A tracked vehicle encompassing: a load subassembly; a drive track that is retained movably on the load subassembly in order to execute a motion along a circulation path of the drive track;

a linear motor, a stator of the linear motor being arranged in stationary fashion with respect to the load subassembly, and a rotor of the linear motor being arranged for motion together with the drive track, and/or the rotor being embodied in the drive track; the rotor having permanent magnets that are arranged in the drive track and are embodied for motion together with the drive track.

A ropeless elevator system 10 includes a lane 13, 15, 17. One or more cars 20 are arranged in the lane. At least one linear motor 38, 40 is arranged along one of the lane and the one or more cars, and a magnet 50, 60 is arranged along the other of the lane and the one or more cars. The at least one magnet is responsive to the at least one linear motor. A linear motor controller 70 is operatively connected to the at least one linear motor, and a lane controller 80 is operatively connected to the linear motor controller. A back electro-motive force (EMF) module 84 is operatively connected to at least one of the linear motor controller and the lane controller. The lane controller being configured and disposed to control stopping one of the one or more cars based on a back EMF signal from the at least one linear motor determined by the EMF module.

An elevator car travels in a lane (113, 115, 117) of an elevator shaft (111). A linear propulsion system imparts force to the car (214). The system includes a first part (116) mounted in the lane of the shaft and a second part (118) mounted to the elevator car configured to co-act with the first part to impart movement to the car. Car state sensors (360a-c) are disposed in the lane and determine a state space vector of the car within the lane. A sensed element (364) on the car is sensed by the plurality of car state sensors when the car is in proximity to the respective car state sensor. A control system (225) applies an electrical current to at least one of the first part and the second part and the plurality of car state sensors communicate with the control system and the linear propulsion system to provide state space vector data.

A method for centering a self-propelled elevator car in an elevator installation, the car having at least two driven friction wheels pressed against each of two opposing guide surfaces of a first and second guide rail strands to drive the car along a travel path, the method including independently adjusting a first rotational speed of the friction wheels acting on the first guide rail strand and a second rotational speed of the friction wheels acting on the second guide rail strand. In a centered state, a center of the car is located on a center plane extending in parallel with the first and second guide rail strands, and when a deviation of the car center from the center plane is detected, the first rotational speed and/or the second rotational speed is changed such that, when the car moves along the travel path, the car center moves toward the center plane.

A method for centering a self-propelled elevator car in an elevator installation, the car having at least two driven friction wheels pressed against each of two opposing guide surfaces of a first and second guide rail strands to drive the car along a travel path, the method including independently adjusting a first rotational speed of the friction wheels acting on the first guide rail strand and a second rotational speed of the friction wheels acting on the second guide rail strand. In a centered state, a center of the car is located on a center plane extending in parallel with the first and second guide rail strands, and when a deviation of the car center from the center plane is detected, the first rotational speed and/or the second rotational speed is changed such that, when the car moves along the travel path, the car center moves toward the center plane.

An elevator system includes at least one shaft and at least one car arranged in the shaft, wherein the shaft is divided into multiple shaft portions, and a plurality of friction drive units are mounted on at least one shaft wall of the shaft. The friction drive units each have at least two friction wheels and wherein the car is moved in each shaft portion by at least one of the friction drive units during operation of the elevator. In at least one of the shaft portions the friction drive unit is driven in an adjustable manner so that the car is moved at a substantially continuously adjustable speed at least in this shaft portion during operation.

An elevator system includes at least one shaft and at least one car arranged in the shaft, wherein the shaft is divided into multiple shaft portions, and a plurality of friction drive units are mounted on at least one shaft wall of the shaft. The friction drive units each have at least two friction wheels and wherein the car is moved in each shaft portion by at least one of the friction drive units during operation of the elevator. In at least one of the shaft portions the friction drive unit is driven in an adjustable manner so that the car is moved at a substantially continuously adjustable speed at least in this shaft portion during operation.

A high rise structure multi-level delivery system comprises a vertical conveyor belt system having a plurality of trays configured to carry a specific delivery parcel to a specific floor of a high rise structure. The conveyor is mounted such that a bottom of the conveyor resides in a ground floor room of the high rise structure and a top resides in a roof room on a roof of the high rise structure. The conveyor is capable of being accessed via an interior room located at each level of the high rise structure.

A high rise structure multi-level delivery system comprises a vertical conveyor belt system having a plurality of trays configured to carry a specific delivery parcel to a specific floor of a high rise structure. The conveyor is mounted such that a bottom of the conveyor resides in a ground floor room of the high rise structure and a top resides in a roof room on a roof of the high rise structure. The conveyor is capable of being accessed via an interior room located at each level of the high rise structure.

An elevator system wherein a cab is moved within a shaft by a tractive drive system that transmits torque frictional force on the interior surface of the shaft, enabling the cab to travel without cables and travel for long distances. The tractive drive system automatically regulates these normal forces. A method of controlling a plurality of these cabs disposed within a plurality of shafts by means of electronic systems.