to AIG for each upper ,floor to the contacts A2 to AI 0 respectively for every other upper floor so thatv the A contacts for all upper floors ,are inthe same condition of energization or Vcle-energization. The wiper WA is permanently connected by a lead A2l to the interrupter contact I4, on thesame side of the contact YIll asjthe switch I6. When the wiper WA is on the contact AIG, a circuitis completed from the positive line I9 through the relay contactRS,v the contact AIU, the wiper WA, thelead 2| the contactull andthe solenoid I3 to thefnegative line I5. Thus, the stepping switch moves another step to the ninth position. AAt thel ninth position, since the vrelay Contact R8 is closed, the switch takes another step to the eight position, and soon v,until it reaches the iirst position. The contact AI-isgnotfconnected to the line I9, so that at this position voltage is no longer supplied tothe solenoid 'I3 and the stepping switch tions BB and through the coils of blocking Vrelays -RI to- R5 respectivelyv which' Acontrolthe contacts 'Ri to R9.' :The connections BB connectthe contacts` BI to BQ of each" stepping switch to the contactsBI to BS respectively'of the steppingswitches -for all" other oors. With the stepping vswitch for-the fth fioor in the first` position, a circuit is completed from the line i9 through the coil-of blocking relay Ri' to the contactz BI for the'iifth floor, and thence through the wiper WB for the iifthv iioor and the lead 22 to the line I5.- gized andopens thecontact RI, thus disconnecting Vthe contacts AZ-fOreVery-fioor from the line; I8. Ii thenext down button pushed isbn.

Therelay RI is thereby'enersay, the seventh iioor, the stepping switch Yfor the seventh'oor-will proceed only as farias the second position, sincethe contacts A2 zfor every floor are not energized. The wipervWB for the seventh floor takes up the second position, on contact B2, energizing the blocking relay R2 and opening the relay contact R2, thus de-energizing the contacts .A3 sothat thenext stepping switch ,to be operated by. pressing a down button will stop at the third position, and so on. In general, if any position Xis oc-Y cupied by a stepping switch, the next .stepping switch to operate in response toa signal from the down button for its associatedfloorwill take up the position X-f-l, so that the signals from the various floors are registered in the sequence in which they are made. The positions to which the wipers move are controlled by the blocking relays which are common to all the stepping switches and thus couplev them together. As will now be described with reference to level C, the Vblocking relays, by preventing successively operated stepping switches from overtaking one another, limitthe number of car stopping means in operation at one time yto a predetermined number, so that the earliest signals to be registered are answered rst and the'answering'of subsequent signals is delayed.

The wiper WC i is permanently connected through a resistor 23 vand a relay 24 to the line I5. The relayl 24 is a conventional floor relay which, when energized,`causes the next descending car to stop at the :door with which the relay is associated. The contacts CI and C2 are permanently connected to the `line I9 -through a connection CC and avlead 25, so that when Athe wiper WC is in either the rst-or' the second position the' floor relay-24 is energized. Thecontacts C4 toCI inclusive are connected together by means of a shunt 21', and theshuntZ'I is connected to the line 'I9 througha Aconnection CC and a normally closed relay contact RC. The contact C3 is connected through a connection CCy to a single pole vdouble throw switch '.28 which, in one position; connects the contact C3 through the lead 25 to the line I9,v and in its other position connects the contact C3 through the relay contact RC to the line I9. The connections CC link together lthe corresponding C contacts of all the stepping switches.

The relay contact 'RCy opens as soon as the irstv and second positions are occupied. This is achieved by connecting a call relay RC in series with two normally open relay contacts RIa and REa across the lines vI5^and I9; The relayV yAssume for the moment that the contacts C3 ofthe stepping switchesare connected by the switch 2B to the relay contact RC. With thel rst and second positions of the stepping switches occupied, and the` relay contact RC open, when a third signal comes in, say on the ninth door, the ninth` floor stepping switch moves to the third position; butsince the contacts C3 are not connected Ato the line I 9' the oor relay for thelninth'llioor, does not become; energies" 1Sinnen;ricerca.. Seres eze.

held in suspense at the fourth, fifth,Y etc. positions.

