A Brief Exposé on Elevators

• An oft neglected requirement of our modern society, the elevator gives structure for our modern urban pursuits and represents a technological leap forward for vertical transportation.

History of the elevator

• Early BC origins of elevator systems

• Hydraulic elevators were popular in the mid-1800s and are still the norm for low-rise buildings; problematically, they require hydraulic oil and are inefficient

• “Standing rope control” for elevators invented in 1850

• Credit goes to Elisha Otis for having invented the first safety passenger (brake) elevator in 1852

– This elevator featured a lock-spring which would engage should the elevator descend too quickly ie if the cable were to break

(Cont)

• 1857: Otis showcases the first passenger elevator (for a department store)

• 1874: JW Meaker patents safety method for elevator doors

• 1880: World’s first electric elevator

• 1889: Direct-connected geared electric elevator

• 1903: Gearless traction elevator

• 1940’s: push-button elevators (not requiring human dispatchers)

• 1950’s: pre-programmed elevators responding to peak hours

• 1960’s: introduction of microcomputers to create a more efficient elevator

• 1996: Machine room-less elevators by Kone save space and energy (1/3 the energy use of hydraulic elevators)

Patent information: total US patents granted

• Elevator – 24,800 hits

• A refined inspection of the patents reveals that 2796 (approx.) have been filed in the US which are pertinent to elevator technology

– Includes inventive steps to elevator systems, safety features, physical design, electronic monitoring, control systems and ancillary features

– 374 patents for induction motors

– 13 patents for machine room-less

Major patent-holders

• 1139

• 42 (with Westinghouse, 289)

• Inventio – 350

• 31

• 164

• 72

• 51

• 2 (American office)

Examples of Patents and *Published Applications

Serial Number Invention Title Serial Number Invention Title1 (2010) Elevator 6 (1980) Floor selector system for

elevator

2 (2005) Elevator System *7 Method for determining replacement state of wear of elevator means

3 (2003) Elevator belt assembly with noise reducing groove arrangement

*8 Elevator system (speed)

4 (2000) Interactive elevator communication system

*9 Elevator guide-rail system

5 (2002) Method for preventing an inadmissibly high speed of the load

*10 Security-based elevator control

Patents observed in situ

Earthquake-setting control system

Machine room-less elevator

Elevator system

Gap-sealing technology

Elevator group control system

Safety equipment for preventing an elevator car collision with an object

Method for preventing unnatural high-speed

Interactive elevator communication system

Notable patent infringement cases

• Schindler v Otis (2010) – for an elevator feature capable of recognizing a user upon walking into a monitored area and sending an elevator to bring the user to the relevant floor, no infringement was found.

• Kone v Zheijiang (China) – elevator driving device attached to the wall instead of the ceiling was found to infringe under the “doctrine of equivalents”.

(cont)

• Inventio AG v ThyssenKrupp – defendant prevails in this suit alleging infringement for temporary overlay patent providing controls with dispatch functionality; plaintiff’s patents revoked.

• Advanced Hydraulics v Otis – “hydraulic elevator” patent of 1951 assigned to plaintiff and was likely infringed; however, estoppel due to delay and laches prohibited the claim

• Kone v ThyssenKrupp (2009) – pending suit

Future of the industry

• Looking at environmentally-friendly technology and efficient use of shaft space

• Passenger comfort and smarter technologies to recognize passengers for security purposes, with emphasized research into computerized innovations

• Economic downturn has been reducing sales and stymied high-rise development

– Replacements for outdated and irreparable elevator systems less in demand than previously predicted

• Competitiveness of the field set to increase following the immense fines (nearly $1 billion USD) levied against the largest elevator companies by the EU Competition Commission for price fixing and illicit collusion

Bizarre and logical tech improvements

• “Vacuum” elevators of science fiction, using air pressure to transport tenants and workers

• “Smell sensors” to determine whether or not the tenant is actually whom he presents himself to be

• Magnetic suspension system – Mitsubishi – in trial stage

• More efficient hydraulic systems for cities with blackouts and electrical precariousness

FIN