IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,492,101
Granted Patent B2
US 12,492,101 · App. 18/834,406 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Elevator apparatus

Inventors: Yuki Saito (Tokyo, JP); Akira Iwamoto (Tokyo, JP); Hiroki Matsuura (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
B66B5/22B66B1/32B66B5/027
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,492,101
App. No.
18/834,406
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An elevator has a power outage operation function including an emergency stop device that is provided in the elevator car, and a drive mechanism that is configured to drive the emergency stop device. An electric actuator is configured to actuate the drive mechanism, and a control device is configured to control an operation of the car. The electric actuator includes a movable element mechanically connected to the drive mechanism, electromagnets facing the element, and a mechanism to convert rotation of a motor into linear movement of the electromagnets. When the control device determines that the electric actuator is actuated due to a power outage, the control device instructs the electric actuator to perform a return operation of returning the movable element to a standby position, and operates the car to move up and land on a nearest floor above a stop position of the car when the return operation fails.

Claims (33)

1 . An elevator apparatus comprising:

a car;

an emergency stop device provided on the car;

a drive mechanism configured to drive the emergency stop device;

an electric actuator configured to actuate the drive mechanism; and

a control device configured to control an operation of the car, wherein

the electric actuator includes

a movable element mechanically connected to the drive mechanism,

an electromagnet facing the movable element, and

a mechanism unit configured to convert rotation of a motor into linear movement of the electromagnet, and

in a case where the control device determines that the electric actuator is actuated due to a power outage, the control device

instructs the electric actuator to perform a return operation of returning the movable element to a standby position by the mechanism unit, and

operates the car to move up and lands the car on a nearest floor above a stop position of the car when the control device determines that the return operation fails.

2 . The elevator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control device operates the car to move down and land the car on a nearest floor below the stop position of the car when the control device determines that the return operation is successful.

3 . The elevator apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a position detector configured to detect a position of the movable element, wherein

the control device determines whether the electric actuator is actuated due to the power outage based on a position detection signal from the position detector.

4 . The elevator apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a position detector configured to detect a position of the movable element, wherein

the control device determines whether the return operation fails based on a position detection signal from the position detector.

5 . The elevator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

when the control device determines that the return operation fails, the control device determines whether the stop position of the car is outside a door openable zone, and

when the control device determines that the stop position is outside the door openable zone, the control device operates the car to move up and lands the car on the nearest floor.

6 . The elevator apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

when the control device determines that the stop position is not outside the door openable zone, the control device opens a car door and a landing door.

7 . The elevator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

when the return operation fails, next, the control device determines whether a passenger is detected, and

when the control device determines a passenger is detected, the control device operates the car to move up and lands the car on the nearest floor.

8 . The elevator apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

in a case where the control device determines that no passenger is detected, the control device

instructs the electric actuator to perform the return operation again, and

stops operation control of the car when the control device determines that the return operation fails again.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2024
From: SAITO, YUKI; IWAMOTO, AKIRA; MATSUURA, HIROKI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 068125/0409 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250136411A1 · May 1, 2025
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