An elevator counterweight (2) includes a first part (4). The first part (4) is configured to be connected, in use, to a suspension member (8) of an elevator system (1). The first part (4) is arranged to receive an additional mass (6) when the first part (4) is connected to the suspension member (8), such that a mass of the elevator counterweight (2) can be varied. A controller (14) may be arranged to control a mass variation system (12) to vary the mass of the elevator counterweight (2) according to a schedule. The controller (14) may determine the schedule in a learning process.

A car for an elevator in an elevator shaft is suspended substantially in the center of gravity thereof at least in a ratio of 2:1 by a carrying apparatus guided via pulleys and is guided through car guides. The car has a car base, a car roof and car walls that define a passenger space. For using the car in a machine room-free elevator, to provide a shaft cross-section as large as possible and to reduce the required shaft pit depth and/or the required shaft head height, at least a first part of one of the pulleys is located between the car base and the car roof and a second part of the pulley is located in the car base or at the same height as the car base or in the car roof or at the same height as the car roof.

A counterweight for an elevator system has an asymmetrical cross section in a horizontal sectional plane. The asymmetrical cross section results in an improved connection of the counterweight to a guide rail, a reduction in a number of components, in particular guide rails, for the elevator system, and a reduction in an installation space for the elevator system thereby simplifying installation of the elevator system.

A counterweight for an elevator system has an asymmetrical cross section in a horizontal sectional plane. The asymmetrical cross section results in an improved connection of the counterweight to a guide rail, a reduction in a number of components, in particular guide rails, for the elevator system, and a reduction in an installation space for the elevator system thereby simplifying installation of the elevator system.

An elevator element manufacturing method, an elevator element and an elevator are disclosed. The manufacturing method includes providing material including aluminium silicate precursor and/or calcium silicate precursor in powder and/or granulate form, filling a mould with a mixture including the material, alkalic reactance, and water for creating a mixture, and allowing the mixture to realize a polycondensation reaction in the mould for forming a polymer structure based on polycondensation bonding structures.

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.

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.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car that is configured for movement along a path. An elevator car power supply is supported for movement with the elevator car and includes a plurality of power sources. An exchange station near the path is configured to remove, from the elevator car supply, a selected number of the power sources that have a capacity below a selected level and replace each of the removed number of the power sources with a replacement power source having a capacity above the selected level.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car that is configured for movement along a path. An elevator car power supply is supported for movement with the elevator car and includes a plurality of power sources. An exchange station near the path is configured to remove, from the elevator car supply, a selected number of the power sources that have a capacity below a selected level and replace each of the removed number of the power sources with a replacement power source having a capacity above the selected level.

An elevator sliding guide shoe for an elevator car and an elevator counterweight includes: a pair of shoe liner brackets, adapted to be detachably mounted on a straight beam of an elevator car or an elevator counterweight; and a shoe liner, disposed between the pair of shoe liner brackets, including a pair of side walls and a bottom wall between the pair of side walls. The pair of side walls is detachably mounted on the pair of shoe liner brackets, respectively, such that the shoe liner is detachable by removing either one shoe liner bracket. The maintenance for the shoe liner can be completed without disassembling the entire elevator sliding guide shoe, especially for a hoistway with narrow space therein. It is very convenient to maintain and repair the split-type elevator sliding guide shoe, and it takes relatively less time in assembling and disassembling thereof.