An elevator system includes an elevator car movable in an elevator shaft, a suspension means extending in the elevator shaft, a drive machine associated with the suspension means and a controllable coupling device arranged on the elevator car. The suspension means has a coupling element that the coupling device can be coupled to and uncoupled from, as a result of which a drive connection between the elevator car and the suspension means can be established and released. The elevator system has a guide system guiding the coupling element during a movement in the elevator shaft. The guide system has a guide that is stationary relative to the elevator shaft and a runner that is connected to the coupling element via a connection and is guided along the guide. The connection between the coupling element and the runner enables a relative movement between the runner and coupling element.

A yoke assembly for suspending an elevator car or a counterweight in a shaft of an elevator has a yoke adapted to be mechanically coupled to the elevator car or the counterweight. The yoke has a height with respect to a height axis and a length with respect to a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the height axis; a pulley for suspending the yoke, wherein the pulley has a diameter equal to or less than the height of the yoke and is attached to the yoke so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation whose position with respect to the height axis is such that the pulley does not protrude beyond the yoke in either direction of the height axis; wherein, when the yoke is suspended in the shaft, the height axis is a vertical axis and the axis of rotation is a horizontal axis.

The invention relates to an elevator, comprising a hoistway with a plurality of hoistway sections attached to each other to provide a hoistway with a hoistway space, an elevator car arranged in the hoistway space to be vertically movable in the hoistway space between door openings at landings of a building, and doors at the door openings. In order to avoid problems caused by a mutual change of height of a hoistway and a building, a sensor provides to a control system a signal indicating a level difference between a first reference point of the hoistway and a second reference point of the building.

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for the construction of a lift within a shaft. In a first aspect of the disclosed technology, there is provided a method for installing a modular lift within a shaft, comprising the steps of: inserting a frame of the lift within the shaft, the frame comprising one or more stabilisers; adapting the one or more stabilisers to contact an internal face of the shaft; wherein the frame is held in position by the forces exerted through the stabilisers.

According to an embodiment, an elevator system including: a beam climber system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft by climbing a first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the beam climber system including: a first wheel in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel; and a wheel decompression system configured to move the first wheel away from the first guide rail.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a cab configured to accommodate at least one passenger or item inside the cab. A motorized module includes a base, a connector supported on the base and at least one drive member supported on the base. The connector is configured to selectively establish a releasable connection between the motorized module and the cab. The drive member is configured to engage a vertical surface, climb along the vertical surface to selectively cause vertical movement of the base, and selectively prevent movement of the base when the drive member remains in a selected position relative to the vertical surface. At least one motor is associated with the drive member to selectively cause the drive member to climb along the vertical surface. The motorized module is vertically movable independent of the cab when the motorized module is released from the cab.

A foldable elevator structure having a plurality of members is shown having each current member sequentially attached between a preceding member and a succeeding member. This connection schema continues until the last member is attached to the first member and a completed enclosed structure is formed such that all members have been attached. In this fashion, the foldable structure is foldable between each set of two adjacent members.

An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car positioned in and movable along the hoistway. The elevator car includes a first sheave and a second sheave spaced apart from the first sheave. The first sheave and second sheave have parallel axes of rotation and each include a traction surface and a gearless prime mover operably connected to the traction surface to drive rotation of the traction surface. A first load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway and a second load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway. The first load bearing member passes laterally under the first sheave, vertically upward between the first sheave and the second sheave, and laterally over the second sheave. The second load bearing member passes laterally under the second sheave, vertically between the second sheave and the first sheave, and laterally over the first sheave.

A mechanism that allows a ladder to be moved to either a use position or a retracted position. The ladder can be moved from the retracted position to the use position with a minimal effort, and the ladder moves by itself from the use position to the retracted position. A pit ladder apparatus for an elevator according to the present invention includes a position change means to be provided in a fixing metal frame fixed to the hoistway and allowing a ladder to be moved to either the use position when the ladder is used or the retracted position for retracting the ladder when it is not used so as not to interfere with operation of the elevator.

A method for constructing an elevator includes providing a hoisting machine unit, a guide rail line, an elevator car, a counterweight, and a hoisting roping; using the elevator car for transporting passengers and/or goods while the hoisting machine unit is in a first position; installing one or more guide rail sections into the guide rail line above a guide rail section of the hoisting machine unit; removing the hoisting machine unit from the first position; installing a guide rail section into the guide rail line in place from where the guide rail section of the hoisting machine unit was removed; hoisting the hoisting machine unit; mounting the hoisting machine unit to a second position which is higher than the first position; and using the elevator car for transporting passengers and/or goods while the hoisting machine unit is in the second position. An elevator arrangement is described for implementing the method.