Elevator Emergency  Light Kit

The Elevator Emergency Light Store has introduced its universal elevator emergency light kit. It includes five different stud mounting configurations and can be installed on all car- operating panels. Operating with a  6- or 12-V alarm and offering a separate test-switch connection, the six white LEDs last more than 8 hr., in case of power failure. The kit includes an LED board, 12-V battery, battery bracket, mounting hardware to cover all applications and detailed installation instructions.

For more information, contact the Elevator Emergency Light Store at 340 North Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450; phone: (201) 206-6334; fax: (201) 301-8899; e-mail: rob@elevatorelight.com or website: www.elevatorelight.com.

Carlo Gavazzi OPC Server Software

Carlo Gavazzi has launched its OPC Server software for interfacing its Energy Meters and EOS Array products with other OLE for Process Control (OPC) devices. OPC is a global standard for industrial data communication. It enables reliable data exchange among products and applications from different manufacturers or developers. OPC Server is for Windows XP, Vista and 7. The software enables users to manage real-time data from electrical or photovoltaic installations using the OPC client of choice (third-party software and/or data-management tools). Up to 10 concurrent connections with 32 devices connected can be managed by a single server.

For more information, contact Carlo Gavazzi at 750 Hastings Lane, Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089; phone: (847) 465-6100; fax: (800) 222-2659; e-mail: sales@carlogavazzi.com; or website: www.gavazzionline.com.

Enviromax Vegetable-Based Hydraulic Fluid

ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas has introduced enviromax™, a performance-improving vegetable-based hydraulic fluid for use in hydraulic elevators. The product uses high-oleic base oils that reduce the oil’s tendency to oxidize, a process that can decrease the effectiveness of oil and result in increased service calls. enviromax is also designed to promote consistent performance across a broad temperature range, so valves that maintain elevator-entryway leveling do not need to be frequently adjusted during extreme weather. The need for temperature-control devices to prevent oil from thickening can also be eliminated.

ThyssenKrupp Elevator partnered with BioBlend Renewable Resources LLC to co-develop enviromax. The product is formulated from rapidly renewable canola basestocks and designed specifically for use in elevators. It is a U.S. Department of Agriculture biopreferred product, with 92% biobased content. It is also 95% petroleum free and 100% recyclable. Brad Nemeth, ThyssenKrupp Elevator’s director of sustainability, explains:

“enviromax is formulated from materials that have minimal effects on the environment and offers building owners benefits that can extend the life of their elevator. It reduces energy consumption and the possibility of temperature-related performance issues.”

For more information, visit website: www.enviromaxperformance.com.

KEB America Releases EMI Filters

KEB America, Inc. has released its new line of electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters. The E6 Filters are offered in current capacities ranging from 20 A to 169 A and can be used in either 230-V or 480-V applications with a maximum input rating of 528 V. The filters are designed to block high-frequency noise (30-1,000 MHz) and have low leakage current. In addition, they are intended to be mounted next to variable-frequency drives and are packaged in low-profile enclosures.

For more information, contact KEB America at website: www.kebamerica.com.

Electro-Mech Push-Button Switch

Electro-Mech Components, Inc. has introduced its Series SW44863 Split-Image Switch, which is intended for high-density instrumentation panels and display areas with compact footprints. Designed in a low-profile, unitized housing, the switches feature surface mount LEDs on a built-in printed circuit board (PCB) for backlighting the push button. The lenses feature hidden legend lenses with multiple color options for backlighting.

The switches can be provided with two or four LEDs for split light segments, supplied individually and installed directly to the PCB. An optional clear or translucent (smoke) gray lens cover is available. The ratings are 0.1 A resistive/0.05 A inductive at 30 VDC or 125 VAC. Additional features include an operating pressure of 32 oz. (±5 oz.), switch travel of 0.03 in., weight of less than 1 oz. and a rated life of 100,000 actuations.

For more information, contact Electro-Mech at 1826 Floradale Avenue, South El Monte, California 91733-3689; toll free: (888) 442-7180; fax: (626) 350-8070; e-mail: terry@electromechcomp.com; or website: www.electromechcomp.com.

Kone Launches New Travelmaster Escalator

KONE has launched its TravelMaster™ 110 escalator, designed to cut both operation costs and carbon footprint. It offers a range of new safety features including low-maintenance fiber-optic skirt monitoring and various design options. The fiber-optic solution runs along the entire length of the skirt and will stop the escalator when an obstruction is detected between the skirt and steps. TravelMaster 110 is powered by Direct Drive™, which is up to 20% more efficient when compared to traditional worm-gear solutions. In addition, the escalator features a direct-drive handrail, eco-efficient inverter and smart operational modes, all of which help minimize energy consumption under variable traffic conditions.

For more information, contact KONE at website: www.kone.com.

