An accessible buffer assembly for a buffer of an elevator shaft is provided. The assembly includes a mounting frame configured in a pit of an elevator shaft and a buffer movably attached to the mounting frame and configured to provide a safety feature to the elevator car. A handle is operably connected to the buffer and configured to move the buffer. The buffer is movable from a first position to a second position, the first position being a secured, operational position of the buffer to provide the safety feature, and the second position being an inspection position wherein the buffer is removed from the first position.

A hoistway access system for an elevator includes an access switch positioned at a selected landing floor 34 of an elevator and operably connected to a controller 46. A remote controlled lock 48 is located at landing doors of a landing floor providing access to a hoistway pit 36, and is operably connected to the controller. A safety actuation system is operably connected to an elevator car and operably connected to the controller. The controller is configured to command a drive system to drive the elevator car to an upper location when the access switch is activated, to define a selected safety volume in the hoistway defined by the hoistway pit and the elevator car, command engagement of the safety actuation system to stop and hold the elevator car, and command the lock to unlock when the safety actuation system is engaged, thereby allowing access to the hoistway via the landing doors.

An accessible buffer assembly (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for a buffer (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) of an elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606) is provided. The assembly (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) includes an elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606) having an access panel (104) and a buffer (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) movably attached to the elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606) and configured to provide a safety feature to the elevator car (206, 306, 406, 506, 606). The buffer (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) is movable from a first position to a second position, the first position being a secured, operational position of the buffer to provide the safety feature, and the second position being an inspection position that is removed from the first position.

Disclosed are a device and a method for detecting compression and reposition performance of a hydraulic buffer for an elevator. The device includes a laser displacement sensor, a battery charge and power supply circuit and a controller, where the laser displacement sensor is connected to the controller through a signal conditioning and acquisition circuit and a laser emission control circuit; and where the controller is also connected to a memory and a configuration screen, respectively. It can realize the automation of multi-parameter measurement functions of a buffer, such as compression stroke measurement, reposition time measurement and reposition process monitoring (which can reflect whether the reposition process is jammed), and has a high measurement accuracy.

An inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of readily determining the necessity of replacement of a resin shock absorber at an elevator inspection location without using a car of a rated weight. First, an indenter is pressed into a resin shock absorber for an elevator. A load of pressing the indenter into the resin shock absorber is released. A physical property value indicative of a repulsive force that causes the indenter to bounce from the resin shock absorber by releasing the load is measured. The necessity of replacement of the resin shock absorber is determined by comparing a result of the physical property value obtained by measuring the repulsive force with a reference value prepared in advance.

An inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of readily determining the necessity of replacement of a resin shock absorber at an elevator inspection location without using a car of a rated weight. First, an indenter is pressed into a resin shock absorber for an elevator. A load of pressing the indenter into the resin shock absorber is released. A physical property value indicative of a repulsive force that causes the indenter to bounce from the resin shock absorber by releasing the load is measured. The necessity of replacement of the resin shock absorber is determined by comparing a result of the physical property value obtained by measuring the repulsive force with a reference value prepared in advance.