Abstract: According to an embodiment, an elevator system including: a beam climber system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft by climbing a first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the beam climber system including: a first wheel; a second wheel; a first traction belt wrapped around the first wheel and the second wheel, the first traction belt being in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel, wherein the first traction belt is configured to rotate when the first wheel rotates.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator includes an elevator car and a drive mechanism connected with the elevator car. The drive mechanism moves with the elevator car in a vertical direction. The drive mechanism includes drive members that are configured to engage surfaces associated with walls near opposite sides of the elevator car, climb along the surfaces to selectively cause movement of the elevator car, and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car when the drive members remain in a selected position relative to the wall.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator includes an elevator car and a drive mechanism connected with the elevator car. The drive mechanism moves with the elevator car in a vertical direction. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive member that is configured to engage a vertical structure near the elevator car, selectively climb along the vertical structure to cause movement of the elevator car, and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car when the drive member remains in a selected position relative to the vertical structure. A biasing mechanism urges the drive member in a direction to engage the vertical structure. The biasing mechanism applies a biasing force based upon a condition of the elevator car. The biasing force changes based upon a change in the condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ropeless elevator system having: a car mover operationally connected to an elevator car, the car mover configured to move along a car mover track in a hoistway lane, thereby moving the elevator car along the hoistway lane, wherein the car mover has a first tire of a first wheel that is configured to engage the car mover track when the car mover moves along the car mover track, wherein one or more of the first tire and the car mover track has an engagement feature for increasing traction between the first tire and the car mover track.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a cab configured to accommodate at least one passenger or item inside the cab. A motorized module includes a base, a connector supported on the base and at least one drive member supported on the base. The connector is configured to selectively establish a releasable connection between the motorized module and the cab. The drive member is configured to engage a vertical surface, climb along the vertical surface to selectively cause vertical movement of the base, and selectively prevent movement of the base when the drive member remains in a selected position relative to the vertical surface. At least one motor is associated with the drive member to selectively cause the drive member to climb along the vertical surface. The motorized module is vertically movable independent of the cab when the motorized module is released from the cab.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an elevator system including: a beam climber system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft by climbing a first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the beam climber system including: a first wheel in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel; and a wheel decompression system configured to move the first wheel away from the first guide rail.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly having: at least one drive wheel configured to roll against a hoistway rail of an elevator system; and a drive mechanism supported by the assembly and configured to drive the at least one of drive wheel, wherein the assembly is configured to support one or more sensors.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car positioned in and movable along the hoistway. The elevator car includes a first sheave and a second sheave spaced apart from the first sheave. The first sheave and second sheave have parallel axes of rotation and each include a traction surface and a gearless prime mover operably connected to the traction surface to drive rotation of the traction surface. A first load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway and a second load bearing member is positioned in the hoistway. The first load bearing member passes laterally under the first sheave, vertically upward between the first sheave and the second sheave, and laterally over the second sheave. The second load bearing member passes laterally under the second sheave, vertically between the second sheave and the first sheave, and laterally over the first sheave.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway, a rail extending along the hoistway and an elevator car located in and movable along the hoistway. A drive assembly is operably connected to the elevator car and includes two or more wheels engaged to opposing surfaces of the rail. The drive assembly is configured to apply an engagement force to the rail to both support the elevator car at the rail and drive the elevator car along the rail.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An intelligent normal force release supervisor including: a processor; and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including: receiving a signal from a dispatching controller that an elevator car and a propulsion system are going to park for a selected period of time; requesting a confirmation from a brake controller to confirm that a brake system of the elevator car and the propulsion system are deployed; receiving the confirmation from the brake controller to confirm that the brake system of the elevator car and the propulsion system are deployed; and transmitting a command to a normal force controller to reduce normal force on wheels of the propulsion system, wherein the normal force controller is configured to actuate a normal force generator to reduce the normal force on the wheels of the propulsion system in response to the command.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system, having: a car mover for moving an elevator car along a drive track in a hoistway, the car mover having: motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the motor controlled wheels to move along the drive track; and a parking brake, operationally connected to the car mover and/or elevator car and operationally separate from the motor controlled wheels, wherein the car mover is configured to control the parking brake to move between a deployed state and a retracted state, wherein in the deployed state, the parking brake engages the drive track at a location that is spaced apart from the motor controlled wheels to park the car mover and/or elevator car along the hoistway, and in the retracted state, the parking brake is spaced apart from the drive track.

Abstract: A system for transferring elevator cars from a first elevator shaft to a second elevator shaft including: a first propulsion system configured to move a first elevator car through the first elevator shaft; a transfer carriage configured to move the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from the first elevator shaft to the second elevator shaft through a transfer station, the transfer carriage including: an elevator car containment slot to receive the first elevator car and the first propulsion system when the elevator car containment slot is aligned with the first elevator shaft, wherein the first propulsion system is configured to move the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from an elevator system within the first elevator shaft onto the transfer carriage to a vehicle workstation.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an elevator system including: a beam climber system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft by climbing a first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the beam climber system including: a first wheel; a second wheel; a first traction belt wrapped around the first wheel and the second wheel, the first traction belt being in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel, wherein the first traction belt is configured to rotate when the first wheel rotates.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator includes an elevator car and a drive mechanism connected with the elevator car. The drive mechanism moves with the elevator car in a vertical direction. The drive mechanism includes drive members that are configured to engage surfaces associated with walls near opposite sides of the elevator car, climb along the surfaces to selectively cause movement of the elevator car, and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car when the drive members remain in a selected position relative to the wall.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an elevator system including: a beam climber system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft by climbing a first guide beam that extends vertically through the elevator shaft, the first guide beam including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the beam climber system including: a first wheel in contact with the first surface; and a first electric motor configured to rotate the first wheel; and a wheel decompression system configured to move the first wheel away from the first guide rail.

Abstract: A system for moving an elevator car between locations including: a propulsion system configured to move the elevator car through an elevator shaft; and an elevator car mobility system configured to move an elevator car from a first location to a second location, the elevator car mobility system including: an elevator containment slot to receive the elevator car and the propulsion system of the elevator car when the elevator containment slot is aligned with the elevator shaft.

Abstract: A robotic transporter system for elevator cars including: a propulsion system configured to move an elevator car through an elevator shaft; and a robotic transporter configured to move the elevator car within a parking area, the robotic transporter including: an elevator containment slot to receive the elevator car and the propulsion system of the elevator car when the elevator containment slot is aligned with the elevator shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ropeless elevator system having: a car mover operationally connected to an elevator car, the car mover configured to move along a car mover track in a hoistway lane, thereby moving the elevator car along the hoistway lane, wherein the car mover has a first tire of a first wheel that is configured to engage the car mover track when the car mover moves along the car mover track, wherein one or more of the first tire and the car mover track has an engagement feature for increasing traction between the first tire and the car mover track.