The purpose of the relay RC is tofmaintain service ifV oneof the stepping switches sticks. If one of the stepping switches sticks, it prevents any subsequently operating Stepping switch from overtaking it, and therefore there will beunoccupied high priority positions. The relayRC ensuresthatif ythe rst two positions are not occupied, the floor relays .will be picked up by stepping switches occupying higher numbered positions so that all car stoppingl means for which signals have been made are operated concurrently until theV first two positions are taken up. Priority is thereby lost, but at least service is maintained. v

Let it be assumed that the down buttons have been pressed at the' fth, seventh, ninth .and second oors, in that order, so that the stepping switches for thesefloors occupy the rst, second, third and fourth positions, respectively. Further let it be assumed that the, switch 28 is connected to the contact' RC, which of course will be open. With the switch 28 connected to the vcontact RC, the only floor relays 24 `that are energizedV are those for the fth and 'seventh floors. A descending car will be stopped, first, at the seventh iioor. When the car-'stops at the seventh floor it closes the reset contact 2G for the seventh floor so that the seventhfloor solenoid I3 is energized through Vthe switch I6 and the seventh door stepping switch moves counterclockwise to the normal position; at the normal position, the cam I1 returns the switch I6 to the position shown in the drawings, thus stopping the stepping switch until the seventh floor down button I8 is pressedv again. `By returning the seventh floor stepping switch to 'its normal position, the reset contact 20unco'uple's the seventh iloor relay 24 from theA stepping switch and renders that floor relay inoperative.

Due to the movement of the wiper WB 'of the seventh floor stepping switch from the second position, the relay R2 is de-energized, and the ninth and second floor stepping switches can move to the second and third positions, respectively. Meanwhile, the car descends vto thefth fioor. Thus, only the nrst two or three signals are answered by the nrst descending car; the number of signals given highest priority can be varied by changing the position of the switch 28. Further, it will be seen thatfa's the earliest operatedV stepping switches are returned to their normal positions, subsequently operated stepping switches advance, in the sequence in which signals were registered on them, to the positions where they are coupled to the floor relays for their associated oors.

The contacts DI and D2 are conneted'to the line I9 through a connection DD'and a nas'he'r 29.

` The contacts D4 to DI 0 inclusive are connected to a shunt 30, and the shunt -30 is connected to the line I9 through a lconnection DD and a. Alead '3L The contact D3 is connected through a connection DD to a single pole' double throw switch 32 which can be connected either to the asher 29'01" the Q without-flashing because theyareonnecteditdiready tow-,heine :stnrough tneiead 3|: The signal indicator lights 33 are arranged on an indicator panel on the ground floor, where they inform the starter and the public as to which signals have the highest priority'. As in'most elevator systems, a manual switch 34 isv provided on the starters control panel on the ground oor, and this switch is connected in series Vwith a high lcall reversal relay 35 across the lines l and i9. Whenthe relay 35 is energized, it reverses each ascending car at the floor for which the highest signal has been made, whether-the signal was made by means of a hall button or by means of a button in the car. The starter may close the switch 3d during 'those periods of the day when the cars are most in demand, so that the cars need not travel to the top lfloor before reversing.

