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.

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.

Disclosed is a method of expanding an elevator system in a hoistway, involving: connecting an elevator car at a first level to an overhead winch that is connected to a hoist-beam at a second level, the elevator car being supported by a rail system, the rail system defining, at a first level, first and second rails with first and second rail terminal ends; connecting a machine system mounted to the first rail terminal end to a machine hoist mounted at the second level; removing a dead-end hitch from the second rail terminal end; hoisting the machine system to the second level; extending the rail system to the second level to define third and fourth rail terminal ends; hoisting the elevator car and the dead-end hitch to the second level; and installing the machine system and the dead-end hitch at the second level, to the third and fourth rail terminal ends.

Disclosed is a method of expanding an elevator system in a hoistway, involving: connecting an elevator car at a first level to an overhead winch that is connected to a hoist-beam at a second level, the elevator car being supported by a rail system, the rail system defining, at a first level, first and second rails with first and second rail terminal ends; connecting a machine system mounted to the first rail terminal end to a machine hoist mounted at the second level; removing a dead-end hitch from the second rail terminal end; hoisting the machine system to the second level; extending the rail system to the second level to define third and fourth rail terminal ends; hoisting the elevator car and the dead-end hitch to the second level; and installing the machine system and the dead-end hitch at the second level, to the third and fourth rail terminal ends.

A foldable elevator cabin and a foldable elevator shaft are disclosed. The foldable elevator cabin has a plurality of members attached at a centralized point for centralized folding using arms attached between each member. A ceiling and a base are attached to the top and bottom of the various members. Secondly, a foldable elevator structure having a plurality of members is shown having each member sequentially attached between a preceding member and a succeeding member until all members have been attached. In this fashion, the foldable structure is foldable between each set of two adjacent members.

A docking mechanism, an elevator shaft module, and an elevator system. The elevator shaft module and elevator system includes the docking mechanism. The docking mechanism includes a first docking element having a first adjusting element; and a second docking element having a second adjusting element, the first docking element is adapted to dock the second docking element in an adjustable manner, and the first adjusting element is adapted to engage the second docking element, such that a docking position between the first docking element and the second docking element is changeable by adjusting one of the first adjusting element and the second adjusting element.

A stabilizing system may be utilized to reduce or eliminate sway of magnetic tape that is suspended in an elevator hoistway and provides a positional reference to an elevator cab. The stabilizing system may include a stabilizing mechanism fixed within a hoistway and a roller cam disposed on the elevator cab. The stabilizing system may include a telescoping member attached to a guide having opposing flanges that restrict movement of the tape. The telescoping member and the guide may be biased in an extended position, where the guide partially surrounds the tape. In a retracted position, the guide is horizontally spaced apart from the tape. When the elevator cab passes the stabilizing mechanism, the roller cam may force the guide and the telescoping member into the retracted position to prevent any contact between the stabilizing mechanism and components disposed on the elevator cab.

A climbing elevator system has an elevator shaft and an elevator car, a lifting platform, and a supporting device, wherein, in the course of different construction phases of a building, the lifting platform can be anchored at various positions within the elevator shaft. A protective roof is arranged above components of the lifting platform that are to be protected, such as a drive machine. The protective roof has a central roof structure and a peripheral flank structure that has flank walls fixed to the lateral edges of the central roof structure and project outwardly from the central roof structure at an angle with respect to the horizontal. Because of the inclined arrangement of the flank walls, the flank structure can better withstand falling objects and better protect components located underneath. Cantilevered edge regions of the flank walls can be supported on side walls of the elevator shaft.

Elevator systems are described. The systems include an elevator car movable along an elevator shaft having a pit floor. A car apron assembly is provided that includes an apron frame movably mounted to the elevator car, the apron frame having a frame base, a support arm, and an apron stop at an end of the support arm opposite the frame base, and a semi-rigid curtain extending between a car sill and the frame base. A shaft stop is arranged within the elevator shaft to interact with the apron stop. The curtain transitions from a deployed state to a compressed state when the apron stop contacts the shaft stop, and when in the deployed state the curtain extends below the elevator car to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car when the elevator car is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing.

An elevator system with a fire protection device includes an elevator shaft having at least two adjacent shaft portions, a guide rail in the elevator shaft, a car displaceable on the guide rail, and a fire protection device having a detector, a control unit connected to the detector, and a closing element that is disposed between two mutually adjacent shaft portions of the elevator shaft and which is movable between an open and closed state to separate the two shaft portions while in the closed state. A method of operating a fire protection device for an elevator system includes detecting smoke and/or a fire via a detector, and transferring a closing element disposed in the elevator shaft from an opened state to a closed state.