An elevator system includes a first elevator car (14A) supported for vertical movement in a lane (11, 13, 15, 17) of a hoistway (11). A second elevator car (14B) is configured to operate and move vertically in the lane (11, 13, 15, 17) below the first elevator car (14A) independently thereof. At least one buffering device (34) is supported on at least one of the elevator cars (14) to absorb energy upon contact between each buffering device (034) and the other elevator car (14).

The invention is an elevator. The elevator is driven by a rack and a chain. The elevator also comprises a transportable frame, a floor, and an elevator shaft. The purpose of the invention is, by using a rack and chain lifting device to drive the elevator, to allow the elevator to be driven from the bottom. Driving the elevator from the bottom makes the structural integrity of the elevator box unnecessary, so that the elevator box can be replaced with an elevator box façade and a fabric door, making the elevator lighter and more economical. In addition, the design of the elevator allows for adjacent doors, battery power, and voice control.

Provided is an electricity generating elevator, which includes a cage installed in a shaft formed in a building in order to carry passengers or loads, a drive unit vertically moving the cage along the shaft, and an electricity generation unit including a coil section installed on the cage and a magnetic force generator that is installed in the shaft so as to face the coil section and provides a magnetic force to the coil section so as to generate an induced electromotive force according to a change in a position of the coil section while the cage moves up and down. Thereby, the electricity generating elevator includes the coil section attached to the cage and the magnetic force generator arranged in the shaft at a position facing the coil section, so that electric energy can be produced by the coil section according to a change in a position of the cage while the cage vertically reciprocates in the shaft, and the produced electric energy can be used as a power source for vertically moving the cage. Thus, maintenance expenses of the elevator can be reduced.

A braking system for an elevator includes an electromagnetic brake operably connected to an elevator car. A control circuit is operably connected to the electromagnetic brake and includes a switching mechanism to selectively modify a rate of engagement of the electromagnetic brake to selectively modify deceleration of the elevator car. A method of engaging an electromagnetic brake for an elevator system includes detecting one or more operational characteristics of the elevator system and selecting a first position or a second position of a switching mechanism disposed at a brake control circuit depending on the sensed operational characteristics. Electrical current is directed through one or more components of the brake control circuit, depending on the position of the switching mechanism, to determine a rate of engagement of the electromagnetic brake. A flow of electrical current through the brake control circuit is stopped, thereby causing engagement of the electromagnetic brake.

An elevator system (100) includes an elevator car (102). A first drive assembly (160) engages a first tension member (112). The first tension member (112) is coupled to the elevator car (102) and to a first counter-weight (104). A second drive assembly (170) engages a second tension member (122). The second tension member (122) is coupled to the elevator car (102) and to a second counterweight (106). The first tension member (112) can be coupled to the elevator car (102) at a first position (110) and the second tension member (122) can be coupled to the elevator car (102) at a second position (120) opposite the first position (110).

According to an aspect, an elevator system includes an elevator car 14 to travel in a hoistway 11 and a linear propulsion system 20 to impart force to the elevator car. The linear propulsion system includes a secondary portion 18 mounted to the elevator car and a primary portion 16 mounted in the hoistway. The primary portion includes a plurality of motor segments 26. The elevator system also includes a load sensor 52 operable to detect an elevator load on a brake. The elevator system further includes a control system 46 operable to apply an electrical current to at least one of the motor segments that overlaps the secondary portion, determine a measurement of the elevator load, and vary an electrical angle estimate while the brake is engaged and thrust is applied.

A transfer station (40) for a ropeless elevator system includes a plurality of lanes (13) configured to accommodate vertical travel of an elevator car (14) therein. Also included is a parking area (42) located adjacent at least one of the plurality of lanes (13). Further included is a carriage (46) moveable between the plurality of lanes (13) and the parking area (42), the carriage (46) configured to support and move the elevator car (14) in a horizontal direction. Yet further included is a car (14) disengagement mechanism (50) engageable with the elevator car (14) for disengagement of the elevator car (14) from a primary propulsion mechanism of the car (14) within the plurality of lanes (13) and for movement of the elevator car (14) between at least one of the plurality of lanes (13) and the parking area (42).

The invention is a corner rack with one front face that has teeth. A corner rack is a linear gear interface that can be placed in corners, such that the teeth face out from the corner at an angle, rather than running parallel with the walls. The teeth of the corner rack have a profile that can engage with the profile of a silent chain. The combination of the corner rack and silent chain allows an attached motor to be distanced from the corner rack, so that a lifting device driven by the corner rack and silent chain can be placed in and utilized in corners. This leads to increased versatility and efficiency.

The present disclosure relates generally to an elevator system having a hoistway, an elevator car to travel in the hoistway, a first motor portion mounted to one of the elevator car and the hoistway, the first motor portion having at least one coil, a second motor portion mounted to the other of the elevator car and the hoistway, the second motor portion having at least one permanent magnet, and a gap between the first motor portion and the second motor portion.

The present disclosure relates generally to a propulsion system for an elevator having a first motor portion mounted to one of an object to be moved and a stationary structure and a second motor portion mounted to the other of the object to be moved and the stationary structure, the first motor portion having at least one coil.