Powered Retractable Pit Ladder

Smart Elevator Tech, LLC announced the release of its newest product, the Powered Retracta Ladder®. As part of the company’s patent-pending Retracta Ladder® series of retractable pit ladders, the Powered Retracta Ladder is an electrically powered linear-actuator-driven pit ladder. The products are designed to fit in tight clearances between the car and pit wall. The powered version is designed to provide safer pit access where there is a great distance from the access door entrance to the hoistway wall upon which the pit ladder is mounted. For a typical passenger elevator with a 7-ft.-wide platform (standard for 2500-3500-lb. capacities), the distance from the edge of the center-opening door frame to the center of the ladder is approximately 2-1/2 ft. This dimension can increase with the wider platforms often used in high-rise elevator applications.

Safely accessing the pit by first spanning the considerable distance from the entrance to the ladder is a known hazard. Reversing the process when exiting the pit, with the added difficulty of having to reach to the interlock-release mechanism, can be even more perilous. Accidents have occurred due to the inability to make this difficult maneuver safely, resulting in falls to the pit floor and collisions with pit equipment, such as buffers, pit channels, etc. The Powered Retracta Ladder is designed to lessen these hazards by bringing the pit ladder from its mounted position on the pit wall out to and in alignment with the pit entrance frame, where it is within direct reach. Two options of 24- and 36-in. extensions of the ladder from the wall or divider beam to the centerline of the ladder rungs are available, as are 10 pit-depth models, ranging 3-12 ft. The ladder is driven by a 1,000-lb./ft. linear actuator assembled in the U.S. with 3,000 lb./ft. of holding and locking strength. When retracted, the ladder collapses to within 6-5/8 in. from the mounting surface and operates to 36 in. in 22 s.

The product includes two power and control options: In the preferred “Option A,” the ladder is powered and controlled by the elevator’s controller, and utilizes the elevator’s standard hoistway-access-switch operation. With the elevator at the lowest landing, the operator switches the elevator onto hoistway-access operation in the car and operates the hoistway-access key switch in the entrance frame or hall station. When the key switch is actuated, the car rises until it reaches the access limit switch. By continuing to hold the key switch in the up position, the ladder starts and runs to the fully extended position, landing on the pit floor. When the ladder leaves the locked, retracted position, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association 4X forced-contact limit switch (“Retractable Ladder Electrical Device”), conforming to ASME A17.1, 2.2.4.2.7, opens the elevator safety circuit. The normally closed contact on this switch is field wired in series with the standard pit switch (like the Retracta Ladder). With Option A operation, a normally open contact on this switch is also monitored in a dedicated circuit by the elevator controller. After exiting the pit, when the elevator is returned to normal operation, the control circuit in the controller confirms the general safety circuit is open and the pit-ladder monitoring circuit is closed. Then, when turning the hoistway-access key switch to the down position, the controller first powers the ladder actuator, raising and locking the ladder into the fully retracted position before lowering the car.

An alternate operation is available when direct interface with the elevator controller is not possible, such as where the Powered Retracta Ladder is installed with existing elevator controls. This “Option B” operation utilizes the available 110/120-VAC power located in the pit to power the ladder. If necessary, electrical power can also be brought to the pit from the elevator controller. An approved hoistway-access key-switch station is provided to be field mounted within the hoistway so it is accessible from the landing, adjacent to the strike jamb. Alternatively, the switch can be mounted within the fascia just below the landing sill. With this configuration, the operator would run the elevator up using the elevator’s hoistway-access function. After verifying the car has been raised to the access limit and is high enough for the ladder to clear the car, the mechanic would then operate the dedicated Retracta Ladder access key switch station to extend the ladder. With either option, the integral retractable ladder electrical device prevents any movement of the car once the ladder leaves the wall and until it is once again in the fully retracted and locked position, and out of the line of travel of the elevator car.

In addition to pit access, on machine-room-less elevator installations, the Powered Retracta Ladder can be adapted for installation to gain access to overhead-mounted drive and control equipment normally beyond reach from the top of the car. This eliminates the inconvenience and hazard of bringing in a portable stepladder to inspect and service upper-hoistway equipment. With the 24- or 36-in. horizontal extension, the ladder can be installed clear of the car when retracted and optimally positioned to safely gain access to machines, electrical components, governors, rope hitches, sheaves, safety components, etc. mounted at the top of the hoistway. With the car in the vertically locked static position at the top of the hoistway, the ladder can be lowered to land on the car top by means of the ladder-access key switch.

The Powered Retracta Ladder complies with ASME A17.1-2010/CSA B44-10 and CCR Title 8. The operation and failsafe design leverages from the manually operated Retracta Ladder, now accepted for installation in all jurisdictions. The Powered Retracta Ladder has been factory and field tested, including certified scale load testing applying a lateral load of more than 600 lb./ft. at the mid connection of a 36-in. extended ladder. This is 20% higher than the code-prescribed 500 lb./ft. It has also been certified by a California licensed structural engineer for full compliance with the strength requirements of A17.1-2010/B44.7. For more information, contact Rich Blaska at Smart Elevator Tech, 2117 Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94115-3103; phone: (415) 819-5744; e-mail: rich@smartelevatortech.com; or website: www.smartelevatortech.com