An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator door lock includes a latch that is moveable between a locking position and a released position. The latch includes a locking surface configured to engage a stop when the latch is in the locking position. A magnet is situated to magnetically attract a portion of the latch to selectively move the latch from the locking position into the released position.

An elevator system (2) comprises at least one elevator car (6) moving within a hoistway (4); at least one door (10, 11) providing access to the elevator car (6); at least one passenger sensor (21) configured for detecting passengers (30) in the vicinity of the at least one door (10, 11); and a door control device (22) configured for controlling the at least one door (10, 11). The door control device (22) comprises a memory (24) in which at least one predefined movement profile is stored; a modificator (28) configured for modifying the at least one predefined movement profile when the at least one passenger sensor (21) detects a passenger (30) in the vicinity of the at least one door (10, 11); and a door controller (26) configured for controlling the movement of the at least one door (10, 11) based on the at least one movement profile.

An elevator system (2) comprises at least one elevator car (6) moving within a hoistway (4); at least one door (10, 11) providing access to the elevator car (6); at least one passenger sensor (21) configured for detecting passengers (30) in the vicinity of the at least one door (10, 11); and a door control device (22) configured for controlling the at least one door (10, 11). The door control device (22) comprises a memory (24) in which at least one predefined movement profile is stored; a modificator (28) configured for modifying the at least one predefined movement profile when the at least one passenger sensor (21) detects a passenger (30) in the vicinity of the at least one door (10, 11); and a door controller (26) configured for controlling the movement of the at least one door (10, 11) based on the at least one movement profile.

Elevator car door systems are provided. The systems include an elevator car having a car door and a movable car door coupling attached to the car and arranged to control operation of the car door. A mounting bracket is attached to the car, a first blade is attached to the mounting bracket, a second blade is attached to the mounting bracket, and a deterrent is attached to the mounting bracket. The first and second blades are operable a landing door coupling to operate the car door. A portion of the movable car door coupling is arranged to contact a ceiling of an elevator shaft during an overrun event when and move a part of the movable car door coupling relative to the car, and when the portion is not in contact with the ceiling, a biasing element urges the portion toward a normal position.

Elevator car door systems are provided. The systems include an elevator car having a car door and a movable car door coupling attached to the car and arranged to control operation of the car door. A mounting bracket is attached to the car, a first blade is attached to the mounting bracket, a second blade is attached to the mounting bracket, and a deterrent is attached to the mounting bracket. The first and second blades are operable a landing door coupling to operate the car door. A portion of the movable car door coupling is arranged to contact a ceiling of an elevator shaft during an overrun event when and move a part of the movable car door coupling relative to the car, and when the portion is not in contact with the ceiling, a biasing element urges the portion toward a normal position.

Elevator car ceiling access systems are provided. The elevator car ceiling access systems include an elevator car having a top and at least one elevator car door, an access panel located in a top of the elevator car, a car door operator, an access panel operator, and a selectively engageable coupling arranged between the car door operator and the access panel operator and arranged to selectively couple to the car door operator and the access panel operator to enable selective opening of the access panel.

Elevator car ceiling access systems are provided. The elevator car ceiling access systems include an elevator car having a top and at least one elevator car door, an access panel located in a top of the elevator car, a car door operator, an access panel operator, and a selectively engageable coupling arranged between the car door operator and the access panel operator and arranged to selectively couple to the car door operator and the access panel operator to enable selective opening of the access panel.

A method of controlling an elevator door dwell time includes obtaining a predefined load weight value; obtaining a load weight value from a load weight sensor coupled to an elevator car; comparing the load weight value to the predefined load weight value to generate a difference; and adjusting the elevator door dwell time in response to the difference to define an adjusted elevator door dwell time.

According to one embodiment, a method for monitoring a door rail of an elevator system is provided which comprises operating the elevator system to at least partially open a door, and to close the door at a slow speed, detecting that a door switch is closed and sending a signal when the time it takes for the door switch to close is over a predetermined value. The method for monitoring may be periodically commanded by an elevator control system.

According to one embodiment, a method for monitoring a door rail of an elevator system is provided which comprises operating the elevator system to at least partially open a door, and to close the door at a slow speed, detecting that a door switch is closed and sending a signal when the time it takes for the door switch to close is over a predetermined value. The method for monitoring may be periodically commanded by an elevator control system.