Richard J Lauch

US Patent:

6530465, Mar 11, 2003

Filed:

Apr 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/124187

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Hopatcong NJ

Assignee:

Inventio AG - Hergiswil

International Classification:

B22B 2908

US Classification:

198325

Abstract:

An illuminated escalator combplate has a main combplate portion and a combteeth element extending forwardly of the main portion. A series of light emitters are mounted to a forward edge of the main portion, and are aligned with a corresponding series of light pipes in the combteeth element which channel the light of the emitters from a rearward wall adjacent the main portion forward edge to an upper surface of the combteeth element where the light can be seen by escalator users and serves as a safety indicator to demarcate the intersection between the fixed combplate and the moving escalator step plates. The light emitter may be in alternately-illuminated, interleaved gangs to increase visability.

US Patent:

6591946, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

Oct 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/975183

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Hopatcong NJ

Assignee:

Inventio AG - Hergiswil

International Classification:

B66B 1316

US Classification:

187309, 187331, 187335, 49120

Abstract:

A door locking system for retrofit installation on an automatic sliding two-panel door of an elevator car prohibits opening and closing of the door from the interior of the car when between two floors. The door locking system includes a hook retainer mounted on one side of the door opening. A locking pawl is mounted to a panel of the door on the opposite side of the opening for selectably engaging the hook retainer. A cable is coupled to a drive mechanism and to the locking pawl for disengaging the locking pawl from the hook retainer when at a floor stop. A flexible cable housing slidably retains the cable and defines a path length between the drive mechanism and the locking pawl. A path length adjuster mechanism is connected between two sections of the cable housing for manually adjusting the path length. A hold-down is mounted to the door to retain the cable housing in close proximity to the door while permitting movement parallel with the door in response to adjustment of the path length.

US Patent:

6805224, Oct 19, 2004

Filed:

Dec 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/331962

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Hopatcong NJ
Roger Frazier - Aspers PA

Assignee:

Inventio AG - Hergiswil

International Classification:

F16D 6600

US Classification:

188 111E, 188181 T

Abstract:

An escalator brake torque monitoring apparatus comprises a brake having a brake arm with a mounting point for pivotally affixing the brake to a fixed element of the escalator. A torque sensor is mounted to the brake arm at the mounting point and is affixed to the fixed element. The torque sensor, which may preferably be torque-sensing bolt, generates an output proportional to torque generated by the brake during brake operation. The output of the sensor is compared to at least one reference value corresponding to a minimum acceptable level of torque. In the event the sensed torque is below the minimum, the escalator can be shut down to prevent restart until the failure condition is corrected.

US Patent:

6863160, Mar 8, 2005

Filed:

Apr 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/423663

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Hopatcong NJ, US

Assignee:

Inventio AG - Hergiswil

International Classification:

B66B013/14

US Classification:

187314, 187332, 187280

Abstract:

A service barrier for elevator equipment and a method for deploying the same, said barrier comprising a floor plate and a plurality of leaves hinged along vertical axes, said floor plate pivotally mounted in front of said elevator equipment and at least one of said plurality of hinged leaves mounted to a side of said elevator equipment, wherein the floor plate is pivotal from a stored position to a substantially horizontal extended position, and said plurality of hinged leaves fold out from a stored position between said stored floor plate and said elevator equipment to an extended position thereby establishing a space in front of said elevator equipment so as to permit maintenance work.

US Patent:

8561540, Oct 22, 2013

Filed:

Dec 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/339473

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Linden NJ, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42B 27/00
F42C 15/188
F42C 15/20

US Classification:

102258, 102487, 102261

Abstract:

A safety fuze for use with a canister, includes a body, a lever that is rotatably secured to one end of the body, a striker assembly that is rotatably secured to another end of the body, and a thumb switch assembly that includes a target and that is rotatably secured to the body. The safety fuze is selectively armed and disarmed. It is settable in one or four states: a safe-locked state; a safe-unlocked state; an armed state; and an initiation state.

US Patent:

20030127301, Jul 10, 2003

Filed:

Jan 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/043955

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Hopatcong NJ, US

International Classification:

B65G015/00

US Classification:

198/321000

Abstract:

An escalator combtooth assembly for an escalator complete is responsive to combplate obstruction and generates an alarm signal when an obstruction is encountered. One or more combteeth plates are pivotally mounted to the front or leading edge at a combplate assembly. In response to an encountered obstruction one or more of the plates rotate upwardly. Electrical switch contacts associated with the combteeth plates change state when the plate rotates, allowing an alarm signal to be generated. The combteeth plates may include rearwardly-extending arms which pass through accepting slots located at the rear of a ledge on a main complete body upon which the combteeth plates rest. A guide device, such as a bolt, limits the degree of available rotation for the plates, which are biased in an initial position, preferably by an elastomeric member.

US Patent:

20030136635, Jul 24, 2003

Filed:

Jan 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/039099

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Hopatcong NJ, US

International Classification:

B65G043/02

US Classification:

198/335000, 198/323000

Abstract:

An escalator handrail load monitoring and detection apparatus monitors and detects variations to a load applied to the handrail during operation. A distortable element is mounted to a handrail guide upon which the handrail rides and responds through distortions to downward-applied forces to the handrail. An electrical switch is activated by the distortion, allowing an output signal to be generated indicating that a particular minimum downward force has been applied to the handrail. The minimum force may be chosen to be above the range of forces normally applied to the handrail during normal passenger use, and thus be responsive to unsafe or improper operating conditions, such as when a passenger sits on the handrail or places packages thereon.

US Patent:

20030188930, Oct 9, 2003

Filed:

Apr 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/115805

Inventors:

Richard Lauch - Hopatcong NJ, US

International Classification:

B66B011/08

US Classification:

187/264000, 187/254000, 187/266000

Abstract:

A traction-type elevator assembly includes an elevator car with a pair of secondary drive sheaves mounted below a floor of the car and connected for corotation by a common axle. The elevator assembly also includes a symmetrical roping configuration wherein a suspension rope has opposite ends anchored at a top of an elevator hoistway and extends on opposite sides of the car engaging the secondary drive sheaves. The rope engages a driving machine sheave, a turning sheave and a pair of diverting sheaves mounted in the hoistway, as well as engages a pair of counterweight sheaves for supporting a counterweight.