Provided is a wire rope flaw detector including a magnetizer configured to form a main magnetic flux in a part of a wire rope in a longitudinal direction thereof. A plurality of search coils are configured to detect a leakage flux that occurs from a damaged part of the wire rope in a segment in which the main magnetic flux is formed. A control unit is configured to detect induced voltages generated in the plurality of search coils. Further, the control unit is configured to superimpose voltage waveforms of the plurality of search coils on one another while shifting the voltage waveforms by a time calculated based on an interval between the plurality of search coils adjacent to each other and on a relative moving speed of the wire rope with respect to the magnetizer, to thereby amplify a peak of the induced voltage.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator tension member monitor includes an optoelectronic detector configured to be situated near the elevator tension member. The optoelectronic detector provides an output corresponding to a profile of the elevator tension member. A processor receives the output from the optoelectronic detector and determines whether there are any anomalies in the profile of the elevator tension member. The processor reports any determined anomaly in the profile of the elevator tension member.

The invention relates to a method for inspecting quality and/or condition of an elongated composite member, which is a load bearing member of a rope of a hoisting apparatus, such as an elevator, or a precursor of such a load bearing member, the method comprising providing an elongated composite member; and changing the temperature of said elongated composite member by heating or cooling said elongated composite member via a flank thereof; and scanning said elongated composite member from a lateral side thereof with a thermal imaging device after said changing of the temperature; and creating thermographic images of said elongated composite member.

A rotating movable body for a wire rope includes a rotating portion through the interior of which a wire rope passes, the wire rope being formed by twisting together eight strands, and rotary plates provided on the rotating portion so as to engage with parts of the outer shape of the wire rope, wherein the rotary plates are arranged at a predetermined interval in the extension direction of the wire rope, and in a state where each of the plurality of strands is in contact with one of the rotary plates, the rotating portion moves in the extension direction of the wire rope and rotates so as to follow the twist of the strands.

A method and an apparatus for automatic condition checking of an elevator are provided, wherein an elevator car of the elevator is situated in a door zone of a first landing in an elevator shaft following an earthquake. The method includes determining whether the load carried by hoisting ropes is evenly distributed between the hoisting ropes by checking the status or measurement data of at least one rope tension measurement device. The test unit determines whether the elevator car is empty and conducts a drive test for the elevator car in order to determine unimpeded access for the elevator car to other landings. The elevator is returned to normal use, if the drive test indicates unimpeded access for the elevator car to the other landings.

A rope sway detection system of an elevator system includes a magnetic pickup located adjacent to a suspension member of an elevator system. The magnetic pickup is configured to detect a movement of the suspension member via a change in a magnetic field at the magnetic pickup. A signal processing unit is operably connected to the magnetic pickup. The signal processing unit is configured to determine a maximum amplitude of a sway of the suspension member based on the change in the magnetic field, compare the maximum amplitude to a preselected threshold, and signal a change in operation of the elevator system based on an actual or predicted exceedance of the threshold.

A system for determining stiffness of an elevator system tension member includes a landing floor indicator to transmit a landing floor signal of an elevator car to a stiffness estimator, and a car position encoder to transmit a car position signal of the elevator car in a hoistway to the stiffness estimator. A machine position encoder transmits a machine position signal to the stiffness estimator. The tension member is operably connected to the machine to move the elevator car along the hoistway. A load weight sensor is located at the elevator car to transmit a load weight signal of the elevator car to the stiffness estimator. The stiffness estimator utilizes at least the landing floor signal, the car position signal, the machine position signal and the load weight signal to calculate an estimated stiffness of the tension member.

Elevator components can be equipped with an electronic information plate. The electronic information plates are associated with a particular electronic information plate that can store different properties of the associated component. The content of each electronic information plate is read manually or automatically and transmitted to a controller. The controller analyzes the received content and launches a predetermined action if the content indicates a need for maintenance.

Modern elevators involve a plurality of ropes and wheels for ropes in a variety of different functions related to the operation and security of an elevator. The wearing of a rope and a wheel may be inspected by scanning a profile of a wheel or ropes on a wheel. When a rope or a wheel is worn the profile will be lower than in the normal situation. Depending on the difference to the normal situation an appropriate action may be taken.

The invention relates to a method for inspecting quality and/or condition of an elongated composite member, which is a load bearing member of a rope of a hoisting apparatus, such as an elevator, or a precursor of such a load bearing member, the method comprising providing an elongated composite member; and changing the temperature of said elongated composite member by heating or cooling said elongated composite member via a flank thereof; and scanning said elongated composite member from a lateral side thereof with a thermal imaging device after said changing of the temperature; and creating thermographic images of said elongated composite member.