Abstract: A guide rail section is pushed up a hoistway through a guide funnel by a hydraulic lift pad. The guide funnel is detachably mounted to a wall bracket. The guide rail section is retained in the hoistway while the lift pad is lowered. Another guide rail section is positioned on the lift pad and aligned with the guide rail section retained in the hoistway. The aligned guide rail sections are connected by a fishplate. The guide rail section retained in the hoistway is released and the lift pad is raised pushing the connected guide rail sections up the hoistway through guide funnels. The procedure is repeated until a stack of guide rail sections of the appropriate length is assembled.

Abstract: An elevator system including an interconnected elevator car and counterweight, motive means for driving the elevator car and counterweight, and apparatus for detecting mechanical damage to the elevator system, such as might be caused by an earthquake. An elongated member, such as an electrical conductor, or a conductor of electromagnetic radiation, is disposed along the vertical travel path of one of the movable components, such as the counterweight. The movable component includes a device which severs the elongated member in response to a predetermined horizontal movement of the movable component. A detector monitors the integrity of the elongated member, and it modifies the operation of the elevator system when the elongated member is severed.