Abstract: An elevator system has a plurality of elevator cars traveling upwardly in one hoistway and downwardly in an adjacent hoistway, the cars being propelled in a series of overlapping segments, each segment including a pair of couplers roped to counterweights and driven by elevator traction machines. A variant uses a closed loop rope with a pair of couplers to transfer elevator cars from a counterweighted coupler of one segment to a counterweighted coupler of an adjacent segment. An upper passenger landing moves cars on overhead trolleys and a lower passenger landing moves cars on dollies to take them from a hoistway through unloading and loading stations and back to another hoistway. The elevator car roller guides are releasable to permit lateral movement of cars to and from landings. A latched spring buffer and/or a LEM decelerate and accelerate unbalanced counterweights.

Abstract: Each of a pair of vertically and horizontally adjacent hoistways has an elevator car coupler roped through a traction machine to a counterweight so as to be able to raise and lower the elevator car within the related hoistway. A transition section joins the upper end of the lower hoistway with the lower end of the upper hoistway. A pair of guide rails are disposed on each side of the elevator system, including the upper hoistway, the transition section and the lower hoistway. Elevator cars are guided from the top of the upper hoistway to the bottom of the lower hoistway and/or vice versa by one of the pairs of rails. Power in the transition section is provided by a pair of LEMs, one on each side of the hoistways.

Abstract: A linear motor is used to actuate an elevator door in response to a control signal for counteracting rotational torque caused by a variable-length moment arm about the center of gravity of the door by varying the magnitude of a linear force exerted on the door acting through a fixed-length moment arm about the center of gravity of the door for providing an opposing rotational torque, thereby counteracting the rotational torque caused by the normal force. The first and second rotational torques may be controlled to decrease and increase linearly as the door goes through its motion. In this way, the velocity profile varies in a curve similar to one side of the major axis of an ellipse. The normal force may be provided so as to levitate the door to reduce gravitational forces acting on door rollers. The control may be carried out in an open- or closed-loop fashion.

Abstract: A linear motor drive assembly having a first primary and a second primary, with a plurality of highly conductive sheets therebetween is provided. The primaries are fixed to a center support extending lengthwise between the two primaries. In a first embodiment, a pair of highly conductive sheets is arranged between the two primaries, edge to edge, in the same plane. A gap, wide enough to permit the center support to pass through freely, separates the sheets. In a second embodiment, a secondary comprising two halves is also positioned between the two primaries. The two halves are arranged edge to edge, in the same plane, separated by a gap wide enough to permit the center support to pass through freely. Sheets of highly conductive material are fixed to the faces of the secondary halves.

Abstract: A layer of highly conductive material is provided which forms a complete electrical path about the secondary of a linear motor, perpendicular to the face of the secondary. The layer comprises a section of highly conductive material attached to each face of the secondary communicating with a primary. In one embodiment, the layer completely encircles the secondary. In other embodiments, electrically conductive means join the sections of the layer, thereby creating the complete electrical path about the secondary.

Abstract: A multiple linear motor arrangement is provided having a secondary, a first primary, a plurality of second primaries, and a frame, in which the body of the first primary of the motor arrangement on one side of the secondary is offset from the bodies of the second primaries on the other side of the secondary. Magnetic flux emanating from the first and second primaries, therefore, does not appreciably overlap.

Abstract: An elevator is driven by a linear motor having an elongated flat secondary element disposed in parallel to a hoistway and extending along the length thereof, the secondary element being supported by an edge portion thereof by a support. The linear motor has a first primary element disposed on one side of the flat secondary element, and a second primary element disposed on the other side of the flat secondary element. A housing supports each primary element adjacent a face of the secondary element. The housing has an opening through which the support of the secondary element passes. The housing includes a counterweight assembly disposed at either end thereof.

Abstract: The elevator has a linear motor-counterweight assembly which provides the driving power for moving the elevator car. The linear motor is a flat linear motor which runs on a flat strip of steel which is partially coated with a layer of aluminum, copper or the like conductor. The side margins of the steel strip are not coated with the conductor metal, and serve as bearing surfaces for the guide rollers on the counterweight. The counterweight has modular brakes mounted on it which engage the margins of the steel strip to control movement of the counterweight and elevator car. The brakes are electromechanical brakes which are silenced for use in the elevator environment. The counterweight may also have safety gears mounted thereon which also act upon the margins of the steel strip for emergency braking of the counterweight.