According to this invention, means are provided tocut the high call reversal relay in and out automatically as traiiic conditions vary. A normally open relay contactRZb is connected across Athe switch 34; the contact R221 closes when theblockingrelay R2 is energiZed,thus causingthe-lhigh call reversal .relay 35 to pick upas soon-as two down. signalsare` registeredQ` Also connected across the switch 34 is acircuit consisting'ofnorf-`r mally open relay,` cont'actvRibl infseries? with a bank of .normallyopen ltiming relay-contacts TI, VT2 andTS, thelatter contacts'beingscon` nected inlparallel.-5y The contact- Rib closes when the blocking. relay-,Rl rvis energized, e. 'when one down signal'rs registered.- Fachy timingrelay contactl iscontrolledKV by `a timing vrelay (not showmf associated -withfwone `of thel cars; vit 'is here assumedrthat-there are three cars and there-v fore three timing relays. Each `timing relay is set -torclose itstimingfrelay 'contact if the associatedcarfis still travelling up after,"say,40 seconds from-the-time V.it-left the ground -1"1oor.` there is one down signal registered, and any-'car takes more thanf40 seconds on 'the up 'trir`i,"the4 high call reversal relay 35 is energized: Also con# nected across'the switchfll is a banko'f normally" openrtimingrelay `contacts TTlyTTZ `'and'T'IL i connected Yinparallel.- A`'These contacts 'are closedv by another group vof timing relays (not shown)' set to-operate if any' caris still travelling lupV after, say, 50 seconds from 'the time 4it left'the ground floor; A Y These last relays are 'usefulA during the morning rush'hour whenall thetraic is'inthe updirection:4 v f-lnlmany elevator systems, a' variable speed timer motoras provided to 'malntaina desired=1n' j Whicha signal may be madewhen it is* desired terval between the ,timesd that successive "cars leave-the ground floor.` A potentiometeris pro-V vided by means of which the starter can'vary"thev speed "of -thetimer motor, Vthu'sva'ry'ingl theim terv'al between-cars5-fv A."-i'ccording-to this inventionfthe "time" interval' betweenV cars may be" automatically varied to'pr'e-'- vent waste of'tim'eat'the'ground'iioor during' periods' of heavy down' traiiic. `Cor'inettecl' across the lines l 5 and lI Sis a potentiometer 33anfdftlf1e shunt Y'eldwinding 37 or a` direct current timer motor 38. Onesideo the arrn'a'tndre'f the motor 38fis connected to the line l5, and the other side is connected'to a`network 391i Dependingnpon down 'trac conditions, the networkfcnnects heY armature 'to diierent'points'orfthe pdterit'iometer 36, thus varying the voltagel supplied ktothe arma-rfA ture of the motorl'wherebythe motor varies'hthev time intervalbetweeh cars". The neijivg'rorkr 39 conn-M sists `of a 'pair' ofiioifnally ``pen cntacts R2 c and Thus, ifv

RSC connected in'series between the armature of the motor and the line I5, a normally closed contact RZd connected to the armature and to a variable tap 36a, on the potentiometer 3B, and a normally closed contact 'R311 connected to a point between the contacts R20 and RSC and to a variable tap 3th on the potentiometer. The contacts RZC and R30 close when the second and third positions respectively are occupied by stepping switches, and the contacts R2d and R311 open when the second and third positions respectively are occupied by stepping switches. Thus, when no down signals are registered, or when only one down signal is registered, the armature of the motor 38 is connected through the 'contact RZd to the tap 36a, a relatively low voltage is applied to the armature, and the motor rotates at a speed corresponding to the desired time interval between cars for this traiiic condition. The position of the tap 36a can of course be varied as desired. When two down signals are registered, the contact Rd opens and the Contact R20 closes, connectingthearmature to the tap- 36h, thus supplying ahigher voltageV to the armature and speeding upithe motor to reduce the time interval betweencars. .-Similarlyy whenv three down signalsY are registered, the contact-ESCI opensand the contactV R3cfcloses, giving full voltagevto thelarmature and a minimum'time interval between cars.

. For convenience in servicing and for economy in wiring, most lof the apparatusfthat has `been described is located in thepenthouse of the build` ing: eachvupper floor merely has a push-buttonv I8,"and,.the indicating lights 33- and the switch- 34 areeat the groundfloor. f The invention has been described as appliedl to an elevator system havingiloor relays Zlybuti it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the oorrelaysamay be eliminated andthe stopping of the cars maybe controlled directly by the stepping switches.Y The form :of the invention herewith shown and described is merelyl a preferred example, and many changes `inrappara-Y tus and arrangement may be made `without de parting-from the scope of the invention as de-v fined in the subjoined claims. f 'Y ,What I- claim as my` inventionris:.

l. Ar control for an velevator system` serving a plurality ofupper iloors of a building, compris.

ing car stopping means associated` with each said iioor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system `at the associated floor, the-car stopping means being renderedinoperative upon stoppingV acar, signalling means vfor each saidoor from to operate ,the car stopping means yassociatedV with Athat oor, signal registeringmeans responw` sive to signals made from :the signalling means. toregisterfthe signals-in the sequence in which they are made, lthe signal registering-means op-A eratingthe car stopping means for which signals have been made in the sequence in which theY signals are registered, and blocking means for; delaying the` operation of further car stopping meansV until the-number of car stopping means'. already in operation falls below a predetermined to operate the car stopping means associated with that floor, signal registering means responsive to signals made from the signalling means to register the signals in the vsequence in which they are made, the signal registering means operating the car stopping means for which signals have been made in the sequence in which the signals are registered, the signal registering means including means for operating concurrently all car stopping means for which signals are made until the number of car stopping means in operation reaches a predetermined number, and blocking means for delaying the operation by the signal registering means of further car stopping means until the number of car stopping means already in operation falls below the predetermined number.

3. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper oors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said iloor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated floor, the car stopping means being rendered inoperative upon stopping a car, signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that floor, a signal register associated with each said floor and interposed between the signalling means for that floor and the car stopping means for that floor, the signal registers being responsive to signals made from the signalling means for the floors with which the signal registers are associated to register the signals, the signal registers being coupled together to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made, and the signal registers operating the car stopping means for the iloors with which the signal registers are associated as prior operated car stopping means are rendered inoperative, the signal registers operating the car stopping means in the sequence in which the signals are registered.

4. A control for an elevator system servingia plurality of upper oors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said floor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated oor, signalling means for each said floor from Which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that iloor, a signal register for each said 'iioor interposed between the signalling means for that floor and the car stopping means for that floor, each signal register being responsive to a vsignal from the signalling means for its floor to register the said signal, the signal registers being coupled together to register the signals in the sequence in'which the signals are made, the signal registers operating the car stopping means for their oors in'the sequence in which the signals are registered, and means blocking operation of the car stopping means to limit the number of car stopping means in operation at any time to a predetermined number.

5. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said iioor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated floor, thel car stopping means being rendered inoperative upon stopping a car, signalling means for each said oor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that floor, a signal register for each said floor responsive to a signal from the signalling means for that iioor to register the said signal, the sigvnal registers being coupled together to register tive.

6. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of'upper iloors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said door and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated oor, signalling means for each floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that floor, a signal register associated with each said iioor and responsive to a signal from the signalling means for the associated floor to register the said signal, means for coupling a predetermined number of signal registers to the car stopping means for their associated floors, the predetermined number of signal registers operating the car stopping means to whichthey are coupled, means for uncoupling the signal registers up to the predetermined number may be coupled to the car stopping means for their associated floorsy and means coupling the signal registers together for controlling the sequence in which the signal registers are coupled to the car stopping means.

7. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said oor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated floor, signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated With that oor, a signal register associated with each said floor and having an arm movable in response to a signal from the signalling means for the associated iioor to register said signal, means for coupling a predetermined number of signal registers to the oar stopping means for their associated floors, the predetermined number of signal registers operating the car stopping means to which they are coupled, means for uncoupling the signal registers from the car stopping means as cars are stopped at the associated floors so that further signal registers up to the predetermined number may be coupled to the car stopping means for their associated floors and means coupling the signal registers together and responsive to movement of the arms for controlling the sequence in which the signal registers are coupled to the car stopping means.

8.' A control for an elevatorlsystem serving a plurality of upper iioors of a building, comprising oar stopping means associated with each said iloor andy operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the vassociated iioor, signalling means for each said 'oor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that floor, a signal register associated with each said iloor operable in response to a signal from the signalling means for the associated iloor and having an arm movable-to a plurality of positions, the arm being movable to one of said positions in response to said signal to register said signal, means coupling the signal registers together, the coupling means controlling the positions to which the arms oi. successively operated signal registers move in response to signals from the signalling means for their associated floor whereby the signals are registered in a predetermined sequence, and means for coupling signal registers to the car stopping means for their associated floors, the signal registers operating the car stopping means in the predetermined sequence.

9. A control for an elevator systemserving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said door and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated oor, signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that floor, a signal register associated with each said floor operable in response to a signal from the signalling means for the associated floor and having an arm movable to a plurality of positions, which positions correspond to similar positions of the other signal registers, the arm of each register being movable to one of its positions in response to said signal from the signalling means for the associated floor to register said signal, means coupling the signal registers together, the coupling means controlling the positions to which the arms of successively operated signal registers move whereby the earliest operated signal registers take up predetermined positions, means for coupling the signal registers taking up the predetermined positions to the car stopping means for their associated floors in priority to other signal registers, and means for operating concurrently all car stopping means for which signals are made until said predetermined positions are all taken up.

10. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper iioors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said door and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated floor, signalling means vfor each said oor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car at that floor, a signal register for each said iioor operable in response to a signal from the signalling` means for the associated oor, each signal register having an arm movable to a plurality of numbered positions in succession, which positions correspond to similarly numbered positions of the other signal registers, the arm being movable to one of its positions in response to said signal from the signalling means for the associated floor to register said signal, means coupling the signal registers together, the coupling means controlling the movement of the arms of successively operated signal registers whereby the arms take up consecutive numbered positions to register the signals in a predetermined sequence, the signal registers operating the car stopping means for their associated floors in the sequence in which the signals are registered, and the coupling means including means blocking operation of the car stopping means to limit the number of car stopping means in operation at any time to a predetermined number.

ll. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper iioors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said ioor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated oor, signalling means for each said oor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car at that floor, a stepping switch associated with each said floor and operable in response to a signal from the signalling means for the associated door, each stepping switch having stepping means movable from a normal position to a plurality `of numbered positions in succession, the numbered positions of each stepping switch corresponding to similarly numbered positions of the other stepping switches, the stepping means being movable to one of the numbered positions in response to said signal from the signalling means for the associated floor to register said signal, means coupling the stepping switches together, the coupling means including blocking means associated with the numbered positions and actuated by the stepping means of a switch occupying a numbered position to prevent the stepping means of the next operated stepping switch from moving to that position until the position is unoccupied, whereby the stepping means of the stepping switches take up consecutive numbered positions in the order in which they are operated, means for coupling a predetermined number of stepping switches whose stepping means occupy predetermined numbered positions to the car stopping means for their associated iloors, the predetermined number of stepping switches operating the car stopping means to which they are coupled, means for returning the stepping means of each of the predetermined number of stepping switches from the predetermined position occupied by the stepping switch to its normal position when a car is stopped at the associated floor whereby the stepping switch is uncoupled from the associated car stopping means, thus rendering inoperative the car stopping means and the blocking means associated with the predetermined position so that the stepping means of another stepping switch can move to the predetermined position.

l2. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper iioors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said iioor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated floor, signalling means for each said floor from which an electrical signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car at that oor, a source of electrical energy, a stepping switch associated with each said door, each stepping switch having electrically operable motive mechanism and a pair of arms movable by the motive mechanism in synchronism, each arm having a plurality of positions, the positions of one arm comprising, in sequence, a normal position, a plurality of contacts normally energized from the source of electrical energy, said contacts forming normally energized positions of the one arm, and a non-energized position of the one arm, and the positions of the other arm comprising, in sequence, a normal position and a plurality of subsequent positions to which said other arm is movable in synchronism with said one arm, the positions of each stepping switch corresponding to similar positions of the other stepping switches, the motive mechanism of each stepping switch being actuated by an electrical signal from the signalling means for the associated floor to move the one arm of the step-ping switch from its normal position to a normally energized position, the contact of said position when energized connecting the one arm and the motive mechanism in series with the source of electrical energy whereby the motive mechanism is actuated to move the one arm to the next normally energized position, and so on until the one arm reaches a non-energized vpositionat which the motive mechanism is not actuated, the one arm taking up saidnon-energized position, and the other arm, having moved in synchrcnism with said one arm, taking up one -of its subsequent positions, means coupling the stepping switches together, the coupling means including blocking means actuated by said other arm at said subsequent position to de-energize'for all the stepping switches the contact of the normally energized position prior to the position taken up bysaid one arm whereby said prior position becomes the non-energized position taken up by the next .operated stepping switch,v so that the subsequently operated stepping switches take up consecutive normally energized positions in kthe order in which the stepping switches. are operated, means for coupling a predetermined number of stepping switches taking up predetermined positions to the car stepping means for their associated floors, the predetermined number of stepping switches operating the car stopping means to which they are coupled, means for returning each of the predetermined number of stepping switches from vthe predetermined position occupied by the stepping switch to its normal position when a car is stopped at the-associated floor whereby each said stepping` switch is uncoupled from the associated car stopping means thus rendering inoperative the car stopping means and rendering inoperative the blocking means which de-energized the position prior to said predetermined position, whereby a stepping switch positioned at said prior position moves to said predetermined position.

13. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said iioor and operable to stop a descending car of the elevator system at the associated floor, the car stopping means being rendered inoperative upon stopping a descending car, signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that iloor, signal registering means responsive to signals made from the signalling means to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made, the signal registering means operating the car stopping means for which signals have been made in the sequence in which the signals are registered, blocking means for delaying the operation of further car stopping means until the number of car stopping means already in operation falls below a predetermined number, means operable automatically to reverse an ascending car at a. desired iloor of the building, and means for operating said automatic reversing means and including timing means responsive to the time of ascent of the car and means responsive to the number of signals registered.

14. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising car stopping means associated with each said floor and operable to stop a car of the elevator system at the associated oor, the car stopping means being rendered inoperative upon stopping a car, signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to operate the car stopping means associated with that iloor, signal registering means responsive to signals made from the signalling means to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made, the signal registering means operating the car stopping means for which signals have been made inthe 'sequence in which the signals'are registered, blocking means for delaying the `operation of further car stopping means untilthe number of car stopping means already in operation falls below a predetermined number, a variableV timer for controllingthe interval between cars of the elevator system,` and means responsive to the number ofsignals registered to vary the timer and thus vary the interval between cars.

15.V A control for an elevator system servingv a plurality of upper iloors of a building, comprising car stoppingmeans associated with each said floor and operable to stop a .car of the elevator system at the associated floor, the car stopping means beingA rendered inoperative upon stopping a car, signalling means for each saidfloor. from which afsignalmaybe made when it is desired tooperate the car stopping means associated with that iloor, signal registering. means responsive to signals made from .the signalling means to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made,.the.signal registering means operating the car stopping means for whichsignals have been made in the sequence 'in which the signals are registered, blocking means for delaying the op@ eration of further car stopping means until-the number of carstoppi-ng means already in operation falls below a predetermined number, a signal light associated with each said floor, means for operating the signal lights when signals are made from the signalling means for their associated floors, and means for flashing selected signal lights.

16. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper oors of a building, comprising signalling means for each said iloor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car of the elevator system at that floor, signal registering means responsive to signals made from the signalling means to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made, and means for stopping a car of the elevator system in response to the longest registered signals on the signal registering means.

17. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising signalling means for each said iloor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car of the elevator system at that oor, signal registering means responsive to signals made from the signalling means to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made, and means for stopping a car of the elevator system in response to the longest registered signals on the signal registering means to answer said longest registered signals, and means for removing the signals from the signal registering means when they have been answered.

18. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper oors of a building, comprising signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car of the elevator system at that floor, signal registering means responsive to signals made from the signalling means to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made, and means for stopping a car of the elevator system in response to the longest registered signals on the signal registering means, a signal light associated with each said iioor, means for operating the signal lights when signals are made from the signalling means for their associated Iioors, and means for flashing the lights that have been in operation the longest.

19. `A control for an elevator `systeml serving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car of the elevator system at that floor, signal registering means Vresponsive to signals made from the signalling means to register the signals in the sequence in which they are made, and means for stopping a car of the elevator system in response to the longest registered signals on the signal registering means, a signal light associated with each said floor, and means for ashing the signal lights for the oors for which signals have been longest registered.

20. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper oors of a building, comprising signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car of the elevator system at that floor, a signal light associated with each said oor, means for operating the signal lights when signals are made from the signalling means for their associated floors, and means for flashing the lights that have been in operation the longest.

21. A control for an elevator system servinga plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a descending car of theA elevator system at that oor, means operable automatically to reverse an ascending car at a desired floor of the building, and means for operating said automatic reversing means and including timing means responsive to the time of ascent of a car and means responsive to the number of signals made from said oors.

22. A control for an elevator system serving a plurality of upper floors of a building, comprising signalling means for each said floor from which a signal may be made when it is desired to stop a car of the elevator system at that floor, a Variable timer for controlling the interval between cars of the elevator system, and means responsive to the number of signals made from said floors to vary the timer and thus vary the interval between cars. Y v HAROLD C. CRANE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,039,568 Tamsitt May 5, 1936 2,067,378 Chubb Jan. 12, 1937 2,568,418 Suozzo Sept. 18, 1951 2,581,245 Eames Jan. 1, 1952 2,589,292 Santini Mar. 18, 1952

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