The present invention is a device for moving people or items on the Jewish Sabbath and certain Jewish holidays in a manner that is widely acceptable within Jewish Law through powering and controlling this invention with municipal water. The invention includes applying this technology to elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, conveyors, stair lifts, porch lifts, and more. Within the invention are certain components and groups of components that are unique in their arrangement and purpose.

A pneumatic vertical transportation device comprises an expandable cylinder, a carriage rack, an air piping controller, and an air exhauster. The expandable cylinder includes a bellow body, with one end hanging carriage rack and the other end connected with a fixing plate. The expandable cylinder is connected with the air piping controller. While the carriage rack is rising, the air exhauster draws air from the bellow body through the air piping controller to gradually decrease pressure inside. Once pressure difference exceeds weight of the carriage rack, the carriage rack begins to rise. Volume of the expandable cylinder is reduced such that the lower disc of the expandable cylinder approaches top, and the expandable cylinder is maintained at low pressure state. While the carriage rack is descending, air is fed into the expandable cylinder through the air piping controller to gradually expand the bellow body, letting the carriage rack descend.

A hydraulic elevator may comprise a bidirectional pump that controls up and down motion of an elevator car. A VVVF drive may cause the bidirectional pump to provide working fluid in a controlled manner to a hydraulic jack that supports the elevator car. A control valve may be disposed between the bidirectional pump and the hydraulic jack so that the control valve can be closed when the elevator car needs to be held in place. To avoid pressure waves that propagate when the control valve is opened with disparate pressures on the pump and jack sides of the control valve, the bidirectional pump may adjust the pressure on the pump side of the closed control valve to the pressure on the jack side of the control valve before the control valve is opened.

An overspeed safety braking mechanism for lift cars and elevator systems is described herein. The safety mechanism may comprise a safety kit secured to an overhead portion of a lift car, and configured to engage a cable to prevent a downward movement of the lift car. Engagement of the cable may occur when a threshold speed is reached. The overhead portion of the lift car is detachable upon a predetermined upward force resulting from an engagement of the safety cable from the safety kit. A primary brake system may be positioned beneath the safety kit, on or near a lift platform, configured to engage the safety cable in response to an activation of the safety kit and a detection of the threshold speed.

The invention relates to an a drive machinery for an elevator, the drive machinery comprising a rotatable drive sheave for driving plurality of ropes of the elevator, the drive sheave comprising a central cylinder, which comprises a central axis around which the central cylinder is rotatable; plurality of circular rim members surrounding the central cylinder, each said rim member comprising an outer rim surface for engaging a rope. Said plurality of circular rim members includes one or more rotatably mounted circular rim members, each said rotatably mounted circular rim member being mounted on the central cylinder rotatably around said central axis relative to the central cylinder and relative to one or more of the other circular rim members, and in that said drive sheave moreover comprises a control means for controlling rotation of each said rotatably mounted circular rim member relative to the central cylinder and relative to one or more of the other circular rim members. The invention also relates to an elevator implementing the drive machinery.

A pneumatic vertical transportation device comprises an expandable cylinder, a carriage rack, an air piping controller, and an air exhauster. The expandable cylinder includes a bellow body, with one end hanging carriage rack and the other end connected with a fixing plate. The expandable cylinder is connected with the air piping controller. While the carriage rack is rising, the air exhauster draws air from the bellow body through the air piping controller to gradually decrease pressure inside. Once pressure difference exceeds weight of the carriage rack, the carriage rack begins to rise. Volume of the expandable cylinder is reduced such that the lower disc of the expandable cylinder approaches top, and the expandable cylinder is maintained at low pressure state. While the carriage rack is descending, air is fed into the expandable cylinder through the air piping controller to gradually expand the bellow body, letting the carriage rack descend.

A pressurized fluid powered cabin-management system for an elevator system with a cabin and drive system is provided. The cabin-management system is configured to direct operation of the elevator system upon arrival of one of the cabins at a floor, and comprises a floor detector configured to detect when the cabin is located at a floor and to activate a timer. The timer is configured, when triggered, to activate a timing arrangement and to pass pressurized fluid to a control valve being in a first position. The timing arrangement is configured to direct the control valve to assume a second position after a predetermined amount of time. The cabin-management system performs, when pressurized fluid is passed to the control valve in its first position, actions for opening a door, and, after the control valve has assumed its second position, actions for travel of the cabin.

A pumping unit for use with a hydraulic elevator system includes a reservoir storing fluid, a first pump, and a second pump. The first pump is coupled with the reservoir and the elevator system to communicate fluid between the reservoir and the elevator system to actuate the elevator system. The second pump is also coupled with the reservoir and the elevator system to communicate fluid between the reservoir and the elevator system to actuate the elevator system. The second pump is selectively actuatable when the first pump is inactivated.

A hydraulic elevator system includes a power unit and elevator controller where the elevator car is controlled within the hoistway when a portion of the hoistway might be flooded. The power unit includes a water tight tank having a ventilation tube or snorkel. A moisture sensor is connected with the elevator controller, and positioned within the pit of the hoistway. The moisture sensor detects the existence of a flooded pit condition and communicates such a condition to the elevator controller. The elevator controller initiates a safety sequence when the presence of a flooded pit condition is detected to prevent the elevator car from entering a flooded area of the hoistway.

A Split Vacuum Elevator System has a channel connecting a vacuum elevator cylinder or thoroughfare to an electric equipment housing having motors and valves for the operation thereof. The channel is attached at a top of the elevator thoroughfare through a raised protrusion (or more raised protrusions if there are more then one channel) in a sealing plate that is itself attached to the support structure of the thoroughfare. The other side of the channel is connected to an air buffer known as a collector. This collector has one or more protrusions to connect to one or more channels. A raised lip on the collector facilitates the attachment of the housing thereto.