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.

An elevator system contains a plurality of cars; a twin channel vertical hoistway, a first channel for ascending movement and a second descending movement; and a plurality of horizontal connecting passages between the twin channel vertical hoistway. Sprocket and wheel system mounted in vertical hoistway move cars vertically. Rotatable disc coupled to levers move cars in horizontal connecting passages. Electrical system coupling motors for vertical hoisways enables energy exchange between ascending and descending cars.

A vertical lift conveyor for lifting materials between different vertical levels. The vertical lift conveyor includes a pair of spaced uprights and a carriage that moves vertically along the spaced uprights. The vertical lift conveyor includes a drive assembly including a drive motor coupled to a drive shaft. Each end of the drive shaft includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket that each engages one of a pair of lift chains. The first and second sprockets each include a plurality of teeth (N). The first and second sprockets are offset from each other 180/N. The offset between the first and sprockets creates sinusoidal velocity profiles for the two chains that are out of phase with each other. A connection block is used to connect the pair of lift chains to each side of the carriage combines the lift chain velocities into a linear vertical velocity for the carriage.

An elevating cage apparatus includes a support structure and a carriage that is operable to move vertically with respect to the support structure. The carriage is configured to be alternatively raised and lowered via a first driver and a second driver. The first driver may comprise a powered (electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic) motor, and the second driver may comprise a manual actuation mechanism including a hand crank. Both input drivers may be operable to move the carriage through a dual input worm drive gear box.

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.

A vertical lift conveyor for lifting materials between different vertical levels. The vertical lift conveyor includes a pair of spaced uprights and a carriage that moves vertically along the spaced uprights. The vertical lift conveyor includes a drive assembly including a drive motor coupled to a drive shaft. Each end of the drive shaft includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket that each engages one of a pair of lift chains. The first and second sprockets each include a plurality of teeth (N). The first and second sprockets are offset from each other 180/N. The offset between the first and sprockets creates sinusoidal velocity profiles for the two chains that are out of phase with each other. A connection block is used to connect the pair of lift chains to each side of the carriage combines the lift chain velocities into a linear vertical velocity for the carriage.

A vertical lift conveyor for lifting materials between different vertical levels. The vertical lift conveyor includes a pair of spaced uprights and a carriage that moves vertically along the spaced uprights. The vertical lift conveyor includes a drive assembly including a drive motor coupled to a drive shaft. Each end of the drive shaft includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket that each engages one of a pair of lift chains. The first and second sprockets each include a plurality of teeth (N). The first and second sprockets are offset from each other 180/N. The offset between the first and sprockets creates sinusoidal velocity profiles for the two chains that are out of phase with each other. A connection block is used to connect the pair of lift chains to each side of the carriage combines the lift chain velocities into a linear vertical velocity for the carriage.

An elevating cage apparatus includes a support structure and a carriage that is operable to move vertically with respect to the support structure. The carriage is configured to be alternatively raised and lowered via a first driver and a second driver. The first driver may comprise a powered (electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic) motor, and the second driver may comprise a manual actuation mechanism including a hand crank. Both input drivers may be operable to move the carriage through a dual input worm drive gear box.

The present invention relates to a platform lifting system for transporting a person or an object from at least a first level to a second level, wherein the lifting system comprises a compact drive system with a toothed belt and a belt drive. The invention relates to a platform lifting system (100) for transporting a person or an object from at least a first level to a second level, a drive unit (200), a platform (300), at least two vertical columns (400), a drive system (500), and drive system comprises a toothed belt (520) and a belt drive (510). The drive unit (200) is mounted between the two columns (400), said drive unit can be placed anywhere within an area defined by the two columns. The toothed belt (520) and the belt drive (510) are mounted in the vertical column (400). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for moving a platform of a platform lifting system (100) from at least a first level to second level.