This invention is directed to a self-propelled elevator system having multiple motors or one motor, and methods for synchronizing said multiple motors. This invention is also directed to an elevator brake system to be used in said self-propelled elevator system or other types of elevators to increase their level of safety.

This invention is directed to a self-propelled elevator system having multiple motors or one motor, and methods for synchronizing said multiple motors. This invention is also directed to an elevator brake system to be used in said self-propelled elevator system or other types of elevators to increase their level of safety.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator includes an elevator car frame. A drive mechanism is situated near only one side of the elevator car frame. The drive mechanism includes at least one rotatable drive member that is configured to engage a vertical surface near the one side of the elevator car frame, selectively cause movement of the elevator car frame as the rotatable drive member rotates along the vertical surface, and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car frame when the drive member does not rotate relative to the vertical surface. A biasing mechanism urges the rotatable drive member in a direction to engage the vertical surface. At least one stabilizer is situated near the one side of the elevator car frame and is configured to prevent the elevator car frame from tipping away from the vertical surface.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator includes an elevator car frame. A drive mechanism is situated near only one side of the elevator car frame. The drive mechanism includes at least one rotatable drive member that is configured to engage a vertical surface near the one side of the elevator car frame, selectively cause movement of the elevator car frame as the rotatable drive member rotates along the vertical surface, and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car frame when the drive member does not rotate relative to the vertical surface. A biasing mechanism urges the rotatable drive member in a direction to engage the vertical surface. At least one stabilizer is situated near the one side of the elevator car frame and is configured to prevent the elevator car frame from tipping away from the vertical surface.

A running system for an elevator. The running system comprises a car (21), running rails (1), and a driving mechanism, the car (21) is moved on the running mils by means of the driving mechanism, and the running system does not comprises a traction part. Further disclosed is a multi-car elevator running system: the running system is provided with a plurality of cats (21) and at least two set of running rails (1), and each set of running rails (1) can be used for the movement of line cars (21); the running system is further provided with at least one switching mechanism and driving mechanism, the car (21) is moved on the running rails (1) by means of the driving mechanism, different running rails (1) are connected by means of the switching mechanism, and the car (21) is switched to the different running rails (1) by means of the switching mechanism. By means of the configurations, the safety of the elevator during running can be enhanced, the high-speed running of the cars can be implemented, and the speed requirement of a high-rise elevator cart be satisfied.

Disclosed is an elevator system configured for controlling motion of an elevator car in a hoistway, the hoistway having a transfer station end that is configured to receive a transfer station, the system having: a car mover is operationally connected to the elevator car for moving the elevator car in the hoistway, wherein the car mover is configured to stop while approaching a transfer station when the transfer station is unavailable.

Disclosed is an elevator system configured for controlling motion of an elevator car in a hoistway, the hoistway having a transfer station end that is configured to receive a transfer station, the system having: a car mover is operationally connected to the elevator car for moving the elevator car in the hoistway, wherein the car mover is configured to stop while approaching a transfer station when the transfer station is unavailable.

Disclosed is an elevator system, having: a car mover for moving an elevator car along a drive track in a hoistway, the car mover having: motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the motor controlled wheels to move along the drive track; and a parking brake, operationally connected to the car mover and/or elevator car and operationally separate from the motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the parking brake to move between a deployed state and a retracted state, wherein in the deployed state, the parking brake engages the drive track at a location that is spaced apart from the motor controlled wheels to park the car mover and/or elevator car along the hoistway, and in the retracted state, the parking brake is spaced apart from the drive track.

An intelligent normal force release supervisor including: a processor; and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including: receiving a signal from a dispatching controller that an elevator car and a propulsion system are going to park for a selected period of time; requesting a confirmation from a brake controller to confirm that a brake system of the elevator car and the propulsion system are deployed; receiving the confirmation from the brake controller to confirm that the brake system of the elevator car and the propulsion system are deployed; and transmitting a command to a normal force controller to reduce normal force on wheels of the propulsion system, wherein the normal force controller is configured to actuate a normal force generator to reduce the normal force on the wheels of the propulsion system in response to the command.

An intelligent normal force release supervisor including: a processor; and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including: receiving a signal from a dispatching controller that an elevator car and a propulsion system are going to park for a selected period of time; requesting a confirmation from a brake controller to confirm that a brake system of the elevator car and the propulsion system are deployed; receiving the confirmation from the brake controller to confirm that the brake system of the elevator car and the propulsion system are deployed; and transmitting a command to a normal force controller to reduce normal force on wheels of the propulsion system, wherein the normal force controller is configured to actuate a normal force generator to reduce the normal force on the wheels of the propulsion system in response to the command.