An apparatus comprising a counterweight, and a controller. The counterweight may comprise a frame, wheel hub motors, friction devices, weight load. The counterweight may be off its equilibrium position. The wheel hub motors may push on the guiderails/beams applying a force. The guiderails/beams front surface may tightly fit between the wheel hub motors and the friction devices wheels to (a) ensure the wheel hub motors rotate without slip. The controller may be configured to receive a signal to power the wheel hub motors and disengages the brake to (i) drive the car upwards, (ii) to drive the car downwards in response to a signal. The controller may be configured to receive a signal to stop the current flow to the motors and engages the brake to stop the car in response to a signal.

The invention relates to an elevator arrangement with multiple elevator cars in the same elevator shaft, the arrangement at least an uppermost elevator with its operating system, hoisting machinery and elevator car, and a lowermost elevator with its operating system, hoisting machinery and elevator car, which elevator cars are arranged to run in the same elevator shaft along the same guide rails. The types of the two elevators in the same elevator shaft are mutually different from each other.

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.

The invention relates to an elevator arrangement with multiple elevator cars in the same elevator shaft, the arrangement at least an uppermost elevator with its operating system, hoisting machinery and elevator car, and a lowermost elevator with its operating system, hoisting machinery and elevator car, which elevator cars are arranged to run in the same elevator shaft along the same guide rails. The types of the two elevators in the same elevator shaft are mutually different from each other.

An electrically autonomous elevator system includes an elevator car configured to move in a hoistway in a first direction of travel. The elevator car is connected to a counterweight assembly operating on a guide rail constructed and arranged to guide the counterweight along a hoistway in a second direction of travel. The counterweight includes a propulsion system configured to propel the counterweight and thereby the elevator car. The elevator also includes a power transfer system configured to transfer power to a power system on the counterweight, the power system configured to power the propulsion system independent of the power transfer system for at least a selected duration.

According to one aspect of the present invention, provided is a balancing system comprising: an elevator winding drum connected to an elevator car; a center gear part connected to a first driving shaft of the elevator winding drum and including a first center gear, and an outer gear part including a first outer gear which contacts and rotates with the first center gear, and, when the elevator winding drum receives force in a first direction by the elevator car, the center gear part applies force with respect to the elevator winding drum in the opposite direction of the first direction by the force applied from the outer gear part.

According to one aspect of the present invention, provided is a balancing system comprising: an elevator winding drum connected to an elevator car; a center gear part connected to a first driving shaft of the elevator winding drum and including a first center gear; and an outer gear part including a first outer gear which contacts and rotates with the first center gear, and, when the elevator winding drum receives force in a first direction by the elevator car, the center gear part applies force with respect to the elevator winding drum in the opposite direction of the first direction by the force applied from the outer gear part.