In an elevator apparatus, a safety device that makes a car perform emergency stopping is mounted to the car. A rope is installed in a loop inside a hoistway. The rope is connected to the car. A tensioning sheave around which the rope is wound is disposed in a lower portion of the hoistway. A tensioning sheave displacement detecting portion detects downward displacement of the tensioning sheave that accompanies dropping of the car due to breakage of the suspending body and activates the safety device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sway amount estimation system that can suppress a reduction in user convenience that would occur if the operation method is switched more than necessary. A sway amount estimation system (300) includes a sensing unit (78), a judgment unit (80), and an estimation unit (79). The estimation unit (79) calculates an estimated value of the amount of sway of an elevator rope due to vibration caused by building sway based on the sway sensed by the sensing unit (78) and an estimation model incorporating the effect of the displacement amplification of the displacement amplifier (7). The judgment unit (80) judges if the estimated value calculated by the estimation unit (79) is greater than a threshold for switching the operation method for the elevator apparatus (11).

An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration damping device including an instability preventing means, for efficiently suppressing amplification of vibration of a long structure, which is mechanically flexible, due to a resonance phenomenon. A vibration damping device (100) for reducing vibration of a long structure (1) includes a displacement amplifier (7) and limiting members (8). The displacement amplifier (7) is arranged along a given position in the longitudinal direction of the structure (1). The displacement amplifier (7) amplifies a displacement of the structure (1). The limiting members (8) control displacement amplification performed by the displacement amplifier (7) such that the displacement of the structure (1) amplified by the displacement amplifier (7) does not become greater than a first displacement, the first displacement being a displacement of the structure (1) by which the structure (1) is not allowed to return to the equilibrium position of the vibration.

Example embodiments relate to an elevator. The elevator may include a car of the elevator and a counterweight that are to be moved reciprocally, at least one roping or belting traveling via a top pulley assembly for connecting the car of the elevator and the counterweight to each other via the top pulley assembly, and at least one roping or belting traveling via a bottom pulley assembly for connecting the car of the elevator and the counterweight to each other via the bottom pulley assembly.

Example embodiments relate to an elevator. The elevator may include a car of the elevator and a counterweight that are to be moved reciprocally, at least one roping or belting traveling via a top pulley assembly for connecting the car of the elevator and the counterweight to each other via the top pulley assembly, and at least one roping or belting traveling via a bottom pulley assembly for connecting the car of the elevator and the counterweight to each other via the bottom pulley assembly.

A traction rope adjustment apparatus includes a traction rope pressing device, and a traction rope pulley apparatus. The traction rope lifting apparatus prevents the traction rope sagging, the traction rope pressing apparatus prevents the traction rope drifting, and the traction rope pulley apparatus enables a car and the counterweight to smoothly pass through the traction rope pressing apparatus, thereby implementing forced guidance of the traction rope and the reliable and smooth running of the car and counterweight. The apparatus can meet the demands of variable gradients and can implement reliable running of an inclined running container in variable gradients, such that the traction rope adapts to the different gradients, solving the challenge of the development of an inclined running container that self-adapts to gradients.

The tensioning system for the traction belt of an elevator is installed or can be installed in connection with the car and/or the counterweight of the elevator for pretensioning at least one traction belt running between these and comprises means for storing energy. In addition to this, the tensioning system is configured to use the energy stored in the means intended for storing energy for pulling in the traction belt in question for returning tension when the tension of the traction belt falls. The patent application also contains an independent claim for an elevator.

The tensioning system for the traction belt of an elevator is installed or can be installed in connection with the car and/or the counterweight of the elevator for pretensioning at least one traction belt running between these and comprises means for storing energy. In addition to this, the tensioning system is configured to use the energy stored in the means intended for storing energy for pulling in the traction belt in question for returning tension when the tension of the traction belt falls. The patent application also contains an independent claim for an elevator.

A system and method for controlling the movement of an elevator is provided. The elevator controller directs the operation of the elevator and receives information from the elevator system to calculate a brake profile. The elevator system transmits the brake profile to a master controller. The master controller selectively actuates the brakes to apply a braking force configured to generate the brake profile. The system and method may include local controllers, each configured to actuate a respective brake, wherein the master controller selectively directs the local controllers to generate a brake force commensurate with the braking profile.

A system and method for controlling the movement of an elevator is provided. The elevator controller directs the operation of the elevator and receives information from the elevator system to calculate a brake profile. The elevator system transmits the brake profile to a master controller. The master controller selectively actuates the brakes to apply a braking force configured to generate the brake profile. The system and method may include local controllers, each configured to actuate a respective brake, wherein the master controller selectively directs the local controllers to generate a brake force commensurate with the braking profile.