Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple elevator cars (22, 32) within a hoistway (26). Counterweights (24, 34) are associated with the respective elevator cars (22, 32) by load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, different roping ratios are used for the load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, the lengths of the load bearing members (40, 50) are selected to allow contact between the counterweights (24, 34) within the hoistway (26) and prevent contact between the elevator cars (22, 32). The difference in car and counterweight separation distances is greater than a stroke of a counterweight buffer plus an expected dynamic jump of the elevator cars. A disclosed example includes passages (80) through a portion of at least one of the elevator cars (22) for accommodating the load bearing member (50) of another elevator car (32) located beneath the elevator car (22) with the passages (80).

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple elevator cars (22, 32) within a hoistway (26). Counterweights (24, 34) are associated with the respective elevator cars (22, 32) by load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, different roping ratios are used for the load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, the lengths of the load bearing members (40, 50) are selected to allow contact between the counterweights (24, 34) within the hoistway (26) and prevent contact between the elevator cars (22, 32). The difference in car and counterweight separation distances is greater than a stroke of a counterweight buffer plus an expected dynamic jump of the elevator cars. A disclosed example includes passages (80) through a portion of at least one of the elevator cars (22) for accommodating the load bearing member (50) of another elevator car (32) located beneath the elevator car (22) with the passages (80).

Abstract: An elevator traffic flow control strategy utilizes the advantages of sector assignment channeling and destination entry systems. A controller (30) monitors a handling capacity (62) of the system to determine when it is advisable to override the sector assignments (52) to provide improved passenger service.

Abstract: A perceived waiting time for a hall call to be answered by a car is determined as a constant times the square (46) of the summation (45) of remaining response time (39) and the amount of time that has expired since the call was registered (38). The time that may be perceived by a passenger to travel to the passenger's destination is determined as a constant times the square (51) of the distance between an estimated destination floor and the floor of the call and a constant times an estimated number of new hall stops and committed hall stops that each car will make (47). Perceived service time is (52) the sum of perceived wait time and perceived travel time. Constants are adjusted so that a long waiting time will yield a quick travel time. Assignment of calls to cars (60) is in accordance (61) with the smallest summation of square (59) of perceived service times for all waiting up calls and down calls.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a plurality of cars (22-30) that are capable of serving a plurality of floors (2-17). A controller (42) groups the floors into a plurality of sectors (S1-S4). The controller (42) assigns a particular car to a particular sector. The sectors include at least one sector that has at least one floor that is not contiguous with the other floors in that sector.

Abstract: The registration of each hall call (20, 21) is recorded (27) and the remaining response time of all available cars to each up hall call and each down hall call is determined. 21 The response time for each car to answer is compared against a limit and a table indicates whether that car can answer that call in less than the wait time limit or not. The time limit may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly.

Abstract: A remote control device transmits a request for elevator service while a passenger is some distance from the elevator; the call may be assigned to an elevator car, but the car stops for that particular passenger only if the call is verified by the passenger approaching the immediate vicinity of the elevator. In one embodiment, tags identifying beacons that cause requests to be made remotely of, in proximity with, and within the elevator identify the location from where each request is made. In other embodiments, which may use key operated devices, limited-sensitivity receivers, or receivers with directional reception patterns, including overlapping patterns, may be utilized to distinguish between elevator call requests made remotely and made in the vicinity of the elevator. Other methods of verifying presence of the calling device at the elevator may be used.